The 2022 NBA Play-In Tournament + Playoffs Thread

[Russ Smith]

On Gary Payton 2 they're saying he's going to play but he's nowhere near 100%. There's a video online now from yesterdays practice, his mom showed up with a kid and they notified him he'd won an award for NBA the Bob Lanier Community assist award. After they tell him teammates start high fiving him and surround him and then he tells them to back off because they're hurting his elbow. He's pointing out he still has the brace on. He is using his left hand so he can use the arm now but it's clear just being bumped around like that was painful.

now put him in a game with Marcus Smart on the other side.

 

[AzStevenCal]

On Gary Payton 2 they're saying he's going to play but he's nowhere near 100%. There's a video online now from yesterdays practice, his mom showed up with a kid and they notified him he'd won an award for NBA the Bob Lanier Community assist award. After they tell him teammates start high fiving him and surround him and then he tells them to back off because they're hurting his elbow. He's pointing out he still has the brace on. He is using his left hand so he can use the arm now but it's clear just being bumped around like that was painful.

now put him in a game with Marcus Smart on the other side.

Yeah that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[somethingshesaid]

When the media asks someone like a team's owner whether he thinks they'll win, as a news reader I think "stop wasting my time." Of course he says yes, idiots. What was Lacob going to think, that his team will lose? Did Robert Sarver probably expect his team to win the 2021 Finals; and if he didn't, would he admit it to the media? They might as well ask the owner "Do you support your own team?"

 

[somethingshesaid]

Actually, for some time I've considered this idea: a team should try to play mind games with the other team by publicly saying the other team is too good to beat, and they fear it. It probably wouldn't work (because all players and team officials would have to agree to say it), but I still find the thought amusing.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Boston is the only team in the NBA with a winning record vs. Dubs in the Steve Kerr era at 9 and 7 (6-2 in games played on Warriors home court).

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The reason the media favor the Warriors doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the Warriors. Apparently with many of the media, it's just because they think the Celtics are exhausted from the difficult Heat series, while the Warriors had an easy series against the Mavericks. Ehhh...that's at least a more reasoned justification than "the Warriors are a former dynasty and have been here before" or something.

I am of the opinion Boston wins this series. Obviously, as a lifelong Warriors fan I’m distressed to feel this way. But, this team just matches up so well against them it’s hard to see them losing to the Warriors. I also don’t think the media should be calling the warriors a “former dynasty” when they are now in their sixth final in eight years. They are still a dynasty they just had a bump in the road.

 

[somethingshesaid]

I am of the opinion Boston wins this series. Obviously, as a lifelong Warriors fan I’m distressed to feel this way. But, this team just matches up so well against them it’s hard to see them losing to the Warriors. I also don’t think the media should be calling the warriors a “former dynasty” when they are now in their sixth final in eight years. They are still a dynasty they just had a bump in the road.

Well, they sure would seem evenly matched: the Celtics handle the Warriors well but the Warriors are fresher.

 

[Russ Smith]

Boston is the only team in the NBA with a winning record vs. Dubs in the Steve Kerr era at 9 and 7 (6-2 in games played on Warriors home court).

That was mostly Brad Stevens but it is interesting this team has gone further without Stevens.

 

[Russ Smith]

I am of the opinion Boston wins this series. Obviously, as a lifelong Warriors fan I’m distressed to feel this way. But, this team just matches up so well against them it’s hard to see them losing to the Warriors. I also don’t think the media should be calling the warriors a “former dynasty” when they are now in their sixth final in eight years. They are still a dynasty they just had a bump in the road.

My concern is that their 2 best players are Tatum and Brown, scorers, and due to injuries the Warriors really only have 1 good defender at that position they can rely on, Wiggins. They don't really know how Porter is going to respond will he be ok or will the foot hinder him. And it appears pretty likely Iggy is either not going to play or very limited minutes. if either one of those guys were healthy I'd feel much better.

as it is now the Warriors will probably try and play Klay on Brown and it would not surprise me at all when Robert Williams is out and Grant Williams is in if the Warriors try and put Draymond on Brown or Tatum and put Klay on a bigger guy.

The lineup wtih Steph, Klay and Poole that's a real concern can they spread them out enough and make enough 3's that the size of Boston wouldn't just overwhelm them. Memphis gave that lineup considerable problems when they had Adams in with JJJ the size was just too much, Boston can be similarly big.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Warriors severe NBA Finals underdogs to Celtics per ESPN, FiveThirtyEight

According to a pair of notable prognosticating models the Warriors will suit up Thursday for Game 1 of the NBA Finals as big underdogs to the Boston Celtics.

www.yahoo.com

 

[somethingshesaid]

Well, who will Curry probably guard? I had the impression he was a perfectly good defender, if only because he'd almost have to be for his team to have a great defense. (How is a team supposed to be great defensively if it has to hide any key players?) Is Curry just too short and/or not particularly athletic?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

x-factor for Boston in this series is Pritchard.

x-factor for the Warriors and the series is Porter Junior.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Tatum is playing terrified of the moment right now. He’s gotta settle down.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Curry going nuclear right now.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The Chef is in the house!

 

[Russ Smith]

Considering Steph put up 21 the game is far too close. Whole problem is Draymond, 0-5 4 of them wide open looks(one contested 3 to beat the clock). He missed 2 layups a wide open 3 and a 5 foot push shot.

Celtics are really physical on Poole he seems pretty bothered so far

That block by Brown changed that quarter Warriors had all the momentum until that

 

[Russ Smith]

Poor iggy missed all that time gets back and takes a knee to the nuts almost immediately

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Dubs “bigs” 0-7 shooting.

Curry in the zone!

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

X Factor!

 

[Russ Smith]

I love Otto Porter. too bad he has glass feet he's such a good player

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Poole trash so far

 

[Russ Smith]

Man they are long at the rim

 

[Russ Smith]

Poole trash so far

He's bugged by how physical they are playing he wants calls but it's the finals.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Poole needs to sit.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Too much iso ball in 2nd..