2023 NBA playoffs will be starting soon.

Steven59 · May 2, 2023 4:55PM

Butler out tonight with that sprained ankle from game 1.

Steven59 · May 2, 2023 6:35PM

@Steven59 said:
Butler out tonight with that sprained ankle from game 1.

Quess I'm talking to myself tonight - Don't worry, I'm used to it living with just my dog -

Amazing Miami up in the 4rth.

pdoidoi · May 2, 2023 6:42PM

Most of the time I feel only my dog is the one who listens to me.

erikthredd · May 2, 2023 6:52PM

@Steven59 said:

@Steven59 said:
Butler out tonight with that sprained ankle from game 1.

Quess I'm talking to myself tonight - Don't worry, I'm used to it living with just my dog -

Amazing Miami up in the 4rth.

I took a break from the Miami-NY game after hearing that Butler was out. the Knicks should win this with the Heat being down three of their best players. I am looking forward to the Dubs-lakers next though.

Steven59 · May 2, 2023 6:59PM

@erikthredd said:

I am looking forward to the Dubs-lakers next though.

Steven59 · May 2, 2023 7:07PM

Phhht! Sorry, that pitiful NY (lucky they won) preformance gave me gas.........

erikthredd · May 2, 2023 7:28PM

@Steven59 said:
Phhht! Sorry, that pitiful NY (lucky they won) preformance gave me gas.........

I'll gladly deal with some gas if it means my pitiful Boston team gets a win tomorrow lol.

Steven59 · May 2, 2023 7:35PM

Well, so far so good for GS

erikthredd · May 2, 2023 7:46PM

After one its gone pretty much as expected. I have a felling this series will have all close games.

Off topic, this knucklehead's big mouth cost him any chance of an extension with Memphis this offseason. He'll find a new home elsewhere but Memphis has been putting together a young team expected to contend for the foreseeable future.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36981568/grizzlies-intend-re-sign-dillon-brooks-sources-say

erikthredd · May 2, 2023 9:41PM

That was a great game, AD was a monster with 30/23/5 & 4 blocks. He was a huge deterrent in the paint especially in that final 2mins w/Green,Curry & Poole all having no chance at trying to score in the paint.

Its just one though,I said it last series and saying it again...can't count these Warriors out.

thisistheshow · May 3, 2023 3:44AM

@pdoidoi said:
Most of the time I feel only my dog is the one who listens to me.

...
No, we listen to you too.

thisistheshow · May 3, 2023 3:46AM

@erikthredd said:
That was a great game, AD was a monster with 30/23/5 & 4 blocks. He was a huge deterrent in the paint especially in that final 2mins w/Green,Curry & Poole all having no chance at trying to score in the paint.

Its just one though,I said it last series and saying it again...can't count these Warriors out.

...
My seasonal allergies are starting to go crazy, and I went to sleep during the Knicks game. I was looking forward to the second game.

Looks like I missed a great one from street clothes.

erikthredd · May 3, 2023 8:07AM

@thisistheshow said:

@erikthredd said:
That was a great game, AD was a monster with 30/23/5 & 4 blocks. He was a huge deterrent in the paint especially in that final 2mins w/Green,Curry & Poole all having no chance at trying to score in the paint.

Its just one though,I said it last series and saying it again...can't count these Warriors out.

...
My seasonal allergies are starting to go crazy, and I went to sleep during the Knicks game. I was looking forward to the second game.

Looks like I missed a great one from street clothes.

Its kind of ironic that the LA/GS game sort of played out like the BOS/PHI game did. LA dominated in PIP 54-28 and at the FT line (w/29 attempts to GS's 6) while GS made 21 threes to LA's 6. Just seeing those huge disparities would have you thinking one blew out the other but it was pretty close (within 10) throughout the game.
It really came down to LA & AD's defense at the end. They didn't let anyone get near the rim and they were doubling Curry & Klay to make someone else beat them.

They still have a long way to go but this Lakers team isn't the same as the one we've been poking fun at for the past year or two.

Sidenote: This CB wrtiter does a better job explaining than I did on why Boston dominated in the paint yet still found themseleves in a position to lose. Season high in PIP,season low in 3pt attempts which is not what makes this offense go.
https://www.celticsblog.com/2023/5/3/23708340/boston-celtics-game-1-paint-dominance-sacrifice-3-pointer-joe-mazzulla-philadelphia-76ers-playoffs

Steven59 · May 3, 2023 3:42PM

"Joel Embiid vowed to play in Game 2 tonight."

BUT: "Head coach Doc Rivers said Embiid was likely doubtful because he hasn't played in Philadelphia's last two games "

So will he play tonight or not?

Steven59 · May 3, 2023 6:15PM

Embid is playing tonight - and Boston is leading - time to sit down Embid...................

erikthredd · May 3, 2023 7:20PM

Now that looked like the Celtics team that won so many games this year. Philly probably should have sat Embiid for one more game. They play an entirely different style when he's off the court. They still stole one though so that's all that really matters. The C's gotta go take it back now.

thisistheshow · May 4, 2023 5:37AM

@erikthredd said:
Now that looked like the Celtics team that won so many games this year. Philly probably should have sat Embiid for one more game. They play an entirely different style when he's off the court. They still stole one though so that's all that really matters. The C's gotta go take it back now.

...
Great win!!!

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 9:36AM

Chris Paul is expected to miss one week,likely both of games 3 & 4 and possibly 5. Their backup PG Cameron Payne is decent but he's a huge dropoff compared to CP3. Now KD & Book will both need to go into superman mode and takeover these next 2 games.

Steven59 · May 4, 2023 10:15AM

Well that certainly was an old fasioned butt whooping in Boston last night!!!!!!

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 1:45PM

GS faces a must win scenario tonight,imo. Losing back to back homes game to start their series could leave them in a huge hole that's tough to get out of. They did win two road games in round one but the Lakers aren't the Kings,they have so much more overall playoff experience.

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 4:55PM

The Bucks found their scapegoat after losing in round 1 with the firing of Budenholzer. He probably won't be unemployed for long though. That team may have a new look next year with Lopez being a free agent and Middleton having a player option that he might not pick up. I'd expect both to return next season but with this free agent class not being all that great you never know. Some team might throw more money at them than Milwaukee does.

Steven59 · May 4, 2023 6:13PM

"We going 7 games to make alot a money right? You got that straight..................................."

Steven59 · May 4, 2023 6:16PM

@erikthredd said:
The Bucks found their scapegoat after losing in round 1 with the firing of Budenholzer.

Poor guy - I didn't see him miss one shot or go down with an injury in round one!

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 6:43PM

@Steven59 said:

@erikthredd said:
The Bucks found their scapegoat after losing in round 1 with the firing of Budenholzer.

Poor guy - I didn't see him miss one shot or go down with an injury in round one!

The guy did have an absolute horrible week, he lost his brother in between two games from that series.

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 6:43PM

Lakers playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 6:48PM

right on cue, a GSW spurt

must-win for them tonight

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 6:55PM

That Lebron 3pt fallaway bank right as the shot clock went off was sweet.

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 7:06PM

Dubs showing in the 2nd what they're capable of when the game turns into a track meet

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 7:08PM

win or lose, still liking what I see out of LAL the first game and a half

they are gelling at the right time

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 7:19PM

@Steven59 said:
"We going 7 games to make alot a money right? You got that straight..................................."

yes, it's going 7

-Tim D

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 7:21PM

@galaxy27 said:
Dubs showing in the 2nd what they're capable of when the game turns into a track meet

@galaxy27 said:
win or lose, still liking what I see out of LAL the first game and a half

they are gelling at the right time

Klay is really keeping them in the game. The one thing with the Lakers that tends to be an issue at times is nights like this where AD looks like he's having an offnight. They'll need him to get going in the 2nd half especially if Curry starts heating up too.

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 7:25PM

@erikthredd said:

Klay is really keeping them in the game. The one thing with the Lakers that tends to be an issue at times is nights like this where AD looks like he's having an offnight. They'll need him to get going in the 2nd half especially if Curry starts heating up too.

yep, AD provided very little. absolutely no excuse for that. he can impose his will in the paint all game long should he choose to.

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 7:33PM

There's still alot of game left but his current statline of 4/5/4/1/1 is a far cry from his dominating 30/23/5/4 performance in game 1. He also has 3 fouls and its ironic because one of the refs is the guy from Celtics/Lakers game earlier in the season where Lebron didn't get that visible foul call on the final play of regulation. Lakers fans were already predicting doom from this guy hours before this games started lol.
https://athlonsports.com/nba/lakers-warriors-game-2-referee-assignment-nba-eric-lewis

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 7:42PM

when Klay is on there's no one more exciting to watch

freaking Dan Marino release, just unleashing a barrage of treys

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 7:55PM

His old man was a #1 pick himself and IIRC between the two of them,they own 6 rings. I really think had Klay played anywhere else he could have been thought of on a Steph Curry level. He could score with the best of them and he was an All Defense caliber on the other end.

galaxy27 · May 4, 2023 8:10PM

@galaxy27 said:
Lakers playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

did I poke the bear or what

tomorrow night after the 1st quarter I be like, Celtics playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

😆

erikthredd · May 4, 2023 8:34PM

@galaxy27 said:

@galaxy27 said:
Lakers playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

did I poke the bear or what

tomorrow night after the 1st quarter I be like, Celtics playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

😆

These guys aren't amused. 😎

SanctionII · May 4, 2023 10:42PM

Missed tonight's game.

Just saw the score. Warriors had to win and they blew out the Lakers. The Lakers waived the white flag at the end of the 3rd quarter after trailing by 30.

It would not surprise me to see the Warriors win at least one of the next two games in LA.

thisistheshow · May 5, 2023 5:37AM

@galaxy27 said:

@galaxy27 said:
Lakers playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

did I poke the bear or what

tomorrow night after the 1st quarter I be like, Celtics playing flawless basketball, shooting the hell out of the ball

they just look like the better team, period

😆

...
Watch it, Theo

erikthredd · May 5, 2023 8:12AM

Yup,the Warriors looked great last night and you could say that it was with Curry having sort of an offnight with just 20pts. Klay showed he still has game and Green made AD a nonfactor, he even matched his 11pts. Although Davis,like Tatum in his game 2, didn't go back into the game once the route was on. Still though LA needs him to show up every night, they have pretty good depth but not enough scoring to stay with GS when they're hitting their threes if Davis isn't contributing.

galaxy27 · May 5, 2023 8:28AM

so difficult to tell where two teams in a series stand when the roadie steals game one, gets behind in game 2, then ultimately lays down and dies because "they got what they wanted." Philly and L.A. both looked like they were giving 3/4 effort in the 2nd half of their games, which led to a bevy of open looks and made Boston and Golden St. look like well-oiled machines

i suspect both G3s will have a much different look

erikthredd · May 5, 2023 8:39AM

@galaxy27 said:
so difficult to tell where two teams in a series stand when the roadie steals game one, gets behind in game 2, then ultimately lays down and dies because "they got what they wanted." Philly and L.A. both looked like they were giving 3/4 effort in the 2nd half of their games, which led to a bevy of open looks and made Boston and Golden St. look like well-oiled machines

i suspect both G3s will have a much different look

I think in the case with Boston-Philly,the difference between games 1 & 2 was because the 76ers play an entirely different style with Embiid out there.

With him they're mostly a grind it out in the halfcourt offense that sees Joel & Harden try to get to the line 20-30 times a
game and when teams eventually start double teaming them they find their very good 3pt shooters.

Without him is what we saw from them in game 1,fast paced w/ everyone getting their fair share of looks of attempts and having a guy like Harden being able to turn back the clock for an MVP type performance is what was scary.
I posted this in a comment to TheShow yesterday about Philly's offense between games:
Harden had 45pts on 30 fg/a in game 1 then finished with 12pts of 14 attempts last night including 0-6 from three.
Maxey went from 26pts on 24 attempts to 13 on 14/a.
Harris had 18 on 16/a then 16 on 12/a last night. He probably picked up some of the slack with Embiid not scoring enough last night.
Melton had 17pts w/5-5 from three in game one,last night he took just 5 shots.
And of course Embiid played 27mins and only scored 15pts.

Boston built their defense to have success against players like Giannis & Embiid,build your wall preventing them from getting to the basket and make them take outside shots. This usually works and its why I've been confident of the C's winning this series with Embiid back.

thisistheshow · May 5, 2023 8:40AM

@galaxy27 I think you are projecting a bit with Philly. The Celtics are in control. You have already lost the bet.

erikthredd · May 5, 2023 9:03AM

@thisistheshow said:
@galaxy27 I think you are projecting a bit with Philly. The Celtics are in control. You have already lost the bet.

Steven59 · May 5, 2023 9:40AM

Not that it really matters,but: "Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul will miss Game 3 because of a left groin strain suffered in Game 2"

galaxy27 · May 5, 2023 10:13AM

@thisistheshow said:

@galaxy27 I think you are projecting a bit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jymEE3kmCiw

SanctionII · May 5, 2023 11:27AM

It is too early to tell with any certainty how the Warriors' 2022-2023 playoff run will play out. Their regular season performance was perplexing and the team looked to be very shaky. Even in the 9 playoff games they have played thus far (7 against the Kings and 2 against the Lakers) they have looked great and lousy.

However, there have been flashes of vintage Golden State (like last night's game) which hint that this year's team may be destined for another Finals appearance and another Ring.

Last year's team surprised everyone and during the playoff run saw statements made by Draymond Green that "we are going to win the championship". They did.

Whether this year's team will repeat and win another title is unknown, but it is becoming more or a possibility and it is becoming more of a topic of conversation.

erikthredd · May 5, 2023 12:03PM

I think its tough to pick any team right now as the clear cut favorite to win it all when pretty much every team still standing has looked great one game then not so great the next.

If I really had to pick one team that has been quietly getting the job done it would have to be the Nuggets. They had a fairly easy first round opponent in Minnesota who managed to win one game during that series but they've dominated the Suns in their two home games. One in a high scoring blowout and the other a low scoring defensive battle.
In Joker's b2b MVP seasons he was without both Jamal Murray & Michael Porter Jr for most of their playoff games, this time around they're healthy and playing at a high level.

With all of the flashy names still playing out west in Lebron/AD, Curry/Thompson and KD/Booker, Denver might actually have the best team from that group.

SanctionII · May 5, 2023 12:11PM

Denver has played very well so far in these playoffs; sort of under the radar because, well, its the "Denver Nuggets". Since the ABA-NBA merger after the 1975-1976 season, the NBA version of the Nuggets have never made it to the NBA Finals. At best I think the Nuggets have played in and lost the Western Conference Finals once or twice.

The Nuggets do not register highly in the world of sports media and never have (The same could have been said about the Warriors prior to the 2014-2015 season when the Warriors won their first title since 1974-1975).

If Denver beats the Suns 4-0 or 4-1 and advances to the Western Conference Finals I think Denver will see more media coverage. Jokic is an amazing player; and this year his team is not dealing with injuries.

erikthredd · May 5, 2023 12:57PM

I think part of the reasoning behind why Denver doesn't get as much love as the Dubs,Lakers or Suns is no one knows how good that team is because of their injury history in recent years.
Joker had carried them come playoff time but he alone could only go so far. It might seem crazy to say this after he just won two MVP awards but he might be the most underrated player ever. His BBIQ is off the charts.he's 6'-11" and literally just missed becoming the 3rd nba player ever to average a triple double on the season,just missing out on the assists with 9.8 per game.
I think he loves playing in Denver so,like Giannis, rather than taking off to find greener pastures I think the Nuggets would be better served finding him some real All NBA talent to pair with him at some point. He & Luka seem like they'd be the perfect match ,imo.

2023 NBA playoffs will be starting soon.

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