2013-14 Playoffs: Thoughts and even some Predictions - Page 6 - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Underdog · 05-29-2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

lol @ Stephenson. He has the potential to be the next Artest.

spreedom · 05-29-2014, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Stephenson is already the next Artest/DeShawn Stevenson.

He's crazy, barely knows the game, has anger issues and is great for an anarchy offense but not smart enough to play in a drawn-up offense.

Still, at the right price, I'd love to have him here. He's just good enough shooting the three to keep teams honest, can defend three positions and play well next to Ellis with his size, strength, defense and rebounding.

Dude may be more of an Odom/Fortson/Artest nutcase than a Van Exel nutcase, but he's still worth the risk if we ever want to have Ellis in our starting lineup in the playoffs.

I totally disagree with this part... yeah, he makes really bad decisions (especially on offense) sometimes, but he's also a pretty crafty/shifty offensive player who makes a lot of really tough plays. And defensively he's kind of a loose cannon but he can still actually play straight-up defense and lock guys down too. He has the strength/speed/size combination that allows him to match up against almost any guard in the league and some of the smaller forwards too. Physically, he isn't really a match for LeBron but by doing the weird unconventional tactics like he did last night, he can throw guys off.

I think he's a very smart player who just makes a handful of head-scratching decisions per game. That said though, for financial and especially for chemistry reasons, I don't really want him on the Mavs.

dirt_dobber · 05-30-2014, 09:04 AM

damned spurs -
Boris "once waived by the bobcats" Diaw lol @ soft-bellied comment below

((the quote below from bleacer report))
The soft-bellied Frenchman sprinkled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists (and two "hockey assists"), a steal and a block during his 28 minutes on the court. Of the 13 Spurs who set foot on the floor on Thursday, only Kawhi Leonard (plus 22) logged a better plus-minus rating than Diaw's plus 19.

spreedom · 05-30-2014, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

damned spurs -
Boris "once waived by the bobcats" Diaw lol @ soft-bellied comment below

((the quote below from bleacer report))
The soft-bellied Frenchman sprinkled the stat sheet with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists (and two "hockey assists"), a steal and a block during his 28 minutes on the court. Of the 13 Spurs who set foot on the floor on Thursday, only Kawhi Leonard (plus 22) logged a better plus-minus rating than Diaw's plus 19.

What do you mean to imply by this comment? Diaw was a lazy, fat asshole on the Bobcats because he knew they wouldn't make the playoffs. It's not like they waived him in the prime of his career or anything.

Jack.Kerr · 05-30-2014, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

lol @ Stephenson. He has the potential to be the next Artest.

Or maybe the next J.R. Smith?

Jack.Kerr · 05-30-2014, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

What do you mean to imply by this comment? Diaw was a lazy, fat asshole on the Bobcats because he knew they wouldn't make the playoffs. It's not like they waived him in the prime of his career or anything.

Any specific anecdotes there? But.. man... can you imagine how anti-motivating it must be to play for Charlotte? Or for the Nets of about 5 years ago back when they were still stuck in the swamps of New Jersey? Or Orlando currently? Or Cleveland? Or Detroit? Or the Clippers and Mavericks of 20-25 years ago?

I hated Diaw back when he was with Phoenix, because he was making Mavs wins difficult, and you just couldn't see how given his physique. Love watching him with the Spurs, for the same reason. Come to think of it, he might've been at his peak in Charlotte, but they were so bad you couldn't tell. Popovich has really embued the Spurs with a Euro-style aesthetic. The extra pass and the long 3 have replaced the dunk as the NBA's sexy play.

dirt_dobber · 05-30-2014, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

What do you mean to imply by this comment?

well it's mearly meant to be a point.

There are a lot of things going on with players like Boris.

There are a lot of players who have had bad reps such as the one Marion had when he played for the Heat and Toronto and even Vince Carters' rep at times. There is always much more to the story when you see players with the right system or the right coach who can better utilize a players strengths. It takes a special coach like RC or Pop and very few other coaches that can get the most out of a player who others have given up on.

dirt_dobber · 05-30-2014, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

The extra pass and the long 3 have replaced the dunk as the NBA's sexy play.

This is what makes me very happy! It is playing what Rick Carlisle termed "playing the right way" during our championship season. Bobby Knight hates "ball pounders" like Lance Stephenson.

Basketball in it's best form is like jazz - smoooooooooth.

I love it when the extra pass is made which is yet another reason why I don't like "ball stoppers" like Melo or JR Smith and others of that sort of player.

Jack.Kerr · 05-30-2014, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

This is what makes me very happy! It is playing what Rick Carlisle termed "playing the right way" during our championship season. Bobby Knight hates "ball pounders" like Lance Stephenson.

Basketball in it's best form is like jazz - smoooooooooth.

I love it when the extra pass is made which is yet another reason why I don't like "ball stoppers" like Melo or JR Smith and others of that sort of player.

Barkley and Miller (you'd think HE'D know better) and some of the studio commentators oohing and ahhing about Westbrook's dunk last night, but Ginobili bookended Westbrook's play with a layup (which counted the same) and a 3-pointer (which represented a 1-pt gain).

The dunk used to have a somewhat intangibly demoralising effect on an opponent (and I suppose it still could) even though counted the same as a layup. But the 3-pointer is demoralizing both in the psyche of the defender AND on the scoreboard, which a lot of times makes the dunk kind of the shortbus play. More and more you see guys getting an offensive rebound and instead of trying to go back up and jam it through, looking for an uncovered shooter in the corner for the 3.

EricaLubarsky · 05-30-2014, 09:26 PM

Can't help but feel like we could have done better than the Pacers.

grndmstr_c · 05-30-2014, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Can't help but feel like we could have done better than the Pacers.

In light of the Pacers' late season collapse (1st seed not withstanding), I really don't think it's going out on too much of a limb to speculate that 8 of the 9 best teams in the playoffs this year played in the West.

spreedom · 05-31-2014, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

Any specific anecdotes there? But.. man... can you imagine how anti-motivating it must be to play for Charlotte? Or for the Nets of about 5 years ago back when they were still stuck in the swamps of New Jersey? Or Orlando currently? Or Cleveland? Or Detroit? Or the Clippers and Mavericks of 20-25 years ago?

Also, his last 37 games with Charlotte vs. his first 20 games (plus the playoffs) with San Antonio. He came back from the lockout in embarrassing shape.

Jack.Kerr · 05-31-2014, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

Also, his last 37 games with Charlotte vs. his first 20 games (plus the playoffs) with San Antonio. He came back from the lockout in embarrassing shape.

Nice work. But to be fair, I think the lockout screwed up the conditioning of even some of the most dedicated players. We don't have to name names.

I think Diaw always had a bit of an unorthodox game. Add to that an unorthodox physique, and he's kind of freaky to watch. But he's effective.

TripleDipping · 06-01-2014, 12:09 AM

Well, go Spurs.

Underdog · 06-01-2014, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

Well, go Spurs.

TripleDipping · 06-01-2014, 01:13 AM

^ No kidding. But I'd rather see that than Wade winning one more.

dirt_dobber · 06-01-2014, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

^ No kidding. But I'd rather see that than Wade winning one more.

+1 absolutely

mac222b · 06-01-2014, 11:55 AM

Go Spurs?!

EricaLubarsky · 06-01-2014, 05:43 PM

Can both teams lose? Otherwise wake me up in 25 days when the draft is on.

Underdog · 06-02-2014, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spreedom

Harden is a loser... quite literally the worst defensive player in the entire league. His offensive numbers are totally hollow because he leaves his team so vulnerable on the other end.

James Harden, Defensive Juggernaut (2013-14)

Drinking game: one sip every time Harden lets his man blow past him, then tries to poke the ball out from behind (or, in most cases, just slaps the guy on the butt..) It starts at the 1:40 mark - he doesn't even pretend to play defense before then.

Bonus: toke some meth whenever Harden puts his hands in a guy's face to block a shot (you don't actually need any meth to play this portion...)

spreedom · 06-02-2014, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

James Harden, Defensive Juggernaut (2013-14)

Drinking game: one sip every time Harden lets his man blow past him, then tries to poke the ball out from behind (or, in most cases, just slaps the guy on the butt..) It starts at the 1:40 mark - he doesn't even pretend to play defense before then.

Bonus: toke some meth whenever Harden puts his hands in a guy's face to block a shot (you don't actually need any meth to play this portion...)

dirt_dobber · 06-03-2014, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

James Harden, Defensive Juggernaut (2013-14)

Drinking game: one sip every time Harden lets his man blow past him, then tries to poke the ball out from behind (or, in most cases, just slaps the guy on the butt..) It starts at the 1:40 mark - he doesn't even pretend to play defense before then.

Bonus: toke some meth whenever Harden puts his hands in a guy's face to block a shot (you don't actually need any meth to play this portion...)

oh. my. gosh. - I knew JH was bad at defense - he makes our guys look like 1st team NBA defense. Wow, I had not seen this compilation before - that was a lot of really bad defense being played.

Underdog · 06-03-2014, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

oh. my. gosh. - I knew JH was bad at defense - he makes our guys look like 1st team NBA defense. Wow, I had not seen this compilation before - that was a lot of really bad defense being played.

And that was only last season... Harden epitomizes the term "matador defender."

DirkFTW · 06-03-2014, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

And that was only last season... Harden epitomizes the term "matador defender."

That's the most insulting thing I've ever read on this board...

Matadors would be gored to death if they lost track of their opponent as much as Harden does.

dirt_dobber · 06-03-2014, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

Matadors would be gored to death if they lost track of their opponent as much as Harden does.

you crack me up!

dirt_dobber · 06-05-2014, 01:39 PM

Rick Carlisle's five Finals factors
by Henry Abbot ESPN http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...finals-factors

Rick Carlisle will be in the stands, and not on the sidelines, as Game 1 of the 2014 NBA Finals tip-off in San Antonio Thursday evening. And his Mavericks' season ended a month ago.

Yet Carlisle is surprisingly relevant: He's the only coach to beat the Heatles in a playoff series, and his Dallas squad came closest to ousting this year's Spurs, losing in a 7-game Round 1. I contacted him hoping he'd share the nitty gritty X's and O's of these teams. No such luck; Coach Carlisle wasn't about to give away any trade secrets. And he wouldn't pick a winner.

But he did say several things that will matter as the series unfolds.

1. Slow play is death. "NBA defenses are so sophisticated now. You don't want to give them a chance to get fully established. When we played Miami in the Finals, we knew that if we called any plays we were doomed. We had to play faster than that. Popovich really pioneered a lot of that. There is a pendulum on a lot of these things, but I really don't see faster offense going away."

2. Erik Spoelstra doesn't get nearly enough credit, but ... "Gregg Popovich is the greatest coach ever."

3. The Tony Parker effect. "The Heat don't have big-time rim protectors. LeBron James will block some shots. Dwyane Wade will get some blocks. But how they handle the Spurs penetration will tell a lot."

4. Get the ball. "Neither team is great at rebounding. It's a chance to establish an edge."

5. Keep the ball. "In the NFL, turnovers practically determine every game. In the NBA it's not like that. But in this series it might be. Both teams take such good care of the ball, and I expect the games to be very close. Turnovers could determine everything."

DevinHarriswillstart · 06-05-2014, 06:46 PM

I <3 Rick. Nice to see the haters basically vanish after what he did against the Spurs. (not there there were very many to begin with, just sayin')

j0Shi · 06-05-2014, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Underdog

James Harden, Defensive Juggernaut (2013-14)

Drinking game: one sip every time Harden lets his man blow past him, then tries to poke the ball out from behind (or, in most cases, just slaps the guy on the butt..) It starts at the 1:40 mark - he doesn't even pretend to play defense before then.

Bonus: toke some meth whenever Harden puts his hands in a guy's face to block a shot (you don't actually need any meth to play this portion...)

Why is he clapping his hands whenever his guys blows by? Is that supposed to irritate anybody and actually a thing? I've never seen it before.

spreedom · 06-05-2014, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0Shi

Why is he clapping his hands whenever his guys blows by? Is that supposed to irritate anybody and actually a thing? I've never seen it before.

I think he's trying to irritate/startle the guy who just burned him.

TripleDipping · 06-05-2014, 10:59 PM

I guess the Spurs will have to postpone fixing that AC.

DirkFTW · 06-05-2014, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

I guess the Spurs will have to postpone fixing that AC.

Is it against NBA rules for them to put these under the arena seats as giveaways?

mac222b · 06-06-2014, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

Is it against NBA rules for them to put these under the arena seats as giveaways?

This is greatness

MavzMan · 06-06-2014, 01:11 PM

Not one leg cramp ...

Not two leg cramps ...

Is there a third???

Jack.Kerr · 06-06-2014, 01:33 PM

Any truth to the rumor that the cause of the power outage was a rattlesnake that had crawled into a power transformer?

MavzMan · 06-06-2014, 02:48 PM

OK, I gotta call serious BS on this one ...

Miami Heat are America's favorite NBA Team:
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...rts-poll-shows

TripleDipping · 06-06-2014, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavzMan

OK, I gotta call serious BS on this one ...

Miami Heat are America's favorite NBA Team:
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...rts-poll-shows

The only people bothered enough to take the survey were teenagers.

EricaLubarsky · 06-06-2014, 04:12 PM

#lebroning

MavzMan · 06-08-2014, 11:19 PM

This really pisses me off and honestly disappoints me more then anything in the commentary tonight by both Mark Jackson and JVG who I think are usually some of the better game time reporters.

Dwayne Wade clearly flops from a ball swipe by Ginobili which results in his 3rd foul and taken out of the game. Instead of condemning the flop like they should have, they both berate Ginobili for attempting to play defense. I'm really fighting to not degenerate to immature language regarding this. It makes me sick that they refuse to call out so clear a play and continue to defend Wade very chance they can.

mac222b · 06-09-2014, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavzMan

This really pisses me off and honestly disappoints me more then anything in the commentary tonight by both Mark Jackson and JVG who I think are usually some of the better game time reporters.

Dwayne Wade clearly flops from a ball swipe by Ginobili which results in his 3rd foul and taken out of the game. Instead of condemning the flop like they should have, they both berate Ginobili for attempting to play defense. I'm really fighting to not degenerate to immature language regarding this. It makes me sick that they refuse to call out so clear a play and continue to defend Wade very chance they can.

We'll see if the league fines him for flopping. Also, Danny Green complained on both made three pointers that Wade undercut him. The guy is truly a dirty POS

DevinHarriswillstart · 06-09-2014, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MavzMan

This really pisses me off and honestly disappoints me more then anything in the commentary tonight by both Mark Jackson and JVG who I think are usually some of the better game time reporters.

Dwayne Wade clearly flops from a ball swipe by Ginobili which results in his 3rd foul and taken out of the game. Instead of condemning the flop like they should have, they both berate Ginobili for attempting to play defense. I'm really fighting to not degenerate to immature language regarding this. It makes me sick that they refuse to call out so clear a play and continue to defend Wade very chance they can.

God I hate Wade. The game suffers so badly from awful flops like that. And let's no forget that Ginobili is just as bad at stunts like like that which is probably why the commentators weren't showing any sympathy.