NBA Season - now 24/25
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@canefan said in NBA Season 20/21:
@gt12 said in NBA Season 20/21:
I really wanted that series to go to 7, but that performance by TGF was worth a game 6 finish and I think @voodoo got a payout?!
I hope the Suns get another chance - it was cool without LA in it.
I didn't see much of the series, Phoenix had a great season with no obvious weaknesses. They just seemed to fade a bit
I would say the Suns missed Saric. Big fan of Saric and Philly should never have got rid of him.
What you get with Saric is a big that is mobile enough to try and limit TGF. The Suns had some very good success when they went small and played Saric at the 5. Not sure if it would’ve been the difference, but it certainly would’ve helped the Suns chances.
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@bovidae I'm sure you've heard this before but Giannis is as if someone designed the perfect player. The scary thing is that 8 years in he's still improving. It reminds me of Arnold talking about body building like he's a clay sculpture. Adding more clay where it's needed. Giannis has done that with his body and his game. Generational player and not doubt in my mind that he is the best player on the planet.
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@act-crusader I thought in game 5 Paul seemed to panic after the second quarter. Took some low quality shots and just kept taking them. I agree that Booker needed to roll off that screen but as you say that will only last so long.
Ayton came of age this playoff run but couldn't sustain it. He's a bloody good young player. What I wished Adams could have been. If he and Booker can continue what they built with Paul this year they'll go deep again.
Crowder is such a whiney bitch. Fast becoming one of my least favourite players.
The Bucks just hit another gear and played the courageous and smart basketball to get it done. Hard to believe before we were looking at a potential Giannis-less series. That hyperextension was fucking nasty. His conditioning is amazing. But to have Holiday and Middleton support him the way they did proves you don't need to import super stars and build superteams to steal rings.
I really wanted CP3 to get that ship but happy as TGF did the business. He's a great person not just a great player. Came from mud and did everything the right way.
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I'm also pleased for TGF, and comforted by Book being only 24/25 years old. I just hope he stays with the Suns long term and they maintain a quality roster around him. Unsure what Paul is doing next year or if he has another year like this in him, but maybe just maybe we can get there again next year.
For mine, in addition to Giannis monstering us, he got better support from Connaughton, Middleton and Holliday than we saw Booker and CP3 receive from others. That was the difference: the amount of guys who could carry the team for periods. Ayton faded and we only saw flashes from Bridges and stuff all from Crowder. Crowder made a contribution this year but if I could make one change to this roster it'd be to add an upgrade at PF in terms of stats and size. Crowder's veteran presence won't be as important next season as to those other qualities.
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Fun series. Weird playoffs. Giannis was just nuts, what he did physically and mentally in the last 2 weeks is nothing short of amazing. And is just so bloody likeable - never complains about calls, never tries to sell calls, never any cheapshots, just gets the business done. And he has one of the best "stinkfaces" in the game when he gets mad. Legend.
I think finals loser is Pauls ceiling, feels right to me. Has never been able to quite elevate to the required level of greatness. I hated that tunnelling on TGF in G5, I hate him selling calls and I hate his whiney face - please Luka change your ways to be more like TGF before its too late!
I agree with others talking about role players playing a big part here - largely because Booker is still young and Middleton/Jrue are so inconsistent. It felt wrong watching Connaughton play 25 minutes last night and stinking it up - he was -21 I think! Crowder could have swung the game had he hit a couple more of those open 3's.
Ayton's defensive footwork got shown up badly last night and he looked rattled on D - he'll improve. As will Booker, who is certainly the real deal.
I would have loved to see a G7, but was happy to take the payout. It's wide open for next year!
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i fucking hate how American sports give the trophy to the owner of the team first
fuck entirely off. That country has its priorities all up the fuck
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@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
i fucking hate how American sports give the trophy to the owner of the team first
fuck entirely off. That country has its priorities all up the fuck
good to see your camping zen has worn off already - welcome back bro
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@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
i fucking hate how American sports give the trophy to the owner of the team first
fuck entirely off. That country has its priorities all up the fuck
good to see your camping zen has worn off already - welcome back bro
nah mate, that's just my ranty posting style coming out.
But i always cringe at the Superbowl and had forgotten about the NBA until now. It's a terrible look IMO, don't give the trophy to the guy sticking up amazing numbers on the court, give it to the old dude who has fuckloads of money, but couldn't hit a jumpshot if his life depended on it.
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Tough to see the Suns getting back to the finals in the tough West. They had a great season, but had a few things go their way during the playoffs.
Anthony Davis gets injured in round 1, Jamal Murray was unavailable for the Nuggets in round 2, and the Clippers didn't have Kawhi Leonard in the WC Finals. It seemed that trend would continue for the finals, but Giannis healed up in time. They might've still beaten a healthy Lakers and Nuggets, but I doubt they get over the Clippers with Kawhi.
In saying that, a healthy Nets probably beat the Bucks, but I'm happy that the Bucks advanced and Giannis got to stick it to Harden.
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@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
i fucking hate how American sports give the trophy to the owner of the team first
fuck entirely off. That country has its priorities all up the fuck
I received a lovely note from Robert Sarver this morning
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@mariner4life the Bucks owner Mark Lasry (who got the trophy yesterday) actually has a pretty good jumper. Has played in the celebrity all star game and doesn’t mind hanging about at Bucks training shooting a few 😀
But I agree, give it to the coach or team captain. The owners can be in the background as they are during the entire season….
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@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life the Bucks owner Mark Lasry (who got the trophy yesterday) actually has a pretty good jumper. Has played in the celebrity all star game and doesn’t mind hanging about at Bucks training shooting a few 😀
But I agree, give it to the coach or team captain. The owners can be in the background as they are during the entire season….
One of the vagaries of American pro sport. Same happens at the super bowl. I thought Lasry did a nice short sweet bit, gave maximum credit to the coaches. As opposed to Lakob a few years ago who said credit should go to the organisation....
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I don't disagree with the sentiment around the trophy being handed to the owner first, BUT if there's one sport where they have an overwhelming influence it's in NBA basketball where the owner's decisions about how or even whether to throw their money around, have a direct effect on on-court success.
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@raznomore said in NBA Season 20/21:
@act-crusader I thought in game 5 Paul seemed to panic after the second quarter. Took some low quality shots and just kept taking them. I agree that Booker needed to roll off that screen but as you say that will only last so long.
Ayton came of age this playoff run but couldn't sustain it. He's a bloody good young player. What I wished Adams could have been. If he and Booker can continue what they built with Paul this year they'll go deep again.
Crowder is such a whiney bitch. Fast becoming one of my least favourite players.
The Bucks just hit another gear and played the courageous and smart basketball to get it done. Hard to believe before we were looking at a potential Giannis-less series. That hyperextension was fucking nasty. His conditioning is amazing. But to have Holiday and Middleton support him the way they did proves you don't need to import super stars and build superteams to steal rings.
I really wanted CP3 to get that ship but happy as TGF did the business. He's a great person not just a great player. Came from mud and did everything the right way.
Sidebar, why do you think Adams stopped developing, and do you think its too late for him? He was a borderline All Star in the league, in Year 3 or 4 I think?
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@tewaio said in NBA Season 20/21:
@tewaio said in NBA Season 20/21:
@tewaio said in NBA Season 20/21:
CP3 making an early bid for FMVP
I think this is a lock now and the series is over. Momentum is too strong, Suns in 4 or 5. Sir Charles will be happy!
So this was a fantastic take
Really freezing cold
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@tewaio said in NBA Season 20/21:
@raznomore said in NBA Season 20/21:
@act-crusader I thought in game 5 Paul seemed to panic after the second quarter. Took some low quality shots and just kept taking them. I agree that Booker needed to roll off that screen but as you say that will only last so long.
Ayton came of age this playoff run but couldn't sustain it. He's a bloody good young player. What I wished Adams could have been. If he and Booker can continue what they built with Paul this year they'll go deep again.
Crowder is such a whiney bitch. Fast becoming one of my least favourite players.
The Bucks just hit another gear and played the courageous and smart basketball to get it done. Hard to believe before we were looking at a potential Giannis-less series. That hyperextension was fucking nasty. His conditioning is amazing. But to have Holiday and Middleton support him the way they did proves you don't need to import super stars and build superteams to steal rings.
I really wanted CP3 to get that ship but happy as TGF did the business. He's a great person not just a great player. Came from mud and did everything the right way.
Sidebar, why do you think Adams stopped developing, and do you think its too late for him? He was a borderline All Star in the league, in Year 3 or 4 I think?
Adams is a peculiar one. He's tall, had a rep as being tough. Soft hands, good coordination, not explosive but he isn't slow. Yet he has failed to develop a dependable offensive game. True he never got shots in OKC, but you would think he would have worked on something. Still banking those cheques though, but you have to wonder how big the drop off will be when he comes up for a new contract
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@tewaio he seemed happy to just be a clean up guy. Too humble and didn't seem to demand looks. I follow him on insta and slot of his videos recently involve three pint shooting. So it's obvious if he's to continue to be a starting centre he needs to start spreading the floor to some extent. There's talk he'll be traded away from the Pels and with a new coach signed he'd have to prove himself to stay in the mix in NO.
The main thing I think he's just not ego driven and didn't ever see himself as an offensive threat. At OKC he was never seen as that by Brooks or Donovan. So he never developed past what he is now.
