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We have a triple header today.
Kevin Durant Just Flipped the Finals MVP SwitchThe Rockets’ MVP went off in Game 1 of the West finals. It didn’t matter against a fully engaged KD.![[image loading]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BTVNcBNNCZo3wDLtGuESN0_MUHQ=/0x0:3000x2000/920x613/filters:focal(1746x130:2226x610)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59736125/Game1KD_Getty_Ringer.0.jpg)
It was cruel that the 37-point show KD put on upstaged James Harden’s. Houston’s tireless leader finished with 41 points, made it to the line 10 times, and sunk five 3s against the Warriors’ relentless defense. Harden worked for every shot he got off and every drive he pursued, catching a slight break only when it was Steph Curry in his path. Afterward, Harden could barely muster any answers: To add insult to injury, Durant was roasting Houston from midrange with more than half of his made field goals (nine) coming from the very spots Mike D’Antoni wants his offense to eliminate. It turns out that shot is very efficient coming from the best scorer in the league. Harden did go bucket for bucket with Durant; both made 14 shots, and Harden did so on fewer field goal attempts. But not even the MVP of a team constructed to beat the Warriors can slow them down when Durant decides to go into full–Finals MVP mode like he did Monday. It was painfully evident that Paul struggled at points in the game, despite ending with 23 points and 11 rebounds. The Rockets were built with precision, but they need every cog operable—Eric Gordon hitting shots, Trevor Ariza doing anything positive on offense and staying out of foul trouble, Capela dominating inside—to win the series. Golden State just needs this Durant.
TR
BONUS
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There’s Nothing Average About Al Horford’s PostseasonHe may not be thought of as a superstar,
but the Celtics’ veteran leader and defensive ace has raised his game in the playoffs.
Will the self-effacing big man win over his critics and finally get his due?![[image loading]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/rHOiaMvffvo8PW_Wi1Sw8961TTc=/0x0:3000x2000/920x613/filters:focal(1260x760:1740x1240)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59738481/AlHorford_Getty_Ringer.0.jpg)
Until this postseason, Horford was perhaps the definition of an other guy. He may be the most underrated star player in the NBA today, and the only one knocked for it. A five-time All-Star, but one who may be thought of as much for being the last pick on his team as for undeniably earning a spot in the game in the first place. He’s averaging 14.2 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks a game in his 11-year career. His averages went down in the 2017-18 regular season, his first next to Kyrie Irving and second in Boston, yet he may be having his biggest impact. “I think Al Horford may be one of the most underrated players around,” Maxwell said. “I would say Al Horford, he’s vanilla. He’s not tutti-frutti. He’s not all these other flavors of the month. He’s just plain vanilla, and he’s good and solid. Because of that, I don’t think that he has that [wow factor]. ... He doesn’t ooh-and-ahh people, but he just gets the job done.” “The recognition is just something that he could not care less about. He just wants to win and contribute,” she said. “My thing is, ‘You may not like him but you should respect him and his game.’
TR
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Poll: Who wins game 2?Boston Celtics (2) 100% Cleveland Cavaliers (0) 0% 2 total votes Your vote: Who wins game 2? (Vote): Boston Celtics
(Vote): Cleveland Cavaliers
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Off topic. I like Horford's game and attitude, but his look is very disturbing. He is like an androgynous Egyptian prince without eyelashes and with cat-like eyes.
Ok, bye for now, see you all tonight.
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I feel like your last few posts are a cry for help.
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I do wonder why so many teams run these "more boring" offenses like the Cavs/Rockets rather than the more motion oriented Warriors/Spurs/Celtics style. It seems to me that its just an ease of execution thing, because motion offenses seem to even work if you have 2 players on the court that are shit shooters (relatively).
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Nah, just close deadlines and procrastination makes you do everything else other than the ones you should be doing.
Game time!
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First #1 in Suns history.
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LeBron's stats in 1st quarter of Game 2 vs IND and BOS after getting blown out in game 1:
vs IND - 20 points 9/12 shooting
vs BOS - 21 points 8/13 shooting
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the sides of the jaw are particularly vulnerable to creating a KO.
it looked like LBJ took a shot to the side of the jaw.
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On May 16 2018 01:19 Vindicare605 wrote:
The main problem I have with this match up is the pacing. I just don't think even a team like Houston can win vs the Warriors playing fast because the transition 3 is so outrageously overpowered with shooters like theirs.
You have to slow them down. You have to!
Give the ball to Chris Paul and let him orchestrate a half court offense and slow the game down. Sure that's not what Houston is built to do, but they just can't beat the Warriors playing their usual style.
We'll see what Mike D'Antoni does.
Houston is the 14th fastest team in the regular season and 9th out of 16 teams in the playoffs. Those iso-ball possessions chew up a lot of clock. This isn't the Phoenix Suns of the last decade.
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good work by Cleveland instantly diagnosing LBJ with a "neck strain".
its a great way to avoid concussion protocol.
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On May 16 2018 11:17 JimmiC wrote:Show nested quote +On May 16 2018 10:36 andrewlt wrote:On May 16 2018 01:19 Vindicare605 wrote:
The main problem I have with this match up is the pacing. I just don't think even a team like Houston can win vs the Warriors playing fast because the transition 3 is so outrageously overpowered with shooters like theirs.
You have to slow them down. You have to!
Give the ball to Chris Paul and let him orchestrate a half court offense and slow the game down. Sure that's not what Houston is built to do, but they just can't beat the Warriors playing their usual style.
We'll see what Mike D'Antoni does. Houston is the 14th fastest team in the regular season and 9th out of 16 teams in the playoffs. Those iso-ball possessions chew up a lot of clock. This isn't the Phoenix Suns of the last decade. Do you know if the pace of play has drastically gone up? Like Where would have Houston fallen if they played when the suns were the fastest? I feel like generally teams have ramped up the pace, do you have the numbers?
the few year the suns were the fastest would have been bottom 3rd of the league this year.
there were more slower years in the past for sure, but i dont think faster pace is something that's only been around recently. 99-00 kings played at 101.91 pace for example according to nba.com, but after that no one cracked 100 pace for like 7 years
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As a LeBron fan I'd be worried if there was more on the line. But when your season either ends here or it ends by getting smashed by the Warriors in the finals, it's really not that much different.
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Goddamn I hate to say it because it's been run to the ground, but Lebron is carrying this team and really needs help. His fellow stars need to be in the same page. Lebron goes berserk and gets 40+ and Korver, Smith, Clarkson, Nance all disappear.
And mad respect to Smart and Horford and the entire Celtics roster. This is what a team looks like.
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I agree with JVG, people overreact on contact when a player goes for a block on a dunk or layup, even if the contact is nothing more that armpit to the side of the head, but it is plays like JR's push to Horford that are actual injury-causing and mus be automatic F2.
Horford flexing is a nice show of emotion.
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TRoz should have known better. He got away with one just minutes before. No way Lebron will just let him get away the second time around.
https://streamable.com/9s87k
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EPT![[image loading]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DmlMd2kaneszMXiSl0N9J9iLUks=/0x0:3000x2000/920x613/filters:focal(1260x760:1740x1240)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59735845/HouGswDifferingStyles_Getty_Ringer.1526360776.jpg)
