The Playoffs Thread

[Sixerscan]

Tobias on Middleton, Curry on Divicenzo, Ben on Jrue then Danny Green on.... Giannis?

I think it makes more sense to have Tobi on Middleton, Green on Jrue and Ben on Giannis.

Embiid would cover Giannis a fair amount like he has in the past.

That would be ideal for me, because this also allows Biid to patrol the paint. But from what I saw, we only do that when the game is close. Maybe to conserve biid’s energy and not get him to foul trouble

Not sure which game you are referring to. Not under Doc because Embiid only played in one game and it wasn't close. He certainly covered him a bunch in the games last year. Not that it was every time like I assume you can find times Horford or someone else was on him but it was Embiid a lot of the time.

[Sixerscan]

Watch the highlights.

Watch on YouTube

Even if you put Scottie Pippen there. doncic will just call for a screen and he can either attack fhe mismatch if they switch of have a step advantage for a drive against PG or Kawhi. And if they can stay with him, he’ll bump with his shoulder, get separation and do a fadeaway.

He’s tall, skilled and have good shooting touch. That’s all you need to be a star these days.

His three ways of getting separation:
- screen
- step back
- bump

His way to get his shots off
- natural shot release heights
- fade away
- one legged (that leg shields defender to prevent him to stay close)

Like I said before, a lot of this is just terrible defense by the Clippers. Scottie Pippen wouldn't stop him every time or anything but he probably wouldn't just let him walk into open layups and threes all game like he does here. Pippen used to be great on getting up on guys he had a length and athleticism advantage on and just smothering them, which is what you have to do on Doncic. Simmons did a great job of this the two times they played this year. Either George or Kawhi (ideally both) have to commit to doing that all game to turn this series around.

[Kobblehead]

Doncic is already the best talent in NBA history. Jordan has the titles and is the most accomplished, so Doncic will have to win multiple titles and have a great win percentage in the finals to catch him.

In terms of pure "who is the best basketball player to ever live" it's easily Doncic, though. Doncic is the actual goat.

[LloydFree]

Doncic is already the best talent in NBA history. Jordan has the titles and is the most accomplished, so Doncic will have to win multiple titles and have a great win percentage in the finals to catch him.

In terms of pure "who is the best basketball player to ever live" it's easily Doncic, though. Doncic is the actual goat.

LOL

[Kobblehead]

Kawhi is pretty unquestioned as the best playoff player in the current NBA right?

We've seen Luka BEGIN his postseason career as the best player on the floor ahead of Kawhi at AGE 20! And now he's thoroughly dominating him at age 21 with an absolute trash Mavs squad.

Luka is obviously the best player in the world.

[Kobblehead]

Kawhi Leonard: 6x all-defensive, 2x defensive player of the year
Paul George: 4x all-defensive, defensive player of the year runner up

Luka Doncic at age 20 and 21: 32 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 8.8 apg on 50.3% shooting in 8 playoff games against them

A fetus going up against the best defensive wing duo in the NBA and absolutely shredding them with no resistance. How is that not GOAT?

[Sixerscan]

I mean, cite whatever you can find on their basketball-reference pages you want, it's pretty easy to just watch those clips and see the bad defense they are playing.

And no, I wouldn't say Kawhi is the best playoff performer at this point. He and his team had a terrible playoffs last year and then a bad start here. Perhaps you remember being obnoxious for months about how the Clippers were a lock to win the title and then them flaming out horribly.

[Tomjas]

Kawhi Leonard: 6x all-defensive, 2x defensive player of the year
Paul George: 4x all-defensive, defensive player of the year runner up

Luka Doncic at age 20 and 21: 32 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 8.8 apg on 50.3% shooting in 8 playoff games against them

A fetus going up against the best defensive wing duo in the NBA and absolutely shredding them with no resistance. How is that not GOAT?

He’s being guarded by Beverley

[PhillyNj]

Doncic is already the best talent in NBA history. Jordan has the titles and is the most accomplished, so Doncic will have to win multiple titles and have a great win percentage in the finals to catch him.

In terms of pure "who is the best basketball player to ever live" it's easily Doncic, though. Doncic is the actual goat.

I usually don’t knock a guy for his opinion, but this statement is just ridiculous.

[Kobblehead]

I mean, cite whatever you can find on their basketball-reference pages you want, it's pretty easy to just watch those clips and see the bad defense they are playing.

And no, I wouldn't say Kawhi is the best playoff performer at this point. He and his team had a terrible playoffs last year and then a bad start here. Perhaps you remember being obnoxious for months about how the Clippers were a lock to win the title and then them flaming out horribly.

8th ranked defense and the best F wing duo in the sport.

So the the Clippers collectively forgot how to play defense? Kawhi and Paul turned into sieves? Pat Bev became Alexie Shved?

The far more likley scenario is that they're just going up against the GOAT and there's nothing they can do because he's so unguardable.

[Stanford]

The most likely scenario is that Pat Bev was Alexie Shved all along

[Skates]

Maybe they want to get down 0-3 then come back to win and show it was all Doc's fault.

[Sixerscan]

I mean, cite whatever you can find on their basketball-reference pages you want, it's pretty easy to just watch those clips and see the bad defense they are playing.

And no, I wouldn't say Kawhi is the best playoff performer at this point. He and his team had a terrible playoffs last year and then a bad start here. Perhaps you remember being obnoxious for months about how the Clippers were a lock to win the title and then them flaming out horribly.

8th ranked defense and the best F wing duo in the sport.

So the the Clippers collectively forgot how to play defense? Kawhi and Paul turned into sieves? Pat Bev became Alexie Shved?

The far more likley scenario is that they're just going up against the GOAT and there's nothing they can do because he's so unguardable.

Yeah the Clippers have had nights that they just mail it in on the defensive end all year. It's a major issue for them. Part of the reason they are only 8th.

[Sixerscan]

Maybe they want to get down 0-3 then come back to win and show it was all Doc's fault.

1-3 would be funnier.

[reignfire]

The path to the finals look really good for the Sixers. To me the big decision Doc will have to make on the path is who guards the Nets' stars should Philly get to that series. I think Doc has to do something pretty out of the box.

In that series he has to sit Danny Green because he does not fit the right profile to guard any of the Nets' stars. He's too small to guard Durant, not strong enough to guard Harden, and not quick enough to guard Irving.

The starting lineup has to be:

Embiid --- Jordan
Simmons --- Harden
Harris --- Durant
Thybuille --- Irving
Curry --- Joe Harris

Thybuille has the speed and length to bother Irving. Simmons has the strength and size to bother Harden. Green is great but should come off the bench.

[76ciology]

The biggest hurdle is the Bucks. We beat them and its gravy IMO.

I hope the Nets can beat the Bucks. But Nets is a team that Giannis can be a factor on offense down the stretch, with just how weak they are defensively, so im not counting on it.

[76ciology]

The problem with the Clips is the way PG and Kawhi is playing.

Offensively, I see a lot of similarity with the AD-DMC pairing that both can score 40-50 pts but it would not move the needle that much.

The way I look at the Clips is just a high volume of 2 man game and ISO run by Kawhi and PG, with a lot of these ending up as pull up jumpers. These two are scorers and not facilitators. I dont mind this type of offense for late games but there has to be more balance.

This is also kind of what the Celts’s problem are IMO. They could have solved it if Kemba was healthy and still have a healthy Hayward.

And for the Clips to win, they have to get the other guys involved. Which I dont see in both Kawhi and PG’s DNA and the talent surrounding both guys. Unless they take a step back on offense and try to increase their assists numbers. I do think it’s also why they traded Lou for Rondo. But I dont think that would solve it.

But this could change given how talented their team and both guys are.

And I expect Lowry to sign with them next season. Maybe even Ujiri? Then form Raps 2.0

[76ciology]

Doncic is already the best talent in NBA history. Jordan has the titles and is the most accomplished, so Doncic will have to win multiple titles and have a great win percentage in the finals to catch him.

In terms of pure "who is the best basketball player to ever live" it's easily Doncic, though. Doncic is the actual goat.

Most talented? LeBron. At his peak with the Heat, he’s elite at almost anything. Defense, offense, play all positions and IQ. Honestly right now, he even has the entire league on his strings with how he operated off the court. His impact is unmatched.

Most skilled? Probably Steph. This kid is the closest thing to a magician. At his peak, he was hitting almost halfcourt shots casually. We’re robbed with his injuries, his team’s injuries, KD playing with him and him not entering the league sooner.

Just for me.

I still look at Doncic as somewhere in the middle of Joe Johnson and James Harden. He’s good but I respect Curry and Bron way much more when it comes to talent and skills.

[Kobblehead]

Yeah, but I think you've crystalized the apex versions of Steph and LeBron and that's what you're comparing Luka to. Gotta remember that Luka only turned 22 a few months back. He still has 4 more years until he gets to the magical "mid to late 20s" peak range where guys become their optimal selves.

If Luka is THIS at age 19-22, imagine what's he's going to be then.

[zaz102]

Yeah, but I think you've crystalized the apex versions of Steph and LeBron and that's what you're comparing Luka to. Gotta remember that Luka only turned 22 a few months back. He still has 4 more years until he gets to the magical "mid to late 20s" peak range where guys become their optimal selves.

If Luka is THIS at age 19-22, imagine what's he's going to be then.

Yeah, isn't that just imagining then. A better statement would be he could be the most talented player in the NBA. It's difficult to project players' futures.