Its not at all. ATL for instance were beating everybody last year no matter which conference and got swept by the Cavs. In the playoffs the only thing that matters is the matchup.
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NBA Playoffs |OT| AKA Derrick Rose's family time
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Atomic Playboy
Member
For the last 5 (about to be 6) years, the only question you need to ask of the East is "what team has LeBron James on it" to know who was heading to the Finals. Doesn't say much for the conference if a single player is the determining factor on what team will advance (even given how good LeBron is).
Atlanta was getting beat by the Wizards until Wall broke his wrist. Do you really think if San Antonio and LeBron (Cleveland/Miami) switched conferences he would go to the Finals six straight years?
Crimson_Echidna
Banned
I didn't deny that the Easy is the easier of the two, just that the West isn't battle ground that people have convinced themselves it is.
Gully State
Member
Coach Nick Breaks down game 1 OKC-GSW
Uncharacteristic offensive breakdowns...Ezeli just looked completely lost on offense to the point that he didn't even know who to set a screen for.
Uncharacteristic offensive breakdowns...Ezeli just looked completely lost on offense to the point that he didn't even know who to set a screen for.
2011: Mavericks vs. Heat
2012: Thunder vs. Heat
2013: Spurs vs. Heat
2014: Spurs vs. Heat
2015: Warriors vs. Cavaliers
Four different West teams have challenged LeBron.
I dunno. If Thunder make it, they'll have gone through Spurs and GSW, both of whom are better than the Cavs. That's a pretty tough path to victory, especially compared to Cavs.
I'm only speaking of this year and at most last year. What does have thast six years to do with anything?
Joei
Member
What about when Jordan went 6x in the 90s? Or Kobe 6x in a span of 11 years? Or what about when the Lakers and Boston went 8 and 5x, respectively, in the 80s? Or Boston going 10x in 11 years in the 50-60's? Basketball has always been extremely top-heavy between the have and have-nots.
Gully State
Member
When you look at playoff seeding, typically a 38-40 win team gets to go to the playoffs in the East whereas a 7-8 seed team in the West typically wins 48-50 games.
And this year the 8 seed in the East is a 5 in the West.
Gully State
Member
Yeah, it's abnormal this year. Hopefully the trend continues...
Face it Tiger..
Banned
Don't stress over a historically great team.
thehypocrite
Member
LeBron is consistently great.
Lee Chaolan
Member
Report: Tyronn Lue told LeBron James to 'shut the f up' in Cavs huddle
lol if true, but while this would sound terirble to most teams, it's great, as Blatt would let LeBron walk and talk all over him.
Love that Lue is taking charge.
lol if true, but while this would sound terirble to most teams, it's great, as Blatt would let LeBron walk and talk all over him.
Love that Lue is taking charge.
yeah all the coaches he had were scared to say shit to him. glad Lue doesn't back down.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Lol that feels like such a planted story.
Lee Chaolan
Member
That's why he's stressing. Regular season records and accolades doesn't mean shit come playoffs when records are reset. (well other than home court) I'd rather be hot, and playing my best ball all season in the Playoffs.
eBay Huckster
Member
GS i can buy for obvious reasons, but san antonio got stomped in their last game and that was before cleveland stopped its regular-season sandbagging
Exactly! Lue is Lebron's bitch
I can't help it. Always been a nervous fan. Also gonna be at the game so I won't be able to pace around like at home.
This is great if true.
Gully State
Member
Yup, first time in a while where I feel the dubs could legitimately lose back to back. Thunder are peaking at the right time
Gully State
Member
At this point I dunno what's genuine with anything pertaining to Lebron
Lionel Richie
Member
My feelings exactly, no possible way this happened. Cavs are doing well, no need for this bullshit but alas that is the way of the Bron.
They've had words before. Lue confronted Bron before about the comments he made with Wade that got caught on camera that time. I think people really over state Lebrons power in CLE. He doesn't have anywhere near the same pull he used too.
Its why he's been throwing his little fits on social media all year. Remember he even unfollowed the Cavs at one point this season. Its far from peachy.
Its why he's been throwing his little fits on social media all year. Remember he even unfollowed the Cavs at one point this season. Its far from peachy.
fr fr I'm already super nervous.
It could happen. Thunder are playing their best of the season while GSW have been pretty mediocre through the playoffs by their standards (due largely to injuries).
my name is ed
Banned
I predict 10+ point win for the warriors. I suspect there will be a barrage of 3 pointers this time around
E: i think at this point Adams might be more important than Ibaka
E: i think at this point Adams might be more important than Ibaka
Absolutely.
Gully State
Member
That's always been the case with OKC versus the rest of the league. It's the team cohesion part that's been OKC's heel.
Outside of PG, I think the Warriors are fine as far as athleticism once Ezeli is in at center. Problem there is that he's not nearly as competent as Adams or Bogut.
If we could transplant Bogut's brain (and passing) into Ezeli's body we'd be set.
edit: time to head out. Go Dubs.
If we could transplant Bogut's brain (and passing) into Ezeli's body we'd be set.
edit: time to head out. Go Dubs.
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
Warriors better hope it's not close or the refs will hand it to the Thunder again.
If there was a bias I would think it would be to the Warriors, since everyone wants to see GSW vs Cavs
Elfforkusu
Member
Getting hyped for tonight. Don't let me down Thunder, you got my hopes up with game 1!
Curry is the NBA's #1 superstar.
:lol
Curry is the NBA's #1 superstar.
You kidding? Steph and Kawahi get the least amount of calls for a superstar I've ever seen.
eBay Huckster
Member
lebron_james_FTA_stats.png
(specifically, peep him only getting 6.5 attempts per 100 possessions compared to 9.3 in the regular season, vs 10.5 from 11.0 last year)
Elfforkusu
Member
Some of the illegal screen calls in that Portland series were hilaribad, basically took the Blazers out of their offense. But, clearly the fix is in...
Don't get me wrong, he's my favorite player in the league. But so was Jordan, and my allegiance doesn't prevent me from saying that he got calls too
Kawhi is a fair point. For Steph it's laughable, dude gets a ton of superstar calls.
Don't get me wrong, he's my favorite player in the league. But so was Jordan, and my allegiance doesn't prevent me from saying that he got calls too
Bam Bam Baklava
Member
More like between the Spurs game and this a pattern is emerging for the Thunder.
Shmeagatory94
Member
I think Warriors win tonight by 10. I feel like they are gonna come out swinging.
LyleLanley
Banned
Is there an Apple TV app that will stream this game?
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