2018 Playoffs Thread

[Ronin]

https://deadspin.com/drake-and-kend...alflow_deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

 

[AzStevenCal]

I attended the History of the Eagles concert just before Glenn passed away. He and Don Henley (and Joe Walsh and Randy Meisner and Timothy B. Schmit) made magic.

If the reunited group with Glenn's son tours Phoenix, I will be there.

And I still believe that Hotel California is the best and most unique rock'n'roll song ever written.

Are you saying it beats out "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" for you? Seriously, though, I'm not disagreeing so much as admitting I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just one. But Hotel California is as good of a nominee as any.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought the refs in the Warriors game were really bad last night and should probably be reprimanded by the league for not taking better control.

They let Draymond go too far early, it led to woofing and face to face with Rondo, and then it led to a series of progressively dangerous incidents that frankly weren't officiated correctly.

Pelicans miss, Draymond locks AD's arm and pulls him down, that should have been a T right there. With the ref standing right there and the ball advancing into the frontcourt, AD scissors his legs around Draymond and rolls him over, Draymond pushes AD to try and stand up, AD hooks his legs around Green again, and finally after about 5 seconds and 7-8 fouls between the 2, the refs call a double foul. By that time the Warriors have turned the ball over because the pass to Looney went out of bounds because Looney had stopped, was looking back to the scrum with Draymond and Davis, assuming the play was dead.

After that we had a very hard foul on a drive by Iggy, 2 hard fouls on drives by Durant, one where the defender hooked his arm and semi spun him, that one wasn't even called a flagrant just a shooting foul. Green continued to bang Pelicans at the other end leading to Kerr taking him out, yelling in his face and telling him to calm down. Maybe the refs felt well Kerr is doing that so we don't need to but the game got way too chippy.

David West got a couple of shots in there that could easily have been flagrants. Lucky they didn't have Pachulia or things might have really gotten out of control.

You have guys like AD, Curry and Durant, the faces of the league, and you're letting them get beaten up because the refs don't want to take control of the game.

Really interesting to see what NO does with this roster, do they try and keep Cousins when he finally gets back next season or do they look at the postseason, say we're better off without him, and try and trade him? I know Rondo usually doesn't stick around very long but they really have a nice group right now surrounding Davis. If they can use Cousins to get another player or pick or something of real value they could be REALLY interesting.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Not having a lead until the final score... in overtime... of a playoff game. Has that ever happened before? It's crazy that LeBron can have a game that is considered one of the worst he has played in a while, and still post a line of 26-13-11... with 1 turnover.

If he'd been paired with a player if Pippen's caliber early in his career..?

Regardless, I have him as the second best player of all-time.

I think he’s settled into that spot for me too.

If he somehow won a title with this drek, he’d have a strong argument for at least a tie with Michael.

 

[leclerc]

As always I'm rooting against the favorites, Suns fan after all, so let's go NO, Toronto, Boston and Houston.

LBJ will never pass MJ in my book.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I have to be willing to consider LeBron above MJ or I am not being objective. LeBron just seems to eclipse his teammates. They stand around and watch. Not sure if that is bad coaching or bad playing.

 

[Phrazbit]

What really separates MJ (besides the titles) is something that cannot be measured. When the Bulls were in situations where they needed Jordan to pull off the incredible... he virtually always did. I've never watched another athlete in my life where you truly expected them do something otherwise considered crazy to win a game late.

Kobe was gifted that kind of reputation by announcers but in reality it was more likely that he'd brick in the face of a double team or a teammate would tip in his air-ball than that Kobe would drill the game winner.

LeBron has had those moments; his block the other night and then his 3 to win, and the reaction by everyone is "WOOOOOOOOOW!"

Meanwhile, Jordan strips Karl Malone from his blindside, dribbles the ball up the court, drills a fade away to win the finals and the reaction is "... of course he did, he's Jordan."

 

[Cheesebeef]

What really separates MJ (besides the titles) is something that cannot be measured. When the Bulls were in situations where they needed Jordan to pull off the incredible... he virtually always did. I've never watched another athlete in my life where you truly expected them do something otherwise considered crazy to win a game late.

Kobe was gifted that kind of reputation by announcers but in reality it was more likely that he'd brick in the face of a double team or a teammate would tip in his air-ball than that Kobe would drill the game winner.

LeBron has had those moments; his block the other night and then his 3 to win, and the reaction by everyone is "WOOOOOOOOOW!"

Meanwhile, Jordan strips Karl Malone from his blindside, dribbles the ball up the court, drills a fade away to win the finals and the reaction is "... of course he did, he's Jordan."

Yup.

Once Jordan became the king, he just couldn’t be dethroned no matter what was thrown at him.

And by the time he started winning titles, there wasn’t even surprise when he hit game winners. It was usually just a controlled closed fist pump.

You still LeBron and even Kobe make and would make playoff game winners and go freaking nuts, almost like they’re surprised/elated they hit the shot.

Rarely did you see Jordan do that post beating the Cavs with the Ehlo killer walk off in Game 5 of the 89 playoffs.

 

[Ronin]

Tristan Thompson is averaging 14.5 PPG, 71.4 FG%, 11 RPG (7 ORPG) over the last two games in the #NBAPlayoffs for the @Cavs.

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[BC867]

Are you saying it beats out "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" for you? Seriously, though, I'm not disagreeing so much as admitting I couldn't possibly narrow it down to just one. But Hotel California is as good of a nominee as any.

Only if "the Witch" is Robert Server and "Dead" is gone.

 

[Ronin]

Cleveland forward Kevin Love's elbow on Toronto star DeMar DeRozan in Tuesday's Game 1 has been upgraded to a Flagrant 1.

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[GatorAZ]

I have to be willing to consider LeBron above MJ or I am not being objective. LeBron just seems to eclipse his teammates. They stand around and watch. Not sure if that is bad coaching or bad playing.

As great as Jordan was the Bulls still played in a system. The role players always knew their job and came up big if needed. Lebron IS the system and his teammates just stand around and fear letting him down.

 

[JCSunsfan]

As great as Jordan was the Bulls still played in a system. The role players always knew their job and came up big if needed. Lebron IS the system and his teammates just stand around and fear letting him down.

So coaching then?

 

[GatorAZ]

So coaching then?

Lebron is uncoachable so it’s hard to say. Every coach is a puppet to him and that’s how he wants it.

 

[Errntknght]

As great as Jordan was the Bulls still played in a system. The role players always knew their job and came up big if needed.

The bench play Jackson got - remember his three headed center - always impressed me. Yet, he didn't try to push Jordan to play strictly within the system. He also kept Rodman somewhat under control, no mean feat, that.

 

[Mainstreet]

Jazz up by 8 in 4th quarter.

Ingles is a thorn in the Rockets side with 24 points so far.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Impressive W for the Jazz, especially with Rubio out.

 

[Mainstreet]

I've said it before but I will say it again. The Jazz are so well coached.

Let's hope KoKoskov can bring some of this to the Suns.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jazz up by 8 in 4th quarter.

Ingles is a thorn in the Rockets side with 24 points so far.

I didn't see the whole game but the part I saw Ingles was torching harden. Harden at the other end was killing everyone either for layups or assists, but he wasn't guarding Ingles. There was one play where he just stood there with hands down and let Ingles nail a 3 in the middle of a Houston run and even Chris Paul yelled at him. He's been better this year on defense but the part I saw tonight was not good at all.

 

[Mainstreet]

I didn't see the whole game but the part I saw Ingles was torching harden. Harden at the other end was killing everyone either for layups or assists, but he wasn't guarding Ingles. There was one play where he just stood there with hands down and let Ingles nail a 3 in the middle of a Houston run and even Chris Paul yelled at him. He's been better this year on defense but the part I saw tonight was not good at all.

I watched mostly the second half and Ingles was getting wide open shots (7-9 from 3 point range). I'm not sure who was supposed to be guarding him but the Jazz were finding him him open by with their excellent passing game. The Rockets were leaving the one man open they should never leave open especially with Michell hitting only 6-21 from the field.

 

[95pro]

Just let Harden run the team. Seems like Paul was more dominate on the ball tonight leading to a loss.

 

[Ronin]

ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account@ESPNStatsInfo 2h2 hours ago

Have some defense for breakfast. Guessing you would not expect these three to lead the postseason in opponent FG pct as a primary defender.

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[Ronin]

Cavs Notes: Love to start; Thompson off bench
http://amicohoops.net/nba-playoffs-...ompson-kevin-love-tyronn-lue-toronto-raptors/

 

[Ronin]

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[Russ Smith]

ESPN Stats & Info‏Verified account@ESPNStatsInfo 2h2 hours ago

Have some defense for breakfast. Guessing you would not expect these three to lead the postseason in opponent FG pct as a primary defender.

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Wow I wouldn't have guessed ever that Parker was that good. Looney doesn't surprise me at all he has done a really nice
job first on Aldridge and now Davis. they got their points but he made them work for it/But my impression of Parker is he's a horrible defender.