NBA discussion

[SamH]

Yeah, I thought he was done after that failed stint in Houston but after about a year or so Portland gave him a chance and he did well with it. I actually think he should have stayed there as it was a good fit, but hey ho. Dwight Howard is another one who has eventually accepted a reduced role and done well with it. Westbrook will get there in about 2 years time I reckon.

Looking forward to the play in games - would love to see the Nets lose to the Cavs and have to take the 8th seed, as I think Heat-Nets would be a great series. Can't see it though, Kyrie is going to want to smash the Cavs then the Celtics if he can.

Also hoping the Spurs can do something - if they can it will be at the expense of the T'wolves because no way the Clippers miss out, they're in fine fettle right now. Be good to see Pop back in the playoffs with his end of quarter interviews - over/under 7 words is the bet they usually go for with that!

[hayesboy]

In a more restricted role off the bench there is room for an offensive talent like Melo. He has size and can shoot.
I think the time is now for Westbrook whilst he is still so athletic.
When age catches up to him and he loses that what has he got left?

[SamH]

Ok so I was wrong about the paper clippers! Fancy them to mop up for the 8 seed though!

[SamH]

Wow, they mentioned on PTI today that Luol Deng is STILL getting paid by the Lakers, and he's about the 5th highest paid player on the roster! How on EARTH has that happened, he's not played for them in 5 years! That is simply incredible. Deng must be loving it, getting all that money for all these years. Wow.

[hayesboy]

I doubt Deng was loving it at all.
The contract was a terrible one but that's not on him that's on the Lakers. He never refused to play...they just decided not to play him as they wanted to go younger and re-build. Many would suggest he did them a favour allowing them to stretch his contract.
He never struck me a player that would be happy taking the money and not playing. I am also sure he could have contributed for them at times as well.

A poor end to a great career.

PS - I believe the deal came to an end this week.

[SamH]

Well, yeah he might have been preferring to play but then I thought he had long since retired anyway. He had a good long career - if he'd been desperate to play he probably could have come to terms on a buy out (though I think the reality is he'd have been looking to play outside the NBA by this point).

[SamH]

So what are your predictions then?

I've got the Clippers and Hawks making the 8th seeds, then I'm going for:

Suns v Clippers: 4-1
Grizzlies v Wolves: 4-1
Warriors v Nuggets: 4-3 (this series could be a belter!)
Mavs v Jazz: 2-4 (might depend on Doncic's health but its not looking good for him)

Heat v Hawks: 4-2 (4-0 if its the Cavs, they don't look good right now and I dont think Allen will be 100% if he plays)
Celtics v Nets: 4-3 (this is the toughest one to predict)
Bucks v Bulls: 4-0
Sixers v Raptors: 2-4

[SamH]

So I really backed the wrong horse in the paper clips, huh?!

My revised prediction - Suns sweep the Pelicans. Did they even win 30 games this season?! What a joke.

[Solly]

Apr 15, 2022 11:29:27 GMT SamH said:

So what are your predictions then?

I've got the Clippers and Hawks making the 8th seeds, then I'm going for:

Suns v Clippers: 4-1
Grizzlies v Wolves: 4-1
Warriors v Nuggets: 4-3 (this series could be a belter!)
Mavs v Jazz: 2-4 (might depend on Doncic's health but its not looking good for him)

Heat v Hawks: 4-2 (4-0 if its the Cavs, they don't look good right now and I dont think Allen will be 100% if he plays)
Celtics v Nets: 4-3 (this is the toughest one to predict)
Bucks v Bulls: 4-0
Sixers v Raptors: 2-4

SamH - not sure about the size of the Series wins but, apart from your ludicrously-optimistic prediction for Raptors to upend the Sixers I am in agreement with your picks.

BTW - I love the play of Embiid but this love is overidden by my detestation of Rivers, so, as Kevin Keegan would put it, I'd luv it if (Rivers) got his come-uppance.

[SamH]

Well I just don't think Harden is playing that well at the moment and one of their defensive lads (forget name now) can't play in Toronto as unvaccinated, so that's the basis of that pick! But yeah won't be surprised by a sixers win of course.

[Solly]

Terrific ending to the Celtics W last night and one in the eye for the capricious Irving and the ring-chaser Durant. Made I laugh!

Now up to Part 7 of Winning Time series - this is also making I laugh. I wonder how much of this is truth vs exaggeration. Announcer Chic Hearn treating Pat Riley like a bus boy and later on Pat Riley trampling all over (replacement) Coach Paul Westphal, even allegedly dragging him into a shower...

And the hick portrayal of Larry Bird is hilarious.

[basketballjoe3]

Not sure what KD was doing on defence that last possession. Tatum had so much space.

[hayesboy]

It was a great game 1 between Nets and Celts!
Demonstrates how offensively talented Kyrie is…..how great Bostons defence is……how terrible the Nets defence is……

I guess if you are Brooklyn you can look to the fact that Durant was sub par.

The Celtics to some degree got away with one as they had the game under control and then allowed Irving to get loose.

It was a great game to watch only ruined by one thing……

THOSE TWO ABSOLUTE NUMPTIES THAT SKY EMPLOY!!!!
I cannot listen to even a second of the drivel they spout. I’m sure their brand of “analysis” is not aimed at my age group
but they are terrible!

In fact we just don’t need the SKY studio full stop. Just give us the US feed. Job done.

[erj14]

Really tried with the NBA on Sky but I can't stand it either. Got rid of Sky and just went all in with League Pass. Much, much prefer it.

Actually think the punditry for Sky's BBL coverage is levels better than the NBA stuff.

[hayesboy]

There is a good reason the BBL coverage is better. They have a decent generic presenter who lets the experts provide the insight and comment you would expect from ex/current BBL pros/coaches.

If the NBA coverage worked the same it would
Immediately improve. The issue is those two fanboys (copywrite SamH) spouting regurgitated nonsense they’ve read online somewhere!!

[hayesboy]

Well done Marcus Smart for DPOY. Deserved winner after many years of grind!

To be honest I’d say Giannis is the defender I’d want if my life was on the line but he somehow didn’t make the top 3 this year even…..

[A tall man]

Did steph come off the bench last night???

[Deleted]

Apr 19, 2022 9:54:07 GMT A tall man said:

Did steph come off the bench last night???

Yep, not a bad 6th man is he, not sure what the plan is moving forward

[SamH]

Big surprise that Pels beat Suns on the road last night. Not great for Phoenix dropping an early one at home like that - you want to get round 1 done and dusted quickly and show your dominance, they've already lost that edge now.

Also well done to Marcus Smart for winning DPOY - first point guard since Gary Glove in 1996, which I remember well as a Sonics fan and them having such a great season that year (another on the list of "MJ stopped us getting a banner up" although I was delighted to see MJ back in action then too!) This goes to show how overlooked point guards are for the award - I think its easy to look at big men stats whereas all the points have really is steals - but if you use the eye test a bit more you can see how disruptive a good defensive point can be and it can lead to the other team struggling to even get their plays set up.

[SamH]

So Embiid tells Nick Nurse to stop bitching about the refs, then when he loses a game tonight, what do we think he did? 😅