I don't like the NBA playoffs.

[Monster]

My take is a little different from Lip. I liked seeing Norman Powell dunk on Giannis and Thon Maker. I like when some of these guys that aren't top level guys bring it in the playoffs. Powell has brought it in this series.

[Lipoli390]

My take is a little different from Lip. I liked seeing Norman Powell dunk on Giannis and Thon Maker. I like when some of these guys that aren't top level guys bring it in the playoffs. Powell has brought it in this series.

Monster -- I like that aspect of the playoffs as well. Powell has been great to watch. Role players often step up and do things in playoff competition that you didn't see from them in the regular season. But I love watching the alphas battle. Watching Mike Conley and K. Leonard the other night was a real treat -- each player punching and counter-punching with unbelievable plays through sheer force of will.

[Monster]

My take is a little different from Lip. I liked seeing Norman Powell dunk on Giannis and Thon Maker. I like when some of these guys that aren't top level guys bring it in the playoffs. Powell has brought it in this series.

Monster -- I like that aspect of the playoffs as well. Powell has been great to watch. Role players often step up and do things in playoff competition that you didn't see from them in the regular season. But I love watching the alphas battle. Watching Mike Conley and K. Leonard the other night was a real treat -- each player punching and counter-punching with unbelievable plays through sheer force of will.

No doubt It's good stuff.

Powell's highlight and good series is probably even more fun for me because I've been a fan of his since watching him at UCLA. That team was pretty well stocked with perimeter players.

[AbeVigodaLive]

What I like about the playoffs is how it sifts the alphas from the omegas among the top players. The Bulls game tonight was a good example. Guess who put his team on his back, 26 points, 11 boards and 8 assists? What it Jimmy Butler in his prime? No. It was a middle aged Dwayne Wade.

We've seen those alphas with other teams throuout the playoffs so far this year: K. Leonard with the Spurs, Mike Conley with the Grizzlies, I. Thomas with the Celtics, Chris Paul with the Clippers, James Harden with the Rockets, R. Westbrook with the Thunder and Joe Johnson with the Jazz. Of course, the Warriors have two alphas in Curry and Green. All these guys impose their will when their teams need them. It doesn't always result in a win, but having one or two alphas among you most talented players is essential for any chance to win playoff basketball or even get to the playoffs in the NBA.

There are top players who assert their talent. Then there are truly great players, the alphas, who impose their will. The fate of the Wolves will turn to a great extent on whether KAT, Wiggins or pehaps Zach can become that alpha dog who imposes his will and carriers his team when they really need him. So far, I see Wiggins as a guy who asserts his talent from time to time and really help the team when he does. But I don't see a guy who imposes his will. I see more potential in KAT to be that guy, but that remains to be seen.

I agree that there's some truth in there. But I can't let too much praise go to D. Wade after the "effort" he put in defensively last night. Check this one out...

https://streamable.com/sbqk6

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Yeah, I watched that game and Wade made some really bad plays, despite filling up the box score. The Bulls simply didn't bring the same sort of positive energy and fire that I saw from the Celtics. Those guys are a bunch of freakin' terriers out there the way they defend the perimeter. Rozier, Bradley, Smart, Crowder.....It's an example of an undersized team that makes up for a lack of a big paint presence with superior perimeter defense.

That being said, I can't see them holding up against the Cavs in a 7-game series. I just think the size and strength will eventually wear them down. We'll see (assuming they eventually meet).....

[AbeVigodaLive]

Yeah, I watched that game and Wade made some really bad plays, despite filling up the box score. The Bulls simply didn't bring the same sort of positive energy and fire that I saw from the Celtics. Those guys are a bunch of freakin' terriers out there the way they defend the perimeter. Rozier, Bradley, Smart, Crowder.....It's an example of an undersized team that makes up for a lack of a big paint presence with superior perimeter defense.

That being said, I can't see them holding up against the Cavs in a 7-game series. I just think the size and strength will eventually wear them down. We'll see (assuming they eventually meet).....

I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that the series (and the next round) are entirely irrelevant.

There is NO CHANCE for the Celtics to beat a healthy Cavs team. I don't think they're a good enough offensive team to make the Cavs pay for their sometimes lack of focus on that end of the floor.

And open shots from Love, Irving, Korver, Frye, et al is a lot different than looks from Zipser, Mirotic, Wade, Canaan, et al.


[Note: The Celtics haven't looked like the vastly superior team even with the #1 seed and the Bulls resorting to cast-off PGs from the 76ers...]

[BloopOracle]

forget the Cavs they aren't even getting past the Wizards