it's his first playoff run. It's a rarity seeing teams that are relying on young guys succeed. Mitchell and Simmons are in the minority, but both have awesome vets to fall back on. Gobert is a stud, Favors and Rubio have really stepped up late this season. Ingles delivers in the postseason.
As for Simmons, he's been leading the team but Reddick, Ilyasova and Belinelli have been great (at least in game 1).
we should keep in mind that Minnesota is the 8th seed, and the team they're playing against is just a lot better than they are.
I don’t think that’s even a fair assessment. They were clearly a top 3 seed in the west and probably a top 5 team overall when Butler was healthy. Only reason they’re in the playoffs is because butler came back in the final week. MIN is for sure a clear step above the hodge lodge of NO, POR, OKC, UTA and SAS at full strength.
Former Lakers coach and star Byron Scott, for one, said this week that he believes the team has targeted this summer for a quick jump-start rebuild, suggesting that LA will wind up with both Kawhi Leonard and LeBron James this summer.
Around the league, front-office sources agree with at least half that assessment.
“I think they go in hard for Leonard once the season is over and once the dust settles in San Antonio,” one executive told Sporting News. “(Leonard) wants to go to LA. There probably won’t be public demands on that, but he has leverage. He is going to be a free agent (in 2019). He’s an LA guy and he can just let teams know he won’t re-sign next year with anyone but the Lakers.”
There could be some complicating factors, however. The Spurs could try to work out their differences with Leonard and put a supermax deal (worth $200 million) in front of him in July, but the franchise is wary of doing so because Leonard played only nine games this season with his mysterious quad injury. San Antonio also has young players it will need to make decisions on, contract-wise, in the next year or two (Dejounte Murray, Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertans).
And there’s the Lakers, who would be hesitant to give up young players like Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram to land Leonard this year, if they’re fairly certain they could sign him outright next year as a free agent. There’s some danger to that, however. Paul George, for example, was dead-set on going to the Lakers at this time last year, but Oklahoma City gambled and traded for him. Now, there’s a chance the Thunder can keep George.
chance of getting to the finals, but they are still playing sloppy and I don't think they have fully put it together yet. The Heat gave it all for three periods and then were totally dismantled in the 4th. At least the refs weren't fooled by Wade with his lean ins yesterday. Honestly, it drives me nuts when he does that.
It was amusing to see Wade trying to get tough with Justin Anderson Â
There may not even be a game 4. The Portland players might all be suffering radiation poisoning on account of being in range of Davis' nuclear assault. I mean look at this thing - ( New Window )
But I doubt he literally meant that all he cares about is preventing Rubio from having a statistical similar game. I'm sure he won't be totally happy if OKC loses the next game but Rubio scores 9 points and shoots 30%.
It's funny, the Westbrook criticism. I seem to recall a good many people giving Durant endless amounts of shit for not resigning himself to playing with a guy many people like to shit on, for the rest of his career.
Yeha yeah, 2nd year. Yeah yeah they made the playoffs.
But man, awful last night. KAT and Wiggins stagnant. Teague was disgraceful last night. How they gave him roster control is a mystery.
I don't know if they should fire him, but he's been proven to be really overrated as a head coach.
Cause you follow cricket, and not baseball. haha, jk!
#depisstereotyping
As for Simmons, he's been leading the team but Reddick, Ilyasova and Belinelli have been great (at least in game 1).
I don’t think that’s even a fair assessment. They were clearly a top 3 seed in the west and probably a top 5 team overall when Butler was healthy. Only reason they’re in the playoffs is because butler came back in the final week. MIN is for sure a clear step above the hodge lodge of NO, POR, OKC, UTA and SAS at full strength.
Around the league, front-office sources agree with at least half that assessment.
“I think they go in hard for Leonard once the season is over and once the dust settles in San Antonio,” one executive told Sporting News. “(Leonard) wants to go to LA. There probably won’t be public demands on that, but he has leverage. He is going to be a free agent (in 2019). He’s an LA guy and he can just let teams know he won’t re-sign next year with anyone but the Lakers.”
There could be some complicating factors, however. The Spurs could try to work out their differences with Leonard and put a supermax deal (worth $200 million) in front of him in July, but the franchise is wary of doing so because Leonard played only nine games this season with his mysterious quad injury. San Antonio also has young players it will need to make decisions on, contract-wise, in the next year or two (Dejounte Murray, Kyle Anderson and Davis Bertans).
And there’s the Lakers, who would be hesitant to give up young players like Kyle Kuzma and Brandon Ingram to land Leonard this year, if they’re fairly certain they could sign him outright next year as a free agent. There’s some danger to that, however. Paul George, for example, was dead-set on going to the Lakers at this time last year, but Oklahoma City gambled and traded for him. Now, there’s a chance the Thunder can keep George.
Jesus Christ. The Pelicans are getting scary.
Sixers looked good last night.
Jesus Christ. The Pelicans are getting scary.
Stop it. We all see what you are doing ;)
Damn, the one time I was right!
Damn, the one time I was right!
I think that was me. But this isn’t the same rondo that was on the kings or mavs
Quote:
from last year who was arguing with me that Tim Frazier and some other journeyman guard was better than Rajon Rondo.
Damn, the one time I was right!
I think that was me. But this isn’t the same rondo that was on the kings or mavs
Whats funny about the Pelicans series is the two former bulls are playing outstanding. Mirotic is really thriving playing with AD.
LOL. He was such a dick last night. I shouldn't be surprised considering where he went to college.
There may not even be a game 4. The Portland players might all be suffering radiation poisoning on account of being in range of Davis' nuclear assault.
I mean look at this thing - ( New Window )
LeBron changed that real quick
Yep, no influence these 3 non players have.
Poor pacers fan thought they had this. Haha
When wolves make 3s they are tough. They made like 16. Wiggins and Teague were very good. Butler a stud.
Simmons is incredible. If he stays healthy, the sky is the limit for him.
Nice to see the Toronto raptors turning into their usual bumpkins come playoff time. Cavs vs. philly would be a nice conference final.
Typical Westbrook response after the game. He cited Rubio won’t get that stat line again.
Always about stats, wins are secondary.
It's funny, the Westbrook criticism. I seem to recall a good many people giving Durant endless amounts of shit for not resigning himself to playing with a guy many people like to shit on, for the rest of his career.
I loved that one possession where he had the ball for the entire 24 seconds possession & chucked up a clunker.
Very weird narrative.