[NBA Playoffs] Conference Semifinals open thread

[Sac.Kings]

Gotta hit your free throws to make them pay. Still don't understand how an NBA player can't hit at least 50%. Even by chance you should be theoretically around 50% .. anything less and it means it takes skill to shoot it worse.

Work on your free throws DJ. How hard can it be?

 

[kingsboi]

so terrence jones does nothing and receives a technical....unreal officiating in this series

 

[kingsboi]

and Houston has officially mailed it in...on to the next one

 

[captain bill]

As weird as it is to say, the Clippers look like the best and most well-rounded team left in the playoffs. CP3 and Blake play the best pick n roll game that I've since since ... Idk, Amare and Nash? No one comes close.

They also have a certain attitude and a way of getting under people's skins that great teams usually carry.

After this weekend's slate of games, I was most impressed by far with the showing of the Clippers and Wizards. Not saying they'll go to the finals, but those two teams were the best this weekend. Strange world.

 

[KingsCitizen]

Houston?.... they got a problem..

Now I want the Grizzlies going 3-1 next game and close the deal as well.
A Clippers vs Grizzlies WCF is what I would pay to watch.
There is bad blood between these teams and I can't wait for ZBo (man I never thought I would root for him after his Jailblazer stint) to mop some Blake face on the floor.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

analytics built, three point chucking, no defense playing, flaming pile of crap team.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

As weird as it is to say, the Clippers look like the best and most well-rounded team left in the playoffs.

they just look that way because they played the old washed up Spurs who played pretty terrible and Pop beat himself, yet somehow still pushed that series to the final seconds of game 7. and now they are playing the worst team left in the Playoffs

 

[kingsboi]

the Rockets have no business being in the playoffs....they are streaky as can be and that's fine in the regular season but not sustainable in postseason play. Phil Jackson had an awesome quote regarding three point shooting today I believe. I don't envy teams like the Blazers or Rockets...they are a treadmill type of playoff team with no chance of winning a title as currently constructed.

 

[captain bill]

they just look that way because they played the old washed up Spurs who played pretty terrible and Pop beat himself, yet somehow still pushed that series to the final seconds of game 7. and now they are playing the worst team left in the Playoffs

That's the 2x defending Western Conference Champion old washed up Spurs to you.

Nonetheless, this is the weakest PO field since probably 2006. But if you don't think the Clips have looked objectively good, you haven't been watching.

 

[IfAt1st]

Also everyone's favorite PG all of a sudden can play again in Ramon Sessions who all of a sudden has his athletic ability back and is throwing down 2 handers while flying down the lane.

OK, time for the obvious conspuracy question:

Does anyone who's seen Sessions in the playoffs vs the regular season think he deliberately sucked with the Kings, so he could get traded?

 

[KingMilz]

OK, time for the obvious conspuracy question:

Does anyone who's seen Sessions in the playoffs vs the regular season think he deliberately sucked with the Kings, so he could get traded?

Honestly it could explain why he went from decent the year before to just a complete disgrace, but he also could be having a lucky couple of games.

 

[luckytkp]

Honestly it could explain why he went from decent the year before to just a complete disgrace, but he also could be having a lucky couple of games.

He's not the first who all of the sudden could play again after leaving the Kings.

 

[mac]

23 free throw attempts for Jordan in the first half? my god....can this rule die all ready? I hope Silver persuades the owners to agree upon it.

Blame the players for not being able to make FTs. No one ever intentionally fouls JJ Redick.

 

[Capt. Factorial]

OK, time for the obvious conspuracy question:

Does anyone who's seen Sessions in the playoffs vs the regular season think he deliberately sucked with the Kings, so he could get traded?

But if he didn't want to play for the Kings, why did he sign a free-agent contract with the Kings? We didn't trade for, he signed with us.

 

[206Fan]

I'm really rooting for the Clippers. I know a lot of people don't like the Clippers and Griffin, but they're an amazing team to watch. It's hard not to argue thst a Griffin is the best PF in the game right now. Griffin has the entire package. He can create shots on his own and create for his teammates. Not sure that you can say that about AD.

 

[dude12]

I'm really rooting for the Clippers. I know a lot of people don't like the Clippers and Griffin, but they're an amazing team to watch. It's hard not to argue thst a Griffin is the best PF in the game right now. Griffin has the entire package. He can create shots on his own and create for his teammates. Not sure that you can say that about AD.

They appear to be a team made up of a-holes.....Griffin, CP3, Barnes, DJ, Glenn Davis, Spencer Hawes...can't stand that team

 

[Kingster]

I know you're trying to push for us to have a top NBA point guard, but that is too general of an argument for me to agree with. I don't think we need a top 5 point guard, but we might. In other words, we need to define what specific skill set a point guard must have in order to operate in an inside-out offense, and then determine who has (in FA or trade) or who can develop (in the Kings squad) such a skill set. Getting this skill set might require getting a top 5 NBA point guard.

As far as I know, the skill set necessary for operating an inside-out offense include:

1) 3 point shooting
2) Experienced in the post-entry pass

Collison covers both bases, whereas McCallum (even though I am a fan of his!) covers only base #2.

The skill set that is common between the Grizzly and Kings guards but are seemingly not necessary for an inside-out offense include the mid range pull-up, ability to have tight perimeter defense, and ability to bring the ball up the court.

The only difference that I notice with the Grizzlies guards is their ability to hit the floater, which shouldn't be that big of a problem for our current guards to develop this summer.

Again, I wouldn't argue Top NBA point guard because that's too general. If we think to generally, we might end up with a terrible shooter at point. Cousins and Gay need all the space they can get in the post; the more, the better.

Conely's skills far surpass simply shooting an occasional 3 point ball and making an entry pass. He is a very well rounded multi-skilled two-way player. All the skills and capabilities he has contribute to winning, not just a couple of highly defined ones. If you are only noticing that the difference between Conely and the Kings' guards is Conely's ability to hit a floater, I suggest you give his game more inspection.

 

[lawlman91]

Conely's skills far surpass simply shooting an occasional 3 point ball and making an entry pass. He is a very well rounded multi-skilled two-way player. All the skills and capabilities he has contribute to winning, not just a couple of highly defined ones. If you are only noticing that the difference between Conely and the Kings' guards is Conely's ability to hit a floater, I suggest you give his game more inspection.

I agree that the more skills a player has, the more likely their team will win. Your argument is akin to saying, "if we have better players, we will win", which is a no-brainer. Just because you're right on a general statement does not mean that your argument for a "top 5 NBA point guard" (which is also a general statement) holds. I and probably many others won't be convinced of your argument unless if its argued well.

 

[Kingster]

I agree that the more skills a player has, the more likely their team will win. Your argument is akin to saying, "if we have better players, we will win", which is a no-brainer. Just because you're right on a general statement does not mean that your argument for a "top 5 NBA point guard" (which is also a general statement) holds. I and probably many others won't be convinced of your argument unless if its argued well.

Well at least I've moved the needle from "we don't need an upgrade at point guard" to "we DO need an upgrade at point guard." If getting better players is such a no-brainer then what does that make people on this board who constantly argue that we don't need an upgrade at the point guard position?

 

[kingsboi]

Blame the players for not being able to make FTs. No one ever intentionally fouls JJ Redick.

even if players can hit 50% of their free throws...do you really think watching a team go to the free throw line over 30-40 times a game is enjoyable to watch?

 

[dude12]

That LA/Houston game was not fun to watch with all the hacking but I would not put in a rule that penalizes a team for hacking a guy. Did you hear the announcers say that when that tactic is used, hack a DJ, the Clippers are 18-2.... Now 19-2? Teams should re-evaluate this strategy.

 

[mac]

That LA/Houston game was not fun to watch with all the hacking but I would not put in a rule that penalizes a team for hacking a guy. Did you hear the announcers say that when that tactic is used, hack a DJ, the Clippers are 18-2.... Now 19-2? Teams should re-evaluate this strategy.

That's probably because teams only employ it when they're down big or in close games where the Clippers are leading. No one goes hack a jordan with the Clippers down 15

 

[VF21]

Let's go Grizzlies!

 

[Spike]

Well at least I've moved the needle from "we don't need an upgrade at point guard" to "we DO need an upgrade at point guard." If getting better players is such a no-brainer then what does that make people on this board who constantly argue that we don't need an upgrade at the point guard position?

Because we need upgrades at two other positions. We want an upgrade at PG.

 

[rainmaker]

even if players can hit 50% of their free throws...do you really think watching a team go to the free throw line over 30-40 times a game is enjoyable to watch?

No, but neither is us bricking shot after shot from 3 over the last however many years.

Bad shooting, whether FTs or 3's or jumpers is simply that, bad shooting. Bad shooting is never fun to watch(unless it's the opponent) but it's part of the game. It's a weakness to exploit.

I'm 100% of the opinion that if players don't like it, learn to shoot your freakin FTs. If fans don't like it, then direct your attention at the players who can't shoot FTs.

 

[VF21]

Well, that was ... ugly.

 

[HereWeBoogie]

Splash bros are back. Memphis is in trouble.

Either way the WCF is going to be intense. Memphis and GSW both have bad blood with the Clippers

 

[KingMilz]

GSW just shut Memphis down completely, Jeff Green is looking like crap D-Will out there. Again my concern with Memphis is all the guys they brought into help them score have been disasters either in the playoffs or the entire season including the playoffs. Green was putting up under 10ppg on like 30% shooting overall in the playoffs that's disgraceful.

 

[rainmaker]

For all the talk about how Mem improved after they moved Rudy they sure as hell could use him now.

 

[KingMilz]

For all the talk about how Mem improved after they moved Rudy they sure as hell could use him now.

Not really they never once won a series with him playing and his contract this year meant they would not have quiet a few of there role players (or even one of there star players) on the squad which would have no doubt made them worse. They have played better without him.