Logical Progression wrote:
I am a pretty fair weather NBA fan. Tune in from around the Conference final onwards and usually catch AT MOST the 2nd half a game but really only the 4th quarter.
Used to be pretty hard core during the Magic and then Jordan era but am having trouble getting into this series. Don't have a dog in the fight mind you.
Has the perimeter game gotten boring? Is the game actually devolving? Refs also seem to have a heavy influence over the outcome and neither team seem particularly stacked, especially with all the injuries. Meh.
Personally I think the game has gotten better in recent years. I just found the Shaq/Tim Duncan era unwatchable. Analytics has shown that you're better off shooting from distance than sending a big posting a guy up for a close-in shot. That's one big reason why the Warriors have been so dominant--they have the greatest pure shooter in NBA history playing for them. That's not to say big men are suddenly out of fashion. The Nuggets (who arguably have the best big man in basketball) posted the 2nd best record in the West and were one game away from the Conference Finals, but their shooting let them down at the worst possible moment. Meanwhile, Portland went crazy with their shooting. And I'm still mad about that because the Warriors completely curb-stomped the Trail Blazers and I don't think the Nuggets would have been swept...in fact they could've won that one, especially with Durant out.
Whatever the case, I won't be mad if the Warriors win again (I like Steph Curry a great deal, and Steve Kerr is a decent human on top of being a great coach) but I would like to see the Raps win it, as that would be historic and would make NBA GMs a lot bolder. Ujiri took a big, big chance this year and it may very well pay off.