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Post by SFP on May 12, 2024 12:48:31 GMT -6
Only one other time the defending champ went down 0-2 and lost both games at home was the 2011 Lakers. They lost the first two games at home to Dallas in the West semis. The Lakers ended up getting swept and the Mavs ended up winning the NBA title that year. Somewhat surprisingly that was the only time that Dirk and Kobe ever met in the playoffs. Minnesota has four years left to enjoy Edwards before he leaves for a bigger market and more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. A decade ago I would have said yes but today's game with the cap and teams able to sign those larger max deals allows them to keep their best players. Just look at Milwaukee and their ability to resign Giannis Antetokounmpo. You do not have to be in LA or NY to get those sneaker deals. There are exceptions of players asking to get out i.e. Lebron, KD, Harden etc. but that had nothing to do with money but control. Yes, LA and NY would be bigger stages but with that comes other issues. The media for one. |
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Post by SFP on May 12, 2024 12:53:56 GMT -6
Can Denver even the series? If Minnesota doesn't play through Anthony Edwards they'll lose for sure. If they do I expect a game that will come down to the last minute. The pressure for both teams is pretty big. Murray will have to play at his best as well for Denver to pull it off. I also believe Denver needs to limit turnovers.
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Post by tribecalledquest2024 on May 12, 2024 12:59:00 GMT -6
Only one other time the defending champ went down 0-2 and lost both games at home was the 2011 Lakers. They lost the first two games at home to Dallas in the West semis. The Lakers ended up getting swept and the Mavs ended up winning the NBA title that year. Somewhat surprisingly that was the only time that Dirk and Kobe ever met in the playoffs. Minnesota has four years left to enjoy Edwards before he leaves for a bigger market and more $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. In the NBA the team you are with can pay you the most. I would be shocked if Edwards left. |
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Post by SFP on May 14, 2024 15:59:27 GMT -6
Anyone enjoy how SGA closed out that game last evening? The Thunder are young and have a great young superstar. I believe they're a year away but with SGA leading them anything is possible. I'm still picking Denver to win it all. Celtics have the talent once Porzingis comes back to contend for the championship. I just don't think Jayson Tatum can get them over the hump on whoever wins the west.
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Post by SFP on May 16, 2024 12:46:42 GMT -6
Last game Jokic was giving bigs a clinic at the expense of Rudy Gobert. 40 points, 7 reb, 13 assists and 0 turnovers.
Tonight I suspect more of the same. It is a close out game and on the road, so I suspect the ball will be going through Jokic the whole game. I'm going to bet his assist total will be closer to 20, while his points total will go down closer to 30. If the DPOY could not stop him, they'll need to double him up. He is the best passing big ever.
Every game in these NBA playoffs has a superstar shining.
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Post by panthergrad2011 on May 19, 2024 20:40:32 GMT -6
Mavs-T'Wolves in the West final. Just as everyone would have predicted before the playoffs.
Biggest comeback from a halftime deficit in a Game 7 as Minnesota was down 15 at half.
6th consecutive season that the defending champion hasn't made it past the 2nd round. The last to make it past the 2nd round was the Warriors in 2019, when they lost to the Raptors in the NBA Finals.
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Post by dss03 on May 20, 2024 10:13:16 GMT -6
Mavs-T'Wolves in the West final. Just as everyone would have predicted before the playoffs. Biggest comeback from a halftime deficit in a Game 7 as Minnesota was down 15 at half. 6th consecutive season that the defending champion hasn't made it past the 2nd round. The last to make it past the 2nd round was the Warriors in 2019, when they lost to the Raptors in the NBA Finals. The mass pile on over the Gobert trade has largely abated. I didn’t think it would work out myself, but he and KAT found their footing together. Kudos to Coach Finch for that too. |
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Post by dss03 on May 20, 2024 10:15:52 GMT -6
Nice to see Belmont’s Ben Sheppard grabbing a key glue guy role for the Pacers to help them in their playoff run.
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Post by SFP on May 20, 2024 15:07:38 GMT -6
Denver had zero bench throughout the year and it showed in this series. Problem with winning is that teams start looking at your bench for players and starters ask for more. It is hard to repeat in the NBA due to the cap. Timberwolves D proved too much.
NY Knicks were fun to watch. I wonder if their hard nosed grind them out play, all season, lead to all those injuries. Loved the way The Pacers played with force. If Celtics do not match that play it could be a 7 game series.
Besides the Celtics, who would have thought that these other 3 teams were going to reach their conference finals. Not me! Looking forward to both series, especially the western finals. ANT vs Kyrie in itself should be entertaining.
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Post by panthergrad2011 on May 20, 2024 19:56:59 GMT -6
NY Knicks were fun to watch. I wonder if their hard nosed grind them out play, all season, lead to all those injuries. Something something Thibs led team running out of gas in the playoffs something something. |
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Post by SFP on May 20, 2024 22:03:09 GMT -6
NY Knicks were fun to watch. I wonder if their hard nosed grind them out play, all season, lead to all those injuries. Something something Thibs led team running out of gas in the playoffs something something. Without those injuries the Knicks most probably win against the Pacers. They also make the opposition work really hard. We also as fan complain about load management. There is a fine line. I'd be for the NBA to extend the season and keep teams from playing back to back, especially on the road. I want to see the best players on the floor during the playoffs. |
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Post by Braves4Life on May 24, 2024 12:05:10 GMT -6
Load management is BS. Doesn't the NBA play the same number of games now as they did in the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s? It's up to the players to get in shape and coaches to manage their rooster's minutes. Sitting a player for "load management" completely destroys the integrity of the game and robs the fans out of their hard earned money, especially when salaries and ticket prices continue your go through the roof.
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Post by SFP on May 24, 2024 15:04:59 GMT -6
Load management is BS. Doesn't the NBA play the same number of games now as they did in the 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s? It's up to the players to get in shape and coaches to manage their rooster's minutes. Sitting a player for "load management" completely destroys the integrity of the game and robs the fans out of their hard earned money, especially when salaries and ticket prices continue your go through the roof. There's a reason teams want to rest their better players. Yes, players are playing the same amount of games but there was not as many off season tournaments that some of the better players participate in i.e. World, Olympics etc. Also, the speed that the game is being played at and the impact that has on a body is much more then ever. Back to back games IMO need to stop. I'd be all for a longer season. Longevity is key for maximum income generation for these players. Being tired and warn out can lead to career ending injuries. Look what happened to Klay Thompson and KD when they played a few very long intense seasons back to back to back. Resting your body is the only way to recover. Injuries are far worse then sitting out a few games a year. If players keep sitting out games then fans will stop coming to games which should have an impact on ticket prices. For now fans keep scooping up tickets regardless. I go only to one game a year and I make sure it is not right after a long road trip and during a back to back. GSW ticket prices are outrageous, then include a meal before, a few cold ones, transportation and I'm spending $500 for two. Hoping also my wife doesn't want to buy a jersey or some other item. I really want the best players playing during the playoffs and not injured. |
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Post by Jli2636 on May 24, 2024 21:11:03 GMT -6
Luka is a baaaaaaad man.
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Post by SFP on May 25, 2024 12:52:01 GMT -6
The Wolves messed up there. Why did they keep Rudy in there unless they were going to help him guard either Luka or Irving from taking a 3? Yea, Luka is a bad man! He's just getting it done in the 4th. Dallas has two really great closers. Also, what's wrong with ANT? Can he really be hitting a wall? He does appear to be gassed. The NBA is a man's game and at 22 your still growing. |
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Post by SFP on May 30, 2024 21:55:13 GMT -6
Well its the Mavericks vs Celtics. I'd never would have had the Mavericks in the final but I just love watching Luka and Irving. Celtics will be the favorite but I like the Mavericks mind set. Hoping for a 7 game series with each game going down to the final shot.
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Post by Braves4Life on May 31, 2024 8:45:48 GMT -6
Well its the Mavericks vs Celtics. I'd never would have had the Mavericks in the final but I just love watching Luka and Irving. Celtics will be the favorite but I like the Mavericks mind set. Hoping for a 7 game series with each game going down to the final shot. I think the Mavs win this. It's going to be all Luka and the revenge of Kyrie. |
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Post by SFP on Jun 1, 2024 14:55:20 GMT -6
Well its the Mavericks vs Celtics. I'd never would have had the Mavericks in the final but I just love watching Luka and Irving. Celtics will be the favorite but I like the Mavericks mind set. Hoping for a 7 game series with each game going down to the final shot. I think the Mavs win this. It's going to be all Luka and the revenge of Kyrie. I believe the Celtics have the players to win it but they tend to not show up at least one game a series. The rest will let Luka rest his knees but also allow Porzingis to come back. Celtics win if they play team ball, not try to play 1-1 ball and maintain their focus. When they're playing their best ball, the ball is moving quickly, they're finding the open man and hitting 3s. There's no better team in the NBA when they are on. Problem is they tend to start taking dumb shots and not getting back on D occasionally. The Mavs appear to be very steady and have two of the best closers in the game. |
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