NBA Playoffs Thread

[Baron Winnebago]

AD is the weirdest player in basketball. 6-15 in a close out game. If I’m LA, I’m shipping him out in the off-season.

And how you don’t foul out Jokic or take advantage of his foul situation is mind-boggling.

Dude is a bigger pussy than @Jim14510

 

[Jim14510]

Dude is a bigger pussy than @Jim14510

True story

 

[Jim14510]

Lebron wrestling two guys worked better

He needs to get a better shot.

 

[Seaofred92]

In no way was this the best overall game ever but.. maybe the most dramatic finish I’ve seen in a long long time

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Absolutely incredible finish, but man was that a fucky game between the Heat shooting terrible from 2 and Boston shooting terrible from 3.

 

[HuskerGarrett]

I played against Derrick White in high school. He wasn’t very good

 

[Kaladin]

Heat winning by 13 early in the 4th

 

[Kaladin]

Heat by 18 now

 

[Fitzjess21]

Can Miami play with Denver? Jokic is huge and Adebayo doesn't do well with physicality.

 

[BorWhiskey]

I want Denver to win. Topically that means I assume that team will lose and straw man how that will happen. In this case, I can’t find justification in how Miami wins the series. They have to play out of their minds. I don’t see them winning in Denver more than once in the series, and even on good shooting nights they can’t keep pace with Denver. Miami won by like 20 tonight. That same performance probably results in a 20 point loss against Denver. The zone shit won’t work against Joker, so I don’t anticipate them running it all that often. Bam is the only big they have for Joker so he’s going to have to exert all his energy on that side of the court. I think Love and Zeller will play themselves out of the series and Miami goes small when Bam is out.

Miami has no challenge for Murray. Vincent is not going to be the pain that Schroeder was. And Robinson or Herro (if he comes back) aren’t defensive pluses. Them, Struss, or Martin against KCP or Porter is easy money.

Denver in 5.

 

[Seaofred92]

Miami surprised me with how dominant they were last night. In normal circumstances, I would assume they would get absolutely waxed on Thursday night in Denver- can’t imagine they have much energy left from what was just a grueling and exhausting series with Boston (physically and mentally).

I would assume Denver in 5 also. But this Heat team continues to surprise me and they are largely experienced across the board. Could they sneak a second game and push it to 6? Maybe. But I don’t see how they beat the Nuggets 4 times

 

[Red Finger]

I would assume Denver in 5 also. But this Heat team continues to surprise me and they are largely experienced across the board. Could they sneak a second game and push it to 6? Maybe. But I don’t see how they beat the Nuggets 4 times

The nice thing about this finals series, if you asked the “experts”, each team was supposed to be eliminated a few rounds ago. I enjoy that the NBA doesn’t have their superstar headlines and it’s just good basketball teams playing for the ship.

 

[Kaladin]

Nuggies in 5

 

[tman87]

Nuggets are a bigger, better team. But the Heat have some serious momentum going these playoffs, so who knows, they could grind out another series win, this one for a bling. Probably not how it happens as Denver is bigger and overall better, but you never know. Miami's role players would have to play and shoot well above their averages (like they did against Boston) for the Heat to pull it off. But momentum, confidence and a chip on the shoulder are things that propel teams to play above their skis.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Nuggets are a bigger, better team. But the Heat have some serious momentum going these playoffs, so who knows, they could grind out another series win, this one for a bling. Probably not how it happens as Denver is bigger and overall better, but you never know. Miami's role players would have to play and shoot well above their averages (like they did against Boston) for the Heat to pull it off. But momentum, confidence and a chip on the shoulder are things that propel teams to play above their skis.

It's hard to tell, but I think Boston is a pretty flawed team and that makes Miami look better.

 

[tman87]

It's hard to tell, but I think Boston is a pretty flawed team and that makes Miami look better.

True on Boston. But the Heat also were heavy underdogs in all of their series this playoffs - the Bucks, who stupidly sat Giannis thinking they had the series even without Giannis playing all of the games, then Philly who with Hardley (Harden playoff choker) and a sometimes disappearing Embiid, should have been the better team, but wilted. Then Boston, with their 4th choice guy as HC after Udoka couldn't keep his pecker in his pants. But even with that coaching turmoil in Boston, they are a team that has some internal issues.

I think Denver is going to be a tough nut to crack for the Heat, but I won't put it past them given their resiliency this post season.

 

[Tell_Sackett]

Miami surprised me with how dominant they were last night. In normal circumstances, I would assume they would get absolutely waxed on Thursday night in Denver- can’t imagine they have much energy left from what was just a grueling and exhausting series with Boston (physically and mentally).

I would assume Denver in 5 also. But this Heat team continues to surprise me and they are largely experienced across the board. Could they sneak a second game and push it to 6? Maybe. But I don’t see how they beat the Nuggets 4 times

If the Heat steal one, I'd think it would be game 1. The layoffs can cause teams to come out flat....Denver hasn't played in what seems like an eternity.

I'd say Denver in 6 which isn't really going out on a limb.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

True on Boston. But the Heat also were heavy underdogs in all of their series this playoffs - the Bucks, who stupidly sat Giannis thinking they had the series even without Giannis playing all of the games, then Philly who with Hardley (Harden playoff choker) and a sometimes disappearing Embiid, should have been the better team, but wilted. Then Boston, with their 4th choice guy as HC after Udoka couldn't keep his pecker in his pants. But even with that coaching turmoil in Boston, they are a team that has some internal issues.

I think Denver is going to be a tough nut to crack for the Heat, but I won't put it past them given their resiliency this post season.

Heat lucked out a bit playing the Knicks. Wouldn't have been surprised at all if they would've dropped the series against Philly, but Philly is in a similar place to Boston.

Miami should not have been able to win, let alone run away with the game with Bam playing as bad as he did. Tatum and Brown are both individually so boom or bust. Boston as it's currently formed just doesn't really seem to play good team basketball. It's just Smart, Tatum, and Brown trading off who is going to be primary iso guy.

 

[tman87]

Heat lucked out a bit playing the Knicks. Wouldn't have been surprised at all if they would've dropped the series against Philly, but Philly is in a similar place to Boston.

Miami should not have been able to win, let alone run away with the game with Bam playing as bad as he did. Tatum and Brown are both individually so boom or bust. Boston as it's currently formed just doesn't really seem to play good team basketball. It's just Smart, Tatum, and Brown trading off who is going to be primary iso guy.

I agree on the Heat lucking out playing the Knicks. Boston does have chemistry issues. Horford is old. Brown seems to not want to stay in Boston, although $ always talk. Tatum is a great talent, he's only 25 I think, not even to his prime yet. But to be determined what happens with Boston and their roster. What they do with Brown, or if he asks out, is a big variable.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

I agree on the Heat lucking out playing the Knicks. Boston does have chemistry issues. Horford is old. Brown seems to not want to stay in Boston, although $ always talk. Tatum is a great talent, he's only 25 I think, not even to his prime yet. But to be determined what happens with Boston and their roster. What they do with Brown, or if he asks out, is a big variable.

There's no way you can offer the supermax to a guy who can't even dribble. It's a pretty bad free agent class, so Boston may be able to move Brown for parts. I just don't see how you lock up that much of your salary cap with two wings who struggle to create offense outside of themselves.