**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

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by KC native

Love is going to the Knicks or the Bulls.

He should talk Pop out of retiring when Tim retires and go win 4 championships in a row with the Spurs.

Minnesota should trade Love to Houston

Asik (white)
Parsons (white)
Lin
Draft pick

More realistically... Get a third team involved

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Heat still in 5 huh?

Yes. Their coach is a punk and the team as a whole are a bunch of whiners. West being chief among them. When their coach took the starters out of the game with ample time during that shellacking the Wizards gave them I lost all respect for that entire team. They don't deserve to win anything.

[Setsuna]

Originally Posted by Mr_Tomahawk

LeBron should head back to Cleveland and talk some FA in joining him.

They could develop a nice little Ohio vs Indiana border war.

You're right. He should go back to the people that made sure he knew they hated his guts and burned his jerseys and junk. Brilliant.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by KC native

Love is going to the Knicks or the Bulls.

He should talk Pop out of retiring when Tim retires and go win 4 championships in a row with the Spurs.

Love's people said he's not coming back to Minnesota. Of the interested teams (Bulls, Lakers and Knicks) the Bulls have the deepest roster so the Wolves would get more value there. Unless a third team is added to the mix for the lesser talented teams. If not, I don't see how he goes anywhere but Chicago or stays in Minnesota for the final year. If so, the Wolves get nothing in return. Teams would be smart to get him now though and not wait. Win now.

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by Setsuna

Yes. Their coach is a punk and the team as a whole are a bunch of whiners. West being chief among them. When their coach took the starters out of the game with ample time during that shellacking the Wizards gave them I lost all respect for that entire team. They don't deserve to win anything.

lmao, you must be joking.

[Mr_Tomahawk]

Originally Posted by Setsuna

You're right. He should go back to the people that made sure he knew they hated his guts and burned his jerseys and junk. Brilliant.

Yeah...

I'm sure they wouldn't take him back.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by KC native

Love is going to the Knicks or the Bulls.

He should talk Pop out of retiring when Tim retires and go win 4 championships in a row with the Spurs.

The Lakers are much more in play than a team like the Bulls for him.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

The Lakers are much more in play than a team like the Bulls for him.

Nope. The Bulls have a deeper roster that would fill out needs for the Wolves. They're the favorites way earlier in the game. The Lakers are void of talent but are gonna have a nice draft pick (of which Kupchak said he's willing to give up if the price is right). The question is are the Wolves content with only one top pick and/or players the Lakers could or would provide? Rumor right now is Robert Sacre, 2014 1st Round Pick for Kevin Love (If Pau Gasol leaves). Bulls and Warriors can offer more quality and quantity than that. It's gonna be the Bulls or Warriors, IMO.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by KC native

LIES! Pop is immortal.

Outside of Rick Adelman (who finally retired) he's the most feeble head coach in the league. It wasn't hard. I didn't even need a weapon. One strike to the skull is all it took.

[okcchief]

I'm not sure how the loss of Ibaka effects the Thunder. Yes you subtract shot blocking and scoring. You also remove the worst basketball IQ on the team for the best basketball IQ on the team. Brooks has really limited Collison's minutes this year and I think it's been a factor in the inconsistent play of the bench. I think it gets Jones back in the lineup as well and possibly Lamb. I don't know if it's subtraction or addition by subtraction. All I know is their spacing is better when Collision is in the game, and strangely enough I'm not sure they win the Clippers series if Collison gets a DNP. I do feel the Thunder can still win the series because the Spurs have never been able to get a handle on Westbrook and Jackson. Adams also can account for some of that lost rim protection. The biggest issue I see is depth lost because OKC bigs tend to get in foul trouble. The roster is there to still win the series no doubt. This may force Brooks to make some moves he should have made in the first place

I could just use the reeruned logic of KC Native. The Spurs never go to the Finals in even numbered years.

[okcchief]

I also think it was a mistake for the Thunder to announce the injury publicly.. Not wise to give Pop extra prep time.

If Parker isn't right SA is more ****ed than OKC.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I'm not sure how the loss of Ibaka effects the Thunder. Yes you subtract shot blocking and scoring. You also remove the worst basketball IQ on the team for the best basketball IQ on the team. Brooks has really limited Collison's minutes this year and I think it's been a factor in the inconsistent play of the bench. I think it gets Jones back in the lineup as well and possibly Lamb. I don't know if it's subtraction or addition by subtraction. All I know is their spacing is better when Collision is in the game, and strangely enough I'm not sure they win the Clippers series if Collison gets a DNP. I do feel the Thunder can still win the series because the Spurs have never been able to get a handle on Westbrook and Jackson. Adams also can account for some of that lost rim protection. The biggest issue I see is depth lost because OKC bigs tend to get in foul trouble. The roster is there to still win the series no doubt. This may force Brooks to make some moves he should have made in the first place

I could just use the reeruned logic of KC Native. The Spurs never go to the Finals in even numbered years.

Anytime you have KD and Westbrook, it's not over until it's official. OKC is still a very talented team without Ibaka. I expect a more focused, spread OKC team and a great series between two heavyweights.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by okcchief

I also think it was a mistake for the Thunder to announce the injury publicly.. Not wise to give Pop extra prep time.

If Parker isn't right SA is more ****ed than OKC.

Patty Mills, Tony Parker, and Manu are going to live in the lane without Ibaka in the game.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KC native

Patty Mills, Tony Parker, and Manu are going to live in the lane without Ibaka in the game.

Adams is a great shot blocker and Westbrook and Jackson will have to take the challenge. I'm happy a lot of people are counting them out. That's when they focus and play their best.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Adams is a great shot blocker and Westbrook and Jackson will have to take the challenge. I'm happy a lot of people are counting them out. That's when they focus and play their best.

I'm not underestimating the Thunder and I doubt the Spurs are either.

That being said, it's going to be next to impossible for the Thunder to stop the Spurs offense with Ibaka being out. Parker, Mills, and Manu are going to go right at Adams, Perkins, and Collison early to get them in foul trouble and discourage them from clogging the lane.

It's going to be a battle of how can get occasional stops while keeping their offense moving. With Ibaka out, that type of series favors the Spurs heavily.