<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After abandoning its spring stop in Seattle the past couple of seasons, the NBA playoffs return in 10 days, which mandates a local history review, particularly because of a delicious potential matchup. It's been seven years since the Sonics won a playoff series. It's been seven years since George Karl was Sonics coach. It's been 11 years since the Denver Nuggets became the first No. 8 seed in NBA playoff history to beat a No. 1 seed, the 1994 Sonics coached by Karl. So if the basketball gods have any sense of irony, whimsy, chaos and knowledge of the craps table, they need to roll a seven or 11 to bring us a first-round match between the Sonics and Nuggets. Couldn't be sweeter. Certainly not for Karl. "Personally, the karma of going back to Seattle, there's no question that would be a ball for me," he told reporters Saturday in Denver after the Nuggets whipped the bejeezus out of the Sonics. "Nate (McMillan), Ray (Allen), Seattle, the past, the future, all that stuff."</div> Source
To add to the drama, consider the playoff history between Denver and Seattle. Particularly, the 1994 first round upset.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">To add to the drama, consider the playoff history between Denver and Seattle. Particularly, the 1994 first round upset.</div> Unfortunately I already have - if I have to see that clip of Dikembe hugging the ball under the basket one more time.... Anyway, not to sound like a pessimist but player for player Denver has a lot more talent than Seattle - remember they were the trendy pick to come out of the West this year based on last year's improvement and the addition of Kenyon Martin. They had a pretty sorry start due to Leonard getting hurt the 1st game, 'Melo's off the court issues, blending in K-Mart and Bzydeliks lame duck status but to their credit (and George Karl) they're finally playing to the level that was expected. I still think they're outside shooting is a bit iffy but they have some beasts up front, a go to guy in Carmelo, a solid point in Andre Miller and a wildcard like Boykins to stir it up. If we can get healthy and get our rhythm back we can take that series, but that's a big if with only 5 games to go and I think we can almost count out Vlade being effective in the 1st round even if he comes back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">I think we can almost count out Vlade being effective in the 1st round even if he comes back.</div> Let's hope whoever we play thinks along those lines does, too.
Vlade had his cast removed the other day. He's never been a beacon of consistency and really seems to be a rhythm player (although this year he's hit some huge 3 pointers late in the 4th even though he hasn't shot well). That's why I think he'll need at least a series' worth of games to get his groove back.
I have very little faith in Vlade for at least the first series of the playoffs. Lets hope Nate eases him in to the rotation wisely.
I'm reading he won't even be reading for the first round anyway. Would be tough to try and introduce a rhythm player like Vlad into the third or fourth game of the series, too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pwn3d!:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm reading he won't even be reading for the first round anyway. Would be tough to try and introduce a rhythm player like Vlad into the third or fourth game of the series, too.</div> Times quoted Nate that it is 50/50 that Vlade will be ready next weekend.
