|
NBA
May 1, 2024 12:06:28 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 1, 2024 12:06:28 GMT
I love watching him, too. My only fear: he's always on the floor, like pre-injuries Derrick Rose. As much as I love guys who are willing to go hard at the hoop, I hate to see careers threatened.But what a fantastic player he has become. Four years in the league, improved every season. Still only 23 years old. Maxey's constant falling on the floor has to stop. Frankly, I'm surprised somebody hasn't "gotten in his ear" about it. Maxey is coachable.
|
|
|
NBA
May 4, 2024 17:46:01 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 4, 2024 17:46:01 GMT
Game 1 of Nuggets vs Wolves tonight. Any thoughts, Kapitan? How optimistic are you that the Wolves might win this series? They met last year in the playoffs as a 1 vs 8 matchup, but now they're 2 vs 3. They were 2-2 during the regular season. I think this could end up being the best series of the second round.
|
|
|
NBA
May 4, 2024 22:39:42 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 4, 2024 22:39:42 GMT
My thoughts are: "yessir!" As in, it's sports, and this is what it's about. I'm excited because it seems like a potentially amazing series. I hate predicting, because predictions are basically worthless. I didn't expect we'd sweep Phoenix--or even beat them in a 4-3 series. But here we are.
I am thrilled that we're healthy. That's all you can ask for.
The Nuggets have been one of my favorite teams roughly since Jokic got there (though I've on-and-off loved them back to my youth, with Fat Lever and Alex English!), and of course the Wolves have been my favorite team since 1989-90. We've got connections, with our GM Tim Connelly having been the architect of that team, and their GM Calvin Booth having worked here. We also have a few former coaches (Ryan Saunders, David Adelman) on their staff. So it feels strangely familiar, almost like an intrafmaily thing, a high-stakes intrasquad scrimmage.
It'll be fun (I hope).
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on May 5, 2024 12:02:32 GMT
What a Game 1! Not only am I (obviously) thrilled with the outcome, but it was just a fantastic game.
Anthony Edwards was beyond good ... again. 43 points (17-29 FG, 6-6 FT), 7 rebounds, 3 assists, just 1 TO, and really good defense. When we took him #1 overall, I wasn't sold on the pick. He reminded me of guys like Shabazz Muhammad, or going back a couple decades, Schea Cotton: big, physical wings who stood out in HS and college in part because they were so strong for their off-guard positions, but whose physical profiles weren't quite so rare in the pros, even as their skill levels were subpar. I've known now for a couple of years that I was wrong, but I'll say it again. I was wrong! Ant's skill level has continually increased throughout his young career. He has become a better ball-handler, a better decision-maker, a better passer, and a better defender. He's a legit #1 star.
Towns was good in providing offense on a night when not everyone was hitting shots (Jaden McDaniels 0-7; Nickeil Alexander-Walker 2-6; Rudy Gobert with a good percentage but limited attempts at 3-6), though his defense was poor as usual for most of the game. Naz Reid absolutely caught fire in the 4th, scoring I think 14 of his 16 in that period.
Jokic finished with a nice stat line of 32, 8 and 9, but the Wolves did a nice job frustrating him. He shot just 11-25 (44%; he's a 58% shooter this season) and had 7 TO. His 8 rebounds are nice in a vacuum, but he averages 12+ rpg, while Gobert (12), McDaniels (8) and Edwards (7) combined for 27 rebounds. And we managed to more or less shut down Jamal Murray for the entire first half. We need to be better on Michael Porter Jr, who in theory should be the easiest to stop: more than half of his FGAs are 3s, many of them kickouts. It's largely about being in position on rotations and challenging him.
I fully expect the series to be tough, but if this was any indication, it'll also be a lot of fun.
|
|
|
NBA
May 5, 2024 14:09:47 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 5, 2024 14:09:47 GMT
I watched the fourth quarter and it was pretty much all Wolves. Their execution on both ends was impressive and the Nuggets looked a little out of sorts. They certainly earned that victory down the stretch. I'm not sure I would have taken out Naz Reid, though!
|
|
|
NBA
May 7, 2024 11:17:55 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 7, 2024 11:17:55 GMT
Up 2-0 on Denver on a pair of road wins. A 6-0 start to the playoffs. If you'd asked me where we'd be after six playoff games, first of all, I might be surprised we got six playoff games. But then I'd say either 2-4 or 3-3. (Sorry, but it's true!) After 35 years of mostly ineptitude and frustration, this is almost unbelievable. And B.E. , when I checked in on the Knicks last night, they were down 10 or so late in the third or early in the fourth. But I see another strong finish--and yet another 40+ game from Jalen Brunson!--put them in a 1-0 lead.
|
|
|
NBA
May 7, 2024 22:37:03 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 7, 2024 22:37:03 GMT
Up 2-0 on Denver on a pair of road wins. A 6-0 start to the playoffs. If you'd asked me where we'd be after six playoff games, first of all, I might be surprised we got six playoff games. But then I'd say either 2-4 or 3-3. (Sorry, but it's true!) After 35 years of mostly ineptitude and frustration, this is almost unbelievable. The blowout win in game 2 was very surprising! And B.E. , when I checked in on the Knicks last night, they were down 10 or so late in the third or early in the fourth. But I see another strong finish--and yet another 40+ game from Jalen Brunson!--put them in a 1-0 lead. Nearly the entire game was a two-possession game, but the Pacers did extend it to about 10 for a few minutes there. Brunson was incredible down the stretch and Hart just continues to find another level. He played all 48 minutes and appeared to get quicker, faster, and stronger with every one-man fastbreak. Unbelievable. It's hard to imagine that when his career is over, this playoff run isn't his best moment. There was a lot of talk going into the series of their contrasting styles and the importance for each team of controlling the pace. And I think that's true, but I also think Kenny Smith made a good point before the game that he thought the Knicks could play faster. That if the Pacers sped them up, they could still be successful. I think Hart proved his point. I can't remember the last time I was so anxious watching a basketball game as I was during Game 6 of the Knicks-Sixers series. Game 1 didn't quite reach that level, but I have a feeling later this series will. Watching the Pacers on offense really was a "culture shock" compared to the Sixers offense. The speed and movement is next level. The Knicks were fortunate to escape with a win, and I think they'll adjust moving forward. The Knicks certainly had two whistles go their way late, but I honestly don't think that decided the game. And only one of those was actually an incorrect call. There were quite a few questionable calls throughout the game (including one that went against the Knicks just a minute or so earlier). You mentioned Thibs and his shortened rotation recently. I was glad to see him put in Achiuwa in the 2nd quarter, but I didn't like the lineup. And that was it for him: 4 minutes. Since Bogdanovic went down, I've been hoping he'd give Burks a shot (I assume he's healthy), but he hasn't. I'm a huge Robinson fan, but after his return to the lineup from missing Game 4 of the Sixers series I feel like Thibs has relied on him a little too much and I worry that his reduced mobility (same ankle that caused him to miss 50 games this season) will be a problem against the Pacers where it wasn't when he was matched up against an even more hobbled Embiid. (Granted he only played 12 minutes in Game 1.) The Knicks need to take better care of the ball in late game situations. They've been having issues going to back to the end of the regular season. And they need to make their free throws. Brunson did last night (and they did at the end of Game 6).
|
|
|
NBA
May 7, 2024 22:44:53 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 7, 2024 22:44:53 GMT
Re that Wolves blowout: especially without Gobert!
Re the Knicks and Thibs ... I just can't get over his over-reliance on his starters! It's obviously just the way it is at this point. I fully realize Randle is hurt, Bogdanovic is hurt, and Robinson might not be fully healthy. But even so, as you mentioned, they've got Burks. And they've got Milton. And they've got (homer alert!) Jericho Sims, who is a great athlete with size who can easily give you 5-10 mpg in the playoffs. It's not that I think Thibs needs to give 10 guys 24 mpg, but just that I think he'd better serve his teams if he'd give 3-4 guys off the bench 7-12 mpg, every game, even in the playoffs. Sometimes, some guys can be Superman and play 40, 44, 48 minutes in a game. But game in, game out, it's been shown time and time again to break guys down. I think Thibs is irrational to continually do it.
I really wish Randle, Bogdanovic, and Robinson were all fully healthy, just to see whether he'd actually take advantage. Honestly I'm not sure he would.
All that criticism aside: what a team! What a fun year it must be to watch the Knicks. Jalen Brunson has been fantastic. I liked him in college, I thought he was good with Dallas. But I still thought he was a bit overrated and might be another of the Knicks's many, many famous mistakes. But nope. He's been amazing.
|
|
|
NBA
May 7, 2024 22:54:09 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 7, 2024 22:54:09 GMT
I feel like Thibs was using his bench well all season until Bogdanovic went down and the Sixers series got tough. If we get a little separation from the Pacers, I think he'll deepen the rotation a little. He's got to. He's got to find a couple minutes here and there, especially for Hart. We'll see.
|
|
|
NBA
May 7, 2024 23:19:18 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 7, 2024 23:19:18 GMT
I just know he's beaten the hell out of his starters for a long time now, with several franchises. And time after time, they end up banged-up.
|
|
|
NBA
May 8, 2024 1:31:06 GMT
via mobile
Post by B.E. on May 8, 2024 1:31:06 GMT
Well, Robinson is out 6-8 weeks. He’d clearly been playing hurt. Eventually, the Knicks are just not going to be able to overcome all of these injuries. I really hope we run it back. I’d love to see this group fully healthy. Sims will probably play tomorrow.
|
|
|
NBA
May 10, 2024 20:11:35 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 10, 2024 20:11:35 GMT
B.E., I see OG Anunoby joins the list of injured Knicks out for tonight's game. It's really a shame that injuries are playing such a big part of this playoff season: you hate to have things decided by that. I like Indiana and am glad to see them doing well, but there is no way they'd be competitive with a fully healthy Knicks team this year. I didn't mention Jalen Brunson above because while he's listed as questionable because of his foot, I have a hard time imagining he won't play. However, even if he plays, it's got to limit him somewhat. (Not that he's the most athletic guy to start with... I'm reminded of the 1996 NCAA Tournament when Syracuse's PG, Lazarus Sims, another old-man-before-his-time guard, was seriously hobbled, almost playing on one foot. I joked then that you almost couldn't tell the difference.)
|
|
|
NBA
May 10, 2024 21:39:09 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 10, 2024 21:39:09 GMT
I'm sort of relieved that OG is out. I wouldn't mind him missing both games in Indiana if it meant he'd be mostly, if not entirely, recovered later in the series. As much as I'd love to watch a competitive game tonight, I hope they are careful with Brunson, too. We have the luxury of being up 2-0, I hope they'll be smart about these injuries. Last game was such a rollercoaster. I didn't think anything of Brunson being taken out with 3 minutes left in the first. In fact, I'm not sure I even noticed. And I wasn't worried about him going back to the locker room either, but by mid 2nd quarter with no sight of him and no news, I thought he was done for the game. For him to come back and play as well as he did was remarkable. Fittingly, on May 8th, the anniversary of Willis Reed inspiring the Knicks to victory in Game 7 of the 1970 NBA finals! Then, of course, OG appeared to pull his hamstring. With all these injuries, I truly felt like the entire series hung in the balance down the stretch of that game. The Knicks might be able to overcome these injuries with a 2-0 cushion, but 1-1? Hard to imagine, unless the Pacers completely implode.
|
|
|
NBA
May 11, 2024 11:28:13 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 11, 2024 11:28:13 GMT
So much for the undefeated postseason...
|
|
|
NBA
May 17, 2024 10:24:27 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 17, 2024 10:24:27 GMT
I've been too down to post in this thread, with the Wolves having collapsed from a 2-0 lead over Denver to a 2-3 deficit. But last night, wow. I was hoping, if not optimistic for, a win to push it to game seven. But what a win it was. Now it all comes down to Sunday.
And the Knicks have a potentially decisive game tonight.
|
|