NBA2K Remix: Retro Stars in the Modern Era

[studbucket]

I think the Spurs will steamroll the Heat in 5. Bring on the Lakers!


(FYI that you have the wrong header in your post, it shows OKC not Miami)

[trekfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by studbucket

I think the Spurs will steamroll the Heat in 5. Bring on the Lakers! (FYI that you have the wrong header in your post, it shows OKC not Miami)

Good catch, thanks stud, didn't even notice that.



And yes, let's see what's going on with the Lakers and Nets ... that series is getting interesting.

[trekfan]

The High Post: Spurs Bash Heat in Game 4 Victory

By Sam Gray

The Spurs came to Miami up 2-0 but lost Game 3 120-89 in embarrassing fashion, as no Spur scored more than 20 points and Miami waltzed over San Antonio’s defense. Game 4 saw the Spurs come out angry, especially as the Heat threw on their electric blue Vice uniforms, signaling to the crowd — and the Spurs — that they were pulling out all the stops.

“Hey, we know what the deal is when those special uniforms come out,” said Bird before the game. “You don’t do that on your home floor and expect to lose … you’re telling everyone with eyes that you think you’re gonna win and you want to look good doing it.”

The Spurs defense was locked in from moment one — Anunoby was a thief, notching an early steal off Dragic that put a target on the veteran point guard’s back.

The steal and resulting fast break bucket made the Spurs — whom, in the past, would be less than enthused under Pop that early in the game — get hyped as Bird gave a fist pump of excitement. The Spurs continued to attack Dragic throughout the first quarter, forcing the point guard to pass the ball, take a shot, or get mugged — Dragic got mugged a lot as he was very loose with the ball and the veteran was ice cold all quarter.

San Antonio led 26-16 after one as the Miami crowd (those that showed up for the first quarter anyway) was restless. Things got better in the second as the Heat found their shot, but so did the Spurs and Larry Bird. Bird wasn’t able to get much going from deep but his hustle inside allowed him to grab easy buckets, frustrating the Heat with his board play. At the half the Spurs were up 12.

The second half was a runaway for San Antonio as they came out in the third quarter and buried Miami. In the fourth the Spurs put in their bench and let them finish the game as the Heat tried to mount a comeback but were so far down the Spurs didn’t really care — Miami is now down 3-1 in the series and the Spurs look to close it out, at home, in Game 5.

Around the NBA:

The Lakers may be hearing alarm bells go off as their 2-0 lead has evaporated and the series is all tied up 2-2. LA lost Game 3 by a big margin but lost Game 4 only by three points — and those points were earned at the free throw line as the Nets shot significantly better from there (82% to the Lakers 64%). LA has had struggles from the stripe all season long and LeBron was particularly bad, going only 2-5 from the line, a difference that is glaring considering the final margin of victory.

The Grizzlies are tied up 2-2 with Philly after another 20 point night from Marc Gasol, who has stepped up big this series and — like he was when he was with the Raptors — is giving Embiid fits. Neither Embiid or Dwight Howard has an answer for Gasol and the series hinges on the all important Game 5.

[RolePlayer]

The Spurs are probably one of the most dangerous sixth-seeded teams there's ever been. Has a sixth seed ever won a title before, because I can see it.

[trekfan]

Quote: Originally Posted by RolePlayer

The Spurs are probably one of the most dangerous sixth-seeded teams there's ever been. Has a sixth seed ever won a title before, because I can see it.

We're gonna find out, as San Antonio looks to close out the Heat and move to the East Finals -- where they face either the star-studded Lakers (LeBron and AD, Good god) or the Nets (Durant and Irving, good god again); neither team I had difficulty with in the regular season, but that was the regular season -- playoff LeBron will be in full effect, as well Durant and Irving. A lot of championship experience in both those teams.

[RMJH4]

That's a hell of a run you's are on in the playoffs so far trek!! Surprised Bird can do that to Jimmy Butler so early on his career, great sign! All depends on how many games you are assigned in each round from here on in... Great first season if you reach conference finals though!

[trekfan]

The High Post: The Playoffs, Conference Finals

By Sam Gray

The Bracket:

Injuries:

Round 2 Recap:

Out West, the 76ers versus the Grizzlies went the full seven games. Neither team was able to really get ahead of the other, but Philly’s experience won out in the crucial Game 7, 109-102 win. It was a big night for Ben Simmons, who had 26-9-5 with 2 steals and 4 blocks as he roamed the floor and punished the Grizzlies every time he got the ball. Memphis was led the entire series by Ja Morant and got a huge game from Lonnie Walker (20-5) but could not do enough to upset another title contender.

In the second series, Denver had little trouble with the Raptors. Toronto and Denver were tied heading into the crucial Game 3, but the Nuggets blasted the Raptors at home 132-117 thanks to a triple double from Jokic (22-13-10) and 35 points from Millsap in a throwback performance (he was 13-13 from the free throw line). That game turned the series and the Nuggets won Game 4 by 5, lost Game 5 in a blowout (132-99 as Murray and Jokic struggled from the field), and put away Toronto 128-124 in Game 6 behind 29 points from Michael Porter.

In the East bracket, the Lakers and Nets played a close series — no game was decided by more than 7 points except Game 3; the Lakers took a 2-1 lead after that game but Game 3 loss was the Nets coming out party as they blasted LA 141-121 behind a 38-4-12 night from Irving and a 30-10-3 night from Durant, outplaying the Lakers superstars (who got no help other than Dillion Brooks who had 26 points). That would be the game that turned the series as Brooklyn beat LA by 3 in Game 4, then 6 in Game 5, and closed them out with a 3 point win in Game 6 — winning four straight as the Nets make their first ECF trip since Jason Kidd was playing.

In the East’s other series, the Spurs put away the Heat in shorter order than many believed. San Antonio won Game 1 by a huge margin, 132-98, as Miami simply had no answer for the Spurs depth or how hot they were shooting it from deep (14-24 from beyond). Game 2 was another comfortable win with a triple double from Bird (22-14-11). Game 3 saw the Heat get revenge, throttling the Spurs 120-89 as Jimmy Butler and Seth Curry lit up San Antonio from deep, but Game 4 saw the Spurs get it right back with a big win. Game 5 was do or die for Miami and the Heat died — a disastrous 11 point second quarter buried them and the Spurs won 112-94.

Conference Finals Preview:

The WCF comes down the Nuggets and 76ers. Philly found themselves in a conference finals last year only to lose in seven to the Bucks and Giannis; this year, they are desperate for a title and get to roll out their ace in Mike Conley, who’s returned from injury. Denver has made it further than many expected, but historically this is where the Nuggets as a franchise seem to hit their ceiling — no Denver team has made the NBA Finals and it will require a superb effort to get past the hungry 76ers.

In the East, the Spurs and Nets square off in a battle of franchises who really like the colors black and white. San Antonio has had a rather easy time in the playoffs since benching LaMarcus Aldridge for the Aron Baynes/Trey Lyles combo, but the Nets have the big men to keep San Antonio in check there. Both teams are very similar to one another with star wings and point guards, and Brooklyn has the advantage of being here before thanks to the careers of Irving and Durant. Durant is the uber-athlete on the wing that many believe Bird has no answer for — the Nets are hoping that’s the case if they want to punch their ticket to the Finals.

(The random number generator has assigned me Games 4 and 5 of the series. Let’s hope the sim engine doesn’t put me down in a major hole.)

[dfsJunkie]

A few wins away now..