The games are starting later now, 9 pm. In earlier rounds there were doubleheaders.
Warriors look tough.
Generic NBA Playoffs Thread.
- Thread starter LionJim
- Start date
Warriors look tough.
Butler was fantastic. His last shot was a good decision; it just didn’t fall.
The Celtics had more options on offense, and they play good defense.
But the Dubs are a whole different matter. Not only are they FAR better shooters, but they pass and move without the ball very well. By contrast, the Celtics offense consists of a large measure of "hero ball," where one guy (usually Tatum or Brown) gets the ball and tries to make a move to the basket or to get open for a shot, while the other four guys just stand around on the perimeter. That is ugly basketball.
My projection: Dubs in five games.
The Celtics had more options on offense, and they play good defense.
But the Dubs are a whole different matter. Not only are they FAR better shooters, but they pass and move without the ball very well. By contrast, the Celtics offense consists of a large measure of "hero ball," where one guy (usually Tatum or Brown) gets the ball and tries to make a move to the basket or to get open for a shot, while the other four guys just stand around on the perimeter. That is ugly basketball.
My projection: Dubs in five games.
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Most of the time they are far better shooters and pass and move without the ball very well. When they play like that they can beat anybody but there are the good Warriors and the bad Warriors. The bad Warriors are like Mr. Hyde with out of control turnovers, fouls and bad shots and that team can show up at any time. They played two games like that against Memphis and were very lucky to win game 2. They played like that for three quarters in their loss to Dallas then turned it on in the 4th to make it look respectable but they were too far down. I expect they will have at least one game like that against Boston but the good Warriors will be out there most of time. GS in five or six.
GS has had a lot of injuries. Payton is cleared to play, though. They’re a damn fine team, lots of fun to watch. GSW in six.
Green, Curry and Thompson were on the court together a total of fifteen minutes during the regular season. That's how bad the injury situation was. But now they are back and ready to go. If Payton plays it would be amazing because I don't know how anyone could play an NBA game a month after fracturing their elbow. Otto Porter was out last game but just precautionary. Stay healthy and they will be hard to beat.
wow, what a crazy 2nd half in G1 of the NBA final.
The Warriors smoked the Celtics in the 3rd qtr (were up by 12 at the end of the 3rd), and the Celtics smoked the Warriors in the 4th qtr. (they won the game by 12, 120-108).
The Celtics had a 17-0 run in the 4th qtr., and shot 9-12 from 3 in the 4th qtr.
The Warriors smoked the Celtics in the 3rd qtr (were up by 12 at the end of the 3rd), and the Celtics smoked the Warriors in the 4th qtr. (they won the game by 12, 120-108).
The Celtics had a 17-0 run in the 4th qtr., and shot 9-12 from 3 in the 4th qtr.
Yep, that's the Warriors. Give credit to Boston because they couldn't miss in the 4th but as I said in a previous post Golden State is Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. In the 4th Mr. Hyde showed up and they couldn't do anything right.
I don't know how the series will end up, but I must say, it was fun to watch all the "Warriors in 5/6" pundits having to figure out how to talk about this Game 1 loss. It was also fun to imagine just how much they had to scrap and rewrite as the 4th quarter unfolded.
That said, 9 pm ET game starts are nonsense.
That said, 9 pm ET game starts are nonsense.
I caught the first 20 minutes, good game. I’m watching a rerun on NBA Channel right now.
The Warriors borrowed a page from the Celtics. That is giving up big leads. Boston, however, was able to hold on vs. Miami and was unstoppable in the 4th quarter last night. This should be an interesting series.
Yeah, this makes for a better series than I had anticipated. Al Horford, 100% a winner. Marcus Smart, 7-11 (4-7 from 3), 18 points, 0 turnovers in 30 minutes, a hell of a player.
I hadn’t realized Tatum shot 3-17. And Otto Hoya Porter played 24 minutes, shot 4-5 for threes (zero 2-point attempts), he was minus 18, how does that happen?
I have repeatedly praised Smart and Horford, in particular, amongst the Celtics. Zero BS, that’s contagious. GSW has a certain “look at me” attitude that isn’t always harmless. Last night, for example, after making a really slick pass, Curry immediately turned up court while the recipient of his pass wasn’t halfway through his shooting motion. It wasn’t a wide-open shot either. That 3-point shot was good, and it was an awesome display of talent, but I’ve seen this kind of showboating before and it rarely ends well.
I have repeatedly praised Smart and Horford, in particular, amongst the Celtics. Zero BS, that’s contagious. GSW has a certain “look at me” attitude that isn’t always harmless. Last night, for example, after making a really slick pass, Curry immediately turned up court while the recipient of his pass wasn’t halfway through his shooting motion. It wasn’t a wide-open shot either. That 3-point shot was good, and it was an awesome display of talent, but I’ve seen this kind of showboating before and it rarely ends well.
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I’m watching the replay and for the first time am seeing Smart and Horford dominate the last 4 minutes. Awesome basketball.
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I've noticed that about Curry this year, as I don't recall him being much of a showboat before. But for some reason he has been doing a lot of hotdogging this season. I think it really detracts from his game, but I'm not really the NBA's target demographic, so I'm sure they don't care what I think. I'm much more into the Stanley Cup Playoffs anyway.
Absolutely. I'm more than just an outlier here in Pittsburgh, because I'd trade hockey for an NBA franchise in a New York minute.
I tried to watch some of gm 1, but the NBA has turned into a 3pt shooting contest, everything is drive and kick.
a phenomenal 3rd qtr by the GSW. They outscored the Celtics 35-14, and lead 87-64 heading into the 4th qtr.
Final in Game 2, 107-88, GSW. The majority of the starters on both teams missed big chunks of the 4th qtr.
Tonight, we saw the GSW team that caused many pundits to predict them to win the series in 6 games.
Game 3 should be interesting
Tonight, we saw the GSW team that caused many pundits to predict them to win the series in 6 games.
Game 3 should be interesting
You knew that Al Horford and Marcus Smart were not gonna score 26 and 21, respectively, in Game 2. The whole Celtics team, with the exception of Tatum, shot their collective minds out in Game 1. That is hard to duplicate.
There's an article in today's S.F. Chronicle on my favorite player, Klay Thompson, and his struggle to return to pre- ACL and achilles tear form. Word is that he is a step slower than before, and that it shows on defense (which is supposedly why he was moved from guarding Jaylen Brown to guarding Al Horford), It also apparently figures in his shooting difficulties (27% from beyond the stripe). Word is that he does not come around screens quite as quickly as before, and often tries to compensate by speeding up his shooting motion. Seems like he misses short a lot, too, which suggests that he may not be getting quite as much lift as he used to on his jump shots. (?)
I hope this problem disappears as he continues to rehabilitate and get stronger. But it is worrisome. The Celtics have long, strong, and mobile defenders.
I hope this problem disappears as he continues to rehabilitate and get stronger. But it is worrisome. The Celtics have long, strong, and mobile defenders.
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Yeah, I was sad to see Klay not being the Klay of old. At his best he was pretty much the greatest catch-and-shoot gunner ever, him and Dale Ellis.
Not to worry. The NBA will make sure this series goes 7 games. So Klay just needs to have one good showing in game 7 to win the title.
GSW with another great 3rd qtr. However, the Celtics with a great 1st qtr and a great 4th qtr, and they take G3, 116-100.
I'm starting to think it may go the Celtics' way in this series. They have a distinct size and speed advantage on the Warriors. Steph is great, but he is small and it costs him defensively. Poole is small and a defensive liability. Draymond is very good defensively, particularly for his size, but he cannot match up with centers on a consistent basis.
The Celtics are shooting it really well from beyond the arc. I did not expect THAT. Jaylen Brown is really having a coming out party. I watched him as a college freshman at Cal, and he is now light years better. The physicality has been there all along, but his outside shot was virtually non-existent, and he frequently drove into traffic on the way to the hoop and had the ball stripped. He also got in foul trouble all the time. Fast forward to now, and he is shooting the three like crazy and taking it to the hoop really well. Tatum has a much deeper offensive repertoire, but Brown is much stronger, faster and physical. The block he made on Klay was remarkable. The Warriors may have to bring in their rookie, Jonathan Kuminga, off the bench to get more physical. That is a risk because Kuminga is still very unpolished.
One bright spot for the Dubs was the play of Klay Thompson. He started slow but really came on.
The Celtics are shooting it really well from beyond the arc. I did not expect THAT. Jaylen Brown is really having a coming out party. I watched him as a college freshman at Cal, and he is now light years better. The physicality has been there all along, but his outside shot was virtually non-existent, and he frequently drove into traffic on the way to the hoop and had the ball stripped. He also got in foul trouble all the time. Fast forward to now, and he is shooting the three like crazy and taking it to the hoop really well. Tatum has a much deeper offensive repertoire, but Brown is much stronger, faster and physical. The block he made on Klay was remarkable. The Warriors may have to bring in their rookie, Jonathan Kuminga, off the bench to get more physical. That is a risk because Kuminga is still very unpolished.
One bright spot for the Dubs was the play of Klay Thompson. He started slow but really came on.
Green is 5-19 for the series, 0-7 from 3. He used to be a threat from 3 but right now if I were Kerr I’d forbid him from taking any 3s.
great game by Steph, as they went from a 1-pt halftime lead to a 107-97 win in G4 in Boston. The series is now tied 2-2.
NBA players create their legacy in the playoffs, particularly the Finals, and Steph just had a game for the ages. 43 points and 10 rebounds. He flat out carried the Dubs in Game 4. With a bum leg.
It's amazing how this series changes from game to game. I was thinking that the Dubs' goose was possibly cooked after Game 3, but now they return to the Bay Area with the series tied and two of the final three games at the Chase Center.
Draymond has some really difficult matchups in this series. Williams and Horford are much bigger (Williams is something like 45 pounds and 5 inches bigger), and Brown is FAR more athletic. I am SO IMPRESSED with Jaylon Brown. And with Marcus Smart. Those guys were money. Even Horford kept hitting big treys. Where was this Celtic team earlier in the season?!!
You have to appreciate the talent on display in this series. I think it's pretty much a 50/50 proposition at this point as to which team wins it all.
It's amazing how this series changes from game to game. I was thinking that the Dubs' goose was possibly cooked after Game 3, but now they return to the Bay Area with the series tied and two of the final three games at the Chase Center.
Draymond has some really difficult matchups in this series. Williams and Horford are much bigger (Williams is something like 45 pounds and 5 inches bigger), and Brown is FAR more athletic. I am SO IMPRESSED with Jaylon Brown. And with Marcus Smart. Those guys were money. Even Horford kept hitting big treys. Where was this Celtic team earlier in the season?!!
You have to appreciate the talent on display in this series. I think it's pretty much a 50/50 proposition at this point as to which team wins it all.
It borders on the irrational how happy I am that the Dubs won tonight. Aside from the Lions (and to a lesser extent the Cal Bears football team, upon which I have pretty much abandoned hope), I don't root more for ANY team. Including the Dodgers. How can you dislike Steph Curry or Steve Kerr?
Tonight's game will leave me in a VERY good mood for the remainder of the weekend, with hopes that the Dubs can win game 5 at the Chase Center on Monday night.
Tonight's game will leave me in a VERY good mood for the remainder of the weekend, with hopes that the Dubs can win game 5 at the Chase Center on Monday night.
Curry was the Tasmanian Devil last night. He just willed his team to a victory. He had to because it's not unusual for role players to struggle on the road. Hopefully two home games back in SF will help out.
Definitely, but the Celtics' tendency for periods of unbelievably sloppy play may ultimately be their undoing in this series. As a Celtics fan, this one was especially hard to watch.
The series changes from game to game because it is FIXED by the NBA to go 7 games. Game 7 may be run legitimately, but this series is obviously being run so that it goes 7 games. The NBA badly needs to drum up interest in its product right now, and they are hoping a 7-game series will do that.
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