yeah that, my b.
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2019-20 NBA Season
- Thread starter Celticpride
- Start date
I think the Clippers are a better team than the Mavericks anyway but holy shit both of those technicals on Porzingis were horse shit. I've seen lots of players get away with worse
In the final 10 minutes, the Lakers shot 2 of 17 from the field and one of the made shots was a LeBron putback.
As a team, they shot 5 of 32 from 3. LeBron and AD were together 1 of 10.
AD outside the paint was 2 of 17 overall.
Portland has only allowed like 5 or 6 teams all season to fail to crack 100 against them.
Lakers just have to gut it. Play AD at center more, spread the floor, and just let LeBron be as good as he can at 35. Because halfcourt, this ain't it.
As a team, they shot 5 of 32 from 3. LeBron and AD were together 1 of 10.
AD outside the paint was 2 of 17 overall.
Portland has only allowed like 5 or 6 teams all season to fail to crack 100 against them.
Lakers just have to gut it. Play AD at center more, spread the floor, and just let LeBron be as good as he can at 35. Because halfcourt, this ain't it.
Clippers don't seem as cohesive and defensively talented as I thought.
Why did I have any expectations to defeat the Heat in the playoffs?
current thoughts on the playoffs:
I feel like every series that's not mavs-clippers nuggets-jazz and bucks-magic is functionally over, knew the lakers were gonna rip the warriors' 'trap dame and exploit non-shooters' strategy at some point but didn't expect it to work as well as it did. the more things change the more they stay the same ig. the other 4 series are 2-0 with the team that's down having either squandered massive chances at winning a game (thunder, nets) or are just having their fundamental flaws exploited by a better lineup with a more modern approach to the game (pacers, sixers).
as far as the other 3 series go, vucevic has been the no-brain best player on the floor during bucks-magic and his mix of pick-and-pops with busting switches down low has just turned milwaukee's supposedly historic defense to mush. I don't think game 2 is that big a setback for them either - orlando probably doesn't go 1-16 from 3 across 24 minutes again, and neither middleton or brook lopez have looked particularly good so far (eric bledsoe is really the bucks' second best player huh). the magic win at least one more game I feel and have laid the template for whichever team gets the next crack at milwaukee (probably miami sigh)...and all that said if the magic don't put together a top10 team in the next few years they should really trade vucevic rather than continue to waste him like this. nuggets-jazz and clippers-mavs are only just heating up I feel, too early to call anything but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if mitchell / luka just hard carry their teams past the higher seed, even if its just a hot streak they're really playing at that level where it's conceivable.
predictions - bucks in 6, utah in 6 and you know what fuckit mavericks in 7, because then kawhi will come running back to toronto and everything will be right in the world again. every other series higher seed wins in 4-5. gib second round already.
I feel like every series that's not mavs-clippers nuggets-jazz and bucks-magic is functionally over, knew the lakers were gonna rip the warriors' 'trap dame and exploit non-shooters' strategy at some point but didn't expect it to work as well as it did. the more things change the more they stay the same ig. the other 4 series are 2-0 with the team that's down having either squandered massive chances at winning a game (thunder, nets) or are just having their fundamental flaws exploited by a better lineup with a more modern approach to the game (pacers, sixers).
as far as the other 3 series go, vucevic has been the no-brain best player on the floor during bucks-magic and his mix of pick-and-pops with busting switches down low has just turned milwaukee's supposedly historic defense to mush. I don't think game 2 is that big a setback for them either - orlando probably doesn't go 1-16 from 3 across 24 minutes again, and neither middleton or brook lopez have looked particularly good so far (eric bledsoe is really the bucks' second best player huh). the magic win at least one more game I feel and have laid the template for whichever team gets the next crack at milwaukee (probably miami sigh)...and all that said if the magic don't put together a top10 team in the next few years they should really trade vucevic rather than continue to waste him like this. nuggets-jazz and clippers-mavs are only just heating up I feel, too early to call anything but I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest if mitchell / luka just hard carry their teams past the higher seed, even if its just a hot streak they're really playing at that level where it's conceivable.
predictions - bucks in 6, utah in 6 and you know what fuckit mavericks in 7, because then kawhi will come running back to toronto and everything will be right in the world again. every other series higher seed wins in 4-5. gib second round already.
prove this take wrong
LETS GO DALLAS
Paul George is playing so bad
Paul George is playing so bad
THE GREAT WHITE
That is terrifying, and we gotta deal with him for another 15 years?
Hey guys remember when the Blazers were going to upset the Lakers with their elite back court? Me neither
So in the wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake, the players were going to boycott today's games. The NBA just ended up postponing and I'm glad they did. The league is so good about social justice that I would've been surprised to see any forfeitures, fines, suspensions, etc. Definitely looking forward to a statement from the players.
I really think this could end up leading to a cancellation of the rest of the season, however. We've already heard talks about players being kind of unhappy being in the bubble for so long; Paul George just mentioned his anxiety and depression in relation to it recently. I think that plus a want to be out protesting could end up a large block of players to opt out, enough that there might not be enough left to have a season.
EDIT: Not the MLB thread but it's related, just saw that some MLB players are considering sitting out too. This could have a ripple effect bigger than anyone initially thought
I really think this could end up leading to a cancellation of the rest of the season, however. We've already heard talks about players being kind of unhappy being in the bubble for so long; Paul George just mentioned his anxiety and depression in relation to it recently. I think that plus a want to be out protesting could end up a large block of players to opt out, enough that there might not be enough left to have a season.
EDIT: Not the MLB thread but it's related, just saw that some MLB players are considering sitting out too. This could have a ripple effect bigger than anyone initially thought
I can’t define the amount of newfound respect I have for NBA players. Kaepernick pioneered and created individual athlete empowerment and activism, and he will always get credit for that. I do however think it’s very powerful for an individual with millions of dollars, endorsements, and a reputation living in a safe bubble from Covid for months to see what happened in Kenosha, have a game day of and just say, I don’t want to play basketball. I don’t care about my contract and millions of dollars my descendants will inherit from me. I don’t care about winning a championship and creating an infinite legacy of myself. I don’t care at all about the result of what I am about to do, but I do know that I must do it. Regardless of how coaches, owners, and the commissioner feels about their profits.
And that is the strength of black unity and solidarity. Even if you put us in a bubble playing a sport for millions of dollars, we cannot just watch. We cannot just sit. It still hurts. They have put so many of their rewards and gifts on the line just to make a statement, and the NBA is an international league; other countries will notice this.
I will never believe in placing the burden of social justice on marginalized people with fame and money. They ultimately have a livelihood, families, and the communities they work with to protect and consider. The responsibility should not go to entertainers. That responsibility solely should be on our elected officials and representatives, but I am damn proud that NBA players are not only willing to accept the burden but embrace it and risk their status for black solidarity.
And it makes sense to me. Black NBA players, or athletes in general are different millionaires from the rest. Sports is often seen as a way out for many Black people living in these same conditions. The average Black athlete came from many of the communities heavily policed, segregated, and impoverished. Their upbringing is what gives many of them their edge, competitive fierceness, and discipline. Once you see and hear murders in your own backyard for years, you ain't afraid of much else. Everybody from my hometown who managed to leave in peace understand what I mean when I say many of us have survivor’s remorse about being Black and seeing just how different the world is outside of where you grew up and hating it every day. You are given a gift and a chance to leave that environment for a better life than you could have ever predicted, but the world of your communities and people who grew up like you haven’t changed, are still traumatized and hurting. The higher up you go, the more it hurts. You understand that hurt so much that even if given a million dollars, you wouldn’t just continue to sit watching that hurt continue. Many of these players know that pain firsthand. They know the pain of that Black mother. They know the pain of starvation, no lights, or no shoes. I understand what Jimmy Butler means when he wants to wear a jersey without his name. At the end of the day, even famous athletes are at risk of violence because without a famous name to attach to them, they are seen as threatening.
It is a joy to know that I watch and analyze not just rich athletes, but a league and community much closer to my experiences and life who are willing to risk their rewards to put the spotlight on us. If progressives want to see high-profiled millionaires who are about that life, look no further than the National Basketball Association.
And that is the strength of black unity and solidarity. Even if you put us in a bubble playing a sport for millions of dollars, we cannot just watch. We cannot just sit. It still hurts. They have put so many of their rewards and gifts on the line just to make a statement, and the NBA is an international league; other countries will notice this.
I will never believe in placing the burden of social justice on marginalized people with fame and money. They ultimately have a livelihood, families, and the communities they work with to protect and consider. The responsibility should not go to entertainers. That responsibility solely should be on our elected officials and representatives, but I am damn proud that NBA players are not only willing to accept the burden but embrace it and risk their status for black solidarity.
And it makes sense to me. Black NBA players, or athletes in general are different millionaires from the rest. Sports is often seen as a way out for many Black people living in these same conditions. The average Black athlete came from many of the communities heavily policed, segregated, and impoverished. Their upbringing is what gives many of them their edge, competitive fierceness, and discipline. Once you see and hear murders in your own backyard for years, you ain't afraid of much else. Everybody from my hometown who managed to leave in peace understand what I mean when I say many of us have survivor’s remorse about being Black and seeing just how different the world is outside of where you grew up and hating it every day. You are given a gift and a chance to leave that environment for a better life than you could have ever predicted, but the world of your communities and people who grew up like you haven’t changed, are still traumatized and hurting. The higher up you go, the more it hurts. You understand that hurt so much that even if given a million dollars, you wouldn’t just continue to sit watching that hurt continue. Many of these players know that pain firsthand. They know the pain of that Black mother. They know the pain of starvation, no lights, or no shoes. I understand what Jimmy Butler means when he wants to wear a jersey without his name. At the end of the day, even famous athletes are at risk of violence because without a famous name to attach to them, they are seen as threatening.
It is a joy to know that I watch and analyze not just rich athletes, but a league and community much closer to my experiences and life who are willing to risk their rewards to put the spotlight on us. If progressives want to see high-profiled millionaires who are about that life, look no further than the National Basketball Association.
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