(1) Thunder vs. (8) Pelicans First Round Playoff Series Thread

[Street Hunger]

(1) Oklahoma City vs. (8) New Orleans

• Game 1: Thunder 94, Pelicans 92
• Game 2: Thunder 124, Pelicans 92
• Game 3: Thunder 106, Pelicans 85
• Game 4: Thunder 97, Pelicans 89

Oklahoma City wins series 4-0

[bison]

I would take OKC over New Orleans any day but this series is a lot less intriguing without Zion making his proper playoff debut.

[FultzNationRISE]

If the Zion we saw in the first play-in game were active and available I could easily see this series going either way. I might even like New Orleans. Really unfortunate hes not gonna be able to go. Without him it’s definitely advantage OKC. Altho these teams are still much more closely matched than 1-8 suggests. I dont think Thunder will have it easy.

[Axe]

To think that zion has a good chance at aiming for a championship this year is a bit delusional even if he's fully healthy. His team should have beaten up the lakers at the losers bracket if they're hellbent on believing so.

[Im Still Ballin]

ISB's expert pick: 4-1 OKC.

[Proctor]

Thunder in 6

[FultzNationRISE]

4-2 for dem OKC boyz

[ImKobe]

They gotta let BI go all out if they're gonna have a chance in this. Need the same BI we saw vs the Suns in '22. Pels still got a legitimate defense without Zion, issue is that CJ will shoot them out of games. They took 2 off the Suns without Zion a few years ago. They can keep the series close without him and maybe he's healthy enough to return and tilt it in their favor.

They said he'd be out 2 weeks with the hammy on April 17th, so that would make him available for Game 5 or 6 if the timetable holds up.

[AlternativeAcc.]

This Is a sweep for OKC.

[BarberSchool]

Thunder won’t have an easy time rebounding against the Pels, even without Zion.
Both Valanciunas and Nance can punish Chet on the boards.

But Pels will have long droughts.

OKC will get to the second round, and likely lose to Dallas again getting slaughtered on the boards, as well as out-shot.

[L.Kizzle]

What a low scoring first quarter. Looks like a late 90s score.

[Proctor]

This is going to be a great series tbh.

Unless Alvarado goes down ofc.

[SATAN]

lmao@the flexing. You got tapped on the forearm. Settle down. :lol

[BarberSchool]

lmao@the flexing. You got tapped on the forearm. Settle down. :lol
I feel like 8-9/10 of the flexes I’ve seen the last 2-3yrs, deserve punches in the ribs, then pats on the back, in the most “sonning” way possible. To really deserve the flex, nigg@s either gotta dunk on someone for an and-1, or Jordan thru Ewing and McDaniel tough layup. If it’s not somewhere in that ballpark … don’t flex. PSA/FYI

[BarberSchool]

This is going to be a great series tbh.

Unless Alvarado goes down ofc.
I genuinely believe this is going to be a difficult series for OKC, mainly due to rebounding and less frequent transition offense.

Nawlins already has 8 additional FG attempts due to offensive rebounds, just halfway thru the 2nd

[Proctor]

The Thunder barking chant is just as bad as the Grizzlies' "Whoop That Trick" shit :facepalm

[Jasper]

ever top seed wn today .. but Pelicans could change that :oldlol::pimp::oldlol:

[RRR3]

Jesus I feel like OKC loses this series for sure if Zion is healthy.

[Axe]

The thunder showing they're really a young, inexperienced team here.

[Proctor]

Jesus I feel like OKC loses this series for sure if Zion is healthy.
We know :cheers:

[Naero]

Might be a rare modern game where neither team scores 100.

Smart of the Pelicans to limit the pace like this. It’s one of OKC’s strengths, and it’d generally be easier for the more talented team (i.e., the Thunder) to run away with it in an uptempo game.

[SouBeachTalents]

The NBA needs to take cues from the NFL, the amount of time it takes to do a review is ridiculous :lol

[1_BAD_TIGER]

Dumb challenge by OKC, gives the ball to NO

[bladefd]

OKC looks so vulnerable. Not surprising but this is a huge collapse in the 2nd half for them

[bison]

Gorgeous Alexander!

[Proctor]

Gorgeous Alexander!
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/image.php?u=378125&dateline=1636141682

[SouBeachTalents]

That was a poor final possession.

[Nowoco]

Great D but really poor final possession from the Pels.

[Axe]

The pels choked it away lmao.

[Proctor]

inb4 CP3 returns to NO next year.

[bison]

Pels needed to run something for trey. Mccollum is not that guy anymore.

[SATAN]

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/image.php?u=378125&dateline=1636141682

:yaohappy:

[RRR3]

Pels needed to run something for trey. Mccollum is not that guy anymore.
YDK not even considered by his biggest fan. :(

[Cowboy Thunder]

:cheers:

[GimmeThat]

The Thunders don't have any great 1 on 1 defenders because they believe so much in moving the ball. again, the Pelicans need to look for ways where the off ball movement only has one goal in mind, simple catch and score.

[AlternativeAcc.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkeepNNf7SE

Insane clutch block by Holgrem.. Rookie of the year


5 blocks in his playoff debut

[BarberSchool]

Pels borrowing a page from Clippers game 1 when they force fed Zubac.

Jonas is treating Chet like his little cousin.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Chet dominating early.

[RRR3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkeepNNf7SE

Insane clutch block by Holgrem.. Rookie of the year


5 blocks in his playoff debut
:roll: :roll: :roll:


Budumbiii at it again :roll:

[Proctor]

Ingram is super stoned tonight and McCollum must have got a contact high

[BarberSchool]

Chet dominating early.
Hitting 3’s and FT while getting crushed inside and sonned on the boards isn’t “dominating”
It’s “shooting well”

[BarberSchool]

Ingram is super stoned tonight and McCollum must have got a contact high

Ingram sweat is 1.28% D9THC, 0.32% Myrcene, 0.24% Terpinolene, some nicotine, etc

[RRR3]

Ingram is super stoned tonight and McCollum must have got a contact high
:roll:

[AlternativeAcc.]

Chet about to have 40 points and 5 blocks in his 2nd playoff game. My goodness. Pelicans are trash.

[ImKobe]

Ingram is super stoned tonight and McCollum must have got a contact high

He's done with the Pels. Trade request incoming.

[Axe]

He's done with the Pels. Trade request incoming.
He should play for the pistons or the wizards.

[GimmeThat]

kinda odd in todays league, to have such a large margin of victory, and not have any player come close to a triple double. if you don't pay close enough attention, you'd probably miss out on all the moving screens.

[FultzNationRISE]

He's done with the Pels. Trade request incoming.

Nah, New Orleans is a good spot for him. He’s not a first option. He’s a good second option, paul george type, occasional first option in spurts if need be. He’s a good fit with Zion, they played well together early in the season. Kinda lost their chemistry when Ingraham came back from injury but theyll get better over time.

Dont really see a better spot for him. Unless maybe Toronto wants him as an upgrade to RJ Barrett and Nawlins wants to save some salary.

[GimmeThat]

Nah, New Orleans is a good spot for him. He’s not a first option. He’s a good second option, paul george type, occasional first option in spurts if need be. He’s a good fit with Zion, they played well together early in the season. Kinda lost their chemistry when Ingraham came back from injury but theyll get better over time.

Dont really see a better spot for him. Unless maybe Toronto wants him as an upgrade to RJ Barrett and Nawlins wants to save some salary.

you might wanna update your glasses based on the stats of D'Angelo Russell first 2 years with the Lakers, and when they got him back.
he had even higher usage back then.

[Street Hunger]

Thunder up 10 in 2nd quarter of Game 3

[Im Still Ballin]

Giddy playing well. When he's on OKC is hard to stop.

[AlternativeAcc.]

Dort clamping Ingram and drilling 3s. Beast.

[FultzNationRISE]

Giddy playing well. When he's on OKC is hard to stop.

Lu Dort goin crazy too. The Thunder’s young talent is stupid stacked. If they could keep this whole roster together theyll just be a dynasty for the next 15 years :biggums:


The problem is gonna be paying everyone. The new CBA is designed to stop teams from doing it, and the Thunder especially as a small market team are likely gonna have some tough choices.

Very keen to see how they decide to maneuver in the years to come.

[Nowoco]

The Pels are horrible to watch. Good riddance when they get swept.

[FultzNationRISE]

Im confused by JV’s minutes. Hes got their biggest mismatch, last game he scored their first 11 points but only plays 23 minutes.

Today he started 3/4 but played 12 minutes total. Did he get hurt at some point? If so I missed it.

Like, Holmgren cant handle him. And hes been converting consistently around the basket. Larry Nance is a good energy guy but he doesnt give them much in this matchup. They shoulda been leaning more on Jonas.

[fsvr54]

Im confused by JV’s minutes. Hes got their biggest mismatch, last game he scored their first 11 points but only plays 23 minutes.

Today he started 3/4 but played 12 minutes total. Did he get hurt at some point? If so I missed it.

Like, Holmgren cant handle him. And hes been converting consistently around the basket. Larry Nance is a good energy guy but he doesnt give them much in this matchup. They shoulda been leaning more on Jonas.

It makes ZERO sense. I would have Jonas take 40 shots a game.

[BarberSchool]

Im confused by JV’s minutes. Hes got their biggest mismatch, last game he scored their first 11 points but only plays 23 minutes.

Today he started 3/4 but played 12 minutes total. Did he get hurt at some point? If so I missed it.

Like, Holmgren cant handle him. And hes been converting consistently around the basket. Larry Nance is a good energy guy but he doesnt give them much in this matchup. They shoulda been leaning more on Jonas.
Same thing with Zubac.

Just keep going to it until they stop it made times in a row.
It’s like they are just using it as a tool to puppeteer defenses then they abandon once it sets up something else. Nah idiots, go right back to it again. Mix it up ALL GAME LONG, until it fails mad times in a row.

[GimmeThat]

am I being too cold, for telling Dalai Lama, who promised he'd burn himself to death in order to provide the warmth in which humanity requires to live, to hurry the f*ck up. is that cold?

:rant

[Axe]

Bye bye, pels.