General Playoff Thread: The Long 2nd Season
- Thread starter ElUno20
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Curry is struggling to finish drives around the basket. He's usually lights out on those. OKC has been very physical with him.
OKC defends Curry better than anybody else. Two things that stand out to me is that whenever he gets the ball in transition the nearest OKC defender gets right up on him and pressures him, even if it's Adams. He thrives so much in chaos and shooting off the dribble that I think this is the best way from him picking up as many wide open looks. The second thing is Durant switching on screens and realizing his potential as a defender. A guy that moves his feet that well and is ridiculously long should be a great defender, especially against smaller players.
Of course, I don't doubt Curry could still kick it on and score 30 in a half.
Of course, I don't doubt Curry could still kick it on and score 30 in a half.
The GSW blew game 1 and have not shown up for the last 1.5 games. Those 73 wins will go down as meaningless if they don't turn this around quickly.
I agree. The Warriors being 73-9 and not even making the NBA Finals is a bigger 'choke' then the Patriots 18-1 season.
This is cool and all, but OKC is going to get stomped when they play a real team like the Raptors.
The Warriors just can't handle OKC's speed and length right now. 13 turnovers plus -8 rebounds plus -12 at the line is the story of the game.
Also, it's not the reason they're winning, but OKC is getting all the calls.
Also, it's not the reason they're winning, but OKC is getting all the calls.
I think the Green kick is definitely having an influence on this game despite lack of a suspension. He seems much more muted and GSW not getting the benefit of the doubt in any 50-50 calls.
Donovan doing a great job tonight (and the entire series really). Fouling Ezeli at the right times paid off with him going just 1-6 FT
Donovan doing a great job tonight (and the entire series really). Fouling Ezeli at the right times paid off with him going just 1-6 FT
So, so impressed with OKC"s defense. They're switching everything, contesting everything. They've given up some open looks, but so many less than most teams do against GSW.
Steph is so tentative around the hoop right now. I know he's never been a guy who drives in seeking out contact, but he looks terrified to get hit right now. I think he's still working through lingering injury issues. Those missed layups are such killers because they're leading to OKC runouts. No Klay for the final 8 minutes of the half was huge as well.
Steph is so tentative around the hoop right now. I know he's never been a guy who drives in seeking out contact, but he looks terrified to get hit right now. I think he's still working through lingering injury issues. Those missed layups are such killers because they're leading to OKC runouts. No Klay for the final 8 minutes of the half was huge as well.
Going to be interesting to see how much Durant and Westbrook have left in the tank. They played a lot of high intensity minutes on both ends of the floor in the first half. Meanwhile, Thompson is fresh after sitting for most of the 2nd quarter. Can't count out GSW just yet
To add to this, this game has been played at a crazy-high pace. Might make fatigue even more of a factor.
Neither of these are chokes, "choke" is the most misused word by sports fans. Choking is when you have a lead on an inferior team or player, and then end up losing because your head fucks with you. Jana Novotna forgetting how to serve in the Wimbledon Finals, choke. Jean Van De Velde, choke. OKC has now done this to two of the best regular season teams in NBA history (both also playoff-tested), this is just OKC raising their level and SA and GS not being able to match them (thus far for GS).
They're a finesse team and that style works well in the regular season when the defensive intensity is lower.
Those two are horrendous defenders which kills them against the best West teams, Zach Lowe talked about this today.
"There is a strong plurality around the league, including within the Warriors, that thinks Cleveland is more dangerous with defense-first role players around LeBron instead of Love and Irving."
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15087119/the-cavaliers-trying-figure-are
Westbrook is so intense. He's probably the last guy I'd want to take a charge on once he gets going.
Also, I do hate the word "choke" (because it's so often misused) and I do really like OKC, but you will rarely see a top team consistently choke as much as OKC did this past regular season, in virtually every game against a genuine contender.
Of course as soon as I say this he gets his fourth foul, jacks up a terrible three, and then makes an awful pass leading to a turnover.
That's a Skip Bayless quality hot take. You can only beat what's in front of you and they've done that in every single series in the past two postseasons. And they're a long way from losing this Thunder series.
Not to mention 73 freaking wins
I could buy that argument, but only if they'd built their team that way to begin with. Playing a 6 deep rotation resulted in a some very bad fourth quarters in the finals last season. I'd take Love and Irving over that.
The same Love who has played a total of 22 seconds in the last two fourth quarters?
Just amazing intensity. He's contesting so many rebounds and getting to every loose ball. Just an absolute monster motor