2019 NBA Playoff Discussion

[Russ Smith]

Who do you like in the East and who don't you want to see make it out?

I think the Raptors are probably the worst matchup for the Warriors, provided Lowry doesn't fall apart mentally. I think the Raptors are capable of beating any team coming out of the West and they're probably the only Eastern Conference team that can do that.

I think Brad Stevens is an excellent coach and Boston could push the Warriors some but I don't think they can beat them in a 7 game series. I like Boston's odds more than Philly or Milwaukee. Boston and Houston would be a really fun series.

With Philadelphia they have to worry about Embiid's health, which won't get better as the playoffs continue and Ben Simmons can't make a shot from beyond 10 feet to save his life. I don't believe Butler and Tobias Harris have had enough time to be fully integrated into their system, Harris especially.

With Milwaukee I don't think they have the pieces around Giannis to beat the Warriors but I'd bet on them against the Rockets.

I fear Milwaukee will be like Toronto in recent years where the step up to the playoffs is a bit much for them the first year or two. Kawhi makes Toronto a huge threat but yes the history of Lowry in big games is not very good. Kawhi is about the best guy in the league at guarding Durant though so he's an equalizer. Philly played the Warriors tough this year but again big step up in the finals if they got there and yeah Embiid's health is a question. Boston seems to be figuring it out finally they took apart the Warriors not that long ago at Oracle.

My guess is whoever makes it out of the West wins the title this year and then next year it probably shifts to the East unless Houston keeps that roster and maybe adds one more piece. This is the last year of the run for the Warriors I'm hoping they all know that and maybe it motivates them to one more title.

 

[Russ Smith]

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Hopefully this works, this is why I thought Curry broke his finger last night.

 

[Russ Smith]

learn something new every day. I know now why Iggy is the way he is with refs, very rarely complaining. Turns out his brother is a ref and is trying to become an NBA ref.

 

[Ronin]

learn something new every day. I know now why Iggy is the way he is with refs, very rarely complaining. Turns out his brother is a ref and is trying to become an NBA ref.

insert the more you know .jpg

 

[Mainstreet]

Danny Ainge reportedly had a mild heart attack in Milwaukee.


Shams Charania‏Verified account @ShamsCharania

Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge suffered a mild heart attack in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. He received immediate medical attention, is expected to make a full recovery.

9:06 AM - 2 May 2019

 

[AzStevenCal]

Danny Ainge reportedly had a mild heart attack in Milwaukee.


Shams Charania‏Verified account @ShamsCharania

Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge suffered a mild heart attack in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. He received immediate medical attention, is expected to make a full recovery.

9:06 AM - 2 May 2019

That's scary. And didn't he just have another heart attack 5 or 6 years ago?

 

[Mainstreet]

That's scary. And didn't he just have another heart attack 5 or 6 years ago?

Indeed it's scary. After looking it up he had one in 2009.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Indeed it's scary. After looking it up he had one in 2009.

Wow, 10 years ago. It sure seemed a lot more recent than that.

 

[Ronin]

Tests revealed no damage to either of James Harden's corneas and the Rockets don't expect him to have any vision issues for Game 3 on Saturday.
Harden will be a limited participant in Thursday's practice, and while he acknowledged that his left eye is still giving him some trouble, his vision has improved. He also confirmed that he'll play on Saturday, saying, "If I played barely seeing last game, what makes you think I'm gonna sit out Game 3?"

 

[95pro]

I didn't expect the Sixers to win more than one game, they came back strong after that 1-0 start, series now at 1-2.

 

[Russ Smith]

I didn't expect the Sixers to win more than one game, they came back strong after that 1-0 start, series now at 1-2.

I agree with what Paul Pierce said last night, on paper there's a large talent gap, Philly has much more talent but Toronto has one superstar, one emerging star(Siakam), one invisible all star(Lowry) and a bunch of role players. In the regular season Toronto played together and were the better team but now Lowry is doing his annual turtle in the postseason they're just completely out talented.

They still could win, Kawhi is that good and Lowry may wake up, but right now the more talented team is winning.

 

[Dback Jon]

Danny Ainge reportedly had a mild heart attack in Milwaukee.


Shams Charania‏Verified account @ShamsCharania

Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge suffered a mild heart attack in Milwaukee on Tuesday night. He received immediate medical attention, is expected to make a full recovery.

9:06 AM - 2 May 2019

Wow - glad he is ok

 

[Ronin]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
5/3/19, 3:01 PM
Philadelphia All-Star Ben Simmons has been fined $20,000 and given flagrant one foul for making contact to groin of Kyle Lowry in Game 3.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Very entertaining 4 OT game between the Nuggets and the Blazers. Jokic played 65 minutes in a losing cause.

 

[Mainstreet]

Very entertaining 4 OT game between the Nuggets and the Blazers. Jokic played 65 minutes in a losing cause.

Enes Kanter has been a huge addition for the Trail Blazers but he may not be able to go in game 4.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Enes Kanter has been a huge addition for the Trail Blazers but he may not be able to go in game 4.

I really thought Kanter had no place in today's NBA but you're right, he's been a huge addition for them with Nurkic out. He'll be a big loss although it might take Jokic a month to recover from the minutes he just played. 65 minutes is almost unfathomable.

 

[Mainstreet]

I really thought Kanter had no place in today's NBA but you're right, he's been a huge addition for them with Nurkic out. He'll be a big loss although it might take Jokic a month to recover from the minutes he just played. 65 minutes is almost unfathomable.

I'm probably the only person I know that liked Kanter as a player. He does not play the best defense but scoring and rebounding are two thirds of the game. I guess I like him for what he does.

If the Trail Blazers have to do without Kanter and Nurkic they are in trouble.

I think Jokic is immortal.

 

[Ronin]

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[Ronin]

https://mobile.twitter.com/BlazerFreeman

• Joe Freeman
  @BlazerFreeman

Enes Kanter said he re-separated his left shoulder in the first overtime and also injured his right bursa earlier in the game. Both were wrapped in ice afterward and he said he wasn’t sure he’d be able to play in Game 4.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I really thought Kanter had no place in today's NBA but you're right, he's been a huge addition for them with Nurkic out. He'll be a big loss although it might take Jokic a month to recover from the minutes he just played. 65 minutes is almost unfathomable.

when he got fouled in the 4th OT, after taking one look at him, I knew he was missing that first free throw. Dude looked like the walking dead by that point.

 

[Hoop Head]

Other than the drama in the Houston/Golden State series this has been a good 2nd round so far. Nothing is easy for anyone. Seems like everyone is dealing with some injuries also. The Rockets and Warriors complaining about referees and foul calls though don't really mesh with the grittiness everyone else is displaying.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I really thought Kanter had no place in today's NBA but you're right, he's been a huge addition for them with Nurkic out. He'll be a big loss although it might take Jokic a month to recover from the minutes he just played. 65 minutes is almost unfathomable.

I never understood how an effective scorer in the post who rebounds could have no place in the nba. Having someone who can score in the post is an element in proper spacing.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Other than the drama in the Houston/Golden State series this has been a good 2nd round so far. Nothing is easy for anyone. Seems like everyone is dealing with some injuries also. The Rockets and Warriors complaining about referees and foul calls though don't really mesh with the grittiness everyone else is displaying.

Right? All this tough fought series and the rockets and warriors crying about refs. Yeesh.

 

[elindholm]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
5/3/19, 3:01 PM
Philadelphia All-Star Ben Simmons has been fined $20,000 and given flagrant one foul for making contact to groin of Kyle Lowry in Game 3.

That play should have resulted in a one-game suspension. It was a blatant cheap shot made worse by the fact that Simmons seized the opportunity to do it when he though no one was watching. This slap on the wrist won't be a deterrent at all.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

That play should have resulted in a one-game suspension. It was a blatant cheap shot made worse by the fact that Simmons seized the opportunity to do it when he though no one was watching. This slap on the wrist won't be a deterrent at all.

Agreed. A fine for a blatant attempt to hurt someone but multiple suspensions for leaving the bench years ago. And yes, I’ll never let go of that.