Around the NBA - 2017 Round 2 Playoffs

Draymond goes from 0-Bitch real quick. Wish we had at least 4 games of a healthy beast to put that ass clown in his place.

If we can get some upgrades at certain positions we will be a force to be reckoned with next season. Dame will be an All-Star again next year, book it.

 

Wow David West just shut up the entire crowd with that shot.

 

It's quotes like these are why watching the East (sans the series between WSH and BOS) is almost impossible to do so for me. I get that LeBron is a generational talent, but come on now...

Adrian Wojnarowski‏Verified account@WojVerticalNBA 11h11 hours ago
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Kyle Lowry: "They've got LeBron James and nobody's closing the gap on him." Column on the East's futile chase.

 

Anyone else think the Warriors are not that good? I mean, even we gave them a decent challenge without Nurkic. They are not dominating Utah, who isn't exactly a power house. I remember when the Spurs would just steamroll everyone. This Warrior team is not at that level. I think the NBA as a whole is weak this year.

 

I personally think they're dicking around and only playing as hard as they need to.

 

I don't think the Warriors are all that good. Everyone says they'll run over the Cavs, 4-1 or if the "NBA rigs it" 4-2.
But really if you look at Curry's history in the finals it's def not up to his regular season numbers.
It's not like KD has shined under the bright lights either.
Warriors better hope Iggy wins finals MVP or Olynyk takes out Love's shoulder in the ECF. + Irving gets hurt again.
Otherwise I think LeBron will show the world again why he's the best player in the NBA.

I mean this same Cavs team that didn't look all that great last year is toying with the competition in the east

 

The Warriors currently have the largest margin of victory ever for a playoff team. So even though they seem to be in cruise mode right now, they seem to be doing fine.

I don't think Portland gave them any challenge at all.

 

We didn't give them a decent challenge this year. Other than Game 3, when Nurk started, did we ever lead in the entire series? Their average margin of victory over us was 18 points.

We gave them a much tougher battle last year where we:

a) actually won a game
b) were only outscored by a total of 22 points in a five game series (this year, we were outscored by 29 points in Game 2 alone)
c) led for more minutes than they did

This year, with Durant, they just have way more margin for error, perhaps more than any team ever. Last night,three of their four all stars had below average games. Klay Thompson scored 16 points LESS than his average. Thompson, Curry and Green were a combined 3-18 (.167 3FG%) from 3-point range. Their bench only scored 19 points and was outscored by UTA's bench. They only had 17 assists (they average over 30). And they still won by double digits, on the road, over a 51-win UTA team that was in a must win situation. It's hard to imagine GSW playing a worse game than they did last night, and they still won by 11.

Sure if they play that "bad" against CLE, they will lose a game, maybe even two. But something tells me, they won't have many (or any) games like that once they finish their cakewalk to the finals. They are just coasting right now and still beating teams by double digits. They have no sense of urgency right now and they don't need it. They are so deep, they can sleepwalk through these early rounds and still win going away. They will ratchet up the intensity when the competition gets better and the stakes are higher.

Some here thought they would be worse this year, due to the depth they lost to clear the cap space to sign Durant. That may have been true during the long regular season, but the post season belongs to the stars, and they added a big one in Durant (4-time NBA scoring champ and former MVP). Last year's team was built for regular season success. This year's team is built for the playoffs, perhaps better than any team in NBA history.

By combining forces, neither Durant not Curry will win the MVP award or scoring title this year, but between the two of them they own the last three MVPs and 5 of the last 7 scoring titles. That's unprecedented. And, their 3rd option averaged 22.3 ppg - that's more than half the league's 1st options. It sucks that they are this good but they are.

LeBron is playing out of his mind right now, but as good as he is, GSW is a better team than CLE. Their biggest problem against CLE last year was a lack of depth up front. Last year, Bogut's injury was the turning point in that series and the main reason GSW blew that 3 game to 1 lead. I've said this many times, but after Bogut went down, those last three games became a layup drill for LeBron and company. With no rim protection, CLE outscored GSW by 17 points per game in the paint over the last three games of that series. And while they may have lost a little depth elsewhere, they are actually deeper up front this year than last. This year, if they lose Pachulia, they have McGee and West to help rebound and protect the paint. There won't be any layup drill for CLE this year.

Yeah, they look a little bored and disinterested right now, but they are still winning with ease and will crank it up when they need to.

BNM

 

I think the Warriors are also figuring out how to play together. Durant's injury, while it didn't hurt their record much and he got back in time for the playoffs, did disrupt their efforts to put all four core players (five if you include Iguodala) together in a way that maximizes them all. Then they lost him for two games against Portland. This series seems to be less about crushing the Jazz and more about putting things together (and with a new coach).

I'd bet that their intensity and flow will be racheted up next series.

 

Damn, John Wall is crafty. If Dame had close to the same play making ability as Wall...

 

Inside the NBA is so much better without Shaq...

 

What do you mean? Warriors are dominating every game they play. GS destroyed Utah in Utah last night just like they did to us.

 

I hate to say it but I think GSW learned from last year when they went in thinking "we're the champs". Portland only took 5 games but it was a tough 5 games, they had to come back in the WCF, and then ran out of gas in the Finals. They not only added another star, they are much more serious about getting up and not letting their energy down. Fuck. Hate them.

 

Really think Durant is gone this summer. You can just see how bored he is.

 

If he wins a ring maybe. I feel like he'll want to earn his own after getting one.

 

Thats what i was hoping. Get his piggyback ring and then get a real job.

 

Giannis Antetokounmpo isn't a free agent yet to replace him.

 

Seriously? He will be hated even more if he goes for just a quick ring and then bolts again. Where would he go?

I guess I don't see this happening whether they win or not. He stays to build a dynasty (if they win) or stays to keep trying to win with the Warriors (if they lose).