2024 NBA Playoffs: Western Conference Finals: #3 Minnesota Timberwolves vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL leads 3-0)

[blueberrysticky]

If mavs win then we can all say “see I told you look Luka and Porzingis can make the finals together”

[CIN-C-STAR]

I mean honestly the sad part is seeing scrubs like Josh Hardy and Dwight Powell being rewarded with playoff FTs for blatantly flopping.
At this point I could get FTs if Gobert was guarding me
This is supposed to be playoff basketball.

Name is Jaden Hardy.

There was one in what I think was the first quarter - Hardy passed it Luka and Luka fired it right back at him with a "WTF" expression.

I mean, when all you have to do is lean forward and jump into the defender and throw up a fake shot to get FTs, yeah that's the best offense possible and you should do it every time.
Any decent hooper could do that. It requires minimal skill and zero team effort, allowing everyone else to save themselves for defense.
That kind of foul hunting is never rewarded in the vast majority of leagues or in competitive pickup though. It's not real basketball tbh.
Disappointing to see the refs fall for it, especially in the playoffs.

[dygaction]

Of course you do. You and other Mavs fans are the only ones being so defensive about this. It's like you're trying to convince yourself "yes team docs have signed off playing a guy we need for the playoffs" . I'm calling out the obvious. Sure "neck strain". Oh I got a bridge to sell you too.

You're embarrassing yourself.

I stand by every single word I said. The mental gymnastics many Mavs fans on this board are going through to justify this BS is astounding to watch and read. Mavs are calling it "neck strain" instead of "concussion" because they want to reserve the right to put him out there in case somehow Wolves win the next game or 2. If it was called "concussion" now they gotta follow some protocols and have him held out a certain amount of time. Now the doctors are employed by the "team". Their boss is the team, and interests are aligned with the team. Remember what the doctors told IT? Yeah.

Save your conspiracy theory and stop pretending to be a smartazz electronic doctor. Giannis if according to so many self-claimed asserpert after spraining his knee, should not play the finals to win his ring.

[mastermixer]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

[Rogerson]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Long story short - no. This would be the first time.

[Mr B]

Of course you do. You and other Mavs fans are the only ones being so defensive about this. It's like you're trying to convince yourself "yes team docs have signed off playing a guy we need for the playoffs" . I'm calling out the obvious. Sure "neck strain". Oh I got a bridge to sell you too.

You're embarrassing yourself.

I stand by every single word I said. The mental gymnastics many Mavs fans on this board are going through to justify this BS is astounding to watch and read. Mavs are calling it "neck strain" instead of "concussion" because they want to reserve the right to put him out there in case somehow Wolves win the next game or 2. If it was called "concussion" now they gotta follow some protocols and have him held out a certain amount of time. Now the doctors are employed by the "team". Their boss is the team, and interests are aligned with the team. Remember what the doctors told IT? Yeah.

That’s a hell of a conspiracy theory. Did you come up with that all by yourself of did the Anunnaki tell you that?

[dirkules_41]

What I find weird is they said NOTHING about his concussion. He clearly was concussed.

I'm glad teledoctor Rand has outdiagnosed medical professionals with CT scans and decades of experience based on 4s of Lively walking off the court on TNT. Impressive.

As a Mavs fan this sounds like you're more concerned with what's best for your team's performance and not your player's long term welfare. That's a shame. It's well known in sports that teams routinely send players out there despite having medical concerns. The hit was clearly on his head, not the neck.

As a Mavs fan this sounds like I have more faith in some of the best medical staff in the world using cutting edge diagnostics than a random guy on the internet chatting absolute horse **** based off a 4 second clip of a player walking off the floor with Markieff Morris as a crutch.
But I'm glad we have miracle doctors like you out there that are sharing their decades worth of revolutionary medical research with the world.

I suggest you either focus on maple related things, teams that suck or try to get your own TV show to rival Dr Oz or maybe you can cure the disadvantaged in the world with your gift.

[mastermixer]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

[CS707]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

1002 times to be exact.

[mastermixer]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

1002 times to be exact.

Lol I think that one was on RealGM servers not me. The screen just turned all white after I clicked submit and that was that.

[durden_tyler]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Had to look it up manually (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_conference_finals) because i think i had the same question here or elsewhere too;

*Since 1971

Only 6 sweeps in the East Finals;

2024 - Celtics def. Paers
2015 - Cavs def. Hawks
2003 - Nets def. Pistons
1996 - Bulls def. Magic
1991 - Bulls def. Pistons
1986 - Celtics def. Bucks

Only 12 sweeps in the West Finals;

2024 - Mavs def. Wolves (pending, maybe)
2023 - Nuggets def. Lakers
2019 - Warriors def. Blazers
2017 - Warriors def. Spurs
2013 - Spurs def. Grizz
2001 - Lakers def. Spurs
1999 - Spurs def. Blazers
1998 - Jazz def. Lakers
1989 - Lakers def. Suns
1987 - Lakers def. Sonics
1982 - Lakers def. Spurs
1977 - Blazers def. Lakers
1974 - Bucks def. Bulls

So never in the same year! (Let's go Mavs! LOL)

Curiously, the most recent incidence where this could have happened (not sure if any the series talked about went 3-0 before closing 4-1)

2017 - Warriors swept Rockets but Cavs beat Celtics, 4-1
2015 - Cavs swept Hawks but Warriors beat Rockets, 4-1

[mastermixer]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Had to look it up manually (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_conference_finals) because i think i had the same question here or elsewhere too;

*Since 1971

Only 6 sweeps in the East Finals;

2024 - Celtics def. Paers
2015 - Cavs def. Hawks
2003 - Nets def. Pistons
1996 - Bulls def. Magic
1991 - Bulls def. Pistons
1986 - Celtics def. Bucks

Only 12 sweeps in the West Finals;

2024 - Mavs def. Wolves (pending, maybe)
2023 - Nuggets def. Lakers
2019 - Warriors def. Blazers
2017 - Warriors def. Spurs
2013 - Spurs def. Grizz
2001 - Lakers def. Spurs
1999 - Spurs def. Blazers
1998 - Jazz def. Lakers
1989 - Lakers def. Suns
1987 - Lakers def. Sonics
1982 - Lakers def. Spurs
1977 - Blazers def. Lakers
1974 - Bucks def. Bulls

So never in the same year! (Let's go Mavs! LOL)

Curiously, the most recent incidence where this could have happened (not sure if any the series talked about went 3-0 before closing 4-1)

2017 - Warriors swept Rockets but Cavs beat Celtics, 4-1
2015 - Cavs swept Hawks but Warriors beat Rockets, 4-1

I hate to correct you because you were originally answering my question lol

But last year that nuggets swept (my) lakers in the west while Miami went up 3-0 against Boston, which eventually went to game 7 where Miami won.

So it came close to happening last year

[durden_tyler]

Probably Been asked a 1000 times but has there ever been a sweep in both the eastern and western conference in the same year before? I don’t think it’s ever happened in my life time

Had to look it up manually (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NBA_conference_finals) because i think i had the same question here or elsewhere too;

*Since 1971

Only 6 sweeps in the East Finals;

2024 - Celtics def. Paers
2015 - Cavs def. Hawks
2003 - Nets def. Pistons
1996 - Bulls def. Magic
1991 - Bulls def. Pistons
1986 - Celtics def. Bucks

Only 12 sweeps in the West Finals;

2024 - Mavs def. Wolves (pending, maybe)
2023 - Nuggets def. Lakers
2019 - Warriors def. Blazers
2017 - Warriors def. Spurs
2013 - Spurs def. Grizz
2001 - Lakers def. Spurs
1999 - Spurs def. Blazers
1998 - Jazz def. Lakers
1989 - Lakers def. Suns
1987 - Lakers def. Sonics
1982 - Lakers def. Spurs
1977 - Blazers def. Lakers
1974 - Bucks def. Bulls

So never in the same year! (Let's go Mavs! LOL)

Curiously, the most recent incidence where this could have happened (not sure if any the series talked about went 3-0 before closing 4-1)

2017 - Warriors swept Rockets but Cavs beat Celtics, 4-1
2015 - Cavs swept Hawks but Warriors beat Rockets, 4-1

I hate to correct you because you were originally answering my question lol

But last year that nuggets swept (my) lakers in the west while Miami went up 3-0 against Boston, which eventually went to game 7 where Miami won.

So it came close to happening last year

Sure. 4-3 is not very close though but yes, if it's a 3-0 lead, we have to check all those series which ones got that deep before falling later. LOL.

[SweaterBae]

Of course you do. You and other Mavs fans are the only ones being so defensive about this. It's like you're trying to convince yourself "yes team docs have signed off playing a guy we need for the playoffs" . I'm calling out the obvious. Sure "neck strain". Oh I got a bridge to sell you too.

You're embarrassing yourself.

I stand by every single word I said. The mental gymnastics many Mavs fans on this board are going through to justify this BS is astounding to watch and read. Mavs are calling it "neck strain" instead of "concussion" because they want to reserve the right to put him out there in case somehow Wolves win the next game or 2. If it was called "concussion" now they gotta follow some protocols and have him held out a certain amount of time. Now the doctors are employed by the "team". Their boss is the team, and interests are aligned with the team. Remember what the doctors told IT? Yeah.

The irony here is just disgusting. Mental gymnastics? You think a team of medical professionals who swore an oath are going to create a conspiracy to allow?/force? a player to play by deceiving the NBA and everyone else at the same time? Seriously?

[Baz]

The only way a team can overcome a 0-3 deficit is with the help of injuries. I think Minnesota have a great chance to take back a win and extend the series with Powell taking heavy minutes over D-Lively.

[DusterBuster]

The conference finals have been total ass

[Bolivar]

The conference finals have been total ass

I've sort of enjoyed them (this series in particular) but it's getting old and annoying when the game is tied at early minutes of Q4 and you already know who's going to win.

[Johnny Firpo]

I'm a little bit of a negative person to begin with, but I'm VERY worried about this series, still. Imo, we almost have to close it out today, because if we don't, this will almost automatically go to a game 6 of total dreadedness, if that's a word. Then if you lose that, you are the first team to ever do it, and it's a huge stain until at least you win one, or possibly even after. Gafford has to stay out of foul trouble. I just can't emphasize enough how important Lively has been for this team during this run, and especially in this series. He was EASILY our 3rd best/most impactful player.

[Bob8]

I'm a little bit of a negative person to begin with, but I'm VERY worried about this series, still. Imo, we almost have to close it out today, because if we don't, this will almost automatically go to a game 6 of total dreadedness, if that's a word. Then if you lose that, you are the first team to ever do it, and it's a huge stain until at least you win one, or possibly even after. Gafford has to stay out of foul trouble. I just can't emphasize enough how important Lively has been for this team during this run, and especially in this series. He was EASILY our 3rd best/most impactful player.

Look, if Mavs can't win 1/4 they don't deserve to be in the final. Secondly, last year Boston came back from 0:3 to 3:3 and finally lost series, so losing 3 in a row is not some uncharted territory. Saying that, Mavs for sure don't want to play game 7. It would be great, if they win tonight, but it won't be end of the world, if they don't. They will probably have Lively and Kleber in games 5 and 6. I would be really afraid for the Mavs only if Luka was injured.

Mavs have won RS game against Minnesota without Lively and Gafford, Powell playing 28 minutes. It's great to have Lively+Gafford but don't forget that Mavs were in WCF in 2022 with Powell as starting C.

[Mavrelous]

I'm a little bit of a negative person to begin with, but I'm VERY worried about this series, still. Imo, we almost have to close it out today, because if we don't, this will almost automatically go to a game 6 of total dreadedness, if that's a word. Then if you lose that, you are the first team to ever do it, and it's a huge stain until at least you win one, or possibly even after. Gafford has to stay out of foul trouble. I just can't emphasize enough how important Lively has been for this team during this run, and especially in this series. He was EASILY our 3rd best/most impactful player.

Look, if Mavs can't win 1/4 they don't deserve to be in a final. Secondly, last year Boston came back from 0:3 to 3:3 and finally lost series, si losing 3 in a row is not some uncharted territory. Saying that, Mavs for sure don't want to play game 7. It would be great, if they win tonight, but it won't be end of the world, if they don't. They will probably have Lively and Kleber in games 5 and 6.

Mavs have won RS game against Minnesota without Lively and Gafford, Powell playing 28 minutes. It's great to have Lively+Gafford but don't forget that Mavs were in WCF in 2022 with Powell as starting C.

Mavs also led 3-0 on the Blazers in early 2000s and it went to game 7...
If Kleber is healthy enough for 15 minutes, he can cover for Lively, in different way, but he'll cover for him.