Around the NBA: 2018/2019 edition

[nymets1]

With the things that happened to Golden State in game 1, none of the errors have anything to do with KD not playing so by watching game 1 without KD, I saw no reason that if KD played that the Warriors could have won game 1.

[Bensational]

I'm so happy for the Raps! I really enjoy seeing that franchise catch a break and get some success after years of hard work to build the franchise up. 10 years ago I flew to the USA to watch the Magic in the finals, and see them get their first ever finals win. Today, a mate of mine who's a Raps fan has just shared the same experience.

This is why I watch basketball.

[Detective]

Magic Kingdom fam, thank you for your Disney energy for the Raps tonight. Appreciate you, as always.

[NavalAviator94]

I'm so happy for the Raps! I really enjoy seeing that franchise catch a break and get some success after years of hard work to build the franchise up. 10 years ago I flew to the USA to watch the Magic in the finals, and see them get their first ever finals win. Today, a mate of mine who's a Raps fan has just shared the same experience.

This is why I watch basketball.

Love this. Same


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[pepe1991]

it's funny how fast media jumped on " Warriors don't need KD" ship. As usual, proving to be clueless fast.
Blazers are not even top 6 team in nba, yet even them had chance to beat them 2 times in 4 games, just couldn't hold lead.

[ChosenSavior]

The more I watch the Raptors, I grow to have an appreciation on how they built their roster. It also makes me even more impressed that we got a game from them and stayed somewhat competitive in games 3 & 4. They have gotten better in each round they have endured. Still can't believe Masai got Kawhi for so little. Amazing trade by the Raptors.

[MartinsIzAfraud]

The more I watch the Raptors, I grow to have an appreciation on how they built their roster. It also makes me even more impressed that we got a game from them and stayed somewhat competitive in games 3 & 4. They have gotten better in each round they have endured. Still can't believe Masai got Kawhi for so little. Amazing trade by the Raptors.

that trade looks even better now that the Lakers are imploding and look less likely of landing spot for kawhi.

Derozan future 1st and filler (Poetl) for a top 5 player in the league.

[Bensational]

I read this quote from Giannis on reddit, shared from this article on The Atlantic.

“I learned a lot of things watching Kawhi while the game was going on,” Antetokounmpo said. “Like his patience. From the way he operates. He operates in the mid-range area. You saw that? He took the ball a step inside the three and faced up. And now he’s got everybody. He sees everybody coming, right? So, why was he doing that? You know why? Because he felt really comfortable in his mid-range game.

“He got a lot of threes out of the pick-and-roll when Brook was back, a lot of catch-and-shoot, a lot of transition threes, but when it was a set game, ain’t nobody shooting threes. It’s the toughest shot in the game. He was going to the easiest shot in the game, that people think is tough, the midrange, like the 15 foot, contested two – something that all the greats do: Kawhi, Kobe, Jordan, KD, LeBron. When he won the series against Toronto, he was shooting mid-range shots.”

“I feel like last year I was so comfortable shooting my mid-range shot, my fadeaway in the right post, doing all that, one-leg, two-legs, getting into the paint, shooting over guys, winning games,” Antetokounmpo said.

“I won games coming down the stretch like that. For you to score and be a closer, you gotta be able to add mid-range shots, a lot of easy shots.”

“I feel like this year, it was just, ‘Boom. power through … guys,’ ” Antetokounmpo said. “And then my back was hurting. I could still play more. If we were playing today, I could play. I could have an even longer season, but at the end of the day, I want to be more skilled. I want to make my game easier.”

“And it’s something from Year 5 to Year 6, I was like, ‘Yeah. OK, I put on seven pounds of muscle. Bro, I’m the most dominant guy in the **** league. I’m just going to go and **** dunk it.’ You can get away with it to a point. It’s good if you’re able to do it, but I gotta be more skilled. I gotta get back to my old self. Think like a guard, not as a big.”

“Now, every day in my head, I’m seeing Gasol double-team me,” Antetokounmpo said. “You think I’m joking, but I’m not. I’m not seeing anybody else. I don’t care who’s guarding me. Give me a name. Thaddeus Young. All I’m seeing is Kawhi, Gasol coming because I know that. When I get to that situation, it might not be them. It might be (Joel) Embiid. Ben Simmons guarding me, Embiid double- teaming, but that’s what I’m seeing now. That’s what I feel like I have to do better.”

“And, thank you. Thank you, because Gasol and Kawhi made me a better player. I’m not trying to be sarcastic. I’m being honest. They’re going to push me to be better. You gotta use this year as motivation. You cannot just come here and mope around.

Such a truly remarkable player to be so open, honest, and humble about his accomplishments, then to be so grateful to his opposition for helping him expand his game. He is going to wreak so much havoc in the league over the next decade.

One thing stood out to me was his comment about learning from Kawhi during the playoffs. Watching the shots he picked, how he used the midrange, and how those shots are the ones that the greats really fall back on in the playoffs.

I'll get a lot of heat for this simply because I'm mentioning Gordon's name in conjunction with two of the league's best players, but I feel like Gordon also learned a lot in this series from watching Kawhi. The shots he was picking often seemed much more in control, and in spots he was comfortable. He was much slower, and had more intention, when working for mid-range shots. And his numbers were quite impressive in those ranges.

I think it will be worth monitoring how Gordon continues to develop his shooting in those ranges, as they will come to be big tools to have in his arsenal come playoff time.

With that said, it also reminded me of Vuc also having a great touch from 3ft-16ft. Particularly with shots from 10-16ft, we trended him away from those shots in the regular season, in favour of more 3's, and more shots closer to the rim. I think it could have helped Vuc to have pulled him out into that range more, if it allowed him to get some space from Gasol and face him up. If Vuc comes back, I hope to see that as something we work back into his repertoire for the playoffs, along with increased 3pt shooting. Just no long 2's, though, even though he can hit them reasonably well. Having Vuc face up will give him more options for attacking a defending C, and it also creates just that bit more space near the basket for cutters.

[Optimus_Steel]

The more I watch the Raptors, I grow to have an appreciation on how they built their roster. It also makes me even more impressed that we got a game from them and stayed somewhat competitive in games 3 & 4. They have gotten better in each round they have endured. Still can't believe Masai got Kawhi for so little. Amazing trade by the Raptors.

that trade looks even better now that the Lakers are imploding and look less likely of landing spot for kawhi.

Derozan future 1st and filler (Poetl) for a top 5 player in the league.

Top 3 for sure. Best 2 way player in the league.

[Optimus_Steel]

Oh man massive 3rd quarter by GS on the strength of fantastic defense saves their finals. Tor chocked a lil bit as well, 18-0 run as they got discombobulated, so many wasted possesions and bad shots, specially late 4th quarter. Yet they still almost pulled it off. That Thompson hamstring injury looked serious, my guess with the way he was walking after the game he is done for the rest of the finals and is a major blow for GS. Toronto this is the chance of a lifetime, one of the greatest teams ever assembled has major injury problems (one is an MVP player and the other a guy that is in the conversation for greatest shooter ever), you have to step up and step on GS's throats and win this title, you only get so many opportunities to win it all, don't waste this rare chance.

[pepe1991]

Warriors have more banged up than healthy players at this moment.

[MagicFrenchie]

Warriors have more banged up than healthy players at this moment.

a lote of fluke IMO

[Shady Franchise]

it's funny how fast media jumped on " Warriors don't need KD" ship. As usual, proving to be clueless fast.
Blazers are not even top 6 team in nba, yet even them had chance to beat them 2 times in 4 games, just couldn't hold lead.

The series is 1-1 without KD. They're fine without KD. Now the Klay injury may be too much to overcome.

[MagicFan101]

it's funny how fast media jumped on " Warriors don't need KD" ship. As usual, proving to be clueless fast.
Blazers are not even top 6 team in nba, yet even them had chance to beat them 2 times in 4 games, just couldn't hold lead.

lol. They 100% absolutely do not NEED KD. No one had to “jump ship” onto that idea as we have seen this same group win it all already.

Does having KD help? You’re damn right he does. But that doesn’t mean they can’t win without him.

Now, the people saying they are BETTER without KD can stfu and get out.

[thelead]

it's funny how fast media jumped on " Warriors don't need KD" ship. As usual, proving to be clueless fast.
Blazers are not even top 6 team in nba, yet even them had chance to beat them 2 times in 4 games, just couldn't hold lead.

The series is 1-1 without KD. They're fine without KD. Now the Klay injury may be too much to overcome.

Maybe but they still have a shot with 3 all-stars... that team is so stacked that they could lose an MVP caliber player and an elite shooter/elite defender and still have an MVP caliber player, elite defender and an elite center... ALL IN THEIR PRIMES.

[pepe1991]

it's funny how fast media jumped on " Warriors don't need KD" ship. As usual, proving to be clueless fast.
Blazers are not even top 6 team in nba, yet even them had chance to beat them 2 times in 4 games, just couldn't hold lead.

lol. They 100% absolutely do not NEED KD. No one had to “jump ship” onto that idea as we have seen this same group win it all already.

Does having KD help? You’re damn right he does. But that doesn’t mean they can’t win without him.

Now, the people saying they are BETTER without KD can stfu and get out.

Chill. They still need him. If Raptors could hit anything in last 5 min they would won and be 2-0.
From 4:26 min left , until 49 sec left in a game they made 1 FGA.
Not to mention that from all people, Igoudala hit game winner, while missing 11 of previous 13 attemps


Also with Klay and Loonie injuried, they need him more than ever.

[nymets1]

When I saw Klay got hurt in game 2, I thought no way he play game 3. That looked like a injury he be out at least a week. No way he be 100% in game 3. OG Annuoby could be back for game 3 which should give the raptors a boost.

[Shady Franchise]

When I saw Klay got hurt in game 2, I thought no way he play game 3. That looked like a injury he be out at least a week. No way he be 100% in game 3. OG Annuoby could be back for game 3 which should give the raptors a boost.

Yeah, this could be a huge boost for Curry's playoff legacy if he can win game 3 with both Klay and KD injured. Cousins still isn't 100%, and it doesn't look like Iggy is there either. It's not an excuse for a possible loss, but more a boost for Curry as Finals MVP if he can win game 3 without those guys. I don't think they need to win game 3 either though, to win the series. It's more important for KD to be healthy for games 4/5/6/7, rather than come back too early for game 3. Toronto blew a golden opportunity to be up 2-0 with that huge 3rd quarter blow out, but they have the chance to redeem themselves with a game 3 win. Should be interesting...

[pepe1991]

Win tonight would pretty much propel Curry in conversation for best PG in history.

Their roster right now is laughable for NBA finals:

Curry and MRI squad.

Klay, Durant, Looney out.

Igoudala hurt, Bogut who semi retired last year, Cousins comming off two major injuries within a year, undrafted Quinn Cook, 38th pick Bell, Livingston ( easly one of nastiest injuries in basketball ).
Freaking Jerebko might start a game in nba finals tonight. Jerebko!

[drsd]

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