WCQF: P1 | (4) OKC Thunder vs Utah Jazz (5) | Utah wins 4-2

[DaPessimist]

RU BI O
RU BI O
RU BI O


Reminded me of that scene from Peter Pan. In Ricky the new Pan?

[mischievous]

I didn’t see the game but WTF Thunder lol.

[ISayshowmee]

Chemistry Chemistry Chemistry ----- OKC never had it. Look @ the Jazz, playing so nicely as a team. Perhaps this is mostly coaching, perhaps maybe. I picked the Jazz in 6, I think they will take out OKC in 5 as OKC is a hairlne away from just disintegating.

[ISayshowmee]

it looks like playing for triple doubles in RS wont help you in PS.

Whats your point? Westbrook is still light years ahead of any player on the Jazz roster.

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

[Cappy_Smurf]

People who are grossly underestimating OKC because of their inconsistencies in RS who don't understand the meaning of star power and what deep playoff experience brings in a series is in for a rude awakening, BIG TIME. Get real folks. This isn't some winning streak you play against lottery teams or some free willy game where you get to be loose.

Oh wait, coaches will be pushed to adjust. Oh Donovan.

No one is underestimating OKC, you guys are the ones overlooking Utah.

I guess we'll just have to see who's doing what. WAGER?

Yep, I guess we'll see. So far it looks like you didn't know what you were talking about.

Talk about Utah not having star power and you expose yourself for not understanding Gobert's impact on the game. Utah has the best defensive player in the league and he's the reason OKC's star power is struggling. Paul George shot 8-11 from 3 in the first game and that's exactly what he/they will have to do to beat Utah, because Gobert owns the paint. Utah's defense is brutal and will keep them in every game. Utah's offense is going to have to struggle or else OKC is in for a rough series.

[CowboyBebop]

RU BI O
RU BI O
RU BI O


Reminded me of that scene from Peter Pan. In Ricky the new Pan?

I was actually thinking the same thing. Hook. A Robin Williams classic.

[Mister Ze]

Who remembers how hyped Rubio was coming into the draft? It was crazy. After his first few seasons were slow, this could be the year he shows everyone he's an all-star PG

He was an absolutely electric rookie that had the Wolves in the playoffs (tied 7th place) when he tore his ACL. Finished 5-21 without him. He basically had 3 seasons ruined by injury. In his 6 years in Minnesota the Wolves were +355 with him on the court and -1585 with him off. He's good.

dont understand why they didn't retain him

[WestbrookGOATed]

it looks like playing for triple doubles in RS wont help you in PS.

Whats your point? Westbrook is still light years ahead of any player on the Jazz roster.

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

[Rauxcee]

Whats your point? Westbrook is still light years ahead of any player on the Jazz roster.

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

It's because the Jazz aren't made up of just role players.

[StepBackCrack]

If OKC loses this series, all the Westbrook critics will be proven 100% right. Help or "no help", building a team around him as the center piece puts a limit on a team's ceiling. It just the way it is. OKC was great mainly due to Durant's greatness imo. He is a legit top 20-15 all-time talent. They should have traded Russ instead of Harden back then but oh well. The damage is done.

OTOH, Jazz are an amazing team to watch. I hope the best for them. They play the right way.

[Edrees]

OKC actually shot the ball well for the game. The difference looks to be the rebounding advantage for Utah.

I don't understand why westbrook didn't get 17 rebounds. He had no problem getting it against Memphis when his triple double average was on the line

[BudTugly]

Whats your point? Westbrook is still light years ahead of any player on the Jazz roster.

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

Am I the only one who reads your handle as BesteverDolt?

[anish23]

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

Am I the only one who reads your handle as BesteverDolt?

LOL and for a while I read your handle as Ted Bundy.

[Nate505]

My original pick was OKC in 7, not sure now. Likely outcome now would have to Jazz in 6.

Unless Utah lay a complete egg at home, I'm not sure how OKC can win in Utah.

They could. Last year they had a chance to wrap it up at home in Game 6 and, while it wasn't quite an egg lay per se, they didn't win and had to win game 7 on the road.

Who knows how the next game will turn out. Utah at the very least has guaranteed themselves 2 more games in Utah, which is good for them.

[Nate505]

Whats your point? Westbrook is still light years ahead of any player on the Jazz roster.

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

Talent matters less when they are getting shut down and have no help. Not to mention the "talent" on OKC dwindles a ton past Westbrook/George/Adams. Unless one still considers Anthony to be talented I guess.

[WestbrookGOATed]

But playoff basketball is won by playing as a team.

It is. I'm not gonna lie im nervous. My gut tells me talent >>> everything but this Jazz team is way better than I thought. Hopefully OKC can start playing like a team and Russ will play like he's capable.

Am I the only one who reads your handle as BesteverDolt?

It was a Russ/KD reference but now it won't let me change it lol.

[StepBackCrack]

Read on Twitter

Why not attack Gobert if he is some nobody, Russ, huh?

[Nate505]

2nd round will just suck w/o OKC and Cleveland. They better get their act together or the rest of the playoffs is going to be a snooze fest outside of the Pelicans... Ugh.

I personally think HOU/Utah will be fun n always have thought so.

Utah can maybe win 2 games against Houston but the series just does't generate excitement.

On what planet does an OKC/Houston series generate excitement? Have you seen OKC play so far?

[stitches]

Remember how Utah couldn't play any better than they did in game 2? They just blew out OKC while OKC was shooting 50% from 3 and the Jazz shot at about average rate. The Jazz still haven't had a complete game in the playoffs.

[Bruteque]

I dont understand why it is a forgone conclusion that Oklahoma will win. Yes they have marquee names, but over 82 games they tied utah in wins and losses. This is an even match up.

I realize the marquee names on the OKC roster, but they failed to dominate in the regular season.

The thunder went 3-1 vs Jazz in regular season and were considered generally to match up decently with them. Also usually the more veteran star teams wins these kind of series. OKC is a dysfunctional mess and we may need to accept that "the big 3" is just not really as good as people perceive.

The three losses were in December when the jazz were minus Gobert and really struggling. THis is a different team.

They didn't lose Gobert until after one of those three losses.

So the TWolves can be competitive but Utah won't? Huh?

Gobert has already taken OKC's will to take it to the hoop and it's only game 3. After all these years Gobert is still underrated. And Utah has the wing defenders to keep up. Utah will give HOU all they can handle and then some if that's the match up we get.

Look at Utah’s record against Houston.

The regular season defines how the Playoffs will go.

Ironic especially when you look at this series.

With HOU the RS series may be a bit more telling, considering that UTA had Gobert for three of the four losses and the average margin of victory for HOU was still something like 17-18 points. UTA is a great team, but they don't seem to match up too well against HOU for some reason. HOU won against MIN in RS, too, but the wins were a lot closer.