brief basketball, three weeks for dreamwidth?, tv

[wishfulclicking]

So Three Weeks for Dreamwidth is happening or at some point. I would like to participate, get back in the swing of things--perhaps do some icons or something.

Great news: I have a new laptop which should enable me to be more present. For probably over six months I've had to to use my tv as a monitor which made my laptop into a desktop that stayed overheated. But today I finally bought a new laptop and the first day has been rather good.

Playoff basketball is here!

* I continue to be distraught about Rose.
* Orlando showed some grit but Indiana should be shamed.
* I do believe the Knicks/Heat should be more competitive than what the first game was but it may not, especially with Shumpert's injury.
* Spurs just don't fully interest me until they play someone more interesting.
* OKC in 7 though Dallas is going to make it rough.
* Memphis in 6 b/c Clippers can't be this consistently bad, can they?
* Chris Webber should call all the games.

Did watch Mad Men and Once Upon a Time. More on those two tomorrow when I get some sleep.

Comments

[littlerhymes]

More basketball thoughts always please. :D

So yesterday's theme was ACLs :( and today is... weird comebacks day, if one incident counts as a theme? That Clippers-Grizzlies game was ODD.

[wishfulclicking]

OH my I was following the Clippers-Grizz game on twitter and it just made it more intense. Surely I thought the Clippers were out and the Grizz were showing a whole new level that made me think they could possibly be in the finals but then they collapsed and showed me again why they could easily not. Still, I don't think there will quite be a game like that in this series again and expect it to go to 6 or 7 b/c Chris Paul elevates the Clippers to a level where they can do stuff like that and I'm sure Paul will be damned if he leaves in the first round again like he did with the Hornets last year against the Lakers. Excellent series for a semi-neutral (I'm going for OKC and if somehow both these teams could just be gone in an entertaining fashion then I'm whatever)

OKC had a steal of a win and if they don't get better Dallas could eliminate them. My thing with OKC is they have the pieces but they don't seem to have it quite figured out how to execute and maintain a winning pace. I still love them and will follow them because their style is both a pleasure to watch and frustrating when they fall to poor patterns.

You heard that Lin is talking about possibly being back for game 4 for Miami? It'd be interesting to see but I think NY problem is that their best version of their team probably doesn't include Carmelo and Amare, or perhaps it does but they could get better faster if one of them was a different sort of player. Truthfully, Carmelo's comments about not trying so hard under the first coach still irk.

I thought Boston v Atlanta was going to be boring but it was really entertaining, and that was without Rondo doing Rondo things. I still think Boston comes out in 6 but Atlanta is making it interesting; I just want more Josh Smith crucifixion poses.

Without Rose, the Bulls could come out of the first round but then probably go out in the second, which is fine. I don't want a weakened Chicago going to the Eastern finals, Miami would roll over them, going to five games would be a feat unless something drastic happens; and if Chicago did get by Miami without Rose then obv the end is hear and they'd probably kill the basketball internet.

When you watch the games what commentary do you hear?

[littlerhymes]

Re Clippers - I was at work kind of idly checking in on the scores now and then when WHOA WHAT HAPPENED. Later I watched their comeback run and I don't even really like the Clippers but man it was kind of beautiful. Pretty amazing.

I decided to pick a Western Conference team to cheer for and decided on the Grizzlies, pretty much at random and because Marc Gasol seems like a cool dude, so I really want them to win because otherwise I'll have to pick another team! But I'm cool with OKC too, because Kevin Durant is wonderful in my eyes, or the Spurs because PATTY MILLS (not that he'll see much play, I'm sure).

Looks like it was a pretty tight match between OKC and Dallas today again too! It almost seems like too good a match-up to be first round.

As a Knicks fan, new though I am, I feel obliged to boo the Celtics and cheer for the Hawks instead. And without Rondo... who knows!

Re Lin - I'd prefer that Lin came back healthy next season rather than try to rush back for what is at this point looking like a futile playoff run and a probable sweep. I'd reconciled myself to the Knicks losing to Miami when it became apparent they were near-locked for 7th seed, but seeing it happen like this is sooooo much more painful than I anticipated! LOL. I don't even want to think about Amar'e's hand right now either. Oh cursed team. /o\

if Chicago did get by Miami without Rose then obv the end is hear and they'd probably kill the basketball internet

I almost want to see what would happen if this came true. Tumblr would explode. Implode. Melt the internet, for sure!

When you watch the games what commentary do you hear?

I've been watching Knicks game on League Pass (or streams thereof...) so it's usually MSG or the local announcers. My fave is whichever one Clyde Frazier is on! Tbh I don't really notice most of the time because I don't understand how the network situation works - some games are on ESPN and others aren't and there's local networks and - Idgi. LOL.

[wishfulclicking]

Marc Gasol is a cool dude. On twitter I was commenting how I really like how he approaches interviews--when someone asked him when did he realize the game was done and he said 'when it was over' so calm and he (and his brother) both give such good interviews and seem really levelheaded about the game. Last season they were a surprise underdog and if they had beat the Thunder I would not have been mad, and I can't wait until the second game.

I was supposed to like the Clippers more than I actually do but I just don't. Did you see Chris Paul's interview at the end of the game when he said 'Easter done passed'.

I know you have to heard about Amar'e and the glass. These playoffs are ridic this season, last season there was not as much crazy drama from the beginning, there were moments: Boston sweeping NY, Heat taking care of Boston, taking care of Chicago, Lakers being swept, Dallas winning, Bynum attacking Barea, Lamar Odom- oh and the Rondo injury via Wade, so perhaps after it all dies down they may stack even but there weren't two traumatic injuries to start things off. At their best NY could have made this more competitive but Miami is just the better team, truthfully, they could beat any team in the East in a series and are favorites to win the championship. A few months ago I thought how the East was a decent place to do well in because the Heat were such favorites that you could improve and still get praised--the only team with even slight pressure in the East was Chicago but now that's all gone for at least this season and perhaps the next, depending on how Rose heals. So NY could go through changes, go through a run and not have to actually contend and build on to the next season but I did not expect to see them kind of fall down like this.

I'm telling you, if Chicago sans Rose got through Miami so much would happen: 1) ESPN would explode 2) Lebron haters would rejoice 3) Rose haters would rejoice 4) The question of whether it was Miami's loss or Chicago's win would make me want to die after I commit violent assaults 5) So much internet trolling

[littlerhymes]

Yeah, all the Gasol brothers seem really cool! It would be superawesome if the baby Gasol brother whose name I forget ended up in the NBA too. Gasol dynasty!

That Easter jibe was cruel, yet hilarious. Oh Chris Paul.

At the start of the playoffs, I was like 'it's cool, if Knicks can just win a game or two I'll be happy.' Within hours, I was (internally) sobbing and just praying they would all make it all out of the postseason alive and well, LOL.

Obviously now, the Knicks stand no chance against the Heat (sorry team) and unless The Derrick Rose Mutually Assured Destruction Scenario occurs (aka Bulls defeat Heat), then is there realistically any chance of the Heat not making the finals? Hmmm the Celtics did beat them a couple times late in the season, and they just beat the Hawks today without Rondo... but again, Celtics v Heat just sounds like a 'can't they both lose?' scenario LOL.

This has truly been a season of crazy drama. I guess it had to be, after the lockout, but even then!! Surely the only way we can end this season appropriately is with Chicago def. Miami, or Lin staging a miracle comeback, or the Mavericks actually defending their title...

Oh what the hell, just give it to Kobe again!!! LOL.

[wishfulclicking]

After Shumpert went down I was just gasping, and hoping Baron Davis stayed in one piece, and now the Amar'e thing. I understand people losing themselves in emotional moments but I really wish he hadn't been so injured in the process.

The HEat are favorites for get out of the East. I think if Chicago had been at full strength they may have had a chance to win more than one game (last season the series went 4-1) but now I can't even think about that now. If the HEat don't come out of the East and they don't have any injuries, then they should be shamed. Most feel that the Heat are guaranteed teh trophy but I think several teams in the West could take them in certain conditions.