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Post by milehigh on May 9, 2024 20:50:07 GMT
Sadly, there was a strong racist element from some of the media, and others, a white, non american, who hasn't had an accident with several bottles of ink and is more focused on his team than personal stats, playing for a team in a "Flyover" state doesn't fit in with the image some want as the "face of the NBA".
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Post by SamH on May 9, 2024 23:20:36 GMT
Can't believe the Suns have fired Frank Vogel after 1 season. OK they were disappointing but they also were disappointing under Monty Williams. That's 2 accomplished coaches let go in a year. Not to mention Vogel had a 5 year deal! They're targeting Mike Bud now, himself fired by the Bucks a year ago after...yep, a disappointing season! And of course the Bucks already fired their replacement for him too. Nick Nurse dodged a bullet getting overlooked there I think. Oh and then who do Milwaukee hire? Doc Rivers, fired a year ago by the 76ers after...a disappointing season!
It's just farcical isn't it? All these guys on the coaching carousel, they all do pretty much as good a job as each other. Changing the coach does not improve the Sun's hopes for next season. They need to tweak their roster more.
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Post by milehigh on May 9, 2024 23:57:42 GMT
Owners want instant sucess, and firing a coach is a lot quicker and easier than rebuilding a team.
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Post by SamH on May 10, 2024 0:15:12 GMT
Yeah, but also irrelevant to the cause 95% of the time. Look at the Bucks, firing Adrian Griffin after half a season, despite having a really good record. Rivers comes in and has done worse, then lost in the first round. So was it worth it? Is Mike Bud going to get anything more than Williams or Vogel did out of an aging KD, or Beal - a player who can score but has never won, and has a no trade clause in his contract? No he isn't, but he's going to command a salary similar if not greater than Vogel's which they'll still be paying for the next 4 years. It just seems dumb not to at least give it 1 more season and maybe look at changing the roster up a bit. You don't see the Warriors firing Kerr, or the Heat firing Spoelstra, despite disappointing seasons.
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Post by milehigh on May 10, 2024 1:10:45 GMT
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Post by hayesboy on May 10, 2024 10:08:42 GMT
You hit the nail on the head with "easier to fire the coach".
That is the bottom line. Easy yes. Effective....less and less!
They are all good NBA coaches. I do think there is a shift in the NBA towards team over Big 2/3/4 mentality that often comes at the expense of team.
Teams like the Wolves, OKC, Celtics - to some degree the Nuggets.
Even if you look at the Cavs and the Pacers. They tend to go a little bit deeper into their bench. Younger players who are versatile, enthusiastic, coachable. Even Dallas seem to have hit on that with their last trade.
Completely against my expectations its possible we will see the Wolves and OKC battle it out for the East and then Knicks and Celtics. 3 of those teams are pretty deep as they have grown orgnically.
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Post by SamH on May 10, 2024 11:17:04 GMT
Just watching PTI and according to Kendrick Perkins, Durant hasn't spoken to Frank Vogel much for the last few months, so it was a decision of whether to get rid of KD or Vogel. And as usual we pander to the crybaby superstar's sulking even though he hasn't done anything this season. I'd go as far to say that he's now over-rated given his age, constant negativity and lack of delivering anything close to a championship outside of doing it with a team that won 73 games before he got there. Good luck to Mike Bud!
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Post by SamH on May 11, 2024 16:06:06 GMT
I can't figure these playoffs out! Cavs blow out Boston at home, and Denver rout Minnesota at home in game 3.
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Post by tugger on May 11, 2024 18:15:24 GMT
.......according to Kendrick Perkins...... Why would you listen to anything that "expert" spouts off about? |
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Post by milehigh on May 11, 2024 18:46:05 GMT
Denver played a lot better, more like their normal selves last night.
The Target centre was very quiet, and half empty by the 4th quarter.
If they can repeat the performance tomorrow night, so the series is 2-2 for game 5, I'd say that Nuggets would then be favourites to win the series.
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Post by hayesboy on May 11, 2024 20:46:32 GMT
I’ve watched the game and it was interesting to see what a turnaround it was.
Other than “play better” (which they did), what would you say were the adjustments that the Nuggets made?
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Post by milehigh on May 11, 2024 21:28:34 GMT
1) Jamel was healthier, so was more explosive 2) the offence was simplifed and was more direct 3) The "wounded animal" effect, where there pride had been injured and as a group they wanted to show why they were NBA champions. 4) I've not seen the full rotation analysis, but I think the rotation was changed slightly, with Holiday getting more time, when he'd been 9th or 10th man in the regular season. 5) CB was excellent defensively, and made a contribution on offence, which is always a bonus. Overall, there were lots of small improvements that made a big difference Also, pre game they were shown of compilation video of the many negative comments about them after game two. Denver have come from behind in play off series before, and they are a mentally strong group. I'm not sure how a defeat like last night will affect the Timberwolves, but such a big defeat at home will have an effect on a team. Losing two at home, might be too big ablow to recover from. Minessota are a very good team, with some outstanding players, and a very good coaching staff, plus with the ex Nuggets contingent on the bench and in the front office, they know how to cancel out the nuggets. I also watched the last few minutes of Pacers v Knicks and that looked to be very evenly matched. *** Just found this, which gives a detailed breakdown of the game 3 and what had changed from the firsttwo games. www.nba.com/nuggets/news/how-the-nuggets-responded-like-champions-against-the-timberwolves-in-game-3?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1liekCWuzBXNwpB2YJwR7rQadtNDcwDGuxXOqZP1QGnFgNB45W7KeSo9g_aem_Af3LpBauc5tGN2Kj_eCVf5m5y7o_0nj75BDRNz6f-NMERFIZkZexrO5ORKxqH9uV4nxnbtUZLz-UKKnm-ycsmilP |
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Post by SamH on May 12, 2024 11:40:48 GMT
Meanwhile disappointment for OKC, it's a close series. We're so far ahead of schedule though and you really can't expect a team this young to go all the way, despite being the top seed. So anything now is a bonus but I won't be too upset if the Mavs win. The next 5 years or so look very bright indeed for this team.
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Post by hayesboy on May 12, 2024 20:47:29 GMT
Top seed in the West. If OKC don’t make the West finals it’s a disappointment, maybe even a failure.
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Post by SamH on May 13, 2024 11:19:40 GMT
It will be a disappointment, but not a massive one like if Denver lose to Minnesota, or the Clippers and Suns losing in round 1. Youngest ever team to secure a top seed is impressive but it highlights that youth does not normally equate to success in the NBA. Continuing to win will mean to keep bucking the trend, and it might be that they just run out of road - they have no playoff experience at all remember. So I won't be too disappointed, it will be a case of on to next season and continuing the journey. With lots of that treasure trove of draft picks Sam Presti acquired still at their disposal, a great young coach and a group who fully support one another and play without ego, the upside is enormous - I'd say even more than the upside of KD/Westbrook/Harden had 13 years ago.
Meanwhile the Hawks have bucked the trend as well by securing first pick in the draft, with only a 3% chance to do so. Be interesting to see who they select, given there is no consensus number 1 pick this year.
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Post by SamH on May 14, 2024 13:47:38 GMT
Great game 4 - in the end! It was one of those frustrating games where you fall behind early and never seem able to catch up - but they did, just at the right time with 2 minutes left! Dallas were woeful at the line, if you can't get the basics right then you don't deserve to win.
In the East its a shame there are so many injuries. The Knicks are decimated, Porzingis for the Celtics, now Mitchell for the Cavs. Anyway, 3 of the series are going to at least 6 games so that's good for us as viewers!
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Post by milehigh on May 14, 2024 14:02:07 GMT
From what I've heard on Altitude Radio, Fox Sports and ESPN, the winners of the Nuggets v Timberwolves series will be favourites to win overall.
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Post by SamH on May 14, 2024 14:28:06 GMT
Really? I'd still be going with Boston for that. Barkley and Kenny were saying they can't win the title without Porzingis, but their record without him is something like 24-5! So I don't know. I think the Wolves lack of playoff experience has been exposed in these last 2 games and will continue to be in games 5 and 6. I definitely don't see them winning the title after the way they've come out in these last 2 games. One thing I do think - Murray should have been suspended at least 1 game for throwing that heat pad. It might not have made any difference to game 3 but he has got his mojo back and it could have disrupted his bouncing back to form. He was very lucky not to be ejected and again not to be suspended for that. Not that the league and its partners are against a Thunder-T'Wolves conference final of course!  |
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Post by milehigh on May 14, 2024 14:44:37 GMT
Suspending a key player would make it obvious, even to Stevie Wonder, of the bias against Denver, he'll miss the $100k, even on his wages.
Some of the fouls on Nuggets players would get you arrested if done on the street!
Game five tonight is vital, but Denver have been in this situation before, I'm expecting the Ball arena to be loud tonight.
I think Kronke Sports should be taken as an example of good ownership, Nuggets are a top NBA team, the same for the Avalanche in the NHL and even their little English Soccer club are possibly winning the EPL.
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Post by hayesboy on May 15, 2024 8:27:36 GMT
The injuries are a concern and a surprise to me.
When I consider how much less physical (in terms of the contact allowed) then you would presume, couple with the advances in sports science, resources and load management that players would be less injured not more!
I've see the extended highlights of G5 and it took me a minute to realise that Conley was out as well.
I wonder if in the past players were more willing and more pressured to play through injuries?
Of all the teams who should not be surprised at the injuries the Knicks need to look at themselves. They really flog their starters and its not a surprise they are suffering for it.
For me the winner of the Nugs/Wolves are the favourites. With or without Porzingis Boston are too flaky for my liking. I think its a huge disappointment for OKC (as top seed) if they do not reach the West Finals but at that point I think they play with house money due to their youth and inexperience...........
I'm presuming the Celtics will be in the NBA finals as they will be the last team standing in the east :-)
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