Octopus Overlords

I'm starting to think that the Celtics may not beat the Nets.

El Guapo wrote: ↑Wed May 26, 2021 11:45 am I'm starting to think that the Celtics may not beat the Nets.

I guess 3 superstars plus an awesome 3-point shooter (Joe Harris 7/10 !!!!!!) is nice to have.

Trae Young is fun to watch, but his teammates must want to strangle him after the 6th time in the first half he jacks up a 3 from five feet behind the arc and bricks it horribly.

Also, Doris Burke is a fantastic color commentator.

Wow - Ainge is stepping down, Stevens is leaving coaching and moving into the Front Office. Big changes for the Celtics.

Nets-Bucks will be really fun to watch. I'm still trying to figure out who Net's fans are. Having lived in Brooklyn and growing up on Long Island, I'll assume that they are the home fan base. Maybe existing NJ Nets fans too that made the transition? Nets probably gained some really frustrated Knicks fans too. They also have a fun but quirky big three right now which is an automatic draw for any basketball fan.

Injuries and trying to get cohesion on the team and failing have doomed the Lakers I think. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy (by everyone I mean AD and LeBron) next year and we can have another shot at the title.

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 10:46 am Wow - Ainge is stepping down, Stevens is leaving coaching and moving into the Front Office. Big changes for the Celtics.

That's shocking. Not that I'm super plugged in on basketball stuff, but I'd heard more skuttlebutt about Stevens leaving than Ainge. Don't totally love it - Ainge hasn't been perfect, but he's kept the Celtics pretty competitive over time. Plus it seems like the track record of coaches also running front office stuff is pretty bad.

The 2OT Nuggets-Blazers game last night was definitely a nail-biter. Although I would have been happily settled for Nuggets not blowing the 22-pt lead from the 1st half, that would have been plenty exciting for me...

Lorini wrote: ↑Wed Jun 02, 2021 11:28 am Injuries and trying to get cohesion on the team and failing have doomed the Lakers I think. Hopefully everyone can stay healthy (by everyone I mean AD and LeBron) next year and we can have another shot at the title.

Lakers are toast. Now if they can only sign Steph Curry in free agency they would have their big three. At least LeBron and AD will have plenty of time off to heal up. Funny how when I hear AD I still think of Adrian Dantley.

So Lakers out and the Clippers advance. Don't tell me I'm gonna have to root for the Clip Joint.

Right now the team I like most is the Atlanta Hawks. Go Trae!

Clippers/Jazz looks to be a hell of a series.

Thought this was an interesting stat as well.

Barring an insane Mavs comeback, the last time the remaining 8 teams won an NBA title:

76ers: 1983
Bucks: 1971
Hawks: 1958
Clippers: Never
Nets: Never
Jazz: Never
Suns: Never
Nuggets: Never

Madness.

Too bad we didn't have an NBA team this year. My prediction that the Bulls, with their lottery pick last year, selected a lottery pick for 2021 was correct.

I rather like this outcome though. Not like it enough to say, actually watch a game, but like that it's not the same cast of characters.

Skinypupy wrote: ↑Sun Jun 06, 2021 8:18 pm Clippers/Jazz looks to be a hell of a series.

Thought this was an interesting stat as well.

Barring an insane Mavs comeback, the last time the remaining 8 teams won an NBA title:

76ers: 1983
Bucks: 1971
Hawks: 1958
Clippers: Never
Nets: Never
Jazz: Never
Suns: Never
Nuggets: Never

Madness.

FO FO FO



I have fond memories of that Sixers championship, not only for the title itself (finally) but for the fact that it led directly to my first start on my HS varsity baseball team. I was a freshman at the time, but a lot of the older players cut school to go see the Sixers parade. I got to start in CF.

Back in the day, the Sixers always seemed to play Atlanta and/or Milwaukee in the playoffs, before seeing Boston. No surprise seeing ATL and MIL again. The Nets on the other hand...

A local DC area sports talk host is getting a lot of play recently for his dead on Charles Barkley impersonation.

Kawhi hurt - potentially for the rest of the series.

Chris Paul in COVID protocols.

Talk about a monkey wrench in the playoffs!

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:57 am Kawhi hurt - potentially for the rest of the series.

Chris Paul in COVID protocols.

Talk about a monkey wrench in the playoffs!

Yeah. It's pretty crazy. Nets with their injuries too. I really don't want to see a Sixers/Bucks ECF because I dislike both teams, but if I had to cheer against a team, it would be the Sixers. Besides being a Heat rival, they are just a deeply unlikable team. Embid also looks like he's either gassed or hurting at least in the last game.

stessier wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:57 am Kawhi hurt - potentially for the rest of the series.

Chris Paul in COVID protocols.

Talk about a monkey wrench in the playoffs!

A tweet I just saw says Kawai hurt his ACL and is out indefinitely.

Oops, Clippers and Suns damaged. Advantage East?

LOL the Hawks come from 20 down to go up 3-2 on the 76ers. A Jazz - Hawks final would be hilarious.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Wed Jun 16, 2021 10:33 pm LOL the Hawks come from 20 down to go up 3-2 on the 76ers. A Jazz - Hawks final would be hilarious.

A Clips-Hawks final would be even better. Mitchell seems to be running out of gas.

Huh - Celtics just traded Kemba Walker.

OKC gets - Kemba Walker, 2021 1st Round (#16), and 2025 2nd Round
BOS gets - Al Horford, Moses Brown, and 2023 2nd Round

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:34 pm Huh - Celtics just traded Kemba Walker.

OKC gets - Kemba Walker, 2021 1st Round (#16), and 2025 2nd Round
BOS gets - Al Horford, Moses Brown, and 2023 2nd Round

Yeah, trades like this usually have more to do with contracts and salary caps. And remember they now have the "genius" Brad Stevens at the helm.

Clips are in the WCF. Now we know what their problem was, Kawhi Leonard was holding them back.

Best record in the league, then going from being up 2-0 to losing 4 straight, including a 36 point swing in the second half of an elimination game while the other team played without their superstar.

Quite the impressive implosion by the Jazz.

Jaymann wrote:

stessier wrote: ↑Fri Jun 18, 2021 2:34 pm Huh - Celtics just traded Kemba Walker.

OKC gets - Kemba Walker, 2021 1st Round (#16), and 2025 2nd Round
BOS gets - Al Horford, Moses Brown, and 2023 2nd Round

Yeah, trades like this usually have more to do with contracts and salary caps. And remember they now have the "genius" Brad Stevens at the helm.

Well, the Celtics had a huge void in the middle after letting Horford and Theis go, and it's easier to get a decent pg via free agency / trade. They also really missed Horford's passing.

It's nice to see Moses Brown grow (as a player ). Potential top 5 pick, to undrafted to g-league to OKC to contender. Essentially they "drafted" him with their #16 pick.

He could be a steal if they develop him properly.

Skinypupy wrote:Best record in the league, then going from being up 2-0 to losing 4 straight, including a 36 point swing in the second half of an elimination game while the other team played without their superstar.

Quite the impressive implosion by the Jazz.

Clippers were insane from three that second half while the jazz went ice cold. Some of it was bad defensive rotations, but most of it was just a tremendous effort by the young clippers.

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:18 am

Skinypupy wrote:Best record in the league, then going from being up 2-0 to losing 4 straight, including a 36 point swing in the second half of an elimination game while the other team played without their superstar.

Quite the impressive implosion by the Jazz.

Clippers were insane from three that second half while the jazz went ice cold. Some of it was bad defensive rotations, but most of it was just a tremendous effort by the young clippers.

I think too that the injuries weighed on the Jazz. We know Mitchell was playing hurt. It's also tough when some player out of the blue catches on fire and you don't have a scouting report on him. Mann was just phenomenal, partially because they weren't really set up to guard him.

Kawhi who???

Lorini wrote:

Pyperkub wrote: ↑Sat Jun 19, 2021 11:18 am

Skinypupy wrote:Best record in the league, then going from being up 2-0 to losing 4 straight, including a 36 point swing in the second half of an elimination game while the other team played without their superstar.

Quite the impressive implosion by the Jazz.

Clippers were insane from three that second half while the jazz went ice cold. Some of it was bad defensive rotations, but most of it was just a tremendous effort by the young clippers.

I think too that the injuries weighed on the Jazz. We know Mitchell was playing hurt. It's also tough when some player out of the blue catches on fire and you don't have a scouting report on him. Mann was just phenomenal, partially because they weren't really set up to guard him.

Kawhi who???

Jackson too. They couldn't stay in front to save their lives.

Yes! The Nets are out. I must admit great shot by KD to send it to OT.

Hawks still alive, but looks like Bucks - Clips now.

I wouldn’t discount the Suns, especially if/when they get Chris Paul back. I know the Clippers played great in their two games without Kawhi, but I’m skeptical they can maintain that over a potentially seven game series.

As for the Nets, Durant was incredible but the injuries were too much to overcome. Harden clearly wasn’t 100% and without him and Kyrie it all fell on Durant. And he almost got it done.

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:44 am I wouldn’t discount the Suns, especially if/when they get Chris Paul back. I know the Clippers played great in their two games without Kawhi, but I’m skeptical they can maintain that over a potentially seven game series.

As for the Nets, Durant was incredible but the injuries were too much to overcome. Harden clearly wasn’t 100% and without him and Kyrie it all fell on Durant. And he almost got it done.

Clips have a good shot if Paul doesn't get back in time, otherwise it'll be Bucks-Suns .

I forgot about Boogie Cousins on the Clips. That is one big strong man. Too bad the Lakers gave up on him.

Sweet! Hawks eliminate the 76ers. This is getting interesting.

Jaymann wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 10:39 pm Sweet! Hawks eliminate the 76ers. This is getting interesting.

Bah.

Sixers really shit the bed. Trae Young had a horrible start and they still couldn't pull ahead. Simmons is trash but has a massive contract hanging around. Doc is garbage as usual. I don't know why he keeps getting hired. I'm pretty sure he has a losing playoff average.

Jag wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 8:00 am Sixers really shit the bed. Trae Young had a horrible start and they still couldn't pull ahead. Simmons is trash but has a massive contract hanging around. Doc is garbage as usual. I don't know why he keeps getting hired. I'm pretty sure he has a losing playoff average.

He's 98-94.

He's also won a championship and has been in another championship. Thus he gets hired.

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Sun Jun 20, 2021 6:44 am I wouldn’t discount the Suns, especially if/when they get Chris Paul back. I know the Clippers played great in their two games without Kawhi, but I’m skeptical they can maintain that over a potentially seven game series.

As for the Nets, Durant was incredible but the injuries were too much to overcome. Harden clearly wasn’t 100% and without him and Kyrie it all fell on Durant. And he almost got it done.

This Suns/Clippers series is going to be fun - that was a great game 1. I'm loving the way the Suns play.

It'll be interesting to see in the offseason if Philly moves away from Simmons. He's so frustrating because his potential is off the charts, but he is so bad at shooting (and clearly in his own head) that he's a liability on offense. Both Doc and Embiid subtly or less-so subtly blamed him yesterday for the loss. I'm not sure how they come back from that without some changes.

Ralph-Wiggum wrote: ↑Mon Jun 21, 2021 4:12 pm It'll be interesting to see in the offseason if Philly moves away from Simmons. He's so frustrating because his potential is off the charts, but he is so bad at shooting (and clearly in his own head) that he's a liability on offense. Both Doc and Embiid subtly or less-so subtly blamed him yesterday for the loss. I'm not sure how they come back from that without some changes.

The interesting thing is that as bad a shooting day as Simmons was having, Trey Young was having a worse one, until late in the game.

That game in the 4th wasn't decided by Simmons at all, it was Atlanta's defense. The only Philly player who was doing *anything* successfully on offense in the 4th quarter was Harris (and he was playing really well on the other side of the court too), but as things got tough down the stretch, it was Embiid taking almost all the shots, and missing them - more because of excellent defense than him being tired, IMHO.