tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post4732064034476262222..comments2023-09-03T23:51:55.914-07:00Comments on Drive to the Finals Blog: The Durantula Is Here To StayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-3497819722427477502016-05-28T14:25:37.200-07:002016-05-28T14:25:37.200-07:00loving the Mavs-Dubs parallels
Dubs can still do ...loving the Mavs-Dubs parallels<br /><br />Dubs can still do it. Hard, but doable.Taong Gagambahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172021582832968662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-14470678354340265992016-05-28T13:47:20.490-07:002016-05-28T13:47:20.490-07:00Okay, at least you can put a little trust in the C...Okay, at least you can put a little trust in the Cavs. They finished off the Raptors handily, my pick Carroll spent the fourth quarter on the bench (I notice a pattern with my picks and garbage time) and still was by far the best Raptor not named Lowry or DeRozan. So it was okay.<br /><br />Tonight the Warriors try to do in Thunderland what the Mavericks didn´t manage to do in Warriorsland back in 2007. The inability to win away from home, that at least is comparable to the time when the best team of the regular season with the League MVP lost unexpectedly.<br /><br />Just for the sake of this little game I hope the Thunder finish the champs off. I want to have Westbrook at least for the Finals. Alex Hergeshttp://www.donald.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-1083614839537339202016-05-27T21:50:38.210-07:002016-05-27T21:50:38.210-07:00And.... bust! It was a bad beat, but that's wh...And.... bust! It was a bad beat, but that's what happens when you go with a gamble!Tangenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826659197813804563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-15064002908957442862016-05-27T17:53:37.381-07:002016-05-27T17:53:37.381-07:00Well I lucked out with Matthew Dellavedova in G5 a...Well I lucked out with Matthew Dellavedova in G5 as he had an all round amazing performce with 5 awesome assists and the rest as 0s, an that got to be tripled to 15 for me! YAY!aceee06https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961354981984051654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-51167116201965859352016-05-27T17:31:31.288-07:002016-05-27T17:31:31.288-07:00Golden State stepped up to win their home game in ...Golden State stepped up to win their home game in Game #5, but Game #6 looks likely to be the end of their 2016 Playoff season, as they have shown little ability to compete with the Thunder when playing at OKC. OKC still looks very likely to move on to the Finals with a Game #6 win.<br /><br />Looking at top scores from the winning Warriors team in Game #5, but likely series loser after Game #6, the best scores from Golden State were: Stephen Curry (44 PRA), Klay Thompson (34 PRA), Andrew Bogut (32 PRA), and my pick of Draymond Green (28 PRA), which I was very happy with, considering how poor he has been in this series, and one more technical and he has to sit a game. So glad to clear him off the board without having to face that possibility. Regardless of all that Andrew Bogut (32 PRA) was clearly the best pick of the night value-wise vs. average, as there isn't a way in hell he puts up anything similar to that in the rest of the playoffs if not his entire career. Kudos if you actually had Bogut in Game #5.<br />Kevin Durant (51 PRA) and Russell Westbrook (46 PRA) once again had great nights for OKC, but they look like they are headed to the Finals and can be used there.<br /><br />For tonight, after destroying Toronto in Cleveland, the Cavaliers head to Toronto to hopefully finish things and move on to the Finals. Unfortunately for them they have had zero success winning games in Toronto so far this series. Motivation will be high for them to finally get things done tonight as OKC will likely be winning on Saturday and getting extra rest if the Cavaliers actually have to go back to Cleveland to get things finished off. Either way Cleveland is going to the Finals as Toronto hasn't shown an ounce of ability to win a game in Cleveland. So it all comes down to how much Toronto wants to win at home and make a trip back to Cleveland to get demolished. That may be in the back of their mindsets when the Raptors play this game, but either way, I am picking a Toronto Raptors player tonight, DeMar DeRozan. That covers both scenarios, a Toronto home loss and series end, or a Toronto win, and an utter destruction playing in Cleveland for Game #7. Either way I believe DeMar DeRozan will put up his best game at home tonight over anything he will do in probably a 3 quarter blow out game for him in Cleveland. That would leave me with DeMarre Carroll or a Cleveland lesser player to play if needed in Game #7. Hoping for DeMar DeRozan to put up 40+ PRA tonight like he did in Game #3 (41 PRA).<br />Daytonanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-70719741384448637182016-05-27T15:43:03.128-07:002016-05-27T15:43:03.128-07:00Hey, I just learned that the Warriors won their ga...Hey, I just learned that the Warriors won their game? And I chose poorly, again. Mind you, the choice was between Curry and Thompson only, anf od course I had to try my luck with Thompson, got me 34 PRA (and 35 PRABS). Curry was slightly better (44/49). Pick of the night would have been Bogut, who got 31 PRA and was up to Thompson with 35 PRABS. Just no way to pick him for that game. Just as there is no alternative to picking Curry next game. If he is again 10/15 better than Thompson, then all is well. <br /><br />I wouldn´t count on it. <br /><br />Ah, who knows? Maybe there will even be a game 7 in that series. Though I seriously doubt it. <br /><br />Tonight it´s Carroll. Go get them rebounds and points and stay away from the early fouls. Please?Alex Hergeshttp://www.donald.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-34169271850588151532016-05-27T10:15:14.294-07:002016-05-27T10:15:14.294-07:00Haha that was totally worth the google search. Agr...Haha that was totally worth the google search. Agreed, in Spanish, that is a very lame nickname.Tangenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826659197813804563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-66597360343027203562016-05-27T09:30:50.350-07:002016-05-27T09:30:50.350-07:00Cojo doesn't sound good in spanish for a baske...Cojo doesn't sound good in spanish for a basketball player xD Anyway I wish I still had a decent "lame" Raptor. Going with Frye today, I hope he will top my last Ross big scoreMaccabi de Levantarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-29527066424683317312016-05-27T08:17:28.443-07:002016-05-27T08:17:28.443-07:00I'm basically out of Raptors now, with one exc...I'm basically out of Raptors now, with one exception. I'm picking Corey Joseph. 21 from him tonight, or will I go bust? It's a gamble. I guess you could say I'm rolling the dice. It's his turn on the roulette table. Hoping I won't be saying "Craps!" tonight. Come on CoJo! Tangenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826659197813804563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-85948466887984336782016-05-26T20:33:57.009-07:002016-05-26T20:33:57.009-07:009x3... YES(my plan worked)9x3... YES(my plan worked)@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-46290174326284507462016-05-26T19:45:09.128-07:002016-05-26T19:45:09.128-07:00(crying)(crying)@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-68154521396829877482016-05-26T17:56:22.750-07:002016-05-26T17:56:22.750-07:00The Cleveland Cavaliers absolute destroyed the Tor...The Cleveland Cavaliers absolute destroyed the Toronto Raptors when returning back to home court for Game #5. There is almost zero chance that Cleveland is not the team that moves on to the Finals now. Toronto has shown zero ability to even compete with the Cavaliers when playing in Cleveland. So even if Toronto wins their home game, it will be lights out for them on the road. Also they may not even bother in Game #6 knowing the extremely hopeless situation they face in a potential Game #7.<br /><br />With the utter destruction of their team the Toronto Raptors had almost no decent scoring options. Kyle Lowry (22 PRA) and DeMar DeRozan (20 PRA)led the pack with dismal games for them and Luus Scola (10 PRA) was one of the highest totals of the scrubs in Game #5. Now was the night to pick him, I guess, although not picking him, wouldn't have caused anyone any heartbreak either. My pick of Cory Joseph (5 hideous PRA), was just as horrendous as most all of the other options. Wish I would have picked Joseph on one his actual decent nights, as this certainly was not one of them.<br /><br />For the OKC vs. Golden State series, a similar scenario exists. Golden State has shown absolutely no ability to compete with the Thunder in OKC. And even though I do believe Golden State will win Game #5 tonight. They seem doomed to lose, down 3 games to 1, when they have to return to OKC for Game #6.<br /><br />For tonight, with Golden State still looking like they are headed for elimination, got to pick a Warriors player. Since Draymond Green could pick up a suspension for the next game with his next technical foul, I am going to roll with him tonight. That way there if he does actually get suspended, I would still have the other two options from Golden State to go with, plus although Draymond Green has been awful in this series thus far, he seems to have his better games playing at home (at least during the regular season vs. OKC). Hopefully Draymond Green can step up tonight with a 25+ PRA effort, then probably go with Stephen Curry in OKC (or Klay Thompson) depending. Seems like Klay does slightly better on the road for some reason vs. OKC.Daytonanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-85025458520671744622016-05-26T17:43:53.562-07:002016-05-26T17:43:53.562-07:00Harrison Barnes for me tonight... He's going t...Harrison Barnes for me tonight... He's going to have the game of is LIFE.... :)@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-91756379635258846222016-05-26T17:38:18.330-07:002016-05-26T17:38:18.330-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-70116009388913450272016-05-26T13:36:01.669-07:002016-05-26T13:36:01.669-07:00I LOVEd my pick last night :)I LOVEd my pick last night :)@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-87881203146885318492016-05-26T12:56:35.156-07:002016-05-26T12:56:35.156-07:00It was the expected blowout, and all the bench pla...It was the expected blowout, and all the bench players got their time. Except for Channing Frye of course, me second pick in row with less than 12 minutes on the court. Thank god his last contribution in the 3rd quarter was a 3. Points scored by my last four picks? 8, 8, 8, 7. PRA by my last six? 15, 29 (Lowry), 14, 13, 11, 10. Hohum.<br /><br />At least the Cavs won at home in way that makes me confident, I can still pick at least some good players in the Finals. Carroll in g6, Patterson if g7 is necessary. <br /><br />In the West though, what if the Warriors really do come back? Ah, they sure don´t. They wouldn´t do that to us, would they? Topknox would be heartbroken.<br /><br />Klay Thomspon tonight. Curry in g6. Fishing rods for the Dubs after that. Westbrook and Roberson for the Finals.Alex Hergeshttp://www.donald.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-54579099193202818872016-05-26T10:41:07.956-07:002016-05-26T10:41:07.956-07:00Tonight is a no-brainer for me in DTTF. I've g...Tonight is a no-brainer for me in DTTF. I've got Klay Thompson, my only remaining member of the Golden State big three. No scratch out tonight, he's my guy. I'm going to need him to hold the fort for me against an onslaught of people picking Curry and Draymond. After he had a 27 PRA second half last game, I have faith he can come through with a big game tonight.<br /><br />In Drive & Slam, I am tempted to go all out and play the Warriors comback strategy, as if that happens, I win. But, I just don't think it will happen. I'm picking Steph Curry tonight, and hope to make my move in the NBA Finals picking Durant + All Cavs.Tangenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826659197813804563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-27220273366440728412016-05-26T08:19:00.355-07:002016-05-26T08:19:00.355-07:00I was right about the blow out and the extra minut...I was right about the blow out and the extra minutes for Ross...but he did nothing anyway xD That was a close fight between him and JJ, 2Pat...That's ok, I didn't expect much more from him. And not picking Frye wasn't too bad either.<br /><br />For today my brain says Klay, but I will pick Curry. I don't want to miss picking him, even if it's only to say thanks for all the great moments he made me live this year. Amazing player when he is fully healthy. Obviously he is not now, but he still produces enough. If they win, Klay for game 6. I don't see them coming back from a 1-3 deficitMaccabi de Levantarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-47629060361471221152016-05-25T21:22:09.840-07:002016-05-25T21:22:09.840-07:0015 PRABS? I'm so jealous. I had Pat Pat. He hi...15 PRABS? I'm so jealous. I had Pat Pat. He hit a single 3. Fortunately for me, I get triple on that three! So 9 PRABS!Tangenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09826659197813804563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-9340827644542081932016-05-25T21:09:13.207-07:002016-05-25T21:09:13.207-07:005 PRABS times 3 nets me 15! Yay!5 PRABS times 3 nets me 15! Yay!Taong Gagambahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172021582832968662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-33183507821369334752016-05-25T20:34:44.973-07:002016-05-25T20:34:44.973-07:00A late JJ rally got you off the red and put PP pic...A late JJ rally got you off the red and put PP pickers on it.aceee06https://www.blogger.com/profile/11961354981984051654noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-52262255331004909222016-05-25T20:19:55.166-07:002016-05-25T20:19:55.166-07:00lollol@topknoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07181272162707786255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-51173369247519543302016-05-25T19:45:09.351-07:002016-05-25T19:45:09.351-07:00Bah, might see an egg from JJohnson. Let's see...Bah, might see an egg from JJohnson. Let's see Raptors sit all starters in 4th quarter for once. Btw, adding Valanciunas may have hurt them.Taong Gagambahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172021582832968662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-37081232581010742362016-05-25T19:43:28.719-07:002016-05-25T19:43:28.719-07:00Yeah I thought of you when I was writing that piec...Yeah I thought of you when I was writing that piece. But reckoned, "Yeah let's see topknox's reaction."<br /><br />:PTaong Gagambahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05172021582832968662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2794801666266415731.post-81454487665525106412016-05-25T17:19:17.599-07:002016-05-25T17:19:17.599-07:00For tonight's Cleveland vs. Toronto Game #5, t...For tonight's Cleveland vs. Toronto Game #5, the home team has won every game so far in this series, and Cleveland is at home, so they should win based on how this series is trending. If that continues, Cleveland should eventually move on to the Finals even if it takes the entire 7 games to do it. Toronto seems likely to win their home game based on how this series has gone, but they haven't shown any ability, at least yet, to win a game in Cleveland.<br /><br />So with that in mind, and this game tonight in Cleveland I will pick a Toronto Raptors player. I am going with Cory Joseph, hoping for 15+ PRA tonight, which he has shown to be more than capable of doing in this series before. I'll save DeMar DeRozan for an elimination game, and pick the rest of the Toronto scrubs as needed, unless Cleveland loses a home game.Daytonanoreply@blogger.com