2021 NBA playoffs thread

What is it about the NBA that provokes all the hot takes from people who don't actually watch the games?

Now that you've Googled the first round predictions, Google the preseason predictions for the Knicks. ESPN had them 13th in the East with a 2% chance of making the playoffs. That's the most optimistic pick I can find. Sporting News had them 15th, dead-ass last in the East. So did Bleacher Report. Sports Illustrated projected them to be the worst team in the league with this summary:

They finished 4th in the East. They wildly exceeded every expectation.

If you want to pretend this year was somehow a failure, that's on you.

 

nah, i watch a lot of NBA. And been hit over the head about the knicks the last three months.

Julius Randle, most improved player, yada yada yada.

And we both know the regular season doesn't mean squat.

The knicks lost 4 out of five games to a team that was 14-20 at one point. Lost two of three games at the vaunted Madison Square Garden. They weren't even competitive in this series.

Frauds.

 

Did someone on the Knicks steal your girlfriend?

 

Luka is unbelievable.

 

How much will the national media lose their shit if Knicks, Lakers and Clippers are all knocked out of the first round? They at least have the Nets but no Lebron? Yeeesh. It will be glorious (and I say that knowing full well the Lakers can easily win the next two games especially if AD returns and Chris Paul’s shoulder keeps acting up).

 

I think the Lakers are the only ones that would make a dent on national TV ratings. I don't really think the Clippers have much of a national footprint. And with the Warriors not even qualifying for the playoffs, I'm not sure if there is a "public" team still left. Maybe the Suns? I think Phoenix vs. Brooklyn is kind of fun, since the Nets make for good villains.

 

A fun Finals would be one with the Hawks and Trae cementing his villain character.

The country would have fun with that.

Hawks (Trae the villain) vs. Clippers (The Clippers!) in the Finals would be fun.

 

Nothing about the Clippers is fun.

The Lakers are toast; "Street Clothes" ain't coming back from a groin strain...and the Suns were going to beat them anyway.

Ratings wise I think Silver's just going to have to consider this entire season a wash.

 

I just included the Clips so LA won't be represented, but your point stands. And actually hilarity would be the Clips playing for a championship while Lebron sits after a first-round exit.

 

It'd be fun to see The Clippers Clipper themselves after finally reaching the Finals. There's comedy written all over that premise.

 

Can't wait for tonight. No idea how healthy CP and AD are. I think the world magically keeps expecting 2016 LeBron to emerge from some sort of cocoon and win Game 6 by himself but I haven't seen any indication of that happening. Not that it can't, I know.