2023 running NBA playoffs thread

[Webster]

Still pretty crazy that the Heat were blown out of their first play in game and were losing to the Bulls with 3 minutes to go in their second and ended up in the Finals.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Still pretty crazy that the Heat were blown out of their first play in game and were losing to the Bulls with 3 minutes to go in their second and ended up in the Finals.

Good place to remind folks that Dallas intentionally tanked their way out of play-in contention so they could retain the number 10 pick in the draft. The Heat took the 1, 2, and 5 seeds as a play-in team.

Pat Riley must look at Mark Cuban with absolute disgust.

 

[UNCGrad]

Jokic has been my favorite player for several seasons now, and while I'm more of an All-NBA fan than of any single team (thanks, Hornets, for nothing since some fun in the first iteration), I'm overjoyed at the Nuggets winning. Jokic is pure joy, but there's a grit to the team, too, that's admirable. Kudos to Michael Malone as well, and for that front office allowing the organization to see a vision all the way through.

Team-building is always going to be helped by having the best and most unselfish player in the world in one jersey, but it was still a well-constructed roster of players who seemed to each buy into a singular goal and process.

 

[BTExpress]

Regarding that dubious foul that gave the Heat three points.

3-point shooters have been drawing contact by kicking as they shoot at least since that #@^$!&%! Carson Edwards of Purdue did it against Tennessee in the Sweet 16 in 2019.

 

[Webster]

Regarding that dubious foul that gave the Heat three points.

3-point shooters have been drawing contact by kicking as they shoot at least since that #@^$!&%! Purdue guy did it against Tennessee in the Sweet 16 in 2019.

He has to be given space to land but in no way was his natural motion going to take him where Gordon was. That was just a bad call.

 

[BTExpress]

Yeah, but you should not be given space to land in front of where you jumped. And too often fouls are called when the defender is just standing straight up.

And frankly, it shouldn't be called a shooting foul. When there's a "landing" foul, it occurs after the shot.

 

[Roscablo]

Isn't it a rule in the NBA that the offensive player can't kick out? Probably more of an offensive foul than a defensive one if anything.

That is one where it was pretty universal that no one thought it was a foul. Would have been interesting to see the NBA's reaction if the Heat has won by one or something.

 

[Webster]

The point is to discourage dangerous plays which I am ok with.

 

[Webster]

Good place to remind folks that Dallas intentionally tanked their way out of play-in contention so they could retain the number 10 pick in the draft. The Heat took the 1, 2, and 5 seeds as a play-in team.

Pat Riley must look at Mark Cuban with absolute disgust.

Agreed, but Dallas also was playing the odds that they could luck into a top pick. If they were locked into the no. 10 pick, I don't think they tank.

 

[Spartan Squad]

Yeah, but you should not be given space to land in front of where you jumped. And too often fouls are called when the defender is just standing straight up.

And frankly, it shouldn't be called a shooting foul. When there's a "landing" foul, it occurs after the shot.

The landing foul is a flagrant foul, not a shooting foul. I still don't know what the heck the refs called on that play. Running into the shooter's foot? The foot he kicked out? A slap of the arm? His arm wasn't touched.

 

[sgreenwell]

Isn't it a rule in the NBA that the offensive player can't kick out? Probably more of an offensive foul than a defensive one if anything.

That is one where it was pretty universal that no one thought it was a foul. Would have been interesting to see the NBA's reaction if the Heat has won by one or something.

I've definitely seen the "kick the leg out" thing overturned on replay, and an offensive foul charged instead. I believe it was a point of emphasis a couple years ago for referees because Harden, Chris Paul and a few others were doing it a ton. I think the guy who pioneered it / made it popular was Reggie Miller.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Agreed, but Dallas also was playing the odds that they could luck into a top pick. If they were locked into the no. 10 pick, I don't think they tank.

Yeah, but those were looooong odds to throw away the playoffs.