Yeah, they definately don't have that killer instinct yet. Hopefully that'll be because they are still a pretty young team, I think Billups was a huge loss because of that. His leadership was what held them together early in the season, hopefully his injury won't be too career threatening and he'll be back next year.

I'm just generally unsure on Del Negro, whether he's a good enough coach to take them to the next level. That being said though, he deserves a full training camp and regular season to see if he can let them kick on to the next level, they are after all being built to go full tilt next year.

I also agree totally on Blake, for his athleticism, he should be getting a couple of blocks a game, as it is he's lucky if he gets 1 every fortnight. The offensive side of his game is fine at the minute, that'll just mature along with him, but it's his lack of progression defensively that teams are starting to play up to, although Z-Bo hasn't exploited that nearly enough this series.

If Blake played under Thibs at Chicago, he'd improve immensely as a player. Del Negro encourages expression and style, which is brilliant for a side in transition, or a side full of young players, but he needs to realise CP3 is only under contract for a year. If he doesn't get things right and use templates of former championship teams, he won't last 'til next year's playoffs. They have a nice team going that can attack really well, even better if they pass it around or try to drive to the basket more, but in Griffin, Jordan and possibly even Nick Young, they have a lot of potential to be elite defenders, but I don't think Del Negro will be the man to push them up another level or two.

Borefest between the knicks and heat so far.

and thats Baron Davis' career done.

Toney Douglas is going to rise from the ashes and help us take game 4.

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Will put it on in five/ten minutes to watch the only bit that counts.

By the way, am I the only one who gets stupendously wound up with the rules in the NBA? The rules favour defenders so much, I find it hard to believe that fans actually accept it. I can see why the rules are like that, but it's just so stupd.

Melo.....clutch.(apart from FTs)

If Melo ever got to a finals, do you think he'd be clutch enough to win it?

The NBA is a little like Super League, it doesn't matter how well you play, or who you beat, or how consistently amazing you are, if you don't come through in the clutch, you're forgotten.

Still, I wouldn't swap CP3 for Carmelo

Only an idiot would do that

Tight match on now between Clippers + Memphis. MG leading 48-47 midway through the third, getting physical and tetchy now as well. Been a quality series this one.

Can't believe I never checked the Clipper times. I said I'd work 'til half 9, came home to see when they were on and it was finished.

Still, can see them maybe beating the Spurs once, possibly twice, but the Spurs should have enough in the tank to see them off. The Clippers are still reliant on two things: CP3 in the clutch and their shooters being hot. Blake is a good player but they can't really go to any of their bigs down the stretch, they usually cough up turnovers. Mo Williams and CP3 can handle the ball, but they really need a wing player to attack the rim. Young should do it, as should Butler, but they both settle for pull up jumpers.

The Spurs are one of the most complete teams in the league, when they're hot they can beat anybody by 20+ points. If the Clippers are to win, CP3 will have to dominate Tony Parker, and Blake Griffin will have to dominate Tim Duncan.

Clippers played well last night though. Bench (+Paul) played for a lot of the fourth, wasn't till about 2 mins left on the clock till a non-bench player scored. Reggie Evans got some huge rebounds.

They'll get swept by the Spurs though. Learning curve for them this year, done well to get past a good Memphis team.

The 76ers won Game 2 to tie up at 1 - 1 in the series with the Celtics.

Disappointing to lose at home, and it can all be put down to a dire 3rd Quarter.

Two games back in Phillie to come now. Very tight series in prospect with the first two games being settled by a single point.

LET'S GO CELTICS

You should be hammering a very average Philly team into the ground.

Beginning to be hammered by injuries.

Playing that extra game vs the Hawks when we really should have killed it off wasn't ideal.

You're all crap. It's all about 2013. Roll on Linsanity part II.

Oh dear god it still believes!

You need to get rid of Amar'e, but you need a scoring presence inside, unless you move 'Melo to the four, which is good for offense, but woeful for defence.

The defence was much better with Melo at the four. I wonder if the Magic would bit in a a Hedo for Amare swap? It would take Amare home and give D12 another superstar, it would also allow Melo to play the four and slot Hedo in at the 3.

Super win for the Celtics last night. Everything which went wrong in Game 2 went our way, and Rondo, Pierce and KG were on fireeeeee.

LeBron will no doubt get the blame, but Wade has been absolutely pathetic all season long, Heat won't win anything with LeBron and a bunch of scrubs. If someones getting traded at the end of the season, it's him. Wouldn't be suprised to see a Noah/Gibson type swap with Chicago.

For me, Wade has always been stupidly overrated. People say he's tough, yet I remember him leaving in a wheelchair when his shoulder was injured! Not only that, but he's always crying to referees and with opposing players. I heard/read one of the NBA columnists saying the other day that after Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade, there's nobody he'd rather in the clutch than CP3; would you put Wade in the bracket of Kobe and CP3? Wade can't shoot the three, his jump shot is average and his shot choice is mediocre. For me, he's hugely overrated and Miami should try for a quality point guard, maybe D-Will in a sign-and-trade?

Disagree that they need a PG, I think they just need to get a more solid C, one with a bit more length (Noah would be perfect), and a SG who can just get you 10-15 points and can shoot the 3. Chalmers is ok at PG, when the reality is that LeBron is gonna be the playmaker.

Get rid of Wade, make it undisputably LeBrons team and actually make the plays for him in the clutch. Wade has missed so many more shots in the clutch this season, but LeBron gets the blame (and yes, he brings a lot of it on himself).

Trade Wade for something like Noah + Gibson, and try and pick up someone like Eric Bledsoe in FA.