East 1st Round - Game #3: 76ers @ Bullets 7 PM (ESPN/NBCSW/1500 AM) [5/29/21]

[Shoe]

...Rui is a disgrace defensively....

What!?!?! Don't you know that you can't say things like that about the young prince-slash-goldenboy?

Aren't you aware that Rui came late to the game of basketball (not last night's game! he was right on time last night...) -- in fact, that's why he slipped all the way down to #9 in the draft. Otherwise, he would have gone number 1 -- maybe even higher!

What I'm saying is, you better watch out -- people who point out anything negative about Rui are called "haters." Well... actually it doesn't have to negative. Just saying something factual will usually do it.

For example, if you say "Rui got 'n' rebounds tonight," you'll soon be reminded that PFs (those named "Rui" I mean) don't need to get any more than "n" boards -- besides, Russ steals all of Rui's boards. & what's really weird is that he even does it on nights when he himself isn't rebounding at his usual high rate. He must have it in for Rui -- just like you, you hater.

Consider yourself warned -- also chastened. In fact, even this post by me, even my attempt to warn you, will prove that I too am a Rui hater. I mean... did I even mention that Rui has gone 5-7 on 3-pointers in this series & is posting a .682 TS%? No... that kind of thing I let pass without comment, Rui hater that I am -- or maybe I might mention it & then point that he's only managing 14.83 points per 40 minutes & has committed 11 fouls & turned the ball over 4 times -- as against 1 steal & 1 assist.

Hey... see -- not only are you a Rui hater, but you're gonna make people say that I'm one too. Only a Rui hater would do that.

Lol, Got the sarcasm. Seriously though, if there's 1 thing you need in the playoffs against a physical team like Philly it is EFFORT defensively. If a guy can't give you that, let alone the power forward, he just can't play. The thing that frustrates me is it was on back 2 back (or maybe within same 2 min stretch) where he made a decision to not step in front of Embiid on a drive. I know Vince Carter as the announcer made a joke about it saying it was a "business decision" but please, that was surpising for a vet to say that. No, that just shows Rui is more concerned with being on a poster than playing winning defensive basketball. Plus all night - and really all season - he is just allergic to contesting shots. From watching him, it seems he thinks if he just puts his hands up half-heartedly - without any extra effort to actually block the shot or block shooter's vision - then he's done his job. It's terrible defensive basketball. I do not care at all if people label me a "Rui hater" so I'll keep on going ... Plus watch him closely defensively after made baskets - His body language is TERRIBLE. He is constantly putting his hands out to his side, you know the sort of thing an 8 year old does after the opposing team makes a basket as if to say "what else could I do?". It's such a self-defeating thing to do and I see him do it constantly on defense.

I'm an old school fan, albeit young at age 28. If I was Coach Brooks - immediately if I see a player show poor body language like that, or fail to step in front for a charge on help defense, or even do something like Beal & Westbrook sometimes do like complain to the officials and fail to get back on defense ... I am pulling him from the game. Of course this is something you do at the beginning of the season to prove the point & set the standard. Can't do it now, already a lost cause. But the team just has so many negative habits defensively that have been partly built & maintained because of a lack of accountability throughout the season.

Need a new coach to address these things at the very least, a coach that has a backbone.

Two Rui haters, but at least one of them doesn't pretend Len is good at basketball.

Rui is drawing ire for averaging 11 & 6 this series; meanwhile Lopez has 2 total rebounds in 36 mins, Len is averaging 3 reb, Gill has 3 reb and 0 pts in 20 mins. Ish, Neto, and Bertans are putting up putrid numbers. The 2nd year player who is scoring efficiently is doing one thing well, while there are a bunch of veterans doing nothing well.

[payitforward]

What!?!?! Don't you know that you can't say things like that about the young prince-slash-goldenboy?

Aren't you aware that Rui came late to the game of basketball (not last night's game! he was right on time last night...) -- in fact, that's why he slipped all the way down to #9 in the draft. Otherwise, he would have gone number 1 -- maybe even higher!

What I'm saying is, you better watch out -- people who point out anything negative about Rui are called "haters." Well... actually it doesn't have to negative. Just saying something factual will usually do it.

For example, if you say "Rui got 'n' rebounds tonight," you'll soon be reminded that PFs (those named "Rui" I mean) don't need to get any more than "n" boards -- besides, Russ steals all of Rui's boards. & what's really weird is that he even does it on nights when he himself isn't rebounding at his usual high rate. He must have it in for Rui -- just like you, you hater.

Consider yourself warned -- also chastened. In fact, even this post by me, even my attempt to warn you, will prove that I too am a Rui hater. I mean... did I even mention that Rui has gone 5-7 on 3-pointers in this series & is posting a .682 TS%? No... that kind of thing I let pass without comment, Rui hater that I am -- or maybe I might mention it & then point that he's only managing 14.83 points per 40 minutes & has committed 11 fouls & turned the ball over 4 times -- as against 1 steal & 1 assist.

Hey... see -- not only are you a Rui hater, but you're gonna make people say that I'm one too. Only a Rui hater would do that.

Lol, Got the sarcasm. Seriously though, if there's 1 thing you need in the playoffs against a physical team like Philly it is EFFORT defensively. If a guy can't give you that, let alone the power forward, he just can't play. The thing that frustrates me is it was on back 2 back (or maybe within same 2 min stretch) where he made a decision to not step in front of Embiid on a drive. I know Vince Carter as the announcer made a joke about it saying it was a "business decision" but please, that was surpising for a vet to say that. No, that just shows Rui is more concerned with being on a poster than playing winning defensive basketball. Plus all night - and really all season - he is just allergic to contesting shots. From watching him, it seems he thinks if he just puts his hands up half-heartedly - without any extra effort to actually block the shot or block shooter's vision - then he's done his job. It's terrible defensive basketball. I do not care at all if people label me a "Rui hater" so I'll keep on going ... Plus watch him closely defensively after made baskets - His body language is TERRIBLE. He is constantly putting his hands out to his side, you know the sort of thing an 8 year old does after the opposing team makes a basket as if to say "what else could I do?". It's such a self-defeating thing to do and I see him do it constantly on defense.

I'm an old school fan, albeit young at age 28. If I was Coach Brooks - immediately if I see a player show poor body language like that, or fail to step in front for a charge on help defense, or even do something like Beal & Westbrook sometimes do like complain to the officials and fail to get back on defense ... I am pulling him from the game. Of course this is something you do at the beginning of the season to prove the point & set the standard. Can't do it now, already a lost cause. But the team just has so many negative habits defensively that have been partly built & maintained because of a lack of accountability throughout the season.

Need a new coach to address these things at the very least, a coach that has a backbone.

Two Rui haters, but at least one of them doesn't pretend Len is good at basketball.

Rui is drawing ire for averaging 11 & 6 this series; meanwhile Lopez has 2 total rebounds in 36 mins, Len is averaging 3 reb, Gill has 3 reb and 0 pts in 20 mins. Ish, Neto, and Bertans are putting up putrid numbers. The 2nd year player who is scoring efficiently is doing one thing well, while there are a bunch of veterans doing nothing well.

See what I mean, BrianInPhilly?

Where did Rui draw ire from me? I made a point of mentioning everything -- the shooting overall, the high TS%, the 3-point %, etc. & also the other stuff. & all of it just as simple facts.

As to Alex Len... look, he's a veteran minimum player. You are so right; he doesn't look good facing Joel Embiid. What outstanding insight on your part! Really impressive.

[DCZards]

Two Rui haters, but at least one of them doesn't pretend Len is good at basketball.

Rui is drawing ire for averaging 11 & 6 this series; meanwhile Lopez has 2 total rebounds in 36 mins, Len is averaging 3 reb, Gill has 3 reb and 0 pts in 20 mins. Ish, Neto, and Bertans are putting up putrid numbers. The 2nd year player who is scoring efficiently is doing one thing well, while there are a bunch of veterans doing nothing well.

...meanwhile Mr. Unnameable has two DNPs and played less than 7 minutes in his team's 3 playoff games and gotten 1 reb. and 0 pts.

[BrianInPhilly]

What!?!?! Don't you know that you can't say things like that about the young prince-slash-goldenboy?

Aren't you aware that Rui came late to the game of basketball (not last night's game! he was right on time last night...) -- in fact, that's why he slipped all the way down to #9 in the draft. Otherwise, he would have gone number 1 -- maybe even higher!

What I'm saying is, you better watch out -- people who point out anything negative about Rui are called "haters." Well... actually it doesn't have to negative. Just saying something factual will usually do it.

For example, if you say "Rui got 'n' rebounds tonight," you'll soon be reminded that PFs (those named "Rui" I mean) don't need to get any more than "n" boards -- besides, Russ steals all of Rui's boards. & what's really weird is that he even does it on nights when he himself isn't rebounding at his usual high rate. He must have it in for Rui -- just like you, you hater.

Consider yourself warned -- also chastened. In fact, even this post by me, even my attempt to warn you, will prove that I too am a Rui hater. I mean... did I even mention that Rui has gone 5-7 on 3-pointers in this series & is posting a .682 TS%? No... that kind of thing I let pass without comment, Rui hater that I am -- or maybe I might mention it & then point that he's only managing 14.83 points per 40 minutes & has committed 11 fouls & turned the ball over 4 times -- as against 1 steal & 1 assist.

Hey... see -- not only are you a Rui hater, but you're gonna make people say that I'm one too. Only a Rui hater would do that.

Lol, Got the sarcasm. Seriously though, if there's 1 thing you need in the playoffs against a physical team like Philly it is EFFORT defensively. If a guy can't give you that, let alone the power forward, he just can't play. The thing that frustrates me is it was on back 2 back (or maybe within same 2 min stretch) where he made a decision to not step in front of Embiid on a drive. I know Vince Carter as the announcer made a joke about it saying it was a "business decision" but please, that was surpising for a vet to say that. No, that just shows Rui is more concerned with being on a poster than playing winning defensive basketball. Plus all night - and really all season - he is just allergic to contesting shots. From watching him, it seems he thinks if he just puts his hands up half-heartedly - without any extra effort to actually block the shot or block shooter's vision - then he's done his job. It's terrible defensive basketball. I do not care at all if people label me a "Rui hater" so I'll keep on going ... Plus watch him closely defensively after made baskets - His body language is TERRIBLE. He is constantly putting his hands out to his side, you know the sort of thing an 8 year old does after the opposing team makes a basket as if to say "what else could I do?". It's such a self-defeating thing to do and I see him do it constantly on defense.

I'm an old school fan, albeit young at age 28. If I was Coach Brooks - immediately if I see a player show poor body language like that, or fail to step in front for a charge on help defense, or even do something like Beal & Westbrook sometimes do like complain to the officials and fail to get back on defense ... I am pulling him from the game. Of course this is something you do at the beginning of the season to prove the point & set the standard. Can't do it now, already a lost cause. But the team just has so many negative habits defensively that have been partly built & maintained because of a lack of accountability throughout the season.

Need a new coach to address these things at the very least, a coach that has a backbone.

Two Rui haters, but at least one of them doesn't pretend Len is good at basketball.

Rui is drawing ire for averaging 11 & 6 this series; meanwhile Lopez has 2 total rebounds in 36 mins, Len is averaging 3 reb, Gill has 3 reb and 0 pts in 20 mins. Ish, Neto, and Bertans are putting up putrid numbers. The 2nd year player who is scoring efficiently is doing one thing well, while there are a bunch of veterans doing nothing well.

We are talking about effort defensively here, so your stats are meaningless since everything I mentioned doesn’t show up in the box score.

[payitforward]

Two Rui haters, but at least one of them doesn't pretend Len is good at basketball.

Rui is drawing ire for averaging 11 & 6 this series; meanwhile Lopez has 2 total rebounds in 36 mins, Len is averaging 3 reb, Gill has 3 reb and 0 pts in 20 mins. Ish, Neto, and Bertans are putting up putrid numbers. The 2nd year player who is scoring efficiently is doing one thing well, while there are a bunch of veterans doing nothing well.

...meanwhile Mr. Unnameable has two DNPs and played less than 7 minutes in his team's 3 playoff games and gotten 1 reb. and 0 pts.

Fair enough -- & Mr. Unnameable may turn out to be a total failure. These guys aren't joined at the hip!

But, so far, over 2 seasons, Mr. U. has been an enormously better NBA player than Rui -- just as he was an enormously better college player at Gonzaga. Nor would anyone in his right mind trade Mr. U. straight up for Rui.

Hey, it may turn out exactly the same way between Deni & Tyrese Haliburton; I wouldn't be surprised. & I was all for picking Deni.

One thing is for sure: right now I'd rather have Mr. U, Keldon Johnson & Tyrese Haliburton instead of Rui & Avdija (not to mention that we'd still have Troy Brown -- b/c we'd have been able to grab Daniel Gafford in R2 of the '19 draft).

edit: ...but that's enough crying over spilt milk!