The Playoffs

[thedoper]

MEMPHIS <3 <3 <3

You think Wiggins could end up having the same kind of impact as Allen on the defensive end? So fun seeing Curry and Thompson at such a loss. The effort is insane.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

MEMPHIS <3 <3 <3

You think Wiggins could end up having the same kind of impact as Allen on the defensive end? So fun seeing Curry and Thompson at such a loss. The effort is insane.

In certain situations, there's a good possibility. Over the course of a full game? Not a chance.

That's not meant as a dig at Wiggins. It's just their roles are different. Allen's main job is to lock up the opponent's best scorer night in and night out. Wiggins projects to be a star, and a much more important offensive weapon. He likely just won't have the energy to be Tony Allen on one end and a 20+ PPG scorer on the other.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

Wow, Tony Allen is so awesome to watch! It's tough not to love that guy.

What a weekend. Rose's shot was amazing. Pierce hits another game winner. And Memphis is defying all conventional wisdom by taking the lead on Golden State.

What do you guys make of Memphis, by the way? Seems like they're challenging the idea that the way to win is to have lots of three point shooting, push the pace, and pass up low-post scorers in favor of athletic bigs who lack the skill but have the length and athleticism. It's dirty, ugly basketball, and I love it. Gasol and Z-Bo are a lot of fun to watch, actually.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Wow, Tony Allen is so awesome to watch! It's tough not to love that guy.

What a weekend. Rose's shot was amazing. Pierce hits another game winner. And Memphis is defying all conventional wisdom by taking the lead on Golden State.

What do you guys make of Memphis, by the way? Seems like they're challenging the idea that the way to win is to have lots of three point shooting, push the pace, and pass up low-post scorers in favor of athletic bigs who lack the skill but have the length and athleticism. It's dirty, ugly basketball, and I love it. Gasol and Z-Bo are a lot of fun to watch, actually.

Memphis has been successful using their formula for 5 years now. It's built around the personnel they have, which is what all systems should be built around. I'm sure they would love to have better 3-point shooting.

What I do like is that they don't give a damn if another team goes small. They'll just go bigger. Good to see this sort of mentality instead of the typical adjustments most coaches make to match small with small.

[MikkeMan]

It has been also nice to see some young players with bust label to show a lot of promise during these playoffs. In addition to already mentioned McCollum, Otto Porter has been playing up to his potential as jack of all trades wing. He is currently averaging 11.4 pts, 8.1 rbs, 2.0 asts, 1.3 stls in 33.3 minutes and .595 TS%. Also Austin Rivers have shown flashes of promise and is averaging 9 pts in just 17.6 minutes and .562 TS%. If he continues to play as well and Clippers won't pick up their option, someone is going to overpay him because his play in this year's playoffs.

So maybe Bennett can still become a contributor, if even Porter and Rivers have shown lately so much improvement.

[TRKO [enjin:12664595]]

Wow, Tony Allen is so awesome to watch! It's tough not to love that guy.

What a weekend. Rose's shot was amazing. Pierce hits another game winner. And Memphis is defying all conventional wisdom by taking the lead on Golden State.

What do you guys make of Memphis, by the way? Seems like they're challenging the idea that the way to win is to have lots of three point shooting, push the pace, and pass up low-post scorers in favor of athletic bigs who lack the skill but have the length and athleticism. It's dirty, ugly basketball, and I love it. Gasol and Z-Bo are a lot of fun to watch, actually.

I was thinking the same exact thing. I don't think there is one set way for winning basketball. Talent will win out. I also think it's wise to be a team that bucks trends. If everybody goes small and lives by the three, team defenses will be built around that. An old school bruising team would be hard for them to defend.

Also, teams that go all in on analytical data seem to do great in the regular season and struggle in the postseason, like the Oakland Athletics and the Houston Rockets. That's not to say those teams can't win their respective titles, but maybe just maybe there is a clutch gene, or under pressure gene. I think it's foolish to go all in on analytics and it's foolish to completely ignore it.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

It has been also nice to see some young players with bust label to show a lot of promise during these playoffs. In addition to already mentioned McCollum, Otto Porter has been playing up to his potential as jack of all trades wing. He is currently averaging 11.4 pts, 8.1 rbs, 2.0 asts, 1.3 stls in 33.3 minutes and .595 TS%. Also Austin Rivers have shown flashes of promise and is averaging 9 pts in just 17.6 minutes and .562 TS%. If he continues to play as well and Clippers won't pick up their option, someone is going to overpay him because his play in this year's playoffs.

So maybe Bennett can still become a contributor, if even Porter and Rivers have shown lately so much improvement.

I agree - AB shows some flashes of competency and has some pretty compelling skills - but my issue is how much do we want to pay to find out? We're talking $7M to pick up his '16-17 option. That's a hell of a lot of money for someone we hope will turn out to be something other than an abject liability.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

David Blatt's an idiot. That's confirmed today.

[longstrangetrip [enjin:6600564]]

The Houston/LAC series is unwatchable for me. but I'm really enjoying the Cavs/Bulls series. With Love out and Irving only at 50%, the Cavs look a lot like 6 years ago...LeBron and not much else. But they still were able to tie up the series despite Blatt and being shorthanded. I never thought I would make this comment this year, but the Cavs are impressing me with their defensive effort...they looked like a totally different team at the end of yesterday's game with Love and Irving out.

[MikkeMan]

Bulls and Jimmy Butler have played really tremendous defense against LeBron. LeBron has currently TS% 44.3 and he is averaging almost 6 TOs per game.