The 2nd Season - 2019 Playoff Thread
- Thread starter ElUno20
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He's said it on multiple occasions, Here's one: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/damian-lillard-on-staying-with-portland-there-is-other-stuff-that-means-more-than-winning-championships/
Hot takes!
Seriously, that Portland is even close in Oakland is impressive, even with Durant is out. I wouldn't call this a choke if they lose but then again, I realize that in the NBA, leads do change pretty frequently.
I thought this was a heroic effort from Portland. Once Curry caught fire there were going to be a lot of open cuts
Yeah no shit. That was about as far from a choke job as there has ever been. The Warriors stepped up during crunch time and executed on both ends.
I know he isn't popular on this board but Draymond Green is the lowkey hero of this game. The Warriors defense with him and Iguodala was clamps down the stretch.
Golden State has won championships three of the past four years and yet they still feel the need to release confetti after game 2 of the conference finals?
In-shape playoff Draymond is so much better than fat regular season Draymond. He looks 15 lbs lighter than he did 3 months ago and it's made a huge difference in his game.
Serious question: why do you start every post with some variation of “I know the board doesn’t like him”? You don’t need to qualify every statement you make about Draymond. Just come out with it.
Stotts got caught in a tough spot. He went small the Warriors feasted with Looney and Bell. He puts Leonard in and the Warriors roast him on the PnR.
I know you’re trying to antagonize me...
Well...shit, it’s rubbing off
Game 3 will be interesting with the Warriors in an unfamiliar role of the underdog. My early inclination is that Portland wins G3 but the Warriors find a way to pull out G4. I'm ready to lay -3 on Saturday night.
Yup. Would love to see Portland take 2 at home but these Warriors are too good. They’ll get their split and end it in 5.
Point taken on the qualifier btw. As a side note, I really don't dislike many NBA players save for Dirty Wade. Now that he is gone, I can really enjoy the league. Even the wrestling-heel types like CP3 or Zach Collins or Embiid have redeeming qualities even if its just their general surliness.I know you’re trying to antagonize me...
Well...shit, it’s rubbing off
Yup. We’re not at the post LeBron stage yet but the league really doesn’t miss him. Lots of good teams and tons of young talent. Next year is going to be nuts with Zion.
I know some of you don't like net plus-minus but here's Draymond in the playoffs, per 100 possessions:
2013-14: +28.5
2014:15: +19.2
2015-16: +12.3
2016-17: +18.8
2017-18: +4.0
2018-19: +18.3
Green indeed.
Meanwhile, Looney + Bell tonight: 43 min, 25 pts (10-13 fg), 10 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk. Well done, Myers/Kerr.
but here's Draymond in the playoffs, per 100 possessions:2013-14: +28.5
2014:15: +19.2
2015-16: +12.3
2016-17: +18.8
2017-18: +4.0
2018-19: +18.3
Green indeed.
Meanwhile, Looney + Bell tonight: 43 min, 25 pts (10-13 fg), 10 reb, 3 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk. Well done, Myers/Kerr.
POR also has the worst frontcourt (by far?) to ever advance this far in the NBA playoffs, so Draymond should be and is his best self here. Aminu/Harkless/Kanter is just wow for a final 4 team.
Lillard hasn’t really been himself (game 6 last round excepted), traps and all, since the crushing of Westbrook in the first round, I wonder how much that took out of him.
Lillard hasn’t really been himself (game 6 last round excepted), traps and all, since the crushing of Westbrook in the first round, I wonder how much that took out of him.
Turner and Harkless entered the league as a 2 and 3 respectively.......they were playing the 4/5 together in the 4th quarter last night.
Lillard was incredible in that series and is obv really good......but is that “really” himself scoring 30+ on nearly 50% 3’s? It’s really difficult when a defense like the Warriors can game plan for a series against you.
Him and McCollum went 0-7 combined in the final 4 minutes, McCollum especially missed a couple of very makeable shots including one wide open 3.
And with Lillard, it's not just this series, it's the Denver one too. Five of those seven games he shot 1-7, 2-9, 2-7, 2-9 and 2-9 from 3 point range, amazing that somehow POR won three of those games.
Lillard was blanketed on every possession down the stretch that I can recall. I credit the Warriors for that. Overall, this is Lillard......he’s a career 37% 3-pt shooter and naturally a tick down in the playoffs to 35%. This year he’s at 38% but you’re correct in that he seemed much more comfortable with the OKC matchup. This is a game of matchups and this is where I file this more than it being random. I’d have been shocked if Lillard got things done down the stretch against the defense and switches they put on him with larger defenders.
It was def CJ who missed some easy opportunities when he broke free last night.
It is if you have two guys like Iguodala and Green, but OKC is a good defensive team and POR didn't have any more scorers then than they do now. Theoretically Lillard should be like Curry in that his range is so far away (when he's on) that he will get shots at some point no matter how much the defense focuses on him.
Curry creates so many problems not just because of his range, but because his release is so quick and he can shoot accurately without needing to fully set his feet or completely square up. That forces teams to stay in his face 25+ feet out. Dame has the range, but he can't fire quite as quickly from as many different angles as Curry can. That gives defenders an extra split second to get past a screen and contest the shot.
Portland also doesn't have anyone to play the Draymond playmaker role in the PNR to punish the defense for trapping Lillard.
They can win this series without him, but I don’t think they can beat Milwaukee without him.
Toronto's totally intimidated inside. Their only hope is to hit 3's at a high rate. Reminds me of another recent series.