I would just like to take this opportunity to remind everyone that the San Antonio Spurs are still on track to ruin the championship fantasies of overhyped pretenders. See you in 10 days for the Warriors 4th loss.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/14627529/david-blatt-fired-cleveland-cavaliers-coach Cue the Lebron haters in 3, 2, 1...
I really want to see David Blatt coach the Timberwolves to a title over the Cavaliers. Nothing else matters.
I don't know whats worse, Lebron getting a coach to scapegoat a team, that he had a large had in crafting, underachieving. Or the fat ass jock sniffer Windhorst trying to pretend that Lebron had no input and "didn't know" that Blatt was getting canned. Unless it was "no I had no idea he was being fired today...I totally suggested it and gave my blessing, I just didn't know if it was going to be today or tomorrow." I know Duncan being out affected the defensive scheme for the Spurs, especially in the middle, but Curry made Kawhi Leonard look silly multiple times. After undressing Tony Parker thoroughly enough to precipitate the switch. I think its still a good series in the playoffs, but the Warriors are absolutely frightening at home and when they get up for a game.
Holy shit was that Dunk Contest entertaining. If you didn't watch it, it is a must. Between that and the 3 point contest, All-Star Saturday night was fun again. I felt like a little kid on the edge of my seat.
Zach Lavine can FLY. Aaron Gordon arguably had the 2 best dunks, but you couldn't give Lavine less than 50s. That shit from the FT line was outrageous. Barkley was hysterical as always, Kevin Hart was actually funny when it was quick and unscripted, but Kenny Smith was terrible.
I'm coming to be of mind that the Skills challenge, 3-point, and dunk contest should be promoted ahead of the actual all-star game itself. Even the players were way more excited about what was going on in those events than tonight's game.
So, there's a minute left in the 2nd quarter, the Clippers are up by 20, and the Rockets are playing Hack-a-Jordan. They then promptly lose a possession on a shot clock violation. I know I'm the only one on this board who cares about basketball anymore, but that series of possessions was just precious.
Spurs fan here. Basketball still very much relevant. Especially after the Spurs' defense held Curry to 1/12 3pt shooting for 8.6% last night. Just I don't think the rest of the board has gone into hibernation after realizing Rose still sucks. I'm also still laughing about Dwight Howard being caught spraying stickup on a basketball last night. Then after the game he made a bad situation worse by admitting he'd been using it for years. The only season in which he didn't use it? He shot his highest from the charity stripe.
I find it interesting that Boston and Philadelphia, both great NBA markets, blew up their teams at the same time and took two very different paths in rebuilding. I would say that Boston's strategy turned out better even though everyone kept saying that the only way to ever be a contender was the shameless tanking that Philly pursued.
It must be my duty to inform the great unwashed that reside here that: The Golden State Warriors have become only the second team in NBA history to record at least 70 wins in a regular season. Also important to note that the only other team to have recorded at least 70 wins in a season is not The New York Knicks, The Boston Celtics or the Los Angeles Lakers. Life is pretty fucking good on the basketball front at the moment.
I think it would be amusing and amazing to see them win the last 3 and still get to 73 despite losing two winnable games at home to the Celtics and Twolves, games everyone assumed they would easily win. Turning it back on and coasting past the Spurs last night was impressive.
Golden State Warriors, may I just say Fuck yes. That is a the way to make a statement to the San Antonio Spurs before the playoffs start. Beat their asses 3 games to 1 during the regular season, beat them on their home court to stop them from going undefeated at home for the season and just generally let everyone know in the NBA that baring injury, everyone else is playing for second place.
Kobe's final game: 60 points on 22-50 shooting, 6-15 threes, 10-12 FTs. And 3 assists. Completely fitting finish for him.
Of course Curry gets a sprained ankle. I want the Spurs to beat them at full strength. Anything less than that just doesn't feel like a true win. Get better soon Steph. Need to heal up for an ass beatin.
It would be a matchup of two historically great teams. I can't think of a battle in recent memory that would come close. Maybe Spurs vs. Miami when it went 7 games? You don't have to be a fan of either team to appreciate a Spurs/Warriors series. But it helps if you're a Spurs fan. Kawhi will remind Steph who the real MVP is.