NBA Playoffs Thread

The lottery has been fixed since the first one. Oh, I suppose some years it's on the up and up, maybe one in three. The NBA gives FIFA a run for its money in the arrogant corruption sweepstakes.

 

I believe 48 on only 15 shots is statistically the most efficient offensive performance I've ever seen. Have there been any other 40 plus night with fewer shot attempts?

Although, oddly, I think last night provides OKC plenty of hope. Dirk's not gonna have another night like that, Barea's not gonna have another night like that. Coming off a much longer rest period, playing at home, two guys having career type nights, you'd think that should've meant a big blowout. The fact that OKC kept it within single digits with all that working against them speaks well of their overall chances. Wouldn't be surprised if this series swings in a big way when it leaves Dallas.

 

What Minnesota wanted the No. 1 so it could take another PG?

 

Westbrook is a freak, a force at the guard spot but he's far from a PG who optimizes his teammates' abilities. As mentioned above, contrasted with Kidd's "hockey" assist to the open shooter, Westbrook almost never makes that pass. He makes either the flat footed desultory pass or the fantastic pass, nothing in between, which is to me where the true PGs show their value, do you get your shooters the ball where they like it? (Similarly, Barea is a shooter and that's it.)

If the Mavs could just rotate a little faster and stop the Ibaka uncontested dunks, the Mavs would have blown out the Thunder.

I think that the Mavs' adjustments will be easier than the Thunder adjustments and that they will advance.

 

Agreed, Westbrook is an absolutely magnficent talent, but the problem is he's essentially being forced to play out of position at the point guard spot. He's simply not a natural distributor. He's incredible getting to the rim and creating shots for himself, but much less comfortable trying to find and create them for his teammates.

He reminds me a bit of early Allen Iverson, point guard sized, but more effective playing the shooting guard role. I remember how the Sixers instantly became a much better team in the late 90s when they stopped trying make AI a point and simply moved him to the shooting guard spot with Eric Snow taking over the starting point duties. It resulted in a very short starting backcourt, but also one that won a whole lot more (including a trip to the 01 Finals).

Wouldn't mind seeing OKC try something like that with Westbrook, but they'd have to find the right backcourt mate to pair him with. Maynor's the only guy on their current roster that really fits that natural point type role, and I don't know that he's ready for it.

 

Jason Kidd would be perfect along with Westbrook. Kidd, like Snow, is big enough to guard a 2, so you don't get stuck with your 6-1 "2" being overwhelmed. But I'm not completely sold on Westbrook at the 2. I still think he can mature into a 1. But man, watching them play, I can imagine with a true point guard, Durant might average 32-33 ppg. Westbrook will only make the pass to him if he's absolutely wide open or if it's a pass that will make Westbrook look good (like a dribble penetration, tough, wrap-around pass for the layup kind of deal). He'll also throw it to Durant in a 1v1 situation if the offense calls for it.

 

Westbrook isn't a natural PG, but he's the second best one in the Western Conference behind Chris Paul -- getting rid of him would be a terrible deal. He just needs to settle down a bit and play his role better ... but let's face it, he's a great distributor.

Who OKC should dump is Perkins. He has been nothing but wasted space in the starting line up since he arrived. Not aggressive when he should be, too aggressive when he shouldn't. Kristic fit at that spot for OKC better than Perkins has.

 

Anyone but Miami.

That is all.

 

Yep.

There was even a little disgust a couple of weeks ago when the Lakers dropped the first two vs. the Mavs. Seems people were a little miffed that with LA out of the way the Heat's path to the title might be a little easier. Grrrrrrr!

In other words, "Yaay, rapist! Boooo, Heat!"

What else can you say but : : : : : :

 

chandler one of the biggest punks in the league?

 

Kinda the same story as Perkins, off the court, sure he's great, but on it is a different story.

 

I just hope they swallow their whistle a little in Game 2 out West. Game 1 took way too long and there were way to many touch fouls. How about the one where Durant goes up hoping to draw the contact from Terry and Terry pulls his hands away and Durant gets no contact as he throws up his awkward little prayer...but the whistle blows anyway. Two shots. The ref was caught behind Durant because he was too lazy to move into position where he would have seen there was no contact. Just like a defender, an official needs to move his damn feet to get in position.

Dirk shot 24 free throws. That's too many. But here's the thing: Oklahoma City actually shot more free throws than Dallas. If Dirk was being protected by the refs, so were Durant (19 free throws) and our boy Westbrook (18).

That's just ridiculous. Now, having said that, Dirk probably deserved to shot 16-18 given the way OKC was trying to play him. And Durant and Westbrook deserved their share of trips to the line. But 79 combined free throws between the two teams? C'mon.