219 replies to this topic

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I do understand taking that approach and coming to that conclusion.  MJ is the king but you can talk yourself into LBJ based on certain criteria

[BSLMikeLowe]

Luka was due to traveling to Europe for the birth of his child. That's not a reasonable exception?

Cade you can debate more, but obviously he suffered a serious injury.

I agree with the last part.

Not sure you understand my point. This is not about the players. Many times they aren’t the ones who decide whether they do or don’t play, it’s their team. This is about the league f’ing up by setting up an arbitrary limit for a very nuanced issue, and then doubling down on it by arbitrarily making exceptions with no criteria other than “extraordinary circumstances.” What qualifies as “extraordinary?” How many games can you miss above the limit and get an exception? None of this is defined and makes the whole rule a joke that never should have existed in the first place.

 

I just hope this mess leads the league to get rid of it and simply ask the awards voters to give consideration to the number of games played, and what reason a player missed a certain number of games for, and leave it at that.

[mweb08]

Not sure you understand my point. This is not about the players. Many times they aren’t the ones who decide whether they do or don’t play, it’s their team. This is about the league f’ing up by setting up an arbitrary limit for a very nuanced issue, and then doubling down on it by arbitrarily making exceptions with no criteria other than “extraordinary circumstances.” What qualifies as “extraordinary?” How many games can you miss above the limit and get an exception? None of this is defined and makes the whole rule a joke that never should have existed in the first place.

 

I just hope this mess leads the league to get rid of it and simply ask the awards voters to give consideration to the number of games played, and what reason a player missed a certain number of games for, and leave it at that.

 

Missing a couple games due to the birth of a child in Slovenia pretty clearly should qualify as an extraordinary circumstance imo. If it doesn't, then I'm not sure why that language even exists. Sure, it's arbitrary in the way that an arbitrator had to decide on it, but it was an obvious decision imo.

 

Yes, I'm also against the rule.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Missing a couple games due to the birth of a child in Slovenia pretty clearly should qualify as an extraordinary circumstance imo. If it doesn't, then I'm not sure why that language even exists. Sure, it's arbitrary in the way that an arbitrator had to decide on it, but it was an obvious decision imo.

 

Yes, I'm also against the rule.

But Anthony Edwards, a guy who historically doesn’t sit just to rest, didn’t get an exception for missing too many  games due to an infection. How is that any less extraordinary?

 

And unfortunately as much as I hate the rule it doesn’t sound like it’s going away or even changing, because Adam Silver said himself less than a month ago that he thinks it’s working perfectly.

[mweb08]

But Anthony Edwards, a guy who historically doesn’t sit just to rest, didn’t get an exception for missing too many  games due to an infection. How is that any less extraordinary?

 

And unfortunately as much as I hate the rule it doesn’t sound like it’s going away or even changing, because Adam Silver said himself less than a month ago that he thinks it’s working perfectly.

 

One was missing games for a toe infection that a Wolves writer (Krawcyznski) described as "nothing serious,but makes it sore sometimes" and right knee maintenance or runners' knee, while the other is the birth of his first child in a location very far away. I don't think that's close. One is very normal reasons to miss games and the other is not. Luka's hamstring would be comparable (Ant also missed time this year due to a hamstring issue). 

[mweb08]

Regardless, the main reason why many of the best players struggled to get to 65 games and came up short in some cases is because they had legitimate injuries rather than load management. The league has a durability problem because the game is so much more physically demanding than it used to be.

[mweb08]

I'm very excited for these playoffs despite my team's injury woes.

I can see 4 different teams winning it all and I'm very torn on this, but I'm going with the best player in the world on a team that's gotten healthy and is clicking at the right time. Nuggets over Celtics.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Thunder over Suns - 5 games

Rockets over Lakers - 7 games
Nuggets over Timberwolves - 6 games
Spurs over Blazers - 5 games

 

Pistons over Magic - 5 games
Cavs over Raptors - 6 games
Knicks over Hawks - 7 games
Celtics over 76ers - 5 games

 

 

Thunder over Rockets - 4 games

Spurs over Nuggets - 7 games

 

Pistons over Cavs - 6 games
Celtics over Knicks - 6 games

 

Thunder over Spurs - 6 games

Celtics over Pistons - 7 games

 

Thunder over Celtics - 6 games

[BSLChrisStoner]

I kind of want to pick the Spurs to win it all, but couldn't pull the trigger. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

I dont think OKC is winning again so that leaves Den or SA.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Interested to see how some of the non-title favorites perform.

 

Feels like it’s now or never for the Cavs and Knicks.

 

Hawks look like a team on the rise, and potentially have a very juicy draft pick coming down the pike to either plug in or trade for the final piece.

 

Orlando looked dead in the water for much of the season, and after losing to Philly I gave them little chance of knocking off an up and coming Hornets squad….and then they crushed Charlotte. Can they keep the momentum going?

Many have written off the Rockets as a contender, and while they drew a wounded Lakers team, what happens if they get upset in the 1st Round again?
 

Timberwolves have been to two straight conference finals, but seem like an afterthought.

 

Blazers feel like they hit their ceiling just by getting in. Can they show something more than that against the Spurs?

 

Never been a Jalen Green fan, but he was a monster in the two play-in games. Booker meanwhile had two sub par games for the Suns. Is there a changing of the guard in Phoenix?

[BSLMikeLowe]

Orlando looked dead in the water for much of the season, and after losing to Philly I gave them little chance of knocking off an up and coming Hornets squad….and then they crushed Charlotte. Can they keep the momentum going?

Were the Magic just trying to lull everyone to sleep all season? They’re finally looking like the team we thought they’d be these past two games.

[Mike B]

I dont think OKC is winning again so that leaves Den or SA.

I am hoping for a OKC/Spurs series.

 

My concern with the Spurs is this is their first time under the bright lights, but they are good.

 

OKC is the team to beat.

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Ringer: Eight NBA Playoff Takes That Feel Like Overreactions—but Aren’t

https://www.theringe...akeaways-game-1

[BSLMikeLowe]

Wemby just went to the locker room with what looks like a head injury.

 

Update: out for the game in concussion protocol.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Were the Magic just trying to lull everyone to sleep all season? They’re finally looking like the team we thought they’d be these past two games.

Aged poorly. That was Detroit’s first home playoff win in 18 years.

[BSLChrisStoner]

• Rare playoff dud by Jokic puts Nuggets in 2-1 hole
• McCollum's clutch shot squashes Knicks' late rally
• Barrett, Barnes combine for 66 to revive Raptors
• Scoreless Bridges sits most of 2nd half in loss
• Lakers' Reaves upgraded to questionable for G3

[BSLZackKiesel]

Nuggets looked awful last night from the tip, hopefully they got that out of their system. They got blown out worse in Game 3 against the Clippers last year, but won that series in 7 so we'll see. Being without Gordon really hurts though, especially with Peyton Watson still down.

[mweb08]

Nuggets looked awful last night from the tip, hopefully they got that out of their system. They got blown out worse in Game 3 against the Clippers last year, but won that series in 7 so we'll see. Being without Gordon really hurts though, especially with Peyton Watson still down.

As someone who switched last minute from the Thunder to the Nuggs, I am concerned. I certainly wasn't expecting Gobert to hold up anywhere near this well against Jokic.

Do we have an idea how long Gordon will be out?

[BSLZackKiesel]

As someone who switched last minute from the Thunder to the Nuggs, I am concerned. I certainly wasn't expecting Gobert to hold up anywhere near this well against Jokic.

Do we have an idea how long Gordon will be out?

Joker had an off night, not overly concerned in the long run. He's had Gobert's number for years.

 

Not sure on Gordon, my guess is last night won't be the last game he misses. That calf has been a consistent injury for him for years now. If he does come back, he won't be anywhere near 100%. My guess is Watson won't be ready until the next series, if they advance.