This Spurs/Rockets series is killing both of these teams. They have lost Parker and Nene respectively already and Kawhi looks at the very least to be hobbled. In the fourth quarter both teams looked like they were playing in treacle. It's not often a team is down going into the final 12 minutes, scores only 16 points and still manages to force overtime. Both teams looked knackered. D'Antoni's decision to only play 7 players surely cannot continue. Every starter with the exception of Clint Capela played 40+ minutes last night - it's just not sustainable. On the other side of the coin, if Kawhi is in any way affected for game 6 and potentially game 7 the Spurs are essentially done. Great game last night though!
NBA 2016-17
- Thread starter ArmchairCritic
- Start date
Those first few minutes of overtime when neither team could score was terrible basketball but still enthralling to watch. Golden State must be getting their brooms ready for another sweep in the conference finals.
I think Rockets will really, really regret this loss.
Expect the Spurs to wrap the series up next game.
Expect the Spurs to wrap the series up next game.
All playing to Warriors favor.
Don't think the west final will extend anything beyond 5 games.
One thing people forget with the whole "Ray Allen 'betrayed' Boston Celtics is that Ainge was trying to trade him prior to him becoming the free-agent. Boston themselves showed no loyalty when it came to that. I mean they traded Pierce and KG when time came."
Ray owed them nothing. I can understand why they might feel disappointed that Ray didn't talk with them but thats how Ray is. He is very introverted and you rarely see him ever in interviews and stuff ever since the retirement.
Ridiculous that every offense Rockets try to make ends up with a try to shoot 3. When it works they win with large score , OK but when it doesn't and they are out of luck they appear very, very shocking. They gave Spurs chance to kill the game and series easily from first half.
Theirs style of play is hit or miss. They either dominate or get dominated themselves. Better for the West final to have Spurs in it as they at least have a pattern of play and certain rhythm they play on and can at least, at least push Warriors to game 5, they Will never defeat Warriors in more than one game but they won't get swept I think, while Rockets would have easily been a sweep for Golden state with this hit or miss play.
Theirs style of play is hit or miss. They either dominate or get dominated themselves. Better for the West final to have Spurs in it as they at least have a pattern of play and certain rhythm they play on and can at least, at least push Warriors to game 5, they Will never defeat Warriors in more than one game but they won't get swept I think, while Rockets would have easily been a sweep for Golden state with this hit or miss play.
This is embarrassing by Houston.
I forget to comment on Harden, or really it's better that I forget talking about him.
Can't believe his fecking performance this game, embarrassing is the only way to describe it, when your team is doing terrible and you're the team superstar and you never show up in the game.
Can't believe his fecking performance this game, embarrassing is the only way to describe it, when your team is doing terrible and you're the team superstar and you never show up in the game.
Simmons has really shone in this series. And Murray has grown as a player as the series went on. Looking good for Spurs.
Houston's defence tonight has been especially awful.
Rockets couldn't even reach 80 points. Scandalous performance.
Popovich just owns D'Antoni. Hopefully Kawhi will be back for the conference finals.
MVP! MVP!
That's a lazy narrative that isn't true.
http://fansided.com/2017/05/08/nylon-calculus-playoffs-teams-living-comfortably-3-pointer/
Nah I care only about what I see with my eyes, I won't ignore what I saw myself to believe an article.
I can't get over that post. It has to be the dumbest post in the 76 pages of this thread. Do you believe in this article or does it not exist until you see it with your eyes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa
Don't understand the point of this comparison nor the point of calling other opinions dumb. We're talking a sports game so I'll say what I see on the court.
Alright then next time I will run to Google and search for articles for any team I see playing to know what I should say about it even if it contradicts what is clearly visible on the court which is their over dependence on 3 pts most of time. Anyone with eyes will see this. In the second quarter I can clearly see only 2 or 3 of their offense weren't 3 PT shooting and this leads to Spurs taking a run and finishing the game from first half. Even when their momentum was broken they never tried to take simple shots they just went straight for shooting 3s over 3s.
Why even bother watching games at all , I'll just go and read about teams then come to say what I read. Great logic to avoid my opinion getting called dumb. Thanks again.
If you don't want your posts to be called dumb, stop making dumb posts.
You didn't watch every game for every team, you don't remember every game and you aren't without bias. You know what checks all of those boxes? The formula for standard deviation. Ignoring data because it contradicts your own opinions makes you look foolish.
The argument was that over dependence on 3s cost them games, and anyone watched this game will clearly know it was right and not a myth. They kept shooting 3s even if their momentum got broken and they were missing most shots, they didn't even bother try anything else and it costed them this game and the series.
If my opinion is dumb why are you wasting your precious time with me ? My way of evaluation of teams won't change so don't try to enlighten me with your ways as it's too late, sorry.
They shot 33% on 3s and 24% on 2s. Sorry reality doesn't match up to what you want.
Seriously ? Sure as no team will score 100% of their points in each game using one shot only. That doesn't mean they don't have an obvious style of play which depends on 3s any it's easy to see for anyone.. Any one who saw Spurs run in second quarter which killed the game for Rockets will see it but since you're only evaluating teams based on articles and stats and not even talking about the game itself then meh, I have no interest in completing this terrible discussion. This is my lost post on you.
Do you think people just roll dices to make stats for each team? They are a record of what happens in games. Why people who like basketball put their head in the sand and refuse to learn more about basketball is beyond me.
Don't understand how Harden and Russ can be MVP above Lebron. Think this result seemed really obvious to me even during the Okc Rockets series. Houston is a good team but I just don't think that they are good enough to beat a well coached team over a 7 game series. I have never seen a team being so hesitant to take mid range jump shots, I think you are actually going to make more 3's if you mix it up a bit rather than just taking 3's on every second possession
MVP is an award for the regular season. The playoff performances are irrelevant. Well, they should be.
Voting was done before the postseason began.
Thought for sure that Rockets & Spurs would be close and potential OT, I even placed a bet for combined points to be over 206 
I know but it's an issue with the casual fan's perception.
Kawhi should be MVP. The best argument out there is that he rested for a few games but that's ludicrous. Best record of all the candidates, arguably his team's best player on offense and defense and the advanced metrics show his team was significantly worse when he wasn't on the floor.
Kawhi for me is the second most complete player in the league after LeBron. Hope he's ready for final because without him it'll be a sweep.
I agree with this for the most part but having said that I sometimes think that Pop could win with a D-League team, some paper clips, a few rubber bands and some gum.
Well with this I also agree
We can't argue Pop coaching abilities, amazing in getting the best of his players and very clever in tracking the opposing teams strengths and weakness, after the first dreadful match against Rockets he succeeded in shutting their 3 pts shots and exposed their weakness completely. His tricks never end.Let's see what he'll do against Warriors offense. Sure they have a very slim chance but I just hope Spurs can at least steal one win from them. I'm eager to see how he'll defend the trio of Curry, Clay and KD.
Terrible game but amazing ending. Wall has ice cold veins. Should be a great game 7.
Gregg Popovich = Alex Ferguson?
Hope the Wizards take game 7. Celtics are annoying as feck and they just don't have the personal to slow down the Cave at all.
Spurs in 6. It'll be the ultimate Popovich championship, beating two dominant teams while juggling with injuries and it'll be a great way to get Man Utd to come back just for one more season.Well with this I also agree
Let's see what he'll do against Warriors offense. Sure they have a very slim chance but I just hope Spurs can at least steal one win from them. I'm eager to see how he'll defend the trio of Curry, Clay and KD.
I can't see anyone able to beat Warriors in a series now tbh. If Spurs could grap a one of two, I'll consider it good. If by somehow Spurs defeated them it's going to be the ultimate achievement, but that's unlikely.
Bookies have Spurs at 12/1 to win the championship and there is a reason for that.