NBA Conference Finals Thread

[Hunt for 7]

Indiana was a first round team. As soon as they beat the Knicks I said the Celtics would sweep them and it happened. The best teams in the east were the Celtics, Bucks (if healthy) Knicks (if healthy) and 76ers (if healthy) in that order.

After the Knicks got OG they were right up there with the big three. After the three teams listed above there were no other teams other than maybe a healthy Butler lead Miami team that would have had a chance against the Celtics in the years eastern conference playoffs.

 

[Yardigan]

Lively out, Kleber in? Subtraction by addition?

 

[Karmacop]

Does anyone complain more to the refs than Doncic? I mean, whether justified or not, he’s constantly talking to them after almost every other possession.

 

[Yardigan]

Does anyone complain more to the refs than Doncic? I mean, whether justified or not, he’s constantly talking to them after almost every other possession.

No, they don't, but, believe it or not...it's less than last year.

 

[Jaker]

Kat finally got the memo

 

[aceboon]

Mavs missed Lively tonight, glad TWolves got at least one cuz I'm not ready for a long break until the Finals. I thought Luka was laboring a bit in the 4th, if the TWolves can get the next at home it might get interesting with all of this usage piling up on Luka.

 

[Deleted at users request]

KAT shot his first 7 shots in the paint and all of a sudden started making 3s. Basketball is very simple.

 

[aceboon]

Thought he played great minutes and the extra minutes as a defender saved some of Ant's legs for down the strerch

 

[IndyLives]

Would not be surprised if the Twolves blows the Mavs out on Thursday. Dallas is gassed.GM 6 could be epic.

 

[Deleted at users request]

Lmao enjoy Celtics fans:

 

[HuskyHawk]

Lmao enjoy Celtics fans:

So dumb, given that they dominated the East all year when those guys were healthy.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Lmao enjoy Celtics fans:

LMAO they won the east by 15 games. This stuff is just goofy.

 

[Deleted at users request]

So dumb, given that they dominated the East all year when those guys were healthy.

Yes, because that mattered so much in the West come playoff time lol

 

[HuskyHawk]

Yes, because that mattered so much in the West come playoff time lol

The Celtics won 64. That's with them being so far ahead they sat the best players for multiple games late in the season. Pritchard nearly had a triple double and score 38 in the final game. The top three teams in the west were 57, 57 and 56 (TWolves, still playing).

These things aren't really comparable. Anybody who thinks those injuries would have altered the outcome just isn't being realistic, especially if Boston had their starting center.

Now, the winner in the west has the problem Boston had two years ago. Boston had a brutal road to the final and didn't have much in the tank by games 5 and 6 against Golden State.

 

[navery12]

Can't wait to see the Mavs or hopefully the Wolves wipe the floor with the Celtics in the Finals

 

[willie99]

Did you know?

The C's have been playing without Porzingis. He's great on offense and DEFENSE, where he provides rim protection

 

[Hunt for 7]

The Celtics won 64. That's with them being so far ahead they sat the best players for multiple games late in the season. Pritchard nearly had a triple double and score 38 in the final game. The top three teams in the west were 57, 57 and 56 (TWolves, still playing).

These things aren't really comparable. Anybody who thinks those injuries would have altered the outcome just isn't being realistic, especially if Boston had their starting center.

Now, the winner in the west has the problem Boston had two years ago. Boston had a brutal road to the final and didn't have much in the tank by games 5 and 6 against Golden State.

If you go look at the 4/11 game Celtics fully healthy. Knicks were without Randle but OG was a Knick and Mitch was coming off a long absence. Look at the minutes played by all the stars on both teams, look at where the game was played and look at the final score.

Only argument is that the C’s had already clinched but it was still a statement game to see where each team was.

I think that certainly can be used as an argument that the injuries suffered by the main eastern conference teams did have an impact. The Celtics were the best team but although biased I believe the Knicks with OG ( maybe with or without Randle) could give the Celtics a run.

I also concede that injuries cannot be used as an excuse because this is sports. But do you think the Celtics are where they are without either Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. I use those two because Randle was one of the two best Knicks. Porzingis is good but I think at the center position I take the combination of Robinson (leagues best offensive rebounder) and Hartenstein over Porzingis.

I knew the Celtics would sweep the Pacers with or without Haliburton……do you think that would have happened against a healthy Bucks, Knicks or Sixers team. Everything changed in the east when the Knicks got OG that much I know.

 

[HuskyHawk]

If you go look at the 4/11 game Celtics fully healthy. Knicks were without Randle but OG was a Knick and Mitch was coming off a long absence. Look at the minutes played by all the stars on both teams, look at where the game was played and look at the final score.

Only argument is that the C’s had already clinched but it was still a statement game to see where each team was.

I think that certainly can be used as an argument that the injuries suffered by the main eastern conference teams did have an impact. The Celtics were the best team but although biased I believe the Knicks with OG ( maybe with or without Randle) could give the Celtics a run.

I also concede that injuries cannot be used as an excuse because this is sports. But do you think the Celtics are where they are without either Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. I use those two because Randle was one of the two best Knicks. Porzingis is good but I think at the center position I take the combination of Robinson (leagues best offensive rebounder) and Hartenstein over Porzingis.

I knew the Celtics would sweep the Pacers with or without Haliburton……do you think that would have happened against a healthy Bucks, Knicks or Sixers team. Everything changed in the east when the Knicks got OG that much I know.

OG is the same 14-15 ppg scorer he's always been. You're the only person alive who prefers the Knicks two centers over Porzingis and Horford. KP averaged 20, those two guys combined for 13. He almost matches their block totals combined as well. Brunson turning into a star is what made the Knicks tough. A random April game is irrelevant. Unless you think Seton Hall was better than UConn last year. The Knicks aren't old outside of Randle and should be solid next year.

The Bucks went out in the offseason and got worse. Then got worse still by hiring Doc. Bringing in Dame was a dumb, desperation move. Clearly the Bucks are a difficult team to play with Giannis, the 2nd most dangerous team in the east. But that team is old. They aren't likely to get another title without a rebuild. There's a reason Andre has such an impact, that team needs some young energy.

Sixers are the Jets of the NBA. They can't do anything right.

Sure the injuries made the path easier than it would be. But they were likely going to the finals anyway.

 

[Deleted at users request]

OG is the same 14-15 ppg scorer he's always been. You're the only person alive who prefers the Knicks two centers over Porzingis and Horrors.

Make that two. Mitch and Zay are beasts in the paint. Those other 2 are mostly shooters but soft in the paint. Wanted to see that matchup so bad smh

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Can't wait to see the Mavs or hopefully the Wolves wipe the floor with the Celtics in the Finals

These posts make me laugh. Can Dallas or Minnesota beat the Celtics in a 7 game series? Sure. But acting like the Celtics are some fluke team that's lucky to be here is very strange and more than a little silly given the season we just watched.

 

[Deleted at users request]

These posts make me laugh. Can Dallas or Minnesota beat the Celtics in a 7 game series? Sure. But acting like the Celtics are some fluke team that's lucky to be here is very strange and more than a little silly given the season we just watched.

It’s one of those weird, two things can be true at once things.

They are deservedly the favorites in the East and expected to make the Finals.

They also had a cake walk to get there with crazy lucky breaks injury wise.

 

[navery12]

These posts make me laugh. Can Dallas or Minnesota beat the Celtics in a 7 game series? Sure. But acting like the Celtics are some fluke team that's lucky to be here is very strange and more than a little silly given the season we just watched.

They're not a fluke team, I'm a Knicks fan and would love to see Boston lose in horrible fashion

 

[Hunt for 7]

OG is the same 14-15 ppg scorer he's always been. You're the only person alive who prefers the Knicks two centers over Porzingis and Horford. KP averaged 20, those two guys combined for 13. He almost matches their block totals combined as well. Brunson turning into a star is what made the Knicks tough. A random April game is irrelevant. Unless you think Seton Hall was better than UConn last year. The Knicks aren't old outside of Randle and should be solid next year.

The Bucks went out in the offseason and got worse. Then got worse still by hiring Doc. Bringing in Dame was a dumb, desperation move. Clearly the Bucks are a difficult team to play with Giannis, the 2nd most dangerous team in the east. But that team is old. They aren't likely to get another title without a rebuild. There's a reason Andre has such an impact, that team needs some young energy.

Sixers are the Jets of the NBA. They can't do anything right.

Sure the injuries made the path easier than it would be. But they were likely going to the finals anyway.

I know who Porzingis is as I am a Knick fan. Celtics got lucky he was as available as he was this year. Guy has the talent but IMO he thought he would glide to greatness. Then when obstacles showed up it created problems. I will admit the Celtics are the perfect situation for him as he can be a third option.

A healthy Knicks team would have gotten three shot attempts per trip with the way they would have manhandled the Celtics on the glass.

OG did not make the Knicks better with his offense. He can effectively guard four positions on the floor maybe five. He made the Knicks whole just look at their record when he played. Sometimes there is a perfect piece to the puzzle. I hope we get to see it next year with the Knicks staying whole and maybe adding another piece. But the Knicks record after getting him was pretty impressive.

 

[EBonz30]

People keep posting they knew the Celtics would sweep the Pacers, lol- game 1 they had to have a miracle ending to win the game- the guy catches the ball in the final seconds Celtics lose game 1. Not to mentioned the Pacers best player got hurt at halftime of game 2 in where the game was still close- bizzare takes.

I Still think the Celtics win with Haliburton there, but to brag about how you knew the Celtics would sweep after the fact- as well as with what actually happened in the series seems strange.

Also, from those same posters let’s hear what the predictions are for the finals- not after the series is over.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Make that two. Mitch and Zay are beasts in the paint. Those other 2 are mostly shooters but soft in the paint. Wanted to see that matchup so bad smh

Porzingis is a better rim protector than either of those guys. Not as good on the boards. Prime of his career Al is vastly better than those two.

Some bizarre stuff here.