****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

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I said Warriors in 5 before the playoffs began and I haven't seen anything that would change my mind yet. Statistically, they've had three of the best four teams in the history of basketball (with the other being the 95-96 Bulls) over the last three seasons but this team is the best one of all of them. LeBron could play like he did last year (which is pretty unlikely, he was ridiculous) and it still probably wouldn't be enough against a team with Durant on it.

Would love to see them choke again, though.

Making excuses for LeBron already. If LeBron is as good as you claim he is, the Cavs should win. Cavs have plenty of talent to matchup with GS.

PG Kyrie arguably just as good as Steph = Equal

SG Klay Thompson is better than any SG Cavs have = Advantage GS

PF Love can score better than Draymond. Last years finals Draymond dominated him but I think Love is more comfortable this year. I love Draymond but this isn't a huge advantage for the Warriors = Advantage GS but not by much

C - I'd take Tristan Thompson over any C GS has. Advantage = Cavs

Bench = Both teams have a good bench no real huge advantage here for either team.

So it's not that big of an advantage for the Warriors outside of LeBron. It is there but it isn't huge.

If LeBron is truly the GOAT like you and others claim he is he should dominate Durant same way MJ dominated Drexler and Hakeem did to David Robinson.

I don't think LeBron is the GOAT or that much better than Durant which is why I see GS winning this. LeBron is better than Durant, don't get me wrong, but I don't LeBron can score enough to be able to take over in the same way MJ and Hakeem did. It wouldn't surprise me if Durant matches LeBron in ppg and limits his APG...

GS in 6-games max.

[KC_Connection]

There's a whole lot to unpack in there, but the fact that you put Irving on the same level as one of the greatest offensive threats in NBA history says all you need to know about that bit of analysis.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

I don't think it is a lazy explanation when on the NBA's own website state the rule changes were made to open up the game.

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_history.html

2004-05
• New rules were introduced to curtail hand-checking, clarify blocking fouls and call defensive three seconds to open up the game.

Best post in the thread.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

Making excuses for LeBron already. If LeBron is as good as you claim he is, the Cavs should win. Cavs have plenty of talent to matchup with GS.

PG Kyrie arguably just as good as Steph = Equal

SG Klay Thompson is better than any SG Cavs have = Advantage GS

PF Love can score better than Draymond. Last years finals Draymond dominated him but I think Love is more comfortable this year. I love Draymond but this isn't a huge advantage for the Warriors = Advantage GS but not by much

C - I'd take Tristan Thompson over any C GS has. Advantage = Cavs

Bench = Both teams have a good bench no real huge advantage here for either team.

So it's not that big of an advantage for the Warriors outside of LeBron. It is there but it isn't huge.

If LeBron is truly the GOAT like you and others claim he is he should dominate Durant same way MJ dominated Drexler and Hakeem did to David Robinson.

I don't think LeBron is the GOAT or that much better than Durant which is why I see GS winning this. LeBron is better than Durant, don't get me wrong, but I don't LeBron can score enough to be able to take over in the same way MJ and Hakeem did. It wouldn't surprise me if Durant matches LeBron in ppg and limits his APG...

GS in 6-games max.

I hate player for player comparisons. Ultimately it a game where chemistry is pretty important. Like I stated early the Spurs a few seasons ago couldn't go player for player with Lebrons Superteam in Miami and still kicked the shit out of them. Same with Dirks Mavericks.

Just look at some of the loaded US Olympic teams and their struggles.

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

There's a whole lot to unpack in there, but the fact that you put Irving on the same level as one of the greatest offensive threats in NBA history says all you need to know about that bit of analysis.

I know plenty about bball if you trying to think I don't back out of that now because I will embarrass you.

Anyway Irving outplayed Curry in last-years finals so don't give me that crap. Westbrook outplayed Curry in the WCFs as well.

Stats from last-years finals

Curry PPG 22.6 FG % 40 3 PT % 40 APG 3.7 SPG 0.9
Irving PPG 25.2 FG % 46 3PT % 40 APG 3.9 SPG 2.9

Yeah Curry is so much better than Irving!

And who hit that clutch shot against the Warriors on Curry? LeBron right?

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

I hate player for player comparisons. Ultimately it a game where chemistry is pretty important. Like I stated early the Spurs a few seasons ago couldn't go player for player with Lebrons Superteam in Miami and still kicked the shit out of them. Same with Dirks Mavericks.

Just look at some of the loaded US Olympic teams and their struggles.

Good point but I think Cavs and Warriors have great chemistry. Cavs proved that last-yr by beating a 73-win team after being down 3-1. Warriors proved that by winning 73-games

[O.city]

The Cavs are pretty big underdogs so I'm not sure they'll pull it out. I'll go Warriors in 6.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

I know plenty about bball if you trying to think I don't back out of that now because I will embarrass you.

Anyway Irving outplayed Curry in last-years finals so don't give me that crap. Westbrook outplayed Curry in the WCFs as well.

Stats from last-years finals

Curry PPG 22.6 FG % 40 3 PT % 40 APG 3.7 SPG 0.9
Irving PPG 25.2 FG % 46 3PT % 40 APG 3.9 SPG 2.9

Yeah Curry is so much better than Irving!

And who hit that clutch shot against the Warriors on Curry? LeBron right?

Small sample size is small sample size.

[KC_Connection]

And I am left thoroughly embarrassed. I should have known that the real reason the Warriors are huge favorites against a Cavs team firing on all cylinders was because of LeBron's failings as a player, not because the Warriors are the best team ever assembled.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Is there a worse basketball fan than PAChiefsGuy?

[PAChiefsGuy]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

And I am left thoroughly embarrassed. I should have known that the real reason the Warriors are huge favorites against a Cavs team firing on all cylinders was because of LeBron's failings as a player, not because the Warriors are the best team ever assembled.

The best team ever assembled? No way. That's the media hyping up this Warriors team up to try and get ratings. i can think of a couple assembled teams I'd take over this Warriors team. They have no real big-man. Lakers with prime Shaq and Kobe could have beaten this team. That's the first team I can think of just off the top of my head.

Also, you embarrass yourself every time you claim a guy who averaged 17.8 ppg in a final series is the GOAT.

3-4 finals record, about to be 3-5 lol...

Originally Posted by O.city

Small sample size is small sample size.

What else do you want me to go off of? Curry's regular season stats against other PGs? Fact is when they matched up against each other Curry wasn't better.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by PAChiefsGuy

The best team ever assembled? No way. That's the media hyping up this Warriors team up to try and get ratings. i can think of a couple assembled teams I'd take over this Warriors team. They have no real big-man. Lakers with prime Shaq and Kobe could have beaten this team. That's the first team I can think of just off the top of my head.

[vailpass]

The NBA season is still going?

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by vailpass

The NBA season is still going?

Actually it just started. Should have just jumped right to this series in October

[tk13]

Curry has turned into the best offensive weapon of his generation. But I'd agree Irving isn't as far behind as it's being painted here. He had a great year. Averaged 25 a game, set career highs for FG%, FT% and threes made. He's an elite offensive player. For some reason people always bag on LeBron's teammates as inferior. It's not like he's playing with scrubs. Curry's season last year though sent him into a different stratosphere.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Rudy won the toss

Is there a worse basketball fan than PAChiefsGuy?

Me