Around the league thread

[Lipoli390]

Knicks evened the series with a win tonight. The Knicks were down by 12 at halftime and I stopped watching. To my surprise, I saw the Knicks won when I looked a the box score a few minutes ago. I continue to find myself rooting for the Knicks. I just love the way the play the game - defending relentlessly and attacking the basket on the offensive end. I how can you not love Derrick Rose. He is such a fierce competitors. He had 26 points tonight and was the key to the Knicks win. He almost one the first game for them. I like the Hawks, but I'll continue pulling for the Knicks to win the series. They are a throw back to the style of NBA basketball that I grew up on with Jordan's Bulls and Ewing's Knicks. I wish I had watched the second half. :(

Utah bounced back with a win tonight over Memphis. Interesting that two defensive teams are ending up with huge point totals. Having Donovan Mitchell back in the lineup was the main difference for the Jazz. He's their best player and the key to their chances of winning the West.

[Monster]

Knicks evened the series with a win tonight. The Knicks were down by 12 at halftime and I stopped watching. To my surprise, I saw the Knicks won when I looked a the box score a few minutes ago. I continue to find myself rooting for the Knicks. I just love the way the play the game - defending relentlessly and attacking the basket on the offensive end. I how can you not love Derrick Rose. He is such a fierce competitors. He had 26 points tonight and was the key to the Knicks win. He almost one the first game for them. I like the Hawks, but I'll continue pulling for the Knicks to win the series. They are a throw back to the style of NBA basketball that I grew up on with Jordan's Bulls and Ewing's Knicks. I wish I had watched the second half. :(

Utah bounced back with a win tonight over Memphis. Interesting that two defensive teams are ending up with huge point totals. Having Donovan Mitchell back in the lineup was the main difference for the Jazz. He's their best player and the key to their chances of winning the West.

Fun stat: Obi Toppin currently is averaging more PPG in this series than John Collins in less than half the minutes played.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Just incredible seeing how this Knicks team responds to Thibs' coaching tactics versus those Wolves teams. Someone needs to do a research paper. Even when Butler and Gibson were in the fold and we won 47 games, we were STILL one of the worst defensive teams in the league, ranked 27th in Drtg.

Was it all KAT, Wiggins, and Teague? Were those three that bad defensively?

[Coolbreeze44]

I admittedly haven't watched any playoff games, but these switches that teams manufacture to get the right matchup......is it really THAT hard for the defensive side to have the guy guarding the screener do a quick show and allow time for the guy guarding the ball handler time to recover? And Doncic isn't even that deadly of a 3-point shooter, so seems odd that you couldn't stick your best defender on him and then not have to switch at all.

Steph Curry....I get it. Use the "hand-off" strategy and switch every screen because he can squeeze his shot off with the smallest crack.

Even with Curry though... I thought Caruso (LAL) and Brooks (MEM) did good work fighting and battling with him. Granted, both are not needed as much offensively... BUT...

The Clippers have both George and Leonard. Let one of them just work on Doncic... they still have the offensive firepower of the other guy and the supporting cast. They don't need both guys to focus primarily on offense when the team's #1 issue is stopping Luka Doncic right now.

Although, which guy is taking on that less glamorous role at this point? Which guy is willing to take the "Player A only scored 13 points" criticism as he digs deep to play defense? From what we've heard about the Clippers culture being centered around its star players whims in the past couple of seasons... I'm not sure either is willing to make that type of sacrifice for the good of the team.

It's also game plan. Who do you want beating you from 3 - Doncic or the rest of their roster? I say Doncic. Force him into as many step backs and pull ups as possible. But do NOT let him get into the paint and give Hardaway, Kleber, et al wide open corner 3s. I guess easier said than done, but you don't need a crazy switching scheme if you are going under screens and playing him soft on the perimeter.

Damn, McDaniels with his length and lateral foot movement could end up being such a huge asset for us. Let's hope the kid keeps on improving.

Jaden gave Luka fits. So cool

[thedoper]

Bucks D looks real. Hope they keep it up.
Holliday has been great for them this series.

[Coolbreeze44]

Bucks D looks real. Hope they keep it up.
Holliday has been great for them this series.

Yeah, I don't get it. Not sure if the Bucks have been that good, or the Heat has been that bad. Love seeing Butler get his ass handed to him though.

[Porckchop]

Butler is a heck of a player with a high motor but it doesn't make up for his lack of a perimeter game offensively . Same can be said for Westbrook. Come playoff time you have to be able to shoulder the offensive burden in crunch time when defenses are focused on you.

[kekgeek]

Butler is a heck of a player with a high motor but it doesn't make up for his lack of a perimeter game offensively . Same can be said for Westbrook. Come playoff time you have to be able to shoulder the offensive burden in crunch time when defenses are focused on you.

Didn't he do that all last playoffs. Don't think the issue is Jimmy ability. The rest of the team is not the best. Iggy, nunn and Dragic all took a step back. Herro didn't improve. They start Ariza and Robinson was not as good as last year.

There is Kawhi rumors to the heat. The big question is will Jimmy allow more talented players then him on roster because he hasn't loved it his whole career

[kekgeek]

I can't see the Lakers not making the finals assuming health. They are just a whole tier above everyone. Think the top 3 teams in the east vs the Lakers would be a blast though in the finals

[Porckchop]

Butler is a heck of a player with a high motor but it doesn't make up for his lack of a perimeter game offensively . Same can be said for Westbrook. Come playoff time you have to be able to shoulder the offensive burden in crunch time when defenses are focused on you.

Didn't he do that all last playoffs. Don't think the issue is Jimmy ability. The rest of the team is not the best. Iggy, nunn and Dragic all took a step back. Herro didn't improve. They start Ariza and Robinson was not as good as last year.

There is Kawhi rumors to the heat. The big question is will Jimmy allow more talented players then him on roster because he hasn't loved it his whole career

The Heat caught lightning in a bottle last year and yes Butler lead them offensively. But if you look at championship caliber teams right now he is best suited as a number 2 and if you look at teams like LA, Brooklyn and Philly he's a number 3. He would be amazing in Denver next to Murray and Jokic.