Official 2013-2014 NBA Playoffs Thread

[darkewaffle]

I don't expect G1 of thunder/clips to really be exemplary of the entire series. I mean the Clippers absolutely demolished GS in G2 but GS still was only a couple of possessions away from winning that series at a few different points.

Clippers 3pt production was out of this world last night, Paul in particular. It might happen again, but certainly not every game.

 

[smackababy]

I don't expect G1 of thunder/clips to really be exemplary of the entire series. I mean the Clippers absolutely demolished GS in G2 but GS still was only a couple of possessions away from winning that series at a few different points.

Clippers 3pt production was out of this world last night, Paul in particular. It might happen again, but certainly not every game.

Yeah. I think Paul's performance shouldn't be something they expect to continue on. I mean 8/9 from beyond the arc is insane. This isn't going to be how every game goes, but it sure sets the pace for the series.

 

[darkewaffle]

Aaaaand Mark Jackson is out of a job already.

 

[DesiPower]

Was it just me of the officiating was just outright horrible last night during the OKC/LAC page? Although I was more than happy with the final outcome, I was just appalled at the amount of silly fouls OKC was getting or not getting...

 

[DesiPower]

Aaaaand Mark Jackson is out of a job already.

For a one man show team, they are doing pretty well under his guidance.

 

[preslove]

That's just my upset pick. I'm pretty sure that Miami will win that series but given the troubles that they had with the Hornets, and they've had a lot of rest, the Nets will probably take it to 7 and have a shot. I think most of the second round is going to 7.

It took brooklyn 7 games to beat toronto, and they're an old team. They'll be lucky to get to 6, but it will probably be a 4 or 5 game series...

 

[HendrixFan]

The early part of this Heat game is telling. Some of the smarter talking heads were assuming Battier, who hasn't seen any gametime in forever, would start. Spo was saving him for the right matchup where he would be effective. The Nets.

The Nets also lack real interior presence and the Heat are pushing into the paint. Kidd will have to make some serious adjustments or this series will be even shorter than I thought.

 

[vi edit]

Not sure what to say about the Mark Jackson firing. He always sort of annoyed me as a commentator but for some reason I rooted for him as a coach. He seemed like he had a great heart and a true love for the game. Also seemed like he made quite a bit of the youth and inexperience he had. Unfortunate for him/his team he's in the ultra competitive west. If GS was in the east it would be a very different story. GS must have some very tasty deal waiting with a premier coach or something. That young core is primed to explode for the next several years.

 

[Imported]

If the firing of Jackson backfires.. oh lord. First winning coach in years and they can him. IDK WTF the ownership is thinking.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Eh, I'm not really that bend out of shape about the Jackson firing. Coach and Management has to be in lockstep to have a winning foundation - that kind of friction is not good in the long term. If it was unlikely to be resolved, then the firing is better now than later.

But let's be real, just because it's a winning team doesn't mean it's all Jackson's doing. The biggest reason for a team's culture change is the ownership, and it's no coincidence that the Warriors improved once they got rid of fucking Chris Cohan.

 

[HendrixFan]

There was apparently alot of turmoil behind the scenes at GS. Jackson losing two assistants midseason is just the tip of the iceberg to the dysfunction he was presiding over.

From a strictly job performance perspective, Jackson was good at motivation but terrible at the Xs and Os. Much like Doug Collins or Scottie Brooks, he is a good guy to have around a young group of players but when you are ready to go to the next level, you need someone else. Jackson could be that guy in the future but he just isn't there yet.

 

[jcuadrado]

Heat looked extremely comfortable tonight. Spoelstra is looking brilliant so far with his changing rotations and lineups...he definitely has a well thought out plan.

Heat in 5.

 

[DesiPower]

i'd say 4-0, BKN is no match for Miami

 

[dbk]

I didn't understand why JKidd just let his bench take them out of reach like that... makes no sense

 

[dbk]

Portland is leaving the paint wide open for Parker..

 

[vi edit]

SA putting on a clinic. Yikes.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Proud of my team, the mavs, for the fight they put up.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Portland looked completely terrible in the first half. In the second half, they played the Spurs even, but you can't expect to get anywhere against the Spurs if you take whole quarters off. The Spurs, when they're on song, are the best team in the league, bar none. They may not have the youth or athleticism of some other contenders, but no team is better coached or plays better as a cohesive unit, and the form they've demonstrated in their last two games is the form that's made them perennial contenders for the past decade plus.

 

[IAteYourMother]

Things are different when you're not playing against a Kevin McHale coached team

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Things are different when you're not playing against a Kevin McHale coached team

True, but Portland was also missing wide open shots. Both teams looked pretty poor to start the game, but the Spurs recovered after 6 minutes and the Blazers didn't. If Portland had played like that against the Rockets, Kevin McHale could have been playing and the Rockets would have swept.

 

[dougp]

True, but Portland was also missing wide open shots. Both teams looked pretty poor to start the game, but the Spurs recovered after 6 minutes and the Blazers didn't. If Portland had played like that against the Rockets, Kevin McHale could have been playing and the Rockets would have swept.

Uh, the Spurs started off pretty well.

The big difference was 1) the Spurs attacked / were aggressive to start, 2) their bench scored 50 pts vs the Portland bench scoring 18 pts, 3) the Spurs had 21 assists on 44 baskets vs Portland having 9 assist on 31 baskets.

The Spurs played like they did during the last half of the season - considering they kept up that momentum with some odd scheduling/back to backs, they should be able to keep rolling.

 

[darkewaffle]

If Spurs bench can continue to score like that I don't know if there's really any stopping them. So many teams have to compromise so much when they go to their bench, the ability for SA to both maintain and extend leads with Ginobili/Bellinelli/Mills/Diaw (and last night Baynes) is devastating.

Though Parker looking like he's in peak form for two games in a row doesn't hurt either.

 

[dougp]

If Spurs bench can continue to score like that I don't know if there's really any stopping them. So many teams have to compromise so much when they go to their bench, the ability for SA to both maintain and extend leads with Ginobili/Bellinelli/Mills/Diaw (and last night Baynes) is devastating.

Though Parker looking like he's in peak form for two games in a row doesn't hurt either.

Hell, Manu wasn't very efficient last night - hopefully it was just an off night and not a regression after the fantastic play he had in the Dallas series.

 

[DesiPower]

Yesterday was another night of abysmal officiating... hope to see fair game today, which is not decided by referees.

 

[jcuadrado]

If Spurs bench can continue to score like that I don't know if there's really any stopping them. So many teams have to compromise so much when they go to their bench, the ability for SA to both maintain and extend leads with Ginobili/Bellinelli/Mills/Diaw (and last night Baynes) is devastating.

Though Parker looking like he's in peak form for two games in a row doesn't hurt either.

Yeah...what happened with the Mavs then? They almost upset them in the first round???

I think the defending 2 time champs may have a bench that can hang with the Spurs you think...you know the one with Ray Allen, Birdman....etc.