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2012 NBA Playoffs!

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I kinda like Westbrook, but he almost singe-handedly cost the game for the Thunder. Rondo is a much better player imo
 
Well the Spurs are one loss away from being this year's recipient of the "2009 Cleveland Cavaliers" award for running through the regular season with the best record, running through the first two rounds and then coming up short in the conference finals. Wednesday is going to be a tough game for OKC.
 
I have more faith in the ability of the Spurs to beat the cHeat with coaching and experience. The Thunder may be able to match the cHeat in terms of talent, but they are too green, I fear.
 
The Thunder present such a ridiculously tough physical and athletic challenge for every other team in the NBA, they just wear teams down. San Antonio can still win the series, but it's going to take a herculean effort. In terms of beating the Heat(If they can figure out the Rondo puzzle, no, Dwayne, dislocating his elbow is not the strategy this year), I almost think the Thunder are better positioned to make it happen.
 
melecoaze said:
I kinda like Westbrook, but he almost singe-handedly cost the game for the Thunder. Rondo is a much better player imo
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He was hit or miss. He made some bonehead plays, but that jumper he hit to put them up 4 inside 2 minutes to go was huge (the one before the Harden 3).

He didn't shoot real well, but he played his ass off tonight. He played almost the whole game, and kept Parker from really getting going.
 
KilgoreTrout said:
I have more faith in the ability of the Spurs to beat the cHeat with coaching and experience. The Thunder may be able to match the cHeat in terms of talent, but they are too green, I fear.
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I think OKC actually has a much better chance from a match-up and athleticism standpoint.

The Spurs don't match up well with Miami, and you would see Lebron exploit them the same way Durant has.

The Spurs just don't have that athletic SF right now to chase around the Durant's and Lebron's of the world.

OKC presents Miami far more headaches than San Antonio.
 
OKC also has the big men to protect the paint inside with Perkins and Ibaka. The Spurs really don't have any shot blockers.
 
Birdy89 said:
I think OKC actually has a much better chance from a match-up and athleticism standpoint.

The Spurs don't match up well with Miami, and you would see Lebron exploit them the same way Durant has.

The Spurs just don't have that athletic SF right now to chase around the Durant's and Lebron's of the world.

OKC presents Miami far more headaches than San Antonio.
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My fears are somewhat assuaged. But what about Pop?!
 
Hawkins said:
OKC also has the big men to protect the paint inside with Perkins and Ibaka. The Spurs really don't have any shot blockers.
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Tim Duncan has the most blocks in playoff history but other then him you are correct, the spurs have no one else to help him block shots.
 
KilgoreTrout said:
My fears are somewhat assuaged. But what about Pop?!
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I think his impact is diminished over the course of a 7 game series.

Best of 3 or 5 and I would put much more stock in coaching than a best of 7.

That is enough time that normally talent is going to rise to the top. Smoke and mirrors can only get you so far when you just don't have the horses (or are running with old ones).
 
melecoaze said:
I kinda like Westbrook, but he almost singe-handedly cost the game for the Thunder. Rondo is a much better player imo
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Maybe I missed it, but it seemed to me that Westbrook was playing outstanding defense on Parker the entire night, but for some reason that counts for nothing. It needs to be remembered that Westbrook is guarding the Spurs best player and has done a pretty damn good job for most of the series on him. I think the +/- backs me up on that too (for this game).
 
Who is going to check Russell Westbrook? LeBron? Then have Shane permanently on Durant?

Thabo/Harden is going to all but neutralize Wade.

Add in Fishers veteran presence and shot making ability.

Durant vs James edge has to go to Durant's shooting.

Ibaka will swarm Bosh. He can check Bosh all over the court. Perkins delivers the hard blows.
 
I read an opinion elsewhere that the Heat would do better against the Thunder than the Spurs. The person's reasoning was that LeBron would get up for games vs. Durant, whereas he would coast against Kawhi Leonard.

Thoughts on that assessment? I sort of agree with it... whenever LeBron plays against top tier competition in an individual matchup, he plays with a lot more energy and intensity, or at least it seems that way. Against the Mavs and Spurs in the Finals, he went against Bowen and Marion. Neither of those players would be a matchup LeBron would be excited for, and he seemingly almost sleptwalk through many parts of those games. Maybe playing the Spurs again would have that same effect on him for whatever reason.
 
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Rubber Rim Job Podcast Video

Episode 3-14: "Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey"

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Episode 3:14: " Time for Playoff Vengeance on Mickey."
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