NBA-best first round ever

[superjohn]

Portland avoided being the sixth series going to a game 7 because of Lillard's heroics. Just an unbelievable game and it's hard to believe how many great games and series there has been, I knew the West first round would be great but WOW. Lillard is an amazing player, doesn't get the press of the other top point guards but none of them are any better than him.

 

[PacificStorm]

Is it possible to catch the ball, rotate your body a foot to the right, bend your knees, jump, rise 18-24 inches, bend your arm backwards and release the ball with only 0.9 sec left on the clock? A great PG, his shot was marvelous but I just could not comprehend the physics of it. I am not sure if there are any other 0.9 shots ever made. Is this the first ever? Maybe not. Maybe Jack Ramsay slowed down the clock.

 

[superjohn]

Is it possible to catch the ball, rotate your body a foot to the right, bend your knees, jump, rise 18-24 inches, bend your arm backwards and release the ball with only 0.9 sec left on the clock? A great PG, his shot was marvelous but I just could not comprehend the physics of it. I am not sure if there are any other 0.9 shots ever made. Is this the first ever? Maybe not. Maybe Jack Ramsay slowed down the clock.

Yes and it's happened many times. Derek Fisher did it with .4 seconds in the playoffs to beat the Spurs years ago.

 

[champs99and04]

There's always one player who emerges as a star every postseason. Last year it was Curry, this year it appears to be Lillard. He's just terrific.

BTW, where's the dude who was shouting us all down about the lack of parity in the NBA? Five game sevens is pretty damn good.

 

[JaYnYcE]

There's always one player who emerges as a star every postseason. Last year it was Curry, this year it appears to be Lillard. He's just terrific.

BTW, where's the dude who was shouting us all down about the lack of parity in the NBA? Five game sevens is pretty damn good.

probably at the fieldhouse watching pick up games.

 

[maineuconnfan]

The trent tucker rule is .3 seconds

 

[Huskyforlife]

Chris Paul is better but Lillard is great

 

[HuskiesAllDay]

Besides Miami, is there a single team in the East that's better than any team out West?

I honestly think every Western team would easily beat every team in the East. The disparity between the two confernces is incredible.
Every team out west is so stacked and everyone in the east is terrible

 

[JaYnYcE]

East has been bad for years. East hasn't been dominant since the 90's.

 

[aceboon]

Besides Miami, is there a single team in the East that's better than any team out West?

I honestly think every Western team would easily beat every team in the East. The disparity between the two confernces is incredible.
Every team out west is so stacked and everyone in the east is terrible

in regards to just pure talent the Pacers and Wiz(less so cuz of their bench) stack up very favorably with the West but obviously with the way the Pacers have played since Feb and with the Wiz being up and down all year(partly due to injuries), yea, you would probably pick all of the playoff teams out West to beat them in a series. Honestly I would love to see how the Wizards would do at full strength with a real coach like say Rick Carlisle instead of Whittman.

 

[mauconnfan]

I've never seen so many games go down to the last 45 minutes………well I mean last minute of the game but that minute takes 45 to play……..

 

[Dogdeacon]

Bulls were there until Rosé injury and Deng trade though even before that West had 2nd - 5th best (SA, OKC, Port & Clips).

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I've never seen so many games go down to the last 45 minutes………well I mean last minute of the game but that minute takes 45 to play……..

That's such a comment my 68 year old father would make. Love it.

 

[superjohn]

Besides Miami, is there a single team in the East that's better than any team out West?

I honestly think every Western team would easily beat every team in the East. The disparity between the two confernces is incredible.
Every team out west is so stacked and everyone in the east is terrible

No there isn't, Dallas would kick the c r a p out of the Pacers.

 

[mauconnfan]

That's such a comment my 68 year old father would make. Love it.

Damn he has me by 14 years……….I'm way ahead of the curve huh?

 

[champs99and04]

What an absolute show the Warriors and Clippers put on tonight. Talk about a 15 round heavy-weight fight.

 

[gtcam]

Do you realize that Toronto went 42-22 after they got rid of Rudy Gay?
My friend from there said the fans grew to really dislike RG
Hopefully he fits in better with Kings but I read they want to get rid of him too...............................

 

[UconnU]

Do you realize that Toronto went 42-22 after they got rid of Rudy Gay?
My friend from there said the fans grew to really dislike RG
Hopefully he fits in better with Kings but I read they want to get rid of him too......

I hate to say it since hes one of our own but rg has never been Associated With winning. He takes a lot of low % shots and for his ability underperforms on the defensive end. Back on topic as entertaining as the nba playoffs have been it feels fake...college feels much more organic...

 

[Lefty2one]

BTW, where's the dude who was shouting us all down about the lack of parity in the NBA? Five game sevens is pretty damn good.

Dunno exactly what that poster was saying but in general the NBA complaints regarding parity are about the champs and The Finals, not the early rounds. The first round was absolutely fantastic but I'll still be shocked if someone besides Miami or SA/OKC makes it to the Finals (amazingly Indy has removed itself from that group). Honestly I'll be surprised if OKC makes it, they're a bit of a mess themselves. If we ever have a Portland/Washington Finals...then we'll be talking parity where it matters.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I watched Clippers-GState on DVR half yesterday morning and the other half last night. Was shocked to see they are playing tonight and for a second thought the Clips had to go two days in a row. Regardless I think Clips are exhausted mentally & physically and OKC benefits from staying at home and having an easier and earlier game on Saturday vs the Z-Bo-less Grizz.

OKC a 4.5-5.5pt favorite, I'd bet the Thunder heavily. Only 2.5pts if you want to bet Thunder to win first half which I bet they win by at least 10.

 

[Lefty2one]

OKC a 4.5-5.5pt favorite, I'd bet the Thunder heavily. Only 2.5pts if you want to bet Thunder to win first half which I bet they win by at least 10.

This is why I never, ever bet on the NBA.

Doc Rivers' system vs Scott Brooks' system...yikes. I'm sure OKC will bounce back but their simplistic offense is going to be relatively easy for Doc to contain. Hell it isn't that far off from LeBron's days in Cleveland and Doc in Boston. At the same time, OKC was running in circles trying to stop LAC's offense.

OKC just doesn't have the balance they had the past few years. Westbrook seems to be playing dumber than ever and Reggie Jackson as your third perimeter option is quite a step down from Harden & Kevin Martin.

I didn't think LAC was ready to make a leap just yet and it's concerning that they needed seven games to beat a Bogut-less Warriors team but they match up very favorably with OKC.

 

[Dogdeacon]

This is why I never, ever bet on the NBA.

Doc Rivers' system vs Scott Brooks' system...yikes. I'm sure OKC will bounce back but their simplistic offense is going to be relatively easy for Doc to contain. Hell it isn't that far off from LeBron's days in Cleveland and Doc in Boston. At the same time, OKC was running in circles trying to stop LAC's offense.

OKC just doesn't have the balance they had the past few years. Westbrook seems to be playing dumber than ever and Reggie Jackson as your third perimeter option is quite a step down from Harden & Kevin Martin.

I didn't think LAC was ready to make a leap just yet and it's concerning that they needed seven games to beat a Bogut-less Warriors team but they match up very favorably with OKC.

Yep, did you read the yard when Swami espoused the system of inverse expectations? Bet the opposite of what you think. I also would have said that Paul cannot physically compete with Westbrook and if he's got a nagging injury he taxed himself in Game 7 vs GState. Wrong and wrong.
The Clips did have at least 5 guys that played great in game 7, so maybe they've made the leap. Paul, Griffin, Crawford, Reddick and Jordan all played great. Who in the West matches up best vs the Heat?

 

[PacificStorm]

The Spurs will beat the Heat in 6 games. K. Leonard will limit Lebron under 30 points per game. Wade is a fraction of himself. There goes the Heat.