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Post by SamH on Jun 7, 2019 14:35:17 GMT
It was interesting to see what happens when they're 2 of their big 4 down. Give Curry credit, he did everything he could to try and win. No one else really stepped up. Very unusual to see GS be in the position of being second favourite, especially at home. They were 2-1 down in 2015 of course, so it's not over yet. Feel whoever wins game 4 wins the series.
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Post by Colicab85 on Jun 8, 2019 6:40:55 GMT
Absolutely massive victory last night and a really fantastic game from the Raptors. Nick Nurse is a tremendous coach.
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jimw
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Post by jimw on Jun 8, 2019 9:21:21 GMT
Did not see that coming. Is KD coming back or is this 'over' ?
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Post by SamH on Jun 9, 2019 0:34:46 GMT
Not sure KD can save them now. He's never been a clutch player that can dig a team out of a hole, and he'd be coming back somewhat rusty. Not looking likely for game 5 anyway. I think GS may have finally met their match and since KD is leaving this summer anyway, it's good for them to get an idea of where they are without him.
Ever since game 3 of the conference finals, Toronto has gone up a gear. They weren't better than the Bucks or Warriors all season but have been since that game. Nick deserves some of the credit - what I've noticed about him is that he's not really changed, he doesn't do or say anything different to when he was over here. Whereas a player has to be much better to make it in the NBA than elsewhere, maybe nick as a coach didn't, he just needed to get a chance. He's probably picked things up along the way but his knowledge and style was there all along, and it works at all levels by the looks of it.
When 2-0 down to the Bucks a reporter informed Nick 94% of teams 0-2 down have lost the series and he was shocked. He then basically brushed it off, because he was still so confident his team would win, and of course they did. That to me sums up what makes him such a good coach.
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Post by connors on Jun 9, 2019 19:49:26 GMT
A fully fit KD is absolutely the sort of player that can dig a team out of a hole! Letting your bitterness against him impact your judgement there Sam.
However I agree that not fully fit and rusty would be a struggle.
Spot on with Nick Nurse though. Superb coaching job. Any negativity around his time in UK is usually to do with his non coaching skills.
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Post by faz on Jun 9, 2019 20:31:22 GMT
The play offs have been the most competitive in recent years. KD isn’t going to be fit enough to make a difference even if he does play. Raptors have deserved the 3:1 lead but it’s a great shame KD hasn’t played. A great series would have been even better with him on court. I agree KD absolutely can dig you out of a whole. Needs to be fit though. This is the play off final!!
Raptors to win 4:1 then a fascinating summer ahead. Losing might just make KD think twice about joining other teams.
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Post by SamH on Jun 10, 2019 12:13:14 GMT
I disagree Connors about KD. I based the commentbon years of him failing to come up big when trailing in a series, also game 7 Vs GS in 2016 where the warriors capped off recovering from 3-1 behind, he was poor. Sure, he flourishes when the going us good as we've seen the last 2 years, but I don't think he's at the superstar level when under pressure. That's also supported by his fragile mindset with regards to criticism he gets, be it from the media (who he now regularly lashes out at) or fans on Twitter (where he created other profiles just to post messages of support to himself). Or getting trainers made that promote all his achievements in response to fan criticism. This is all indications that he isn't mentally tough, which I think you need to come back from 3-1 in the finals. It's not just talent at this point and I again refer to Nick Nurse in contrast to that, someone who is very strong mentally and has got his team buying in, believing they can do this despite not being the most talented team.
Let's see though, he may prove me wrong if he plays. I'm just saying what I think based on what we've seen over the years.
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Post by connors on Jun 10, 2019 12:28:01 GMT
We'll have to agree to disagree Sam. A player who has won back to back finals MVP's, a league MVP and won scoring title is just the sort of player I would want to dig me out of a hole if he is fit enough.
His tendency to get annoyed at fans and media says more about his personality than this metal toughness in games.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2019 13:47:59 GMT
KD was great until the exact minute he dumped Sam's team. We all know that.
I do think he's been a bit Kawhi like about his injury
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Post by SamH on Jun 10, 2019 16:53:30 GMT
If great is constantly coming up short then yes he was great in OKC. Of course if he returns and loses people will just say he was rusty. The sooner he goes to the Knicks the sooner he can prove to the world he's not a cupcake. Anyone that can drag that mess of a franchise to the finals will deserve a lot of credit.
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Post by SamH on Jun 10, 2019 21:53:58 GMT
Meanwhile in other news, Tony Parker has retired. A true legend, and it brings the curtain down on the Spurs big 3. It's kind of a shame he left and played his last season in Charlotte, don't really get that. I still remember well the 19 or 20 year old Parker lining up against Gary Payton in the 2002 playoffs and impressing. He only got better from there.
It's also a shame he got no farewell tour, no jersey swaps, no all star nod like Wade and Dirk. But perhaps he didn't really want the fuss? He definitely would have been as worthy as those guys though.
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Post by SamH on Jun 11, 2019 19:49:50 GMT
Tough break for KD, guess we'll never know what would have happened connors. Reports coming in that he's torn his Achilles, if true that's him done for next season. I might criticise him a lot but certainly didn't want to see this, and if anything it's spoiled the interest in seeing what he could have done by going to a new team that would be his to lead. The expectation now is he'll exercise his option to stay at GS another year (makes sense). The Knicks just can't get anything to go for them can they?!
My new prediction for the final is Raptors in 7.
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Post by faz on Jun 11, 2019 20:20:04 GMT
What the hell were warriors doing. Unbelievably irresponsible.
It shows his greatness playing as he did for 12. minutes with no ball for a month. Not a regular season game but a must win game in the final!
I just hope he can come back as the same player. If not what a massive loss
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Post by baldereagle on Jun 12, 2019 7:18:16 GMT
Meanwhile Does anyone know what Fab’s role is helping Nick Nurse ?
Has Fab been spotted courtside ?
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Post by connors on Jun 12, 2019 8:39:16 GMT
Tony Parker - great NBA and International player. Like Sam I think its a shame he did not get a little more recognition in his last season and I never understood the move to Charlotte.
In fact you have to wonder if the Spurs are now on the slide a little in terms of their excellent culture? What happened with Leonard? Letting Parker go to retire somewhere else after one season? These are not things that have happened in SA in the Pop era.
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Post by connors on Jun 12, 2019 8:43:04 GMT
Great win for the Warriors but I must say it does only look like a matter of time before they are overwhelmed by the fitter, stronger Raptors. If they do lose though they are going out like true champs - fighting the whole way!
KD was pretty good in those 12 mins wasn't he? I doubt the Warriors forced him back. They don't really have any leverage. He was on fire and possibly pushed himself to believe he could do it.
I also don't buy that it will hurt his free agency. For every NBA team (unless Sam becomes their GM of course :-) you would take a chance on him............
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bigdaddycool
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Post by bigdaddycool on Jun 12, 2019 10:31:48 GMT
Lifelong San Antonio Spurs follower and you sort of think they should have seen it coming. They were always going to have to re-invent the wheel once the Big 3 retired and in retrospect maybe it was time for Pop to retire and for a younger coach to come in and re-build the franchise around Kawhi Leonard
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Post by SamH on Jun 12, 2019 12:30:56 GMT
I do think maybe the Knicks would take a chance in KD. It's not only paying him big bucks to sit out next season though, it's the gamble on whether he can return to his top form from this. Most players who tear an Achilles are not as good once back, at least in the first year but often never again. I don't think every team would go for it but a bad team looking for big changes would. Be interesting to see what he does now.
As for the spurs, Parker left because pop was honest with him and told him he'd be the third string point guard, and he wanted more minutes. But he's decided to retire after just a year away. Maybe had he stuck around and played fewer minutes, he might be up for 1 more season now and would still be in SA. As a team they're still very good and have 2 fringe all star players in Aldridge and DaRozan. I'd like to see them make a splash in free agency again like when they acquired Aldridge. Of course they are notoriously brilliant at drafting players low who go on to become great, so there's always that possibility. Just feel they need another piece to get back to being contenders.
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2NFR
Global Moderator 
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Favourite Team: Newcastle Eagles
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Post by 2NFR on Jun 14, 2019 6:56:04 GMT
Raptors win their 1st playoff Championship  Well done Rap's (I knew you could do it)  and finally ... |
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Post by SamH on Jun 14, 2019 11:40:46 GMT
Amazing, really didn't think they were good enough to beat both Bucks and Warriors. Great for basketball in Canada obviously, and for Nick Nurse, what an achievement in his first year as coach. What a story too coming from the BBL, through the G league then 5 years assisting before getting the opportunity. Surely Leonard will stay put too now.
As for GS, yes they had injuries but the number of times over the years they've benefitted from being healthy while other opponents have been hurt, in the end it had to catch up to them. No one's going to feel bad for them, I mean they still fielded 4 all stars last night til Klay went down, plus former final MVP Iggy. The Raptors just looked better from game 1.
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Post by connors on Jun 15, 2019 6:01:08 GMT
I wouldn’t say I feel sorry for Warriors but Cousins is a shadow of his former self for a start. Iguodala is still effective defensively but at the top table now let’s be honest outside of their starting 5 the Warriors are very limited.
The Raptors put together a really strong team and had three very good performers off the bench in Van Fleet, Ibaka and Powell. Credit to all of them.
Best team won in the end but Warriors really scrapped for it and made it interesting.
For me they’re winning Game 6 if Klay didn’t go down. Still looked like the Raps would’ve taken G7 but who knows.
As a squad I though some of the Raps celebrations looked rather muted. Many of the players who didn’t see the floor in the finals looked a little bit underwhelmed for me. Kwahi Leonard is a strange dude.....but an unbelievable player.
Well done Raps and the rest of the NBA can look forward to some payback next season.....
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Post by SamH on Jun 15, 2019 19:25:28 GMT
I noticed that too about some of the guys not looking too excited. I think possibly the way the game ended took a bit of air out of it, as the last 0.9 second took forever. It was like they had won, but couldn't quite celebrate just in case a miracle happened for GS. I think that period of having to wait just took a bit of the edge off it. If you go back to Leonard hitting the shot to beat Philly, everyone went mental because it was a great moment. But that 5 minutes or so it took to make the result official in the final maybe took a bit off it when it finally came.
As for Leonard, is he not just like Tim Duncan? I find it refreshing to have guys like them around who are just quiet and go about their business at a high level.
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Post by SamH on Jun 16, 2019 13:37:30 GMT
AD to the Lakers for everything except Kuzma and the kitchen sink. I like it on multiple levels - the AD and LeBron pairing; the next 3-5 years of the Pelicans; the fact Daddy Ball is crying a river about it.  Already looking forward to next season now. The west is wide open for the first time in 5 years! |
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Post by ballerman on Jun 16, 2019 13:41:26 GMT
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Post by connors on Jun 16, 2019 15:50:13 GMT
The AD trade is definitely great for the Pelicans mainly as they have Zion on his way and now have a great nucleus of younger talent to surround and more importantly compliment him. They also have the no4 pick to do something with. They should be good straight away.
I’m sure AD plus Lebron and anyone is good enough to make playoffs but without some shooting and perimeter defenders they won’t challenge.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Leonard signed for them. He’s that strange a dude and for me his behaviour in SA demonstrated that no he is most definitely not like Tim Duncan.
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