although neither ginobili nor mills hit the marks that i set for them in order to win game 7, the eye-opener for me is the elevated play of blake griffin. if he can maintain anything close to these numbers the clippers will go far. yes chris paul was fantastic but frankly i do not expect him to continue to have more games like this. griffin, however, is still developing as a player and i have to believe the game is slowing down for him, he is seeing the floor better, and he is tightening up his shot selection, making the correct pass instead of taking a bad shot.
i always think about what bill russell syas about playoff basketball, that it's about defense and matchups. whoever on houston has to guard griffin the next round is going to have a tough time. in fact, i think griffin is going to have an outstanding series against houston.
then again who do the clippers have that can neutralize james harden??? reddick and paul are not enough. barnes is a hothead and will accrue fouls too quickly.should be a very intriguing series and i will be watching how griffin and harden fare as the "next generation" of stars.
Rockets-Clippers should be one hell of a match as well. I think Harden and CP3 are a wash, both of their offensive games have to be respected immensely. Dwight and Deandre are very close to a wash as well. McHale is gonna have to start Josh Smith tho. Blake should feast every single game in this series as there really isnt a player on that team that can truly guard him. reddick should have even better looks, so I expect him to be even better than he really was. Perhaps Jamal crawford realizes the playoffs have started....lol.
knickscity wrote:Rockets-Clippers should be one hell of a match as well. I think Harden and CP3 are a wash, both of their offensive games have to be respected immensely. Dwight and Deandre are very close to a wash as well. McHale is gonna have to start Josh Smith tho. Blake should feast every single game in this series as there really isnt a player on that team that can truly guard him. reddick should have even better looks, so I expect him to be even better than he really was. Perhaps Jamal crawford realizes the playoffs have started....lol.
Should be plenty of flopping and exaggerated contact too!
How about old man Tim Duncan..His performance at his advanced age leaves me speechless..The big fundamental, what a true professional..
holfresh wrote:How about old man Tim Duncan..His performance at his advanced age leaves me speechless..The big fundamental, what a true professional..
Yep- I don't understand how he can still put up the numbers he puts up- plus he made those clutch free throws too, and did the HUGE defensive play on CP3 at the end of the game that the refs wrongly called a foul- cost them the game.
smackeddog wrote:holfresh wrote:How about old man Tim Duncan..His performance at his advanced age leaves me speechless..The big fundamental, what a true professional..
Yep- I don't understand how he can still put up the numbers he puts up- plus he made those clutch free throws too, and did the HUGE defensive play on CP3 at the end of the game that the refs wrongly called a foul- cost them the game.
he's been on a minutes restriction pretty much for the last 10 years. When you've not averaging 40 minutes per playoff contest, trust me it helps.
Memphis game plan should be to abuse GS frontline on the inside and get them in foul trouble..Old school ball..Not many believe in it anymore..
holfresh wrote:Memphis game plan should be to abuse GS frontline on the inside and get them in foul trouble..Old school ball..Not many believe in it anymore..
I'm rooting for the Griz, but I don't like their chances, especially without their PG
smackeddog wrote:holfresh wrote:Memphis game plan should be to abuse GS frontline on the inside and get them in foul trouble..Old school ball..Not many believe in it anymore..
I'm rooting for the Griz, but I don't like their chances, especially without their PG
Yeah..I wanted to see Spurs vs. Warriors..Would have been fun..
I'm pulling for GS this year and even though the Clippers are tough, I figured GS would have a harder time with the Spurs. However, Duncan! I hope he plays another year. Griffin is a great player but (hopefully) we'll get to see years of Griffin . . . Duncan however is timeless. Griffin may have been a hair better overall this series but Duncan was very close. Has _anyone_ played like that at 39? Kareem in '86, maybe?
It sucks Conley is out. He might be my second or third favorite PG and he seems to have a better handle on Curry than, well, any other PG. I think GS wins, with or without Conley on the floor but it would be a much better series with a healthy Conley.
NumberTwoPencil wrote:I'm pulling for GS this year and even though the Clippers are tough, I figured GS would have a harder time with the Spurs. However, Duncan! I hope he plays another year. Griffin is a great player but (hopefully) we'll get to see years of Griffin . . . Duncan however is timeless. Griffin may have been a hair better overall this series but Duncan was very close. Has _anyone_ played like that at 39? Kareem in '86, maybe? It sucks Conley is out. He might be my second or third favorite PG and he seems to have a better handle on Curry than, well, any other PG. I think GS wins, with or without Conley on the floor but it would be a much better series with a healthy Conley.
Like I said, I'm rooting for the Griz, however if they lose it does raise our chances of landing Marc Gasol from 0% to about 3%, allowing me to envisage an OK4, Marc Gasol frontline.
smackeddog wrote:NumberTwoPencil wrote:I'm pulling for GS this year and even though the Clippers are tough, I figured GS would have a harder time with the Spurs. However, Duncan! I hope he plays another year. Griffin is a great player but (hopefully) we'll get to see years of Griffin . . . Duncan however is timeless. Griffin may have been a hair better overall this series but Duncan was very close. Has _anyone_ played like that at 39? Kareem in '86, maybe? It sucks Conley is out. He might be my second or third favorite PG and he seems to have a better handle on Curry than, well, any other PG. I think GS wins, with or without Conley on the floor but it would be a much better series with a healthy Conley.
Like I said, I'm rooting for the Griz, however if they lose it does raise our chances of landing Marc Gasol from 0% to about 3%, allowing me to envisage an OK4, Marc Gasol frontline.
It really doesnt. Marc unless he's stupid isnt leaving a team that could battle for a title to go to one that just bottom out and has no real direction.
holfresh wrote:smackeddog wrote:holfresh wrote:Memphis game plan should be to abuse GS frontline on the inside and get them in foul trouble..Old school ball..Not many believe in it anymore..
I'm rooting for the Griz, but I don't like their chances, especially without their PG
Yeah..I wanted to see Spurs vs. Warriors..Would have been fun..
Saw a graphic a couple weeks back that showed the Spurs were the only team in the NBA who stood toe to toe with the Warriors during the regular season. I know anything can happen in the playoffs but I dont see anyone besting GS now that the Spurs are out. The combination of experience and that glorious offense + Kawhi bouncing around the court on D was probably the only team that had a real shot. The Warriors are just too good.
dk7th wrote:although neither ginobili nor mills hit the marks that i set for them in order to win game 7, the eye-opener for me is the elevated play of blake griffin. if he can maintain anything close to these numbers the clippers will go far. yes chris paul was fantastic but frankly i do not expect him to continue to have more games like this. griffin, however, is still developing as a player and i have to believe the game is slowing down for him, he is seeing the floor better, and he is tightening up his shot selection, making the correct pass instead of taking a bad shot.i always think about what bill russell syas about playoff basketball, that it's about defense and matchups. whoever on houston has to guard griffin the next round is going to have a tough time. in fact, i think griffin is going to have an outstanding series against houston.
then again who do the clippers have that can neutralize james harden??? reddick and paul are not enough. barnes is a hothead and will accrue fouls too quickly.should be a very intriguing series and i will be watching how griffin and harden fare as the "next generation" of stars.
Blake Griffin is playing the best he ever has right now, and the Clippers are only going as far as Paul and Griffin take them. Long term, the Clippers need to move on from Deandre Jordan and get some reserve guys that can actually play, but Houston is a good matchup for them. Chances are that you'll see Barnes and Paul on James Harden mostly, neither team is particularly deep here, and Harden hasn't been that good in the playoffs these last couple of years.
The Spurs look like that core is about done, but it's mostly because Ginobli and Parker are deteriorating while Duncan is playing great at 39.
Yes, respect to Clippers and was in awe of how great that game was. Unsually high score!
Chris Paul was not fouled.
Timmy nailed those two shots, not easy and not a great foul shooter.
Im glad it got tied. Paul looked like Isiah on the sprained ankle, great performance!!!!
knickscity wrote:smackeddog wrote:NumberTwoPencil wrote:I'm pulling for GS this year and even though the Clippers are tough, I figured GS would have a harder time with the Spurs. However, Duncan! I hope he plays another year. Griffin is a great player but (hopefully) we'll get to see years of Griffin . . . Duncan however is timeless. Griffin may have been a hair better overall this series but Duncan was very close. Has _anyone_ played like that at 39? Kareem in '86, maybe? It sucks Conley is out. He might be my second or third favorite PG and he seems to have a better handle on Curry than, well, any other PG. I think GS wins, with or without Conley on the floor but it would be a much better series with a healthy Conley.
Like I said, I'm rooting for the Griz, however if they lose it does raise our chances of landing Marc Gasol from 0% to about 3%, allowing me to envisage an OK4, Marc Gasol frontline.
It really doesnt. Marc unless he's stupid isnt leaving a team that could battle for a title to go to one that just bottom out and has no real direction.
Note the bit where I said 3%
y2zipper wrote:dk7th wrote:although neither ginobili nor mills hit the marks that i set for them in order to win game 7, the eye-opener for me is the elevated play of blake griffin. if he can maintain anything close to these numbers the clippers will go far. yes chris paul was fantastic but frankly i do not expect him to continue to have more games like this. griffin, however, is still developing as a player and i have to believe the game is slowing down for him, he is seeing the floor better, and he is tightening up his shot selection, making the correct pass instead of taking a bad shot.i always think about what bill russell syas about playoff basketball, that it's about defense and matchups. whoever on houston has to guard griffin the next round is going to have a tough time. in fact, i think griffin is going to have an outstanding series against houston.
then again who do the clippers have that can neutralize james harden??? reddick and paul are not enough. barnes is a hothead and will accrue fouls too quickly.should be a very intriguing series and i will be watching how griffin and harden fare as the "next generation" of stars.
Blake Griffin is playing the best he ever has right now, and the Clippers are only going as far as Paul and Griffin take them. Long term, the Clippers need to move on from Deandre Jordan and get some reserve guys that can actually play, but Houston is a good matchup for them. Chances are that you'll see Barnes and Paul on James Harden mostly, neither team is particularly deep here, and Harden hasn't been that good in the playoffs these last couple of years.
The Spurs look like that core is about done, but it's mostly because Ginobli and Parker are deteriorating while Duncan is playing great at 39.
That was I thinking for the Clippers to retool their bench, rather than paying a max to keep Jordan
They simply have no bench and they have done great the entire year despite the injuries they have had to Blake, Crawford, and right now CP3
Something like a trade for Jordan and better use of the 6m MLE that could be used on one player or divided
Devin Harris and maybe Barea
Tyson Chandler
maybe Aminu
MLE
Barnes and Crawford are both getting older though Barnes had has a great year and Crawford isn't worth a long term contract at his age either with his weakness's in defense/inability to create/facilitate
Spencer Hawes *in a trade* to get rid of Jordan as well
Tyson Chandler may be a downgrade for DEFENSE for the Clippers, however, his FT shooting is much better, while he will not command anything close to what Jordan would get
Clippers need to replace some older players and have an actual bench
They surely at least need a legit backup PG and 3rd string PG, at least a Sessions type talent, along with a replacement for Barnes *who has played very well but is quite old* as well as a backup SF, and another PF/C though thought Edoh would be more utilized with Hawes unable to produce with limited minutes
Hawes wasn't horrible when Blake Griffen was out but he isn't able to find his game with limited minutes and has declined much already
Thought he would be a poor mans Ryan Anderson with less speed/mobility and more blocks, but he has been a huge disapointment thus far
That veteran thing works in the playoffs. This series was about Craw and Barnes playing well.
Craw kept them in the game at times by himself.
So MDA couldn't use Gasol or DHow..
