The 2014 Playoffs thread

[mgent]

Dude come on,

Why is a falling backwards drive a defensive foul?

[SparzWizard]

Dude come on,

Why is a falling backwards drive a defensive foul?

Come on, it's the refs helping OKC going into the finals!!

[Who]

Westbrook with another dominating performance against Tony Parker.

Stepping up his challenge for #1 PG in the league title.

[BASS_THUMPER]

OKIE!!

[Celtics18]

I give credit to Pop for sticking with the scrubs here in this game.  I don't see it as punishment as much as motivation . . . and rest. 

We'll see if it works for San Antonio's "big three" when they go back home.

Boris Diaw, Corey Joseph, and Patty Mills have a better chance of pulling out a miracle right now than Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili would.   

[Vox_Populi]

Second straight DNP-CD for Sefolosha. So many less bricks.

[Celtics18]

Wow!

That's what makes Tim Duncan Tim Duncan.  He just got off the bench to give hand slaps to every one of the Spurs' bench players for their effort before heading to the locker room.  That's just cool. 

Spurs in seven. 

[SparzWizard]

Series is effectively over for the Spurs after tonight.

OKC's too...athletic and explosive for these old men. And being 8 vs 5 is another part of the problem, too.

[Celtics18]

The human basketball players in the NBA start to wear down as they near 100 games played.  Russell Westbrook gets stronger. 

[Endless Paradise]

Let's hear more from the usual crowd about how Westbrook is terrible and a chucker and how OKC will never win with him. 

[CelticSooner]

Let's hear more from the usual crowd about how Westbrook is terrible and a chucker and how OKC will never win with him. 

Well this is the first good game he has had this series. If he disappears again the next game what then? He is a chucker but that's doesn't mean OKC can't win a title with him.

[fairweatherfan]

Second straight DNP-CD for Sefolosha. So many less bricks.

Gotta give Brooks some credit, he finally figured out that starting Jackson and giving Jeremy Lamb a shot could cure a lot of offensive ills.  Ibaka coming back doesn't hurt either of course.

[Celtics18]

Let's hear more from the usual crowd about how Westbrook is terrible and a chucker and how OKC will never win with him. 

I've been down on Russell Westbrook in the past, but I grudgingly admit that his performance in these playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular.

I still expect the Spurs to find a way to get into his head, though, before this series is over. 

[Endless Paradise]

Let's hear more from the usual crowd about how Westbrook is terrible and a chucker and how OKC will never win with him. 

Well this is the first good game he has had this series. If he disappears again the next game what then? He is a chucker but that's doesn't mean OKC can't win a title with him.

Game 3 was his first good game this series; this is his best playoff game to date.  That said, he takes a while to get going.  That has been a common trend with him throughout these entire playoffs.  See: the Grizzlies series, the Clippers series, and now this. 

And if he disappears again?  Doesn't mean much.  San Antonio's Big 3 has been nonexistent the past two games, would anyone dare something as foolish as "you can't win with those guys?" Players have bad games, it happens.

I've been down on Russell Westbrook in the past, but I grudgingly admit that his performance in these playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular.

I still expect the Spurs to find a way to get into his head, though, before this series is over.

The "getting in his head" part was Games 1 and 2.  He's just adjusted - as has the team with Ibaka's return.

[Celtics18]

Let's hear more from the usual crowd about how Westbrook is terrible and a chucker and how OKC will never win with him. 

Well this is the first good game he has had this series. If he disappears again the next game what then? He is a chucker but that's doesn't mean OKC can't win a title with him.

Game 3 was his first good game this series; this is his best playoff game to date.  That said, he takes a while to get going.  That has been a common trend with him throughout these entire playoffs.  See: the Grizzlies series, the Clippers series, and now this. 

And if he disappears again?  Doesn't mean much.  San Antonio's Big 3 has been nonexistent the past two games, would anyone dare something as foolish as "you can't win with those guys?" Players have bad games, it happens.

I've been down on Russell Westbrook in the past, but I grudgingly admit that his performance in these playoffs has been nothing short of spectacular.

I still expect the Spurs to find a way to get into his head, though, before this series is over.

The "getting in his head" part was Games 1 and 2.  He's just adjusted - as has the team with Ibaka's return.

He's definitely in a zone.  It's not going to be easy.