2019 NBA Playoff Discussion

[Western Font]

I agree on Drake I think the league should have already done something. Not ban him but something, he was out of control in the Bucks series. Warriors so far it seems to be playful back and forth not concerned.

I wonder if Drake's status as "global ambassador" is why he's permitted to basically move as staff by the Raptors on the sidelines. I can't remember any other court-side celebrity superfans doing it to this extreme.

 

[JCSunsfan]

I thought this would be a very close series at the beginning. Now with these injuries, even with players back, I think the Raptors will win--probably in 7.

 

[Russ Smith]

I wonder if Drake's status as "global ambassador" is why he's permitted to basically move as staff by the Raptors on the sidelines. I can't remember any other court-side celebrity superfans doing it to this extreme.

Well there's precedent of course Spike Lee was pretty bad but I don't remember too much contact with players. I don't think Drake has gotten physical with anybody but the verbal stuff with players and his contact and presence with the Raptors coaches is a bit odd. I'm frankly surprised one of them hasn't just told him sit down and shut up.

 

[Russ Smith]

I thought this would be a very close series at the beginning. Now with these injuries, even with players back, I think the Raptors will win--probably in 7.

Impossible right now too many variables. Klay is supposed to play tonight is he good or will he be slowed, aggravate it again etc. If I knew for sure Klay would be good I'd say Warriors in 7. If I knew Klay would be good and I knew status on KD and Looney I might go Warriors in 6.

I can say 100% that no matter who comes back, it won't be Warriors in 5!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I wonder if Drake's status as "global ambassador" is why he's permitted to basically move as staff by the Raptors on the sidelines. I can't remember any other court-side celebrity superfans doing it to this extreme.

I think Drake has been slowly but surely encroaching on the court. I don’t think his actions occurred all at once. I think he has been pushing boundaries little by little to get to where things are today. I don’t think it’s been a plan on his part. But every action he took received no rebuke so he became more and more comfortable in his actions and they became bolder naturally due to his level of comfort. That said, they let hem grow to the level of being absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Yuma]

I know those are high priced tickets. I watch the food service try and tight rope their jobs for those seats and stay out of eye line for the court, etc. The NBA needs to widen the court for the players since they are always stepping out while trying to set up for a three, Then there is no reason the seats can't be another two to three feet farther back. Especially on the end lines. Camera wells in the audience can be made. It's easy to do. The NBA needs to investigate this because players are getting oncreasingly larger relative to the general population. It would make it safer for fans and for players.

 

[Russ Smith]

INteresting point on 538 about Klay not playing in game 3. Said that because of their sub patterns Klay tends to play more with the 2nd unit than Curry or Durant do and often dominates against 2nd units. It's not meant as a slight to Klay it's just pointing out the not having Klay has a big impact both defensively and offensively because the difference between him and say Cook or McKinnie with that 2nd unit is huge.

538 is giving the Warriors a 33% chance of winning the series and they said they were being generous, they are counting Boogie as better than he probably actually is right now.

 

[JCSunsfan]

We have lionized the Warriors, but injuries happen and the chemistry changes. We are also getting better teams in the east now. The balance of power between conferences is evening some.

 

[Cheesebeef]

We have lionized the Warriors, but injuries happen and the chemistry changes. We are also getting better teams in the east now. The balance of power between conferences is evening some.

yup. it's one of the reasons I really hope Leonard stays in Toronto and Durant goes to an East Coast team. That would balance the league out in a way not seen since the early to mid 90's (even though Jordan and the Bulls won titles, they always had a tough road to get there and the West had it's fair share of very good teams).

You'd have Toronto, Philly and whoever gets KD as a very good trio of teams and in the West, you'd still have GS and Houston as top dogs, with the Nuggets, Jazz and Portland as secondary contenders and probably a resurgent Lakers team if they get even a solid #2 to go with LeBron.

 

[Hoop Head]

We have lionized the Warriors, but injuries happen and the chemistry changes. We are also getting better teams in the east now. The balance of power between conferences is evening some.

I think the top of the league may even favor the East. They're weaker as far as depth goes because the 7th and 8th seeds in the East wouldn't sniff the playoffs in the West but I'd bet that Milwaukee and the Sixers would beat the Nuggets, Blazers, and maybe the Rockets. I don't think Philly could beat the Rockets but I think the Bucks could.

I think that having a couple of contenders in each conference is the most parity the league cares about. Imagine if Lebron bolted to LA instead of returning to Cleveland, the East would have sent some pretty poor teams to the finals to get crushed. That would have been more lopsided than the Lakers vs Nets finals.

 

[JCSunsfan]

yup. it's one of the reasons I really hope Leonard stays in Toronto and Durant goes to an East Coast team. That would balance the league out in a way not seen since the early to mid 90's (even though Jordan and the Bulls won titles, they always had a tough road to get there and the West had it's fair share of very good teams).

You'd have Toronto, Philly and whoever gets KD as a very good trio of teams and in the West, you'd still have GS and Houston as top dogs, with the Nuggets, Jazz and Portland as secondary contenders and probably a resurgent Lakers team if they get even a solid #2 to go with LeBron.

Toronto, Philly, Milwaukee, and maybe the Nets if they get Kyrie and KD. Houston is about to blow up I think, but you are right about Denver, they are on the rise.

 

[Russ Smith]

Kawhi is having his D Wade series. Everytime he puts the ball on the deck they call a foul. I did think that one on Draymond was a bad call I thought Kawhi got all ball up top.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Raptors still getting way way way too many wide open looks.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

That was a tremendous rebound by Alfonso McKinney.

 

[Russ Smith]

They have to wipe out that layup by Steph right it was after the clock

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Terrible final 40 seconds of first...instead of demoralizing them the hand over momentum.

 

[Russ Smith]

Cousins is keeping Toronto in the game with turnovers and missed layups

 

[Hoop Head]

The way Leonard just palmed that rebound with one hand is nuts. I know it makes no difference on the stat sheet but to see a player grab a ball like that is crazy.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

You must be registered for see images attach

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Cousins is keeping Toronto in the game with turnovers and missed layups

Yep...McKinney really got worked in second quarter minute as well.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Advantage Toronto they play terrible and it's four point game. Dubs with way too many turnovers and ignored Klay final 5 minutes while he was hit. SMH.

 

[Russ Smith]

They keep talking about how close Toronto is without shooting well, true, but the Warriors have 10 turnovers and they have shot FOUR free throws in the entire first half. Curry 0-5 on 3's.

They ended both quarters terribly but with all the turnovers I'll take a lead at halftime

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

They keep talking about how close Toronto is without shooting well, true, but the Warriors have 10 turnovers and they have shot FOUR free throws in the entire first half. Curry 0-5 on 3's.

They ended both quarters terribly but with all the turnovers I'll take a lead at halftime

Raptors had 11 FTs... dubs should be up 12-15 and just get careless.

 

[Russ Smith]

Announcers on ABC channeling me. Points out the bad 3 point shooting, turnovers and lack of FT's by the Warriors as the reason the game is close. And then someone said they might not start Boogie in the 2nd half which is my thought exactly they should start Looney or Bogut.

 

[Hoop Head]

I thought Looney was done? How is he playing?