Coming into today's action, there were still six teams left in the NBA playoffs. The Mavericks were literally the only team I was actively rooting against.
[NBA] West Playoffs, Round Two
- Thread starter Mr. S£im Citrus
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SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Pnr is getting so out of balance that even that is starting to become an unviable defense. They don't follow the verticality rules at all anymore so bigs are basically screwed if they sit back. Bigs have to come up, show, or switch. No getting around it now. Every team left pressures pick and roll as a rule of thumb or switches.
Same, but I think for differing reasons? Mine is pure spite and bitterness.
What are yours?
I mean, all five of the other teams had at least one guy I wanted to see win a championship.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Yeah, I feel like the "just go under" doctrine would have worked in the past but NBA athletes are so fast now that they'll still naturally create creases in defenses regardless of being a shooting threat or not. Hell, the Heat are in the ECF on the back of Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, who are possible the least perimeter oriented players in the league at this point.
The Effort Police
Starter
IDK man, the regular season has yet to be seen but it just feels like even if everything breaks right it seems like we're destined to become a playoff punching bag by virtue of building around Sabonis.
burekijogurt
Starter
Who is it on the Warriors?
steelevt
All-Star
Maybe let’s test this jinx next season and have you root against the kings. I mean rooting against a team and them being up by 40+ against the number 1 seed in game 7…basketball gods must hate u tonight.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
The thing about Sabonis is that unlike pretty much all the other elite bigs in the league he's a classic 4 physically whereas guys like Jokic and Gobert and Embiid are all big even by traditional NBA standards. Sabonis is actually solid playing on the perimeter and hedging on switches. It's the traditional big man defensive tasks that he struggles with (blocking shots).
Apropos of nothing, Stugotz is going to be unbearable tomorrow; he hates Chris Paul even more than you guys do.
burekijogurt
Starter
Sure, but you would need to show just nominally to stop the drive, and if they do end up switched on Fox just take away the drive and live with the outside shot. Fox needs to fix this.
Given the reputation I've built for gravitating towards polarizing/unpopular players, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out...
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
Dubs get the Mavs and I have reason to believe that this is their easiest opponent thus far compared to the first two and I still have question marks how the Mavs have made it this far but it's one of those seasons I suppose where the axis of the universe has been shifted
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
I don't know, I don't think they are building around Sabonis per se, it's the Fox and the Ox. I also still think if they let Sabonis switch and play up a little more in pick and roll while getting rid of this 3 or 4 guard midget ball or slow traditional PF types around he and Fox then it will take some of the pressure off. Length and versatility at SG/SF/PF means you are going to be more effective at close outs so you don't have to be glued to your man or too far out. The Kings tried closing out on help defense in units where Fox was basically the SF. Uh, no, not going to happen. With Davion, if he's next to Fox or another guard they have to let him be constantly attacking the dribble.
burekijogurt
Starter
Given the reputation I've built for gravitating towards polarizing/unpopular players, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out...
ah, Igoudala. but he already has 3
.
SacTownKid
Hall of Famer
Fox has a really good midrange game when used right. Teams played off of him post trade and he was dropping 30 ppg on the regular. Use him right and see what happens. Post all star he was at 29 ppg, 7 apg, while shooting 50% from the field.
White_Chocolate
Starter
This is what the suns deserve for having a horrible, racist of an owner. Still it is hard to stomach watching Luka be this good.
burekijogurt
Starter
he does have a good midrange. he needs to build on it and on the success he had post all star and put a full season together.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
you forgot to include Harden on your list
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Given the reputation I've built for gravitating towards polarizing/unpopular players, it shouldn't be that hard to figure out...
it just has to be Wiggins.
let's not go here ...
the Mavs are the greatest team in the NBA and will go undefeated from here on out.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Utah too.
Tetsujin
The Game Thread Dude
Trying to stay on Joshua's good side I see.
kingsboi
Hall of Famer
this whole postseason has been a re-occurrence for many franchises
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