I predict Boston in 7. I like and respect what the Mavs has done. I just trust the math. Boston is great on both ends of the floors and they shoot the shit out of the ball.
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Sports NBA Thread: 2023-2024 Season
- Thread starter awyp
- Start date
My pick is the Mavs simply because I am a narrative-driven creature, and I expect the Celtics to blow it again until proven otherwise.
rare cat L imo I think the hot shooting of boston was helped by them having played 0 healthy teams and having an absolutely ridiculous cake walk path to finals. They played no real defenses(Knicks would have been if healthy) and no real offenses either aside from pacers but they're a joke on def. I don't expect that shooting to continue vs actual competition now they very well could win that roster is ridiculous from top to bottom but tatum and brown need to show that the narrative of them being chokers is false against two of the best closers the game has. I have mavs in 6 yea i'm biased as a mavs fan but the celtics scare me less than the twolves did.
They've been hot all season and not just the playoffs. They've consistently been better shooters as a team more than the Maverick's roleplayers. It can't be chalked up to who they faced. Mavs haven't proven they can guard in space or shoot obscenely from three.
The onus is on the Mavs to defend in space; we know Celtics can shoot open shots.
The onus is on the Mavs to defend in space; we know Celtics can shoot open shots.
Thoughts on Game 1?
Luka and Kyrie go one on one against a switch defense. Mavs offense was sludged. They can't get corner threes or lobs because they're switching and pressuring everyone.
Meanwhile Porzingis got hot and then punished switches. Mavs struggled to guard in space and Celtics got so many threes up.
Meanwhile Porzingis got hot and then punished switches. Mavs struggled to guard in space and Celtics got so many threes up.
The Celtics completely lost the ability to hit open threes for most of the game; Tatum didn't score much; it looked like the Celtics were going to blow it in the final three minutes; and the Mavs still lost. This does not bode well for our intrepid heroes.
Wolves could have beaten the Mavs if they were just comfortable switching...
Also Mavs offense is pretty tragic at this point. They just need to target White from here on out and pray.
Also Mavs offense is pretty tragic at this point. They just need to target White from here on out and pray.
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Hate to say it but the problem is Luka. He dominates the ball too much and won’t push the pace. Boston’s defense is too good to play grind-out offense. I initially picked Boston in 7 but last night the Cs shot the ball poorly with a ton of wide open looks, Luka played decent, and Dallas still lost. Not looking good for a long series.
Heliocentric offenses... yeah I've said my complaints on them for the upteenth time. They have nothing outside of pick and roll. Take that away, and it's iso ball.
RIP Jerry West, one of the greatest players of all time. All I remember is JJ Reddick making fun of players from the 60s-70s like Bob Cousy saying that he couldn't play in todays game and Jerry West snapping back at JJ saying like who are you to be making statements about that, 12 PPG player lol. FR though Jerry would be an incredible player in todays game, his jumpshot and speed were undeniably world class.
I remember of Kobe's passing and how essentially Jerry looked extremely distraught and saddened about the situation and I remember someone on the YouTube comments someone saying 'Someone look out for Jerry, this can be a lot on the heart of someone at that age', so I was always worried about losing Jerry West. RIP Logo, someone like myself in their late 20s can easily appreciate what you've done for the game.
I remember of Kobe's passing and how essentially Jerry looked extremely distraught and saddened about the situation and I remember someone on the YouTube comments someone saying 'Someone look out for Jerry, this can be a lot on the heart of someone at that age', so I was always worried about losing Jerry West. RIP Logo, someone like myself in their late 20s can easily appreciate what you've done for the game.
While I am no expert on basketball, let alone from sixty years ago, I agree with JJ’s sentiment. Past eras are no where near the overall skill level of today. And yes, Bob Cousy in 2024 would not even belong on the floor with today’s guards. Sports nostalgia in most cases is overly deferential.
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What the fuck was Jason Kidd trying to do? The Celtics are in the middle of blowing the game, and he calls a timeout? On top of that, he challenges a foul on Luka that's extremely unlikely to be overturned, and it predictably costs him.
He interrupted his enemy while they were making a mistake. I'm stunned. He might have just blown the series.
He interrupted his enemy while they were making a mistake. I'm stunned. He might have just blown the series.
This Celtics team is all time great. One of the most dominant seasons ever. And they are just getting started!
I am not a Celtics fan but I might name an Azumarill after Joe Mazzulla.
Wow what? Bob Cousy would not make an NBA roster today. By every analytical metric, this Celtic team had an all-time great season. They have the highest offensive rating in NBA history.
I don't know about Bob Cousy but players like Wilt, Russell, and Jerry West would adapt very well in this NBA. If you watch any tapes you can tell their game can easily translate. Like if you don't have access to modern medication / therapy / doctors / gym your game will obviously look better via the eye test if you did.
This. When combined with work, talent excels regardless of era. If those guys were drafted into today's NBA, they would adapt to the modern game and be great.
Frankly, I've never understood arguments to the contrary. Do people seriously think that prime Jerry West would be completely unable to adapt to the Euro step?
Of course not. He’d be thrown out for complaining about everyone travelling and for all the fouls he’d give on the other end.
Have you ever actually watched footage of these guys?
+Film and analytics. That is what we are comparing to though. Not grading on a curve.
It is not so much the Euro step. The players are bigger, stronger, more athletic, and more skilled. And it is across the board parity. 6’3 guards don’t even get playing time unless they are great at either shooting or defense (or both). You have to be able to defend offensive juggernauts in 2024, or be totally unguardable yourself. And being a 6’4 guard with elite shooting and pedestrian athleticism, that is where JJ Redick’s comments likely came from.