If you have a strong feeling on who will win Game 7, you should stick to your guns and pick your best available player from the losing team.
I don't. Like some of you, I think this can go either way. The Rockets have the homecourt advantage and the momentum. However, both teams know those advantages are muted if we base it on what has happened to the games in this series. Weird unexpected games. It is not outwordly to say too that the Clippers can snatch Game 7. It will be a rumble.
My pick is my best remaining player in this series, DeAndre Jordan. If the Rockets win, good gracious. If Clippers win, just have to get Jordan's PRA, accept the loss, and move on.
Ah the West Conference Finals will be tricky.
I have CP3 & Deandre Jordan. Been thinking about this one for awhile...
ReplyDeleteGolden State finished the Grizzlies in Memphis, and avoided a Game #7 situation. They suffered a home loss in Game #2 that no one expected and a bad Game #3 loss, which offered some slight doubt that the Warriors would move on. However since then, Golden State has been lights out, and there is no doubt now that they are the best remaining team left in the playoffs.
ReplyDeleteWashington failed to get the job done on home court to force a Game #7 with Atlanta, They played very poorly in that game, a game they could have easily won, and Paul Pierce fired off a late three point attempt to tie the game at the very end, but just like the Wizards in this series, it was too little too late, and Washington is now eliminated and Atlanta moves on. If any series would have made it to a Game #7, I thought this one would be it. Actually I wish it was still going. I had Wizards left to pick, and now there is no game on Monday, so less possible points to earn for DTTF this year because of what happened Friday night and this series being done.
Home teams have done a miserable job defending home court in these second round series. Losing home games usually spells death for basketball teams in the playoffs, and this year has been no exception. Although at the start of these series both teams have taken turns winning, but eventually the winning team got things done at home, then also got things done on the road, and the home teams that were then behind faltered miserably (Wizards, Grizzlies, and especially the Bulls who folded like a tent).
My pick, Marc Gasol (40 PRA) did quite well, despite firing up numerous missed shots, that had he made even some of them, he could have had a monster type game. Still the 40 PRA for Marc Gasol was his second best playoffs effort, and I am very happy that he posted that score in a decent elimination game effort.
Best picks from losing teams: Marc Gasol (40 PRA), John Wall (39 PRA), Bradley Beal (38 PRA).
Horrible picks: Marcin Gortat (5 PRA), what a wildly inconsistent player, Kyle Korver (8 PRA), Paul Pierce (9 PRA).
Out of 4 potential Game #7 series endings we have but only one, the wrong one, unfortunately. If the Clippers had a spine today's game would never have happened. Being up 3 games to 1 at one point, they should have finished things long ago, at the very least in their home game. Now they head back to Houston for a deciding Game #7 with momentum totally with the Rockets after the Clippers catastrophic collapse in Game #6.
Gortat had stomach issues and only played 12 minutes. Hence the terrible performance.
DeleteI honestly have no idea which way to go today. After folding like a tent and suffering one of the legendary playoff collapses in basketball history, it is extremely hard to believe that the Clippers are going to right their ship today, go to Houston, and win a deciding Game #7 vs. the Rockets on Houston's home court.
ReplyDeleteI want the Clippers to win, since I have far more Clippers than Rockets players at this point, but after that catastrophic collapse it is hard to believe that is going to happen, and defies logic. I will defy logic here and pick a Rockets player today.
I am going with Corey Brewer from Houston. Brewer just fired up his best playoff game so far this year (31 PRA), and I am hoping for more of the same from him today, although anything over 20+ would be outstanding IMO. If the Clippers fold like a tent today and this game ends up in a blowout, he would see more minutes in all likelihood. If the Rockets win he is the most expendable Rocket, yet still likely to do something, and if they somehow lose today, I will have Clippers to pick for next round. I don't like the chances of that happening, although that is what I am hoping will happen. Otherwise it is Jason Terry + Josh Smith for the next round(s). Just Wonderful!
Also thinking if Houston employs the Hack-a-Jordan strategy, Jordan will find his way to the bench early this time, with everything on the line. The last thing LA will want is a player out there in a deciding game that can't even make 40% of his free throw attempts. So I will stay far away from DeAndre Jordan in this one. That ship has sailed, as has picking Austin Rivers, who was doing well when Chris Paul was out hurt, and isn't doing much of anything the last couple of games with him back healthy.
DeleteI've had a change in heart. My gut keeps telling me "Clippers win, Clippers win". I'm going to pick Josh Smith. If I'm wrong, next round I'll now have Jones, Brewer, and..... JET! If I'm right, I'll have my 4 Clippers, including DeAndre Jordan in a good match-up. Gotta follow my gut feeling here, and I think the Clippers are the better team, and destined to make it to the conference finals (where they will be subsequently crushed by the Warriors).
ReplyDeleteI had that same gut feeling when Clippers beat Spurs. Today though, no such feeling. Only decent Clippers
DeleteI have left, Jordan & Paul. Only decent Rockets I have left... No one consistent enough for my likes.
I would have to take the likes of Brewer, Jones, Terry. You get the idea. I pre picked Paul, but been having second thoughts. What to do? Use him or lose him or think long, think wrong..
Today will make or break some, in my case, it just might shatter if I choose to roll the dice.
Even with my gut feeling, if I had Paul, I'd use him. He'll be money in a Game 7.
DeleteNaturally Paul becomes the invisible man, 4 PAR in an entire on the floor quarter. Need 40+ PAR from him, especially if they lose since I'll either be without him or Jordan will be gone and I'll have used 4 players on the advancing team. Here's hoping for OT galore though I'm sure it won't happen. Last time it looked like I had OT, PP's shot was too late, the right call but it stunk for both the Wizards and their fans and DTTFs in terms of no OT, though it was still good for DTTFs interms of picks like Wall and Beal coming from the losing team.
Delete13 PAR at half, Rockets up by 10.
Delete22 PAR after 3 quarters sounds alright but he had that midway through the quarter, yeah he actually went over 6 minutes on the floor without a single PAR. Need OT so dan badly but it won't happen, Rockets up by 17.
Delete41 PAR in the game! What an amazing finish that I desperately needed with my situation having used 1 more Rocket than most.
DeleteRemember this title, four blogs ago? "Three Game Sevens?"
ReplyDeleteHow funny is it that the one series that had no chance to go the distance has and all three that a game 7 looked possible failed?! All series long from when the Clippers beat the Spurs till the game 6 collapse, I felt the Clippers were going to win (100% before game 5, 80% after game 5); now between the fact they were blown out in Houston in G5, getting outscored 49-18 after having a 89-70 lead in G6 (including 40-15 in the 4th quarter), leading to not only G7 but all but 1 game in this series (G2) have been decided by double digits and the 2 most recent are in favor of the Rockets, not to mention G7s greatly favor the home team, I feel like the Clippers have only a 10% chance to win. Sorry for the long sentence.
This is devastating either way, if the Clippers do somehow manage to win, going to G7 will have caused me to use Chris Paul, since I already used Blake Griffin in G6 against the Spurs and now I'll be without the Clippers top 2 players, if the Rockets advance I'll feel good about picking from the G7 loser but that is the only good news as I'll have nothing but Jason Terry (the Rockets worst starter), Corey Brewer, Terrence Jones and scrubs and I'll have lost DeAndre Jordan too.
I have CP3 & DJ from the Clippers.
ReplyDeleteI have Ariza & JSmoove from the Rockets.
I don't have a strong feeling either way. My pick has to be CP3 - he's only had three 40+ games, need him to deliver another and the hotpicks of DJ & Ariza to disappoint.
Ariza or Smith? I hope that Clippers win G7 so I don't use DeAndre.
ReplyDeleteAriza is safer pick?
I have only picked Blake from Clippers and Harden, Howard, Ariza from Houston.
ReplyDeleteI feel that clippers will win, but I just can't risk with Paul here I think. Expecting a 40 from him and then I still should have enough to last till the finals if they win as Warriors are pretty deep team.
Loks like Clippers are going home; down 20 with 10'30" to play, nice job picking Jordan :)
ReplyDeleteAll time most exciting NBA playoffs? Seads 1-2 in both finals haha :D
ReplyDeleteWhat a freaking mess!
ReplyDeleteBah, overslept. Good thing Rockets won. Now, looking at the stats...
ReplyDeleteHarumpf. Clippers out, but at least I got a decent 41 from Paul. Missing out on Jordan, okay.
ReplyDeleteBut now I am going into the conference finals without Harden and Howard (and without Smith, no loss). This might get tricky. I'll see how to cope with that. But I will manage.