2014 NBA Playoff thread

[NoelPHX]

Spurs Heat again? Sigh. Won't be watching that.

 

[Finito]

Spurs Heat again? Sigh. Won't be watching that.

Why not? The Heat/ Spurs series last year was the best Finals in a long time.


Durant just don't have that killer in him. You see Duncan calling for it every time down court 7 straight points in OT. Durant 0 points in OT in an elimination game. Westbrook is a beast though he tried his hardest.

 

[elindholm]

I really think Westbrook just might be a better big game player than Durant...

There wasn't any doubt in this postseason. I think Westbrook is the only player on offense that the Spurs were afraid of.

 

[jandaman]

Did anyone watch the game?

Durant CLEARLY was frustrated a couple of times for not getting the ball.


Westbrook CLEARLY was trying to be a hero, the unfortunate thing with Durant is that Westbrook controls the ball as he is the PG.

Westbrook trying to be a hero because he knows Brooks won't yank him out.

You do that with Popovic and watch him yank you out.


Duncan was clutch, but he has team mates who don't play hero ball….

Westbrook is an absolute star, but he is not that good of a team player… his assists are similar to how Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury got theirs.

Westbrook jacking up that 3pt with 2 players on him with 17 seconds to go down 4 is clear evidence of his hero ball…..

 

[Finito]

Did anyone watch the game?

Durant CLEARLY was frustrated a couple of times for not getting the ball.


Westbrook CLEARLY was trying to be a hero, the unfortunate thing with Durant is that Westbrook controls the ball as he is the PG.

Westbrook trying to be a hero because he knows Brooks won't yank him out.

You do that with Popovic and watch him yank you out.


Duncan was clutch, but he has team mates who don't play hero ball….

Westbrook is an absolute star, but he is not that good of a team player… his assists are similar to how Steve Francis and Stephon Marbury got theirs.

Westbrook jacking up that 3pt with 2 players on him with 17 seconds to go down 4 is clear evidence of his hero ball…..

I think your 100% wrong. Durant got looks and when he did late he did nothing with them. Scott Brooks isn't Durants mom is he supposed to go tell Westbrook to stop being mean to Kevin and force him the ball. Durant has no post game what's so ever he has no go to move period he's strictly a jump shooter who hangs out on the outside. Trust me I think all those guys in that locker room know its gonna be Russell that's going to carry them in crunch time.

They made great points on the post game why is Danny Green pushing Durant around? It's because he's just not that assertive he doesn't have that kind of personality. Holy hell could you imagine if that was pre championship Lebron sitting on the court facing the other way because he just couldn't look. Are you serious!!! Who does that

 

[elindholm]

Westbrook made plenty of poor decisions, probably more than his share. But partly they are magnified because everything he does is magnified. Maybe Durant was deferring to Westbrook because he thought it was the good-teammate thing to do, but to me Durant just looked lost most of the time. It's pointless to demand the ball if you don't have a plan for what you'll do once you get it.

 

[elindholm]

Spurs Heat again? Sigh. Won't be watching that.

It's the first time since Bulls-Jazz in 1996-98 that the same two teams have been in two consecutive Finals.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I don't know why anyone wouldn't want to watch this rematch. Last years series was INCREDIBLE, with two of the best games in 6 and 7 that I can ever remember in a Finals. You have quite possibly the best coached team ever versus a guy trying to be the best PLAYER ever...in a rematch and that's something you don't want to watch? This is as good as it gets for NBA fans.

 

[Superbone]

It's the first time since Bulls-Jazz in 1996-98 that the same two teams have been in two consecutive Finals.

If last year was any indication, it should be a real barn burner. Looking forward to it.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Westbrook made plenty of poor decisions, probably more than his share. But partly they are magnified because everything he does is magnified. Maybe Durant was deferring to Westbrook because he thought it was the good-teammate thing to do, but to me Durant just looked lost most of the time. It's pointless to demand the ball if you don't have a plan for what you'll do once you get it.

This... Unlike Lebron, or MJ, or any other true great, Durant literally looked as though he did NOT want to take over the game. He looked tired, weak and disinterested most of the game... Surprising to see in an elimination game - at home!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Cheesebeef]

This... Unlike Lebron, or MJ, or any other true great, Durant literally looked as though he did NOT want to take over the game. He looked tired, weak and disinterested most of the game... Surprising to see in an elimination game - at home!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

just remember, it was only three years ago that LeBron did the exact same thing in the Finals (and in his last season in Cleveland too).

 

[SirStefan32]

just remember, it was only three years ago that LeBron did the exact same thing in the Finals (and in his last season in Cleveland too).

Heh, I was just thinking the same thing. Everything said about KD was said about Lebron three years ago. KD will figure it out.

 

[JustWinBaby]

Heh, I was just thinking the same thing. Everything said about KD was said about Lebron three years ago. KD will figure it out.

What really gets me is how KD and Westbrook get all the heat while Brooks and Presti seem to never get criticized.

I would take both KD and Westbrook on my team every day of the week. They are both fantastic players.

I remember when everyone was calling Presti a genius for building this team.

How genius do you have to be when your team sucks and you get high draft picks 3 straight years.

2007 Durant - 2nd pick
2008 Westbrook - 4th pick
2009 Harden - 3rd pick

Why does Presti get so much credit for building this team? Drafting these guys, was a no brainer? I know he accumulated picks with some good trades to get these guys, so hats off to him for that. However why does he get so little criticism for not keeping James Harden. When Harden was on their team they went to the finals. Ibaka is a very good player, Harden will probably be in the HOF when all is said and done. You do not ever let players like him get away, never. I really doubt that they would have lost to the Spurs with him on that team.

Why does Scott Brooks get so much credit? If his name was D'Antoni he would get fired even if he does win around 60 games every year.

When your bench produces only 5 points, from a guy that will probably retire within the next week, the blame should be pointed directly at both Brooks and Presti. If I were the owner I would be having a come to Jesus meeting with both of those guys, not Durant or Westbrook.

 

[Cheesebeef]

What really gets me is how KD and Westbrook get all the heat while Brooks and Presti seem to never get criticized.

We must be listening/watching much different sports reporting. Everything I've read for two years is that Brooks is consistently on the hot seat. And Presti has been consistently criticized for not amnestying Perkins/not getting more in return for the Harden.

I would take both KD and Westbrook on my team every day of the week. They are both fantastic players.

I remember when everyone was calling Presti a genius for building this team.

How genius do you have to be when your team sucks and you get high draft picks 3 straight years.

2007 Durant - 2nd pick
2008 Westbrook - 4th pick
2009 Harden - 3rd pick

Why does Presti get so much credit for building this team? Drafting these guys, was a no brainer?

Neither Westbrook, nor Harden were "no brainers". A LOT of people thought he took BOTH guys too high and that Westbrook didn't really have a position in the league as a tweener. Throw in the fact that he found Ibaka and that says he did a hell of a lot right. There's lots of teams who consistently have high picks and do nothing with them. He nailed his chances in the draft.

I know he accumulated picks with some good trades to get these guys, so hats off to him for that. However why does he get so little criticism for not keeping James Harden. When Harden was on their team they went to the finals. Ibaka is a very good player, Harden will probably be in the HOF when all is said and done. You do not ever let players like him get away, never. I really doubt that they would have lost to the Spurs with him on that team.

Why does Scott Brooks get so much credit?

Where do you ever see Brooks get credit? Every time they lose, the finger is pretty much pointed right at him or Westbrook.

If his name was D'Antoni he would get fired even if he does win around 60 games every year.

When your bench produces only 5 points, from a guy that will probably retire within the next week, the blame should be pointed directly at both Brooks and Presti. If I were the owner I would be having a come to Jesus meeting with both of those guys, not Durant or Westbrook.

and I'm sure he will.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Heh, I was just thinking the same thing. Everything said about KD was said about Lebron three years ago. KD will figure it out.

agreed. guys THAT good eventually figure it out. The bottom line is KD is still just 25 years old and in that time he's been to 3 Conference Finals and a Finals. That's pretty damn impressive.

 

[SirStefan32]

What really gets me is how KD and Westbrook get all the heat while Brooks and Presti seem to never get criticized.

I would take both KD and Westbrook on my team every day of the week. They are both fantastic players.

I remember when everyone was calling Presti a genius for building this team.

How genius do you have to be when your team sucks and you get high draft picks 3 straight years.

2007 Durant - 2nd pick
2008 Westbrook - 4th pick
2009 Harden - 3rd pick

Why does Presti get so much credit for building this team? Drafting these guys, was a no brainer? I know he accumulated picks with some good trades to get these guys, so hats off to him for that. However why does he get so little criticism for not keeping James Harden. When Harden was on their team they went to the finals. Ibaka is a very good player, Harden will probably be in the HOF when all is said and done. You do not ever let players like him get away, never. I really doubt that they would have lost to the Spurs with him on that team.

Why does Scott Brooks get so much credit? If his name was D'Antoni he would get fired even if he does win around 60 games every year.

When your bench produces only 5 points, from a guy that will probably retire within the next week, the blame should be pointed directly at both Brooks and Presti. If I were the owner I would be having a come to Jesus meeting with both of those guys, not Durant or Westbrook.

Plenty of teams have had several high picks that didn't result in anything, let alone multiple trips to WCF, so in my book Presti did a really good job.

Having said that, I think Presti did an atrocious job handling the Harden situation. If my memory is right, they could have amnestied Perkins, which would have given them enough money to extend Harden. He just hasn't been able to give his big three enough help to get out of WCF.

Completely agree with everything else, especially about Brooks being overrated.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Plenty of teams have had several high picks that didn't result in anything, let alone multiple trips to WCF, so in my book Presti did a really good job.

Having said that, I think Presti did an atrocious job handling the Harden situation. If my memory is right, they could have amnestied Perkins, which would have given them enough money to extend Harden. He just hasn't been able to give his big three enough help to get out of WCF.

Completely agree with everything else, especially about Brooks being overrated.

I agree with all of the above. Presti's biggest failure was the Harden deal. But where are you guys getting that Brooks is overrated? Dude's constantly under fire. One of the main headlines on ESPN today is "Scott Brooks: I don't listen to THEY":

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/201...oklahoma-city-thunder-not-fretting-job-status

 

[SirStefan32]

I agree with all of the above. Presti's biggest failure was the Harden deal. But where are you guys getting that Brooks is overrated? Dude's constantly under fire. One of the main headlines on ESPN today is "Scott Brooks: I don't listen to THEY":

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/201...oklahoma-city-thunder-not-fretting-job-status

I think you are right. He has received plenty of criticism. I was really still thinking about Brooks 2-3 years ago.

 

[Superbone]

Heh, I was just thinking the same thing. Everything said about KD was said about Lebron three years ago. KD will figure it out.

Yep, he's got some soul searching to do this summer.

 

[JustWinBaby]

Yep, he's got some soul searching to do this summer.

I expect that if KD had the same bench that Lebron has on the Heat he would have already had a championship. No soul searching would be required.

There are three possible reasons why KD has not won a ring at this point

1. Their coach is terrible.

2. Their GM has not done a good job of bringing in players to complement KD and Westbrook.

3. KD and Westbrook have made a pack to take all the shots all of the time because they are super stars. (I do not believe that is true at all)

KD and Westbrook are just as talented as Lebron and Wade, IMO. Who would not want both of those guys on your team. They are not the problem. They just need better help and better guidance.

 

[Bert]

How bout the irony that Oden is going to get his ring before Durant?

I just dont see the Spurs taking down Miami, though that would please me greatly and I'll be rooting for them. Am I the only one who has pretty much gotten over my hatred of the Spurs? I'm just kinda over it. My brother said I am crazy. The guys I REALLY HATED on those Spurs teams were Bowen and Horry and they are both gone, maybe that's why... Manu's flopping has been eclipsed by everyone else in the league flopping and it's kinda hard not to like Duncan. I've always respected Tony Parker as a player as well.

 

[Finito]

I expect that if KD had the same bench that Lebron has on the Heat he would have already had a championship. No soul searching would be required.

There are three possible reasons why KD has not won a ring at this point

1. Their coach is terrible.

2. Their GM has not done a good job of bringing in players to complement KD and Westbrook.

3. KD and Westbrook have made a pack to take all the shots all of the time because they are super stars. (I do not believe that is true at all)

KD and Westbrook are just as talented as Lebron and Wade, IMO. Who would not want both of those guys on your team. They are not the problem. They just need better help and better guidance.

There's alot of problems with OKC one is the coach they have no offense at all. But KD is nowhere close to Lebron, KD has no half court game at all what's his go to move? He doesn't have one. He's 7 feet tall and gets pushed around. I'm not saying he's bad or not talented he needs to take advantage of his gifts

 

[SirStefan32]

How bout the irony that Oden is going to get his ring before Durant?

I just dont see the Spurs taking down Miami, though that would please me greatly and I'll be rooting for them. Am I the only one who has pretty much gotten over my hatred of the Spurs? I'm just kinda over it. My brother said I am crazy. The guys I REALLY HATED on those Spurs teams were Bowen and Horry and they are both gone, maybe that's why... Manu's flopping has been eclipsed by everyone else in the league flopping and it's kinda hard not to like Duncan. I've always respected Tony Parker as a player as well.

I feel the same way. Having lived in San Antonio, I always liked the Spurs (This was before Bowen and Horry) and Once Bowen and Horry were gone, I've had no problem with the Spurs. I think the fact that we finally swept them helped me as well.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I expect that if KD had the same bench that Lebron has on the Heat he would have already had a championship. No soul searching would be required.

There are three possible reasons why KD has not won a ring at this point

1. Their coach is terrible.

2. Their GM has not done a good job of bringing in players to complement KD and Westbrook.

3. KD and Westbrook have made a pack to take all the shots all of the time because they are super stars. (I do not believe that is true at all)

KD and Westbrook are just as talented as Lebron and Wade, IMO. Who would not want both of those guys on your team. They are not the problem. They just need better help and better guidance.

I don't see that at all. OKC has had decent talent on that bench the past several years even if you ignore James Harden. Anyway, I think you're wrong on all your reasons except perhaps the first one, labeling Brooks as part of the problem. I'll give you the two reasons I think Durant has yet to grab the ring.

1. Durant is still just 25 years old. He improves each year and he doesn't look to be close to his peak yet. And it's worth remembering that Lebron didn't win his first championship until he was a year older than KD is right now.

2. Durant is very good but there is a transcendent player in Miami that is world's better than him. Lebron is already one of the top five players or so to have ever played the game and he's only 29. Durant is very good but he's nowhere near that level yet. In fact, he's not even as good right now as Lebron was at the same age. He's a great individual offensive threat but he doesn't really improve the players around him like Lebron clearly does and unlike Lebron he's primarily a one way player.

Steve

 

[Cheesebeef]

How bout the irony that Oden is going to get his ring before Durant?

I just dont see the Spurs taking down Miami, though that would please me greatly and I'll be rooting for them. Am I the only one who has pretty much gotten over my hatred of the Spurs? I'm just kinda over it. My brother said I am crazy. The guys I REALLY HATED on those Spurs teams were Bowen and Horry and they are both gone, maybe that's why... Manu's flopping has been eclipsed by everyone else in the league flopping and it's kinda hard not to like Duncan. I've always respected Tony Parker as a player as well.

I'm over my Spurs hatred. That team plays such incredibly good basketball and there's no bad guys there anymore. I think they beat Miami in 6. They're just so FREAKING deep and this is the worst of the Miami title contenders. Only way the Heat win here is if LeBron has a series for the ages and if he does and somehow leads this Heat team a 3 peat, he probably vaults himself into legit top 3 player of all time talk. I don't care that he'd only have 3. When Jordan retired the first time, he was already pretty much acknowledged by most as the best ever. It was the next 3 peat that made the argument completely moot.