2014 Playoffs - Western Semifinals - (2) Thunder vs. (3) Clippers

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

No poll, because I don't create polls for games/series after opening tip-off.

Game 1 - 5/5, 21:30 TNT
Game 2 - 5/7, 21:30 TNT
Game 3 - 5/9, 22:30 ESPN
Game 4 - 5/11, 15:30 ABC
Game 5 - 5/13, TBA TNT*
Game 6 - 5/15, TBA ESPN*
Game 7 - 5/18, TBA TNT*

All times Eastern
* If Necessary

 

[Hadlowe]

Well, that was ugly.

 

[jalfa]

maybe it's because it has been so long, but I can't remember hating even those Shaq/Kobe Lakers quite as much as I do the Clippers. an odious, odious team. I hope the Thunder can figure them out, still. sidenote: Kendrick Perkins has never been this useless, fourteen minutes was too much for him last night.

 

[Hadlowe]

maybe it's because it has been so long, but I can't remember hating even those Shaq/Kobe Lakers quite as much as I do the Clippers. an odious, odious team. I hope the Thunder can figure them out, still. sidenote: Kendrick Perkins has never been this useless, fourteen minutes was too much for him last night.

Yep. Cheap, dirty players throughout. Chris Paul isn't going to shoot 90% from the field for this series. He's a very mediocre outside shooter and will come down to earth again.

I hate the Heat more, but it's only marginally more.

 

[mac]

I dislike the Clippers flopping/attitude, but I do enjoy watching them play. I would love to have a CP3/DMC pairing. Also for all the talk of the Clippers being dirty, the Thunder led the league in technical fouls. Ibaka/Perkins have been involved in their fair share of dirty plays. Flopping? Have you seen Westbrook take a jumpshot and not fall down?

 

[jalfa]

for some reason things like Griffin wrapping his legs around Ibaka's and Ibaka getting a tech for trying to free his leg (same thing Griffin has done to him in the season with his arms), or Chris Paul simply running straight into players and falling down aggravate me more than exaggerating contact or kicking legs on a jumper. Griffin specifically bothers me to no end. he's constantly trying to get under his opponents skin, either with this locking people up and acting the victim, or by very deliberately stepping over people lying on the ground. the fact that he's still being portrayed as some kind of golden boy and people still wonder why every opponent hates him, arguing that it's just envy bother me to no end. that dude plays disgustingly dirty and I can't stand it. the fact that they're now America's team, only because people just now realise that the whole franchise is owned by a terrible, terrible person makes it even worse to me. I want them to fail, and desperately so.

 

[Hadlowe]

for some reason things like Griffin wrapping his legs around Ibaka's and Ibaka getting a tech for trying to free his leg (same thing Griffin has done to him in the season with his arms), or Chris Paul simply running straight into players and falling down aggravate me more than exaggerating contact or kicking legs on a jumper. Griffin specifically bothers me to no end. he's constantly trying to get under his opponents skin, either with this locking people up and acting the victim, or by very deliberately stepping over people lying on the ground. the fact that he's still being portrayed as some kind of golden boy and people still wonder why every opponent hates him, arguing that it's just envy bother me to no end. that dude plays disgustingly dirty and I can't stand it. the fact that they're now America's team, only because people just now realise that the whole franchise is owned by a terrible, terrible person makes it even worse to me. I want them to fail, and desperately so.

Which is why it bugs me that Scotty Brooks isn't running Steven Adams out there with Ibaka against them. Fight fire with fire.

 

[mac]

for some reason things like Griffin wrapping his legs around Ibaka's and Ibaka getting a tech for trying to free his leg (same thing Griffin has done to him in the season with his arms), or Chris Paul simply running straight into players and falling down aggravate me more than exaggerating contact or kicking legs on a jumper. Griffin specifically bothers me to no end. he's constantly trying to get under his opponents skin, either with this locking people up and acting the victim, or by very deliberately stepping over people lying on the ground. the fact that he's still being portrayed as some kind of golden boy and people still wonder why every opponent hates him, arguing that it's just envy bother me to no end. that dude plays disgustingly dirty and I can't stand it. the fact that they're now America's team, only because people just now realise that the whole franchise is owned by a terrible, terrible person makes it even worse to me. I want them to fail, and desperately so.

Agree bout Blake. I give him credit because he has certainly improved quite tremendously as a player, but especially in the past he was so overrated just because of his athleticism. I mainly like watching Paul run things - it's night and day compared to any point guard play we've seen on the Kings in a long long time. He's always in control and can be a very prolific scorer when he wants to be, kinda like Nash was back in the day. Redick has also always been one of my favorite players, and it's nice to see him finding a role as a solid starter. I'd always hoped Jimmer could follow his career path.

But perhaps the biggest thing to me is that I perceive the Clippers as less of a threat to the Spurs (who I want to win the championship) than the Thunder. In my little biased world it's all about 1) who is more likely to lose to the Spurs, and if that fails then who's more likely to beat the Heat.

 

[jalfa]

Agree bout Blake. I give him credit because he has certainly improved quite tremendously as a player, but especially in the past he was so overrated just because of his athleticism. I mainly like watching Paul run things - it's night and day compared to any point guard play we've seen on the Kings in a long long time. He's always in control and can be a very prolific scorer when he wants to be, kinda like Nash was back in the day. Redick has also always been one of my favorite players, and it's nice to see him finding a role as a solid starter. I'd always hoped Jimmer could follow his career path.

But perhaps the biggest thing to me is that I perceive the Clippers as less of a threat to the Spurs (who I want to win the championship) than the Thunder. In my little biased world it's all about 1) who is more likely to lose to the Spurs, and if that fails then who's more likely to beat the Heat.

completely agree on the things you said about Griffin's improvement (I've actually caught some flak around here earlier this season when I defended his game) and about the way Paul and the Clippers play when they aren't trying to gain an edge by playing dirty. however, all this extracurricular stuff, Doc Rivers chewing the ref's ears off even when they're getting every call they want doesn't help matters, btw, bothers me to an unhealthy degree. it's to the point where it's more important to me that they lose than it is for the team I'm rooting for to win (also the Spurs, coincidentally. they've been my playoff team to root for basically since they got Kawhi).

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Thunder After Dark!

 

[Hadlowe]

completely agree on the things you said about Griffin's improvement (I've actually caught some flak around here earlier this season when I defended his game) and about the way Paul and the Clippers play when they aren't trying to gain an edge by playing dirty. however, all this extracurricular stuff, Doc Rivers chewing the ref's ears off even when they're getting every call they want doesn't help matters, btw, bothers me to an unhealthy degree. it's to the point where it's more important to me that they lose than it is for the team I'm rooting for to win (also the Spurs, coincidentally. they've been my playoff team to root for basically since they got Kawhi).

Yep. FWIW, the referees in the Dallas series just stopped calling Spurs fouls on Dirk because he flops and whines on every shot. In the second half tonight, I felt like the Clippers weren't getting the normal calls, especially for Jamal "My shot form requires me to land on my butt" Crawford. I'm hoping this is a direction from the league to swallow the whistle for whining about no-calls.

 

[jalfa]

better. still sceptical about Brooks' rotation in the fourth (why were the guys that helped OKC gain separation in the third sitting for so long?) and if I'm the Thunder I feel uncomfortable relying on Sefolosha to replicate his offensive output from this game, but still, better. although, thinking about it, how often is Crawford going to shoot like that? how often are key players for the Clippers going to get into foul trouble at such inopportune times? the only guy that really played above his head for them, I thought, was JJ Redick. doesn't bode well for OKC. they desperately need someone from the bench to step up. Collison and Jackson are MIA, Butler is gunning happily, but not really hitting anything, and Fisher is getting killed by Darren Collison (not as badly this game, but in the first).

 

[Sac.Kings]

better. still sceptical about Brooks' rotation in the fourth (why were the guys that helped OKC gain separation in the third sitting for so long?) and if I'm the Thunder I feel uncomfortable relying on Sefolosha to replicate his offensive output from this game, but still, better. although, thinking about it, how often is Crawford going to shoot like that? how often are key players for the Clippers going to get into foul trouble at such inopportune times? the only guy that really played above his head for them, I thought, was JJ Redick. doesn't bode well for OKC. they desperately need someone from the bench to step up. Collison and Jackson are MIA, Butler is gunning happily, but not really hitting anything, and Fisher is getting killed by Darren Collison (not as badly this game, but in the first).

The worst part of all this is that the Thunder don't have an offensive game plan. It's always Westbrook or Durant bringing it up, dribbling aimlessly and either shooting a terrible shot or passing it up if they can't find one they don't like (not very often). Westbrook doesn't pass the ball enough either, even though they are clearly MUCH better when he does. Bad coaching is responsible here. You have to control Westbrook more, he is the x-factor for the Thunder. They don't have a great bench as you already alluded to, although Jackson was playing well previously. I think the Clippers take this series.

 

[mac]

The worst part of all this is that the Thunder don't have an offensive game plan. It's always Westbrook or Durant bringing it up, dribbling aimlessly and either shooting a terrible shot or passing it up if they can't find one they don't like (not very often). Westbrook doesn't pass the ball enough either, even though they are clearly MUCH better when he does. Bad coaching is responsible here. You have to control Westbrook more, he is the x-factor for the Thunder. They don't have a great bench as you already alluded to, although Jackson was playing well previously. I think the Clippers take this series.

That's the problem with guys like Westbrook and IT who just play with massive chips on their shoulders at all times. They only get aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. And what can Brooks do about it - bench him?

 

[jalfa]

something I feel needs saying here: Russell Westbrook was the biggest reason the Thunder won yesterday and his defensive impact was a big part of it. also, his defensive problems mainly stem from hyperactivity, not from a lack of caring. when he plays like he did yesterday, refusing to get screened and provoking illegal screens doing so, OKC always has a chance to win, even despite their uncreative offence.

 

[Sac.Kings]

That's the problem with guys like Westbrook and IT who just play with massive chips on their shoulders at all times. They only get aggressive on the offensive side of the ball. And what can Brooks do about it - bench him?

That's the problem. A coach has to be able to do something about it. What that something is is up to the coach. Westbrook himself has to be more consistent and realize when more passing is needed versus shooting. There are games that he literally shoots them out of. One of his triple doubles he shot 10-31 from the field and took the most shots. Yea he had a triple double but they lost that game and it wasn't very efficient. He is a world class talent but the coach has to tell him how to operate at times in order to benefit the team. If the coach can't do that well then he shouldn't be coaching. He just gets carried away due to his crazy aggressive playing nature. CP3 can't check him one on one. Too big and too strong.

 

[jalfa]

That's the problem. A coach has to be able to do something about it. What that something is is up to the coach. Westbrook himself has to be more consistent and realize when more passing is needed versus shooting. There are games that he literally shoots them out of. One of his triple doubles he shot 10-31 from the field and took the most shots. Yea he had a triple double but they lost that game and it wasn't very efficient. He is a world class talent but the coach has to tell him how to operate at times in order to benefit the team. If the coach can't do that well then he shouldn't be coaching. He just gets carried away due to his crazy aggressive playing nature. CP3 can't check him one on one. Too big and too strong.

that was in the Memphis series, when Tony Allen completely blew up the Thunder's offensive gameplan by refusing to let Durant catch the ball anywhere. they simply weren't able to screen him and Westbrook, a lot of the time, was left up to his own devices, which isn't an ideal situation for him. there were also several instances where Durant just basically told him to go ahead and do his own thing. in that instance, the Thunder's lacking offensive gameplan shares a lot of the responsibility.

 

[jalfa]

well, this was supremely frustrating. don't think the Chris Paul on Kevin Durant gambit is going to work again, but it bought the Clippers this game. hats, begrudgingly, off to Doc Rivers for the move. let's see what happens now.

 

[Hadlowe]

well, this was supremely frustrating. don't think the Chris Paul on Kevin Durant gambit is going to work again, but it bought the Clippers this game. hats, begrudgingly, off to Doc Rivers for the move. let's see what happens now.

I'm less inclined to give Doc props (even though he is a very good coach), and more inclined to shake my head at the futility of Scott Brooks' half-court offense.

 

[jalfa]

I'm less inclined to give Doc props (even though he is a very good coach), and more inclined to shake my head at the futility of Scott Brooks' half-court offense.

good point. turning the ball over on consecutive high screen-and-rolls because they couldn't figure out how the Clippers doubled is a bit of an embarassment.

 

[LPKingsFan]

I think there's a reason that Kevin Ollie hasn't signed an extension with UConn yet... and that reason is Scott Brooks.

 

[KingMilz]

Serge Ibaka intentional smacks Blake Griffin in the nuts again and get's no suspension meanwhile DMC while not even looking at OJ Mayo last year gets suspended for a far less impactful blow.

That was worse what he did to Blake than what Z-Bo did to Adams.....

 

[Hadlowe]

Serge Ibaka intentional smacks Blake Griffin in the nuts again and get's no suspension meanwhile DMC while not even looking at OJ Mayo last year gets suspended for a far less impactful blow.

That was worse what he did to Blake than what Z-Bo did to Adams.....

It looked to me like Perkins pushed his arm.

 

[KingMilz]

It looked to me like Perkins pushed his arm.

It's not the first time Ibaka has nailed Griffin in the nuts......that was clearly intentional he used the fact Perkins pushed him to follow through

 

[andjel]

Teamwork Perkins-Ibaka.

 

[Hadlowe]

Is there a worse starting center in the league than Kendrick Perkins?

edit: Wow, that is some fourth quarter home-cooking with the officiating. Thunder getting Heat calls down the stretch.

 

[kingsboi]

Epic collapse by Paul...

 

[John Galt]

Epic collapse by Paul...

It was a beautiful beautiful thing. Hate CP3. Hate Blake. Hate the Clippers. God today was a good day!!!

 

[randymoss1881]

It was a beautiful beautiful thing. Hate CP3. Hate Blake. Hate the Clippers. God today was a good day!!!

Doc Rivers is ahead of CP3 that guy bitches all day every day

 

[KingMilz]

It's amazing how favoured the OKC Thunder are I mean I HATE the Clippers but all season and the first two rounds in the NBA playoffs the ref's have always given the Thunder the benefit/terrible calls while killing the Grizzlies and Clippers it's like they are playing under a different set of rules. That was not quiet the 2002 Kings/Lakersseries but yeah it was not much worse.

It's just getting to much it's to the manipulation going on trying to build up stars (Durrant/Harden) and wanting certain teams to succeed.