Who wins the championship

[AbeVigodaLive]

Anybody else been hearing this Ibaka for the #5 pick stuff lately?

Thoughts?


[Note: I'd like to think Ibaka could get back to where he was with the right team fit. But his deal is an expiring. Definitely not worth a one-year deal when the Wolves aren't quite there to compete. But if they could get him for more years... even at more money... I'm in.]

[Coolbreeze44]

Cam and I can't have our internet bet now, his Spurs didn't even get to the series against the Warriors. Cam, would you care to comment on how big the mismatch was in coaching between Pop and Donovan again?

Some random thoughts on the series:

- So Lamarcus Aldridge had to go to SA to get to the same place the Blazers did? Good call LA.

- No way is Kawhi Leonard the 2nd best player in the game.

- OKC has to get a split in the first two games against GS, or they can't win the series. I don't think they can do it. GS in 5 or 6.

- Extremely myopic thinking in the first note about Aldridge. Next up, you're going to claim the Toronto Raptors (or Miami Heat) are a better team that SAS because they made the ECF.

- I was impressed with Leonard. 2nd best overall player? Dunno... James is there. Durant is there. Even Westbrook. Paul? Even if he's not the 2nd best... I think he's right in the mix in the top 5. 2nd in MVP doesn't necessarily mean 2nd best player. There are subtle differences there...

- OKC played great defense after Game 1... where they were embarrassingly bad. They need that type of sustained effort defensively to make it a series vs. GSW.

On point one - The concept of irony lost on you? Of course I'm not saying the Blazers are on par with the Spurs, but they did end up in the same place. Lamarcus left for supposedly a much better chance at a championship. Fact is, he's exactly what the Blazers need to really be a big factor in the West.

On point two - Curry is better, James is better, Durant is better, Davis is better. Wade, Westbrook, and Lillard might be better. And Wall, Harden, Green and Paul are in the same class.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Cam and I can't have our internet bet now, his Spurs didn't even get to the series against the Warriors. Cam, would you care to comment on how big the mismatch was in coaching between Pop and Donovan again?

Some random thoughts on the series:

- So Lamarcus Aldridge had to go to SA to get to the same place the Blazers did? Good call LA.

- No way is Kawhi Leonard the 2nd best player in the game.

- OKC has to get a split in the first two games against GS, or they can't win the series. I don't think they can do it. GS in 5 or 6.

- Extremely myopic thinking in the first note about Aldridge. Next up, you're going to claim the Toronto Raptors (or Miami Heat) are a better team that SAS because they made the ECF.

- I was impressed with Leonard. 2nd best overall player? Dunno... James is there. Durant is there. Even Westbrook. Paul? Even if he's not the 2nd best... I think he's right in the mix in the top 5. 2nd in MVP doesn't necessarily mean 2nd best player. There are subtle differences there...

- OKC played great defense after Game 1... where they were embarrassingly bad. They need that type of sustained effort defensively to make it a series vs. GSW.

On point one - The concept of irony lost on you? Of course I'm not saying the Blazers are on par with the Spurs, but they did end up in the same place. Lamarcus left for supposedly a much better chance at a championship. Fact is, he's exactly what the Blazers need to really be a big factor in the West.

On point two - Curry is better, James is better, Durant is better, Davis is better. Wade, Westbrook, and Lillard might be better. And Wall, Harden, Green and Paul are in the same class.

- Portland had no chance at a championship. With or without Aldridge. For 88 games... SAS was considered one of the top 3 challengers. And SAS is a world-class organization. I don't think he should regret his decision at all.

- As I said... I'm cool with Westbrook, Durant, James, Curry even Paul... because arguments can be made. But you're going to have to sell me HARD on those other guys. Wall, Lillard and 2016 Wade better than K. Leonard? That seems like a pretty far out there take. Can you explain with more detail why you'd have any of those guys ahead of Leonard?

[Coolbreeze44]

Cam and I can't have our internet bet now, his Spurs didn't even get to the series against the Warriors. Cam, would you care to comment on how big the mismatch was in coaching between Pop and Donovan again?

Some random thoughts on the series:

- So Lamarcus Aldridge had to go to SA to get to the same place the Blazers did? Good call LA.

- No way is Kawhi Leonard the 2nd best player in the game.

- OKC has to get a split in the first two games against GS, or they can't win the series. I don't think they can do it. GS in 5 or 6.

- Extremely myopic thinking in the first note about Aldridge. Next up, you're going to claim the Toronto Raptors (or Miami Heat) are a better team that SAS because they made the ECF.

- I was impressed with Leonard. 2nd best overall player? Dunno... James is there. Durant is there. Even Westbrook. Paul? Even if he's not the 2nd best... I think he's right in the mix in the top 5. 2nd in MVP doesn't necessarily mean 2nd best player. There are subtle differences there...

- OKC played great defense after Game 1... where they were embarrassingly bad. They need that type of sustained effort defensively to make it a series vs. GSW.

On point one - The concept of irony lost on you? Of course I'm not saying the Blazers are on par with the Spurs, but they did end up in the same place. Lamarcus left for supposedly a much better chance at a championship. Fact is, he's exactly what the Blazers need to really be a big factor in the West.

On point two - Curry is better, James is better, Durant is better, Davis is better. Wade, Westbrook, and Lillard might be better. And Wall, Harden, Green and Paul are in the same class.

- Portland had no chance at a championship. With or without Aldridge. For 88 games... SAS was considered one of the top 3 challengers. And SAS is a world-class organization. I don't think he should regret his decision at all.

- As I said... I'm cool with Westbrook, Durant, James, Curry even Paul... because arguments can be made. But you're going to have to sell me HARD on those other guys. Wall, Lillard and 2016 Wade better than K. Leonard? That seems like a pretty far out there take. Can you explain with more detail why you'd have any of those guys ahead of Leonard?

This is a good old fashioned Abe-Cool argument here.

- Again, I'm just talking about the irony of the situation. LA left for supposedly greener pastures. and at least this year it didn't work out. And I think you could make the argument going forward that a trio of LA, Lillard, and McCulloch, is just as promising as LA, Kawhi, and Parker.

- You probably have a point on Wade, and my comment on Wall was that he was in the same class, not better than Kawhi. But as far as my statement on Lillard possibly being better - oh yeah - that's not far fetched at all. Lillard is an assassin who makes big shots AND makes everyone around him better. I'm not sure there has been a better player in these playoffs. They gave the world champs everything they could handle and the biggest reason by far is Dame. Without him the series wouldn't have even been competitive. Lillard has come of age, he has a chance to be all NBA first team next year.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Cam and I can't have our internet bet now, his Spurs didn't even get to the series against the Warriors. Cam, would you care to comment on how big the mismatch was in coaching between Pop and Donovan again?

Some random thoughts on the series:

- So Lamarcus Aldridge had to go to SA to get to the same place the Blazers did? Good call LA.

- No way is Kawhi Leonard the 2nd best player in the game.

- OKC has to get a split in the first two games against GS, or they can't win the series. I don't think they can do it. GS in 5 or 6.

- Extremely myopic thinking in the first note about Aldridge. Next up, you're going to claim the Toronto Raptors (or Miami Heat) are a better team that SAS because they made the ECF.

- I was impressed with Leonard. 2nd best overall player? Dunno... James is there. Durant is there. Even Westbrook. Paul? Even if he's not the 2nd best... I think he's right in the mix in the top 5. 2nd in MVP doesn't necessarily mean 2nd best player. There are subtle differences there...

- OKC played great defense after Game 1... where they were embarrassingly bad. They need that type of sustained effort defensively to make it a series vs. GSW.

On point one - The concept of irony lost on you? Of course I'm not saying the Blazers are on par with the Spurs, but they did end up in the same place. Lamarcus left for supposedly a much better chance at a championship. Fact is, he's exactly what the Blazers need to really be a big factor in the West.

On point two - Curry is better, James is better, Durant is better, Davis is better. Wade, Westbrook, and Lillard might be better. And Wall, Harden, Green and Paul are in the same class.

- Portland had no chance at a championship. With or without Aldridge. For 88 games... SAS was considered one of the top 3 challengers. And SAS is a world-class organization. I don't think he should regret his decision at all.

- As I said... I'm cool with Westbrook, Durant, James, Curry even Paul... because arguments can be made. But you're going to have to sell me HARD on those other guys. Wall, Lillard and 2016 Wade better than K. Leonard? That seems like a pretty far out there take. Can you explain with more detail why you'd have any of those guys ahead of Leonard?

This is a good old fashioned Abe-Cool argument here.

- Again, I'm just talking about the irony of the situation. LA left for supposedly greener pastures. and at least this year it didn't work out. And I think you could make the argument going forward that a trio of LA, Lillard, and McCulloch, is just as promising as LA, Kawhi, and Parker.

- You probably have a point on Wade, and my comment on Wall was that he was in the same class, not better than Kawhi. But as far as my statement on Lillard possibly being better - oh yeah - that's not far fetched at all. Lillard is an assassin who makes big shots AND makes everyone around him better. I'm not sure there has been a better player in these playoffs. They gave the world champs everything they could handle and the biggest reason by far is Dame. Without him the series wouldn't have even been competitive. Lillard has come of age, he has a chance to be all NBA first team next year.

Lillard shot 36% from the field... And about 30% on two point shots.

You don't think Leonard could be just as "productive" throwing caution to the wind?

And then... Defensively... That's an entirely different story and is such a big reason why Leonard is considered such a great player.

(Note: don't know what "makes teammates better" means or why Lillard does it better than Leonard.)

[KiwiMatt]

I've checked the scores a couple times the last few minutes of the OKC Spurs game. wow there is a still a whole quarter of basketball left so you never know but...it's not looking good for the Spurs and Kevin Martin is getting some run.

OKC deserves credit. Their defense has locked down and that's really been a bit of a soft spot for them this season. I didn't expect this.

Oh yeah absolutely. OKC and the Cavs both had the talent to be really damn good but they both had their issues in the regular season. Both teams are stepping it up in the playoffs. Stephen Adams seems to be turning into a pretty nice player.

Wouldn't he be a great fit with Rubio in the pick and roll and next to KAT down low. One can dream....

Steven Adams. Jesus, that guy's become one of my favorite players. That bet has a lifetime guarantee, Matt. Sorry I missed you in Chicago, but you've still got a place to stay anytime you visit Germany, about halfway between Wurzburg (Dirk's hometown) and Frankfurt.

You're a good man Drew. By the way what took you to Germany?

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

I really hope Toronto beats the cavs in the easterns, just to piss everyone off. But we all know the league won't allow that

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I really hope Toronto beats the cavs in the easterns, just to piss everyone off. But we all know the league won't allow that

*LeBron won't allow that.

[thedoper]

I really hope Toronto beats the cavs in the easterns, just to piss everyone off. But we all know the league won't allow that

*LeBron won't allow that.

Yeah the Cavs are playing great. I don't think there's anyway even without the league backing.

BTW who are the late comers on picking the Cavs? It was two votes until a few days ago (one was mine). Convenient.

[bleedspeed]

I am pulling for OKC at this point. Go Thunder!