2014 Playoffs |OT| The North Shall Rise Again

Teletovic is War Ready, Psycho T is Cow Ready.

Teletovic would give this guy PTSD.

I hate Psycho T so much. I'm glad that if the Bulls face the Pacers, he won't be there.

Teletovic is War Ready, Psycho T is Cow Ready.

I need to see Teletovic's CQC before I'm ready to believe he is ready for this battlefield.

I need to see Teletovic's CQC before I'm ready to believe he is ready for this battlefield.

flagrant

flagrant

Its going to be a fantastic series. Especially the guard battle.

Lowry, DeRozan, Vasquez against D-Will, Joe, and Livingston.

If zombie d-will comes to play its over before it even starts though.

Fantastic series

Everybody should read Zach Lowe's Playoff preview, really good questions about each series : http://grantland.com/features/nba-playoffs-preview-2014/

in short
Clippers-Warriors : Clips in 6
Thunder-Grizzlies : Thunder in 7
Rockets-Blazers : Rockets in 5
Spurs-Mavericks : Spurs in 4

Heat-Bobcats : Heat in 4
Bulls-Wizards : Bulls in 6
Nets-Raptors : Nets in 6
Pacers-Hawks : Pacers in 6

I don't know who to root for in the GS vs LAClips series. I hate Mark Jackson, but I also hate the flopping piece of shit Blake Griffin and the actor known as Chris Paul.

Edit: I really enjoy watching Stephon Curry shoot, so I guess I'll go with GS.

I can never root against Curry.

Any of them.

*except that time the reject played for duke

I like how Plumlee is the only tall guy in this pic.

"Tall" guy is definitely the first word I thought of when I saw him in that pic.

"Tall" guy is definitely the first word I thought of when I saw him in that pic.

Shaun Livingston wrote this big thing for Bleacher Report about his entire time in the NBA. He goes into really personal detail and talks about all the teams he's been with (a lot). Interestingly enough, he has a lot of nice things to say about the Heat.

As it caved in, it snapped—and that was the dislocation of the kneecap. When it pops, it's like a rubber band. That's the most painful part. While I tore three out of the four knee ligaments—not to mention a dislocated patella and tibia-femoral joint—the dislocation of the knee was the hardest part, because your knee is out of the socket.

From there, Clippers team physician Dr. Steven Shimoyama ran over to me and fortunately put my kneecap back into place after several tries. I still tell him to this day that he saved my career by being able to do that at that time, in that moment.

I actually heard the word "amputation" in the hospital. That's when I really knew how severe it was. I was like, "Where am I at right now?" One, I was upset because I think that should've been a conversation in itself, but being at a public hospital in the middle of Inglewood, it's like they were just doing their job. But I put everything into perspective. I saw somebody that had just been shot that was getting wheeled in, so I was like, "OK, here it is, I have a knee issue and this guy is fighting for his life."

I met Kevin before the surgery, and I saw him the day after when I had staples in my knee, and I'm still leaking pus, blood, everything. I remember Kevin saying, "We're going to get your flexion back. We're going to get you back. That's what we do." He was confident from Day 1.

He was sitting there sweating and taking his glasses off, cranking on my leg. That was probably the most pain that I've ever been in—worse than the injury, because he's just cranking on my leg. Out of surgery, my knee was huge, and once the scar tissue gets bound down, it's basically like concrete. So they needed to break it down in the beginning. I'm sitting there leaking; it's almost like popping a pimple or something.

Then in October, the Miami Heat gave me a shot. That was all Erik Spoelstra and Dwyane Wade. Erik believed in me. He watched me a lot in the film room when I was on the Clippers, and he was a fan of my game. And then with Dwyane, we had the same agent at the time, Henry Thomas, and he vouched for me. It was great to see the Heat give Greg Oden a shot this season after his knee issues. That's what the Heat organization is all about; it's like a family environment.

Then there was the cost of moving. You've got to pack up, sometimes you've got to close out the rent or your 12-month lease, and then you have to move to another city. In 2012, I was in three different cities—Milwaukee, Washington and Cleveland—so you talk about three different rents. It adds up. You might say, "Well, you make a lot of money," but it costs a lot of money as well. That's probably the biggest financial challenge.

As far as coaches, Flip Saunders was great for me—just the way he thought about the game. He challenged me mentally and my IQ, which was very important to me because of my athleticism being where it was at the time. Scott Brooks was also good. I played with him his first year as head coach in Oklahoma City in 2008. He was very honest and open. I definitely appreciated the time I spent there in Oklahoma City; I learned a lot.

Even Spoelstra. I learned a lot from watching him. His work ethic was pretty crazy. Just watching the amount of time he put into his craft, being the first one to arrive. He was the one that was working the whiteboard. Usually that's the assistant coaches. He put in a lot of work, so to see him have success, it feels good to watch him.

Fuck the Heat anyway tho.

Fuck the Heat anyway tho.

co-signed

Just watched the 30 for 30 about the Bad Boys. Pretty entertaining, especially for someone who knew virtually nothing about that Detroit team.

Can someone confirm something for me about playoff rosters. In the old days(90's and such) you had to have a set playoff roster that couldn't be changed for the rest of the playoffs. Maybe I'm miss-remembering, but didn't they change it so that you can change it game to game now?

Edit: I know you can't go out and sign a player to play for the playoffs, but I'm speaking more in terms of someone you have under contract.

East:

Indiana over Atlanta: in 5. DUH
Miami over Charlotte in 5 DUH
Toronto over Brooklyn in 5. I'm not buying Brooklyn in the playoffs and Toronto is underrated. Plus, basketball gods will strike down for tanking
Chicago over Washington in 7. This is going to be an ugly series and Chicago eeks it out

West:

Spurs over Mavs in 4. Sorry, Dirk
OKC over Grizzlies in 5. Just don't see the outside shooting for Memphis being enough
LAC over Warriors in 5. No Bogut = No Bueno
Portland over Houston in 6. This is the hardest series for me to figure out. On one hand, Houston should be the better team. On the other hand, something feels weird about this series and maybe Portland pulls it out.


Not that anyone cares, my half-witted predictions

1. Miami will not win the title. In fact, if not for Indiana's recent struggles and the weakness of the conference, I'd say they won't make it out of the 2nd round but I still leave a Finals appearance open just cuz. This team feels so much like 2011 Lakers to me.
2. Whoever comes out of the West wins. Nearly all year I thought Indiana would win the title, but the last 6 weeks have changed my mind, for obvious reasons. Even if they come out of the East (something I still lean towards), I don't think they will win it all.
3. and thus, whoever wins the West win will the title.
4. Only OKC can beat the Spurs out West. I am leaning towards OKC winning it all but it's 55/45 for me in an OKC/Spurs series and winner wins it all. Not buying the Clippers beating both of them but if somehow they did, I think they'd beat whomever comes out of the East, too. No one out West other than those 3 have a shot.

Last year I said there was no way of Miami losing and they didn't. Two years ago I called the OKC upset of Spurs (even after down 2-0!). This is the first of the past 3 years I think the Spurs could pull it off and win the title. If they avoid OKC, I'd be surprised if they didn't. They're the best team, IMO, but OKC is a matchup problem for them.

Hopefully, the 1st round is more exciting than I'm predicting. Damn Bogut injury could have killed the LAC-GSW series. I was so looking forward to a more even matchup there.

My full witted opinion

1. Miami will win the title and it will take the least amount of games out of any of their final runs.

My prediction:

RT @WojYahooNBA: Memphis guard Nick Calathes will be suspended 20 games for violation of NBA's Anti-Drug policy, source tells Yahoo. Supension starts now.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Calathes tested positive for Tamoxifen, which he was part of an over-the-counter athletic supplement he had used, source tells Yahoo.

RT @WojYahooNBA: Memphis guard Nick Calathes will be suspended 20 games for violation of NBA's Anti-Drug policy, source tells Yahoo. Supension starts now.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Calathes tested positive for Tamoxifen, which he was part of an over-the-counter athletic supplement he had used, source tells Yahoo.

Oh damn.

That changes things.

RT @WojYahooNBA: Memphis guard Nick Calathes will be suspended 20 games for violation of NBA's Anti-Drug policy, source tells Yahoo. Supension starts now.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Calathes tested positive for Tamoxifen, which he was part of an over-the-counter athletic supplement he had used, source tells Yahoo.

6 game series goes to 5. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Anyone have a link to that playoff or finals promo from last year where you see old legends spliced with modern ones playing together?

This is crime. Clearly nick was taking it for his breast cancer.

Anyway makes perfect sense it would happen this season.

This is crime. Clearly nick was taking it for his breast cancer.

Anyway makes perfect sense it would happen this season.

Can the grizz trade places with the Suns now?

This is crime. Clearly nick was taking it for his breast cancer.

Anyway makes perfect sense it would happen this season.

OK, this made me spit out my drink

My prediction:

toronto wins the title

Drake is crowned godking of the universe

RT @WojYahooNBA: Memphis guard Nick Calathes will be suspended 20 games for violation of NBA's Anti-Drug policy, source tells Yahoo. Supension starts now.
RT @WojYahooNBA: Calathes tested positive for Tamoxifen, which he was part of an over-the-counter athletic supplement he had used, source tells Yahoo.

Oh god...

The league wants the Thunder to get through.

Believe

Believe

James Harden is the clutchest motherfucker in the league, but I don't have to tell reilo that.


http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/88049/picking-the-most-clutch-in-nba-playoffs

35 PER and 65%TS in crunch time.

James Harden is the clutchest motherfucker in the league, but I don't have to tell reilo that.


http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/88049/picking-the-most-clutch-in-nba-playoffs

35 PER and 65%TS in crunch time.

Not surprised about Harden or that Bron is right behind him. Harden seems to hit a clutch three evertime Houston needs him to.

Surprised how low KD is and especially Iso Joe.

lol at John Wall.

Surprised how low KD is and especially Iso Joe.

Yeah, he's hit a bunch of big shots recently and been hailed as a 4th quarter assassin. Guess not so much.

I'd be curious to know where Lowry fits on that list rather than DeRozan.

I just want to see some major upsets. Fuck predictions.

I would LOL for days if the Wizards chipped. Or even the Raptors. Just imagine the great verses Drake would put together if that were to happen

clutch time stats?

srsly

that's some 82games.com circa red ring of death shit

I just want to see some major upsets. Fuck predictions.

I would LOL for days if the Wizards chipped. Or even the Raptors. Just imagine the great verses Drake would put together if that were to happen

Ain't watched my team, who you sleepin' on?
You should put Derozan tapes on and have a fuckin' watchathon
Ain't a fuckin' ballerthon 'less you brought the weed along
Then ju.. (Okay, I got it)
Then just drop down and get yo' raptor on

Surprised how low KD is and especially Iso Joe.

Joe is famous for his buzzer beaters, something like a ridiculous 90% on game winning or overtime forcing opportunities. He's not the guy you go to to take over in the last 5 minutes (as crunch time is defined there), he's the guy you go to in the last 5 seconds.

Almost shat myself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm1Jb8ONAcU

Almost shat myself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm1Jb8ONAcU

That is amazing.

Almost shat myself https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm1Jb8ONAcU

allen iverson had me rolling :lol:

James Harden is the clutchest motherfucker in the league, but I don't have to tell reilo that.


http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/88049/picking-the-most-clutch-in-nba-playoffs

35 PER and 65%TS in crunch time.

Conley so clutch. Makes all that shit people said about "who is gonna take the last shot now that Gay is gone?" Even more comical.

James Harden is the clutchest motherfucker in the league, but I don't have to tell reilo that.


http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/88049/picking-the-most-clutch-in-nba-playoffs

35 PER and 65%TS in crunch time.

Saint DJ still saving the wretched and undeserving
Kemba inferior even with his triple doubles :lol:

I just want to see some major upsets. Fuck predictions.

I would LOL for days if the Wizards chipped. Or even the Raptors. Just imagine the great verses Drake would put together if that were to happen

Ain't watched my team, who you sleepin' on?
You should put Derozan tapes on and have a fuckin' watchathon
Ain't a fuckin' ballerthon 'less you brought the weed along
Then ju.. (Okay, I got it)
Then just drop down and get yo' raptor on

Hahaha.

Man I'm so hungover.

Let's get this started.

Everyone get hype!

Already at the game, three vodkas deep, close enough to spit on KG...except the Netz still haven't come out for shoot around.

Fuck the Nets!!