# The Never-ending NBA Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 16, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295 "2009-04-16T15:45:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/301 "2009-06-01T23:50:43Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > HA. I forgot he was even there. Sorry, Tyronn, but you were never good. He was an Allen Iverson stopper one postseason. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/302 "2009-06-02T00:56:25Z")
And then he got stepped over by Allen Iverson. File that game under “Things that got my hopes up only to have them crushed mercilessly.” ---
**Author:** ![vandal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/858c86/32.png) [@vandal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vandal)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/303 "2009-06-02T03:17:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Nobody called Orlando a “championship team”, and two players from a 15-man roster does not make the Lakers one either. How many players does it take then? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/304 "2009-06-02T03:41:21Z")
More than that. ---
**Author:** ![Moonchild](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@Moonchild](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonchild)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/305 "2009-06-02T06:57:38Z")
The Lakers haven’t put it all together all season and yet they won 65 games. But they sure had it going against Denver in Game 6. Playing in last season’s Finals is going to be a big help to them, too. I’ll take the uber-safe prediction and say they win it in 6, but 5 wouldn’t surprise me. I’ll give Orlando a shooter’s chance – and they can be great shooters. News out of L.A. is that they’re going to put Bynum on Howard and Gasol on Lewis. That’s two pretty big mismatches, although I wouldn’t count Bynum out just yet (but maybe by the 2nd quarter of Game 1). Oh, another screaming news flash: if the Lakers get a big contribution from Lamar Odom, they should win handily. But that’s become a mantra for Lakers followers. Hey, Lamar, stay out of the fuckin’ gummy bears until the postgame, okay? ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/306 "2009-06-02T14:57:41Z")
> [@vandal](#): > > How many players does it take then? A championship team is a team that has MOST of the players of the team that won a championship and all of the key ones. This years Boston Celtics are a championship team, the Spurs are an aging championship team, the Heat and the Lakers? sorry, no. ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/307 "2009-06-02T15:24:38Z")
> [@vandal](#): > > How many players does it take then? Usually eight to ten, depending on rotations. Oh, I see. You’re talking about something else. Honestly, neither of these teams seems like a “Championship Team,” capital “c,” capital “t.” I’m reminded of Heat/Dallas, both of whom did significantly worse the following season. I think, to a certain extent, the phrase is just a synonym for guys who aren’t rattled and who shine in big moments. The only guy in this series we’re really sure of is Kobe, though I’d argue Orlando, collectively, has come up big time and time again this series (closing out Philly without Howard, closing out Boston, in Boston, closing out the Cavs with an ether rag). The more I think about it, the more I’m talking myself into Orlando. In six? ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/308 "2009-06-02T15:35:52Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > Usually eight to ten, depending on rotations. > > Oh, I see. You’re talking about something else. Honestly, neither of these teams seems like a “Championship Team,” capital “c,” capital “t.” I’m reminded of Heat/Dallas, both of whom did significantly worse the following season. > > I think, to a certain extent, the phrase is just a synonym for guys who aren’t rattled and who shine in big moments. The only guy in this series we’re really sure of is Kobe, though I’d argue Orlando, collectively, has come up big time and time again this series (closing out Philly without Howard, closing out Boston, in Boston, closing out the Cavs with an ether rag). The more I think about it, the more I’m talking myself into Orlando. In six? I think I’m with you. This is starting to sound more and more like the title that the Pistons won over the “unstoppable” Kobe-Shaq Lakers. Nobody is giving Orlando a chance and nobody had given them a chance this entire postseason. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/309 "2009-06-02T15:36:51Z")
> [@Birdmonster](#): > > The more I think about it, the more I’m talking myself into Orlando. In six? Note that as of [2004](http://www.nba.com/finals2003/breakdown_232.html)\*, no prospective underdog (ie., team that doesn’t have home-court) had ever won all three of the “3” portion of the 2-3-2 Finals schedule. Also, no underdog had ever won both of the two road games at the end. So, if we assume those continue to hold true, the Magic _must_ win at least one out of the first two games in LA. \*I can’t figure out exactly when that article is written but since it doesn’t mention any series after '03 I figured '04 was probably right. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/310 "2009-06-02T15:40:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So, if we assume those continue to hold true, the Magic _must_ win at least one out of the first two games in LA. Which really wouldn’t surprise me to be honest. They took one in Boston, they took one in Cleveland. BTW has any team ever won the championship by defeating the number 1 2 and 3 teams of the regular season? ---
**Author:** ![Birdmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@Birdmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Birdmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/311 "2009-06-02T16:00:48Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Note that as of [2004](http://www.nba.com/finals2003/breakdown_232.html)\*, no prospective underdog (ie., team that doesn’t have home-court) had ever won all three of the “3” portion of the 2-3-2 Finals schedule. Also, no underdog had ever won both of the two road games at the end. Ugh. Every year I forget about the idiotic Final scheduling. I can see Orlando taking one in LA, dropping one in Orlando, and closing it out in front of the largely comatose LA crowd. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/312 "2009-06-02T17:18:38Z")
I think there’s little chance of that. I doubt the Lakers will even need those last two home games. I think they win in 5 at the most. I prefer the 2-3-2, system, by the way. It minimizes travel time ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/313 "2009-06-02T17:26:37Z")
Oh, **Dio**. What exactly have you got against Orlando? Remember, the karma is totally on our side in this one. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/314 "2009-06-02T17:31:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Oh, **Dio**. What exactly have you got against Orlando? Remember, the karma is totally on our side in this one. Oh fuck me. I’m betting with you on my side? The Orlando Kevin Smiths can’t win now. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/315 "2009-06-02T17:39:59Z")
> [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](#): > > Oh fuck me. I’m betting with you on my side? The Orlando Kevin Smiths can’t win now. I draw your attention again to my pre-playoff prediction, which appeared on Page 1 of this thread: [QUOTE=Me] RNATB predicts: Magic knock off Cavs in Eastern Finals, then get destroyed by Lakers in Finals. [/QUOTE] I’ve reformatted it slightly to reflect the relative certainty and importance of the individual events predicted at the time. Yeah, that’s it. ---
**Author:** ![Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e480ec/32.png) [@Least\_Original\_User\_Name\_Ever](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Least_Original_User_Name_Ever)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/316 "2009-06-02T17:50:20Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I draw your attention again to my pre-playoff prediction, which appeared on Page 1 of this thread: > > I’ve reformatted it slightly to reflect the relative certainty and importance of the individual events predicted at the time. > > Yeah, that’s it. I like the “underdog” East winning as opposed to the pre-destined Lakers. I’m still on board, but I’m wary. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/317 "2009-06-02T17:52:01Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Oh, **Dio**. What exactly have you got against Orlando? I lived there when I was in the Navy. Bad memories. Also, Dwight Howard rubs me the wrong way – it’s the constant smirking. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/318 "2009-06-02T17:52:38Z")
I’m genuinely expecting the Magic to win. Since I made that prediction, they’ve performed even better than I expected, while the Lakers have been pretty subpar. I did not believe we would pull off that Game 7 win in Boston. Since then, I don’t see a limit on what this team can do. [QUOTE=Diogenes] I lived there when I was in the Navy. Bad memories. [/QUOTE] Oh. That’s it? In that case, you’ll be pleased to know that what used to be the Naval Training Station is now a [housing development for yuppies.](http://www.baldwinparkfl.com/web/) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/319 "2009-06-02T17:59:17Z")
Really? I knew it had been shut down, of course, but I didn’t know what it had become. I can still feel those fucking grinders under my feet. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2009, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295/320 "2009-06-02T19:36:13Z")
Nothing under your feet there now except exquisitely manicured lawns. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-never-ending-nba-playoffs/493295.md?page=17)