24-25 Playoff News

[Cubboo]

Just put this on here in case anyone wanted to discuss other teams or state of play during the playoffs.
Like this tidbit:
Quite the squabble between the Nuggets and Clippers.
Appears James Harden got into an altercation with a Nuggets player.
He throws a punch (doesn't connect) and Michael Porter Jr leaves the bench to go at him.
MPJ also appears to throw a punch which slightly connected with Spencer Jones.
No Ejections.
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Makes think back to the Steve-O and ZBO altercation.
Didn't Zbo get tossed and suspended for the next playoff game?

[Cubboo]

In other news, the game of the night was Rockets/Warriors.
Tempers flare and quite the kerfuffle broke out:
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Ultimately, GSW emerges late for the win

[Cubboo]

05/01/25
LA Lakers ousted from playoffs by the Minnesota Timberwolves.

HOU and GSW get chippy. Series heads back to GSW after a home Rockets win.
The new whine out of GSW is that the Rockets are targeting of Steph Curry's thumb.
Expect a Houston "Broke the code" chorus any time now.
To be honest, I have enjoyed this series of games more than the rest.
I love the physicality and the feeling that these 2 teams honestly don't like each other.

[Cubboo]

I won't say I told you so, but.......
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/stephen-a-smith-slams-goody-two-shoes-steve-kerr-as-rockets-target-stephen-curry-injury/ar-AA1E1GHE?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=37b44f43d10646aba23ab4c8929f813b&ei=15

Looks like Kerr has issues with NBA rules now.
Doesn't like the rule that high hand contact on a jump shot is legal.
He believes that players are using the loophole to intentionally stress Curry's shooting hand.
So now we need a new code.
Does he know that Draymond Green is on his team?

[Cubboo]

Anyhow, So far the
Cavs, Knicks, Pacers and Celtics advance in the East.
OKC, Minnesota advance in the West.
Nuggets/Clippers, GSW and HOU still battling in the west.

Game of the week has to be HOU vs GSW.
It's chippy,
the teams don't like each other,
Curry's hand hurts,
Kerr is butt hurt,
Jimmy Butler has a hurt butt,
Draymond is a snitch,

HOU
Has the raw edge to chew through iron if necessary.
They would slap their mothers if the coach said to do it (Sorry, too close to Mother's Day)

Quite honestly if you never saw a game in the 80's, this is what they were all like.
Nobody liked anybody else and it showed.

[Cubboo]

Friday night recap:
HOU upends GSW 115-107
Series tied 3-3 and headed back to Houston.
As predicted, Dillon Brooks was saddled with early foul trouble after the Steve Kerr and Curry complaints.
But it didn't matter in the end.

Game 7 is anybody's game.
HOU has an advantage at home.
If HOU attacks like they have the last few games and jumps out to an early lead, they could send GSW home for the summer.
GSW has to solve the puzzle known as the HOU Rockets.
So far they haven't been able to shutdown Sengun or Van Vleet.
They have resorted to "Hack a Shaq" against Steven Adams to get him off the floor.
Ime Udoka pulled him during that process in a loss, but left him out there in a win.
I think Udoka has figured out that you don't need to counter program against the GSW, keep doing what makes you successful.

[Cubboo]

So much has happened and I am woefully behind.
Minnesota leads The Warriors 3-1 in the series.
Anthony Edwards appears to be taking the next leap and pushing his team through the playoffs.
NYK leads the Celtics 3-1 in the series.
As I watch, Boston is winning game 5 at the moment.
The biggest surprise? Luke Kornet is blocking more balls than my ex-wife.
OKC leads the Nuggets 3-2 in the series.
Jokic is Batman to Aaron Gordon's Robin and Jamal Murray's Alfred.
Indiana has already sent the Cavs to an early unexpected vacation.
Surprising because Clevelanda had been so dominant during the season.

But the real news:
Jayson Tatum out with an Achilles tear and will likely be out of action until the 2026-2027 year.
Wardell Curry has been out with a soft tissue injury (and his thumb)
Major stars, major injuries.

The Mavs win the lottery of lotteries with a miniscule chance and shock the world and belief.
Could it be rigged?
Some say "yes", some say "No".
The fact that so many teams with small chances have been able to get the #1 pick, should say something about how they conduct this thing.
Seems like changes are needed.
Nico is like the stupid son-in-law who has something great happen and you say to yourself "Self, he's gonna find a way to screw this up".