Official Around the NBA April 2019 Playoff Edition

[H.C.]

I thought for his first game in 3 weeks he played ok. His shot wasnt falling but 13 shots isnt excessive, and he passed well. I expect some rust, the hope is he knocks the rust off before next weekend

9/6/6 with several shots going round and out or off the back of the rim.

CJ will be fine, I just hope he continues to find Kanter and Collins.

 

[DDolla]

I don’t like to see OKC in the playoffs, they have 2 players who can score 40points and take over the game.

 

[Pinwheel1]

Wasn't it painful to watch CJ again today ... shoot himself out of the game?
.

Not in the slightest. I enjoyed seeing him in there even if his shot was off. 6 boards and 6 assists (Should have at least had two more if Collins and Kanter could hold on to a pass under the basket) All In all I enjoyed seeing him move well after the injury. It was good to see him go high for a rebound in traffic late in the 4th.

 

[THE HCP]

Look all all my fellow Laker fans in here.

 

[BonesJones]

I am now a little nervous that the Jazz could lose their last two games. (Vs Denver and @ the Clips.)
OKC ha two tough remaining games but if the Bucks rest their players? OKC could move into 5th

Would that actually be a bad thing? All Portland would have to do is beat the Lakers and Kings and they'd move into 3rd and they wouldn't have the play OKC in the process (they'd play Utah).

That's worst case scenario if we lose one of our remaining two games, but pretty much best case scenario if we win out.

 

[LayneStaley]

I’d really like Utah to lose out, Den and LAC, it’s possible.

 

[DDolla]

Remember last year we’re happy we got the Pelicans, we need to pray we don’t get OKC in the first round. It could be deja vu

 

[Strenuus]

Look all all my fellow Laker fans in here.

You can shove that laker crap up your lawnmower.

 

[crandc]

OKC, who looked dead a couple of weeks ago, has won 3 consecutive, hopefully they can beat Rockets.

 

[illmatic99]

OKC, who looked dead a couple of weeks ago, has won 3 consecutive, hopefully they can beat Rockets.

They're beating good teams and losing to the crappy ones. It's uncanny.

 

[julius]

OKC, who looked dead a couple of weeks ago, has won 3 consecutive, hopefully they can beat Rockets.

Makes one sick to the stomach, doesn't it? Having to (potentially) root for the Thunder. But I'm sure they'll just disappoint us in the end, like they do their own fans.

 

[Nurkalicious]

I don’t like to see OKC in the playoffs, they have 2 players who can score 40points and take over the game.

OKC is trash lol. Why is everyone so afraid of them. Westbrook will throw up trash shots when he gets angry. George is their only truly elite player.

They swept us bc our energy was low and Westbrook was playing like a crack head. Our energy isn’t gonna be low in the playoffs.

 

[julius]

OKC is trash lol. Why is everyone so afraid of them. Westbrook will throw up trash shots when he gets angry. George is their only truly elite player.

They swept us bc our energy was low and Westbrook was playing like a crack head. Our energy isn’t gonna be low in the playoffs.

If the Blazers played the Thunder, they'd lose. If the Blazers played the Jazz, they'd lose. If they played the Warriors or Nuggets, they lose.

That leaves the Clippers, Spurs and Rockets. It's unlikely they'd win against the Clippers (imho), maybe against the Spurs. Even the Rockets aren't too scary team. They have a history of choking in big games (like the series against the Spurs where the Spurs were w/out Leonard and they got worked at home in game 6).

In all honesty, I don't think there is a series in the first round, due to the injury to Nurk (and CJ being rusty) where they'd be the favorites. Healthy team, probably odds of favorite against Jazz, Spurs, Clippers and toss up with Houston and Denver. Doesn't mean they can't win a series, just it's unlikely.

But team as it is now? 2 wins probably in the first round.

 

[Nurkalicious]

If the Blazers played the Thunder, they'd lose. If the Blazers played the Jazz, they'd lose. If they played the Warriors or Nuggets, they lose.

That leaves the Clippers, Spurs and Rockets. It's unlikely they'd win against the Clippers (imho), maybe against the Spurs. Even the Rockets aren't too scary team. They have a history of choking in big games (like the series against the Spurs where the Spurs were w/out Leonard and they got worked at home in game 6).

In all honesty, I don't think there is a series in the first round, due to the injury to Nurk (and CJ being rusty) where they'd be the favorites. Healthy team, probably odds of favorite against Jazz, Spurs, Clippers and toss up with Houston and Denver. Doesn't mean they can't win a series, just it's unlikely.

But team as it is now? 2 wins probably in the first round.

Oh boy we’ve reached that awkward moment where I get to defend the blazers from all the people saying I’m a blazer-hater or something.

I think we win any first round matchup. Nurk was obviously a huge loss, but before Nurk went down we were a legit contender. We have enough depth without Nurk to win any first round series at home - assuming our passion is there, and judging by the last couple of games that’s not a given.

A lot will ride on Lillard’s leadership. He should be able to take us passed the first round if he doesn’t treat this as a lost year and pouts bc of Nurk (which is somewhat understandable).

 

[PtldPlatypus]

OKC is trash lol. Why is everyone so afraid of them. Westbrook will throw up trash shots when he gets angry. George is their only truly elite player.

They swept us bc our energy was low and Westbrook was playing like a crack head. Our energy isn’t gonna be low in the playoffs.

Hmm--interesting theory. I hadn't noticed before that both the losses in OKC were on the second-half of road back-to-backs (one after playing at elevation in Utah, and the other after that deflating blown 4th quarter in Dallas); and the most recent home loss was the first game back home after the 7-game road trip.

You may have a point--if "energy" really was an issue (and it very well may have been), the Thunder may well not be as bad a matchup for us as the season series would indicate.

 

[Nurkalicious]

Hmm--interesting theory. I hadn't noticed before that both the losses in OKC were on the second-half of road back-to-backs (one after playing at elevation in Utah, and the other after that deflating blown 4th quarter in Dallas); and the most recent home loss was the first game back home after the 7-game road trip.

You may have a point--the Thunder may well not be as bad a matchup for us as the season series would indicate.

Also recall that one loss vs OKC was due to complete bullshit: I.e. No ejection on Westbrook for body checking Nurkic, but Nurkic got ejected for nothing / a pseudo “head butt”. Not to mention a number of other missed calls (Nurkic elbowed in face, etc). Yet we still only lost by like 1 in OT.

 

[julius]

Not sure i agree that with Nurk they were a legit contender.

 

[LayneStaley]

Not sure i agree that with Nurk they were a legit contender.

I think they were headed to the WCF with Nurk, which maybe would have convinced guys like Hood and Kanter to stay on the cheap for another year, especially if KD left GS.

 

[TorturedBlazerFan]

Not sure i agree that with Nurk they were a legit contender.

I think with Nurk they were a legit "fringe" contender. Like one of those teams that hey they could go on a run and if things go right for them maybe it could be their year. Without him, I think winning a 1st round series is gonna be seriously tough no matter who they play.

 

[Orion Bailey]

OKC is trash lol. Why is everyone so afraid of them. Westbrook will throw up trash shots when he gets angry. George is their only truly elite player.

They swept us bc our energy was low and Westbrook was playing like a crack head. Our energy isn’t gonna be low in the playoffs.

averaging a triple double three consecutive seasons is elite by anyones standards.

Lets not forget steven adams. With no nurk, if he gets kanter into foul trouble????

If i was okc, i would pound it inside to adams to get the fouls on kanter and we are in trouble.

Meyers isnt getting us past okc. Sorry @swish3

 

[Wade Garrett]

Hmm--interesting theory. I hadn't noticed before that both the losses in OKC were on the second-half of road back-to-backs (one after playing at elevation in Utah, and the other after that deflating blown 4th quarter in Dallas); and the most recent home loss was the first game back home after the 7-game road trip.

You may have a point--if "energy" really was an issue (and it very well may have been), the Thunder may well not be as bad a matchup for us as the season series would indicate.

Well....we all wanted the Pelicans last year (i know i did!)..
This year, and I'm sick to say this again, but w/o Nurk, I don't think it matters who they play.
Lillard averaging 40 is their only hope to win a series.
Last night it tool EVERYTHING they had to beat am undermanned Nuggetts team most of us feel won't do very well in the post season.

 

[Minstrel]

I think the Blazers with a healthy Nurkic were conference finals contenders. I don't think they had any chance against the Warriors even fully healthy. As it stands now, I think they're likely to draw a rough opponent in the Jazz. If they do, I think they get eliminated in the first round. If they draw the Thunder, Spurs or Clippers, I think they have a good chance to make the second round.

 

[Labinot41]

I think the Blazers with a healthy Nurkic were conference finals contenders. I don't think they had any chance against the Warriors even fully healthy. As it stands now, I think they're likely to draw a rough opponent in the Jazz. If they do, I think they get eliminated in the first round. If they draw the Thunder, Spurs or Clippers, I think they have a good chance to make the second round.

I dissagree, jazz have a very good defense, but no star power and a average offense, they improved their offense in the past two moths by playing against crappier opponents. If we play OKC, we would have no one who could stop their two superstars, Paul George would average 40 and westbrook between 25-30, you saw what they did to us in the regular Season and especially in that overtime game with Kanter on the floor, hard pass on OKC from my side. I like our chances against Clippers, Spurs or Utah much more

 

[blue9]

Remember last year we’re happy we got the Pelicans, we need to pray we don’t get OKC in the first round. It could be deja vu

Yup. The lesson that was learned is that, even in a favorable match-up we're at a huge disadvantage because Terry shits the bed in the POs. Will this be the season he finally has a counter to the Dame double-team? Not holding my breath!

 

[Wade Garrett]

I think the Blazers with a healthy Nurkic were conference finals contenders. I don't think they had any chance against the Warriors even fully healthy. As it stands now, I think they're likely to draw a rough opponent in the Jazz. If they do, I think they get eliminated in the first round. If they draw the Thunder, Spurs or Clippers, I think they have a good chance to make the second round.

Portland matched up with GS as good as anyone with #27 as they have no one to guard him.
His loss cannot be overstated.

 

[THE HCP]

OKC is trash lol. Why is everyone so afraid of them. Westbrook will throw up trash shots when he gets angry. George is their only truly elite player.

They swept us bc our energy was low and Westbrook was playing like a crack head. Our energy isn’t gonna be low in the playoffs.

Are you going on record by saying that Russell Westbrook is NOT and elite player? What in the fuck?

 

[Minstrel]

Are you going on record by saying that Russell Westbrook is NOT and elite player? What in the fuck?

I wouldn't want to build a team around him, considering how inefficient he is as a volume scorer, his mediocre-to-poor defense and the fact that a few of his rebounds each game tend to be at the expense of teammates. He's still an elite rebounder for his position and a pretty good play-maker for others when dialed into doing so. He's heavily overrated by virtue of his monstrous stat lines, though, in my opinion.

 

[dviss1]

If the Blazers played the Thunder, they'd lose. If the Blazers played the Jazz, they'd lose. If they played the Warriors or Nuggets, they lose.

That leaves the Clippers, Spurs and Rockets. It's unlikely they'd win against the Clippers (imho), maybe against the Spurs. Even the Rockets aren't too scary team. They have a history of choking in big games (like the series against the Spurs where the Spurs were w/out Leonard and they got worked at home in game 6).

In all honesty, I don't think there is a series in the first round, due to the injury to Nurk (and CJ being rusty) where they'd be the favorites. Healthy team, probably odds of favorite against Jazz, Spurs, Clippers and toss up with Houston and Denver. Doesn't mean they can't win a series, just it's unlikely.

But team as it is now? 2 wins probably in the first round.

You're Trippin. We can beat the Jazz.

 

[andalusian]

I wouldn't want to build a team around him, considering how inefficient he is as a volume scorer, his mediocre-to-poor defense and the fact that a few of his rebounds each game tend to be at the expense of teammates. He's still an elite rebounder for his position and a pretty good play-maker for others when dialed into doing so. He's heavily overrated by virtue of his monstrous stat lines, though, in my opinion.

The greatest thing is that OKC had Kevin Durant, James Harden and Russel Westbrook - and through their commitments to RW - managed to lose the 2 more influential players that had on that team.

Everyone is always going on about Portland's disaster of a draft of Oden over KD - but OKC had years of data and knowledge of all 3 players - and have basically made their bed by not extending JH and trying to trade RW - which with time lead to KD leaving too.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

Hey y'all--Dame's a flopper. It's official.