NBA finals 2017

[Jimmyboi]

What makes gs so special is there ability to switch everything on defense. I've never seen a team do so much switching it's hard to get a mis-match. With the exception of steph curry, everyone is a elite/great defender.

That's why other teams who try and emulate that style of play.(small ball, run n' gun, shoot 3s) like Portland, Indiana, and Washington don't have the same level of success because they don't have the same level of defense when they go small. For example, Damian lillard is an elite scorer, but when he plays okc, he gets bullied on the block by westbrook cuz he's too small, but klay Thompson guards Westbrook, Kyrie, Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, john wall etc.

That's also why there's so much animosity towards steph is because he does his thing on offense and goes at these guards, but he doesn't "man up" when it's time for him to defend cuz he has klay, iguodala, Livingston, etc. to protect him. It's smart by golden State, strategy wise I would do the same thing, but it makes steph look like a bitch at the end of the day.

I see the warriors closing out in gm 5.

 

[Gardener]

I'm not sure GS ability to switch on D makes Steph look like a bitch. This guy has done more to transform basketball than any player in many many years. All the other great players do things that are impossible for regular players o aspire too because they are athletic specimens that have been blessed with bodies impossible to emulate. Steph however is a regular dude doing very special things.

I have been around bb for a very long time I can't remember a player who other younger players feel like they can emulate more than him. People stand in awe of Lebron or KD etc...but they know they can never match players like that. Steph on the other hand, people see a player who they actually feel, rightly or wrongly, that they could be, because he isn't a 6'10" freak of nature.

Every player has his flaws, Steph is no different, but he has changed the game and made it more accessible. One could say the same of Steve Nash, but I view Steph a meaningful step higher than Nash. No disrespect, just my opinion.

GS wins next game

 

[burcs]

I have been around bb for a very long time I can't remember a player who other younger players feel like they can emulate more than him. People stand in awe of Lebron or KD etc...but they know they can never match players like that. Steph on the other hand, people see a player who they actually feel, rightly or wrongly, that they could be, because he isn't a 6'10" freak of nature.

I think you're both correct... his defence doesn't make him "look like a bitch" per se but no other team in the league can mask his deficiencies on that end like GS can. But give credit where it's due, he still competes hard on defence and the coaching staff/players do an excellent job "pre-switching" and/or make mid-play adjustments to get all the right matchups.

 

[Jimmyboi]

When steph crosses someone up, shoots a 3 in there face, and proceeds to clown on them by dancing or w.e it may be, and then on the opposite end of the floor doesn't allow the same to happen to him... well it makes him look weak. It's the hood mentality, you come at me, let me come at you.

It has nothing to so with size. Look at Isaiah Thomas who's even smaller than steph, he plays his heart out and balls out. Yes, he's inspired a generation, and young kids, but so has every superstar before him.

Iverson was an undersized gaurd who was generously listed at 6'0 and every kid idolized this man.

 

[Edward Lei]

^
Jimmyboi, you're preaching to the wrong audience here. Welcome to the new generation of NBA viewership and fans so to speak - tis' the Adam Silver era. Previous gen and older die hard fans see things differently. Even more so if you've ACTUALLY PLAYED the game. You're talking to a lot of people on here who've logged more hours on NBA2K than on an actual basketball court lol

Preach on brother, I know EXACTLY where you're coming from and it's definitely a sad state of affairs.

 

[Gardener]

^
Jimmyboi, you're preaching to the wrong audience here. Welcome to the new generation of NBA viewership and fans so to speak - tis' the Adam Silver era. Previous gen and older die hard fans see things differently. Even more so if you've ACTUALLY PLAYED the game. You're talking to a lot of people on here who've logged more hours on NBA2K than on an actual basketball court

Preach on brother, I know EXACTLY where you're coming from and it's definitely a sad state of affairs.

I need a little more specifics on this comment. What is Silver's era, and why is it sad?

 

[Jimmyboi]

I need a little more specifics on this comment. What is Silver's era, and why is it sad?

He's talking about how the league is super soft, and how AAU has ruined basketball by not teaching fundamentals of the game, but allowing kids just to do all this fancy shit.(steph curry was brought up in AAU). Also the culture has changed these kids nowaday. They just want to be friends, buddies, hang out with each other off the court, and take pictures for Instgram. Instead of actually competing and earning things the hard way.

It's refreshing to see guys like Russell Westbrook who has the old school mentality.

I mean look at what steph did at the end of gm3. He pretended to take a shit on the Cavs floor after durant hit that big shot. That's some childish antics right there. I don't remember any other superstar doing something like that in such a huge moment. He's weak, and so is durant.

 

[Gardener]

He's talking about how the league is super soft, and how AAU has ruined basketball by not teaching fundamentals of the game, but allowing kids just to do all this fancy shit.(steph curry was brought up in AAU). Also the culture has changed these kids nowaday. They just want to be friends, buddies, hang out with each other off the court, and take pictures for Instgram. Instead of actually competing and earning things the hard way.

It's refreshing to see guys like Russell Westbrook who has the old school mentality.

I mean look at what steph did at the end of gm3. He pretended to take a shit on the Cavs floor after durant hit that big shot. That's some childish antics right there. I don't remember any other superstar doing something like that in such a huge moment. He's weak, and so is durant.

Ok, I need to respectfully disagree. I am heavily involved in the development of basketball and have been for years. The kids that play at a high level now are as skilled, strong and talented as any generation ever. I spend countless winter evenings in high school gyms watching teams from all over the region. These kids are tough as nails can shoot the lights out and take no prisoners. Yes they are brash, and the last thing they want to do is to hang out with the opposing team. Ask refs how hard it is now to keep games under control. Basketball is tough and more physical than ever.

As someone who watches countless live games, it is a total myth that basketball has gotten soft, I would argue it's the opposite. I'll say one thing, Players are more selfish than they used to be and also I think sportsmanship is a lost piece in the game.

Just thinking about game 4 in the finals. What about that game was soft? In my recollection, that was an emotionally charged, aggressive game. Just my take, happy to hear yours.

 

[J-Dogg]

Compared to the 03 Pistons-Pacers game, it was soft. The Refs immediately shut the scrum down when Pachula hit Shumpert on the loose ball.

 

[Jimmyboi]

I'm actually a few years removed from high school, and play little college ball. Matter of fact I'm actually couple of years younger than curry and durant. So, I know all about today's athletes and the style of play. Yes, kids today are bigger, stronger and faster than ever before, thanks to sports science. I'm not talking about the physicality of the game being soft. I'm talking about the mentality.

I don't mind the style of play, I actually like shooting 3s, and run n gun. That's what I personally like to play. Also, of course gm4 was emotionally charged those 2 teams don't like each other. It was so physical that zaza pachulia(dirty player) tried to punch iman shumpert in the balls.

The state of the game is weak because stars are quick to abandon ship when the going gets tough. They rather join up and win it all instead of competing, it all pretty much started when lebron and his super friends made the big 3 in Miami. Now, that's what other stars have to do, otherwise there is no competition. There's no parody in league anymore the warriors walked the West with no resistance.

Also, here kobes take on AAU - "Horrible, terrible AAU basketball. It's stupid. It doesn't teach our kids how to play the game at all so you wind up having players that are big and they bring it up and they do all this fancy crap and they don't know how to post. They don't know the fundamentals of the game. It's stupid."

I mean kobe's been around the game for a minute. The fuck does he know right.

Lol Dwight Howard still doesn't know how to post up, smh AAU products.

 

[Gardener]

I'm actually a few years removed from high school, and play little college ball. Matter of fact I'm actually couple of years younger than curry and durant. So, I know all about today's athletes and the style of play. Yes, kids today are bigger, stronger and faster than ever before, thanks to sports science. I'm not talking about the physicality of the game being soft. I'm talking about the mentality.

I don't mind the style of play, I actually like shooting 3s, and run n gun. That's what I personally like to play. Also, of course gm4 was emotionally charged those 2 teams don't like each other. It was so physical that zaza pachulia(dirty player) tried to punch iman shumpert in the balls.

The state of the game is weak because stars are quick to abandon ship when the going gets tough. They rather join up and win it all instead of competing, it all pretty much started when lebron and his super friends made the big 3 in Miami. Now, that's what other stars have to do, otherwise there is no competition. There's no parody in league anymore the warriors walked the West with no resistance.

Also, here kobes take on AAU - "Horrible, terrible AAU basketball. It's stupid. It doesn't teach our kids how to play the game at all so you wind up having players that are big and they bring it up and they do all this fancy crap and they don't know how to post. They don't know the fundamentals of the game. It's stupid."

I mean kobe's been around the game for a minute. The fuck does he know right.

Lol Dwight Howard still doesn't know how to post up, smh AAU products.

Given that many argue that Kobe ushered in the era of selfish basketball I take what he says with a grain of salt. I agree post fundamentals are not taught as they used to be. But then again if I think about how the game has evolved, is it really
necessary? Big man is being marginalized for offence, unless he can stretch the floor or be a rebounding machine.

I suppose we could debate all day, but in a nutshell the game of basketball is as healthy as ever at all levels IMO. Nuff said from my part. Enjoy game 5, hunch tells me GS win.

 

[Jimmyboi]

Nah man, you're mistaken. When shaq signed with the Lakers it's was because he got offered the largest contract in the history of sports at the time (121 million), and I would have done the same thing. Who's going to say no to that.

Kobe got drafted (17 years old) 13th overall, by the Charlotte hornets and was traded for Vlade divac. As your well aware of there no such thing as for sure bet when drafting. I mean look at Kwame brown. They then lost 4 straight years in the playoffs. Even got swept twice, before they figured it out. They had one dominate playoff run in which they went 15-1.(2001) The first year they won a championship in the western conference finals it took a game 7 come from behind victory to win. (I remember it if was like yesterday). Then in 2002 they also went to 7 games with the kings. The faced resistance and adversity, but they fought through it.

When that team was constructed by the great jerry west. Nobody immediately lost there shit, nobody was thinking that jordan and bulls are gonna get run through by these guys.

The reason why that was so beautiful because it was organic, the warriors had something special, nobody hated on them until Kevin Durant fucked it all up.

As for the Celtics they got traded, past there primes, and the other teams supersonic and timberwolves got something in return and that team also faced resistance during its run in the 08 playoffs.

Lebron and his friends, made a plan in 08 Olympics to join up, they called each other during the season leading up to free agency, took pay cuts and made a super team. (All in there primes). Just like Kevin Durant, got recruited all season long by the warriors took a pay cut. Joined up with them cuz he's WEAK.

 

[Jimmyboi]

Kobes a legend, and dwight howards a bum.

"if you wasnt born or raised here, or never lived here, you'll probably never understand"

kobe bryant 9 time all nba defensive team, how many times steph been all nba defense? the answer is the same number as gilbert arenas jersey

 

[Edward Lei]

Compared to the 03 Pistons-Pacers game, it was soft. The Refs immediately shut the scrum down when Pachula hit Shumpert on the loose ball.

Compared to ANY Finals series of the 90's, it's about as soft as soft serve at Ikea. Seriously, today's players don't know how to conduct themselves and are mentally weak as shit. This year's Finals have been UNWATCHABLE with the exception of Game 3. Games 1, 2 and 4 were all double digits blowouts - I'm supposed to be excited for this?!

 

[burcs]

Compared to ANY Finals series of the 90's, it's about as soft as soft serve at Ikea. Seriously, today's players don't know how to conduct themselves and are mentally weak as shit. This year's Finals have been UNWATCHABLE with the exception of Game 3. Games 1, 2 and 4 were all double digits blowouts - I'm supposed to be excited for this?!

But how much if any of its "unwatchability" is due to the fact that today's players are now 'soft'?

 

[Jimmyboi]

But how much if any of its "unwatchability" is due to the fact that today's players are now 'soft'?

The games would be closer if durant didn't jump ship to the warriors. Harrison Barnes who he replaced scored 65 pts in 7 games last year against the Cavs. Durant had 71 pts after 2 games.

Durants weak move made these finals boring and predictable.

 

[manni]

I suppose we could debate all day, but in a nutshell the game of basketball is as healthy as ever at all levels IMO. Nuff said from my part. Enjoy game 5, hunch tells me GS win.

100% agree on this. the skills this generation of ballers bring on the court are easily way above that from 10, even 5 years ago.
the athleticism is off the charts and likely to evolve again in ten years time (if that's even possible). I thought I've seen it all around the time
MJ was at his peak but looking back at some of those highlights, it seems quarter speed compared to now.
the NBA is in good hands.

 

[Gardener]

"This is maybe the best defensive team in the league, on top of everything. So they don’t just play with talent. They execute at the defensive end of the floor. On offense, no team is more unselfish. Finding the open man and that sort of thing. And they get credit for that. Coaches are always trying to get their team to do that, but they have a multitude of people who are unselfish in that regard and play a beautiful game.”

Greg Popowich comments on Golden State, May 23 ,2017

From the most hardnails smartest coach in the game. I'll defer to him.

 

[Jimmyboi]

Here's a Greg popovich quote you'll love:

Spurs' Gregg Popovich on three-pointers: 'I don’t think it’s basketball'... He went on to say "I still hate it. I’ll never embrace it. I don’t think it’s basketball. I think it’s kind of like a circus sort of thing. Why don’t we have a five-point shot? A seven-point shot? You know, where does it stop, that sort of thing"

So much for the steph curry revolution, and like you said from the most hard nails smartest coach.

The greatest team ever, and they didn't need Kevin Garnett to join them.

 

[Gardener]

I'll pass on this thread now. Doesnt really feel like its leading anywhere useful.