Posted:
#51
Never mind, I see you fixed it.
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GAME 6: WARRIORS @ OKC! We harken back to Ali vs. Frazier and the Thrilla in Manila for this one!
Posted:
#54
Quote Originally Posted by scalabrine:
You're on the same side but because the historical references in the write-up are of no legitimacy to you ( in a write-up I'd say about 5% of the posters here bother to provide), you mock the post. Not the pick! The post only! But you are on the same side, henceforth, regardless of our reasoning we came to the same conclusion, but you feel the need to slander the path of how that pick was obtained.
Nice way to start your day huh?
I try to make my write-ups entertaining as well as informative. Bottom line, I'm here to give a winner ONLY regardless, or all this is meaningless. Once you realize that (and you haven't realized it in many a moon because you've been in my thread for years), you may actually appreciate it like others here.
Your posts are way too long and too far reaching to be entertaining or appreciated .
people that have too much to say really have nothing to say 
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Posted:
#56
As a fan, however, I can't bet the Thunder, because I still have the slimmest of hopes. And if you are reaching for straws, like I am, here are a few to grasp at. Your write up is dead on (psychologically speaking) except for a few facts you left out:
1) The Mavs were favorites throughout that series, even game 6.
2) The Mavs had not won a title.
3) The Warriors were an 8th seed and not a 4 seed that just knocked off a 2 seed.
4) Don Nelson was coaching the Warriors (wanting revenge against Cuban) against Avery Johnson. Big mismatch there.
You are right that the Warriors were not intimidated by the Mavs and, just as with OKC in this series, were the more athletic team.
The NBA sort of tipped its hand in game 4 when the Warriors could not buy a call. And Bogut was hampered with foul-trouble as Adams would be in game 5. I've always said, when it comes to the Warriors, that giving Bogut early fouls is the best way to screw them up; throwing off the rotations among other things. Against lesser teams, the Warriors overcome this. But their death lineup (despite last year's finals) is only effective as a change of pace/personnel compared to what they normally do. It's not an everyday lineup. Anyway, I think either the NBA wanted a Thunder win(in game 4) or they overestimated the Warriors, thinking they could come back, which they almost did in quarter 3. Today, the NBA has given us some good road officials, which is a cause for slight optimism.
Now as to your main point, that KD and Russ picking on Curry bodes ill for the Warriors, I'd have to disagree somewhat. Yes, it shows that the Thunder are super confident and believe the outcome of game 6 is not in question. They also probably know, that Steph is not 100%, and are picking on a wounded prey, which is really low (imo), and I hope they lose just for that. In other words, Karma is now on the Warrior's side (for what it is worth). Also, Curry has learned to play through his injury and has made subtle changes to his game (which we saw in game 5). But the biggest straw to "hang our hats on," is the fact that the Warriors are now the underdogs (something Dallas never was), and everyone (even the public that backed them all year) expects them to lose.
This Warrior team, having watched them these many years, relishes the role of underdog (because it is team full of underdogs, guys no one believed in: just go down the list). They've never really embraced the favorite role, and almost started to crack when chasing 73 and have cracked against the Thunder. But now the roles are reversed. The Warriors are that rare thing in sports, an elite team that has been cast as the underdog. And KD and Westbrook went from being plucky underdogs (at least this year) to heels. Let's get it on!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/warriors/2016/05/28/stephen-curry-wired-golden-state-warriors-oklahoma-city-thunder/85083266/
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Posted:
#57
Just have to comment to say your quotes you posted are just typical athlete/sports canned responses. I know you want them to be cocky and all that but it's really not their decision as to what to say. I'm very surprised you don't recognize that it doesn't reflect how they are going to play and actually use it as a point to justify the side your on. We both know that is just fluff.
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Posted:
#60
Ali liked to belittle/demean his opponent pre fight as part of his fight strategy. He always did it 100% on purpose, to get into their heads. AND he was one of the best boxers of all time by the Thrilla, having just gotten wins vs Foreman, Frazier II, Norton II, so he could afford to be even more brazen than usual..
Westbrook giggled spontaneously, like on accident, during that post game. And I wouldn't say they are in a place to be doing that. Beating the Spurs, being up on the Dubs, that's not even close to being able to boast that Ali type confidence..
That difference is what might bite them in the azz.. Ali did it as part of his personality, to be entertaining. It was endearing, really. But Westbrook's giggling, it was smug, and like the cab driver in that Seinfeld episode said, "smugness is not a good quality.."
Always enjoy your posts, Scal..
Westbrook giggled spontaneously, like on accident, during that post game. And I wouldn't say they are in a place to be doing that. Beating the Spurs, being up on the Dubs, that's not even close to being able to boast that Ali type confidence..
That difference is what might bite them in the azz.. Ali did it as part of his personality, to be entertaining. It was endearing, really. But Westbrook's giggling, it was smug, and like the cab driver in that Seinfeld episode said, "smugness is not a good quality.."
Always enjoy your posts, Scal..
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Posted:
#61
Where do you guys see where public money is going? ML is practically split even and spread is almost 60-40 OKC? Public thinks GS is going to lose? What?
OKC wins unless there's foul play by the refs which wouldn't surprise me. GS's first back to back loses of the season came to OKC in this series. Vegas has there hands in the proverbial honey pot too. GS has a lot of money on them to win it all. It would be a compromise between them to have OKC finish it in 6. The NBA will get their ratings no matter what now with Lebron in the finals.
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Posted:
#62
Great analysis Scal! You've always proven to have some great thought-out points and pleasure to see your write-ups! I'm 100% with you on this one as this is not the same GSW team from the ref season + Thunder are at their ultimate peak!
I see people concerned with majority of money coming in on OKC, but you have to understand that Vegas can live with that because of all the future bets on GSW to win the chip that they will cash on!!
I see people concerned with majority of money coming in on OKC, but you have to understand that Vegas can live with that because of all the future bets on GSW to win the chip that they will cash on!!
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Posted:
#63
Quote Originally Posted by scalabrine:
It kills me that sh it like this always comes up now. I really think Westbrook was laughing more because the question is so retarded and pointless. Curry is not an underrated defender, he plays little to no D, they hide him on D all the time.
Melos. Here ya go bud.
2016 Record: 13-3.
Why do I cite a boxing match - correction, no A boxing match but one of the greatest boxing matches of all time - for this an NBA Western Conference Final playoff game in 2016?
Because human psychology is consistent. Our courage, our conviction, our ability to persevere in spite of the most imposing of obstacles has not changed with regard to how our brain works and how our brain propels the body since 1975, or 1575, or 1575 BC.
And when you are dealing with the psychology of a subgroup of extraordinarily elite athletes, the examination of their mindset and their ability to perform becomes even more precise.
We must draw correlations of and through psychology (not causations), to understand how one opponent might react to another, or one team to another.
It was prior to that fight that Ali ruthlessly mocked Frazier with perhaps the most racially charged press conferences of all-time: one in which he pounded a toy gorilla with his fist, the gorilla symbolizing the great Joe Frazier. We know what Ali was saying and what he meant to convey and it was cruel (and unusual).
Normally I'd say such mockery was due for a rightful comeuppance and put my money on Frazier, had I been alive at the time.
But that fight ended how? With Frazier's trainer throwing in the towel in the 15th round. Yes, one of the all-time greats couldn't even answer the bell for the final round.
Even the pre-fight mockery couldn't drive him to get past the 15th and have the judges to call the fight...and in boxing, anything is possible when it goes to the cards.
Ali was so brazenly confident going into that fight, he felt he could beat Frazier even if he ruthlessly slandered him on the way in, that is, he got his punches in before the fight even started.
So how does this relate to the Thunder vs. Warriors?
Well I saw this Ali-like cocky confidence when Durant and Westbrook were asked a question about Steph Curry's defense after the Game 5 loss. Watch it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSs0bbdDhOA
Folks, this is a 73 win team (now 83 wins with the playoffs); this is a team with the greatest shooter the game has ever seen; these are the defending champs; and here you have two of the best players in the league on the opposing team not worrying one iota about creating bulletin board material for Golden State. They are literally laughing at the notion Steph can adequately guard Westbrook. And Durant's answer is clearly a backhanded compliment. Like Lebron's comments about Curry recently, the answer was more to insult than it was to praise.
And that shows how far these two power kegs of the court have come: they are ready to explode. And we are going to profit from it.
They took out a mega co-favorite to win the title in the Spurs.
And how did they do it? They waited for Game 6 and BOMBED them by 14 in a game that they could have won by 40. Why? Because they KNEW the refs could take over and push this series to 7 and they wouldn't allow it (as the NBA has done countless times historically under David Stern who washed his hands of such notions like Pontius Pilate. The gambler was no fool all the while.).
Because THIS IS OKC's Game 7. As Game 6 was the last round too. You CANNOT go back to San Antonio for a Game 7. You CANNOT go back to Golden State for a Game 7.
You need to get the job done RIGHT NOW. So you get all the Game 7 intensity on your home court for all the marbles in a Game 6. There are reasons why a team hasn't come back from a 3-1 deficit in conference finals in nearly 33 years. It is EXTREMELY hard to do and this is the game that is EXTREMELY hard to win, even for a team like Golden State.
And psychologically, I see a team that is ready to do it. I've said this before: you get PEAK KD; you get PEAK Westbrook; you get a mature and confident workmanlike Adams; you get Roberson who is shooting nearly 60% from 3 in the series; you get an always solid Ibaka. You get a truckload of height. That's quite a bit of 'gets'. You do deal with a bench that can give you more but so many minutes will be eaten up by the starting 5 in this game it will matter less.
And on the other side of the ball? Where are the dominant Warriors? Is this the Warrior team you watched all year? You know damn well it is not. And what is the reason? The dagger 3's just aren't falling right now for Golden State. 37%, 30%, 30% from 3 in the past 3, two of which were blowout losses. This is a team that shot 41% from 3 all year. And when they get hot, they can shoot 50%+ from 3.
And Curry? Is he injured or isn't he? It doesn't matter. He will pile up the points because he always has the ball but his shooting percentages in the series are 42% and 37%(3's) compared to 50% and 45%(3's) for his season averages.
And all those gargantuan, fall off your seat three's (like the one he hit in OT against OKC to win in the regular season)...long gone like dust in the wind. *Poof*. He doesn't even look like he WANTS to take those shots. And when he does lauch some moonshots some barely scrape rim.
And THOSE are the shots that struck fear in opponents. But no more.
Those shots are not falling. 3, 3, 3, 3: They are not falling with the same rapid fire consistency these past 3 games. Steph is 7-29 from 3 in the last 3.
And Klay has been worse: 41% and 29%!(3's) compared to season averages of 47% and 42%. The averages they had during the year won them SEVENTY THREE games. There is a reason this game is +2.5 Golden State folks...
73? There's a 7 and a 3 I'd like to reference; they may not win 3 against OKC in a 7 game series.
Don't even get me started on Green who is so far off his regular season self, he may be a Javale McGee in a Draymond Green jersey.
This is not the same team.
Why ask KD about it? What should his response be?
To think a team that won 73 games needs motivation is pretty funny.
I think OKC wins also, he wont get much credit because OKC has 2 of top 5 players in the league but Donovan's decision to play big and not try to match GS style is the difference.
Don’t tell me the law. Tell me the judge.
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Posted:
#64
Quote Originally Posted by VP24:
Great analysis Scal! You've always proven to have some great thought-out points and pleasure to see your write-ups! I'm 100% with you on this one as this is not the same GSW team from the ref season + Thunder are at their ultimate peak!
I see people concerned with majority of money coming in on OKC, but you have to understand that Vegas can live with that because of all the future bets on GSW to win the chip that they will cash on!!
Great analysis Scal! You've always proven to have some great thought-out points and pleasure to see your write-ups! I'm 100% with you on this one as this is not the same GSW team from the ref season + Thunder are at their ultimate peak!
I see people concerned with majority of money coming in on OKC, but you have to understand that Vegas can live with that because of all the future bets on GSW to win the chip that they will cash on!!
Also Vegas will take more futures bets on GS to win the series/championship all day offering better payouts. There is a ton of money on GS to win the title/series already.
If OKC were the underdogs, more ML bets would be placed on OKC for plus money because OKC has dominated them at home and really should've already finished off GS. Bookmakers aren't stupid they want to make GS look as attractive as possible with their lack luster play as of late.
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Posted:
#66
impotent fury...nice
Tony - Nine of TWO HUNDRED AND THIRTY TWO teams have won after being down 3-1. Does this Thunder team look like the tenth out of 233? Because heading back to GS, it likely will be UNLESS OKC closes it out tonight which they will strive to do with maximum effort! THAT is what you are betting against and your are only getting 2.5 pts as a cushion.
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Posted:
#68
Quote Originally Posted by MYSTICRICH:
Your posts are way too long and too far reaching to be entertaining or appreciated .
people that have too much to say really have nothing to say
Well saying everything and saying nothing is quite subjective from our respective perspectives now isn't it
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Posted:
#70
Quote Originally Posted by Nilshu:
The best writer on this site! You need to make a book buddy. All the best to you and the family man!!! LETS GO OKC!!
The best writer on this site! You need to make a book buddy. All the best to you and the family man!!! LETS GO OKC!!
No money in authorship Nilshu!
FAR more money to be made capping!!! Which clearly, the members of this site understand, including yourself!
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Posted:
#71
Quote Originally Posted by begginerboy:
Alright, here it goes. Scal, as I mentioned to you in your post for game one, I feared the Thunder like no other team. They are bigger, faster and stronger than the warriors and have two of the top five players in the world. The only question (for the Thunder) was one of execution (which they have answered, thus far, though not in game 5). Add to this the fact that before the series started I had a premonition that the Warriors would lose to the Thunder in 6 and that Curry is not 100% (I can guarantee you that, having watched at least 80 Warrior games this year) and the Warriors look like dead money. If I was betting, which I'm not, you couldn't pay me to bet the Warriors tonight.
As a fan, however, I can't bet the Thunder, because I still have the slimmest of hopes. And if you are reaching for straws, like I am, here are a few to grasp at. Your write up is dead on (psychologically speaking) except for a few facts you left out:
1) The Mavs were favorites throughout that series, even game 6.
2) The Mavs had not won a title.
3) The Warriors were an 8th seed and not a 4 seed that just knocked off a 2 seed.
4) Don Nelson was coaching the Warriors (wanting revenge against Cuban) against Avery Johnson. Big mismatch there.
You are right that the Warriors were not intimidated by the Mavs and, just as with OKC in this series, were the more athletic team.
The NBA sort of tipped its hand in game 4 when the Warriors could not buy a call. And Bogut was hampered with foul-trouble as Adams would be in game 5. I've always said, when it comes to the Warriors, that giving Bogut early fouls is the best way to screw them up; throwing off the rotations among other things. Against lesser teams, the Warriors overcome this. But their death lineup (despite last year's finals) is only effective as a change of pace/personnel compared to what they normally do. It's not an everyday lineup. Anyway, I think either the NBA wanted a Thunder win(in game 4) or they overestimated the Warriors, thinking they could come back, which they almost did in quarter 3. Today, the NBA has given us some good road officials, which is a cause for slight optimism.
Now as to your main point, that KD and Russ picking on Curry bodes ill for the Warriors, I'd have to disagree somewhat. Yes, it shows that the Thunder are super confident and believe the outcome of game 6 is not in question. They also probably know, that Steph is not 100%, and are picking on a wounded prey, which is really low (imo), and I hope they lose just for that. In other words, Karma is now on the Warrior's side (for what it is worth). Also, Curry has learned to play through his injury and has made subtle changes to his game (which we saw in game 5). But the biggest straw to "hang our hats on," is the fact that the Warriors are now the underdogs (something Dallas never was), and everyone (even the public that backed them all year) expects them to lose.
This Warrior team, having watched them these many years, relishes the role of underdog (because it is team full of underdogs, guys no one believed in: just go down the list). They've never really embraced the favorite role, and almost started to crack when chasing 73 and have cracked against the Thunder. But now the roles are reversed. The Warriors are that rare thing in sports, an elite team that has been cast as the underdog. And KD and Westbrook went from being plucky underdogs (at least this year) to heels. Let's get it on!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/warriors/2016/05/28/stephen-curry-wired-golden-state-warriors-oklahoma-city-thunder/85083266/
A solid contribution to the thread BB and I have many retorts. But I will withhold them for the moments and extract one sentence from your contribution for the good of this forum:
If I was betting, which I'm not, you couldn't pay me to bet the Warriors tonight.
Now, and this I emphasize, BB is the NUMBER ONE Warrior capper on this site and knows them better than anyone else. You may think of him as a homer, but he is a realist when it comes to his wallet.
This sentence may not be a full-fledged endorsement of OKC, but it certainly is on it's way there.
LC, who knows the Thunder better than anyone else here, does not have a post in the main on this game (or at least I think he doesn't), but he is not hedging his Thunder future bets for mountains of cash tonight which is by default, supporting OKC.
Me? Decades of NBA capping.
That's a pretty sizable three-headed monster all on the same side, both directly or indirectly now isn't it.
That's for the casual observer if my OP wasn't to their liking.
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Posted:
#72
Quote Originally Posted by mrnotoriousman:
Just have to comment to say your quotes you posted are just typical athlete/sports canned responses. I know you want them to be cocky and all that but it's really not their decision as to what to say. I'm very surprised you don't recognize that it doesn't reflect how they are going to play and actually use it as a point to justify the side your on. We both know that is just fluff.
Just have to comment to say your quotes you posted are just typical athlete/sports canned responses. I know you want them to be cocky and all that but it's really not their decision as to what to say. I'm very surprised you don't recognize that it doesn't reflect how they are going to play and actually use it as a point to justify the side your on. We both know that is just fluff.
The quotes are lip-service but they express a minutiae of fear, something the Warriors haven't done all year...Why? Because their backs aren't against the wall...until now. That is why their quotes are salient.
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Posted:
#73
Quote Originally Posted by Predictorama:
Fantastic Scalabrine. Good luck on the pick.
Never seen so many guys coming on here to try to SCARE us off the winner. I would rather be confident than humble at this point and that is what Westbrook and Durant are. They feel no pressure.
Fantastic Scalabrine. Good luck on the pick.
Never seen so many guys coming on here to try to SCARE us off the winner. I would rather be confident than humble at this point and that is what Westbrook and Durant are. They feel no pressure.
They are scared because it's the Warriors. And they have good reason to be scared. But if they watched the Warriors in this series with a capping lens and not a fan-based lens (which continually fears the great teams without gargantuan spreads), they wouldn't have so much fear.
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Posted:
#74
Quote Originally Posted by YouWish:
Ali liked to belittle/demean his opponent pre fight as part of his fight strategy. He always did it 100% on purpose, to get into their heads. AND he was one of the best boxers of all time by the Thrilla, having just gotten wins vs Foreman, Frazier II, Norton II, so he could afford to be even more brazen than usual..
Westbrook giggled spontaneously, like on accident, during that post game. And I wouldn't say they are in a place to be doing that. Beating the Spurs, being up on the Dubs, that's not even close to being able to boast that Ali type confidence..
That difference is what might bite them in the azz.. Ali did it as part of his personality, to be entertaining. It was endearing, really. But Westbrook's giggling, it was smug, and like the cab driver in that Seinfeld episode said, "smugness is not a good quality.."
Always enjoy your posts, Scal..
Ali liked to belittle/demean his opponent pre fight as part of his fight strategy. He always did it 100% on purpose, to get into their heads. AND he was one of the best boxers of all time by the Thrilla, having just gotten wins vs Foreman, Frazier II, Norton II, so he could afford to be even more brazen than usual..
Westbrook giggled spontaneously, like on accident, during that post game. And I wouldn't say they are in a place to be doing that. Beating the Spurs, being up on the Dubs, that's not even close to being able to boast that Ali type confidence..
That difference is what might bite them in the azz.. Ali did it as part of his personality, to be entertaining. It was endearing, really. But Westbrook's giggling, it was smug, and like the cab driver in that Seinfeld episode said, "smugness is not a good quality.."
Always enjoy your posts, Scal..
Come on Wish, NOTHING in the other press conferences compared to what he said about Frazier prior to Manila.
He not only attacked Frazier's identity, he attacked skin color as a darker-skinned black man, bolstering the prejudiced notion that his lighter black skin was superior, both in ring and out ! That was unprecedented and quite ugly for it's time.
And after all that, he still won the fight (although did attest afterword it was the closest he came to death)!
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Posted:
#75
Quote Originally Posted by JayDubsJr:
Where do you guys see where public money is going? ML is practically split even and spread is almost 60-40 OKC? Public thinks GS is going to lose? What?
Where do you guys see where public money is going? ML is practically split even and spread is almost 60-40 OKC? Public thinks GS is going to lose? What?
OKC wins unless there's foul play by the refs which wouldn't surprise me. GS's first back to back loses of the season came to OKC in this series. Vegas has there hands in the proverbial honey pot too. GS has a lot of money on them to win it all. It would be a compromise between them to have OKC finish it in 6. The NBA will get their ratings no matter what now with Lebron in the finals.
Very true. Hopefully, tons of futures bets on the odds on favorite all year go up in smoke tonight.
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