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So watching some of the OTHER playoff games from this weekend, few things stood out:

• Kyrie playing off-guard while Lebron runs the offense seems like really good model for them. Their offense has the tendency to get stagnant at times, but they will be a tough tandem to slow down.
  
• The Clippers defense was absolutely beastly last night. They trapped aggressively, let Deandre hang back and defend the paint. Plus Chris Paul ran their offense to perfection. Always in control, but never over stepping.
  
• Wiz and TOR just look bad. They have talent. But they need new coaches. How did all these teams just decide to pass on George Karl for lesser HC's. The man won Coach of the Year his last season in the NBA.
  
• GS is and should be the favorite. But, man do they have a tough road ahead after this round. Grizzlies and then either Spurs, Rockets or Clips. Such a tough road out West.
  
• I'm finally in agreement that something has to be done about playoff seedings. BOS and BRK getting in while OKC sits at home is unforgivable. The system needs to be revamped.
  
• Anthony Davis is good at basketball.
  
• Austin Rivers is not.

Any thoughts, observations concerns from the first couple of days of the pro tourney?

Grizzlies could upset GS. Their low post game is the best in the NBA, and I don't think anyone has an answer for Gasol and Randolph down low. If Conley's injury doesn't affect him too much, and if Beno Udrih can provide a spark from the bench like he did last night (a lot ifs) they'll be hard to stop.

The Grizzlies are such a good team. Poor Blazers. If i'm GS i'm already concerned about dealing with Gasol and Zack down low. They are a nightmare match up for pretty much anyone in the league. My problem with the Warriors is that they are a jump shooting team that have not faced much adversity all season long. They are also young and inexperienced. So, I do not know if now is a good time to find out how well you react to a couple of bad shooting nights, cause as we know they happen. The Spurs did not like themselves in their first game against the Clippers. I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen in their 2nd game. The East is much weaker. Cavs are much better than the Cs. The Hawks are much better than the Nets. The Bulls are much better than the Bucks. The Raptors and the Wizards are the most even series overall. I know, that's not very exciting. I see a few sweeps in the 1st round.

Self delete

The thing that suprised me the most was the HOU/DAL series. Few points.

1. I thought "Playoff Rondo" was just a myth. He actually played a respectable game and had a really good quarter.

2. I was so sure Harden was going to struggle in the playoffs. The dude leads the league in free throw attempts and the playoffs is suppose to be when the refs swallow their whistles and tend to let the guys play. They were giving harden RIDICULOUS calls. I mean 24 points on 4/11 shooting with 17 free throw attempts is unacceptable.

3. Dirk has become a massive liability on defense. He can't keep anyone in front of him. Every time a rocket gets past him, Chandler has to step up to close in for help and that leads to a easy alley oop. Then Dirk began barking at his teammates when it's his own fault for allowing the dribble penetration that was leading to the oops.

I think this all suprised me the most because I seriously believed that Dallas was going to pull the upset and win in 6 or 7. But now it's looking way more like Houston in 5

EDIT: oh and Howard is playing like the Orlando Dwight Howard now.

I figured Houston would be a bad matchup for Dallas and not because of James Harden.

Now if Carlise benches Rondo and goes with Felton/Barea the whole game, they might see something different at home. But Josh Smtih/Dwight Howard connection was impressive last night.

That said...the fouls they call for James Harden...man...

The Raptors got smacked by Washington, looked like they just reverted to ISO ball when things got tough and dug themselves an eve deeper hole. There's no way I see that series going 7.


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CHI is coming together. MIL made the Bulls work for it...but Bulls are have the feel of a really special team.

Kyrie is doing phenomenally in his first playoffs. At 23 years old, still not in his prime...he's been really impressive of late.

Rondo is a trainwreck. Teams will definitely give pause at signing him to a high, long-term contract. I had him pegged as the single best PG in the league back in 2010. Now, he's not even top 5.

Jimmy Butler is a max-level player. I want him here in a backcourt with Dennis and as a wing replacement for Demarre.

Brad Stevens is a really good coach.

Rip2137 wrote:That said...the fouls they call for James Harden...man...

So frustrating to watch. Harden's my MVP. But the fouls he draws are ridiculous.

Much like our Westbrook debate, I don't think the gap between what you get in Carroll and Butler at the max is worth it for the money. I like Jimmy Butler alot, but if we are giving up max contracts I would rather be taking a shot at Aldridge. I would still pay Wesley Matthews(Achilles and all) less than the max over butler at the max.

That said, I'm not overly impressed with the bulls. I don't see how they stand a chance in the second round with three guys who are downright BAD defensively on the court. Right now there are no shooters on the bucks except Middleton so they are getting by. When they take that crap to Cleveland, I wouldnt be surprised to see them swept.

^^^ was just going to mention that. If the reports about LMA are true, id be willing to offer him a max and let Millsap walk. Imagine, with the salary cap increasing if our starting front court is LMA and AH. Downside is I think LMA is 29 so hes older, will be 30 by FA. This is his last shot at a BIG contract.

Id go all in with him. You could run AH at the PF spot FINALLY. He can shoot outside. hes a rebounder. Im not sure how he is on Defense (i dont think hes that good based on what I have seen) but, he would be a major upgrade over PM imo.

Rip2137 wrote:Much like our Westbrook debate, I don't think the gap between what you get in Carroll and Butler at the max is worth it for the money.

Interesting...I'd say the biggest difference is J Butler has shown the ability to takeover games in big moments. To single handedly carry a team. Much like Westbrook. There are few players in the world capable of putting up the high level of production on the highest stage. Butler might be the best two-way SG in the NBA. Worth paying for a dominant figure.

Carroll is a great role player. But I don't believe in overpaying role players. Though I might be willing to throw a few extra at Khris Middleton.

Butler will be overpaid, no doubt. But , its not even close, Butler is 10 times the player Carroll is value wise, and , hes younger.

If Carroll is worth 6-8 million, Butler will get 12-14 million. Hes a 20PPG 6'7'' guard who plays defense. Hes 25. His 3pt% and FG%

PandaKidd wrote:Butler will be overpaid, no doubt. But , its not even close, Butler is 10 times the player Carroll is value wise, and , hes younger.

If Carroll is worth 6-8 million, Butler will get 12-14 million. Hes a 20PPG 6'7'' guard who plays defense. Hes 25. His 3pt% and FG%

We're definitely on the same page here. I see Jimmy Butler as closer in talent to Kawhi Leonard than Demarre. I see Demarre more as a product of our offensive system and spacing. Put him in NY next to Iso-Melo...he becomes as useless Iman Shumpert.

Kawhi and Butler are able to effect the game at an elite level that Demarre can't consistently do on his own.

And I LOVE DMC on this team, but , we are 1000% on the same page in regards to him vs Butler

PandaKidd wrote:And I LOVE DMC on this team, but , we are 1000% on the same page in regards to him vs Butler

Yeah. It's probably not evident by my posts above. But I love DMC as well. Really appreciate what he brings to this team.

Can you imagine how different this team would be had Ferry actually replaced Demarre in the starting lineup with Deng or (even worse) Carmelo?

Yikes! We're talking completely different dynamic.

Jimmy Butler is getting the max. His max is, what? 16-18 million, right? Demare is going to get around 8-9.

I love Jimmy Butler. I just don't think he is worth twice Demarre Carrol in this offense. Butler is clearly a better player than Carroll, but he is 7 points better offensively and while better defensively, not twice as good.

Plus...lets not pretend contract year-itus might not have kicked in too.

Question....

Bulls will offer him max cause they have to. They need young talent. They have it, you pay him


IF bulls were not in the equation, do you think other teams offer him max money? I don't think hes worth 20 million, but, 15 I can see (under current cap). Like a 13/14/15/16 type contract.

The funny thing is, once the new NBA TV contract kicks in; that max contract that Jimmy gets will essentially be the new equivalent to the 8-9 mill that DeMarre gets. So it's basically a wash.

That curry dude man..just wow

PMOTT3 wrote:That curry dude man..just wow

You got that, right. That young man is amazing. And I'm glad the best player is on the best team. I always hate to watch elite players waste their years away under bad management and coaches. This kid is something special and is leaving his mark on the league.

He has completely revived that moribund franchise.

I still have Harden as my MVP just for dragging an injury plagued Rockets team to 2nd place in the West...but Curry is the better player and is maybe the best shooter on the planet.

Also, I've been super impressed by what Blake Griffin has been doing this post-season. His all around game is eye-opening. And even though he had some untimely miscues in game 2 vs the Spurs...I LOVE the way he took full responsibility instead of hiding or making excuses.