Let's Talk Some NBA 2016-17
- Thread starter stringertom
- Start date
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Miami's the odd one out in the East:
#1 Boston vs #8 Chicago
#2 Cleveland vs #7 Indiana
#3 Toronto vs #6 Milwaukee
#4 Washington vs #5 Atlanta
For once we get some decent 1R matchups.
#1 Boston vs #8 Chicago
#2 Cleveland vs #7 Indiana
#3 Toronto vs #6 Milwaukee
#4 Washington vs #5 Atlanta
For once we get some decent 1R matchups.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
How has Durant done in his first season with GSW?
I keep up with scores and standings throughout the regular season, but don't really watch games till the playoffs start.
I keep up with scores and standings throughout the regular season, but don't really watch games till the playoffs start.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
He's back from his injury earlier than expected and shook off the rust in GSW's last theee games, finally hitting some treys last night (0-9 coming in).
GSW has the red-hot Blazers in 1R. GSW in five.
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Just looking from the numbers, it looks like he's had another very good year.
How's the fit been overall with the GSW though? There were question marks going into the season of how it would work with Curry, Thompson etc..
stringertom
Bionic Poster
He was their most consistent offensive performer until the injury. The Splash Bros both slumped for a while but have played well down the stretch in KD's absence. There was a bit of barking every now and then from Draymond...to be expected I guess.
I really like what David West and now Matt Barnes have brought into the equation.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A long time coming for someone totally inept at his position.
Knowing ownership, they'll probably mess up on his replacement too.
Very likely! For non-magic fans, this sums up quite nicely how absurdly bad Hennigan was:
"Ryan Anderson became Gustavo Ayon. Tobias Harris became Ersan Ilyasova and Brandon Jennings. Kyle O’Quinn became cash. Maurice Harkless became a top-55-protected pick in 2020 (really). Channing Frye became Jared Cunningham and a second-round pick. Oladipo and a lottery pick became Serge Ibaka, who in turn became Terrence Ross and a late-first-rounder."
BTW thanks for Harkless Hennigan! We really like him here.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Somewhere Ted Stepien is smiling
Feña14
G.O.A.T.
Interesting! Always a risk bringing in an elite player and expecting it all to work out, but sounds like it's payed off.
Matt Barnes sounds like a good pick up. Him and Iguodala off the bench in the playoffs sounds like s real luxury to have.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
And John Weisbrod!
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Bury him with the Solar Bears, eh? Doc will approveAnd John Weisbrod!
stringertom
Bionic Poster
He's back in the NHL with the Canucks.
He did some Hennigangans but he also chose DH12 over Okafor and got Jameer Nelson later in the 1R plus traded to get Hedo, 60% of a Finals starting lineup. His FUBAR front office ways paved the way for Otis Smith and SVG to step in and get us back to almost Shaqian heights, no?
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A 14-foot jump shot missed just short is all that separated the defending champs from losing their opening game.
Stick a fork in them. They are the same bad team from the last month of the regular season.
Stick a fork in them. They are the same bad team from the last month of the regular season.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Worst thing happened to the Cavs, they became comfortable after winning the title. All that talent and money spent for naught.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Losing a stud 5 in the first minute of their game did not keep the American Music Genre from clipping a game on the road from the Cry Me Two Rivers.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Sweet last shot
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A cuppa Joe!
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Eating too many bean burritos???Repeat! Repeat!
Vcore89
Talk Tennis Guru
Eating too many bean burritos???
Glenlivets, Glenfiddichs, Glenmorangies and all the Glens!
But hey, since there are no draws in the NBA, one has got to knock out the champion or Cavs is gonna repeat! Far fetch?
stringertom
Bionic Poster
I give them 50/50 to make the Finals and 25/75 to repeat, at best. Their city is now spelled Clevelan because there's no "D" there anymore.Glenlivets, Glenfiddichs, Glenmorangies and all the Glens!
But hey, since there are no draws in the NBA, one has got to knock out the champion or Cavs is gonna repeat! Far fetch?
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The co-MVP favorites face off against each other tonight in the OKC/Houston series opener. They will be hard pressed to produce the top PG performance of the day. The Wall set the bar high earlier with a 32/4/14 performance in the Wizards win over the Hawks.
A close on as we approach halftime...Houston up by five on a 21-0 second chance points advantage. Westbrook on his way to a quad dub...15/6/5 with 5 Sara Lees; Harden has 18/4/4 and isn't in the baking mood with just one TO.
A close on as we approach halftime...Houston up by five on a 21-0 second chance points advantage. Westbrook on his way to a quad dub...15/6/5 with 5 Sara Lees; Harden has 18/4/4 and isn't in the baking mood with just one TO.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
A different approach from Westbrook tonight, penetrating for his own shots in close or dishing to his bigs and OKC leads by double digits halfway through the second quarter.
NonP
Legend
OTOH too many iso-jumpers in the 2nd half. Worked like a charm while they were falling, not so much now.
Also whatever the outcome of this game OKC's disadvantages against Houston are clear. They've got no reliable scorer besides Westbrook, inside presence is virtually nil without Adams, and D alone just ain't gonna be enough against a powerhouse O like the Rockets'. I'll be very surprised if Westbrook and Co. manage to win more than 1-2 games in this series.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
1 or 2 quartersOTOH too many iso-jumpers in the 2nd half. Worked like a charm while they were falling, not so much now.
Also whatever the outcome of this game OKC's disadvantages against Houston are clear. They've got no reliable scorer besides Westbrook, inside presence is virtually nil without Adams, and D alone just ain't gonna be enough against a powerhouse O like the Rockets'. I'll be very surprised if Westbrook and Co. manage to win more than 1-2 games in this series.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The best backcourt tandem in the playoffs might be Wall and Beal as they have combined for 114 of Washington's 223 points in their sweep of Atlanta at the Verizon Center. Wall's 32/5/9 line with a steal and a block littered the stat sheet as he held the Wizards together in an ugly, foul-filled game.
Power Player
Bionic Poster
It's definitely not Oladipo and Westbrook. Victor looks like a playoff bust.
NonP
Legend
Touche.
Seriously watching OKC disintegrate after Russ got benched in Q3 (for his much-needed rest, of course) was painful. It was obvious this is a one-man band, and when the head honcho's shots turned into bricks the game was over.
Wall indeed has been sensational. I still don't see my homies coming out of the East, but I'll probably go lend my moral support plus voodoo magic at said Verizon Center sooner or later.
Last time I did this happened (no joke!):And now some housekeeping:
As we saw in game 1, even on the oft chance Damian and CJ manage to cancel out Steph/Kris/Kev their respective bench is so outmatched it probably won't make much of a difference. Neither will Nurkic, I think, cuz GS can then go small and dare Portland to risk getting burned from downtown. I do hope your Blazers can make this competitive but alas game 2 is already looking like a blowout.
Finally I understand it may be too premature to say this, but Kawhi's performance so far should have silenced even the most churlish naysayers by now. He's easily the best two-way player in the league, and though I'd still back Westbrook for the regular season I must say Leonard is and will remain the better player until Russ develops a softer touch at the very least.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Clevelan goes on the road for the first time and give up 37 in the first quarter to trail by 10. No D.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
The second quarter was even uglier...74-49 at the half.
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Shirley The Cavs are resting the big three tonite? The Argonauts too!
Last edited:
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Don't call me Shirley! Cleveland amps up the defense and it's 91-84 at the end of three. Pacers settling for iso plays instead of moving the ball like the first half and missing every second chance bucket.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
They're being freaked by a Greek, Jason!
Cadavers come back from the grave, tying the playoffs record for biggest (26) deficit erased. Lue may have found his defensive lineup and it's without Big Love and Kyrie. The 4th quarter lineup was LBJ, J.R., Korver, Frye and DWill.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Memphis got much mileage from coach David Fitzdale's classic rant after game 2 against the officials. The Grizzlies broke open a close game at the half into a runaway over SAS, 105-94. Memphis built a 22-point lead late in the third and finally got the refs to call an even second half, reducing the charity line disadvantage from 15-4 to a final 28-20. $30K well spent.
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
Rondo is out for some time with a thumb (fracture?).
Such a shame, as controversial as Rondo can be, the dude is one of the better floor generals in the league. And man.... he can dish!
Such a shame, as controversial as Rondo can be, the dude is one of the better floor generals in the league. And man.... he can dish!
Say Chi Sin Lo
G.O.A.T.
I still have Bulls winning this series. May not be a sweep anymore. Celtics just don't have enough playmakers, or the size.
I think they were largely winning because of Rondo. He knows their offense like the back of his hand and was directing everyone. He was all over their passing lanes and getting steals everywhere. I think they will be in serious trouble now
Vcore89
Talk Tennis Guru
It's only round one and James & Co still needed one more win but it proves one thing, the king is still the ultimate NBA machine, for now.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Westbrook reined it in a bit and his teammates responded with 55% FGA accuracy as OKC sneaks a win over the Rockets when The Beard's 3-point attempt at the buzzer found the front of the rim, 115-113. Houston 2-1 in a series "that hasn't begun" with the home team winning all three.
RW got his career 7th playoff tripdub (32/13/11) while Harden went for 44/6/6 with 18/18 FTs.
RW got his career 7th playoff tripdub (32/13/11) while Harden went for 44/6/6 with 18/18 FTs.
NonP
Legend
One hell of a battle between Kawhi and Conley tonite. I've always had a soft spot for Mike but I doubt anyone could've predicted back in the late aughts that he'd turn into this kind of offensive force that he is today.
Of course the same can be said of Leonard, too. He's showing once again why he's the best player in the league right now. Harden may be a bit better offensively but it's not even a contest on the other end of the game. Likewise Russ and LBJ may be a bit more versatile, but again they both take a backseat when it comes to defense.
Memphis and SA tied at 100 in OT. Just under 4 min to go.
Of course the same can be said of Leonard, too. He's showing once again why he's the best player in the league right now. Harden may be a bit better offensively but it's not even a contest on the other end of the game. Likewise Russ and LBJ may be a bit more versatile, but again they both take a backseat when it comes to defense.
Memphis and SA tied at 100 in OT. Just under 4 min to go.
stringertom
Bionic Poster
Memphis evens the series at 2-2, holding serve in The Grindhouse with this 2-point win in OT.
If they steal game 5 in SA, this could be another early exit for Pops & Co.
The Grindhouse...where dreams are worn into dust.
If they steal game 5 in SA, this could be another early exit for Pops & Co.
The Grindhouse...where dreams are worn into dust.
NonP
Legend
The Grizz take #4 with a tough 110-108 win. Kawhi kept the Spurs alive with two clutch 3s (he went a whopping 7 out of 10 from downtown) but Marc redeemed himself with that dagger just before the buzzer.
Gotta be the best game of these playoffs so far. Still don't see Memphis pulling off the upset myself, but wouldn't be surprised to see #7. The Grizz are definitely pulling their weight right now, unlike those sorry-ass Pacers. Too bad they're missing the Grindfather!
stringertom
Bionic Poster
When you have the Greatgrindfather playing 31 quality minutes at age 40, it inspires the young whippersnappers to pick up the slack for the absence of Kobe's worst nightmare.