I think the best teams with a great shot at beating the Lakers would be the Mavs, and maybe the Thunder. Mavs because they've been so darn consistent (Spurs too, but Gasol/Bynum (when he comes back) will give Duncan fits), and the Thunder, because, first of all, they don't know what they're doing, so they won't be intimidated. OKC is the Portland of last year. Dark horse for sure.
if this were a playoff game, i am sure the refs would take a look at the instant replay, they can do so in the last 2 minutes of the 4th quarter to check for out of bounds, foots on the line calls, you know
If the Thunder, who have TONS of capspace, get themselves a true Big...LOOK OUT. They are one true big man and some bench help away from being a title contender next year.
If the playoffs started today, the Thunder would face the Nuggets in the 1st round. I could see them beating the Nuggets if Martin isn't able to play or is limited by his injuries and not fully healed. Also, Coach Karl isn't gonna be on the bench at the 1st round either. Assuming they advance to the 2nd round, they would face the winner of the Spurs/Mavs series. They could beat the Mavericks, but I can't see them beating the Spurs unless Duncan or Manu go out with injuries or if Sefolosha contains Manu.
man portland sucks we beat them last year, so if OKC is portland of last year they will lose like portland in 1st round, i would say they are the mavs of last yr who beat spurs
Well the Nuggets were in that class of having a chance at beating the Lakers. But they have slumped since the George Karl thing. Hopefully they get back on track. I think OKC can get out the 1st round if they avoid the Lakers but I don't see them beating the Lakers in a playoffs series.
If this was a playoff game the refs would not have reviewed that to last play to see if it was a foul. They would have 2 choices A) Call the foul B) Not call the foul
I am not sure I agree with you. The game happens so fast that sometimes you are just caught in the moment with the 20,000 people going crazy in the arena. That's why you need instant replay.
Correct, but it's a question of WHY didn't they call it? Again, playoff implications were at stake. Sure, many game, refs would just let it go. But Refs can't just NOT call fouls. It's their jobs, for goodness sake! This crap wouldn't happen in the playoffs.
Haha, I'm not saying the ends justify the beginning. Portland was the team to take down the Lakers last year, due to them having much success against them. OKC is very much categorized like that now. They can beat anyone. Seriously. Will they, is a question to be answered.
That's no excuse though. The refs get paid to officiate the game correctly. That foul was pretty clear in real time action. They shouldn't need to review it to see that particular play was a foul.
but the refs are human they cannot always make the right calls it is impossible even with instant replays from certain angles it is difficult to make certain calls, and if refs start overturnning calls when players get called for fouls or feel like the got fouled they will lash out at the refs arguing that well you changed thge other team's call why cant you do the same for us
I see where you are getting at, but with the instant replay in place, the refs will have to excuse to swallow the whistle.
I think that they may have a chance at beating the Lakers. Durant would have a field day against Artest and Thabo has guarded Kobe pretty well in their last meetings. Gasol, Bynum, and Odom might be too much for a young team like the Thunder to handle. If they meet the Blazers, Nuggets, Suns, Jazz or even the Mavs in the 1st round, they can beat them. If I was the Thunder, I would avoid playing the Spurs though. Manu, Parker, and Duncan would be too much for them to handle.
That is how the refs are. Sometimes they call it and sometimes they don't. It's unfortunate for the losing team but it is what it is. For the record I don't agree with the refs not calling the foul. I'm just saying there is no need to review that play when the refs saw the foul.
fair enough, I guess the best solution is to simply outplay the opponent and not let it be a close game. GO ROCKETS!
man OKC went 3-1 against the ROCKETS!!!! we are not even in the playoffs, they cannot beat the lakers if they cannot beat teams like the rox or blazers (who are 3-1 against them)
Well technically they still could go review it and not call the foul. In the NFL there have been plenty of times where they went to review it and we all thought something was clear as day but the refs disagreed. I don't think the NBA will ever allow the refs to review a foul. It's really up to like you said the refs not to swallow their whistle.
I think they know that too. Right now, they are just trying to get some playoff experience. That's why it's important to them to finish with a higher seed so they can last longer in the playoffs.
