NBA playoffs 2018

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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OKC no showing this game; holy shit. Find a bidder for Russ!
OKC will never trade him but this is a move that just screams New York Knicks. But they would need some lotto luck to get OKC to even consider.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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In Donovan/OKC’s defense that team has not been built very well. Outside of Westbrook/George/Adams is there anyone on that team that would crack the playoff rotation in Houston or Golden State? They also really lack three point shooting; which makes them easier to defend.

Still doesn’t explain them just getting destroyed by Utah at home.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I find it disheartening that people are so quick to crown LeBron over Jordan.

OKC should see if they can fire Donovan at half time. That team is going to have a rough offseason.
I am old enough to have watched both Jordan and LeBron play their entire careers. Until LeBron emerged, Jordan was undeniably the greatest I've ever seen and possibly the most competitive professional athlete too. However, factoring in LeBron's skill-set, his size, strength and the fact that he can pretty much play every spot on the court as well as his sustained excellence and I have to give it to him. Your results may vary.

On another note, those writing off the Thunder are getting ahead of themselves. They may still lose this game but they are making a run.

The NBA - teams make runs.
 

tbrep

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Apr 26, 2012
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It’s amazing how LeBron dominated that game despite only making two jumpers all game (one a pull up 18 footer at the start of the 4th and then the buzzer beater triple).
 

The Social Chair

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Feb 17, 2010
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I am old enough to have watched both Jordan and LeBron play their entire careers. Until LeBron emerged, Jordan was undeniably the greatest I've ever seen and possibly the most competitive professional athlete too. However, factoring in LeBron's skill-set, his size, strength and the fact that he can pretty much play every spot on the court as well as his sustained excellence and I have to give it to him. Your results may vary.

On another note, those writing off the Thunder are getting ahead of themselves. They may still lose this game but they are making a run.

The NBA - teams make runs.
I have to agree. I also think the competition has been much better during Lebron's era ( Duncan Spurs, KG Celtics, Warriors).
 
Aug 20, 2017
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Portland
There's really no debate that today's athletes are better than the last generation, who are better than the generation before, and so on...

It's just not that simple.
I agree. It’s the physicality of the 80s which is brought into the discussion of 90s basketball when the game had obviously changed between those two decades. Lebron is a different athlete, but the game has not changed THAT much from the 90s. Minus the flopping and illegal defense shenanigans.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
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OKC just came back from a 25 point deficit in about 8 minutes to tie the game heading into the 4th.
 

Ed Hillel

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Dec 12, 2007
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Imagine how good Minnesota could be if they could replace Wiggins with a legit max player.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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He is a great athlete who is not very good at basketball
This. Seems like a kid who will put up numbers but who will never be a top 2 option on a championship calibre team. Still time but hasn’t really gotten much better. And now his FT shooting has tanked for whatever reason.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Losing Game 5 on the road would not be unexpected, but blowing a 25-point lead 3rd quarter lead (in 8 minutes!) is the type of thing that might stick in Utah's heads for a while, if they lose this game.

Win or lose, Westy has already shown he's not a gutless chump like Harden last year.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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I’m going to suggest that Donovan doesn’t bring Carmelo back onto the floor.
 

tbrep

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Apr 26, 2012
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I am old enough to have watched both Jordan and LeBron play their entire careers. Until LeBron emerged, Jordan was undeniably the greatest I've ever seen and possibly the most competitive professional athlete too. However, factoring in LeBron's skill-set, his size, strength and the fact that he can pretty much play every spot on the court as well as his sustained excellence and I have to give it to him. Your results may vary.

On another note, those writing off the Thunder are getting ahead of themselves. They may still lose this game but they are making a run.

The NBA - teams make runs.
I think LeBron is the better athlete but Jordan really has the advantage with regards to the fundamentals - better footwork, much better mid range game, more polished jumper and a more refined post game too. In terms of scoring, LeBron probably only has the advantage in 3-point shooting. LeBron is definitely the more gifted passer though.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Lol, Melo coming in now, after you just erased a 25-point deficit thanks to him being on the bench? Bold move, Donovan.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Aug 23, 2008
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Imagine how good Minnesota could be if they could replace Wiggins with a legit max player.
Was once considered the next great wing. Now I doubt there's anybody who would take him over either of Boston's young wings, even if their contract situations were all equal.
 

tbrep

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Apr 26, 2012
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Other than Mitchell, Utah doesn’t have a single player that can create their own shot.
 

ElUno20

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Jul 19, 2005
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I wonder what team will figure out Mitchell is only has one move, the drive and spin?
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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How does Utah allow Russ to get that midrange. He is spent after playing all of the 2nd half but that shot is still easy for him.
 

the moops

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Jan 19, 2016
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I find it disheartening that people are so quick to crown LeBron over Jordan.
So quick? He has played 15 seasons and been the best player on the planet in 2/3 of them, yet a large majority have him behind Jordan, and a sizeable chunk has him behind a couple others. It has taken quite some time for him to get himself into the conversation as GOAT
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Mar 26, 2005
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Couple fun facts re: OKC.

Over the final 20:30 of the game, Russell Westbrook and Paul George were a combined 20-for-35 from the field, including 6-for-8 from three, and 8-for-9 from the foul line. They scored 54 of Oklahoma City's 61 points, and almost doubled the Jazz (54-28) by themselves.

OKC is the third team in the last 15 years to come back from 25+ points down in the second half to win a playoff game, joining the Clippers (2012 at Memphis) and Cavaliers (2017 at Pacers).
 

DanoooME

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Mar 16, 2008
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I am old enough to have watched both Jordan and LeBron play their entire careers. Until LeBron emerged, Jordan was undeniably the greatest I've ever seen and possibly the most competitive professional athlete too. However, factoring in LeBron's skill-set, his size, strength and the fact that he can pretty much play every spot on the court as well as his sustained excellence and I have to give it to him. Your results may vary.

On another note, those writing off the Thunder are getting ahead of themselves. They may still lose this game but they are making a run.

The NBA - teams make runs.
I think it's really close between the two, but I'd give to Jordan just on his will to win. He was SO driven to win, it just seemed impossible that he would lose with all that inherent talent inside of him. Lebron can carry teams, but Jordan just seemed to take it to another level.