It means a lot. Not sure why people underrate this. More often than not, teams with HCA have a higher chance of advancing and winning in the playoffs. For us, Ryno is our only concern regarding his shitty play at home, everyone else plays well at home, so it's more important that we have HCA, especially if anyone takes us to seven games. I'm not concerned about tough match ups, I feel our only real obstacle, assuming we have a healthy team, will be the Warriors.
Somebody should tell this to Paul Pierce. OKC will eventually figure out the best way to adjust their rotation and right the ship somewhat. They could sure use a guy like Avery Bradley.
I just don't have any faith in Presti when it comes to making trades, he always seems to get fleeced....and there's nothing he can do to get rid of the problem, Westbrook.
Rudy T showed that matchups are more important during our championship years and seems like every playoff heartbreaks had been at home since the TMac era. From buzzer beaters to outright gang-style beatdown.
OKC made a huge mistake going for Melo. They should have waited for Blake Griffin. They would have been way more dangerous with BG/PG/WB
firstly, they wouldn't have known BG would be on the market and secondly they wouldn't have been any better
Part of the reason for the trade is so Presti could cockblock Morey from getting him. It was a double whammy.
Paul George specifically said Lakers and not Clippers. He grew up in LA as a diehard Lakers fan. He specifically referenced the culture/history of the Lakers as being a reason he wanted to go there.
Watching these games, I don't think the Thunder need a third star. They need a bench and a super sub or two. Adams, PG, Westbrook, and solid veterans Westbrook trusts to prevent him going into Hero ball mode is what they need. Watching their bench unit with Raymond Felton being their featured player at the beginning of crucial 4th quarters is mind boggling. One of Westbrook or George should be on the court at all times. They didn't even have any of their "Big 3" on the floor at the beginning of the 4th against the Lakers. Lakers were at the end of an 11 day road trip without Lonzo and lead nearly the entire game. OKC does not have anyone that can shoot the 3 ball well except maybe PG. They have no wing defenders except PG. Billy Donovan is not really a good coach, and his rotations are suspect. They have no leader they truly respect either. Westbrook this year has lost the respect of his teammates and I've seen them going at it on the bench all year.
The Clippers were his favorite team growing up. “The Los Angeles Clippers were the favorite team of Paul George when he was growing up in the area. The Clippers could have selected George in the 2010 NBA Draft, but instead selected Al-Farouq Aminu. “I’m happy where I’m at being here but (the Clippers) were one of the teams that did overlook me,” George said. “So I always have that in the back of my mind when I play them.””
Except that all the way from ownership to the coaches to the players, there is no resemblance of this current Lakers team to the one that he grew up with except their location.
We really don't know. He is limited in what he can do offensively because his best player has complete power over him and can play any style he wants. All Donovan can do is "suggest" changes.
