**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

[OldSchool]

Looks like OKC hit its stride at the right time. Should be a really good series between them and the Warriors. Either that or the Spurs are way overrated.

[KevB]

Westbrook going head hunting -- hit Duncan in the head and now Green. Neither were intentional, but good grief.

[KevB]

Ouch, that Ibaka block on Duncan may be the play that sends him into retirement. You could see the look on Duncan's face (how in the f did that just happen? Oh right, I'm old).

[KC_Connection]

These silly turnovers are going to cost them next series.

[KevB]

Wow, LMA benched for West with 2 and a 1/2 minutes to go in a comeback attempt.

[dirk digler]

credit to the Spurs for fighting back at least.

[OldSchool]

Yeah, and it was good to see Duncan get something going again but too little too late. GG Spurs.

[KC_Connection]

Adams has become a real difference maker for them defensively and on the boards. He might actually be their 3rd best player (which I suppose says quite a bit about their overall depth).

[KevB]

Hope Duncan comes back for one more season. He deserves a farewell season, but wouldn't be surprised if he goes out without the fanfare.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Adams has become a real difference maker for them defensively and on the boards. He might actually be their 3rd best player (which I suppose says quite a bit about their overall depth).

The other guys are the reason why the Thunder are a real threat now. Adams, Kanter and even Waiters --- guys who earlier in the year were a big reason nobody considered the Thunder a real contender. But Adams has developed as they hoped he would.

[OldSchool]

Originally Posted by KevB

The other guys are the reason why the Thunder are a real threat now. Adams, Kanter and even Waiters --- guys who earlier in the year were a big reason nobody considered the Thunder a real contender. But Adams has developed as they hoped he would.

Adams was already pretty good when they faced the Warriors. Kanter did well also. It was just that Westbrook and Durant kept having epic meltdowns late in the games while the Curry and Co took advantage of that.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by KevB

The other guys are the reason why the Thunder are a real threat now. Adams, Kanter and even Waiters --- guys who earlier in the year were a big reason nobody considered the Thunder a real contender. But Adams has developed as they hoped he would.

Waiters was a complete scrub for the entire season (and really for his entire career), so him suddenly becoming an average NBA player (who actually sticks his open threes) in the playoffs so far has been pretty helpful.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by KevB

The other guys are the reason why the Thunder are a real threat now. Adams, Kanter and even Waiters --- guys who earlier in the year were a big reason nobody considered the Thunder a real contender. But Adams has developed as they hoped he would.

I still don't care for Waiters at all.

It cracks me up that people just assumed the Spurs would advance. The Thunder were the much better team.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by KevB

Hope Duncan comes back for one more season. He deserves a farewell season, but wouldn't be surprised if he goes out without the fanfare.

I think he's done.

He's not gonna pull a Kobe "look at me" final season.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I still don't care for Waiters at all.

It cracks me up that people just assumed the Spurs would advance. The Thunder were the much better team.

That's just not true. The Spurs won 67 games for a reason. The Thunder choked away leads all season for a reason. That said, the Thunder played a more mature game after Game 1, and the Spurs did look tired. The Thunder clearly have more individual talent, but that hasn't been enough for them many seasons.