NBA Games Discussion Thread - Part 3

[nuposse04]

I liked Lowry in the regular season... he had a built in excuse last season for his performance in the playoffs... he cannot be this sort of mental midget in the playoffs this year.

The guy played with an injury. It's not an excuse; it's a reason. He didn't need an excuse.

To what degree though? Was it as debilitating as we thought or is he really mentally suspect when the stakes are high? And I WANT him and the raptors to win the east. Not like I hate him as a player.

Also, Beasly vs. D. Green is a hilarious matchup to me ...

[nuposse04]

Harden's lack of defensive awareness plus lack of bobblehead fouls in the playoffs is comical to watch.

[nuposse04]

And that is why I take Wall and Beal over Lowry and Derozan any day of the week. They take their games to the next level come playoff time while Lowry and Derozan turn into mental midgets

This is true on so many levels. You pay Brad Beal the max because you KNOW he will elevate his game.

Wall and Beal aren't consistent enough to get into the playoffs. They may have a higher ceiling but their floors are pretty mediocre. This season showed that much.

I've never liked DeMar's game though. He's another guy who needs foul calls in order to effective to me, and I'd guess playoff basketball will make those calls more difficult to accrue unless you really attack well .

[Kanyewest]

Wall didn't take his game to a different level against the Pacers though.

[thricethefun]

Wall didn't take his game to a different level against the Pacers though.

He was 23 facing a top 3 defense at the time. Ill give him a pass

[Tricky_Kid]

Just came back to home and... Raps lost again?!? LOL I read they are ready for ECF

Wysłane z mojego LG-P880 przy użyciu Tapatalka

[TheSecretWeapon]

Beal did "step up" in the playoffs. He went from average to a bit better than average, however. He had terrific games in the playoffs...and terrible ones too. His ability to step up in the postseason is of limited utility to a team that misses the playoffs, of course.

[Kanyewest]

I wonder how much Beal's (and even Wall's) lack of statistical improvement is due to the fact that the Wizards are worse off from a talent standpoint than 2 season's ago and even last year. Porter did make huge strides but he still isn't as good as 2013-14 Ariza. Nene has gotten worse with age. Even a disappointing 2013-14 Webster is significantly better than Garrett Temple. Although Beal did have to play with Eric Maynor for a while.

[stevemcqueen1]

Celtics and Raptors are regular season overachievers that don't have the horses to score against playoff defense. Unless you're Detroit and it's 2004 and it's the one time the formula has ever worked in NBA history, a group entirely composed of plucky, well coached role players will only carry you so far.

[CobraCommander]

I liked Lowry in the regular season... he had a built in excuse last season for his performance in the playoffs... he cannot be this sort of mental midget in the playoffs this year.

The guy played with an injury. It's not an excuse; it's a reason. He didn't need an excuse.

To what degree though? Was it as debilitating as we thought or is he really mentally suspect when the stakes are high? And I WANT him and the raptors to win the east. Not like I hate him as a player.

Also, Beasly vs. D. Green is a hilarious matchup to me ...

Ok Ok OK....so I know everyone loves Lowry (especially more than a certain 3 time all star point guard that wears #2) but last years playoff excuse/"reason to suck" was he was hurt...and now people are rolling out all type of other reasons/justifications for why he just came out and missed his first 2 free throws and then deliveryed a 3-13, 11 point, 7 assist, 6 turn over, 5 personal fouls, 1-7 from 3, 4 for 9 from the line, 2 rebound game in 41 minutes while taking a 10 point L at home! Everyone defending Lowry when his team lost by 10 at home (ironically he was a +/- ...-10) for his at least 6th straight play off L.

I know all of you guys would take anyone over our guys at every position but wow this IS Lowry. Lowry isn't elite - Lowry is good but until he does it in the playoffs...he is just another ok point guard...but not someone that's going to change the fortune of the raptors or deliver a championship.

[CobraCommander]

Beal did "step up" in the playoffs. He went from average to a bit better than average, however. He had terrific games in the playoffs...and terrible ones too. His ability to step up in the postseason is of limited utility to a team that misses the playoffs, of course.

Completely agree. Beal stepped up big time in the playoffs. Wall and Beal played best when the lights were brightest but this year Wittman didn't drive them night in and night out to win AND the players were not driven/or talented enough to win about 50 games.

[CobraCommander]

Celtics and Raptors are regular season overachievers that don't have the horses to score against playoff defense. Unless you're Detroit and it's 2004 and it's the one time the formula has ever worked in NBA history, a group entirely composed of plucky, well coached role players will only carry you so far.

Agree on the raptors but the Celtics seem to have a system that works. I think the Celtics are going to get better year over year as they improve in talent at key positions. I don't see the Raptors in that light. Lowery is in his 30s and JUST NOW taking his fitness seriously. I think this is their window with Lowery and Derozen. The Celtics are well coached and could get significantly over the next few years.

[TheSecretWeapon]

Beal did "step up" in the playoffs. He went from average to a bit better than average, however. He had terrific games in the playoffs...and terrible ones too. His ability to step up in the postseason is of limited utility to a team that misses the playoffs, of course.

Completely agree. Beal stepped up big time in the playoffs. Wall and Beal played best when the lights were brightest but this year Wittman didn't drive them night in and night out to win AND the players were not driven/or talented enough to win about 50 games.

I may not have been clear. What I was trying to say was that while Beal's performance did improve in the playoffs, the extent of that "step up" has been inflated. He went from about average during the regular season to average starter level. Better, to be sure, but not to All-Star level.

Wall's playoffs performance was much the same as his regular season last season. Not a step up at all.

[CobraCommander]

Beal did "step up" in the playoffs. He went from average to a bit better than average, however. He had terrific games in the playoffs...and terrible ones too. His ability to step up in the postseason is of limited utility to a team that misses the playoffs, of course.

Completely agree. Beal stepped up big time in the playoffs. Wall and Beal played best when the lights were brightest but this year Wittman didn't drive them night in and night out to win AND the players were not driven/or talented enough to win about 50 games.

I may not have been clear. What I was trying to say was that while Beal's performance did improve in the playoffs, the extent of that "step up" has been inflated. He went from about average during the regular season to average starter level. Better, to be sure, but not to All-Star level.

Wall's playoffs performance was much the same as his regular season last season. Not a step up at all.

Thank you for the clarification. I disagree...I think they played better in last years playoff until Wall got hurt.

[stevemcqueen1]

Good Lord Dallas is almost totally devoid of talent. Testament to Rick Carlisle that this team wasn't bottom five, much less a playoff team.

[I_Like_Dirt]

Raptors were bad and deserved to lose, or at least Lowry and Derozan did. Still, the truly amazing feat is that Scott Foster still manages to be employed by the NBA. What are the odds, really, that 13 consecutive underdog away teams would win his reffed games in the playoffs? I wonder what he said to save himself from avoiding anything out of the Donaghy thing when they were once closely linked. Now, though, I can't ever recall a safer bet, ever. I'd love to see the NBA have Foster reft game 2 of the Spurs/Grizzlies series just to see how much impact he truly can have by subtly setting the tone for the game.

[stevemcqueen1]

Swap Rick Carlisle with Randy Wittman and I don't think Dallas wins 30 games. They have three rotation-worthy players. That was an eye-opening loss. When they get swept and lose by an average of 20+ points, it should be a clear signal that it's time to rebuild. They have gotten as much as they possibly could from this get up.

Carlisle is incredible. He deserves to be in the Hall after he retires.

[Kanyewest]

Celtics and Raptors are regular season overachievers that don't have the horses to score against playoff defense. Unless you're Detroit and it's 2004 and it's the one time the formula has ever worked in NBA history, a group entirely composed of plucky, well coached role players will only carry you so far.

And the Celtics scored 67 points in the second half. Your point may ultimately be true about them when it comes against a team like Cleveland but I don't think Atlanta has that much star power either.

[Kanyewest]

Swap Rick Carlisle with Randy Wittman and I don't think Dallas wins 30 games. They have three rotation-worthy players. That was an eye-opening loss. When they get swept and lose by an average of 20+ points, it should be a clear signal that it's time to rebuild. They have gotten as much as they possibly could from this get up.

Carlisle is incredible. He deserves to be in the Hall after he retires.

I'm just curious what your definition of "rotation worthy" would be. I agree that Dallas doesn't have a lot of talent but I like their supporting players more than Washington's especially off the bench although that could be a testament to Carlisle coaching them up especially on the defensive end. The biggest thing to me is that they don't really have an all star caliber player while the Wizards at least have Wall(although maybe Dirk makes the all star team in the East while Wall certainly doesn't make it in the West).

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Dallas won just 42 regular season games. Washington won 41. I don't think Wittman was such a liability while Carlisle was a savior.

I think the teams were both mediocre.