Detroit is very young. They will be really good in a couple of years.
OT: NBA Playoffs
- Thread starter toby83
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Agreed
When you look at that team remember they won 14 games last year.
Even more remarkable they had a 28 game losing streak which is so bad it's actually amazing that a pro team in any sport could lose 28 in a row.
Football , Baseball , Hockey-----could never see it happening.
When you look at that team remember they won 14 games last year.
Even more remarkable they had a 28 game losing streak which is so bad it's actually amazing that a pro team in any sport could lose 28 in a row.
Football , Baseball , Hockey-----could never see it happening.
I think the Cavs are really good, but playoffs is all about matchups. Teams hunt for advantages and Cleveland, IMO, doesn't have a true second star to help Mitchell when teams force other Cavs to step up.
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anon_xekqhstck0ygt
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Disagree. For one Mitchell hasn't carried the team. His minutes and numbers were purposefully down this year (31 min per night). Mobley is a beast. There's your number 2. And the defensive player of the year. Then you have Garland. Cavs are also deep. They have guys like Hunter, Allen, Jerome, and even Strus who can step up any night. Regular 10 man rotation. Second best offensive efficieny in NBA history. They have 8 guys shooting 3's better than league average. I'm predicting the title. Let's revist this in June.
One more point. The NBA has been great this year. I've been down on it, but I caught Cavs fever the last few years thanks to my son. (Still root for the Knicks as a Jersey born)
One complaint is the stupid play in. Miami had ZERO business in the playoffs. Terrible team.
I'm not sold on Mobley. IMO, Mobley is like Bridges for my Knicks. He'll show up big time in certain games and disappear in others.
The reason I said physical play gives the Cavs problems is because they've struggled against OKC and Boston at times. Heck the soft Knicks pushed them around in the playoffs two years ago and Orlando pushed them to the brink last year.
Overall, the Cavs have shown during the regular season they have the ability to win. The question is will the supporting cast show up at away games? That the difference in winning or losing. Stars show up, but sidekicks have a tendency to disappear when the lights are the brightest.
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anon_xekqhstck0ygt
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I was with you on Mobley, until this season. He's greatly improved. Added a 3 point shot. I always thought he was too skinny. But he can shoot it and drive past smaller guys at 7 feet. Last couple years they were pushed around ya, but I think that's why they fired JB and brought in Atkinson. Should be a fun watch
The Lakers at least managed a winning record, and Austin Reaves is not a bad third banana. They probably regret rescinding the trade for Mark Williams. He would have provided needed rim protection. That's the scariest parallel with RU.
OKC is the best defensive team in the NBA. A lot of teams struggle against them. Boston is a tough matchup. Brown and Tatum are elite defenders.
Was going to say the same thing!
Similar Rutgers struggled with not upgrading the center position.
Did you see Mark Williams tweeted last night trolling the Lakers after they got eliminated.
The Lakers were outscored by a ton when Luka, Lebron, and Reeves played together. Everyone is seeing why Dallas moved on.
Gobert slapped up 27 points and 24 rebounds. The Lakers turned him into Wilt Chamberlain. Hard to imagine Williams doing worse.
It was the perfect matchup for him. The remaining playoff teams have the personnel to make him unplayable. The Lakers didn't.
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anon_xekqhstck0ygt
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Pistons youth just couldn’t hang on, but they are gonna be a very good team.
Time for the Knicks to get manhandled by Boston.
Time for the Knicks to get manhandled by Boston.
Congrats to the Knicks, but they probably don’t get past Boston this year. That may be disappointing, but the Knicks are a solid team. They have enough talent to be an Eastern Conference contender for the next few years.
As a Knicks fan, that sounds great but as long as Thibs is the HC, no way. I'm still questioning the front office for giving away five 1st round picks for Bridges. Bridges is not an all-star or close to being one, so why deplete your assets? The Knicks need more help for the bench.
I saw one clip...Detroit guy on Brunson like a glove. He does a crossover 30 feet from the basket and losses his man and drains a 3 pointer.
That is why I hate it.
NBA has ridiculous athletes. Defense is played (so you guys say) in the playoffs. Guys want to win bad. I get all of this.
The game, to me is completely broken. That isn't basketball. I hate what the transfer rules, NIL, and $ has made college basketball, but my decision to not renew my great seats was finalized watching the BYU - Alabama game. The game has completely become how you defend and if you make 24 foot shots.
It was definitely an overpay, but Bridges is the kind of guy you need with Thibs. Almost never hurt, plays big minutes, shoots efficiently and very above average defensively. Quietly, I think the big mistake, besides allowing Hartenstein to leave, was trading Quentin Grimes two years ago for basically nothing. I'd prefer Grimes to McBride on the bench.
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anon_xekqhstck0ygt
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I had been in the "there is no defense" camp for a while. IDK, these playoffs have had some great games. And defense. Even with plays you describe. Also hadn't really watched the NBA for a number of years but I'm coming back around. I also don't think you're wrong.
I get the sense there are a lot of folks that wish the game wasn't so 3 point heavy, but look past it. If they had their druthers there would be less, but it doesn't drive them away from the game.
What is the alternative?
Suppose they got rid of the 3pt line.
Is it exciting to watch one guy, post up, dribble the ball into the ground for 10 seconds backing someone down?
I don't care where guys make shots from.
What's the difference between watching a guy shoot and make a 20ft shot and a 22ft shot?
Did a little research
1.145 points per possession regular season
1.135 points per possession playoffs
barely better D on initial thought...HOWEVER
98.8 possessions per 48 minutes regular season
93.9 possessions per 48 minutes playoffs
tells me offenses aren't settling OR better D making them use more shot clock OR both
1.145 points per possession regular season
1.135 points per possession playoffs
barely better D on initial thought...HOWEVER
98.8 possessions per 48 minutes regular season
93.9 possessions per 48 minutes playoffs
tells me offenses aren't settling OR better D making them use more shot clock OR both
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To me see the game use more off the court and shots going up from different areas. Screening taking place on a lot of different places. Defenses having to EMPHASIZE guarding bigger areas.
Just me.
Hmm I think part of the reason so many 3s are going up is because of the superior defenders. If a player is able to get to the rim multiple times a game, whoever is guarding him is labeled a bad defender. There are only so many screens and backdoor cuts you can run before NBA players and coaches figure it out. That's why so many teams like to run the fast break, trying to score before the defense gets set. When people say they don't play defense in the NBA I don't think they get how skilled these guys are lol..most of the time these guys are up against great defense and hit the shot anyway..unless it's a team like the wizards or something. Can't say the pistons are weak anymore, even the trailblazers played teams tough this year. I think the defense you want leads to the 3 pointers you hate lol
If someone watched Xavian Lee v. Martini highlights they would surmise "College basketball plays no defense".
I'll be generous, approximately 96% of NBA guards/wings/forwards are better offensively than Lee.
Caleb was Big Ten DPOY in 2022 and 2023. Not to take anything away from him but 99.9% of NBA players are better offensively than any player he guarded those two years (Zach Edey the notable exception but Caleb wasn't guarding him).
Ace for all his skill will be a 4th option when he's on the floor next year.
Design a defense for just Dylan, Lee, RHJ, Ace plus a center who can shoot - that Wolf kid.
That would be among the worst NBA lineups offensively.
And that doesn't even get into the offensive coaching and scheme.
That's not beef for playoffs....
Detroit on the perimeter guards Brunson like a hawk. Brunson makes a move and has the entire lane wide open. ....
He can.
A) drive it to the basket looking to finish
B) drive it to the basket forcing help and making a pass
C) drive it to the basket to get a closer higher percentage shot
D) Take a 24 footer
The fact that D is the best option is why I hate the NBA (and college to a lesser extent)
Those guys in the NBA didn't come into the league shooting lights out. It's different when you can focus only on your trade and not worry about school.
Brunson is like 6'1" and not the most athletic. Detroit has some solid bigs wide open 3 might be his best option. I will say that some guys don't know when to stop shooting them. In that same game Detroit pg Cunningham was like 0-10 shooting 3s...he's a great young player but he's 6'6", they were double teaming him so I get him taking the shots he could get but he hurt them last night. Same with Anthony Edwards he made the most threes in the league this year but last game, though Minnesota was able to close out the Lakers, Edwards was like 0-10 from 3 as well..I feel like after the 3rd or 4th miss you should only take them if you're wide open but these guys will miss step back after step back lol like I said these guys face double teams and get frustrated with the defense. Though they both pass and make plays off the double teams, sometimes they settle for too many threes
If you spent much time watching the Knicks, you would recognize Jalen Brunson drives to the rim all the time. But his ability to get to the rim is in no small part due to the fact that he can create his own 3 point shot whenever he wants, forcing defenders to play him very tight 25 feet from the basket, making it much easier to drive past them. But for the threat to be real, he needs to continue taking and hitting a fair number of 3s.
That's exactly what's happening now. Before the three point revolution, teams weren't forced to defend more of the court. If you watch games from the 70s, 80s, and 90s, the spacing was non existent. Teams didn't have to defend bigger areas. They do now.
A and C seem like different ways of saying the same thing to me? Both likely result in you having to finish through contact in a series where refs have already shown they are hesitant to end the game in a foul.
B is just D with extra steps. It also takes the ball out of your best player’s hands unnecessarily and makes you rely on someone else to make a shot to win the game.
You have a wide open look at three, you take the three.
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There was a stat one of the sports talk shows put up and it favorites Detroit. When the free throw attempts were similar, the Knicks won. When the free throw attempts were lopsided in favor of Detroit, they won.
I think Garland makes it a closer game, but Indiana had the perfect game plan for Cleveland. Indiana allowed Mitchell and Mobley shoot at will. Stars will get their shots, but limit the supporting cast. Usually the supporting cast shows up at home. Indiana stop that from happening.