2013-14 Playoffs: Thoughts and even some Predictions

[EricaLubarsky]

Originally Posted by Underdog

The Nets blow more than just leads...

It's what brand new teams do (see the Mavs), but the Nets are also decrepit and terribly coached.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

It's what brand new teams do (see the Mavs), but the Nets are also decrepit and terribly coached.

Kidd gets another year, but Billy King deserves to be fired. Tonight.

[GermanDunk]

F the Spurs

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by BPo001

I do not like the Heat at all, but I did enjoy watching the Nets lose.

I agree. I complety despise that wannabe fake a** tough guy Garnett and Paul "wheelchair" Pierce isn't one of my favourites either.

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by GermanDunk

F the Spurs

Rather the Spurs than OKC or the Clippers. I never thought I would say that, but definitely prefer the Spurs coming out West than Reflahoma or Flop City. OKC gets babied by the refs like no other team in the league (not even Miami) and every time I see Perkins I have to vomit.

And the Clippers... well, Paul and Griffin are flopping every other team to death (including Crawford, albeit to a lesser extent) while at the same time get away with some shit, it's unbelieveable. Paul on defense gets away with multiple hand checks, bumps, putting the foot under the shooter etc... and Griffin never gets called for ramming his elbow into other players' heads while driving to the basket. You can add that fa**ot Matt Barnes who is someone I absolutely cannot stand. Doc Rivers is (at least for me) the least likeable coach in the entire league. Constantly bitching and yelling to the refs as if there is no tomorrow. Seriously, this team is easy to hate (like the Rockets).

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Sportstudi

I agree. I complety despise that wannabe fake a** tough guy Garnett and Paul "wheelchair" Pierce isn't one of my favourites either.

I don't know, I'm pretty sure Pierce and KG know their tanks are running on empty...esp KG. I'd be kinda shocked if KG doesn't retire.

[sefant77]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Dude is 1st in PER and 2nd in TS%. He may not do well when under pressure (playoffs, etc.) but he's a guy who actually produces numbers.

His TS is horrible inflated by this weak ass FT calls during the regular season. He is not getting them in the playoffs. Check his stats in the two playoff series he played as "franchise player" in Houston....

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

Re Harden: As a defender, yeah, he probably floats sometimes. Other times he gets beat sulking about a missed foul call on the offensive end, or whatever. But I've actually seen him lock down and make a play when he needs to. You can quite rightly fault his effort, but I think he has the ability to defend. Elite offensive players have always been given the latitude to float defensively, presumably because they net a positive in points scored v. points surrendered. Harden is allowed to be kind of one-dimensionally selfish, but I think a better coach with a better system would address that.

It's almost shocking to me when I actually see Harden try on defense. That's no exaggeration. More often than not on defense, this is what you can except to see:

• Not getting into a basic defensive stance (knees bent, arms out)
• Not fighting through a screen with any effort whatsoever (regardless of whether or not the Rockets are switching)
• Ball watching instead of keeping a close eye on his man
• Reaching almost every time his man has the ball in a three-point stance, and continuing to reach, instead of moving his feet, when his man makes a move towards the basket
• Lazy closeouts which often feature Harden keeping both feet on the floor when contesting the shot, if he gets even that close

Some possessions, you might get all five of those amazing features on defense on a single possession. You get the first one of those on nearly every single possession. I understand that he carries a heavy offensive burden for the Rockets. But his lack of effort on the defensive end is historic.

[Sportstudi]

Originally Posted by sefant77

His TS is horrible inflated by this weak ass FT calls during the regular season. He is not getting them in the playoffs. Check his stats in the two playoff series he played as "franchise player" in Houston....

You can inflate your TS by chucking 3's and relying on the charity stripe (if you can convert them at 80 percent or higher) instead of shooting long 2's. And that's basically what Harden does.

[Underdog]

So the top 2 seeds from each conference made it to the conference finals... So much for all that first round parity.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Underdog

So the top 2 seeds from each conference made it to the conference finals... So much for all that first round parity.

Strange how it all took a 180 after the exciting first round.

The Indiana/Washington series is perhaps some of the most bi polar basketball I have ever watched. Both teams played some of the best and worst basketball I have seen in the playoffs in a while.

[LonghornDub]

I took Thunder over Heat in my pre-playoffs prediction, but I now think the Spurs are going to beat both the Thunder and the Heat in five games each.

[Jack.Kerr]

I was stunned to see Ed Malloy call Chris Paul for elbowing Collison in the groin with the game on the line, negating a Jordan dunk to boot. Seriously, that took stones.

Chris Paul has some amazing basketball skills, but I question whether he has the composure and intelligence to win under pressure. Put him under pressure and his cheapshot punk mentality takes over.

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

...... I question whether he has the composure and intelligence to win under pressure. Put him under pressure and his cheapshot punk mentality takes over.

great point and you are right JKerr - I starting seeing that part of him back when he was with N.O.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by LonghornDub

I took Thunder over Heat in my pre-playoffs prediction, but I now think the Spurs are going to beat both the Thunder and the Heat in five games each.

Ibaka is out for the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury so you pretty much nailed the Spurs/Thunder series.

[LonghornDub]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Ibaka is out for the rest of the playoffs with a calf injury so you pretty much nailed the Spurs/Thunder series.

Indeed, although I really think the series could have been lopsided for the Spurs even with his presence.

(Of course, now I'll be proven drastically wrong if the Thunder actually win.)

[TripleDipping]

There's no way okc can beat sa without ibaka. Sucks to be okc losing key players in consecutive playoffs.

[sefant77]

Even with Ibaka im pretty sure Spurs destroy them in 5, maximum 6 games.

[Five-ofan]

This pacers/Mia game is about as clear cut a case of the refs trying to give a team a game as you will ever see

[sefant77]

[EricaLubarsky]

Anyone wanna bet on OKC?

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Frustrating to see the Pacers choke that game away

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Frustrating to see the Pacers choke that game away

They got tight down the stretch and turned the ball over tons. I almost wished they would just iso Lance and get out of the way. That was their best offense yesterday.

I feel kinda bad for Vogel though. Doesnt have a ton of shooters like Miami and no bench yet again. Scola was incredibly bad and needs to sit. CJ Watson missed a crucial layup and has looked pretty shaky. Mahinmi is pretty much invisible and is seemingly giving less than ever. They kind of miss Hansbrough- he at least brought energy and athleticism off the bench. He also could catch in the high post take a spin dribble or two and get a shot at the rim. Scola is just DONE. Rasual Butler offers more at this point. Maybe Evan Turner brings something??

Must find a way to get Paul George better looks. George Hill needs to be more aggressive off the dribble. And they need to feed Hibbert early to get him going. They went away from that at the start last night and he wasn't in rhythm when they needed him down the stretch.

Monta Eliis would do wonders for this team

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Spurs continue to make the Mavs look good. Thunder looking like they have no shot in this series.

A worthy woulda coulda shoulda is thinking how far we would have gone if we beat those muddy river walkers...

[EricaLubarsky]

this is embarrassing.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

dbl

[GermanDunk]

F them

[EricaLubarsky]

Well the Spurs are going to get a lot of rest to beat the Heat.

[GermanDunk]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

Well the Spurs are going to get a lot of rest to beat the Heat.

Yeah, Coach Pop can set them up at will. He definately is Coach ( of the month ) No doubt about it.

[DirkFTW]

Calm down, Russell. Who's coming?

Oh.

[dirt_dobber]

not a pretty picture over at thunder mssg board.
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/sh...IRED-this-year...

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

not a pretty picture over at thunder mssg board.
http://www.thunderfans.com/vforum/sh...IRED-this-year...

Looks like a rational discussion to me... Scotty Brooks is the Thunder's Achilles Heel, no doubt.

[dirt_dobber]

agreed.

Tough quote to take from Boris Diaw if you are a Thunder fan: "They gave up on the game pretty early."

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Underdog

Looks like a rational discussion to me... Scotty Brooks is the Thunder's Achilles Heel, no doubt.

And Cuban even called out his terrible coaching on twitter during the Clippers series. Biggest problem is who you'd replace him with...

[Jack.Kerr]

Looks like Chris Paul screwed the playoff hopes of both the Clippers AND the Thunder.

[spreedom]

I agree that Brooks is generally one of the weaker tactical coaches in the league... I don't think you fire him based on this series. The Spurs are a better team regardless of whether or not the Thunder are fully healthy. I'm guessing he'll probably get fired this summer but I don't really know who they are going to get to replace him that will get the Thunder further in the postseason.

[TripleDipping]

Desperate times in OKC.

Ibaka upgraded, could return in West finals

[dirt_dobber]

liked this post in the comments section on ESPN article after OKC v Spurs game 4.......

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~

Matthew Wilcoxen · Sydney, Australia
Don't worry, dear Spurs fans. This is the time that Coach Pop and the dark knights will concoct either
(a) a plan to intentionally injure a key Thunder player, or
(b) a plan to provoke someone and get them suspended.
Count on it.
Yours truly,
A die-hard Phoenix Suns fan

[TripleDipping]

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

[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.