Around the NBA (Non-Celtics) 2019-2020, Part 3 – "Playoff Version"

[BostonCouchGM]

MIA is the most talented team in the East. It shouldn't surprise anyone if they beat the Bucks. It will take an all-time performance from Giannis to beat them. I'm very concerned about MIA and have zero concerns about the Bucks who are very overrated on defense and really only have Giannis and Middleton (sometimes) to worry about. I feel bad for Giannis these past few years. They've had disastrous draft nights three years running and have done nothing to help Giannis. I hope he feels he's had enough and demands a trade. I hear we might have salary, players and picks that could match up well with them? They might be dumb enough to center the trade around Jaylen or if they're smart they ask for Hayward, Langford and picks. One thing and one thing only that Danny is good at is trading. Get r done

[ConstableGeneva]

Question about Giannis/Bucks... it's one thing if you can't get your team a bucket down the stretch, it's another NOT to take the challenge of defending the other team's best player in crunch time. FFS, you're the DPOY and you just let Butler score on Middleton over and over? LOL Jimmy outscored the entire Bucks team 15-8 in the last six minutes of the 4th.

[MagicBagley18]

Now that's a trade thread built for Danny. Hayward (expiring). Three picks this year. Unprotected in 22. Top three protected in 24 or 25 unprotected and romeo for harden. Owners better have money but that team is sii8ck.

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Are u trying to give stevens a heart attack. We would have the worst defense in the league with harden and kemba

I agree that defense would be scary bad lol lol and I don’t think we’d be able to do it or have interest in him but I’m at the point where every time I say the “defense will suck if we do this” stevens somehow has good team defense and it’s not an issue

[ConstableGeneva]

Now that's a trade thread built for Danny. Hayward (expiring). Three picks this year. Unprotected in 22. Top three protected in 24 or 25 unprotected and romeo for harden. Owners better have money but that team is sii8ck.

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Are u trying to give stevens a heart attack. We would have the worst defense in the league with harden and kemba

I agree that defense would be scary bad lol lol and I don’t think we’d be able to do it or have interest in him but I’m at the point where every time I say the “defense will suck if we do this” stevens somehow has good team defense and it’s not an issue

Harden is no longer as bad at defense as he once was. I think Westbrook is a worse defender now with that duo.

Individual defense isn't as important now. As long as you're willing and able to execute the team scheme, you're good enough to stay on the floor. Harden is great with those deflections/steals and is a strong post defender, something really useful with the way we switch. IINM, Houston is also among the top transition defense and iso defense in the league.

And like you, I thought we'd be worse defensively with the addition of Kemba + Kanter and yet, we ended up with a top 5 defense.

[Theocy]

Are u trying to give stevens a heart attack. We would have the worst defense in the league with harden and kemba

I agree that defense would be scary bad lol lol and I don’t think we’d be able to do it or have interest in him but I’m at the point where every time I say the “defense will suck if we do this” stevens somehow has good team defense and it’s not an issue

Harden is no longer as bad at defense as he once was. I think Westbrook is a worse defender now with that duo.

Individual defense isn't as important now. As long as you're willing and able to execute the team scheme, you're good enough to stay on the floor. Harden is great with those deflections/steals and is a strong post defender, something really useful with the way we switch. IINM, Houston is also among the top transition defense and iso defense in the league.

And like you, I thought we'd be worse defensively with the addition of Kemba + Kanter and yet, we ended up with a top 5 defense.

I would argue that's because they are both willing but perhaps less abled and we usually play them against match ups that work for us - this would suggest someone is usually covering the least favourable match up.

I haven't been following the rockets hence my comment was maybe in jest. I remember some videos of harden literally moving away from the opponent driving to the basket hence always had him down as a guy who doesn't give anything defense wise to be able to do what he does on the other end. Still harden has the right size if he puts the effort happy days.

[ConstableGeneva]

Question about Giannis/Bucks... it's one thing if you can't get your team a bucket down the stretch, it's another NOT to take the challenge of defending the other team's best player in crunch time. FFS, you're the DPOY and you just let Butler score on Middleton over and over? LOL Jimmy outscored the entire Bucks team 15-8 in the last six minutes of the 4th.

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Butler went on a 15-point tear to finish them off. Not a single possession was defended by the DPOY.

[Darth Celtic]

Giannis is mentally weak and is only the MVP because of the unfair shake he gets from officials. IN the bubble it doesn't seem to be as bad, meaning the Bucks are ripe to get swept.

[Bleeding Green]

LONGASS POST STUFF ABOUT FTA/FGA

He's definitely playing way above his career norms for freethrow rate to a ridiculous degree. I dunno what causes it fully but he straight up doesn't take jumpers anymore and he's on a team that sets him up with a lot of free cuts to the basket. I don't think he flops and is rewarded anymore than other stars in the league, maybe he's just in a unique situation that highlights his unique skillset. Lots of shooters and great passers around him, lots of slot cuts, tons of motion in that offense which puts defenders out of position a lot so they are prone to fouling more?

[zoyathedestroya]

Speaking of cuts...

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Miami's among the best teams at it. Having long-range shooters you have to account for affords them those opportunities to cut more. And also, Spo is a really good coach.

Wish our guys did this more, either by design or by instinct. We're below average both in efficiency and in frequency of cuts.

[MagicBagley18]

Are u trying to give stevens a heart attack. We would have the worst defense in the league with harden and kemba

I agree that defense would be scary bad lol lol and I don’t think we’d be able to do it or have interest in him but I’m at the point where every time I say the “defense will suck if we do this” stevens somehow has good team defense and it’s not an issue

Harden is no longer as bad at defense as he once was. I think Westbrook is a worse defender now with that duo.

Individual defense isn't as important now. As long as you're willing and able to execute the team scheme, you're good enough to stay on the floor. Harden is great with those deflections/steals and is a strong post defender, something really useful with the way we switch. IINM, Houston is also among the top transition defense and iso defense in the league.

And like you, I thought we'd be worse defensively with the addition of Kemba + Kanter and yet, we ended up with a top 5 defense.

So you’re telling me you’re all in on a kemba beard back court lol?

[BostonCouchGM]

Question about Giannis/Bucks... it's one thing if you can't get your team a bucket down the stretch, it's another NOT to take the challenge of defending the other team's best player in crunch time. FFS, you're the DPOY and you just let Butler score on Middleton over and over? LOL Jimmy outscored the entire Bucks team 15-8 in the last six minutes of the 4th.

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Butler went on a 15-point tear to finish them off. Not a single possession was defended by the DPOY.

notice how nobody ever brings up who Giannis was guarding, because he shuts them down. And on top of that he affects most drives and passing lanes with his length on team defense. But now we're expecting 6'11" guys to defend shooting guards all game? People DO realize if he had switched then Middleton would have had to defend Bam? We watch George and Kawhi allow switches off Luka all game and they play the same position. But now we're down on Giannis because he won't defend one of the craftiest wings in the league when he's in foul trouble? Okay...remember when people complained about Gobert winning DPOY because he didn't switch on Lillard....yeah...me neither

[Bleeding Green]

Question about Giannis/Bucks... it's one thing if you can't get your team a bucket down the stretch, it's another NOT to take the challenge of defending the other team's best player in crunch time. FFS, you're the DPOY and you just let Butler score on Middleton over and over? LOL Jimmy outscored the entire Bucks team 15-8 in the last six minutes of the 4th.

Read on Twitter

Butler went on a 15-point tear to finish them off. Not a single possession was defended by the DPOY.

notice how nobody ever brings up who Giannis was guarding, because he shuts them down. And on top of that he affects most drives and passing lanes with his length on team defense. But now we're expecting 6'11" guys to defend shooting guards all game? People DO realize if he had switched then Middleton would have had to defend Bam? We watch George and Kawhi allow switches off Luka all game and they play the same position. But now we're down on Giannis because he won't defend one of the craftiest wings in the league when he's in foul trouble? Okay...remember when people complained about Gobert winning DPOY because he didn't switch on Lillard....yeah...me neither

People **** on Giannis are nuts. **** on him for airballing free throws and turning the ball over in the 4th, but he's not going to guard Jimmy Butler straight up, this isn't the YMCA. I do like IT talking about defense, though. If Giannis had IT on his team, perhaps he would be guarding Jimmy Butler.

[zoyathedestroya]

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Asian female representation FTW! Now give Abby Chin her job back!

[Parliament10]

Watch on YouTube

[ConstableGeneva]

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We're NOT talking about Giannis guarding Butler ALL GAME. Bucks were bleeding points in the 4th because no one -- not their team scheme, not Middleton, not Matthews -- was able to stop Butler. How about at least switching it up with Giannis on Butler, who you don't even have to guard all the way beyond the arc. Marvin Williams or whichever forward can cover Bam. Giannis can drop back a bit to prevent the drives and he's long/athletic enough to recover even if Jimmy blows by him. At least try and make him give up the ball and make other guys beat you. 15 points in 6 minutes. Not a single possession defended by Giannis. He certainly didn't bother Butler at the rim or in the paint when Jimmy got there. Giannis had 3 fouls in the 4th. Middleton eventually fouled out. Lebron does this all the time btw. He has his usual assignment for most of the game and when he has to, he defends the star PG/wing/guard/whoever late in games. Gobert is just a silly comparison.

[Shak_Celts]

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We're NOT talking about Giannis guarding Butler ALL GAME. Bucks were bleeding points in the 4th because no one -- not their team scheme, not Middleton, not Matthews -- was able to stop Butler. How about at least switching it up with Giannis on Butler, who you don't even have to guard all the way beyond the arc. Marvin Williams or whichever forward can cover Bam. Giannis can drop back a bit to prevent the drives and he's long/athletic enough to recover even if Jimmy blows by him. At least try and make him give up the ball and make other guys beat you. 15 points in 6 minutes. Not a single possession defended by Giannis. He certainly didn't bother Butler at the rim or in the paint when Jimmy got there. Giannis had 3 fouls in the 4th. Middleton eventually fouled out. Lebron does this all the time btw. He has his usual assignment for most of the game and when he has to, he defends the star PG/wing/guard/whoever late in games. Gobert is just a silly comparison.

KL switched off of Luka a lot and of course switched off him to let Reggie guard him when he hit that dagger 3 to win game 4. Luka had been giving them the business more than Butler in that game, IIRC the Mavs were coming back from 22 down that quarter. Middleton vs Butler is better than Reggie vs Luka from a defensive standpoint.

[ConstableGeneva]

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We're NOT talking about Giannis guarding Butler ALL GAME. Bucks were bleeding points in the 4th because no one -- not their team scheme, not Middleton, not Matthews -- was able to stop Butler. How about at least switching it up with Giannis on Butler, who you don't even have to guard all the way beyond the arc. Marvin Williams or whichever forward can cover Bam. Giannis can drop back a bit to prevent the drives and he's long/athletic enough to recover even if Jimmy blows by him. At least try and make him give up the ball and make other guys beat you. 15 points in 6 minutes. Not a single possession defended by Giannis. He certainly didn't bother Butler at the rim or in the paint when Jimmy got there. Giannis had 3 fouls in the 4th. Middleton eventually fouled out. Lebron does this all the time btw. He has his usual assignment for most of the game and when he has to, he defends the star PG/wing/guard/whoever late in games. Gobert is just a silly comparison.

KL switched off of Luka a lot and of course switched off him to let Reggie guard him when he hit that dagger 3 to win game 4. Luka had been giving them the business more than Butler in that game, IIRC the Mavs were coming back from 22 down that quarter. Middleton vs Butler is better than Reggie vs Luka from a defensive standpoint.

Doc and co. got criticized for that tactical mistake too. Kawhi can fight off screens. He didn't need to switch and leave Reggie on Luka esp on that one final play.

[Valid]

MIA is the most talented team in the East. It shouldn't surprise anyone if they beat the Bucks. It will take an all-time performance from Giannis to beat them. I'm very concerned about MIA and have zero concerns about the Bucks who are very overrated on defense and really only have Giannis and Middleton (sometimes) to worry about. I feel bad for Giannis these past few years. They've had disastrous draft nights three years running and have done nothing to help Giannis. I hope he feels he's had enough and demands a trade. I hear we might have salary, players and picks that could match up well with them? They might be dumb enough to center the trade around Jaylen or if they're smart they ask for Hayward, Langford and picks. One thing and one thing only that Danny is good at is trading. Get r done

Lol. You're the same guy who said the Suns were going to the playoffs last year. Your assessments mean absolutely nothing.

[Valid]

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We're NOT talking about Giannis guarding Butler ALL GAME. Bucks were bleeding points in the 4th because no one -- not their team scheme, not Middleton, not Matthews -- was able to stop Butler. How about at least switching it up with Giannis on Butler, who you don't even have to guard all the way beyond the arc. Marvin Williams or whichever forward can cover Bam. Giannis can drop back a bit to prevent the drives and he's long/athletic enough to recover even if Jimmy blows by him. At least try and make him give up the ball and make other guys beat you. 15 points in 6 minutes. Not a single possession defended by Giannis. He certainly didn't bother Butler at the rim or in the paint when Jimmy got there. Giannis had 3 fouls in the 4th. Middleton eventually fouled out. Lebron does this all the time btw. He has his usual assignment for most of the game and when he has to, he defends the star PG/wing/guard/whoever late in games. Gobert is just a silly comparison.

But Shaq didn't guard Chauncey Billups in the 2004 Finals!

[Fencer reregistered]

Vin Baker is in the political news. Really, but it's also pretty minor.

Apparently, he's a coach for the Bucks, and commented to the press about a call from Jared Kushner he wasn't impressed by.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/09/01/milwaukee-bucks-coach-jared-kushner-nba-boycott-406836