**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

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

You're goddamn right I'm going to bitch. That refereeing was a joke down the stretch of the game (which is par for the course at OKC and is a credit to the fans there).

Weak.

Memphis was in the bonus half way through the 4th quarter. What a butt ****ing.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

For all the shit LeBron has taken over the years, you'd think the vipers would be out after Durant botched a tying FT with 28 seconds left, shot under 40 percent, and scored a whopping 15 points the game before.

[okcchief]

It's amazing people on both sides are raging about officiating. Welcome to basketball.

I'm thinking message boards aren't for rational people. I know, it's crazy.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

For all the shit LeBron has taken over the years, you'd think the vipers would be out after Durant botched a tying FT with 28 seconds left, shot under 40 percent, and scored a whopping 15 points the game before.

Unlike LeBron, though, people don't perceive Durant to be a threat to MJ's legacy. That's a chief difference.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Weak.

Memphis was in the bonus half way through the 4th quarter. What a butt ****ing.

OKC always gets more calls at home. You know this. It's why home advantage is so beneficial to them.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

For all the shit LeBron has taken over the years, you'd think the vipers would be out after Durant botched a tying FT with 28 seconds left, shot under 40 percent, and scored a whopping 15 points the game before.

He has it coming this series. It's a first for him though. It can kill you or make you stronger. Right now Tony Allen is his Joe Dumars. Now we just need our Phil Jackson to replace Doug Collins.

Still not counting him out of this series either. It's still for the taking.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by okcchief

It's amazing people on both sides are raging about officiating. Welcome to basketball.

I'm thinking message boards aren't for rational people. I know, it's crazy.

You could probably also say the same about being a fan.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I don't even know who I'm rooting for in this Clippers series, though. I think either one would lose to Memphis (or OKC), though.

I figured the clippers would solve their road problems come playoff time. Oh well, I'm sticking with them as my pick, dammit!

I mean, I got the Wizards series right! That counts for something!

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Rudy lost the toss

I figured the clippers would solve their road problems come playoff time. Oh well, I'm sticking with them as my pick, dammit!

I mean, I got the Wizards series right! That counts for something!

I wouldn't have guessed the Wizards would do that. Thought Noah would be enough. Jason Kidd even had his team tank to try to avoid him.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Originally Posted by okcchief

He has it coming this series. It's a first for him though. It can kill you or make you stronger. Right now Tony Allen is his Joe Dumars. Now we just need our Phil Jackson to replace Doug Collins.

Still not counting him out of this series either. It's still for the taking.

Jordan took a big old steaming shit on Joe Dumars, even in the 1990 ECF. I always hated that comparison.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Unlike LeBron, though, people don't perceive Durant to be a threat to MJ's legacy. That's a chief difference.

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

OKC always gets more calls at home. You know this. It's why home advantage is so beneficial to them.

Home teams typically get more calls. However Memphis had more FT attempts than OKC tonight. You are letting your emotions be your eyes. Just like Thunder fans. I heard the shit all game. Don't even know how basketball is enjoyable if you worry about it.

I could give a shit. This series is all about the Thunder not making plays they normally make. They are soft, unfocused and sloppy. Memphis is helping that along and are just in their heads. The refs are letting it get pretty physical which definatly doesn't hurt Memphis.

Do or die now for the Thunder. We'll see what they've got. The team has never faced this much adversity. This is the first time it's been on KD and Russ. Though I think it all stems from Scotty B.

[okcchief]

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Jordan took a big old steaming shit on Joe Dumars, even in the 1990 ECF. I always hated that comparison.

The Pistons were in his head until they beat em. KD also has had a great series against this team. I've never seen Westbrook and Durant stuggle like this and it started a month before the season ended. Some of it Memphis and some of it is them.

[KevB]

For the record, I'm not complaining about the officiating. I didn't love a few calls throughout the game, but I'm sure Thunder fans felt the same way on their end (Crawford's shitshow being chief among them I'm sure). I will say getting to the bonus early in the 4th were legit calls. OKC picked up 3 quick ones early, and they were each legit fouls. I actually expected it to hurt Memphis because of their terrible foul shooting. ZBo missed one or two and Allen missed one, but Prince got the tap out on Allen's miss.

Memphis has clearly been the better team the majority of the time IMO, but these two teams are so evenly matched, who the hell knows what will happen.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by okcchief

Home teams typically get more calls. However Memphis had more FT attempts than OKC tonight.

There are many factors beyond refereeing bias that go into how many FTs a team takes, such as aggressiveness offensively and the level of defense being played. Doesn't necessarily mean all that much.

You are letting your emotions be your eyes. Just like Thunder fans. I heard the shit all game. Don't even know how basketball is enjoyable if you worry about it.

No, I've just watched OKC get the calls in their building for years. As a (more or less) objective observer, it's just the norm there. It's the reason why I rank their playoff home environment far above even teams like Portland, Golden State, and Toronto.

I could give a shit. This series is all about the Thunder not making plays they normally make. They are soft, unfocused and sloppy. Memphis is helping that along and are just in their heads. The refs are letting it get pretty physical which definatly doesn't hurt Memphis.

I agree totally. Memphis has been the better team in this series to this point.

Do or die now for the Thunder. We'll see what they've got. The team has never faced this much adversity. This is the first time it's been on KD and Russ. Though I think it all stems from Scotty B.

Just takes two wins. And Durant is fully capable of going off and winning a game by himself. It can be done.

[okcchief]

I really think KD wore himself out chasing the MVP and scoring streak.They need to do a better job of managing his minutes next year.