Playoffs thread

[MikkeMan]

Kawhi Leonard is crushing James Harden but Rockets are still hanging within ten points.

I was about to write after first game that Kawhi might not be good enough to be teams primary playmaker in playoffs because it looked like that was one of the main reasons for the result in first game. Now it looks like he is at least so good defender that he can make a world class point guard to look like pretty bad one.

[60WinTim]

Parker just went down. Doesn't look good.

[thedoper]

I don't know if I enjoy watching someone lose as much as Dantoni. Maybe George Karl. Dantoni strikes me as such a whiner. Go Spurs go!!

[Lipoli390]

I don't have a strong preference for either Houston or San Antonio. But it's amazing to see such a 180 degree turnaround in the outcome between the same two elite teams within a couple days. Testament to the importance of how you play as compared to who plays. The same highly talented collection of players on both teams with nearly identical regular season records experience a 50-point swing from one game to the next. The mental part of the game is so critical. In my view, the Wolves had the talent this past season to be a playoff team, but instead won only 31 games. Yes, we could use some more talent and could benefit from a better bench. But the difference between what our record was versus what it could have been was a reflection of how the players played more than who those players were. It's the mental aspect of the game that our guys have to improve more than anything.

[AbeVigodaLive]

Powerful statement game from San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard deserves his own thread. The guy is an absolute gem. Quick recap that doesn't do him justice.

- Improved every year.
- Improved every year in the playoffs.
- Great on both sides of the ball.
- Never whines. Woofs. Argues. Complains.
- Fits the system.
- Stays in the system.
- Does more.
- And more.
- And more when needed. (even with Parker on the court, Leonard has become the de facto creator for others... which was supposed to be a weak part of his game. 14 assists through two games.)

He should be a role model for every young basketball player in the world.

This series could be decided by injuries. Aldridge. Parker... and Harden? Anderson?

[Monster]

I don't have a strong preference for either Houston or San Antonio. But it's amazing to see such a 180 degree turnaround in the outcome between the same two elite teams within a couple days. Testament to the importance of how you play as compared to who plays. The same highly talented collection of players on both teams with nearly identical regular season records experience a 50-point swing from one game to the next. The mental part of the game is so critical. In my view, the Wolves had the talent this past season but instead won only 31 games. Yes, we could use some more talent and could benefit from a better bench. But the difference between what our record was versus what it could have been was a reflection of how the players played more than who those players were. It's the mental aspect of the game that our guys have to improve more than anything.

We have seen these 180 swings the last couple years in the playoffs. It's hard to be surprised about anything in the NBA playoffs.

[TheFuture]

https://streamable.com/g7xaw

Please fix this NBA.

[TheFuture]

Powerful statement game from San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard deserves his own thread. The guy is an absolute gem. Quick recap that doesn't do him justice.

- Improved every year.
- Improved every year in the playoffs.
- Great on both sides of the ball.
- Never whines. Woofs. Argues. Complains.
- Fits the system.
- Stays in the system.
- Does more.
- And more.
- And more when needed. (even with Parker on the court, Leonard has become the de facto creator for others... which was supposed to be a weak part of his game. 14 assists through two games.)

He should be a role model for every young basketball player in the world.

This series could be decided by injuries. Aldridge. Parker... and Harden? Anderson?

Favorite non-wolf for sure. I can't wait to see Parker retire and LMA traded/contract over so they can bring in another real option to Kawhi

[AbeVigodaLive]

Powerful statement game from San Antonio. Kawhi Leonard deserves his own thread. The guy is an absolute gem. Quick recap that doesn't do him justice.

- Improved every year.
- Improved every year in the playoffs.
- Great on both sides of the ball.
- Never whines. Woofs. Argues. Complains.
- Fits the system.
- Stays in the system.
- Does more.
- And more.
- And more when needed. (even with Parker on the court, Leonard has become the de facto creator for others... which was supposed to be a weak part of his game. 14 assists through two games.)

He should be a role model for every young basketball player in the world.

This series could be decided by injuries. Aldridge. Parker... and Harden? Anderson?

Favorite non-wolf for sure. I can't wait to see Parker retire and LMA traded/contract over so they can bring in another real option to Kawhi

Parker's retirement might be here...

As for the three-point gimmick/flop... there isn't an NBA fan out there who digs it. But the NBA has a proven track record of being reactionary instead of proactive with this kind of thing.

I guaranteed before the playoffs that a team would lose a game because of that gimmick. I just hope it doesn't help sway the NBA title... because it's going to continue to happen.

Every game.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

https://streamable.com/g7xaw

Please fix this NBA.

Aaaaaaaahhhhh!! I didn't watch the whole game, so I didn't see this. Going back to Abe's comments on Kawhi, you'd never see him try to pull this B.S. That ref deserves to be blasted for making that call. Total B.S.

The good news is that in the limited games I've watched, these calls are fewer and farther between. I've seen Harden flop around a few times and NOT get the call, so there is some progress. But this is a set-back for those of us in the anti-Harden/anti-foul bait camp!