NBA Playoffs Thread - Play-in and 1st round edition

One thing that did frustrate me in the Bucks-Heat game was Giannis getting called for the 3-point foul late.
If he can't guard a 3-point shooter without fouling who can? They overcall the "giving the shooter space to land" infraction.

 

This was bullshit when you posted it the first time. Dame has never had anything close to the team that Jimmy has around him right now. Jimmy has had team after team like this one with multiple all stars around him.

Jimmy is having a great run right now but he barely got that team into the playoffs. We'll see how they do in the next round.

Edit: this is the self quoted post from @Portland2014 that I'm trying to reply to...

Lillard is in the TOP 75 players ever list and Butler isn't, that tells you something about the importance of the narrative

Butler is a far superior playoffs performer than Dame but isn't as marketed as Lillard

 

Do you guys remember when Jimmy went to the finals in 2020?

 

Butler also carried the Twolves into the playoffs as well as the 6ers. He's legit. Dame has had a couple awesome playoff moments, but he's had a lot stinkers and repeatedly failed to beat simple traps. I'd rank Butler as the superior playoff performer.

 

This is I believe the 9th playoff series Butler has won including yes a trip to the finals. Dame has won 4. Not sure how you can argue Dame is a superior playoff performer. Sure he might have lesser teammates, but he's accomplished much less too. Dame had pretty good teammates the WCF year and 0.9 year. That WCF group was more deep whereas the 0.9 year had 5 good starters plus Mo Williams on the bench.

I'd certainly pick Dame to take the last shot. But I'd certainly pick Butler to impact on both ends of the court. Who helps a team win more in the playoffs? Probably valid arguments either way, but the success has been enjoyed much more by Butler.

 

Jimmy Butler averaged 38 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals on 60% FG and 44% 3PT on the way to beating the #1 seed in 5 games, all while being mostly guarded by the best perimeter defender in the league. That's the best first round series performance I've ever seen

 

There are many contested 3-point shots that don’t result in a foul, so I don’t know what you mean by that.

I suppose you watched the replay and saw that Max Strus landed on Giannis’s foot. By any account, that’s a foul, and was called correctly.

 

It doesn't matter if he was 'upset'. It absolutely should be a story - as it's unacceptable.

I don't think it should be a NATIONAL story. It should be something handled internally.

 

Agreed. It's a good rule, but too frequently they call it when the offensive player jumps forward. If they jump straight up/down - they have a right to the space to land. When the jump forward, the defender should have the right to be there.

 

Did you see the video? I think I was bumped in the store more forcefully yesterday. Ridiculous the cops were called and charges filed.

 

Agreed.
There are 2 sides to the court too.
Butler is an absolute stout defender.

 

Great story; but in this example Giannis was the one who jumped way forward.

 

In tonight game, Giannis moved forward to challenge the shot - but it was perpendicular to the shooter & basket.
Strus jumped ~4 feet forward on that shot.

 

I think it could have been (IMO should have been) reviewed as a Flagrant Foul, Penalty 1, defender steps under airborne shooter.

 

So how does this work? Is Milwaukee’s coach trash now?

 

LMFAO Budenholzer must have been on crack or something

 

Happy to see teamwork, defense succeed in the playoffs

 

Yay! We all get to wait and feel the suspense for the draft lottery! While two play-in teams and one 6th seed look to be heading to the second round.
Great games and great performances happen in the playoffs. You gotta get there to witness them. Time and time again you all have witnessed Lillard have magical performances in the playoffs. Houston, The Thunder, The Nuggets all have felt his wrath.
....Lets Tank! It's the only way.....

 

Butler did push off on his game tying shot though.