2019 NBA Playoff Discussion

[Russ Smith]

LOts of talk online about how bad the refs were both ways last night. The 3 missed goaltends on Ibaka, 2 of which were off the glass first. The charge on Kawhi when Draymond was in the circle. The charge on Cook when he handed the ball off to Curry and Lowry and he bumped and Lowry went down like Shaq hit him. Which they promptly made up for by calling a charge on Kawhi again when Draymond flopped. The missed double dribble by Steph.

It didn't impact the outcome the Raptors were too far ahead but sure makes the NBA refs look bad when stuff like this happens in a Finals game.

I am still concerned about use of replay in the NBA but I do think they should be able to review potential goaltends because it's often such an easy call to see on replay oh yeah that hit the glass, and it's literally the difference between 2 points or not.

The problem with the refs last night is they so often compounded the first bad call with a makeup. The missed goaltend of Cousins immediately followed up by a bad charge on Kawhi. You don't keep doing that the players quickly lose confidence in your knowledge of the rules.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think the dubs biggest offseason mistake was letting JaVale Walk, they really miss him, IMO.

Yeah said that a few times myself, Cousins and Bogut were good in game 2 but for the long haul this team is too small and Bogut and Boogie are too slow to keep up, JaVale would have definitely helped.

Will be interesting in the offseason I figure Livingston and Iggy retire, Durant leaves. I think they will keep Klay and Draymond but they gotta keep Looney too. My guess is that's really their core four next year. It sounds like they want Boogie to stay and he's somewhat open to it but that's again a big risk on him getting and staying healthy. I like Jones' potential but they need more than him and Bell at the 5.

There's been talk they might be interested in bringing Harrison Barnes back.

 

[Russ Smith]

The Warriors will need Thompson back for Friday's game for sure but I was surprised the Raptors didn't take full advantage of the weakened Warriors.

Mentally, I think they left the door open. The Warriors are a team that will take advantage.

Yeah that was part of why I was fine with Kerr leaving Curry in the game last night I think after game 2 and the box and one there was an element of Curry going off that might really help them going forward. Not that Curry lacks confidence but the idea that they were loading up to stop him and he still nearly got 50 might be a good thing for the Warriors long term. But if Klay can't go or is nowhere near 100% it won't matter, as we saw last night they can't guard the Raptors without Klay, neither Livingston or Cook can guard well enough so then you need help and that exposes how slow Cousins is right now on closeouts. They don't switch as much with him in the game for that reason, it's ok when Klay has his man and Iggy and Draymond have theirs, but this series that's Kawhi and Siakam so they are needing help too. You can't have that much help needed it's just giving Toronto way too many easy buckets.

 

[Yuma]

Golden State has to bring the defense. I imagine Kerr will be preaching that! Also it seemed Toronto played their absolute best game last game. If they can keep that up, they deserve the trophy.

 

[Mainstreet]

Yeah that was part of why I was fine with Kerr leaving Curry in the game last night I think after game 2 and the box and one there was an element of Curry going off that might really help them going forward. Not that Curry lacks confidence but the idea that they were loading up to stop him and he still nearly got 50 might be a good thing for the Warriors long term. But if Klay can't go or is nowhere near 100% it won't matter, as we saw last night they can't guard the Raptors without Klay, neither Livingston or Cook can guard well enough so then you need help and that exposes how slow Cousins is right now on closeouts. They don't switch as much with him in the game for that reason, it's ok when Klay has his man and Iggy and Draymond have theirs, but this series that's Kawhi and Siakam so they are needing help too. You can't have that much help needed it's just giving Toronto way too many easy buckets.

It looks like Klay Thompson will play in game 4.


Tim Kawakami‏Verified account @timkawakami

Steve Kerr just told me that he expects Klay Thompson to play in Game 4 on Friday. Kerr said he doesn’t know yet about Kevin Durant’s status for that game.

9:41 PM - 5 Jun 2019

 

[Ronin]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
6/6/19, 10:23 AM
The Warriors say minority investor Mark Stevens will not attend remaining NBA Finals games after shove on Kyle Lowry in Game 3 Wednesday night.

 

[Superbone]

If the Warriors win tonight, I think it's over. I don't think the Raptors can come back from that.

What if the Raptors win?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
6/6/19, 10:23 AM
The Warriors say minority investor Mark Stevens will not attend remaining NBA Finals games after shove on Kyle Lowry in Game 3 Wednesday night.

I can't believe an owner did that...what a dipstick douche!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

What a prick...I hope they force a buyout of his shares.

 

[Hoop Head]

I can't believe an owner did that...what a dipstick douche!

That's bad, really bad, and the league needs to take some action there. I'm not sure if Silver will do much of anything though. I know he came down on Donald Sterling but Sterling was a headache for decades and they finally had their out. I don't think Silver wants to rock the boat with ownership groups, especially a franchise like the Warriors that is viewed as one of the top organizations in the league. If Stern were still commissioner then that owner would have had his shares placed up for sale already.

 

[Yuma]

I think GS handled it correctly. They told the guy he cannot attend any more Finals games. That's what these guys live for. Probably a killer for him to miss the games after this.

 

[Hoop Head]

I think GS handled it correctly. They told the guy he cannot attend any more Finals games. That's what these guys live for. Probably a killer for him to miss the games after this.

That's true but if it were a fan that shoved a player he'd get a lifetime ban from that arena and possibly be facing charges as well. Since the guy is a millionaire owner though he's not allowed to be court side for the rest of the finals. Is he going to get paid for the seats he lost? Probably. It's a slap on the wrist.

 

[Yuma]

I can't believe an owner did that...what a dipstick douche!

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
6/6/19, 10:23 AM
The Warriors say minority investor Mark Stevens will not attend remaining NBA Finals games after shove on Kyle Lowry in Game 3 Wednesday night.

If this was the "shove" televised during the game, the commentators talked about it. One of the guys commented about how Lowry plowed into the guy going "200 miles per hour." The follow up comment was, he didn't blame the guy for pushing Lowry off him.

When I saw it, and they replayed it on TV, I actually came away thinking Lowry was a dick. He slamed into the guy really hard. The guy seated adjacent grabbed Lowry to hold Lowry up, and did kind of push him off at the same time the seated guy who was suspended "shoved" Lowry off him. I thought maybe the combination of pushes, made Lowry overreact. Lowry started complaining, and the guy jawed back. It could have been more what was said than the actual push.

 

[GatorAZ]

The way the talking heads on tv are talking you think he punched Lowry in the face. It was a minor shove but still wrong and a bad look. He should be banned from sitting courtside and make a public apology.

 

[Mainstreet]

What if the Raptors win?

Then the series gets stretched out.

I'm only saying if the Warriors had won, the series would be pretty much over.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I can't believe an owner did that...what a dipstick douche!

you just KNOW that Sarver would probably do something stupid like this.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I was wondering if that woman in yellow was hurt. She took a pretty big hit. Looks like her leg got pinned from the chair tipping back.

 

[Russ Smith]

That's bad, really bad, and the league needs to take some action there. I'm not sure if Silver will do much of anything though. I know he came down on Donald Sterling but Sterling was a headache for decades and they finally had their out. I don't think Silver wants to rock the boat with ownership groups, especially a franchise like the Warriors that is viewed as one of the top organizations in the league. If Stern were still commissioner then that owner would have had his shares placed up for sale already.

He definitely needs to be suspended and fined. I don't know what the implications are of forcing him to sell shares but yeah that was not acceptable. They need to come down hard on him for that.

 

[JCSunsfan]

He definitely needs to be suspended and fined. I don't know what the implications are of forcing him to sell shares but yeah that was not acceptable. They need to come down hard on him for that.

If he was just a fan, you cannot fine him, but I would think an owner could be fined--a lot.

 

[Russ Smith]

The way the talking heads on tv are talking you think he punched Lowry in the face. It was a minor shove but still wrong and a bad look. He should be banned from sitting courtside and make a public apology.

Yeah but it was still something he shouldn't have done, it was intentional, Lowry didn't land on him. And for the record Lowry says the guy said something derogatory to him and I have no reason to think Lowry is lying, this is not Lance Stephenson or Rondo we're talking about Lowry doesn't seem like someone who would lie about that. he glared at the guy and immediately pointed at him to the ref.

They ejected the guy which is great. I guess we'll see if he publicly apologizes he certainly should

 

[Yuma]

Yeah but it was still something he shouldn't have done, it was intentional, Lowry didn't land on him. And for the record Lowry says the guy said something derogatory to him and I have no reason to think Lowry is lying, this is not Lance Stephenson or Rondo we're talking about Lowry doesn't seem like someone who would lie about that. he glared at the guy and immediately pointed at him to the ref.

They ejected the guy which is great. I guess we'll see if he publicly apologizes he certainly should

That's what I was thinking. It had to be the talking. I mean, Lowry is so much bigger. The shove couldn't have been physically that harmful to him. I am betting it was what was said that was really the problem. I am just guessing, and I don't know anything at all, but maybe alcohol played a part?

 

[Chaplin]

you just KNOW that Sarver would probably do something stupid like this.

I'm curious why you think Sarver would physically engage with another player. I get that he was a clown 10 years ago, but what makes you think he would have done that now?

 

[Yuma]

I'm curious why you think Sarver would physically engage with another player. I get that he was a clown 10 years ago, but what makes you think he would have done that now?

I know you asked Cheese. I did see a video, maybe the last year or two, where Sarver takes on a fan. It could have been a gotcha video. Still Sarver stops to talk to the fan. Sarver gives a smart ass answer. My thought was, perhaps it would have been better if he didn't engage to begin with. I don't get the impression he would get physical.

 

[Chaplin]

I know you asked Cheese. I did see a video, maybe the last year or two, where Sarver takes on a fan. It could have been a gotcha video. Still Sarver stops to talk to the fan. Sarver gives a smart ass answer. My thought was, perhaps it would have been better if he didn't engage to begin with. I don't get the impression he would get physical.

Ok, that's interesting. However, a fan is not a gigantic basketball player that could easily twist his head off.

 

[Russ Smith]

That's what I was thinking. It had to be the talking. I mean, Lowry is so much bigger. The shove couldn't have been physically that harmful to him. I am betting it was what was said that was really the problem. I am just guessing, and I don't know anything at all, but maybe alcohol played a part?

Yeah I don't know what he said but I think Lowry is to be commended for just pointing at the guy and walking away because you could see how pissed off he was after it happened.

For a team I want to lose the Raptors are just too likable.