NBA Season 2017/18
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The OKC situation was sad, because on paper it should have worked. Russ is the player who needs the ball and controls the game, PG13 can play 3-and-D as well as anyone with the occasional big game, while Carmelo could be the wise old guy who can spot up. Add in a cast of decent bench players and you've got a team with just as much talent as any.
But it just never worked, and never looked like working. Even if they rallied to beat the Jazz, they would have been flogged by the Rockets.
Donovan isn't good enough, IMO. They can't afford to buy out Carmelo, so they will have to try and extract something from him next year. You'd be tempted to just go back to Russ-ball and hope he can carry them to 50 wins.
PG is likely going to the Lakers, and I think he showed enough in the first four play-off games to show he still has value. He can't carry a team though. I'd love to see him as third banana on the Sixers, playing the Covington role behind Simmons and Embiid.
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I don't think it's certain that PG leaves OKC. Reading some comments he and Russ are very close, but he wants to know what direction OKC will be going in before making a decision.
As to Donovan, he hasn't really improved them after they fired Scott Brooks.
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Rockets/Warriors is $1.01 in the West. And the winner of that is $1.05 to take out the whole shebang.
But in the East you could make a case for all four teams to come out, even the Celtics. Lebron single-handedly dragged the Cavs into the second round, but how often can he keep doing that?
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Sixers struggling with the Celtics in Game 1. A lot of people have written off Boston, but I think they are right in this series.
The weight of favouritism will hit Philly at some point, and Brad Stevens is a gun. I can see this series going the distance.
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@tewaio said in NBA Season 2017/18:
Surely they'll get the yips now, having lost to Cleveland the last 2 years? Tristan Thompson has found his mojo again, he should start Game 2. Feels like it'll be another 7 game epic series.
If they don't win game 2 and win it well they might bottle it
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@barbarian
Looks like Lebron still plans on carrying the team forward (although Love stepped up).JJ Reddick stepped up to start this game and sixers getting a commanding lead
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I took the Cavs at $2.40 to beat the Raptors before the series started... money for jam, that.
The Sixers were up 21 but now only up four at the break. Really fell in a heap the last five minutes which is really concerning - not getting back on D and allowing some very easy buckets. When that Boston crowd finds its voice...
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I think there's still a long way to go in the series. Two young sides with limited post-season experience and a lot of streaky players, the home court environment is so important.
I'm tipping the Sixers may well win the next two games - the mojo that Smart, Rozier and Morris had may well evapourate without home support, and you'll see that flowing to guys like Belinelli, Illyasova and Saric.
I'd back the Celtics, but it wouldn't shock me to see this series go the distance.
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When a home team makes a run from behind, the crowd and atmosphere they create can be a big factor.
Sixers lost their shape defensively, particularly on the perimeter. Far too many uncontested shots off the screens.
Simmons was low on confidence with his drive tonight and looked a little weary.
In Philly, the Sixers will bounce back I reckon.
Trust the process
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Pelicans looking shit hot. Warriors looking very ordinary tonight. 20 point margin in the 4th.
Rondo pulling the strings
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What a choke by the Sixers. The turnovers abysmal. The one near the end of regulation by JJ was a shocker. Yes Belly hit that corner shot, but the Sixers could’ve closed that there and then.
In OT, Simmons bottled it plain and simple.
Sweeps coming in both Eastern Conference series. -
Horford's winning score was far too easy. I don't know why the Philly defender, knowing he didn't have any help, chose to front him and ended up giving away an easy shot right at the hoop. Still, it looks like the 6ers will have to lose one before they can win one. Could be worse, they could be in the purgatory that is Toronto vs Cleveland
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@act-crusader said in NBA Season 2017/18:
In OT, Simmons bottled it plain and simple.
Simmons should have passed the ball out instead of trying that little floater when he got the offensive rebound. Philly led by 1 at that point so try and get the ball into Redick's hands and make the Celtics foul you. Inexperience from the 76ers.
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Philly claw one back, which will make the end series scoreline a bit more respectable. Good coaching from Brett Brown to throw TJ McConnell into the mix, which took pressure off Simmons.
The series loss may be a good thing for the Sixers. It's shown them they are still a player or two away from being really competitive in the big games. To quote an old chestnut, it could be the 'loss they had to have'.
Weirdly, losing helps them get Lebron - I would have been amazed if he went there if they got through to the Finals. He would have copped the same criticism as Durant when he went to GSW.
But even if they don't land Lebron, it's clear they need to make a play in free agency, and look to trade for Kawhi, or pick up Paul George. They have plenty of assets so both would be possible.
While Simmons has been rightfully criticised, Covington has gone missing as well. That's the position they need to upgrade.
