2014 Playoffs - Geaux CP3

[kclaboy504]

If The pacers were to win, it would just be more proof that bigs are essential to being a champion. They have a traditional 5 and 4. Back to the goal players not these bigs that wanna be finess players.

Edit: I don't know what I did to make this breaking news

George really impressed me in game 1. He seems to take his game to another level when playing Lebron and I love that about him. He does not shy away from the big moment being on his shoulders. He's going to have to play big time if they are going to win it all. So far off to a great start. If Indy can keep hitting their 3s at a good rate that will be key for them. It opens things up for the big guys when they are hitting them. Their defense is really impressive too. I still can't believe the nonsense "Vogel on hot seat" talk during the hawks series. Lol..Vogel is a really good coach and it seems to be just a matter of time he breaks down the good to Great Wall.

[jdmcuc]

This season reminds me of the Bulls title season from 93. MJ was clearly the best player in the league (and world), but lost the MVP to a great player that had a monster year. The Bulls looked flawed and vunerable during the season (relatively speaking) and after waltzing through the first two rounds they didn't have home court in the ECF against a peaking Knicks team. They went on to defeat an impressive looking Suns team that also had home court.

Personally, I don't care how good SAS, Indiana, or OKC looks. This about LeBron and the magnitude of his greatness. If he is as great as he appears to be, the Heat will win. This is about a guy who has chance to firmly cement himself with the Jordans, Russells, Birds, and Jabbars of the world. We're talking Michelangelo asking friends if they know anybody who wants their ceiling painted type history. I don't know about some of you, but I wouldn't be so quick to write this guy off.

Agreed. Lebron will show his greatness and personally I am rooting for him to get another title year after year until the Pels have a chance.

[UptownFuz504]

This season reminds me of the Bulls title season from 93. MJ was clearly the best player in the league (and world), but lost the MVP to a great player that had a monster year. The Bulls looked flawed and vunerable during the season (relatively speaking) and after waltzing through the first two rounds they didn't have home court in the ECF against a peaking Knicks team. They went on to defeat an impressive looking Suns team that also had home court.

Personally, I don't care how good SAS, Indiana, or OKC looks. This about LeBron and the magnitude of his greatness. If he is as great as he appears to be, the Heat will win. This is about a guy who has chance to firmly cement himself with the Jordans, Russells, Birds, and Jabbars of the world. We're talking Michelangelo asking friends if they know anybody who wants their ceiling painted type history. I don't know about some of you, but I wouldn't be so quick to write this guy off.

good post. the Pacers probably played their best game in game 1 and the Heat didn't show up. The Heat & Lebron will show up the rest of the series. The Pacers shouldn't get comfortable.

[kclaboy504]

Talk about a statement game...sorry I know it's game 1 but I just don't think the thunder have a chance in this series without Ibaka. He may not be a difference maker like durant or Westbrook but he's a difference maker for this team when playing the spurs. Game over thunder.

[Kibner]

Talk about a statement game...sorry I know it's game 1 but I just don't think the thunder have a chance in this series without Ibaka. He may not be a difference maker like durant or Westbrook but he's a difference maker for this team when playing the spurs. Game over thunder.

They have no help defense in the paint without Ibaka. It is killing them against a non-hobbled Parker.

[UNO Gracias]

The a thunder were very much in the game until very late in the 4th. I think Brooks will figure it out.

[Pelifan]

I just find it difficult to believe that the Mavs took this Spurs team to 7.

I know small ball didn't work this game, but I'd stick with it. The Mavs blueprint was to switch everything on the pick and rolls OKC should start doing the same.

Watching OKC underperform offensively and defensively makes me think we need a new coach. There's a lot to be said about players Bball IQ but there's no way a team this talented should be playing so poorly. And for that matter I think Dell deserves a lot of blame for his moves too, Tyreke is talented but I'm not sure he knows how to play efficient basketball. Jrue is well rounded but I'm not sure he's necessarily great at anything (at least on the offensive side of the ball). We just really needed a great perimeter offensive focal point, and I'm not sure we have that on the roster. We need more ball movement and a different team culture, and players with well defined roles and elite skills. I think you can look at the good Indiana and the bad Indiana to see the difference team chemistry makes. I'd give next season the last chance for both Dell and Monty. We have to make the playoffs and show room for improvement longterm.

[UptownFuz504]

Tyreke is talented but I'm not sure he knows how to play efficient basketball. Jrue is well rounded but I'm not sure he's necessarily great at anything (at least on the offensive side of the ball). We just really needed a great perimeter offensive focal point, and I'm not sure we have that on the.

Bravo!! I've been saying this forever now (in some ways). People believe however that this is a championship caliber team. This is an 8 seed team at best. According to some, Jrue & Reke will be one of the best back courts in the league. I don't see it but to each his own. Good post.

[DefensiveMind]

Bravo!! I've been saying this forever now (in some ways). People believe however that this is a championship caliber team. This is an 8 seed team at best. According to some, Jrue & Reke will be one of the best back courts in the league. I don't see it but to each his own. Good post.

The people who believe that aren't looking in a vacuum like you are. Are Kahwi Leonard, George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Serge Ibaka, Tiago Splitter, Mike Conley, Roy Hibbert, Zach Randolph, Danny Green, Reggie Jackson, etc. enough to lead a team to contention. No way, but constructed the right way, with the right system, decent coach, a clear role, and enough help... they are pieces that can help you get there.

[da ThRONe]

The people who believe that aren't looking in a vacuum like you are. Are Kahwi Leonard, George Hill, Lance Stephenson, Serge Ibaka, Tiago Splitter, Mike Conley, Roy Hibbert, Zach Randolph, Danny Green, Reggie Jackson, etc. enough to lead a team to contention. No way, but constructed the right way, with the right system, decent coach, a clear role, and enough help... they are pieces that can help you get there.

1st I'd remove Leonard, Ibaka, and Randolph (maybe even Hibbert)off that list. These are guys that difference makers in my book. Of the rest of those guys who's being paid like Holiday and Evans?

[SeaLegs]

There's a lot to be said about players Bball IQ but there's no way a team this talented should be playing so poorly. And for that matter I think Dell deserves a lot of blame for his moves too, Tyreke is talented but I'm not sure he knows how to play efficient basketball. Jrue is well rounded but I'm not sure he's necessarily great at anything (at least on the offensive side of the ball). We just really needed a great perimeter offensive focal point, and I'm not sure we have that on the roster. We need more ball movement and a different team culture, and players with well defined roles and elite skills. I think you can look at the good Indiana and the bad Indiana to see the difference team chemistry makes. I'd give next season the last chance for both Dell and Monty. We have to make the playoffs and show room for improvement longterm.

Perimeter offense you say? Ryno, Morrow, Jrue do not qualify? Players with elite skillls? What team wouldn't want that? How can you blame a lack of chemistry on Monty when our team played ~5% of the season together?

More ball movement is obviously something I'd like to see, but basically every team would like better ball movement. If it was as easy as identifying the problem then every team would be the Spurs.

[Kibner]

1st I'd remove Leonard, Ibaka, and Randolph (maybe even Hibbert)off that list. These are guys that difference makers in my book. Of the rest of those guys who's being paid like Holiday and Evans?

All of the ones that aren't on rookie contracts, IIRC.

[DefensiveMind]

1st I'd remove Leonard, Ibaka, and Randolph (maybe even Hibbert)off that list. These are guys that difference makers in my book. Of the rest of those guys who's being paid like Holiday and Evans?

Randolph has had at two (three if you are being picky) other shots at being the focal point of a contender and it didn't happen. It wasn't until he got to Memphis (with all of the advantages that I put forth above) when it clicked. You are outside your mind if you believe you can build a team around the unique skills of Leonard and Ibaka. They are peripheral pieces. They are the Ryan Anderson's of their teams. And Mike Conley and Tiago Splitter make about what Jrue and Tyreke do. Lance Stephenson and Reggie Jackson will be within shouting distance.

[SeaLegs]

Bravo!! I've been saying this forever now (in some ways). People believe however that this is a championship caliber team. This is an 8 seed team at best. According to some, Jrue & Reke will be one of the best back courts in the league. I don't see it but to each his own. Good post.

I don't think anyone is arguing that our team as constructed would contend for a title. I have seen some hyperbole about our backcourt, but when you compare them to a lot of other backcourts in the league, they actually are pretty good. Not dominant, but pretty good.

[DefensiveMind]

Listen, I'm not gonna go back and forth with people who think Ryno, Jrue, and Tyreke are overrated, but teams like SA, Indiana, Memphis, and to a lesser extent Portland, Washington, etc have shown that you can be successful with capable to above average starters. Anyone who thinks that those three guys plus Davis aren't that are smoking some strong stuff. Our problem is not the top of our roster. It's the bottom. 240 minutes have to be accounted for a game. We have 140 accounted for, 165 if you factor in Mr. Eric Gordon. That's our problem.

[da ThRONe]

Randolph has had at two (three if you are being picky) other shots at being the focal point of a contender and it didn't happen. It wasn't until he got to Memphis (with all of the advantages that I put forth above) when it clicked. You are outside your mind if you believe you can build a team around the unique skills of Leonard and Ibaka. They are peripheral pieces. They are the Ryan Anderson's of their teams. And Mike Conley and Tiago Splitter make about what Jrue and Tyreke do. Lance Stephenson and Reggie Jackson will be within shouting distance.

Memphis isn't a true contender. They are where this franchise has been before.

The Spurs and OKC core players trump our core players. So of course they can have decent players everywhere else. We are not close to those teams.

[DefensiveMind]

Memphis isn't a true contender. They are where this franchise has been before.

The Spurs and OKC core players trump our core players. So of course they can have decent players everywhere else. We are not close to those teams.

You can move the goal post all you want. Memphis was four games away from playing for a title. They won 50 games with their best player missing 25 games. The year before that they knocked off the Spurs in the 1st rd. I'm sure everyone on this forum would take a three year run like that.

[da ThRONe]

You can move the goal post all you want. Memphis was four games away from playing for a title. They won 50 games with their best player missing 25 games. The year before that they knocked off the Spurs in the 1st rd. I'm sure everyone on this forum would take a three year run like that.

Good team no doubt, but not a contender. If you follow my post I've always said that the goal should be a contending team.

[UNO Gracias]

I am pretty sure Memphis thinks they have a contending team. Hell, people here think we have a contending team.

[N.O.Bronco]

The a thunder were very much in the game until very late in the 4th. I think Brooks will figure it out.

What has Brooks ever figured out? His offensive gameplan for years has been to give the ball to Westbrook and then just sit back and hope he doesn't completely destroy the flow of the thunder or hinder Durant too much. And even if he does Brooks doesn't change anything. Yeah he goes small and big but everything is still just give the ball to durant and Westbrook and hope for the best. It's effective in the regular season but in a 7 game series the cracks begin to show as the competition increases.

Brooks vs Popovich is like matching up a scrub against Ali. He might get a few good licks in and might even take a couple rounds but he isn't winning the matchup.

[UNO Gracias]

What has Brooks ever figured out? His offensive gameplan for years has been to give the ball to Westbrook and then just sit back and hope he doesn't completely destroy the flow of the thunder or hinder Durant too much. And even if he does Brooks doesn't change anything. Yeah he goes small and big but everything is still just give the ball to durant and Westbrook and hope for the best. It's effective in the regular season but in a 7 game series the cracks begin to show as the competition increases.

Brooks vs Popovich is like matching up a scrub against Ali. He might get a few good licks in and might even take a couple rounds but he isn't winning the matchup.

Time will tell right?

[N.O.Bronco]

Time will tell right?

True but his history doesn't give me much confidence.

He can't control Westbrook and even refuses to do so. He seems to run a version of two man street ball on offense and then occasionally tries a combo of lineups to try and match on defense.

A lot of people seem to have crowned him an elite coach and I have yet to hear a solid argument justifying it IMO.

[UNO Gracias]

True but his history doesn't give me much confidence.

He can't control Westbrook and even refuses to do so. He seems to run a version of two man street ball on offense and then occasionally tries a combo of lineups to try and match on defense.

A lot of people seem to have crowned him an elite coach and I have yet to hear a solid argument justifying it IMO.

I wouldn't call him elite. If we are down on Monty, I can only imagine what OKC fans think of Brooks with his .500 records while having two of the best players in the game. But things happen. Larry Brown eventually figured it out.

[Pelifan]

True but his history doesn't give me much confidence.

He can't control Westbrook and even refuses to do so. He seems to run a version of two man street ball on offense and then occasionally tries a combo of lineups to try and match on defense.

A lot of people seem to have crowned him an elite coach and I have yet to hear a solid argument justifying it IMO.

I don't think you even need to control Westbrook. Just put him in better spots, coming off screens or curls and get him in motion. All they do is Iso him at the key or throw the ball to Durant in the mid post. It's the dumbest offense I've ever seen. And I'm including ours too.

Also about the offensive focal-point thing we need an efficient, consistent shot creator who can run the offense from the perimeter even when we are in a lull on offense. Ryno doesn't create shots (directly), Tyreke lacks the all important factor of consistency.

Jrue is ok but I wouldn't put him on the level of what most playoff teams have (keeping in mind the level that they play at in the playoffs): Parker, Manu, Westbrook, Durant, Paul, Harden, Lillard, Curry, Conley, Monta Ellis (in these playoffs)
When Indy is playing well George and Lance, Wade, Lebron, Lowry, (Bulls the lone almost unreachable exception but lack of this player limited their postseason run), Wall, Beal (in these playoffs), The nets have a vet team with a lot of guys who step their game up and do this, CHA got swept so, and even Jeff Teague who almost had ATL upset Indy

Maybe Jrue or Tyreke reaches this level under the right coach but our ceiling is undoubtably limited until we find this player and it doesn't help that we have players that don't know how to create and take efficient shots and a coach who can't encourage those either. So unless we become an elite (top 3) defensive team, which is possible with AD, we'll be in big trouble even if we make the playoffs.

[SeaLegs]

I don't think you even need to control Westbrook. Just put him in better spots, coming off screens or curls and get him in motion. All they do is Iso him at the key or throw the ball to Durant in the mid post. It's the dumbest offense I've ever seen. And I'm including ours too.

Also about the offensive focal-point thing we need an efficient, consistent shot creator who can run the offense from the perimeter even when we are in a lull on offense. Ryno doesn't create shots (directly), Tyreke lacks the all important factor of consistency.

Jrue is ok but I wouldn't put him on the level of what most playoff teams have (keeping in mind the level that they play at in the playoffs): Parker, Manu, Westbrook, Durant, Paul, Harden, Lillard, Curry, Conley, Monta Ellis (in these playoffs)
When Indy is playing well George and Lance, Wade, Lebron, Lowry, (Bulls the lone almost unreachable exception but lack of this player limited their postseason run), Wall, Beal (in these playoffs), The nets have a vet team with a lot of guys who step their game up and do this, CHA got swept so, and even Jeff Teague who almost had ATL upset Indy

Maybe Jrue or Tyreke reaches this level under the right coach but our ceiling is undoubtably limited until we find this player and it doesn't help that we have players that don't know how to create and take efficient shots and a coach who can't encourage those either. So unless we become an elite (top 3) defensive team, which is possible with AD, we'll be in big trouble even if we make the playoffs.

No, our team wouldn't contend for a title as constructed. The same could be said for the vast majority of teams. I don't think the problem with our team is Jrue or Tyreke, though. Jrue isn't Tony Parker or Chris Paul, but he's a solid option at the PG spot and provides excellent perimeter defense. I don't think it's fair to compare him to SGs like Ginobli and Harden and whether guys like Lillard and Conley are on another "level" is debatable. If we make it to the finals then I doubt Jrue or Tyreke will be our limiting factors. Our roster has far larger holes to fill.