NBA 2014-2015 Season Discussion

[gblews]

I was anxious to see what the Dubs would do when a team takes them out of their game. They haven't reacted well. They have some match up problems with Z-Bo and Gasol. Somehow the Warriors are going to have to find it in themselves to grind one out in game 4.

The Warriors are going to find out what they're made of in game 4.

If the Clips blow game 4, they will likely lose their series against the Rox, unfortunately.

 

[gblews]

I was anxious to see what the Dubs would do when a team takes them out of their game. They haven't reacted well. They have some match up problems with Z-Bo and Gasol. Somehow the Warriors are going to have to find it in themselves to grind one out in game 4.

The Warriors are going to find out what they're made of in game 4.

If the Clips blow game 4, they will likely lose their series against the Rox, unfortunately.

Dwight and Kevin McHale (a guy I despised as a player), out in the second round. Couldn't be happier.

 

[Borgminister]

Well Dwight for sure, although I like McHale. Not that he's cut out to be a great coach, mind you.

And yeah, now we'll find out if Kerr can make the adjustments necessary to steal game 4. Not sure it's gonna come down to better shooting. Oddly enough, I'd try working the ball inside out mirroring the Grizz and use Lee with Bogut for inside scoring punch or finding Curry / Klay moving off the ball.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I hate Lebron James.

 

[Neroon]

I love him and the way he's being aggressive again with the ball, which he Cavs need

D-Rose is playing lights out, too

 

[Corran Horn]

guh, you're killin' me Pau.

 

[Borgminister]

Bulls seem not to want to win... maybe because Thibs is on the way out?

 

[Jedi_Master]

Thibs grinds his starters into the ground, so they end up playing hurt in the playoffs. I love the guy, but he needs to adapt or leave. I still hate Lebron James.

 

[Use of Time]

Bulls seem not to want to win... maybe because Thibs is on the way out?

Seriously. Matthew Dellavedova was the Cavs leading scorer last night. Wrap your mind around that.

 

[Jedi_Master]

The Bulls just rolled over last night. That was embarrassing.

 

[Borgminister]

And the Clips, inexplicably, are not ready for prime time. They sure were convincing pretenders this time around. If McHale coaches a good game, the Rockets could eke out game 7. Unbelievable.

 

[gblews]

Rox definitely should win a game 7 at home. But I will say this, there is a reason only 8 teams have ever come back from 3-1.

 

[Borgminister]

What an epic collapse by the Clippers. Unbelievable. Part of the infamous 9 teams that went down to defeat after owning a 3-1 advantage.

Open up that wallet, Ballmer!

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

^Rivers may find himself out of a job as soon as next season if he can't turn things around. Now that the Clippers are finally relevant, they're expected to do more than lose in the second round. If they start '15-16 slowly, Doc may find himself back in the broadcast booth.

--Sran

 

[gblews]

Yep, Doc has to take a major portion of the responsibility for this debacle. I cannot imaging this happening to a Phil Jackson team, or Popovich, or Pat Riley. Those coaches' teams played like an extension of their personalities, calm, poised, confident, and fiercely competitive. The Clips got rattled in game 6 and Doc was not able to get them refocused.

Clips also lack leadership on the floor. Also sharing in the responsibility are the team's two best players, CP3 and Blake Griffin. These are the two who the team should have been able to go to in game 6 to get some buckets, and get to the free throw line. Neither did much of anything. I was telling a Clips fan earlier in the playoffs that I thought CP3 was a bit overrated in terms of being a winner at the highest levels. I think Sunday illustrated that point.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

^Which is interesting because Paul's the one marquee player who's seemingly avoided any criticism for his inability to get his team deeper into the postseason. I'm willing to give him a pass for New Orleans because the then-Hornets would have been completely irrelevant without him. But he's done nothing to show that he can win consistently now that he has more talent around him. How much longer do the Clippers stick with him before they realize he's not the guy to get them to the promised land?

On a semi-related note, I'm really getting tired of Matt Barnes' antics. More and more as the years go by, he seems to find himself in controversial situations that serve only to distract his team and limit his effectiveness on the court--not that he played all that well in the Rockets series to begin with.

--Sran

 

[Borgminister]

That Rockets-Warriors series could be a classic...

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Draft Lottery last night. Of course, it was rigged to help Los Angeles, but they threw Minnesota in to cover their trail

OK, more seriously, it was about what you expect. Now for another exciting year of 76ers rebuilding since all those draft picks they got were protected and instead will come next year.

 

[gblews]

Draft Lottery last night. Of course, it was rigged to help Los Angeles, but they threw Minnesota in to cover their trail

About time, I say. The league has owed us ever since the CP3 hosing.
Seems like the T-Wolves have drafted in the lottery every year they've been in the league, now. But this is a franchise that has proven beyond reasonable doubt that they are incapable of putting together a winning playoff team. I don't think it matters much that they got the No 1 pick, since that player will (if he is a star), likely opt out of Minny as soon as he is able.

OK, more seriously, it was about what you expect. Now for another exciting year of 76ers rebuilding since all those draft picks they got were protected and instead will come next year.

If the Sixers (and Celts, for that matter) aren't legit championship contenders within the next 3-4 years, every one of their front office people should be fired.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

I do think Sam Hinkie knows what he's doing and those who study these things point out it's far more than "suck early and suck often" (although that's undeniably part of it), but I think the smartest thing he did was create a deadline that is so vague and undefined that no one knows. Had they gotten all three low picks, the pressure of contending in two years would be very high. Now it's after Dario Saric, Joel Embiid, and next years picks from Oklahoma City and (presumably) the Lakers, so 2-3 years. And, if the Lakers are in the top three next year, they could make an excuse to look another year more (alternatively, if they pick higher than 11, it'll have been a disappointing trade).