The 2014 Playoffs thread

[Celtics18]

Speaking of "basketball artists," that big, fat, slow other Spanish brother just grows on me more and more every time I watch him play. 

[pokeKingCurtis]

Oh my god, that turnaround rainbow jumper that Marc Gasol has is sick.

Speaking of grace, I love the way Marc Gasol shoots, in general.

Definition of a feathery touch.

Speaking of "basketball artists," that big, fat, slow other Spanish brother just grows on me more and more every time I watch him play. 

Looks like one Gasol is overtaking the other as far as being the fat, slow, big, "other" one.

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The Grizz are like the Spurs now. Got a good system, got players to work it, got an elite skilled big man (in fact they got twice as many). A scoring point guard. No scoring wing (honestly getting rid of Rudy Gay is looking good now, contrary to what I thought it would turn out) and instead a bunch of floor spacers.

This is basketball mecca. A bunch of guys passing and shooting and being professional, to put it very bluntly and clumsily.

[Rondo9]

Alright, Westbrookians.  Sure, he's good, but, man, his game just really turns me off.  He's got to be like the most graceless basketball player in the world.

It's interesting to me that there's so much fervor in this Westbrook vs Rondo debate, because from a certain point of view they are very, very similar -- they each do some truly remarkable things on the court, and at their best, can completely take over a game.  Each also has glaring flaws that can be downright infuriating.  Each has total confidence in his game, which is something of a double-edged sword at times.  Neither of their teams is better off without them, despite the fact that there are always some folks willing to argue to the contrary.

I wasn't actually talking about any of that, but I agree with most of it.

I know you were just talking about the aesthetic nature of his play -- I get that.  But it made me think of how I've often felt that way watching Rondo.  Sometimes he takes my breath away.  Other times he makes me shake my head.  Always compelling, often amazing, sometimes irritating.

Definitely not "graceless," though.

Unless he's shooting free throws, committing a headscratching turnover, or mouthing off / bumping / throwing a ball at an official (different sort of graceless).

No better Chris Paul, Tony Parker and others......

[Celtics18]

Really, pKC?  You had to post a picture of the Gasol brothers without their shirts on?

[Vox_Populi]

Lol, whoever comes out from the West can beat the Heat...honestly speaking.

This was said in 2012 and 2013 as well. Look at how that turned out. Anything can happen in the Finals if you have Lebron.

I watched the entire Heat vs. Cats series, and it's true that Charlotte got unlucky with Al, but James didn't look like he was trying. I think that's the scariest thing about him, his autopilot is still too good.

[SparzWizard]

Watching Big Baby guarding Jermaine O'Neal...it reminds me how the Celtics have slowly changed.

[pokeKingCurtis]

Really, pKC?  You had to post a picture of the Gasol brothers without their shirts on?

It was a sacrifice I was willing to make. For science.

[fairweatherfan]

Westbrook picks Conley's pocket and dunks to tie it!  What a play. 

[Redz]

Clutch play by Westbrook

Wow

[fairweatherfan]

Basket's too late. 

...how many overtimes is this now??  What a 1st round.

[Celtics18]

Great play by Westbrook.  Marc should have taken that shot instead of trying to dish it off inside to Randolph there on the last play.

[Celtics18]

We were all raving about Marc Gasol earlier in the game.  Since then he's been completely snake bitten.

You guys think we did this to him?

[staticcc]

Durant saved again. Last game by Jackson, now by Westbrook. Has to get in the lane in OT! Too many threes.

[SparzWizard]

This is the most exciting first-round playoffs since Boston's 2009 against Chicago.

[Celtics18]

Ugh!  That's at least three absolute bunnies missed by the Grizz in OT.