2018 Playoffs Thread

LoyaltyisaCurse

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The reason why the Warriors are so good is because they genuinely enjoy playing with and for each other. There is absolutely no basis for saying they are a lost finals away from turning on themselves. There is no prentend there.
 

Hoop Head

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I do think this series has exposed some issues with Durant that were there but not totally obvious. Playoff run I guess not series. He can absolutely carry the team offensively but when he does so, it freezes out others. When Curry was out they needed it, but when Curry got back it seemed like Durant wsa hesitant to stop doing it so much. Remember the entire reason he wanted out of OKC, as has been documented, is he hated all the no pass ISO ball they played. So it's a really odd thing that he's now doing what he hated and you can see cracks in the armor of the team.

I think it's odd that he used that for a reason why he didn't like it in OKC either because anyone that saw their collapse against the Warriors in the playoffs that last year when they were up 3-1 had to have seen that it was primarily Durant, not Westbrook, that took to playing ISO or Hero Ball to try and get them back in it. Westbrook deferred to Durant a lot more than he's done since Durant left. Durant was the one who often stalled out their offense, in a similar way that he has with Golden State this year. It's like he gives him self a pass, or he doesn't realize he does the same exact things he's called out his teammates for.
 

LoyaltyisaCurse

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I think it's odd that he used that for a reason why he didn't like it in OKC either because anyone that saw their collapse against the Warriors in the playoffs that last year when they were up 3-1 had to have seen that it was primarily Durant, not Westbrook, that took to playing ISO or Hero Ball to try and get them back in it. Westbrook deferred to Durant a lot more than he's done since Durant left. Durant was the one who often stalled out their offense, in a similar way that he has with Golden State this year. It's like he gives him self a pass, or he doesn't realize he does the same exact things he's called out his teammates for.
I think Curry being out for so many games played a role, I also think his game 1 vs Rockets when he was killing the mid range ISO also contributed to it.

It is a bit of a head scratcher why he has decided this is his game. I am more troubled by his almost utter indifference on the defensive side of the ball.
 

Mainstreet

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Some remember.

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Mainstreet

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And Steve Nash remembers as well.

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Russ Smith

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I think it's odd that he used that for a reason why he didn't like it in OKC either because anyone that saw their collapse against the Warriors in the playoffs that last year when they were up 3-1 had to have seen that it was primarily Durant, not Westbrook, that took to playing ISO or Hero Ball to try and get them back in it. Westbrook deferred to Durant a lot more than he's done since Durant left. Durant was the one who often stalled out their offense, in a similar way that he has with Golden State this year. It's like he gives him self a pass, or he doesn't realize he does the same exact things he's called out his teammates for.


Durant was considering leaving OKC long before that series loss to the Warriors, that just consolidated in his head he wanted to go.

And yes he was guilty of playing ISO ball there too but it was a long time issue he had, remember at one time they had him, Westbrook and Harden all together, 1 ISO 7 footer and the 2 most ball dominant guards in the NBA today. I think that was the beginning of it for him and when Harden left and the offense stayed the same it bothered him.

But I do agree, he didn't seem to get that he was part of the reason they played that way. When the Warriors share the ball they're damn near unbeatable, if you run them off 3's the back cuts and drives are open. As they said all last series for Durant it has to be move the ball first, if we are under 10 seconds and need a shot, then do the ISO. There's still far too many trips where he holds the ball and then shoots that fadeaway, he makes them, but it's still not necessarily good offense except late in the game to milk the clock
 

Russ Smith

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I think Curry being out for so many games played a role, I also think his game 1 vs Rockets when he was killing the mid range ISO also contributed to it.

It is a bit of a head scratcher why he has decided this is his game. I am more troubled by his almost utter indifference on the defensive side of the ball.


Yeah the defense thing is really odd. At one point this year he was leading or nearly leading the NBA in blocks. his blocks are down from 1.8 regular season to 1.2 postseason and they're playing a smaller lineup now so he's actually defending the rim MORE now than he was regular season. I know he doesn't want to get fouls but he's conceding way too many layups. I got so tired of watching Gordon finish over him in the Rockets series. he did have 3 blocks in game 1 against Cleveland, hopefully sign of things to come
 

Ronin

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And Steve Nash remembers as well.

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So does Patrick Ewing.
''I felt they robbed me,'' Ewing said, referring to the one-game suspension he received from the National Basketball Association for wandering off the bench but not directly toward the fight that sullied Game 5 and the eventual plans New York had to mount another charge up Mount Michael. ''They robbed me of a great opportunity.''
https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/19/...-eliminated-another-bad-ending-for-ewing.html
https://www.complex.com/sports/2016...ffs/nba-playoffs-suspensions-ewing-ward-brown
 

Cheesebeef

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terrible rule... just awful. totally robbed us of our best chance at a title. I didn't have problems with Amare's suspension. By letter of the law, he was trying to get to the scrum and deserved his punishment. But the Diaw one was FLIPPING ridiculous. He seemed to take one step forward just to see what happened then immediately retreated.

And he absolutely would have been the deciding factor in Game 5. When Amare was out and Diaw was the low-post man, he always stepped up his game and no doubt in my mind would have to win Game 5.
 

GatorAZ

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terrible rule... just awful. totally robbed us of our best chance at a title. I didn't have problems with Amare's suspension. By letter of the law, he was trying to get to the scrum and deserved his punishment. But the Diaw one was FLIPPING ridiculous. He seemed to take one step forward just to see what happened then immediately retreated.

And he absolutely would have been the deciding factor in Game 5. When Amare was out and Diaw was the low-post man, he always stepped up his game and no doubt in my mind would have to win Game 5.

I think 06’ was their best opportunity even without Amare but Kurt missed the entire postseason and Raja injured his calf in game 1 vs Dallas. They just had no bodies but would’ve run Miami out of the building in the finals.
 

Mainstreet

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Yeah as much as I think it’s a dumb rule. Because it cost us I want to have it enforced against everyone. No pity.

Unfortunately (or fortunately for the teams now involved in the playoffs) it's not enforced the same way now. It likely cost the Suns a Championship.

I have to say though, I did not like Stern's system of justice. I like that Silver looks at each case individually and not just the letter of the rule.
 

Hoop Head

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It's easier to handle since a new commissioner is in place, instead of being Stern just choosing not to be as much of a dick as he was in the past but it still cost us a title and especially in the playoffs it's hard to see others get a pass. If it was a player/team getting a pass on a regular season game then I'd be ok with it, or able to handle it better, but this could swing the series. Even with the Cavs being underdogs, there is no doubt Love is a crucial player for them and not having him for game 2 would be huge.
 

JCSunsfan

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terrible rule... just awful. totally robbed us of our best chance at a title. I didn't have problems with Amare's suspension. By letter of the law, he was trying to get to the scrum and deserved his punishment. But the Diaw one was FLIPPING ridiculous. He seemed to take one step forward just to see what happened then immediately retreated.

And he absolutely would have been the deciding factor in Game 5. When Amare was out and Diaw was the low-post man, he always stepped up his game and no doubt in my mind would have to win Game 5.
The thing was, there wasn't even really a scrum. Amare was just looking to see how Steve was after being pushed into the table. Its is one of the stupidest rules and rulings in the history of sports. I think it would have been overlooked if Steve Kerr (then a TNT commentator I believe) had not immediately started saying "thats a suspension, thats a suspension!"
 

Mainstreet

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The thing was, there wasn't even really a scrum. Amare was just looking to see how Steve was after being pushed into the table. Its is one of the stupidest rules and rulings in the history of sports. I think it would have been overlooked if Steve Kerr (then a TNT commentator I believe) had not immediately started saying "thats a suspension, thats a suspension!"

Another reason not to like Kerr besides the KT trade. Kerr is likeable but dang.
 

LoyaltyisaCurse

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Klay Thompson officially diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and is said to have "significant bruising." He says he plans on playing and has been receiving "round the clock treatment."

I don't think he plays game 2 or 3.
 

Hoop Head

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Will the Warriors push for Iggy to return if Klay can't go? What injury is Iggy suffering from right now, I thought it was just general wear and tear but I could be wrong. If Klay can't go they'll need a strong perimeter defender like Iggy to step up. He's played with everyone enough there shouldn't be an issue of inserting him back into the lineup. Maybe even dress Klay and let him play if he's feeling he can go at some point during the game but don't start him.
 

Suns_fan69

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Iggy has a bone bruise at his knee, which isn't pleasant. I had one a number of years ago and it was weeks before i could extend my knee without pain, and even longer without discomfort.
 

LoyaltyisaCurse

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Will the Warriors push for Iggy to return if Klay can't go? What injury is Iggy suffering from right now, I thought it was just general wear and tear but I could be wrong. If Klay can't go they'll need a strong perimeter defender like Iggy to step up. He's played with everyone enough there shouldn't be an issue of inserting him back into the lineup. Maybe even dress Klay and let him play if he's feeling he can go at some point during the game but don't start him.
He has severe bone bruise. Web MD says significant bone bruises can take months to heal.
 

Hoop Head

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Ok, I saw he was listed as day to day "knee pain" on Yahoo so I wasn't sure. Thanks guys!

Will be interesting to see if he returns for this series. I think he could if needed. Sucking it up for 1 game is a possibility but that's also if it lasts 7 games. In that case he'll have another week or 10 days of rest and rehabilitation.
 

Russ Smith

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Yeah last local report I saw said they think Iggy won't play, and klay will try to play but will be "impaired."

I guess we'll see but I'm expecting they will both sit.
 

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Love or Tristan not being suspended is basically a make up call imo. They know the refs blew it on game 1. Also they want to try to keep it a competitive series
 

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