2016 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Phrazbit]

Yeah, they made the Spurs look really bad at the end of that series and the narrative was about the Spurs just not having the legs anymore; it is instead looking like the Thunder are are a force.

I hope this doesn't end up playing out like the 2009 Orlando Magic, when were a team that looked like the 3rd best team in their conference, they got white hot and knocked out the Celtics and Cavs, then regressed to the norm in the finals. IMO the Cavs or Celtics beat the 2009 Lakers in the finals and it made me sick that Orlando rolled over and died for LA.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah, they made the Spurs look really bad at the end of that series and the narrative was about the Spurs just not having the legs anymore; it is instead looking like the Thunder are are a force.

I hope this doesn't end up playing out like the 2009 Orlando Magic, when were a team that looked like the 3rd best team in their conference, they got white hot and knocked out the Celtics and Cavs, then regressed to the norm in the finals. IMO the Cavs or Celtics beat the 2009 Lakers in the finals and it made me sick that Orlando rolled over and died for LA.

that Celtic team without Garnett wouldn't have been able to beat the Lakers... and I would have been surprised if a one-man LeBron team could have either. That '09 Laker team was freaking GOOD. 67 wins... Kobe in the ultimate prime of his career, still had Ariza and Odom/Gasol in their complete prime. That was gonna be their title one way or another I think.

But yeah, the Magic pretty much rolled over and died after Howard could have tied the series at 2-2 when he missed two straight FTs with 10 seconds left (up three... all he needed was ONE) and then Fish hit the 3 to put it into OT and win the game.

Man, what was it with the Magic not being able to hit ANY FTs to clinch Finals games.

 

[Cheesebeef]

OKC is 7-2 vs the Warriors and Spurs in their last 9. Again this would be the most impressive playoff run in history and they win it all.

agreed. the Rockets 1995 run is close beating a 60 win team, 59 win team, 62 win team and a 57 win team... but NONE of those teams was a) the defending champ who won a record number of games b) the best dynasty of this generation and c) probably the best player of it's generation.

 

[GatorAZ]

https://mobile.twitter.com/ovoshamar/status/735310602910863360/video/1

They loose

 

[TJ]

If there's any team that could come back from a 3-1 deficit, it's this GSW team. Obviously, the odds are stacked against this team winning 3 straight, but all it would take is a victory in Game 5 to put some pressure on OKC.

 

[FArting]

What a stupid trade by the Suns back in 2010

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/thomas_trade_070720.html

 

[Russ Smith]

If there's any team that could come back from a 3-1 deficit, it's this GSW team. Obviously, the odds are stacked against this team winning 3 straight, but all it would take is a victory in Game 5 to put some pressure on OKC.

In theory yes but none of the big 3 for the Warriors are playing well enough to reel off 3 straight.

They desperately need to get Green going his struggles are really impacting Steph and Klay because there is always help because his man isn't having to guard Green as closely.

OKC's length is unreal, Durant keeps getting blocks and deflections the Warriors just have not adjusted.

Kerr tried different lineups last night and got it closer for a bit but OKC just adjusted and pulled away again.

 

[elindholm]

What a stupid trade by the Suns back in 2010

http://www.nba.com/suns/news/thomas_trade_070720.html

2007, but who did those draft picks end up being?

 

[ColdPickleNachos]

I believe 2010 was Quincy Pondexter, and 2008 was...Serge Ibaka.

In Phoenix's defense (and I still think it was a horrible trade) those were the 28th and 24th picks of their respective drafts. It just so happens that the Thunder picked very well in 2008.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[ajcardfan]

In theory yes but none of the big 3 for the Warriors are playing well enough to reel off 3 straight.

They desperately need to get Green going his struggles are really impacting Steph and Klay because there is always help because his man isn't having to guard Green as closely.

OKC's length is unreal, Durant keeps getting blocks and deflections the Warriors just have not adjusted.

Kerr tried different lineups last night and got it closer for a bit but OKC just adjusted and pulled away again.

Most people are focusing on the "stars" in this series but I think the reason why these games in OKC were such impressive wins for the Thunder is because their role players are just doing much more than the Warriors role players. It seems like no matter who Donovan puts in the game, or for how long, they contribute something. And, Ibaka, Roberson and Waiters have been excellent.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Most people are focusing on the "stars" in this series but I think the reason why these games in OKC were such impressive wins for the Thunder is because their role players are just doing much more than the Warriors role players. It seems like no matter who Donovan puts in the game, or for how long, they contribute something. And, Ibaka, Roberson and Waiters have been excellent.

OKC is getting a lot more out of their role players than they have the past several years and credit for that should go to Donovan. This is a far better Thunder team than we've ever seen before. But this isn't the Golden State team that set a record for most wins in the regular season. I'd love to see that Warriors team take on this new and improved Thunder group. That series might rival the best Lakers/Celtics matchups of the 80's.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Wow. If, right now, I would have to pick an eventual champion, it would have to be the Thunder. How things change in such a short period of time.

When the playoffs started, I thought they could go down in round one, but certainly in round two.

This actually gives me hope. The Warriors are not as dominant as previously thought, neither are the Spurs or Cavs. A little parity in this league is a really good thing.

 

[Russ Smith]

Most people are focusing on the "stars" in this series but I think the reason why these games in OKC were such impressive wins for the Thunder is because their role players are just doing much more than the Warriors role players. It seems like no matter who Donovan puts in the game, or for how long, they contribute something. And, Ibaka, Roberson and Waiters have been excellent.

Oh absolutely clearly Livingston, Speights, Iggy etc are not nearly as good in this series as they were in prior series. OKC's bench is getting the better of the Warriors bench.

I'm just saying normally the big 3 are so good that others don't have to do as much but right now none of the big 3 is really having a good series. Klay had 19 in a row last night but was invisible before that.

one big issue the Warriors can't stay out of foul trouble so OKC is shooting 30-40 FT's every game. Bogut was by far the most effective big last night his plus/minus was the only big that was any good, but he again got in foul trouble with stupid push fouls or moving screens. That's why Kerr said at halftime in that speech they showed no more dumb fouls. Ezeli came in first half and 10 seconds after he came in he pushed Adams and gave him 2 FT's for no reason, just dumb stuff like that.

OKC just has their number right now I see very little reason to think the Warriors can turn it and win 3 in a row.

 

[95pro]

the NBA is sickening right now, calls favoring the Warriors big time.

 

[Russ Smith]

I don't think the announcers are watching the same game I am. They keep talking about how the Warriors are shooting well OKC isn't and the game is close.

Meanwhile OKC is 6-11 on 3's and the Warriors are 3-10 on 3's. That's why the game is close OKC is making 3's teh Warriors are missing. Add in OKC's offensive rebounds and they're still close.

At least Kerr put Speights in and he lit it up.

 

[Russ Smith]

Bogut and Speights the difference tonight, both had great first halves.

 

[ajcardfan]

Bogut and Speights the difference tonight, both had great first halves.

The Warriors bench played great in that game. Then, when OKC made the big run late Curry just made one huge play after another.

What a fun series. I think game 6 could be one of the great games of the decade or something like that.

 

[Ronin]

OKC better not lose game 6.

 

[Russ Smith]

The Warriors bench played great in that game. Then, when OKC made the big run late Curry just made one huge play after another.

What a fun series. I think game 6 could be one of the great games of the decade or something like that.

I guess I have to trust Kerr knows his roster better than I do but he wasn't playing Speights much and Barbosa even made an impact defensively and Kerr said he plays better at home than the road. Every move kerr made last night worked for a change.

I still am confused by the announcers talking up the Warriors great shooting and OKC hanging in there. Warriors 9-24 from 3 OKC 13-30. If you add in the 6 points Durant got by falling down shooting 3's and drawing fouls OKC scored 45 on 3's to 27 by the Warriors. But the warriors were much more effective this game finishing at the rim and hitting mid range which is where Speights and Bogut's big games mattered.

The warriors attacked the rim more and got 34 FT's after watching OKC do that the last 2 games and shoot nearly 80 FT's in the 2 games.

Can they do that in game 6 who knows, OKC is playing so well it's tough, but at least they have another crack at them.

 

[Russ Smith]

now that the game is over and I can't jinx it. That call that led to the T on Green was ridiculous. In the first half Curry hit a 3, Waiters ran by him and literally spun him 90 degrees with the contact and Curry didn't get the call.

On this one Durant fell down, they called Green who of course argued the call. And is the case on virtually all technicals the ref compounded the bad call by hitting Green with the T. It completely changed the game as it was a 4 point play got OKC back into it.

The refs know when they got fooled by a flop and it's amazing how defensive they get. Green of course has a big mouth so he's an easy target to T up but he was 100% right that play has not been called a foul the entire series.

 

[Ronin]

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh 3m3 minutes ago
Warriors got great looks again last night. This time they converted. 3 of their 4 highest shot quality games of postseason have come v. OKC.

 

[Russ Smith]

Tom Haberstroh ‏@tomhaberstroh 3m3 minutes ago
Warriors got great looks again last night. This time they converted. 3 of their 4 highest shot quality games of postseason have come v. OKC.

That's the thing that has been bothered this whole series. The Warriors are missing shots at the rim becaues of OKC's length, but the number of open 3's they've missed is staggering. They said last night Curry mised 5 "open" 3's in game 4 alone, and Thompson has been missing and I don't think Green has made a single 3 in the series, if he has maybe just 1.

I keep thinking ok the 3's are going to start falling but they aren't. I think part of it is OKC has them so flummoxed inside they're able to close out on shooters better and it's in the Warriors head, but part of it is just guys missing open shots.

 

[Ronin]

Congrats to the Cavs!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Ronin]

Rosalyn Gold-Onwude ‏@ROSGO21 4m4 minutes ago
Steph Curry on Westbrook laughing at him as underrated defender: I could care less about people's opinions. I know what I do for my team...

Hoping for a fantastic game tonight.