Raptors win again 125-89! Awesome game by the entire team!! One more win to go!

Empress said:

Raptors win again 125-89! Awesome game by the entire team!! One more win to go!

That dunk Kawhi threw down on Embiid was vicious.....damn!

Embiid is getting roasted on social media.....folks are saying he's sick from "Kawhiitis"....

Shaq getting tough on Embiid;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kqz28mVnT64

Sorry this is late, but I've been a little under the weather lately.

Western Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 4

Golden State Warriors 108 Houston Rockets 112

The Houston Rockets bounced back in game 3 and hoped to use that momentum to even up this series. Meanwhile, Stephen Curry was hoping to bust out of his slump in game t3 where he shopt 7 for 23 from the floor.

Curry would get off to a strong start, scoring 11 points in the first quarter. Nevertheless, the Warriors and Rockets went back and forth early on, but Houston would once again go on another run in the second quarter and took a six point lead into halftime. The Rockets would lead by nine in the fourth quarter before the Warriors would try to come back. Stephen Curry hit a huge 3-pointer that got Golden State within two points with 19 seconds remaining in the game, But after a couple of James Harden free throws, Curry and Kevin Durant both launched 3-point attempts that missed, as Houston held on for the hard-fought victory.

James Harden led all scorers with 38 points while also grabbing 10 rebounds. Eric Gordon scored 20 points, P.J. Tucker scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, Chris Paul scored 13 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out five assists, and Austin Rivers added 10 points off the bench.

Kevin Duran led the Warriors with 34 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Stephen Curry scored 30 points while dishing out eight assists. Draymond Green scored 15 points, grabbed 10 rebounds, and dished out five assists while Klay Thompson added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Series tied at 2-2.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 5

Philadelphia 76ers 89 Toronto Raptors 125

The Toronto Raptors were able to even up this series after Kawhi Leonard not only had another clutch performance but got help from his supporting cast. He was hoping for more of that in front of their home crowd.

And did his supporting cast deliver and then some. The Raptors went on a tear in the second quarter and led by as much as 30 points before cruising to an easy victory. Pascal Siakam led Toronto with 25 points and eright rebounds. Kawhi Leonard scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in 36 minutes of action. Kyle Lowry had a strong game, scoring 19 points, grabbing six rebounds, and dishing out five assists. Danny Green added 17 points, Marc Gasol added 11 points, and Serge Ibaka added 10 points off the bench.

Jimmy Butler led the Sixers with 22 points, seven assists, and five rebounds.Tobias Harris scored 15 points and grabbed six rebounds. However, Joel Embiid was still suffering from the effects of an upper respiratory infection, as he was limited to 13 points and six rebounds.

Toronto leads series 3-2.

Western Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 5

Portland Trail Blazers 98 Denver Nuggets 124

The last two games of this series were epic battles that went down to the wire, with the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets splitting the difference. However, this game would play out much differently.

The Nuggets would never trail in this game, and they used a huge second quarter run sparked by Paul Milsap, who scored 19 of his 24 points in the first half to help bury the Blazers. Nikola Jokic had another huge game, scoring 25 points, grabbing 19 rebounds, and dishing out six assists. Jamal Murray scored 18 points, dished out nine assists, and grabbed five rebounds. Gary Harris added 16 points while Will Barton and Malik Beasley each added 10 points.

Damian Lillard led the Blazers with 22 points. Rodney Hood and Zach Collins each added 14 points off the bench while C.J. McCollum added 12 points but shot just five for 16 from the floor.

Denver leads series 3-2.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 5

Boston Celtics 91 Milwaukee Bucks 116

The Milwaukee Bucks took a commanding series lead into this game and were looking to close out this series on their home floor. Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics were still trying to find ways to shut down Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In the end, it didn't matter. The Milwaukee Bucks jumped out to an early lead, and aside from an early comeback by the Celtics to take a brief lead with about a minute remaining in the first quarter, the Bucks were never challenged. Seven Milwaukee players finished in double digits in scoring, led by Giannis Antetokounmpo who scored 20 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out eight assists. Khris Middleton scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds, and dished out five assists. Eric Bledsoe scored 18 points and grabbed six rebounds while George Hill added 16 points and Ersan Ilyasova, Malcolm Brogdon, and Nikola Mirotic each added 10 points.

Kyrie Irving led the Celtics with 15 points but shot just six for 21 from the floor. In fact, it was a miserable shooting night for the entire team, as Jayson Taum and Marcus Morris each scored 14 points while Jaylen Brown added 12 points.

The Milwaukee Bucks now await the winner of the Philadelphia 76ers-Toronto Raptors series in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Milwaukee wins series 4-1.

Boy, did we let one get away. That was our game to win.

I don't know why Harden disappeared in the fourth quarter. It seemed the Warriors had spread their defense along the 3-point line and that was effective at stopping Harden out front. Maybe that was it. I don't really know, but Harden better figure out how to attack it if need be.

The Warriors are saying Durant suffered a calf sprain but all the former players on the TNT announcing team were pretty certain it was an Achilles tear. Stephen A. Smith said "it looked more like a calf sprain to me" so that probably means it was an Achilles tear. I hope not. Durant's a good guy. Pretty intense on the court, but a good dude off it. He's got an MRI scheduled for today. Even if it is a calf sprain, I don't know how quickly he could return. I'd be surprised if he could play tomorrow.

Last but not least - and I am getting tired of saying this - but refs! C'mon! Klay Thompson was out of bounds on that last play. The ref was right next to Thompson but was looking up high at the ball, and missed Thompson's right heel hit the floor before he passed the ball. That was a HUGE miss, and you just can't miss that kind of call in the last seconds of the fourth quarter of a playoff game. The players should decide the game, not the refs.

Let's go, Rockets. It's winning time!

Durant's definitely out of Game 6, according to Steve Kerr.

I think we'd win that game anyway but I want to beat the best. I hope Durant can play if there is a Game 7.

RodeoSchro said:

Durant's definitely out of Game 6, according to Steve Kerr.

I think we'd win that game anyway but I want to beat the best. I hope Durant can play if there is a Game 7.

Don't be cocky Rodeo! Be glad he's out for game 6 and hope he's still out for game 7. I'm hoping Embiid is still has the flu tonight.

Empress said:

RodeoSchro said:

Durant's definitely out of Game 6, according to Steve Kerr.

I think we'd win that game anyway but I want to beat the best. I hope Durant can play if there is a Game 7.

Don't be cocky Rodeo! Be glad he's out for game 6 and hope he's still out for game 7. I'm hoping Embiid is still has the flu tonight.

LOL, but I don't want anyone to be out. I want to beat the best and with Durant, the Warriors are the best.

I really hope it isn't an Achilles tear. The Warriors say that's been ruled out, even before the MRI. But dang - ALL the former players last night on TNT were saying "That's a textbook reaction to a textbook example of what an Achilles tear looks like". I hope they're wrong, Durant is a good guy.

(Plus, it'd kill the Knicks' plans and uPtoWnNY has suffered enough!)

Durant out for the rest of the Rockets-Warriors series. Bummer for them but I know how they feel. We lost Chris Paul in Game 5 of last year's Western Conference Finals.

Once again, Houston blows a golden opportunity.

Can their offense be more creative than the ISO crap? Dribble, dribble, dribble, then hoist up a bad shot when the 24-second clock winds down.

And where the hell was Chris Paul?

[Edited 5/9/19 15:24pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Once again, Houston blows a golden opportunity.

Can their offense be more creative than the ISO crap? Dribble, dribble, dribble, then hoist up a bad shot when the 24-second clock winds down.

And where the hell was Chris Paul?

[Edited 5/9/19 15:24pm]

You mean, where the hell was James Harden, don't you? Someone posted on another board that Harden almost seemed to be thinking, "It's not fair they lost their best guy, so I'll just hang back to make it even". That's the best explanation I can come up with for Harden's fourth-quarter disappearing act.

A fire must be lit under the posterior of Mr. Harden. And perhaps under the posterior of Mr. Capella while we're at it. And if I'm pontificating, I'd like to see Mr. Faried get some playing time. I have to quit now. I did not mean to get so formal!

We have no excuse whatsoever to lose this series.

When the Rockets won their championships in '94 and '95 I had some jackass cement company executive buy the seats right behind mine. He was the most negative jackass ever. The classic late-60/early-70-year-old whiny white guy. It was clear he'd never played basketball in his life, but oh boy! Did he like to complain!

His favorite complaint, used about 10 times a quarter, was directed at Sam Cassell and his penchant for dribbling while the offense set up. Mr. Jackass would whine in his high-pitched voice, "DribbleDribbleDribble! Is that all you can do?!?"

More than once I turned around and said, "You know, he IS the point guard for the NBA champions, don't you? You don't think you're watching the Dallas Mavericks, do you?


.

[Edited 5/9/19 15:43pm]

All I can say is damn it! Now we have to face a game 7

Empress said:

All I can say is damn it! Now we have to face a game 7

Yikes! But so do we......hopefully!

At least you guys get to be the home team in yours. Good luck!

RodeoSchro said:

Empress said:

All I can say is damn it! Now we have to face a game 7

Yikes! But so do we......hopefully!

At least you guys get to be the home team in yours. Good luck!

Thanks Rodeo! Good luck to Houston too. I'm hoping they kick some ass and knock GS out!

Empress said:

All I can say is damn it! Now we have to face a game 7

And you thought it wasn't going 7.

Good luck but Philly is going for it! It all rests on the shoulder of a healthy Embiid.

RodeoSchro said:

We have no excuse whatsoever to lose this series.

No Durant.....it's right there for them...they talked the talk about wanting Golden State, now it's time to walk it.

phunkdaddy said:

Empress said:

All I can say is damn it! Now we have to face a game 7

And you thought it wasn't going 7.

Good luck but Philly is going for it! It all rests on the shoulder of a healthy Embiid.

Hey phunk, Ben Simmons needs to be a gym rat this summer and shoot 1000+ Js.

uPtoWnNY said:

phunkdaddy said:

And you thought it wasn't going 7.

Good luck but Philly is going for it! It all rests on the shoulder of a healthy Embiid.

Hey phunk, Ben Simmons needs to be a gym rat this summer and shoot 1000+ Js.

No doubt. I agree with Colin Cowherd though. Philly fans want to run him out of town but dude

is still only 22. Played one year of college ball. He's not a finished product.

Stef Curry, gangsta.

They were better than us. Nothing else left to say.

RodeoSchro said:

Empress said:

RodeoSchro said:

They were better than us. Nothing else left to say.

Too bad Rodeo. I was hoping they'd pull it off. I'm full of anxiety for the Raps game tomorrow. Going to have a big glass of wine, maybe 2.

Oh well, go Astros! And Raptors! I will now root for the Raptors, in honor of you.

I do like to root for the home team but let's be honest - if I have a bad day at work, James Harden isn't going to lose any sleep over it.

So, I wish they'd won but they didn't, therefore I'm moving on and wish them better luck next year.

Durant wasn't that important.

RodeoSchro said:

They were better than us. Nothing else left to say.

Thr game was there to be won in the first half, when Curry struggled, but the Rockets couldn't take control. Steve Smith nailed it when he said Houston needs to tweak their offense - get more movement, and have Harden play off-ball. This ISO crap will win regular season games, but not in the playoffs when defenses tighten up. Houston was brutal in the 4th quarter...dribble, dribble, jack up a bad shots....damn. They'll have one more shot next season because of free agency affecting the Warriors. But I have no faith in D'Antoni making the necessary adjustments (in his offense) to get them over the top.

Western Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 7

Portland Trail Blazers 100 Denver Nuggets 96

The first four games of this series were super competitive battles that went down to the wire and went both ways. However, the last two games were lopsided affairs each won by the home team. No one was sure whether this game 7 would reflect an epic battle or be another lopsided victory, but a berth in the Western Conference Finals was at stake.

Early on it appeared the Denver Nuggets would blow the Portland Trail Blazers out of the stadium, as they would jump out to a huge early lead and played suffocating defense on Damian Lillard, holding him to his most miserable performance of this series, scoring just 13 points in this game on 3 for 17 shooting from the floor, though he did grab 10 rebounds and dished out eight assists. The Nuggets led by 17 points midway through the second quarter.

But the Blazers would claw their way back into this game. They managed to cut the deficit to nine points at halftime, and then C.J. McCollum would spark a huge comeback aided by Evan Turner, who scored 14 points off the bench. Portland would take the lead with 12 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and after Denver made a couple of shots to start the fourth quarter, C.J. McCollum would have the Blazers regain the lead, and then it was a battle as they hung on for dear life. Nikola Jokic would try to keep Denver in the game in the fourth quarter, but McCollum and Evan Turner would answer every comeback attempt. Jamal Murray would pull Denver within one point with 32 seconds remaining in the game, but McCollum hit a huge jumper to put the Blazers up by three with 12.4 seconds remaining. Nikola Jokic was fouled almost immediately after the timeout, but he missed a critical free throw, and Evan Turner would seal the game and series victory with a couple of free throws. C.J.MCcollum finished with 37 points and nine rebounds while Evan Turner scored 14 points and Enes Kanter added 12 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers.

Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 29 points and 13 rebounds. Jamal Murray scored 17 points but was held to 4 for 18 shooting from the floor. Gary Harris added 15 points and six rebounds while Paul Milsap added 10 points but shot 3 for 13 from the floor. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise breakout season for the Denver Nuggets.

Portland now goes on to face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

Portland wins series 4-3.

Eastern Conference Playoffs, Conference Semifinals

Game 7

Philadelphia 76ers 90 Toronto Raptors 92

In the history of the NBA playoffs, game 7 has resulted in dramatic moments, like the time John Havilchek stole the ball, or when an injured Willis Reed emerged from the New York Knicks locker room to spark his team to victory. In recent times, Lebron James made a huge block from behind. to stop the Golden State Warriors from taking the lead. Many of these games ended with a dramatic yeoman performance from a superstar like Magic Johnson, or a huge block from Lebron James, or a huge steal.

And then sometimes, things just bounce your way.

The Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers came into game 7 equally capable of having a spectacular performance but also equally having huge weaknesses that could potentially thwart their chances of advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. This game would be a combination of crushing defense and some poor game management on both sides. Neverthless, each team basically rode their starters all the way through this game. The Sixers only brought three players off the bench who scored a combined total of eight points in 27 total minutes of action. The Raptors only managed to bring Serge Ibaka and Fred VanVleet off the bench in this game, but Ibaka would come up huge. The game went back and forth all the way throughout, with neither team able to build more than a seven point lead at any time during the game. It came down to the superstars once again. Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points and grabbed eight rebounds in this game for Toronto while Joel Embiid scored 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for Philly. In one stretch of the fourth quarter, the Sixers turned the ball over three times on 24 second shot clock violations while at the same time Toronto players not named Kawhi Leonard were afraid to shoot the ball when they had an open shot. Nevertheless, the Raptors would lead by five with 4:48 remaining in the game, but J.J. Redick would tie the game on a 2-point play and free throw. Kawhi Leonard made a couple of buckets to put the Raptors up four, but after a few free throws Kawhi Leonard had a chance to put the Raptors up by three with eight seconds remaining, but he missed the second free throw, and the rebound was picked up by Jimmy Butler, who drove down the court to make a driving layup to tie the game at 90 with 4.2 seconds remaining. After a timeout, the Raptors inbounded the ball to Kawhi Leonard, who was covered tightly by Ben Simmons, forcing him to put up an awkward miracle shot at the buzzer. The shot appeared to hit the rim well short of the bucket, but it made a high bounce, and it bounced at the same area, only to bounce across the rim two more times before finally dropping into the net for the dramatic victory which will be talked about for the ages.

Serge Ibaka scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds while Pascal Siakam scored 11 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kyle Lowry scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, dished out six assists, and made two steals, not to mention taking a couple of offensive fouls in some clutch situations.

J.J. Redick scored 17 points for the Sixers while Jimmy Butler scored 16 points, Tobias Harris scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, and Ben Simmons added 13 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. But the final shot was a heartbreaking end to a season which showed so much promise for the Sixers to advance to the NBA Finals.

Toronto now goes on to play the Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Toronto wins series 4-3.