Are we at risk of a 3rd straight underwhelming NBA finals?

[hugepatsfan]

I expected Boston to do a much better job but I assumed they'd work the ball inside. Easy work for Tom Thibodeau and the Knicks.

Boston needs to figure out the 5 position this off-sesson and learn to work the ball inside the paint on offense.

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Knicks took away the paint, that's why the Celtics could find so many mediocre 3s.

It appears to me that the Celtics just have medicore talent at the 5.

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Even if that’s true, it’s not like really anyone has a post center anymore. “Taking away the paint” doesn’t really mean stopping the center, it means taking away the drive of perimeter players.

[HMFFL]

Knicks took away the paint, that's why the Celtics could find so many mediocre 3s.

It appears to me that the Celtics just have medicore talent at the 5.

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Even if that’s true, it’s not like really anyone has a post center anymore. “Taking away the paint” doesn’t really mean stopping the center, it means taking away the drive of perimeter players.

The other guy said that.


However, the Celtcs have John Cena as their center, so it's making things easy for the Knicks big men.

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[LethalRangee]

The only frauds left in these playoffs are GSW, the rest will be cinema.

[BigGargamel]

I think the Knicks vs. Timberwolves would be kinda cool. Especially after the KAT trade.

I think it's only underwhelming to the ESPN watch mouth breathers who can't exist without the Lakers, Warriors and Clippers, the old guard. Get with the times and enjoy the new generation of players.

[cgf]

I don’t think the West teams are that much better than NYK and IND is really peaking right now. But then again, I could be doing what people did last year where a lot of people here and in the media tried to convince themsevles Dallas had a real shot vs BOS. In the lead up to that series there was insane denial of how lopsided the matchup was, just ignoring all the on court evidence there was of the teams. With OKC, people might be doing the same thing predicting them to lose.

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

[hugepatsfan]

I don’t think the West teams are that much better than NYK and IND is really peaking right now. But then again, I could be doing what people did last year where a lot of people here and in the media tried to convince themsevles Dallas had a real shot vs BOS. In the lead up to that series there was insane denial of how lopsided the matchup was, just ignoring all the on court evidence there was of the teams. With OKC, people might be doing the same thing predicting them to lose.

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

Eh, I’m thinking more body of work. Like Boston last year everything, about OKC pointed to a historically good team that was going to waltz its way to a title. With Boston last year you can say they were “experienced” but everyone still wrote it off and said “oh they’d choke”. Then they didn’t, like their body of work said they wouldn’t because they were THAT much better than everyone. OKC has a lot of data saying the same this year that we can discount now but then look back like “oh duh” if they win. That’s what happened with Boston last year. Everyone denied it until it happened.

Let’s see what happens the rest of their series. If they end up winning in 6, is it really that big a difference that they got pushed to 6 one time. But yeah, lots to still be played.

[cgf]

I don’t think the West teams are that much better than NYK and IND is really peaking right now. But then again, I could be doing what people did last year where a lot of people here and in the media tried to convince themsevles Dallas had a real shot vs BOS. In the lead up to that series there was insane denial of how lopsided the matchup was, just ignoring all the on court evidence there was of the teams. With OKC, people might be doing the same thing predicting them to lose.

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

Eh, I’m thinking more body of work. Like Boston last year everything, about OKC pointed to a historically good team that was going to waltz its way to a title. With Boston last year you can say they were “experienced” but everyone still wrote it off and said “oh they’d choke”. Then they didn’t, like their body of work said they wouldn’t because they were THAT much better than everyone. OKC has a lot of data saying the same this year that we can discount now but then look back like “oh duh” if they win. That’s what happened with Boston last year. Everyone denied it until it happened.

Let’s see what happens the rest of their series. If they end up winning in 6, is it really that big a difference that they got pushed to 6 one time. But yeah, lots to still be played.

I guess we'll see. But I think you proved it in the playoffs last year in a way that they just aren't. I won't be the least bit surprised if they lose to Minnesota even if they finish off the Nuggets in 6.

[karmew32]

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

Eh, I’m thinking more body of work. Like Boston last year everything, about OKC pointed to a historically good team that was going to waltz its way to a title. With Boston last year you can say they were “experienced” but everyone still wrote it off and said “oh they’d choke”. Then they didn’t, like their body of work said they wouldn’t because they were THAT much better than everyone. OKC has a lot of data saying the same this year that we can discount now but then look back like “oh duh” if they win. That’s what happened with Boston last year. Everyone denied it until it happened.

Let’s see what happens the rest of their series. If they end up winning in 6, is it really that big a difference that they got pushed to 6 one time. But yeah, lots to still be played.

I guess we'll see. But I think you proved it in the playoffs last year in a way that they just aren't. I won't be the least bit surprised if they lose to Minnesota even if they finish off the Nuggets in 6.

The Wolves have the same problems in the clutch that the Thunder do, arguably worse. SGA isn't the best closer, but I'd take him over Ant when the chips are down.

[TheAlchemist]

Pacers prolly coming out east. OKC or Denver coming out west.

[jkvonny]

I think any of the combinations is great!
3 small market teams left to win it all besides the Nuggets (well OKC won as the SuperSonics back in 1979 and Pacers won ABA titles back in the 1970s).
Minnesota has yet to win 1.
NY Knicks the lone big market left hasn't won one since the mid 1970s.

Nugs can win another one under Jokic/Murray/Gordon/Porter.

Pacers/Knicks ECFs is the '90s, early '00s all overs again.

Seems exciting to me!

[iggymcfrack]

It does kinda feel like the Thunder are set to steamroll everyone if they get past Denver, but they haven't won that series yet. I'm sure Joker still has at least one huge game in him and Denver only needs to win 2 out of 3. I'm just excited to see the Pacers possibly make the Finals for now to cash my 22:1 futures bet from before the season.

[DonaldSanders]

I would be excited to watch a series with literally any of the remaining teams. People are just used to big teams that win multiple championships, and lately we're seeing parity.

These playoffs have been awesome!

[iggymcfrack]

I don’t think the West teams are that much better than NYK and IND is really peaking right now. But then again, I could be doing what people did last year where a lot of people here and in the media tried to convince themsevles Dallas had a real shot vs BOS. In the lead up to that series there was insane denial of how lopsided the matchup was, just ignoring all the on court evidence there was of the teams. With OKC, people might be doing the same thing predicting them to lose.

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

That's not true. Celtics dropped a game to Miami and a game to Cleveland to finish 16-2. Thunder are 6-2 so far with 2 losses to Denver.

[Klomp]

In the West, you have the two MVP favorites and a guy people are talking about as "the next one."
You have the Knicks.
You have a potential Knicks/Wolves storyline.
You have probably the two best passers in the league.
You have elite offenses.
You have elite defenses.
If any of that is underwhelming, I think you need to watch more.

[Edrees]

Yes. OKC is about to cake-walk their way to a Championship. Neither the Knicks or Pacers stand a chance. So lame.

Watch the NBA rig the series for the Nuggets so the betts can flow. lol I dont know if im jokicing anymore.

fixed for you

I think the finals will be exciting unless it's OKC vs Pacers. Any other and I think a good matchup.

[knicksfan974]

New York Knicks in Finals would be underwhelming? The underdog team that never quits, plays hard and has a likable undersized star in Brunson?

[cgf]

I don’t think the West teams are that much better than NYK and IND is really peaking right now. But then again, I could be doing what people did last year where a lot of people here and in the media tried to convince themsevles Dallas had a real shot vs BOS. In the lead up to that series there was insane denial of how lopsided the matchup was, just ignoring all the on court evidence there was of the teams. With OKC, people might be doing the same thing predicting them to lose.

OKC has already lost more games in one series than you did in your entire run. They are way more inexperienced and vulnerable to teams with size.

That's not true. Celtics dropped a game to Miami and a game to Cleveland to finish 16-2. Thunder are 6-2 so far with 2 losses to Denver.

I phrased that poorly. Was trying to get at the fact that Boston didn’t lose two games in a series at any point, but this also reinforces my point.

[kwajo]

I agree with the others in the thread who have said that pretty much any combination of the remaining teams would be a fun Finals. Seeing New York in the Finals would be entertaining for the spectacle of MSG alone, but the Pacers play a very entertaining brand of basketball with a lot of big personalities, the Wolves have the same in Ant plus the potential drama post-trade if they faced NY, the Thunder are young and exciting with the potential MVP on their roster, and the Nuggets have Jokic looking to add to his legacy and Westbrook who is always entertaining no matter what.

[Ray Donovan]

OKC will have to win it to make me a believer but Looks Like if they get by Denver they avoid Curry & Tatum, smh

[cgf]

Eh, I’m thinking more body of work. Like Boston last year everything, about OKC pointed to a historically good team that was going to waltz its way to a title. With Boston last year you can say they were “experienced” but everyone still wrote it off and said “oh they’d choke”. Then they didn’t, like their body of work said they wouldn’t because they were THAT much better than everyone. OKC has a lot of data saying the same this year that we can discount now but then look back like “oh duh” if they win. That’s what happened with Boston last year. Everyone denied it until it happened.

Let’s see what happens the rest of their series. If they end up winning in 6, is it really that big a difference that they got pushed to 6 one time. But yeah, lots to still be played.

I guess we'll see. But I think you proved it in the playoffs last year in a way that they just aren't. I won't be the least bit surprised if they lose to Minnesota even if they finish off the Nuggets in 6.

The Wolves have the same problems in the clutch that the Thunder do, arguably worse. SGA isn't the best closer, but I'd take him over Ant when the chips are down.

That’s fair, I disagree about ant v Shai, but that’s not the reason I think Minny has a good chance against OKC, it’s that they have a similar size advantage to Denver, only with a better team around their star, with the athleticism & depth to handle OKC.