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Post by Ring on Apr 15, 2024 7:47:23 GMT -5
Lakers bench is really really weak which would be a bright spot. They don't have great 3 point shooting either. They don't have anyone to guard Murray. It really comes down to just making sure guys like Reaves/Russell don't have crazy series. Don't really see a path to them winning besides that.
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Post by JB on Apr 15, 2024 8:31:45 GMT -5
Austin Reaves averaged 21.3 points on a true shooting percentage of 73.8 (lol) against the Nuggets and it didn't make a difference.
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Post by JB on Apr 15, 2024 10:18:30 GMT -5
I really don't see a path where the Wolves win more than a game against the Suns. Ant hit a wall at the worst possible time, KAT is still recovering and Rupert is going to do Rupert things in the playoffs.
their entire defensive identity is based around defending the rim, stopping the three ball and conceding the mid-range, and the Suns want to shoot as many mid-range shots as possible. it's the nightmare scenario for them.
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Post by wizardofcozz on Apr 15, 2024 11:18:48 GMT -5
I really don't see a path where the Wolves win more than a game against the Suns. Ant hit a wall at the worst possible time, KAT is still recovering and Rupert is going to do Rupert things in the playoffs. their entire defensive identity is based around defending the rim, stopping the three ball and conceding the mid-range, and the Suns want to shoot as many mid-range shots as possible. it's the nightmare scenario for them. 100% thee one thing MIN is awful at guarding is PHO bread and butter in spades. |
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Post by sawyeral on Apr 15, 2024 14:01:47 GMT -5
What? We didn’t break Memphis last year or Minnesota this year No. Grizzlies came into ball last spring on a win streak and talking a ton of trash. Then we slapped them around. Broken: Your best player goes on a mindless bender, and culminates with your team losing in the first round - not even a 7 game series, despite being the 2nd seed. We broke the grizzlies last year - much as we just did to minny. If by 'we' you mean Denver's very own Shotgun Willie's...then yes. |
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Post by jimijam28 on Apr 15, 2024 17:16:23 GMT -5
That's Glendale 😁
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Post by duh88 on Apr 15, 2024 18:39:41 GMT -5
Lakers bench is really really weak which would be a bright spot. They don't have great 3 point shooting either. They don't have anyone to guard Murray. It really comes down to just making sure guys like Reaves/Russell don't have crazy series. Don't really see a path to them winning besides that. That’s the thing - I much prefer the lakers. But there’s no way the lakers will march into Smoothie King arena tomorrow night, intended to play us, when they can have Chet and OKC. |
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Post by famicommander on Apr 15, 2024 18:55:50 GMT -5
The Lakers are 1-7 against the Kings and Warriors this year and AD is 0-10 all time against Sabonis. There is no god damn chance the Lakers intentionally lose and risk a 1 game elimination against either of those teams.
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Post by passtheballquick on Apr 15, 2024 19:45:21 GMT -5
The Lakers are 1-7 against the Kings and Warriors this year and AD is 0-10 all time against Sabonis. There is no god damn chance the Lakers intentionally lose and risk a 1 game elimination against either of those teams. Just look what happened last year. This year Kings injured and GSW weaker team |
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Post by famicommander on Apr 15, 2024 19:50:24 GMT -5
Golden State is indeed weaker but you still don't sign up for a 1 game elimination with Curry if you can avoid it. On any given night he can still drop 50 on your head.
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Post by passtheballquick on Apr 15, 2024 20:25:24 GMT -5
Golden State is indeed weaker but you still don't sign up for a 1 game elimination with Curry if you can avoid it. On any given night he can still drop 50 on your head. He can, but 4 times including the road games? I would take my chances |
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Post by famicommander on Apr 15, 2024 20:48:38 GMT -5
Golden State is indeed weaker but you still don't sign up for a 1 game elimination with Curry if you can avoid it. On any given night he can still drop 50 on your head. He can, but 4 times including the road games? I would take my chances I was talking about the Lakers vs Warriors in a play in scenario, not playing the Warriors in a 7 game series. The question was about the Lakers intentionally tanking the first play-in game to avoid the Nugs, which I pointed out is absurdly dumb because it puts them into a single game elimination scenario against either the Kings and Sabonis against whom AD is 0-10 or Steph's Warriors. |
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Post by JB on Apr 15, 2024 21:18:58 GMT -5
if you're LeBron and you're hyper-focused on your legacy, I don't think you want a B2B sweep by a player that's probably going to be rated next to you when it's all said and done. I think I would rather risk falling out of the playoffs completely because my stan army already has the injury narrative ready to go.
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Post by AbdulJabber on Apr 15, 2024 22:38:05 GMT -5
The Lakers are 1-7 against the Kings and Warriors this year and AD is 0-10 all time against Sabonis. There is no god damn chance the Lakers intentionally lose and risk a 1 game elimination against either of those teams. I think a lot of that is just load managing for the Lakers. James/AD have about 40 games they play hard in. The others, they either take off completely, or they just stand around doing nothing for about half the game. That's their system. Do just enough to get to the playoffs and then go all-out. When they do have their legs and really go at it, they can generate lots of easy fast break points and a ton of points in the paint, while still playing good interior defense. Basically, they can still dominate teams in short bursts. So hypothetically, if LA takes it kinda easy and saves their legs and then gets the warriors, who won't have the same luxury, that's probably a pretty easy game in their eyes. They'll just pound the ball down the warriors throats. And the Kings definitely can't control the paint. |
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Post by famicommander on Apr 15, 2024 22:38:11 GMT -5
NBA MVP ballots are coming out.
Jokic 1st place voters:
Michael Pina, Ernie Johnson, Dan Devine, Bill Reiter, Ryan Russilo, John Schuhmann, Bill Simmons, JJ Redick, Ric Bucher, Tim Bontemps, Michael Wright, Rob Mahoney, Steve Aschburner, Shaun Powell, James Herbert, Chiney Ogwumike
SGA 1st place voters:
Kendrick Perkins, Stephen A. Smith
Luka 1st place voters:
Chris Broussard
So of a 19 person sample of the 100 voters, Jokic has 16 1st place votes.
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Post by passtheballquick on Apr 16, 2024 10:17:55 GMT -5
He can, but 4 times including the road games? I would take my chances I was talking about the Lakers vs Warriors in a play in scenario, not playing the Warriors in a 7 game series. The question was about the Lakers intentionally tanking the first play-in game to avoid the Nugs, which I pointed out is absurdly dumb because it puts them into a single game elimination scenario against either the Kings and Sabonis against whom AD is 0-10 or Steph's Warriors. Sorry you're right. I don't know why I moved from one game to full series but still, I would take my chances. The other thing is, by tanking that game, they'd be more rested for the second game. Anyway, we'll see tonight what they decided |
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Post by JB on Apr 16, 2024 11:17:26 GMT -5
I just watched a clip of Screamin A where he rated Eminem over Nas. and he's from New York. I fear the man might be functionally insane.
wow.
if Dame is incapable of reverting to Portland Lillard to keep the Bucks afloat, I would be very worried if I were a Bucks fan.
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Post by Ring on Apr 16, 2024 11:24:29 GMT -5
if you're LeBron and you're hyper-focused on your legacy, I don't think you want a B2B sweep by a player that's probably going to be rated next to you when it's all said and done. I think I would rather risk falling out of the playoffs completely because my stan army already has the injury narrative ready to go. 0% chance we are sweeping the Lakers in Round 1. I don't even think we'd sweep the Pels. |
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Post by JB on Apr 16, 2024 11:27:32 GMT -5
they haven't beaten us since 2022 Ring. and AD's back is acting up, allegedly.
they'll win a game if guys like D'lo and Reaves just go crazy from 3. but if we can keep the game close and Joker and Jamal get the 2MG going, they can't stop us or counter us.
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Post by Ring on Apr 16, 2024 11:32:06 GMT -5
they haven't beaten us since 2022 Ring. and AD's back is acting up, allegedly. they'll win a game if guys like D'lo and Reaves just go crazy from 3. but if we can keep the game close and Joker and Jamal get the 2MG going, they can't stop us or counter us. I know but they're due. Also Lebron lately has been playing at a top 5 player in the NBA pace. I don't expect Murray to play as well as he did in last years series. The numbers he put up are basically Michael Jordan level. I just am worried about basically every team in the West. I won't feel comfortable against LA or the Pelicans tbh. LA will always have the whistle advantage and the Nuggets can't survive Jokic foul trouble. Pelicans have Herb Jones to throw at Murray. I don't think either series will be easy. Christian is REALLY going to have to step up because he has to be the guy that can close games like Bruce did if MPJ is getting picked apart. I'm nervous for this playoff run. I really would have loved to have gotten OKC in round 1 lol |
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