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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 28, 2021 12:22:03 GMT -5
Middleton is great. His problem is simply consistency. He's basically Paul George where he has games where he is an absolute beast with his scoring, passing and defense. Then he has games where he is Pandemic P with horrific shooting and stupid turnovers. Difference being PG is getting more press for his shortcomings because the Clippers NEED the beast version night in and night out to win, whereas Middleton can be afforded his Pandemic P games given he has Giannis, Jrue etc.
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Post by doakley8 on Jun 28, 2021 12:24:26 GMT -5
oh man..Pandemic P...the worst bad shot taker in the NBA. He's putting way to much hand on the ball when he shoots, it's coming off sideways..and the pull up 3 and contesting fall aways..are just not his game..which when he gets hot..looks good..but when he's not..and he's going to shoot 6 for 22. I've never been a big PG13 fan..for years I said he's a #2 for sure..He's no 1B
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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 28, 2021 13:07:42 GMT -5
Paul George on the Pacers from 2013-2014 to 2016-2017 was a legit #1 and on OKC in 2018-2019 he was a legit #1A. His production, the record of his team and the considerable responsibility he held in their success prove that. Especially that 2015-2016 season with the Pacers.
Was he in the lower rung of #1s? In a league full of superstars, sure. He's obviously more of a Jimmy Butler or DeMar DeRozan level-lead than a Luka, Lebon or even Tatum. Is he better off as a sidekick? Yeah, of course because he's not at a superstar level.
However, we shouldn't erase his past success because the present version - an often banged up, 30+ year old version - is flopping under the bright lights and pressure that he received joining the Clippers. PG still shows flashes of being a viable #1. It's just wildly overshadowed by the far too many moments where he looks like G-Leaguer.
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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 29, 2021 0:18:09 GMT -5
Paul George with a great game tonight. 41 points on 15-20 shooting 3-6 on threes 8-8 on FTs with 13 rebounds 6 assists 3 steals. His mid-range game was on-point and he took charges and even an elbow to the face. He still had some lame turnovers but for this game it can be forgiven. Obviously he'll need more of this and less of Pandemic P. He got some solid help from Morris and Jackson, both of whom were terrible last game. I thought Zubac being out would be a big hit but the small lineup worked to slow down Ayton and Boogie gave very solid minutes.
Hey remember when Terrance Mann scored 39 in Game 6 versus Utah? Seemed ages ago. 4 points tonight and 9 ppg this series.
Kennard with 0 points tonight and 5.4ppg this series
I think if the Clippers are going to pull this out, they need more than just PG/Jackson/Morris all having strong offensive games and Batum/PatBev defending. They'll need Mann and Kennard to step up offensively.
I do think a larger role for Boogie going forward could also be a net positive. He brings a punch to that offense with his scoring, passing and size.
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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 29, 2021 19:27:48 GMT -5
Trae Young out Game 4.
Wondering if I even need to bother watching this game.
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Post by wareagle on Jun 29, 2021 23:07:11 GMT -5
Trae Young out Game 4. Wondering if I even need to bother watching this game. Did you watch?
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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 29, 2021 23:25:42 GMT -5
Trae Young out Game 4. Wondering if I even need to bother watching this game. Did you watch?
Actually I did. Mostly in the background through because I had a Zoom meeting for the 1st half. Started watching 2nd half and then turns out the game ended up boring in the absolute opposite direction.
Guess we'll see on Giannis' injury
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Post by wareagle on Jun 30, 2021 14:11:21 GMT -5
Actually I did. Mostly in the background through because I had a Zoom meeting for the 1st half. Started watching 2nd half and then turns out the game ended up boring in the absolute opposite direction.
Guess we'll see on Giannis' injury
That’s what has made this playoffs interesting. I usually have an expectation - and it happens - but this year my expectations keep getting confounded. It’s made it much more interesting than a normal year!! Here’s hoping the unexpected turns keep happening!!
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Post by eddieeddie on Jun 30, 2021 16:40:14 GMT -5
I do enjoy the unpredictable nature of this particular postseason.
I mean, how many people could have foreseen a potential Hawks vs Suns Finals?
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Post by varsity on Jul 1, 2021 9:26:41 GMT -5
Not having LeBron in the Finals is weird. Hell not seeing him in the conference finals or 2nd round is weird. So this postseason has definitely kept my interest.
I've never been a huge CP3 fan but I'm glad he gets a chance to win a ring. And I think it's even sweeter that it's with the Suns. The Suns fanbase is solid and I'm sure that city is going crazy right now.
Plus I'm glad the Clippers lost. Just not a fan of that team.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 1, 2021 9:37:33 GMT -5
My boy Beverley let me know. Can give it but can't take it. smh
Glad Lebron's not in it..I've watched more this year than years past because of it. New faces, new teams, up and coming.
Now a Traeless and Giannisless game should be a thrill to watch
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Post by eddieeddie on Jul 1, 2021 9:45:48 GMT -5
I said in the Rumors thread prior to Game 6: "I think odds are both PG and RJackson will have bad shooting nights and while the Clippers manage to keep it close, ultimately they fall short at the end."
Clippers did keep it close well into the 3rd quarter and then decided that defense became optional. And my prediction on PG/Jackson having bad shooting nights wasn't exactly going out on a limb. 10 for 27 and 3 for 13 on threes.
ESPN had a graphic that showed PG was 1st in minutes and points this postseason and ranked pretty highly in assists and rebounds, so overall can't knock the guy for his playoff effort amidst his responsibility and hard to really fault the Clippers for losing to a higher seed without Kawhi and then Zubac....... BUT this was about as piss poor a showing in an elimination game as I've seen in a long time from a top player - his effort on defense, willingness to work to create his own offense, his continuous carelessness with the ball (almost as if he wants 4+ turnovers every game just so he can whine to the ref and get a breather) and it's his clutch failures that will be remembered more than his flashes of brilliance carrying this team.
Glad the Suns will make it to the Finals because frankly this Clippers team would have been a lackluster representative for the West and make for potential horrible TV.
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Post by wareagle on Jul 1, 2021 10:44:06 GMT -5
I do enjoy the unpredictable nature of this particular postseason. I mean, how many people could have foreseen a potential Hawks vs Suns Finals? I certainly wouldn’t have put any money on that result. I’m kind of torn on who I want the Suns to face: Bucks-Suns would seem to be the better matchup, but I always root for the underdog, and even though I’m a long time Braves hater, it would be an in your face to a lot of Atlanta haters, who hate Atlanta for the wrong reasons. Regardless I’m probably going to root for the Suns - they’re a fun team, CP3 deserves a ring, and the bonus is it’s a nice FU to Harden!!
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 1, 2021 10:47:42 GMT -5
I do enjoy the unpredictable nature of this particular postseason. I mean, how many people could have foreseen a potential Hawks vs Suns Finals? and even though I’m a long time Braves hater, it would be an in your face to a lot of Atlanta haters, who hate Atlanta for the wrong reasons. Those are fightin words..how and why are you a Braves hater? Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Chipper put it on your team or something?
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Post by wareagle on Jul 1, 2021 20:42:34 GMT -5
and even though I’m a long time Braves hater, it would be an in your face to a lot of Atlanta haters, who hate Atlanta for the wrong reasons. Those are fightin words..how and why are you a Braves hater? Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Chipper put it on your team or something? Because in the 90’s the only 2 teams on national television EVERY SINGLE DAY were the Cubs (WGN) & the Braves (TBS). The Cubs sucked, but the Braves were pretty good - which meant a bunch of fair weather Braves fans would obnoxiously show up at the Astrodome for Braves games - most of whom had not only never been to Atlanta, but whom had previously denigrated the city with racist tropes until the aforementioned Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz/Chipper showed up. I grew to LOATHE those fans - and by extension the Braves themselves - and it continues to this day. I mean, they aren’t as bad as Yankees, Cubs, Lakers, Morons, or Steelers - but they’re in the same neighborhood!!
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 2, 2021 6:24:21 GMT -5
Yea, I grew up on WGN and TBS...would watch the Braves every night on TBS..and catch Cubs some days when I was home during the days.
My bad the Killer B's couldnt get it done!...and Hampton...Gonzalez..Caminiti..Drabek..Kile..
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Post by YoungThundercat on Jul 2, 2021 6:54:48 GMT -5
NOW Brook Lopez decides to go off...smh.
Literally held him all season as he put up mediocre numbers...too good to drop, not good enough to trade.
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Post by varsity on Jul 2, 2021 10:06:51 GMT -5
Yea, I grew up on WGN and TBS...would watch the Braves every night on TBS..and catch Cubs some days when I was home during the days. My bad the Killer B's couldnt get it done!...and Hampton...Gonzalez..Caminiti..Drabek..Kile.. I'm old enough to remember when having cable was a luxury not a necessity. So Im often asked how as a kid, who grew up on the Southside of Chicago, end up a Cubs fan and that's because of WGN. I'd venture to say it's a huge reason for their national fanbase. I remember visiting family in Denver, Atlanta and even parts of rural Tennessee and still being able to watch the Cubs. Ironically if I wasn't a Cubs fan, I'd probably be a Braves fan. Once TBS really took off, they were on everywhere. Not to mention I was a huge Maddux fan.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 2, 2021 10:26:01 GMT -5
No doubt. My dad and brother were big Dale Murphy fans..so naturally I was one too. I mean it was every night my dad was in his chair watching the Braves game and well I was too young to have cable in my room, so only way to watch it was in the living room with him. Best memory was when I had gone to a camp for 1.5 weeks back 1991..When I left they had one a few games..came back and they were red hot..did the whole "worst to first".
I watched the Cubs in the Sandberg, Dawson, Grace, Dunston, then Sammy days, and of course Harry and Chip
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Post by eddieeddie on Jul 2, 2021 10:29:33 GMT -5
I guess because of what happened in Game 5, my friends were stunned the Giannis-less Bucks beat the Trae-less Hawks. I was saying we shouldn't be. Even without Giannis and DiVicenzo, because they went all-in this season, the Bucks still have a really strong 7 man rotation. Led by All-Stars in Jrue/Middleton, solid veterans in Lopez/Tucker and even beyond that guys like Forbes, Connaughton, Portis are at least in their 5th season and are proven to be quality rotational players. This isn't to say the Hawks are by any means are a bunch of scrubs sans Trae but the mix of high end talent and experience (namely in the playoffs - where 5 of their 8 guys are in their 1st playoffs) isn't the same.
Of course all of this was then overtaken by nonsense over Dame being traded to the Lakers. My friends are such homers some times.
They said: "Tell me who can beat an offer of Dennis Schroeder, Kyle Kuzma and a 1st round pick???" they said.
My response: "A lot of teams. Even in the event that inexplicably no one could, the Blazers would sooner take less than send Dame to the Lakers, similar to San Antonio not wanting to send Kawhi to the Lakers. The Blazers fanbase would absolutely crush the organization".
Their response: "Bleh, this is no different than New Orleans not wanting to send AD to the Lakers and look what happened there"
I said: "Sure, it's exactly the same. Except it's not. Dame is under contract for at least 3 more years and not an impending free agent like AD. Also the Lakers realistically had the best offer when they gave up a crapload for AD in terms of high end young talent and draft picks - including a super high pick. Schroeder, Kuz and a late 1st rd pick looks like hot garbage compared to that package"
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Post by varsity on Jul 2, 2021 11:20:30 GMT -5
I'd actually be shocked if the Lakers were high on the list of teams Dame would prefer. I get the allure of being a Laker, sunny California and everything that comes along with it but I can see his reluctancy about teaming up with LeBron and AD. As much as I think he wants to win, I think he also wants to establish himself as one of the best and playing with those 2 may thwart that. He seems to believe he's capable of being the No. 1 who can lead a team.
Now if the Lakers came up with a solid offer for Portland that intrigued them, I doubt he says "No." But back to EE's point: I don't think the Lakers have the capital to get Dame. And I also agree that the Blazers are going to want more because it's the Lakers. I think they would be far more interested in moving him to the East if he was open to that.
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Post by eddieeddie on Jul 2, 2021 13:54:43 GMT -5
I'd love to see Dame in NY personally. If there was ever a market that was a perfect match for him, this is it. Bright lights, big market, fanbase starving for a contender and franchise lacking a true superstar. Can he succeed where Ewing and Melo didn't? That's the challenge and the greater the challenge, the greater the legacy.
I don't think NY throwing their young talent along with draft picks and big time cap relief gets it done for Dame straight up, unless POR goes into full rebuilding mode - which I doubt. So I think it'd have to be a 3 or even 4 team trade to get POR the impact veteran(s) they'd likely seek in return for Dame.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 6, 2021 13:37:59 GMT -5
Suns in 6
D-Book MVP
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Post by varsity on Jul 6, 2021 14:13:22 GMT -5
My heart says Suns in 7. But I think the Bucks find a way so I'm going with Bucks in 7.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 6, 2021 14:18:28 GMT -5
Bridges is the X-Factor..he's gotta hit his timely corner 3's and defend Middleton..he's gotta make Middleton shoot low 40%'s
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 7, 2021 6:49:50 GMT -5
Bucks ain't winning with Lopez guarding CP3 & D-Book off the pick and roll. Everybody knew it was coming, and they picked it apart. Gotta sit Brook. Feed him early, let him get his, then go smaller. Ayton's gonna get his 20 boards and shoot 80% regardless.
PS: Butler/Drummond for Ayton is confirmed
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Post by varsity on Jul 7, 2021 8:30:34 GMT -5
Jrue Holiday seemed like the moment was too big for him yesterday. I'm hoping he bounces back for Game 2. As much as the Suns controlled the game throughout, if he gives you anything it's a closer contest. It'll be interesting to see going forward how committed Milwaukee is going with Giannis at the 5.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 7, 2021 8:47:46 GMT -5
It's hard to be a 3rd wheel on the Bucks..Giannis wants to bring it up or handle it up top so much so he can bulldoze to the rim, and Middleton needs his screens and curls to get his shots..that Jrue doesn't play off the ball well and just stands around. It's probably a tough point guard roll on that team. Jrue played much different and aggressive when Giannis was out, because he had the ball and more usage. So yea..it's just more of me complaining of watching Giannis-Ball.
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Post by eddieeddie on Jul 7, 2021 12:03:06 GMT -5
Ayton!
Suns in 6.
Also ironic how everyone kept bringing up how Crowder was the only with finals experience entering the series and he goes on to shoot 0-8 with 1 free throw point for the game. Obviously he provided his trademark energy and defense but epic fail on offense.
Also that was dirty by Lopez.
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Post by doakley8 on Jul 12, 2021 10:36:21 GMT -5
I didn't watch a minute of the game..watched the first round of the MLB draft..which wasn't very exciting at all but I usually don't watch the draft.
But if it was Giannis shooting free throws all night I'm glad I passed. Glad his knee is good tho.
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