2018 Playoffs Thread

[HeHasRosen]

I know losing Paul will hurt the Rockets but Harden played at MVP levels last year playing PG and played a good amount of PG with Paul missing a bunch of games this season. I think losing Paul hurts them more on paper than it will in the actual game. He missed 24 games this season. What hurts more is D'Antoni's short rotations and if Paul isn't available that forces others to play more than they have. Barkley talked about D'Antoni's stubbornness in his short rotations and how that hurts players as the series goes on, they may be ok for the next game but it will catch up with them, usually at the end of series like they're at now.

The Rockets went 15-9 without Paul this season. One of those losses actually had no Paul or Harden and was the final game of the season. So the Rockets went 15-8 without Paul when Harden plays.

I hope your right. But i do not trust Harden when it matters. I expect a blowout in game 6

 

[elindholm]

Harden has missed his last 19 three-point attempts and the Rockets have won both games. The Warriors are done.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Additionally, KD has shown ZERO commitment on defense this postseason...none. It's completely unacceptable.

 

[Hoop Head]

I hate the Rockets and how Harden plays, but I can't deny them winning will be best for the league. LeBron won't be able to run to Houston if they win it and the Warriors dynasty will be in question. They might have a different perspective on their cap busting roster too. Shutting up Draymond will be a bonus.

I think Houston winning may help them get Lebron. I could see their owner paying whatever is takes to repeat. Signing Lebron makes them the favorites in the next year and Paul may take a discount to sign Lebron. It'd be a little different than Durant signing with the Warriors but not that much.

 

[Covert Rain]

I know losing Paul will hurt the Rockets but Harden played at MVP levels last year playing PG and played a good amount of PG with Paul missing a bunch of games this season. I think losing Paul hurts them more on paper than it will in the actual game. He missed 24 games this season. What hurts more is D'Antoni's short rotations and if Paul isn't available that forces others to play more than they have. Barkley talked about D'Antoni's stubbornness in his short rotations and how that hurts players as the series goes on, they may be ok for the next game but it will catch up with them, usually at the end of series like they're at now.

The Rockets went 15-9 without Paul this season. One of those losses actually had no Paul or Harden and was the final game of the season. So the Rockets went 15-8 without Paul when Harden plays.

Isn’t he averaging more than 7 assists? They are going to miss the hell out of that. Even the timely driving. It will be a huge loss.

Without CP3 they will key on Harden.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

They're letting themselves get punked by a lineup whose biggest players are Ariza and Tucker. It caught them by surprise in Game 4, but somehow they utterly failed to prepare for it happening again in this game.

Welcome to todays NBA

 

[Cheesebeef]

Harden has missed his last 19 three-point attempts and the Rockets have won both games. The Warriors are done.

No Paul, no prob for the Warriors. That’s how they’ve won both their titles:

4-2 over Bron, sans Kyrie AND Love
Beating SA sans Leonard after he had them down 25 at home in Game 1 last year.

I’m guessing they do it again this year and everyone talks about how they’re one Draymond suspension from a 4 peat without acknowledging the MASSIVE breaks they’ve gotten to get 3.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I know losing Paul will hurt the Rockets but Harden played at MVP levels last year playing PG and played a good amount of PG with Paul missing a bunch of games this season. I think losing Paul hurts them more on paper than it will in the actual game. He missed 24 games this season. What hurts more is D'Antoni's short rotations and if Paul isn't available that forces others to play more than they have. Barkley talked about D'Antoni's stubbornness in his short rotations and how that hurts players as the series goes on, they may be ok for the next game but it will catch up with them, usually at the end of series like they're at now.

The Rockets went 15-9 without Paul this season. One of those losses actually had no Paul or Harden and was the final game of the season. So the Rockets went 15-8 without Paul when Harden plays.

No... to all of this.

No Paul, No Finals.

 

[GatorAZ]

Kerr failure to motivate and allow Dubs to play selfish ball is stunning to say the least.

Only 32 assists total last two games with equal amount of turnovers.

And, in what world does Quinn Cook get inserted in crunch time?

Out at NBA coaches having to motivate super teams.

 

[Folster]

I think Houston winning may help them get Lebron. I could see their owner paying whatever is takes to repeat. Signing Lebron makes them the favorites in the next year and Paul may take a discount to sign Lebron. It'd be a little different than Durant signing with the Warriors but not that much.

I don't think LeBron can get away with going to a team that just won a championship. KD didn't even do that as GS lost to the Cavs the season prior to KD joining.

 

[HeHasRosen]

I think CP3 is being undervalued here. I cant see the Rockets winning without him the next two games. He has been the catalyst of what the Rockets are doing in these last two games as well. Harden has to go ham if they have a chance. Plus iggy should be back

 

[ajcardfan]

I think one thing you guys are forgetting is the phenomenon, when a star is injured, is for the team to play out of it's mind in response. Not too long usually, but in the immediate aftermath. Think Willis Reed and the Knicks.

Just a gut feeling, I would not be surprised to see Houston play very, very well for CP3. My gut is Houston wins game 6.

 

[HeHasRosen]

How can you blame kerr for this. The team isnt executing. Durant looks in over his head out there. This is why he came to gs. Hes not the guy

 

[elindholm]

Paul has been Houston's best player, but Harden can't be this bad forever. Even if he gives a C-minus game, that should be enough, given how disorganized and heartless the Warriors look.

 

[elindholm]

Welcome to todays NBA

Maybe, but tomorrow's NBA will be ruled by Deandre Ayton.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

How can you blame kerr for this. The team isnt executing. Durant looks in over his head out there. This is why he came to gs. Hes not the guy

Because he is not adjusting...it's his job to get the team back to their game and he's not doing it. Otherwise a HC is pointless.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Maybe, but tomorrow's NBA will be ruled by Deandre Ayton.

And Anthony Davis, KAT and Embiid... hell, even Gobert to some extent.

 

[Folster]

And Anthony Davis, KAT and Embiid... hell, even Gobert to some extent.

I swear to god. If we don't draft Ayton, I'll lose it. The writing is on the wall.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Paul has been Houston's best player, but Harden can't be this bad forever. Even if he gives a C-minus game, that should be enough, given how disorganized and heartless the Warriors look.

They’ve been disorganized and heartless in the last two games... and are still just a couple of plays from being up 3-2.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I swear to god. If we don't draft Ayton, I'll lose it. The writing is on the wall.

IN BIG BLOCK LETTERS!!!

 

[Folster]

IN BIG BLOCK LETTERS!!!

I can just hear McD's interview on 98.7 after he drafts Doncic pointing out that if you looked at the WCFs neither team had a dominant center...

 

[Russ Smith]

Whoever runs the Warriors FB page is feeling pretty stupid about now. There's a post on there from about 6 hours ago reminding Warriors fans that game 1 of the NBA finals starts May 31st in Oakland against TBD.

It still MIGHT happen but a bit silly to post that before game 5 was even played

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm not saying the Suns will do it, but some team will have a dominant big and put together a Mike Fratello, slow it down and pound-it team and beat the crap out of these perimeter teams.

Also, I do not see why a running team cannot have a dominant big man.

 

[ajcardfan]

I can just hear McD's interview on 98.7 after he drafts Doncic pointing out that if you looked at the WCFs neither team had a dominant center...

I would feel like driving into a cement post. No, driving into McDonough.

 

[ajcardfan]

Also, I do not see why a running team cannot have a dominant big man.

Plus, Ayton can run. He's a great athlete.