Fair question. I think he is top 5 presently. I think Spo & Pop are automatically over him. I do like what Monty has done this season. Carlisle now unemployed? Just my opinion. I don't like the Clips...I often get asked why I hate the Clips so much. LOL. But I'm done fawning over them. And I think they lose to Phoenix depending on when Chris can get back.
To me the sucking for decades is part of the curse. Then when they got good every playoffs would be ended by a Chris Paul or Blake Griffin injury.
with the nets injuries (and no guarantee they'll even advance,) i don't see anyone beating a healthy clippers team suns better hope kawhi stays out
The Nets going down... Go Suns, I guess, and let's have a nice, peaceful NBA finals (then it's go Bucks/Hawks, whatever).
It was supposed to be the Nets vs Lakers.... Injuries plagued the Nets just like they did with the Lakers. Harden played 53 minutes on a bad hamstring and Durant did the best he could. Kyrie being out really hurt the Nets. Oh well, there is always next season.
To be completely fair to the Nets: there no way the Bucks would ever win the series if everyone was healthy... but that's basketball for you. Kudos to Durant, he played the best post-Achilles basketball possible, did his best to carry the team. Hobbled Harden is not even close to hobbled LeBron, but then... healthy Harden isn't as good as old but healthy LBJ, so that's to be expected. Giannis with an impressive game overall, but those free throws... you can't shoot like that man, you could have won this game comfortably.
Well, for Giannis it isn't even developing a jumper. He could develop some semblance of a post game. Right now, it's just - dunk, drive, rinse and repeat. He needs something else as he gets older. If I was him, I'd ask Kareem or Hakeem help me become a modern CENTER with an array of offensive moves closer to the basket.
Let's say if Kawhi and CP are out, do you think George & cast can beat Booker & cast? Probably. They got over that mental hump vs the Mavs and with the 26 point comeback last night, they are mentally trending in the right direction
Injuries were definetely a big factor but if Joe Harris does not turn into Kyle Kuzma shooting wise , the Nets advance ... Just saying ..
He needs these Antwan Jamison type of shots around the rim imo . That being said , he's still dominating despite his limitations
clips have the advantage with paul out. PG will continue his revenge tour and one of their role guys will step up like they have been all playoffs
well, there's a reason those shots go by his name. only a handful of people in nba history had that array of shots (i think my dad would argue maybe gervin had some of that?). those scoops and floaters and banks for a guy that size are tough. giannis simply doesn't have the coordination, and his movements are more mechanical in general. i agree with karacha that the best you can hope for is a more refined low post game. he hit that nice jump hook to tie the game in OT. it wasn't pretty, but with practice, that could be a go-to move for him. the sooner he develops those, the better, as his athleticism won't be where it is for much longer.
I don't get why these top flight athletic phenoms from LeBron through today wait so long work on rounding out their game. The athleticism will fade and that can be greatly accelerated if you have an injury... and usually is. If that comes natural because there's no one else in the league built like you, then what exactly are you working on in the offseason? These guys don't start working on their J, 3, footwork, and counters until they're a seasoned vet. Wasting their physical primes usually. Imagine if Greek had a reliable shot or Bron had this range on his J a decade ago. In Bron's case, if he's getting from rim to rim in 5 seconds AND has logo range, he doesn't need help and is averaging 45.
At this point, it's Milwaukee's title to lose. Only healthy team left and they have been knocking for 2 years.