Around the NBA - Conference Finals

[Kinglee]

In Game 1 he played better than KD

He did as well in the first game of the season... Irrelevant. Durant destroyed him in the playoffs last year.

They had very statistically comparable seasons this year and have basically been trading off H2H victories this year. Currently they occupy the same tier.

They had comparable stats with Durant joining a super team. This was his worst statistical year in the past 5 seasons

[Capn'O]

via Imgflip Meme Generator

Also, the Kawhiian Island doesn't show up in the stats

[Kinglee]

via Imgflip Meme Generator

Also, the Kawhiian Island doesn't show up in the stats

[Capn'O]

Real talk though - the Warriors were prolly gonna win regardless but we were robbed of the storyline of whether Kawhi could establish himself as the league's 2nd best player if he were clearly the best player in the series. Durant was gonna bounce back but it could have happened with the way he was playing. He took another big step this year but it was all cut short so we're sorta left in limboland with the ghosts of playoff's past. Kawhi's Finals MVP and Durant's general record as a better player. Until manana, I suppose.

[Kinglee]

Real talk though - the Warriors were prolly gonna win regardless but we were robbed of the storyline of whether Kawhi could establish himself as the league's 2nd best player if he were clearly the best player in the series. Durant was gonna bounce back but it could have happened with the way he was playing. He took another big step this year but it was all cut short so we're sorta left in limboland with the ghosts of playoff's past. Kawhi's Finals MVP and Durant's general record as a better player. Until manana, I suppose.

Perfectly said!

[Greenie]

I'm still riding for bae.

[Greenie]

Steph playing compromised with his injury during the playoffs last year combined with KD going to GS has put him in the shadows a little. He was the best player in the league during his 2 MVP seasons, imo.

Who? Steph? KD has 1 MVP.

KD is easily the second best player in the league though.

It goes

Tier1
Lebron
KD
Curry/Westbrook

Tier 2
Kawhi
Harden
Anthony Davis

I wouldnt oppose this at this point in time. Im lower on Harden than you, though. Dude is truly a one a player, great one but one way and is a BUM in clutch playoff games. I was saying during Steph's 2 MVP seasons he was the best player in the league. His stats and team record were second to none. Steph's season last year was one of the best ever.

Hot take: If KD never went to GS, Steph would be hoisting a 3rd straight MVP.

Agreed.

I'm a Warrior groupie though...
God I wish their jerseys said New York.

[King of Canada]

I'm still riding for bae.

Bae = Shumpert?

[3toheadmelo]

kawhi deserves to be in tier 1

[3toheadmelo]

kawhi is the second coming of kobe
he's just getting started

[ChaosHamster]

lol,

Westbrook over Kawhi

[Greenie]

I'm still riding for bae.

Bae = Shumpert?

You're not even funny...
You do think you have jokes though.

[j4remi]

Kawhi was tier 1 this season, dude practically matched Bron's production once you factor in the difference in minutes. KD is right there too but the W's are so stacked he's only playing 33 mpg. He's gonna be well rested and I expect him to really gun for Bron's neck. That'll be a fun match-up.

[Kinglee]

Kawhi was tier 1 this season, dude practically matched Bron's production once you factor in the difference in minutes. KD is right there too but the W's are so stacked he's only playing 33 mpg. He's gonna be well rested and I expect him to really gun for Bron's neck. That'll be a fun match-up.

"Matched"? That's a bit much.

But yea... Durant is going for the kill against Lebron this year. People forget, he played his ass off against Lebron in the finals years ago. He just didn't do it at the end of games. But Durant is going off this playoffs. It's amazing how underrated a guy like Steph Curry has become. He had a legitimate argument for being the best player in the league until he got injured last year. Now people acting like he's not that good. He has some personal stuff he has to handle against Kyrie this year.

[j4remi]

"Matched"? That's a bit much.

But yea... Durant is going for the kill against Lebron this year. People forget, he played his ass off against Lebron in the finals years ago. He just didn't do it at the end of games. But Durant is going off this playoffs. It's amazing how underrated a guy like Steph Curry has become. He had a legitimate argument for being the best player in the league until he got injured last year. Now people acting like he's not that good. He has some personal stuff he has to handle against Kyrie this year.

I don't think it's as much of a stretch as people would assume
Bron: 42 mins 32 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg 55% from the field and 43% from three

KD: 33 mins 25 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 55% from the field and 42% from three

You give Durant 10 more mins a night and he closes the gap in points, takes over the lead in rebounds but falls short in assists. The gap between Bron and the next two guys (Kawhi and KD) is closing and it's not that Bron's performance is tailing down...those two are elevating their play.

[King of Canada]

I'm still riding for bae.

Bae = Shumpert?

You're not even funny...
You do think you have jokes though.

[Kinglee]

"Matched"? That's a bit much.

But yea... Durant is going for the kill against Lebron this year. People forget, he played his ass off against Lebron in the finals years ago. He just didn't do it at the end of games. But Durant is going off this playoffs. It's amazing how underrated a guy like Steph Curry has become. He had a legitimate argument for being the best player in the league until he got injured last year. Now people acting like he's not that good. He has some personal stuff he has to handle against Kyrie this year.

I don't think it's as much of a stretch as people would assume
Bron: 42 mins 32 ppg, 8 rpg, 7 apg 55% from the field and 43% from three

KD: 33 mins 25 ppg, 8 rpg, 4 apg, 55% from the field and 42% from three

You give Durant 10 more mins a night and he closes the gap in points, takes over the lead in rebounds but falls short in assists. The gap between Bron and the next two guys (Kawhi and KD) is closing and it's not that Bron's performance is tailing down...those two are elevating their play.

No... You said Kawaid has matches Bron. That's what I was debating, not KD vs Lebron as that's already pretty damn close. I don't see how Kawaid enters this debate. I also thought you was talking about the regular season. Lebron numbers took a nose dive after the last game. He was averaging like 35-36 ppg.

Anyway... Until Leonard becomes a legitimate playmaker, we can blame the system or whatever, but until he reach Durant and Lebron playmaking abilities I don't think it's fair to put Leonard on their level. And none of these guys are bad defenders so Kawai edge as a PERIMETER defender doesn't close the gap on them the way their playmaking abilities separate them from Kawai.

Durant is in the discussion, but Lebron is better. Kawai isn't on their level.

Lebron
Durant

Everyone else

And like I said earlier, Curry had a legitimate case to be the best player in the league the past two years. Let's not forget he won 73 games without Durant. He won a championship against Lebron and without Durant. Leonard is a better defender than Curry, CLEARLY different worlds. But one game to win, I'm taking the guy who I'm pretty confident can go for 50 and carry my team to win a game over the guy that I feel can play good defense against the opposing team star player because that star player is still going to perform well if he's really that great.

Think people just read to anoint Kawai as the second coming and undeservingly so. We've seen the guy in the finals, we've seen him enough. He's a great player, but this season shouldn't all of a sudden make people forget about his choke in the Finals and his past playoff history against KD where KD avenged 28/8/4 on 50% while being guarded by the elite Kawai. He wasn't that great this season to somehow overtake players who were clearly better than him entering the season.

[xNewYorkMadex]

Warriors are going to need more from Klay in the finals. Those 11 PPG on bad efficiency isnt going to cut it. I can tell hes not really in a rhythm since he isnt getting the amount of shots hes accustomed to shooting.

I mean, they could still win if Steph and KD continue to score 30 PPG each, but i think LeBron and Kyrie will be able to keep up with them.

If Kevin Love can give the Cavs 20 PPG or near 20 with good efficiency, it'll make a huge difference. He gave them nada last yr in the finals and they pretty much won w/o him contributing much. Love needs to badly outplay Klay for them to have any chance. He needs to try and average 16/10. Love also needs to attack the glass. LeBron, Tristan, and Love need to pummel GS on the boards.

Im really hoping these finals are exciting. I originally had GS in 5 before the playoffs started, but Cavs have impressed me this postseason. Even though they had a disgusting meltdown last game, it was probably needed for them. Makes them refocus and reminds them they cant get too cocky.

I still do think GS wins the finals, Warriors defense is just better and more consistent. But it might not be as easy as I once thought.

[The Infamous1]

If you're a Cavs or warriors fan that's cool but I just don't see how anyone else enjoys this. These playoffs have been awful and completely uncompetitive. The Spurs won 60 games and I didn't believe for a second they had a chance even if Leonard was healthy

I mean The argument people made for the terrible regular season was

"Don't worry the playoffs will be great"

That hasn't happened. Like at all.

[Red Vines]

People on Lebron for not scoring like MJ but LBJ is not really a scorer like THAT, he's a 6'8 swiss army knife and doesn't always choose the right tool during a game. He can beat you in different ways which makes his decision making during games more complicated. Not even sure he's a top 10 one on one scorer today...