EPTNBA Playoffs 2013-2014 - Page 128
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BigAsia
Canada451 Posts
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ketomai
United States2789 Posts
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MassHysteria
United States3678 Posts
And I am not even arguing for them to win the series, just that they can make it closer than people seem to write it off as already. | ||
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ketomai
United States2789 Posts
We'll see what happens in the next couple games, but based on this one it looks like if they aren't done already, they're going to be done by the time the series has dragged on for awhile just from fatigue. | ||
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Haiq343
United States2548 Posts
Also, it's not a lack of 'mental fortitude', manliness, competitive spirit, desire to win, or any other garbage cliche trotted out to justify unrepentant jacking of horrendous shots. Durant and Lebron are better players for their willingness to involve their teammates, not deviants who should dream of they day they are worthy to lick Kobe's old jocks. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
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MassHysteria
United States3678 Posts
You are right that it's not "mental fortitude" (I was thinking of deleting that part myself) but just because he goes alpha does not mean he doesn't involve his teammates. When I say alpha I don't mean ballhog, which is what you are insinuating. I mean with more of a willingness to just go out there and do it himself if he has to but not necessarily have to. And he does lack some of that in his personality. If you want to say it's a cliche saying then go ahead, but it is a real thing. Westbrook is the alpha on their team most of the time. Whether you think that makes a difference to the success of a team (or their team in particular) is your opinion, but for this series, I am arguing that they would be better off if Durant goes out of his way to be 'the man' on his team. Hopefully Brooks just stays out of the way if it does =) P.S. Do I really believe everything I am saying as much as it sounds like I do? Not really, but trying to not make this thread sound so one-sided on this series as it has been so far. | ||
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ghrur
United States3786 Posts
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
I do agree with you that "it's only one game" and a lot can happen, but I feel like there's been more "it's only one game" after this game than any other game. | ||
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MassHysteria
United States3678 Posts
On May 21 2014 06:11 ghrur wrote: I think this "being alpha" thing is about as insightful a conversation as the "Are the heats LeBron's or DWade's team?" conversation. Then ask the right questions. Ppl who aren't as closeminded I am sure got what I meant. Don't get held up on semantics. And by the way, that is kind of making my point. Remember that first season when Wade and Lebron were fighting for supremacy? They didn't really become the Heat (as we know them) until Wade backed off and really let it be LBJ's team. On May 21 2014 06:19 Jerubaal wrote: Are you saying that he can contribute more without shooting more? I do agree with you that "it's only one game" and a lot can happen, but I feel like there's been more "it's only one game" after this game than any other game. Sure if the plays are running through him and he is finding the right man contributing to winning I guess. But shooting, passing, posting up, whatever. I just mean he needs to want to be the reason for their success/failure. He needs to demand the ball out there. Shoot, post-up, get hot, and then pass later on in the game if he reads the defense converging on him. I dont know, they just need to make him more of a dictator out there. I see what you are saying on the second part. In a way, I am saying that other than the teams with LBJ and KD on them, losing a player like Ibaka would pretty much make the series a write-off in favor of the Spurs. So Thunder need to maximize the reason(stack the deck) why they are one of the two teams who would still have an actual chance at winning it. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
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MassHysteria
United States3678 Posts
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andrewlt
United States7702 Posts
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AntiGrav1ty
Germany2310 Posts
On May 21 2014 06:49 Jerubaal wrote: Can anyone tell me what the lineup was during the 3rd quarter when the Thunder made their run? Perkins, Collison, Durant, Sefolosha, Westbrook. | ||
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ghrur
United States3786 Posts
On May 21 2014 06:20 MassHysteria wrote: Then ask the right questions. Ppl who aren't as closeminded I am sure got what I meant. Don't get held up on semantics. What questions? I don't think people have really been asking questions, but rather disagreeing/stating opinions. Nor do I think people are being closeminded. I also don't get what the semantics is. The semantics of it would be I think "being alpha" or "being the man" has a sexist connotation attached, but that doesn't affect basketball. And I always thought the "Is it Wade's or LeBron's team" was more of the media being dumb than it actually being something that affected their play. I agree that Durant can give any team, including the Spurs, trouble, but I don't think he needs to "be more alpha." I think "being alpha" isn't really a thing. I feel like, thus far, your descriptions of "being alpha" has been eerily similar to what people have said about LeBron in the past. "LeBron needs to be the man on his team, but right now, it's Wade's team." (Westbrook is the alpha statement) "Oh, the Heats didn't win because LeBron didn't have the mental fortitude." (Mental Fortitude talk) "LeBron doesn't have what it takes because he doesn't have that winning drive. He passes up the last shot. He needs to take it himself!" (Lack of alpha in personality). If you mean you want the Thunders to run more plays with Durant as the ball handler or giving Durant screens or having Durant Iso (god forbid), then say so and provide evidence, but I think that this talk of Durant being "more alpha" is quite unfruitful. I think, however, that Durant actually shouldn't shoot as much this series but rather let Westbrook abuse Tony Parker. As we all know, rotations tighten during the playoffs. This means that we'll see more of Durant vs Leonard and Westbrook vs Parker. Historically, Durant has fared much worse when Leonard was on the court vs off the court. He has a higher OffRtg, NetRtg, higher eFG, and higher TS with lower TOs when Leondard is off the court. This makes sense since Leonard's very lengthy, a good defender, and can even give people like Durant some trouble. Game 1, Durant even got a shot blocked by Leonard. On the other hand, Westbrook has succeeded much more when Parker is on the court vs off the court. His OffRtg, NetRtg, yada yada, all get better when Parker is ON the court. Part of it is because Westbrook is very athletic and strong, so he's a good defender on Parker. Meanwhile, Parker is fast, but small, meaning Westbrook can penetrate well. If he doesn't, he can still opt for one of those pull-up jumpers he loves so much, and he'll get a better look with Parker on him than not. I think, if OKC wants to make this a series, it'll be more on Westbrook being efficient with higher usage than Durant as he' seems to naturally take more shots. | ||
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Jerubaal
United States7684 Posts
They might just have to live with bad defense and try to outscore the Spurs. Durant is not going to be a happy camper at the end of this series, though. This series is an interesting contrast to the East. The most analysis you can do with the Pacers is say "gee, I hope they can pull their heads out of their butts this game". | ||
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
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AgentW
United States7725 Posts
On May 21 2014 08:48 Doraemon wrote: in before lakers win the lottery....how disgusting would that be. Simmons would get fired. Live. On national television. | ||
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Doraemon
Australia14949 Posts
On May 21 2014 08:58 AgentW wrote: Simmons would get fired. Live. On national television. many tears will be had | ||
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RowdierBob
Australia13008 Posts
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