2023 NBA Playoffs
- Thread starter BaseballJones
- Start date
Voters didn't want him to win 3 in a row, as it doesn't feel like he belongs in the pantheon of Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird. Jokic was making it very difficult for them not to with his regular season dominance until he kind of took the last couple weeks of the regular season off and effectively handed Embiid the award, giving everyone a reason to vote for him. There was also a lot of whining involved - both from a few vocal media members and Embiid himself.
Yeah, their supporting cast is brutal.
It's nice for Phoenix that they got their win, and maybe Booker/KD can go superhuman again at home. But it still feels like Denver is going to come out of this series; Phoenix just needs wayyyy too much from its stars.
Just noticed how many coaches are bunched up around 100 career playoff wins.
109 Doc Rivers
101 Erik Spoelstra
100 Larry Brown
99 Red Auerbach
98 Steve Kerr
98 Jerry Sloan
That’s #4-9 all time. Top three: Jackson 229, Riley 171, Popovich 170.
109 Doc Rivers
101 Erik Spoelstra
100 Larry Brown
99 Red Auerbach
98 Steve Kerr
98 Jerry Sloan
That’s #4-9 all time. Top three: Jackson 229, Riley 171, Popovich 170.
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Because they didn't want to give a third straight MVP to a guy that would have zero championships
Very cool. I never would have guessed that Doc was so high on the list. He had a 10 year stretch from 07-08 to 16-17 with the Celtics and Clippers where he made the playoffs every year, and of course had the two finals trips with Boston. Spo's record is even more impressive when considering that he's been a head coach 9 fewer years than Doc and 16 fewer years than Larry Brown. He's only 52 years old, so it seems plausible he could pass his boss Riley.
Would love to see Pop get the Spurs back to the playoffs one more time before he hangs 'em up and bump Riley down another peg.
Lowry fouls Randle in plain sight and the refs miss that, then compound it by calling Randle for the loose ball when he's trying to recover the ball after being hit by Lowry.
The NBA reallly does have an officiating problem.
The NBA reallly does have an officiating problem.
The NBA 100% has an officiating problem. But this is also on the players too. I don’t know if there needs to be a system of fines for flipping or what needs to happen but it’s a joke. Some of these guys, like Lowry, just have 0 pride in themselves or shame. It’s disgusting to watch
better narrative?
Kidding aside, he’s a vastly better defender. But I would have had Embiid second or third so I’m not the one to ask
Really tough reffing in this game.
The Knicks would have lost regardless but it's out of hand.
The Knicks would have lost regardless but it's out of hand.
NBA has done pretty well rolling back the ego of refs—which was an issue a few years ago. But they’ve totally failed to address 1) the grifting by players which continues to be rewarded and 2) the inconsistency of calls
The only one I have fathom are voters simply not wanting to give him 3 in a row when there was another close candidate.
It's not that complicated. Both Embiid and Joker are excellent* offensive players, but while Embiid is good to great defensively, Joker ranges from average to very bad depending on the situation. Add in the fact that Joker had won two in a row while winning just one total playoff series at the same time, and the voters were perfectly happy to give it to someone else.
*Embiid scores more points but Jokic is solidly more efficient, and he makes everyone around him far better. Still, most voters didn't both with much of a distinction.
*Embiid scores more points but Jokic is solidly more efficient, and he makes everyone around him far better. Still, most voters didn't both with much of a distinction.
I get that Embiid is great and this is not throwing shade at him but Jokic’s numbers were as good or better, his team was better, and when you look at how their respective teams did without them, Denver was terrible while Philly actually was great.
Let's see if they can win in the desert again first. If they are banking on Booker shooting 20-25 from the field then I'm not so sure....actually kinda confident the other way.
It's tough because he's been hurt, but in 12 career playoff games Randle now has a FG% of .323 (and .229 from 3). That's murderously bad.
Not defending him really but some context, the ATL series 2021 he had so little help offensively, they just collapsed on him every time and no one else stepped up. The two series this year he came back quickly from his ankle sprain, and has been matched against Mobley and Adebayo.
I was pretty anti-Thibs in Chicago, he doesn’t know any gear but fifth and guys wear down. His style has been a good fit for this Knicks team, and he ran circles around Bickerstaff in the first round, but he is way way way out of his league against Spoelstra.
NY can flip it back if they can get game 4, 2-2 and 2 of 3 left in MSG, but they were not competitive today.
NY can flip it back if they can get game 4, 2-2 and 2 of 3 left in MSG, but they were not competitive today.
This is all fair, and 12 games spread across 3 series isn't a giant sample size. It's more concerning because this is a player who has been plagued by inconsistency across his career, even we just look at his 4 years with the Knicks. When he's good, he's legit all-NBA. When he's bad, it's disastrously bad.
I just don't think this is how NBA MVPs are decided. The loud media has been dying to give one to Embiid. As was stated above, Jokic taking time off gave the opening.
Its a Saturday night marquee game and ESPN trots out Breen (fine in isolation) along with Waldorf and Statler who proceed to complain about the types of fouls being called in today's NBA. I get that its a real complaint by many here but its an old man yelling at clouds type thing. The league ain't changing because a bunch of blue haired types want it like it was when they grew up.
There was also a pretty heavy narrative/loud, bullying minority towards Embiid (one of them being Drew Hanlen, whose twitter presence is incredibly fucking annoying, to be kind).
Embiid also seems to really care about and want the MVP to the point that he whines/comes up with completely false narratives when he doesn’t win (completely shocking that Embiid would whine, I know)
I think it was pretty close overall. Personally I would have voted for Jokic but when you consider that he won two times in a row plus all of the other things that have been brought up, I understand the vote.
IMO, I don’t think Embiid is the best player in the NBA. I’m not afraid of him at all and I think his two greatest weaknesses are exposed in the playoffs (same as his bearded teammate)….a large part of his game is grifting to get free throws and that doesn’t always get rewarded plus he never seems to be in great shape. I sweat a lot but Embiid looks like a fucking walking puddle by the 4th quarter
I enjoy Embiid's game > Giannis and Jokic, but they are better. And yeah, so far Embiid hasn't cracked his green ceiling. We will see how the week goes.
Whoa….you enjoy watching Embiid more than Jokic?!?!?!?! Wow, that is a hot take. I’ll give you Giannis