If they win, isn't it sort of more likely in 6?

I thought so originally but I figured they'd split the first 2, Memphis would win 2 at home, OKC would win at home and Memphis would win in game 6. Or in 5 if Memphis swept them in OKC and then blew a game at home. It is plausible that Durant goes for 45 tonight, Ibaka shows up, Gasol gets in foul trouble, OKC goes up 2-0 and the series goes into a defend home turf mode.

Memphis lacks that down the stretch guy to take control of the game at the end. IMO that cost them game 1 and might hurt them again.

Hopefully tonight's games can come close to last nights.

Perhaps he meant that as long as James is in the league, Durant will never get an MVP ring. Even that probably wouldn't be true because voters do stupid things. Like Barkley over Jordan. Or the fact that Nash has as many as Shaq and Kobe combined. But if it's championship rings he is speaking of, too many things go into deciding who wins and the best individual player doesn't win the title every year.

If Wade did not play another minute in these playoffs, Miami would still win this thing. They have the perfect fit of bench guys and shooters. I read that they are like 45-2 since signing the BIRDMAN.
Plus Lebron is in Durants head big time. Last week Durant is talking about how he stalks Lebron and looks at his box score nightly. Do you think the King cares about what Durant does?

Does it matter who wins that series with the way Golden State is playing?

Really? So if Wade doesn't play no one can beat them?

They have players that fit roles well but they aren't deep or young.

Your comment was that Durant will never win a ring as long as James was in the league. What level of play will Wade be at in 2 years? Who is going to replace Ray Allen? Who is going to replace Chalmers? Who plays Boshs' role if he goes down?

Miami is the favorite and will be the favorite next year as well but they aren't a team with young legs and as seen by what happened in LA this season older guys get hurt more and recover worse. OKC has a lottery pick this year. With their track record of finding players who is to say that they won't come up with another impact guy and take advantage of Miami's age? Who is to say that a 100% healthy Chicago team doesn't beat them next year?

Durant is 24.

Memphis will wipe Golden State out. Memphis presents huge matchup issues for GS especially with Lee out. OKC would create problems for GS and would certainly have a good chance. Golden State is far from home in that series anyway.

Chuck why is so much of this about Wade? Bron is going back to Cleveland after next season.

I disagree. OKC got a raw deal losing a top 5 guy. GS matches up well with either of those teams.

You have a better shot of ACTUALLY going 9 for 9 at the track then this happening.

Lebron isnt going back to Cleveland unless they get a whole lot better in a hurry

You disagree? Can you name 3 players on Memphis?

So if GS matches up well with Memphis tell me who guards Randolph? Gasol? Landry is 6'7". Gonna start playing Bogut 40 minutes?
Memphis is a bad matchup for GS especially without Lee. They have Tony Allen who is the premier perimeter defending guard in the league, Prince who can give Thompson trouble with his length if Hollins decides to go that way. Conley is a tough matchup for Curry which forces Jack to play more minutes. Believe me GS is praying that memphis loses.

I can name the entire team. I know my hoops. Who takes the big shot for them? Im not trusting Conley. Rudy Gay loss will hurt. I believe GS is the best team in the West right now, regardless of who they play. Like I said last week, if only Lee was healthy.

There might not be any big shots to take. Rudy Gay 's absence is meaningless, he is a paper tiger. The fact is that Memphis will murder GS on the boards, can play perimeter defense because they have Gasol in the middle and GS will have issues guarding them in the half court.

GS in my mind is not going to get by SA anyway

Chuck you might be right on Golden St. They literally gave away game 1. I was pretty stunned they managed to lose game 3. At least they showed some heart and won game 4. Again the Lee injury is crucial. I am not sold on Memphis. OKC is decimated without Westbrook, but have been in every game. That bothers me about Memphis. We shall see. Should be a fun 3-4 more weeks.

SA looked old in the OT yesterday. Their offense gets very stagnant. They should be attacking Curry with whoever he guards but GS has done a good job of hiding him.

Memphis wins again but I'm far from impressed. I think whoever wins the Warriors Spurs series will play Miami. I think the NBA would love GS vs Miami.

The people of Memphis rejoice

Chuck they are laboring with a team who has 1 player, and who just lost a top 5-7 player in the world.
Where can I get a good pic of you? I want to sub you in for D. Wayne. Its crunch time.

Miami who everyone is saying is a huge favorite to win the title "labored" with a team that had 4 key guys out. Memphis is a tough team that plays extremely good defense and has size. GS can't beat them. SA probably won't either.

You did not tell me where I can find a good pic of you.....
Heres how I look at it. Miami is kinda just messing around. Lebron, half the time does not appear to be looking to shoot. He seems to be having bad game, per Chuck Barkley.... But you check out the box score and he is 9/19 for 27 8 7. The guy is amazing. Indiana will beat Miami 2x. Miami in 6.
As for the West, I am not sure yet. I think GS wins tonight. I absoutley love them as a home dog. Who knows what happens in game 7. Ill just come out and say it, I dont believe in Memphis. Im not sold. Stephen A. Smith is. Today, he called them a legit threat to Miami. He says they can steal 1 in Miami and win 2 of the 3 at home. I dont buy that, thats if they even make it. Im of the belief that Miami wins this thing fairly easily even if Wade goes down for good. If Memphis proves me wrong, they do. I dont think Memphis makes it to the Finals. Again for the 15th time in this thread. The David Lee injury is a total shame. I was high on GS before these playoffs. I predicted they would beat Denver. He is not some scrub. He led the NBA in double doubles this year. What Golden St is doing without him and with Curry injured should not be overlooked. They are building something nice for the future. They remind me of OKC 3 years ago who took the first step by taking the Lakers to 7.

There are no good pictures of me.
Miami clearly is the favorite though IMO have played sluggishly because they got sucked into playing the type of game that Chicago wanted to play.
Indiana w/o Hill can easily lose the next two games. I'm not sure what to think about the Knicks since they seem to change 180 degrees from game to game.

Obviously your Golden State man-crush is over. Golden State is actually not in great shape moving forward as they are capped out, Jack and Landry are unrestricted FA, Bogut's health is always going to be an issue (of course as is Curry's) and they have no draft picks. Barnes could continue to improve as well as Thompson and Green but they don't have much else.

For what its worth. Miami over Indiana in 6 if its the Knicks its a sweep. San Antonio in 6.
Its not a man crush, I like young explosive teams. Im a fan of the game more than any team and Im a huge Lebron fan. In my slim days I used to be pretty dam good. I could fill up the stat sheet. I averaged 33-14-3-3 in CYO 7th-8th. Modified coach watched me play I made modified and I made JV at SHS. Tough, almost impossible to make that team. I had an NBA player as a teammate.
Anyway..... I dont think losing Jack or Landry is horrible. I also believe this is a soft draft. I mean Noel #1? I dont buy him at all. Cody Zeller got destroyed bad vs Cuse and he is top 7-8. The dude from Gtown, the big guy.... The Herd had a stat today....80% of his shot attempts were jumpers. What is he supposed to be?? An even worst Carmelo? I think this draft is bad.
Barnes took huge steps in the playoffs. Hopefully he is OK. I felt coming out he was the most NBA ready guy. Remember if he came out after his freshman year he was going #1. Him, Curry and Lee is solid enough. Clippers are not winning anything. Not with Blake Griffin and Jamal Crawford. Does anyone believe the Lakers are getting better? I respect Kobe, but what else do they have? THey wont go to Phil, and who knows if thats even an option anyway after the shots he took at Kobe. THis is Miamis league. This year and next. Rumor is they are in play for KG and Paul Pierce. 2 guys who might take way less and go get a ring. Plus Greg Oden is getting healthy and he would go to Miami, I read last week Pat Riley would take a chance. Point is, I love what Golden St is doing but for 2014 it wont matter. Lebron gets the 3peat.

It is too bad that so few people will see this post.

34-14-3-3. Is the last 3 steals, blocks, or turnovers?

I was leaning towards SA in 7 but the PG selection is going make it Memphis in 6.
Miami in 5.

I'll be damned. They must've kept the most meticulous CYO records ever if he's able to have averages for every category

**bull$hit ahem ahem**

blocks and steals.
SPurs looked strong today.
Indiana is ready. They will press Miami

:tro: This is RHT's best post ever. My son plays youth basketball and it's almost impossible to get someone to keep the scorebook but RHT's league has team statisticians. Thanks RHT for giving me something to laugh about on Monday morning.

NBA Playoff Predictions...
 

The Heatles ("just another team") in 4. End of the line for the Pacers.

lol. I have the book still. My old man was the coach.

Those are some serious stats. How many minutes per quarter and what were the average scores to the games?

Really? You think The Pacers won't win at least one? Care to bet?

Aren't CYO games 32 minutes?

So Wilt, Pete Maravich and you are the only three players in basketball history to average more than a point a minute for an entire game?

NBA Playoff Predictions...
 

Don't worry, Indianapolis, I also thought ORB couldn't lose the Preakness, and the Knicks would be facing Miami now! I never bet on hoops, and I'm going back to betting maiden races at the ponies.

LOL...I really expect a good series. Most likely Miami in 6. But the Pacers are not afraid of them and won't back down.

Chuck how about Memphis? No way Spurs drop this. They were up 2-0 last year and lost, they will learn from that. This is 5 games max, could be a sweep.
INDIANA IS LEGIT.
Barkley says they are the most physically imposing team in the NBA since 2000. Indiana gets at least 2. Unless Vogal really pissed Lebron off.

Pretty much spot on from me. Spurs and Indiana will play tough.
I like Miami over the Spurs. I dont know if it will be 4 or 7, I dont have a feel like that. I just dont see Lebron losing another finals.