Official 2011-2012 NBA Playoffs Thread

[WT]

Game .. OKC now 0-2 in this series.

 

[DesiPower]

great contest, game 3 will be interesting! Spurs did get beat up a bit today, hope they survive 7 games

 

[vi edit]

At this point I'm fully aboard the Spurs bandwagon getting ready to open a bottle of Heat flavored Haterade.

 

[kevman]

At this point I'm fully aboard the Spurs bandwagon getting ready to open a bottle of Heat flavored Haterade.

brilliant...haha

 

[Don Karnage]

If the heat win tonight i think they'll sweep the Celtics. Spurs/Heat would be an interesting series.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The first 6 minutes of the third quarter was the definition of flawless basketball. Everything the Spurs did was perfect, and it was a joy to watch. OKC gets 88 points from Durant, Westbrook and Harden and still lose handily, and it's mostly because Westbrook took too many shots while shooting a crappy percentage. But still, if you get ~90 points from your big 3 and still get beat, what else can you do? The Spurs are just on another level right now.

That said, I fully expect OKC to win the next two games at home.

 

[WT]

That said, I fully expect OKC to win the next two games at home.

Really ??? Wow ... not agreeing on this one. Spurs are a veteran team, they will not drop both on the road. No way. A current 20 game win streak and you say they now go 0-2 ?

 

[dougp]

The first 6 minutes of the third quarter was the definition of flawless basketball. Everything the Spurs did was perfect, and it was a joy to watch. OKC gets 88 points from Durant, Westbrook and Harden and still lose handily, and it's mostly because Westbrook took too many shots while shooting a crappy percentage. But still, if you get ~90 points from your big 3 and still get beat, what else can you do? The Spurs are just on another level right now.

That said, I fully expect OKC to win the next two games at home.

You're really crazy. Quite honestly, if the Spurs win game 3, they'll probably take game 4. There's absolutely no reason they shouldn't - they don't have enough defenders to take the Spurs out of a game completely without an injury.

 

[vi edit]

You're really crazy. Quite honestly, if the Spurs win game 3, they'll probably take game 4. There's absolutely no reason they shouldn't - they don't have enough defenders to take the Spurs out of a game completely without an injury.

Your statement is no more crazy than his. OKC is a fast and dangerous team. They had SA pinned in game one and let them out. They rallied back in game two but couldn't sustain. They are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. They aren't going to roll over and die.

 

[dougp]

Your statement is no more crazy than his. OKC is a fast and dangerous team. They had SA pinned in game one and let them out. They rallied back in game two but couldn't sustain. They are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. They aren't going to roll over and die.

No, but they haven't played a team like the Spurs in the playoffs. OKC has to win game 3 - absolutely has to. Game 1 was not as close as it appears on paper - the Spurs basically allowed the Thunder to score in the closing minutes and avoided fouling. As for game 2, Pop adjusted after OKC went small and just left the game out of reach for the Thunder. That, and being in the penalty for 9 minutes helped them.

You can't expect that with San Antonio - Brooks isn't coaching opposite of Brown or Carlisle. He's up against one of the greatest, if NOT the greatest, coaches in the game - who has personnel who understand their role, their team and what needs to be done.

Did you see how Perkins was reacting to some of his calls earlier in the game? He looked like Bynum out there.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Your statement is no more crazy than his. OKC is a fast and dangerous team. They had SA pinned in game one and let them out. They rallied back in game two but couldn't sustain. They are 5-0 at home in the playoffs. They aren't going to roll over and die.

The Thunder aren't unbeatable at home. You saw the Lakers in G2 before Kobe blew it. Almost all of OKC's games were very close.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Don't get me wrong, the Spurs are playing incredible basketball. And even with their incredible play, OKC has been within striking distance in both games. They led in the 4th quarter in Game 1. They pulled within 6 with 6 minutes left in the 4th last night after the shellacking they took through the first three quarters. If they're at home, they're riding that momentum to a victory in both games. Yes, Pop is a great coach and he has the Spurs playing the best ball of anyone in the league this year. But the Thunder have been right there with them. The home crowd can have a substantial effect, particularly on a player like Westbrook who feeds off the crowd.

It's foolish to write off the Spurs like people did throughout the regular season. But it's also foolish to write off the Thunder.

 

[dougp]

Don't get me wrong, the Spurs are playing incredible basketball. And even with their incredible play, OKC has been within striking distance in both games. They led in the 4th quarter in Game 1. They pulled within 6 with 6 minutes left in the 4th last night after the shellacking they took through the first three quarters. If they're at home, they're riding that momentum to a victory in both games. Yes, Pop is a great coach and he has the Spurs playing the best ball of anyone in the league this year. But the Thunder have been right there with them. The home crowd can have a substantial effect, particularly on a player like Westbrook who feeds off the crowd.

It's foolish to write off the Spurs like people did throughout the regular season. But it's also foolish to write off the Thunder.

I don't write off the Thunder, but I am saying that if they can't win the first game in OKC then odds are they'll fall in game 4.

 

[bearxor]

I don't think SA was really prepared for game 1. I think they took a 'Let's see what they do' approach and adjusted during the game. That's why game 1 was even close. The Spurs were very sloppy the first quarter and a half and the 3rd.

I expect OKC to win one. I really do.
(But I'll secretly be hoping for a sweep!).

 

[DesiPower]

Can't wait to see what the officials do tonight!! wont be surprised if David Stern himself comes down to the court and gives James and Wade a double bj in front of everyone...

 

[Squisher]

..

 

[DesiPower]

Off Topic: Lidstrom to retire.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120530/SPORTS0103/205300406/Report-Wings-star-Nicklas-Lidstrom-will-announce-retirement-Thursday?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

There is a separate sticky NHL thread...

*Edit*
too late

 

[Squisher]

There is a separate sticky NHL thread...

Oops

 

[blamb425]

Boston is off to a great start. If the pace of the game stays this slow, I don't see the Heat coming back. Ray Allen also seems to have his shot going.

 

[HendrixFan]

The pace isn't slow. Boston is shooting 65%, the Heat are at 30%. If both trends continue the Heat will lose but that should be obvious.

 

[NeoV]

best half of shooting the basketball I've ever seen from Rondo - and I'm not a fan of his at all

that said - Boston can't play much better, and right now they are only up 7 - and Wade is scoreless

If I'm the Heat, I'm feeling pretty good about my chances in the 2nd half

 

[Capt Caveman]

When Rondo is aggressive, attacking the basket, it opens up everything. Too bad he doesn't consistently do it.

 

[DesiPower]

haha fun while it lasted...

 

[dougp]

Who can lose a lead faster than the Clippers?

The Celtics!

 

[Fingolfin269]

I'm not an NBA fan but like rooting against the Heat enough to peek in to the games from time to time. WTF Boston?