₦airaland Forum

sapiosexual1:
Kevin Durant is the best thing that has happened to GSW this season. The way he defends against top players is something to talk about.
I reckon he would be asked to guard James during the finals, in rotation with Green

KD always had this potential. He just needed to be happy and be playing in a system that kept him at full strength for most part of the game which is what Kerr is doing.

What baffles me is how surprised people are that he is this good. He was MVP in 2014 and got injured in the first half of a game against GSW in 2015 (after having scored 30pts BTW ). And that was the end of his reign. KD was demoted in the MVP rankings simply because he got injured and not because his game had diminished.

I am happy he is back up there to his best with his recent blocking sprees to boot. Regardless of how efficient he has been though, Curry is obviously the driver of this team. As long as he plays aggressive, GSW clicks and they look dominant. Which has been the case since that Xmas day loss to the Cavs. The only game his aggression hasn't yielded was against Memphis when they blew a 24pt lead and even in that game he dropped 40.

sapiosexual1:
Kevin Durant is the best thing that has happened to GSW this season. The way he defends against top players is something to talk about.
I reckon he would be asked to guard James during the finals, in rotation with Green

adding the 2nd best player in basketball will do that for anybody.

Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson no play well and Ryan in particular was sick,so the game should've been closer.

Eruditor:
KD always had this potential. He just needed to be happy and be playing in a system that kept him at full strength for most part of the game which is what Kerr is doing.

What baffles me is how surprised people are that he is this good. He was MVP in 2014 and got injured in the first half of a game against GSW in 2015 (after having scored 30pts BTW ). And that was the end of his reign. KD was demoted in the MVP rankings simply because he got injured and not because his game had diminished.

I am happy he is back up there to his best with his recent blocking sprees to boot. Regardless of how efficient he has been though, Curry is obviously the driver of this team. As long as he plays aggressive, GSW clicks and they look dominant. Which has been the case since that Xmas day loss to the Cavs. The only game his aggression hasn't yielded was against Memphis when they blew a 24pt lead and even in that game he dropped 40.

Curry seems to lack some mental grit and ability to lift the team when things are going south.
I'd rather KD be the go-to guy in closing out tight games

SIRcumalot:
adding the 2nd best player in basketball will do that for anybody.

Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson no play well and Ryan in particular was sick,so the game should've been closer.

Chief I think a game is a game and any player can have an off day. When the Rockets took down the Warriors earlier in the season, we celebrated them.
The Rockets are no match for a pumped up Warriors team (and these Warriors are yet to attain playoff intensity).
The Rockets are a great side though, and I'm glad Harden gets to start for the all-stars. It's just unfortunate they find themselves in the same conference as the Warriors and Spurs. Rockets would easily dominate and flat track bully the Cavs if they are in the East

SIRcumalot:
adding the 2nd best player in basketball will do that for anybody.

Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson no play well and Ryan in particular was sick,so the game should've been closer.

Not really. He was playing for another team before what good did it get them?

Eric and Anderson were marked off the 3 point line. What you experienced was prime 3 point defence. It limited a good shooting team ahome to 7-35. It is more than just not playing well.

sapiosexual1:
Curry seems to lack some mental grit and ability to lift the team when things are going south.
I'd rather KD be the go-to guy in closing out tight games

Actually that is KDs weakness. Even mentally Curry is tougher than Lebron. The Memphis game is a typical example of how KD couldn't drag the team across. They ISOed him late in the game and he bricked one shot after the other just like he did against Cavs in December.

Eruditor:
Actually that is KDs weakness. Even mentally Curry is tougher than Lebron.

Please explain this. Cos What I saw during the finals proved otherwise and it's hurts..

SmooshCHN:
Please explain this. Cos What I saw during the finals proved otherwise and it's hurts..

me sef wan see.
too much curry no good for Belle.

sapiosexual1:
Chief I think a game is a game and any player can have an off day. When the Rockets took down the Warriors earlier in the season, we celebrated them.
The Rockets are no match for a pumped up Warriors team (and these Warriors are yet to attain playoff intensity).
The Rockets are a great side though, and I'm glad Harden gets to start for the all-stars. It's just unfortunate they find themselves in the same conference as the Warriors and Spurs. Rockets would easily dominate and flat track bully the Cavs if they are in the East

that is why I said the game should've been close and not an outright win for the rockets.
honestly,the Cavs are a little unappreciated because they reach the ECF everytime.
you should check the score of their last meeting.

Eruditor:
Not really. He was playing for another team before what good did it get them?

Eric and Anderson were marked off the 3 point line. What you experienced was prime 3 point defence. It limited a good shooting team ahome to 7-35. It is more than just not playing well.

you should look at OKC fortunes now to see what losing a player of that caliber does to your fortunes.

Naa he usually makes those shots and did you watch the game? Anderson didn't even return for the 2nd half.
your defence around the rim is elite,too many forced missed layup.
I also should've mention that EG just came back from injury,the game could be closer am not saying warriors go win even though that na wetin I dey hope for really.

Eruditor:
Actually that is KDs weakness. Even mentally Curry is tougher than Lebron. The Memphis game is a typical example of how KD couldn't drag the team across. They ISOed him late in the game and he bricked one shot after the other just like he did against Cavs in December.

I believe it's a role he can step up into. It's similar to LBJ in his first season at the Heats. He gave respect to the team leader ( Wade) until it became inevitable that he had to assume that status. Not taking anything from Curry though, excellent player but after what happened at the finals in games 5,6,7 , they may want to re-evaluate things and give Durant more responsibilites

SmooshCHN:
Please explain this. Cos What I saw during the finals proved otherwise and it's hurts..

What you saw from Lebron in that series was the 2nd or maybe time Lebron would show mental toughness. The first was him 2-0 against Detroit and galvanising his team to win 4-2. The next was 3-2 down and having game 4 at the garden and dropping 45 to help win the game.

Mental toughness arises when situation, history, handicap etc works against you yet you rise above it to achieve your objective. It means having the mindset to take the reins and conjure anything up to help your team win. Even though, enjoying a win at the end of your heroics is important, mental toughness can be seen in a player without the win that's why everyone said MJ had the absolute mind of a winner. Kobe is another mentally tough player.

In the 2016 NBA finals campaign of the Golden state Warriors, Curry simply did not play well. Physically we know why but even at that how often did you see Curry defer and try to pass the ball hoping someone else would do something? Not against Love or Thompson. Two times in the last 2 mins Curry tried to force a 3 that would have tied the game or increased the lead. He missed both times but he tried to. That's exactly what West Brook, Kobe or MJ would do- never mind if they made it.

In the OKC series game 6 and 7 especially game 6, Klay kept the team in the run with his 11 3s but guess who took the game tying 3 to make it 99-99? Guess who took the next 3 to extend it again to give GSW a lead? Yea...you guessed right, it was Curry. What about game 7 against OKC? He did the exact thing, he attempted most of the big 3s of the game including the one that made Russell yell at Robertson for.

KD is a brilliant player but guess what pundits said he didn't do game 6 against GSW? He stopped shooting and just let WB take all the shots and they lost the game. In fact, in killer moments KD always seems to defer and hope the "mistake" belongs to someone else. That to me, shows that he is not mentally tough enough to bear the brunt if his team loses. He needs to add that to his game like Lebron did.

SIRcumalot:
that is why I said the game should've been close and not an outright win for the rockets.
honestly,the Cavs are a little unappreciated because they reach the ECF everytime.
you should check the score of their last meeting.

The Cavs are a good team but I cannot make an argument about their strength because of an 8 point win against the Rockets. The Rockets have balled well this season and we have all given them credit for it. The standard should not change now because they lost. That 5 point win against GSW at Oracle for example can be attributed to the fact that Curry had fouled out by OT.

SIRcumalot:
you should look at OKC fortunes now to see what losing a player of that caliber does to your fortunes.

Naa he usually makes those shots and did you watch the game? Anderson didn't even return for the 2nd half.
your defence around the rim is elite,too many forced missed layup.
I also should've mention that EG just came back from injury,the game could be closer am not saying warriors go win even though that na wetin I dey hope for really.

I hear people make this argument and it could go either ways man. If WB was at GSW and Curry at OKC, GSW would not have 37-6. WB cannot play in a team setting- he plays for himself. He gets all the points and challenges his teammates for routine rebounds when he could have been free on a fastbreak. Then he runs down the clock on iso-plays and only reluctantly gives the assist when he has no means of scoring.

What is the corollary effect of such game? Great PPGs, RPGs and APG but many Ls too. So even if they lost KD (which is evidently significant) they would not have won say 10 more games than they have won by now and that's a fact.

sapiosexual1:
I believe it's a role he can step up into. It's similar to LBJ in his first season at the Heats. He gave respect to the team leader ( Wade) until it became inevitable that he had to assume that status. Not taking anything from Curry though, excellent player but after what happened at the finals in games 5,6,7 , they may want to re-evaluate things and give Durant more responsibilites

I agree with this. KD is the best player on the team all round but he has dropped big points in games that GSW still lost for example, Cavs at December and that's because Curry (within the first 30 games of the season) had been deferring a tad too much trying to make KD feel comfortable.

As long as pick and roll plays are run with Curry in focus or he is bringing the ball up court and not just taking screens and hanging on the wings for spot-up shots, GSW look really dominant and that's because nobody bends a defence like he does. KDs last few games have been mega efficient and that's because teams have to free either one of him or Klay seeing how Curry has been playing aggressively. I thank Cavs for winning in December because without it, Curry would have been playing the same way he started the season.

Eruditor:
The Cavs are a good team but I cannot make an argument about their strength because of an 8 point win against the Rockets. The Rockets have balled well this season and we have all given them credit for it. The standard should not change now because they lost. That 5 point win against GSW at Oracle for example can be attributed to the fact that Curry had fouled out by OT.

Who has the better team cavs or rocket.?

SIRcumalot:
Who has the better team cavs or rocket.?

Cavs are better than the Rockets. Forget what we say to Lola it is just banter.

Eruditor:
I hear people make this argument and it could go either ways man. If WB was at GSW and Curry at OKC, GSW would not have 37-6. WB cannot play in a team setting- he plays for himself. He gets all the points and challenges his teammates for routine rebounds when he could have been free on a fastbreak. Then he runs down the clock on iso-plays and only reluctantly gives the assist when he has no means of scoring.

What is the corollary effect of such game? Great PPGs, RPGs and APG but many Ls too. So even if they lost KD (which is evidently significant) they would not have won say 10 more games than they have won by now and that's a fact.

mehn
you would think OKC with Westbrook and KD never cracked 60 wins in a regular season before

Eruditor:
What you saw from Lebron in that series was the 2nd or maybe time Lebron would show mental toughness. The first was him 2-0 against Detroit and galvanising his team to win 4-2. The next was 3-2 down and having game 4 at the garden and dropping 45 to help win the game.

Mental toughness arises when situation, history, handicap etc works against you yet you rise above it to achieve your objective. It means having the mindset to take the reins and conjure anything up to help your team win. Even though, enjoying a win at the end of your heroics is important, mental toughness can be seen in a player without the win that's why everyone said MJ had the absolute mind of a winner. Kobe is another mentally tough player.

In the 2016 NBA finals campaign of the Golden state Warriors, Curry simply did not play well. Physically we know why but even at that how often did you see Curry defer and try to pass the ball hoping someone else would do something? Not against Love or Thompson. Two times in the last 2 mins Curry tried to force a 3 that would have tied the game or increased the lead. He missed both times but he tried to. That's exactly what West Brook, Kobe or MJ would do- never mind if they made it.

In the OKC series game 6 and 7 especially game 6, Klay kept the team in the run with his 11 3s but guess who took the game tying 3 to make it 99-99? Guess who took the next 3 to extend it again to give GSW a lead? Yea...you guessed right, it was Curry. What about game 7 against OKC? He did the exact thing, he attempted most of the big 3s of the game including the one that made Russell yell at Robertson for.

KD is a brilliant player but guess what pundits said he didn't do game 6 against GSW? He stopped shooting and just let WB take all the shots and they lost the game. In fact, in killer moments KD always seems to defer and hope the "mistake" belongs to someone else. That to me, shows that he is not mentally tough enough to bear the brunt if his team loses. He needs to add that to his game like Lebron did.

so what happened in 2015 ?
am not even going to touch the LeBron part.
how long before you start trying to prove that Curry is actually the best player on the Warriors and not KD?

SIRcumalot:
mehn
you would think OKC with Westbrook and KD never cracked 60 wins in a regular season before

Oh they did? In the 1 or 8 seasons they played together? I guess KD joining GSW will help them crack their first 60+ win in a regular season too...and their first ring as well...oh wait!

SIRcumalot:
so what happened in 2015 ?
am not even going to touch the LeBron part.
how long before you start trying to prove that Curry is actually the best player on the Warriors and not KD?

When Curry averaged 26. 4ppg in the finals? Scored the most points for his team especially 4, 5 and 6? Made how many clutch free throws that Iggy (MVP) was missing? LOL. How many clutch free throws did KD miss against Memphis?

I can see you bought the media hype and alarmist stance.

Fun fact: Kawhi, Bron (2013), Pierce, Parker, Dirk, Duncan twice, Billups had less PPG and APG than Curry in 2015 playoff finals when they were finals MVP. Only Lebron had a better APG 7 to Curry's 6.3 in 2013.

Media wanted to make Lebron MVP in 2015 but didn't know how to go about it seeing he was on a losing team. So they rather gave Iggy (the player marking him) than the player whose team had deficit points each time he was on the bench.

Stop buying the hype.

Eruditor:
Oh they did? In the 1 or 8 seasons they played together? I guess KD joining GSW will help them crack their first 60+ win in a regular season too...and their first ring as well...oh wait!

The very next season after that one they won 59 and guess which player's injury led to them winning less?

If you were so confident in your ability to win maybe maintain the roster that won you 73 games ehn?

Eruditor:
When Curry averaged 26. 4ppg in the finals? Scored the most points for his team especially 4, 5 and 6? Made how many clutch free throws that Iggy (MVP) was missing? LOL. How many clutch free throws did KD miss against Memphis?

I can see you bought the media hype and alarmist stance.

Fun fact: Kawhi, Bron (2013), Pierce, Parker, Dirk, Duncan twice, Billups had less PPG and APG than Curry in 2015 playoff finals when they were finals MVP. Only Lebron had a better APG 7 to Curry's 6.3 in 2013.

Media wanted to make Lebron MVP in 2015 but didn't know how to go about it seeing he was on a losing team. So they rather gave Iggy (the player marking him) than the player whose team had deficit points each time he was on the bench.

Stop buying the hype.

I hope no be this last Memphis game you dey cite so?

I won't be so proud,TBH considering who his match-up was ,he manage to allow Delly look so good that the outback Jesus is enjoying his new contract based off that final series.

Somebody is always against Curry if no be media,na ref or na Adam gold.
I guess when kawhi won his fMVP it was to keep the trophy out of bron's hand too
PPG And ASG are only numbers you still need context.
TP average was higher than kawhi and na Leonard still win.

SIRcumalot:
The very next season after that one they won 59 and guess which player's injury led to them winning less?

If you were so confident in your ability to win maybe maintain the roster that won you 73 games ehn?

Lol. 67 wins, 73 wins but I need KD. Both seasons my record was the same or better at this point. I played against him 8 times last season and beat him 5 times but yea...I needed him.

I am happy I didn't maintain that roster. Bogut and Ezeli have barely played a game this year but the fact remains I was elite before KD. In fact, he came here because he knew he stood no chance remaining where he was. I simply adjusted to help my team have chemistry.

SIRcumalot:
I hope no be this last Memphis game you dey cite so?

I won't be so proud,TBH considering who his match-up was ,he manage to allow Delly look so good that the outback Jesus is enjoying his new contract based off that final series.

Somebody is always against Curry if no be media,na ref or na Adam gold.
I guess when kawhi won his fMVP it was to keep the trophy out of bron's hand too
PPG And ASG are only numbers you still need context.
TP average was higher than kawhi and na Leonard still win.

Yes, that very Memphis game. Him and Klay Thompson bricked 5 FTs that would have won the game even despite the 24pt collapse.

Spot the irony. Delly looked so good but Curry had those averages. It is in the back of the TV that he looked so good. So tell me, Lebron last season, were they games were he was subpar? Clue: games 1 and 2 but I guess the rule changes when it is Curry and he is not allowed to have any bad games.

Delly had a good game 2 against Curry. Finish. Stop buying the hype I have told you.

Lol @ Kawhi. 17.8ppg to Parkers 18ppg that's the difference? Really?

Happy Birthday Dream!

Wonders if celtics will be able to challenge the Cavs in the playoffs this year... if they ever meet, not win but challenge them, and Toronto also.

As a dallas fan, i think next season will be dirk nowitzki last for sure. I think its about time the man hangs his boot. His one-legged, lean-back jump shot will live on forever, and that is enough for me. One has to wonder if Cuban will build through the draft or try to get second tier free agents.

Warriors - Cavs, barring any surprises, i am going to wait till the NBA finals. No team can beat this two in their respective conferences, the only difference will be how far teams can push them in their conferences, and how tired legs will affect the Nba finals. If toronto and celtics can step up and push cleveland, the same way houston, memphis, spurs, and clippers will likely push GSW, i think we will be having some tired legs in the Nba finals. Anyways, i am waiting till may abi na April before i say anything.

I do wonder if Nowitzki was healthy right from the start of the season, if and maybe if dallas would be competing for the 7th 8th or 9th seed in the playoffs, Man, just greatness personified.

SIRcumalot:
Somebody is always against Curry if no be media,na ref or na Adam gold.
I guess when kawhi won his fMVP it was to keep the trophy out of bron's hand too
PPG And ASG are only numbers you still need context.
TP average was higher than kawhi and na Leonard still win.

Nah so we see am o even when it is clear for all to see that Curry is a HUGE darling of the media.

Donlittle:
Wonders if celtics will be able to challenge the Cavs in the playoffs this year... if they ever meet, not win but challenge them, and Toronto also.

Warriors - Cavs, barring any surprises, i am going to wait till the NBA finals. No team can beat this two in their respective conferences, the only difference will be how far teams can push them in their conferences, and how tired legs will affect the Nba finals. If toronto and celtics can step up and push cleveland, the same way houston, memphis, spurs, and clippers will likely push GSW, i think we will be having some tired legs in the Nba finals. Anyways, i am waiting till may abi na April before i say anything.

[color=#808000]The East is done and dusted for the NBA finals, even ECF: We all know it's going to be Raptors Cavs rematch

The West is slightly different. The only team that can edge out Warriors is the Spurs.
The teams that can edge out Spurs are Rockets and Clippers (if fuckïng healthy)

So, WCF is likely
Warriors vs Rockets/Spurs/Clippers (Clippers may play GSW early depending on standings)

And NBA finals going to be Cavs vs Warriors/Spurs

Don't buy into the Celtics, Rockets, Clippers and Raptors bullshit. The league isn't spread out anymore[/color]

chic2pimp:
Nah so we see am o even when it is clear for all to see that Curry is a HUGE darling of the media.

[color=#808000]Ooh Mpa own vex be say hin dey start this All Star with wetin hin don play this season.

Don't even see him in a top 5 PG conversation this season let alone top 5 player. Even the 1st MVP season he averaged less was way better[/color]