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Ice Man wrote:

Bullflip wrote:Why dont we just get a team full of 3 point specialists and just jack up 3s? That way, when a couple might be cold, there is bound to be someone that gets on fire

Unfortunately, there are also bound to be guys who hit their first 2 shots and then miss their next 7. That said, you're not wrong that in the modern NBA a team needs half a dozen 3 point specialists. You want at least 2 on the court at any time. With substitutes and injuries, that makes for 6 slots for 3 point bombers. JJ Redick was considered a fringe specialist player when he came to the league. A luxury asset that you might not use in a game. Now you need this JJ and that JJ and another JJ ...

And then a Korver

This Knicks-Sixers series is making me take back everything I said about first rounds being bad. Although in fairness the Sixers with Embiid aren't really a 7th seed. Man, this is intense. And super physical, in a good way. These guys aren't wrestling and grabbing. They're banging.

Ice Man wrote:This Knicks-Sixers series is making me take back everything I said about first rounds being bad. Although in fairness the Sixers with Embiid aren't really a 7th seed. Man, this is intense. And super physical, in a good way. These guys aren't wrestling and grabbing. They're banging.

Reminds me of 90’s NBA playoffs.

I love it!

Let's go Nuggets!

I am scarcely the first to say it, but Denver looks as much to me like the early stages of a dynasty as any team I have ever seen. It has a generational superstar, an All Star second option, and not just one but two third options. All with different and complementary skill sets and all in their 20s. Then decent support players in KCP, Braun, and Reggie Jackson, and the continuity of a coach who has been with all these guys since they joined the team.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/clear-lakers-missing-most-075016827.html

But now that they’re on the verge of getting swept out of the playoffs, their biggest deficiency has become clear, and it may at least partly explain their other deficiencies.

It’s leadership.

Man, DDR in a S&T to LA for Rui or Vandy makes too much sense, although I think it would be near impossible to make the $ work.

Wait now. The Lakers lose Game 1 of the playoffs when they have a lead and the opponent adjusts, then Game 2 again that way, and then Game 3 again that way, and the problem is not coaching?

I must be living in an alternative universe.

Ice Man wrote:Wait now. The Lakers lose Game 1 of the playoffs when they have a lead and the opponent adjusts, then Game 2 again that way, and then Game 3 again that way, and the problem is not coaching?

I must be living in an alternative universe.

A combo of coaching and the leaders on the team not compromising enough (one guy who doesn't like playing center and another guy who doesn't like playing off ball nor playing defense).

Lebron was drafted 1 year after Jay Williams and Yao Ming… and Michael Jordan’s last Wizards season. Here we are, 2 decades later. What a remarkable run. No tears for the rival, but man - the end of the early 2K era is upon us. Top picks from that era have had podcast careers for over a decade.

I think Lebron will play a retirement-tour season just to put some more unreachable milestones on the books (he’s about a 1000 minutes behind Kareem).

Here’s a trade idea, if Lebron’s willing: Jaylen Brown for Lebron. Only one I can think of that may benefit both teams. I don’t think Celtics can win a ring, and that Brown contract is gonna mess their books up.

MrSparkle wrote:Lebron was drafted 1 year after Jay Williams and Yao Ming… and Michael Jordan’s last Wizards season. Here we are, 2 decades later. What a remarkable run. No tears for the rival, but man - the end of the early 2K era is upon us. Top picks from that era have had podcast careers for over a decade.

I think Lebron will play a retirement-tour season just to put some more unreachable milestones on the books (he’s about a 1000 minutes behind Kareem).

Here’s a trade idea, if Lebron’s willing: Jaylen Brown for Lebron. Only one I can think of that may benefit both teams. I don’t think Celtics can win a ring, and that Brown contract is gonna mess their books up.

Interesting trade actually. LeBron wouldn't have to should much and could be a menace on defense and complete relief valve on offense.

R3AL1TY wrote:

Ice Man wrote:Wait now. The Lakers lose Game 1 of the playoffs when they have a lead and the opponent adjusts, then Game 2 again that way, and then Game 3 again that way, and the problem is not coaching?

I must be living in an alternative universe.

A combo of coaching and the leaders on the team not compromising enough (one guy who doesn't like playing center and another guy who doesn't like playing off ball nor playing defense).

The clear problem was no/late defensive rotation. So many dunks & easy baskets from Denver, esp Gordon, because his defender (often Lebron) had to leave him alone to help on the ball. AD is the 5 and shouldn't be leaving Joker anyway. So the rotate help for Lebron leaving Gordon is usually Reaves/Russell. I would say they can't guard Gordon at the rim, but they never even moved off their man to help anyway they didn't even try. And to compound the problem they're terrible point of attack defenders. Lakers D was in a permanent state of playing 4 on 5.

They basically need 1 or 2 Caruso's. Someone isn't going to just accept getting screened and fights through it, and someone who is already pre-rotated over way before the pass. Is that a coaching problem? I dunno. I guess it's a coaching problem trying to play his D when you clearly don't have the guards for it, but not sure how else to organize a perimeter D that's clearly the worst defensive guard rotation in the playoffs. Even Phoenix at least has Grayson Allen.

Defensively this is just miles away from the Lakers guard rotation that had Caruso, Rondo, and KCP.

Ice Man wrote:This Knicks-Sixers series is making me take back everything I said about first rounds being bad. Although in fairness the Sixers with Embiid aren't really a 7th seed. Man, this is intense. And super physical, in a good way. These guys aren't wrestling and grabbing. They're banging.

Embiid is doing a lot of questionable borderline dirty stuff out there. He could have easily been tossed in this last game.

I like Embiid but he should absolutely have been tossed out of the game. He should be suspended for game 4.

drosestruts wrote:Embiid is doing a lot of questionable borderline dirty stuff out there. He could have easily been tossed in this last game.

You could say that about most Embiid games. There are three levels of physical/dirty -

1) Physical. Strong, tough, stuck in. That's Caruso.
2) Physical with the additional intent to intimidate. You want to scare the opponent, make him fear for his health. That's LeBron.
3) Physical with the additional intent to intimidate, plus outright dirty on occasion. That's Embiid.

Plus Embiid is also a huge flopper.

I would detest him if he weren't so good, so competitive, and so hard working. He's a warrior out there. So instead I have mixed feelings.

sco wrote:https://www.yahoo.com/sports/clear-lakers-missing-most-075016827.html

But now that they’re on the verge of getting swept out of the playoffs, their biggest deficiency has become clear, and it may at least partly explain their other deficiencies.

It’s leadership.

Man, DDR in a S&T to LA for Rui or Vandy makes too much sense, although I think it would be near impossible to make the $ work.

I reckon DDR might take a discount to finish his career in LA, so making the dollars match may not be so hard, but, it does need to be atleast a 3 year deal. Whether or not LA wants DDR for 3 years at a large dollar amount remains to be seen.

MAQ wrote:I like Embiid but he should absolutely have been tossed out of the game. He should be suspended for game 4.

Absolutely, pulling on someones legs while he is in the air from behind is as dirty as it gets. Robinson is now injured, and it could have been so much worse. He should have been tossed and I would have suspended him after that stupid explanation he tried to give after the game.

kodo wrote:

R3AL1TY wrote:

Ice Man wrote:Wait now. The Lakers lose Game 1 of the playoffs when they have a lead and the opponent adjusts, then Game 2 again that way, and then Game 3 again that way, and the problem is not coaching?

I must be living in an alternative universe.

A combo of coaching and the leaders on the team not compromising enough (one guy who doesn't like playing center and another guy who doesn't like playing off ball nor playing defense).

The clear problem was no/late defensive rotation. So many dunks & easy baskets from Denver, esp Gordon, because his defender (often Lebron) had to leave him alone to help on the ball. AD is the 5 and shouldn't be leaving Joker anyway. So the rotate help for Lebron leaving Gordon is usually Reaves/Russell. I would say they can't guard Gordon at the rim, but they never even moved off their man to help anyway they didn't even try. And to compound the problem they're terrible point of attack defenders. Lakers D was in a permanent state of playing 4 on 5.

They basically need 1 or 2 Caruso's. Someone isn't going to just accept getting screened and fights through it, and someone who is already pre-rotated over way before the pass. Is that a coaching problem? I dunno. I guess it's a coaching problem trying to play his D when you clearly don't have the guards for it, but not sure how else to organize a perimeter D that's clearly the worst defensive guard rotation in the playoffs. Even Phoenix at least has Grayson Allen.

Defensively this is just miles away from the Lakers guard rotation that had Caruso, Rondo, and KCP.

Yea, their guards are making Murray and Jackson look like they have a lifetime hall pass to the paint. But AD is part of the problem at times. He isn't communicating to guys to rotate when he's leaving Joker to help. And LeBron is guilty of ball watching which allows Gordon to have easy back cuts.

On one hand you can blame coaching and poor practices and on the other hand the players because they have been in the NBA long enough to know defensive fundamentals.

Ice Man wrote:This Knicks-Sixers series is making me take back everything I said about first rounds being bad. Although in fairness the Sixers with Embiid aren't really a 7th seed. Man, this is intense. And super physical, in a good way. These guys aren't wrestling and grabbing. They're banging.

09 Celtics/Bulls with a 2 vs 7 is one of my favorite series of all time.

What a game in Indiana!

Hali cooked Beverly on that last possession.