# 2017 NBA Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 16, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582 "2017-04-16T20:40:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/21 "2017-04-18T19:27:33Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Memphis Grizzlies coach, David Fizdale, can put his name right up there with Jim Mora, Bob Knight, Dennis Green and John Tortorella with his epic press conference rant after losing game 2 to the Spurs. I encourage you to find the video or audio, I don’t have a link, unfortunately. Fizdale will get fined for bashing refs, but it’s worth it for my entertainment. And although I didn’t watch the game, he makes a damn fine point about the free throw discrepancy. “Take that for data.” Outside of a Hack-A-Shaq strategy, that’s a ridiculous free throw differential, especially given the inverted discrepancy on shots in the paint. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/22 "2017-04-18T20:35:07Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Everyone seems to think Warriors/Cavs III is a foregone conclusion, but I hope it isn’t so. (Actually, I hope my Pacers pull off the upset in the first round, but I don’t think we’ve _ever_ knocked LeBron out of the playoffs). San Antonio/Boston would not be a HUGE surprise. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/23 "2017-04-18T20:40:39Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Yeah, but even with Dwight Howard on the Rockets (who, admittedly, isn’t as good as he used to be in Orlando), Harden hasn’t won a championship in Houston. I don’t know, if I’d been in Harden’s position, I’d have taken less money to play on the same team as Durant and Westbrook. OKC could have contended for championships for many years in a row. It’s not just the money, being the third wheel to a Durant/Westbrook team is not what a player of that caliber aspires too. Sure, you want to contend for championships, but being the one carrying your team is also important. The guy is an MVP candidate, he was never going to settle for being a bench scorer for OKC. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/24 "2017-04-18T20:40:46Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > “Take that for data.” > > Outside of a Hack-A-Shaq strategy, that’s a ridiculous free throw differential, especially given the inverted discrepancy on shots in the paint. My favorite line has already been made into a t-shirt. [https://teespring.com/shop/they-not-gonna-rook-us#pid=2&cid=569&sid=front](https://teespring.com/shop/they-not-gonna-rook-us#pid=2&cid=569&sid=front) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/25 "2017-04-19T11:12:21Z")
After the Pacers’ Game 1 loss at Cleveland by one point, Paul George complained that he should have gotten the ball back from C.J. Miles to take the last shot. After our six-point loss in Game 2, George complained about Lance Stephenson’s body language. This does not fill me with confidence. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/26 "2017-04-19T13:18:23Z")
Looks like the Celtics getting swept ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/27 "2017-04-19T13:35:17Z")
Butler and Co. are up 2-0 on the Celtics. While I consider Boston to be the only team in the East that can give Cleveland a run for their money, it warms my cold, shriveled, apathetic heart to see them play so well. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/28 "2017-04-19T14:00:40Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Butler and Co. are up 2-0 on the Celtics. While I consider Boston to be the only team in the East that can give Cleveland a run for their money, it warms my cold, shriveled, apathetic heart to see them play so well. Bulls must win game 3 to prevent any of momentum from boston. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/29 "2017-04-19T17:12:08Z")
> [@mmkt](#): > > Bulls must win game 3 to prevent any of momentum from boston. The Bulls only have to win 2 out of 3 at home. They do not have to win game 3. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/30 "2017-04-19T18:07:15Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > The Bulls only have to win 2 out of 3 at home. They do not have to win game 3. The problem with the Bulls losing game 3 is they would have to go back to Boston for Game 5. Which means they could be in a situation where they have to win game 6 or go back to Boston for game 7 So to avoid all of all of that it would be best if they continue the momentum and win game 3 to go up 3-0 since it would be a 0% chance Boston would win 4 in a row. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/31 "2017-04-19T18:28:12Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Butler and Co. are up 2-0 on the Celtics. While I consider Boston to be the only team in the East that can give Cleveland a run for their money… The way Cleveland has been the last six weeks, I think they could lose not only to Boston, but quite possibly to the Wizards or Raptors. Cleveland isn’t the juggernaut they were last year, by Eastern standards. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/32 "2017-04-19T18:30:19Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The way Cleveland has been the last six weeks, I think they could lose not only to Boston, but quite possibly to the Wizards or Raptors. Cleveland isn’t the juggernaut they were last year, by Eastern standards. I’m confident that the cave will not lose a home game to any eastern team ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/33 "2017-04-19T19:50:00Z")
Their 2 wins so far over Indians have not been overly impressive. They’ve let the Pacers hang around and crawl back into the game late, which is exactly what can kill them against a better team. The Cavs blew, what, a 26 point 4th quarter lead earlier this month? They need to close out games. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/34 "2017-04-19T20:27:41Z")
> [@mmkt](#): > > I’m confident that the cave will not lose a home game to any eastern team What odds are you offering? ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/35 "2017-04-19T20:52:43Z")
> [@mmkt](#): > > The problem with the Bulls losing game 3 is they would have to go back to Boston for Game 5. Which means they could be in a situation where they have to win game 6 or go back to Boston for game 7 > > So to avoid all of all of that it would be best if they continue the momentum and win game 3 to go up 3-0 since it would be a 0% chance Boston would win 4 in a row. That also works if they win Game 3 but lose Game 4. Supposedly, nobody comes back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, but shit happens. Besides, playing in Boston hasn’t exactly looked like a handicap for Chicago at this point. ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2017, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/36 "2017-04-19T21:15:24Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > That also works if they win Game 3 but lose Game 4. Supposedly, nobody comes back from a 3-1 deficit in the Finals, but shit happens. Besides, playing in Boston hasn’t exactly looked like a handicap for Chicago at this point. But going back to Boston might be a little risky. It would be in their best interest to close out the series in Chicago and get ready for the next round ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/37 "2017-04-20T13:15:38Z")
Radio and TV sports “analysts” are funny. All season long I heard about how Rondo is a cancer, DWade is too old, the Bulls should have traded Jimmy Butler and just started over. Now I’m hearing the Bulls are better than we think. They’re gonna sweep the #1 seed Celtics and they could give anyone a run for their money! ---
**Author:** ![mmkt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mmkt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmkt)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/38 "2017-04-20T13:26:41Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Radio and TV sports “analysts” are funny. All season long I heard about how Rondo is a cancer, DWade is too old, the Bulls should have traded Jimmy Butler and just started over. Now I’m hearing the Bulls are better than we think. They’re gonna sweep the #1 seed Celtics and they could give anyone a run for their money! You know the media goes from one extreme to another ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/39 "2017-04-20T14:15:08Z")
Boston has some growing to do. Literally. They’re the 3rd youngest team in the league, and the very shortest (probably mostly Thomas’ fault). They could be dangerous in the years to come, but at the moment they are lost against the Bulls. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2017, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582/40 "2017-04-20T15:34:17Z")
> [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](#): > > Radio and TV sports “analysts” are funny. All season long I heard about how Rondo is a cancer, DWade is too old, the Bulls should have traded Jimmy Butler and just started over. Now I’m hearing the Bulls are better than we think. They’re gonna sweep the #1 seed Celtics and they could give anyone a run for their money! It never fails to amaze me how many analysts will, without a hint of shame, claim to see as obvious what just days before they had absolutely no idea whatsoever would happen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2017-nba-playoffs/784582.md?page=3)