My heart is with the Hornets, but my money is on George Karl and the Nuggets.

I'm 100% pulling for the Hornets.

Go Chauncey!

At least when the Pistons are fumbling under the Binary Man I can watch another team make a run in the playoffs.

Go Chauncey!

Boom!

Here comes Chauncey!

Ugh. Have to listen to Reggie in order to watch Chauncey.

Chauncey with 16 in the first.

I'm watching this and the NHL Sharks. Nene has an edge to him. I thought he was just another nice guy. I want players with an edge to him. I'd have no prob if JoeD could pluck him away from Kiki.

Kiki is in NJ now.

Yeah, I was checking to see if you guys knew that or not. :)

15 points in the 3rd. 33 total. That Chuancey Billups is fun to watch.

8 threes. Billups would look great in a piston uniform.

I'm shaking my head after every shot he hits. He is on fire.

8 threes. Billups would look great in a piston uniform.

Think we could trade for him? We have the cap space.

Think we could trade for him? We have the cap space.

Imagine Billups and Carmelo together in detroit. Too bad that was never a possibility.

I just threw up a little in my mouth. Mmm, bitter.

He's playing better than any Piston.

I had this entire trade thing 100% wrong. I didn't think he'd work out in
Denver.

Props to those who had this trade right. Mo did, iirc.

Chris Andersen might be the most ridiculous looking player in he nba.

First Carlisle, then Flip Murray, now this. It's like payback time for Pistons fans or something.


Billups Comes Up Big In Playoff Opener

By Jeremy Wagner | TrueHoop Network

When he introduced Chauncey Billups earlier this season, George Karl proclaimed, "Our next step has been to win in the playoffs and anybody who has been in the Eastern Conference championships six years in a row, knows how to win in the playoffs."

On a night where the Nuggets clearly came out tight to start the game, Billups showed them how to win. He was the only Nugget unfazed by the pressure. During the first quarter, Billups shot 5-for-6 while the rest of the Denver players were 2-for-12.

As the game wore on Billups' play allowed the other Nuggets to relax and that led to an offensive barrage, including a 21-0 second-half run, that blew the game open.

More important than the baskets he made was his vocal leadership. Billups was constantly communicating with his teammates on the court giving encouragement and instruction. He was teaching this perennial playoff flop how to win.

While most of the attention will be on Billups' brilliant offensive performance, the Nuggets' incredible defense should not be overlooked. Chris Paul was "held" to his season averages and Kenyon Martin absolutely dominated David West, who shot 4-for-16 and struggled to get an open look. Billups' shot will come and go, but if the Nuggets can continue to play defense like that, the rest of the West better take notice.

and we traded this guy for cap space, hurts, doesn't it?
whatever Dumars does in the summer, i really doubt we can replace Billups leadership...he was worth the money he's getting payed, why couldn't we just trade RIP or Tay... :/

I told y'all before the game.

Chauncey didn't go - he fucking went.

Way to Go CB - 31+ for the game too (according to Yahoo)

Gotta love our boy...

We should have traded Tay.

Chris Andersen might be the most ridiculous looking player in he nba.

Wish we had him blocking shots like that. Instead we have Amir out there running around clueless.

I caaught the 4th quarter of this game. Wow...the Hornets look horrible. maybe because they were down to begin with, but this nuggets team just schooled the hornets. I can see the Hornets making trades...

btw billups is a huge reason why the nuggets are controlling this series. he's got the leadership and knows how to play in games that mean shit.

I think the failed Chandler trade might have just destroyed/demoralized this team. The fact that their financial trouble is so public also must not be helping. These guys all know that their team is going to be dismantled over the next few months.

I imagine Chris Paul and David West are thinking about all the players management will trade away over the the next couple of years as they need to cut costs.

Chandler is likely wondering if Tay and him can talk about Compton shit all day long, or if Tay will be elsewhere by the time Chandler arrives.

Peja is probably wondering if he can go back to Europe and get Childress money, cause this NBA shit is too hard.

Mo Pete is likely wondering where Mateen is and why he never calls. Mo will decide that when his contract expires he will go serach for his old buddy and the 2 of them will "travel the world and have adventures" together.

The rest of the Hornets don't care about the team having to save money, cause all of them make next to nothing anyway and management will not be shipping them off any time soon

LOL

Hornets win by 2..i hope the nuggets win in 5..so we can get david west and tyson for maxiell and kwaame

I don't think they'd trade West or Paul.

If they keep those 2 they can add shitty role players around them every other off-season and hope to be a playoff contender. It'll be like the Utah Jazz with Stockton and Malone... without Sloan or Hornacek.

Chandler for Kwame should be a fucking lock - it makes sense for both teams and IIRC Joe was a bit of Tyson fan way back when.

Dealing Maxiell? Since he signed an extension isn't there restrictions for trading him? Isn't he one of those Poison Pills (I am not too well versed on the new CBA)?

yeah i wasn't being serious, just dreaming. maxiell is going to be hard to trade, but yea i forgot what it was exactly

I don't think they'd trade West or Paul.

If they keep those 2 they can add shitty role players around them every other off-season and hope to be a playoff contender. It'll be like the Utah Jazz with Stockton and Malone... without Sloan or Hornacek.

Chandler for Kwame should be a fucking lock - it makes sense for both teams and IIRC Joe was a bit of Tyson fan way back when.

Dealing Maxiell? Since he signed an extension isn't there restrictions for trading him? Isn't he one of those Poison Pills (I am not too well versed on the new CBA)?

Yeah, but doesn't poison pill just mean we have to take extra salary back for him? All it means is he's worth half his extension right now. And wouldn't he not be BYC next year when he's actually on the extension?

I thought you'd know all this CBA stuff Chris.

I'm not up to date on the new one like I was on the old one. I'll have to study it but with 2 kids and work I dont really have time to study basketball stuff.

I just come on here and type fuck a thousand times and then bail.

well, I'm not postitive on when he is no longer a BYC player. I would assume that tag goes away when he actually is on his extension but I don't know for sure.

Either way, all it means is we have to take additional salary back, which doesn't matter because we're likely trading him for a better/costlier player anyway.

I think it's usually June 1, the year after they sign.

Yeah, the Hornets look like they've given up.

Down by 44 at home, with 9 minutes to go still?

This is what youcall embarrassment

Hornets had like 27 turnovers. 24 points in the second half.

You could have had Hornets +57.5 in Vegas and still lost.

The Hornets are DONE.

That Byron Scott can coach.

I had the Nuggets in 5 in the bracket contest. I need that to catch up to you guys (had the Pistons losing in 5 so I missed on those extra points).

Hornets are done. They quit on themselves and Tyson didn't even play...