2021-22 NBA Season Discussion

[MartinToVaught]

Not to be that guy but the criticism of Suns only making the Finals last year because they faced an injured team in each round and then losing to the first healthy team they faced in 2021 and now 2022 is pretty interesting.

Im glad Giannis was able to play last finals. Ppl forget he had that nasty injury against the Hawks. It looked really really bad but he soldiered through it. If they got to play a Bucks team without Giannis too?

It's still mindblowing that Giannis not only played in the Finals but was dominant in them. That was one of the most gruesome injuries in recent memory. He doesn't get anywhere near as much credit for that as he should.

I always roll my eyes when people try to spin the narrative that the Bucks got lucky with injuries because they're completely ignoring that Giannis himself was thisclose to being out for the season.

[PaulieWal]

Not to be that guy but the criticism of Suns only making the Finals last year because they faced an injured team in each round and then losing to the first healthy team they faced in 2021 and now 2022 is pretty interesting.

Eh, they were outscored in the finals by an average of 2ppg. That is very close. I don't think it is interesting at all to be honest.

Yeah, but the point is all of their Western Conf opponents had major injuries. I can't remember the last time a team had 3 straight rounds with the 1st or 2nd best player getting injured. So it is interesting to me and i was rooting for CP to get a ring this year (Sarver notwithstanding). He just doesn't have that playoff thing man (and again disappointing after his amazing G6 performance against the Pels).

[sp6r=underrated]

BTW, if I'm Kidd, I pull all my key players for the 4th. There is 0 risk of loss at this because even the end of the bench guys should get 10 points.

I do not want at all to risk losing one of my key players for the CFs. Phoenix is going to be on edge and a cheapshot happens frequently in games like this: Embiid/JJ Barea and a lot of guys have taking big shots.

[jalengreen]

based on this i expect the warriors will be clear favorites going into the CF with the suns out (yes i am assuming this game is over. would love to be wrong lol!)

I mean I would have agreed Dallas was last going into this game but damn that's disrespectful to a team that defends this way and has the most explosive offensive player left standing.

It isn't disrespectful. Those odds are set by degenerates wasting their money.

nah if vegas just went by what the masses are betting, then it would not be difficult to win money.

[therealbig3]

BTW, as much as I hate to admit it, Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit this year, and should be a strong consideration for COY.

[PaulieWal]

I mean I would have agreed Dallas was last going into this game but damn that's disrespectful to a team that defends this way and has the most explosive offensive player left standing.

It isn't disrespectful. Those odds are set by degenerates wasting their money.

nah if vegas just went by what the masses are betting, then it would not be difficult to win money.

As far as I understand, Vegas does put out the line after their algorithms analyze who the favorite "should be" and then when the lines open, they do try to balance the line depending on how much money they are getting on each team to "balance it out" but it's not like if the betting masses just put all their money on the Kings to win the title they would be the betting favorites.

[PaulieWal]

BTW, as much as I hate to admit it, Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit this year, and should be a strong consideration for COY.

Looking more and more of bad exit for Carlisle who couldn't adapt to Luka.

[mikejames23]

I am pretty blown away by the Suns exit. Guess that's all they had in the tank. No real chances of a championship in the future, without a major trade or two.

Congrats to Luka, too. I actually don't believe his supporting cast is good enough to pull this off, but he did it.

[MartinToVaught]

BTW, as much as I hate to admit it, Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit this year, and should be a strong consideration for COY.

I was a huge Kidd doubter too, and still don't like him, but I agree, he's done a great job this season.

I still think Carlisle is scarier to go up against in a playoff series because he will leave no stone unturned when it comes to adjustments, but it's hard to argue with how they're playing under Kidd.

[falcolombardi]

rip suns contender window? looking like it tbh

[Peregrine01]

Booker should probably invite a few more double teams during pick-up games in the offseason.

[PaulieWal]

rip suns contender window? looking like it tbh

100%. CP3 is done IMO, unless Booker takes a major step forward.

[Peregrine01]

BTW, as much as I hate to admit it, Jason Kidd deserves a ton of credit this year, and should be a strong consideration for COY.

Looking more and more of bad exit for Carlisle who couldn't adapt to Luka.

I think getting rid of Porzingis and getting Dinwiddie in return has been a HUGE win for them.

[sp6r=underrated]

Not to be that guy but the criticism of Suns only making the Finals last year because they faced an injured team in each round and then losing to the first healthy team they faced in 2021 and now 2022 is pretty interesting.

Eh, they were outscored in the finals by an average of 2ppg. That is very close. I don't think it is interesting at all to be honest.

Yeah, but the point is all of their Western Conf opponents had major injuries. I can't remember the last time a team had 3 straight rounds with the 1st or 2nd best player getting injured. So it is interesting to me and i was rooting for CP to get a ring this year (Sarver notwithstanding). He just doesn't have that playoff thing man (and again disappointing after his amazing G6 performance against the Pels).

This is were I'll push back hard.

The 1987 Lakers faced

DEN: -1.14 SRS
GSW: -2.54 SRS
SEA: 0.08 SRS

The 2013 Heat faced

MIL: -1.83
CHI: -0.02
IND: 3.34

That competition hits me as substantially weaker than Phoenix's 2021 competition.

And take a look at the competition Paul faced in 2015. Clippers won 56 games that year.
1st Round: Spurs 6.33, 55 wins
2nd Round: Rockets, 3.82

Year before Clippers won57 games
1st Round, Warriors: 5.15 SRS
2nd Round, Thunder, 6.66 SRS

Overall he's been a strong playoff performer. He is vulnerable to injury which is a real critique but he also got snakebit that in his prime he often times faced much tougher 1st round/2nd competition than his clubs deserved based on RS records.

[RCM88x]

Kidd needs to pull his starters now, really lost their focus the last few minutes, no reason to keep them out there.

[sp6r=underrated]

rip suns contender window? looking like it tbh

100%. CP3 is done IMO, unless Booker takes a major step forward.

And sadly, I don't think that's happening. I think Booker will peak around the Bosh range. I don't think he can ever hit top 5 in the league.

[yoyoboy]

The Suns' defense completely fell apart in the postseason. In both rounds. Where do you guys place blame?

[sp6r=underrated]

Kidd needs to pull his starters now, really lost their focus the last few minutes, no reason to keep them out there.

Coaches leave their starters in blowouts way too long. They have a 42 point lead. Even if you feel your end of the bench guys can only get you 8 points in a quarter, Phoenix needs 50 to force OT. Why risk injury to the big guys for the next round?

[falcolombardi]

i really dont know how dallas vs warriors will go

it feels like dallas shoulsnt be able to win but sfter this they may as well win the champiomship and i wouldnt be surprised

[mikejames23]

rip suns contender window? looking like it tbh

Ayton and Bridges for Joel Embiid.

I wonder if I did well enough.

But no really, they'll need a big trade and then they can pull this off. They won't pull this off with the current cast they have.