NBA PLAYOFFS: the I-45 Series....

Midge, you're simply not paying attention, sir. Allow me to enlighten you.....

Harden went to the line over 200+ more times than second place runner up....."playing within the rules"? Don't make me laugh...please. I'll give him this: he's simply figured out what he can get away and what he needs to do to sell the officials. Period. He drives the lane, someone breathes on him, and he flails his arms about as if he just got hit by an exploding grenade....and the refs buy it 90+% of the time. And if / when they don't, wow....watch him sulk / scowl at them (for being wise to his girlish antics).

So he's an MVP candidate, right? Yes, according to the world-wide-authority-of-sports, right? (in case you're confused on that reference.....it's known more commonly as ESPN).

Anyway....so here's this so-called MVP candidate and he goes 4 of 11 (36%) from the field vs one of the worst ranked defenses in the NBA, right? But hey, no worries..... he knows how to chump the refs enuff times to get 15 of his 24 points from the free throw line. MVP.....lol. My take....Curry is heads-and-shoulders better than Harden is in practically every phase of the game and there's not a one of us who wouldn't take him over the bearded one in a one-game, winner take all scenario.

Actually, I'd kinda like seeing H-town make it all the way to the Finals.....then we'd get to sit back and watch Lebron school Harden in four, maybe five games. MVP my ass.

Talk about hate, James Harden is an MVP candidate, so hate him all you want for playing within the rules, he is having an incredible year. Originally Posted by midgetwrestler

I don't give a shit what you saY OR THINK, Houston 1 Dallas 0 life goes on

Nothing like intelligent basketball analysis, eh? And when it approaches moderately detailed discussions, people are whining. Nothing like appreciating the best time of the year -- the NBA Playoffs -- from an intellectual perspective, huh.

I thought Dallas game planned Hardin well. They kept him under his average. Sure, he went to the line a lot, but he always does. The game plan was to make Terry, Howard, et al beat you, and in this case they did. But Houston isn't going to shoot 50% from three point range for the series. Or put differently, if they do, nothing Dallas can do will change the result. Hell, GS can't beat Houston is Houston shoots 50% from 3 point range. Dallas held their own on the boards, especially the offensive boards. Rondo didn't have an efficient game and our leading scorer (Ellis) played piss poor defense on Terry and didn't score enough. End of story.

Dirk is getting worse than he used to be with lateral movement on defense, but given his age, that's to be expected and didn't really kill us. Devin Howard being hurt didn't help, but Houston has two key rotation guys out, too. I happens. But the bottom line is our back court has to play a better game. If Parsons in our, RJ needs to step up and we need to strategically deploy Vilanueve to minimize his defensive issues.

Good points TexTushHog. I really doubt Houston can get 30 points out of Brewer and Terry on a consistent basis. This series is far from being over.

iMO Dallas is the easiest way to the second round of the playoffs, because dirk, monta and Parsons play very little to no defense. Rondo has been a horrible acquisition and clearly isn't the same impact player he was before he tore his Achilles. This team as constructed isn't even going to be a playoff team next year .....rockets in 5

Wow....see what happens when you poke the bear with a sharp stick, kids? It pretends it doesn't care (ie: give a shit) but in reality....it really does. Settle down, you silly ol' bear......

I don't give a shit what you saY OR THINK, Houston 1 Dallas 0 life goes on Originally Posted by midgetwrestler

You nailed it, Wildboy....Rondo was atrocious this evening. He gave the Mavs a big bag of nothing. It's especially shocking since he's looking for that next big contract. I lost count of the idiotic mistakes he made during his short time on the floor tonight.

It appears his time in Dallas is quickly coming to a close. With Dallas down 0-2 and needing to win 4 of the final 5 now, it looks like planning for next season will begin sooner than everyone expected. Does anyone really see Rondo in a Mavs uniform again next year.....?

iMO Dallas is the easiest way to the second round of the playoffs, because dirk, monta and Parsons play very little to no defense. Rondo has been a horrible acquisition and clearly isn't the same impact player he was before he tore his Achilles. This team as constructed isn't even going to be a playoff team next year .....rockets in 5 Originally Posted by wildboy_214

No way Rondo comes back but if I'm Cuban I don't want him back either. I'm starting to feel the same about Monta Ellis and don't get me started on how I feel about the horrible contract they gave Parsons. I feel bad for Dirk , I know he'd love to compete for another ring before he retires and sadly if he does he is going to have to be on a team where he is the 2nd or 3rd option.

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Dunno, don't care.....Blackbawks won 3-2 in triple overtime.

Wow....see what happens when you poke the bear with a sharp stick, kids? It pretends it doesn't care (ie: give a shit) but in reality....it really does. Settle down, you silly ol' bear...... Originally Posted by Chateau Becot

Ol Midget is just showing his ass. He does this every year. He is an amazing poor sport and just an aging grump in general. He rips and rips, but when things go good he is no where to be found. He has zero logic to any of his rants, he just liked to be a grumpy old man.

Go enjoy some Papa Johns and raise a glass to the Mavs tying up the series.

It's not easy to look that bad in 9 minutes. Rondo has not only played himself out of town, but as Chateau Becot notes, he's costing himself money hand over fist (or 8 second violation by don't-give-a-shit defense, take your pick). Chandler's contract is fine. The salary cap goes up by huge increment next year and the year after. His contract will be chicken feed in 16-17.

Ellis is an interesting question. I could go either way on signing him. My guess is he gets offered more elsewhere, but Dallas may want to "overpay" now if there isn't someone else in the wings eager to sign. He'll want an opt out clause after the second year that he'll take if he's healthy because the cap will be over $100M then. So it's basically only a two year commitment.

Re the series, it doesn't look good. But remember, we beat Houston in 2005 after dropping the first two games AT HOME. But that's ancient history unless we can string together 48 good minutes of ball. But one win can set a whole new atmosphere.

Rockets 2 Mavericks 0 is it time to turn out the lights?

Rondo goes from YMMV in the regular season to NCNS in the playoffs, and I was so for his acquisition - live and learn I guess. Brings back memories of Lamar Odom.

Mavs are between a rock and a hard place. If Rondo continues to stink up the court, it is doubtful the Mavs can win. Even if he is benched in favor of Barea, I don't think the Mavs can win. I guess the other Mavs are going to have to do more than their fair share to pick up the slack.

I got no solutions. Hopefuly Rondo will have a little pride and give the effort he owes to his teammates and employer. He is being paid damn good money for the privilege of playing a game - a game he loves for God's sake.

Other than his rebound number, Dirk also had a bad game shooting, no Parsons or Harris and Rondo was terrible, especially with that 8 second call turnover with his walking the ball up the court. After this, the Mavs MAY win one at home, but if they do no tie the series going back to Houston, the Rockets will probably win in 5.

I don't think we're going to see Parsons the rest of this series; word from Houston was he was limping round badly (while in street clothes). With him out of the lineup...Montae and Dirk, both hot and cold per their shooting so far, and Rondo a Major League Head Case, this thing is as good as over.

With these nagging injuries and inconsistencies per both sides of the ball, Carlisle's job to patchwork this line up has been made near impossible. You're simply not going to win if you have to squeeze major minutes out of J.J. and Felton. Out of the other 15 teams in the playoffs, Dallas might have been able to get out of round one vs Milwaukee or Brooklyn....but that's about it. But no one in the West (and that includes 8th seeded New Orleans.....)

I hate to admit it but Midge may be right....turn out the lights; this baby looks like it's in the bag for Houston.