Around the league thread

[AbeVigodaLive]

I know it's been premature multiple times in the past, but LeBron is finally starting to look washed. It was also really pathetic watching him give up four on five breaks because he's pouting after a miss, as well as leaving with 6 minutes left in the game.

Personally, I don't like the guy. But he's a good story creator. And an/the all-time great player.

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for 42, 14, 12 in game 6 and leads the Lakers to a series win in Game 7.

And then, tells us that his ankle is actually broken in 37 places and that he had a heart transplant and is legally blind from the eye poke from the play-in game vs. GS. Oh, he also plays game 7 with a 112 degree fever, or so he will claim.

[kekgeek]

Wow Danny Angie steps down

Brad Steven's is no longer the HC and will be the new POBO. Holy shit big news in Celtics land

[Monster]

Wow Danny Angie steps down

Brad Steven's is no longer the HC and will be the new POBO. Holy shit big news in Celtics land

Wow.

I always wondered how long Ainge would keep being the POBO. It seemed like there was possibility of that. Stevens taking over is really unexpected.

So....like how much can we pay Ainge to be our special advisor? I'm mostly kidding As a former Celtics fan who loved Ainge in Boston I hope he stays with that franchise or doesn't go anywhere else. I'd be surprised if he wanted to come back in some capacity they would turn him down.

[Monster]

I know it's been premature multiple times in the past, but LeBron is finally starting to look washed. It was also really pathetic watching him give up four on five breaks because he's pouting after a miss, as well as leaving with 6 minutes left in the game.

Personally, I don't like the guy. But he's a good story creator. And an/the all-time great player.

I wouldn't be surprised if he goes for 42, 14, 12 in game 6 and leads the Lakers to a series win in Game 7.

And then, tells us that his ankle is actually broken in 37 places and that he had a heart transplant and is legally blind from the eye poke from the play-in game vs. GS. Oh, he also plays game 7 with a 112 degree fever, or so he will claim.

Some of Lebron's "effort" on the court has always bothered me. Of course comparing him to another GOAT Lebron didnt play with all time great defenders...unless maybe AD is that guy. But still... I don't like Lebron but I also don't really hate him either. Kobe is one of the all time greats I REALLY disliked when he was a player. It's so weird he is gone.

[FNG]

I have to admit I'm enjoying the heck out of how these playoffs are developing, even though I haven't watched a minute of action. Specifically,

1) Both LA teams being on the brink of elimination is a delightful and unexpected development.

2) Minnesota villain Jimmy Butler completely stinking up the court in a blowout series

3) Thibs proving once again that he is a terrific coach during the season, but a terrible playoff coach. He's always had a reputation for grinding his team down with in-season full court practices (when other teams are resting or having just video sessions and shootarounds between games), and his teams always seem tired and uncompetitive in the post-season.

What would make this post-season even better would be someone knocking off the superteam Nets, but I don't see that happening.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I have to admit I'm enjoying the heck out of how these playoffs are developing, even though I haven't watched a minute of action. Specifically,

1) Both LA teams being on the brink of elimination is a delightful and unexpected development.

2) Minnesota villain Jimmy Butler completely stinking up the court in a blowout series

3) Thibs proving once again that he is a terrific coach during the season, but a terrible playoff coach. He's always had a reputation for grinding his team down with in-season full court practices (when other teams are resting or having just video sessions and shootarounds between games), and his teams always seem tired and uncompetitive in the post-season.

What would make this post-season even better would be someone knocking off the superteam Nets, but I don't see that happening.

I've watched a bunch of these games so far--league pass, bad weather, and vacation days--and I definitely recommend watching them. There've been some blowouts, but even in those blowouts, you have some performances like Mitchell had last night. It was also fun to watch Ja take it into the paint, although he'll really need to develop a 3 point shot if he is going to really reach the top. Trey is pretty polarizing, but it is fun watching a guy come close to Curry and Dame as a 3 point threat, and he can really pass. Lots of character too, love him or hate him. The Mavs-Clips series and the Suggs-Blazers have been the most fun to watch. Some real star talent putting on a great show. It looked like we might get a Morris-Kleber throw down too! I even enjoyed watching the Nets-Celtics. Watching Tatum get hot is fun, but honestly, as much as I resent Harden for forcing his way out of Houston, it's also kind of fun watching the Nets. They have to be the hands-down favorites to win it all at this point. They're just so freaking good. Even their role players are good. Hate 'em if you want, but it really is something to see a team playing that well. It's like prime Warriors when they had Durant.

[FNG]

Yeah, I've been following the playoffs, just not watching, and there have been several interesting story lines. I always seem to go through an end of season pouting session when my club misses the playoffs once again, and I don't get interested until we get closer to the end. I imagine my pity party will be over once the semis start!

[AbeVigodaLive]

I have to admit I'm enjoying the heck out of how these playoffs are developing, even though I haven't watched a minute of action. Specifically,

1) Both LA teams being on the brink of elimination is a delightful and unexpected development.

2) Minnesota villain Jimmy Butler completely stinking up the court in a blowout series

3) Thibs proving once again that he is a terrific coach during the season, but a terrible playoff coach. He's always had a reputation for grinding his team down with in-season full court practices (when other teams are resting or having just video sessions and shootarounds between games), and his teams always seem tired and uncompetitive in the post-season.

What would make this post-season even better would be someone knocking off the superteam Nets, but I don't see that happening.

The team won 7 of its final 10 games. Did they just suddenly get tired in game #73? How much is Thibs to blame for the best player shooting 29.8% in the series?

As for Thibs teams flaming out in the postseason... maybe, but not the "always" hyperbole you use here. If we look at where they were vs. expectations... Can we point to any season where his team was better than the opposition and lost?

Obviously, 2012... when Rose was injured in the game 1 win and Noah was injured in game 3.
2014 and 2021? Both teams were the #4 seeds... but do we judge them vs. regular season overachieving... or losing to more talented teams in the postseason? I guess it's fair to do a bit of both... but I don't know (m)any who would claim either Thibs-coached team had the better talent.

Along the way, his teams made the ECF once and 2nd rd. multiple times... even without the team's best player playing some of those seasons.

So is it "good?" No. But I wouldn't classify it as "terrible" either.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

I personally thought Thibs overachieved with that roster. On paper, Atlanta was the more talented team IMO and the talent difference was too much for the Knicks to overcome in a playoff series.

It's easier to outwork and hustle opponents in a long regular season; not so easy in the playoffs.

[SameOldNudityDrew]

I personally thought Thibs overachieved with that roster. On paper, Atlanta was the more talented team IMO and the talent difference was too much for the Knicks to overcome in a playoff series.

It's easier to outwork and hustle opponents in a long regular season; not so easy in the playoffs.

Agreed. After Randle, you've got Barrett and Rose, then Mitchell Robinson, Taj and . . . I mean, that roster just drops off a cliff fast. And they had no Robinson for most of the season, and then Randle and Barrett both underwhelmed in the postseason.

Randle played out of his mind this year too, so I'm not sure how sustainable that is. Honestly, that roster is just so weak right now. You could theoretically argue we have more talent on our roster than the Knicks have on theirs.