NFT: NBA Playoffs - Round 1

In comment 14398484 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:

Quote:

And CP3 stays healthy. I don’t care about WCF appearances. This bracket gave the Rockets the best chance to beat the Dubs. I’m ready for it. 2nd round should be extremely fun to watch.

If Houston doesn't shoot 6 for 38381831 from 3 in Game 7 last year, they're the ones everyone is gunning for. That game so pissed me off. They were up double digits @ half & I really thought it was their time. Hopefully this is their year for your sake.

To make this a long series
Have to play like last game and hope joe harris and dlo shoot better

Absorb the initial energy of the sixers trying to close out at home

Davis out again. Was arguably the Nets biggest difference maker in Game 1 and hasn’t really played since. Sucks. Thought he might come back tonight.

And no surprise another blatantly missed call that causes points as well
But they are shooting like shit so reallly doesn’t matter

They also haven’t been able to side inbound all season

they are trying to end this tonight so embiid can get some rest..

I had to laugh michael kay said sixers were going to take tonight easy and nets were going to win

This is really something. How long can this go on?

Joe Harris, in particular, probably needs to be glued to the bench the rest of the game.

Add Russell to the list. Guy is shook.

But boy, 25-3 this far into the 1st quarter paints a vivid enough picture.

Kenny is a Top 3 developmental coach in the NBA. But his complete inability to read his own team in game is baffling. Christ.

How did he stick with Harris and Russell so long? They looked scared. You could see it from a mile away.

A 4 and a 5 starting that you don’t have to guard
Next year that has to change at the 4

Embiid and Simmons are such punks. I can’t wait for Kawhi to kick their ass next round.

Russell continues to be unplayable on both ends.

the sixers were going to throw everything at the nets, hard for a youjg team to withstand that on the road in an elimination game

I will be more measured when this slaughter is over. I know you’re right.

The number of wide open shots the nets are missing, while the Sixers hit off balance threes all day could drive you to drink.

In comment 14400420 threeofakind33 said:

Quote:

I will be more measured when this slaughter is over. I know you’re right. The number of wide open shots the nets are missing, while the Sixers hit off balance threes all day could drive you to drink.

hey i will fully admot if this was the knicks i would be screaming and yelling haha

This is brutal though

It is beyond improbable how many wide open threes the Nets have missed.

Joe Harris led the league in 3pt percentage. D’Angelo Russell was an All-Star.

In the game to lead the 39pt comeback.

performance from Nets tonight.

Semifinals are going to be sick. I can't wait.

Lillard is just absurdly on fire right now.

Game. Clinches the series w/ a contested 30'er. Unreal. What a game

with a ridiculous game-winner. Absolutely stupid decision on that last play call. Clock is off, and he has all the time in the world to just dribble out and throw up a prayer 35-footer is ridiculous. But he was on fire all night.

maybe up to 10 you just have to guard out to almost the halfcourt line. It's SO hard to get used to but you just have to now. Double them to get the ball out their hands while in their defensive halfcourt. Of course it's not that easy (vs POR you get 4 on 3 w/ CJ in the mix...

In comment 14400682 PaulBlakeTSU said:

Quote:

with a ridiculous game-winner. Absolutely stupid decision on that last play call. Clock is off, and he has all the time in the world to just dribble out and throw up a prayer 35-footer is ridiculous. But he was on fire all night.

So true. Plenty of time and he literally settles for a step-back 37 footer.

This is just a style of basketball I can’t relate to...

But good for Lillard. Great player.

you're taught NEVER to take that shot

But between him, and guys like Steph, until their 3FG% drops, as a coach I'd be telling them to take more. Not to take worse shots, and I haven't done the math, but in Steph's case I'd tell him to keep shooting, especially since he's not huge value on D or even in the paint on O (tho he's amazing in a million ways). I mean, I'd think until it drops under what 40-41 at least it's fine...

Seems odd but if you shoot it efficiently what can you say

Killer

But hey... he got his triple double though, right?

In comment 14400710 dep026 said:

Quote:

But hey... he got his triple double though, right?

Think first round in west really shows on the ball handler side the importance of the 3 ball- guys like harden and Dame you just cannot play off and puts so much pressure on a defense

For the thunder to win with their big 3 of sorts- they need to find a prime Danny green/ariza or a Redick/prime korver type- not the easiest thing to do but their inability to stretch a defense outside of pg13 gets them in a ton of trouble

Great season- exceeded expectations and brought excitement and energy to Brooklyn. Moving forward they have 3 very young players who need to add strength and consistency- but are core starters moving forward- dlo, levert, and Allen. Dinwiddie is the perfect 6th man. Kurucs with developmentis a rotational guy on a good team. Joe harris is a 7th man on a good team- not a good enough defender to start.
Nets need to score big on a 3 or 4 man. Tobias Harris would be the perfect system fit. The culture will draw the Ed Davis types to be role players off the bench- and the Carroll/Dudley’s.

Future is bright- need to get bigger and stronger - and nail down that 3-4 spot- and this team can make another 5 game jump next year

Looking forward to the rest of the playoffs

UFB. What a player.

And then I have no rooting interest.

I don’t care who wins but just sit back and enjoy it.

You know what great about these playoffs is how great some of the games are and you know who you don’t hear about....

It’s like he has gone and retired...

& then Portland over Houston, though both are unlikely.

I'm rooting for the Blazers. Go Rip City!

In comment 14400686 ChaChing said:

Quote:

you're taught NEVER to take that shot But between him, and guys like Steph, until their 3FG% drops, as a coach I'd be telling them to take more. Not to take worse shots, and I haven't done the math, but in Steph's case I'd tell him to keep shooting, especially since he's not huge value on D or even in the paint on O (tho he's amazing in a million ways). I mean, I'd think until it drops under what 40-41 at least it's fine... Seems odd but if you shoot it efficiently what can you say

I agree, in theory. But Dame is not a 40% shooter from 35+ feet. I've seen people point out that he was 10-for-18 on shots from 30+ feet for the series. But a 37-footer is far different than a 30-footer. And I saw he was 25% on 30+ during the season (a larger sample size).

A side-step 37-footer is not a high-value shot, even for Dame. He and Steph might be better than anyone in the league at it, but it's still a low percentage shot.

Plus, the shot loses value in that the game was tied. Yes, the increase in the 3-point shot during this era is due to a realization of its value relative to the 2-point shot (on an expected points-per-possession basis)

But when the game is tied at the end, any type of basket will win the game so it's about finding a high-percentage shot, not a high-value shot.

If george did not resign that okc would explore trading westbrook?

and yes houston over gs, portland over denver/san antonio

bucks over celtics, raptors over sixers

In comment 14400795 dep026 said:

Quote:

And then I have no rooting interest.

Fuck outta here

In comment 14400978 Osi Osi Osi OyOyOy said:

Quote:

In comment 14400795 dep026 said: Quote: And then I have no rooting interest. Fuck outta here

Sorry, Harden is unbearable. Paul aint much better either.

might be my favorite player in the league. What a shot and what a reaction. Beautiful

I've always appreciated Westbrook, loved the energy and effort he brought to every game. But if he doesn't find some enlightenment and change the way he plays and defer more to PG, this is going to continue to be his fate every season.

But he's such a prick, which was amplified by this series & how he treated that Thunders reporter.

Seems like the entire league is cranky nowadays.

But Westbrook's jump shot is just flat out broken. And it's like he thinks he can just shoot through. 29% shooter from 3 this season on 411 attempts. That's got to be one of the worst volume shooting seasons in history. Portland was begging him to shoot during their comeback. It got them back in the game. Needs to change, probably won't

In comment 14400968 PaulBlakeTSU said:

Quote:

In comment 14400686 ChaChing said: Quote: you're taught NEVER to take that shot But between him, and guys like Steph, until their 3FG% drops, as a coach I'd be telling them to take more. Not to take worse shots, and I haven't done the math, but in Steph's case I'd tell him to keep shooting, especially since he's not huge value on D or even in the paint on O (tho he's amazing in a million ways). I mean, I'd think until it drops under what 40-41 at least it's fine... Seems odd but if you shoot it efficiently what can you say I agree, in theory. But Dame is not a 40% shooter from 35+ feet. I've seen people point out that he was 10-for-18 on shots from 30+ feet for the series. But a 37-footer is far different than a 30-footer. And I saw he was 25% on 30+ during the season (a larger sample size) A side-step 37-footer is not a high-value shot, even for Dame. He and Steph might be better than anyone in the league at it, but it's still a low percentage shot. Plus, the shot loses value in that the game was tied. Yes, the increase in the 3-point shot during this era is due to a realization of its value relative to the 2-point shot (on an expected points-per-possession basis) But when the game is tied at the end, any type of basket will win the game so it's about finding a high-percentage shot, not a high-value shot.

True - first I'll clarify by separating the 3pt% point vs the 30' shot, i convoluted those a bit

Regarding Dame's shot, I agree 100% from a coaching standpoint. I'd never that up as it's not a high% shot. But in today's game and w/ Dame, he takes that shot and has for years. Also up 3-1, in a tied game (meaning any miss is OT), I'd say it's 'more acceptable' there than usual. The value consideration is moot here for the same reason you say, 2 vs 3 doesn't matter as the last shot in a tied game

Then the specific situation: he's ridic hot w/ 47pts, made 1-2 30+ that game, and fwiw per ESPN was 8-12 from 30+ this series (an obv aberration yet important here). Also he said he was concerned about driving, not getting a call & forcing a tough shot vs the 'open one in comfortable range' he had right there. Unconventional yet hard to argue with that

It's funny because I'm not as huge an iso fan as the NBA seems to be, I'd never tell him to take THAT one, yet it's a better shot there than you'd usually think. In the end? Guard him at half-court, maybe double him in the back court to move the ball...as easy as all that is

Dame - ( New Window )

quality post, thanks for replying.

There is no doubt that Dame is one of the big long-range snipers in the league and so he would be more comfortable with that shot than most.

But with plenty of time left, I would have much preferred a pick and roll or screen action at the top of the key to try and get a switch off Paul George. My guess is that the Thunder would have brought a double team leaving a wide open Blazer for a closer shot.

But there was no chance that anyone but Lillard was taking that shot and the Thunder knew it (which is why I think there would have been a double team in that scenario).

Unfortunately, with the era of talking heads and hot takes, Dame would have gotten killed for passing the ball there even to a wide open teammate.

It reminds me of when LeBron drew a double team in the playoffs, dished it to a wide open Haslem at the elbow for a very easy look, and the narrative was all about how LeBron was afraid to take the big shot and not a "killer" despite it being the smart basketball play.

But I am coming around to some of the bombs away approach, in certain sensible places w/ the few who can. And even then it's an unusual approach that I wouldn't 'teach' but I can see it more and more

Truly ridiculous. He's actually better from there than regular 3s. The article further states he, Steph and Trae are about 40% from 30-40,' the top 3 shooters from there

Another interesting tidbit from the article, both he & PG13's shot efficiency are very side dependent among a few other favorite spots (Dame loves the midrange baseline for ex). Some preference is not surprising, but I'da thought those two would be more balanced

Dame's GWer - ( New Window )

w/ 9:45 left in the 4th...

w/ ~3min left

KD w/ a dunk to go up 1

Sweet Lou? You guessed it, 4pt play

121-118

guys who are THAT good at bad shots amaze me. 2 more buckets, 8 straight pts

SA clawing back after a rough 1st half

Den up 2pts w/ 52s left

looks like Denver is moving on, great series. Den first playoff series W since 2009

Surprised SA waited to foul, but they were on their last gasp