You do though, I mean if you want to make sense when you're bashing IT and the Celtics.
The 2017 NBA playoffs thread
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You do though, I mean if you want to make sense when you're bashing IT and the Celtics.
AZCrazy
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Shocked at the amazing outcome. Never give up.....never surrender.
I'm a little disappointed that we won't have the unique event of two playoff undefeated teams meeting in the finals.
Well, who are you guys taking in the finals?
I'll take the Warriors in 6.
I'm a little disappointed that we won't have the unique event of two playoff undefeated teams meeting in the finals.
Well, who are you guys taking in the finals?
I'll take the Warriors in 6.
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The Warriors are simply a better team but it's hard to bet against perhaps the best player of all time when he's in top form, which he has been for most of the playoffs. I'll go with GS in 5 but I wouldn't bet the farm on it.
I'll say Warriors in 6. Boston stealing that game messes up the amount of rest that the Cavs will get now before the finals, if they can steal another that could be big. They'll both get rest since the finals won't start before June 1st but the Warriors are dealing with a few injuries so they'll need the rest more. Durant missed a couple games in the first round, Iguodala's missing games now, and Zaza is also injured currently. Too much time off can be a bad thing but considering Iggy's role of guarding Lebron and Durant's role of wearing Lebron out when he's guarding him, they both need to be 100% if they hope to seal things up quickly.
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Yeah that's the thing the rest is huge for the Warriors, it sounds dumb but IMO game 4 is a must win for them so they get more rest for Iggy and Zaza and some of the other guys.
The dream scenario would be Boston extends the series until at least 6 but I don't see that happening.
I don't hate IT I just see him for what he is. A nice story. Let's be real they got the 1 seed because The Cavs flat out coasted saving themselves for the playoffs.
They don't get out the first round of Rondo doesn't get hurt. Rondo was having his way with him. Can't even say otherwise. He was no match for the Cavs.
Ok he's all NBA but Dame Lillard isn't and Neither is Klay Thomson, Paul George or Gordon Hayward. Hey KAT wasn't all NBA so IT must be better right? If your starting a franchise no one would take IT over any of those guys.
It's a nice story but they'd struggle to make the playoffs in the west and im sorry he's not elite it's a nice story but I just see it for what it is.
Ok you think Ainge is gonna commit 200 million to a 5'9 PG who pretty much everyone agrees can't be your best player if you want to win a championship
They don't get out the first round of Rondo doesn't get hurt. Rondo was having his way with him. Can't even say otherwise. He was no match for the Cavs.
Ok he's all NBA but Dame Lillard isn't and Neither is Klay Thomson, Paul George or Gordon Hayward. Hey KAT wasn't all NBA so IT must be better right? If your starting a franchise no one would take IT over any of those guys.
It's a nice story but they'd struggle to make the playoffs in the west and im sorry he's not elite it's a nice story but I just see it for what it is.
Ok you think Ainge is gonna commit 200 million to a 5'9 PG who pretty much everyone agrees can't be your best player if you want to win a championship
I got the Cavs. They were up by 20 this last game and clearly took there foot off the gas.
The Warriors couldn't keep the Cavs out of the paint and off the boards last year. They added more offense...a lot more.
I don't know honestly all I know is I can't wait to see this super matchup. I haven't looked forward to a finals matchup like this is ages
The Warriors couldn't keep the Cavs out of the paint and off the boards last year. They added more offense...a lot more.
I don't know honestly all I know is I can't wait to see this super matchup. I haven't looked forward to a finals matchup like this is ages
The $200 million+ super max only applies to certain players who meet a specific criteria, one of those is being in the league for at least 9 seasons, so IT wouldn't qualify for that. He still has 1 more year on his contract as it is, what does it matter what he gets paid by Boston anyways? He'll get paid, Conley got $150 million+ this last offseason, I doubt IT gets a deal smaller than that. He may not be able to lead a team to a title on his own but no one said he could, he needs help. He led them to the #1 seed and 53 wins on his own. Boston doesn't have any other offensive threats. Horford is old and barely an All-Star at his peak, which was 2-3 years ago. Beside him though he has Amir Johnson is a defensive and rebounding PF, Jae Crowder is a 3 and D SF, Avery Bradley is a defensive combo guard. That's who he started with and led to 53 wins.
Basketball isn't a game of hypotheticals, IT has led the Celtics to winning records and the playoffs the last 3 years. It doesn't matter what they'd do out West because they're in the East. The Suns might be a playoff team if they were in the East, does that mean they shouldn't make major changes to their roster? Absolutely not. Why try to discredit him in numerous ways if you didn't dislike him for some reason? Is it too hard to say he's had a great year and has led his team pretty far? It doesn't matter what Rondo did in 2 games, the Bulls lost the series. If it was that simple then why couldn't the Bulls play someone else on IT the same way and win the series? Rondo was pushed out of the rotation in Chicago earlier in the year, he's not the Bulls best player, or their 2nd best for that matter. Neither Butler or Wade could stop IT in games 3-6, does that mean Rondo is better than them? IT managed to outplay John Wall in the 2nd round, does that mean that Rondo is better than Wall also? I don't think so. Where do you draw the line?
You didn't discredit Dragic making the "All NBA" team a few years ago, or question him getting a max deal afterwards, so why discredit IT? You can say he's a gimmick all you want but it's a gimmick that's worked well and has led to more success than the Suns have had since Nash retired. The Celtics have made the playoffs every year he's been there and they didn't make them before he arrived, they weren't even in the top 8 when they traded for him in 2014. Sure, I wouldn't take IT over KAT or Lillard but that isn't the question. Out of all of the guards in the league this year, IT was picked in the top 4 by sports writers across the country for his play. It doesn't matter if you'd rather have Lillard or IT, IT had a much better season this year. He's had more success individually and lead his team to more success than Bledsoe or Dragic since our "3 Headed Monster" was broken up.
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Today's game 5/22/17
Warriors Vs Spurs game 3 (ESPN) 6:00 p.m. The Warriors lead the series 3-0.
http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400953594
Warriors Vs Spurs game 3 (ESPN) 6:00 p.m. The Warriors lead the series 3-0.
http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400953594
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Anthony Slater@anthonyVslater
Andre Iguodala will play tonight, Mike Brown said. He was listed as probable yesterday.
Andre Iguodala will play tonight, Mike Brown said. He was listed as probable yesterday.
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Anthony Slater@anthonyVslater
Zaza Pachulia remains questionable, but has done a bit more the past couple days.
Zaza Pachulia remains questionable, but has done a bit more the past couple days.
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ESPN Stats & Info@ESPNStatsInfo
Warriors have won 5 straight road games, the longest streak in franchise postseason history
Warriors have won 5 straight road games, the longest streak in franchise postseason history
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He didn't look right in game 3, I would hope they can win without playing him much and then rest him until the finals. If they lose and have to play a game 5 it will be detrimental to getting Iggy and Zaza healthy for the finals.
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I pretty much agree with everything here except your last sentence. I have no idea whether Ainge will spend that kind of money on Thomas but given that he'll probably end up spending it eventually for whoever is his 3rd best player, I find it hard to believe he'll just let the guy walk for nothing.
And I think it's unreasonable to ignore the fact that Thomas has not been the same player since his injury in March. No way do we beat that team a few games after his return if he's at full strength. We might not even see that 70 point Booker outburst. A healthy Thomas probably changes the complexion of that game enough that Devin wouldn't see the kind of court time necessary to put up those numbers. (I know, complete speculation)
JCSunsfan
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I assume IT will be on the trading block this summer if the Celts draft Fultz.
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gary washburn@GwashburnGlobe
Amir Johnson did not practice and will have an MRI on his right shoulder today. Uncertain for Game 4. #Celtics
Amir Johnson did not practice and will have an MRI on his right shoulder today. Uncertain for Game 4. #Celtics
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https://mobile.twitter.com/GwashburnGlobe
gary washburn@GwashburnGlobe
Brad Stevens tells the Globe Amir Johnson has a sprained right AC joint in shoulder and he's questionable for Game 4.
gary washburn@GwashburnGlobe
Brad Stevens tells the Globe Amir Johnson has a sprained right AC joint in shoulder and he's questionable for Game 4.
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Tim Reynolds@ByTimReynolds
With his 1st 3-point attempt tomorrow night, LeBron will tie Ray Allen (959) for most in NBA playoff history.
With his 1st 3-point attempt tomorrow night, LeBron will tie Ray Allen (959) for most in NBA playoff history.
Will need to make another 72 to pass Allen for three-pointers MADE...(385 to 314)
9 days off for the Warriors now. They'll have homecourt in the finals also, so 9 days without any traveling will help them get fully rested. They need it with their injuries, they should be at full strength for the finals. I hope it's not too much rest though, causing them to come out flat in the finals. I'd actually like to see the Warriors run the table, which would be more impressive than their 73 wins last season.
The most the Cavs can get is 5 days off, they play game 4 Tuesday and then game 5 on Thursday. Just to note, Cavs are 15 point favorites in game 4 tonight.
The most the Cavs can get is 5 days off, they play game 4 Tuesday and then game 5 on Thursday. Just to note, Cavs are 15 point favorites in game 4 tonight.
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Today's game
Celtics Vs Cavaliers Game 4 (TNT) 5:30 p.m. Cavaliers lead the series 2-1.
http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400953697
Celtics Vs Cavaliers Game 4 (TNT) 5:30 p.m. Cavaliers lead the series 2-1.
http://www.espn.com/nba/preview?gameId=400953697
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You always worry about long layoffs but I still think that win last night was a must. Iggy looked a bit better last night but he's still not 100%. Zaza didn't play again, Livingston has a history of wearing down when he plays too much etc.
So hopefully they're not too rusty when game 1 of the finals rolls around but the rest can hopefully do them good.
Assuming it's Cleveland it's going to be a fascinating series, it looks very likely that Brown will be coaching the Warriors the whole series so there's that angle to motivate the Warriors, not that they need it after blowing a 3-1 lead last year.
Hopefully they spend the 9 days off finding Klay Thompson's jumper.
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ESPN Stats & InfoVerified account@ESPNStatsInfo 1m1 minute ago
The @warriors are the 1st team since the 2001 Lakers to enter the NBA Finals undefeated.
The @warriors are the 1st team since the 2001 Lakers to enter the NBA Finals undefeated.
