Another Series Tied, Time To Pray

As if two series ties were not enough, fate wanted to make fun of us and decided to give us more to think about. The Heat victory was mostly expected (even without the havoc that happened with the Bulls), but here again are Warriors managing to steal a game in San Antonio. While most of us can still bet that the Heat can most probably win their series, the same cannot be said about the Warriors or the Spurs.

Before the round began, the Spurs are heavily favoured to win the series with the Warriors. They then won Game 1, but anyone who watched that game can say that game was up for grabs up to the final seconds. The Warriors could have won that game, and the everybody starting questioning the Spurs ability to contain them.

So will the Warriors prevail? If you think that way now, please feel free to pick Tim Duncan or Tony Parker. I have not picked any Spurs yet, and I would like it to stay that way. I still believe that the Spurs' experience will prevail. So I am not picking from that series for now. Not until Game 3 is over.

As for my pick on Friday, I was scheduled to pick Luol Deng. But seeing that he is not yet feeling ready, I am changing my pick to his backup, Jimmy Butler. Yes he had a bad game in Game 2 with just an unlucky 13 PRA, but I am ignoring his stats. This is what I am looking at: minutes. The absence of Deng for the last four games caused his minutes to be hogged by Butler. That's 48-48-48-31. If Game 2 was not so lopsided, he would have more than 31 minutes. I believe that Deng will come back in Game 3, but I also believe that Coach Thibs will close manage Deng's minutes. I expect Butler to have more than 30 minutes, and I just wish he will be all around Game 3.

You may also pick Nate Robinson before Kirk Hinrich comes back.

Comments

  1. Normally, I am no quitter (hate that attitude), but this year I am this close to just give up and call it a day.

    It´s 19 days in and I had 3 good picks (Pierce, Garnett and Paul). A few soso picks and lots and lots of horrendous disasters (PRA-wise).

    Let´s review last night: I had: Noah. I expected a Miami Heat win (in the game as well as the series), even a kind-of-lopsided one, but no one could have seen this travesty coming. Biggest PO-win for the Heat ever, biggest PO-loss for the Bulls ever, two players ejected (among those of course my pick) in a record-shattering 6 technical fouls for the Bulls. Of course Noah had his worst night of the playoffs (and that is including his games on limited timetable in the beginning of round 1).

    Meanwhile, what happened at the Spurs-Warriors game? In game 1 of that series I gambled with the young and not too consistent Klay Thompson. He had 26 PRA after three quarters and didn´t do anything in the fourth quarter and both overtimes because he collected his fouls number 5 and 6 early in the fourth. Still, 26 PRA is not too shabby, it is the best he has done so far, only a little sad because he could have done more.
    What did he do in game 2? Had 29 pts at halftime (thereby setting a new high for points made against the Spurs in a half by a single player as long as Poppovich coached the team, meaning since 1997, and they played the Lakers or the Mavs a lot and even LeBron James and so on) and had a whopping 49 after the smoke cleared.

    It´s things like this that continue to happen this season on a nightly basis, that really make me question my will to go on picking. I am so far out of it that I am convinced that if I would chose Kevin Durant, he would go for a 10-10-3 night and call it a day because the game would be a blowout either way. Of course he would answer that game with a 42-14-8 outing in the very next game.

    So, as a precaution to everybody reading my whining and because I am no quitter (at least not yet, ask me again in a week) I warn all of you: Do NOT, I repeat, do NOT pick Nate Robinson on friday. I picked him thereby dooming him and probably the Bulls, too. Sorry for that, but I have to at least pretend I care about saving up players for a future round.

    Oh, by the way. What I have left:
    OKC everybody - MEM picked Z-BO and Gasol
    SAS everybody (not sure they can pull it off if they are not able to catch up to the Warriors on homecourt and now have to go to Oakland? I have Mavs - Warriors 2007 flashbacks) - GSW picked Curry and Thompson (both exploded right after my picks)
    MIA everybody (translation: James left and the rest is a gamble anyway) - CHI picked Boozer and Noah
    NYK picked Smith - IND picked West

    Meanwhile I looked at the leader of the board with a whopping 735 pts (I just cracked the 500) who caught just about every break you could catch, had Lee on opening night, got Conleys 45 and Thompsons 49, has every Spur and every Heat left as well as every Grizzly. So, essentially, he is the Anti-Me :)

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    1. Since you have zero picked from Spurs, Heat and Thunder (like I do), you'd be alright come Conf Finals. Last year I was hovering in the 70s before overtaking lots to near 90s before Finals. With the exception of a few in the leaderboards, most of them will come tumbling down later as they do not have the players that you do.

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    2. Well, Alex, you are not the only one!!I got 30 from J.R. Smith, 2nd round, & last TWO days I should've had the leading point getters, but, just chose wrong guy... Luck is part of it though, obviously I have none!! I have: Memphis,Spurs,Heat,Thunder-everybody Knicks-J.R. Smith, Pacers-West, Warriors-Curry,Jack,& Bogut, Like a good neighbor State Farm is there... Can I get change of luck!!!

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    3. I guess it really comes down to why you're playing Alex. If it isn't fun for you - quit. That's the point no. But your luck can quickly change. I consider myself to be pretty savvy when it comes to basketball, especially after coming in first with every single team I have in ESPN fantasy bball for two years straight.

      But this game is just as much luck as skill. I had a similar run to yoou in the first round (Harden for 19, Monta Ellis for 13, and on and on). All the guys I missed with had huge games like I predicted, but just not on the day I picked them. I wound up around 65% the end of that round and certain I was just cursed in this game.

      But the multiplyer is the real difference maker. This second round I've taken some risks to make up ground and started hitting guys on their highest point games (I lucked out and had Klay yesterday). Just four games in I've jumped up to 96% and it's obvious now how much a difference the 3x and 4x multiplyers will make to those who have top players left.

      Keep picking and have fun.

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    4. Seda, I am playing this game since 2007, just for fun, no ambition since no one of my buddies over here in Germany joins the game. As I admitted in the past, DTTF is what makes the Playoffs interesting after Dirk is eliminated, not to mention if the Mavs don´t even qualify for the postseason.

      I know it has a lot to do with luck and hardly anybody gets lucky all of the time, but what´s happening this year, that´s kind of ridiculous.

      I will not really quit, just like to whine on the internet.

      Maybe next year I will also play this ESPN game with the multipliers. Not this year, though.

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  2. Also used Bulls-Boozer

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    1. Anonymous, you are in great shape too as far as high seeds are concerned. Grizzlies-Thunder haven't picked yet? Wow.

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  3. Im back, better late than never. Saw i had a "Rebound" double in the DTF league, so i added my real name behind.

    Been a rough Drive year for me, my worst of the 3 years i've played, all of my first week picks were below average, but been okay since then, nothing spectacular.

    Anyways, my next 2 picks.
    On Friday i'm picking Duncan, the Spurs are in trouble, the Warriors could easily have had a 2-0 lead into Oakland. I am banking on the Warriors to win this series considering how strong they came back from that game 1 loss, that made me a believer.
    That crowd in Oakland is amazing, they will boozt them on, would not be surprised if they go 3-1 into San Antonio.

    My pick for Saturday is Durant, OKC just doesn't have enough to beat Memphis with Westbrook out. Was thinking about going on a pick'Knick, but im not as sure of the outcome of that series as i am with the OKC one. If Ind goes up 2-1, which i believe they do(im picking them to win that series), then i'm going on a pick'Knick next tuesday and im inviting Ray Felton over since i've already picked Melo.

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    1. Well welcome back Rebound!

      Seems like you're going for the lower seeds, very brave of you. I am yet to decide on May 11, can't get myself to do the same yet.

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  4. Good news I am 98% in DTTF and 414th place. Bad news I am behind 107 points behind the leader. I have all of the heat,Pacers,and spurs left. I have used Conley and Randolph, Nate and Boozer,Durant(56),Carmelo(44), Klay Thomson(49). Good chance I win the neverflat basketball :)

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  5. Toang I like your thinking in picking Butler. I'm torn between him and Belinelli. I think I'm going Belinelli just because they are really trapping Nate hard and Butler is being called on more for his D and looks like that's hurting his rebounding and offense.

    With Deng back (hopefully) and Nate forced into giving the ball up early Belinellit should become the primary ball handler and get some decent assists and lots of shots.

    We'll see.

    The Spurs/GS series is madness. I'm still banking on SA though. GS relies too much on hot shooting. Those guys are insane because somebody is always hot, but they also always let people back in games and Pop is the best coach in the league so I expect he will make some adjustments to give them the edge eventually. Likely SA in 7.

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    1. Belinelli is not a bad pick especially if Nate does get trapped a lot. Not sure though if he gets the ball more with Nate or Hinrich (when he comes back).

      I agree with you on Pop. Will not believe my eyes if GS steals G3

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  6. I'm winning in my group in 1- N- Done. I have 730 points. I have used no one from The Heat, NY, SA, Thunder and only Curry from GSW. I am torn between picking Butler and Robinson. I def don't want to mess the GSW/Spurs game! But I would like to take a substantial lead tonight as I have been in the lead since it started. I just think they are going to trap Robinson, just like you said as I am a huge HEAT fan (from south FL, live in miami) With Cole guarding him too it's not gonna be pretty. I can't decide between the two and i want to use them both! Butler or Robinson? Need some advice please!

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    1. Nicole, according to what you have said, you have more reasons not to pick Nate. Pick Butler.

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  7. Deng is most definitely not playing today at all, lost 15 pounds due to the bad spinal tap and is most likely out the entire series. Hinrich's shoulder is still jacked. So the big question is who do i pick Nate or Butler. I have used Noah and Boozer already! My indecision is killing me!

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    1. I think Deng will be full health Game 4, and Hinrich Game 5.
      Butler in Game 3.

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  8. I think you're probably right. But I just read deng's statement today and he said he feels like he can't do anything for the team. blah blah blah I think he is lying. D. Rose def is not coming back, he shouldn't anyway. in my opinion. I def think Hinrich will be for sure, he just had an MRI, but he will def play some minutes before the series is over, I def agree! Thanks for the advice. I stayed with Butler before I even read your response now, and I came to see if you responded what you said make perfect sense to me. I'll def be back to ask for some more advice from you in the future! :) I like the way you think. Good luck tonight from one NBA Junkie to another!

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    1. Nah, half of you blindfolded can easily outdo me. You should see my last 2 years, awful :)

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