2014 NBA Playoffs

[calitennis127]

RE: NBA Playoffs

And the Grizz are up 16 in the third quarter over OKC. They seem to have totally figured out OKC. This first round of play-offs have been the most interesting since...ever? Only Miami is following the script so far.

OKC just does not have enough offense. They are dependent on two players.

The moment the Harden trade happened I said that it was a mistake on their end. It looks uglier by the day.

I think it is OK to not have more than 2 go to guys on offense, as long as the other guys pitch in 10, 15 points here and there...The problem is HOW they run their offense. It is stagnant. Durant gets the ball, wants to create something himself, ditto with Westbrook...

The essence of basketball is individual skill and scoring. There is no way to avoid that.

The players on OKC outside of Durant, Westbrook, and Jackson at times cannot produce offensively.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

OKC may want to think about getting the ball to Durant sometime very soon.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

^ I agree, but most teams will rely heavily on 2-3 players to score, and rely on the rest to pitch in. No team will have 5 guys averaging 20 points each. That's what I am saying. I just don't like how OKC run their offense.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I'm phor Memfis. But phor crying out loud...Get the ball to Durant!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Grizz commit suicide...well, actually a great steal by Westbrook. Tied at 90. 4 secs to go , Grizz ball.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Unbelievable! Can only shake my head.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Off to the 4th. OT in the series.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

That was close. There's one of those stupid rules, Murat. Never should've been allowed to take out the ball at halph court.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Just started watching near the end of the 4th. Great steal by Westbrook but still, given the game situation, it is outrageous to be careless with the ball there.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

And OKC still has the same problem, not giving it to the best scorer in the league in crunch time. I've seen Durant take all of 3 shots since the 4 minute mark in the 4th quarter.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

No ephing way!

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Tip at the buzzer...is it good?

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

No basket! Grizz escape!

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Another Joey Crawford sighting with freezing Durant to apparently fix the team fouls on a distant scoreboard. What an incredible finish though, that's why they have instant replay. Amazing tip but just not in time.

 

[I.Haychew]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Durant barely touched the ball in in the O.T. But when he did, he came up lame.

 

[DarthFed]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Durant is and always has been the best option on that team. I like Westbrook but they've never reigned the guy in and let him in on a secret; there is a much better player on his team.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Durant has been shaky (by his standards) from the free throw line this year. That was boneheaded and bushleague stuff by Joey Crawford though, to the surprise of no one. If/when OKC lose this series, they better fire Scott Brooks. I understand that having players like Durant and Westbrook dictates a lot of one on one Basketball, but that's literally all OKC does. They have no system, no ball rotation, no ability to score from the post, and they're really not that good defensively. Scott Brooks only has one play, and that is set a high pick for Durant. If that fails, just let Russell Westbrook dribble up the court and see what happens. It's a shame, because having two great talents like that deserves more.

 

[Murat Baslamisli]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I don't get OKC...Even Bulls with Jordan had more offensive schemes than OKC...and that is JORDAN.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

Durant is and always has been the best option on that team. I like Westbrook but they've never reigned the guy in and let him in on a secret; there is a much better player on his team.

Yeah, this. Westbrook is awesome, but him taking more shots than Durant in a game like that is just wrong. It doesn't help that Westbrook is actually not that great of a shooter, yet he'll continuously jack up threes all day.

The thing about Westbrook is, as a point guard, he doesn't dictate the rhythm of the game. He plays at his own rhythm, and pretty much does whatever he feels compelled to do during that particular possession. I'm not saying OKC are better off without him (they most certainly aren't), but there's a reason they looked like a better team when he got injured and Durant took over. It's not that Westbrook not being around was a good thing, it's simply that Kevin freaking Durant got to do his thing.

 

[brokenshoelace]

RE: NBA Playoffs

I don't get OKC...Even Bulls with Jordan had more offensive schemes than OKC...and that is JORDAN.

The Bulls had a clean offensive system though (the triangle), and used their defense to create offense far better than OKC does. They also had Scottie Pippen whose playmaking abilities were extremely underrated. As far as MJ goes (and I'm certainly not ignoring the fact that he's just a much better player than Durant/Westbrook), he didn't nearly take as many ill-advised shots and had better court sense and Basketball IQ.

Realistically, since OKC are not going to suddenly develop an offensive system by Thursday, KD really needs to take over and be more aggressive. The one thing about him that bothers me is that he doesn't drive to the hoop enough, and settles for too many pull ups and jump shots. He needs to be more aggressive.