NBA playoffs are always fun. While a couple of 1-8 or 2-7 match-ups every year ends up being predictable, individual games typically tend to be close even in those series. Not so much this year. Through 24 games over a week of these playoffs, there have been only 7 games been decided by less than 10 points and only 4 games by 5 points or less. Ironically, both the first seeds have been involved in 1-point games, but these playoffs have been one big blowout-fest otherwise. This is pretty unusual and it seems to be because of the larger divide between the good teams and the lower seeds. The top 4 seeds in the West is way better than the lower seeds. The East is better than it has been in the past top to bottom, but even there, the top seeds seem to be much more improved than the lower seeds. The popular playoff cliche is, a playoff series has not really begun until the road team wins. Cleveland and San Antonio won game 3 on the road on Friday and are all set for the sweep. Outside of that, only the Raptors-Pacers and Mavericks-Thunder series have seen road wins so far. Even reigning champs Warriors are still looking for a road win.
Speaking of the Warriors, the biggest news in the sports world the last week has been Stephen Curry's bum ankle. He now says he is playing in game 4 on Sunday. There was added concern when he left game 1 because of his history with ankle issues. It's hard to say whether he was really unable to play or if they were being extra cautious with him and coincidentally, may be also deservedly extra disrespectful of the Rockets who didn't look good at all in the 2 games in Oakland. Athletes always say "I could have played if it were a playoff game" and here is a situation where it looks like the Warriors are resting Curry even through round 1 of the playoffs. Nobody seems to be concerned for the Warriors in this series even with the Rockets winning a close one in game 3. Some folks are still saying Curry should be rested in game 4. A resting Curry in the playoffs is a fascinating concept, but a hurting Curry is not. It did look like he tried to play game 2 and couldn't. So may be he is really hurt bad. We don't know yet, but game 4 should tell us a lot. The dubs played a mistake-prone and sub-par game Thursday and lost the game, but since they still almost won anyways, the Warriors are still heavily favored, with or without Curry in this series. But its in their best interest to wrap this series up soon. It's not smart for the dubs to give the Rockets any life, hope, or energy. Rockets' bench didn't even celebrate Harden's game winner in game 3 and the dubs probably don't want to make them feel any tighter or better.
In other news, the NFL draft is almost here. NFL will again dominate the proverbial sports pages next week. Both Rams and the Eagles traded their way up to the first and second spot with an intent to draft a QB. Curious decision by 2 teams in a year with decent, but no slam-dunk QBs at the top. I can't think of 2 teams trading their way to the top of the draft in the recent past. Looks like QBs will indeed go 1 and 2 and that could be a big problem for the San Francisco 49'ers who might also have some interest in a QB at 7. There are rumors that the Kaepernick trade with Denver is all but done pending the Niners scoring a good QB in the draft. Let's see if thats the deal or Kap's salary negotiation with the Broncos is still the hangup. I like Jared Goff, but not too convinced about the other QBs in this draft. Good for them all anyways to be this sought after. In a shocker of a NFL move, the Carolina Panthers let go off their top corner, Josh Norman. He was franchise tagged and for some reason, they untagged him and cut him loose. We are now deep into free agency and it's not like they needed the money to pay a bunch of top notch free agents still around. They actually have cap room and they can always cut him loose next year even if they can't agree on a new contract. Strange decision indeed and will hurt the Panthers' already questionable shot at another Super Bowl run. Washington has jumped in and signed Norman for a tonne of money. Again, Niners lost out on him. Thats becoming a theme these days.
Speaking of the Warriors, the biggest news in the sports world the last week has been Stephen Curry's bum ankle. He now says he is playing in game 4 on Sunday. There was added concern when he left game 1 because of his history with ankle issues. It's hard to say whether he was really unable to play or if they were being extra cautious with him and coincidentally, may be also deservedly extra disrespectful of the Rockets who didn't look good at all in the 2 games in Oakland. Athletes always say "I could have played if it were a playoff game" and here is a situation where it looks like the Warriors are resting Curry even through round 1 of the playoffs. Nobody seems to be concerned for the Warriors in this series even with the Rockets winning a close one in game 3. Some folks are still saying Curry should be rested in game 4. A resting Curry in the playoffs is a fascinating concept, but a hurting Curry is not. It did look like he tried to play game 2 and couldn't. So may be he is really hurt bad. We don't know yet, but game 4 should tell us a lot. The dubs played a mistake-prone and sub-par game Thursday and lost the game, but since they still almost won anyways, the Warriors are still heavily favored, with or without Curry in this series. But its in their best interest to wrap this series up soon. It's not smart for the dubs to give the Rockets any life, hope, or energy. Rockets' bench didn't even celebrate Harden's game winner in game 3 and the dubs probably don't want to make them feel any tighter or better.
In other news, the NFL draft is almost here. NFL will again dominate the proverbial sports pages next week. Both Rams and the Eagles traded their way up to the first and second spot with an intent to draft a QB. Curious decision by 2 teams in a year with decent, but no slam-dunk QBs at the top. I can't think of 2 teams trading their way to the top of the draft in the recent past. Looks like QBs will indeed go 1 and 2 and that could be a big problem for the San Francisco 49'ers who might also have some interest in a QB at 7. There are rumors that the Kaepernick trade with Denver is all but done pending the Niners scoring a good QB in the draft. Let's see if thats the deal or Kap's salary negotiation with the Broncos is still the hangup. I like Jared Goff, but not too convinced about the other QBs in this draft. Good for them all anyways to be this sought after. In a shocker of a NFL move, the Carolina Panthers let go off their top corner, Josh Norman. He was franchise tagged and for some reason, they untagged him and cut him loose. We are now deep into free agency and it's not like they needed the money to pay a bunch of top notch free agents still around. They actually have cap room and they can always cut him loose next year even if they can't agree on a new contract. Strange decision indeed and will hurt the Panthers' already questionable shot at another Super Bowl run. Washington has jumped in and signed Norman for a tonne of money. Again, Niners lost out on him. Thats becoming a theme these days.
1 comment:
The talent gap seems to exist in the second round as well, at least in the Western Conference. The Spurs and Warriors (even without Curry) are in a league of their own!
Post a Comment