****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

[-King-]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

he passed Kobe a while ago.

Shhh...I'm trying to trigger him.
Posted via Mobile Device

[RobBlake]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

he passed Kobe a while ago.

Lmao

[TEX]

Originally Posted by dls6501

Wow. THAT is your interpretation of what I wrote? SMH. Reading comprehension skills are severely lacking, if that is what you think I meant.

In spite of your claims, I never called those guys shitty. Not once. All I said was that the idea that Harden is making these guys better than they have been in years past is categorically false. You are right that it cant be both. And I never once said it was both.

And then you continue to say that Harden is elevating their play. Care to show me how? Because the 5 players I mentioned are not playing better than they played in years past. Its simply a narrative that you and others are choosing to run with because the Rockets record is so good.

The same way Curry did two years ago with the Warriors? Fact is, Harden is getting penalized for the same reasons Curry was praised two years ago, specifically for team success. Currey's supporting cast was MUCH better than Harden's was two years ago, yet that did not factor in the MVP decision. This season however, it is being used against Harden.

Kinda interesting that some of Harden's teammates, who were starters with their old teams, are coming off the bench now and are playing better team basketball...

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

LeBron and the Cavs flipping a switch and turning it on and off at will? Not possible!

Isn't the most obvious time to flip the switch in the final minutes of the 4th? Then how do you explain the Cavs blowing several gigantic 4th quarter leads recently? It's not about flipping a switch. When you get cold gunning 3s and play zero defense, teams can run on you in a hurry.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by TEX

The same way Curry did two years ago with the Warriors? Fact is, Harden is getting penalized for the same reasons Curry was praised two years ago, specifically for team success. Currey's supporting cast was MUCH better than Harden's was two years ago, yet that did not factor in the MVP decision. This season however, it is being used against Harden.

Kinda interesting that some of Harden's teammates, who were starters with their old teams, are coming off the bench now and are playing better team basketball...

And besides Ryan Anderson everyone else they got at below market value due to the players age, injury history, etc

They have been dangling Beverly in trade talks for years, Nenes knees are shot, Eric Gordon never played 70 games in his life, Trevor Ariza has been in the league since dinosaurs roamed the Earth, hes so old his first Rockets stint was with Yao and TMac (I know hes only like 31 but my point is hes a journeyman), same with Lou.

These guys are literally spare parts and I refuse to say because old bum Nene is outplaying 100 million max contract Steven Adams that Harden gets no credit and the Thunder have a worst cast.

The market for what those guys get paid on the Thunder say otherwise, I guess Presti is just an idiot for handing out 80 million dollar contracts like they are jellybeans to anyone and Morey is god for assembling spare parts and a bum coach and telling Dwight to go away.

[Nirvana58]

Originally Posted by -King-

If you had to pick a supporting cast for one year, no one is picking the Thunder's over the rockets.
Posted via Mobile Device

Exactly. Pretty much all that needs to be said.

[dirk digler]

Originally Posted by TEX

The same way Curry did two years ago with the Warriors? Fact is, Harden is getting penalized for the same reasons Curry was praised two years ago, specifically for team success. Currey's supporting cast was MUCH better than Harden's was two years ago, yet that did not factor in the MVP decision. This season however, it is being used against Harden.

Kinda interesting that some of Harden's teammates, who were starters with their old teams, are coming off the bench now and are playing better team basketball...

I don't think Harden is being penalized at all in regards to the MVP race. Westbrook had a once in several decades type of performance, if it wasn't for that Harden would have been MVP.

It also wouldn't surprise me though if they ended up Co-MVP's. I would be shocked if Harden won it outright though.

[mcaj22]

but the narrative he has a better cast and thats why Harden is better is laughable

[Nirvana58]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

but the narrative he has a better cast and thats why Harden is better is laughable

No one said Harden is better. I am saying the opposite. Harden's team is better but Westbrook is the better player.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Nirvana58

No one said Harden is better. I am saying the opposite. Harden team is better but Westbrook is the better player.

I am saying Harden is better, and your counter is his team is better. I refuse to believe that.

Rockets won 41 games last year and before the season started were projected for about 38-40 wins and to finish 8th or 9th in the West. Because they are doing way better than anyone thought all of sudden its because of the stud talent assembled around Harden. Thats a joke. The guys hes playing with are a joke.

[Nirvana58]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

I am saying Harden is better, and your counter is his team is better. I refuse to believe that.

Rockets won 41 games last year and before the season started were projected for about 38-40 wins and to finish 8th or 9th in the West. Because they are doing way better than anyone thought all of sudden its because of the stud talent assembled around Harden. Thats a joke. The guys hes playing with are a joke.

Out of the 5 starters on both teams. Who on the Thunder would you switch positions with for this year only. Straight up C for C or SG for SG.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by Nirvana58

Out of the 5 starters on both teams. Who on the Thunder would you switch positions with for this year only. Straight up C for C or SG for SG.

thats almost impossible to measure

I think Steven Adams is better than Clint Capela, but Capelas PER blows him out of the water because of scheme, floor spacing, etc

If Adams was on the Rockets and Capela on the Thunder I do believe Adams has the same if not better stats than Capela

[Nirvana58]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

thats almost impossible to measure

I think Steven Adams is better than Clint Capela, but Capelas PER blows him out of the water because of scheme, floor spacing, etc

If Adams was on the Rockets and Capela on the Thunder I do believe Adams has the same if not better stats than Capela

Pretty sad when Adams is supposedly the only player on the thunder that could be better than a bunch of journey man players.

What Harden did this season is worth an MVP. But what Westbrook has done is one for the record books. The guy lost Durant and brought a roster that would finish last in the NBA without him to the playoffs. He did this by averaging a triple double the entire season. The season he has had is insane. Something even the king LeBron has never done.

[dls6501]

Originally Posted by Nirvana58

Pretty sad when Adams is supposedly the only player on the thunder that could be better than a bunch of journey man players.

What Harden did this season is worth an MVP. But what Westbrook has done is one for the record books. The guy lost Durant and brought a roster that would finish last in the NBA without him to the playoffs. He did this by averaging a triple double the entire season. The season he has had is insane. Something even the king LeBron has never done.

This is what the Harden fanboys are missing. No one is saying Harden's season isnt worthy of an MVP in a vacuum. His season would be very worthy of an MVP. Only problem is, he is being compared to a player who had a historic season, and lead a terrible roster to a 6 seed in a loaded conference.

And its not like Harden is the best player on the best team. His team is the 3 seed. Its not like we are talking about a 70 win, 1 seed here.

[dirk digler]

Celtics get a break. Rondo is out indefinitely with a fractured thumb