OT: Golden State Warriors Sputtering Toward the End

[slash83]

No way GS wins 3 in a row. Don't ever compare GS to MJ's Bulls again. 72-10 and a Championship over 73-9 and failure.

 

[RobertWeathers]

No way GS wins 3 in a row. Don't ever compare GS to MJ's Bulls again. 72-10 and a Championship over 73-9 and failure.

They never should have been compared in the first place. 96 Bulls were superior on every level.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Doubt Durant leaves OKC if they win a title. Probably better for Celtics fans to root against them. I'm a Nets fan so I'm forever doomed, but I like to see the Celtics do well.

Thats what I'm doing!

 

[PatsBoy12]

I agree. GS still has the firepower to win 3 straight vs OKC even with SC hobbled but Green needs to raise his game big time. Hes been a mess offensively and defensively the last 3 games.

However if Westbrook continues to play like he has the last two it won't matter.

Agreed. Green is really the heart of that team, and I think (though I think it's some sour grapes) that that's the point Lebron was trying to make when he tried to differentiate best player vs. most valuable player. I could make a strong case that Green is actually more valuable to his team than Curry, but Curry is undoubtedly the best player in the game right now, IMO (all due respect to Bron, KD, etc.).

Westbrook played at an MVP level all season. He is some famine, but he's mostly feast. And, as you said, it won't matter if he and KD play the way they did. I'd like to see Ibaka be more imposing down low instead of camping out at the three-point line so often. OKC's defensive intensity has been raised somehow the past two series though. They were not playing so well defensively for most of the season and early playoffs. Something clicked. And I also think they just present matchup problems that few other teams do for GSW. I think GSW takes the next one and OKC closes it out at home . . . though I would not at all be surprised to see it go to seven either.

 

[ViperGTS]

OKC vs potentially Toronto. The NBA finals no one will watch lol.

I said earlier somewhere that Golden State would crash to earth sooner rather than later and that all they are is a 3 point jump shot team. Which is gimmicky. Once that goes bad, the crash is epic. You can only hit so many 50 footers before that well dries up. They will disappear from relevance soon enough.

This may sound stupid and it probably is. The Cs are in much better shape than GS or even OKC for that matter.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Agreed. Green is really the heart of that team, and I think (though I think it's some sour grapes) that that's the point Lebron was trying to make when he tried to differentiate best player vs. most valuable player. I could make a strong case that Green is actually more valuable to his team than Curry, but Curry is undoubtedly the best player in the game right now, IMO (all due respect to Bron, KD, etc.).

Agreed 100% on Green's value to GS. He gives you excellent rebounding and elite defense. Durant is overwhelming him and has him totally out of his game. He needs to go back to his game.

Westbrook played at an MVP level all season. He is some famine, but he's mostly feast. And, as you said, it won't matter if he and KD play the way they did.

Hes one one of those tears right now. GS needs to do something quick.

I'd like to see Ibaka be more imposing down low instead of camping out at the three-point line so often. OKC's defensive intensity has been raised somehow the past two series though. They were not playing so well defensively for most of the season and early playoffs. Something clicked. And I also think they just present matchup problems that few other teams do for GSW. I think GSW takes the next one and OKC closes it out at home . . . though I would not at all be surprised to see it go to seven either.

Yea that's Ibaka's game, though. Setting screens for KD and Westbrook and knocking down the mid-range shot when he peels off on a double team. Defensively he doesn't get enough credit. I think hes another guy who is messing up Green's mojo.

 

[Froob]

Thats what I'm doing!

Give it up lol, second they beat Spurs that dream was over. Noway in hell he leaves.

 

[Froob]

No way GS wins 3 in a row. Don't ever compare GS to MJ's Bulls again. 72-10 and a Championship over 73-9 and failure.

Let's wait til it's over before we burry the champs. Don't underestimate the heart of a champion.

 

[BTTA]

OKC vs potentially Toronto. The NBA finals no one will watch lol.

Although potentially really good for the NBA, should basketball get more penetration in Toronto as a result. It is the third largest city in the NBA, fourth largest in NA, by population.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Give it up lol, second they beat Spurs that dream was over. Noway in hell he leaves.

I know it's a 1% chance he comes here but I'll take anything at this point.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Although potentially really good for the NBA, should basketball get more penetration in Toronto as a result. It is the third largest city in the NBA, fourth largest in NA, by population.

I'm pulling for TOR.

Cannot stand LeBron "Dog Faker" James.

That flop on Sat night was pathetic.

 

[slash83]

Let's wait til it's over before we burry the champs. Don't underestimate the heart of a champion.

If they pull off 3 in a row, I'll man up.

 

[Gronk]

Hope GS can push to 7 just for entertainment value...would be a shame to watch such a historic, fun season end with such a thud. Not sure what's going on with Green being so awful KD is in his head for sure, but also Curry definitely isn't the same since his injury issue. Not limping, but not himself either - he's still able to use his dribble to shots but there's something off-kilter when he shoots them, and he looks like zero threat to go by anyone. Good for the Thunder though - finally healthy again in the playoffs and wrecking ****. They were a little more uneven this season than the Warriors (obviously, perhaps) and Spurs, and most coverage on them centers around the KD/RW dynamic ("does RW shoot too much? why doesn't KD hog the ball more?") even though they both seem unaffected by it, but it really shouldn't be surprising that they're prob about to go to the Finals. The fact that they're running GS off the court is surprising, no matter your opinion of GS style or 73 wins.

OKC vs potentially Toronto. The NBA finals no one will watch lol.

I said earlier somewhere that Golden State would crash to earth sooner rather than later and that all they are is a 3 point jump shot team. Which is gimmicky. Once that goes bad, the crash is epic. You can only hit so many 50 footers before that well dries up. They will disappear from relevance soon enough.

This may sound stupid and it probably is. The Cs are in much better shape than GS or even OKC for that matter.

I don't know that the takeaway from what we've seen so far is that dramatic - that of a gimmicky team "disappearing from relevance". They have a strong core of young players including a 2-time MVP and 2 other superstar level players. They've already won a title with said gimmicky style. There's no reason to believe they won't win games and remain a contender with Curry/Thompson/Green and keeping a quality rotation around them is doable money wise.

As for the Celtics I get your point, but it's still a stars league and until they actually have players of the LJ/SC/KT/KD/RW level they are not in better shape. Of course, cue the Raptors giving it to the Cavs. I wouldn't put Lowry or Derozan on that level at all, but they sure as **** played like it the last two games.

 

[RobertWeathers]

One thing is clear to me. Billy Donovan is a pretty good NBA coach.

 

[BTTA]

I'm pulling for ATL.

?

 

[Kontradiction]

One thing is clear to me. Billy Donovan is a pretty good NBA coach.

He is. The Thunder are throwing two seven footers, Adams and Durant, at Curry and it's completely throwing him off his game. Donovan's substitutions, as far as knowing when to go big and when to play small ball, have been something to marvel at. He out-coached Popp in the semi-finals and now he's taking Kerr and the Warriors to school. As a Gator fan, I miss him. But I'm happy that he's finding success in the NBA. If they beat GS, he'll add an NBA title to his resume, IMO.

 

[varjao]

After that choke job against Miami I never wanted to see OKC in the finals because I felt the stage is too big for them and they would choke again but this year they clicked at the right time, Westbrook is playing at his best and they have all the momentum. I still see Cleveland with a small advantage but I don't know OKC is steamrolling in the past 3 weeks.

 

[Froob]

He is. The Thunder are throwing two seven footers, Adams and Durant, at Curry and it's completely throwing him off his game. Donovan's substitutions, as far as knowing when to go big and when to play small ball, have been something to marvel at. He out-coached Popp in the semi-finals and now he's taking Kerr and the Warriors to school. As a Gator fan, I miss him. But I'm happy that he's finding success in the NBA. If they beat GS, he'll add an NBA title to his resume, IMO.

Kerr is letting them play way too wreckless, team is too ****y.

 

[RobertWeathers]

?

?

Means that I want them to beat CLE

 

[PatsFan2]

Until I see the L that eliminates them I'm never counting them out OKC have played very well and they are a likeable Team like GS. But we have seen Curry and Thompson shoot lights out wouldn't surprise me to see GS win the next two to even the series.