Lolckets

[DPG21920]

HOU has gotten wrecked twice now. GM4 is huge for obvious reasons; not just the series but the future of this HOU team.

[TD 21]

The biggest takeaway here is, in an attempt to strike a balance between shooting and defense, they don't have enough of either. The latter because there's not much you can do against them and the former because all 3 of their hyped wing defenders are average - worse spot up 3-point shooters, who provide nothing else on offense.

Stocking up on traditional 3 and D wings is misguided because specialists won't get it done. You need guys like Gay and Evans (non physical liabilities defensively, decent 3-point shooters), to ostensibly play that role because they also provide additional shot creation and play making.

[DPG21920]

I think their shooters are fine; I think the issue is they are not able to manufacture open looks for them like they did in the regular season because GS is a great defensive team built to defend ISO/PnR offense.

[TD 21]

I think their shooters are fine; I think the issue is they are not able to manufacture open looks for them like they did in the regular season because GS is a great defensive team built to defend ISO/PnR offense.

Exactly. That's why you need additional shot creators and play makers. They have to be respectable from 3 and have good enough physical tools to guard their position, not be targeted and switch.

[Mr. Body]

Houston is an incredible downhill team. When they have to push uphill, it's over. ISO-Harden is so ing predictable it's ridiculous. They're getting clowned.

[YGWHI]

GSW will destroy Cavs/Boston. Some 4-1 again. And LeBron will leave CLE after that. Ton of fun in this next offseason.

[spurs10]

GSW will destroy Cavs/Boston. Some 4-1 again. And LeBron will leave CLE after that. Ton of fun in this next offseason.

Yeah not a great look for the NBA.

[daslicer]

Yeah not a great look for the NBA.

Unfortunately the Warriors still get high ratings even when they are sweeping or having gentlemen sweeps. One thing I would like to see the NBA do to make the games more compe ive is bring back the old defensive rules. Warriors still would be the favorites to win with the rule changes but at least the games would be much more compe ive.

[YGWHI]

Yeah not a great look for the NBA.

Agreed. But a great opportunity for the Spurs if Lebron picks us!!!!!

[cjw]

Unfortunately the Warriors still get high ratings even when they are sweeping or having gentlemen sweeps. One thing I would like to see the NBA do to make the games more compe ive is bring back the old defensive rules. Warriors still would be the favorites to win with the rule changes but at least the games would be much more compe ive.

When season ticket holders stop renewing because one team dominates the league, and TV ratings go down ahead of the collective bargaining agreement / TV renewals, then some owners may push for change.

But ratings are fine and teams are generally healthy financially. Only way this changes is if the Warriors get old, injured or bored of each other.

And yes on handchecking.

[Chillen]

Agreed. But a great opportunity for the Spurs if Lebron picks us!!!!!

I want LeBron to sign with the Spurs because he wants to, not what is good for the NBA but what is good for LeBron.

[Killakobe81]

The biggest takeaway here is, in an attempt to strike a balance between shooting and defense, they don't have enough of either. The latter because there's not much you can do against them and the former because all 3 of their hyped wing defenders are average - worse spot up 3-point shooters, who provide nothing else on offense.

Stocking up on traditional 3 and D wings is misguided because specialists won't get it done. You need guys like Gay and Evans (non physical liabilities defensively, decent 3-point shooters), to ostensibly play that role because they also provide additional shot creation and play making.

this. Which makes State ridiculously tough to beat. No excuses, but the facts are, to beat them (without durant) it took an all-time great, a top 5 player (Bron) playing at his best along with some of the best ever clutch shot making in finals history (Kyrie) injuries and a suspension to beat State in 7 games.
In response, they went and added Durant. Probably a borderline top 25 player all time if he never dribbles again and potentially a top 10-15 player and 2nd greatest SF of all time to a 72 plus win team. To excpect this Rox team full of choke artists to beat them is unrealistic.
As TD21 points out you cant beat them with mediocre specialists. its tough because the best defenders are not usually good enough offensively to make them pay on the other end.
However I do think they can be beat, and are not invincible but you gonna need to have more than one star and you need versatile defenders.
I honestly think if celts play their cards right they can build a team that can beat them but they need to keep Tatum, Kyrie and brown and flip some of their other assets to add another
two way star. Doesnt have to be Kiwi level but another wing that can play defense and score. That would also require Kyrie to be 100% (he murders steph) and Brown and Tatum to take leaps on offense and defense in their 2nd and 3rd years ...
I hope they can't and won't but celts seem to have the pieces to beat state ...eventually. Question is how soon?

[Phenomanul]

The Spurs without Kawhi gave Golden State more of a fight than what the Rockets are able to muster. It's not a good look for Houston/Pringles/Choke Paul/Frauden.

[cd98]

The Spurs without Kawhi gave Golden State more of a fight than what the Rockets are able to muster. It's not a good look for Houston/Pringles/Choke Paul/Frauden.

In fairness, GSW didn't have Curry against the Spurs. You say last night that he can score like crazy at any moment, which is why they have to guard him even when he's missing.

[Phenomanul]

In fairness, GSW didn't have Curry against the Spurs. You say last night that he can score like crazy at any moment, which is why they have to guard him even when he's missing.

Which then translates to the Spurs having been legitimate contenders had Kawhi not been hurt.

[cd98]

Which then translates to the Spurs having been legitimate contenders had Kawhi not been hurt.

I agree, except they would have a small margin of error to beat GSW. Spurs have better resources to defend GSW, but even with Kawhi, they don't have the ability to have offensive explosions like GSW. That's ultimately why they lose in a 7 game series. But I have no doubt that a Spurs team that is 100% healthy would have had the best chance to beat GSW this year. Unfortunately, Kawhi couldn't play most of the year.

[Play Boban]

CP0

[Play Boban]

[Play Boban]

Ch0ked a double digit second half lead

lolockets

cp0

Harden

[SpurPadre]

Ch0ked a double digit second half lead

lolockets

cp0

Harden

Dubs have nothing to brag about. They benefit off injury yet again, tbh.

[exstatic]

Dubs have nothing to brag about. They benefit off injury yet again, tbh.

The Dubs have made it through 3 rounds with some key injuries of their own in Curry and Iggy.

The reality is that if you put all of your eggs in the CP0 basket, you'll be disappointed. That leg of his is just going to fall of one day. He has near constant hamstring problems. He basically limped through the last game plus against us in 2015.

[Dex]

The Dubs have made it through 3 rounds with some key injuries of their own in Curry and Iggy.

The reality is that if you put all of your eggs in the CP0 basket, you'll be disappointed. That leg of his is just going to fall of one day. He has near constant hamstring problems. He basically limped through the last game plus against us in 2015.

Pisses me off that he played injured against us in 2015 and shoveled the dirt on our grave, but didn't play in Game 6 or 7 against GSW.

[Dverde]

That is the difference between the Warriors than the rest of the NBA. They can lose a couple players and still win a championship. As long as they have three of these four Curry, KD, Green, Klay. Now Klay talking about taking much less to keep their unfair talent advantage.

[exstatic]

That is the difference between the Warriors than the rest of the NBA. They can lose a couple players and still win a championship. As long as they have three of these four Curry, KD, Green, Klay. Now Klay talking about taking much less to keep their unfair talent advantage.

Stephen Jackson said the same thing on the podium in 2003. He played for ATL the next year.

The reality is that you only have so many years to earn in the NBA, and how many ch'ips do you really need? If they win this year, and I think they will, Klay will have as many as most of the supporting cast in the Bulls two three-peats: Rodman, Grant, Cartwright, etc.

[spurs1990]

Pisses me off that he played injured against us in 2015 and shoveled the dirt on our grave, but didn't play in Game 6 or 7 against GSW.

2015 was full of lots of crappy cir stances that prevented a repeat.

1) as you mention Paul playing with that hammy and winning game 7
2) NBA playoff seeding allowed for crappy Port team to get 4th pushing Spurs to 6th. With today's version it would've been SA vs Mem 1st round
3) really bad luck in Nov/Dec scheduling with lots of B2Bs. In Dec alone Spurs lost 4 OT games including consecutive triple OT losses.
4) Leonard missing 17 games due to injury (gee where've we seen that before) in Dec
5) Parker missing 12 games in December due to injury

Spurs easily would've been the two seed in 2015 barring the mixture of injuries/scheduling. They were one game behind two seed Houston even with the injuries.