2021 NBA playoffs thread

I'm reminded of Bill Walton's tirade towards Larry Johnson in the '99 Finals, a glorious excoriation by any measure.

Larry Johnson, who spent the last 48 hours railing against the world, what a pathetic performance by this sad human being. This is a disgrace to the game of basketball, to the NBA. He played like a disgrace. He deserved it.

 

I think by then people were tired of Phil Jackson’s Smartest-Man-In-The-Room schtick. It’s easy to look like a genius when you always just so happen to have the best personnel. People were tiring of Steve Kerr for the same reason.

 

Very much a "besides that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?" vibe. LeBron still averaged 37.3 MPG, 23.3 PPG, 7.2 RPG and 8.0 APG at age 36. I will gladly have him on my team at any time.

 

LeBron is much better than Pujols in LA. His numbers are pretty close to his career average. His minutes per game have declined over the last 5 years or so but he’s still playing a ton especially with the number of career games. He’s always been pretty good at taking games off. He’s been playing for 17 seasons and deep into the playoffs. His game is pretty remarkable for his experience. He’s managed to avoid major problems and he does play when he’s less than 100%.
OTOH it’s been since 2012-13 that he was a 1st team All Defensive Player. For a player of his size and ability he’s never averaged 10 rebounds in a single season. Never averaged 2 offensive rebounds a per game for a season. He’s physical when he backs someone down or drives offensively but he’s not under the boards. The hardest falls he takes are his flops. He plays point so often that he basically controls the tempo of his team’s offense. He’s controlled his career and his playing time and style to maximize the number of seasons he can play.

but compared to Kobe MJ Magic Bird he doesn’t seem to love it. Jabbar was stoic but Magic allowed him to have fun. It never looks like James is having fun.

 

why doesn't lebron smile more

 

When did he ever? Except when his Mom gave him a Hummer at HS graduation

 

Jesus, that is silly. The asterisk stuff is hot take nonsense.

With the game end three-pointer to beat Golden State in the play-in game alone, LBJ did more than Pujols ever did in 10 years with the Angels.

 

No?

 

Tell em bout it Joe Joe!

 

Unlike The Zen Master, Kerr has never leaned into being a coaching genius who has concocted the secret sauce. It's understandable that people would tire of him and the Warriors, but Kerr has consistently demonstrated self-awareness, humility, and gratitude about the situation he found himself in.

 

Was it the '02 WCF? If so, that Kings team was fun and holy shit did that series do more than any frozen envelope ever could to fuel NBA conspiracy theories.

 

No player has won a championship with 4 different teams, yet.