The ILF-ILNBA Basketball Thread

[rustywire]

The Celtics & TWolves games were great. Warriors wanted to win both games, but the historic run they've been on...hitting 70 wins is TOUGH. They're nicked up, too...and both of those teams have young legs, depth & physical and/or handsy defensive backcourts and will be juggernauts in years to come. Boston is still the same 1 piece away from nobody wanting to play them. They just need that go-to scorer who can get high % buckets in crunch time...which they'd have if I.T. were half a foot taller. As it stands they need to make an offseason move, it's time to shit or get off the pot Danny Ainge.
The Wolves have a serious nucleus brewing with Wiggins, Towns, Lavine. That's a trio I see playing on the level as OKC circa 2011-12 after another season together. Nobody is going to want to play against them in a series. Who they select as headcoach this offseason will be the game changer. KG will likely move to the bench but not as headcoach, prob an asst to start. They had better not give Brian Shaw a call, I know KG is fond of him but he was a disaster in Denver in communicating with young players. George Karl should get outta Sac & head north, those young fellas are very well suited to the stuff he was running in 2013 to take the Nugs to that 3rd seed in a stacked west.

San Antonio Spurs...I would not want to face them this post season. More than any other team, Warriors included. I knew they were going to be good but man...they could theoretically steal the 1seed & have home court all through the playoffs, after Pop has been managing minutes while the Dubs chase history. They will be at serious disadvantage if meeting like that in the 2nd round.

[D.o.S.]

Agreed that the Wolves need a head coach in the worst way.

In other news.

[Chuckchuck]

Interesting video
http://youtu.be/KvaM0pMj-8o
Such bullshit.

[hbombgraphics]

kevin love everyone!!!

[D.o.S.]

That's what allowing 65% at the rim looks like.

[hbombgraphics]

That's what allowing 65% at the rim looks like.

I feel like everyone forgot who cleveland played in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

I am guessing cavs might pick up 1 game at home, but I think this looks alot like warriors in 5

cleveland is better defensively without irving and love and even thought hey get their points, it's at the expense of ball movement and easy baskets for others

[rustywire]

That's what allowing 65% at the rim looks like.

I feel like everyone forgot who cleveland played in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

I am guessing cavs might pick up 1 game at home, but I think this looks alot like warriors in 5

cleveland is better defensively without irving and love and even thought hey get their points, it's at the expense of ball movement and easy baskets for others

That's how I have the series. Had the Warriors winning last night by 25+ but that 3rd, foolish foul by Klay (when Kyrie was under the backboard in 2Q ~6min remaining) changed the game by disrupting rotations & all starters' rhythm and yet the Warriors still managed to win by 15 without Klay or Steph ever finding a groove. The bench discrepancy was glaring.
Expecting Lebron to have a ridic game at home where he puts up like 35 13 14 4 3 and they squeeze a win. But there will be a Klay game, a Steph game...and another committee/bench game by the Warriors to make 4. I think that's more likely to happen before Cavs can win twice. Sorry Cleveland.
And IF that does happen I expect Lebron to orchestrate a trade of Kyrie for CP3. Not the hottest of takes...

I think my favorite part of the storyline will be Anderson Varejao gets a ring for 5 years of suffering at the bottom of the Eastern conference despite showing up and playing hard... only to suffer a potential career-ending injury & has to sit for a season where his team reaches the finals & loses again, while he struggles to get back on the court and contribute before ultimately being traded away. Happy he had a small yet crucial role in game 7 of the conf finals. Still doing the dirty work, still playing hard. Love that.

[hbombgraphics]

Varejao deserves a ring and it is awesome he is a contributor for GS this year,

I can't see any way cleveland wins 4 of the next 6 or even 2 of the next 6

Lebron will go crazy 1 game but that's about it prolly

and you are correct that he will try to push out Kyrie, but an old CP still can't hang with the warriors and would essentially have the same roll lebron does on cleveland.

Those miami teams with bron were elite defensive teams, cleveland is a mess on defense, and they have no second unit to speak of.

[rustywire]

Part of me thinks there's going to be one of those "Oh, you...classic NBA" moments in tonight's game to the tune of 2 quick fouls on Draymond Green in the first quarter

[bigchiefbc]

Not watching this finals at all because I hate both teams with a burning passion.

Feel like the Celts getting the 3rd pick this year is classic in a 2-man draft.

Bah.

[D.o.S.]

Not watching this finals at all because I hate both teams with a burning passion.

Feel like the Celts getting the 3rd pick this year is classic in a 2-man draft.

Bah.

It's ok to hate the Dubs but you're missing out pretty hard bro.

My gut says we flip #3, but you're right w/r/t Simmons and Ingram being far and away the two best prospects. Still, there's some solid players left at 3 -- we can draft yet another guard!

[bigchiefbc]

Not watching this finals at all because I hate both teams with a burning passion.

Feel like the Celts getting the 3rd pick this year is classic in a 2-man draft.

Bah.

It's ok to hate the Dubs but you're missing out pretty hard bro.

My gut says we flip #3, but you're right w/r/t Simmons and Ingram being far and away the two best prospects. Still, there's some solid players left at 3 -- we can draft yet another guard!

Watching every game degrade to teams taking half their shots from 3 is why I stopped watching college ball. The Warriors do the exact same thing; the only difference is that they actually hit almost half of them. Not my style of basketball.

[D.o.S.]

This should cheer you up:
[youtube][/youtube]

[hbombgraphics]

Different Era

The way the Warriors move the ball it's hard not to like watching it.

[bigchiefbc]

It's like watching arena football. I get why some find it exciting, but it's not my thing. Enjoy your X-games.