Cavs v Warriors (Around the NBA Finals)

[Capn'O]

Hawks
Wizards
Bulls
Cavaliers

Warriors
Grizzlies (Wes )
Spurs
Mavericks

[omerome]

I wish every team would lose in the playoffs.

But seriously, I am not even in the least bit interested in watching.

[Chuck Everett]

Perks of living on the West Coast, I never have to watch the Eastern conference playoff games.

[KnickswiththeKnack]

I got:

East
Hawks
Wizards
Bucks
Cavs

West
Warriors
Grizzlies
Spurs
Rockets

[Yodi2007]

West is so loaded compared to the crap in the East. Imagine if KD didn't get hurt.

U ain't winning a damn title Gasol staying Memphis, u too Aldridge. Come over to NY, instead of worrying about facing elite teams every night, u just have to worry about douche bags in the media.

And lose millions to play with the Knicks, who haven't won anything in over 40+ years? Both of those guys will lose about 7-10 million/year each for a Chip! multiply that 5 years is no chump change to lose "Just to play in the NYC".

[Yankeeknickfan]

I'd like to see the pelicans come out from the west and the bucks or the wiz out of the east. they're about the only teams in the east that I don't hate.

Because we are bitter rivals with Hawks, and mavs. Right?

[kingquan316]

West is so loaded compared to the crap in the East. Imagine if KD didn't get hurt.

U ain't winning a damn title Gasol staying Memphis, u too Aldridge. Come over to NY, instead of worrying about facing elite teams every night, u just have to worry about douche bags in the media.

And lose millions to play with the Knicks, who haven't won anything in over 40+ years? Both of those guys will lose about 7-10 million/year each for a Chip! multiply that 5 years is no chump change to lose "Just to play in the NYC".

Gasol won't just play in NYC, he will play with a legit all star that has shown can take over games offensively, something he doesn't have in Memphis. He can stay in Memphis and get that extra money, but until that team gets him another all star on that team he won't win jack **** in the playoffs.

Aldridge has Lillard, so I would understand his decision way more if he stays with Portland.

[Yodi2007]

West is so loaded compared to the crap in the East. Imagine if KD didn't get hurt.

U ain't winning a damn title Gasol staying Memphis, u too Aldridge. Come over to NY, instead of worrying about facing elite teams every night, u just have to worry about douche bags in the media.

And lose millions to play with the Knicks, who haven't won anything in over 40+ years? Both of those guys will lose about 7-10 million/year each for a Chip! multiply that 5 years is no chump change to lose "Just to play in the NYC".

Gasol won't just play in NYC, he will play with a legit all star that has shown can take over games offensively, something he doesn't have in Memphis. He can stay in Memphis and get that extra money, but until that team gets him another all star on that team he won't win jack **** in the playoffs.

Aldridge has Lillard, so I would understand his decision way more if he stays with Portland.

I would understand if Gasol or Aldridge were like 34-35 coming off contacts, but with both sitting @ age 28-29, this is their last chance for some serious Money for 5 years/100 million! Come to the Knicks for a chip for 4 years/ 44-55 million..............! or Stay with your respective teams both of Whom can pay more with better talent on the current teams?

Is Melo an All-star? Yes he is! But is his leadership skills in play? I say no their not. Melo is no spring chicken either! He's down hill with an uphill contract.

[Worst_to_First]

Interesting to note that all 5 teams of the Southwest Division made it to the Playoffs.

[kingquan316]

And lose millions to play with the Knicks, who haven't won anything in over 40+ years? Both of those guys will lose about 7-10 million/year each for a Chip! multiply that 5 years is no chump change to lose "Just to play in the NYC".

Gasol won't just play in NYC, he will play with a legit all star that has shown can take over games offensively, something he doesn't have in Memphis. He can stay in Memphis and get that extra money, but until that team gets him another all star on that team he won't win jack **** in the playoffs.

Aldridge has Lillard, so I would understand his decision way more if he stays with Portland.

I would understand if Gasol or Aldridge were like 34-35 coming off contacts, but with both sitting @ age 28-29, this is their last chance for some serious Money for 5 years/100 million! Come to the Knicks for a chip for 4 years/ 44-55 million..............! or Stay with your respective teams both of Whom can pay more with better talent on the current teams?

Is Melo an All-star? Yes he is! But is his leadership skills in play? I say no their not. Melo is no spring chicken either! He's down hill with an uphill contract.

I'll take a team with Gasol n Melo, over anything Memphis has now. Stars win in this league, n right now Gasol is the only star they have. They have great role players, but they need another star to take them over the hump. They can still get one, n if they do, then Gasol can stay n have his money n compete for a title. Gasol is not getting younger either, so he better be sure that memphis can get a player equally as good as Melo, or he has no chance in the west, with multiple teams having two all stars.

[Worst_to_First]

Perks of living on the West Coast, I never have to watch the Eastern conference playoff games.

Much has been criticized about disparity in the West and East but I think with how the standings shaped up, only OKC deserved to be in while Nets deserved to be out. To make things fair and if NBA indeed plans to shorten the number of games played, each team should just play an opponent home and away (for a total of 58 games), this way there will be no issues as the West having to play more 'difficult' open more times. Also perks of being a division champion (assured of Top 4 and tiebreaker advantages) should be eliminated.

If logistics remains a problem in bringing the Top 16 to the playoffs, they can still reclassify the teams into West and East, something like this:

West
1) Golden State (67-15)
2) LA Clippers (56-26) (better conference record over Houston)
3) Houston (56-26)
4) San Antonio (55-27)
5) Portland (51-31)
6) Dallas (50-32)
7) New Orleans (45-37)
8) Oklahoma City (45-37)

East
1) Atlanta (60-22)
2) Memphis (55-27)* (since this is the most East of the Western teams)
3) Cleveland (53-29)
4) Chicago (50-32)
5) Toronto (49-33)
6) Washington (46-36)
7) Milwaukee (41-41)
8) Boston (40-42)

Or maybe go as far as doing things NCAA-style but with more geographical basis:

Midwest
1) Memphis (55-27)
2) Cleveland (53-29)
3) Chicago (50-32)
4) Milwaukee (41-41)

West
1) Golden State (67-15)
2) LA Clippers (56-26)
3) Portland (51-31)
4) Oklahoma City (45-37)

East
1) Atlanta (60-22)
2) Toronto (49-33)
3) Washington (46-36)
4) Boston (40-42)

South
1) Houston (56-26)
2) San Antonio (55-27)
3) Dallas (50-32)
4) New Orleans (45-37)

[Chuck Everett]

My personal opinion is to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas (or Vancouver - if still concerned about gambling). The move Minnesota to the East. Two expansion teams in the West balance the league even more.

[stopstandthere]

Is it a guilt here to root for the Nets? Just saying..

I would like to see Bucks upsetting Bulls even though the chance is slim. The trio of Mcw, Middleton and Giannis is interesting and this team is leading by Jason Kidd, our ex-vet. I want to see what he can bring to his team.

[Worst_to_First]

Warriors are gonna stomp NOP but I'm excited to see AD in the playoffs.

I'm a little worried about Golden State. I would put Davis on Curry right off the bat to start the chess game. Then that would leave me with Evans on Thompson.

If any top seed heading into the playoffs have ever been susceptible to an early exit it's them just because they rely on their guards so much and you can game plan against a guard a little easier and Curry is going to go up against some unusual match ups.

Sounds so crazy that it might actually work.

[DaGawd]

Warriors are gonna stomp NOP but I'm excited to see AD in the playoffs.

I'm a little worried about Golden State. I would put Davis on Curry right off the bat to start the chess game. Then that would leave me with Evans on Thompson.

If any top seed heading into the playoffs have ever been susceptible to an early exit it's them just because they rely on their guards so much and you can game plan against a guard a little easier and Curry is going to go up against some unusual match ups.

Sounds so crazy that it might actually work.

Could also backfired miserably. Davis chasing Curry all over the court around screens and stuff will def take away from his own offense

[Worst_to_First]

I'm a little worried about Golden State. I would put Davis on Curry right off the bat to start the chess game. Then that would leave me with Evans on Thompson.

If any top seed heading into the playoffs have ever been susceptible to an early exit it's them just because they rely on their guards so much and you can game plan against a guard a little easier and Curry is going to go up against some unusual match ups.

Sounds so crazy that it might actually work.

Could also backfired miserably. Davis chasing Curry all over the court around screens and stuff will def take away from his own offense

To defend ibraheim's proposition here, Kentucky won the title with Davis having such a miserable offensive contribution. I know the NCAA final was just one game, but Pelicans should still have guys that could greatly contribute to the offense like Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon. Jrue Holiday and Ryan Anderson are back as well. Not saying NOLA will win but the Pelicans can make this a series.

[Yodi2007]

Gasol won't just play in NYC, he will play with a legit all star that has shown can take over games offensively, something he doesn't have in Memphis. He can stay in Memphis and get that extra money, but until that team gets him another all star on that team he won't win jack **** in the playoffs.

Aldridge has Lillard, so I would understand his decision way more if he stays with Portland.

I would understand if Gasol or Aldridge were like 34-35 coming off contacts, but with both sitting @ age 28-29, this is their last chance for some serious Money for 5 years/100 million! Come to the Knicks for a chip for 4 years/ 44-55 million..............! or Stay with your respective teams both of Whom can pay more with better talent on the current teams?

Is Melo an All-star? Yes he is! But is his leadership skills in play? I say no their not. Melo is no spring chicken either! He's down hill with an uphill contract.

I'll take a team with Gasol n Melo, over anything Memphis has now. Stars win in this league, n right now Gasol is the only star they have. They have great role players, but they need another star to take them over the hump. They can still get one, n if they do, then Gasol can stay n have his money n compete for a title. Gasol is not getting younger either, so he better be sure that memphis can get a player equally as good as Melo, or he has no chance in the west, with multiple teams having two all stars.

Gasol has a way better chance in the West than he does coming to NYK, Dont get me wrong Id love for him to come here but he wont if he has to leave some serious money on the Table! Besides Melo, who else on this team can we sell to him? Monroe? Sheved? Gallo? Acy? Monroe although is a good player is not better than Z-Bo! They have conley, and a bunch of other high IQ players that fit their system! Gasol may also not be a spring chicken again but wont give up 20-30 million on his last big payday! Personally if I was a Big Name FA on a winning team and on my last big chance to get paid, I'd tell the Knicks to Kick rocks for trying to low ball me and I'm pretty sure you would too!

The notion of this is a star league is quickly fading as the Hawks, Bulls, Raptors, Bucks, and Technically the Spurs too who don't really have a Melo, Kobe, Bron, Aldridge, Harden, or Curry type player, showing that teamwork is wayyy better option than having 2 dominate players and a bunch of scrubs! Stars use to dominate the league by being stacked but the salary cap and luxury tax now adays hamper build a team by outspending spending cash!

[oldschooled]

Warriors $150 to win $400

Lock it in

I picked:
Kings to win Stanley Cup
Patriots to win SB
Spieth to win Masters

Let the trend continue. Dubs have the experience, this is the year they execute

Imagine if you parlayed that 3 before each start of their season

[MelosSoreWrist]

West is so loaded compared to the crap in the East. Imagine if KD didn't get hurt.

U ain't winning a damn title Gasol staying Memphis, u too Aldridge. Come over to NY, instead of worrying about facing elite teams every night, u just have to worry about douche bags in the media.

And lose millions to play with the Knicks, who haven't won anything in over 40+ years? Both of those guys will lose about 7-10 million/year each for a Chip! multiply that 5 years is no chump change to lose "Just to play in the NYC".

Gasol won't just play in NYC, he will play with a legit all star that has shown can take over games offensively, something he doesn't have in Memphis. He can stay in Memphis and get that extra money, but until that team gets him another all star on that team he won't win jack **** in the playoffs.

Aldridge has Lillard, so I would understand his decision way more if he stays with Portland.

I disagree with alot of the assessment here.

Gasol is right now in a situation where Randolph has ceded alpha status to Gasol and where Mike Conley plays pg with post needs in mind and Gasol has offensive control on many possessions at the post. I dont think he would be keen on playing out in NY second fiddle to Melo, a seemingly iso post guy.

Aldridge has Lillard... a shoot first point guard who plays no defense. Dame is not exactly a great compliment to Aldridge. Most of Aldridge plays/points come from high post isos. Would he want to come to NY and play along side Melo who does much of the same thing?

But who actually knows what is on these guys minds. I dont think its simple and straightforward.... except for the getting more money part.

[MelosSoreWrist]

I dont see a lot of people picking them, and the Spurs without homecourt are surprising -180 favorites to win the series but I think the Clippers will win. Paul is playing the best he's ever played, he's going to dominate Parker on both ends. Career years also for Redick and Jordan. The main weakness for the Clippers is the poor bench but the extended playoff breaks will help stretch out starter minutes. I think it goes 7 and Clips prevail. Leonard to the x factor. Wonder if Pops is going to put him on Paul.