Yup. Wrong again.They won't win but impressed that OKC made it a close game.
BigSoxFan,The Spurs/Warriors series has the makings of an all-time great one. I really hope it doesn't disappoint and turn into a bunch of low scoring slug fests.
I am stunned as well. Spurs rarely fail to put teams away. I still think this goes 7 and Spurs win. Good news for GS either way.Stunning finish. Can't believe it.
Yup. I am Quinnipiac'ing this series. But an elimination game won't faze the Spurs. Either way, I am very surprised that they're in this position. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Aldridge all had poor shooting games.BigSoxFan,
You keep assuming a Spurs/Warriors series, but the Spurs are now facing an elimination game.
I don't see how that differs from my mixed bag of crap analysis. I said before game 1 they are incredibly average and they have proved it. They can be a fun team but I don't see much there. Crab, harkless, aminu - time will tell but to me these guys are all just interchangeable 3/4s that are a dime a dozen in the league now. But I'm not that high on Dame or McCollum so that may be clouding my view on things as well.An alternate perspective on this has a team with the pupu platter of Plumlee, Aminu and Harkless as a STARTING FRONTCOURT managing to hang with the team that just put up the best regular season record of all time, because of a superb offensive backcourt and coaching.
I live in the OKC metro, and I watch the Thunder all the time. Not surprised here. But, I like your Spuroptimism.Yup. I am Quinnipiac'ing this series. But an elimination game won't faze the Spurs. Either way, I am very surprised that they're in this position. Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, and Aldridge all had poor shooting games.
I did, but I'm a Thunder fan. Enes has been awesome all season, and Dion has been more consistent since his brother was [tragically] shot. Steven Adams? It really depended on the Thunder's competition. Sometimes, he had awesome games; sometimes, he fell off the radar....The most glaring thing to me is that the long anticipated decline of the Spurs big three now appears to be actually happening. Parker 4-12 in 32 minutes, Duncan 1-6 in 28. Ginobli a quiet 19 minutes. Meanwhile, for as good as they are, Leonard and Aldridge aren't enough to offset the fall-off in depth with two and a half NBA corpses on the floor. On the flip side, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters are coming up big....who here had that before the series started?
Full disclosure. I spent about 15 years of my life living in San Antonio starting in the early 90s so I had a front row seat for a good chunk of this Pop run and while I'm a Celtics fan, I'll pull for SA in neutral contests. Just can't count this team out. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili are definitely wrapping up their careers but I think they have some more left in them to pull this out. Also interested to see what Pop dials up for a Game 6.I live in the OKC metro, and I watch the Thunder all the time. Not surprised here. But, I like your Spuroptimism.
At least you don't have to watch Kendrick Perkins take the ball to the floor and get stripped anymore. Adams' finishing ability has given the Thunder an added dimension that they haven't had from a center.I did, but I'm a Thunder fan. Enes has been awesome all season, and Dion has been more consistent since his brother was [tragically] shot. Steven Adams? It really depended on the Thunder's competition. Sometimes, he had awesome games; sometimes, he fell off the radar....
San Antonio is a beautiful city, and the Spurs have been a well-coached, talented team for many years. I am looking forward to Game 6, too. It is always interesting to see what adjustments Pop will make. As a Thunder fan, I'm interested in what Donavan will do. Presumably, he was brought in to avoid the "stale" ideas of Scotty Brooks, So, we shall see.Full disclosure. I spent about 15 years of my life living in San Antonio starting in the early 90s so I had a front row seat for a good chunk of this Pop run and while I'm a Celtics fan, I'll pull for SA in neutral contests. Just can't count this team out. Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili are definitely wrapping up their careers but I think they have some more left in them to pull this out. Also interested to see what Pop dials up for a Game 6.
But I will say this: Adams, Kanter, and Waiters have really stepped up to counter Ibaka's disappearing act the last couple of games. When Kanter and Waiters are producing, OKC has the firepower to compete with GS and SA.
Lillard is shooting something like 35% for the entire playoffs. It's truly incredible how overrated he is especially when you put up his regular season "star numbers" vs Kemba Walker and see they are basically the same player except Kemba gives a damn on defense.In other news, I am struggling to put that Curry performance in context.
As coremiller pointed out the TNT gang was largely at a loss for words when talking about what Curry did. They pointed out that it usually takes a guy a game or two to shake off the rust. It took Curry just over two quarters.
Not to overstate the importance of that win but if Portland takes that game at the very least, the Warriors have to run another game before they get to what will likely be a meat grinder of a series with the Spurs or Thunder or the Blazers get everyone going and steal a game in Oakland putting the Warriors behind the eight ball (a low probability outcome but not impossible).
Even if you discount the importance of the game, that was a next level performance, period. I am still trying to process it.
That's going too far. They have similar efficiency but Lilard has a meaningfully higher usage rate. The ability to sustain that efficiency in additional volume has real value. Walker might make up the difference on defense, but Lilard is the better offensive player.Lillard is shooting something like 35% for the entire playoffs. It's truly incredible how overrated he is especially when you put up his regular season "star numbers" vs Kemba Walker and see they are basically the same player except Kemba gives a damn on defense.
We may be only 2 months away from a new Big Three of Leonard, Aldridge, and Durant.The most glaring thing to me is that the long anticipated decline of the Spurs big three now appears to be actually happening. Parker 4-12 in 32 minutes, Duncan 1-6 in 28. Ginobli a quiet 19 minutes. Meanwhile, for as good as they are, Leonard and Aldridge aren't enough to offset the fall-off in depth with two and a half NBA corpses on the floor. On the flip side, Steven Adams, Enes Kanter and Dion Waiters are coming up big....who here had that before the series started?
After Curry, Westbrook, and Paul there is a gap to the next tier where Wall, Lillard, and Lowry reside. I have Kemba in that 3rd group with Reggie Jackson and Isaiah who are not nearly as versatile in that they are primarily scorers without being as well rounded as those in the top two tiers.Lillard is shooting something like 35% for the entire playoffs. It's truly incredible how overrated he is especially when you put up his regular season "star numbers" vs Kemba Walker and see they are basically the same player except Kemba gives a damn on defense.
I still have questions about how Aldridge and Durant would play together but as we've all said, if anyone can make that work, its Pop.We may be only 2 months away from a new Big Three of Leonard, Aldridge, and Durant.
Wasn't Aldridge very insistent during his free agency that he not be the primary 5 on whatever team he chose? So if he is the 4, Durant and Leonard are the 3 and 2 respectively? It seems like it will be pretty easy for Durant to find a situation that makes more sense for him than that.still have questions about how Aldridge and Durant would play together but as we've all said, if anyone can make that work, its Pop.
He is a master at it. Its disgusting.Wade gets away with absolute BS. Such a flop. Ridiculous.
I don't know if Aminu is one of the most underrated players but he has shown me something during this series. You are right - his offense has improved considerably.Aminu is one of the most underrated players in the entire NBA. He is absolutely a starting 4 in this league today now that he's established himself as an effective 3-point shooter. He's always been a great 3/4 matchup defender against opponents stars and now he's a threat offensively as well. I wanted the Celtics to sign him so badly last summer.
Not only that but they lose a ton of talent during the offseason and they are playing the NBA champs tough in every game.They may get blown out in the 4th quarter here but man I could not have more respect for this Blazers' team. The heart they've showed coming back from a soul-crushing defeat at home is incredible.
With the league's 3rd youngest roster, and lowest payroll. It's amazing.Not only that but they lose a ton of talent during the offseason and they are playing the NBA champs tough in every game.
You have to be bulled up on them. Two emerging stars. A great coach and a front office that is great at identifying value. There is no shame in losing to this Warriors team - they are giving them everything and then some.I really don't care if the Blazers win tonight. I wouldn't have cared if they were swept. In 25 years of living in Portland I've never had more affection for a Blazer team than this one. They've given everything.
Absolutely. Olshey assembled a group of guys all around the same age with the idea that they'd grow together. They are way ahead of schedule. They have pretty much perfect on the court chemistry. If they can keep this core together and add one more all star caliber player, they'll be close. Love this team.You have to be bulled up on them. Two emerging stars. A great coach and a front office that is great at identifying value. There is no shame in losing to this Warriors team - they are giving them everything and then some.
Meanwhile, who makes that shot besides Curry and maybe Lillard on occasion?