**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

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

its because OKC's bum role players are stepping up big time in the playoffs. I watched them a lot during the season and the only guy that did anything was Kanter besides Westbrook and KD. Kanter is having a bad playoffs but he carried them during the season. Now Adams looks like a beast, Waiters looks like an NBA player, that nobody guard they put in the starting lineup is doing something and Ibaka isnt as invisible as he has been.

They are peaking at the right time this reminds me of watching that Joe Flacco Ravens run in the playoffs

that joe flacco run was one of the all time best runs.. and i hate him for obvious reasons.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by RunKC

Oklahoma City has a 3 game road playoff winning streak against two teams that combined to lose three home games all season.

They look focused and determined. They could very well win the whole thing.

I agree. They looked good in the 2nd half and GS was sloppy. Very impressed with OKC.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

its because OKC's bum role players are stepping up big time in the playoffs. I watched them a lot during the season and the only guy that did anything was Kanter besides Westbrook and KD. Kanter is having a bad playoffs but he carried them during the season. Now Adams looks like a beast, Waiters looks like an NBA player, that nobody guard they put in the starting lineup is doing something and Ibaka isnt as invisible as he has been.

They are peaking at the right time this reminds me of watching that Joe Flacco Ravens run in the playoffs

This is me getting on my high horse a little bit. But I'm glad to see the NBA moving away from that garbage trend of hiring young, inexperienced ex players to be head coaches. The final 4 in the West have some real coaching heavyweights and it's been fun to watch.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

This is me getting on my high horse a little bit. But I'm glad to see the NBA moving away from that garbage trend of hiring young, inexperienced ex players to be head coaches. The final 4 in the West have some real coaching heavyweights and it's been fun to watch.

I first read that as just final 4 in the league and I was going to point out Dwane Casey.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Illegal moving screens is Golden State's entire offense. They just run a series of them all over the court.

You are right. Maybe Jamari Traylor has a future in the NBA with GSW after all.

[BWillie]

I have no idea how OKC is doing this, but I love it.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

that joe flacco run was one of the all time best runs.. and i hate him for obvious reasons.

while Flacco played lights out that Ravens team had a bunch of bums step up at the right time. (Cary Williams/Corey Graham replacing Ladarius Webb at corner, Bernie Pollard forcing a key fumble in the playoffs, Dennis Pitta coming out of nowhere to have his one good season, Kruger and Ellerbe getting overpaid in FA because of it, etc.)

Same thing is happening with OKC, Kanter did all the heavy work during the season clogging the paint and I guess was just more polished offensively catching passes/being able to run. It's taken Adams a minute to get his game up to par but I guess he's finally arrived and him and Westbrook are really clicking, that combo has been looking unstoppable in the playoffs, I thought it was a fluke against the Spurs because Duncan and Dem Boys are older than dirt but I guess Adams ability to also kind of run really puts a potential thorn in Golden State's small ball strategy. Green slides to the 5 and Adams can still hang, then GS is in trouble.

And Dion Waiters, there was a time this thread was literally pages of Dion Waiters jokes at the two resident Cavs homers, the guy was terrible, when OKC traded for him people laughed. He's having a really efficient playoffs and they don't have to go to Morrow because of it, they can leave him on the bench.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by BWillie

You are right. Maybe Jamari Traylor has a future in the NBA with GSW after all.

A few more cheap shots a game and he'll fit right in.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

This is me getting on my high horse a little bit. But I'm glad to see the NBA moving away from that garbage trend of hiring young, inexperienced ex players to be head coaches. The final 4 in the West have some real coaching heavyweights and it's been fun to watch.

the fan in me would still rather have a young inexperienced ex player coaching the Wizards than Scotty Brooks.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

while Flacco played lights out that Ravens team had a bunch of bums step up at the right time. (Cary Williams/Corey Graham replacing Ladarius Webb at corner, Bernie Pollard forcing a key fumble in the playoffs, Dennis Pitta coming out of nowhere to have his one good season, Kruger and Ellerbe getting overpaid in FA because of it, etc.)

Same thing is happening with OKC, Kanter did all the heavy work during the season clogging the paint and I guess was just more polished offensively catching passes/being able to run. It's taken Adams a minute to get his game up to par but I guess he's finally arrived and him and Westbrook are really clicking, that combo has been looking unstoppable in the playoffs, I thought it was a fluke against the Spurs because Duncan and Dem Boys are older than dirt but I guess Adams ability to also kind of run really puts a potential thorn in Golden State's small ball strategy. Green slides to the 5 and Adams can still hang, then GS is in trouble.

And Dion Waiters, there was a time this thread was literally pages of Dion Waiters jokes at the two resident Cavs homers, the guy was terrible, when OKC traded for him people laughed. He's having a really efficient playoffs and they don't have to go to Morrow because of it, they can leave him on the bench.

Adams has been solid defensively for a few years now, but he's really picked up his offense. He's a high IQ player that can now actually finish at the basket and gets them extra possessions (like the ball he grabbed off the glass and got FTs on while OKC was falling to pieces).

And I don't know who this Dion Waiters in the playoffs is, but it's no Dion Waiters I've ever seen. The guy's making the extra pass, hitting his open 3s, limited his stupid shots, and D'ing up on both Steph Curry and Draymond Green. He was doing none of those things even in the regular season, nor would I have said he was even capable of them.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

the fan in me would still rather have a young inexperienced ex player coaching the Wizards than Scotty Brooks.

It's ironic that a team named the Wizards made one of the dumbest coaching hires of the offseason.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Adams has been solid defensively for a few years now, but he's really picked up his offense. He's a high IQ player that can now actually finish at the basket and gets them extra possessions (like the ball he grabbed off the glass and got FTs on while OKC was falling to pieces).

And I don't know who this Dion Waiters in the playoffs is, but it's no Dion Waiters I've ever seen. The guy's making the extra pass, hitting his open 3s, limited his stupid shots, and D'ing up on both Steph Curry and Draymond Green. He was doing none of those things even in the regular season, nor would I have said he was even capable of them.

Yep. All this. I'm a huge OKC fan and have watched most of the games this year.

Biggest change in fortune for them is due to Adams all of the sudden becoming a top 10 center, Waiters learning how to optimize his effectiveness as a 6th man (he's honestly played very Harden-like lately), and Billy finally figuring out what he wants his rotation to be and also having faith in his mid-game adjustments.

The SAS series was monumental for this team and their confidence. Add in this game and this is a VERY dangerous team. Yes GS had a bad game and they will not shoot this poorly again, but Russ/KD shot 30% on the road and still pulled it off... This isn't just a two-headed monster team anymore in OKC. Ibaka has been shooting lights out, Kanter has been providing solid rebounding and post scoring off the bench, and Foye has been hitting timely shots and playing good enough defense when he's on the court. Pair all of this with Roberson essentially being a young Sefelosha who has recently figured out how to knock down a 3 every once in awhile, and you have yourself an elite squad.

Tonight was a big game, but I don't expect GS to lay down and take this. Wouldn't be surprised if they come back and win next game as well as one in OKC. Regardless, will be a fantastic series as long as no one gets injured. Also, Bogut is an x-factor. He was bodying Adams for much of the first half and was a big reason they controlled the boards. Once he was out of the game, everything changed.

[RobBlake]

Donovan is an underrated coach and made one of the best line up changes this season.

[ChiefAshhole1056]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

Donovan is an underrated coach and made one of the best line up changes this season.

He really didn't come into his own until playoffs. All year he kept messing with his rotations to find what he liked I suppose and had some really awful lineups out there and played Singler and Morrow wayyyyy too much. Once it got to the SAS series he started to go with a 8-man rotation that he was comfortable with and everything took off from there.

He's been phenomenal lately and is night and day an improvement over Brooks. Couldn't be happier with him, and have no reason to think if Durant ended up leaving for whatever reason it wouldn't be because there is a better roster/coach combo out there.

[KC_Connection]

Singler shouldn't even be in the NBA. No idea what he was doing playing as much as he was for OKC for a while there.

Their depth is still a weakness (here's hoping Waiters continues to play as he has, they may need him to), but at least it has less of an effect when you are only playing 8 guys.