The NBA Thread

[TurkishRaven]

Westbrook is a beast and a hard worker. He is out of control but at least he tries until the end of the game.

On the other hand KD, when he has single bad turnover he gets frustrated and does not even care to defend the ball for the rest of the game.  Maybe reckless was not the right word to describe him, I wanted to say effortless, especially on defense.

I would prefer to have Leonard instead of KD on my team. 

 

Call me crazy but I would  trade KD for a decent shooter (SG) and a nice defender SF everyday. 

This team can score. But they are not focused on defense. They are not well disciplined. 

They won yesterday because San Antonio missed open shots at 4th. People say they have defended well. No. It was SA missing shots.

On 5/7/2016 at 5:45 PM, DomMcRaven said:

You guys need a coach who can actually implement an offense. ISOs by KD and Westbrook does not count as an offense with structure.  

I agree %100. It's a waste of talent. As a basketball fan I am very upset about this situation. Awful coaching. Both defense and offense.

[DomMcRaven]

With the Blazers season over now, I have to say how proud I am of this team given how many starters we lost and how many games we were expected to win. To go from that to going toe to toe with the champs is pretty damn impressive (although we lost in 5). 

I will NOT get overly excited about next season until it gets underway. Why I say this? Look at the 2014 Ravens. Most of us said that our future looks bright..............and then there was the 2015 Ravens. 

Out of all of the remaining teams, I'm rooting for the Raptors to win it all (even though they'll get swept by CLE IMO). 

[52520Andrew]

Thunder Spurs should be an interesting one tonight. If the Thunder win, they move on to play Golden State. If the Spurs win, it is off to game 7 in San Antonio.

[DomMcRaven]

5 hours ago, 52520Andrew said:

Thunder Spurs should be an interesting one tonight. If the Thunder win, they move on to play Golden State. If the Spurs win, it is off to game 7 in San Antonio.

Thunder must win tonight. If not, I got the Spurs in 7.

[52520Andrew]

54 minutes ago, DomMcRaven said:

Thunder must win tonight. If not, I got the Spurs in 7.

Yeah I think the Thunder would help themselves out a lot of they win tonight but they have already exceeded my expectations with this series so them winning a 7th game in San Antonio isn't unthinkable

[DomMcRaven]

15 hours ago, 52520Andrew said:

Yeah I think the Thunder would help themselves out a lot of they win tonight but they have already exceeded my expectations with this series so them winning a 7th game in San Antonio isn't unthinkable

Now that's over with. I got GS in no more than 6. This joke of an offense that OKC runs will not work against GSW. Other teammates like Ibaka, Waiters, Kanter, and Adams are REALLY gonna have to step it up. 

[TurkishRaven]

Now I look like an idiot calling Donovan a bad coach. He made really good adjustments and did a great job with rotations. 

He let my man Kanter to close out games!

 

2 hours ago, DomMcRaven said:

Now that's over with. I got GS in no more than 6. This joke of an offense that OKC runs will not work against GSW. Other teammates like Ibaka, Waiters, Kanter, and Adams are REALLY gonna have to step it up. 

I think it will come to the curry's 3pointers. Small or big line ups don't matter if he starts shooting 3s from mid court. It's unstoppable. 

 

Okc cannot beat gsw playing small. You cannot beat them in their own game. Got to find a way to play big and stop curry. One way to stop them is slowing the game but it's not possible with OKC turnovers. 

[stampedehero]

A big shout out to the Blazers who over achieved and earned second round.  I'm glad they beat LA. We had a chance at home down 1-2 but Curry provided what he does best.  I am rooting for Toronto since they are the new underdogs 

[52520Andrew]

Onto game 7

[usmccharles]

11 hours ago, 52520Andrew said:

Onto game 7

Okc is going to get killed in the media if they lose Wyeth being up 3-1, and rightfully so.   That game was frustrating as hell to watch

[Deflated Football]

I think OKC matches up to CLE better than GS does just because of sheer length, but dang, the Warriors know how to claw back and you can never doubt them with Klay and Curry catching and shooting. Whatever happens, whether the Warriors or the Thunder rep the West, just please don't let LeBron win. 

[usmccharles]

3 minutes ago, Deflated Football said:

Wouldn't doubt if Westbrook and Durant both left if they don't win it all this year. 

I honestly don't think so, kd isn't going to Cleveland or golden state, so where ever he goes he will be on the second best team in either conference.   He already has the best teammate he will play with in Westbrook.   

I think a dark horse team for kd is the spurs, that would be huge.   Then will Westbrook leave the year after? 

[DomMcRaven]

1 hour ago, Deflated Football said:

I think OKC matches up to CLE better than GS does just because of sheer length, but dang, the Warriors know how to claw back and you can never doubt them with Klay and Curry catching and shooting. Whatever happens, whether the Warriors or the Thunder rep the West, just please don't let the Cavs win. 

Fixed! While I have nothing against LeBron, I can't stand the Cavs fanbase OR Dan Gilbert.

40 minutes ago, usmccharles said:

I honestly don't think so, kd isn't going to Cleveland or golden state, so where ever he goes he will be on the second best team in either conference.   He already has the best teammate he will play with in Westbrook.   

I think a dark horse team for kd is the spurs, that would be huge.   Then will Westbrook leave the year after? 

Thunder beat the Spurs so I don't think KD would go to a team he just beat. Same can be said for GS should OKC win game 7. I hope he goes to an Eastern Conference team. It's getting annoying watching the LeBrons own the East.

[usmccharles]

16 minutes ago, DomMcRaven said:

 

Thunder beat the Spurs so I don't think KD would go to a team he just beat. Same can be said for GS should OKC win game 7. I hope he goes to an Eastern Conference team. It's getting annoying watching the LeBrons own the East.

I don't think that has any baring on his decision.   Him teamed up with Leonard and Aldridge and with one of if not the best coach would be the best situation he's been in.

But yea,  if he did go to the east he would have a clearer path to the finals,  just would have to get through LeBron.   But I don't think any team he goes to in the east would put him in a better situation than staying with the thunder or going to SA

[ravefan52]

Thunder had so many chances to take this series. I hope the Cavs destroy GS.

[usmccharles]

9 minutes ago, ravefan52 said:

Thunder had so many chances to take this series. I hope the Cavs destroy GS.

That was one of the biggest choke jobs I've ever seen.   Even game 6 they easily had the game in hand, blew it by taking very ill advised shots and not husseling on defense.   Tonight,  they had it again but lack of discipline on picking up players,  making the easy shots that were given to them,  and just playing dumb basketball.   Okc deserved to lose and it's going to be interesting what kd decides to do... 

[Purple_ICE 81]

1 hour ago, usmccharles said:

That was one of the biggest choke jobs I've ever seen.   Even game 6 they easily had the game in hand, blew it by taking very ill advised shots and not husseling on defense.   Tonight,  they had it again but lack of discipline on picking up players,  making the easy shots that were given to them,  and just playing dumb basketball.   Okc deserved to lose and it's going to be interesting what kd decides to do... 

OMG dude I'm absolutely dumb founded as a Thunder fan. They had 3 chances to win 1 single game and lost every game there after....HOWWW???? To me I feel like they just could not finish out games, they would grind out a tough 8 point or even double digit lead, and then do something like give up back to back 3s and watch the score go the other way. Alot of poor shot selection and loss of aggressivness on the boards and defense down   the stretch too. It seemed like in every game they lost a huge lead and found a way to let the warriors beat them. I throw some blame at KD because as a leader you gotta step up and score like the all-star you are, and his accuracy was off in this series, not to mention he was no where to be found during  the second half collapse against the Warriors  tonight where teammates were arguing, lost, and obviously rattled by the sharp shooting of the warriors. This is now the 2nd chance in his career he blew a big opportunity to win a championship and I really think he is starting to develop a big chip on his shoulder for not winning a championship yet.  But Play Thompson abd Steph Curry are absolute Gods from 3 point  range and have there shots down to the point of just knowing how to make 3s from any distance...they seemingly never miss. Klay looked like Ray Allen on steroids x 10000000. He found his rhythm game 6 and never got out of it. The Warriors made that "teams who are down 1-3 in the playoffs" crummy statistic/record a little bit better, and KD and Westbrook are off to have the longest off season of they're careers after an amazing series turned bad real quick.

 

But the Thunder look like a team who could easily bounce back next year and with a few tweaks and resigning KD who should most definitely stay, they will be a top team in the West and have a chance to be right back in the mix next year. This team feels like the 2012-13 Spurs that lost to the Heat when Ray Allen hit the miracle buzzer beater. I think the Thunder will be a favorite to win it all next year which is exactly what the Spurs did following that heartbreaking finals loss. OKC really flourished in the playoffs and put it all together. 

 

My finals prediction...Cavs in 6. I think the only way to counter great 3 point shooting is equally good 3 point shooting and the Cavs have that potential with two 3 point champions in Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, and Jr Smith can get into a rhythm too. The Warriors don't have much beyond decent ball movement, OK defense/rebounding, and that damn ungodly 3 point shooting. I think the Cavs got em this time around.

Edited May 31, 2016 by Purple_ICE 81

[usmccharles]

1 hour ago, Purple_ICE 81 said:

OMG dude I'm absolutely dumb founded as a Thunder fan. They had 3 chances to win 1 single game and lost every game there after....HOWWW???? To me I feel like they just could not finish out games, they would grind out a tough 8 point or even double digit lead, and then do something like give up back to back 3s and watch the score go the other way. Alot of poor shot selection and loss of aggressivness on the boards and defense down   the stretch too. It seemed like in every game they lost a huge lead and found a way to let the warriors beat them. I throw some blame at KD because as a leader you gotta step up and score like the all-star you are, and his accuracy was off in this series, not to mention he was no where to be found during  the second half collapse against the Warriors  tonight where teammates were arguing, lost, and obviously rattled by the sharp shooting of the warriors. This is now the 2nd chance in his career he blew a big opportunity to win a championship and I really think he is starting to develop a big chip on his shoulder for not winning a championship yet.  But Play Thompson abd Steph Curry are absolute Gods from 3 point  range and have there shots down to the point of just knowing how to make 3s from any distance...they seemingly never miss. Klay looked like Ray Allen on steroids x 10000000. He found his rhythm game 6 and never got out of it. The Warriors made that "teams who are down 1-3 in the playoffs" crummy statistic/record a little bit better, and KD and Westbrook are off to have the longest off season of they're careers after an amazing series turned bad real quick.

But the Thunder look like a team who could easily bounce back next year and with a few tweaks and resigning KD who should most definitely stay, they will be a top team in the West and have a chance to be right back in the mix next year. This team feels like the 2012-13 Spurs that lost to the Heat when Ray Allen hit the miracle buzzer beater. I think the Thunder will be a favorite to win it all next year which is exactly what the Spurs did following that heartbreaking finals loss. OKC really flourished in the playoffs and put it all together. 

My finals prediction...Cavs in 6. I think the only way to counter great 3 point shooting is equally good 3 point shooting and the Cavs have that potential with two 3 point champions in Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving, and Jr Smith can get into a rhythm too. The Warriors don't have much beyond decent ball movement, OK defense/rebounding, and that damn ungodly 3 point shooting. I think the Cavs got em this time around.

Ill start by saying I don't follow the NBA until playoffs and im a die hard fan, but growing up in Arkansas OKC became my team that I would root for when possible. 

I cant believe how dumb OKC were playing.  They missed on so many chances, when a team like the Warriors give you open shots or layups, you have to knock them down, have to.  And not giving Adams any help when hes on Curry was just terrible.  I don't want to say it was on the coach, but you could tell right away at the beginning of the 2nd half that OKC wasn't playing on par with the Warriors, they took their foot off the gas imo. 

I cant even put together clear thoughts at the moment, frustrated. 

[Deflated Football]

12 hours ago, ravefan52 said:

Thunder had so many chances to take this series. I hope the Cavs destroy GS.

Bishop Bullwinkel - Hell to the Naw

[redrum52]

If there is a basketball god, please let the a cavs get swept....l

 

That is all.

[TurkishRaven]

Sadness.. That game 6 is on Billy Donovan. If they played like they did in game 7 they would have won game 6. 

I think next year will be an amazing year for OKC. Even if Durant leaves.

 

For the finals, OKC showed how to win against GSW. Cleveland has better shooters than OKC and a better leader in LBJ. I think this will end in 5. 

4-1 Cleveland.

[Deflated Football]

53 minutes ago, TurkishRaven said:

Sadness.. That game 6 is on Billy Donovan. If they played like they did in game 7 they would have won game 6. 

I think next year will be an amazing year for OKC. Even if Durant leaves.

 

For the finals, OKC showed how to win against GSW. Cleveland has better shooters than OKC and a better leader in LBJ. I think this will end in 5. 

4-1 Cleveland.

It'll be a three point contest and if CLE wins, LeBron will be carried or saved like his two other titles. Let's go GS.

[redrum52]

2 hours ago, TurkishRaven said:

Sadness.. That game 6 is on Billy Donovan. If they played like they did in game 7 they would have won game 6. 

I think next year will be an amazing year for OKC. Even if Durant leaves.

 

For the finals, OKC showed how to win against GSW. Cleveland has better shooters than OKC and a better leader in LBJ. I think this will end in 5. 

4-1 Cleveland.

 

1 hour ago, Deflated Football said:

It'll be a three point contest and if CLE wins, LeBron will be carried or saved like his two other titles. Let's go GS.

 

 

Wrong and wrong about the finals.  I'd blame game 6 more on Durant than Donovan.  I thought he did a hell of a job coaching.  

 

The Cavs do not have the length and athleticism that OKC does, not counting LeBron.  Put LeBron on Curry, cool.  Who guards Klay?  I expect to see more game 7 Curry throughout the finals than game 4.  You also compare the Cavs shooting while playing teams in the East.  You know how many WIDE OPEN shots teams missed?  This isn't the East.  Best hope is GS is tired from actually having to play ball through their Conference playoffs.

[DomMcRaven]

I'll say this much. I HOPE for one of two scenarios:

1) one team sweeps the other OR

2) one team loses in 7 AFTER BEING UP 3-0.

 

I'd laugh either way regardless of team. 

[Inqui]

5 hours ago, redrum52 said:

 

 

 

Wrong and wrong about the finals.  I'd blame game 6 more on Durant than Donovan.  I thought he did a hell of a job coaching.  

 

The Cavs do not have the length and athleticism that OKC does, not counting LeBron.  Put LeBron on Curry, cool.  Who guards Klay?  I expect to see more game 7 Curry throughout the finals than game 4.  You also compare the Cavs shooting while playing teams in the East.  You know how many WIDE OPEN shots teams missed?  This isn't the East.  Best hope is GS is tired from actually having to play ball through their Conference playoffs.

Forget Klay, who guards Draymond in that situation? Dellavedova being a pest is probably their best bet at slowing down Curry without putting five players on him, but that obviously opens up a range of other problems (realistically they'll need Irving on the court and that goes without saying).

 

 

I'm pretty bummed that the Thunder lost, but it'd be great to see the Warriors get it done though. The're playing some great basketball atm and it's great to watch. And while I like/respect LeBron a lot, it's kinda funny to see Cleveland still suffering.

Also, I think Durant stays in OKC. If he had to leave I'd say maybe he goes to the Heat (and makes me hate him for it). But I'm going to be boring and say he stays. Put him and Westbrook on a team together and they're title challengers no matter who else is there and they both know it. I feel kinda bad for them though - does anyone else think they have the potential to become this generation's Stockton and Malone? They weren't quite ready against the Heat a few years ago and they've probably run into a buzzsaw for the next five years in the Warriors - no shame in losing to that side but they're going to be tough for a long time to come, almost like the great players who lost to Jordan and Pippen.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Inqui

[Deflated Football]

I want to see Durant in a Wiz jersey :/

[TurkishRaven]

22 hours ago, redrum52 said:

 

 

 

Wrong and wrong about the finals.  I'd blame game 6 more on Durant than Donovan.  I thought he did a hell of a job coaching.  

 

The Cavs do not have the length and athleticism that OKC does, not counting LeBron.  Put LeBron on Curry, cool.  Who guards Klay?  I expect to see more game 7 Curry throughout the finals than game 4.  You also compare the Cavs shooting while playing teams in the East.  You know how many WIDE OPEN shots teams missed?  This isn't the East.  Best hope is GS is tired from actually having to play ball through their Conference playoffs.

 

So you blame Durant because he could not score playing iso the whole quarter. I agree that his performance was poor but this is a team game. If he is cold coach should make adjustments. They blew a lot of 4th quarter leads and lost the games due to that 4th quarter plays. 

 

That's not Durant's fault. That's coach's decision to play iso. If you think it was Durant then OKC does not need a coach. I can coach like that too. 

Hey guys give the ball to Durant and wait. If he scores 30 points in the 4th we win. 

 

Defensiveley I don't think Cleveland is worse than OKC. And on offense they have 3 players who can dribble and pass.

Irving, Delly and LBJ. They are not going to turnover the ball like OKC did. And they have a true leader who has the experience and who knows what to do in these situations. Okc was missing that leader on the court when GSW started hitting their shots.

[DomMcRaven]

10 hours ago, Deflated Football said:

I want to see Durant in a Wiz jersey :/

That is if he isn't in a Blazer jersey.

[redrum52]

This is bringing tears to my eyes...  Thank you.

[Deflated Football]

Well Klay and Steph weren't needed tonight.