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NBA
May 26, 2021 23:06:06 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 26, 2021 23:06:06 GMT
I thought the Ty Lue hire was a mistake and I think I've been proven right. They underachieved during the regular season and now they've got NO answer for Luka and the Mavs. It's not like these teams haven't faced each other before. The stars will get their numbers regardless of the coach, but the role players? The defensive play? That's where coaches make their mark. Rick Carlisle is a great coach, though, so no shame in being outcoached by him. Former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. has been HUGE for the Mavs. If only the Clippers had some solid wing defenders...
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NBA
May 27, 2021 3:05:02 GMT
Post by B.E. on May 27, 2021 3:05:02 GMT
I’m shocked the Knicks won that game. Midway through the 3rd, I thought they were done.
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NBA
May 27, 2021 11:43:48 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 27, 2021 11:43:48 GMT
I thought the Ty Lue hire was a mistake and I think I've been proven right. They underachieved during the regular season and now they've got NO answer for Luka and the Mavs. It's not like these teams haven't faced each other before. The stars will get their numbers regardless of the coach, but the role players? The defensive play? That's where coaches make their mark. Rick Carlisle is a great coach, though, so no shame in being outcoached by him. Former Knick Tim Hardaway Jr. has been HUGE for the Mavs. If only the Clippers had some solid wing defenders... I wasn't sure about Ty Lue, and honestly I'm still not. In Cleveland the questions were because it was Lebron's team; in LAC it's the management that I've questioned. Part of that management is Lue: I hate sitting both George and Kawhi 25% of the games, and if that's his decision, well...
But also I hate the idea contenders have gotten into their heads that the way to build a champion is mortgaging everything to get a couple stars and then--and this is the part I hate--also almost nothing but aging vets as your role players. They deal away a generation's worth of draft picks and prospects and end up with no flexibility to solve on-court issues. And they invite on-court issues by being inconsistent in their rosters, either by sitting stars or off- and midseason deals and acquisitions.
LAC has other issues too. What did they pay 24-year-old guard Luke Kennard, $60 million or something? He has yet to play in the series. Meanwhile Terrance Mann and Reggie Jackson are out there, or they go supersized with their batch of mostly old role players like Morris, Batum, Ibaka along with Zubac. And how do they improve? As long as they keep George and Kawhi, they have no money. (Even without Kawhi on the books, they're paying big dollars to George, Morris, and Kennard.) And here are their first-rounders, per ESPN:
First round
2021: Own 2022: To Oklahoma City 2023: Own or Oklahoma City (via OKC swap for LAC) 2024: To Oklahoma City 2025: Own or Oklahoma City (via OKC swap for Houston 11-30 or LAC) 2026: To Oklahoma City 2027: Own
I think the idea of going "all in" for a title has to change. Historically nobody has been better at it, in my opinion, than San Antonio. Sure, you bring in useful vets. But you don't overpay anyone, even if it means you may lose him. And you develop young talent to be part of a long-lasting core rather than dealing it away for 35-year-old role players.
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NBA
May 28, 2021 12:02:41 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 28, 2021 12:02:41 GMT
Has there been a more surprisingly disappointing team in the playoffs than Miami? Their whole season has been somewhat disappointing after their trip to the Finals last year. Down 0-3 to Milwaukee, one has to a) suspect their season is almost over, and b) wonder whether Pat Riley is going to seriously overhaul the roster.
They've got two expensive players under contract for next year--Jimmy Butler around $36m and Bam Adebayo around $28m--and a few cheaper deals on key players (Tyler Herro, Precious Achiuwa). They have the right to match offers on Duncan Robinson and Kendrick Nunn. But if they want, they can wash their hands of those last two as well as Victor Oladipo, Goran Dragic, Andre Iguodala, Trevor Ariza, Nemanja Bjelica...basically everyone else.
Oladipo is maybe the biggest question mark: is he going to return to being a near-star type of player, or have his injuries taken him out of that range?
One thing that historically seems true is, Pat Riley doesn't like being pretty good. Making the first round of the playoffs and losing is not a team he seems happy to maintain (while for some of us *ahem, Wolves* that would be a dream come true). They had long been said to be interested in bringing in Giannis as a free agent this summer before he signed his deal with Milwaukee. Now? I don't know.
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NBA
May 30, 2021 11:44:31 GMT
Post by Kapitan on May 30, 2021 11:44:31 GMT
Sheriff John Stone, feeling good yet? Up 3-0, it seems pretty sure you'll at least get out of the first round. Meanwhile Miami laid an egg...
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NBA
May 30, 2021 12:59:47 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 30, 2021 12:59:47 GMT
Sheriff John Stone , feeling good yet? Up 3-0, it seems pretty sure you'll at least get out of the first round. Meanwhile Miami laid an egg... Yes, the 76ers are playing well and they're healthy. I expected more from Washington; their defense is weak. To quote, I guess, Roger Christian - I don't know why but I keep thinking something's bound to go wrong...
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NBA
Jun 1, 2021 12:07:29 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jun 1, 2021 12:07:29 GMT
Your pessimism seems warranted, Sheriff John Stone! Embiid's 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists were great for 11 minutes of play, but that he left the game at that point with a sore knee is less than encouraging.
If you'd told me Washington would beat Philly despite the backcourt of Westbrook-Beal combining to go 12-42 from the floor, I would have been extremely skeptical. But when the two centers (Lopez and Gafford) plus PF Hachimura combine to go 20-27, that sure helps.
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 11:02:22 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 2, 2021 11:02:22 GMT
Your pessimism seems warranted, Sheriff John Stone ! Embiid's 8 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists were great for 11 minutes of play, but that he left the game at that point with a sore knee is less than encouraging.
Yeah, I was at a family cookout, and, of course the 76ers topic came up, so I had to chime in, and repeated my doubts, saying, "It's just a matter of time before Embiid or Simmons gets hurt, or one of them has a terrible game at a critical time in a series...", and, lo and behold, about five hours later...both came true!
Look, I'm at the stage with this team/these two guys where they have to PROVE IT to me. Prove that you're champions. Win something instead of just talking about it.
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 13:14:34 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jun 2, 2021 13:14:34 GMT
The other day I was speculating on Boston's future. Now with the Lakers down 3-2 to Phoenix, I can't help but wonder: if they are ousted in the first round, do you expect dramatic changes for LAL?
While they've only got about half a dozen guys under contract into next year, those guys put them over the cap thanks in large part to Lebron ($41m) and Anthony Davis ($35m), plus Kyle Kuzma and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope ($13m apiece).
But you have to think Lebron will be extremely disappointed and will push for changes. The question is--just as is the case with LAC and BKN--what can they do after they've already spent all they could spend and used most of their assets to get their current stars?
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 13:30:41 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 2, 2021 13:30:41 GMT
But you have to think Lebron will be extremely disappointed and will push for changes. The question is--just as is the case with LAC and BKN--what can they do after they've already spent all they could spend and used most of their assets to get their current stars? If history repeats itself...yes! I'm not familiar enough with the Lakers' and other teams' financial pictures, but I'm familiar with Lebron James, and he usually gets what he wants. He will target...someone, some superstar.
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 14:25:28 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jun 2, 2021 14:25:28 GMT
A friend of mine suggested this the other day and I thought he was nuts, but I'm starting to wonder: do you think it's possible Celtics coach Brad Stevens will be fired after this season?
He has been something of a golden boy throughout his tenure in Boston, first for doing pretty well with a rebuilding team and then for managing massive roster turnover (repeatedly) and still being a contender in the East.
But the Celtics currently sit at .500, which is Stevens' worst winning percentage since his second season, '14-'15. They've lost five of their last six games. They've got two games to go, both on the road (at trying-hard-to-win Minnesota and at New York), and their road record isn't great at 14-20. They had dropped consecutive games to Miami, meaning they could've been 5th in the conference instead of 7th and fighting for their lives, before losing last night to a terrible Cleveland.
Stevens has always had speculation around him related to other teams, including college programs. One wonders if this might be the year he is relieved of his duties or encouraged to take advantage of other opportunities.
(I actually think he's a great coach.)
Well this isn't what I would have guessed, but Woj reports Danny Ainge is stepping down, Brad Stevens is moving into the front office, and the Celtics will seek a new head coach.
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 14:40:34 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 2, 2021 14:40:34 GMT
I've been hearing rumblings about Ainge moving on, though he's only 62. Is he being forced out? Stevens' move is very surprising; he's only 44. That's a little young to be...retiring...from coaching, especially when he hasn't really won anything, though he came close in college.
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NBA
Jun 2, 2021 15:33:09 GMT
Post by B.E. on Jun 2, 2021 15:33:09 GMT
Very surprised about Stevens!
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NBA
Jun 3, 2021 11:20:01 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Jun 3, 2021 11:20:01 GMT
Philly survives to fight another day even without Joel Embiid. Though it is surprising (and a sign of the times?) that when Embiid is out, Dwight Howard still only plays 16 minutes. (His fouling didn't help that cause.)
But farewell to NYK, with the Atlanta win. Still, great progress for the Knicks this season. I've seen that--the Thibs turnaround--before!
Utah advancing is nice, but unsurprising.
And Dallas--I'm rooting for Dallas! I don't actually love the roster overall, but I sure love Luka. And I don't like the Clippers. So I'll be cheering on the Mavs for sure. But Porzingis really needs to step it up. He's the highest paid player on the team (until Luka gets paid) at $30m or more for three more seasons, yet in this playoff series he's averaging 13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, and 0.8 bpg. Decent for a rotation player, not acceptable for a guy who is supposed to be a star.
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NBA
Jun 4, 2021 11:43:25 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Jun 4, 2021 11:43:25 GMT
Farewell to the King (James) until next season!
I have to admit, I like that the Lakers exited. I also like that Denver topped Portland. Jokic is one of my favorite players in the league, and my choice for MVP this season.
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