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I fear for Dub Nation today
galaxy27
Posts: 7,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
in Sports Talk
Hope I'm wrong. Would be a real shame.
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galaxy27
Posts: 7,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
galaxy27
Posts: 7,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
galaxy27
Posts: 7,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
galaxy27
Posts: 7,149 ✭✭✭✭✭
Comments
It would also be a major blow to the team in its quest for a second title in a row.
However, the team has an incredibly deep and talented roster that plays together as a team. I could easily see the Warriors, without Curry, continuing to play well and hoisting the trophy in mid June.
If the road to another championship for the Warriors goes through (after finishing off Houston in Round 1) the Clippers (or Portland), San Antonio (or OKC) and then Cleveland and the Warriors hoist another trophy the people who have doubted this team should cave in and admit that it is the best pro hoops team playing over the past 2 seasons.
If the knee injury to Curry is merely a strain that needs rest and treatment for 10-15 days, he could be back in time for Round 3.
I could easily see the Warriors, without Curry, continuing to play well and hoisting the trophy in mid June.
Sanction I like you, but there is zero chance of this. Without him, their season is effectively over.
Even without him for ~two weeks, they are really going to be up against it. I do not think they would get by LAC without Curry, and I have my doubts whether they'd even be able to do so if a 75% Curry returns in the middle of the series.
See how rusty he was prior to being re-injured? Not only did he shoot poorly, but he was clearly favoring that gimpy ankle, as hard cuts beyond the arc and explosions to the cup were few and far between. And that was after missing two games. Can you imagine what it will be like after two or so weeks with a bum knee tossed in for good measure? There will be no time to iron out the kinks against a travesty like the Rockets. They will be in a dogfight for their playoff lives against much better competition (most likely the Clippers), with an even better team (SAS or OKC) waiting in the wings.
No doubt his teammates are going to leave it all out on the court. But no matter how much collective talent remains (and there will still be quite a bit), it will not be the same without him. You can't remove the best player in basketball from any squad and possibly expect it to be.
I'll give you this. If you're right and the Warriors somehow manage to overcome this to the tune of another championship, Curry's cards should be worth a million dollars apiece. Maybe two.
You my be right. No doubt the Warriors will not be as good without Curry.
We shall see how the team plays in game 5 on Wednesday against Houston at home. If the Warriors win they will have time rest up for round 2.
The Eastern Conference first round series are very competitive with 3 of them tied at 2-2. With the exception of Clippers v Blazers round 1 of the Western Conference has not been competitive. The Warriors should close out Houston tomorrow night in Oakland. A let down by the Warriors is not likely and a 15 point lead over Houston in the game will likely see the Rockets toss in the towel.
Now I wouldn't even think about bringing Curry back to play against either LAC or Portland, even if he's cleared to play. The surrounding cast can get them to the Conference Finals.
Looking forward, if SAS & OKC slug it out and go seven, that game will be played on May 15. I'd imagine G1 of the Western Conference Finals would then start on May 17. That's more than three weeks for Steph to heal.
I still think the West still comes down to the Warriors-Spurs, and Curry will be playing in that series. It's still a long way off....
Whoever the Warriors play in round 2 I think the depth of the Warriors will prevail. Maybe by the time round 3 takes place Curry will be back.
The Warriors seem to play their best when facing good competition. Further the playoffs have a different vibe than the regular season since if you lose you go home. The intensity ramps up in the playoffs and the Warriors have been putting on a clinic so far (albeit against the lowly Rockets).
Both teams demolished their opposition. OKC and Portland have 2 players who can score at will, but lack the depth that both the Spurs and Warriors have.
For the Warriors, it would be nice to see the Portland series go 5 or 6 games so that Curry (if he heals) can play in games 4-6 and get back into the swing of things. Then bring on the Spurs for a knockdown hard fought 7 game series to see who will advance to the NBA Finals (presumably to play Cleveland).
My guess is no.
If the Warriors win game 3 and Curry is cleared to play in game 4, have him play 20-25 minutes to shake the rust off.
Or do not play him at all and see if the Warriors win in 4. Wait to play him in the WCF.
Thus far the Warriors are doing just fine without their MVP.
The whole playoff schedule is set as if each series goes 7 games so it does not matter.
On GSW winning the whole thing without Curry........I don't know if they can beat Cleveland without him. The Cavs look good!
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Curry is unbelievable.
On to round 3 for the Warriors against OKC or the Spurs for the right to advance and play for a title. I suspect that round three will be as competitive or even more competitive as the Portland series was.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
Basketball fans who do not root for either team will want this series to go 7 games.
I think both teams will win at least one road game. I also expect at least one overtime game and a couple of games decided on a game winning shot. Curry, Thompson, Durant and Westbrook will all score 30 or more points in one or more games. In fact all four may top 30 points in the same game.
Looking forward to Game 1.
There will be a bunch of great shooters on the floor for both teams. Curry is the best 3 point shooter in the game.....ever!
Going forward, the scariest of stats if you're a Dubs fan:
Durant & Westbrook shot a combined 33% from the field and they still won the game.
ETA: I don't know how much more of the officiating I can take in the NBA. By far the worst in any major sport. Traveling should just be eliminated from the rulebook altogether. If Russell Westbrook dragging his pivot foot two feet doesn't elicit a whistle, nothing will. Now we all anxiously wait with bated breath for the Last Two Minute Report to see how many blown calls there were!
The Warriors have to play much better.
The OKC players not named Durant and Westbrook are really playing well. Adams is very good in the paint.
Just like that, Game 2 is must-win for the Warriors. They best come out with a sense of urgency, because OKC is not going to be content with a split. They smell blood now. If they steal another on Wednesday night, GSW will have one leg in the grave.
Going forward, the scariest of stats if you're a Dubs fan:
Durant & Westbrook shot a combined 33% from the field and they still won the game.
ETA: I don't know how much more of the officiating I can take in the NBA. By far the worst in any major sport. Traveling should just be eliminated from the rulebook altogether. If Russell Westbrook dragging his pivot foot two feet doesn't elicit a whistle, nothing will. Now we all anxiously wait with bated breath for the Last Two Minute Report to see how many blown calls there were!
Games 3 and 4 on OKC coming up.
Game 3 predictions, anyone?
Stick a fork in Toronto......they are DONE!
But seriously, this was my thinking. If you closely watched the series each team played prior to this one, what's transpiring should really come as no surprise.
Portland was a team that no one expected to make the playoffs, let alone force a 73-win squad to sweat come postseason. Well, not only did they give GSW everything they could handle and more, but I'll go so far as to say the Dubs would not have advanced without the return of Curry.
Meanwhile, OKC ambushed a 67-win Spurs team -- winning not one, but two games at the AT&T Center where only one visiting team won during the reg season. Why was this rather sizable feat overlooked by so many?
So what we saw during those respective series has carried over into this one. OKC is firing on all cylinders, beating the Warriors at their very own game -- scoring in droves. Durant & Westbrook are outplaying Curry & Thompson. OKC bigs are outplaying the GSW bigs. The Thunder is even receiving key, unexpected contributions from guys like Waiters & Roberson that are nullifying GSW's perceived depth advantage.
Simply put, the Dubs look inferior out there. You could even make the argument that their run up to this point has emptied much of the tank. They look a step slower than OKC. How else can you explain giving up 45 points in one quarter and 117 thru three? Those are mind-numbing figures.
As I type this, the league just tossed the Warriors a life preserver by not suspending Draymond Green. I love the way he leaves it all out on the court, but he should not be playing tomorrow night. His reputation precedes him. He can't keep his mouth shut, and apparently he can't keep his foot out of Steven Adams' crotch. It looked very intentional to this pair of eyes, but that's just my opinion. How Dahntay Jones can receive a one-gamer for what he did but DG emerges unscathed is beyond me. Clearly the league wants both teams at full strength tomorrow night. I doubt another 40-point deficit in the 3rd quarter is what the Association covets.
The Warriors have faced adversity before -- down 1-2 to Memphis in last year's playoffs, and down 1-2 to the Cavs in the Finals. They prevailed each time, but this feels much different. That was a beatdown of epic proportions last night. At some point you just have to acknowledge that one team is better than the other. With that said, no team is better at bouncing back than Golden State. They have yet to lose back-to-back games in 15-16.
For the sake of their season, that streak better not end tomorrow night.
If OKC does win, I would favor them to win the title over Cleveland or Toronto.
OKC is playing much better than the Warriors. After games 3 and 4 it appears that OKC simply wants it more than the Warriors. It would not surprise me to see OKC to win game 5 tomorrow in Oakland to advance to the finals. It is highly unlikely that the Warriors can win the next 3 games.
If OKC does win, I would favor them to win the title over Cleveland or Toronto.
OKC has SUPERIOR athletes. That don't guarentee a win but it doesn't hurt especially against a tired Warriors squad
mark
Fellas, leave the tight pants to the ladies. If I can count the coins in your pockets you better use them to call a tailor. Stay thirsty my friends......
The Warriors played much better last night and their season lives on for at least 1 more game.
I would love to see a game 7 with it going to double overtime and a game winning shot as time expires. Whoever wins this series will, I hope, win the title.
Game 7 on Monday will be interesting. The Warriors will have momentum, confidence and home court. I wonder how OKC will respond to its game 6 loss. Will they play well as a team, or will they crumble and rely too much on their 2 star players?
Stay tuned.
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
All credit to GS for the never die performance but come on.
"If I say something in the woods and my wife isn't there to hear it.....am I still wrong?"
My Washington Quarter Registry set...in progress