OT: 2021 NBA Playoffs

[nelsonmuntz]

I'm a Blazers fan and I don't have the same confidence you do. CJ has been a no show, Melo is a nice story but plays no D and runs hot and cold, the rest of the bench sucks, and Nurk can't keep his hands to himself. Everyone in Portland is calling it Dame and the 4 dwarves because of the lack of consistent support (except from Covington). That said, Lillard could still drag them kicking and screaming to the next round, all you have to do is tell him he can't. Holy hell, 55 points on 24 shots, 12 of 17 from the three...

And I forgot, only 1 turnover...

Lillard was 1 for 10 in game 4, and the Blazers blew the Nuggets out.

 

[Ratso]

tyrese maxey is the real deal

 

[navery12]

Maybe after watching this series the Knicks will realize they need to run an offense and actually try to score

 

[superjohn]

You are right. Who would have ever thought that Davis or Lebron might get hurt? Oh wait, I said that last season. And this season.

Lebron is 36 years old and Davis has played more than 70 games in a season TWICE in his career. The big aspect of last season that I did not see coming was that there would be a worldwide pandemic, which suspended the season and gave the Lakers' two superstars a chance to recuperate from the season before the playoffs. Apparently Superjohn predicted Covid-19 before last season started.

This is the content we all come here for.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Maybe after watching this series the Knicks will realize they need to run an offense and actually try to score

Idk what kind of offense will work with Randle as your best player. They, like most teams, need an elite play/shot maker.

 

[Horatio]

 

[Lefty2one]

The Knicks proved once again that playoff basketball is a completely different animal. They aren't in the same class as ATL. Talent, coaching, shooting, playmaking, defense. You can't expect a team with no playmakers led by Julius Randle to get you anywhere in the playoffs.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Who wants to correct me, as a Nets fan, about the fact that Milwaukee is the last team I'm really worried about? Lakers would be concerning if AD and Lebron were healthy.

 

[navery12]

Idk what kind of offense will work with Randle as your best player. They, like most teams, need an elite play/shot maker.

Yeah Randle is great but he's not a #1 option, hopefully they're able to get one in a trade this offseason. They have a few nice long term pieces but like most teams are missing the main piece

 

[Lefty2one]

Who wants to correct me, as a Nets fan, about the fact that Milwaukee is the last team I'm really worried about? Lakers would be concerning if AD and Lebron were healthy.

You may be right. MIL/BK is going to be interesting. Giannis can be contained with the right personnel but BK certainly doesn't have it. Giannis is about as good of a guy as you can throw at KD, not that that means much, and Jrue is a good guy to put on Harden or Kyrie. BK doesn't have anyone to guard Middleton either. Should be fun.

Assuming Embiid can play this will be the most interesting ECSF in a while.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Yeah Randle is great but he's not a #1 option, hopefully they're able to get one in a trade this offseason. They have a few nice long term pieces but like most teams are missing the main piece

Exactly. He made great strides this year, but he'd be so much better working off someone who makes plays. Imagine if he was in Collins role for Atlanta, filthy.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Probably a more fun question to save for the off season, but what does Atlanta do moving forward? If Embiid is healthy, they should lose that series, but that would make them the projected 4th best team in the east going into next season if nothing major changes. Are they going to sign Collins to big money? Can they find a star player to pair with Trae and potentially take them into contention? Wouldn't shock me if they're the landing place for the leagues next disgruntled star.

 

[Ratso]

i was a nets fan
before jay z moved them to brooklyn
now that i live in philly & iverson, been a fan for 20 yrs


i wanna see phillyvsbrooklyn

we’re back baby!!!!

 

[auror]

Luka is unconscious right now. Dallas decided to just play a giant lineup and just have Luka shoot stepback 3s every possession and it's hilariously working.

 

[Ratso]

less go luka!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

You may be right. MIL/BK is going to be interesting. Giannis can be contained with the right personnel but BK certainly doesn't have it. Giannis is about as good of a guy as you can throw at KD, not that that means much, and Jrue is a good guy to put on Harden or Kyrie. BK doesn't have anyone to guard Middleton either. Should be fun.

Assuming Embiid can play this will be the most interesting ECSF in a while.

The Bucks are playing a lot better than they were last year. First, they are playing a normal offense with Lopez in the post, which makes Giannis much more effective. Holiday mails it in at times during the regular season, but he is playing well now. All these weapons leave Middleton a lot of open looks. And that is against good defenses, which the Nets do not have. Portis and PJ Tucker were good additions.

The wild card is Forbes. He had an eFG of 72.5% again the Heat, but I have trouble believing this guy is for real. If he can do that to the Heat, imagine what he will do to a bad defense like the Nets? This is a completely one dimensional player whose one dimension has been incredible for the last two months.

The Nets have to play better defense to beat the Bucks. They were letting Tatum ISO every possession despite the Celtics having no other scoring threats. If they do that with Giannis, he will demolish them.

 

[Huskyforlife]

The Bucks are playing a lot better than they were last year. First, they are playing a normal offense with Lopez in the post, which makes Giannis much more effective. Holiday mails it in at times during the regular season, but he is playing well now. All these weapons leave Middleton a lot of open looks. And that is against good defenses, which the Nets do not have. Portis and PJ Tucker were good additions.

The wild card is Forbes. He had an eFG of 72.5% again the Heat, but I have trouble believing this guy is for real. If he can do that to the Heat, imagine what he will do to a bad defense like the Nets? This is a completely one dimensional player whose one dimension has been incredible for the last two months.

The Nets have to play better defense to beat the Bucks. They were letting Tatum ISO every possession despite the Celtics having no other scoring threats. If they do that with Giannis, he will demolish them.

Do you think they can play Forbes with the Nets hunting that mismatch?

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Doncic is gassed, and Leonard just got a 3 step continuation call.

Edit: Hats off to the Mavs' D the last quarter. Doncic was exhausted, and played the 4th quarter on fumes. The Mavs only scored 16 points in the 4th, in part because Doncic was spent, and in part because they finally started trapping Doncic to get the ball out of his hand. If you are playing a team like the Mavs that is basically a 1 man show, you have to trap to get the ball out of his hand. He may get it back, but the Mavs will burn 10 seconds getting him the ball again. The Clippers have to trap him.

This game was won by the Mavs D. They were sucking the penetration in, doubling it, then stepping in passing lanes. Finney Smith had 3 steals in the last 6 minutes. Props.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Do you think they can play Forbes with the Nets hunting that mismatch?

They can try it, but Forbes is only out there for 20 minutes a game, and the Bucks play good help defense. If the Nets want to burn half the shot clock on the isolation to try to ISO on Forbes, they are risking a switch to Middleton or Holiday blowing the whole strategy.

The Nets have to outscore the Bucks, because I don't see them shutting the Bucks down.

 

[superjohn]

Nuggets Blazers game is crazy so far, MIchael Porter Jr. is going off right now.

 

[Lefty2one]

I have never been more wrong on a prospect than I was on Michael Porter Jr. Dude is so legit.

 

[MDHuskFan]

I have never been more wrong on a prospect than I was on Michael Porter Jr. Dude is so legit.

Miles & Mikal Bridges, SGA & MPJ , but at least the knicks got Knox

 

[Lefty2one]

Miles & Mikal Bridges, SGA & MPJ , but at least the knicks got Knox

It's too depressing to think about.

 

[aceboon]

Did not expect AD to be playing, Suns gotta get it done tonight because I'm not betting against Lebron in a Game 7

 

[auror]

I have never been more wrong on a prospect than I was on Michael Porter Jr. Dude is so legit.

He was impossible to predict. He didn't play basketball for basically 2 years and back injuries are notoriously lingering.