The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament + Playoffs Thread

[Russ Smith]

Minus athletes like Luka are rarely even average defenders.

but it's effort IMO that is his problem. Amazing offensive player

 

[Russ Smith]

Love Steph but I had Wiggs and Looney ahead of him for series MVP

 

[Folster]

Minus athletes like Luka are rarely even average defenders.

I heard Skip Bayless of all people make a really good point about Luka offensively. There is no reason he should be good considering his athletic profile, but he plays at a different rhythm than American players grow up playing. Same for Jokic. You watch them and think there is no way these guys are athletic enough to play in the NBA, much less be All NBA and MVP level, but the American players just can't match the rhythm.

 

[Russ Smith]

Since it's over, Warriors wore black tonight, guess what color Theo Pinson wore, yep black. Not sure what the NBA can do about that but any suggestion it wasn't intentional went out the window

 

[Russ Smith]

I heard Skip Bayless of all people make a really good point about Luka offensively. There is no reason he should be good considering his athletic profile, but he plays at a different rhythm than American players grow up playing. Same for Jokic. You watch them and think there is no way these guys are athletic enough to play in the NBA, much less be All NBA and MVP level, but the American players just can't match the rhythm.

It's like Chris Mullin in his prime he'd drive to the bucket and you'd say how the hell did he score going that slow. But guys just aren't used to that sort of pace it's a great point

 

[Folster]

It's like Chris Mullin in his prime he'd drive to the bucket and you'd say how the hell did he score going that slow. But guys just aren't used to that sort of pace it's a great point

Or like Steve Nash jumping off the wrong foot with the scoop shot.

 

[Russ Smith]

I didn't see Payton on the court in the post game trophy part I wonder why?

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Yep.
And if you notice all of his offensive drives he always starts with shoving his forearm with his arm extended into the midsection of his defender— typically doing it two and three times during the drive. They could call that every time if they wanted to. Alas, they NEVER call it.

I made that observation during the entire suns series. McCollum did that on literally (I mean LITERALLY) every play too. Book gets called for offensive fouls on that constantly. I’ll never understand the double standards for some players.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Dub Nation!

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[mjb21aztd]

Not this yr sorry mavs fans

Gj warriors gl in the finals steph is a true winner

 

[Raindog]

It's like Chris Mullin in his prime he'd drive to the bucket and you'd say how the hell did he score going that slow. But guys just aren't used to that sort of pace it's a great point

It's a good point. Kind of like how Greg Maddux was such an effective pitcher for so long when his fastball barely ever topped 90 mph and not having any other particularly great breaking pitch. He was just so different from every other starter in how precise his location was that his lack of speed actually enhanced his effectiveness. It actually threw hitters off who were so accustomed to hard throwers or predictable breaking stuff at certain pitches in the count.

 

[Russ Smith]

In the postgame Klay was at the podium, the camera was watching him and they caught him making a paper airplane as he's answering the question! That guy is one of a kind with everything he's been through to get back healthy he's still got that fun loving streak in him. I suspect that's why he plays so well in big games he never lost the have fun aspect of sports.

 

[GatorAZ]

Let me guess, Looney outrebounded Ayton vs the Mavs?

 

[Russ Smith]

Let me guess, Looney outrebounded Ayton vs the Mavs?

he has amazing hands, he just catches everything that he touches. he was a great rebounder at UCLA too. The most famous play that year was the goaltend on Alfords 3 against SMU. The point everyone forgets on that play, since lots of people insist it wasn't a goaltend, is that Looney got the offensive board and was fouled by the guy who goaltended it,so even if they don't make that call, Looney is going to the line with a chance to tie the game. He just has a knack for where the ball is going to go on the rebound. now he might not have made both FT's but he had the rebound.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Let me guess, Looney outrebounded Ayton vs the Mavs?

Looney had 3 less rebounds than Ayton in a 5 game series vs 7 games for Ayton. So yeah... Looney destroyed Ayton as far as rebounds are concerned.

 

[Mainstreet]

It's like Chris Mullin in his prime he'd drive to the bucket and you'd say how the hell did he score going that slow. But guys just aren't used to that sort of pace it's a great point

I used to say think that about Jeff Hornacek as well. He used to be able to weave his way through traffic without losing the ball. I attribute much of that ability to great hand eye-coordination and dexterity.

Also some of these players are much quicker than one might think. If you have ever watched a cat play with a mouse it looks like the cat is moving in slow motion. I suspect Luka is much quicker than meets the eye.

 

[Ronin]

I used to say think that about Jeff Hornacek as well. He used to be able to weave his way through traffic without losing the ball. I attribute much of that ability to great hand eye-coordination and dexterity.

Also some of these players are much quicker than one might think. If you have ever watched a cat play with a mouse it looks like the cat is moving in slow motion. I suspect Luka is much quicker than meets the eye.

"What are his ball-handling skills in NBA 2k22"....they should be zero. lol

sorry I was referring to Sharpe's comment about Jaylen Brown's ball-handling skills during the Heat Celtics Game 5. Ridiculous....

 

[AzStevenCal]

Looney had 3 less rebounds than Ayton in a 5 game series vs 7 games for Ayton. So yeah... Looney destroyed Ayton as far as rebounds are concerned.

Ayton, like every player on this team disappointed in the playoffs especially against Dallas.

For their careers, Ayton and Looney are almost identical in rebound stats per 36. But Looney upped his rebound game this series, DA went down a little and then minutes played takes care of the rest as Ayton had 3 games of 23 minutes or fewer.

And for whatever it's worth, Ayton, in 6 games against the Pelicans, also outrebounded the DeAndre that faced the Mavericks. Something was off. But not just with our center.

 

[Russ Smith]

Sounds like they are hopeful GP2 will be ready to play for game 1 in the next round depending on when game 1 is of course. That would be nice, if it's Boston GP 2 on Jaylen Brown would be valuable, if it's Miami GP2 on Butler would be useful.

no update on Porter I'm hearing he would have been doubtful for a game 6 on Sat if we'd lost last night though.

 

[Russ Smith]

For the playoffs with Looney on the court the Warriors rebound 31.4% of their misses. Over the regular season that % would be the 3rd best rebounding number in the entire league. Without Looney on the court they rebound 20.5% of their misses, which would be the worst in the league for regular season stats.

pretty amazing the playoffs started with the new death lineup killing Denver and being the hot topic and it turns out the key to the 2nd and 3rd round was putting Looney in the lineup

 

[Russ Smith]

Against Dallas, with Curry on the court the Warriors had an offensive rating of 122.1, which would have easily led the NBA in offensive rating. Without Curry on the floor their rating would have been 17th in the NBA. That also points out how improved Poole is and how important having Klay back is, last year without Curry the Warriors were the worst offensive team in the NBA, the year before one of the worst in history.

 

[Suns_fan69]

It's like Chris Mullin in his prime he'd drive to the bucket and you'd say how the hell did he score going that slow. But guys just aren't used to that sort of pace it's a great point

Luka changes his speed really well too. He'll start his drive going full speed (well, his version of full speed), then routinely slows right down to initiate contact and/or let defenders fly during his take off.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Sounds like they are hopeful GP2 will be ready to play for game 1 in the next round depending on when game 1 is of course. That would be nice, if it's Boston GP 2 on Jaylen Brown would be valuable, if it's Miami GP2 on Butler would be useful.

no update on Porter I'm hearing he would have been doubtful for a game 6 on Sat if we'd lost last night though.

We definitely need Porter vs Boston.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I’m rooting for Boston simply because they’re healthier and I think will make for a better series.

The Heat are like the Walking Dead out there with so many guys hurt or out. The Warriors would wipe the floor with them in 5 games max.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Is this actually… a basketball game?!