2022 NBA Playoffs Thread

[oldgoldy97]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Phoenix doesn't have any championship pedigree. That's the difference. Can't quantify experience and poise.


That series was so much of a grandiose chokejob, Trevor Bauer tried to have sex with it.

Most people didn’t get that reference.

[indyguy]

Originally Posted by rustywest

Well, I suppose I owe mfw13 an apology because I thought he just straight up made it up LoL

Scotty F coming in strong

He could have...just happened to be right!

[ballhawkdawk]

The coping on BO is at an all time high right now. The Luka thread is heartbreaking… it’s just a pool of tears.

Everyone has a bunch of excuses for why their dude and/or team got smoked. No one cares. Take your L like a man and move on. The better team won and your guy ain’t that good, whether it be Luka, Embiid, Giannis, Jokic, or whoever else. “If my guy had help,” “the refs,” boohoohoo.

People act like the Warriors on the brink of a sixth Finals appearance is some fluke and the stars just happen to align for them all the time. We saw the same thing with Lebron. He just got lucky for a decade straight is all. Sure.

[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

The coping on BO is at an all time high right now. The Luka thread is heartbreaking… it’s just a pool of tears.

Everyone has a bunch of excuses for why their dude and/or team got smoked. No one cares. Take your L like a man and move on. The better team won and your guy ain’t that good, whether it be Luka, Embiid, Giannis, Jokic, or whoever else. “If my guy had help,” “the refs,” boohoohoo.

People act like the Warriors on the brink of a sixth Finals appearance is some fluke and the stars just happen to align for them all the time. We saw the same thing with Lebron. He just got lucky for a decade straight is all. Sure.

No tears. Just anger with clown trolls like TJ.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

The coping on BO is at an all time high right now. The Luka thread is heartbreaking… it’s just a pool of tears.

Everyone has a bunch of excuses for why their dude and/or team got smoked. No one cares. Take your L like a man and move on. The better team won and your guy ain’t that good, whether it be Luka, Embiid, Giannis, Jokic, or whoever else. “If my guy had help,” “the refs,” boohoohoo.

People act like the Warriors on the brink of a sixth Finals appearance is some fluke and the stars just happen to align for them all the time. We saw the same thing with Lebron. He just got lucky for a decade straight is all. Sure.

Agreed. The whining about the refs is the worst part. I felt Giannis wasn't getting some calls he should have gotten and got away with some offensive fouls as well. It typically evens out. It wasn't the Bucks' year. So what? Move on.

The best thing about the NBA is with a 7-game series, the best team will always win. Plenty of teams have gotten blown out by 30+, then came back the next game with a new plan and won. By the time you get to games 6 & 7, each team has done what they can and it comes down to who has the best team.

For as sh!11y as the NBA regular season is, the NBA playoffs are the best.

[tennelson55]

Luka posterized by the sou cal natives.

Wiggy making an omelet with some Luka inside.

Wiggy this post season is making a case for a very very very nice contract when it expires. Klay has been non existant majority of the time and the key moments in games Wiggins is making the shots/plays. Wiggy going into the previous season people were still saying "bum/bust draft pick." Look at this man go

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by rustywest

Well, I suppose I owe mfw13 an apology because I thought he just straight up made it up LoL

Scotty F coming in strong

No worries.....

I don't take anything anybody says on here too seriously...and I've got a thick skin....

[h00perstar34]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Or Memphis was a lot more difficult matchup for the Warriors with their interior defenders than Dallas, which has no interior defense.

Grizzlies were and will continue to be GSW toughest matchup out west IMO the way rosters are right now. Maybe Minnesota 2nd


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[Nomad]

The Mavs hit their natural limit, after having exceeded it against Suns. Good effort though.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Phoenix doesn't have any championship pedigree. That's the difference. Can't quantify experience and poise.

Bingo....same thing with Memphis and Dallas to a lesser extent.

For both teams, this is the first year their current rosters made it past the first round.

Prior to last year, Phoenix missed the playoffs ten years in a row....

Even this generation of Warriors got eliminated in the conference semis in 2012-13 and 1st round in 2013-14, before coming out of nowhere to win their 1st title in 14-15 after replacing Mark Jackson with Steve Kerr, acquiring Iggy, and promoting Draymond Green to the starting lineup.

The playoffs expose weaknesses that can be hidden during the regular season, and it takes a few tries for young players to truly learn what it takes to win in the playoffs.

The real question is whether or not these franchises take the necessary steps to address their weaknesses, and whether the young players are willing to up their effort to get better by next year's playoffs.

Ja needs to develop his midrange game, improve his 3-pt shooting, and get MUCH better on defense. As a team, Memphis needs to get another shooter while not losing Tyus Jones.

Luka needs to get better on defense and improve his conditioning, and Dallas needs to not lose Brunson in free agency as well as improve their interior defense.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by h00perstar34

Grizzlies were and will continue to be GSW toughest matchup out west IMO the way rosters are right now. Maybe Minnesota 2nd

How Memphis does moving forward will depend almost entirely on how much effort Ja puts into improving his defense.

Because right now his defense is so poor that it pretty much negates how good he is on offense. That's why Memphis was just as good with Tyus Jones starting as they were with Ja starting. And Jones is a UFA this offseason who may not re-sign with Memphis....

Regarding Minnesota, I don't think anybody views them as a serious threat. KAT has too many games where he disappears, and the D'Angelo Russell trade has been a disaster for them.

With Kawhi & Zion coming back to boost the Clippers and Pels, I'm not sure the T'Wolves even make the playoffs next year.

And the problem for everyone else, is that the Warriors have three lottery picks who contributed very little this year (Wiseman, Kuminga, & Moody), which means that Golden State will be even better next year, especially with Poole also continuing to improve.

[2010GBPackers]

Originally Posted by mfw13

How Memphis does moving forward will depend almost entirely on how much effort Ja puts into improving his defense.

Because right now his defense is so poor that it pretty much negates how good he is on offense. That's why Memphis was just as good with Tyus Jones starting as they were with Ja starting. And Jones is a UFA this offseason who may not re-sign with Memphis....

Regarding Minnesota, I don't think anybody views them as a serious threat. KAT has too many games where he disappears, and the D'Angelo Russell trade has been a disaster for them.

With Kawhi & Zion coming back to boost the Clippers and Pels, I'm not sure the T'Wolves even make the playoffs next year.

While I think Kawhi's best is now behind him, I agree with you on the Pels. If Zion and their front office can get on the same page, I expect them to be this years' Grizzles next season.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by 2010GBPackers

[/B]

While I think Kawhi's best is now behind him, I agree with you on the Pels. If Zion and their front office can get on the same page, I expect them to be this years' Grizzles next season.

The real question for the Pels is if they can find a good point guard to play alongside McCollum.

I wouldn't be surprised to see them go hard after either Jalen Brunson or Tyus Jones, especially since signing either of them as UFA's would also weaken one of their direct rivals.

[Ferg1945]

Not sure if this has been brought up yet...

Warriors up 3-0.... only a matter of time until they end this series... will it go 5 games?

So far... who is the front-runner to win the first ever Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award?

Curry?

Wiggins?

[Nomad]

Whether the Mavs can get a win will have a big effect on the Warriors' chances in Finals. If they win next game they can be considered untouchable, considering how banged up Celts and Heat will be at the end of this.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by Ferg1945

Not sure if this has been brought up yet...

Warriors up 3-0.... only a matter of time until they end this series... will it go 5 games?

So far... who is the front-runner to win the first ever Magic Johnson Western Conference Finals MVP award?

Curry?

Wiggins?

Honestly, it's probably a toss-up at this point. Actually reminds me of the 2014-15 NBA Finals (Curry vs. Iguodala).

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

No tears. Just anger with clown trolls like TJ.

Wait... I'm the troll because I'm rooting for Luka, yet am a reasonable enough person to not get ultra agitated that the 23 year old can't carry his team to a Conf Championship without any all star help?

Yet you are the one who is having such a hard time with this that you've repeatedly taken personal shots at me?

I'm here to discuss basketball and basketball cards, not talk about your personal spending habits, or how you spend your time this weekend (that was a little creepy). I don't really care about that kind of stuff. If you live in a water front house or your mom's basement, it makes no difference to me. I'd appreciate the same from now on.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

People act like the Warriors on the brink of a sixth Finals appearance is some fluke and the stars just happen to align for them all the time.

it's no fluke if in fact they can spend way over the salary cap every year and pay the luxury tax. It's almost to be expected that such a franchise would buy its way into the Finals many times.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

it's no fluke if in fact they can spend way over the salary cap every year and pay the luxury tax. It's almost to be expected that such a franchise would buy its way into the Finals many times.

Except that they haven't.

For the most part, they've focused on keeping the core they drafted together (Steph/Klay/Dray) and surrounding them with strong role players (often signed for bargain prices)....guys like Bogut, Barbosa, Livingston, Marreese Speights, David West, and this year Otto Porter Jr. Beilijca, and GP II.

Likewise, they've done a good job drafting (Looney & Poole were both late 1st round picks), as well as developing players who can contribute valuable regular season minutes from the G-League (Damion Lee, JTA, GPII, etc.). And Wiseman, Kuminga, and Moody all look like they will be strong players moving forward.

And note that Joe Lacob is only the 24th wealthiest owner in the NBA!

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/the-ri...ith-22-billion

There are many other owners who COULD spend just as much as the Warriors on luxury tax, if not more, should they choose to.

[indyguy]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

it's no fluke if in fact they can spend way over the salary cap every year and pay the luxury tax. It's almost to be expected that such a franchise would buy its way into the Finals many times.

I don't really see it as "buying" their way in though...KD years, sure, I could go with that. But, look at their roster. Eight of their roster spots are guys they drafted:

Curry - drafted
Green - drafted
Thompson - drafted
Looney - drafted
Kuminga - drafted
Moody - drafted
Wiseman - drafted
Poole - drafted

The rest of the roster are guys that pretty much the rest of the league did not want or were thought of as roster filler, if that. You could say Iggy had some value left in him, but Porter Jr and Wiggins are both guys that weren't highly sought after. Even this board can't decide if Wiggins is good or not, still.

GPII was just bouncing around on 2 way contracts and 10 day contracts. Lee has been with Golden State since 2018. Bjelica signed in 2021 and is making less than 2mil this season, I believe. Chiozza is a two way player. Juan Toscano-Anderson has been in and out of the Warriors organization since 2019. Weatherspoon is a two way contract right now.

Bjelica
Chiozza
Iggy
Damion Lee
GPII
Porter
Toscano-Anderson
Weatherspoon
Wiggins

I don't have any issues with a team paying to keep their guys together, which is largely what they have done. The ownership thinks it is worth it and he's been proven right in the W column and in the pocketbook.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by mfw13

Except that they haven't.

For the most part, they've focused on keeping the core they drafted together (Steph/Klay/Dray) and surrounding them with strong role players (often signed for bargain prices)....guys like Bogut, Barbosa, Livingston, Marreese Speights, David West, and this year Otto Porter Jr. Beilijca, and GP II.

Likewise, they've done a good job drafting (Looney & Poole were both late 1st round picks), as well as developing players who can contribute valuable regular season minutes from the G-League (Damion Lee, JTA, GPII, etc.). And Wiseman, Kuminga, and Moody all look like they will be strong players moving forward.

And note that Joe Lacob is only the 24th wealthiest owner in the NBA!

https://fadeawayworld.net/nba/the-ri...ith-22-billion

There are many other owners who COULD spend just as much as the Warriors on luxury tax, if not more, should they choose to.

apparently they have a large and loyal enough of a fanbase that they're in a position to afford that whereas many other owners/team could not.

[GOATcards]

Originally Posted by indyguy

I don't really see it as "buying" their way in though...KD years, sure, I could go with that. But, look at their roster. Eight of their roster spots are guys they drafted:

Curry - drafted
Green - drafted
Thompson - drafted
Looney - drafted
Kuminga - drafted
Moody - drafted
Wiseman - drafted
Poole - drafted

i don't see what their being drafted has to do with it; they have to retain top talent by paying top money

[indyguy]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

i don't see what their being drafted has to do with it; they have to retain top talent by paying top money

Right, but I don't consider that "buying" their way. They are keeping the guys they drafted as part of their core.

As a guy that watched Reggie Miller play his whole career with the Pacers, I like that they are keeping these guys together.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by GOATcards

i don't see what their being drafted has to do with it; they have to retain top talent by paying top money

To act like they've done something that's not fair though by keeping players that they drafted seems kind of outlandish. The Warriors are doing it the traditional way in a time when nobody else seems to be able to. It's quite impressive.

[Above the Rim]

I don't understand bashing a true Championship contending team for paying up to keep their own drafted players. Like Duh, what do you expect.