nickhx2 wrote:Max Headrom wrote:nickhx2 wrote:this is what i love about the playoffs in the NBA, or in any other competitive sport, for that matter.
you evolve or die. there is never a road to a championship where the winners don't have to figure something out, both individually and as a team.
Denver kept punching back and the Clippers took them on the chin and just kept jabbing until they built their lead again. They were in control the whole game and were never rattled even when Denver and Scott Foster tied the game in the third.
yup. and this is the kind of stuff that builds that championship mettle (i got it right this time!)
here's the thing that i think a lot of people don't quite realize. it's not just about the team any person is a fan for. there's a team in the other conference thats's going through the same kinds of trials and tribulations. they're getting better because they're learning all kinds of things in the most intense moments. and losing in them. and figuring out how to get better through them.
you gotta fight and develop the tools that teach you how to survive in the end game.
it's why i don't really care for the complaints about how this team should be up so and so much, or have swept, or won more games, etc. if this team was THAT good then they would have swept both rounds already and be 1:2 title favorites in vegas. this team hasn't earned anything. they're still learning how to win and we should watch and enjoy the evolution of a potential champion.
This was a mettle win. A total team win. A KAWHI team win. 30 points, 11 rebs, 9 assists, 4 steals and 2 blocks. And only 1 turnover. And we didn't even notice, he's such a silent assassin.
Everybody finished in the PLUS except Trezz who still scored 15 points and was a mere minus-1 in 18 minutes--and Zu played the other 30 minutes @ plus+12
Perfect coaching. Perfect leadership by Kawhi. Props to Zu for becoming our #1 center and to Doc for growing him into one. And Trezz ain't done in the playoffs, I think. We're gonna need him yet. Zu can win you a won game but Trezz can win you a lost one. Doc has groomed Zu for the former and keeps showing faith in Trezz for the latter.
His faith in both paid off tonight.