I got Portland over the Warriors. Especially if KD isn't 100% and Curry's fingers are still bothering him. CJ and Damian have been incredible. I don't see them containing that back court. Lou Williams and even Eric Gordon had their way with them. I got Toronto over the Bucks. Even though I wanna see Giannis make it (he's my MVP not Harden), it'll be a great story line for the young guy, I just think Toronto's experience will carry them over, Kwahi has been great. I won't be mad at a Bucks/Blazers finals. It'll be cool to see the other Curry brother win. Hopefully we'll be rooting for our Lakers around this time next year.
it's not crazy. the west wasn't as strong as people said, imo. gs is a powerhouse. houston's tough to beat on account of the refs. other than that, are you really scared of denver, portland, utah, SA, or the clips? a lebron-led lakers team could beat any of them. they could also lose to any of them. still, portland wasn't that much better than healthy lakers.
Ruled out for Game 1 May 13, 2019 Durant (calf) will not play in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on Tuesday, and he's "unlikely" to play in Thursday's Game 2, Ramona Shelburne of ESPN reports. So is dynasty ending ?
I don’t think we could have made it to the WCF even if healthy. We had an easy schedule to start the year and still lost a ton of games even after Bron came back from his injury. We would have won more games but we didn’t have the shooting to go toe to toe with some of these teams. I know we didn’t want to try to outshoot GS but how did that work out for us?
Best thing that could happen is if gsw wins without him. He’d be gone, which I think he is anyway. We really need kyrie to leave, thus screwing Boston.
What two great game 7's and it was easier to enjoy knowing Boston and Houston were out of it. Now its going to be Curry vs Curry and Gasol vs Gasol.
Can't wait for these two conference finals. If they were anything like the semi's we're in for a treat. Those game 7's were just incredible. I think that Denver Portland game was honestly the best game I've seen all season. I'm definitely rooting for Blazers and Bucks Finals. Those are the two most exciting teams to me. I'm through with the Warriors. They served their purpose in disposing of the disgusting Rockets. Now I'm done with 'em. I think the Blazers will give them fits. At least I am hoping they do.
I was also commenting with some friends that the Blazers-Nuggets game was the best of the whole season. It was quite awesome. I'd also love a Blazers-Bucks finals. I'm loving the idea of Lillard finally making some good Playoffs progress, since he was kinda stuck at 2nd round at most. The guy is really good (and of course, so is McCollum) and I always felt he deserved more than that. Injuries have been tough with his teams through pretty much his whole career and even now they have a key injury, but they're still going forward. Also, he's been well-payed, but I can respect that he's been in Portland his whole career. On the other hand, Bucks are a really good "new" team. The Bucks haven't really been relevant since Ray Allen and Glenn Robinson were there, and this team is much better than that one, the best Bucks team at least since Sidney Moncrief was there, and maybe even since the Kareem-Oscar years. Giannis is a good kid and I love his career progression, which really shows a ton of hours invested in his game. He feels like the MIP from the past 5 years. Reminds me a bit of Kobe in that aspect. I can't say I trust the Blazers too much against the Warriors, which is my least favorite choice to win the title among the remaining teams. I feel that even without KD they're just incredibly good, and the Blazers are a bit short on power to compete. That doesn't mean I think it's going to be a sweep, but maybe a 4-1. Hopefully I'm wrong, and I do believe I may be wrong (they need both Lillard and McCollum in top form), I will most definitelly be rooting for Portland. Toronto is a team I could root for. I kinda like them, but it's true that a win by them makes our odds for Kawhi even worse, which is bad I guess even though I have 0 confidence on getting Kawhi, no matter the results here. But like I said, I also like these Bucks, so I'm going with them here, though while I will be rooting for the Bucks, I can't help but also root for Kawhi to keep giving the display he's been giving through the Playoffs. It's been amazing to watch. The most fun I've had with a player probably since our very Kobe or maybe Dirk in 2011. But Giannis is a monster. The spotlight hasn't really been on him, but that's because the Bucks completely oblitarated the Pistons (I actually had to check who they played on the first round because I had already forgotten about the Pistons) and then destroyed Boston. No need for heroics, no need for game seven or anything remotely similar. Giannis vs Kawhi will be incredibly fun, but the Bucks are just so much better as a team, that I think there's a clear favorite. Let's hope the day we can root for the Lakers during this time of the year is close, which will make the Playoffs so much enjoyable for us for obvious reasons, but for now, and for the first time in many years, we're having some good Playoffs, even if we're not there.
I’m reading some the posts and to you guys must be wishful thinking if your pick is the Blazers. What the Blazers showed against the Nuggets will not be good enough against the Warriors. The Warriors’ D is underrated... Also, Toronto doesn’t have enough offense or defense for the Bucks. I don’t think the Raptors will be able to score enough to keep up as Milwaukee’s defense is underrated. Sorry but Kawhi will get bounced this next round.
I hope quickly and New Balance and Linda Rambis flex their muscle. "This is what's going to happen, kidd".
The botched AD trade cooked us for the 2nd half of the season. Whether the talent is there or not is open to debate, but the team chemistry was awful after the trade deadline, and that's on LBJ and the front office. I have massive respect for LBJ away from the game- high quality guy- but question his leadership of the team. If I were him, over the summer I'd be doing everything I can to mend fences and unite guys. We'll see.
Good analysis. Klay's defense has become very good the last few years. Klay vs McCollum will be great to watch. To me, McCollum is a stealth elite player, doesnt get near the recognition he deserves. He is big time clutch.
I just dont see us as an attractive place for Kawhi. Decent but unproven young core, aging ball dominant superstar, 2nd tier coach, disfunctional FO. Not a formula that would be appealing to a guy that can write his ticket. OTOH the Clippers are in a very different place. Decent core- mix of vets and good young players, no superstar, very good (if not elite) coach, excellent FO, lots of draft picks.
Rivers elite coach , really ? He's one of the worst in history Blown Playoff Leads: Doc is the only coach ever to blow two 3-1 series leads; he has also blown five 3-2 leads. Clippers' NBA-Record Five Straight Blown Playoff Leads: 2013: Blown 2-0 lead to Grizzlies 2014: Blown 1-0 lead to Thunder ("Coached" by Doc) 2015: Blown 3-1 lead to Rockets ("Coached" by Doc) 2016: Blown 2-0 lead to Blazers ("Coached" by Doc) 2017: Blown 2-1 lead to Jazz ("Coached" by Doc) Worst Game 7 Home Losses in Shot-Clock Era: 2005 C Bags: lost by 27 to Pacers ("Coached" by Doc) 2009 C Bags: lost by 19 to Magic ("Coached" by Doc) 1973 C Bags: lost by 16 to Knicks 1974 Bucks: lost by15 to C Bags 1982 C Bags: lost by 14 to Sixers 2017 Clippers: lost by 13 to Jazz ("Coached" by Doc)
