The Basketball Thread

[Warma Sheen]

I was a big fan of the Warriors before KD joined up. They literally changed the game of basketball and they did it without just throwing money at Superstars from other teams. After they pissed all over their own legacy with KD, though, it just made the sport boring. Watching anything before the Conference finals became a complete waste of time. And I don't wish ill on anyone but I'm suddenly much more interested in the series, even if it is only for two games. I really want to see what the Warriors can do without him against the Rockets. I would love to see the Splash Brothers step up and take the series without KD. Otherwise, just like last year we'll never really know which team is better.

But regardless of what happens, basketball will be exciting again.

Also, Boogie has always been irrelevant for me because another long term injury was just a matter of time.

P. S. I don't think enough has been said of Curry's complete lack of drama on and off the court in letting KD take over the Warriors the way he has. I love Steph. They don't make very many sports stars like him anymore. I wish they did.

[Warma Sheen]

That was disappointing. Such a sloppy game. Warriors win, technically. But the Rockets gave it away with horrible preparation. Did they just not know how to play a Warriors team without KD? No one knew what to do once they didn't have KD to plan for?

I had to watch the game twice cause I couldn't believe what I saw. Even when it seemed like the Rockets were solidly outplaying the Warriors, I kept looking at the score and thinking 'that can't be right, the Warriors have to be way behind'. You would think the Rockets would smell blood in the water and attack with killer instincts. But no.

Here's the lineup at the end of the first quarter: Thompson, Bell, Cook, Looney, McKinnie. Who? I've never even heard of the last four and the announcers explain that Bell has played all of 11 seconds in the playoffs... On the bench is Curry, Iguodala, Green, Bogut, Livingston. and rather than take advantage to build a big lead the Rockets starters actually go down a point.

How bad were the Rockets? Curry scored 0 points in the first half, sat much of it in foul trouble and the half ended tied. He finally woke up in the 4th quarter (kind of), but its like the Rockets forgot who Curry was. Granted he was invisible most of the game before that, but still. And it wasn't like the Rockets just played bad. I remember in game 7 last year they just shot horrible. I think they missed 23 3-pointers in a row. So on this one, I blame the coach for not having a better game plan ready.

At one point near the 4th quarter D'Antoni goes irate on the sideline because Clint Capela (the center) doesn't press Curry when he has the ball 8 feet from the arc. Rather than switch back, or being upset at your guard for not avoiding the screen, you throw a hissy fit at your center for not pressing the opposing guard as far away from the basket as possible? That would be giving a free drive to the basket, which is exactly what happened 3 separate times previous to that. And 1 after.

One perfect example of bad planning/execution: Curry hasn't missed a free throw in the 4th quarter or overtime since 2015. They intentionally foul him 4 times in a row at the end of the game instead of forcing the ball away and fouling someone else. (He made all 8). Even if you put Klay Thompson on the line, anyone but Curry. I understand that sometimes you have to pray for a miracle, but generally you don't put yourself into the position of having to pray for the biggest miracle possible. Go big or go home just seems like very bad praying strategy.

I'm kind of floored that that the Rockets let an opportunity to bury the Warriors at home get away so easily. It was bad game on both sides. Not what I was hoping for. Now we'll see if anyone else out there stands a chance. Bucks maybe?

[BobGoblin]

@Warma-Sheen

Durant will be back before the finals

[Auspice]

https://youtu.be/j9OHOsjtBIs?t=591

[Arkandel]

It's like Kawhi Leonard was created by min-maxing stats by a powergamer. All of his social stats are zero and all of his basketball stats are topped out.

There has never been a better player than him playing for the Raptors.

[Ganymede]

No truer description has been made.

Also, Nick Nurse’s player apparently maxed out mental stats, and sacrificed his social stats. He has the mic presence of a soft brick.

[Testament]

After winning two bets with a co worker, having correctly guessed that the Bucks would sweep the Pistons and take the Celtics in five games, I'm making my next bet with him that that the Bucks will come out of the East to play the Warriors in the finals.

I still haven't decided the outcome of that matchup yet. Depends a lot if Durant is playing at full strength at that point.

Even if he is, I still think Giannis will eat him for lunch.

[Arkandel]

@Testament I really don't see the Warriors losing a 7-game series. They are just too good, experienced and talented for it.

I hope I'm wrong.

Also as I hilariously read just now, for the fifth season in a row Del Curry will see his son play in the NBA Finals.

[Testament]

@Arkandel I can see the Bucks beating the Warriors, it's just a question of how many games to do it and I still can't sort that one out. Part of me wants to say six games, but I also think they'll beat Toronto in six too. Honestly, I think they're the only team with the depth to do it, as I don't think the Raptors or Blazers are deep enough to do it.

[Arkandel]

@Testament I will say this: The Bucks' barometer isn't Giannis, although that sounds weird since he's clearly their best player by far.

It's Brook Lopez. If he starts hitting shots he spreads the floor for opposing big men, and then Giannis becomes truly unstoppable.

[Testament]

@Arkandel Oh, no, I'll agree. That's how the Celtics were able to shut him and the Bucks down in game 1. Is because Lopez was completely off his game.

Giannis, who is arguably the best player in the league right now, is defined by the level that his teammates are playing at. If Lopez and Middleton are firing on all pistons, Giannis is a juggernaut who will stuff you in a locker and take your lunch money.

[Warma Sheen]

@Testament Its as true as with anyone. One superstar, no matter how good, can't win it by themselves. Definitely not against the Warriors. Lebron couldn't. He needed Kyrie at his best. Problem for the Bucks is that Lopez at his best is no Kyrie Irving. And as much as people want to say Giannis is the next Lebron, he isn't there. Not yet, anyway.

So the Bucks don't match up to where they need to be. Again, not yet.

[Arkandel]

@Warma-Sheen The Warriors will win this. Having said that, Giannis isn't the next LeBron; he's the next Shaq. But with an insane work ethic, decent free throw percentage and far superior dribbling and passing skills.

[Testament]

The only thing I really worry about is someone with that height being more exposed to having exploding knees. Which is kind of why I feel like the Bucks need to win now if they're ever going to win at all.

I still think the Bucks have a chance at winning despite that. It may not be a great chance, but I'm willing to buy into them. Especially if Durant isn't playing at a 100 percent. Which, we'll just kind of have to see what happens with that.

But I'm also an avowed Durant hater, so I'm willing to admit my own bias.

[Ganymede]

@Testament said in The Basketball Thread:

Part of me wants to say six games, but I also think they'll beat Toronto in six too. Honestly, I think they're the only team with the depth to do it, as I don't think the Raptors or Blazers are deep enough to do it.

The money's on the Bucks, but I'm not so sure if I'm ready to hand the ticket to the Finals to them.

Like, I get it. The Bucks have a lot going for them. Whereas the 76ers had Butler, Simmons, and Embiid, the Bucks have Bledsoe, Middleton, and Giannis, not to mention Lopez. Toronto has a tough test in front of them, but we're talking about the #1 and #2 teams in the league here. Anything can happen.

The stats show a good matchup here, with the experience edge going to the Raptors. Leonard and Green are fire-tested Popovich grads. Lowry and Gasol have a lot of miles on them. In the end, this is what allowed them to play against and beat the 76ers, who had youth and athletic ability on their side. I still think that Gasol and Ibaka are an underrated duo that can defend big men, and Leonard and Green are defensive stalwarts. If the score stays low, the Raptors have a chance to steal a game or two in Milwaukee.

No one wants to play in Toronto. Those fans are rabid beasts for basketball, now that the Leafs are out of the playoffs. I thought they were going to set the Scotiabank Arena on fire yesterday.

[Warma Sheen]

@Ganymede said in The Basketball Thread:

No one wants to play in Toronto. Those fans are rabid beasts for basketball, now that the Leafs are out of the playoffs. I thought they were going to set the Scotiabank Arena on fire yesterday.

Dem Bucks gon be scurred of Drake.

But they'll still win. Toronto just has that 'always the bridesmaid' quality to them. I'll take the Bucks in 5. I just don't think they match up well. I thought Toronto should have handled the 76ers much easier than they did. Butler is overrated, especially for the discord he brings. Simmons needs to be more aggressive - he's better than his play, like he doesn't believe in himself. Embiid has the classic big man case of old joints in a young body - he can't sustain through a game at 100 percent and looks lethargic at times towards the end of games. It came down to a game 7 very... slow... bounce... to get the win and it shouldn't have even had to go to 7 games much less that closely. If they can't play the 76ers better than that, I think they'll be exposed quickly by the Bucks who will exploit the same weaknesses, only better. If they couldn't handle Embiid better than that, Giannis is gonna tear them apart.

I'll say Bucks in 5 and people try to cushion Toronto's "collapse" on the toll of the 76ers series.

[Ganymede]

@Warma-Sheen said in The Basketball Thread:

If they can't play the 76ers better than that, I think they'll be exposed quickly by the Bucks who will exploit the same weaknesses, only better. If they couldn't handle Embiid better than that, Giannis is gonna tear them apart.

They handled an athletically-superior team with experienced defense, while getting minimal offense outside of Leonard. It looks like Lowry's in a slump and Siakam is still getting used to the playoffs. If those two get going, it is going to be a slugfest.

I still like the Raptors in 6.

If I'm wrong, though? The Bucks are the superior team. Scrapping for victories counts for something in long playoff series, though, as the Bruins and Sharks can testify to. There's no easy buckets, but the Raptors have proven that they can shut down an elite offense.

[Arkandel]

@Ganymede What bugs me is that while the Bucks and the Raptors destroy each other trying to get through to the Finals the Warriors are going to manhandle the Blazers. I don't see that series lasting for more than 5.

So while it's Kawhi or Giannis who faces up Steph and co he'll be exhausted... and they won't be.

[Ganymede]

@Arkandel said in The Basketball Thread:

What bugs me is that while the Bucks and the Raptors destroy each other trying to get through to the Finals the Warriors are going to manhandle the Blazers. I don't see that series lasting for more than 5.

Why not? People thought that the Lightning would sweep out the Blue Jackets too.

The Warriors are tired. Curry and Thompson have miles on them after being in deep in the post-season so often, and it shows. Durant will be coming back from a leg injury. No Boogie. I have no reason to believe that the Blazers won't put up a hell of a fight, being supreme underdogs, and that means that they could wear the Warriors down. The Blazers still have a chance with Kanter getting rebounds and CJ McCollum taking over when Lillard has lagged.

[Arkandel]

First of all... poor Zion. New Orleans is such a shithole, especially for basketball. They had a generational talent like AD for all those years and they barely bothered to go watch him play.

But also this all reminds me why teams like the Lakers matter so much and it has nothing to do with recent or current success. With a specific few franchises - the Lakers ebing easily front-runners among them - the narrative can change fast no matter their issues, simply because people give a shit about them.

Let me put it this way. If the Nuggets had the Lakers' problems right now no one would care. They wouldn't be in any news circles, they'd barely have any bloggers chronicling their woes... they'd be irrelevant. On the flip side if it was LA instead of Portland in the WCF it would be all over the news, it'd be all we see, their players would be getting interviewed all the time.

That's why they are such an appealing team. People care, simple as that. Lakers can build legacies - and they know it.