**2014 Official NBA Playoffs Thread**

[-King-]

Round 1:

EAST:

#8 Hawks @ #1 Pacers
#7 Bobcats @ #2 Heat
#6 Nets @ #3 Raptors
#5 Wizards @ #4 Bulls

WEST:
#8 Mavericks @ #1 Spurs
#7 Grizzlies @ #2 Thunder
#6 Warriors @ #3 Clippers
#5 Blazers @ #4 Rockets

[dirk digler]

I hate to revisit the Harden trade but damn could you imagine the matchup nightmare it would be at the end of games when all 3 are on the floor? That is scary...

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by okcchief

You have 3 ball dominant players. OKCs problem is not talent right now. It's playing as a team. It's predictability. No one ever gets the final shot except Durant. The ball needs to go through him or Westbrook, but a wide open 16 footer for Serge Ibaka is a better shot than Durant or Westbrook chunking up shit. He's more accurate with that shot than anyone in the league. You can't become Steve Kerr, Big Shot Bob, on an on if you never get a chance to take the shot. On the other side you can't hit the shot if you have any hesitation. They need to trust their teamates and if they fail find somone who won't. The coach needs to send that message. Champions arent built on just superstars.

I agree with most of this. OKC's offense is a mess. They rely on Durant for a ridiculous amount (which is partially why he deserves MVP this year). But if you have 3 guys on the same team that are as good as those three, the team would not have been stopped offensively regardless.

I also disagree on Harden being a top 10 player until he performs in the playoffs.

He did perform well in the playoffs for OKC, though. His performance as a #1 in Houston is mostly irrelevant for what he potentially would have done in OKC because he never would have taken on such a role there.

They can still win this series and the West if a lightbulb goes off. This team has always been a rough matchup for them. 2 OT losses when they played like garbage isnt the end of the World. Two more losses are.

If they win game 4, they'll win the series I think. If they don't...

I do respect your viewpoints, but I think the Harden trade cost the Thunder titles is way too simplistic.

It may have, we'll never know. What I'm saying is that if they don't win titles with a player as good as Durant, people will always be asking "What if?" about the trade.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Portlands starting 5 might be the best in the league. Because the benches are shortened in the plaoyffs I don't think it's crazy to say they have a shot. I wouldn't want to play them.

I like your thinking. Let's make this so.

[-King-]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Portlands starting 5 might be the best in the league. Because the benches are shortened in the plaoyffs I don't think it's crazy to say they have a shot. I wouldn't want to play them.

I really hope they don't go far. Not that I don't like them, but out of all the teams in the West playoffs, they're definitely my least favorite.

[KCwolf]

Being a Blazer fan - Houston was the one team we did NOT want to play. Howard vs. Lopez was a horrible matchup all season --- however .... if we get out of this series alive and a W tonight, then look out -- I think we can make some noise. Sorry King.

[kcxiv]

Do the Rockets go down 3-0 tonight? I hope so! I wanna see Dwight lose it on the court again and proceed to give no ****s and be criticized!

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Do the Rockets go down 3-0 tonight? I hope so! I wanna see Dwight lose it on the court again and proceed to give no ****s and be criticized!

I'm not counting out Houston just yet. Beard is pissed at the local media. If he gets in that zone where he is draining 30 foot pull-up j's, then watch out. Aldridge just put up 2 career nights and Houston should have won game 1.

That said, **** Beverley, Lin, and McHale. If they get swept then I hope all 3 are gone.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

I'm not counting out Houston just yet. Beard is pissed at the local media. If he gets in that zone where he is draining 30 foot pull-up j's, then watch out. Aldridge just put up 2 career nights and Houston should have won game 1.

That said, **** Beverley, Lin, and McHale. If they get swept then I hope all 3 are gone.

Acquiring Lin was stupid and I thought they pretty much got him to keep the Asian fan following started with Yao so they could tap a huge market to make money off merchandising.

[The Bad Guy]

Please. Houston is finished.

[KC_Connection]

Doubt Portland loses at home.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Doubt Portland loses at home.

Tough order facing a motivated team backed into a corner down 0-2.

But I'd be ecstatic if they get the W.

Maybe they can make some noise because right now nobody looks like they're hitting on all cylinders.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Man, LeBron is a pussy. It's ****ing Charlotte.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja

Do the Rockets go down 3-0 tonight? I hope so! I wanna see Dwight lose it on the court again and proceed to give no ****s and be criticized!

Man dude, you're STILL some kind of butt hurt over LOSING Dwight!

Harden's the problem for Houston NOT Howard. (Unless shooting FT's are the topic of conversation). Regardless your Lakers are worse off without him.

[KevB]

Originally Posted by okcchief

They can still win this series and the West if a lightbulb goes off. This team has always been a rough matchup for them. 2 OT losses when they played like garbage isnt the end of the World. Two more losses are.

I might argue that there's a reason they have played like garbage, Memphis is a really good defensive team. And Memphis can play better as well; Gasol and ZBo have shot something like 38% in the series (credit to Thunder defense for this as well).

Thunder can absolutely win the series. People are upset because they haven't played an attractive brand of basketball; used to seeing them dominate on the offensive end. That's going to be hard to do against the Grizz. But that doesn't mean they can't still grind out 3 more wins. Thunder are also a very good defensive team, so they're capable of winning a slugfest.

I'm happy the Grizz are up 2-1, but I also feel good that they can play better, especially when trying to close out games at the end of regulation. ZBo has to be a bit more efficient and Gasol has to be engaged at the end of the game.

[-King-]

I just want to go back to the days of making fun of Memphis for dumping Hollins. Is that too much to ask?