“The annoying and immutable fact, of course, is that you have to anticipate that the Warriors win this and every other round, with or without their crown jewel.”

And Ibaka! He was good on that team. Those Finals were closer than 4-1 too (DURANT WAS FOULED).

This leads to the “does Harden become Harden on OKC?” conundrum. I’m not sure about that, but his skill set works better w/ Durant than Russ’s did. (Russ would’ve become Russ anywhere, I’d guess.)

They’re so maddening. I can’t remember a team that had a wider range of possible outcomes game to game. They can come out and blitz the Warriors and fully just take it to them. Their win in Houston over the last week was genuinely impressive. Other nights, they’re struggling to get separation against, like, Dallas.

I genuinely can’t tell if they’re supposed to be running an offense or if the Thunder are ignoring that offense and just freelancing or if the offense is actually, “hey guys, just do some freelancing for me.”

“You see fellow fans, I too am monitoring Russell Westbrook’s infraction total and am jubilant he has reached a suitable number to force his return to the non-playing zone. It is four. Four infractions. Oh what fun. I prefer our troupe to theirs, do you not, chums?”

“Was he planning some type of Ocean’s 11-style heist involving impersonating Mr. Walker?”

Salty Russ pretending he’s gonna not hunt steals and actually stick to his man next game is a fun little charade.

We crumplers are used to this sort of sweeping demonization.

Since we’re talking about wiping ass: crumple or fold? #TeamCrumple

What’s the consensus NBA opinion you think is the worst consensus NBA opinion?

You made a burner just to do this. That’s just incredibly sad.

Crossover, crossover, crossover pass.

I know it’s been a rough half-decade in Philly, but they beat the Heat twice. Not sure they’re really remaking the entire league this season.

I mean, I can’t disprove it.

It doesn’t seem possible to lose a game by 20 where Harden went 2-18 and the Rockets shot 36% from the field but through Derrick Rose and Andrew Wiggins, all things are possible.

When people were talking themselves into Olympic Melo on the Thunder, they forgot that Olympic Melo last showed up when Obama was still in his first term and Gangham style was stuck in your head. He’s a 41% shooter who you can abuse repeatedly in the pick and roll at this point. He’s like a taller Nick Young but for…

+1

His per game playoff numbers are 24/5/6 but on 40% shooting. Not too dissimilar to his regular season splits. Plus, he’s been bounced by the Warriors the past two years (top 5 defensive team) and the Grit & Grind Grizzlies the year before, so a little slippage seems reasonable.

Dame’s long been a favorite of mine but you’re right: Jrue’s in his space and, on the occasions Dame breaks free, he hasn’t done much. I entered the series assuming Lillard could do what Steph, Kyrie, and Westbrook can: get and make their shot consistently. Two games in he hasn’t been able to. Not a great sign for the…