Steph Curry

[StillAWarrior]

That OT performance by Curry - and really, the whole second half of Monday's game - is one of the great individual performances I've seen. If you haven't seen it, especially the OT ... find it and watch it.

For that matter, the entire game was extremely entertaining sports theater.

Those who claim to be basketball fans but don't like the NBA playoffs ... I have to wonder if they really are basketball fans at all. There has been some tremendous stuff. Thunder-Spurs Game 5 was just the latest fantastic show.

I'm a casual NBA fan.  I've watched more basketball in the past two weeks than I can remember ever watching in a comparable period.  This has been really, really good stuff.

[MU82]

I'm a casual NBA fan.  I've watched more basketball in the past two weeks than I can remember ever watching in a comparable period.  This has been really, really good stuff.

The DVR makes it SOOOO easy to watch all sporting events, and the NBA is no exception. I record a game and don't start watching until at least an hour after it starts. More often, it is over before I start. I am careful not to learn who won.

For an NBA game, I'll go through the first half at 2x or 3x speed, watching the score. I'll stop a couple times to watch a few minutes here and there. I fast-forward through halftime and get into the third quarter. I'll watch for a bit and if it's close I'll keep watching, fast-forwarding only through timeouts and free throws. If it's a blowout, I'll watch at 3x speed, keeping an eye on the score to see if the trailing team makes a run.

I especially love the DVR in the final minutes of a close game. Each coach saves 2-3 timeouts, so it's nice to fast-forward through those. Invariably, there are a couple stoppages to look at replays - I love fast-forwarding through those 3-5 minute delays. Just makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable!

[GooooMarquette]

The DVR makes it SOOOO easy to watch all sporting events, and the NBA is no exception. I record a game and don't start watching until at least an hour after it starts. More often, it is over before I start. I am careful not to learn who won.

For an NBA game, I'll go through the first half at 2x or 3x speed, watching the score. I'll stop a couple times to watch a few minutes here and there. I fast-forward through halftime and get into the third quarter. I'll watch for a bit and if it's close I'll keep watching, fast-forwarding only through timeouts and free throws. If it's a blowout, I'll watch at 3x speed, keeping an eye on the score to see if the trailing team makes a run.

I especially love the DVR in the final minutes of a close game. Each coach saves 2-3 timeouts, so it's nice to fast-forward through those. Invariably, there are a couple stoppages to look at replays - I love fast-forwarding through those 3-5 minute delays. Just makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable!

I'm with you there...especially the end of close games.  In the NBA especially, they have a way of making a "20-second timeout" last 3 minutes.

[GGGG]

The ball movement in the NBA, versus the usual isolation plays, is really what is making a difference right now. 

[GooooMarquette]

The ball movement in the NBA, versus the usual isolation plays, is really what is making a difference right now.

Absolutely - I pretty much gave up on the NBA a few years ago because the all isolation plays basically turned it into a series of one on ones.  I've tuned back in over the past couple of seasons, and it's a pretty dramatic difference.

[brandx]

That OT performance by Curry - and really, the whole second half of Monday's game - is one of the great individual performances I've seen. If you haven't seen it, especially the OT ... find it and watch it.

For that matter, the entire game was extremely entertaining sports theater.

Those who claim to be basketball fans but don't like the NBA playoffs ... I have to wonder if they really are basketball fans at all. There has been some tremendous stuff. Thunder-Spurs Game 5 was just the latest fantastic show.

The fact that he is the FIRST unanimous MVP in NBA history says it all. Even MJ and Lebron, and Kareem can't make that claim.

But there have been other stunning performances.

Draymond averaging 24.5 pts, 11.3 reb., 5.8 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game all while playing PPF - point power forward and running the offense a good deal of the time. His defense is off the charts whether playing C, PF, or SF.

Westbrook showing he is the most athletic great player since MJ.

Kawhi doing anything and everything.

[MU82]

The fact that he is the FIRST unanimous MVP in NBA history says it all. Even MJ and Lebron, and Kareem can't make that claim.

But there have been other stunning performances.

Draymond averaging 24.5 pts, 11.3 reb., 5.8 assists, and 3.8 blocks per game all while playing PPF - point power forward and running the offense a good deal of the time. His defense is off the charts whether playing C, PF, or SF.

Westbrook showing he is the most athletic great player since MJ.

Kawhi doing anything and everything.

Agree. It's been fun to watch the playoffs, as it usually is.

[GooooMarquette]

The fact that he is the FIRST unanimous MVP in NBA history says it all. Even MJ and Lebron, and Kareem can't make that claim.

Add Wilt, Magic and Bird to the list of remarkably dominant players who were never unanimous.  There were 25 MVPs amoung the six guys on your list and mine, but never a unanimous one.

A truly special feat for Curry.

[mu03eng]

The DVR makes it SOOOO easy to watch all sporting events, and the NBA is no exception. I record a game and don't start watching until at least an hour after it starts. More often, it is over before I start. I am careful not to learn who won.

For an NBA game, I'll go through the first half at 2x or 3x speed, watching the score. I'll stop a couple times to watch a few minutes here and there. I fast-forward through halftime and get into the third quarter. I'll watch for a bit and if it's close I'll keep watching, fast-forwarding only through timeouts and free throws. If it's a blowout, I'll watch at 3x speed, keeping an eye on the score to see if the trailing team makes a run.

I especially love the DVR in the final minutes of a close game. Each coach saves 2-3 timeouts, so it's nice to fast-forward through those. Invariably, there are a couple stoppages to look at replays - I love fast-forwarding through those 3-5 minute delays. Just makes the whole thing so much more enjoyable!

Yes and no.....I do really enjoy the enhancement of monitoring twitter while watching live either a big game or a Marquette game. I get the fast forward thing and will do it if I get to a TV late but I prefer live and then soak up the twitter snark

[MU82]

Yes and no.....I do really enjoy the enhancement of monitoring twitter while watching live either a big game or a Marquette game. I get the fast forward thing and will do it if I get to a TV late but I prefer live and then soak up the twitter snark

I don't twit, so that's not appealing for me.

The one good thing about getting laid off when I was is that I got out of journalism about 2 seconds before all reporters and columnists had to start doing the twatter thing.

[wadesworld]

Off topic but not deserving of its own thread and not sure where else it fits so I'll throw this in here.

The Jazz's new uniforms are soooooo nice. The new logo and court are pretty well done too.

[GooooMarquette]

Looks like the Spurs won't be stopping the Warriors....

[MerrittsMustache]

Looks like the Spurs won't be stopping the Warriors....

Don't count 'em out just yet! 

Not surprisingly, the NBA is getting exactly what they want. The most watchable team and star in the NBA against two other exciting, in-their-prime stars who are going bring in big ratings but ultimately lose. The NBA definitely did not want a conf finals with the boring old Spurs uglying things up against GS.

[wadesworld]

Don't count 'em out just yet! 

Not surprisingly, the NBA is getting exactly what they want. The most watchable team and star in the NBA against two other exciting, in-their-prime stars who are going bring in big ratings but ultimately lose. The NBA definitely did not want a conf finals with the boring old Spurs uglying things up against GS.

Huh?  The NBA didn't want a potential Western Conference Finals that nobody stopped talking to since the day LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the Spurs almost a year ago?  This was supposed to be one of the greatest Playoff series in NBA history.  A 73 win team against a 67 win team.  Two teams that have been constantly talked about as the two of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA.  Every time these teams matched up in the regular season it was a matchup with the highest win total through (however many games they'd played between them) in NBA history.

[GooooMarquette]

Huh?  The NBA didn't want a potential Western Conference Finals that nobody stopped talking to since the day LaMarcus Aldridge signed with the Spurs almost a year ago?  This was supposed to be one of the greatest Playoff series in NBA history.  A 73 win team against a 67 win team.  Two teams that have been constantly talked about as the two of the greatest teams in the history of the NBA.  Every time these teams matched up in the regular season it was a matchup with the highest win total through (however many games they'd played between them) in NBA history.

Yeah - I have no inside knowledge of what the NBA "wanted," but I'd be pretty surprised if they didn't expect a Warriors-Spurs series to be a huge money maker...and potentially a series fans might be talking about for years (maybe a "changing of the guard" type of thing?). 

Anyhow, the Thunder have been playing well, so maybe they can make it interesting.

[GGGG]

I'm not sure how much it could have been a "changing of the guard" type of thing since the Warriors won last year.

BTW, the Golden State / Portland series was incredibly entertaining.  I expect something similar with the Thunder too.  I also wouldn't count out the Cavs.  They are going to be well rested for this next round - played the minimum so far.  May have to shake off some rust, but it will do them well in the long run.

[MU82]

BTW, the Golden State / Portland series was incredibly entertaining.  I expect something similar with the Thunder too.  I also wouldn't count out the Cavs.  They are going to be well rested for this next round - played the minimum so far.  May have to shake off some rust, but it will do them well in the long run.

I agree with all of this, Sultan.

As for what the NBA did or did not "want," are we talking conspiracy theories again? Oh goodie!