****Official 2017 NBA Playoffs Thread****

[KC_Connection]

The real season begins.

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Bulls @ #1 Celtics
#7 Pacers @ #2 Cavs
#6 Bucks @ #3 Raptors
#5 Hawks @ #4 Wizards

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

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I thought they played better when spreading the floor and in transition you just can't do that with GS though. The only way they could stay with GS is slowing the game down, having an once in a lifetime offensive performance, playing physical and Mike Callahan being the ref.

That was the most puzzling thing. No way were they winning 4 in a track meet, but better to lose and rack up those stats I guess.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

That is design of the offense where everything goes through him. That's why he didn't play in D in the series ( as JVG noted several times) so he had that energy for offense. But like Westbrook he is able to rack up stats by dominating the ball so running a more team orientated offense isn't an option. But hey, his nut huggers can now point to stat lines and yell GOAT so who cares about winning.

I thought this was the worst I have seen Lebron play D in a long time. I lost count of how many easy dunks GS had while Lebron stood there watching.

[dirk digler]

Excellent and long article on Durant. So many good quotes in this but more than anything I think him playing with Westbrook was tiring and he wanted a change.

https://www.si.com/nba/2017/06/13/go...ond-green-text

"I know there is someone, somewhere, trying to take my spot. And I know where he is, too. He’s in Oklahoma. He’s my inspiration, because I see the direction he’s headed, and it’s the same direction I’m headed. I know his mind‑set, and he knows mine. It’s a collision course.”

LeBron James said that, in the fall of 2012, by the pool on the second floor of the Ritz-Carlton in Phoenix, five months after he vanquished Durant and the Thunder to claim his first championship. James and Durant were close then, training together in Akron over the summer and dining at Prime 112 in Miami during the Finals. “I was Giannis Antetokounmpo,” Durant says, referencing the Bucks’ stretchy phenom. “LeBron was larger than life. I was just taller.” For the next five years, challengers to the King’s throne came and went, from Derrick Rose to Paul George. Durant was the lone threat. He won MVP in ’14 before succumbing to foot injuries in ’15 and the Warriors in ’16. When the Thunder faced the Clippers, Matt Barnes defended Durant while Chris Paul drew Westbrook. “The only person in the world who can stop you,” Barnes crowed, “is your teammate.” The most effective trash talk, Barnes has discovered in more than a decade of NBA rabble-rousing, is the kind spiked with the smallest shred of truth.

[FloridaMan88]

Kobe was 34 when he physically broke down from playing extended minutes.

LeBron will be 33 in December and he has many of the same characteristics that Kobe had in terms of wear and tear... playing in several extended playoff runs (seven straight NBA Finals for LeBron), added wear and tear from an NBA career that started straight out of high school, etc.

[Best22]

Originally Posted by -King-

So let's compare both teams without LeBron and Durant. Is a team with a core of Curry, Klay, and Draymond better than a team with a core of Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Ray Allen?
Posted via Mobile Device

Ray Allen didn't join until 2013. Lebron had to BEAT Ray Allen in 2012.

After that beating on the ECf, Ray Allen went down to Miami

[mcaj22]

its time for team banana boat to assemble, it will be awesome, fanbases will be salty, i will love it

[Sannyasi]

I'm not mad at Durant or the Warriors for doing what they did. It sucks for the fans and the league, and its unfortunate that the cap spike made this whole thing possible. But I don't believe for a second that any of the other elite teams in the league would have turned down a superstar player who wanted to join the team.

[ChiefsCountry]

Melo would be interesting option for the Cavs. Wouldn't help on the defense side but would add firepower to the offense, which would free LeBron's load up some. You could actually take a freaking break without the team going to shit.

Knicks were practically going to give him away to the Clippers. I think there is a 3 way trade to be made that could help 3 teams. Knicks have well known hard on for Ricky Rubio. T Wolves for some reason have coveted Shumbert for while.

Cavs trade Shumbert, Frye, and Jefferson. Get Melo.
Knicks trade Melo. Get Rubio, Frye, and Jefferson.
T Wolves trade Rubio. Gets Shumbert.

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsFan88

Kobe was 34 when he physically broke down from playing extended minutes.

LeBron will be 33 in December and he has many of the same characteristics that Kobe had in terms of wear and tear... playing in several extended playoff runs (seven straight NBA Finals for LeBron), added wear and tear from an NBA career that started straight out of high school, etc.

Thing about Kobe is, he's a master in every offensive category that helped when his athleticism dropped ( not to mention he played injured constantly). I can see lebron going more post

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by RobBlake

Thing about Kobe is, he's a master in every offensive category that helped when his athleticism dropped ( not to mention he played injured constantly). I can see lebron going more post

LeBrons size should help a bit. He can lower his shoulder and bull his way to the hoop.

[Halfcan]

I think we will see these two team in the finals again next year.

Props to both teams- that was heck of game last night.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

I think we will see these two team in the finals again next year.

Props to both teams- that was heck of game last night.

I still wouldn't sleep on the Spurs. They were the 2nd best team in the NBA this year and likely to add on. The Cavs will be there with the East being just terrible.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Worst NBA Playoffs I can remember in a long time. Thanks Durant

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Sannyasi

I'm not mad at Durant or the Warriors for doing what they did. It sucks for the fans and the league, and its unfortunate that the cap spike made this whole thing possible. But I don't believe for a second that any of the other elite teams in the league would have turned down a superstar player who wanted to join the team.

I love it. Watching the Warriors play is incredible. Enjoy it while you can.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Melo would be interesting option for the Cavs. Wouldn't help on the defense side but would add firepower to the offense, which would free LeBron's load up some. You could actually take a freaking break without the team going to shit.

Knicks were practically going to give him away to the Clippers. I think there is a 3 way trade to be made that could help 3 teams. Knicks have well known hard on for Ricky Rubio. T Wolves for some reason have coveted Shumbert for while.

Cavs trade Shumbert, Frye, and Jefferson. Get Melo.
Knicks trade Melo. Get Rubio, Frye, and Jefferson.
T Wolves trade Rubio. Gets Shumbert.

Wolves trade Rubio and get Shumpert?!? Seriously?!?