NBA Playoffs Game Thread

[Kliq]

I expected GS to come up with a much greater sense of urgency. They came out kind of flat, but it looks like they have found that now. I thought Ezeli gave them so terrific minutes against Howard.

 

[JohnnyTheBone]

The incomparable JO$H $MITH!

 

[Al Zarilla]

Harden get that from KG, i.e., blocking practice shot after the timeout? Looks douchey unless it's KG.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

I'm impressed with Houston's fight. They're not laying down.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Warriors get fouled all the time and no calls. Clear and one on Terry. 

 

[Al Zarilla]

I'm impressed with Houston's fight. They're not laying down.

They are getting away with murder. Is it that hard to ref an NBA game fairly?

 

[Al Zarilla]

Don't care what ex coach jackson says, Ezeli isn't very good.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Al, you're preaching to the choir. No idea how Bogut has two touch fouls, yet everything else down low is fair game.
Harden gets whistles when Iguodala runs past him...

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Jalen (whom I really like and respect) just stated that Howard's T would be rescinded. Not b/c it shouldn't have been a T. But, "for the sake of the series".
NBA, get your sit together.

 

[eddiew112]

10 (!) turnovers for Harden with 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter

 

[Nick Kaufman]

Jason terry was never that good when he played for us.

 

[Al Zarilla]

It was that damn sleeve Steph.

 

[Kliq]

Harden just looks exhausted right now. If he can get close to 80% of what he is, Houston could take this.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Another bad call.

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Ugly game, ugly officiating.
May the better (W) team be awarded the win.

 

[coremiller]

Harden just looks exhausted right now. If he can get close to 80% of what he is, Houston could take this.

Both teams look tired. A lot of flat jump shots, turnovers, guys not moving their feet on D.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Jesus Christ with the head injuries. 

 

[radsoxfan]

Ariza is a menace!

 

[nocode51]

Ariza has now taken out both splash brothers. Damn.

 

[Al Zarilla]

HB from NC!

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Harrison righting the ship on both ends. Big set of sequences.

 

[nocode51]

Can Harden get his head together and finish this strong? He has looked so bad but I haven't seen him enough to get a feel for whether or not he can pull out of it.

 

[coremiller]

Black Falcon taking over. Dubs depth is really showing here. Curry and Green have had poor games and Klay has been in foul trouble, and they're still up 13.

 

[radsoxfan]

No concussion protocol!  Ha!
 
They may want to figure out why his ear is bleeding…. temporal bone fractures are no bueno. 

 

[Tangled Up In Red]

Harden's body language dropping. Never seen that before.

 

[Al Zarilla]

I don't get Ariza's knee being up at Thompson's head level. Isn't there a dangerous play foul that should be called there? Ariza, Curry mishmash, no quarrel because Curry is the guy that went up. But Ariza has no reason to get a knee up to head level. 

 

[radsoxfan]

I don't get Ariza's knee being up at Thompson's head level. Isn't there a dangerous play foul that should be called there? Ariza, Curry mishmash, no quarrel because Curry is the guy that went up. But Ariza has no reason to get a knee up to head level. 

 
He was jumping to block a shot, got faked out, and was off balance. Just shows how absurdly athletic these guys are.
 
I said "Ariza is a menace" jokingly by the way, I don't think he did anything wrong on either play. 

 

[Al Zarilla]

Another blind man call. Refs getting worse if possible. 

 

[Nick Kaufman]

The refs have definitely tried to keep Houston in the game.

 

[Nick Kaufman]

It's not happening for Houston though.

 

[Stu Nahan]

Howard is the worst.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Fucking Howard should be playing football, not hoops.

 

[Greg29fan]

My man Harrison Barnes getting it done

 

[Al Zarilla]

Iguodala's not usually good at the line.
 
Small forward/shooting guard has to be able to male FTs. 

 

[GraysonGrandeGonads]

I hope Rambis calls Mchale after the game and reminds him Harden would never get that call 30 years ago.

 

[radsoxfan]

Iggy FTs 59% on the year, 51% in the playoffs.  Probably should take him out, too bad Thompson's head is broken. 

 

[Nick Kaufman]

Poor harden. Can't even hit the rim.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Curry looking like Cousy!

 

[radsoxfan]

Thompson "a little dizzy"…. might wanna follow up on that team docs.  

 

[jon abbey]

Glad that Klay and Curry will have a nice layoff to hopefully fully get back to themselves. 

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Harrison Barnes!

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Holy shit, they don't start the Finals until June 4th. Wow. That's crazy.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Postgame on CSNBA they were saying that Thompson was developing concussion-like symptoms. 

 

[jmm57]

So, GS fans, is Draymond going to be guarding Lebron in the finals? Iggy?

 

[coremiller]

So, GS fans, is Draymond going to be guarding Lebron in the finals? Iggy?

 
It will likely be a mix of Draymond/Igoudala/Barnes.  Igoudala doesn't normally start, so he won't get the main assignment right away, but will likely be the primary guy when he's on the floor.  I think Barnes will probably start out on LeBron, if only because Green is a better rebounder and they will need him to help down low with Mozgov and Thompson.  
 
Another factor is that the Warriors like to switch most PNRs, so whoever starts on LeBron may not be the guy who ends up guarding him by the end of the play.
 
Also interested to see whether Curry or Thompson guards Kyrie.

 

[johnmd20]

Holy shit, they don't start the Finals until June 4th. Wow. That's crazy.

 
It is crazy, but the conference finals went 4 and 5 games respectively. Cleveland could have played until June 1st if it went 7. It went 4, so things got really mixed up. It could have been worse, too, if Houston lost in Game 4.

 

[Al Zarilla]

So, GS fans, is Draymond going to be guarding Lebron in the finals? Iggy?

I heard Draymond asked post game if he was looking forward to guarding James and he said something like yeah, bring it on. I'm sure it will be the other guys Coremiller mentioned as well.

 

[Devizier]

This week is going to be murder. Good thing I have a grant deadline on the 5th.

 

[jon abbey]

I think it's kind of great in the end that there is such a long break before the Finals. Teams may be a bit rusty at the start, but hopefully Kyrie and Thompson and Speights and even LBJ and Curry will be much closer to full health, so we don't have to see yet another series with both teams crippled. 

 

[Kliq]

Yup, the break makes things a little bit more boring, but in a year when injuries have been all over the place, fans should be happy that teams are getting a good rest in order to have the best series possible.