**2016 Official NBA Playoffs Thread**

[KC_Connection]

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Pistons @ #1 Cavs
#7 Pacers @ #2 Raptors
#6 Hornets @ #3 Heat
#5 Celtics @ #4 Hawks

WEST:
#8 Rockets @ #1 Warriors
#7 Grizzlies @ #2 Spurs
#6 Mavericks @ #3 Thunder
#5 Blazers @ #4 Clippers

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

You'd rather have Howard than Marc Gasol? Seriously? Hell, how about Whiteside or Horford? Anthony Davis? Karl Anthony Towns?

Every GM in every league on the planet would take Davis or KAT over Dwight Howard

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Agreed. Cavs got all they wanted from Detroit. Pretty entertaining series, for a sweep.

I'm still a little frustrated that the players staged a mutiny against Blatt. And the continuing trend of hiring players coaches instead of guys who can coach.

Lue's doing okay with the Cavs. But he should have dominated the Pistons. The team was scrappy and hustling last year... they looked bullied against Detroit. Weird rotations like game 1 where they put Kyrie with the entire bench or game 2 where Mozgov played a frustratingly bad full 1st quarter.
Poor use of hack-a-Drummond. Way too many stretches of offensive sets with 5 guys standing around. Still too much of a tendency to resort to iso's when they get a big lead.

The Pistons were very well-coached and it showed. I sure hope the Cavs can pull it off but I'm a little concerned.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I'm still a little frustrated that the players staged a mutiny against Blatt. And the continuing trend of hiring players coaches instead of guys who can coach.

Lue's doing okay with the Cavs. But he should have dominated the Pistons. The team was scrappy and hustling last year... they looked bullied against Detroit. Weird rotations like game 1 where they put Kyrie with the entire bench or game 2 where Mozgov played a frustratingly bad full 1st quarter.
Poor use of hack-a-Drummond. Way too many stretches of offensive sets with 5 guys standing around. Still too much of a tendency to resort to iso's when they get a big lead.

The Pistons were very well-coached and it showed. I sure hope the Cavs can pull it off but I'm a little concerned.

guess it depends on what you mean by pull it off? I still think they win the east but beating the Spurs or GSW will be hard to do. I hope they do it but that's a tough row to hoe.

[Toby Waller]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

guess it depends on what you mean by pull it off? I still think they win the east but beating the Spurs or GSW will be hard to do. I hope they do it but that's a tough row to hoe.

GS is already done and SA is too old.
Cleveland was missing 2 starters when it matter last year if i'm not mistaken?

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

yea all the centers on garbage losing NBA franchises that can barely win anything are better than Howard.

Watched DeMarcus Cousins lately? Karl Anthony Towns? Houston only went .500 this season and that was only because they have a top 5 player in the NBA in James Harden (when he bothers to care). Dwight Howard himself is a non-factor on the court these days and hasn't given a shit about winning since he left Orlando in 2012. He's done as a significant player and I wouldn't want any part of him if I was a NBA team.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

if cousins wasn't such a psychopath he'd easily be a top 5 player, or at least in the discussion. Anthony Davis is gonna lead the way.

KAT's going to be better than Anthony Davis.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Watched DeMarcus Cousins lately? Karl Anthony Towns? Houston only went .500 this season and that was only because they have a top 5 player in the NBA in James Harden (when he bothers to care). Dwight Howard himself is a non-factor on the court these days and hasn't given a shit about winning since he left Orlando in 2012. He's done as a significant player and I wouldn't want any part of him if I was a NBA team.

Yep. Some stupid team will get Howard this offseason which will ruin their team. I wouldn't touch Howard with a 100 ft pole, that goes for Cousins as well.

[RobBlake]

There was reports that Howard was open to returning to lakers. **** that

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Watched DeMarcus Cousins lately? Karl Anthony Towns? Houston only went .500 this season and that was only because they have a top 5 player in the NBA in James Harden (when he bothers to care). Dwight Howard himself is a non-factor on the court these days and hasn't given a shit about winning since he left Orlando in 2012. He's done as a significant player and I wouldn't want any part of him if I was a NBA team.

Harden doesn't play enough defense to be a top 5 player.

[El Jefe]

Originally Posted by Toby Waller

GS is already done and SA is too old.
Cleveland was missing 2 starters when it matter last year if i'm not mistaken?

Yeah both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love were out.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Watched DeMarcus Cousins lately? Karl Anthony Towns? Houston only went .500 this season and that was only because they have a top 5 player in the NBA in James Harden (when he bothers to care). Dwight Howard himself is a non-factor on the court these days and hasn't given a shit about winning since he left Orlando in 2012. He's done as a significant player and I wouldn't want any part of him if I was a NBA team.

I'm not defending Howard, I'm saying I can't give a shit about a bunch of Centers that can't win in the NBA period. When Demarcus Cousins finally makes the playoffs as an 8 seed let me know.

Anthony Davis can barely do that.

At least Howard, in his prime, in Orlando, took a team of 3 point shooters to the finals. I highly doubt Cousins or Davis ever make the finals on their crap teams.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Saul Good

Harden doesn't play enough defense to be a top 5 player.

Obviously. But it's not like he can't play defense, he did it for the majority of their 56 win/WCF season last year and he did it in OKC. It's a choice (and he chose not to give a damn in 2015-2016).

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I'm not defending Howard, I'm saying I can't give a shit about a bunch of Centers that can't win in the NBA period. When Demarcus Cousins finally makes the playoffs as an 8 seed let me know.

Anthony Davis can barely do that.

At least Howard, in his prime, in Orlando, took a team of 3 point shooters to the finals. I highly doubt Cousins or Davis ever make the finals on their crap teams.

Prime Dwight is a different thing altogether. Great, dominant two-way player. But I thought we were talking about what he is now, which is not a hell of a lot.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I'm not defending Howard, I'm saying I can't give a shit about a bunch of Centers that can't win in the NBA period. When Demarcus Cousins finally makes the playoffs as an 8 seed let me know.

Anthony Davis can barely do that.

At least Howard, in his prime, in Orlando, took a team of 3 point shooters to the finals. I highly doubt Cousins or Davis ever make the finals on their crap teams.

Because they play in the Western Conference and are the only good players on their team. And they're still developing.

Boogie has some weird personality issues and might end up never getting his career out of 3rd gear, but that's not because he can't ball.

The NBA is about to hit a Renaissance of elite big men that the league hasn't seen since Ewing, David Robinson, Barkley, and Olajuwon

[Saul Good]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Because they play in the Western Conference and are the only good players on their team. And they're still developing.

Boogie has some weird personality issues and might end up never getting his career out of 3rd gear, but that's not because he can't ball.

The NBA is about to hit a Renaissance of elite big men that the league hasn't seen since Ewing, David Robinson, Barkley, and Olajuwon

Barkley?