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And then, there were four.
Updated NBA radial bracket. Yellow is surprisingly popular. http://t.co/uKaxDz5bT0 pic.twitter.com/OIajG76mVm
— Tom Ziller (@teamziller) May 18, 2015
The Rockets, who by all accounts were donesky, finit, finished, somehow rallied to win their series against the Los Angeles Clippers.
*Rallied* is not a strong enough term for what they accomplished. They were down 19 points, in an elimination game, in the late third quarter, IN LOS ANGELES! The win probabilty chart from that game is completely bonzo-knock-down crazy talk:
At one point in the third, the Clippers had a 99% chance to win the game, according to InPredictable.
I still don't know whether to chalk it up as an epic Rockets comeback or an epic Clippers failure.
But this is where the men are separated from the boys and a reason to eat yr Wheaties and such things involving Pacino giving speeches and now, after never trailing in game 7, the Rockets move on to face the Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.
My favorite moment from last night's game was when James Harden abused Austin Rivers with his patented hesitation move. (Note Austin's sad head banging around at the end of the play).
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The Warriors prevailed in their own series. I didn't end up writing a recap of game six because I worked for 18 hours on Saturday, so there's that.
Quick thoughts as we move forward:
1.) Sheeeeeeesh thats a hell of a way to both end a quarter and ignite a run:
2.) Filth:
Steph crossed Courtney Lee up SO BAD that Mike Tirico, who was calling the game, thought he got "leveled" on the screen from David Lee. Nope, that's just Steph's filth at work.
Side note, funny observation:
you guys do realize there's a raging sociopath underneath the cuddly adolescent exterior of Stephen Curry basking in all this praise lmaooo
— Morris Almond (@FreeMoAlmond) May 18, 2015
Steph Curry's game is literally witnessing bipolar impulsivity in flight, unchecked. pull up 30 footers on a whim. a thing to behold.
— Morris Almond (@FreeMoAlmond) May 18, 2015
3.) Yesterday, the Warriors had a practice just to concentrate on themselves. They all sound pretty relaxed.
4.) Lastly, if you haven't read this, or if you don't know the story behind Steve Kerr's father, you need to check this out. A dad's legacy: Warriors' Kerr guided by father's example, from Jon Wilner.
Okay, that's all. Hope everyone's Mondays are progressing in a satisfactory fashion.
Game 1 of the WCF is tomorrow. 6pm PDT. ESPN.
Bring it.
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Edit: Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu-- this:
ESPN officially announces Mark Jackson calling entire Warriors-Rockets series.
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) May 18, 2015