2021 NBA Playoffs Gamethread

radsoxfan

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Aug 9, 2009
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Will Kawhi be back for the WCF?
If its really an ACL injury, even a non-surgical partial tear would almost always be at least a couple months.

If it's very low grade and they think he's stable maybe they will push the envelope but seems unlikely based on what we know.
 

radsoxfan

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Aug 9, 2009
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81 points in the second half for the Clippers is wild stuff.

Part choke job by the Jazz, but wow the Clippers just could not miss, give them credit. What an insane half.
 

Jimbodandy

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Jan 31, 2006
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around the way
81 points in the second half for the Clippers is wild stuff.

Part choke job by the Jazz, but wow the Clippers just could not miss, give them credit. What an insane half.
This is what happens when you load up a roster with rotten defensive players. Sure it looks like a good idea when everyone is banging 3s and just outscoring the other team. But when you need a few stops, no fucking chance. Great regular season team tho.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Truly one of the great traditions of the Western Conference playoffs is the Jazz' opponents going small and the multiple-time DPOY turning into Baguette Biyombo.
Not sure what they can do about it either
 

scottyno

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Dec 7, 2008
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Truly one of the great traditions of the Western Conference playoffs is the Jazz' opponents going small and the multiple-time DPOY turning into Baguette Biyombo.
Not sure what they can do about it either
They could try having some size in their wing defense instead of starting 2 6'1 guards and a 6'4 forward
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Truly one of the great traditions of the Western Conference playoffs is the Jazz' opponents going small and the multiple-time DPOY turning into Baguette Biyombo.
Not sure what they can do about it either
Lol, "Baguette Biyombo" is here to stay, well done.

So many regular-season stars getting exposed in these playoffs.
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Lol, "Baguette Biyombo" is here to stay, well done.

So many regular-season stars getting exposed in these playoffs.
It's been kicking around NBA twitter for a while, one of my favorite slander nicknames, probably only behind "Poutine Ricky Davis" which will always be the goat
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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the ones that aren't injured
Philly could play Simmons 10 minutes a game and win the title; it's completely bonkers. Never seen something like this, where all bets are off to this degree.

I guess I probably have to pick the Suns if CP3 comes back, or Milwaukee if not.
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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Philly could play Simmons 10 minutes a game and win the title; it's completely bonkers. Never seen something like this, where all bets are off to this degree.

I guess I probably have to pick the Suns if CP3 comes back, or Milwaukee if not.
Wait at least 22 hours to pick the Deer
 

soxhop411

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Dec 4, 2009
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Gotta love Ballmer.

Mann didn’t look that much smaller than PG13 in that interview.
He’s no Donald Sterling, that’s for sure.
Seriously. Ballmer is an actual “fan” of his team and not just an “owner” (only other one I can think of is Cuban).

he is acting like any of us would if we bought our favorite team (of course none of us have billions of dollars to spend on our favorite sports team and still have billions left over in our Banking account)
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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I dont even know how to react. Love this fucking team.

And Lue coached his ass off
Reading your posts on the Clippers is like being perpetually stuck in a Kubler-Ross loop with a glimmer of hope dashed in. Its also relatable and awesome.

There is nothing quite like living and dying through your team as it survives and advances. Enjoy and know that at the very least, you now root for a franchise that has made a conference finals.
 

ElUno20

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Jul 19, 2005
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Reading your posts on the Clippers is like being perpetually stuck in a Kubler-Ross loop with a glimmer of hope dashed in. Its also relatable and awesome.

There is nothing quite like living and dying through your team as it survives and advances. Enjoy and know that at the very least, you now root for a franchise that has made a conference finals.
It's genuinely heartbreaking Kawhi is done. They could have won the title this year and these chances are like once in a lifetime.

I am so happy they fought though. The pride and grit they're showing is what a lot of us have been waiting on for 2 years.

I think they'll get a game or 2 vs the suns but, barring cp3 being out for the series, i expect they wont go past 6 games.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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It's genuinely heartbreaking Kawhi is done. They could have won the title this year and these chances are like once in a lifetime.

I am so happy they fought though. The pride and grit they're showing is what a lot of us have been waiting on for 2 years.

I think they'll get a game or 2 vs the suns but, barring cp3 being out for the series, i expect they wont go past 6 games.
I think the Clippers have a legitimate shot regardless of whether CP3 plays or not. Even sans Leonard, the Clips defense is stifling and the Suns may struggle mightily at times.

Also, I would never bet against him but how likely is another 39 point game from Terance Mann, even during the regular season? That is just insane to me.
 

radsoxfan

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Also, I would never bet against him but how likely is another 39 point game from Terance Mann, even during the regular season? That is just insane to me.
Think Brad can trade Romeo, Grant, and Carsen for Terrence Mann?

14, 22, and 33 for 48. What a deal for the Clips!

Not Danny's finest hour....
 

Cellar-Door

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Aug 1, 2006
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Ty Lue is a good coach. He kept making adjustments this series (benching Rondo for Mann for example) and Quinn just sat there Budenholzer-like in his dedication to "we'll just do the same thing we always do and hope we win"
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Ty Lue is a good coach. He kept making adjustments this series (benching Rondo for Mann for example) and Quinn just sat there Budenholzer-like in his dedication to "we'll just do the same thing we always do and hope we win"
Bud will have the last laugh when literally every other team's stars are hurt on his way to a title.

It may turn out that Bud+Giannis can win in the playoffs, riding over a sea of their enemies bones.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Aug 12, 2009
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Truly one of the great traditions of the Western Conference playoffs is the Jazz' opponents going small and the multiple-time DPOY turning into Baguette Biyombo.
Not sure what they can do about it either
Gobert’s 5/$205 million extension kicks in this coming season. He has a player option for $46.7 million for 2025-26.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Gobert’s 5/$205 million extension kicks in this coming season. He has a player option for $46.7 million for 2025-26.
Woof. Didn't realize things were that rough.

The Donovan trade demand would come with 1.5 years left on that deal, so mid 2023-24 season.
 

TripleOT

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Jul 4, 2007
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In a closeout game, with over a third of the Clippers’ payroll in street clothes, they get 66 points by less than $4 million in salary in Mann and Jackson. Remarkable.

It’s nice to see two players with a Boston area connection having success. Too bad it wasn’t with the Boston area NBA team.

Jazz fans must be sick, with their team losing to a Clippers team without Kawhi.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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...
Jazz fans must be sick, with their team losing to a Clippers team without Kawhi.
What does Utah do now? I don't really see a path forward that doesn't involve blowing it up--if you can't beat the Clippers without Kawhi, in the most wide-open year we're likely to see for some time, I'm not sure what the realistic expectations are in the future.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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What does Utah do now? I don't really see a path forward that doesn't involve blowing it up--if you can't beat the Clippers without Kawhi, in the most wide-open year we're likely to see for some time, I'm not sure what the realistic expectations are in the future.
Terrance Mann goes nuts and that means you blow up your team? C’mon now.

Meanwhile, this is your friendly reminder that the Clippers tanked their final two regular season games.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Terrance Mann goes nuts and that means you blow up your team? C’mon now.

Meanwhile, this is your friendly reminder that the Clippers tanked their final two regular season games.
They were up 2-0 and then lost the final two to a team without Kawhi. Not sure how you see this team as having real upside as constructed.

They were still ahead after the bulk of Mann's outburst.
 

TripleOT

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Not winning this series after the opposition loses Kawhi is an epic fail. Losing four games in a row after being up 2-0, by an average margin of 15 points, is an epic fail. Giving up consecutive 40 point quarters after being up 18 at halftime in a closeout game is an epic fail.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Not winning this series after the opposition loses Kawhi is an epic fail. Losing four games in a row after being up 2-0, by an average margin of 15 points, is an epic fail. Giving up consecutive 40 point quarters after being up 18 at halftime in a closeout game is an epic fail.
The bigger issue, aside from the massive epic failing, is that the Clippers showed you can destroy Gobert by going small and he can't make you pay at all on the other end. 5/205 of that left to go is just devastating from a team-building perspective.
 

Devizier

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The real problem the Jazz are facing is a major decision on Mike Conley, about to be 34 and a free agent. I would be surprised if he has a Paul-esque back nine, and there aren’t too many prospective replacements (Lowry, I guess?).
 

Humphrey

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Aug 3, 2010
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Up 75-50 and lost by 12.
Breen said "The Jazz have 90 already and we're only halfway through the third quarter". Seventeen points later it was 90-89. Never adjusted and went down low, which they should have been able to do.
 

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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Jazz had a great regular season but I never believed in them. Missed a golden opportunity this year and I highly doubt they'll ever get close again. Seem to be destined for 1st and 2nd round exits for the duration of Mitchell's prime.
 

cheech13

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Jan 5, 2006
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Ty Lue is a good coach. He kept making adjustments this series (benching Rondo for Mann for example) and Quinn just sat there Budenholzer-like in his dedication to "we'll just do the same thing we always do and hope we win"
Ty Lue is like the anti-Bud. His regular season teams are totally uninspiring in terms of identity and preparation but he has been excellent with adjustments and scheme in the playoffs.
 

BigMike

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Sep 26, 2000
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Seriously. Ballmer is an actual “fan” of his team and not just an “owner” (only other one I can think of is Cuban).

he is acting like any of us would if we bought our favorite team (of course none of us have billions of dollars to spend on our favorite sports team and still have billions left over in our Banking account)
Don't like the Clippers, don't really want them to win, but on the other hand there is Balmer, and i adore Steve. The guy is just all in about anything he touches, and this isn't an act.