2018 Playoffs Thread

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Your team is up 3-0 in the NBA finals and you're upset that the talking heads are cursing them by mentioning a fact? Must be rough.

That's what you get from Dubs+Cards fans. We had decades of double heartbreak, it's hard to unlearn the feeling of anything will happen.

 

[Hoop Head]

That's what you get from Dubs+Cards fans. We had decades of double heartbreak, it's hard to unlearn the feeling of anything will happen.

I'm a Suns fan, we're still title-less. Losing a title after blowing a 3-1 lead would probably suck but since they won the year before, it couldn't have sucked too bad. You got 2 titles in the last 3 years and are 1 game away from a 3rd. Plus the Warriors won a title in the 70's. There are Suns fans that would trade their first born for the chance to go back and have the Suns win the title in 76 or 93, or in one of the Nash years. So while I understand concern it's not like the Warriors don't have recent accolades to pacify their fans if they do happen to suffer from a historical collapse. Here is not the place where you'll find sympathy. Perhaps Cardinals fans get it, but I don't think they do. The recent success of the Warriors puts them in a whole new light since they've been the title favorites for the last 3 years and will be again next season.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I was born in 1974, the year they won that title. Yes, it wouldn't suck as bad, but TWO historic collapses in three years would be catastrophic.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I was born in 1974, the year they won that title. Yes, it wouldn't suck as bad, but TWO historic collapse in three years would be catastrophic.

“Catastrophic?” Cmon. Go watch your two championship DVD’s and cry me a river.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

You just know the Cankles are going try to goad Green into a fight on Friday in an attempt to get him ejected and suspended for game 5. He better be ready.

 

[Errntknght]

Where is this Cankles coming from?

 

[ajcardfan]

Well, you just can't help but feel GS is loaded with such a ridiculous amount of talent, it's almost unfair. I mean, they have TWO guys, who, when they get going, are basically unstoppable. In game 2, it was Curry. Game 3, he plays TERRIBLE until the last couple of minutes. Any other team whose star plays that badly, they lose. Period. But not the Warriors, Kevin Durant just goes OFF, God Lord he was amazing, and they still win.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Where is this Cankles coming from?

Instead of Cavs (calves). .

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Green is two T's away from automatic suspension.

 

[Hoop Head]

Has a team ever had a pair of teammates who won MVP's within 3 years of each other like the Warriors have with Curry and Durant? Durant won in 2014, Curry in 2015 and 16, and they teamed up in the 2016 offseason.

The Rockets from the 90's are the closest to that in modern times by pairing Barkley, MVP in 93, with Hakeem, MVP in 94. They teamed up in the 96 offseason for the 96-97 season but at that point Barkley was 33 and a shell of his former MVP self because of injuries. He was 33 by the time he joined the Rockets, was traded for, and could barely play 2/3 of a season because of his injuries. He played in 53 games that first year there. The Rockets gave up a lot of their young players who helped them win titles in 94 and 95 to acquire him also, while the Warriors signed Durant without losing anyone from their title team except Harrison Barnes. They could have kept Barnes if they really wanted to but with Durant he wasn't needed.

Any team able to do while the players were still in their prime, or before the players were on the other side of 30? I think Derrick Rose signing with Cleveland this year might have been the next closest pairing of MVP winners but Rose of course is not even in consideration for comeback player of the year with how bad he's been since he won MVP. Sad to see injuries derail his career. The East may look entirely different if he managed to stay healthy and turn the Bulls into legit contenders when Lebron was joining with the Super Friends down in Miami.

 

[Hoop Head]

Green is two T's away from automatic suspension.

So the Cavs squeak out a win on Friday, Green gets a T in the loss. He gets another T in their return game in Golden State which would call for him to miss game 6 back in Cleveland, the Cavs tie it up there to force a game 7 because Green couldn't contain himself, again, and the Cavs celebrate a miraculous comeback where JR Smith completely redeems his game 1 mistake by nailing a 3 similar to Kyrie's big 3 in game 7 two years ago to put the Cavs ahead for good. Time to call Vegas and make a bet.

 

[ajcardfan]

Well, it hasn't happened yet (coming back from 3-0), but it will happen some day. And, everyone will be amazed when it does. Go for it poop head.

 

[Hoop Head]

If I win on that bet, I'll buy @LoyaltyisaCurse and @Russ Smith a round of drinks to ease the pain. Might be able to afford some Ayton Suns jersey's if they want to jump on the Suns wagon early to wash away the taste of such historical defeat.

 

[Russ Smith]

I'm a Suns fan, we're still title-less. Losing a title after blowing a 3-1 lead would probably suck but since they won the year before, it couldn't have sucked too bad. You got 2 titles in the last 3 years and are 1 game away from a 3rd. Plus the Warriors won a title in the 70's. There are Suns fans that would trade their first born for the chance to go back and have the Suns win the title in 76 or 93, or in one of the Nash years. So while I understand concern it's not like the Warriors don't have recent accolades to pacify their fans if they do happen to suffer from a historical collapse. Here is not the place where you'll find sympathy. Perhaps Cardinals fans get it, but I don't think they do. The recent success of the Warriors puts them in a whole new light since they've been the title favorites for the last 3 years and will be again next season.

I waited 40 years after the 75 title. We might have had a 2nd one the next year but some Suns team decided putting Ricky Sobers in the game to start a fight with Rick Barry was a good idea and it worked perfectly, Barry got ejected and the Suns took out the Warriors team that had the best record in the NBA and then the team broke up.

As a Cards fan I can of course get the we haven't won a title yet angle I'm just saying it hasn't exactly been easy to be a Warriors fan either, the franchise was completely mishandled under Franklin Mieuli for ages. We're talking about a team that let Barry, Wilkes, Phil Smith all walk in their primes, let Gus Williams go after 2 years and of course created the Celtics dynasty by trading Parrish and McHale for JBC and Ricky Brown.

I think we have a right to be happy the team is good now and a right to be superstitious after what happened 2 years ago.

 

[Russ Smith]

Has a team ever had a pair of teammates who won MVP's within 3 years of each other like the Warriors have with Curry and Durant? Durant won in 2014, Curry in 2015 and 16, and they teamed up in the 2016 offseason.

The Rockets from the 90's are the closest to that in modern times by pairing Barkley, MVP in 93, with Hakeem, MVP in 94. They teamed up in the 96 offseason for the 96-97 season but at that point Barkley was 33 and a shell of his former MVP self because of injuries. He was 33 by the time he joined the Rockets, was traded for, and could barely play 2/3 of a season because of his injuries. He played in 53 games that first year there. The Rockets gave up a lot of their young players who helped them win titles in 94 and 95 to acquire him also, while the Warriors signed Durant without losing anyone from their title team except Harrison Barnes. They could have kept Barnes if they really wanted to but with Durant he wasn't needed.

Any team able to do while the players were still in their prime, or before the players were on the other side of 30? I think Derrick Rose signing with Cleveland this year might have been the next closest pairing of MVP winners but Rose of course is not even in consideration for comeback player of the year with how bad he's been since he won MVP. Sad to see injuries derail his career. The East may look entirely different if he managed to stay healthy and turn the Bulls into legit contenders when Lebron was joining with the Super Friends down in Miami.

The Celtics started Bird, McHale and Parish all in their primes. McHale had a season of 26 and 10 with 2 1/2 blocks per game and shot 60% from the floor 84 from the line. That's an MVP caliber year but he finished 4th behind Magic, Jordan and Bird with nique, Barkley and Hakeem behind him. Magic played with Kareem(on the downside) and Worthy.

That goes back to the Jordan and LeBron debate thread, Jordan was playing in a time where the Celtics had that lineup(aging by then) the Lakers had their great team and the Pistons were there too.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

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[Mainstreet]

So the Cavs squeak out a win on Friday, Green gets a T in the loss. He gets another T in their return game in Golden State which would call for him to miss game 6 back in Cleveland, the Cavs tie it up there to force a game 7 because Green couldn't contain himself, again, and the Cavs celebrate a miraculous comeback where JR Smith completely redeems his game 1 mistake by nailing a 3 similar to Kyrie's big 3 in game 7 two years ago to put the Cavs ahead for good. Time to call Vegas and make a bet.

Please no. I want the Finals over so the media can focus on the Suns.

 

[Errntknght]

Please no. I want the Finals over so the media can focus on the Suns.

Careful what you wish for!

 

[pokerface]

Please no. I want the Finals over so the media can focus on the Suns.

Yeah and the media just wants to swindle us out of our #1 pick.

We are keeping that pick and drafting Ayton! No trades pls. Thx.

 

[Mainstreet]

Careful what you wish for!

Yeah and the media just wants to swindle us out of our #1 pick.

We are keeping that pick and drafting Ayton! No trades pls. Thx.

I want to savor every moment of the positive attention the Suns get.

Watching McDonough talk about Ayton after his workout removed any lingering doubt the Suns will draft him #1. He could hardly contain himself.

Another thing, Ayton, Booker and Jackson now makes the Suns a destination point for free agents. The Suns will be working with a base of three stars. I know I'm projecting some but I think it plays out this way.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I want to savor every moment of the positive attention the Suns get.

Watching McDonough talk about Ayton after his workout removed any lingering doubt the Suns will draft him #1. He could hardly contain himself.

Another thing, Ayton, Booker and Jackson now makes the Suns a destination point for free agents. The Suns will be working with a base of three stars. I know I'm projecting some but I think it plays out this way.

Not a lot of projection needed for that line of thinking imo. Particularly with Booker being so likable and Ayton being so easy going.

 

[Mainstreet]

Not a lot of projection needed for that line of thinking imo. Particularly with Booker being so likable and Ayton being so easy going.

Now, all seems possible.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Not a lot of projection needed for that line of thinking imo. Particularly with Booker being so likable and Ayton being so easy going.

I think coaching will be important for free agents.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I think coaching will be important for free agents.

True. I think the positive with Igor is that he’s got a good reputation, has worked under some good coaches, and has coached a LOT of teams - meaning a LOT of players have had an opportunity to work with him. And if he’s been good guy, that likely means he has well-spread positive reputation.

 

[JCSunsfan]

True. I think the positive with Igor is that he’s got a good reputation, has worked under some good coaches, and has coached a LOT of teams - meaning a LOT of players have had an opportunity to work with him. And if he’s been good guy, that likely means he has well-spread positive reputation.

Familiarity probably helps a lot, as long as it is not negative.