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NBA Playoffs 2023 Discussion

Discussion in 'NBA Discussion' started by sirronstuff, Apr 10, 2023.

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KareemtheGreat33 - Lakers MVP -

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sirronstuff said: ↑

46 is on the take. You can see it in his eyes.
Click to expand...

42 is Eric Lewis the guy who did not call that Tatum slap on LeBron’s game winner and found to be a C Bags fan later on

KareemtheGreat33, May 16, 2023

#1801

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ADKOBE said: ↑

What a surprise Stephen A is backing up Doc, I wonder why
Click to expand...

I'll bite .... why say you that?

LTLakerFan, May 16, 2023

#1802

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KareemtheGreat33 said: ↑

42 is Eric Lewis the guy who did not call that Tatum slap on LeBron’s game winner and found to be a C Bags fan later on
Click to expand...

Eric lewis is a openly C bag fan too there is photos of him and his family n puke green

PurPle n GoLd 1, May 16, 2023

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KareemtheGreat33 said: ↑

42 is Eric Lewis the guy who did not call that Tatum slap on LeBron’s game winner and found to be a C Bags fan later on
Click to expand...

that lewis is officiating C Bags games (and lakers games) given what is publicly known about him is just amazing to me. silver has to realize how this looks, even if he doesn't think lewis is influencing games (and he most certainly is).

abeer3, May 16, 2023

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Lakers in 5..6 at the most. Denver has no answers for AD on defense, for some reason, nobody is talking about that part, it's all about Jokic. The Lakers are the deeper team, Denver only plays 6 guys. I'm struggling with why should the Nuggets be favored in this series. The Lakers are the better defensive team, have a deeper bench, and have the best duo in this series. We are the only team that they will have faced at full strength, I don't think this is going to be as close as the media hopes.

Slick2021, May 16, 2023

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So KCP DIDN'T LEARN I SEE

Whiteboard material

PurPle n GoLd 1, May 16, 2023

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Well

PurPle n GoLd 1, May 16, 2023

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Fans are the best

sirronstuff, May 16, 2023

#1808

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Slick2021 said: ↑

Lakers in 5..6 at the most. Denver has no answers for AD on defense, for some reason, nobody is talking about that part, it's all about Jokic. The Lakers are the deeper team, Denver only plays 6 guys. I'm struggling with why should the Nuggets be favored in this series. The Lakers are the better defensive team, have a deeper bench, and have the best duo in this series. We are the only team that they will have faced at full strength, I don't think this is going to be as close as the media hopes.
Click to expand...

AD stats especially his blocks are not sexy compared to triple doubles

KuzmoBall17, May 16, 2023

#1809
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PurPle n GoLd 1 said: ↑

So KCP DIDN'T LEARN I SEE

Whiteboard material
Click to expand...

JSM, May 16, 2023

#1810

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JSM said: ↑

Click to expand...

This is an old quote from earlier in the season, when Lebron was hurt though.

Slick2021, May 16, 2023

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KuzmoBall17 said: ↑

AD stats especially his blocks are not sexy compared to triple doubles
Click to expand...

It's not just that though...I can't see this big gap,that supposedly exist, and is skewed towards Jokic period, head to head.

https://www.landofbasketball.com/games_between/anthony_davis_vs_nikola_jokic.htm

Slick2021, May 16, 2023

#1812
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Slick2021 said: ↑

It's not just that though...I can't see this big gap,that supposedly exist, and is skewed towards Jokic period, head to head.

https://www.landofbasketball.com/games_between/anthony_davis_vs_nikola_jokic.htm
Click to expand...

Screaming Steven A .Smith and other talking heads doesn't even know that this page exists . Casual fans or Lakers haters don't care about that stuff at all.
All they hear that Lebron is too old and Davis can be injured at any time

KuzmoBall17, May 16, 2023

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I think this looks like a great matchup. Denver has been consistently the best in the West all year long and has a strong squad now with Murray and MPJ back healthy, a good two way SG addition in KCP, Gordon having a good year and the Joker another MVP type season.

But our guys are playing the best ball in the NBA since the trade deadline. Our defense has been stifling and we just took out the number 2 team in the West and the most potentially dangerous team in the champs GS. I like where we stand and the chemistry we have developed. No predictions, just bring it on!

Last edited: May 16, 2023

lakerjones, May 16, 2023

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should be another good, tough, well-played series. hopefully, we come out on top.

abeer3, May 16, 2023

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Two scouts, a front-office executive involved in scouting, and a coach were granted anonymity in exchange for their candor in scouting the conference finals.
Click to expand...

Scout No. 1

I actually think that Denver is a better matchup for the Lakers compared to the previous two they’ve had in Memphis and Golden State. The Lakers being a bigger and older team — older in a certain sense — struggle with those dynamic, shifty or explosive guards. I actually think they will fare well against everyone else besides Jokic. The Lakers tend to be pretty good when they can hone in on one thing specifically.

For Denver, in a perfect world, Jokic scores 30, [has] eight to 10 assists, 10 to 12 rebounds, and he just affects the game in three huge areas. If you relegate him to one I think you have a good chance. He had 53 against Phoenix and they lost. … I think they’ll try a bunch of different things against Jokic, but my scouting mind would tell me they allow him to score 40 or 50. No. 1, it tires him out. No. 2, it limits everyone else [on Denver] and then you’re asking him to score that much four games in a row, which plays on his conditioning, plays on their pace and the games every other day, so you’re playing into those factors and the Lakers might have the edge in that.

The Nuggets hold an edge in their motivation. They seem very confident and they have a lot of big bodies to throw at LeBron, as far as [Aaron] Gordon, and they can do some different things. I just think the Lakers may run into some trouble if they’re relying on [Austin] Reaves and Lonnie Walker [IV]. The Lakers need someone else every game. I trust Dennis Schroder, but if I had to lean on trusting D’Angelo Russell, Reaves or having another huge game by [Rui] Hachimura, I don’t know about that. I think Denver’s depth does help them, that they have players who have been pretty consistent all year.
Click to expand...

Coach

The Lakers seem to have a little bit of that championship magic a little bit where they’re getting the random Russell game, they get the Hachimura game, they get the Lonnie Walker game. They get stuff like that where it’s these guys in big moments they’re getting role players to step up and so they’ve survived those games where LeBron hasn’t been as effective.

I’m just really interested how they cover Jokic from a Lakers perspective. You have someone in AD that I think can potentially guard him one on one and he’s one of the few guys that can but then AD is out of help-side — does this become more of a Jarred Vanderbilt series? Because you’re going to need someone off the ball roaming off those drives if AD’s sole focus is Jokic. Will they send extra bodies if they have AD as a secondary defender [on Jokic]? If anyone else besides AD is matched up on Jokic, how are they coming — top side, baseline side, on the dribble, on the catch?
Click to expand...

Front-office executive

Aaron Gordon can guard LeBron to some degree, as much as anyone can. KCP [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope] can guard whoever they decide to guard whoever they decide to put as their No. 1 on the perimeter be it Austin Reaves or D’Angelo Russell, and Michael Porter Jr. has improved defensively; they don’t have to hide him as much, which allows them to put Jamal wherever they really want to conserve some energy. But AD has given them issues and if the Lakers are starting AD at the center does that mean the Nuggets try to let Jokic be the rover? Do they put Jokic on AD directly? I think that’s kind of the big question.

AD has not had the same success guarding Jokic. (Note: When guarded by Davis on 119 possessions during the regular season, Jokic made 16 of his 25 shots — including 15 of his 18 inside the three-point arc — with only three turnovers.) With the Lakers, it’s more how do we stop what has become just this offense rolling downhill at a high level these last few games. How do we limit the amount of transition, limit Jokic’s damage, maybe just turn him into a scorer is something I’ve thought about for them. Let him go one on one and as long as AD’s not in foul trouble we’ll live if he ends up with 40 points if he only has four assists. It’s when he’s got 25 to 30 points and 10 to 15 assists and everyone’s eating is where they’re really, really scary.

My guess is they’ll start Vanderbilt on Murray, and it’ll be a six-minute-a-half starter just to kind of not let Jamal get going. But if they struggle at all it’s going to be a super short leash because the Nuggets can score and if [the Lakers] are leaving a zero out there offensively. … Vanderbilt’s been on a roller coaster for them from chipping in 20 points and being a defensive stopper to basically being played off the floor at times. I think you’re just gauging what Vanderbilt you’re getting and what can you survive.

Denver is trying to survive their bench minutes. The Lakers have had games where they’ve dominated from the bench. If they win this series, there’s probably one or two games where the bench swings it.
Click to expand...

Scout No. 2

If AD can stay healthy, I think it’s the Lakers in seven. It’s going to be a great series.

Nobody can stop Jokic, but AD probably has the best chance of many in the league to at least affect his game a little bit. ... If you can negate him a little bit then I think you’re starting to rely on other guys, Jamal Murray, who’s really good but maybe not good enough to help win a playoff series in the Western Conference finals. You’re relying on some guys to do things that you’re just not going to get out of them.

I think it’s just harder for Denver to neutralize the Lakers’ two biggest threats. I don’t know what [coach] Michael Malone’s going to do other than hope that Jokic is able to play at the level he’s capable of playing and still make that offense tick with AD guarding him.
Click to expand...

JSM, May 16, 2023

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My prediction:

Both teams played (will play) hard, to quote Rasheed Wallace.

Juronimo, May 16, 2023

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KareemtheGreat33 said: ↑

Click to expand...

This is an awful crew, Lewis is a C Bags fan and the other 2 call weak fouls all the time.

Weezy, May 16, 2023

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Scumbags

ADKOBE, May 16, 2023

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Like the Times expert opinions above, The Athletic asked a scout, coach, and exec to weigh in....

Scout’s outlook:

“Home court matters there probably more than most places. Denver’s got the best player. I mean, you could argue LeBron now. But Jokić is the best player in this series. Denver’s got a better starting team. Maybe I’ll give a slight edge to the Lakers’ bench, especially with their playoff performances.

“(Rui) Hachimura was great. (Dennis) Schröder came on in the last series. Hachimura was a big factor. Can he maintain that level? Shooting 50 percent from 3, his numbers are a little beyond what people have expected.

“The thing with Denver is they haven’t been there. KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) has been there, but otherwise nobody else has got a ring, I don’t think, on their team.

“But Anthony Davis has to be consistent throughout. I’m not sure he can be. He has played all the games, but he’s been pretty up and down. And he’s going to have to be great for them to win.

“The Lakers have played how many good games together? I’m not sure whether that will matter, but Denver’s been together the whole year. I saw them in February and even then they were one of the most cohesive teams I’ve seen. That has a lot to do with Jokić and also that they’ve played together for a little while now. You can’t say the same about the Lakers. So I think the continuity factor could play a role.

“My only question about Denver is whether the moment’s too big.”
Click to expand...

Coach’s outlook

“The way the Lakers are playing right now, they’re really playing unbelievable basketball. Everybody sees after the trade deadline the pieces that they brought in to where you can do multiple things. You can put ’Bron on the ball; you can put ’Bron off the ball. You can put D’Angelo Russell on the ball; you can put DLo off the ball. And you can play through Anthony Davis. They have a ton of offense now. They defend a lot better. They have quickness on the perimeter with (Dennis) Schröder. Even Austin Reaves, he’s a tough defender; he’s better than what a lot of people give him credit for. (Jarred) Vanderbilt does a good job with his length. I think Vanderbilt’s defense on Jamal Murray is going to be critical. That’s not going to be (Vanderbilt’s) only matchup. I believe they’re going to throw some different guys on (Murray), some different schemes and coverages at him. But I really believe the Lakers are going to win a game on the road, just like they did in the first two series. …

“With the Lakers, how do you defend Nikola Jokić? The last time these two teams played in the Western Conference final in the bubble, I thought the Lakers had a luxury with the depth of their bigs. The Lakers had JaVale McGee, Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis, and McGee and Howard just beat up Jokić. From a physicality standpoint, they went in there and they took fouls. They didn’t care. They beat him up every single time. The Lakers don’t have that physicality anymore. So what schemes and coverages are you going to do differently for Nikola Jokić, because I just don’t believe that Anthony Davis is the end-all, be-all with him. So I’m very eager to see what they’re going to come up with for Jokić; I mean, he’s a tough coverage. You can’t really trap him on the block — he’s going to make you pay with every kind of pass known to man. So do you play him straight-up? Do you double him on the perimeter? …

“It’s going to be a very tough series. Denver has multiple defenders that they can throw at LeBron, starting with Aaron Gordon. I’m almost sure he’s going to start on LeBron, but you can throw Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope at him. They have a number of guys that they can throw at LeBron, so when one guy gets worn out and he’s tired from the way ’Bron is trying to score or play with force, you can throw another guy on him and you just keep rotating bodies and keep them fresh to where they really make ’Bron work to score.”
Click to expand...

KCP on Bron? yes please!

Executive’s outlook

“I say Denver (will win), for three reasons. Home-court advantage. They’ve been great at home. Two, I just think that in that Anthony Davis-(Nikola) Jokić matchup that Davis will wear him down. Jokić will wear down AD. And then three, I just wonder: I know LeBron (James) is invincible, but at a certain point does he wear down a little bit? Especially the longer this series is extended? I mean, I know he’s Superman, but at a certain point he’s got to wear down.

“Denver has the superior talent in the backcourt with (Jamal Murray). I like both guards from the Lakers — both (D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves) are good, and (Dennis) Schröder, too. I mean, they’ve got nice depth back there now. But I just think Murray is a superior player, a superior talent.”

“(When you ask me to compare this matchup to these teams’ Western Conference finals matchup in 2020, I’d say) the 2020 matchup was a bubble matchup. Being in the bubble, I don’t know how much any of that was real, to a certain extent. I mean, the games were played, the players were playing and the competition was occurring. But I don’t know. I think it’s just so much different now with the travel and the full season now. You think about that shortened season. I don’t know if it’s even comparable. Let’s go seven games, only because you give LeBron his due.”
Click to expand...

bubble denier. His team wasn't invited.

Scout’s pick: Nuggets in six
Coach’s pick: Lakers in six
Executive’s pick: Nuggets in seven
Majority pick: Nuggets
Click to expand...

JSM, May 16, 2023

#1820

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