2016 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Russ Smith]

https://twitter.com/SNstats/status/733506779242504192

The most boring semi finals matchup ever.

Without Valancuinis however you spell it they're just too small. They don't have enough rim protection. Hubie Brown was talking about it on ESPN this morning he said the way Cleveland is shooting the 3 you have to spread your defense and then you need someone inside to change or send away shots when guys blow by that extended defense. Cleveland doesn't have any resistance at the rim in this series.

 

[sunsfan88]

Without Valancuinis however you spell it they're just too small. They don't have enough rim protection. Hubie Brown was talking about it on ESPN this morning he said the way Cleveland is shooting the 3 you have to spread your defense and then you need someone inside to change or send away shots when guys blow by that extended defense. Cleveland doesn't have any resistance at the rim in this series.

Yea but vice versa the Cavs don't have rim protectors either. Mozgov is the only one they have and he hardly plays.

Toronto needs to attack the paint. I suspect that's what Golden State will do when they play the Cavs in the finals.

 

[Ronin]

Come on Raptors! Please win tonight's game.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Mainstreet]

Come on Raptors! Please win tonight's game.

I feel the same. If only the Raptors could get Valanciunas back.

 

[95pro]

the Lebron flopping is ridiculous

 

[GatorAZ]

the Lebron flopping is ridiculous

Lowry too.

 

[95pro]

Lowry too.

oh c'mon, the elbow by his own teammate takes the cake

 

[Mainstreet]

The Raptors win.

Bismack Biyombo had 26 rebounds. That is impressive.

 

[elindholm]

Bismack Biyombo had 26 rebounds. That is impressive.

The Raptors have a bit of an issue at center. Valanciunas is the nominal starter (when healthy), but he often loses fourth-quarter minutes to Biyombo because of Biyombo's better defensive energy. (I had Valanciunas on two fantasy teams, so I paid attention to this.) Valanciunas just turned 24 and Biyombo is a few months younger. Neither of them can be a credible PF, so the question is which one they want to develop into their #1 guy.

What they really need is someone who brings different skills to the table but has a profile of a career backup. Let's say Alex Len, for example. If Valanciunas is the one to get moved, what would the Raptors want along with Len in return?

Who says no to a trade of #4/Len for Valanciunas/#27?

 

[Mainstreet]

The Raptors have a bit of an issue at center. Valanciunas is the nominal starter (when healthy), but he often loses fourth-quarter minutes to Biyombo because of Biyombo's better defensive energy. (I had Valanciunas on two fantasy teams, so I paid attention to this.) Valanciunas just turned 24 and Biyombo is a few months younger. Neither of them can be a credible PF, so the question is which one they want to develop into their #1 guy.

What they really need is someone who brings different skills to the table but has a profile of a career backup. Let's say Alex Len, for example. If Valanciunas is the one to get moved, what would the Raptors want along with Len in return?

Who says no to a trade of #4/Len for Valanciunas/#27?

I think Valanciunas is already their #1 guy and he on a long term contract. IMO, they are going to keep him so I say no to a trade happening. I see him only getting better.

Biyombo most certainly will pick up his player option as he tests free agency. If the Suns want another center, pursue Biyombo in free agency. I don't think it is going to happen though.

 

[TJ]

the Lebron flopping is ridiculous

Until flopping gets penalized in-game, or has more dire consequences than a $5000 fine (like a suspension), expect it to continue. As a matter of fact, it's a good strategy if you're good at selling the flop, just like "Hack-a-Shaq."

If refs continue to bite on flops, why stop?

 

[JCSunsfan]

Until flopping gets penalized in-game, or has more dire consequences than a $5000 fine (like a suspension), expect it to continue. As a matter of fact, it's a good strategy if you're good at selling the flop, just like "Hack-a-Shaq."



If refs continue to bite on flops, why stop?

In the flow of the game it's hard for refs to know sometimes.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Until flopping gets penalized in-game, or has more dire consequences than a $5000 fine (like a suspension), expect it to continue. As a matter of fact, it's a good strategy if you're good at selling the flop, just like "Hack-a-Shaq."

If refs continue to bite on flops, why stop?

In the flow of the game it's hard for refs to know sometimes.

Even when reviewed, it's difficult to tell sometimes. Or at least it's difficult to prove. If you call a foul, rightly or wrongly, it can have consequences but it's all part of the game and in the end, it's no big deal. You hit a player with a large fine though, you better be right. You're going to be in a fight with the players union (or in court) if there's even the slightest doubt. That's why I've always said the fine should be levied on the franchise instead of the player. The fine should be hefty and it should increase with each penalty.

They need to draw a line in the sand. No more acting. You flop, we fine your franchise $50,000 the first time and the amount doubles each time your team is assessed for ref-baiting. And it automatically doubles for each round of the playoffs. And do the same thing any time a player tries to get a call that he knows clearly shouldn't be made. I hate it just as much when I see a player knock the ball out (knowingly) and then tries to convince the ref the other guy did it. Let the referees call the game, players should do nothing but play the game. And they need to go back to the days when only the team captains could talk to the refs.

 

[leclerc]

These millennial kids. What to do. LeBron flops like no other "superstar" before him. Same thing about Timmy's who me whiny face. Nice legacy LeChump.

 

[TJ]

These millennial kids. What to do. LeBron flops like no other "superstar" before him. Same thing about Timmy's who me whiny face. Nice legacy LeChump.

Then you can lump every other legendary superstar player in NBA history into this category, as just about every single one of them did one or two things that bugged the crap out of the opposing fans and was either illegal or borderline illegal:

Michael Jordan was the worst offender of traveling in NBA history.

Kobe flailed his arms after jump shots to initiate contact in an effort to draw a foul.

Magic Johnson was one of the biggest crybabies in league history.

Shaq swung his elbows like a gorilla to fend off defenders in the restricted area, and rarely ever got called for it.

The list goes on....

Let's not pretend that LeBron is the only miscreant of NBA rules.

 

[Russ Smith]

It's all about consistency IMO. The game right now Westbrook fakes Curry up jumps into him they call it on Curry. Thompson does the exact same thing to Durant and gets the contact no foul, so Kerr goes nuts during the timeout.

Call it both ways.

Refs tonight are off to a terrible start, Ibaka just dunked, about 4 members of the OKC bench walked out onto the floor thinking there was a foul called when there wasn't, and the refs didn't call a T on the bench.

I'm guessing if they keep this up Kerr will get a T in the next few minutes.

 

[Russ Smith]

I will be amazed if Kerr doesn't get a T in this one. 18-2 in FTA's right now.

 

[Russ Smith]

Talk about completely losing composure. I think they're getting the short end of the officiating stick but way too many quick shots and dumb plays by the Warriors. They turned a 12 point deficit into a 25 point deficit in 3 1/2 minutes.

 

[Cheesebeef]

lol... You're REALLY complaining about the refs... in a game where Draymond CLEARLY intentionally kicked Adams in the balls and didn't get kicked out and where they're losing by 40?

 

[GatorAZ]

Let's see if the NBA has balls the size of Adam's.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Assuming Adams has a long career I predict he will shatter the record for the most flagrant fouls engendered.

 

[sunsfan88]

I will be amazed if Kerr doesn't get a T in this one. 18-2 in FTA's right now.

He should have been ejected considering all the yapping he does. Him and Green whine about every call and yet rarely pick up the techs they should.

 

[Ronin]

Let's see if the NBA has balls the size of Adam's.

Lol.

 

[Russ Smith]

lol... You're REALLY complaining about the refs... in a game where Draymond CLEARLY intentionally kicked Adams in the balls and didn't get kicked out and where they're losing by 40?

I posted that in the 2nd quarter when the FT's were 18-4. Draymond completely lost his composure. I think that play effectively changed the game the lead went from 8 to 25 in the next 4 minutes as the Warriors missed one quick shot after another and gave OKC easy shots in transition. When Roberson and Westbrook started to hit 3's you could see the Warriors were in deep doo doo.

I hope Kerr really goes after Green about that play it effectively ended any chance the Warriors had of getting back into the game.

 

[Russ Smith]

He should have been ejected considering all the yapping he does. Him and Green whine about every call and yet rarely pick up the techs they should.

I think Kerr's issue is he is so laid back that when he starts complaining that much his team sees it and they think ok we're getting screwed and they start complaining instead of playing. Last night that lead just exploded because they took so many quick shots trying to get it all back.

There were clearly missed calls, the 3 FT's for Durant on the clean block by Iggy seemed to be the final straw for Kerr after that he was just convinced he was being hosed and I think the team adopted the same way of thinking to their detriment.

OKC was going to win that was apparent in the first half they were making shots the Warriors were missing shots and the Warrior bigs were ineffective. But the way the Warriors melted down has to be a HUGE concern to Kerr.

He's got to get them back and quickly into being able to play through adversity.

I'm not sure what is going to happen to Green, when it happened live I thought it was inadvertent, after the replays I thought it was a flagrant 1. With his history you can certainly make the case Reggie Miller did that the NBA could suspend him for game 4, and if they do, the Warriors are in deep trouble. Just a very bad matchup for them right now the size of the OKC interior is really bothering them.