Maple_City_Fan
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I failed to mention Austin Reaves was Extra Hillbilly Kobe last night.
Playoffs thread
- Thread starter Orin Swift
- Start date
nwwarrior09
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First time Steve Kerr has lost a series to a Western Conference opponent in 9 years of coaching the Warriors. Granted they've missed the playoffs a couple times, but still incredibly impressive IMO.
Warriors seem to be due for at least a partial teardown/rebuild. Curry is 35 and on the books for big money the next three years, and they've got sizable though not max money invested in Wiggins and Poole. I think Klay Thompson (1 year remaining) and Draymond Green (player option) are going to be ripe trade candidates between the summer months and next year's deadline. They aren't a championship caliber team anymore, and some of the aging expensive stars are going to have to go to clear the way for young players like Kuminga.
Warriors seem to be due for at least a partial teardown/rebuild. Curry is 35 and on the books for big money the next three years, and they've got sizable though not max money invested in Wiggins and Poole. I think Klay Thompson (1 year remaining) and Draymond Green (player option) are going to be ripe trade candidates between the summer months and next year's deadline. They aren't a championship caliber team anymore, and some of the aging expensive stars are going to have to go to clear the way for young players like Kuminga.
Orin Swift
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Tatum will remember that game for the rest of his life. Fun to watch
14Red
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I really feel this will be the end point for the Lakers. The Nuggets match up very well with the Lakers, are younger and better.
14Red
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He took over the last 5 quarters of the series. The frustrating part as a Sixer fan is we could have drafted Tatum, took Markelle Fultz instead....
brian1227
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Miami has Kevin love.
Maple_City_Fan
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Just about all the pundits are picking Nuggets over the Lakerrrrssss
Screw the pundits
Screw the pundits
14Red
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Even if you're not a fan of the teams playing, there are still two compelling series.
Boston/ Miami - the simple fact that a #8 seed has made it to the conf finals is impressive. It's funny in the NBA how coaching is really put off so much, but Erik Spolstra has go down as one of the greatest coaches ever. They've made it to the conference finals 5 of the last 10 years. I credit him with those titles in Miami more than LeBron, he and Pat Riley got LeBron to stand down and not be a player coach. The Heat just grind, they play defense, they knocked off the top seeded Bucks in a stunner, then got a break getting the Knicks in round 2. Meanwhile the defending eastern conf champs Boston Celtics have fought their way back to the finals and have been wildly inconsistent during the playoffs. Now I would think Boston has enough to get through this series but who knows? Miami brings a physicality that I'm not sure Boston can take. I could see Tatum getting beaten down this series.
Denver/ Los Angeles - One team expected to be here, the other not. The Lakers have somehow been able to conjure up enough points and stops to get to this point, and LeBron and AD are still somewhat healthy. But the real surprise with this team is the contributions from "everyone else". That being Austin Reeves, D'Angelo Russell, Lonnie Walker, Dennis Schroueder. Meanwhile the Nuggets have been humming along. They did hit back to back losses to the Suns, but stormed back in games 5and 6 with resounding victories. I feel the key to this series will be the Nuggets front line vs. the Lakers. Powell, Gordon and Jokic will be way to much for LeBron, AD and Hachimura.
14Red
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It's hard to keep taking the Lakers, AD is going to break down, just when and not if. LeBron is just about out of gas and he's going to to have to guard Porter / Gordon. But they've lasted this long and you just never know.
nwwarrior09
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Spurs hit the jackpot in the lottery. The big French guy in this draft class probably has a higher ceiling than any prospect since LeBron 20 years ago.
Or so we are led to believe.
Orin Swift
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Playoff Jimmy is just something else
nwwarrior09
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We'll see. I don't think there'd be much doubt about it if he was a one-and-done college player. He probably averages close to 25 ppg and 10-11 rpg if he played major college basketball this year instead of French pro ball.
Spolstra is absolutely one of the best basketball coaches of all time. When he has a talented team he wins it all. When he doesn’t have an exceptionally talented team he still almost wins it all and always has them in contention and playing hard. I wish he coached the soft Cavs.
Almost every year..in every draft ..in every sport there is a generational player…can’t miss
…the French kid weighs less than my breakfast today…maybe he will be all that but let’s pump the brakes on the media hype (which is all about money and ratings)…let me see this against the best in the world on a nightly basis…Remember Zion? Biggest thing since sliced bread…too fat to stay healthy…this kid is wafer thin…the association is rough…especially come playoff time!
…the French kid weighs less than my breakfast today…maybe he will be all that but let’s pump the brakes on the media hype (which is all about money and ratings)…let me see this against the best in the world on a nightly basis…Remember Zion? Biggest thing since sliced bread…too fat to stay healthy…this kid is wafer thin…the association is rough…especially come playoff time!
nwwarrior09
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Celtics looked like they went ahead and booked their trip to Cabo between games 2 and 3. Embarrassing.
Stirred not Shaken
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Lebron is a great player but a GOAT would have taken the open jumper instead of driving into a double team.
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14Red
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Amen, the drafts has become big promo shows for ESPN/ Fox and the other sports outlets. You actually go back a few years and look at drafts and some never even become relative players on their teams. Sadly our sports "reporting" isn't reporting anymore. The goal is to get people to watch. The sports used to do that on their own.Almost every year..in every draft ..in every sport there is a generational player…can’t miss
I am delighted that the Nuggets swept the "media's darling Lakers." Any time the Lakers, Cowboys, or Yankees lose, especially important games, I am happy. But, of course, the headlines and first up on the talk agenda isn't about Denver, it's " Will LeBron retire" and " What's needed to fix the Lakers?" It's like constantly hearing about the overrated Dak Prescott.
He's going to be a dawg if he stays healthy. I fear for how injuries will impact his career however.
nwwarrior09
Well-known member
I'm actually fairly optimistic about potential injuries...kid has been playing against pros since he was 15, and has not had any significant injuries to date. I've read that both personal and club trainers the last few years have put a lot of emphasis on proper motor movements and fluidity for him.
Due to possible injuries, lack of weight and frame, etc., I didn't like Holmgren as a prospect...and he went on to have a lisfranc foot injury last summer. This kid is 3-4 inches taller and 35 pounds heavier than Holmgren with a better frame to add mass, he subjectively has better skills, and he already has four years of French, EuroCup, and EuroLeague experience, and he was a monster in the French league last year. His ceiling is stupid high.
14Red
Well-known member
It's unfortunate that the sports media today doesn't trust us enough to just be sports fans. They force feed the big fan bases for ratings. People wonder why the NBA's not popular. We're tired of LeBron James!!! Multiple times in the Nuggets series, he faked injuries and falls to get calls...who does that? This isn't soccer. No one has got more calls the last 20 years in basketball than LeBron. Have we ever seen a superstar complain more about officiating that LeBron? From the start to the end of the game, it's non stop.
And on the final play last night, Aaron Gordon bodied LeBron up going to the hoop, and Jamal Murray came over and actually tied him up (no call) but LeBron had no time or space to even get a legit shot off.
What we saw last night down the stretch was typical LeBron's teams over the years. No point guard because LeBron has to trigger everything, he brings the ball down, holds it, no one moves and the ball stagnates. Denver meanwhile, guys are moving, screens are being set. You wonder if Austin Reeves doesn't come from nowhere if the Lakers even get into the playoffs.
nwwarrior09
Well-known member
Celtics live to game 5.
If I'm them, I'm having some serious doubts about Jaylen Brown and carrying him as max contract tandem with Tatum going forward. Brown has not been good this series, and has regressed in scoring and efficiency as the playoffs have progressed: 27 ppg in round 1 against the Hawks, 23 ppg against the Sixers, and a measly 17 ppg on less than 40% shooting from the field this series. Going into a contract year and will command a massive payday next summer.
If I'm them, I'm having some serious doubts about Jaylen Brown and carrying him as max contract tandem with Tatum going forward. Brown has not been good this series, and has regressed in scoring and efficiency as the playoffs have progressed: 27 ppg in round 1 against the Hawks, 23 ppg against the Sixers, and a measly 17 ppg on less than 40% shooting from the field this series. Going into a contract year and will command a massive payday next summer.