Warriors Win, But Lose Stephen Curry Again To MCL Sprain

[ChokeFasncists]

All that is well and good....but if they don't beat the Warriors sans Curry, then there will be nowhere to hide. I have my doubt about the Rockets, but this should be a straight B-line to the finals if Curry is gone.

Na, the playoffs is a different animal, the West is full of good teams, anything can happen. CP3 is already hobbled.

You can't put your best wing defender on Harden and CP3 at the same time. And it's hard to trap or deny a single player when there are two great play-makers on the floor. I'm a Portland fan and I don't see the Blazers or anyone behind them having a shot against the Rockets. CP3 could get 2 weeks rest by sitting out vs. the #8 seed. And even after that... the games are so far apart in the playoffs. If no one breaks anything they should be fine.

That's a big if, given CP3's history of getting injured in the playoffs.

Without CP3, they could lose to Westbrook etc, (Brewer is suddenly a good shooter) Kawaii etc, KD etc (Curry might be back, even if not 100%, or maybe a few games), Butler etc, Mitchell etc (who knows how he's gonna do?), even Denver's got some major injuries in Milsap and Harris, both could be healthy in the playoffs. Super long shot, but Gallo and Bradley could be back and the Clips'd be pretty good. I don't know about the Blazers, they just lost a close game to the Rockets with CP3, so if there's no CP3 they'd have a chance?

It's three rounds of potential tough opponents. If the 8th seed is healthy I don't think it'd be easy enough for them to rest CP3. Can he be healthy for all three rounds? If yes, then it'd be a different story.

[luss54321]

In all fairness McGee executed what he was taught by GSW coaches flawlessly only problem is he forgot Curry was on his own team.

Probably thought Mitchell was behind him. Honest mistake

You win the dumbest comment of the year. Congratz.

GS has two of the dirtiest players in the league between Zaza and Draymond. I would say the comment isn't too far off.

[Pickled Prunes]

Na, the playoffs is a different animal, the West is full of good teams, anything can happen. CP3 is already hobbled.

You can't put your best wing defender on Harden and CP3 at the same time. And it's hard to trap or deny a single player when there are two great play-makers on the floor. I'm a Portland fan and I don't see the Blazers or anyone behind them having a shot against the Rockets. CP3 could get 2 weeks rest by sitting out vs. the #8 seed. And even after that... the games are so far apart in the playoffs. If no one breaks anything they should be fine.

That's a big if, given CP3's history of getting injured in the playoffs.

Without CP3, they could lose to Westbrook etc, (Brewer is suddenly a good shooter) Kawaii etc, KD etc (Curry might be back, even if not 100%, or maybe a few games), Butler etc, Mitchell etc (who knows how he's gonna do?), even Denver's got some major injuries in Milsap and Harris, both could be healthy in the playoffs. Super long shot, but Gallo and Bradley could be back and the Clips'd be pretty good. I don't know about the Blazers, they just lost a close game to the Rockets with CP3, so if there's no CP3 they'd have a chance?

It's three rounds of potential tough opponents. If the 8th seed is healthy I don't think it'd be easy enough for them to rest CP3. Can he be healthy for all three rounds? If yes, then it'd be a different story.

GSW can beat a healthy HOU. But I just don't think they need him against the teams below them... especially again'ts the 8th seed. Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, etc.... even if Kawhi is healthy. If the Spurs fall to #8 it clearly isn't clicking!

[puja21]

CP3 takes more shots and shoots a higher percent in the playoffs vs reg season

career reg season
.472 FG%, ,505 2P% .372 3P%, .868 FT%, 13.9 FGA, 3.4 3PA, 5 FTA, 4.5 TRB, 9.8 AST, 2.3 STL, 2.4 TOV, 18.7 PTS

career playoffs
.484 FG%, .519 2P%, .381 3P%, .847 FT%, 16.1 FGA, 4 3PA, 5.1 FTA, 4.7 TRB, 9.4 AST, 2.2 STL, 2.7 TOV, 21.4 PTS

It's really not about shooting percentage, it's about the ability to take over a game, and carry your team to victory. It's a skill that Chris Paul undeniably lacks. He's a hall of famer who played with two other all-stars in LA, yet he still never got past the 2nd round. Smaller players generally have a more difficult time getting baskets down the stretch of a tight game.... Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Allen Iverson, Kyle Lowry... The list goes on. Steph is the exception. I'm just saying it's hard to win a championship when your best player is a small PG, there's not a lot of precedent for those teams succeeding in the playoffs.

Meh "not about shooting percentage" and saying someone lacks this "indefinable quality" sounds pretty silly and is quickly put down.

KG went out in the first round 7x in a row to open his career, 4x on teams that won 50+ games.
TMac went out in the first round 8x in a row.
"Mister Clutch" Jerry West choked in game 7 several times against Boston
Even MJ failed to get past the first round 3x and then spent the next 3 years losing to the Pistons
All those guys could and did takeover games offensively plenty of times in the playoffs.

Steph isn't "the exception"; that's just cherry picking for your case. Isiah Thomas did it. Tiny Archibald. Dennis Johnson. Mo Cheeks etc... Besides, it's a team game, Russell had Cousy & Co. Chamberlain didn't. Later Russell had the Jones boys, Havlicek etc.. -- Elgin and West didn't.

Did the Clippers choke in the back half of several playoff series? Sure.
Still, Paul has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to take over a game with scoring during the playoffs.

Here is one of dozens of examples, this from April 2013:

Watch on YouTube

^Getting around prime age Tony Allen's perimeter defense and finishing over Arthur for the win in a game where he shot 53% and 9/1 ast/tov. Meanwhile, DeAndre Jordan averaged 3.7 pts and 6.3 rebs in the series despite starting every game while ZBo/Gasol combined for almost 40 pts/game.

Paul is not physically what he was in his MVP-candidate prime, but it's silly to say his team's failings in the playoffs are somehow tied to his height limiting his offensive production; his output on that end has been 1st ballot HOF every year in the playoffs. Even in that series, where they went up 2-0 only drop 4 straight, Paul had the best advanced stats and highest eFG% of anyone in the series, including bigs.

It's virtually the same story in every series; fell in 7 games to Popovich/Duncan/Parker/Manu and was the best offensive player in the series in 2008.

IN 2011 versus Kobe/Pau/Bynum/Odom/Artest played almost 42 mpg and was easily the best offensive player in the series again:
CP: 22.0 pts / 6.7 reb / 11.5 ast / 1.8 stl / .545 fg / .474 3P / .796 FT
KB: 22.5 pts / 3.7 reb / 3.8 ast / 1.5 stl / .437 fg / .368 3P / .826 FT

If Houston fails it's going to be due to a Paul injury or his short-comings defensively -- e.g. in that same Memphis game, Conley scored 28 to Paul's 24, and did it shooting .500. He's never been a 1 on 1 stopper, always a steals guy playing the passing lanes and quick picking in the front court.

The narrative of his offense failing him is just silly and the only way to even present the argument is to ignore all the data and all comparison against his peers who "did" manage to win.

[ChokeFasncists]

You can't put your best wing defender on Harden and CP3 at the same time. And it's hard to trap or deny a single player when there are two great play-makers on the floor. I'm a Portland fan and I don't see the Blazers or anyone behind them having a shot against the Rockets. CP3 could get 2 weeks rest by sitting out vs. the #8 seed. And even after that... the games are so far apart in the playoffs. If no one breaks anything they should be fine.

That's a big if, given CP3's history of getting injured in the playoffs.

Without CP3, they could lose to Westbrook etc, (Brewer is suddenly a good shooter) Kawaii etc, KD etc (Curry might be back, even if not 100%, or maybe a few games), Butler etc, Mitchell etc (who knows how he's gonna do?), even Denver's got some major injuries in Milsap and Harris, both could be healthy in the playoffs. Super long shot, but Gallo and Bradley could be back and the Clips'd be pretty good. I don't know about the Blazers, they just lost a close game to the Rockets with CP3, so if there's no CP3 they'd have a chance?

It's three rounds of potential tough opponents. If the 8th seed is healthy I don't think it'd be easy enough for them to rest CP3. Can he be healthy for all three rounds? If yes, then it'd be a different story.

GSW can beat a healthy HOU. But I just don't think they need him against the teams below them... especially again'ts the 8th seed. Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, etc.... even if Kawhi is healthy. If the Spurs fall to #8 it clearly isn't clicking!

I mean, of course they could still win without him, but I wouldn't say it's a sure thing. The 3rd to 10th seeds aren't that different, it's pretty crazy. Wolves with Butler healthy? That's dangerous. Same with Nugz and Millsap. Who knows what Mitchell's gonna do? Healthy Spurs, anything can happen, one just doesn't know. Again, MDA's style and Harden's fouls drawing being less effective in the playoffs make them vulnerable.

[Pickled Prunes]

That's a big if, given CP3's history of getting injured in the playoffs.

Without CP3, they could lose to Westbrook etc, (Brewer is suddenly a good shooter) Kawaii etc, KD etc (Curry might be back, even if not 100%, or maybe a few games), Butler etc, Mitchell etc (who knows how he's gonna do?), even Denver's got some major injuries in Milsap and Harris, both could be healthy in the playoffs. Super long shot, but Gallo and Bradley could be back and the Clips'd be pretty good. I don't know about the Blazers, they just lost a close game to the Rockets with CP3, so if there's no CP3 they'd have a chance?

It's three rounds of potential tough opponents. If the 8th seed is healthy I don't think it'd be easy enough for them to rest CP3. Can he be healthy for all three rounds? If yes, then it'd be a different story.

GSW can beat a healthy HOU. But I just don't think they need him against the teams below them... especially again'ts the 8th seed. Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, etc.... even if Kawhi is healthy. If the Spurs fall to #8 it clearly isn't clicking!

I mean, of course they could still win without him, but I wouldn't say it's a sure thing. The 3rd to 10th seeds aren't that different, it's pretty crazy. Wolves with Butler healthy? That's dangerous. Same with Nugz and Millsap. Who knows what Mitchell's gonna do? Healthy Spurs, anything can happen, one just doesn't know. Again, MDA's style and Harden's fouls drawing being less effective in the playoffs make them vulnerable.

You are correct. Portland down to about the Lakers is the parity that the league has been seeking. Move CP3 to the Mavs, Durant to the Suns and Klay to the Kings and we have a balanced Conference. (The Grizz just need to get healthy.) That said, the Conference isn't balanced. The top two teams are far better than teams 3-10. If PG13 sticks around next season we may see OKC in that top three, but for right now it's a two team Conference.

[ChokeFasncists]

GSW can beat a healthy HOU. But I just don't think they need him against the teams below them... especially again'ts the 8th seed. Wolves, Nuggets, Jazz, etc.... even if Kawhi is healthy. If the Spurs fall to #8 it clearly isn't clicking!

I mean, of course they could still win without him, but I wouldn't say it's a sure thing. The 3rd to 10th seeds aren't that different, it's pretty crazy. Wolves with Butler healthy? That's dangerous. Same with Nugz and Millsap. Who knows what Mitchell's gonna do? Healthy Spurs, anything can happen, one just doesn't know. Again, MDA's style and Harden's fouls drawing being less effective in the playoffs make them vulnerable.

You are correct. Portland down to about the Lakers is the parity that the league has been seeking. Move CP3 to the Mavs, Durant to the Suns and Klay to the Kings and we have a balanced Conference. (The Grizz just need to get healthy.) That said, the Conference isn't balanced. The top two teams are far better than teams 3-10. If PG13 sticks around next season we may see OKC in that top three, but for right now it's a two team Conference.

Agreed. But if Steph and/or CP3 are out, it wouldn't be so clear?

Next year, if Cousins is back healthy with the Pels, Kawaii's back healthy with the Spurs and the Wolves grow better, these might be top teams as well. And then there's the possibility of LBJ going to the West. (outside chance Mitchell becomes a top 10 player and the Jazz a top team)