2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[Thelonewarrior]

Anywho man gsw can rebound. I belive they got 25 offensive and 45 defensive boards.

[MartinToVaught]

It seems as of people have this weird concept of both wanting players to entertain. While simultaneously acting humble. I love the arrogance, disrespect, and general anger that comes into the game.
On the other rhand this is all my personal opinion.

I'm not a huge Curry hater, but he was pretty bad this series and then started strutting around like he had a 2016 LeBron type of series after his teammates saved him. This is the type of stuff his detractors point to when they argue that he's just a frontrunner. There's a time and a place for showboating and this wasn't it, IMO.

[Peregrine01]

I mean he hit some insane shots in the clutch to bury them what was he supposed to do pout?

If he was just decent this series, the Warriors sweep. I don’t think he deserves all that much credit for playing like trash most of the time and getting a few token buckets at the end.

Be honest and tell me you wouldn't be celebrating if you hit those shots. Cmon man

Oops, mistook what you said. I don't mind the celebrating and hotdogging. I also don't think it's worth celebrating the way this series went down even though they won.

[Thelonewarrior]

It seems as of people have this weird concept of both wanting players to entertain. While simultaneously acting humble. I love the arrogance, disrespect, and general anger that comes into the game.
On the other rhand this is all my personal opinion.

I'm not a huge Curry hater, but he was pretty bad this series and then started strutting around like he had a 2016 LeBron type of series after his teammates saved him. This is the type of stuff his detractors point to when they argue that he's just a frontrunner. There's a time and a place for showboating and this wasn't it, IMO.

I'm just curious who decides when you can and cannot showboat. I see it as this curry hit some shots he was happy and celebrated. I would consider the act of advancing to the conference finals is celebration enough. If my team win I win and that's the simple thing and the concept of invidual deficiency causing problems like pouting or being angry doesn't sound like stephen curry.

[jalengreen]

Playoff Draymond looks like a monster in the Warriors on/off numbers since 2015

Regular season
Curry: +16.59 Net (+12.74 Offense, -3.86 Defense)
Dray: +11.01 Net (+5.82 Offense, -5.20 Defense)
Klay: +9.77 Net (+6.82 Offense, -2.95 Defense)

Postseason
Curry: +5.82 Net (+7.19 Offense, +1.36 Defense)
Dray: +14.34 Net (+7.38 Offense, -6.96 Defense)
Klay: -4.57 Net (-1.10 Offense, +3.49 Defense)

Source: www.pbpstats.com

Interesting how bad Klay’s net is in the playoffs. He has a rep for being clutch.

tbf i feel like klay was sometimes tasked with running those trash "klay & friends" lineups where he was the best on the floor

i remember those in 2019 particularly, ill have to double check later

[Outside]

The Grizzlies were the best rebounding team in the league based on rebounds per game, and the Warriors seem vulnerable against anyone because of their lack of bigs, yet the Warriors outrebounded them 70-44 in this game and outrebounded them in every game except game 5. Tremendous team effort on the boards.

The turnovers were horrific. It's the biggest issue for them moving forward from here.

Steph not shooting well is a concern but he still produces despite low efficiency. Averaged 26.0 pts, 4.8 reb, and 5.8 ast per game.

Grizzlies learned a lot in this series. There's a lot to like with them, and this is the kind of experience they need to step forward into elite status. Such a shame Ja got hurt. JJJ has the potential to be a star. It was nice to see Bane play better after a rough start to the series. They are deep and talented.

I was glad to see the players from both teams congratulating each other after the game. A lot of respect for each other. Nice to see after how the series started.

Great series. The Warriors experience carried the day.

[eminence]

To expand a bit on above.

Curry/Dray/KD/Klay (970 minutes): 119.8 off / 107.1 def / +12.7 net

Curry/Dray/KD (159 minutes): 138.5 off / 103.8 def / +34.7 net
Curry/Dray/Klay (1595 minutes): 112.2 off / 105.9 def / +6.3 net
Curry/KD/Klay (92 minutes): 128.9 off / 115.6 def / +13.3 net
Dray/KD/Klay (287 minutes): 112.9 off / 105.3 def / +7.6 net

Curry/Dray (473 minutes): 117.0 off / 102.6 def / +14.4 net
Curry/KD (73 minutes): 119.7 off / 117.8 def / +1.9 net
Curry/Klay (220 minutes): 109.3 off / 112.0 def / -2.7 net
Dray/KD (30 minutes): 96.5 off / 87.9 def / +8.6 net
Dray/Klay (624 minutes): 111.1 off / 102.9 def / +8.2 net
KD/Klay (106 minutes): 110.2 off / 115.6 def / -5.4 net

Curry (184 minutes): 105.4 off / 112.9 def / -7.5 net
Dray (82 minutes): 121.7 off / 89.4 def / +32.3 net
KD (65 minutes): 129.2 off / 107.9 def / +21.3 net
Klay (267 minutes): 102.0 off / 119.4 def / -17.4 net

None (328 minutes): 99.5 off / 101.8 def / -2.3 net

Short version - Dray+Steph or Klay has worked in the playoffs, but the only lineups that really worked without Dray had all of Steph/KD/Klay. Some small sample size theater with the only Dray sample looking like a GOAT tier lineup.

[eminence]

Wasn't in love with Browns shorter rotation. Basically rode the top 6 tonight and had Bjelica and Lee as the token guys. Would've liked to see at least one of Kuminga/JTA get the chance in the OPJ slot.

[itsxtray]

I dislike the notion of someones teammates "saving" them. As much as we don't treat it like it is basketball is still a team sport.

[LukaTheGOAT]

I am personally more disappointed with the Grizzlies allowing Steph to get hot in yet another 4th quarter leading to his happy-go-lucky celebrations, more than I am Steph for being delighted he whipped their butts come crunch time again.

Steph Curry in the 4th quarter of this series averaged:

9.7 pts on 71.9 TS%

[sp6r=underrated]

What is your pick most underdiscussed story these playoffs?

Miami Heat's defensive performance in the last 2 series has been extremely impressive. They killed Atlanta and Philly's offense in two consecutive series by staggering amounts.

[Bergmaniac]

I have no idea how George Hill is getting so many minutes in this series. In 65 total minutes so far he's attempted 5 shots, made only 1 of them and also has only 2 assists. He's giving his team absolutely nothing on offense and isn't even trying to shoot or create good looks for his teammates, just a complete ghost on offense. And on defense he's getting cooked time and time again. Bud doesn't have many options, and Jevon Carter is a pretty limited player, but at least he's giving a much better effort on D and would actually shoot when he is open.

Also, Brook Lopez has been a negative on offense since Timelord got injured, no good matchup for him and he's had a 121.1 defensive rating in these games and in the last two he hasn't given them anything on offense either. The Bucks lack of depth is showing. Grayson has been horrific but they don't have anyone to replace him with Middleton out. The corpse of Hill shouldn't be getting any minutes . It's frankly a miracle the series has been this close since the Bucks are getting almost nothing offensively from Grayson, Hill, Matthews and Brook while Jrue has shot really badly for most of it and taking a million shots. Their TS% for the series is 50.9 which is ghastly. But I wouldn't be surprised if Giannis still drags them to victory somehow with he help of Jrue and Wes's defense and Connaughton's shooting. But they will need someone else to chip in offensively and for Bud to stop playing some lineups which are getting killed defensively, like Hill and Grayson together (128 DRTG for the series).

[falcolombardi]

i dont see celtics shooting like that again but that doesnt mean bucks dont have a ton of thinghs to adjust

non giannis (and my man pat) buck players need to show up offensively

[LukaTheGOAT]

What is your pick most underdiscussed story these playoffs?

Miami Heat's defensive performance in the last 2 series has been extremely impressive. They killed Atlanta and Philly's offense in two consecutive series by staggering amounts.

The fact that the Jimmy/Sixers storyline didn't get more pub until after the Heat won the series, and when Jimmy Butler made the statement about choosing Tobias over him is pretty surprising.

[parsnips33]

What is your pick most underdiscussed story these playoffs?

Miami Heat's defensive performance in the last 2 series has been extremely impressive. They killed Atlanta and Philly's offense in two consecutive series by staggering amounts.

The fact that the Jimmy/Sixers storyline didn't get more pub until after the Heat won the series, and when Jimmy Butler made the statement about choosing Tobias over him is pretty surprising.

I like Boston but I'm hoping Milwaukee pulls it out so we get round 3 of Heat Bucks.

You just know Jimmy is gonna take that matchup personal

[70sFan]

i agree, is hard not to root for the underdog grizzlies, and bucks are just a very likeable small market team

btw what was it you disliked about warriors?

Probably combination of being tired of Warriors winning and my lack of appeal to Steph/Klay style of basketball. I appreciate greatness, they are amazing but that's not the type of basketball I like watching. I am also probably in minority here, but for some unnamed reasons Curry always frustrated me with his on-court behaviour. The last one is completely irrational, so let's not go into that.

I like watching Green playing defense and Wiggins became likeable, but that's not enough for me. Especially with Green antics...

Interesting, I'm not a Warriors fan but to me there's nothing more exciting in all of basketball than Steph or Klay getting hot and rattling off 3 or 4 3's in a row. Also after every big game like that people would always talk about how steph curry is the most exciting player in the league, the warriors local numbers seem to back that up to. Still, i get that it's not your thing. What do you find exciting?

I'm a 70sFan, there was no three point line back then

[70sFan]

Very frustrating night, game 7 in Boston is a nightmare. Maybe they'll do that, but I don't find it likely...

This is the real finals by the way, you lie yourself if you think otherwise.

[Texas Chuck]

This is the real finals by the way, you lie yourself if you think otherwise.

I strongly disagree.

I think its fine if one believes these are the best 2 teams remaining of course, though I think Phoenix and GSW are getting dismissed a tad too quickly in that regard, and possibly Miami too honestly.

But its not the "real" Finals any more than say San Antonio and Dallas in the 06 WCSF. Just the most compelling 2nd round series is all. We dismiss how hard it is to win series when we hand wave away the need to win 50% of the total series to be champion.

[70sFan]

This is the real finals by the way, you lie yourself if you think otherwise.

I strongly disagree.

I think its fine if one believes these are the best 2 teams remaining of course, though I think Phoenix and GSW are getting dismissed a tad too quickly in that regard, and possibly Miami too honestly.

But its not the "real" Finals any more than say San Antonio and Dallas in the 06 WCSF. Just the most compelling 2nd round series is all. We dismiss how hard it is to win series when we hand wave away the need to win 50% of the total series to be champion.

I didn't say that no other team could win the title in that year, but I wouldn't expect a higher level of basketball than that in any remaining series.

2006 WCSF is actually a good comparison and I think these two teams were the best teams throughout the season. Heat were simply horrible matchup for Dallas due to Wade, but it doesn't change my stance here (I have Spurs beating Heat in 2006).

[Texas Chuck]

Yeah my point is different though. I don't have an issue with you thinking the Bucks and Celtics are the best teams, and I cited Dallas and SA precisely because they clearly were the two best teams that year as well--and had one of the greatest series of all-time on top of that.

My issue is winning playoff series is hard. And only winning 2 is a lot easier than winning 4. And I definitely don't think the winner of this series is a favorite against the field even if I would have picked the Bucks to repeat heading into the season and recognize Boston has been the most impressive team in 2022.

Winning is hard.