2nd round playoffs thread

[Mori Chu]

What a masterful performance by the Spurs. Neither team got much from their bench, but San Antonio had a nice balance between Kahwi (31 points, 11 boards), Aldridge (24 points, 8 boards), and a surprise resurgence from Tony Parker (19 points, 8 rebounds somehow, and 5 assists). The other thing I love about the Spurs' box score is how many guys randomly have 2-3 assists. They share the ball so well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400875653

[Indy]

What a masterful performance by the Spurs. Neither team got much from their bench, but San Antonio had a nice balance between Kahwi (31 points, 11 boards), Aldridge (24 points, 8 boards), and a surprise resurgence from Tony Parker (19 points, 8 rebounds somehow, and 5 assists). The other thing I love about the Spurs' box score is how many guys randomly have 2-3 assists. They share the ball so well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400875653

Pretty sure they are one of the top passing teams in the league, and OKC is one of the bottom.

[Cap]

What a masterful performance by the Spurs. Neither team got much from their bench, but San Antonio had a nice balance between Kahwi (31 points, 11 boards), Aldridge (24 points, 8 boards), and a surprise resurgence from Tony Parker (19 points, 8 rebounds somehow, and 5 assists). The other thing I love about the Spurs' box score is how many guys randomly have 2-3 assists. They share the ball so well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400875653

Pretty sure they are one of the top passing teams in the league, and OKC is one of the bottom.

I don't know how to measure that, but FWIW OKC averaged 23.0 assists during the regular season, which was 10th in the league. (GS and SA were #1 and #3, respectively.)

[Superbone]

Turnovers did in OKC as usual. Some key ones right down the stretch.

[Cap]

OKC had the fourth-most turnovers during the regular season. Guess who was #1!

[Indy]

OKC had the fourth-most turnovers during the regular season. Guess who was #1!

I think I should know this...

[Indy]

What a masterful performance by the Spurs. Neither team got much from their bench, but San Antonio had a nice balance between Kahwi (31 points, 11 boards), Aldridge (24 points, 8 boards), and a surprise resurgence from Tony Parker (19 points, 8 rebounds somehow, and 5 assists). The other thing I love about the Spurs' box score is how many guys randomly have 2-3 assists. They share the ball so well.

http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400875653

Pretty sure they are one of the top passing teams in the league, and OKC is one of the bottom.

I don't know how to measure that, but FWIW OKC averaged 23.0 assists during the regular season, which was 10th in the league. (GS and SA were #1 and #3, respectively.)

It is in the Sportsvue data but not sure where to get it. I think you can be high in assists but not pass the ball much. Think of when Shaq was in Orlando. Tons of assists, but basically no ball movement.

[Hermen]

Whiteside is out of the game and Valanciunas (or whatever) is punishing Miami. Amare, McRoberts and Haslem just don't really cut it... If Whiteside misses more games, Heat are in trouble.

[Hermen]

Valanciunas now out for Toronto as well. Bummer.

[Hermen]

Wade is unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable.

[carey]

What happened to Whiteside? He has $100M on the line...

[ShelC]

I don't know. I think anyone who gives him big time money is going to be sorry.

[carey]

The Warriors don't have it tonight. Lillard is just having a really good game.

[Cap]

Yeah, but the Warriors are the Warriors. Down 18 in the 4th, I wouldn't count them out.

[Mori Chu]

Surprised by both game outcomes tonight. I thought the Heat would have a better showing against the Raps, and I didn't expect a Portland blowout. Blazers have a fierce home court advantage, so that's part of it. Lillard went nuts. But Lillard is from Oakland so I thought he'd be at ease on the road, too. Who knows.

[Hermen]

What happened to Whiteside? He has $100M on the line...

He has problems with his right knee. I think it was in game 2 (maybe 1, not sure) where he slipped and hurt his knee, but was able to play later. Last night someone fell on it again and he went out and didn't return. Supposed to have MRI today.
I'm not an injury expert at all but I think he gets paid this summer. Last year he came out of nowhere, but he also improved a lot over this season. He's not that young anymore, but he doesn't have a lot of NBA experience, that's why I think he can still get better. One thing that probably helps him is that compared to other beastly centers he's an OK free throw shooter.

[JCSunsfan]

These playoffs are a clear example of the difference Channing Frye can make in the right situation. He is making a huge difference for the Cavs. Opens everything up for everyone.

[Mori Chu]

Spurs playing beautiful basketball, up 25-15 over the Thunder. So many possessions with all 5 players touching the ball, tons of passing, great defense, unselfish play. Love it. Meanwhile OKC is up to their usual chuckathon offense and Westbrook already has a tech. You can feel the series slipping away from them.

[JCSunsfan]

The Spurs and the Warriors are the antithesis of 1980's nba ball. The league built itself back in those days on showing of the talents of individual players. That's what David Stern's NBA was all about. We have come full circle. I think that marketing strategy missed the beauty that is real team basketball.

Frankly, the reason that the Cavs are playing much better now is that they are also playing team ball. You saw both LeBron and Kyrie deferring to KLove in the final game with Atlanta.

[Mori Chu]

BTW, Tim Duncan is quietly having an awful series. I think he had ~4 points last game, and tonight he has 0 points and 4 fouls and we're barely into the 2nd quarter (!).