First night in the first round of the playoffs and everything seems to go against the odds. Indiana lost to Atlanta! Warriors without Bogut beat the Clippers, the "old boys club, Brooklyn beat the explosive Toronto. Only OKC was able to keep the Grizzlies at bay by coming back from a stunning 3rd quarter by the Grizzlies. Look what the playoffs do to your game. Brooklyn shot 16.7% (!!) from the 3PT range answered by fair 34.8%by Toronto. Atlanta shot 36.7% against Indiana's 42.9% and the Warriors made 40.7% against the Clippers 45.5%. The only game in which the winner had a better 3PT% was OKC with 25% (!!) against Memphis 18.2% (!!). What about the 3PT shooters? Westbrook (0-5), Conley (0-6), Joe Johnson (0-1), Terrence Ross (1-4), George Hill (0-2), Kyle Korver (2-7), Stephan Curry (2-6) and J.J.Reddick (4-5). Chris Paul and Durant did OK, but clearly the importance of the game affects the shooting. Let's hope the Rockets will be able to keep their cool. After all, the Rockets game is significantly based on 3PT shooting. In any case, a round full of surprises. It's going to be a very interesting post-season. Looking at tonights results, I'm even more confident that the Rockets can go all the way.
Ehh, it was one game in a series of 7, for every series you talked about. Even the crappy '01 76ers were able to take a game against the Kobe-Shaq Lakers. Philly still got beat 4-1 though. Anything can happen in the playoffs, but upsets are more of the exception than the rule. Granted, if this was a one-and-done situation like college basketball, the NBA playoffs landscape would be a completely different scene, with LAC and IND eliminated so early, lol.
Let's hope the Rockets are working on defense, rebounding, pick and rolls and moving the ball. The OKC 19 point 2nd half was a prime example of how bad we look, when our shooting and driving comes under defensive pressure. The Chicago loss was alarming too, no one baring Lin came to play in that game. Our energy and mental focus needs to be high. We can't rely only on Beverley to set the tone for the series.
I don't think that I indicated in any way what I think the outcome of the first round might be. It just shows that the home court advantage of three teams is gone at this point. They may get it back, sure, but teams fight to have that advantage for 82 games. It's tough to loose it in one. Especially, when it is the first game.
Godwin's law As an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Lin approaches 1
And so it gets talked more about predictably after you pointed it out. LOF come in a variety of forms indeed..
No trust in McHale's ability to adjust, and the team's ability to withstand the PO type pressure defense.
I expressed similar concerns about the players, but your point about McHale is valid as well. He doesn't know the X's and O's of the game.
Since I'm a big Matrix fan and you're the Oracle, i can rest easy, relax and watch the game since you just said the Rox will go all the way....
Over 28 ft/game so far, way above the season average. This plays right into the Rocket's hands as the #1 team in ft attempts