NBA Playoffs Thread

Maybe its just me, but it was nice watching the Chicago and Vancouver basketball and hockey playoff games last night - if only because their fans didn't all feel it necessary to all wear the giveaway shirts.
To me, nothing says small-time more than fans wearing "we believe" t-shirts.

 

Dick, I actually disagree, I think that game was beautiful to watch. Butler UConn was ugly as hell cause there was noone to make open shots. Last night was different. That was just great great defense on both sides. And I thought that was fun to watch.

 

That's two games now in their last three where Miami just absolutely locked it down the last couple minutes. That kind of effort is tough to sustain for 48 minutes, but I'll be damned if they aren't unbelievable defensively when they decide to be. That being said, some of Korver's looks were very clean and just flat-out missed throughout the fourth.

 

High-scoring tonight in Big D.
OKC up by two at half.

 

Agreed.

 

Yeah, the Bulls tell everyone to wear red but don't actually give out free red shirts.

 

I bet it was an interesting dynamic in the OKC locker room. Thunder win, despite -- or because of -- Scott Brooks sitting Westbrook the whole fourth quarter. Thing is, OKC played better tonight with Westbrook off the floor. As the playoffs go along, Westbrook grows more allergic to giving the ball up to Durant.

 

Both benches proved their worth in Games 1 for Dallas and 2 for OKC.

However, I feel much better about the Mavs. Terry had an off game, that usually doesn't happen. And Harden going for 23 or whatever it was, while great for OKC, I doubt it happens again this series.

Only know what I saw from the box score. I had to follow the game online. Looking forward to Game 3 though. Shaping up to be a classic series.

 

I like Harden. I think he has more of these games in him. I really think OKC is a future power if they can stay together and add a piece or two.

OKC adjusted to what Dallas did in game one and Dallas has adjusting to do now. There are a lot of players they can't stay in front of, including both point guards and Durant.

Some of what you'll see Dallas do is what they did in the fourth quarter: Get it to Dirk at the elbow and let him put the ball on the deck. Good things happened then, but they had already dug a hole and couldn't do enough defensively to build it into a run.

 

The Westbrook/Durant dynamic has proven an interesting subplot throughout these playoffs. OKC clearly played better without Westbrook last night, and then Brooks kept him benched the entire fourth quarter.

I don't think Westbrook is a selfish player. I just think, as discussed above, he's not comfortable playing the primary distributor role. But he's such a magnificent talent, OKC absolutely needs him on the floor, but perhaps in a slightly different role. Not sure why Westbrook/Maynor must be seen as an either/or choice. It'd be interesting to see them play together more, with Westbrook at the 2 spot where he can focus entirely on what he does best.

 

A lineup of Maynor, Westbrook, Harden, Durant and Ibaka/Collison would be small and most likely struggle defensively but it would create matchup problems all over the place and would be fun to watch.

 

I wouldn't say he's selfish, but Westbrook isn't getting it through his head that Durant is ALWAYS option No. 1, and that if he's open, get him the damn ball. Westbrook seems to have these moments -- particular at the end of quarters -- that it's his time, and last night those were his times to screw up. You don't want to make Westbrook passive to shoot, but he's also got to trust that getting the ball in Durant's hands is the right thing to do. Westbrook might even find himself with more open shots as a result, if he cuts to the right place after getting Durant the ball.