NBA Game Action: 4/4/2017

Go Magic, Bucks, Grizzlies, Blazers, and T'Wolves.

I don't care who wins the Nuggets/Pelicans matchup, but I'd love to see it go to triple OT.

 

Beadle to host ESPN NBA studio coverage through NBA Finals

NEW YORK (AP) — Michelle Beadle will host the NBA pregame and halftime studio shows for ABC and ESPN through the NBA Finals.

Beadle, who has been handling that role during ESPN's Wednesday and Friday regular-season games, will lead the network's coverage throughout the playoffs, including ESPN's telecasts of the Western Conference finals.

She replaces former host Sage Steele, who will be leading ESPN's "SportsCenter on the Road" coverage that includes the finals.

ESPN says Tuesday that Beadle will continue to serve as a co-host for "SportsNation."



​

 

I keep saying this in every game thread.

Denver has two games remaining with OKC. Two of the last three games of the year. They will give OKC a much, much bigger fight if they are still in the race for the playoffs. We want them to win this game, so they will suit up everyone and play harder all the way to the end of the season. With Nurkic out, DEN fighting to the end is a definite possibility....and if they make it, we get to see Jokic in the playoffs in a high-paced series...that would be fun.

So, if you're going to root against OKC in those last two games, then you need to root for the Nuggets now. Otherwise, they could tank at the end.

 

That's just it. I don't know who I'm rooting for or against. I can see cases being made for the Nuggets and Blazers each being tougher matchups in Round 1 for the Warriors. And honestly, I don't know who I want in the first round vs the Rockets. I know a lot of folks on here seem to prefer the Grizzlies, but their size could be a problem.

 

Well, if you root for NOLA to beat Denver, then you won't have a choice on any of this later. Den will be eliminated by the time they play OKC, and will tank those games., allowing Westbrook to have more rest, too, Memphis will not have a chance to catch them, and POR will be a lock.

This game right now pretty much has a strong ripple effect to make OKC's life ALOT easier. You can't change your mind, later.

 

Westbrook won't rest. That much I'm certain of. The one thing I know I've been rooting against is Utah dropping to #6 even though I still root for the Jazz to lose games. Thankfully that looks like it won't be happening thanks to the Thunder losing their last 2.

 

Also, we need to root AGAINST the Blazers....in order for OKC to have the least amount of rest and most difficult competition in the last 3 games. Forget about our Utah magic number. That's not going to reward us as much as OKC fighting to the very last game will.

 

MEM is a far easier matchup to OKC. Even if you want to decide that later, you need DEN to keep winning to have that choice.

Why do you want NOLA to win? Just root with me for a DEN win on this, and thank me, later.

 

I disagree about Memphis being easier. In some ways, yes. Westbrook is the kind of player who could singlehandedly win you a playoff game or 2. Memphis doesn't have anyone that explosive on their roster. But on the flipside, Gasol and Randolph are very talented bigs. Their size could be a serious problem for the Rockets. Kanter and Adams have their moments, but they don't pose the same threat as the Memphis big men. Especially at the defensive end.

Plus there's the fact that the Rockets are 3-1 vs OKC and 2-2 against Memphis. And that one loss to OKC came without Bev in the lineup. Regular season records don't necessarily equate to playoff series outcomes(we were 3-1 vs Portland in 2014 and lost in the first round 4-2), but it sure looks like we've had a much easier time handling the Thunder than the Grizzlies this year.

 

I am praying we get the Grizzlies.

Mainly because Harden can limit Gasol and Randolph in the post. And the media will get an entire series of Harden playing good defense.

And against the Grizzlies we don't need to be lights out constantly to beat them considering they're going to struggle getting to 100 most nights even with our defense.

I want no part of Westbrook being agitated by Bev at the beginning of each game and making it his mission to blow by him every time - considering our lack of protection behind Bev.

 

So, you're deciding now that you want OKC. Because if NOLA wins tonight, and the Blazers win,,,that's what you will get. And that seems to be what you want to happen.

You might as well say now that you want OKC, and you want them to be able to rest anyone they want in the last 3 games.

We've absolutely destroyed MEM in the last two games. They got one win in between our December wins streaks when we exhaled.

The worst shooting team in the NBA cannot beat the Rockets in a 7 game series. No way.

 

oops dbl post

 

That win in Memphis came with Dekker having the best game of his career. He'll be out most if not all of the first round. And that second win came with Clint going something like 8-10 from the foul line when the Grizzlies went to Hack-Capela. What are the odds of that ever happening again(at least this season)?

Look, I think the Rockets would beat either the Grizzlies or Thunder in Round 1. I just don't see a huge disparity between the two teams the way others do.

 

This is my nightmare.

 

Go Knicks. Nobody wants to see Chicago in the playoffs.

 

go Bucks and Grizzlies too

 

Would love nothing more than to see Giannis and Middleton lock up Westbrook in this game. I see Brogdon isn't playing.

Let's all be like @malakas! Let's go Bucks!!!

 

Count me in as hoping the Grizzlies take sixth seed, though I find it HIGHLY unlikely.

 

Grizzlies losing to the Lakers pretty much took them out of a chance at the 6th seed. Can't drop games like that when you need to close a gap.