KD is definitely home. Free agency will be a formality's sake. The Lakers and the Wizards and the Spurs are fooling themselves thinking he will leave OKC. And sorry Mark Cuban, he hates you so don't bother. With the way they are trashing the Dubs, future is bright in OKC.
And so it is not a sin to write the Warriors off. Steph in G5 and Klay in G6. There's just no way they can win three straight, while Green is looking like a walking time bomb (one more flagrant and poof goes the bacon).
By all means we should all be saving as much Cavs players for the Finals. The Raptors have had their thrill ride, but I can't imagine them winning G5 nor G7. Carroll plays better at home than in Cleveland, so he gets picked for G6. Despite lowered minutes, I'm sticking with James Johnson for G5.
Good luck with your picks!
I've been fortunate in DTTF that ever since OKC won game 1, I've been playing a contingency plan in case they take the series. For every OKC win, I take a Warrior. For every GS win, I take a Thunder. I've now picked Curry, Barnes, and Green, leaving only Klay Thompson remaining from the must pick bin. From the Thunder, I've only lost Kanter, Westbrook, and Ibaka. Being down three players isn't great, but it's much better than most people at this point. Yesterday, I scratched out Thompson and went with Green instead. That was a mistake, it appears. Can't say yet though because Klay could explode in game 5 and make it look genius. Gotta let the games play out first before deciding if it was an error. I'd be cool with OKC taking down Golden State in five. It would be a huge blow to all the people who were dinking and dunking by picking the likes of Barnes, Iggy, et all and saving the big guns for the finals. In DTTF, I always recommend starting near the top, just in case.
ReplyDeleteI'm basically done in Drive & Slam. I've picked Kanter, Westbrook, Ibaka, Adams, and Roberson already. I'm considering picking Harrison Barnes in Game 5 and playing the "Warriors come back and win series" game. I'm not looking good, so it's worth a shot. Heck, somebody has to play that strategy, right?
I'd be totally cool with a Raptors win tonight. Nothing helps you hold onto a 70 PRA lead like a Raptors vs. Thunder finals! Mrr Steel is right in my rear-view mirror. I need some good picks in order to keep him as far back as possible. Rolling with Channing Frye tonight in DTTF, just in case it's a blow out. I think Frye is a better fit here then he would be in the finals, so gotta chance it with him tonight with Love somewhat gimpy. In Drive & Slam, I've got 2Pat. Even the Frye's of the world might be needed in the finals. If Toronto wins, I've got nothing left anyways, so I might as well go all out with picking Raptors.
I am still undecided for tonight's pick. My first thought was JR, but with the Warriors looking so bad now, I prefer not using him. I would have all 5 Cavs starters, plus KD and Roberson if needed for the Finals. So I guess it's Frye and Ross for this series. By now, using them at home games, I expect a blow out tonight for the Cavs. But that could mean more minutes also for Ross today. Depending on Love news I will decide
ReplyDeleteFinally I will pick Ross today, hoping for a blow out. I think Frye will get his minutes no matter the score, if Love struggles in game 6
Delete"Look, I know we are all disappointed that the record-breaking Warriors are on the brink of elimination" (we are all = some) lol 'another' grammar mistake by taong :)
ReplyDelete...
I was going to wait and use CLE's big 3(LBJ, Love, Irving) but I have NO TOR players left. I don't want to use a bench(3 tier) player. I want pts. So, tonight I will be using Love. CLE WILL bounce back and I look for Love to produce. He has been very unproductive as of late and that stops tonight. This way in the finals, if I have to, I can use a bench player(x4)
..
Good luck everyone.
Yeah I thought of you when I was writing that piece. But reckoned, "Yeah let's see topknox's reaction."
Delete:P
lol
DeleteOKC continued to absolutely destroy the Golden State Warriors in OKC. If it happens once, it is a surprise, if it happens more than once it is a trend. Based on the first two home games for OKC, I cannot see any conceivable way that Golden State wins this series by beating OKC at home in Game #6. They could very well, if not more than likely win Game #5 in Golden State though, as a matter of fact, I am counting on that happening.
ReplyDeleteObviously with the total annihilation by OKC, most of the best PRA scores came from their squad including a monster game by Russell Westbrook (58 PRA), and a tremendous game by Andre Roberson (32 PRA). Kevin Durant (41 PRA), Serge Ibaka (24 PRA) and Steven Adams (20 PRA) also had noteworthy efforts. Unfortunately though, the Thunder won, and look to be moving on to the Finals.
For the losing Warriors squad only Klay Thompson (32 PRA) had a decent night. Both Stephen Curry (29 PRA) and Draymond Green (19 PRA) had below average nights. Most every other Warriors player hovered around the 10 PRA area. My pick of Shaun Livingston failed to impress with only 8 PRA on the night. Should have went with the normally nonexistent contributor Andrew Bogut who at least got to the 10 PRA mark.
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.
ReplyDeleteSo 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteA late JJ rally got you off the red and put PP pickers on it.
Delete5 PRABS times 3 nets me 15! Yay!
Delete15 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!
DeleteWell 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!
DeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteFor 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 deficit
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.
ReplyDeleteIn 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteAt 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.
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.
Klay Thomspon tonight. Curry in g6. Fishing rods for the Dubs after that. Westbrook and Roberson for the Finals.
I LOVEd my pick last night :)
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DeleteHarrison Barnes for me tonight... He's going to have the game of is LIFE.... :)
ReplyDelete(crying)
Delete9x3... YES(my plan worked)
DeleteThe 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.
ReplyDeleteWith 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.
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.
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.
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!
ReplyDeleteAnd.... bust! It was a bad beat, but that's what happens when you go with a gamble!
DeleteCojo 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 score
ReplyDeleteHaha that was totally worth the google search. Agreed, in Spanish, that is a very lame nickname.
DeleteHey, 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.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn´t count on it.
Ah, who knows? Maybe there will even be a game 7 in that series. Though I seriously doubt it.
Tonight it´s Carroll. Go get them rebounds and points and stay away from the early fouls. Please?
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.
ReplyDeleteLooking 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.
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.
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).
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.
ReplyDeleteTonight 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.
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.
loving the Mavs-Dubs parallels
DeleteDubs can still do it. Hard, but doable.