1st round playoffs thread

[Indy]

What aggravates me most about Harden's "game winner' is the egregious push off of Iggy before the shot as the refs swallowed their whistle. It was blatant as hell.

Jordan made that popular years ago.

Yep. It isn't new. But it is a huge problem. Same with the Warriors and their repeated illegal screens that don't get called. Until the league opens up their officiating to a public forum, it won't change. But the owners don't care enough to do anything about it.

[carey]

IT3 is trying to put the Celtics on his back and carry them to a win. 36 points so far tonight. Celtics up 104-98 with 5:39 left.

[carey]

IT with 42 as Celtics get a win against the Hawks at home.

[Mori Chu]

IT had a huge game. But only 1 assist. He hogs the ball and doesn't make other players better. I don't miss him, and I don't think the Celtics will win that series. I think he has doomed their rebuilding effort to mediocrity, just good enough to get a middling seed and lose in the first round every year.

[carey]

IT had a huge game. But only 1 assist. He hogs the ball and doesn't make other players better. I don't miss him, and I don't think the Celtics will win that series. I think he has doomed their rebuilding effort to mediocrity, just good enough to get a middling seed and lose in the first round every year.

Disagree, strongly. They are getting a top 3 pick this year, maybe even Ingram or Simmons. I don't like him as a starting PG on a championship team, but he's a great microwave scorer. I'd much rather him @ $7M/yr than Knight @ $14M/yr because Knight is just as bad at defense despite being 6 inches taller and doesn't pass either.

Bradley had a decent little season. I'm worried about Marcus Smart though, his shooting percentages are not goood. 25% on 4 3-point FGAs a game? Yikes.

[carey]

What aggravates me most about Harden's "game winner' is the egregious push off of Iggy before the shot as the refs swallowed their whistle. It was blatant as hell.

Yep. It isn't new. But it is a huge problem. Same with the Warriors and their repeated illegal screens that don't get called. Until the league opens up their officiating to a public forum, it won't change. But the owners don't care enough to do anything about it.

Assume y'all have seen this? http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15305 ... ot-counted

The NBA came down harshly Friday in its review of the officials' crunch-time calls -- or lack thereof -- in the Houston Rockets' Game 3, 97-96 win over the Golden State Warriors, saying James Harden's game-winning shot should not have counted.

It was among five incorrect calls in the last two minutes, the NBA said in its assessment of officials' late-game performance dubbed the "Last Two Minute Report."

On the replay from Thursday night's game, it appeared Harden pushed off Golden State's Andre Iguodala before converting a 10-foot, step-back jumper with 2.7 seconds to play. The league said Harden initiated contact with Iguodala before hitting the basket.

[Sunsfan4life]

Officials are terrible. We've known this for years....In Houston's defense Golden State gets away with a lot of stuff too particularly when they are setting screens.

[Cap]

Five incorrect calls in the last two minutes of a playoff game decided by one point? Ouch.

[Mori Chu]

sf4l: Your avi doesn't show up! It's a broken link. Can't you choose a gorgeous new non-broken image to use as your avatar?

[Mori Chu]

Pacers are blowing out the Raptors right now in Game 4 in the 4th quarter. Series will be tied 2-2. I still think Pacers in 6!

[Mori Chu]

Miami and Charlotte are about to tip off their game 3. Miami has looked REALLY good in these playoffs so far. I like my Heat in NBA Finals pick a little better so far, though it could just be about their opponent.

[Mori Chu]

Miami getting pretty whooped, score 71-53 Charlotte on top. Hmm. Lin is having a strong game (16 pts) while the Heat guards Wade/Dragic/Johnson are all having poor shooting nights. Kaminsky also has 15 big points.

[JCSunsfan]

Anyone see the clip of Beasley clamping down on Draymond Green's left arm and then pretending like Green was throwing him to the floor? It was right out of the WWF.

[Mori Chu]

Warriors struggling a bit here against the Rockets, down 50-43 in the 2nd quarter. Rockets look spry (including Dwight) and the crowd is into it. Curry looks a little wobbly and has been shooting it poorly. Meanwhile the Spurs took care of business and swept the Grizz 4-0.

[Mori Chu]

And Curry went down awkwardly and is limping to the locker room at halftime. This is feeling like a "Warriors don't repeat as champs due to Curry injury" playoffs to me.

[Superbone]

And Curry went down awkwardly and is limping to the locker room at halftime. This is feeling like a "Warriors don't repeat as champs due to Curry injury" playoffs to me.

Uh, oh. Yeah, I saw it too. He really should have taken another game off.

[Mori Chu]

Oddly the Warriors are pulling further and further ahead with Curry out. Up 93-76 now. They had a barrage of 3s in the 3rd qtr led by Draymond and Klay.

[Mori Chu]

Draymond is doing a lot of Draymond things like screaming and waving his arms like a mad man.

[carey]

And Curry went down awkwardly and is limping to the locker room at halftime. This is feeling like a "Warriors don't repeat as champs due to Curry injury" playoffs to me.

I've been out all day, but damn that didn't look to good. Draymond said he was crying in the huddle when told he could not go back out there for the rest of the game. It's pretty obvious the Dubs don't repeat without Curry. Both injuries were freak slip and make a wrong move type of injury so I am not going to get behind any chorus that says they should have rested him more during the year.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/MarcJSpearsESPN/status/724377252763332608