Around the NBA Thread 7 | PLAYOFFS

[Madhouse]

Absolutely.

West is overrated. All shooting, no defense.

The Warriors, Grizzlies and Rockets all had a better defense than Chicago. The Clippers weren't that far behind the Bulls, either.

To say the West has no defense is simply wrong. The top 2 defenses in the NBA this season were from the West.

The Warriors are the best defense in the NBA. These are facts.

Cool facts. there is another fact: Bulls will demolish the Cavs.

[Madhouse]

Anyone else getting the feeling that this might be Golden State's year? Never would've believed it before the season started, but they look too good, man. There's so much firepower there, but with defense too. They're a juggernaut both sides of the floor. With CP likely to be hobbled from here on out, Spurs eliminated, Love out for the Cavs, and our guys totally inconsistent, it's looking more and more like the Dubs are going to get it.

It's our year. If Rose gets to his normal level of play by the end of the Cavs series its over for the rest of the league. Remember Bulls were over 75% win percentage with a healthy roster and with crap Rose. If Rose plays better Bulls are unbeatable.

[Ice Man]

Cool facts. there is another fact: Bulls will demolish the Cavs.

I envy you your optimism.* After 2011 I can never believe like that again. My heart cannot be repaired.

* But you might want to give the Warriors a teeny tiny bit of credit.

[Leslie Forman]

I think a team beating GS this year, would be bigger and more surprising than Dallas beating Miami.

This Golden State team had the 7th best SRS and 8th best margin of victory ever, if anybody from the East beats them it will be the biggest Finals upset in history. Historically speaking, it'd be like if the '92 Bulls lost in the Finals to the '92 Warriors or Spurs.

The Clippers beating the Warriors would be about the equivalent to that Bulls team losing to the '92 Blazers.

[DRoseCantStop]

Anyone else getting the feeling that this might be Golden State's year?

'Getting' ?

The early 70 win pace should have given that feeling early on.

Sometimes its someone's year and they don't win though. After the Heat beat us in 2011 and went up 2-1 in the Finals, seemed like it was just their year. Then Dallas and Dirk happened. Derrick seems to like this example too lately.

Now if we could just sweep the Cavs in the 2nd round like the Mavs did to LA......

I'm getting the same vibes I got when watching Dallas in 2011 though. This Bulls team is special, and when they're dialed in the game, they can beat anyone in the league.

[qianlong]

Honestly the GSW have to be the favourites, with Spurs going down and cavs missing love. That said, they lack experience, top to bottom, and experienced teams win. Even when watching them against NOH, they were dominant at times, but at the same time they looked like they could crumble at moments.
I don't know who but i feel like they are going down. If conley was healthy i think the Grizzlies would give them a run for their money.

As for the bulls having the best defense, it was against the 26th offense in the league. Adverse selection in addition to small sample

[dumbell78]

Tim Duncan is a legend both on and off the court! LOL check out his reaction to Baynes and his drunk ass talking. Spurs aint worried they will be back.

http://www.tmz.com/2015/05/04/san-anton ... imination/

[kingkirk]

Cool facts. there is another fact: Bulls will demolish the Cavs.

Your definition of facts must differ to mine.

[Madhouse]

Cool facts. there is another fact: Bulls will demolish the Cavs.

Your definition of facts must differ to mine.

You'll see Mark. We'll need some confidence.

[kingkirk]

You'll see Mark. We'll need some confidence.

I don't need confidence. We ave a real shot against the Cavs. Against the Warriors? Yeah, i have no confidence.

[samwana]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfYLfP_9bes[/youtube]

Seriously can't stand this dude....

Glad I'm not the only one.

[otwok]

I was one of those that wanted the Bulls to get the highest seed possible and ideally avoid the Wizards. The Wizards are a good team. They were just going through the motions in the regular season. They are a team built for the playoffs with that roster. That team is a perennial eastern conference contender. Can they win the championship? Probably not, but they are one of those teams that will always be a threat to make it to the ECF and will always get out of the first round barring injury. I would rather play the Cavs versus the Wizards in the first or second round. If we lose to the Cavs, well they have the best player in the league. If we lose to the Wizards again, then that raises serious questions, and probably some questions that shouldn't even be asked.

[DRoseCantStop]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfYLfP_9bes[/youtube]

Seriously can't stand this dude....

Glad I'm not the only one.

I don't know why people like him.

[ryan44]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfYLfP_9bes[/youtube]

Seriously can't stand this dude....

Glad I'm not the only one.

I don't know why people like him.

Give it a year or two. Everyone loved KD even after he started acting like a jerk and bristling at every critique of his game/the team. This year more people have started to realize he can be just as much as a jerk as Westbrick.

Same goes for Harden. People fawned over him when he was on OKC and his first year in Houston. Now we know he's a flopping matador.

[maynardo]

[tweet]https://twitter.com/_MarcusD_/status/595341541809336320[/tweet]

[panthermark]

I was one of those that wanted the Bulls to get the highest seed possible and ideally avoid the Wizards. The Wizards are a good team. They were just going through the motions in the regular season. They are a team built for the playoffs with that roster. That team is a perennial eastern conference contender. Can they win the championship? Probably not, but they are one of those teams that will always be a threat to make it to the ECF and will always get out of the first round barring injury. I would rather play the Cavs versus the Wizards in the first or second round. If we lose to the Cavs, well they have the best player in the league. If we lose to the Wizards again, then that raises serious questions, and probably some questions that shouldn't even be asked.

It is interesting that you say that.
I feel the same way, but I'd also say that if there is one team in the east that is a mirror image of Chicago, it is Washington.

We are built almost exactly the same.

[Mech Engineer]

The key against Washington is you need one good rim protector/rebounder and one stretch big to play against their front-court. The Hawks seem to be hurting at the wrong time and the loss of Sefolosha is a big deal. He would have been matched-up against Beal. They are having the LeBron type luck with Lowry being hurt and now Teague being hurt. Their guards are also hurt but not enough to be ineffective.

It looks like players/teams who can excel and play through small injuries are the ones advancing. Many players seem to become ineffective with small injuries. It is a fine line if your ceiling was already not so high like Atlanta's to begin with when your games suffers a little bit due to small injuries.

[LCMJ]

@ the Warriors winning it all this year.

currently taking sig bets

[panthermark]

The key against Washington is you need one good rim protector/rebounder and one stretch big to play against their front-court. The Hawks seem to be hurting at the wrong time and the loss of Sefolosha is a big deal. He would have been matched-up against Beal. They are having the LeBron type luck with Lowry being hurt and now Teague being hurt. Their guards are also hurt but not enough to be ineffective.

It looks like players/teams who can excel and play through small injuries are the ones advancing. Many players seem to become ineffective with small injuries. It is a fine line if your ceiling was already not so high like Atlanta's to begin with when your games suffers a little bit due to small injuries.

The term I've always used is "scoring capacity".

Regardless of their offensive rating, Atlanta does not have it.

Most teams that depend on pure "team ball" don't have it.

The Spurs (last year) depended on team ball, they also had guys that could get their own shots.
Miami had it in spades when they won it all.
Up until this year, it was something Chicago never had.
When teams get to study all of your plays and game plan against you, "team ball" takes a big hit if no one can simply go get a bucket. It is why the Noah led offenses fizzle in the play-offs, and why Atlanta looked like the old Bulls on their final possessions (contested junk as the shot clock winds down and you are basically hoping for an offensive rebound).

[ryan44]

Wait, Austin Rivers is in the damn starting lineup with CP3 out? I know the Clippers bench is bad, but holy hell if he's your best option you're doomed.