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

[King Postwhore]

I think all teams need a guy like Green who is willing to get down and dirty.  His skills are at a high level as well.  I'd want him on the C's.

For me it was him calling a player who isn't dirty, in another division a little dumb.  When you play like he does you shouldn't call out others for the things you do.  The problem with Green and so many other pro players is that they live in this sports bubble.  It's a weird life.

[Samsara]

The problem with Green and so many other pro players is that they live in this sports bubble.  It's a weird life.

Bingo. It has GOT to be strange, for sure. I think it all changed once pro athletes really embraced the "entertainer" part of what they do. When they were just out playing and getting a paycheck, it was what it was. Now, everyone has to build up their "brand," and be "on" for media. Some of these guys are completely different people. But they want you to THINK they are a particular way.

Goes with musicians too, to a degree. Any famous person, I guess.

[bosk1]

For me it was him calling a player who isn't dirty, in another division a little dumb.  When you play like he does you shouldn't call out others for the things you do. 

I'll give you "dumb."  But keep in mind that he did NOT say he isn't.  And he did make, IMO, and important distinction between how he plays and how Olynyk plays.  His point was that the moves Olynyk pulls are likely to result in injury to other players, which has actually happened, and he was saying that that is crossing the line.  Whether or not you agree with his assessment of Olynyk's play, I think that is a valid distinction.  But granted that, yeah, it does seem dumb coming from the mouth of someone who makes no bones about pushing the envelope himself.  I just think the distinction he made gets lost in all that (as does the fact that he was responding to a question, and not going out of his way to just slam another player out of the blue).

The problem with Green and so many other pro players is that they live in this sports bubble.  It's a weird life.

For sure.  And musicians.  And actors.  Becoming a celebrity makes you unable to meaningfully deal with the real world, IMO.

[King Postwhore]

I don't remember if he was asked or just randomly gave his thoughts.  But i agree with what you said.  Olynyk only had that one instance with the separated shoulder with Kevin Love.  He's never been a tough player at all.  I wish he would play with an attitude like Green.  All teams need toughness.

Well, I guess tonight may be the last game for the C's.  I hope not.  I'd love to at least see a game 6.

[bosk1]

Well, they are back in Boston, so maybe they'll feed off of that and make one last gasp.  Too bad they couldn't have stolen game 4 in Cleveland.  Even with the series tied and them coming back home, I would still have given the Cavs the edge in winning the series, but at least it would have been interesting.  I do acknowledge that teams coming back from a 3-1 deficit deep in the playoffs happened TWICE last year.  But (no offense) the C's just aren't as talented as either of those two teams were.

[King Postwhore]

No I agree.  they are not talented enough.  They've got a lot of grit but not the superstar player to put them over the top.

[KevShmev]

Is this a replay of game 2?

[TAC]

[jingle.boy]

Participation banner?

[Samsara]

 

[King Postwhore]

 

This isn't Indy Tim!

[TAC]

Of course it could be worse:

[Samsara]

lololololol

[KevShmev]

 

[KevShmev]

No Finals chatter, eh?

I will say this: the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Durant.  The Warriors have to win this series, and he has to play well. 

By all accounts, the Warriors should win this series, but the Cavs have the best player in basketball, are the better 3-point shooting team this year, and will be playing more loose and free (as a big underdog).  I think GS will win it, but I won't be surprised by any result.

[jingle.boy]

No Finals chatter, eh?

Kinda hard to be 'in the mood', when the first three rounds have been such a bore.

I will say this: the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Durant.  The Warriors have to win this series, and he has to play well. 

Agreed.  He is literally the only meaningful difference this year.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I am excited for the Finals, but I'm trying to stay cautious. There's a chance it could be a real blowout. For example, I just read an ESPN article that said the Warriors' point differential this postseason is about six points per one hundred possessions better than the Cavs' after factoring in the quality of competition, injuries, rotations, etc.

That's massive. That's like one seed versus eight seed massive. I think that a six game series is a moral victory for Cleveland. If they actually win the series, then LeBron pulls within striking distance of Jordan's throne.

[Samsara]

I have high expectations for the series. Given the talent level of both teams, and looking at their strengths and weaknesses, I feel pretty strongly it is going to be a hotly-contested 7-game series. There may be one game that's a blowout, if the Warriors get extremely hot from distance. But as long as that doesn't happen in a close-out game, I think it'll come down to the final shot in game 7, and who has it. Should be fun. I am looking forward to it (if it ever gets underway -- the long delay and all this downtime is stupid).

[Nekov]

I'm not sure I'm very interested in the finals. While I recognize it will be a fantastic matchup of two amazingly good teams, the fact that this was foreseeable since the start of the season has made me lose some interest. I was way more excited about the Spurs/Warriors series than this to be honest. And there's also the fact that the games start a little too late for me during weekdays.

[bosk1]

I will say this: the pressure is squarely on the shoulders of Kevin Durant. 

Agreed.  After the move he made, all eyes are squarely on him.  And I may catch some flak for saying this, but:  From watching him in playoffs past, I kind of feel like as talented as he is, he isn't a great "clutch" player under pressure.  But that said, I think the environment he is in will help with that.  Not that OKC were slouches, but I just don't feel like there was anyone to really take the pressure off of him and help him deal with it.  Westbrook certainly commands the spotlight and takes some of the focus off of other players, but that isn't really the same thing.  Golden State is a completely different environment, and I think the way they play and are coached will take some of the pressure off of him, or at least help him deal with it.

That said:

The Warriors have to win this series, and he has to play well.

  What do you mean, "has to?"  Or what?  He'll be sad?

By all accounts, the Warriors should win this series, but the Cavs have the best player in basketball, are the better 3-point shooting team this year, and will be playing more loose and free (as a big underdog).  I think GS will win it, but I won't be surprised by any result.

Not sure about the "loose and free" part.  I actually wouldn't be surprised if they are feeling the pressure of being the champs and come out pretty tense and error-prone because of it.  But otherwise, yeah, I agree.  Should be a good series.  I'm just bummed that I am going to miss game 1.

I'm not sure I'm very interested in the finals. While I recognize it will be a fantastic matchup of two amazingly good teams, the fact that this was foreseeable since the start of the season has made me lose some interest. I was way more excited about the Spurs/Warriors series than this to be honest. And there's also the fact that the games start a little too late for me during weekdays.

Interesting.  Why is the fact that this series was forseeable a bummer for you?  I'm having trouble understanding why that should be an issue.

[Nekov]

I'm not sure I'm very interested in the finals. While I recognize it will be a fantastic matchup of two amazingly good teams, the fact that this was foreseeable since the start of the season has made me lose some interest. I was way more excited about the Spurs/Warriors series than this to be honest. And there's also the fact that the games start a little too late for me during weekdays.

Interesting.  Why is the fact that this series was forseeable a bummer for you?  I'm having trouble understanding why that should be an issue.

I guess I'm disappointed that things turned out to be exactly as they were laid out and that bums me out. I was very eagerly expecting for a surprise here, maybe not that these teams were beaten but at the very least that someone would give them a run for their money and that didn't happen. That makes me realize that this will be the theme for at least 2 more years which again, bums me out and makes me lose interest in the NBA as a whole.

[bosk1]

I guess what I was trying to get at is, is it ONLY the predictability factor that bums you out, or is it that combined with the fact that it isn't teams you are all that interested in?  I just don't get it if it is ONLY predictability.  As long as it is a good matchup and teams that are fun to watch (and I believe this matchup meets both of those criteria), I don't see predictability as much of an issue.  I'm not saying you shouldn't feel that way.  Just talking through my own views on the subject.

[Nekov]

Yeah, I get that. Watching the warriors play is super fun, they move the ball around masterfully and play the kind of team game that I enjoy the most. Maybe it's a matter that I don't like where the league is right now. I've been following the league all year wide and watched tons of games, even in the playoffs but again, I just don't feel any thrill for what's coming. And you might be right, the fact that the Spurs aren't there might also be bumming me out a little more, the fact that I already feel satisfied having watched Manu play his last game might also be affecting me. So yeah, it's probably not just the predictability factor, but I think that's the biggest thing.

[bosk1]

Makes sense.  Other than the fact that a prolonged WCC would have meant less rest for the Warriors, I wish they could have played San Antonio at full strength.  It would have made for a great series.  But selfishly, because Cleveland had such a cake-walk in the playoffs, I was happy to have the San Antonio series over early so Cleveland wouldn't get such a huge rest advantage.

[TAC]

No Finals chatter, eh?

I feel like the finals should be over by now. This layoff has drained any interest I might have in it. Obviously I'm watching hockey, but I'm kind of onto baseball now.

[KevShmev]

I think that a six game series is a moral victory for Cleveland. If they actually win the series, then LeBron pulls within striking distance of Jordan's throne.

I think most agree that James is already within distance of the throne, many of the dissenters being people who dislike James and will never give him credit no matter what.

No Finals chatter, eh?

I feel like the finals should be over by now. This layoff has drained any interest I might have in it. Obviously I'm watching hockey, but I'm kind of onto baseball now.

This long of a layoff is definitely stupid, but once the games begin, interest shall rise again. 

[TAC]

Basketball is my #4 sport anyway. I've really only watched the games because my 14 y/o is really into it. We've had a lot of fun watching together.

[KevShmev]

That's cool.

It's a distant number 3 for me now, behind hockey and football.  Baseball has plummeted to where I am not even sure I can say it's number 4 anymore.

[TAC]

I'm still a baseball guy.  Hockey easily #1 though.

Football is a distant #3.

[Azyiu]

The NBA Marketing team has been busy talking up this year's Finals, lol... they put it something like this is the only finals with the BEST winning percentages between the two teams leading up to Game 1 (GS 12-0, Cle 12-1), 3 MVPs (Curry, LBJ and KD), 7 All-star players and then something else I forgot, lol.  In a way they ain't wrong, and I also feel bad for them for thinking up ways to talk up these Finals, when the playoffs have been more or less boring... 

[Samsara]

Well, here we go. Should be a fun series.

I really think the NBA and NHL should be done before Memorial Day, and shouldn't reconvene until after Labor Day. I get the business reasons behind extending everything, but it's just a turnoff as a fan.

[Destiny Of Chaos]

Taking Cleveland in 7 again. Here's hoping...

[KevShmev]

I'd rather see Cavs in 6 so Cleveland gets a title win on their home court.

However, I think GS just has too much firepower. 

[Azyiu]

Dubs in 5... maybe... 

[Azyiu]

Points in paint : Cavs 16 / Warriors 42 in the first half... and the Cavs keep leaving KD open... But I bet the Cavs will adjust and won't leave KD open in the second half as much. Klay must step up... Shooting 2 for 10 is crappy like Korver, lol.