OT: Golden State Warriors Sputtering Toward the End

[Kontradiction]

I wouldn't count the Cavs out, definitively not the favorites but, after that effort last season when it was LeBron n' scrubs I definitively won't count them out.

That's a soft team full of prima donnas. Irving and LeBron are electrifying but the rest of the team is overrated. Kevin Love looks like he just wants to get the hell out of Cleveland at this point so he can go back to being a superstar again and their bench decent but not as great as it's made out to be. I still expect them to reach the Finals but the West is still the better conference. I wonder if the Cavs regret going with Love over Wiggins after watching what Wiggins did last night. He's really coming into his own.

 

[Gronk]

I wonder if the Cavs regret going with Love over Wiggins after watching what Wiggins did last night. He's really coming into his own.

If they don't regret it, they should. LeBron the GM messed up on that one.

 

[Kontradiction]

If they don't regret it, they should. LeBron the GM messed up on that one.

That's why you don't let the inmates run the nuthouse. The Heat drafted Shabazz Napier because LeBron wanted it and Napier has been a bust to date. Although I do have to give Riley props for basically telling LeBron to go **** himself in 2010-2011 when he wanted Spoelstra replaced. LeBron is a great basketball player. Probably the best on the planet. But I have to say that I don't miss him like I thought I would.

 

[Froob]

That's a soft team full of prima donnas. Irving and LeBron are electrifying but the rest of the team is overrated. Kevin Love looks like he just wants to get the hell out of Cleveland at this point so he can go back to being a superstar again and their bench decent but not as great as it's made out to be. I still expect them to reach the Finals but the West is still the better conference. I wonder if the Cavs regret going with Love over Wiggins after watching what Wiggins did last night. He's really coming into his own.

We'll see, things can come together awfully quick. I think LeBron deserves the benefit of the doubt that he can pull it together. And I really despise him. They did play the Spurs really well this season.

 

[ausbacker]

I can. The Warriors are tired and ragged. They've been essentially playing playoff basketball for the last three months since everyone that they have faced has given them 110%. When you're that weary from an entire season, a lesser team can always win (which is what the Spurs are). The 2007 Giants are an example of that. I'm just happy the Cavs aren't going to beat whoever gets to the Finals again, personally. LeBron isn't beating either the Spurs or the Warriors. I actually hope the Heat play the Cavs at some point in the playoffs. Either them or the Celtics. Both teams can take the Cavs deep, possibly to Game 7's. They could also win too if the referees decide not to stick their noses in the action.

Do you trust the NBA to not have the Cavs come out of the East? I want to watch them implode mainly because I'm sick of LeBron thinking he's bigger than the game by trying to be the player-coach-gm triumvirate.

 

[Kontradiction]

Do you trust the NBA to not have the Cavs come out of the East? I want to watch them implode mainly because I'm sick of LeBron thinking he's bigger than the game by trying to be the player-coach-gm triumvirate.

Not at all. That's why I only follow the NBA with a modicum of interest these days.

 

[PF_SU]

In a 7-game series they'd be able to keep the intensity up on the perimeter defense with MJ, Pip, Rodman and Ron Harper. Replace Luc Longley with Toni Kukoc to play with the Warriors small ball group

I think unlike many teams of that era the Bulls match up great against the Warriors. On the perimeter they have three 6-6+ guys in Harper, Jordan and Pippen who all have the footspeed to keep up with the Golden State guards. Trying to free up shooters via screens is also hard to do against them since they can just switch everybody without a hitch. And as you said, they can match smallball lineups with Kukoc at the four and Rodman at the five. Since the Bulls were never a team with a reliance on a strong defensive big (like the Knicks with Ewing or the Heat with Mourning) it wouldn't hurt their D at all.

 

[A Defiant Goose]

I think the Finals comes down to Spurs-Raptors with the Spurs winning in 6. I'd be surprised if Golden State even reaches 73 wins now with two games against SA (one in their home) left. I think Boston wins their first round series, then probably loses a tough series to Cleveland in the next round

 

[ivanvamp]

For those that watch the NBA, it's interesting to see how the Warriors are playing their worst ball as they're coming to the end of an almost historic season.

Looks very much like the end of the 2007 season for the Patriots. They may get to 73 wins, but just like the Patriots, they are playing their worst ball of the season as they approach the end.

Being this good apparently wears on a team.

I said this same thing to my daughter on the way to school this morning.

The first 41 games they were 37-4 (.902). Their last 37 games they are 32-5 (.864). The .864 would have them on a pace to win 71 games, so it's not like they're playing poorly. They are still playing at an all time elite level. It's just that their previous pace (.902) would have put them on pace for 74 wins, which would have been ridiculous.

 

[ivanvamp]

I think the Finals comes down to Spurs-Raptors with the Spurs winning in 6. I'd be surprised if Golden State even reaches 73 wins now with two games against SA (one in their home) left. I think Boston wins their first round series, then probably loses a tough series to Cleveland in the next round

GS is not getting to 73 wins. I think they finish 71-11, winning at home vs. SA, keeping their record chances alive, but then losing at Memphis in a shocker, at which point they'll rest guys for the playoffs and go 1-1 in their last two.

 

[drewskie]

Spurs used Danny Green (perhaps the best transition defender in the league) on Curry last game which was important because it allowed Kawhi to check Draymond Green which immediately negated Golden State's bread and butter (the Curry/Draymond PNR). I think the Spurs are still underdogs by about 60/40 but have a much better chance than many are giving them credit for. If Bogut plays Duncan will be used to matchup against him.

 

[Froob]

GS is not getting to 73 wins. I think they finish 71-11, winning at home vs. SA, keeping their record chances alive, but then losing at Memphis in a shocker, at which point they'll rest guys for the playoffs and go 1-1 in their last two.

They can definitively do it, Spurs mostly likely rest last game and Grizzlies have been straight garbage lately. It's not a guarantee the Spurs don't rest tomorrow night.

 

[drewskie]

Spurs dont look to be resting guys for the Warriors games upcoming because theyre not back to backs and Spurs will be 39-0 at home going into Sunday while the Warriors have not won in San Antonio since 1997. Pop wont want that mental roadblock out of the Warriors' minds. He'll rest anyone with nagging injuries but will keep his regular rotations without any excessive minutes me thinks.

Matchup-wise amytime GSW plays Bogut in a big lineup will be a win for Spurs because that will allow them to use Duncan.

GSW has made it an emphasis to attack whomever Parker/Mills are usually guarding which is Barnes. Even high percentage looks from 2 are better than giving in to Curry/Klay from 3.

No Diaw tomorrow so that will be advantage Warriors as Diaw has been key for any small ball lineups the Spurs have used against teams like Warriors or Lebron's Heat teams.

The key to beating GSW is switching aggressively against them which was the blueprint when Spurs best GSW at home recently. Boston and Minnesota followed that blueprint while maximizing possessions and using up the shot clock. The Warriors are more vulnerable than their great season will suggest which is why Spurs will be a live underdog against them (60/40) should all according to form and they meet in the WCF (the real Finals).

 

[drewskie]

They can definitively do it, Spurs mostly likely rest last game and Grizzlies have been straight garbage lately. It's not a guarantee the Spurs don't rest tomorrow night.

Spurs will likely rest guys at Denver and Dallas upcoming (both road games are on the tail end of b2b).

 

[fnordcircle]

Michael Jordan would be mediocre in today's NBA. *cough*

 

[Gronk]

Spurs used Danny Green (perhaps the best transition defender in the league) on Curry last game which was important because it allowed Kawhi to check Draymond Green which immediately negated Golden State's bread and butter (the Curry/Draymond PNR). I think the Spurs are still underdogs by about 60/40 but have a much better chance than many are giving them credit for. If Bogut plays Duncan will be used to matchup against him.

Igoudala didn't play in that game either, and it was very close. The Spurs pressed GS on the perimeter almost as well as you can, and even so it's generally more games than not where Curry and Thompson make a lot more of the tough shots they missed that night. I think the Spurs could absolutely beat them, I just hope nothing weird happens on the way to the Conf Finals because GS/SA is gonna be awesome.

 

[Kontradiction]

Michael Jordan would be mediocre in today's NBA. *cough*

 

[Kontradiction]

Igoudala didn't play in that game either, and it was very close. The Spurs pressed GS on the perimeter almost as well as you can, and even so it's generally more games than not where Curry and Thompson make a lot more of the tough shots they missed that night. I think the Spurs could absolutely beat them, I just hope nothing weird happens on the way to the Conf Finals because GS/SA is gonna be awesome.

I think that if Golden State is firing on all cylinders, the WCF will look more like the first contest between these two teams did where the Warriors were the better team and it wasn't really close.

 

[fnordcircle]

Larry Bird wouldn't even make a team in today's NBA. *sniffs*

 

[Gronk]

I think that if Golden State is firing on all cylinders, the WCF will look more like the first contest between these two teams did where the Warriors were the better team and it wasn't really close.

I'd agree that if GS is firing on all cylinders, no one is taking 4 games off of them. I don't think they would blow SA off the floor like that though. They got their brains beat in that night, yeah, but Aldridge kinda forgot to show up for that game and they pretty much never got anything going. I think the last matchup was indicative of what the SA counter-punch looks like, though it was an improved performance as much as it was an improved approach. They're a very deep, very well coached team too.