both players are great and the reason I'm more concerned about houston than any team in the warriors path

but i'm in awe of warrior ball

the plays they make are like music

one thing I like to watch is curry using screens to get open. he weaves in and out, fakes, runs around, changes directions and speed, and then bursts to an open spot to catch and shoot

anyone who has tried to chase a player through multiple screens like that can relate that a player like curry is nearly impossible to stay in contact with

Harden isn't the quickest or fastest off the dribble. Yet his propensity to both flop and draw faux fouls (yes, some are legit) by diving into a defender's established position has caused defenders to play him in ways they wouldn't anybody else by basically giving him the driving lane. It's maddening. And then you have the consistent traveling on the step-then-hop back where he establishes a pivot foot, then jump-hops backwards for a shot.

If you ever watch a defender squaring him up, or not fouling on the quick jumper, he gets frustrated and make poor choices that lead to turnovers (he frequently rises up for a jumper and when he senses he's not getting the call he gets rid of it.

Utah did a good job of taking away the lob. Given how they were giving him the lane virtually every time, Harden has been woefully inefficient in creating points for himself and others.

bearister said:

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Anyone for a new NBA rule to minimize flopping? How would you articulate the rule?

Mine would be encourage refs to make flop calls and then all flop calls are subject to automatic review. If the call is affirmed then it is a technical foul. The flop was unheard of when I was growing up since it was considered unmanly to ever act like contact had any effect on you. When did the flop era begin? Was it Bill Laimbeer?

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I think it would be difficult to encourage NBA officials to make flopping calls except in the most extreme cases of flopping.

Look at elite soccer leagues or the World Cup. The rules permit officials to give a player a yellow (or red) card for flopping. (Their official term for it is "simulation".) The call is rarely made. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a yellow card given for flopping; they probably give one yellow card for every hundred flops and the other 99 times it's just a no-call either way.

A yellow card is only a slightly stronger penalty than a technical foul -- 5 yellow cards over a season results in a one-match suspension in many leagues; 7 technical fouls in the NBA playoffs results in a one-game suspension.

Also, given that some NBA officials have itchy trigger fingers when it comes to calling technical fouls, giving them another avenue for calling a T might do more harm than good, on balance.

BearSD said:

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Look at elite soccer leagues or the World Cup. The rules permit officials to give a player a yellow (or red) card for flopping. (Their official term for it is "simulation".) The call is rarely made. I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen a yellow card given for flopping; they probably give one yellow card for every hundred flops and the other 99 times it's just a no-call either way.

A yellow card is only a slightly stronger penalty than a technical foul -- 5 yellow cards over a season results in a one-match suspension in many leagues; 7 technical fouls in the NBA playoffs results in a one-game suspension.

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Flopping

https://www.reddit.com/r/gifs/comments/bgugzp/impressive_slam_dunk/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app

Another dumb Warriors home loss with terrible defense. Not beating Houston next round.

GBear4Life said:

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Okay, that was hilarious, and I actually starred one of your posts.
The officials are just watching these guys be idiots.
Rolling around in their own idiocy party of fakeness.

It's kinda like Dems watching Republicans, hahahaha.

sycasey said:

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Another dumb Warriors home loss with terrible defense. Not beating Houston next round.

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Yeah, that was hard to watch at the end.
Sure will be interesting.
Are they doing this just to get increased NBA ratings?

Ws shot well from 3, had many more possessions and shot a solid percentage

but defense...

HoopDreams said:

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Ws shot well from 3, had many more possessions and shot a solid percentage

but defense...

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It's effort and focus, and they don't have it consistently. Williams and Harrell run the same damn pick-and-roll all game. The Warriors stopped it in the last two games, then suddenly couldn't this time. It's not because they don't have the personnel or an understanding of the strategy.

I also thought the clips played tough D and worked hard to get many of the loose balls on the O boards. Good test and big time wake up call

sycasey said:

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Another dumb Warriors home loss with terrible defense. Not beating Houston next round.

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Yup. Looks as if the Warriors want this to be over and they're just waiting for some team to put them out of their misery.

cal83dls79 said:

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I also thought the clips played tough D and worked hard to get many of the loose balls on the O boards. Good test and big time wake up call number 453 this season and counting.

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fify

Something to ponder...

Three years ago, the Warriors won 73 regular season games and cruised through the playoffs (before getting stopped in the Finals). That was with a team centered around Curry, Thompson and Draymond Green.

Now, with those three still in their prime, you throw in Kevin Freaking Durant and they won, what, 59 regular season games and are struggling in the playoffs (maybe a little too early to say that, but...). Other supporting cast is similar. Go figure.

Lots of reasons to explain this, I know, but it's just weird. The zenith is a hard place to stay at.

HoopDreams said:

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Ws shot well from 3, had many more possessions and shot a solid percentage

but defense...

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The Clips got 10 more boards; 16 more points in the paint; and shot 10 percent better from the field. They also had a much higher motor as a team. I believe the term for that is "hungrier." Unlikely they can win two more but.....

It happens to champs. They get complacent, and then an up-and-comer knocks 'em on their azz.

Just ask Apollo Creed.

"What happened?"



Too late.

concordtom said:

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It happens to champs. They get complacent, and then an up-and-comer knocks 'em on their azz.

Just ask Apollo Creed.

"What happened?"



Too late.

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Also like Ali vs Henry Cooper at Wembley in '63:



The Limey knocked The Greatest down, but Ali (still Cassius Clay at the time) won. By chance I was channel surfing that day and watched the fight on ABC. It is vividly etched in my mind. I was 8 years old.

UrsaMajor said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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I also thought the clips played tough D and worked hard to get many of the loose balls on the O boards. Good test and big time wake up call number 453 this season and counting.

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fify

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pretty much an ass kick there. Dubs in 6.

cal83dls79 said:

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UrsaMajor said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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I also thought the clips played tough D and worked hard to get many of the loose balls on the O boards. Good test and big time wake up call number 453 this season and counting.

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fify

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pretty much an ass kick there. Dubs in 6.

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But even with Durant having an epic game (again), the Clippers kept fighting the whole way. That's a team that is developing into something.

Yogi Bear said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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UrsaMajor said:

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cal83dls79 said:

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I also thought the clips played tough D and worked hard to get many of the loose balls on the O boards. Good test and big time wake up call number 453 this season and counting.

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fify

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pretty much an ass kick there. Dubs in 6.

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But even with Durant having an epic game (again), the Clippers kept fighting the whole way. That's a team that is developing into something.

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I can't agree more, and Doc did one heck of a job. Coaching.
Can they retain him? Above all they were hungry. Just glad to move to to the next round... well I guess they just locked up doc. Well, in any event today and around here has been one huge dedication to Hondo, a childhood hero for many

What are you getting from this?

Just like a foul, it is best to check the replay from all angles to make the right call.

Bearister very similar to this person of Irish descent.

bearister said:

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Just like a foul, it is best to check the replay from all angles to make the right call.

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I saw him on tv, too.

But, check this out > the hat on his knee:
He brought it for while walking from parking lot to his seat, so he might not be so readily noticed.
But then he put it on his knee as a holding spot during the game so that people would see him there in the first row.
Tell me I'm wrong!

So, who is going to join me in predicting that the Rockets win this series?
Curry and Klay both injured.
Warriors depth sucks.
Rockets hungrier.

What are the odds?
I would not be surprised one bit.

concordtom said:

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So, who is going to join me in predicting that the Rockets win this series?
Curry and Klay both injured.
Warriors depth sucks.
Rockets hungrier.

What are the odds?
I would not be surprised one bit.

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I've thought so since the Warriors let the Clippers make a 30-point comeback.

concordtom said:

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So, who is going to join me in predicting that the Rockets win this series?
Curry and Klay both injured.
Warriors depth sucks.
Rockets hungrier.

What are the odds?
I would not be surprised one bit.

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My book has dubs -275. Which basically equates to 73% chance the warriors win the series.

Sounds like you were willing to bet even if the odds were even. So this bet should be a no brainer for you.

concordtom said:

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bearister said:

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Just like a foul, it is best to check the replay from all angles to make the right call.

---

I saw him on tv, too.

But, check this out > the hat on his knee:
He brought it for while walking from parking lot to his seat, so he might not be so readily noticed.
But then he put it on his knee as a holding spot during the game so that people would see him there in the first row.
Tell me I'm wrong!

---

my eyes are really not focused on Larry David. More interested in Larry and David two rows up.

Klay and Omar. Fantastic!

I thought Hardin was fouled on a couple of early 3s when Klay moved into Hardin's landing spot

But not on the last shot. Hardin kicked his legs way out.

Think about it. If Hardin wasn't even touched he would not have even been able to land on his feet

HoopDreams said:

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I thought Hardin was fouled on a couple of early 3s when Klay moved into Hardin's landing spot

But not on the last shot. Hardin kicked his legs way out.

Think about it. If Hardin wasn't even touched he would not have even been able to land on his feet

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Agreed. The ones on klay were probably fouls.

But hardens last shot shows why the refs are reluctant to call it. It's just hard for the refs to know when harden is getting fouled and when he's just trying to create contact.
So during the playoffs, it looks like the refs won't be giving him the benefit of the doubt.

If harden wants a different whistle, maybe try not to foul bait on every shot. Kd don't need to do all that crap.

I truly hate watching the rockets. I'll be so happy when the clippers become the dubs main rival.

HoopDreams said:

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I thought Hardin was fouled on a couple of early 3s when Klay moved into Hardin's landing spot

But not on the last shot. Hardin kicked his legs way out.

Think about it. If Hardin wasn't even touched he would not have even been able to land on his feet

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uh, it's harden. Not hardin. Good win

HoopDreams said:

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I thought Hardin was fouled on a couple of early 3s when Klay moved into Hardin's landing spot

But not on the last shot. Hardin kicked his legs way out.

Think about it. If Hardin wasn't even touched he would not have even been able to land on his feet

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Rockets kept hunting for those fouls even though it was very clear from the start that these refs would not call it. They and their coach came unglued at the end, giving up technical fouls and extra free throws to the Warriors. Can't do that, you need to adjust to how the game is being called.

Weird game. You could say the Warriors only stayed in it because of the officiating and Houston's bad 3pt shooting (again!). On the other hand, the Rockets got a lot of bad turnover gifts from the Dubs and might not see that many again.

This is why you aren't going to get calls even when you may have been legitimately fouled

ducky23 said:

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...So during the playoffs, it looks like the refs won't be giving him the benefit of the doubt. ....

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....except in the land known as...



The officiating in the Rockets vs. Warriors series threatens to define the rivalry


https://es.pn/2WbXHMh

Warriors 104, Rockets 100: Steve Kerr compares Kevin Durant's play to Michael Jordan

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/28/warriors-104-rockets-100-warriors-survive-ugly-game-1/amp/