Around the NBA - 2017 Round 2 Playoffs

[Chris Craig]

Yeah, I don't see that happening. From all indications, he loves playing and living in the Bay Area.

I think the main intrigue around Durant will be whether he wants the absolute max this off-season or if he's willing to take the 10% raise for one year and then sign the max next year. The second option would cost him a few million next year but would allow the Warriors to retain all their depth because Durant could be signed without cap space, as an exception (like Curry). If he wants the max this off-season, the Warriors need to carve out max cap space, which means letting a lot of their non-core players go--potentially Iguodala, Livingston, Clark, etc.

Well then hopefully he takes the max

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Houston really choked that away. No Leonard, no Parker; no execution by Houston.

 

[Mr. Robot]

LaMarcus is god awful and what a choke that was by Harden
unreal how bad both Spurs and Rockets are, Dubs gonna kill them

 

[illmatic99]

Finally a good playoff game. Manu!

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I want the Spurs to beat the Rockets, but I hope LMA never gets a ring.

As a kid, I was a big David Robinson fan cuz my big brother was, so we liked the Spurs, though we both were big Blazers fans.

 

[santeesioux]

Fuck the Spurs

 

[ripcityboy]

Spurs Vs. GS yet? Remember folks, when you get the choice of milkshake flavors at McDonald's, it's vanilla, chocolate or strawberry! Aren't we spoiled.

 

[Natebishop3]

I guess I am comfortable with Houston getting knocked out now by a weaker opponent, and then SAS getting smashed by GSW so LMA doesn't get a ring.

 

[H.C.]

I only caught the last 3 minutes of the Spurs vs Rockets game.
But Leonard apparently had an ankle injury? Meaning he didn't play in OT?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

 

[Natebishop3]

The best part is that Gordon hit the three after the buzzer. Maybe if The Great Bearded One would have passed the ball, they might have tied the game?

 

[Minstrel]

The best part is that Gordon hit the three after the buzzer. Maybe if The Great Bearded One would have passed the ball, they might have tied the game?

That was some ferocious defense, though. Harden did actually try to move the ball but couldn't find a passing lane, so just tried to score. Gordon hit the (long) three with no one trying to defend him since the game was over.

 

[dviss1]

We didn't give them a decent challenge this year. Other than Game 3, when Nurk started, did we ever lead in the entire series? Their average margin of victory over us was 18 points.

We gave them a much tougher battle last year where we:

a) actually won a game
b) were only outscored by a total of 22 points in a five game series (this year, we were outscored by 29 points in Game 2 alone)
c) led for more minutes than they did

This year, with Durant, they just have way more margin for error, perhaps more than any team ever. Last night,three of their four all stars had below average games. Klay Thompson scored 16 points LESS than his average. Thompson, Curry and Green were a combined 3-18 (.167 3FG%) from 3-point range. Their bench only scored 19 points and was outscored by UTA's bench. They only had 17 assists (they average over 30). And they still won by double digits, on the road, over a 51-win UTA team that was in a must win situation. It's hard to imagine GSW playing a worse game than they did last night, and they still won by 11.

Sure if they play that "bad" against CLE, they will lose a game, maybe even two. But something tells me, they won't have many (or any) games like that once they finish their cakewalk to the finals. They are just coasting right now and still beating teams by double digits. They have no sense of urgency right now and they don't need it. They are so deep, they can sleepwalk through these early rounds and still win going away. They will ratchet up the intensity when the competition gets better and the stakes are higher.

Some here thought they would be worse this year, due to the depth they lost to clear the cap space to sign Durant. That may have been true during the long regular season, but the post season belongs to the stars, and they added a big one in Durant (4-time NBA scoring champ and former MVP). Last year's team was built for regular season success. This year's team is built for the playoffs, perhaps better than any team in NBA history.

By combining forces, neither Durant not Curry will win the MVP award or scoring title this year, but between the two of them they own the last three MVPs and 5 of the last 7 scoring titles. That's unprecedented. And, their 3rd option averaged 22.3 ppg - that's more than half the league's 1st options. It sucks that they are this good but they are.

LeBron is playing out of his mind right now, but as good as he is, GSW is a better team than CLE. Their biggest problem against CLE last year was a lack of depth up front. Last year, Bogut's injury was the turning point in that series and the main reason GSW blew that 3 game to 1 lead. I've said this many times, but after Bogut went down, those last three games became a layup drill for LeBron and company. With no rim protection, CLE outscored GSW by 17 points per game in the paint over the last three games of that series. And while they may have lost a little depth elsewhere, they are actually deeper up front this year than last. This year, if they lose Pachulia, they have McGee and West to help rebound and protect the paint. There won't be any layup drill for CLE this year.

Yeah, they look a little bored and disinterested right now, but they are still winning with ease and will crank it up when they need to.

BNM

I think Bron is still gonna take it.

 

[dviss1]

The best part is that Gordon hit the three after the buzzer. Maybe if The Great Bearded One would have passed the ball, they might have tied the game?

My son calls him:

"Beirdo"

 

[Dougnsalem]

I only caught the last 3 minutes of the Spurs vs Rockets game.
But Leonard apparently had an ankle injury? Meaning he didn't play in OT?

 

[BLAZINGGIANTS]

I think Bron is still gonna take it.

That's who I want. It's the East's best chance and I can't root for SA or GS to win it all.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

Golden State is only going to play 12 games before the finals. Do you think they play 17 games in the playoffs this year?

 

[Minstrel]

Golden State is only going to play 12 games before the finals. Do you think they play 17 games in the playoffs this year?

I think a sweep of San Antonio (or Houston, but I expect San Antonio to win this series) is unlikely. I expect the Warriors to win, but I think it'll take 6. San Antonio always finds a way and Popovich might be the best coach in NBA history.

 

[mook]

Watching these playoffs I gotta say having Nurk back and healthy for a full year is going to be amazing. There's not a team left in the playoffs with a true center nearly as good as him.

It was so laughable watching Aldridge just fail to dominate Harden in the post. You put Nurk in that position and there's 2 points every time.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I think a sweep of San Antonio (or Houston, but I expect San Antonio to win this series) is unlikely. I expect the Warriors to win, but I think it'll take 6. San Antonio always finds a way and Popovich might be the best coach in NBA history.

SA is beat up to hell, and Houston doesn't really play defense. I think either one will get swept.

 

[illmatic99]

SA is beat up to hell, and Houston doesn't really play defense. I think either one will get swept.

I agree, and GS is locked in.

 

[illmatic99]

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php?threads/hardens-meltdown-during-important-games.282639/

Harden is our LMA

 

[Minstrel]

SA is beat up to hell, and Houston doesn't really play defense. I think either one will get swept.

I think it depends on whether Leonard is lastingly hurt, or it was just a temporary thing. If he's limited next series, then yeah, hard to see anything but a sweep. I don't think Parker is a significant loss for them, especially against Golden State. It's not clear he's even playable against them considering his awful defense--he always seems like a liability. And during the season, San Antonio had better net rating with him off the court.

 

[H.C.]

I think it depends on whether Leonard is lastingly hurt, or it was just a temporary thing. If he's limited next series, then yeah, hard to see anything but a sweep. I don't think Parker is a significant loss for them, especially against Golden State. It's not clear he's even playable against them considering his awful defense--he always seems like a liability. And during the season, San Antonio had better net rating with him off the court.

I disagree, Tony Parker was a big reason why they got past Memphis. He was having a really strong playoff 2017 playoff performance.
Last time he was performing at the level he did through 8 games the Spurs won a ring.
Not saying it was a lock that Spurs would win a ring, but Parker was arguable the Spurs 2nd best player in the playoffs this year.
Anytime a team loses a player who is performing like their second best player, it's a big loss.

Although Patty is prolly the best backup point in the league, he's not going to force Curry to defend like Parker would.

 

[Minstrel]

I disagree, Tony Parker was a big reason why they got past Memphis. He was having a really strong playoff 2017 playoff performance.

I agree, but that was in a small sample. As I said, over the course of the season, the Spurs were actually better when Parker was on the bench. It's possible he would have continued his strong play, though it's interesting that the Spurs went on a crushing run after he got hurt. I think people underestimate how poor a defender Parker is these days. With his inconsistent shot, Parker is very hit-or-miss...if his shots are falling, he can be an asset. If, more often, his shots aren't falling, he's a huge liability.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

I agree, but that was in a small sample. As I said, over the course of the season, the Spurs were actually better when Parker was on the bench. It's possible he would have continued his strong play, though it's interesting that the Spurs went on a crushing run after he got hurt. I think people underestimate how poor a defender Parker is these days. With his inconsistent shot, Parker is very hit-or-miss...if his shots are falling, he can be an asset. If, more often, his shots aren't falling, he's a huge liability.

The entire playoffs is a small sample size; eight games out of a possible 28 or fewer is pretty good.

 

[H.C.]

I agree, but that was in a small sample. As I said, over the course of the season, the Spurs were actually better when Parker was on the bench. It's possible he would have continued his strong play, though it's interesting that the Spurs went on a crushing run after he got hurt. I think people underestimate how poor a defender Parker is these days. With his inconsistent shot, Parker is very hit-or-miss...if his shots are falling, he can be an asset. If, more often, his shots aren't falling, he's a huge liability.

Could say the same thing about Curry's two finals appearances.

 

[Minstrel]

Could say the same thing about Curry's two finals appearances.

The last one, sure. Injuries definitely can reduce players to liabilities. The 2015 Finals, I disagree. He played very well--his "struggles" were massively overhyped, IMO. Also, Curry plays much better defense than Parker. Parker used to be a good defender, but he's slowed too much with age.

The other thing with Curry is that he has huge "gravity." Even when he's struggling, defenses are throwing several defenders in his direction to prevent him from getting open shots. Parker doesn't get that kind of respect on his shot because defenses know he's not a consistently good shooter.

 

[Minstrel]

The entire playoffs is a small sample size; eight games out of a possible 28 or fewer is pretty good.

I agree that playoffs lend themselves to small sample size effects mattering a lot--the question is whether it's predictive. After a full regular season suggesting that Parker isn't a big benefit to the Spurs, does 8 good games suggest that now he is, or is it just 8 good games?

 

[KingSpeed]

Tony Parker lit up Curry in 2013 playoffs. I know it was 4 years ago but he was putting up 40+.