2022 NBA Playoffs thread

In the words of Moe Szyslak, I consider myself more of a well wisher in that I don’t wish the Warriors any particular harm but it would be cool to see Curry get a finals mvp. Not that he needs it but it would be nice.

 

Celtics' core is being asked to play so much, they've been gassed in the fourth quarter of the last two games, when they're needed most.

 

Wiggins with an all time personal best performance.

 

So who gets credit for Andrew Wiggins?
The Warriors, Wiggins himself or getting him away from the Twolves?

 

It's a weird sense of deja vu, since the last time the Celtics were in the finals, they lost because Kendrick Perkins got hurt, Rasheed Wallace couldn't play an entire game, and Doc Rivers' rotation was like 6 guys. Celtics had seven guys in double figures for minutes, and Peyton Pritchard played 5 minutes. Grant Williams in particular has not been good this series, and Timelord put up a +11 in his 30 minutes, but I'm not sure if he could play any more than that with his injury status.

 

Wiggins is the same god damn guy. He's a perfectly average NBA player that makes too much money. Sometimes, when average players log 43 minutes, they'll score 26 points. His per 36 minutes in Minnesota was 19.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.3 APG, 1 steal, 0.6 blocks. In Golden State, his per 36 minutes are 19.8 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks. PER was 14.7 for the Minnesota years, 15.2 for GSW years. He's probably the new poster child for how change of location changes the narrative about a player, even though you have to dig real deep to find any difference in how he plays. (Example: He averages less FTA per 36, 3.8 vs. 5.4, and TO, 1.9 vs. 2.1, because he can hang on the perimeter and doesn't have to attack the basket as much with GSW.)

 

The late, great Bill Halls said John Salley got a lot of credit for his supporting role with the Pistons but after he got traded and got starters minutes he put up the same numbers

 

It's the defensive skill and effort that's most incredible to see. The guy was a willing turnstile for years and now he's incarcerating guys nightly.

 

Again, I think this is largely a perception thing. DRTG was 114 with Minnesota, 110 with GSW. His steals, blocks and rebounds have improved a smidge - so yeah, maybe he's locked in for his 40 MPG, instead of checking out for a couple possessions. His defensive box score plus-minus has improved, but you'd expect that, going to a better overall team.

One thing that I do love about Wiggins - His most comparable player on B-Ref is some guy named Bill Cahoun, nicknamed The Splinter, who played mostly in the 1950s. The other guys on the list as comparables to Wiggins are truly bizarre, since it's just rare that such an average guy plays a ton, and the percentage match isn't that great as a result. (His "type" seems to be 2-point jump shooter with OK but not great rebounding and free throw rates, but for some reason Danny Fortson is on there too.)

Andrew Wiggins
Bill Calhoun 94.3
Allan Bristow 90.6
Nate Williams 90.2
Pat Cummings 87.8
Ron Anderson 87.6
Shandon Anderson 87.6
Jonas Jerebko 86.3
Danny Fortson 86.2
Jeff Cook 85.5
Vladimir Radmanović 85.4

 

I disagree. The Wiggins that first came over is not the same guy last night. That’s when you need to look beyond the numbers.

Wiggins stoned a first team All-NBA guy in the 4th qtr of the pivotal Gm 5 and put up 10. That’s NOT who he was before.

This is getting too analytical and saying anyone like Jerebko or Shannon Anderson could’ve done the same thing last night if given the chance.

Sorry, review history, there aren’t (don’t think so) any Lemkes or Mazeroskis in the Finals. Wiggins is for real.

 

I am dismissive of Isiah but he just said something good on NBATV,

“there are some guys who want to win, and some guys who want to be the reason you win.”
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Best thing I’ve ever heard him say.