2011 NBA Playoffs Thread

[Manu4five]

I can't believe you even bothered to post this drivel.

So you think that Marion and Terry are smart players and Dirk sucks? Or that Kidd should shoot more 3s?

I think you are simply in attack-mode and fail as usual.

 

[Roca Dolla]

marion is beyond dumb i agree

 

[Lorenzo]

So you think that Marion and Terry are smart players and Dirk sucks? Or that Kidd should shoot more 3s?

I think you are simply in attack-mode and fail as usual.

kidd has more three's than most NBA players all time. his three's are ok because most of them are open looks. honestly I don't know why kidd doesn't try to attack the basket more often though. i know that is not his strength, but in game 1 he had several open layup opportunities and passed out of them. it didn't matter because they made shots, but the lanes are there for him when they are running out to him on the perimeter.

terry has a big mouth, but he is a good player when he shoots well. plain and simple. he hurts the mavs with dumb play when he takes bad shots and he isn't in a rythem(like game 2). scored 8 points. he has to find ways to score when his jump shot isn't falling. he took a one man fast break three pointer late in that 4th quarter. no one under the basket to rebound. he could have attacked the rim too. when he is hot he can shoot anywhere that he wants to, but his problem is he thinks that he is always hot.

marion missed some layups in game 2. that's just how it goes. some games they don't drop for him...others he can't miss. he's not a great offensive player, but anything that he does for this mavs team is gravy because he is not a main offensive cog. he is struggling to stay with durant at the defensive end. durant moves without the ball better than any other star player in the league. the dude looks like reggie miller out there. this would be a great series for caron butler. he could have his way with durant at the offensive end with his strength and skill set. I thought marion had a good game 1 and I don't know that the mavs squeak that one without him on the floor.

the mavs have a lot of gifted shooters, especially from 3, but they have to shoot open ones. not contested stepback 3's. only dirk or peja should be allowed to do that and interestingly I don't think dirk attempted a 3 until he got fouled late in game 2(and that doesn't officially count). It's hard to believe that dirk has scored almost 80 points in 2 games and he has yet to attempt a 3? when you have other players that can score inside you can't settle for contested 3's. OKC made a lot of contested 3's though too. so some of these games will just come down to who gets hot. plain and simple. I would like to think that the mavericks defense will return, but the way I see it is a lot of these points OKC are scoring are earned. Certainly the mavs D could be better, but you just have to tip your hat to OKC for how well they played in both games and hope they start missing from the outside.

 

[BC867]

marion missed some layups in game 2. that's just how it goes. some games they don't drop for him.

That is interesting phrasing.

Fifteen or twenty-three foot shots "drop". Usually under 50%.

The only reason a layup doesn't go in is lack of concentration.

Or confidence. If Marian doesn't have that confidence by this time, he never will. The only thing that drops for Shawn Marion is his basketball IQ, which started out pretty low.

 

[Lorenzo]

That is interesting phrasing.

Fifteen or twenty-three foot shots "drop". Usually under 50%.

The only reason a layup doesn't go in is lack of concentration.

Or confidence. If Marian doesn't have that confidence by this time, he never will. The only thing that drops for Shawn Marion is his basketball IQ, which started out pretty low.

and that may all be true. certainly you all probably know marion's game better than I do.

Marion wasn't brought to dallas for his IQ. it was for his length and hustle. in dallas he is a role player....not an all star who is relied on for his scoring. therefore if he has a bad offensive game no one in dallas is blaming the guy.

I thought marion took a lot of heat in phoenix...and some of it was legit because of his max contract. but I never thought he was an all star. most of his points were because of steve nash obviously. he is a great hustle player and a hard working defender.

 

[desertdawg]

and that may all be true. certainly you all probably know marion's game better than I do.

Marion wasn't brought to dallas for his IQ. it was for his length and hustle. in dallas he is a role player....not an all star who is relied on for his scoring. therefore if he has a bad offensive game no one in dallas is blaming the guy.

I'm thinking Dallas is in big trouble tonight, they figured out how to mess with Dirk and I expect Westbrook to have a killer game...getting Durant the ball.

 

[Covert Rain]

So you think that Marion and Terry are smart players and Dirk sucks? Or that Kidd should shoot more 3s?

I think you are simply in attack-mode and fail as usual.

There is no substance to your posts as usual. I don't need to attack you when you usually what you post is not worth reading anyway.

I'm thinking Dallas is in big trouble tonight, they figured out how to mess with Dirk and I expect Westbrook to have a killer game...getting Durant the ball.

If Dallas doesn't win tonight they pressure is on them. That would mean the Thunder is up 2-1 then game 4 becomes a must win. If they lost that game the series is over because no way Dallas comes back from a 3-1 deficit to win this series. I still don't buy Dallas is mentally tough.

 

[Lorenzo]

There is no substance to your posts as usual. I don't need to attack you when you usually what you post is not worth reading anyway.



If Dallas doesn't win tonight they pressure is on them. That would mean the Thunder is up 2-1 then game 4 becomes a must win. If they lost that game the series is over because no way Dallas comes back from a 3-1 deficit to win this series. I still don't buy Dallas is mentally tough.

I don't think no one buys that dallas is mentally tough until they win a title. they will have to deal with that in the process. although I think they have proven a lot so far having upset their first two opponents.

I agree with tonight being important for dallas. I think it is for both teams. but like you say dallas has to leave OKC at least 2-2. if that is the case I think they will win the series. I don't like the way they finished the half. somehow the thunder are getting free throws and dallas can't even get to the line.

 

[desertdawg]

Mavs playing some good ball.

 

[Lorenzo]

I'm thinking Dallas is in big trouble tonight, they figured out how to mess with Dirk and I expect Westbrook to have a killer game...getting Durant the ball.

well the first half was all dallas on both ends. the only positive for OKC is that OKC is only down by 16 when it should be much more. they got a lot of free throws.

the positive is that other guys besides dirk are really stepping up this game. I don't think OKC has found a way to mess with dirk. the guy has like a 35 point average against them this year. now they are double teaming him on almost every possession and it is killing them. we will see if it continues.

 

[Lorenzo]

Dallas have some really stupid players (Marion,Terry) and Kidd still thinks he can shoot. But they have Dirk so it evens things out.

marion may be stupid, but he is their leading scorer at the half....gravy. the spurs are at home having lost to the team that lost to the team that dallas is beating at half time. this game is far from over and I hope dallas can pull it off. but the spurs are at home either asleep or watching on tv. just sayin.

 

[Lorenzo]

33-12 is the only reason why OKC is within striking distance. hard to watch.

 

[Lorenzo]

wow a foul? dirk finally gets to the line.

 

[Covert Rain]

I am convinced Dallas is still a bunch of mental midgets. They did almost everything they could to give the Thunder this game. If it wasn't for the Thunder missing so many 3's and them making really bad shot decisions down the stretch, the Thunder might have taken this game.

Dallas better hope they don't fall behind in this series because if they do they are not coming back. Even if they make it to the Finals, I still say they can't fall behind in this series or the next.

 

[Lorenzo]

I am convinced Dallas is still a bunch of mental midgets. They did almost everything they could to give the Thunder this game. If it wasn't for the Thunder missing so many 3's and them making really bad shot decisions down the game, the Thunder might have taken this game.

Dallas better hope they don't fall behind in this series because if they do they are not coming back. Even if they make it to the Finals, I still say they can't fall behind.

again dallas will have to win a title before they get respect. even I as a fan. this dallas team is clearly the best I've ever seen because of their defense. but after games like the one in portland you get nervous.

well they haven't been behind yet so as a fan I'm not going to worry about what ifs. what if nowitzki got more than 3 free throws is the only thing I'm wondering. I thought there was physical defense allowed at one end, but not nearly as much at the other. I thought the close score has more to do with how many free throws that OKC shot rather than dallas trying to give it away..because OKC wern't making shots all game. the free throw disparity is really what bothers me about this game.

oh well...dallas showed up and played defense today on the road and proved why they are where they are. and it is because of D. dirk and defense.

3's aren't going to drop every game. so when they don't which team is going to play in the halfcourt. it clearly favors dallas because of dirk. westbrook thinks that he is durant and gets out of control at times. and that helps dallas.

 

[Covert Rain]

again dallas will have to win a title before they get respect. even I as a fan. this dallas team is clearly the best I've ever seen because of their defense. but after games like the one in portland you get nervous.

well they haven't been behind yet so as a fan I'm not going to worry about what ifs. what if nowitzki got more than 3 free throws is the only thing I'm wondering. I thought there was physical defense allowed at one end, but not nearly as much at the other. oh well...dallas showed up and played defense today on the road and proved why they are where they are. and it is because of D. dirk and defense.

3's aren't going to drop every game. so when they don't which team is going to play in the halfcourt. it clearly favors dallas because of dirk. westbrook thinks that he is durant and that helps dallas.

My point still stands. If Dallas is going to win a title they can't fall behind in either series IMO. If they can manage to maintain leads in either series they have a legit shot at a title. Again, this team is not mentally strong enough to play from behind in a series whether they win a title or not.

I don't think even if this team wins a title they are going to shed that label. The only way to do that is to prove when their backs are to a wall in a series they can overcome a win. The Mavs still are mental midgets.

 

[Lorenzo]

My point still stands. If Dallas is going to win a title they can't fall behind in either series IMO. If they can manage to maintain leads in either series they have a legit shot at a title. Again, this team is not mentally strong enough to play from behind in a series whether they win a title or not.

I don't think even if this team wins a title they are going to shed that label. The only way to do that is to prove when their backs are to a wall in a series they can overcome a win. The Mavs still are mental midgets.

oh ok well I'm certainly not going to change your mind. although I haven't seen any teams that win an NBA title and looked back and said that they were mental midgets. I will be happy(and would prefer it) if they don't fall behind in a series. not falling behind in a series all the way en route to a title will be impressive. especially when you consider who they have had to play. this isn't like 2006 when the opposition en route wasn't nearly as strong. mental midgets don't beat the blazers, lakers, and hold a 2-1 lead on OKC etc in 2011. these teams are tougher than what dallas faced in 2006. and that is because this dallas team is much stronger both mentally and physically.

 

[Superbone]

I'm thinking Dallas is in big trouble tonight, they figured out how to mess with Dirk and I expect Westbrook to have a killer game...getting Durant the ball.

Uh, no. Didn't quite happen like that. Westbrook is going to be the death of that team if he can't learn to give up the ball.

 

[Lorenzo]

Uh, no. Didn't quite happen like that. Westbrook is going to be the death of that team if he can't learn to give up the ball.

yeah I think that benching was very telling of their situation with him. there is something weird there.

now they did bother dirk. he was very frustrated. I think he should have been at the foul line more often. they played him more physical than they did in the game that he shot 24 free throws, yet today he shoots 3? the officiating is very strange sometimes.

again it's all good when you win, but westrbook makes enough bad plays at the end of the game to help the other team. he goes one on one and into the paint too much with a guy like durant there. it's aggressive, but he is pretty much putting it on the whistle to make the play. now he did get to the line a lot. and that is the only reason the game was as close as it was.

 

[S_Nash]

Russell Westbrook is the new Jerry Stackhouse.

 

[Covert Rain]

oh ok well I'm certainly not going to change your mind. although I haven't seen any teams that win an NBA title and looked back and said that they were mental midgets. I will be happy(and would prefer it) if they don't fall behind in a series. not falling behind in a series all the way en route to a title will be impressive. especially when you consider who they have had to play. this isn't like 2006 when the opposition en route wasn't nearly as strong. mental midgets don't beat the blazers, lakers, and hold a 2-1 lead on OKC etc in 2011. these teams are tougher than what dallas faced in 2006. and that is because this dallas team is much stronger both mentally and physically.

Well a team shows it's mental toughness when faced with adversity and overcoming it. I think Dallas would prefer not to face any adversity in these playoffs and instead get to the promised land based on the amount of talent this team has. They have plain been better than most teams in the NBA this year on talent alone. That doesn't speak to a teams mental toughness IMO.

 

[TJ]

Michael Wilbon said last night that Kevin Durant touched the ball on only 10 of 27 possessions in the fourth quarter. Most plays were Westbrook cutting into the lane for a layup.

Last I checked, the #1 scoring threat on that team is Durant. In crunch time, you create plays to get the ball to your best shooter/scorer. Not let your ball hogging point guard play isolation.

OKC should take a note from Game 2 as to how effective they were when Westbrook was on the bench in the 4th. A point guard should not have 30 and 4.

 

[desertdawg]

Uh, no. Didn't quite happen like that. Westbrook is going to be the death of that team if he can't learn to give up the ball.

Yup I really thought the little gargoyle would respond differently after the pine time incident. What I keep noticing is how he is "fake" looking for Durant. Durant does need to get open more but when Westbrook has the rock he makes a visual glance over to Durant usually when Durant is trying to go around a pick or is creating some space.

Then Westbrook acts like he tried to get Durant the ball, thinks to himself he is the "other" star, and the bad decisions come. I still don't see him on the OKC next year, but I did think he would play better last night.

Dallas is going into choke mode, Dirk will never will a title.

 

[Magnus]

Why do you hate Dirk so much?

 

[desertdawg]

Why do you hate Dirk so much?

Just do, but I have come to respect him and his game when he shows up. Same with Kobe and Lebron, I used to feel that way about Duncan and the Spurs but they seem so harmless now, I guess Dork and the Mavs have filled that void. I do like other start atheletes... Rose, Durant, Wade, a few others and that dude Randolph made my list this year.