As of today's update from MoTown in the PLAYOFF METER http://wtfdetroit.com/viewtopic.php?t=1534 (that's cross promotion, folks), here is how things stand:


Current Playoff Matchups:

Eastern Conference
(1) Detroit (53-13)
(8) Philadelphia (31-35)

(4) Cleveland (38-29)
(5) Washington (34-31)

(3) New Jersey (37-28)
(6) Indiana (33-31)

(2) Miami (45-21)
(7) Milwaukee (34-33)

In the Hunt:
Chicago (29-38)

Western Conference

(1) San Antonio (52-14)
(8) Sacramento (33-33)

(4) Dallas (52-15)
(5) LA Clippers (39-26)

(3) Denver (38-30)
(6) Memphis (37-29)

(2) Phoenix (45-20)
(7) LA Lakers (35-34)

In the Hunt:
NO/OK City (31-33)
Utah (31-35)

Which series would you be most interested in watching? Which ones are dogs?

My top 4 would be:

1. Pistons-Sixers
2. Spurs-Kings
3. Nets-Pacers
4. Mavs-Clips

I only did 4 because the rest of them either don't interest me, or I think they'll be sweeps/near sweeps.

Pistons and Sixers - Only because the pistons are involved. Philly dosnt stand a chance

Indy and Jersey - Gotta know which one of these bitch made teams we'll be beating in round 2

Spurs and Kings Believe it or not, I think that the kings could stretch this series out to 6 or 7 if Ron Artest can play good enough Defense on Manu. And if Brad Miller can hold his own VS TD, we might have a great series on our hands

Only possible upset I see in the east is Indiana/NJ. NJ will have no answer for Jermaine Oneal.

Dallas vs the Clips should also be a great series. Neither Band nor Dirk can guard each other.

Wont even discuss the rest of the west, because the 7/8 spots can change like every 10 minutes.

Miami will steamroll to the conference finals, probably playing a tital of nine games to get there. Furthermore since they're pretty much set as the second seed, Shaq, Wade and Co. will be rested the last 5-6 games of the season and should be ready to roll come playoff time.

If they get Indiana in round 2, I guarentee it goes longer than 5 games. Indiana has owned them.

Miami very well could end up with Indy in round 1 too, which I would prefer over them getting Milwaukee (even though Milwaukee has all those bigs).

It's only .5 game difference between Indy & the Bucks right now for the 6-7 spots.

Oneal is supposed to come back in a week or so, I wouldn't expect them to drop any further.

Oneal is supposed to come back in a week or so, I wouldn't expect them to drop any further.

They were 21-20 when he went out (.512)

They are 12-11 since (.521)

I would love to watch Artest on Manu and Bowen on Artest. Would also like to see Parker guard Bibby.

Interesting bracket. Who do you guys see winning if that 3/6 NJ/Indy matchup holds?

I'd like to see Indiana play Miami in the 2nd round. Indy plays really well against them, and its exactly the kind of dogfight that could wear them out a little. Especially if they try to really rest Shaq to "save" him for us.

If they get Indiana in round 2, I guarentee it goes longer than 5 games. Indiana has owned them.
this is true but only if tinsley is healthy. he eats miami alive.

The Kings are better than their record and poised to be a team that no one would want to play against. i think they could upset dallas and/or phoenix if they get them.

If they get Indiana in round 2, I guarentee it goes longer than 5 games. Indiana has owned them.
this is true but only if tinsley is healthy. he eats miami alive.

I am not so sure Indy is going to do so well against Miami as everyone predicts. If they still had Artest, maybe. But with Peja, I am not so sure they will.

If they get Indiana in round 2, I guarentee it goes longer than 5 games. Indiana has owned them.
this is true but only if tinsley is healthy. he eats miami alive.

I am not so sure Indy is going to do so well against Miami as everyone predicts. If they still had Artest, maybe. But with Peja, I am not so sure they will.
artest was irrlevent to the wins they've had against miami. I'm telling you its tinsley and oneal. Peja has to guard posey and fatoine walker. not that tall a task for him.

Lakers moved into the seventh spot in the West with their victory over the Kings today, while the Kings dropped to the eighth spot.

Still looks like Sacramento will win a tiebreaker due to better conference record. LA is going to have to beat them in the standings.

To me, Lakers stand no fucking chance in the playoffs. Kobe will be the only one hitting anything.

The only teams in our conference im scared of is Indy Nets or Heat, and we are bound to play 1 or 2 of them.

The Nets? Get the fuck outta here with that shit.

Sacramento will be a tough team to play come May. Even if they don't win the series, which they won't, they will wear down whoever they play more than any other team below the fourth seed will.

The nets can be scary if their trio is healthy even if their leading rebounder is Jason Kidd.

I wouldn't use the term scary... I think annoying is more appropriate.

Looks like if we stay matched up with Philly they will have a familiar face back in the fold.

http://www.nba.com/sixers/news/green_060323.html


76ers Sign Willie Green

posted March 23, 2006

Philadelphia 76ers President Billy King announced today that the team has signed restricted free agent guard Willie Green to a contract. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed. With the transaction, the Sixers roster now stands at 14.

Green rejoins the Sixers after missing the majority of this season rehabilitating from arthroscopic left knee surgery done in August of 2005.

For his career, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound guard has averaged 7.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 16.7 minutes per game in 110 games (21 starts). He logged time in all five of the Sixers First Round Playoff games last season against the Detroit Pistons, averaging 5.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.6 assists in 12.6 minutes per game.

Green was originally selected in the second round (41st pick overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft by the Seattle Supersonics. He was acquired by Philadelphia from Seattle in a draft night trade for the draft rights to Paccelis Morlende (50th pick overall) and an undisclosed amount of cash.

During his collegiate career, Green played four seasons at the University of Detroit Mercy where he was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press during his senior year, and won 2003 Horizon League Player of the Year honors. Over his career at Detroit Mercy, Green averaged 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in 114 games.


Wow, a Paccelis Morlende reference too!

What if we get beat by Dallas again(they have the tie breaker over us), SA holds the tie breaker edge over Dallas, and with our two victories over SA we have the tie breaker over them.

Now what if there is a three way tie at the end of the season?? What happens??

Dallas>Detroit>SA>Dallas...

Now what if there is a three way tie at the end of the season?? What happens??

Dallas>Detroit>SA>Dallas...

Um, huh?

It doesnt matter since we're all not fighting for one playoff seed.

What does it matter if all 3 teams are tied? Tiebreakers are going to go the same way anyway.

Now what if there is a three way tie at the end of the season?? What happens??

Dallas>Detroit>SA>Dallas...

Um, huh?

It doesnt matter since we're all not fighting for one playoff seed.

What does it matter if all 3 teams are tied? Tiebreakers are going to go the same way anyway.

The question would have been who got HCA. However HCA would depend on what two teams met in the finals sorta deal. So my question is pointless.

Carry on.

Now what if there is a three way tie at the end of the season?? What happens??

Dallas>Detroit>SA>Dallas...

Um, huh?

It doesnt matter since we're all not fighting for one playoff seed.

What does it matter if all 3 teams are tied? Tiebreakers are going to go the same way anyway.

Isn't it best record against the opposing conference?

Now what if there is a three way tie at the end of the season?? What happens??

Dallas>Detroit>SA>Dallas...

Um, huh?

It doesnt matter since we're all not fighting for one playoff seed.

What does it matter if all 3 teams are tied? Tiebreakers are going to go the same way anyway.

Isn't it best record against the opposing conference?

That's if one team doesnt have a head-to-head tiebreaker, AND it's out of conference.

Basically, if we beat dallas and yet they tied with us at the end of the season, it would come down to that.

...of course if we beat dallas and phoenix, we would then be tied with the Mavs in THAT category as well, 5 losses apiece in the other team's conference.

Gotcha.

here's the tiebreakers for out-of-conference teams:

1. head-to-head.
2. record vs opposite conference.
3. record within own division.
4. record vs playoff teams in own conference.
5. record vs playoff teams in opposing conference.
6. net points.

Assuming the Pistons beat dallas to even up the 1st (and 2nd) tiebreaker, the Pistons are currently 1 game better in their own division.

The Nets might be annoying, but even that is giving them too many props.

(is that term still "popular"?)

I don't respect that team at all.

Kidd = wife beater
Vince = no heart, tanked in Toronto
Jefferson = big mouth, little ears

fixed - MoTown

Who would you guys rather face in the first round?

Milwaukee
Philly
Chicago

I know somebody is going to say "doesn't matter" but I'd like to see who everyone thinks is the weakest of the three.

Who would you guys rather face in the first round?

Milwaukee
Philly
Chicago

I know somebody is going to say "doesn't matter" but I'd like to see who everyone thinks is the weakest of the three.
Milwaukee. they have the least amount of playoff experience and ability to grind it out combined.

chicago.

i don't really fear any of the other teams, but i think Philly (AI, AI, CWebb) and the Bucks (TJ, Redd, Simmons) can do damage....while the Bulls suck. plus they have the worst record of the three.

although sweeping Skiles out of the playoffs would be pretty sweet...

Chicago has Ben Bordon and Kirk Hinrich.

Id face Chicago too.

Chicago doesnt have that one scorer that can make you double team him at times

Iverson, Redd, ?

Besides, I dont think we lost to them at all this season. Wait, we never did lose to any 3 of them.

Redd isn't going to fuck anyone up. He's good but not that good.

Redd can get streaky. If hes't hot, he can drop +30 on any given night.
And thats because thats all he ever does...shoot

Milwaukee. I sorta fear a Philly upset, and Rasheed will collect a few T's if we played Chicago.

Philly I fear least of all. Worst chemistry of any playoff contender.

they have basically the same team as last year, and I don't think Iverson believes he can beat us.

Redd can get streaky. If hes't hot, he can drop +30 on any given night.
And thats because thats all he ever does...shoot
but he can't pass. in fact he has a tendency to take them out of the flow when he feels like he's hot. he's just a shooter. no defense, passing, or shit else.

I know this is looking mighty far ahead, but which team would you most want to meet coming out of the West?? To tell you the truth PHX is the team I simply don't want to see i the finals. SA has been there before and it would be a solid heavyweight battle, Dallas might be wowed by the whole atmosphere and play too tight.

I think it might be a case of choosing the battle you know vs fighting the unknown entity.

Of the big three in the West is San Antonio the best match-up for us?

Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups play Amare and Nash extremely well.

Ben's the only center in the NBA quick enough to stay with Amare.

If I recall on TNT they listed Chauncey Billups as the guy that gives Nash the most trouble defensively.

If I recall on TNT they listed Chauncey Billups as the guy that gives Nash the most trouble defensively.
Yeah because he just bullies his way through screens. And at the other end of the floor Chauncey wears Nash out, Steve can do nothing against C-Bill defensively.

Steve Nash can do nothing to any point guard defensively. Alex Acker would have a 40 point game against that paper MVP.

.....soon to be 2-time paper MVP.

.....soon to be 2-time paper MVP.
i disagree with that. you take him out and put phoenix up against any playoff team its a 1st round exit IMO. their numbers and wins overall when he's not in arent that promising.

Either way he probally won't win it. it'll go to kobe the true paper mvp.

Considering Phoenix's record without Amare, I don't even think it'll be that close.

Considering Phoenix's record without Amare, I don't even think it'll be that close.
Maybe not. Whoever wins, no one will be satisfied and someone will feel they got a raw deal.

The season MVP is a paper award, so its silly to call these guys paper MVPs.

nash will get it, and I don't have any complaints about him getting it this year. without him (and with amare out) phoenix would be anywhere from lottery to to near playoff contention.

Looks like we could get Chicago in the first round. That doesn't bode well for Rasheed, as he'll likely pick up a couple technicals battling with Nocioni.

Chicago has 12 games remaining, four against play-off teams(Indy, NJ, Wash, Miami), Philly has 13 games remaining, six against play-off teams(Det, Clev, Wash, NJ, Miami, NJ). Chicago and Philly play each other two more times yet, and that will go a helluva long way to determine who makes the play-offs as the eighth seed.

Looks like we could get Chicago in the first round. That doesn't bode well for Rasheed, as he'll likely pick up a couple technicals battling with Nocioni
weird i think he'll be more likely to laugh at him in the post again and again and again. nocioni only played against sheed one game. chicago learned their lesson after that and put him on ben wallace.

Chicago doesnt strike supreme fear into me at all. but they will give us a seriously physical matchup. but we are too much on the front line for them to keep up.

Looks like we could get Chicago in the first round. That doesn't bode well for Rasheed, as he'll likely pick up a couple technicals battling with Nocioni.

Chicago has 12 games remaining, four against play-off teams(Indy, NJ, Wash, Miami), Philly has 13 games remaining, six against play-off teams(Det, Clev, Wash, NJ, Miami, NJ). Chicago and Philly play each other two more times yet, and that will go a helluva long way to determine who makes the play-offs as the eighth seed.

Chicago is the team that I'd like us to draw.

We match up with their half court offense pretty well, and maybe it would be what we need to get in that "controlled" mindset and not play in such a "freewheeling" manner.

Iverson scares me. Not so much in that I think Philly would beat us, but the potential is always there for him to steal a game or two just on his own efforts alone, and our guys really don't need to be expending all of that energy/legs chasing that tough little waterbug around.

Chicago would have to play nearly pefect to steal even a game from us, giving us more time to rest our by-then weary starters.

Oh, and I'd love to punk Skiles yet again.

Chicago is giving minutes to Luke Schenshure......I fear no Chicago.

http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/16049.jpg

http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/16049.jpgLMFAO. I agree.

I know somebody is going to say "doesn't matter" but I'd like to see who everyone thinks is the weakest of the three.




http://www.mattscdsingles.com/acatalog/16049.jpgLMFAO. I agree.

A self fulfilling prophecy, I suppose.

Suppose we get Chicago. Our first and second round matchups would be an hour away by plane. Not that Philly is that far away, but it would be nice for our team to have "close" opponents for the first two rounds and not have to sit on planes for hours at a time.

Suppose we get Chicago. Our first and second round matchups would be an hour away by plane. Not that Philly is that far away, but it would be nice for our team to have "close" opponents for the first two rounds and not have to sit on planes for hours at a time.

We just have to hope Washington gets bumped off and we'll have a nice travel schedule for the first couple of rounds. First round is either Chicago, Milwaukee or Philly, and the secod would could be either Cleveland, Washington or possibly Indy.

When is Larry Hughes due back?? He'll make Cleveland that much more dangerous.

Suppose we get Chicago. Our first and second round matchups would be an hour away by plane. Not that Philly is that far away, but it would be nice for our team to have "close" opponents for the first two rounds and not have to sit on planes for hours at a time.

We just have to hope Washington gets bumped off and we'll have a nice travel schedule for the first couple of rounds. First round is either Chicago, Milwaukee or Philly, and the secod would could be either Cleveland, Washington or possibly Indy.

When is Larry Hughes due back?? He'll make Cleveland that much more dangerous.

Hughes should be back before the end of the regular season.

I'd LOVE to drive to CHI for a game, its only about and hour and a half for me without traffic.

It's a longshot, but NJ still has a chance to catch Miami for the #2 seed.

NJ is 5.5 games behind The Heat right now.

Miami has 12 games left, 6 at home, 6 on the road.

NJ has 13 games left, 8 at home, 5 on the road.

With Zo out and Shaq logging heavy minutes, it would be nice to see that race tighten up a bit more.

Bring em all on!

But I would love to face Chicago. If they put poor Shaggy on Sheed, then Sheed will make Scooby Snacks out of him. I'd be worried about our D against Shags and Gordon, but that's my only concern about them. Pistons win in 5.

It looks like Chicago and Philly are in a fight to NOT make the playoffs. After all the talk about Chicago getting hot, they've manage to blow every opportunity they have to take the spot of the struggling sixers.

Looking at our remaining schedule, we could sorta control the match-ups.

The 5-6-7 seeds are Washington, Milwaukee, Indiana. Now we play Milwaukee twice and Idiana and Washington once. If we laid down for Milwaukee, I think it would pretty much guarentee them not finishing in the seventh spot, and pretty much guarentee a Miami vs Indiana first round match-up - especially if we beat Indiana later in the month. Now I expect Washington will hold on to the 5 seed, and that's okay with me because we'll play the winner of Cleveland/Washington and that series should make both teams work. Indy plays Miami tough, and if Zo is not back yet, it could be very interesting. New Jersey would get Milwaukee in the firdt round, which I think would be a cakewalk for them. After a tough series against Indy, Miami would then run into a ready and rested New Jersey in the second round.

We'll be in tough against Cleveland, especially of Hughes is back. But I think our experinece would win out in 6 at the most.

Nenad's midrange game would make Shaq work, and Wade would be dog tired from guarding VC for the series(and vice versa if NJ came out).

Of course we can't lay down to Milwaukee, with HCA on the line and the Karma bitch slap that would come with such a move anyways, I'm just saying is all.

Indiana falls to 7th, daamn. Its close enough though that they could still easily get 6 or float to 5. I definetly want Indiana on Miami's side of the bracket though. I'm just sick and tired of seeing prick carlisle and jermaine "my face looks like a 14 year old girl" oneal and jamaal "i've just been injured by a gust of wind" tinsley and stephen jackson's ugly face and their nasty yellow jerseys and all of their crap in the playoffs.
Plus they always play well against Miami so we could see a interesting battle.

if this past game aginst philly is any indication, we're going to crush these guys in the 1st round. Brackets as they are right now look good to me.

Despite falling to 36-36, the Bucks still hold the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference. The last time that three teams with sub.-500 records made the playoffs in one conference was 1991-92, when New Jersey (40-42), Indiana (40-42) and Miami (38-44) all made it. They went a combined 1-9 in the East's first round.

Bulls just moved into the 8th spot with their win over Philly.

The Bulls and Sixers have two games against each other - that will more than likely decide who we are playing....

Man, is this assinine or what?


Look at this shit;

Washington 5 39 38
Indiana 6 37 40
Milwaukee 7 37 40
Philadelphia 8 36 41
Chicago 35 41
Orlando 33 44

We could end up playing one of SIX DAMN teams before the season is out. MAN the bottom of the East sucks.

How the hell do you even BEGIN scouting?

You know... we might be able to almost decide our playoff opponent. Right now, Milwaukee and Washington are tied for 6(7) and Chicago is 1 game back (with the tie breaker against Washington). It could easily come down to our final game against Washington where if we beat them we face them, and if we lose, we face Chicago. Not to mention we also play Milwaukee, so we could knock them down to the 8th spot if we beat them.

Which would you rather face- Chicago, Milwaukee, or Washington?...

Chicago- Playing well right now, but we swept them during the season.
Milwaukee- Swept them during the season so far, but Redd is a Piston killer, and all three games came down to late-game execution.
Washington- They are really sliding with Caron Butler out. They're probably playing the worst of all three teams, but we're 0-2 against them on the season. I don't know if that means anything, but it's not a GOOD thing.

We're not going to play the starters more than 1/2 the game against either washington or Milwaukee, so its a moot point.

We COULD decide who we play, but we won't. We'll lose both games regardless.

Of course if our 3rd string manages to beat either team ill be laughing my ass off.

We're not going to play the starters more than 1/2 the game against either washington or Milwaukee, so its a moot point.

We COULD decide who we play, but we won't. We'll lose both games regardless.

Of course if our 3rd strong manages to beat either team ill be laughing my ass off.

Yea, but the point is, would you play to win against one of these teams to get a better matchup? Or is it just a wash to you? Personally, I would prefer to avoid Chicago because that seems like a series that would result in a few Sheed-techs far too early in the playoff run. Our games are always chippy with them.

We're not going to play the starters more than 1/2 the game against either washington or Milwaukee, so its a moot point.

We COULD decide who we play, but we won't. We'll lose both games regardless.

Of course if our 3rd strong manages to beat either team ill be laughing my ass off.

Yea, but the point is, would you play to win against one of these teams to get a better matchup? Or is it just a wash to you?

Sure, I'd rather play Milwaukee.

However, I don't think the Pistons are really going to have a say in the matter of who they play against. They've forefitted the possibility of having a say.

Man its fing ridiculous. Everyteam has 41 losses.


Save for Washington.


As for who we play, I could care less. ALL ARE SWEEPS.

Here's my order of preference for our 1st round opponent:

1. Indiana- would be a nice treat to start the playoffs by watching Carlisle's head explode as his team quits on him again.

2. Chicago- as well as they have been playing, they won't even get a game from us. Also, they're not Milwaukee.

3. Milwaukee- boring as hell to watch, and capable of hitting 57% from 3 point land on any given night, which gives them hope of stealing a game or two.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060419/SPORTS0102/604190391/1127


Playoff opponent doesn't matter

Eighth seed remains up for grabs and Detroit doesn't care if it's Pacers, Bulls, Wizards or Bucks.

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News
April 19, 2006

AUBURN HILLS -- For the record, the Pistons don't care.

Their first-round playoff opponent won't be determined until tonight. Four teams are still jockeying for the final four playoff spots in the Eastern Conference, but whether it's Indiana, Chicago, Washington or Milwaukee that ends up falling to No. 8 -- the Pistons have no preference.

"It don't matter, man," Chauncey Billups said.

"All we are worried about is ourselves," Ben Wallace said. "If we take care of our business and play Pistons basketball, it ain't going to matter who we play."

The Pistons close the regular season tonight against the Wizards, who hosted the Bucks on Tuesday night in a pivotal game. The Pacers close their season tonight at home against Orlando. The Bulls wrap up tonight at home against Toronto.

Here are the possible scenarios:

The Bucks lost to the Wizards on Tuesday. If Indiana and Chicago win their games tonight, the Bucks would fall to No. 8.

If the Pacers win tonight, Indiana would finish sixth and play New Jersey in the first round. If the Pacers lose and the Bulls win, the Pacers fall to No. 8.

If the Bulls win, they can place no lower than No. 7. But if they lose, and Indiana wins, the Bulls land at No. 8.

Washington can land at No. 7 if its loses tonight to the Pistons.

"Every team has a chance to win, whether you are playing Detroit, Miami, New Jersey or whoever," coach Flip Saunders said. "There are no bargains in this thing where somebody is just going to walk through the first round. That's just how this league operates."

Every time Rick Carlisle, Larry Legend, and the rest of the Pacers nation looks at the end of their season, I want them to see a Pistons boot in their faces, just kicking the living shit out of them. I want them to cry home to their mommies, wishing the beatings would stop. I want them to see Joe Dumars smiling as his team crushes the life out of those douchebags. I want to make them eat our shit, then shit out our shit, then eat their shit which is made up of our shit that we made 'em eat.

DIE INDIANA!!!!!

Every time Rick Carlisle, Larry Legend, and the rest of the Pacers nation looks at the end of their season, I want them to see a Pistons boot in their faces, just kicking the living shit out of them. I want them to cry home to their mommies, wishing the beatings would stop. I want them to see Joe Dumars smiling as his team crushes the life out of those douchebags. I want to make them eat our shit, then shit out our shit, then eat their shit which is made up of our shit that we made 'em eat.

DIE INDIANA!!!!!I have to agree with you sir.

I love watching the Pacers die. This was a post from our last game with them.



I laughed my ass off when Ben blocked that shot.

Afterwards, I said,

"GOOD! I'm glad we only beat them by 3 and they had a chance!
I love the fact that we gave them hope and then stomped on their
rednecks in the end. The fans in the arena were unaware that they
were doing the wave. Every time they thought they had a chance,
our Pistons made them sit back down on their gay asses.

Fuck Indiana, fuck the Pacers and fuck their fans. They are all idiots.
I hope they leave Conseco only to find out that all of their cars are
either gone or all have flat tires and broken windows. When they go
home, I hope they find that they have no food. I hope thier pets are
all dead and I want their children to cry."

...then I started laughing my ass off and my girl did too.
I felt a tad bit evil but I don't care about anyone there, so
I laughed even harder. My girl did too. That's just another
reason why we're getting married. She's dope.
I'm going to have another beer and then go to bed.

I love the Pistons and I hope that the Pacers and their fans continue
to suffer. It makes me so fucking happy to see them lose, by 30 or by 3.
I hate them with a passion. Fuck the Pacers.

Goodnight all.