I think CJ McCollum and Dame Lillard are enjoying this win more than the Nuggets. At least on Twitter.
Plus, didn't like Harden and Paul hate each others guts? I never followed the story closely enough to know how this story turned out.I disagree that it was a mistake to trade for Paul. We won 67 games with a historic points differential, rolled through the playoffs and very, very nearly beat the best team ever. Morey went all-in and nearly won. The extension for Paul was also agreed before the trade was done. We planned on getting a 2-3 year window, but instead got 1 because after Paul’s hamstring went, his first step went with it. Now we’re on the downslope of Harden’s peak, and there’s no alternative than to keep going all-in. I don’t really fault Morey for upping the ante because that’s what you need to do when you have a guy like Harden. He has some duds in the playoffs but we don’t lose because of him, we lose because we don’t have a second scorer to take the load off him in tight games (see: Series v Warriors last year, Games 6&7 v Warriors the year before, Games 3-5 v Lakers this year).
There was a report following the game that players were constantly calling to the bench after 3-4 minute runs since the 2Q. If this weren’t a bubble I’d be wondering if someone was hiding positive test results. Very strange.I just caught some of the highlights, or lowlights if you're the Clippers. They both choked and gave up, simultaneously. What a joy to see.
I am not a big Kawhi fan, so seeing his team implode after he screwed over the Spurs and then spurned Toronto, although he brought them a title, is very enjoyable. Turns out one player can't win it on his own. And Toronto showed they were just more than one player this year.
Both great, but McCollum's is...awesome.
Damn, your 6th sense is impressiveLol Westbrook (though in fairness, he did have a great stretch of games in the regular season)
I'll give them CP3 because they play such different positions, but Siakam ahead of both Tatum and Butler is...bad.Tatum behind Siakam and CP3 is all sorts of cray cray
Athletic Alchemy recently memed him with Captain Phillips (“Look at me — I’m the captain now!”) Vaguely xenophobic humor aside, I think he gives pretty fair breakdown of Siakam’s strengths and weaknesses...He almost checks every box except that he hasn't yet become meme-able.
Harden blew up Paul's kitchen by putting metal in CPs microwave...Harden denied it, luckily CP had really good home owners insurancePlus, didn't like Harden and Paul hate each others guts? I never followed the story closely enough to know how this story turned out.
The trend of energy players struggling in the bubble (Siakam, RWB, Harrell, etc) while the shooters thrive is something that we could see reversed next year......unless we are in a bubble again.Lol Westbrook (though in fairness, he did have a great stretch of games in the regular season).
Edit: and yeah, Siakam over Tatum looks completely ridiculous right now.
All recency-bias first team: Jokic, AD, LeBron, Tatum, Butler.
He put the defender out of position, gained an angle and drew contact. That has to be a foul regardless of who the offensive player is that beats the defender. Same thing with LBJ 3-pt play when Grant didn’t get to the spot.I think the Lakers can literally murder someone on the court tonight without getting a whistle against them. LeBron taunting dudes to their face after the Nuggets just got T'd. It's really not that impressive he gets any whistle he wants despite his incredible talent. I got a call- so there!
I had no problem with the foul call, I had a problem with LBJ pointedly yelling "AND ONE" directly at the Denver player on the ground for 20 straight seconds afterwards. I felt it would be a clear T if any other player directed that at an opposing player.He put the defender out of position, gained an angle and drew contact. That has to be a foul regardless of who the offensive player is that beats the defender. Same thing with LBJ 3-pt play when Grant didn’t get to the spot.
Ah gotcha. I just don’t see an issue with the officiating. The aggressive team who had position in the paint was drawing the calls while the more passive team on the other end wasn’t drawing fouls. The worst officiating call I’ve seen in this game was the non-5th foul call on Jokic.I had no problem with the foul call, I had a problem with LBJ pointedly yelling "AND ONE" directly at the Denver player on the ground for 20 straight seconds afterwards. I felt it would be a clear T if any other player directed that at an opposing player.
Houston was the #1 rated defensive team in the bubble. You first need to find a team that can matchup with the Lakers.God forbid the Lakers play a team in these playoffs that values defense.
Oh, I know a team that can...Houston was the #1 rated defensive team in the bubble. You first need to find a team that can matchup with the Lakers.
The Rockets were 14th during the regular season in defensive rating and also don't play real basketball; the Lakers steamrolling them on offense was very predictable.Houston was the #1 rated defensive team in the bubble. You first need to find a team that can matchup with the Lakers.
What is “real basketball” because no team in the bubble defended better. The Lakers are just a mismatch for everyone in the league except the Clippers and the Bucks. The Rockets couldn’t defend them for the same reasons why Denver sent them to the line 32x in the 1H.The Rockets were 14th during the regular season in defensive rating and also don't play real basketball; the Lakers steamrolling them on offense was very predictable.
He's going up my list, too, but Pedro is still at the top of the pile -- some things don't change. Russell and Ali too. But watching LeBron play is just amazing -- don't recall anyone who had his combination of intelligence, athleticism, versatility, and team-mindedness.LeBron has become my favorite of athlete that I have seen (sorry Pedro). Bill Russell and Muhammad Ali are still ahead of him tho.
He seemed to lose focus a bit there and got called for a couple of sloppy rookie fouls. It was really a shame because he had a nice run up to that point. CBS trusted him enough to stick him back in there later.grant williams winning the award for "softest foul calls against" tonight
How are the Lakers a mismatch for the Celtics or Miami?What is “real basketball” because no team in the bubble defended better. The Lakers are just a mismatch for everyone in the league except the Clippers and the Bucks. The Rockets couldn’t defend them for the same reasons why Denver sent them to the line 32x in the 1H.
That tip was absolutely incredibleJoker is such a unique guy to watch, he's a joy.