rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Along with having no go to player, and an overall lack of talent.
[NBA Playoffs] Conference Finals open thread
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
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rainmaker
Hall of Famer
In general, these have been the worst playoffs in recent memory. Just a number of uncompetitive series. Looks like the Conference Finals are each going to end in sweeps.
A lot of bad basketball being played. That Clips/Spurs series was the best followed by Hou/Clips but most have been putrid.
A lot of bad basketball being played. That Clips/Spurs series was the best followed by Hou/Clips but most have been putrid.
If anything, I see these playoffs as a strong argument against tanking: you should always try to remain competitive, because you never know when a couple of (un)timely injuries and a favorable bracket could, unexpectedly, hand you an easy road to the Finals.
People have become so accustomed to dynasties lately, that it's easy to forget that the NBA went through a stretch of nearly twenty years (1970-1988) without any teams winning back-to-back championships. Hell, between 1970 and 1979, eight different teams won the championship, and this is shaping up to be another decade like that: we're already guaranteed to get our fifth different champion in six years.
That's why a player like Cousins is so important. Get competent management to build a team around a guy like that, and you've always got a shot; you never know when you could be a torn ACL away from the Finals.
People have become so accustomed to dynasties lately, that it's easy to forget that the NBA went through a stretch of nearly twenty years (1970-1988) without any teams winning back-to-back championships. Hell, between 1970 and 1979, eight different teams won the championship, and this is shaping up to be another decade like that: we're already guaranteed to get our fifth different champion in six years.
That's why a player like Cousins is so important. Get competent management to build a team around a guy like that, and you've always got a shot; you never know when you could be a torn ACL away from the Finals.
Nope. If they had a go-to player, they'd still be losing. LeBron James is just that good.
You are clearly working with a different value of "recent" than I am.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
I never suggested they wouldn't be losing if they had a go to player.....
But a lack of one and a lack of talent is killed their chances. This series is a wrap.
Their chances were killed in Game 6 of the east semifinals, when Chicago laid down for Cleveland. I expected Atlanta to do well against Cleveland, and I was obviously wrong, but a lack of a go-to player is not the reason.
captain bill
All-Star
I don't think these playoffs really say a lot about dynasties going away. Lebron has his own personal dynasty in the East, and I don't think the Warriors are going away in the next 5 years. You think the Clippers, Rockets or Pelicans are gonna challenge them??? OKC maybe but even at 100% the Warriors have better depth and coaching - too much of a question mark as of today.
Lakers / Spurs have owned the West for the last 15 years, there was bound to be a changing of the guard eventually and the Ws are making a strong argument that the crown should be passed to them.
But yes you do need a transcendent player like Cousins - not to try to get lucky, but to build a dynasty with.
I'll be god damned if I'm going to declare the Warriors the next dynasty when they haven't won their first one yet. Maybe they're not going away, and maybe this year is a fluke, that they can't duplicate it. I would have bet money that the Thunder would be around for years and years, after they came back from down 0-2 to win four straight against the Spurs, and they haven't been back since, in no small part due to the fact that they couldn't keep Harden.
Until or unless Golden State can re-sign Green, the question of whether they're going away or not isn't even a conversation worth having.
Until or unless Golden State can re-sign Green, the question of whether they're going away or not isn't even a conversation worth having.
captain bill
All-Star
1) they "could" keep Harden, they just had a crappy owner who didn't want to pay him. I don't think that's an issue with the W's
2) I wouldn't have bet on OKC. Coaching matters. Scott Brooks was very mediocre, and Steve Kerr looks like the real deal.
Unless, of course, it turns out that Alvin Gentry is the actual "real deal."
captain bill
All-Star
Lol you mean the guy that's coached 700 games in the NBA and holds a sub .500 record? Real mystery on that one
Only thing that proves is that some guys are better assistants. Are you making the assertion that Kerr could have won sixty-seven games with just anybody in the seat next to him?
lawlman91
Starter
On a somewhat related note, I'd prefer to follow the story/journey about how DeMarcus Cousins and co. fought and struggled for a championship rather than trade for some randoms to get the Kings a win. It seems more emotional and more satisfying to win with an identity. I want to cheer for players, not a front office. Just an opinion.
We are in the midst of the DeMarcus Cousins era.
IfAt1st
Starter
I simply don't see Curry lasting 5 years without getting a major injury.
Guy is way too small and plays WAY too hard (and too long in close games) to make it very long without getting injured.
I think the Warriors would fall apart without Steph's utter brilliance making them chug along.
The guy is having a playoffs for the ages, and I just don't feel like he's going to get better than this. He feels to me more like a "meteoric rise" kinda career more than a "long-time dominant force" career.
Dime Dropper
All-Star
Steph Curry is insane. There is seriously not one thing he can't do very well offensively, and his IQ is as good as it gets. He's not my style of player, but holy crap, the guy is just insane. He actually gets better under pressure. I had no idea his insane performances for Davidson would translate so well to the NBA, but the guy is a cold blooded winner.
Yeah ... his outside shooting ability is ridiculous. I'd take an outside jumpshot from him over almost any post player posting up in the league. I used to think that there was no chance his shot would fall consistently enough over a 7 game series. Now I think there's no chance his shot will miss consistently over a 7 game series.
captain bill
All-Star
That's a fair doubt to have, especially after the first 3 games of the Memphis series. There are a ton of great 3 point shooters who disappear in the playoffs- but Curry is showing he's definitely not one of them.
He's a score-first Steve Nash, but stronger and a better defender. Haven't seen a player look so flawless in the playoffs since Lebron in around 2007.
captain bill
All-Star
I also think Malone would be a perfect fit in Houston. They have a relatively simple offense and he could just turn the keys over to Harden. But it he got the Beard to play defense and implemented a disciplined defensive scheme around Dwight, that team would be scary.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
I am interested to see what Kevin Durant decides to do when his free agency starts in the summer of 2016...whatever team he goes to or if he decides to stay with OKC, they are going to remain a powerhouse year in and year out. The Warriors are a interesting team...with Curry and Thompson there for the next couple of years, they are going to remain threats to come out of the West.
lawlman91
Starter
HereWeBoogie
Hall of Famer
Wow the NBA is a joke. Hawks playing like crap anyway but the Cavs get all the calls
Steph Curry needs to get fitted with head gear before the NBA finals
I'd suggest shin guards and ankle supports.
And, in other news, David Blatt is painful to watch.
HereWeBoogie
Hall of Famer
Yea, where is Patrick Beverly when you need him
jalfa
Starter
Curry is the most rested superstar in this league, he pretty much didn't play fourth quarters all regular season. so him playing a lot in the playoffs shouldn't be too much of a problem. plus, he's not doing as many of the things that ordinarily get you hurt (finish around the rim with contact, go for contested rebounds, hustle for loose balls). he has had ankle problems in his first few years, but right now, of the superstar guys, he's the most likely to stick around injury free, imo.
Disagree slightly with contested rebounds bit. Did you see him box Howard out? And he's actually averaging a good amount of rebounds in the POs for a guy his size. Obviously he's not going Russell Westbrook in there but still boxing out inside - simple physical play can lead to injuries for a guy his size. That said agree with you for the most part. But you simply never know what freak accidents can happen from the simplest of plays
R2D2
Bench
I think I will respectfully disagree. I think the media is trying to push this narrative, but I for one am not buying it.
Please take a look at the Cavs starting five:
Matthew Dellavedova / Iman Shumpert / LeBron James / Tristan Thompson / Timofey Mozgov
Two of their 'Big 3' are out (in KLove and Irving). Their starting center was lost early in the season. They are playing their role players throughout this playoff run. Just go back and read the names again...
They are playing the Hawks, who were media sweethearts throughout the season, at the ECF. Atlanta's roster has 4 all-stars (Jeff Teague, Kyle Korver, Paul Millsap, and Al Horford) and they are coached by the newly decorated COY (Mike Budenholzer). They finished #1 in the East. Yet the Cavs are leading this series 3-0, after beating Atlanta twice on the road, and have a chance to sweep them at home on Tuesday.
Why is that?
Sure, they have LeBron on the team. He is arguably THAT great. But their role players are supporting him by putting their hearts out on the floor. And I admire that. I even envy that, to be honest.
And Matthew Dellavedova was a questionable NBA player up until a month ago. Hell, even the Cavs tried looking for a backup PG at trade deadline. But this guy proves all doubters wrong. And he does that not by playing dirty, but by putting his best efforts on the floor every single second. Kindly look at the video evidence and see if it supports the 'playing dirty' storyline. This guy from down under is not the most aesthetic player in the world, I agree. But I just wish that we had players with similar hard-nosed mind-set on our bench. I believe our record would have benefited and I believe DMC would have a unit he could be proud of marching and leading into battle.
It will be interesting to see if Cleveland will be labelled as the 'bad boys' if and when they get head to head at the finals with the Warriors. I don't see them going as favourites, as GS basketball has been admired for all throughout the season. But I hope they will do what brought them this far - put on a hell of fight every single game. That is something I will always respect in a team.
As you remember, it worked out fine for Detroit not that long ago, and I think it is too bad we don't see more of that in Sac Town.
captain bill
All-Star
I really liked this discussion of Delly from TNT:
I'm really torn on the plays in that clip. If he was doing this at the local Y I'd definitely call him a punk - but I don't think anyone should ever go after a player in the air AT ALL in a pick up game, and I think guys putting it all out there in the conference finals is a good thing. Different rules.
The Korver hit, however, looked pretty bad. I think diving towards a guys legs is a big no-no, but I also think it was a basketball play. Really, he probably thought Korver was gonna dive for it too- Korver SHOULD have in that spot, and he wouldn't have been injured if he did.
But I get being pissed at him, and it's good the Hawks fought back. Delly's reckless, but I don't think you can compare what he did to Bowen sliding his feet under shooters, which is just totally out of bounds, much less something like what Olynyk did (a guy who I don't think should ever be let back into the league).
I'm really torn on the plays in that clip. If he was doing this at the local Y I'd definitely call him a punk - but I don't think anyone should ever go after a player in the air AT ALL in a pick up game, and I think guys putting it all out there in the conference finals is a good thing. Different rules.
The Korver hit, however, looked pretty bad. I think diving towards a guys legs is a big no-no, but I also think it was a basketball play. Really, he probably thought Korver was gonna dive for it too- Korver SHOULD have in that spot, and he wouldn't have been injured if he did.
But I get being pissed at him, and it's good the Hawks fought back. Delly's reckless, but I don't think you can compare what he did to Bowen sliding his feet under shooters, which is just totally out of bounds, much less something like what Olynyk did (a guy who I don't think should ever be let back into the league).
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