NBA Playoffs 2016

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:09 pm

This series has really shown Klay in a new light.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:11 pm

degenerasian wrote:Thompson making 3s without even looking

He's been greay

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:15 pm

A_B wrote:Draymond wants nothing to do with durant.

four fouls.

A_B wrote:
degenerasian wrote:Thompson making 3s without even looking
He's been greay

Is that great and greasy?

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:21 pm

Thompson is just stupid, like Curry often is. Thank goodness Dray is grabbing every board.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:29 pm

Curry getting a bit stupid too, just in time.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:46 pm

Warriors were nuts in fourth. Great game.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:48 pm

A_B wrote:Warriors were nuts in fourth. Great game.

Won the quarter 33-18. Dray rebounding and Iggy stealing the ball were indispensable to the win.

Hope Russ finds something to laugh about at the press conference this time.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:50 pm

Warriors will win Game 7 by 30+.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sat May 28, 2016 10:52 pm

A_B wrote:nuts

too soon

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun May 29, 2016 10:15 am

That game last night will haunt the Thunder organization for years like Games 4 (Horry shot), 6 (officiating game) and 7 of the 2002 West Finals continue to haunt the Kings. OKC would have been favored to beat Cleveland, but now I'd give them less than 50% odds to ever win a championship with Westbrook or Durant. Golden State is a mortal lock to win Game 7, and isn't going anywhere in future years. And Durant and Westbrook are both up for free agency in the next two off-seasons. I know Klay Thompson was incredible, and Curry played well too, but the Thunder still had a rabid home crowd and a 7 point lead with 5 minutes left. If Westbrook and Durant played even decently down the stretch they win that game.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun May 29, 2016 10:17 am

Congrats DaveInSeattle

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun May 29, 2016 10:47 am

Joe K wrote:Warriors will win Game 7 by 30+.

Joe K wrote:Golden State is a mortal lock to win Game 7…

Please stop. In the name of all that is decent, I beg of you.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun May 29, 2016 11:22 am

howard wrote:
Joe K wrote:Warriors will win Game 7 by 30+.

Joe K wrote:Golden State is a mortal lock to win Game 7…
Please stop. In the name of all that is decent, I beg of you.

The Warriors are fine. They're the (slightly) better team, have a strong home court advantage and have the Thunder coming off a devastating loss. The only reason they lost Game 1 at home was due to sloppiness, which may've come from overconfidence or an adjustment period to OKC's length. I plan on watching the Sharks-Penguins game on Monday night because I truly believe there's a better chance the game is over by halftime than there is that OKC wins.

But if you want some balance, I'll say that I think Cleveland has a much better shot of beating Golden State than the consensus/betting markets will likely give them. Cleveland is playing its best basketball of the season, especially on the offensive end where they've been pretty ridiculous this postseason. And their 3 point attack is less reliant on any particular players than Golden State's is. JR, Kyrie, Love and Frye have all been on fire from deep, and LeBron is even showing signs of finding his jump shot.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun May 29, 2016 11:58 am

On the serious side, I agree with your post about OKC (except the mortal lock part); if they lose Monday, the game 6 loss will haunt for years. (Like game six of the 2002 world series, squandering Bonds' best shot at a championship.) (Thank goodness I didn't give a fuck about the Kings, or 2002 would've been rough.)
The chances of Durant staying put approach zero, and I will guess Westbrook won't want to stay there w/o Durant. OKC could quickly be lottery bound.

Durant and Westbrook are phenomenal players. Westbrook is playing the best ball of his life. I like the Warriors' chances, but I do not discount those two guys or the wonderful support they are getting from Ibaka, Adams and Roberson. Maybe if I wasn't a fan, if instead I were a dispassionate outsider, then I could rate the Dubs a lock. Sports man, the unlikely happens.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun May 29, 2016 12:02 pm

To add on to my last post, Cleveland is making 14.4 3s/game during the postseason, at a 43.4% success rate. Golden State is making 12.2 per game, at a 40.0% rate. Admittedly, OKC is a significantly better opponent than anyone Cleveland has faced, and Curry did miss 6.5 games earlier this postseason. But I do think Cleveland has the firepower to give Golden State a very tough series this year. And even though 2016 LeBron isn't as good as 2012-2014 LeBron, when he was at the peak of his powers, he's still LeBron.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sun May 29, 2016 12:32 pm

In a matchup with Golden State, I think the defense of Irving and Love makes their offense a lot less relevant.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun May 29, 2016 2:14 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:In a matchup with Golden State, I think the defense of Irving and Love makes their offense a lot less relevant.

I've heard that argument but I think their offensive pluses easily outweigh the defensive minuses. Cleveland's team offensive efficiency so far this postseason (116.2 points/100 possessions) is off-the-charts good. I couldn't find stats going back more than about 15 years, but it's the best postseason offense any team has had over that time span. Let's put it this way, if you gave Steve Kerr truth serum, I'm certain he'd rather have Dellavedova and Mozgov back in the starting lineup in place of Irving and Love.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sun May 29, 2016 2:27 pm

I don't expect Irving and Love to continue shooting threes at 20% and 23% better than their career rates, respectively. I also expect them to both get shredded when Golden State goes small, which Cleveland couldn't slow down with superior defensive players last year in the Finals.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun May 29, 2016 3:03 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:I don't expect Irving and Love to continue shooting threes at 20% and 23% better than their career rates, respectively. I also expect them to both get shredded when Golden State goes small, which Cleveland couldn't slow down with superior defensive players last year in the Finals.

I don't think Cleveland's great outside shooting is entirely random. LeBron is so good at making difficult passes to open shooters that they get a lot of really open looks. (That's been true of basically every team he's ever been on.) I also think that if they put Love on Barnes and LeBron or Thompson on Draymond they won't be completely lost defensively.

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Sun May 29, 2016 3:51 pm

Guys, Wilbon might see this

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:39 pm

https://vine.co/v/iX7bDjWOwmr

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:53 pm

I think Singler is the key tonight.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:54 pm

Hey Joe K!

Maybe it is a mortal lock:

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon May 30, 2016 7:57 pm

Why haven't the good citizens of the Bay demanded a more peaceful team identity than Warriors?

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon May 30, 2016 8:39 pm

How's the hockey game?

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Mon May 30, 2016 8:42 pm

Warriors chucking bricks

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 8:53 pm

OKC has thoroughly outplayed dubs. And are only up 4, 4:08 to go in first half.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon May 30, 2016 8:59 pm

Back to 9. And green is a punk.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:03 pm

But he's my punk.

Dubs are playing good D and are tough on the boards, but not doing it on offense. Thompson preventing a blowout, 4-4 on 3s in the second quarter. 48-42 OKC, at the half.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:34 pm

Thunder get real sloppy when under pressure.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:45 pm

we secretly replaced the Thunder with the Bolivian national soccer team for the second half

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:46 pm

They've scored ten points in the third so far. Just unreal choking.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:51 pm

29-12 third quarter. Dubs up 11

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:51 pm

OKC bombing

Thanks to these 2.5 beers for letting me post this

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon May 30, 2016 9:53 pm

Kevin Durant seriously considering joining the Warriors for the 4th quarter. He would see the ball more. Not that OKC really needs him.

Adam Silver furiously at work drafting a league rule that prevents Durant from signing with the Warriors in free agency.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:06 pm

Fucking OKC won't go away. Still playing hard and bringing it. 82-75, 5:26 in the 4th.

Post by **brian** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:09 pm

This game could go three OTs and still not hit the over.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:17 pm

Durant not going down without a fight.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:18 pm

Fucking Durant. damn he's good.

howard · Post by **howard** » Mon May 30, 2016 10:23 pm

Mortal Lock! I was just fucking with you guys.