Series is now tied at 2 even with another game of terrible calls and non-calls.
Congrats James. Not that Toronto has won anything, but I'm sincerely in shock that they were able to tie up the series. Then again, I'm not familiar with Toronto at all. An announcer mentioned that their regular season record was one game off of Cleveland's which really surprised me.
Draymond Green was not suspended but was hit with a $25,000 fine and the Flagrant One foul was changed to Flagrant Two.
Translation of the NBA's stance: "Look dude, you blatantly kicked him in the balls, it's serious, enough for us to upgrade the flagrant foul and cost you $25,000. But we can't mess around with this Golden State - OKC matchup, the best we are going to see in the 2016 playoffs, and besides that it would seriously hurt ratings and revenue to have you out. So go ahead and play."
[Edited on 5/24/2016 by robslob]
Draymond Green was not suspended but was hit with a $25,000 fine and the Flagrant One foul was changed to Flagrant Two.
Translation of the NBA's stance: "Look dude, you blatantly kicked him in the balls, it's serious, enough for us to upgrade the flagrant foul and cost you $25,000. But we can't mess around with this Golden State - OKC matchup, the best we are going to see in the 2016 playoffs, and besides that it would seriously hurt ratings and revenue to have you out. So go ahead and play."
[Edited on 5/24/2016 by robslob]
That sort of stuff keeps me from fully enjoying the NBA.
I'm fine with the, uh, fine. I remember Green doing it to Adams in Game 1 on a fast break (I think), which, fine, that's incidental, but twice it becomes cheap. It wasn't a punch or a super physical altercation.
If people are going to get all crotchety "back in MY day" over the NBA, let's remember that this wasn't a suspension either:
I'm pleased Green wasn't suspended.
Based on the first half Green probably wishes he was suspended.
I'm pleased Green wasn't suspended.
Based on the first half Green probably wishes he was suspended.
I'm glad he played too so the thunder beat down meant that much more
I'm fine with the, uh, fine. I remember Green doing it to Adams in Game 1 on a fast break (I think), which, fine, that's incidental, but twice it becomes cheap. It wasn't a punch or a super physical altercation.
If people are going to get all crotchety "back in MY day" over the NBA, let's remember that this wasn't a suspension either:
No it was the same but less showboat and definitely more driven for certain teams. I don't really care who wins but the refs in the Cavs/Raptors series have been so bad and one sided. It makes you wonder.
Of the 4 teams, I like OKC but would love it if Toronto upset the Cavs. Not that I am a Raptors fan really but just so much hype with Lebron and Curry that I enjoy watching the other teams win.
More than anything, this shows the competition level in the NBA and how unbelievably hard it is to repeat as champions. My buddy posted on Facebook this morning that the Warriors seem to have lost their fire. Here was my response:
They lost the fire because it was taken out of them. They are getting their asses HANDED to them. Oh, one more thing: Billy Donovan has proven that he is one MF of a basketball coach. I know he had a lot of success at Florida (won it all in 2006 and 2007). But to come from the college ranks and have this much success his first season in the NBA .........it is really unheard of. Yeah, I know, the players are the ones out on the floor getting it done. But someone is devising schemes on how to defend the Warriors. That said, Russell Westbrook is outplaying EVERYBODY in this series. Last night he had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. That's called dominating the game. I could not be more impressed with OKC. It's not over yet............but we'd have to win three straight. Not looking good.
[Edited on 5/25/2016 by robslob]
I've always found the NBA very predictable in the playoffs and for that reason I am really enjoying these two series , I don't think Toronto will win this series but good for them for making it a series , OKC VS TO in the finals would be a nightmare for Silver .
[Edited on 5/26/2016 by dimplesjbc]
More than anything, this shows the competition level in the NBA and how unbelievably hard it is to repeat as champions. My buddy posted on Facebook this morning that the Warriors seem to have lost their fire. Here was my response:
They lost the fire because it was taken out of them. They are getting their asses HANDED to them. Oh, one more thing: Billy Donovan has proven that he is one MF of a basketball coach. I know he had a lot of success at Florida (won it all in 2006 and 2007). But to come from the college ranks and have this much success his first season in the NBA .........it is really unheard of. Yeah, I know, the players are the ones out on the floor getting it done. But someone is devising schemes on how to defend the Warriors. That said, Russell Westbrook is outplaying EVERYBODY in this series. Last night he had 36 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. That's called dominating the game. I could not be more impressed with OKC. It's not over yet............but we'd have to win three straight. Not looking good.
[Edited on 5/25/2016 by robslob]
I think there are a few NBA coaches that can make a difference ,others just tend to make sure everyone is cohesive(gets along) and tries to motive. IMHO is still and always will be the NBdivA ,players league.
Everyone has a plan, till you get punched in the face,
*IT AIN'T OVER YET BABY!!!!!!*
KLAY THOMPSON
KLAY THOMPSON
KLAY THOMPSON
KLAY THOMPSON
41 points...........new NBA playoff record: 11 three pointers in one game.............talk about Curry all you want...........he's not the only SUPERSTAR in the Warriors' backcourt.
Barkley post-game: "This game would not have been close if Thompson hadn't gone ballistic".
THANK YOU CHARLES
Thompson in this morning's San Jose Mercury News:
"Steph told me before I went out n the fourth, 'This is your time, put on a show out there, and have fun'. I just tried to take those words to heart and tried to be aggressive."
Was this the greatest game he's ever been a part of?
"It has to be, just because of the situation we were in , down 3-2, haven't won here in a while", Thompson said.
"We were down 10 at one point, a lot of people probably counted us out, and just so much fun to play with that emotion and that fire we did for the whole 48 minutes."
THIS WAS A BASKETBALL GAME FOR THE AGES FOLKS.
Not if you happen to live in Oklahoma, though.
[Edited on 5/29/2016 by robslob]
I'll be sure to set the remote on REC for game 7...That way, later on in the evening I can FF to and watch the final 5 minutes of the game, (which will take 20 minutes) all the while feeling as though I've not missed a thing......
I'll be sure to set the remote on REC for game 7...That way, later on in the evening I can FF to and watch the final 5 minutes of the game, (which will take 20 minutes) all the while feeling as though I've not missed a thing......
Something only a non-hoops fan would say. Games three and four were complete blowouts and were over before the 4th quarter started. Did you only watch the last 5 minutes? If so, you missed seeing OKC run the Warriors out of the gym. But you wouldn't know that, would you? Because you never watched those, you never cared. You're just chiming in here to add some snappy remarks and try to appear aloof and above the fray as usual.
I'll be sure to set the remote on REC for game 7...That way, later on in the evening I can FF to and watch the final 5 minutes of the game, (which will take 20 minutes) all the while feeling as though I've not missed a thing......
Something only a non-hoops fan would say. Games three and four were complete blowouts and were over before the 4th quarter started. Did you only watch the last 5 minutes? If so, you missed seeing OKC run the Warriors out of the gym. But you wouldn't know that, would you? Because you never watched those, you never cared. You're just chiming in here to add some snappy remarks and try to appear aloof and above the fray as usual.
Rob--
This was one of the greatest,most exciting games I've seen in watching over fifty years of hoops.
I'm not sure how anyone can not see the joy and the poetry in this game.Best to ignore the non hoops fans or NBA kvetchers.
Rob--
This was one of the greatest,most exciting games I've seen in watching over fifty years of hoops.
I'm not sure how anyone can not see the joy and the poetry in this game.Best to ignore the non hoops fans or NBA kvetchers.
We need a "like" button for this Forum..............
<<<>>>
By *The Splash Brothers*
Never count this Warriors team out.............until The Fat Lady sings..............
"Steph does not care about getting all the attention," Draymond Green told The Vertical late Monday night. "Without Klay, there's not that much success here. He's always made sure that people understood: It's about us, it's not about me. That's why this team is successful, because that's our guy, that's how he sees things."
[Edited on 5/31/2016 by robslob]
Great game and great series. What impresses me the most about this Warriors squad is their patience - they knew they were not done. When they won game 5, I had a feeling they'd run the table on OKC. After they won game 6, it looked all but over for the Thunder. You can't give the Warriors that many chances, they will catch fire again.
Should be a great Finals rematch considering the Cavs are at full steam, unlike last year. They haven't been tested quite as much as the Warriors have been, so I definitely give Golden State the edge.
Great game and great series. What impresses me the most about this Warriors squad is their patience - they knew they were not done. When they won game 5, I had a feeling they'd run the table on OKC. After they won game 6, it looked all but over for the Thunder. You can't give the Warriors that many chances, they will catch fire again.
Should be a great Finals rematch considering the Cavs are at full steam, unlike last year. They haven't been tested quite as much as the Warriors have been, so I definitely give Golden State the edge.
"You can't give the Warriors that many chances, they will catch fire again."
A true statement if there ever was one.
Yeah, Cavs - Warriors should be another great series. We cannot forget that even without Love and Irving, the Cavs went up 2-1 on the Warriors in last year's Finals before losing in six.
That said, I don't think Cleveland can run with the Warriors the way that OKC did. OKC was like.........oh...........you like to run...........bring it on, man. And they beat them at their own game..............for awhile. It's also well-documented what a fierce rebounding team OKC is. That and their speed ALMOST got them over the top, but in the end we were able to overcome it.
Warriors - Cleveland? I say Warriors in six. Whatever happens, it should be a GREAT one to watch!
Western Finals completely lived up to my expectations. Great basketball. Can't wait for the upcoming rematch. It's gonna be lights out ball. 
incredible game last night & awesome series.
my family believes the Warriors will win in 6-to be contrarian i took the Cavs in 7-if i was betting i'd bet with the rest of my family.
given that Curry/Thompson,with their range have reinvented the way the game is played-the distance,the angles,the team movement blending with their skills-& that defenses haven't fully figured it all out,there would seem no way the Cavs should win.Let the games begin!
[Edited on 5/31/2016 by dadof2]
The NBA got the match up that it wanted.
Should be a good series. GSW will win if they sink their 3-pointers and will lose if not. Can't argue with results and they obviously had them. But the games where they lose there is no other game plan. By the half, they seem to accept that the ball is not going their way. That is why I take all the "change the way the game is played" stuff with a grain of salt. Curry is an incredible shooter and makes some wild off balance shots from well beyond the 3-point line. But to change the game, everybody would be doing it.
Now from a kids angle, the GSW influence has kids chucking the ball from everywhere and not passing. Not Curry's fault obviously but that is how he has changed the game.
Works for GSW because they have a couple of guys nailing them. Great if they are going in. So what happens when some kid comes along that nails full court shots? Just in bound and let him shoot? Globetrotters Era Coming?
I think after their season GSW deserve to win. The Cavs have their team this year so maybe they deserve it. Would be good for future rivalry.
I would prefer any other team other than these two to win but I guess that isn't possible.
Wife likes GSW so I will cheer on the Cavs. Just to piss her off.
Good luck to all the fans of teams still on the go.
I don't really have a favorite NBA team anymore. My son plays on three teams so between games and practices I spend half my week in gyms watching basketball. Don't usually go home and watch some more.
Leaves me free to jump on any bandwagon that comes by.
Don't like either NBA team left.
Don't like either NHL team left.
Baseball causes me to nap as I get older.
Where the hell is football? 😛
Now from a kids angle, the GSW influence has kids chucking the ball from everywhere and not passing. Not Curry's fault obviously but that is how he has changed the game.
You make an interesting point and I've thought about that very issue myself.
If Golden State's sharpshooting guard tandem change the game..............it could actually have a negative effect on kids playing basketball.
You just cannot expect a 14 or 15 year old kid to be on target with a 25 foot shot on a regular basis. Youth basketball coaches need to be teaching players, "What you're seeing with Golden State's guards is a freak of nature."
But the fact is, you are naturally going to see many more kids chucking up from three at a young age to emulate Curry and Thompson. Even more so if they repeat this year as champions.
It all comes down to coaching but you also have to deal with moron parents. Listening to parents yell out "shoot" to their kids constantly. This is after the kid has already tossed a dozen air balls. The worst possible thing is when they actually make one. That guarantees another dozen air balls at least. And further cries of "shoot" coming from the stands.
I broke my quiet as a mouse parent rule this season for the first time. When one kid's father yelled out "shoot", I stood up and yelled "or pass to one of the other 4 open kids with the same uniform.". "Everyone including the other team know that you won't pass."
Hated doing it. Had 20 people at least thank me.
Next game, the Dad yelled " shoot.". Some don't get it.
Coaches do hopefully. My son's best team this year (sort of all star team) had a great coach. Chuck the ball and ride the bench. If the shot is there and all other options are out then shoot.
The 3-point is far more dangerous than the dunk. Sheer height keeps kids from actually trying in the game. 3-pointers fly everywhere. The warm up before games is comical with often both teams trying to sink from 3 or further.
Sorry for the minor hi-jacking but when it was mentioned that Curry changed the game , that came to mind.
I like the way the game is evolving and like every generation of hoopsters the kids,the coaches and the game will adjust.
Perhaps I have particular fun with the long range shooting since when I played HS and college ball,it was all to often that an angry coach removed me from games for shooting too long range.And that happened even when they went in,which was often.And there was no three point shot back then.
Klay and Steph and Coach Kerr deserve great credit for extending the court in a most creative and exciting way.The league is adjusting as players nowadays,across the board,at every level,are working on these new developments in the game.A very interesting and exciting time.Steph and Klay,and the Warriors in general,are a team,and they(all of them) move the ball and pass beautifully.No reason kids can't learn to shoot long range while its up to coaches to emphasize TEAM and PASS FIRST.Just look at Steph's passing/assists/league leading steals.And,parents need to shut up,sit down,and let coaches coach.Schools need rules for parents more than kids and kids will evolve with the game as parents stay out of the way.
hate when people say coach kerr deserves some kind of credit. first off kerr was coach of the year yet only coached about 1/2 the season. ridiculous. 2nd mark Jackson is the one who created this entire concept and built this warriors team. he was fired, for no reason, because the team was very young and got ousted in the playoffs be more experienced teams. Jackson was there for 3 years and helped get barnes, green ,ezeli and Thompson drafted. shaun livingston is the only notable player that kerr has brought in during his tenure with the warriors. maybe Barbosa
as parents stay out of the way.
Did you just go all comedy on us?
hate when people say coach kerr deserves some kind of credit. first off kerr was coach of the year yet only coached about 1/2 the season. ridiculous. 2nd mark Jackson is the one who created this entire concept and built this warriors team. he was fired, for no reason, because the team was very young and got ousted in the playoffs be more experienced teams. Jackson was there for 3 years and helped get barnes, green ,ezeli and Thompson drafted. shaun livingston is the only notable player that kerr has brought in during his tenure with the warriors. maybe Barbosa
I will have to lodge my disagreement here.
The Warriors were a GOOD team under Mark Jackson. They only became a GREAT team after Steve Kerr took over the reins.
And I seriously doubt that Mark Jackson had ANYTHING to do with getting "Barnes, Green, Ezeli and Thompson drafted." That was the Warriors expert management team assembled by new owner Joe Lacob. It was that team which included Lacob, GM Bob Myers and consultant Jerry West which made the draft decisions, not Mark Jackson. Do you remember a couple of years ago when it was rumored for about four months that the Warriors were going to trade Thompson to Minnesota for Kevin Love? And Minnesota wanted MORE players than Thompson! Previous bonehead Warriors management would have made that deal. Jerry West, a huge Klay Thompson fan who recommended drafting him, said later, "If they would have made that trade they would have had one less consultant."
Let me tell you another little story: It was March 2012 when the Warriors sent their star guard, Monte Ellis, packing to Milwaukee for Andrew Bogut. That took some real BALLS...........Bogut was recovering from ankle surgery when they made the trade! Not long after, they had a Chris Mullin jersey retirement night at Oracle Arena. Owner Joe Lacob stepped to the podium to honor Mullin............and the crowd roundly BOOOED him out of the gym, all because of the Monte Ellis trade. It was humiliating..........you should have seen Lacob's face...........you had to feel sorry for him. Warriors legend Rick Barry rushed over to the mike and said, "HAVE SOME RESPECT! This man is trying to usher in a new era for this team!" As soon as Barry sat down, the booing started all over again.
Lacob, Myers, West and others on their team had the foresight to see that Steph Curry was the future of this team and that he and Monte Ellis could not co-exist. That seems what any idiot would know right now............did you or anyone else know it in March 2012?? Also, Bogut is far from being the star, but in game 5 when the Warriors were down 3-1 vs. OKC they likely would have been eliminated if it weren't for Bogut's 15 point, 14 rebound performance. He can't play a lot of minutes anymore, but he's often come up big in spots like that for them.
I admit that Jackson set the table for Kerr............he was a good coach and he instilled the defensive stance the team has taken ever since. But Lacob is the one who fired Jackson. According to Lacob, Jackson could not get along with a LOT of people. Andrew Bogut was one of them.............Bogut and Jackson have traded barbs more than once since Jackson was fired. And Jackson pulled some very weird stuff. Lacob's own son, who he was grooming to be an NBA executive, WAS NOT ALLOWED AT PRACTICE, BY JACKSON! Really? Now how does one think he is going to keep his job when he pulls that kind of sh*t with his boss?
There's more. Several years ago while Jackson was coaching the Warriors, it came out in the papers that Jackson had sent pictures of his penis to a woman. In general, I do not have any problem with that.........hell, I'm no prude. I DO have a problem with a married Minister doing it, and that's what Mark Jackson is. Talk about hypocritical..............remember, I live in the Bay area and get a hold of ALL the inside stuff, more than others outside of this area would.
Kerr instituted a new attitude with the team. You can't say that Mark Jackson was responsible for Kerr winning it all his very first year as a head coach. And I know that Luke Walton deserved a lot of the credit this year while Kerr was out. But fact remains, he was running the system that Kerr had already put in place. Look at the Warriors now............in the championship series again after being down 3-1 against an OKC team that probably was the fiercest competition they'll face this year. I don't see that Mark Jackson had much to do with that.
[Edited on 6/2/2016 by robslob]
no mark jackson had nothing to do with the thunder collapsing. the thunder did. espn tore into them for losing that series pointing out the same mistakes the team has had the last 5-6 years. no 3 point shooting threats that are consistant. selfish play by KD and westbrook. those 2 making plays that rookies make, example jacking up shoots early in the clock when you don't need to and aren't open. westbrook being turnover prone and not knowing when to look for teammates. not playing enough guys off the bench. list went on and on. the thunder have done this for years now. not because of the warriors but simply because its been at least 1/2 of decade of the same thing
Kerr's been to the Finals his only two years as Warriors coach. Jackson in three years never made it that far. Care to explain that, matt05?
