OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA THREAD -May 2021

well, to properly balance the scale, Dame had played in 164 NBA games after a 4-year/109 game career in college prior to his first playoff game. He also had 2 full training camps and rookie leagues. Lamelo just had 51 NBA games and a 26 game Euro-League career after a Covid restricted training camp. Dame also had Aldridge going batshit in the low block with 46 points and 18 rebounds so Houston wasn't exactly focused on Dame. After the series, Houston wished they had focused on Dame for at least 0.9 seconds longer than they did

 

Fair enough.

 

The Warriors and the Lakers can beat either one of the top teams in the West. I feel bad for the Jazz and Suns

 

Feel bad for the 2nd round opponent

 

I assume you mean the Blazers should they get past the Nuggets (still a huge IF in my book)? Second and third rounds are going to be murder should the Blazers advance that far. Beat the Nuggets and they’ll be greeted by the Suns or Lakers in round 2. If a miracle happens and they advance to the WCF, then the Clippers or Jazz await. All I can say is the team coming out of the West is gonna be battered and bruised by the time the Finals role around.

 

This guy selects all-impact teams (not sure what how he determines). Lillard on 2nd team. Only Nets have three on his top 26, Milwaukee (Holiday, not Middleton), Lakers, Clippers and Miami have two each. Utah has Gobert and Connelly, not Mitchell. He also claims that mid range shooting teams do better in playoffs, which he thinks will favor Clippers, Suns and Philly.

https://thef5.substack.com/p/all-im...Q.sGChPGl9bYNjVJxU6fAGmdec47uG-bQuaT-3jHkQ9ak

 

Man... it pisses me off so much that this flag has been co-opted. It's one of my favorite pieces of Revolutionary war history. It was super awesome when the USMNT had jerseys made to honor it back in the World Cup.

 

That could be true, but I think there is a huge difference between the two. The Lakers most definitely can beat anyone in a series. But the Warriors? I guess maybe they can surprise the young Suns, but I think the Jazz will be healthy enough to destroy the W's

 

@THE HCP , thoughts on your inevitable matchup against the Suns.

 

Spurs are done

 

Pop didn’t even worry about calling a time out.

 

Pretty messed up for both the Suns and Jazz. They could both end up in a very tough first round.

 

Pop is the crypt keeper. What is he actually thinking with that look

 

Why is this messed up? The west is crazy strong right now.

 

What's messed up? The play-ins actually give the two top seeds an additional advantage over whoever ends up as seven and eight because those teams get less rest. I think since the Suns and Jazz have been in those top two spots they've been seen as very vulnerable even as early as the first round. There's just a lot of parity in the West and the defending champs had a season plagued by injury but they seem to be getting well at the right time.

It's extremely likely that the Suns and Jazz will face the defending champs and the remnants of the leagues most recent dynasty. Oh well.

 

It's funny because apparently twitter doesn't know what the Gadsden flag is either.

 

I guess I just don’t feel working all season to get the first or second seed and then drawing the Lakers is an advantage. Or Golden State for that matter.

 

Brook really harassing DeRozen. Love the passion he plays with. DeRozen 0-1st half when being guarded by Brooks.

 

DeRozan playing scared when your season is on the line.