NBA (whenever)...

[Federberg]

this is balanced...

 

[kskate2]

I am never one to believe that one game , especially the first game, can determine the outcome of a series but it seems to me the way Cavs lost game one, they are not going to be able to shake it off. I hope I am wrong and they can win a couple at home and make it a series but I doubt it. It is like they are telling themselves " we have played 3 and a half periods of solid basketball and still lost, when are we ever going to play 3 and a half periods of solid basketball ever again" .

This is their problem. You can't take 1/2 quarter off, especially the last qtr. If it's too much to ask to stay in there for 4 qtrs, you better learn how to pace yourself, stay within a 12 pt lead and then turn it up in 4th so you can bring it home.

 

[Murat B.]

The way Spurs started, it was scary. But OKC is playing with a lot of poise. SGA is an amazing player. He is finding ways to help the team when scoring is hard.
Wemby has to take more than 5 shots in a half. Again credit to OKC for making life miserable for him.
Anyone's game still...

 

[kskate2]

It's gotten a little testy. Dangerous time for OKC. They have the lead, but you don't want to give Spurs any momentum w/ all these silly fouls

 

[Murat B.]

OKC showed experience in this one. Great defending, limiting Wemby to just 4 rebounds. What is weird is Holmgren got only 3 rebounds himself. It was rebound by committee for OKC. I am still waiting for Holmgren to have a great game. Started the second half with a couple of dunks and then that was it...
12 assists for SGA helped Williams and McCain shine. OKC bench is just so much better overall. Caruso was efficient as always and was his usual pesty self.
Wemby has to take more than 15 shots. Credit to OKC on that front .

 

[brokenshoelace]

ah! got it! A lane violation justifies trying to break a guy's ankles. What was I thinking

I don't know what you were thinking, probably whichever nonsense got you to think that stepping on someone's foot is an attempt to break their ankle. For the record, Chet's foot literally never touches Wemby's ankle. But sure, we can dramatize everything, post an emoji, and pretend we're making a good point. Meanwhile, Wemby dives at SGA's ankles with his entire body weight and it's "the Spurs aren't saints." Sure, no misdirection here. Meanwhile, Wemby clocked Nas Reid in the face and treated like a conquering hero.

 

[Federberg]

I don't know what you were thinking, probably whichever nonsense got you to think that stepping on someone's foot is an attempt to break their ankle. For the record, Chet's foot literally never touches Wemby's ankle. But sure, we can dramatize everything, post an emoji, and pretend we're making a good point. Meanwhile, Wemby dives at SGA's ankles with his entire body weight and it's "the Spurs aren't saints." Sure, no misdirection here. Meanwhile, Wemby clocked Nas Reid in the face and treated like a conquering hero.

I don't believe I've ever excused any mal-actions by Wemby or any team that opposes OKC. I have a special loathing for that sort of diving by the way. I remember exactly how I felt in the 2022 regular season when Marcus Smart did that to Steph and almost jeopardised his season. That's point one..

Do you understand nothing about anatomy? This is really embarrassing! You don't have to "touch" someone's ankle to break it! Stand on the foot and if the person isn't careful that ankle can easily break because of the mechanics. Did I seriously have to explain that to you?? That's point 2...

Again... and it's amazing I have to keep repeating this... in defence OKC are doing what they're doing and largely getting away with it, and on offence the Most Valuable Flopper is falling if you even point in his direction. It's a painful watch. It makes OKC hard for a neutral to support. Frankly I think if SGA doesn't evolve away from this, or at least minimise it as a part of his game, he'll damage his legacy. Whether he cares about it or not, I really don't know

That said, if you think I feel pity for the SAS with how OKC have neutralised Wemby in the last few games you would be bigly wrong This is the sort of stuff that gets done to Steph. You might get away with it in the first 3 quarters against him but usually in the 4th quarter, Steph does what he does. It's up to Wemby, if he wants to be an all time GUY, to figure it out. Just like SGA is figuring it out (and by the way I think SGA is phenomenal, just an utterly unlikeable playing style). So I'm standing by waiting for Wemby to show us who I think he is. If he's not ready yet then this is him being exposed. And that's ok

 

[brokenshoelace]

I don't believe I've ever excused any mal-actions by Wemby or any team that opposes OKC. I have a special loathing for that sort of diving by the way. I remember exactly how I felt in the 2022 regular season when Marcus Smart did that to Steph and almost jeopardised his season. That's point one..

Do you understand nothing about anatomy? This is really embarrassing! You don't have to "touch" someone's ankle to break it! Stand on the foot and if the person isn't careful that ankle can easily break because of the mechanics. Did I seriously have to explain that to you?? That's point 2...

Again... and it's amazing I have to keep repeating this... in defence OKC are doing what they're doing and largely getting away with it, and on offence the Most Valuable Flopper is falling if you even point in his direction. It's a painful watch. It makes OKC hard for a neutral to support. Frankly I think if SGA doesn't evolve away from this, or at least minimise it as a part of his game, he'll damage his legacy. Whether he cares about it or not, I really don't know

That said, if you think I feel pity for the SAS with how OKC have neutralised Wemby in the last few games you would be bigly wrong This is the sort of stuff that gets done to Steph. You might get away with it in the first 3 quarters against him but usually in the 4th quarter, Steph does what he does. It's up to Wemby, if he wants to be an all time GUY, to figure it out. Just like SGA is figuring it out (and by the way I think SGA is phenomenal, just an utterly unlikeable playing style). So I'm standing by waiting for Wemby to show us who I think he is. If he's not ready yet then this is him being exposed. And that's ok

The idea that Chet was trying to break Wemby's ankle when Wemby barely flinched is a ridiculous proposition. It's a huge reach and nothing in that video suggests anything of the sort.

The rest of what you said I'm more than fine with. I don't disagree with the overall analysis and you're definitely entitled to dislike OKC and I totally understand why. The one thing I'll say for Shai is the only thing that will damage his legacy is actual basketball shortcomings. Nobody's going to care about stupid social media discourses and hot take debates when assessing a guy's legacy. If he keeps winning, his legacy will only grow.