http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/stor...hise-player?addata=2009_insdr_xxx_sce_nba_xxx Talk about a dumb column. Yes, Noah is now the 'franchise' player, but that's because Rose has barely played in the last 2+ years. Way back when, Rose was the franchise player. Obviously since he doesn't play anymore and no one knows if he'll ever be an elite player again, he isn't anymore. Waiting for his next column: Michael Jordan no longer Chicago's franchise player.
PJ Tucker threw a punch and connected. he and Blake were tangled up and went down together Tucker ejected, he'll probably be suspended for a game. Griffin stayed in but fouled out a few minutes later. 37 points on 14/16 his final line. Only got 6 rebounds, somehow, and turned it over 6 times!
Last I posted someone having a great game, Lebron hit 61. This time, Griffin only gets 2 more points. Boom or bust
Huge game tonight in OKC, they are playing the Rockets. I think for the Thunders sake they need to win this other wise the noise will be deafening.
Yeah im not one to make a big deal out of tonight, but the Thunder need to sort this out, the playoffs are coming very soon. They were not winning the title without Westbrook, but I am not sold that they can get this turned around. I am not sure if the Thunder can make that deep run, we all have assumed they would and the last time they were healthy (2012), they went to the finals. Things have changed though since then, James Harden is not there. The Thunder might be in a similar position the Cavaliers were, they got to the finals early but found it much more difficult getting back. As a Spurs fan, I have that 2012 series still stuck in the back of my mind, but I have to remind myself that Harden is not there, he wont be having the series of his life again, and I dont think we will see Ibaka go 11 of 11 again in San Antonio. I think the Thunder are completely vulnerable to getting beat by the Rockets or Clippers, and that Doc Rivers will make a series with anyone.
Sefolosha and Perkins are out. Zach Lowe wrote about them today. The rotation is a lot shorter and guys who aren't supposed to be playing major minutes are playing major minutes.
I got the Clippers vs Spurs fighting for a spot in the finals, this might be Tim Duncan's last season and I expect the Spurs to be healthy come playoff time and the Clippers are scary now with their new identity on defense. The Rockets are also a team that can make some noise but the Thunder don't seem like a championship calibre team to me.
I have to see the matchups, the Rockets have gotten to the Spurs and it worries me a lot. I think the Clippers can beat the Thunder, they have the better coach which will become very important. CP3 still has a ton to prove, the guy has come up small in the postseason, but it appears now he does have a legitimate player next to him. Griffin has come a long way and is not the player San Antonio beat up on in the playoffs two years ago.
^^ The WC is very matchup orientated come playoff time. It really depends on how the draw breaks to see who should be the favorite.
I think the Spurs would choose the Clippers ANY day over the Rockets. I also think the Rockets would rather play the Spurs than OKC. OKC probably would like Houston instead of LA (although im not so sure about that). I just think Doc Rivers throws in a curveball, Doc might be able to outcoach Brooks, with two leveled teams. The Clippers would probably like avoid San Antonio because historically CP3 has been owned, and to me its just not the matchup that they would want to see.
I think Doc Rivers is a better coach than Brooks. I haven't watched a healthy Spurs to really know who they would rather want. LAC and Houston bring two different obstacles to SA. I'm Pop can prepare for both of them. They are actually very similar teams statistically although how they get to those ratings, FTA, FTM, 3PA, pace, and defense are different. The Thunder have to get healthy, and as usual, because of their players will pose a tough out.
Westbrook posting up early in this one, him and Beverley have history so I expect Westbrook to be very aggressive tonight.
No, 1 vs 8 and 4 vs 5 on one side with 2/7 and 3/6 on the other. So in theory if the 8 pulls off an upset, 4/5 should have an easier time reading the conference finals. I think this is more the case in the EC this year. If IND and MIA get to avoid each other, I think both teams would rather face a TOR, CHI, or BK or something like that instead of each other in the conference finals. In the West I think we 4-5 contenders and it will be really matchup based
