aka the Warriors coronation begins tomorrow. I dont see too many upsets in the first round, maybe the Pacers over the Raptors, because the 3, 4, 5, 6 and seeds are all very even.
News to note. I have been mentioning for months now that the ideal person to coach the TWolves is Thibs because he has the pieces of a great defensive team with Rubio/Towns/Dieng. If he could mold Lavine and Wiggins, its just the ideal spot, and rumors are he is their number 1 choice. It almost makes too much sense. If they can win a top 2 selection in the lottery and somehow get Simmons or Ingram..... watch out. I think that will be a good match for both parties involved.
Russ has been a major force, but I love what Steven Adams is bringing to the team this playoffs. I think he's been more important than Ibaka and he is out Draymond-ing Draymond.
Russ has been a major force, but I love what Steven Adams is bringing to the team this playoffs. I think he's been more important than Ibaka and he is out Draymond-ing Draymond.
Its been a few times in the broadcast, however a missing thing thing that people arent really talking about is Ibaka's jumper. He been money outside game 2 of this series against SA and GSW.
I mean, you can assume that one of Durant or Westbrook are going to play great, you can fathom that both might, you can even fathom that Ibaka will return to form. But Jesus, I didn't think Waiters would start to hustle like crazy or that Robertson would score 17.
In this playoff run though? Westbrook has been better although Durant's had his moments.
Russ is one of a kind though. There have been athletic PGs before like Francis, Davis, Rose, KJ, etc. but none of them were as relentless as Russell.
Russ has been a major force, but I love what Steven Adams is bringing to the team this playoffs. I think he's been more important than Ibaka and he is out Draymond-ing Draymond.
They touched on this on the post game show. KD is better (and I think the evidence is in the last 2 seasons, KD dragged his team into the playoffs without Westbrook and won MVP and while Westbrook went bonkers without KD he's not able to consistently churn out wins like KD no matter what the situation is). But KD is more versatile in that he can play off the ball as dangerously as with the ball. Westbrook isn't the same and so KD has deferred to Westbrook. Russ gets easy looks for his bigs unlike KD can. Both players have adjusted to accommodate for each other's games (Russ has become a willing passer and KD has dedicated his minutes to moving well off the ball) and it's looking like a thing of beauty.
Saw a report just now that Steph is playing at "70% at best". I believe it. Yeah, Russ is overpowering him at the other end and playing good defense on him, but we've seen Steph torch a lot of excellent defenders all year long. It's not just Russ, I do truly believe that a lot of it is Steph not being right physically.
I mean, you can assume that one of Durant or Westbrook are going to play great, you can fathom that both might, you can even fathom that Ibaka will return to form. But Jesus, I didn't think Waiters would start to hustle like crazy or that Robertson would score 17.
I think this playoff run is as much about the coming out party for all the role players as it is about Russ/KD. Adams has looked the part of a top 10 center with his disruption on defense and the offensive glass as well as his efficiency. Waiters, for the first time in his career, doesn't look like he wants to chuck a long 2 every time he gets the ball and is hustling on defense. Roberson came out of nowhere and is looking like a much more complete player than Sefalosha. He brings the defense but he's also great on the glass and is good around the rim. He's converting those baseline cuts almost every time. Kanter isn't as much of a factor in this series (as probably most expected) but he's been an elite rebounder for the last few seasons and can exploit mismatches down low. Ibaka has been hitting jump shots too.
Saw a report just now that Steph is playing at "70% at best". I believe it. Yeah, Russ is overpowering him at the other end and playing good defense on him, but we've seen Steph torch a lot of excellent defenders all year long. It's not just Russ, I do truly believe that a lot of it is Steph not being right physically.
Steph hasn't been worked on defense like this in the playoffs the last two years. He didn't have to face Kyrie or Conley last year. Dame is the only real threat he faced but GS won that series because of how outmatched Portand's frontcourt was. That's not the case with OKC. If he gets torched by Russ that means easy looks for guys that concert easy shots (KD, Adams and now even Roberson). There's been nowhere to disguise Curry on defense and Draymond isn't always there now to cleanup due to spacing.
Everyone on the Thunder looks good right now because everyone's job is easier when the players are clicking. It starts with Russell and Durant-- both are playing well, and that opens up the floor.
Plus, with the Warriors playing poorly (obviously the Thunder are a big reason defensively), it causes turnovers and odd-man breaks and a lot of easy looks for the Thunder's role players.
It's like when the Warriors are clicking and you see guys like Barnes, Ezeli, and Iguodala go off.
As an example, the reason Iguodala won MVP or gets the points he does in these series is because offensively, Steph and Klay create such wide open looks for him.
It's worth noting that when Westbrook plays at this level, no one can stop him. He's hitting his 3's and pull-ups, and he is making good passes in the paint.
I do think they should put Klay on Westbrook because that extra length will make it harder and WEstbrook will be less "wide open" as he goes to the rim.
It's worth noting that when Westbrook plays at this level, no one can stop him. He's hitting his 3's and pull-ups, and he is making good passes in the paint.
I do think they should put Klay on Westbrook because that extra length will make it harder and WEstbrook will be less "wide open" as he goes to the rim.
I never criticized Curry's defense. He's a decent if not good defender. He's well above the likes of Kyrie and Lillars. His defense isn't the issue. They hide him onto weaker offensive players mostly to conserve his energy for offense. Sticking Draymond on Roberson and playing completely off of him has backfired as Steph has to work on Russell now and forces him to settle for bad shots instead of working to create space.
It's no secret that they hide Curry whenever they get the chance to, and that's partly for energy reasons and partly because they have plenty of better perimeter defenders on the roster.
I think Westbrook is the biggest mismatch in the league. I know it's cliche but it seems that the best antidote to Russ is himself. It's his wild drives to the rim and awful 3 point shots he takes that destroys OKC. But he's been getting the better of it this year.
I picked OKC to win it all at the beginning of the year but had huge concerns with RW after the SA series. The game plan for SA was to let him take as many 3s as he likes and that backfired, but that's probably the best game plan. I thought that shot would stop falling sooner or later as that's the same plan GS is utilizing. More power to Westbrook if he can make them.
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there is a general sentiment out there lambasting Curry's defense, which I think is overstated.
It's no secret that they hide Curry whenever they get the chance to, and that's partly for energy reasons and partly because they have plenty of better perimeter defenders on the roster.
I think Westbrook is the biggest mismatch in the league. I know it's cliche but it seems that the best antidote to Russ is himself. It's his wild drives to the rim and awful 3 point shots he takes that destroys OKC. But he's been getting the better of it this year.
I picked OKC to win it all at the beginning of the year but had huge concerns with RW after the SA series. The game plan for SA was to let him take as many 3s as he likes and that backfired, but that's probably the best game plan. I thought that shot would stop falling sooner or later as that's the same plan GS is utilizing. More power to Westbrook if he can make them.
Someone watched all the plays in which Curry was the primary defender on Westbrook. His stats: 8/25 with 7 TO's.
Well...Was it close?
We all know Steph has a "fuck it, I'm going for 80" game in him. I pray that it's tonight. Unanimous MVP needs to show up and remind the world who the best player in this series is.
anybody but cleveland.
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Don’t watch too much basketball. As an outsider, does anyone have a realistic shot in the East other than leBron? Or is it gonna be Warriors vs LebRon II?
Well...Was it close?
Go back to your own thread and root for letang and the penguins :)
We all know Steph has a "fuck it, I'm going for 80" game in him. I pray that it's tonight. Unanimous MVP needs to show up and remind the world who the best player in this series is.
It's possible, but it won't come in a vacuum. That's why I'm hoping that it's Adams instead of Bogut who gets into early foul trouble, as happened in the last game.
If it is a block charge call and the home team has momentum he is calling a block and the and1
If it is a block charge call and the home team has momentum he is calling a block and the and1
He tends to red a lot of lebron james home games.
If it is a block charge call and the home team has momentum he is calling a block and the and1
I gotta say, I have no complaints. I mean, one of the offensive fouls against GS was silly, but in general they're letting both teams play.
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Ed Malloy is officiating the ultimate Homer official, whenever the crowd is into it he makes his calls based on the crowd, he is the ultimate momentum official...
If it is a block charge call and the home team has momentum he is calling a block and the and1
He tends to red a lot of lebron james home games.
Oh he is awful, usually when he is officiating I turn the game off, between his awful calls and playing to the crowd he is unbearble...
Close game so far, seems like both teams are not playing their best,both teams have had spurts
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Ed Malloy is officiating the ultimate Homer official, whenever the crowd is into it he makes his calls based on the crowd, he is the ultimate momentum official...
If it is a block charge call and the home team has momentum he is calling a block and the and1
I gotta say, I have no complaints. I mean, one of the offensive fouls against GS was silly, but in general they're letting both teams play.
Yeah so far surprisingly good
Yea, I understand you aren't allowed to play defense in today's nba but still, you sometimes see these guys wide open.
This is an awful, awful rule.
- Warriors kept game close in 1st half despite not playing particularly well
- Durant & Westbrook were awful at the end
And now we're going to have to hear this bloody coronation with GS. The 96 Bulls beat em in 6.
Iguodala played fucking GREAT at the end.
That building is going to be rocking and golden state is going to have a ton of momentum, I know they say every game is different than but there will be momentum from this game going into 7...
I think curry and Thompson go crazy monday...
Adam's will get thrown out for trying to throw a Haymarket at Drayton green...
I see a 10 for 30 shooting performance by Westbrook coming