NBA Playoffs Thread

[Jailblazers7]

I don’t think Boston will have a good answer for these Mavs PnRs either.

[Jailblazers7]

The Mavs had Gafford and Lively combine for 30 points on 14 of 16 shooting. This highlights why i want us to have a lob threat or at least a finisher around the paint at the PF position. This type of pressure release valve scoring is very consistent and has little subject to variance.

Would you rather have two lob threats playing 20+ mpg at C or Joel Embiid?

Do I also get Luka Doncic next to Maxey in the lob threat scenario?

[youngcrev]

The Mavs had Gafford and Lively combine for 30 points on 14 of 16 shooting. This highlights why i want us to have a lob threat or at least a finisher around the paint at the PF position. This type of pressure release valve scoring is very consistent and has little subject to variance.

There's give and take there. Sure, when you look at the stat sheet lob threats are always going to be hyper efficient... because they're only taking hyper efficient shots that have been created for them. But that also tends to mean you've got the opposing team's beat rim protector sitting there.

Those guys impact the game on the other end of the floor and get by offensively because they've got elite shot creators that create advantages for them.

Life tends to be easier offensively with the paint cleared out and driving lanes open.

[mjkvol]

The Mavs had Gafford and Lively combine for 30 points on 14 of 16 shooting. This highlights why i want us to have a lob threat or at least a finisher around the paint at the PF position. This type of pressure release valve scoring is very consistent and has little subject to variance.

Would you rather have two lob threats playing 20+ mpg at C or Joel Embiid?

Bad comparison for the simple reason that the Mavs are built around two scoring guards and the supporting cast was put together to compliment Luka and Kyrie. They don't need more from their centers than defense, rebounding, and being lob threats.

As Jailblazers said - different story if we had Luka and Maxey.

[FireMorey]

These playoffs should make Sixers fans optimistic… with an asterisk.

There are no great teams in the NBA. Zero. The Mavs really aren’t ****. I honestly think this year’s Sixers fully healthy vs the Mavs and the Sixers are a better team. Certainly would have won more games in the regular season. If Morey can not totally crap all over himself this summer, and Embiid can not even stay 100% healthy, but just stay healthy enough to where he can move a shoot…. The Sixers should waltz to the conference finals next year. Just absolutely coast to it.

[Tony Franciosa]

Luka's passing is otherworldly. I wish Embiid had half his vision.

[Zumramania]

Unfortunately I think Doncic and Kyrie are better than Embiid and Maxey. Both of them can create, score, do whatever you want offensively. Embiid is a much better defender though. Doncic is so good in the playoffs, he is currently playing like he is the best player in the NBA. But we can get a better supporting cast than the Mavs.

[Arsenal]

These playoffs should make Sixers fans optimistic… with an asterisk.

There are no great teams in the NBA. Zero. The Mavs really aren’t ****. I honestly think this year’s Sixers fully healthy vs the Mavs and the Sixers are a better team. Certainly would have won more games in the regular season. If Morey can not totally crap all over himself this summer, and Embiid can not even stay 100% healthy, but just stay healthy enough to where he can move a shoot…. The Sixers should waltz to the conference finals next year. Just absolutely coast to it.

Correct. This Mavs team is very good but nothing special in the history of contenders. If we nail a great offseason then a couple more key in-season trades we can be right where they are next year.

[mjkvol]

Unfortunately I think Doncic and Kyrie are better than Embiid and Maxey. Both of them can create, score, do whatever you want offensively. Embiid is a much better defender though. Doncic is so good in the playoffs, he is currently playing like he is the best player in the NBA. But we can get a better supporting cast than the Mavs.

I think Luka and Kyrie are better for the simple reason that they are guards. I would take any 'top two' combination of guards and wings in today's NBA in a heartbeat over one that includes and relies heavily on a center.

[76ciology]

Pacers vs Celtics brought to you by Fan Duel

[76ciology]

The Mavs had Gafford and Lively combine for 30 points on 14 of 16 shooting. This highlights why i want us to have a lob threat or at least a finisher around the paint at the PF position. This type of pressure release valve scoring is very consistent and has little subject to variance.

Would you rather have two lob threats playing 20+ mpg at C or Joel Embiid?

I could also mean having Embiid play with a lob threat, similar to how Jokic plays with Gordon.

Relying too much on three-point shooting as a pressure release valve, like the Celtics do, introduces too much variance. If you have a lob threat, you eliminate one pressure release valve or kick-out option that's subject to this variance. Even MPJ, Murray and KCP can fail Jokic with their shooting variance.

[76ciology]

I don’t think Boston will have a good answer for these Mavs PnRs either.

Alternative is to play defense like how we did with Knicks and how OKC did which is to trap the ball handler and rotate to the shooters.

Nurse would have done that and let PJ Washington and DJJ beat us instead.

[Mik317]

a lot of our issues would be solved by our best shot creator not being our 7'2 center who also has to anchor our defense. Its cool that Biid CAN go Kobe mode. Its cool that he has become a better passer and can be a hub. His body doesn't allow for that to be the bread and butter...I have always felt like it was best as a break glass in case of emergency type strat...as is teams either blitz him to death and dare our shooters to beat us or rely on his sloppy passes or wait for him to tire out and begin to settle for jumpers that over the course of a series one can begin to time better especially as his legs go. When the Knicks began to blitz Maxey, Biid often was in single coverage and he ate...now of course no one else made shots lol but that showed me A WAY to improve on./

Basketball is all about getting into positive situations and forcing the other into negative ones. I have felt for years we have always played the take what the defense gives you game too often instead of making the defense have to guess right. Last year we had the Harden Biid PNR, which seemed unstoppable until teams realized they could just cheat off of PJ and Tobias and still be able to recover because Harden couldn't always finish at the rim or didn't want to take the middy. We have been far too predictable and often one dimensional. Going to force the ball to Biid no matter what...so teams sell out to prevent the catch or force the catch out too far (this is on Biid) so we either have to pivot (and we won't as we'd often keep trying to find the pass) or he gets the ball in a worse spot with like 7 secs on the clock.

Now part of this is roster construction but I think Biid himself needs to realize that the Biid does everything system does not work..he can still get his but loosening some of the usage will help a lot.

[Kobblehead]

I can't believe Haliburton sat out a playoff game for hamstring soreness.

Game 3 was, for all intents or purposes, a must-win and he wouldn't even give it a go.

[FireMorey]

The Celtics stink, have been unimpressed with them all year.

[mjkvol]

The Celtics stink, have been unimpressed with them all year.

When they are no longer able to afford difference making role players like White, Holiday, and Pritchard and are completely relying on the J's, they will implode quickly after a couple of early playoff exits.

[phillynative]

The Mavs had Gafford and Lively combine for 30 points on 14 of 16 shooting. This highlights why i want us to have a lob threat or at least a finisher around the paint at the PF position. This type of pressure release valve scoring is very consistent and has little subject to variance.

Especially with Maxey ready to take the next step as 1B. Every little guard can use a lob threat.

[phillynative]

The Celtics stink, have been unimpressed with them all year.

When they are no longer able to afford difference making role players like White, Holiday, and Pritchard and are completely relying on the J's, they will implode quickly after a couple of early playoff exits.

I can't wait than the Celtics fans will see what we have had to deal with during the Tobi era and trying to build around Embiid with his contract in the way.I have a feeling the Celtics will still be able to effectively build around the Jay's just because they simply outclass our Org.


I really cant stand Al Horford. Him randomly hitting 7 threes was a difference maker in that game 3 win.

[mjkvol]

I really cant stand Al Horford. Him randomly hitting 7 threes was a difference maker in that game 3 win.

That, and they still needed Holiday to come up with a huge play in the end.

[Stanford]

the Celtics will still be able to effectively build around the Jay's just because they simply outclass our Org.

Was just about to post this.

I love you guys being optimistic (pessimistic) about the Celtics, but you're projecting a Sixers level competence on a much more competent organization.