Damn, gotta give it up ...
by hardcore on May 26, 2009 9:33 PM PDT
19 comments
You simply cannot watch the ECF series and not respect the performance by MP.
Guarding LaBron – is there a lonelier task in sports than having LJ one-on-one at the top of the key with the game on the line? (Maybe a linebacker trying to tackle Barry Sanders in the open field, but are most of you too young to see that comparison?)
Scoring – Outscoring the entire Cleveland Bench on his own:
56 - 41
Hitting Big Shots – deep threes, drives to the hoop, inside & outside.
Not making Turnovers – Not Even stepping out of bounds once!
Does Cleveland still have a realistic chance? Could there still be the vaunted matchup of superstars everyone predicted? Or, will the NBA be hyping an Orlando-Denver Finals?! Ouch.
via www.nba.com
MP might be justified asking, "Where are the haters now?"
This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!
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Thinking the same thing
I was going to post something similar. MP is playing real tough, shooting (relatively) well, and earning his minutes. I always liked his character but not a lot of his playing tendencies (travels, stepping out of bounds, ticky tack fouls). He seems to have improved on limiting those mistakes and is turning out to be a solid seventh or eighth man for Orlando. Props to him.
by freun989 on May 26, 2009 9:43 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
and aside from Cleveland renaming themselves The LeBrons, I don’t think it’s their year anymore. They were running through everybody the first two rounds with no regard, but just don’t seem to have it at the moment. James just doesn’t have the winning formula surrounding him. The trend in recent years to winning championships is having three “big-time” players. See Celtics: KG, Allen, Pierce or Detroit: BIllups, Wallace, and Prince or Spurs: Duncan, Manu, Parker. Cavs: James and a questionable Williams?? Don’t think so. Orlando: Howard, Hedo, Lewis, Rafer— most likely.
by freun989 on May 26, 2009 9:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If The Cavs win the NBA is rigged. The Magic aren’t that bad. Doubt Magic are going to lose the next three games.
by GSW_fan on May 26, 2009 9:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Pietrus is better at defense in Orlando. I wonder why..
by GSW_fan on May 26, 2009 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'd like to disagree with that
He guarded very well when he was playing for GSW, he was our best one on one defender hands down. Don Nelson would play him at PF, so he would get matched up against David Wests and Boozers, so he would get out powered a lot.
But particularly 1 game that stands out in my memory is the home game against Boston in 2007/2008 season. Pietrus had a key steal against Paul Pierce, whom he was guarding on the perimeter. At that point I thought that he could be a really good player in some other club, cause Nelson was misusing his talent by making him guard bigger players.
by farid on May 26, 2009 10:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
ya, no doubt MP is getting the last laugh on Nelson …
by hardcore on May 26, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Cavs are a one man team. Similar to Kobe and the Lakers like two years ago.
by GSW_fan on May 26, 2009 9:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
dude counting todays game LBJ gots like 4 TO a game 29% on 3s
go MP
by gswfan2 on May 26, 2009 10:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
yeah.
he’s also got 42+ppg, 7+assists and 7+ rebounds (off the top of my head). I like MP, he’s a nice guy and a good teammate, but it’s not like he’s be stopping LeBron. LBJ is just being killed by Mo WIlliams and Delonte West shitting their collective pants, and some bad matchups.
A bunch of these games could have gone either way, we’ll just have to wait and see, but I think this series ain’t close to being over.
by BeLEGENDelliAllDay on May 28, 2009 5:29 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
To be precise
41.2 ppg (50% fg, 76% ft)
16.6 ft attempts per game
8.6 rpg
8.2 apg
Insane. 4.4 turnovers, not good, but that happens when you’re initiating the offense every possession, for 44 minutes a game.
Last night in crunchtime he did everything and anything he wanted to against MP2. Pietrus kind of looked like he was trying hard on D, but he was incapable of sealing LeBron off on dribble drives, incapable of getting near his shot when he raised up, incapable of keeping him off the offensive glass. You could probably say the same for most NBA forwards, but let’s not pretend he wasn’t completely abused.
I’ve always liked Pietrus — athletic, decent rebounder, nice guy — but I think too much is made of his defensive prowess. If he were that great of a defender, he would make his teams better when he was on court. Over his career, he’s consistently made his teams worse.
Thing 1
by Sleepy Freud on May 29, 2009 5:02 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You could probably say the same for most NBA forwards
can’t think of a single fwd who would have denied LJ in G5, can you?
Obviously, Van Gundy didn’t have an answer either …
by hardcore on May 29, 2009 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
if lebron james guarding lebron, he’d have found a way to close out the series.
heart of a champion, will of the warrior.
by cap'n hack on May 29, 2009 2:06 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If you had to choose a single player in all of the NBA to guard LeBron who would it be? There isn’t really anyone…..KG? Artest? Kirilenko? KMart? there just isn’t really a good answer
Thing A
by sam23 on May 30, 2009 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Woah dude...
Great minds think alike.
Nice write up. One quibble: I’d be far more excited to see the Orlando/Denver matchup than the Cleveland/LA matchup. There’ll be no Kobe whining. The announcers and Stern would have to figure out how to market the event (cuz you know they’ve already had their Kobe vs. LeBron marketing figured out for months now). And hopefully we’d have fewer superstar calls.
I just hate the fact that 80% of the time LeBron is on the fast break he draws a blocking foul. I’d rather see, you know, basketball instead of a foul shooting competition.
"No no Nene!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB5DxNl4EB0
R Dizzle = Wannabe AB1
by Dubs fan in Boston on May 27, 2009 12:32 AM PDT reply actions 2 recs
I couldn't agree more.
For all the reasons you’ve listed, I too would love an Orlando-Denver final. There would be no officiating bias, I hope. The Cleveland series has been ridiculous, can anyone else tell how bad they want a LeBron/Kobe final?
GO Air France!!!!!! MP has played brilliantly this postseason, I’m glad he still gets love here on GSoM. I always thought Pietrus would evolve into this role. And it’s good to see him getting no time at PF. Handle business Mikael!!
by myk on May 27, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
But id wanna see an orlando/LA matchup cause out of all these conference final teams, I like orlando the most. And I want a good team to smash LA hahahah.
With regards to the lebron blocking foul crap….hat is soooooo irritating. But its not even on the fast break, he does it off the dribble at the top of the arc. He is definitely getting a gang of superstar calls. It kinda reminds me of dwayne wade in the miami-dallas finals. He was definitely getting superstar calls in the elimination game, but I didnt care cause I hate dallas (l0l).
by Butt Secks on May 29, 2009 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
MP just has a chance to excel defensively with the magic
he did not really have that fair chance here in oakland. nellie does not preach defense, nor did he have the support/help to play aggressive defense. anyone that has played basketball knows that you are often going to need the help of your other 4 teammates, no matter how good a defender you are. MP never really had that here. i really don’t blame him for not excelling the way he may be in orlando. good for him, i’m totally happy for the guy.
by Run Dubz on May 29, 2009 1:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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