NBA thread 2016-17 v. The Age of The Land?

[Accelerando]

Take that for data!!!

[Nekov]

Everyone killing the Celtics should not forget what happened to IT4 sister because even if he's playing on a high level it seems pretty clear to me that the whole team took a it with that and they are more concerned with him than with the game and that has to be factored in. I will agree with King though that I don't think the Celtics have what it takes to change to a playoff gear and that Al Horford is being overpayed, he's not a max contract guy.

[bosk1]

the Warriors are just scary when they want to be.  Who would think that on a might when they are missing both Durant and Livingston, and when Curry and Thompson combine for only 36 points and play only 31 minutes each, that they would beat Portland by 29?  Between Kerr being a master at maximizing his bench and the ability to absolutely stifle a team defensively, this team is ALWAYS a threat.  So much fun to watch!

[TheOutlawXanadu]

The Warriors are insanely good. I can't think of too many other teams in league history that could theoretically lose their best/second-best player (Durant) for the playoffs and still be favored to win it all.

Please note that I'm not saying Durant is going to miss the rest of the playoffs. It sounds like he's going to be back before the end of the series. Just speaking in hypotheticals.

[Accelerando]

Indiana got cocky with that 26 pt lead, played soft defense, and ended up losing.

Are blowing big leads just commonplace now? Warriors 3-1 lead. Falcons up 28-3. I don't get it.

[jingle.boy]

Toronto....

[T-ski]

Toronto....

[jingle.boy]

Well played.

[Azyiu]

I am just glad I ain't a Raptors fan.. 

[Nekov]

Indiana got cocky with that 26 pt lead, played soft defense, and ended up losing.

Are blowing big leads just commonplace now? Warriors 3-1 lead. Falcons up 28-3. I don't get it.

Not just that, it was like they forgot how they had played their offense in the first half. They weren't moving the ball, relying just on pick and rolls, no player movement, nothing at all, it was a complete disaster.

Regarding the Bucks, I truly wasn't expecting them to be putting up this kind of competition because of their young age and because of the bad decisions Kid usually makes during games however it's been fun to watch. I also think this is happening because Toronto is playing pretty badly, they don't look like a team that wants to compete

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I'm not entirely surprised, but it's still confusing to me how the Raptors manage to continually suck in the playoffs. They lost in the first round of 2014 and 2015 despite being the higher seed, and barely squeaked by last year. Now, it's looking like an early exit again. I hope they can turn things around.

[KevShmev]

LeBron F'ing James. 

[Azyiu]

I'm not entirely surprised, but it's still confusing to me how the Raptors manage to continually suck in the playoffs. They lost in the first round of 2014 and 2015 despite being the higher seed, and barely squeaked by last year. Now, it's looking like an early exit again. I hope they can turn things around.

I do not hate the Raptors, but I highly doubt they could turn it around. Like you have mentioned, they ain't newbies to the playoffs, and they even got as far as the ECF last year; yet I just don't see a sense of urgency in their plays through the first 3 games. Except for Ibaka playing with some passion and energy, the rest of the team just don't seem to play with the same level of energy for the most part.

On the other hand, though I don't see enough of the Bucks during the season, they clearly play with a ton more energy in these first few games. Like in game 2, where they eventually lost, they just never gave up when they were down by 13 or something in the 3rd qtr.

[jingle.boy]

Both DeRozan and Lowry can be hot/cold players.  And when they're both cold, the team has virtually no chance.  Last night was an example of that, and as demonstrated by Game 2, they typically bounce back in a strong way when they go ice cold.  I expect a better performance, and W for Game 4.

But yeah... as a "top" seed/team in the East, they should be able to bring it every single night.

[King Postwhore]

LeBron F'ing James. 

Everything the C's are missing.  Leaders step up.

[jingle.boy]

As predicted.

Best of 3 now after that defensive battle.

[Azyiu]

Kawhi Leonard!!!  That last fade away was Kobe-que!!! 

And then there is Mike Conley!!! Wow!!! What a game!!! 

[TAC]

Yes. Watching!!

[Azyiu]

Despite the loss, Kawhi Leonard's performance tonight was legendary! He is no doubt my new fav player in the league! Like I've said toward the end of the season, he IS a serious MVP candidate! Triple-doubles are cute, but the difference is Leonard carries the Spurs and they are winning games!

[Accelerando]

I knew the Grizzlies were going to show some grit in this series. They have all season, despite being a 7th seed. However, I think we can take this series at home, especially IF LA starts playing some ball on both ends of the court. I've been dissapointed with his inconsistent play all season. He's the X factor on how far we can go into the playoffs. If we ever play the Warriors, we need him to crash the boards. Kawhi was masterful tonight, but he cant do it all on his own.

[Azyiu]

And how about the Dubs? They looked dead in the water early on, but they came alive in the second half! Wow! 

[KevShmev]

Westbrook 42 for 118 from the field through four playoff games.  That's 36%, for those scoring at home. 

Yeah, that's an MVP.

[TAC]

Watching the Celtics/Bulls game. OMFG, the officiating is fucking horrible. WTF is this? It's a joke.

There is nothing worse than NBA officiating in any other sport.

[Azyiu]

Westbrook 42 for 118 from the field through four playoff games.  That's 36%, for those scoring at home. 

Yeah, that's an MVP.

You get no argument from me, as I keep saying the MVP should goes to Kawhi Leonard! 

[KevShmev]

There is nothing worse than NBA officiating in any other sport.

Yep. It is not close.  I get that basketball is difficult to officiate, but the preferential treatment stars always get when it comes to calls is so ridiculous.

[Nekov]

There is nothing worse than NBA officiating in any other sport.

You clearly don't watch a lot of soccer 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Can I go on a bit of a rant? Feel free to skip if you don't like soap boxes...

I get that triple-doubles are impressive feats. The ability to impact the game in three of the major facets is huge. I do not subscribe to the idea that triple-doubles are meaningless. However, with that said, I am tired of the media acting like a triple-double is the most significant accomplishment a player can achieve. Every time a player gets one, it's headline news. Even if a player doesn't get one but comes close, it is still mentioned. It's like these guys feel obligated to always be on "triple-double watch" because if they're not, they're not doing their job. At this point, I think that triple-doubles are even more common than 40-point games, so I don't get the fascination. I think I'm just annoyed because there are actual important stats that you almost never hear about, such as true shooting percentage and turnover percentage, probably because that kind of thing is getting too analytical and ESPN would prefer to keep their analysis as bare bones as possible.

OK, I'm done. Sorry.

[bosk1]

And how about the Dubs? They looked dead in the water early on, but they came alive in the second half! Wow! 

I am curious to see how things are going to shape up with Kerr being out.  Right now, whether he will even return at all during this post-season is completely up in the air.  It's easy to forget that he was out for most of last season's record-setting 73 win regular season.  But I think that team would have been more easily able to do what they did without Kerr than this season's team.  That team was mostly the same team that had won the championship the prior year.  I kind of feel that they could have done it on autopilot with or without Kerr in the post season.  But Walton was a pretty good coach in his own right and had been pretty ingrained in Kerr's system. 

This year, the team chemistry is different with so many new faces.  And while I feel like they have really gelled as a team, I'm not sure I'm as comfortable that they can just instinctively do what they do with or without key coaching decisions as well as last year's team might have been able.  But maybe I'm just overthinking it.  And Mike Brown certainly has more than enough coaching cred, so, again, maybe it isn't even an issue to spend much time thinking about.  But this team just keeps finding itself in situations that keep things interesting.

[KevShmev]

Can I go on a bit of a rant? Feel free to skip if you don't like soap boxes...

I get that triple-doubles are impressive feats. The ability to impact the game in three of the major facets is huge. I do not subscribe to the idea that triple-doubles are meaningless. However, with that said, I am tired of the media acting like a triple-double is the most significant accomplishment a player can achieve. Every time a player gets one, it's headline news. Even if a player doesn't get one but comes close, it is still mentioned. It's like these guys feel obligated to always be on "triple-double watch" because if they're not, they're not doing their job. At this point, I think that triple-doubles are even more common than 40-point games, so I don't get the fascination. I think I'm just annoyed because there are actual important stats that you almost never hear about, such as true shooting percentage and turnover percentage, probably because that kind of thing is getting too analytical and ESPN would prefer to keep their analysis as bare bones as possible.

Could not agree more. 

[Azyiu]

I am curious to see how things are going to shape up with Kerr being out.  Right now, whether he will even return at all during this post-season is completely up in the air.  It's easy to forget that he was out for most of last season's record-setting 73 win regular season.  But I think that team would have been more easily able to do what they did without Kerr than this season's team.  That team was mostly the same team that had won the championship the prior year.  I kind of feel that they could have done it on autopilot with or without Kerr in the post season.  But Walton was a pretty good coach in his own right and had been pretty ingrained in Kerr's system. 

This year, the team chemistry is different with so many new faces.  And while I feel like they have really gelled as a team, I'm not sure I'm as comfortable that they can just instinctively do what they do with or without key coaching decisions as well as last year's team might have been able.  But maybe I'm just overthinking it.  And Mike Brown certainly has more than enough coaching cred, so, again, maybe it isn't even an issue to spend much time thinking about.  But this team just keeps finding itself in situations that keep things interesting.

The ability to make precise in-game adjustment is what I think Kerr will be missed most. Like you mentioned, Mike Brown is a good enough coach, but as a Lakers fan, while I think he is good at preparation for each match up; yet his real-time in-game adjustments are iffy sometimes. Then again, with KD back for Game 4, I think the Dubs will have to "feel" each other on the floor in the 1st qtr all over again. I bet the Blazers are not going to lay down and go away, so I fully expect a very tight game! For the Dubs' sake, they'd better close it out in 4 and get some rest and practice before the next round.

[bosk1]

I bet the Blazers are not going to lay down and go away, so I fully expect a very tight game!

Um... 

[Azyiu]

Um... 

Ouch! 

[bosk1]

And the Clippers/Jazz, both of whom were dominated by the Warriors in the regular season, are going to have to go at least through Friday, if not Sunday before their series is over.  Hate to say it, but I think the Warriors are going to cruise to the West finals.

[Nekov]

I'm worried about the Spurs lately, they're a machine during the regular season but when post-season time comes some players just disappear (I'm looking at you Aldridge). I think they would do a great favor to themselves if they traded him for good assets and got Paul Millsap as a free agent during the offseason but knowing how the Spurs work this is likely not going to happen.

And the Clippers/Jazz, both of whom were dominated by the Warriors in the regular season, are going to have to go at least through Friday, if not Sunday before their series is over.  Hate to say it, but I think the Warriors are going to cruise to the West finals.

No doubt.

[contest_sanity]

If I were CP3, I'd be telling the Spurs to open up as much cap room as humanly possible... wouldn't that be a monster team with Chris Paul at the 1?