Cleveland Playoff Watch Thread

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
There is no way. In another thread I suggested that the Suns might have to use their lottery pick to move White if the Bobcats decided to play hardball.

It would be a blunder of monumental proportions if the Phoenix Suns used their lottery pick to unload White. As bad as I thought the Tom Gugliotta trade was I still don't believe there's any chance the Phoenix Suns would use their lottery pick to get rid of White. Now if they could dump Eisley that might be another story.

Joe Mama

 

[elindholm]

If the pick is in the 5-7 range, I could see the Suns giving it up pretty easily if it made the difference in being able to sign Bryant. I think if the choice is the #6 pick and second-tier stars, or no pick and Bryant, the Suns will actually have a pretty easy decision.

 

[Joe Mama]

Originally posted by elindholm
If the pick is in the 5-7 range, I could see the Suns giving it up pretty easily if it made the difference in being able to sign Bryant. I think if the choice is the #6 pick and second-tier stars, or no pick and Bryant, the Suns will actually have a pretty easy decision.

I guess I was just assuming that the Phoenix Suns would have one of the top draft picks. I also believe that if the Phoenix Suns do move their lottery pick to get rid of Jahidi White it's a sign that they are quite positive they can get Kobe Bryant.

Joe Mama

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
I guess I was just assuming that the Phoenix Suns would have one of the top draft picks. I also believe that if the Phoenix Suns do move their lottery pick to get rid of Jahidi White it's a sign that they are quite positive they can get Kobe Bryant.

Joe Mama

It feels as if the risk of being accused of "tampering" could be pretty high. If Kobe really wanted to go to the Suns, the best way to do that would be to make a definitivie statement that he will change teams and give an indication of how much it would take. If after the season is over he remains non-committal, it becomes a real crap shoot.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
It feels as if the risk of being accused of "tampering" could be pretty high.

Being accused of tampering, and being found guilty of it are two different things. It is actually very hard to prove tampering, unless there are comments to the media.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

Originally posted by elindholm
If the pick is in the 5-7 range, I could see the Suns giving it up pretty easily if it made the difference in being able to sign Bryant. I think if the choice is the #6 pick and second-tier stars, or no pick and Bryant, the Suns will actually have a pretty easy decision.

I agree. There won't be many impact players in the 3-9 range as it looks now. Most of the people are Euro projects or high school studs.

Even if they suns get the number 3 pick, I would think they would try and pawn it off to the Cats for Eisley.

Unless of course some surprise players come up before the expansion draft kicking Okafor a couple spots down.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by thegrahamcrackr
I agree. There won't be many impact players in the 3-9 range as it looks now. Most of the people are Euro projects or high school studs.

Even if they suns get the number 3 pick, I would think they would try and pawn it off to the Cats for Eisley.

Unless of course some surprise players come up before the expansion draft kicking Okafor a couple spots down.

Okafor might go #2, but no lower. My guess depending on who drafts first: Atlanta and Washington would go for Howard and Chicago and Orlando would go for Okafor.

 

[slinslin]

I think Chicago will be dumb enough to take Deng #2 or even #1.

They have their big guy projects.

Paxson said that all of the highschool guys need college in his opinion and that he watched a lot of Duke practices or something like that.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

I agree it is unliekly he falls to far, but it is always possible

 

[George O'Brien]

Back to the original topic, the Cavs lost to the Rockets tonight. It was in Houston, but the Cavs kept it close until late. Disappointing, but I think the Cavs will be competitive in the East.

 

[slinslin]

Not the Cavs but the...

Wizards won again and now have 18 wins.

Arenas
21/12/13/0/1
Kwame
15/13/1/1/3



Curry

 

[slinslin]

Cavs up 15

TMac another really bad game.

 

[slinslin]

Spoke too soon. Cavs are choking and TMac had like 15 points in the last 5 minutes.

Cavs fouled him on a game-tying 3 with 9sec left, TMac hits all 3 freethrows and Lebron on commits an offensive foul on the Cavs last play.

OT

 

[scudney]

It actually might not be a bad idea if the magic win tonight. If the magic win, and we end up losing to the sonics tonight, orlando would only be 2 games back of us.

I think it is more likely orlando finishes ahead of us instead of atlanta.

 

[zett]

well cleveland wins and we do too, Are we trying to screw up the only good thing we had going this year?

 

[George O'Brien]

Magic Miss Mark in OT
Tracy McGrady drilled three free throws with 9.2 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, but the Magic couldn't keep pace with the Cavaliers in a 112-107 loss on Friday. McGrady's 35 points led Orlando while Drew Gooden added 14 points and 14 boards. The Magic visit Atlanta on Saturday.

nba.com

Orlando versus Atlanta. Wow.

 

[devilalum]

Originally posted by George O'Brien
nba.com

Orlando versus Atlanta. Wow.

I guess somebody has to win?

 

[slinslin]

New York lost 6 in a row and is still #6 in the East!
Toronto lost 9 in a row and is still #7 in the East.
Miami lost 3 in a row and is #8 in the East.

Cleveland will make the playoffs. Outside of the top 5 in the East they are the only team in the East at .500 or better over the last 10.

 

[slinslin]

Washington won in OT!

Bulls up on Cleveland by 12 in the third.

Too bad Orlando lost.

 

[George O'Brien]

Cleveland did not play last night but everyone else lost, so they are now within a game of 8th place.

 

[scudney]

Cleveland up 108-70 on Atlanta with 5 mins left in 4th qtr

Orlando down 7 with 3 mins left.

Washington up 15 with 6 mins left.

Looks like Washington will win tonight, so that means Atlanta, Washington, and the Suns will all have 20 wins (assuming we don't win tonight)

Edit: I think we should have another thread just for the lottery watch (ie. Washington, Suns, Atlanta, Orlando, etc)

 

[jbeecham]

Cleveland won tonight and is within a 1/2 game of the playoffs.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by scudney
Cleveland up 108-70 on Atlanta with 5 mins left in 4th qtr

Orlando down 7 with 3 mins left.

Washington up 15 with 6 mins left.

Looks like Washington will win tonight, so that means Atlanta, Washington, and the Suns will all have 20 wins (assuming we don't win tonight)

Edit: I think we should have another thread just for the lottery watch (ie. Washington, Suns, Atlanta, Orlando, etc)

Washington is actually winning some games. Even without Stackhouse, they have some talent on that team. But the rest of the Eastern teams are pretty bad. They don't need to tank it to lose, they just do what comes naturally.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This morning's Republic shows Cleveland now in the 8 spot in the East. They must own the tie breakers so far with Miami and Toronto. Anyone know about this?

This year is probably the year to get that Cleveland pick. They will probably be better next year, hence, a worse pick.

 

[George O'Brien]

Originally posted by JCSunsfan
This morning's Republic shows Cleveland now in the 8 spot in the East. They must own the tie breakers so far with Miami and Toronto. Anyone know about this?

This year is probably the year to get that Cleveland pick. They will probably be better next year, hence, a worse pick.

Tonight the Cavs host the Bucks while the Heat are in Sacramento and Boston (1/2 game ahead of the Cavs) are in Minnesota. Milwaukee has been playing pretty well, but they are only 10-20 on the road.

Go Cavs.