Pacers Down

The Heat has now downed the Pacers and pushed them into the brink of elimination. Now, it's time for the Heat to finish this series off and rid us all of the misery that the Pacers have given us all throughout  this DTTF.

Early off the halftime break when the Heat went on a run and built more lead off two Paul George turnovers, I thought that was it. With an invisible Roy Hibbert, I didn't think the Pacers had enough firepower to cope. Hibbert turned from wild early this series to mild in that last game. If the Pacers want to win this series, Hibbert has to assert himself from hereon and stay out of foul trouble.

Speaking of foul trouble... another Pacer who was ineffective in the first half was Lance Stephenson. He was barely earning DTTF points as he mostly sat on the bench the first half. Surely that is not what he envisioned when he trashtalked his way on and off the court.

But he knows he has to bounce back, and you know why? Because he is a FREE AGENT! The Pacers were not ready to give him a hefty extension, and surely they will not give him the amount he will attract this offseason. So he knows he must showcase for the other teams who are surely watching the playoffs. He showed he can, when he racked up PRA in the fourth, and he surely will make it happen in Game 5 in a potentially season-ending outing. As planned, he gets my pick.


Will be happy to save Game 4 X-factor Chris Bosh (my remaining of the Big 3) and the rest of the Heat for the Finals.



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Comments

  1. Yeah, I'm going to be banking on Stephenson in that game as I will be taking him.. He won't have back to back duds like that. Being at home will help......

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  2. Picking Lance for G5 also. Indy better not give up early. I don't like what I'm seeing with their body language tonight.

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    1. Holy smokes! Ibaka hot pick just rose to 41%. Jackson dipped to 12% from 16%. Might go with the second hottest pick in Reggie Jackson since I don't think he will matchup well against the Heat if OKC do advance to the next round. I would rather have Ibaka and KD if OKC can pullout a miracle and advanced.

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  3. Seems like May25 PRA was not computed in. Everybody tweet @sportstechinc about it. Or DTTF > Menu > Support

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    1. Hopefully that gets fixed soon. I want to see how high up my Russell Westbrook pick brought me in the rankings.

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    2. Just visited the twitter account. They have responded and are fixing it. Lesson learned - if you need technical support, definitely use Twitter as they respond to that.

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    3. Yeah, i had tweeted also and they responded to me also.
      Sports Technologies ‏@sportstechinc 20m
      @topknox Thanks for pointing it out. We are fixing the issue now.

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    4. Attn: Aceeee006 (I think you were the one having issues with this site and your account scoring)

      If you are still having account problems, this is the place for you to possibly get answers to your problems.

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    5. I think the issue is fixed by measuring me to Shaq, I was down 10% (96-86) now it's 1 (90-89)!

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  4. Picking the same guy as you Taong! Going with Ibaka as well then David West for Game 5 of MIA/IND. If the Spurs/Thunder series extend into a Game 6, I might go with a Spur in Game 5. Good luck to us!

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    1. I guess there are only two picks on Tuesday: (1) Ibaka and (2) the rest. Who will prevail? Good luck to us all indeed

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  5. The issue has now been fixed. Hooray! Moving on to tonight's game, with 41% of the world picking Serge Ibaka, I really hope I'm correct that he will merely be OK. I view him right now as a 15 PRA guy, and have him slated for Game 6 if necessary. I don't see him having back-to-back big games, so we'll see. Reggie Jackson outperforming Serge Ibaka would be key for my game, so I'll be watching very closely. Go Reggie!

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  6. Going against everyone tonight with Diaw. Not counting OKC out of this series yet and want to save Ibaka.

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  7. Ray Allen (14 PRA) was disappointing, as he has been for much of this series, but he was still the 8th best pick of the night. Luis Scola (14 PRA) and Norris Cole (13 PRA) were decent scores from role players, even beating or right up there with most starters. Obviously David West (36 PRA) and Paul George (33 PRA) were the best picks on this night from the soon to be eliminated Indiana Pacers. Chris Bosh (32 PRA) of the Heat easily posted his best game of the playoffs, with his resurrection from the dead. Congrats to those that rolled the dice to pick him last night.

    The Heat took care of business last night by winning both home games after stealing a win on the road vs. Indiana. Now it is just a matter of time before the Heat move to the finals, and the Pacers are eliminated. Will there be 1 more game or 2 in this series? Depends on how much heart Indiana has left (if they have any) which will determine if they come out strong at home and force the series back to Miami, to most likely lose. Or will they mail it in, as they have for much of the second half of the season?

    Ideally I am rooting for Indiana to force a Game #6, so I can use my last two Pacers and empty my squad to earn more PRA points. I can't complain too much about this series though, as I dealt fairly well with burning up most of my Pacers options in earlier rounds, and I even got 16 PRA out of C.J. Watson, which was no easy feat. Very lucky there!

    I'll pick Roy Hibbert at home, because I want no part of him on the road, should this series move back to Miami for a final game should Indiana rise up at home in Game #5. I will save Lance Stephenson for the potential Game #6 at Miami, where Indiana in all probability will be eliminated should we actually make it that far. Ideally that is the situation I am hoping to happen. And of course for Roy Hibbert to actually show up at home when I pick him. During the season Hibbert was a 25+ PRA player at home vs. Miami. I would love to see Hibbert post that again on Wednesday night.

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    1. Good read, Daytona!

      Surely Hibbert will once again be pulled to the side by teammates. He said some dodgy statements there in the media (bad). He should be fine for G5.

      Good luck!

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    2. Thanks! Appreciate it.

      Good luck to you as well!

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  8. I have the power. The power to alter the playoffs. I picked Wade and singlehandedly ended his scoring streak of 20+ points, predicting a 14-4-2 game (it was even worse with 15-2-2), and still the Heat won. Just as was my worst-case-scenario.

    Not that it matters this season. I think this is my worst outing ever, even if I add my 58 points to my total. I have the worst timing of the last few years, and that says a lot. Just these playoffs I had a 14 by Ellis (on the night when Aldridge went for 66 and was a reasonable pick, too), a 17 from West (in Roy Hibberts first outing in the playoffs, when West disappeared behind him), 11 from Nene (my first Wizards pick in the worst game of Wizards history), 7 from Ray Allen (one game before he became game MVP with his 3point shooting), 15 from Diaw, 12 from George Hill (with 4 PRA in the final minute with a rebound and a 3pt shot).That´s not even including the Howard/Harden switch that cost me 34 points.

    Ah, well, still no reason to quit. DTTF is about the most frustrating game I regularly play and somehow enjoy. Certainly making the playoffs interesting after Dirk has gone out, as he did every year except for 2011.

    What I really can´t understand is the timing of some of the people playing here. The best man in our league (German Superleague, where Taong is 2nd best) is 45th overall and managed to pick Chris Bosh. Just how can you pick Bosh at this time of the campaign? Even if you had picked James, Wade and most of the others, why waste Bosh in this series where he hasn´t contribute since the beginning of last season ECFs? I will never understand that.

    The "experts" quit as of yesterday, as they always do. Ernie Johnson is stuck at 999 points and will not reach 1000. That means, by virtue of playing through I will pass them all, even Charles Barkley. Not much of victory, but I will take what I can get.

    Meanwhile the games still go on. Bad news for Taong: I had lined the same two players, Ibaka and Stephenson. With Lance, there is no way I can not make that decision. But I will give you a chance with Serge. As he is currently picked by 97% of people playing (a joke, it´s only 41% as of this writing) I decided to change my pick. Just for the sake of everybody playing I pick Jackson, thereby guaranteeing at least 20 PRA for Ibaka, probably a win for the Thunder, and a dud for Jackson.

    As I usually do, I will take one for the team. It really doesn´t matter this year.

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    1. NOOOOOOO, I've got Reggie tonight! Could this be the kiss of death to an otherwise reasonable pick? I hope he breaks through.

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    2. So you are responsible for Boris Diaw getting poked in the eye and putting up only 15 PRA, after a great start to the game, the night when I picked him.

      Just kidding, this game is frustrating as hell sometimes. I know that just as much as anyone.

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    3. Haaaaaaaaaaaaa Love it.... (could just replying on one of his comments curse me?)

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    4. Alex, when our picks collide, it usually mean one galaxy far far away (hopefully not Star Wars) explodes and goes supernova. The shockwave will be felt on Earth about 1 million years from now, and hopefully by then your descendants will be picking LeBron XV1 on his career best against the Pluto Icers in the NBA Milky Way Finals!

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    5. Jackson is injured dang you are probably cursed

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    6. Please post who you pick everyday LOL

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    7. No matter how good a pick seems, if Alex is picking the player don't pick them.

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    8. This thread is cracking me up. Sorry Alex, but it is kind of funny when it isn't happening to you (for a change).

      I was thankfully fortunate to pick Reggie Jackson (24 PRA) before he was cursed. lol

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    9. Laughed when I saw Tangent's comment:

      " NOOOOOOO, I've got Reggie tonight! Could this be the kiss of death to an otherwise reasonable pick? I hope he breaks through."

      Yep, he indeed broke something...

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    10. Yep, that was pretty much what happened. A lot of people complain about bad luck when a player puts up a dud, but I'm not convinced that is really bad luck, more unfortunate timing. Reggie Jackson spraining his ankle 5 minutes into the game...... THAT is bad luck.

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  9. For the OKC vs. San Antonio series, the situation is far more complicated. The Spurs absolutely crushed OKC without Ibaka @San Antonio. However Serge Ibaka is now back, and the Spurs have played poorly when playing @OKC. It is very likely that OKC wins tonight, and evens this series at 2-2. Then it will come down to whether or not the Spurs can get the job done at home, or will they ruin everyone's plans again this year by having another collapse after having a 2-0 lead after posting their first two wins @home. Won't know for sure how this will turn out until OKC plays tonight (and if they win), how the Spurs respond to that in Game #5. Those two games will very likely determine which of these teams goes to the finals.
    For tonight's pick I narrowed it down to either Serge Ibaka or Steven Adams. If this ends up being another blowout win for OKC, Ibaka could very well end up on the bench early, which would give Steven Adams more minutes playing at home. If OKC wins tonight, and they very easily could win, given the Spurs record playing @OKC, they would probably try to keep Ibaka fresh once the game is in hand for the all important road game at San Antonio. Adams has posted 16 and 18 PRA efforts his last two games. With that in mind I will pick Steven Adams tonight, hoping for another 18+ effort out of him playing @home.

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    1. Adams has really intrigued me. With all the minutes he get, he is a viable pick for me in Game 5.

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    2. Steven Adams stunk it up tonight (only 10 PRA). Kendrick Perkins with his 10 rebounds (13 PRA total), really limited what Adams usually does. Perkins is usually in foul trouble, but of course not tonight, when I pick Adams.

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  10. There is a strategy people are using that I don't understand, so I'm wondering if somebody who is "saving their Spurs" can explain. Can someone explain why they are picking Spur "role players" in an attempt to save up Spurs for the Finals? I understand the idea of saving your players - you want a healthy dose of quality in the NBA Finals. But if you are going to pick a Spur, is there a reason for going role player first? One reason I could understand is if you legitimately believe one Spur matches up better against the Thunder than, say, the Heat. I get that. But that doesn't seem to be a common rationale. I can't wait to see if the Thunder come roaring back and win this series, just to see the reaction of the "Save the Spurs" people. They'd be like "I lost all my Spurs because I played Boris Diaw, Danny Green, Tiago Splitter and Patty Mills". One thing is for sure - I have a plan in place to pick Ginobili, Duncan, Parker and Leonard in case of disaster. Do you?

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    1. Segment 4 prizes. If you can't win the car, as most cannot. Might as well stack the deck, and keep the strongest team possible you can for the Finals to try to win segment #4.

      That's at least my explanation, for why they might be going with that strategy. With the Spurs already folding like a tent vs. this same team in the exact same scenario the last time they met in the playoffs, it's hard to be confident in them even with the now 2-1 series lead, because they play like garbage @OKC. However, maybe it's something completely different that I am unaware of.

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    2. Ah yes, that would be a legitimate reason to do so. I don't play for the segment prizes, but that has more to do with being in Canada where I am not eligible. I know you have said you are saving your Spurs for the Finals, is it because you are hoping to win the segment prize?

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    3. Yes. I try to save the strongest team possible for the finals based on stats and players from the teams involved, knowing that most people (other than those just starting with entirely full rosters), will have expended some or all of those needed to win Segment #4. If I was in contention for the car (highly doubt that would ever happen). I would probably do things differently. Although you still want a strong team of players from the two Finals teams going in, or at least that would seem to be the goal. (at least 6 strong players, as most series at least go that long between two competitive teams normally).

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    4. Very surprised that those from Canada are not eligible for prizes. Normally contests based in the US, are for both US and Canadian citizens. Other than Quebec, for some reason, unknown to me. Quebec seems to exclude eligibility for most all contests, I have noticed in the rules for many of the contests offered.

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    5. I fall into this category, in a sense...
      .... Mind you I used Tony Parker in the first game because I wanted to use him before that hamstring got worse,.
      .....That being said, I'm a Thunder fan so my bias BLINDS me.
      .............As I wrote in a earlier segment...
      ....Sticking to my guns....
      ...
      It makes me sick that I took KD in week 2 on May 1st even though he had the daily high with a 48pra.
      ....
      Going into the OKCvsSAS series I had confidence in my Thunder. With that confidence of course I started spending Spur players, hoping to carry my OKC players to the next round. So in the first game I burned T. Parker(before he could burn me with that hami) in week 5 on May 19th for 29pra. Then I took Danny Green in game two for a 25pra.
      ....So now OKC is down 0-2 ugh!!!!!!!! Mind you at this time Ibaka is out for the season so I only have Westbrook, Jackson, Buttler, Adams and the gang....
      .....I figure I have to give OKC a chance at home to get back in this. So in game 3 I take Boris Diaw for 18pra. That was great. Of course we know that Ibaka is back and adds a player to my roster.
      ....
      Game four..... whew what a dilemma .... But I'm sticking with my GUNS and going to give my Thunder another chance at home to tie this series up and will be taking another Spur.... Mind you I hate rooting for a good PRA when I NEED my team to win lol it sucks.
      ..
      Those that know me know that going cold is my main strategies .... and I love the idea of taking Tim Duncan sitting at only 3%. But I love the idea of taking him at home better... AND I would also hate NOT taking tim, ginobili and leonard to the finals if my team does not make it.... so I'm thinking Splitter... and if OKC loses then I can take RW back at home. If SAS loses I can take Tim back at home...
      .......
      Stick with your guns guys !!! :)

      .....
      I still have Duncan, Ginobili, Leonard, Splitter and Mills
      ................Westbrook, Ibaka, Jackson
      I'll probably go with Splitter tonight(hoping for OKC to win)
      ....I'm wanting to take as many from either team to the next round...(not an easy chess game)
      ....If OKC wins tonight then it is 2-2 going back to SA and then I will take Ginobili or Leornard..
      ....If SAS win then I will go with Jackson in SA
      ...
      I've lost my train of thought.... but you get my drift...
      ....
      Also I believe that it is where you sit in your TOTAL PRA when making these decisions.. if you do great out of the gate then you can go second tear players hoping they perform good enough to keep you in it while saving your starters.....

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    6. Another reason is some people from ESPN's 1-N-Done have that mentality (hold on the best players as long as possible). I also did that last year in 1-N-Done and in DTTF by virtue of being consistent with picks on both games. It's a good mentality to hold on to, but with only DTTF this year, it's anybody's pick anytime any game.

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  11. I was mad enough when 23% were listed as having Ibaka but 41%?! That alone had switch your pick written all over it. In addition to 41% Ibaka has been re given the injury alert status, increasing the sign of disaster in that pick. With the 2nd hottest pick being Reggie Jackson at 13%, if I thought a 7% clearance was big, how about 28%?! It looks like my 40-50% prediction after Ibaka was at 23% has come true! I know this sucks but for DTTF purposes I must root for Ibaka to have around 15 PAR while still playing well defensively (except for too many rebounds) to help the Thunder win this game. I also must hope he's not guarding the Spur I choose in his place. I hope that Spur has a better game than Ibaka and then I'll use Ibaka in G5 if the Thunder win (if the Spurs win I must pop out Durant) and hope he does better in G5 than G4 despite G4 being in OKC and G5 in SA. I'll also be hoping the Spurs don't lose G5 at home like they did in 2012 and then worst case scenario it's an all home team series.

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    1. it's a sink-or-swim for Ibaka's pickers for today.
      if Ibaka can't play Game 5 due to worsened conditions of his injury, then this Game 4 pick will be one of the swing picks for DTTF this year.

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    2. That maybe a risk I have to take, 41% to 13% for the 2nd most picked is too dang much, I think he'll be okay but I have to give myself to gain ground on a super chunk.

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  12. Hey guys and gals, sorry for the plug, but I am helping out a friend promote his app. It's Planet 123, kinda like candy crush but with a different way to play, and much more action-packed, and also tooth-friendly :P

    To download it on your iPhone or iPad, search for "planet123" on the App Store.

    Tell your friends about it, thanks! I appreciate it :)

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  13. West was great yesterday, as for today I'm going with Ibaka just like the 40%+ are. I could pick someone else but I don't want to over think it.

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    1. IKR.... Over thinking in fantasy sports drives me nuts... I change my mind a thousand times a day. all the way up to game time lol

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    2. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOO many people are on Ibaka, I don't know about that, I'm replacing him with a Spur but which Spur is the question?

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  14. I hope every one gets 50 tonight(well, just some of you) and the Thunder win ....
    ...............Thunder UP !!!

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    1. I hope I did not upset you with my above post, I have nothing against the Thunder advancing, what I mentioned was just for DTTFs purposes.

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    2. Oh not at all aceee... I'm just being sarcastic .... :)
      ...
      Of course I don't want the people ahead of me like *cough*taong to get away from me :)

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  15. Alright I've decided to take Kawhi Leonard at 5%

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    1. Ha, I took Leonard also....
      ....I"m hoping we get 35+ and the Thunder lose !!!
      ...
      Thunder UP !!!

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  16. Not good for the 13% of Jackson fans... :/

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    1. That is horrible, I probably would have used him if I didn't already (in G1).

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    2. I just started watching. Was Jackson benched or injured in the first half?

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    3. severely sprained right ankle

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  17. Kawhi Leonard has 13 PAR at the Half, Ibaka has 11 but the big picture is that the Thunder who started off down 0-8 have taken a 15 point lead. If this gets much bigger it could be early removals for a bunch of players on both teams.

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  18. papa throwing in the towel?
    .....the blowout curse UGH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  19. As long as Leonard gets more than the 41% Ibaka I'll be cool. :)

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    1. damn the 41% is up by 1.... UGHHHHHHH lol

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    2. I totally agree, that is my goal to beat that 41% and after Leonard started off with 6 points in the 1st 2 minutes of the game, he's had just 10 PAR since, mainly because he's been on the bench ever since the 4:40 mark of the 3rd quarter. I'm really not liking this.

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  20. Wow, I got more PRA from Diaw than I did from Aldridge or Harden!

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  21. This blowout my DTTFs pick, almost a quarter and a half since Kawhi Leonard was last on the court, ended up with only 16 PAR after a promising start. To make things worse he ends up 2 below the 41% Ibaka pick which had to be beaten. In the end it looks like Boris Diaw was the Spur to take with 27 PAR which was 9 better than the 41% pick, but you can't predict blowouts... or can you 3 of these 4 games have been completely one sided and G3 was kind of as well as the Thunder were up by 20 before winning that game by 9. RIP DTTFs.

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    1. I know... just sickening...

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    2. Don't get me wrong, congratulations on your team evening the series, it's just in this DTTF game losing well over a quarter is a super punch in the chest.

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