Wow, I can't believe what I just witnessed. That was the comeback of all comebacks. I'm still rooting for Memphis, but dang, it's tough to recover psychologically from something like that.
Considering my brother's a Grizzlies fan, I might have to avoid him until Game 2. I should also avoid wearing red and making shots in basketball in fear of him thinking I'm a Clippers player and I die.
I pick the Heat to win it all. And I hope they do. I didn't get caught up in the whole Heat as Villains thing. If I lived in Miami, maybe, but I don't, so his tactlessness in announcing his departure didn't really mean shit to me. I love watching Lebron play. Who else leads their team in points, assists, rebounds, and steals for the entire year? Twice? Purely sick. I'd love to see him top it off with some hardware.
With Rose out, the path to the Finals should be clear for them. I don't see OKC taking them down. Durant is clutch, as he showed last night against Dallas, but I don't think they can do it across 7 against the Heat. The Spurs are the biggest surprise to me, not just in their record, but in how they're doing it. They have a lot of explosive, young depth that can take pressure off the vets. Parker has been phenomenal. They'd be my second choice.
It's not just the move for me. I'm a Chicago fan so there's a rivalry there but it's also cause I like to root for the underdogs, and ever since the big three joined forces they play the favorites role really well. I also dislike LeBron for being one of the most frequent and blatant floppers in the game right now.
They do play the favorite role well, without a doubt. The flopping doesn't bother me too much though. It's part of the game. Lebron just doesn't do it right. A frequent flopper can make it work as part of their persona on the court, a la Reggie Miller or Karl Malone. They both did it in a "Yeah, I just flopped, and you fell for it, so you're stupid" kind of way, which ironically seemed to make it into an almost respectable part of their games. When Lebron does it, it just comes across as weird and insincere, like he wants everyone watching to actually believe it
As a OKC fan, watching two straight playoff series against the Mavs is extremely nerve racking. Dirk is so annoying against OKC, he picks any quarter he wants to turn it on, and if its the first, he'll get 40 and we're fucked. I really hate playing Dallas. My only wish if we drop this series is that Ibaka, Durant, Russell, and Harden go to Hakeem Olajuwon's house and get post up games. Hell, I hope that happens regardless.
I pick the Heat to win it all. And I hope they do. I didn't get caught up in the whole Heat as Villains thing. If I lived in Miami, maybe, but I don't, so his tactlessness in announcing his departure didn't really mean shit to me. I love watching Lebron play. Who else leads their team in points, assists, rebounds, and steals for the entire year? Twice? Purely sick. I'd love to see him top it off with some hardware.
With Rose out, the path to the Finals should be clear for them. I don't see OKC taking them down. Durant is clutch, as he showed last night against Dallas, but I don't think they can do it across 7 against the Heat. The Spurs are the biggest surprise to me, not just in their record, but in how they're doing it. They have a lot of explosive, young depth that can take pressure off the vets. Parker has been phenomenal. They'd be my second choice.
It's not just the move for me. I'm a Chicago fan so there's a rivalry there but it's also cause I like to root for the underdogs, and ever since the big three joined forces they play the favorites role really well. I also dislike LeBron for being one of the most frequent and blatant floppers in the game right now.
They do play the favorite role well, without a doubt. The flopping doesn't bother me too much though. It's part of the game. Lebron just doesn't do it right. A frequent flopper can make it work as part of their persona on the court, a la Reggie Miller or Karl Malone. They both did it in a "Yeah, I just flopped, and you fell for it, so you're stupid" kind of way, which ironically seemed to make it into an almost respectable part of their games. When Lebron does it, it just comes across as weird and insincere, like he wants everyone watching to actually believe it
I'd rather the league made blatant flopping a technical, that shit shouldn't be part of the game. Faking fouls shouldn't be part of the game. Playing hard, playing respectably, playing legitimately should be what's endorsed by the league. As it is, a lot of wins now are blemished by gifs or youtube vids of blatant flops and that's not how it should be.
@SeverePapercut: Yeah, watching OKC guard Dirk so tight in the 4th only for him to do his patented one foot fadeaway and hit it for 13 straight points was insane. I was (am) pulling for OKC so hard in that series, they're really likable and (IMO) deserve to win a championship at some point. That and the fact that I think them and SA are the 2 teams with the best chance against the Heat.
I'd rather the league made blatant flopping a technical, that shit shouldn't be part of the game. Faking fouls shouldn't be part of the game. Playing hard, playing respectably, playing legitimately should be what's endorsed by the league. As it is, a lot of wins now are blemished by gifs or youtube vids of blatant flops and that's not how it should be.
I certainly see your point. It's just that there's no way the league could establish enforcible guidelines that define what flopping is. It's one of those things where they kind of have to err on the side of caution. So it opens an expoitable loophole of sorts, and there's always going to be people who will take advantage of that, kind of like players faking injuries in football to get a free timeout I'm just saying that if you're going to do it, at least be kind of upfront about it and don't take it too far. It's in the hands of the player in how they handle it. It does make me roll my eyes when Lebron does it, especially the other night. That was silly.
I'm a huge Miami Heat fan and have been for years, but even I got to admit that Lebron was doing tons of flopping Saturday. What I came here to mention though is wow what a comeback by the Clippers. They definitely stole that game and in my mind probably just took the series. The Grizzlies aren't that great of a 3pt shooting team and they shot amazing last night from behind the arc and still lost. Factor that it with the fact the CP3 and Blake Griffin aren't likely to struggle like they did last night leads me to think that the Clips will take this one in 6 games. Although, losing Caron Butler for the rest of the playoffs is a huge blow.
The heat game was just stupid. The announcers couldn't say enough good things about the flop artist and the refs shouldn't be allowed to work another game till next year and going thru training again. SI better do some pics of cheerleaders. Past couple years they have really cut back on that.
@iBePeRFeCT: Griffin will likely struggle in this series. Th Grizzlies have some of the stoutest post defense in the league and they really clog the lane so there won't be many open dunks. The problem is he has one post move, a spin move into a layup or jump hook, and as soon as he does it he is beaten to his spot and double teamed. However, CP3 is so good that the Clips still have a chance, as last night showed.
Yeah, the Grizzlies do have a really tough defense especially with Tony Allen and Marc Gasol leading the way, but I do Blake Griffin can be a little bit more effective than he was last night even though he still scored 17 points. On another note, I really hate the Rose injury. I was hoping he would be full strength if the Heat were to play them in the Eastern Conference finals. I prefer we play the best at their full strength so there wouldn't be any excuses if the Heat were to win the championship this year. With Howard and Rose being out there are two different teams in the East that are missing their superstars.
Howard, Rose, Horford, Shumpert (not a superstar clearly, but still important to the Knicks), Billups, Ginobili and Zach Randolph earlier this year, Aldridge, just to name a few... This season has been insane with the amount of serious/season ending injuries.
And about the Grizz/Clippers, wow man, did not see that coming... Hopefully Memphis gets their act together and this game doesn't cost them the series.
I'd rather the league made blatant flopping a technical, that shit shouldn't be part of the game. Faking fouls shouldn't be part of the game. Playing hard, playing respectably, playing legitimately should be what's endorsed by the league. As it is, a lot of wins now are blemished by gifs or youtube vids of blatant flops and that's not how it should be.
I certainly see your point. It's just that there's no way the league could establish enforcible guidelines that define what flopping is. It's one of those things where they kind of have to err on the side of caution. So it opens an expoitable loophole of sorts, and there's always going to be people who will take advantage of that, kind of like players faking injuries in football to get a free timeout I'm just saying that if you're going to do it, at least be kind of upfront about it and don't take it too far. It's in the hands of the player in how they handle it. It does make me roll my eyes when Lebron does it, especially the other night. That was silly.
Well whether one is flopping or not is certainly subjective, but so is a lot of other calls refs have to make in the NBA. If you have to tell the refs to err on the side of caution and only call blatant flops, then that's still better than letting players get away with some of the stuff they do- see that Lebron flop posted on the previous page.
@Cake: Yeah I totally forgot about Horford. It has been a crazy season with all these superstars getting season ending injuries. I much prefer to see the playoffs where all the teams are at full strength with everyone healthy so the best teams make it to the Finals, but dealing with injuries is part of the game and I guess I shouldn't really be complaining if it ends up helping Miami get a ring this year.
@Cake: Yeah, the Mavs gave OKC all they could handle in the first two games, then they gave up in game 3 and in game 4, they tried harder but couldn't even collect a victory at home to keep the series going. Kind of happy to see OKC advance, but I'm shocked the former defending champs, despite being a 7 seed, couldn't make the series closer.
Wow the Knicks managed to get a win against the Heat, it "only" took a superhuman performance from Carmelo, but still nice too see that the Heat are beatable. Also, as a big Bulls fan, I really hope that they end up winning their series, despite having too play without D.Rose(and Noah?).
Anyway, on the topic at hand. I'm actually gonna take Spurs and Heat in the Finals, with the Spurs beating OKC in overtime of Game 7 of the WCF.
...that is, if both of these teams can stay healthy. We've seen surefire contenders fall this playoff season due to season ending injuries, and one of them is already on the chopping block... and there's your 8-seed upset for this year.
I just feel really bad for George Karl after that loss today he looked like he was going to cry. Really don't want the nuggets to lose the next game and I'm not even a nuggets fan.
@YetiAntics: Mercy. You can have the series. You know what? The series is already yours. Just lets us have one at home. Ty Corbin needs a playoff victory, and those young players need some confidence.
I have to say, haven't read any of the comment's so far...but here's my NBA playoff's talk. Im from Denver and me being me, a Huge Nuggets fan! Watching the game last night made me very angry because I hate the fucking Fakers but that's what happens when your a Nuggets fan. Having said that, I would love to see OKC take it in the finals if they make it. Because we all know the Denver Nuggets only have a prayer.
Did anyone see that crazy girl run up on the court during the Lakers Nuggets game. From what I heard she was looking for Keyon Martin and the lady was supposedly stalking him. Little does she know he hasn't been a Nugget for a year now and is now on the clippers. Somebody needs some child support.
@YetiAntics: Mercy. You can have the series. You know what? The series is already yours. Just lets us have one at home. Ty Corbin needs a playoff victory, and those young players need some confidence.
So many Lebron haters. There has been some bad calls on both sides, not just on the heat. Anyways I think the West Conference Finals will probably be between OKC and Spurs, if Durant and the Thunder can overcome Lakers. East, I will have to go with Miami and Boston. That series looks like it will be intense (if it happens). But I really wish OKC and Miami make it to the finals, if anybody watched the 2 games in the regular season knows what I'm talking about. I'm just hoping the Heat will take it this year to calm things down and get some stress of Lebron. If he doesn't win it this year, haters going to have a field day.
I glad the Spurs won the series and get time to rest. One thing that has been bugging me for a while is the whole asterisk talk happening again. After twelve years there are still basketball pundits wanting to discredit the Spurs first championship. The major media markets can hate on San Antonio all they want. Four championship banners are still hanging in the AT&T Center.
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