The Official NBA Playoff Thread—-20/21 Edition

[thejazzcollector]

Is it just me or did anyone else feel that the ESPN halftime crew just had the most useless performance of all time? I think I just watched 17 minutes of commercials, 3 minutes of highlights from the Hawks/Knicks game, and nothing about the actual Lakers/Suns game except showing the LeBron alley oop.

[Onepocketj]

Awful quiet in that arena right now

[alwayson22]

Lakers down 2 starters. Series is about to get very interesting.

[pingbling23]

groin strain for ad. lakers post season probably done. they may be able to get through the suns but a deep run is probably over. injuries sucks but thats the nba. where is tht? about time for trez to get some minutes.

[Onepocketj]

CP3 has definitely looked better this game. Not 100% but better

[cp312]

Originally Posted by Onepocketj

CP3 has definitely looked better this game. Not 100% but better

The Suns have essentially been playing without him since the first half of game 1, as much as the Lakers do play good defense, the lack of CP3 is the bigger reason for the Suns offensive struggles imo

[drobfan8]

Lakers without AD might just be like that LeBron lead Lakers team that couldn't even make the Playoffs that year.

Oh wait. LeBron is GOAT though.....we'll see

[kd the sniper]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

Lakers without AD might just be like that LeBron lead Lakers team that couldn't even make the Playoffs that year.

Oh wait. LeBron is GOAT though.....we'll see

It's hard to watch Lakers games.. The whole team cries with every call

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by kd the sniper

It's hard to watch Lakers games.. The whole team cries with every call

I really like Caruso but he is the worst. That stinky crying face deserves a punch

[kd the sniper]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

I really like Caruso but he is the worst. That stinky crying face deserves a punch

The grayson Allen slap

[kd the sniper]

Lakers crying on one end while Crowder nails a 3.. Brilliant

[Onepocketj]

Lebron sitting with his head down at the other end and didn't even try to go back

[Onepocketj]

Back to Phoenix! Should be a great game

[Stoiclife]

Reports of the Suns demise were greatly exaggerated.

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by Onepocketj

Lebron sitting with his head down at the other end and didn't even try to go back

It's not like it's the first time he's quit on his team during an important playoff game.

[bdoody42]

The series really hinges on Davis and how healthy he is. It’s tied 2-2. Neither team is out of it.

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by daeve

Not saying Hawks will win, they probably won't - but the more Philly phans just talk about Bklyn/Mil without even mentioning atl, the more confident I feel that it's going to be a fun series.

Hawks have no shot to win the Series. Sure, they might be a frisky 4-1 or 4-2 loser if Trae goes totally off one night, but the 76ers are 2nd in Def Rtg and 4th in Opp shoot%, 2nd in steals, blocks and forcing turnovers.

ATL is 21st in DRtg, 21 in ORebs allowed, 29th in forcing turnovers, 24th in steals.

Offense: 76ers are 3rd in FTs, 9th in FG%, 10th in 3pt%, 14th in TS,
ATL is 4th, 15th, 12th and 26th in TS comparatively.

This isn't the 76ers team without Ben Simmons and two non-shooters in JRich and Horford anymore, forcing Shake into starting at PG.

They have a healthy Ben/Joel, great shooters in Curry and Green, Dwight backing up C, added George Hill and Maxey, and huge 2nd year strides by Thybulle who will be 2nd team all-defense.

Yes, ATL is better than Was, but not on the level of any of the top 3.

[ninjacookies]

Lakers lost without AD?


Moon lands on Mars.

[bberns]

LeBron is either injured or washed. This series has been painful to watch despite him getting an occasional powerful dunk.

[BeastMode27]

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

Hawks have no shot to win the Series. Sure, they might be a frisky 4-1 or 4-2 loser if Trae goes totally off one night, but the 76ers are 2nd in Def Rtg and 4th in Opp shoot%, 2nd in steals, blocks and forcing turnovers.

ATL is 21st in DRtg, 21 in ORebs allowed, 29th in forcing turnovers, 24th in steals.

Offense: 76ers are 3rd in FTs, 9th in FG%, 10th in 3pt%, 14th in TS,
ATL is 4th, 15th, 12th and 26th in TS comparatively.

This isn't the 76ers team without Ben Simmons and two non-shooters in JRich and Horford anymore, forcing Shake into starting at PG.

They have a healthy Ben/Joel, great shooters in Curry and Green, Dwight backing up C, added George Hill and Maxey, and huge 2nd year strides by Thybulle who will be 2nd team all-defense.

Yes, ATL is better than Was, but not on the level of any of the top 3.

You are quoting the Hawks numbers from one of the most injured teams in the regular season. As you know, they were one of the best teams in the league since McMillan took over. They also don’t need Trae to go off to win a game, it is better if he doesn’t score 45+. The whole team needs involved. Bogdanovic missed 28 games, Hunter 49, Gallinari 21, Collins 9, Capela 9, Okongwu 22. Rondo and Dunn were also the back up point guards for the majority of the season, not Lou. Rondo missed a ton of games, and Dunn played in 4 games. Reddish missed 46 games, and is the only player that got good minutes not healthy now. They have also won 13 in a row at home and 20 of the last 22. This is not the same team as your numbers indicate.

That being said, I stated in the Trae Young thread before the season the only teams in the east I thought better were Philly, Brooklyn, and Boston. Got laughed at for that as a “delusional Hawks fan” by people saying maybe an 8 said. I also said Philly is their biggest problem as Embiid has owned them for the most part, and Capela doesn’t match up great against him. He will likely get in foul trouble, and it will be even more difficult. I do think the series will be extremely close, and not surprised if either won. It really comes down to the Philly offense against a thriving Hawks D. If Philly makes their 3’s and Embiid plays like he has, they should win. Atlanta has a ton of firepower to go with a lot of confidence right now. Will be exciting.

[kd the sniper]

Originally Posted by bberns

LeBron is either injured or washed. This series has been painful to watch despite him getting an occasional powerful dunk.

I'm sure the 2018 narrative will be the front runner

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by BeastMode27

You are quoting the Hawks numbers from one of the most injured teams in the regular season. As you know, they were one of the best teams in the league since McMillan took over. They also don’t need Trae to go off to win a game, it is better if he doesn’t score 45+. The whole team needs involved. Bogdanovic missed 28 games, Hunter 49, Gallinari 21, Collins 9, Capela 9, Okongwu 22. Rondo and Dunn were also the back up point guards for the majority of the season, not Lou. Rondo missed a ton of games, and Dunn played in 4 games. Reddish missed 46 games, and is the only player that got good minutes not healthy now. They have also won 13 in a row at home and 20 of the last 22. This is not the same team as your numbers indicate.

That being said, I stated in the Trae Young thread before the season the only teams in the east I thought better were Philly, Brooklyn, and Boston. Got laughed at for that as a “delusional Hawks fan” by people saying maybe an 8 said. I also said Philly is their biggest problem as Embiid has owned them for the most part, and Capela doesn’t match up great against him. He will likely get in foul trouble, and it will be even more difficult. I do think the series will be extremely close, and not surprised if either won. It really comes down to the Philly offense against a thriving Hawks D. If Philly makes their 3’s and Embiid plays like he has, they should win. Atlanta has a ton of firepower to go with a lot of confidence right now. Will be exciting.

Let's not kid ourselves now.


Hawks have zero chance if Stacey Augmon can't go.

[ballhawkdawk]

I really like the Hawks and am a Trae fan, but they are multiple levels below the 76ers. Hawks are spunky, but that series is over in 4 or 5. I’d consider it a win for Atlanta and bad sign for Philly if it goes 6.

For the Lakers and Suns, this is what I and I think many others were concerned about. Lebron on a bad ankle and AD playing like ass coming into the postseason. It ain’t over til it’s over, but you need your stars to show up in the playoffs to push forward. Fully healthy, I have the Lakers winning that series. But they weren’t fully healthy coming into it and it appears they’ll be even less healthy moving forward.

[bberns]

Originally Posted by kd the sniper

I'm sure the 2018 narrative will be the front runner

What do you mean by this? Sorry, maybe clear to others.

[bberns]

Can we please have Ben guard the Goomba the entire series and completely shut him down? Few things would make me happier.

I admit it is irrational for me to intensely dislike a professional athlete whom I've never met, but here we are....