Clippers or OKC

[Cry Havoc]

OKC is a much easier matchup for the Spurs now IMO, but they probably have a better chance at knocking off the Warriors, too..

I dunno, I kind of feel like the defense the Thunder have this year would get absolutely destroyed by the Dubs. I think the Clips would at least hang in there.

[Kawhitstorm]

Whoever gives the Warriors most trouble would be the ideal 4th seed. Clippers might give them a decent push. Not sure how OKC will fare against the Warriors yet.

OKC doesn't have a post player to punish the Warriors. Kanter is no better than Baynes in the post & would get eaten alive on the Curry switches. Clipper on the other hand can matchup w/ Curry/Klay/Draymond w/ Paul/Re /Blake, they have a prayers chance if Pierce &/or Lance can give them 4 decent games.

Re didn't even play when the Warriors barely beat the Clippers at STAPLES. The Clippers are also the last team to beat the Warriors in a playoffs series (2014) so let's hope the top 5 standings remain the way they are since I don't think the Spurs will catch the Warriors.
-Clippers/Warriors/Mavs will be in the same bracket
-Rockets will probably climb to the 6th seed and face OKC
-Hopefully, Jazz-Dubs 1st rd since Favors gave Draymond issues
-LMA revenge bowl against Z-Bo & the Grizz (Won't stop getting a beatdown for 2011)

[Mnky]

Not sure who is tougher for GSW.
I would have thought Clippers bc of their potential to be dominant in the paint, but GSW handled Clippers no problem.

OKC looks like a shallow team in comparison to GSW, but their length I suppose can bother them, and they also can run, and Westbrook is a handful for any guard to handle. Which is your guess?

I honestly can't wait to see Westbrook go at the warriors. They don't play til February tho. It will probably come down to who's bench is playing bigger. I think thunder have the edge right now due to their ability to score at will and play at a fast tempo efficiently. Westbrook and Durant are a force when healthy. Their length, like you mentioned, will help against gs shooting prowess as well

[Kawhitstorm]

I honestly can't wait to see Westbrook go at the warriors. They don't play til February tho. It will probably come down to who's bench is playing bigger. I think thunder have the edge right now due to their ability to score at will and play at a fast tempo efficiently. Westbrook and Durant are a force when healthy. Their length, like you mentioned, will help against gs shooting prowess as well

Westbrook was terrible last season against the Warriors when he was murdering the rest of the league, Draymond can switch onto him so he can't get into the paint easily. They have lanky wing defender to put on him: Iggy/Klay/Livingston but Iggy will be spending most of his time on Durant along w/ Barnes. Westbrook propensity to jack up shots & gamble on defense is going to give Curry ample opportunity to get easy looks. Curry can also hide on Roberson/Waiters on defense. Barnes is the one that has had issues trying to guard Durant.

[SpursIndonesia]

As long as Durant is healthy, they will be a tougher match up for the Dubs, thus a better 4th seed for us. Big IF though. West is weaker this season, but the BIG 4 are damn heavy weights on their own.

[ceperez]

Clippers.... Spurs have much better options in guarding Paul. Also, only reason Clippers were in the game was they weren't calling fouls on their rough play and refs were biting on all the flopping that Paul was doing.

Spurs should send the league a tape of Paul's antics.

[exstatic]

Clippers.


Thunder are scary as , they'll probably beat us in a 7 game series but won't beat GSW.

The Thunder are nothing special. Two great players, one good player, and a collection of NBA middle/bottom rotation players and d-leaguers. They're pretty terrible defensively, and that will be their undoing.

[ceperez]

The Thunder are nothing special. Two great players, one good player, and a collection of NBA middle/bottom rotation players and d-leaguers. They're pretty terrible defensively, and that will be their undoing.

Be careful with the Thunder. They got a new coach that can't be as bad as the old coach.

[bic50]

The Thunder are nothing special. Two great players, one good player, and a collection of NBA middle/bottom rotation players and d-leaguers. They're pretty terrible defensively, and that will be their undoing.

I believe looking past the thunder would be huge mistake.

[soxxx]

Clippers only because I want OKC to get sent to Golden State. Clippers would meltdown in GS because they are just mentally weaker and have an inferior mindset. The Thunder would give the Warriors a series and potentially beat them.

[soxxx]

Be careful with the Thunder. They got a new coach that can't be as bad as the old coach.

Exactly, and that Scott Brooks was a huge negative for that team. I havent watched much Thunder, I am not sure if the issues they have are fixed, but if healthy, they can beat any team in the NBA in a 7 game series. We all know that.

[exstatic]

I believe looking past the thunder would be huge mistake.

I'm not looking past the Thunder, I simply recognize that they are about 80% of their 2012 squad, if that.

[Canyonero]

Dallas

[spurs10]

I don't think any of the top four is going to be a walk in the park in the playoffs. We need to be focused on ourselves and ready to be anyone that comes at us. However if I have to pick I'd say, even though we have more recently lost to the Clips I'd pick them for the 3 spot. Mainly because I'd like to see GSW and the Methlahoma Thunderrefs slug it out. We will likely beat either of these teams. Anyone saying 'KD and Westchuck will destroy us' needs to watch more games. Lebron beat them by himself two nights ago, they are not winning any LOB anytime soon.

[spursistan]

After quarter of season sample size the most likely seeding positions will be:

1- Warriors
2- Spurs
3- Thunder (assuming Durant stays healthy)
4- Clippers
5- Mavericks
6- Houston
7- Memphis
8- Jazz/ or any other fodder team

Clippers vs Mavericks/Clippers vs Warriors are must-watch TV in terms of current rivalry fireworks..Spurs avoiding those 3 teams until WCF is a good thing since all have 6-game series potential to them at the very least..

[Mnky]

Westbrook was terrible last season against the Warriors when he was murdering the rest of the league, Draymond can switch onto him so he can't get into the paint easily. They have lanky wing defender to put on him: Iggy/Klay/Livingston but Iggy will be spending most of his time on Durant along w/ Barnes. Westbrook propensity to jack up shots & gamble on defense is going to give Curry ample opportunity to get easy looks. Curry can also hide on Roberson/Waiters on defense. Barnes is the one that has had issues trying to guard Durant.

Last year's thunder was all Westbrook. With Durant in, the whole defense cant focus on him. It'll be interesting to see the change. I think it'll be a fun matchup with all the scoring.

[lil'mo]

I think Spurs end up with 1 seed

[Kawhitstorm]

Last year's thunder was all Westbrook. With Durant in, the whole defense cant focus on him. It'll be interesting to see the change. I think it'll be a fun matchup with all the scoring.

LoL, 2 of the 3 match-ups were w/ Durant. It's not a coincidence even in the lone game without Durant that Westbrook was having his way against every team except the Warriors

[Mnky]

LoL, 2 of the 3 match-ups were w/ Durant. It's not a coincidence even in the lone game without Durant that Westbrook was having his way against every team except the Warriors

Was he the real Durant, or one foot Durant in those games?
Westbrook is a compe or with an unmatachable skill set. I'll bet on him any day of the week.

[Mnky]

When the Thunder beat the warriors last year, Westbrook bad a career night with 17 assists and 15 rebounds to go with 17 pts.

What part of that makes you think he didnts have his way?

[Kawhitstorm]

When the Thunder beat the warriors last year, Westbrook bad a career night with 17 assists and 15 rebounds to go with 17 pts.

What part of that makes you think he didnts have his way?

Most of those assists were to Durant on the 1-3 PnR & look at Westbrook's shooting percentages/turnovers

[SnakeBoy]

Clippers don't worry me, they played above themselves last year and won by a possession. Spurs aren't yet playing their best ball and just beat the Clippers at their best.

Spurs are a much better team than OKC but Durant will always get his and the Spurs have no answer for Westbrook so I'd rather the Spurs don't have to face them.

[tmtcsc]

Clippers.


Thunder are scary as , they'll probably beat us in a 7 game series but won't beat GSW.

Don't worry, OKC and Clippers won't win against the Spurs. Spurs D was trash last night but it will improve - as will the offense. GSW are going to be punked in the playoffs. OKC wants no part of the Spurs.

[Cloud786]

I hope we face OKC. The Clippers may not have the talent of OKC, but this whole "rivalry" thing with GSW allows them to compete with them at a very high level. Add to that the fact that they beat them in a series in 2013, it gives them a certain degree of confidence to repeat that feat, and in the one game they've played this year, they had the lead in the fourth quarter.

I'm a conspiracy theorist, so my thing with OKC vs GSW is that I'm assuming Durant and Westbrook won't get their usual superstar calls (thunderrefs, reflahoma, food stamps, charity, etc.). The Warriors are generating insane ratings, more than OKC (due to their light skin and affinity for 3s), and I think the NBA is trying to put together a finals rematch in an attempt to acquire maximum viewership. If 2012 occurred because they wanted KD v Lebron, then there's no stopping the Curry v Lebron II. I think America is curious to see how a healthy Cavaliers would fare against GSW.

OKC is essentially a 2 man offense with a heavy dose of isolations. Golden State's defense in the Kerr Era is remarkable, and all they have to do is put their best defender on KD, and let Westbrook shoot his own team out of the game. Iggy, Barnes, Tr3ymond, Livingston, you name it, the Warriors just have superpower juggernaut levels of individual and team defense. And like someone said, allowing Curry to relax on god awful players like Roberson, Waiters, and the rest of their scrap is a death sentence.

A motion offense is the best recipe to test this Warrior defense, and the Clippers starters, led by CP3, make everybody work. Curry on CP3? Not happening. Curry on Re ? Good luck following him around. They don't have a legitimate small forward, but I doubt Kerr tries to assign Curry onto someone much taller than him (see Michael Carter Williams). Not to mention the absolutely unguardable (by any team in the NBA) and spammed to death double high pick and roll/pop the Clippers run with CP3, Blake, and DJ, I think their guys, including their bench (able to get away with Pierce and Smith at power forward and center, respectively), will be least affected by the Warriors small ball lineup and fantastic defense.

Sadly, it's looking like the Rockets will finish fifth, and if they do, they have a good chance of upsetting the Clippers. The amount of toying, humiliation, and absolute degradation that the Warriors deploy on the Rockets is excruciatingly painful to watch, and H&H get exposed and belittled every time they meet. Hopefully, a WCF rematch doesn't happen, or else it'll be a literal second round bye for the Warriors.

In the end, Clippers are a bad match up for us because CP3 is cerebral, and even though this forum mocks Doc Rivers a lot, he's still got his players playing smart, high IQ, fundamental basketball. It's not his fault he doesn't have a bench. These guys beating us in 2 home games with us up in the series is not a testament to an injured Splitter or Parker, a slumping Green Ranger, our lack of desire to repeat/complacence, or anything but the fact that these guys know how to limit the production of our franchise player, and that's not something we should desire.

Whereas we've always owned the post-Harden Thunder, and we have WingStop to counter their 2 top 5 players. Parker can hide on Roberson, and stay fresh enough to run the offense to it's most lethal capacity. Ibaka can't guard (playoff) Duncan or LMA, Adams can't clone himself, and Anus Cancer makes Bellinelli look like the inventor of defense. Our offense is centered around the post game and mid range, not penetration, so no need to fear paint protection from I-block-a.

TL;DR - I prefer to face OKC who we've proven we can beat and let GSW go toe to toe with the Clippers who've shown that they don't get their pushed in like everybody else in the NBA against the Splash Brothers.

[Mnky]

Most of those assists were to Durant on the 1-3 PnR & look at Westbrook's shooting percentages/turnovers

I think you're reaching. They blew GS out.