DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Tailgate Forum NBA Continued

Yep. They blew one hell of an opportunity to get game 5 and put the warriors out in 6. Choked with no KD on the floor.

Total choke job by the Rockets.

I can see when it comes to injuries no one has been more fortunate than in any sport at any time then the Warriors of the last 5 years. Calf strain. Looked way worse than that.

In fact, the Celts went further with this team without him last year.

I'm not bashing him, I still have my Kyrie Funko on my shelf. I won't take it down either. He hit the shot, so he stays.

As for where he might end up, I think he needs another #1. Maybe Kyrie needs to be a "1B" to someone else's "1A". If Durant joins the Knicks, that's a great place for Kyrie to join. I would bet he'd do better there than his time in Boston (assuming he stay healthy, which he did this year and that's rare).

I believe the Celtics are a better TEAM without Kyrie sounds strange I know ....

Kyrie's conduct this year is a bad look. He comes across as having an over-inflated opinion of himself and acting grumpy when dealing w/adversity.

I think what went down this year in Boston sheds some light on who the real culprit was when he forced his way out of Cleveland.

I do think the guy is a good clutch player. I think he is very talented. I also think he likes to pound nails and force up shots late in the shot clock, which results in his teammates standing around watching him.

Exactly Vers. It does shed some light on his decision to force his trade out of Cleveland. I know many here wanted to keep him, force him to play, but I think he would have torn this team apart from within, like he did with the Celtics.

In hindsight, trading him away was probably the best idea, although, the trade pieces we got weren't all that great. Sexton could become good-to-very good. I think he needs major help (Zion).

Looks like KD is out for the rest of the series with Houston (as of today). Houston, you have no excuse at this point.

I'd still bet against Harden and CP3. Until I see them advance, I don't trust them.

Hou sucks. GS doesnt need KD to beat them.

Agreed. There is now a lot more pressure on those two to deliver.

Last year, the narrative was that CP3 missed games 6 and 7 after Houston had a 3-2 lead. They don't have that excuse this year. In fact, the shoe is on the other foot.

I want to see the Warriors go down, but I wonder if Houston has what it takes. I really question Hardin in the clutch.

Gs doesn't need KD to beat any team in the NBA. That's why everyone thought him going there was a chicken poop move.

NBA players are so dumb when it comes to fundamentals.

Toronto just got a steal and had a 3 on 2. Kawai was in the middle. Siakim or however you spell it had the ball on the right side. There was a dude on the left. Siakim dribbled the ball all the way up the right side instead of getting the ball into the middle which negated their 3 on 2 advantage. He was cut off and traveled.

Sad.

It's game on between Portland & Denver! Denver have the advantage as it is on their home court, but I really liked how Portland played with both Collins and Kanter last night. That allowed more movement for CJ, Dame. But, the key was Portland's bench came in and killed it. Rodney Hood was on fire. He has really stepped it up during the playoffs.

People around the NBA have been calling this the "series that time forgot". Two west coast team, late nights and "small"/non-traditional markets, but I think this has been the best series of the whole playoffs.

Jokic, Murray and Millsap have been fun to watch, especially Jokic. As I mentioned above, almost every possession runs through him. He's like a "point center". Murray has stepped his game up too. He averaged 18 in the regular season and is putting up 24.7 in this series. Millsap had one crazy breakout game, I think it was game 5 when Portland put Kanter on him.

Portland is a fun team to watch too, a little predictable but still fast and fresh. You're right, without Hood, this series would probably be over. He was a key guy off the bench last night with 25 and in the 4-OT game, he hit all the big shots, including the final dagger.

I think Denver will win at home. I think they have more talent. It would be cool to see another OT game.

Official prediction - GS pulls away in the 4th as Harden swallows the ball refusing to shoot. 117 - 99 Warriors.

Harden, change my mind.

now or never for Houston

I hope you are wrong, but it's a solid prediction.

Harden scored in the 4th quarter, which I’m surprised by, but he needed more. Steph won that game with 21 in the 4th.

j/c:

It was a great game to watch tonight, even though the team I hate won. GS is looking unstoppable. Again.

well, GS is just too clutch ... and HOU chokes every year

It was honestly very annoying. Every time I think someone has GSW on the ropes, Klay comes out of nowhere and drains a 3. My hate really oscillates between Steph and Klay. They're just too good and it's annoying.

yeah they're such good players (and even better without Durant to be honest)

Klay and Green are beneficiaries of playing on GS. Klay is at best a #3 on mostly any other team. Green is a jag on any other team. They carry no weight or expectations on their shoulders. That's Curry and Durant. If Klay had not hit that shot last night and GS had lost, it would have been a Rockets victory and no one would have mentioned the shot. Curry or Durant miss it and it gets talked about as choking. It's a wonderful thing not to have to play with that kind of weight on your shoulders. You're always loose and ready.

Put those guys on another team where they are the one or two and suddenly they won't be so skilled. Neither can create their own shot. They are in incredible situations for them in GS.

Having said that, the Rockets are a huge collection of chokers, from the coach to the players.

GS has too much talent on their team. Durant ain't playin'? No problem. 'Golden Boy' Steph Curry can't score the whole first half? Not that big of a deal.

GS is an amazing team, just like the Patriots are in the NFL. I can't stand either team, but they deserve their props.

I will never give GS props. I was at the NBA Finals last year, and the GS fans behaved terribly. Zero class. They are a disgusting franchise with a disgusting fanbase.

They're more like the Yankees than the Pats. Luckily for them they had a small window where they could afford another super star. But yeah, gotta give them props for catching lightning in a bottle with Curry, Dray and Klay. Doesn't make me dislike them any less though.

It's just an opinion, but I have to disagree w/you about how good Klay and Green are. I think they are very good players and integral parts to Golden State's success.

I'm kinda hoping that Klay goes to LA and joins LeBron. He would be a perfect fit w/LeBron.

Though I suppose it really doesn't matter who the coach is as long as Lebron is THE coach .....

Sources - Vogel to coach Lakers with Kidd on staff
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26723733/sources-vogel-coach-lakers-kidd-staff

Frank Vogel has agreed to a three-year deal to become the next coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, league sources told ESPN.

Vogel met with Lakers management Thursday and talks escalated quickly toward an offer Saturday to end the franchise's tumultuous coaching process with his hiring, sources said.

The Lakers completed the deal Saturday afternoon with Vogel's agent, Lonnie Cooper, who also represents LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers.

Jason Kidd has also agreed to a deal to become a prominent assistant coach on Vogel's staff, league sources said.

The Lakers are enthusiastic about the prospect of Kidd working with point guard Lonzo Ball on a full-time basis. Kidd also has a strong relationship and history with LeBron James; the two were former teammates for USA Basketball.

Vogel, 45, was the third coach to be offered the Lakers' coaching job. Monty Williams and Ty Lue both rejected the Lakers' offers.

Vogel's candidacy speaks to the significant influence of Lakers adviser Kurt Rambis and former coach Phil Jackson, whose opinions weigh heavily with owner Jeanie Buss. Jackson and Rambis had strongly considered Vogel's candidacy in New York before hiring Jeff Hornacek in 2016.

Rambis was deeply involved in the interview and evaluation process of the coaching candidates since Luke Walton and the franchise parted ways last month.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has spent the past few days gathering information among those who've worked with both Vogel and Kidd about how they believe those two could complement each other on a Lakers coaching staff, league sources said.

While Vogel will be judged on a difficult two-season tenure with the Magic (2016-18) that included 29- and 25-victory seasons in a rebuild, he constructed a strong reputation in his five full seasons with the Pacers, leading them to consecutive Eastern Conference finals in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons.

Vogel went 250-181 while leading the Pacers, the second-most wins and second-highest win percentage (.580) by a head coach in franchise history.

I get that this board loves trashing LeBron, you know, the same LeBron who brought Cleveland it's only sports championship since 1964.............but, the reality of the situation is that almost every recent move concerning the Lakers is not what LeBron wanted.

He sure as hell didn't want Magic to leave. He did want Lue hired. I doubt he wanted the snake Rob Pelinka to gain more power.

I think they are very good players too. Just not as good as everyone thinks and not as good as they would be on another team where expectations for each of them were higher. I do agree Klay would be great with LeBron.

Interesting and I am not surprised.

My son and I went to Candlestick to see the Browns v 49ers when Singletary was still their coach and Colt McCoy was our QB and it was by far the worst crowd I have experienced. I've been to SF, SD, LA, Seattle and KC for Browns games and a lot of people on the west coast rag on Seahawks fans as being obnoxious, but the more I hear that the more it's usually Niners fans who are dissing the 'hawks fans. Seattle was actually fine. They were drunk fans, but totally fine. KC, however, was awesome! SD was good, mellow and unemotional...lacking personality, but nice fans. LA was....LA. It was 2 years ago in the Chargers temp home/soccer stadium and there were as many Browns fans as there were Chargers fans. But, LA has people from all over so, they all come with their own home city allegiance rather than one for LA. San Francisco, however.....they were just downright mean and were taking the banter a few steps too far. When on the road, I get it...you will receive some banter, but there is a line and they crossed it. Several times over and kept pushing it. My son was also young at the time and it was pretty uncool. I never felt threatened or intimidated, but it was just constant ridicule from fans whose team sucked at the time too and were taking it too far, which ruined the experience for me.

I've thought a bit about maybe going down for this season's Monday night game, but to be honest it was such an unenjoyable experience the last time I went to a Niners game that I am not sure I want to spend that $ and go there again.

PS: I should note...I love the city of SF, I'm just not impressed with their sports fans!

Does Vogel getting the gig in LA make it more likely that LeBron gets traded?

I don't think it will happen but it might make that possibility slightly more likely.

LA COULD end up with Kyrie, Davis and LeBron.

They would have to renounce just about their entire roster to make that happen.

Jc: I think what would create the best basketball would be if Kyrie and KD went to the Knicks while Kawhi and AD went to the Lakers.

That's what I'm hoping for at least.

That loss is on Murray and Millsap. They paid Millsap $30m to score 10 points in a game 7 at home. Pathetic.

Murray's defense has been atrocious all season. I'm glad that McCollum was able to shine against him this series. As the kids are saying, dog check!

what a game .. McCollum was crazy good

Beautiful sunny Mother's Day here in Portland. Early game (12:30)...they were down nearly 20 at one point, but what a monster 2nd half. McCollum was on fire and the others really stepped up (Collins!). I hope Rodney Hood is ok, however!

Nuggets were like that long distance runner who runs full steam at the start and then gets lapped in the final stretches as they expended all energy, too soon.

Go Blazers!

I don't really care who wins, but the 76ers vs Raptors is an amazing game 7.

Wow. What a game.

Kahwi vs Giannis is going to be fun to watch.