Around the NBA (Non-Celtics) 2019-2020, Part 3 – "Playoff Version"

[bucknersrevenge]

In a pivotal game Portland gives up 43 1st quarter points. I mean, I get that they lost Ariza but Jesus. Why doesn't Stotts care about defense ever?

He does. Blazers were near the top of defensive efficiency just two years ago even with Dame/CJ. Doesn't have the pieces now. It's Nurkic, maybe Trent, and no one else.

Well they are getting pounded with no vaseline right now. 80 freakin points in a half!!! Where is your pride?!?! Is it time to breakup that backcourt? I mean, they are a sieve on the perimeter.

[John-S]

In a pivotal game Portland gives up 43 1st quarter points. I mean, I get that they lost Ariza but Jesus. Why doesn't Stotts care about defense ever?

He does. Blazers were near the top of defensive efficiency just two years ago even with Dame/CJ. Doesn't have the pieces now. It's Nurkic, maybe Trent, and no one else.

Well they are getting pounded with no vaseline right now. 80 freakin points in a half!!! Where is your pride?!?! Is it time to breakup that backcourt? I mean, they are a sieve on the perimeter.

Remember once upon a time people where thinking Blazers were actually more than that 8th seed that should have been eliminated by the Nets team playing for nothing and saying they can push (or even beat lol) a top seed and I was like not gonna happen?

[John-S]

In a pivotal game Portland gives up 43 1st quarter points. I mean, I get that they lost Ariza but Jesus. Why doesn't Stotts care about defense ever?

He does. Blazers were near the top of defensive efficiency just two years ago even with Dame/CJ. Doesn't have the pieces now. It's Nurkic, maybe Trent, and no one else.

Well they are getting pounded with no vaseline right now. 80 freakin points in a half!!! Where is your pride?!?! Is it time to breakup that backcourt? I mean, they are a sieve on the perimeter.

Beating a dead horse. Those boys could never defend a wet paper bag. Casual fans lack BB IQ. Teams that can defend at a high level are teams that can defy the odds, equalize talent gaps, cope with injuries, hold on when they offense is not going...that is why elite defense and just ok offense can still win championships.

[djFan71]

Who called every series in the ECF being a sweep except the 1/8? Not I.

[grindtime22]

The Blazers have 4 NBA rotation players. That is it. They are fun when Dame is rolling, but only CJ, Dame, Trent, and Nurkic belong in a playoff game. They don't even needs guys that are that great. They just need a couple of guys that can play decent defense and stand in the corner on offense. They don't have anybody. I would take Wannamaker, Ojeleye, Grant Williams, Rob Williams, Kanter, Langford, Javonte Green, and probably even Waters over anybody they have past those 4.

[Parliament10]

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[zoyathedestroya]

Welp. Lakers & Bucks with the reverse sweep.

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[Darthlukey]

Giannis voted DPotY

[Cuban Pete]

Brett Brown fired. Front office needs to be cleaned out too. Maybe the "generational talent" in Ben Simmons won't be afraid to shoot next year.

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If Brown couldn't get him to shoot 3s, no one will. After early playoff exit in 2021, he's next to go. Fultz, Payton, MCW, Lonzo, etc. All PGs who can excel at everything except shooting are or will become journeymen.

[Cuban Pete]

Jamal Murray. 8 assists and 42 points in 41 minutes. What if...

[threrf23]

Jamal Murray put up massive stats for two games straight after Monte Morris was added to the starting lineup. Curious to see if that continues; at Kentucky he was decent at the point, but became much more productive when moved to the 2.

Also, rooting for the Jazz in 7, as I got 9.2-1 odds on that last night.

[bucknersrevenge]

Brett Brown fired. Front office needs to be cleaned out too. Maybe the "generational talent" in Ben Simmons won't be afraid to shoot next year.

Read on Twitter

If Brown couldn't get him to shoot 3s, no one will. After early playoff exit in 2021, he's next to go. Fultz, Payton, MCW, Lonzo, etc. All PGs who can excel at everything except shooting are or will become journeymen.

I disagree with this. Brett Brown was a clown show. Nobody on that team took him seriously. He never held one player accountable for a single thing his entire tenure. I KNOW Brad would hold him accountable and so would his teammates if he was here.

[Cuban Pete]

Luka is really struggling tonight.

[John-S]

If KP is available all series this series would be even more interesting. Can see Mavs even winning it in 6. But KP is not dependable injury wise. Guys that tall and long limbs are just more susceptible to joint injuries. Once you get past 6-11/7 you are getting into point of diminishing returns in a sport like BB unless you got a granite of a body like Giannis.

[John-S]

The phoniness just radiates out of PG first trying to convince people he was “humble” like Kawhi in the summer, not into social media the other day even though he was 1-2-3 cancuning guys on bad teams, now he was apparently in a “dark place” these last 3 games with “ o fans” lol

[John-S]

Was Marcus Morris trying to step on Luca’s ankle on purpose trying to do max damage? I think so. I know this is a grown man’s sport and they are trying to rough up and mess with the 20 year old trying bully and bad mouth him on the court but that crosses the line.

As for Morris, dude is a certified dk. I remember last year him shoving his own teammate Jaylen Brown on the sidelines during a game too

[bucknersrevenge]

Was Marcus Morris trying to step on Luca’s ankle on purpose trying to do max damage? I think so. I know this is a grown man’s sport and they are trying to rough up and mess with the 20 year old trying bully and bad mouth him on the court but that crosses the line.

As for Morris, dude is a certified dk. I remember last year him shoving his own teammate Jaylen Brown on the sidelines during a game too

Oh there's no doubt in my mind he did that on purpose. This is Marcus Morris we're talkin about. I'm not gonna straight out call him "dirty" but if you don't think Marcus Morris doesn't let his emotions get to him and do something stupid I don't know who we're talking about.

[24istheLAW]

I like how everyone is pretending the Sixers ever had a chance re-signing Jimmy Butler.

[bucknersrevenge]

I like how everyone is pretending the Sixers ever had a chance re-signing Jimmy Butler.

Even in that admission, the reason they had no chance to keep him is because Butler could immediately see the lack of commitment and accountability from the entire organization from the top down. He basically says it during Redick's podcast. I'm not sure getting rid of Brown and even replacing him with Ty Lue will be enough to fix the problems in that lockerroom or the mistakes that front office has made.

[zoyathedestroya]

Is Nate McMillan the 4th coach Stevens has beaten in the playoffs that's gotten fired? Kidd, Hoiberg, Brett Brown, McMillan.