2021 NBA PLAYOFFS MEGA THREAD

[Rich]

This game is pretty one sided officiating.

 

[Rich]

Glad someone said it.

I’ve never respected his game. If he didn’t have otherworldly measurables he wouldn’t even survive in the G League at his skill level.

And I’m not saying “if he was 5’11 he’d suck”. If he was even just like Jimmy Butler’s size, who has every bit of an NBA body, he’d be unplayable.

Maybe he does try to put in all the work and he just doesn’t have the ability. But his glaring lack of skill has always irked me.

Well I feel like that could be said of a lot of bigger players.

If Dwight Howard was 6'5 he'd have been unplayable with that skill set. Don't think it's unique to Giannis.

I think Giannis specifically needs to work on his back to the basket game a little. Needs better footwork. No reason he can't be backing dudes down way smaller than him and finishing regularly.

But no matter what size the defender he has guarding him, he has to face them up.

Feel like there's more chance there he can improve his game than getting a better jumper.

 

[Cavatt]

If Middleton is not a #2 then Colin Sexton is definitely not a #2.

He could break their defense. Right now, nobody on the Nets is getting broken down. They wall off Gianni's and neither Holladay or Middleton can make them pay for it. Nether is beating their dude off the dribble.

It's about the complement not just caliber of player.

People keep saying Brogdan because he could attack and break the d, which would get Giannis open.

I'm disappointed in Holladay. Can't do anything out there.

I do think the Hawks are the worst matchup for Brooklyn now.

 

[cavsfever]

I thought we might actually see a close game in these playoffs for the first time in a week or two...but no the Suns broke it open

Jokic vs Ayton is an interesting duel, nice to see a classic center vs center battle key to a game

 

[Rich]

I thought we might actually see a close game in these playoffs for the first time in a week or two...but no the Suns broke it open

Jokic vs Aston is an interesting duel, nice to see a classic center vs center battle central to a game

Another consequence of the 3 point revolution.

Less close games. One team gets hot and one team goes cold and suddenly a 5 point game is a 15 point game in a few possessions.

If Paul is truly healthy, and he looks it, then this is the team going to the Finals.

I don't know if they'll be this good again but right now it just feels like they've found their stride this season and everything has clicked perfectly. Everyone fits together, no one is doing more than they should, no one is getting jealous by not having a bigger role, etc.

That may only be the case for a short time. Bridges might want more shots, Ayton more touches and so on.

 

[J_J]

Technically Atlanta has the best record in the East ever since Coach Pierce got fired.

Great seeing CP3 looking good and healthy today. I really want them to go to the finals and win it.

 

[ryanf]

i'm hoping for a clips vs nets finals, as lue is the only coach in these playoffs that makes the game harder for the opposing team as the series goes on. they also have the size to punish the nets. cheer on the clips if you don't like the nets to win.

 

[Cassity14]

i'm hoping for a clips vs nets finals, as lue is the only coach in these playoffs that makes the game harder for the opposing team as the series goes on. they also have the size to punish the nets. cheer on the clips if you don't like the nets to win.

I think Phoenix has size to punish them as well, as well as a backcourt where neither Harden nor Irving can take possessions off defensively.

 

[ryanf]

I think Phoenix has size to punish them as well, as well as a backcourt where neither Harden nor Irving can take possessions off defensively.

I think phoenix is a good match up, it's just paul and ayton are shaky for me. But if it happens, would be happy for paul to have a ring.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

I can watch Chris Paul "floor general" a game any night.

One of the last of a dying breed.

The chess matches and boxing matches that could come from a WCF with Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo would be must see TV that I'm rooting for.

 

[chrisrich91]

Well I feel like that could be said of a lot of bigger players.

If Dwight Howard was 6'5 he'd have been unplayable with that skill set. Don't think it's unique to Giannis.

I think Giannis specifically needs to work on his back to the basket game a little. Needs better footwork. No reason he can't be backing dudes down way smaller than him and finishing regularly.

But no matter what size the defender he has guarding him, he has to face them up.

Feel like there's more chance there he can improve his game than getting a better jumper.

Sure, it can be said for actual bigs/centers. But Giannis came up more wing than traditional big. For a guy who spends/has spent a lot of time at SF, you can’t be that devoid of skill.

I imagine Giannis would scoff if someone tried drawing comparisons between him and dominant bigs like (prime) Dwight or even Shaq. I assume he’s more interested in how he matches up with guys like Durant, LeBron, Kawhi…dominant wings. Hence my frustration with his lack of skill compared to those guys.

Either way…six of one, half dozen of the other. We both are less than impressed by his skill set this deep into his career.

 

[RchfldCavRaised]

Sure, it can be said for actual bigs/centers. But Giannis came up more wing than traditional big. For a guy who spends/has spent a lot of time at SF, you can’t be that devoid of skill.

I imagine Giannis would scoff if someone tried drawing comparisons between him and dominant bigs like (prime) Dwight or even Shaq. I assume he’s more interested in how he matches up with guys like Durant, LeBron, Kawhi…dominant wings. Hence my frustration with his lack of skill compared to those guys.

Either way…six of one, half dozen of the other. We both are less than impressed by his skill set this deep into his career.

I havent been this frustrated with lack of skill development since Russell Westbrook

Ironically, I think that's who Giannis plays the most like. A 6'11 version of Brodie.

 

[Los216]

I havent been this frustrated with lack of skill development since Russell Westbrook

Ironically, I think that's who Giannis plays the most like. A 6'11 version of Brodie.

I was coming here to say this. The difference between them though is RW has more natural on the ball skills because he's naturally a guard.

This is why I thought MIL was making a mistake firing Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd was a no jumper having big PG for more than half his career. Who would've been a better coach for Giannis early on in his career to help develop his floor game? Jason Kidd is one of the top 10 floor generals in the history of the game. He should've gotten more time with Giannis.

Imagine Kidd with the upgraded roster that they have now? Jason Kidd in Jrue Holliday and Giannis ear right now would be better than anything Bud can offer at the moment.

 

[Los216]

I can watch Chris Paul "floor general" a game any night.

One of the last of a dying breed.

The chess matches and boxing matches that could come from a WCF with Chris Paul and Rajon Rondo would be must see TV that I'm rooting for.

That series is gonna come down to a battle between LAC others like Mann, Kennard, and Morris stepping up and making shots and PHX wings and their ability to slow down Kawhi and PG13. They won't shut Kawhi down because the dude simply can't be shut down in the playoffs lol but they can throw some bodies at him and limit him a little better than DAL tried to do.

If Kennard and Reggie Jackson are hitting 3's and Mann and Morris can have a few 15+ point games it might be over.

PHX is gonna have to jump on them and get a big lead and force LAC to grind back into the game. Even then you still can't completely dismiss them because Ty Lue won't just let them fold and be put away easy.

Nets vs Clippers is the ideal Finals to me. The two second rate teams in the leagues two biggest markets with super teams going for their first Championship.

Ty Lue vs Nash
KD vs Kawhi
PG vs Harden
Kyrie vs Rondo/Reggie Jackson/Mann/Clipper Darryl and any other warm body they can try to throw at him lolololol

This would be a fun series. It would be like The Jets vs The Rams or The Mets vs The Angels. people would complain about the teams but the league is going to laugh to the bank with those two markets competing for a title.

 

[Derek]

Say what you will about @Los216 but he stays true to his gimmick and he doesn’t give a rat’s ass what anyone thinks about it.