2019 NBA Playoff Discussion

[Mainstreet]

Can't believe the Suns took Len over Giannis.

I think a lot of teams are saying this. That was a weaker draft. Giannis was drafted at 15.

At least Len is still in the NBA if one is looking to find any positive out of it.

Anthony Bennett who was chosen number 1 is out of the NBA.

 

[Adrian]

Can’t believe we picked Markieff over Kawhi! Thanks Blanks!

 

[Cheesebeef]

I mentioned this earlier last night, the local Bay Area Warriors channel caught it and it actually happened 3 times last night. There's a play where Shumpert with a closed fist smacks down and hits Curry in the injured left hand. There's a play where while setting a screen Shumpert reaches out grabs Curry's left hand and squeezes and yanks it, and there's a play where CP3(surprise) hooks Curry's left hand and yanks on it. I know it's the NBA tons of money at stake but they are literally trying to reinjure that hand and not getting called for it. They have video of all 3 of them I hope they send it to the NBA ala the Rockets detailed refs report.

do you also hope that KD's blatant elbow to CP3's face is sent to the league?

Warrior fans crying about dirty play is laughable at this point.

 

[Hoop Head]

Can't believe the Suns took Len over Giannis.

I remember watching that draft and Giannis was seen as a huge project and somewhat of a reach by Milwaukee at 15. There are 14 teams who passed on him and I don't think the majority of them can be blamed for that. When he entered the league he was incredibly skinny and couldn't do anything particularly well other than playing the passing lanes but that had more to do with his ridiculous length than his skill. It took him a while to bulk up and become the player we see now and I'm not sure how good he would have become if he was on another team that wasn't as patient as Milwaukee has been with him.

There are plenty of reasons to question some picks made by the Suns but not reaching for Giannis isn't something I'd fault them for. If they picked a different project between 11-14 then I might have a problem with who they took because Giannis would have been the better project player to take a shot on.

 

[Russ Smith]

I remember watching that draft and Giannis was seen as a huge project and somewhat of a reach by Milwaukee at 15. There are 14 teams who passed on him and I don't think the majority of them can be blamed for that. When he entered the league he was incredibly skinny and couldn't do anything particularly well other than playing the passing lanes but that had more to do with his ridiculous length than his skill. It took him a while to bulk up and become the player we see now and I'm not sure how good he would have become if he was on another team that wasn't as patient as Milwaukee has been with him.

There are plenty of reasons to question some picks made by the Suns but not reaching for Giannis isn't something I'd fault them for. If they picked a different project between 11-14 then I might have a problem with who they took because Giannis would have been the better project player to take a shot on.

It was his 3rd year before he looked like a legit NBA starter and he's improved immensely every year. One would assume that can't continue forever but with him if he just improves a bit as a distance shooter that's another logical step. His rebound numbers are pretty impressive he seems to go up 2-3 a game each season.

 

[Russ Smith]

do you also hope that KD's blatant elbow to CP3's face is sent to the league?

Warrior fans crying about dirty play is laughable at this point.

I've admitted the elbow happened several times already and yes I suspect the Rockets will send it to the league based on their actions earlier in the series.

I think it should go both ways, i think they should fine Durant, fine Paul and fine Shumpert none of them were basketball plays and guys can get hurt.

The Rockets did an entire workup of missed calls, I think the Warriors should do the same thing. And remember in the last series the Warriors put together a montage of cheapshots by Beverley and sent that to the NBA and the very next game, the refs wouldn't let him do it anymore.

If it's fair to point out when the Warriors do something it's fair to point out what the other team is doing to the Warriors too. I don't think anybody would argue Steph Curry is a dirty player but the Rockets are doing their best to reinjure that hand.

 

[Adrian]

• Rich Hofmann
  @rich_hofmann

Joel Embiid is probable with an upper respiratory infection. Team says that he did not attend shootaround, similar to Game 2.

 

[AzStevenCal]

• Rich Hofmann
  @rich_hofmann

Joel Embiid is probable with an upper respiratory infection. Team says that he did not attend shootaround, similar to Game 2.

So, incredibly injury and illness prone, first class hypochondriac or willing participant in hiding the truth from opponents? Or is it just "look at me, look at me" syndrome.

 

[Western Font]

There are plenty of reasons to question some picks made by the Suns but not reaching for Giannis isn't something I'd fault them for. If they picked a different project between 11-14 then I might have a problem with who they took because Giannis would have been the better project player to take a shot on.

Agree. It’s not like Giannis went 6th and was at the top of a lot of teams’ boards. Great nab by the Bucks, but we’re they picking at 5 I don’t think they would have taken him that high either.

The way I see it, the Suns got lucky with Amare, and they got lucky with Booker. Who knows, if the lottery isn’t kind to us next week we may still get lucky this year.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

do you also hope that KD's blatant elbow to CP3's face is sent to the league?

Warrior fans crying about dirty play is laughable at this point.

So if a team has a dirty play that precludes them from pointing out other dirty plays? Russ is a very fair minded fan...

I was at my kid's track practice for the first 2 quarters...can you provide a link to the KD elbow? I'd like to see it.

And, Russ is correct in observing that Houston's public lobbying has been effective.

 

[JustWinBaby]

I love it when the Warriors lose because you don't hear the rants about MDA never making adjustments and not using his bench.

Now we get to hear the Warrior fans complaining about how horrible the Warrior bench is. What a joke?

Kerr and his fans are the ones that complained that MDA did not use his bench enough while coaching the Suns.

These same fans are giving Kerr cover for the type of defense that the Rockets are playing and getting away with but consistently said that MDA was out coached by POP.

I think the Warriors will win this series. Klay Thompson will not continue to shoot so poorly.

I don't no why he would sign here but Booker and Klay at the 2 & 3 would be pretty nice.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I found it:

https://www.12up.com/posts/6362483-...th-dirty-elbow-to-chris-paul-s-face-in-game-4

Definitely should've been a minimum flagrant 1. Do I feel bad for Paul? Hell no. He has gotten away with elbowing KD intentionally like that several times this season and last year.


Here is one:

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[Russ Smith]

So if a team has a dirty play that precludes them from pointing out other dirty plays? Russ is a very fair minded fan...

I was at my kid's track practice for the first 2 quarters...can you provide a link to the KD elbow? I'd like to see it.

And, Russ is correct in observing that Houston's public lobbying has been effective.

https://www.12up.com/posts/6362483-...-4?view_source=leagues_page&view_medium=[nba]

I definitely whine about calls myself too I'll admit to that. I just think the complaining about dirty play in this series has been one sided because the results, harden's eye, is so apparent.

I can't find a video of Paul's attempted kick on Klay. As I said NBC Bay area had a video of 3 cheapshots on Steph but they played it on air this morning I don't see it on their site. the one where Shumpert with a closed fist hit Steph's hand I would assume that's an automatic fine if the NBA sees it, not even remotely related to the game he just balled up his fist and swung down at Steph.

 

[Russ Smith]

I love it when the Warriors lose because you don't hear the rants about MDA never making adjustments and not using his bench.

Now we get to hear the Warrior fans complaining about how horrible the Warrior bench is. What a joke?

Kerr and his fans are the ones that complained that MDA did not use his bench enough while coaching the Suns.

These same fans are giving Kerr cover for the type of defense that the Rockets are playing and getting away with but consistently said that MDA was out coached by POP.

I think the Warriors will win this series. Klay Thompson will not continue to shoot so poorly.

I don't no why he would sign here but Booker and Klay at the 2 & 3 would be pretty nice.

I think Kerr is being outcoached so far but in his defense I'm not sure what he can do to counter it. If he had Boogie, when the Rockets go really small he could try and punish them in the paint, but he doesn't.

I would completely agree with Liac though, putting Jordan bell in last night was completely irresponsible and totally unfair to Bell. He's sat the whole series and suddenly he's in and immediately gets lost giving Harden a layup that was a key play at the end of the 3rd. I know Kerr was trying to avoid fouls for his key guys but he gave up a layup doing it.

 

[Russ Smith]

Just for laughts, article in the Mercury News about Draymond being mad at the refs for not calling a foul on Harden for hitting him in the face last night on the made 3.

I would think he should quit when ahead with the eye scratch.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Just for laughts, article in the Mercury News about Draymond being mad at the refs for not calling a foul on Harden for hitting him in the face last night on the made 3.

I would think he should quit when ahead with the eye scratch.

You make it sound like there was just one eye out there to attack. Let's face it, Green still has a lot of work to do

 

[95pro]

Shumpert looks awful out there, Green needs more time.

 

[Russ Smith]

Shumpert looks awful out there, Green needs more time.

Shumpert has been pretty good actually, 4-7 from 3 in his last 2 games. his forte is supposed to be defense and he is good at that. He was actually the only bench player for Houston that didn't have a negative plus/minus in game 4.

I do like Gerald Green though, interesting how guys develop over the years he came into the league as strictly a dunker and now he's making 3's and really doesn't dunk that much.

 

[Yuma]

The Sixers need more scoring. TJ Warren would be a great fit for them. They need a guy who can hit the three and drive to the hole!

 

[Mainstreet]

Raptors lead at halftime 64-43.

 

[Mainstreet]

Any question about Siakam being ready to play has been removed.

He has 25 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals and a block with almost 9 minutes left in the fourth quarter.

 

[95pro]

Wow these playoffs are fun. Rockets come back to tie the series. Nuggets go up on the Blazers and the Embiid lays an egg. Who would have thought the Celtics would be on the ropes this early into the series after game 1?

Loving the drama surrounding Embiid. They say he's sick but overall in the playoffs his stats are down and just hasn't been reliable. They're really questioning his diet and what he does to keep himself healthy.

 

[Adrian]

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[GatorAZ]

Wow these playoffs are fun. Rockets come back to tie the series. Nuggets go up on the Blazers and the Embiid lays an egg. Who would have thought the Celtics would be on the ropes this early into the series after game 1?

Loving the drama surrounding Embiid. They say he's sick but overall in the playoffs his stats are down and just hasn't been reliable. They're really questioning his diet and what he does to keep himself healthy.

I do like Embiid’s game but he’s getting exposed a bit. Same thing happened vs Boston last year.

Philly has a lot of stars to not make the conference finals...

 

[Yuma]

The last time Boston played Shaq and Barkley were saying Boston needed to blow up the team after they get eliminated. Kenny asked them what that meant to clarify, and both of them said that team needed to be rebuilt. Both Shaq and Barkley were saying that Boston team would never get past the first round. I know Ainge is either in the hospital or at home after his heart attack. I wonder what he thinks if he is watching the playoffs?