Around the NBA - 2017 Round 2 Playoffs

The best part is that Gordon hit the three after the buzzer. Maybe if The Great Bearded One would have passed the ball, they might have tied the game?

 

That was some ferocious defense, though. Harden did actually try to move the ball but couldn't find a passing lane, so just tried to score. Gordon hit the (long) three with no one trying to defend him since the game was over.

 

I think Bron is still gonna take it.

 

My son calls him:

"Beirdo"

 

That's who I want. It's the East's best chance and I can't root for SA or GS to win it all.

 

Golden State is only going to play 12 games before the finals. Do you think they play 17 games in the playoffs this year?

 

I think a sweep of San Antonio (or Houston, but I expect San Antonio to win this series) is unlikely. I expect the Warriors to win, but I think it'll take 6. San Antonio always finds a way and Popovich might be the best coach in NBA history.

 

Watching these playoffs I gotta say having Nurk back and healthy for a full year is going to be amazing. There's not a team left in the playoffs with a true center nearly as good as him.

It was so laughable watching Aldridge just fail to dominate Harden in the post. You put Nurk in that position and there's 2 points every time.

 

SA is beat up to hell, and Houston doesn't really play defense. I think either one will get swept.

 

I agree, and GS is locked in.

 

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/index.php?threads/hardens-meltdown-during-important-games.282639/

 

I think it depends on whether Leonard is lastingly hurt, or it was just a temporary thing. If he's limited next series, then yeah, hard to see anything but a sweep. I don't think Parker is a significant loss for them, especially against Golden State. It's not clear he's even playable against them considering his awful defense--he always seems like a liability. And during the season, San Antonio had better net rating with him off the court.

 

I disagree, Tony Parker was a big reason why they got past Memphis. He was having a really strong playoff 2017 playoff performance.
Last time he was performing at the level he did through 8 games the Spurs won a ring.
Not saying it was a lock that Spurs would win a ring, but Parker was arguable the Spurs 2nd best player in the playoffs this year.
Anytime a team loses a player who is performing like their second best player, it's a big loss.

Although Patty is prolly the best backup point in the league, he's not going to force Curry to defend like Parker would.

 

I agree, but that was in a small sample. As I said, over the course of the season, the Spurs were actually better when Parker was on the bench. It's possible he would have continued his strong play, though it's interesting that the Spurs went on a crushing run after he got hurt. I think people underestimate how poor a defender Parker is these days. With his inconsistent shot, Parker is very hit-or-miss...if his shots are falling, he can be an asset. If, more often, his shots aren't falling, he's a huge liability.

 

The entire playoffs is a small sample size; eight games out of a possible 28 or fewer is pretty good.

 

Could say the same thing about Curry's two finals appearances.

 

The last one, sure. Injuries definitely can reduce players to liabilities. The 2015 Finals, I disagree. He played very well--his "struggles" were massively overhyped, IMO. Also, Curry plays much better defense than Parker. Parker used to be a good defender, but he's slowed too much with age.

The other thing with Curry is that he has huge "gravity." Even when he's struggling, defenses are throwing several defenders in his direction to prevent him from getting open shots. Parker doesn't get that kind of respect on his shot because defenses know he's not a consistently good shooter.

 

I agree that playoffs lend themselves to small sample size effects mattering a lot--the question is whether it's predictive. After a full regular season suggesting that Parker isn't a big benefit to the Spurs, does 8 good games suggest that now he is, or is it just 8 good games?

 

Tony Parker lit up Curry in 2013 playoffs. I know it was 4 years ago but he was putting up 40+.