NBA Playoffs

[traitor71]

I don’t think so either now that we are two series in. Some of it comes down to D’Antoni’s system which doesn’t deviate much from just outscoring the opponent and reliance on 3s

-I disagree that Houston tries to be GSW. GSW is about player and ball movement, and they actually don’t rely on the 3 as much as people claim; they’re a middling team as far as attempts go, and just happen to be best with making their attempts-

And another part is Harden’s reliance on getting to the line for his points. Dude lived at the line all season but he won’t be getting the calls and thus FT attempts in the playoffs.

I believe he has the second most free throw attempts in the playoffs, with 77. LeBron is first with over 100 attempts so far. I believe he will get his free throws, but I just have a hard time imagining anyone beating Golden State 4 times without something crazy happening.

 

[the Q]

I believe he has the second most free throw attempts in the playoffs, with 77. LeBron is first with over 100 attempts so far. I believe he will get his free throws, but I just have a hard time imagining anyone beating Golden State 4 times without something crazy happening.

Draymond could always start touching dude's junk again...

 

[HuskyHawk]

Draymond could always start touching dude's junk again...

At least he's not licking anyone...

 

[Rocktheworld]

I just have a hard time imagining anyone beating Golden State 4 times without something crazy happening.

Totally agree here, even with Harden -and the rest of the team- playing at his highest level it’s still at best a tough 7-game series for Houston to win. Would surely be one of the most epic series of all time across sports

I forget what it is and I don’t know how to find the information but we all know that GSW probably lost 5 or fewer games when they are healthy. While Steph has a history of fading after an injury, it’s still hard to imagine that in 7 games any team is going to hand GS another 4 losses.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Totally agree here, even with Harden -and the rest of the team- playing at his highest level it’s still at best a tough 7-game series for Houston to win. Would surely be one of the most epic series of all time across sports

I forget what it is and I don’t know how to find the information but we all know that GSW probably lost 5 or fewer games when they are healthy. While Steph has a history of fading after an injury, it’s still hard to imagine that in 7 games any team is going to hand GS another 4 losses.

Its going to be an epic series. Steph's health is the biggest X factor that might contribute. #2 is Harden's mental - physical health - toughness. Because of Harden & CP3 history of playoff collapses I've got Golden State as a heavy favorite. But Harden & Co. will get hot at least twice in the series so it'll certainly go 6. If they get to 7 Houston should have a puncher's chance, but they are a kind of a bully in that when Golden State keeps taking their best shots and responding Houston may eventually fold.

 

[superjohn]

Totally agree here, even with Harden -and the rest of the team- playing at his highest level it’s still at best a tough 7-game series for Houston to win. Would surely be one of the most epic series of all time across sports

I forget what it is and I don’t know how to find the information but we all know that GSW probably lost 5 or fewer games when they are healthy. While Steph has a history of fading after an injury, it’s still hard to imagine that in 7 games any team is going to hand GS another 4 losses.

And the Rockets are I think 44-3 when Harden, Paul, and Capela are all healthy. I'll still take the Warriors, should be a great series.

 

[UConn990411]

That second quarter officiating was not a great look for the NBA.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

Wow the league REALLY wants a game 5.

 

[champs99and04]

The Celtics are a -34 with Aaron Baynes on the court and a +47 without.

Philly is a +20 with T.J. McConnell on the floor and a -33 without.

Disclaimer about plus/minus and all, these numbers seem significant.

 

[superjohn]

Couldn't believe all the "experts" picking Toronto before the series. They have never been a real threat to do anything but this is just pathetic. It doesn't get any more overrated than Kyle Lowry.

 

[Rocktheworld]

Lol refs benching DeRosan for Dwayne Casey

 

[MilliniumPrince]

If LeBron is still in this game beyond the 6:00 Mark, Lue should be canned on the steps of the Rock and Roll HOF.

 

[MadDogRevival]

Went the Cav's game last night. Great environment at the Q. You see a lot that you can't get from TV. Watching LBJ's spacing and passing, in particular, was different. Live, it's easier to see how he works his defender and waits to see if help is coming. His passes seem a lot tougher and precise live.
Fun game that seemed over by the half.

 

[champs99and04]

Toronto was like -140 or -160 in that series. Vegas must have taken a licking given how confident the public seemed to be in taking the other side.

I was definitely on the "this Cleveland team is horrible and people will feel stupid for picking them" bandwagon. Didn't turn out that way.

 

[bballgrda]

Toronto was like -140 or -160 in that series. Vegas must have taken a licking given how confident the public seemed to be in taking the other side.

I was definitely on the "this Cleveland team is horrible and people will feel stupid for picking them" bandwagon. Didn't turn out that way.

I need to see LeBron lose in the East before I pick against him.

 

[tzznandrew]

I need to see LeBron lose in the East before I pick against him.

Give me LeBron against pretty much anyone. I think there's a chance he'd take this crap team over the Rockets if KD, Steph and gang haven't re-jelled yet.

 

[auror]

"Bold" (quasi-counter-intuitive) predictions:

I like the Celtics over the Cavs.
The Sixers are going to win 2 more over the Celtics.

 

[champs99and04]

"Bold" (quasi-counter-intuitive) predictions:

I like the Celtics over the Cavs.
The Sixers are going to win 2 more over the Celtics.

I've been wrong on both teams pretty much all season so I really have no idea. If there were ever going to be a 3-0 comeback in NBA history you'd think it would be now.

 

[Scoe]

Couldn't believe all the "experts" picking Toronto before the series. They have never been a real threat to do anything but this is just pathetic. It doesn't get any more overrated than Kyle Lowry.

Raptors are soft watching the post game interviews they just still dont seem to get it, I knew not to trust them I said all year long I dont trust that team no matter how well they play during the regular season, that game in the regular season where the Raptors blew that huge lead against the Cavs should have given everyone an indication of what was to come.

 

[the Q]

The question is where do they go from here?

Their big contracts have 2 years left on them and they’re capped out thanks to questionable deals for Val and ibaka.

They really don’t have a path to the finals that doesn’t have Lebron and injury in the same sentence.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Give me LeBron against pretty much anyone. I think there's a chance he'd take this crap team over the Rockets if KD, Steph and gang haven't re-jelled yet.

I think that's right, if the finals are Rockets vs Cavs I think LeBron wins whereas Warriors v Cavs probably over in 5.

 

[auror]

The question is where do they go from here?

Their big contracts have 2 years left on them and they’re capped out thanks to questionable deals for Val and ibaka.

They really don’t have a path to the finals that doesn’t have Lebron and injury in the same sentence.

Their path to Finals is LeBron goes to Lakers, Markelle Fultz's Monstar virus affects the rest of the Sixers, and Hayward/Irving just keep injuring themselves in the exact same way every season.

 

[Travelman6]

It is not a shock, persay, that Toronto went down in round 2 when you look at their regular season stats, you can see they feasted on the bottom teams to build up those 59 wins.

Record against teams with fewer than 30 wins: 25-2
Record against other non-playoff teams: 11-3
Record against teams seeded 5-8: 17-12
Record against teams seeded 1-4: 10-12

No, it is not a shock at all Cleveland beat them, BUT it is a shock they went down in 4 games. I figured it would be 4-2 Cleveland.

 

[champs99and04]

I think that's right, if the finals are Rockets vs Cavs I think LeBron wins whereas Warriors v Cavs probably over in 5.

I get that angle but if you think the Warriors would beat the Cavs in 5, then wouldn't it be awfully difficult to pick the Cavs against the team that just beat the Warriors? I mean, if the Cavs and Rockets played tomorrow, fine. LeBron's rolling, other guys have started to step up, the regular season is a memory of the distant past. But in Golden State we're talking about, in my opinion, the greatest team of all-time. You don't beat them with some gimmick.

 

[Dogdeacon]

I get that angle but if you think the Warriors would beat the Cavs in 5, then wouldn't it be awfully difficult to pick the Cavs against the team that just beat the Warriors? I mean, if the Cavs and Rockets played tomorrow, fine. LeBron's rolling, other guys have started to step up, the regular season is a memory of the distant past. But in Golden State we're talking about, in my opinion, the greatest team of all-time. You don't beat them with some gimmick.

Rockets are good, no doubt - I just don't think they are completely mentally tough and the finals IS a different animal then the conference finals. Fact is they've been aiming for the Warriors for years and this is their big shot. Their goal is more to beat the Warriors than it is to win the NBA championship. So under this hypothesis they are laser focused for the series, matchup well with CP3 physical on Curry, Harden trying on defense v Thompson & some plan (Capella) to contend with Durant. And they've got the magic bullet 3 formula to win with 1 or 2 hot shooting games.
= So they get kinda hot or lucky and fulfill their goal.
Then letdown...
then bright lights of finals...
then LeBron who is incredibly relieved to not see Warriors again and on a mission from God to get a championship that's much more there for the taking (ala Jordan grabbing it from Mailman)...
then back to ye old playoff shriking violet Harden & CP3.
= Cavs in 5