NBA 2013 Playoffs

[wco81]

Since the NBA thread is old and there isn't much activity ...

Warriors are playing with house money at this point. I don't know how the draft shapes up but actually they could use a lotto pick more than a token appearance in the playoffs. But they upset the higher seed and get to play on. I don't necessarily buy that young players become better for having some playoff experience but then get beat up by one of the top teams.

I think Jordan and Kobe both tasted disappointment in the playoffs earlier in their careers but their later successes were going to happen regardless -- Stern willed it so.


Will Durant or Rose get rings before LeBron has declined or even retired? Seems like OKC has committed a lot of money to their young core and even had to let Harden go. Meanwhile, even if Rose is as good or better than he was before injury, is Chicago going to be able to add a superstar to that roster?

If players like Noah, Hinrich and Deng try to play through injuries and sickness, it's going to be difficult for Rose to not even try to play. He signed a big extension so if he hurts himself trying to play now and never plays again, he's got no money worries -- of course, he could also be on track to sign an even bigger extension in a few years if he does come back and regains his MVP form.

[Rodster]

There's no telling where LeBron, Wade and Bosh will be after next year when they can opt out. I hope they stay. If they don't then it will change the landscape. Right now the Heat's woese enemy is over confidence.

[Inuyasha]

I think Memphis comes out of the West. Not sure how long Durant can do his thing without much Westbrook or help. He's basically LeBron James when he was on the Cavs.

Rose is too scared to comeback I think. It's not a good time to come back vs the heat in the playoffs anyway. Also, even with Rose, the Bulls still have a problem finding another scorer to compliment Rose. I don't think Robinson is the answer in the long run.

I'm predicting Heat vs Grizzlies Finals.

[pk500]

There's no point in Rose coming back and risking injury and his career. No one is beating Miami in the East.

I think Memphis could be tough in the West, too. But Golden State has some serious mojo going, too. When Curry and Thompson have it going, which seems like every night, Golden State can shoot almost any team out of the gym.

I've REALLY enjoyed the playoffs so far. I'm also relishing going to Indy this week for three weeks to work the Indy 500 as Knicks' fan. That should be fun. Or it could be torture if the Pacers go up 2-0 tomorrow night.

[wco81]

I would have thought the Grizzlies would handle OKC easily but they had their cap issues so they traded away Gay, their top scorer.

So when they needed a big shot, they went to some guy named Pondexter.


I'm not sure Rose would be any more vulnerable to injury if he played now than later. He may not play as well but he should be fully healed. Adrian Peterson came back early and had a monster season in a much more brutal sport.

If injury is a concern, he shouldn't be scrimmaging either -- assuming they scrimmage full speed that is -- which he has been doing since February.

I heard though that his brother, who is his agent, said the Bulls need to get Rose a better supporting cast. He may be right but you wonder if the brother is a bit of a diva. Bulls have played well against the Heat this year. You would think Rose, even if he's not 100%, could make the series more competitive.

[dbdynsty25]

I would have thought the Grizzlies would handle OKC easily but they had their cap issues so they traded away Gay, their top scorer.

So when they needed a big shot, they went to some guy named Pondexter.

Gay is severely overrated, especially as a shooter. That said, I wish the Suns traded for him...he's better than anyone else in Phoenix. Top scorer means nothing when you shoot 10-28 (just ask Melo last game).

Paul George...my man crush.

[pk500]

Paul George...my man crush.

Want me to get his mobile digits for you while I'm in Indy?

[dbdynsty25]

Paul George...my man crush.

Want me to get his mobile digits for you while I'm in Indy?

Sure. I'll hit him up.

Man that guy is so good in nearly every aspect of basketball. If he didn't play in Indy, he'd be getting a lot more love nationwide. After they beat the Knicks (in 5 games if Melo continues on his 35 for 110 last 3 game shooting spectacle), maybe he'll get his due since it's a slightly bigger stage than local tv in Indy.

[wco81]

He was first used as a defender, with his athleticism put on PGs or wing players.

Then he grew a few inches after his first or second year and he seems to have developed a consistent shot. He's a better overall player but strange that Granger kind of declined as George got better.

[wco81]

Hmm, still at work but I see the Bulls are tied with the Heat.

If they manage to steal a game in Miami and Rose doesn't even make a token appearance in game 3 (a la David Lee), then he won't ever play this year.

[Inuyasha]

Bulls! Too tuff for Miami. Reminded me of when Dallas kicked their butt. Rebounding, 2nd chances, and pushing the Heat around like rag dolls.

When I saw LeBron bitching when Noah took him down for the foul with around 230 left, I knew it was over. But to LeBron's credit, he was the only one who had game tonight for the Heat. All the other guys didn't show up.

[Rodster]

Sweeping the Bucks is the worst thing that could have happened to Miami and losing the 1st game could be the best thing that happened to them. Vacation is over, back to work. We'll probably see a different Miami team in Game 2.

[wco81]

Hmm maybe the bulls don't need rose taking minutes from Robinson and bellinelli.

Not really but they're both playing very efficiently right now.

[Inuyasha]

Looks like GS will may get this one. SA easy sweep of the Lakers and time off is effecting them.

[Brando70]

Incredible win by the Bulls. Still going to be very tough to beat the Heat because of Miami's D, but the Bulls can also keep it close with theirs. I really hope they can get Deng and Hinrich back this series.

[Inuyasha]

unreal - GS dominates 40 min each game but doesn't know how to close out. 16 point lead gone in a flash. Great comeback by the Spurs, got to give them the advantage in OT.


OT - inexperience is killing the W's there. When Curry was hitting those crazy shots, the bench was whooping it up, and they showed Popovich look at them like 'it's not over' even down by 17.

As for Curry, in the last 2-3 min of the regulation, guy was nowhere to be found. He wasn't even trying to get open to get the ball. I think the guy needs to learn that he needs the ball in his hands in crunch time. Instead he looked like he was running away from it.

And that dumb foul my Thomspson to get fouled out of the game when it looked like it was over is biting them in the ass.

Final - Warrior's are done for this series. Jared Jack continues to prove he's got one of the lowest Basketball IQ's in the league. Amazing win by the Spurs.

[ScoopBrady]

The Bulls are going to win the Cup!

[Brando70]

That was a rough, rough loss for the Warriors.

[pk500]

That was a rough, rough loss for the Warriors.

Indeed. That was the kind of loss that can deflate a team for good, even after Game 1. San Antonio has Golden State's collective psyche in a vise.

[dbdynsty25]

That was a rough, rough loss for the Warriors.

Indeed. That was the kind of loss that can deflate a team for good, even after Game 1. San Antonio has Golden State's collective psyche in a vise.

The other side of the coin is they know they can play with SA, had em beat IN SA and they just let it slip away. The loss of Thompson was a death blow and I'd say if they had him in the two OTs, they probably could have pulled it off. That game reminds me of so many Suns/Spurs games that Phoenix just let slip away because of the Spurs execution down the stretch. Teams like GS just don't know how to finish games and their execution to get shots at the end of game is suspect at best. I blame it on Mark Jackson really...he can't draw up a play to save his life it seems. And defensively, ugh...how do you leave the Spurs best player wide open all the way across the court on an inbounds play in the 2nd OT? Laughable, yet eerily familiar. Brutal.

[wco81]

Curry slowed down late in the 4th quarter and OT periods. Maybe tired or maybe they put their most athletic defender, Leonard, on him, as well as trap him more aggressively.

That meant Parker was guarding Jack and they went to that matchup once and got a key basket but probably should have gone to it more. They also didn't try to go to Bogut being guarded by Diaw (who's gotten fat but could still hit key outside shots).

I also recall at least 4 missed FTs that could have sealed it in regulation.

Jackson may not be strong on Xs and Os but with less than 4 seconds remaining, there was no reason for two guys to go to Parker, who was about 35 feet out, when Diaw was slipping the screen and going under the basket. So one guy had to try to guard Ginobli and Diaw.

[pk500]

Normal service has been restored. Thank you, Knicks!

[dbdynsty25]

Like I said...Golden State knew they could hang with Sam Antonio. Looks like Pop needs to figure out how to guard the pick and roll.

And ho hum...Miami absolutely obliterated Chicago as expected. 5 games is a certainty.

[Brando70]

And ho hum...Miami absolutely obliterated Chicago as expected. 5 games is a certainty.

I think a lot of it depends on Deng coming back, because they really need his defense against LeBron. The Bulls have also had a few games like this over the course of the season and usually bounce back (game 1 against the Nets being the most recent example). Heat are going to win, barring some miracle, but I don't think the Bulls will roll over for four straight games.

[Rodster]

And ho hum...Miami absolutely obliterated Chicago as expected. 5 games is a certainty.

I think a lot of it depends on Deng coming back, because they really need his defense against LeBron. The Bulls have also had a few games like this over the course of the season and usually bounce back (game 1 against the Nets being the most recent example). Heat are going to win, barring some miracle, but I don't think the Bulls will roll over for four straight games.

I keep thinking Miami in 6.