2022 NBA Playoffs Thread

[mfw13]

Watching Steve Ballmer lose is always fun.....especially given that the Clippers blew 4th quarter leads in both play-in games.

But the TV honchos aren't going to be too happy....no LA teams, no Knicks, probably no Nets or Bulls after the first round....

[Ferg1945]

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

Man, you reeeeeeally hate LeBron.

I enjoy pointing out that he doesn't belong anywhere NEAR the G.O.A.T. conversation.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

I enjoy pointing out that he doesn't belong anywhere NEAR the G.O.A.T. conversation.

Can you find any respectable all time list made by professionals without Lebron in the top 5?

[hairyangryfella]

Originally Posted by mc1

Look guy, Ive been fighting this battle for years. I will always be of the opinion that theres only a handful of superstars in the NBA each year. Maybe 6-8. A bunch of you go around calling 20-25 guys superstars.

I simply disagree. Theres different levels to stardom. Trae isnt in MY upper-level. Move along.

Agreed. To me, a superstar is a player who is not only one of the best in the game, but also known by people who don't necessarily follow basketball.

Currently IMO that is limited to LeBron, Curry, Durant, Giannis.

The likes of Embiid, Jokic, Doncic are knocking on the door.
Then there's a next step down to the bigger stars - the Traes, Tatums, Bookers etc (though they arguably have had more success than some others around/above them).


So is Zion definitely out for the first round? Would be so good to see him out there.
Not gonna shed any tears about LA not being in the playoffs, I do feel bad for Cleveland though. They play-in seems to favour the teams in form, not the team that had the better overall record which is a bit stink for them.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by hairyangryfella

Agreed. To me, a superstar is a player who is not only one of the best in the game, but also known by people who don't necessarily follow basketball.

Currently IMO that is limited to LeBron, Curry, Durant, Giannis.

The likes of Embiid, Jokic, Doncic are knocking on the door.
Then there's a next step down to the bigger stars - the Traes, Tatums, Bookers etc (though they arguably have had more success than some others around/above them).


So is Zion definitely out for the first round? Would be so good to see him out there.
Not gonna shed any tears about LA not being in the playoffs, I do feel bad for Cleveland though. They play-in seems to favour the teams in form, not the team that had the better overall record which is a bit stink for them.

I don’t like the play ins either but I guess it makes for a better product having teams in better form in the playoffs instead of a team that played well the first half of the season and fizzled out.

[Ferg1945]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

Can you find any respectable all time list made by professionals without Lebron in the top 5?

Did I say anything about top 5?

He is top 5... but the G.O.A.T. conversation is over. MJ is G.O.A.T. - #2 in NBA is lightyears back of G.O.A.T. It's not even close.

[Bronconation24]

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

Man, you reeeeeeally hate LeBron.

How is that hating lebron? That’s just the sad truth

[Kingofkings1281]

Originally Posted by Bronconation24

How is that hating lebron? That’s just the sad truth

Just check his posting history. I’d say 30-40% is taking shots at LeBron haha.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Did I say anything about top 5?

He is top 5... but the G.O.A.T. conversation is over. MJ is G.O.A.T. - #2 in NBA is lightyears back of G.O.A.T. It's not even close.

Well most have him number 2. Regardless, being top 5 allows you to be in the conversation of debate. Mj is the goat but it’s closer then you believe. I still find it amusing the usual people are trying to use lebrons 19th season, a year filled with key injuries to him and AD, to discredit his legacy and to flip narratives that held true for over a decade. I file it in the trash with the lame arguments trying to discredit mj when he failed to make the playoffs with the wizards.

[Ferg1945]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

Mj is the goat but it’s closer then you believe.

If the SUN is MJ G.O.A.T.

The dwarf planet that was eliminated from our Solar System a couple years ago - Pluto is #2 NBA

That's how close it is.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

Well most have him number 2. Regardless, being top 5 allows you to be in the conversation of debate. Mj is the goat but it’s closer then you believe. I still find it amusing the usual people are trying to use lebrons 19th season, a year filled with key injuries to him and AD, to discredit his legacy and to flip narratives that held true for over a decade. I file it in the trash with the lame arguments trying to discredit mj when he failed to make the playoffs with the wizards.

This doesn't compare with MJ's Wizards years. The Lakers were picked to win the West and they missed the top 10.... This Lakers season is up there for most disappointing season of all time.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

If the SUN is MJ G.O.A.T.

The dwarf planet that was eliminated from our Solar System a couple years ago - Pluto is #2 NBA

That's how close it is.

Did we just become best friends? Lol

[Kingofkings1281]

Nice to see the playoff thread already devolving into another “I hate LeBron” fest hosted by the usual suspects.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Did I say anything about top 5?

He is top 5... but the G.O.A.T. conversation is over. MJ is G.O.A.T. - #2 in NBA is lightyears back of G.O.A.T. It's not even close.

MJ is #2 and LeBron is #3.

[rats60]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Pelicans - Without Zion all season - Playoffs

Lakers - 5 future HOFs - missed the play-in tournament

Because the Lakers had those 5 guys all season
What are their ages? Which ones are even tradable?

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by mc1

Look guy, Ive been fighting this battle for years. I will always be of the opinion that theres only a handful of superstars in the NBA each year. Maybe 6-8. A bunch of you go around calling 20-25 guys superstars.

I simply disagree. Theres different levels to stardom. Trae isnt in MY upper-level. Move along.

I was only countering the point to say that that All NBA isn’t the only measure of stardom. I’m not sure what battle you think you’re fighting. It’s just a discussion.

I don’t think Trae or Luka are superstars. 6-8 is generous, and to include a guy who hasn’t made it past the second round or finished top 3 in MVP is being super generous. Only four guys have won MVP and a title. That’s my cutoff for superstar. Otherwise, the criteria gets a little fuzzy. Do we go by card prices, Jersey sales, “feel”? According to NBA.com, the top four jerseys are Lebron, Steph, Giannis, and KD. If we loosen the criteria, Luka is 6 and Trae 7 (Tatum is 5). I don’t even think Harden makes the cut and he’s 12th in career MVP share.

It’s a made up term and subjective anyway, but I just can’t see including Luka and not Trae. For what it’s worth, I think Luka gets there first, and Trae maybe never, but we’ll see.

[oldgoldy97]

Wilt says hello.

[rustywest]

Fergs tiny mind somehow turned the nights slate of play-in eliminators into an idiotic LeBron vs Jordan, "GOAT" debate.

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

Just check his posting history. I’d say 30-40% is taking shots at LeBron haha.

You could divvy up another 30-40% of his posts ragging on Westbrook. So a conservative estimate equals 3 quarters of his posts reveling in negativity. I believe they call these types of contributors trolls.

Once I confirmed his M.O, and posters like him, instead of filing there opinions in the trash like Ping said, I slap it on ignore and never respond to them again. You don't even have to waste energy reading the drivel. Shame about the quotes slipping them through though, Ha.

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by Siberian13

I don’t need his definition. Just a bunch of nonsense. I’ll stick to what it really stands for

Can you fill those of us not up to speed with today's acronyms what BBW is? I feel people need to know exactly what the unusual poster wanted to inject into his veins...

[RogerGodahell]

Big black women or big beautiful women is what i thought it meant. But i don't know how you're going to inject that into your veins.

[RogerGodahell]

Dallas and Utah with the early game today. Caesars has UT as a 4.5 favorite without Luka playing. That's probably accurate i'd say DAL has about a 30-40% chance of winning. I'll still be routing for them though.

[Dame]

Serious note, with all this talk about how the Lakers botched their season, the other LA team is 3 years into this with nothing to show for it.




If the Clips doesn't get a full healthy season from PG and Kawhi next year, that PG trade could go down as one of the WOAT.

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by Kingofkings1281

Nice to see the playoff thread already devolving into another “I hate LeBron” fest hosted by the usual suspects.

The basketball forum never let's me down.


Most of all the lebron haters who are so insecure about who the GOAT is


and yes: IMO, MJ is the GOAT

[blackbears86]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

I was only countering the point to say that that All NBA isn’t the only measure of stardom. I’m not sure what battle you think you’re fighting. It’s just a discussion.

I don’t think Trae or Luka are superstars. 6-8 is generous, and to include a guy who hasn’t made it past the second round or finished top 3 in MVP is being super generous. Only four guys have won MVP and a title. That’s my cutoff for superstar. Otherwise, the criteria gets a little fuzzy. Do we go by card prices, Jersey sales, “feel”? According to NBA.com, the top four jerseys are Lebron, Steph, Giannis, and KD. If we loosen the criteria, Luka is 6 and Trae 7 (Tatum is 5). I don’t even think Harden makes the cut and he’s 12th in career MVP share.

It’s a made up term and subjective anyway, but I just can’t see including Luka and not Trae. For what it’s worth, I think Luka gets there first, and Trae maybe never, but we’ll see.

I'm not here to debate who's better among the two, but there's no denying Trae Young has been absolute CLUTCH in his limited playoff experience.

Luka hasn't really had any clutch moments in the playoffs. That could change this year if he comes back reasonablt healthy.