2017-2018 Official NBA Regular season

[Al Bundy]

Let's start it... Warriors going for a back to back and 3 out of 4. Yikes for Gordon Hayward.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Houston doesn't play defense. The Warriors will win that series in 5.

I'll bet you anything that won't happen. Maybe in 6 or 7, but not 5. I'd say the Rockets have a better chance of winning in 7, than they do of losing in 5. No way they lose 4 out of 5 games to anyone. You know your stuff - and I respect that - So we can just bet for shits & grins and an "I TOLD YOU SO" if you want. But I will take any bet you want that GS will not beat the Rockets in 5 (or less) games.

[O.city]

As long as the rockets have D’Antoni I can’t take the serious to beat the warriors

[TEX]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Golden State has been half-assing it all season. No reason to take much from their regular season results. If they chose to, they wouldn't lose more than 10 games in a single season with that roster.

The Rockets very well could be the best chance to take them down (although LeBron in Finals mode is a thing), but that still isn't going to amount to much of anything.

Oh - I agree with you on your regular season take to a point. But my position was that if you're gonna slam the Rockets for beating Boston how they did last night, you gotta give them credit for beating GS twice this season in basically the same way. Fair is fair - right? Besides, when it comes to beating GS, anytime is a huge confidence builder. So, in that respect, the regular season wins do matter.

You did see how Golden State lost in Portland the week before last? Right? It happens...

[TEX]

Originally Posted by O.city

As long as the rockets have D’Antoni I can’t take the serious to beat the warriors

And most wont unless it happens. Then what? That's exactly why I want the Rockets to face them. Everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose, because nobody is giving them any kind of a real chance.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by TEX

And most wont unless it happens. Then what? That's exactly why I want the Rockets to face them. Everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose, because nobody is giving them any kind of a real chance.

Then I’ll take them serious?

Up to this point though, nothing he’s done inspires much confidence

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by TEX

I'll bet you anything that won't happen. Maybe in 6 or 7, but not 5. I'd say the Rockets have a better chance of winning in 7, than they do of losing in 5. No way they lose 4 out of 5 games to anyone. You know your stuff - and I respect that - So we can just bet for shits & grins and an "I TOLD YOU SO" if you want. But I will take any bet you want that GS will not beat the Rockets in 5 (or less) games.

That’s fine with me. Let’s formalize something after the regular season is over. I’d just like to confirm that the Warriors will be the team with home advantage first. If they are, yeah I’m taking them in 5 for sure. If not, they’ll still win but it just might take 6.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by TEX

Oh - I agree with you on your regular season take to a point. But my position was that if you're gonna slam the Rockets for beating Boston how they did last night, you gotta give them credit for beating GS twice this season in basically the same way. Fair is fair - right? Besides, when it comes to beating GS, anytime is a huge confidence builder. So, in that respect, the regular season wins do matter.

You did see how Golden State lost in Portland the week before last? Right? It happens...

I try to tune in for the end of most Warriors losses as I do hate them, so yes, I did. I don’t take much away from them, though, as they aren’t exactly going 100 percent.

Whereas yesterday I thought both teams were and Houston’s d was just abysmal.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I try to tune in for the end of most Warriors losses as I do hate them, so yes, I did. I don’t take much away from them, though, as they aren’t exactly going 100 percent.

Whereas yesterday I thought both teams were and Houston’s d was just abysmal.

Naw, Houston was not on at all with the 3's, but maybe that was due to good perimeter d by the Celts?... But often times Hou plays like that when Anderson is out - the spacing is not the same with Tucker in the starting lineup.
Bottom line is when it was time to win, the Rockets did. Ill take it. Not every win is pretty. Says something when u can win when not playing your best. Last year the Rockets lose that game. Not this year.

[TEX]

Originally Posted by dirk digler

The new look Cavs with a nice road win over OKC. Biggest difference I see is just alot more energy especially from Lebron.

Now that "The Trade" is a couple weeks old, the Cavs are losing ground, again. They're just not all that good pre or post trade.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by TEX

Now that "The Trade" is a couple weeks old, the Cavs are losing ground, again. They're just not all that good pre or post trade.

Trading older scrubs for newer scrubs was never going to do much of anything. Not sure why the media was freaking out about adding guys like Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood. LeBron is still likely to turn it up in the playoffs and make the Finals (although the improved Raptors may pose the stiffest challenge he's had in years in that regard), but this is the weakest team he's ever had.

[Rudy tossed tigger's salad]

Rodney Hood sucks. Truth.

[mcaj22]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Trading older scrubs for newer scrubs was never going to do much of anything. Not sure why the media was freaking out about adding guys like Jordan Clarkson and Rodney Hood. LeBron is still likely to turn it up in the playoffs and make the Finals (although the improved Raptors may pose the stiffest challenge he's had in years in that regard), but this is the weakest team he's ever had.

once playoffs start and these 10 deep rotations that Toronto and Boston use will be useless once Lebron goes 6 deep and plays 40+minutes a night. The role players will get eaten up. Those guys are great during the season though when stars take breaks. Once the line ups tighten up the Pascal Siakam and the Greg Monroes of the world are almost unplayable in playoff time.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by mcaj22

once playoffs start and these 10 deep rotations that Toronto and Boston use will be useless once Lebron goes 6 deep and plays 40+minutes a night. The role players will get eaten up. Those guys are great during the season though when stars take breaks. Once the line ups tighten up the Pascal Siakam and the Greg Monroes of the world are almost unplayable in playoff time.

I actually think Toronto's bench (Siakam included) could be better than Toronto's starters precisely because their defence is elite. Siakam might even be the team's primary defender on LeBron (although LeBron with his bulk will just post him up and create offense that way).

But you're right, Toronto is also going to have to rely on DeRozan and Lowry to score in the playoffs (as I don't think guys like Van Vleet, Wright, Siakam, and Poeltl will be able to do that effectively against teams playing tough defense) and that will likely be their downfall again considering their track records in that regard.

[KC_Connection]

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/...cid=538twitter

Video on the absurd production of the Raptors bench. Guess we'll see soon how much it matters come April.

[bricks]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

I actually think Toronto's bench (Siakam included) could be better than Toronto's starters precisely because their defence is elite. Siakam might even be the team's primary defender on LeBron (although LeBron with his bulk will just post him up and create offense that way).

But you're right, Toronto is also going to have to rely on DeRozan and Lowry to score in the playoffs (as I don't think guys like Van Vleet, Wright, Siakam, and Poeltl will be able to do that effectively against teams playing tough defense) and that will likely be their downfall again considering their track records in that regard.

Lebron will be a handful for them to defend against but I have no doubts that the Raptors bench will score. Cleveland has one of the worst defenses in the nba.