OT: Golden State Warriors Sputtering Toward the End

[SalemPats]

The record for FGA in a single game is 63 by Wilt for what its worth. In many ways, Kobe's career (underrated by advanced metrics; overrated by the casual fan as the second greatest behind Jordan) parallels that of TB (not a 1st overall pick with enormous expectations), while Manning's follows a similar arc to Lebron's.

Kobe is recluse, selfish superstar who would rather put up points than win.

Brady is the ultimate team player who would rather win above all else. He makes his teammates better. The polar opposite of Kobe

 

[SalemPats]

Congrats to the Warriors, what a great team.

 

[Froob]

Congrats to the Warriors. You know that had to hurt Jordan to congratulate them too, piece of garbage human being that he is. Also congrats to Kobe. Hell of a career.

You guys lucked out. ****ty that Heat end up with #3 seed even though Celts had best combined record vs Hornets, Heat, and Hawks. Apparently the draft order is decided on coin flip between the 4. Man if Celts get a ****ty seed and fall back in the order I'll be pissed. League has to fix that, you shouldn't get both the higher seed and potentially higher pick.

 

[Kontradiction]

Oh come on. It doesn't matter. That Bulls team would wreck this golden state team.
They gotta finish it now. Won't mean diddly if they don't win it all.

No ****.

 

[Kontradiction]

You guys lucked out. ****ty that Heat end up with #3 seed even though Celts had best combined record vs Hornets, Heat, and Hawks. Apparently the draft order is decided on coin flip between the 4. Man if Celts get a ****ty seed and fall back in the order I'll be pissed. League has to fix that, you shouldn't get both the higher seed and potentially higher pick.

I still don't know how the hell that happened. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up about 45 minutes later and a 20+ point Heat lead at the half was now a 4 point Celtics lead. I thought I had woken up in the Twilight Zone. With the way the Celts were getting killed in the paint in the first half, I thought the Heat were going to blow them out. And yes, very fortunate. We get to play the Hornets instead of the Hawks.

 

[Froob]

I still don't know how the hell that happened. I fell asleep on the couch and woke up about 45 minutes later and a 20+ point Heat lead at the half was now a 4 point Celtics lead. I thought I had woken up in the Twilight Zone. With the way the Celts were getting killed in the paint in the first half, I thought the Heat were going to blow them out. And yes, very fortunate. We get to play the Hornets instead of the Hawks.

Every time they panned to Spo I lost it, he looked defeat the entire second half. What's your take on him, think he's a good coach? I think he's great defensively but, sorely lacking offensively. Only got one 60+ season out of the super friends era...

 

[The Brandon Five]

Oh come on. It doesn't matter. That Bulls team would wreck this golden state team.

I'm not so sure about that. How would they be able to counter this?

RK   PLAYER          GP    PPG     3PM    3P%    2P%    PPS     FG%
1    Stephen Curry   79    30.1    402   .454   .566    1.49   .630
2    Klay Thompson   80    22.1    276   .425   .510    1.28   .569

That's 678 three-pointers from two players. The 95-96 Bulls had 544 three-pointers as a team.

 

[Kontradiction]

Every time they panned to Spo I lost it, he looked defeat the entire second half. What's your take on him, think he's a good coach? I think he's great defensively but, sorely lacking offensively. Only got one 60+ season out of the super friends era...

I think the Heat could do a lot worse than him. He doesn't let his emotions get too high or too low and he's usually very good at adjusting to what the other team is doing. The Heat looked like a team that simply took their foot off the gas last night and it showed.

 

[Gronk]

I'm not so sure about that. How would they be able to counter this?

RK   PLAYER          GP    PPG     3PM    3P%    2P%    PPS     FG%
1    Stephen Curry   79    30.1    402   .454   .566    1.49   .630
2    Klay Thompson   80    22.1    276   .425   .510    1.28   .569

That's 678 three-pointers from two players. The 95-96 Bulls had 544 three-pointers as a team.

That's a bit deceptive though, the team with the most that year was the Mavs with 735. Why didn't the Mavs win the '96 title? Oh, they won 26 games and missed the playoffs.

The defensive rules changes, better conditioning, probably less cocaine, increased understanding of the value of the 3-point shot, changing schemes, all of that stuff makes comparing the two head-to-head almost impossible.

 

[The Brandon Five]

That's a bit deceptive though, the team with the most that year was the Mavs with 735. Why didn't the Mavs win the '96 title? Oh, they won 26 games and missed the playoffs.

The defensive rules changes, better conditioning, probably less cocaine, increased understanding of the value of the 3-point shot, changing schemes, all of that stuff makes comparing the two head-to-head almost impossible.

That the game has changed was my entire point.

 

[rochrist]

I don't watch basketball. But Kobe's shooting percentage was rather poor going into that 4th quarter. Is that a normal shooting percentage rate?

For Kobe, sure. The King of Volume Shooting.

 

[Kontradiction]

Sputtering toward the end is right. They look exhausted as a team and Curry looks like he has zero burst (probably due to injury).

 

[PittPatriot]

It is sad to watch them struggle so much...I wanted to see them at least defend their title.
As strong as the west is, this OKC team seems to be clicking at the right time.

 

[Jackson 2]

Greatest team ever...oops...

 

[PatsBoy12]

My theory here is that teams expend so much energy and, I don't care how focused a team is, they must also feel the pressure of it all. They hear what people are saying. And they know the significance of what they're trying to accomplish. I think the 2007 Patriots ran out of gas toward the end, but they at least still could have won it all if one or two plays go differently. The GSW are just running out of gas and they look tired . . . exhausted.

With that said, I'm not trying to take anything away from OKC. They have now won 10-12 games against the two teams with the best record in the NBA pretty much from wire-to-wire. They both only lost one game a piece at home (Or did GSW lose at all at home?). They are surprisingly playing very well defensively, which was something they struggled with all season. They're playing extremely well right now and I think they could take it all if they find a way to close out this series, which I still feel is not decided despite the 3-1 lead. We'll see.

 

[RobertWeathers]

GS defense is brutal. Vs OKC they have crappy matchups and are lacking intensity.

I'm not sure if it's b/c they pushed for the record but they do not look like the same team. I think Steph is hurting too.

 

[RobertWeathers]

My theory here is that teams expend so much energy and, I don't care how focused a team is, they must also feel the pressure of it all. They hear what people are saying. And they know the significance of what they're trying to accomplish. I think the 2007 Patriots ran out of gas toward the end, but they at least still could have won it all if one or two plays go differently. The GSW are just running out of gas and they look tired . . . exhausted.

With that said, I'm not taking trying to take anything away from OKC. They have now won 10-12 games against the two teams with the best record in the NBA pretty much from wire-to-wire. They both only lost one game a piece at home (Or did GSW lose at all at home?). They are surprisingly playing very well defensively, which was something they struggled with all season. They're playing extremely well right now and I think they could take it all if they find a way to close out this series, which I still feel is not decided despite the 3-1 lead. We'll see.

07 Pats absolutely were mentally cooked and stressed out at the end of 07. A number of players have said as much.

 

[PatsBoy12]

GS defense is brutal. Vs OKC they have crappy matchups and are lacking intensity.

I'm not sure if it's b/c they pushed for the record but they do not look like the same team. I think Steph is hurting too.

Yeah, something is definitely off with Curry. He has no life in his legs and that's why his J is off and I watched him blow a layup last night simply because he did not get enough lift. That knee or ankle or both are still very much a bother to him right now and it's obvious. I still don't think the series is decided though. GSW is the kind of team that you don't count out until they're really done. And I don't feel I'm saying that because they won 73 games. They simply can get hot at any point in time and there is not a team that can beat them when they're clicking. Will they is the question.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Yeah, something is definitely off with Curry. He has no life in his legs and that's why his J is off and I watched him blow a layup last night simply because he did not get enough lift. That knee or ankle or both are still very much a bother to him right now and it's obvious. I still don't think the series is decided though. GSW is the kind of team that you don't count out until they're really done. And I don't feel I'm saying that because they won 73 games. They simply can get hot at any point in time and there is not a team that can beat them when they're clicking. Will they is the question.

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.

 

[primetime]

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.