It's showtime -- let the (NBA) games begin!

[Knicks411]

Wash/Cleveland will be a high scoring series. Both teams are terrible defensively. The Wizards have the shooting to make it interesting.

It would probably be a ridiculously entertaining series. The game they played in DC a few months ago was great

 

[Day2]

I don't know. The Clips didn't look particularly well except for Chris Paul. Crawford looked terrible and Jordan didn't exactly excel and Blake Griffin shot 9 for 21 with six turnovers. George Hill really didn't play well for the Jazz, but Gordie was Gordie and Favors played the Clips bigs well enough. Johnson of course was the difference but for the Jazz to win game two they need better shooting from Ingels and Hood. Not sure they will hold the Clippers to 95 points again.

Blake Griffin is such garbage in the postseason. The fourth quarter the other night was basically him screwing up and Paul bailing them out, over and over and over. Seemed like every other play he fell to the floor for no real reason.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Blake Griffin is such garbage in the postseason. The fourth quarter the other night was basically him screwing up and Paul bailing them out, over and over and over. Seemed like every other play he fell to the floor for no real reason.

Is it the postseason, or is it that he's just ineffective at crunch time? Seems like he struggles in the 4th Q in the regular season, too.

 

[Alsacs]

I still think Atlanta can beat Washington. The Hawks are as good as Dennis Schroder plays.

Hawks with Millsap, Howard, Bazemore have good players.

I think Washington-Atlanta goes the distance.

 

[Briancuse]

This is classic. Love Fizdale. I'd like to see a GoFundMe set up to pay whatever his fine will be, and I'm assuming it's gonna be a lot.

That was a great rant, I had no idea he was even the Memphis coach, but the take that for data, line was classic.

 

[Cusefan0307]

I still think Atlanta can beat Washington. The Hawks are as good as Dennis Schroder plays.

Hawks with Millsap, Howard, Bazemore have good players.

I think Washington-Atlanta goes the distance.

Yeah I don't want Atlanta to win. They have proven to be nothing but the Washington Generals to Cleveland. A new team needs a shot against them.

 

[Day2]

Is it the postseason, or is it that he's just ineffective at crunch time? Seems like he struggles in the 4th Q in the regular season, too.

That's certainly the case this year, with him averaging only 3 PPG in the 4th. Would love to see a three-way trade that sends Griffin to OKC and Melo to the Clips.

 

[Melancer46]

That's certainly the case this year, with him averaging only 3 PPG in the 4th. Would love to see a three-way trade that sends Griffin to OKC and Melo to the Clips.

I think it's more likely that the Knicks release Melo for nothing than sending him in a Blake-Melo swap. There would have to be wayyyy more going to LA than just Melo.

 

[Alsacs]

I think it's more likely that the Knicks release Melo for nothing than sending him in a Blake-Melo swap. There would have to be wayyyy more going to LA than just Melo.

Griffin to OKC.
Melo to LAC
Kanter to NYK

Money works with a couple of small pieces added.

 

[Briancuse]

Griffin to OKC.
Melo to LAC
Kanter to NYK

Money works with a couple of small pieces added.

I don't know the Miami roster inside and out in terms of salary, but what about a Justice Winslow, some money for Melo?

 

[Melancer46]

Griffin to OKC.
Melo to LAC
Kanter to NYK

Money works with a couple of small pieces added.

I understand the money works, but there's just no way that the Clippers will have elevated their offer from Jamal Crawford, Wes Johnson, and MAYBE Austin Rivers, to suddenly offering Blake. It just isn't going to happen. NBA Execs believe that if he isn't released outright, the best the Knicks can hope for is to simply match salaries to get Melo out of New York. You aren't going to get one of the best players in the NBA for him. And if they could get Blake, the Knicks would certainly take Blake rather than redirecting him to OKC for Kanter.

This only works if Blake tells the Clippers he's leaving and that it's best for them to sign-and-trade him to get something of value in return and I really doubt he's leaving Hollywood anytime soon. The only way I see Blake leaving the Clippers would be for the Lakers, and even that doesn't make much sense at all.

 

[Briancuse]

And the knicks lose the coin toss for the 6th spot in the draft, typical Knicks lol.

 

[Alsacs]

And the knicks lose the coin toss for the 6th spot in the draft, typical Knicks lol.

Yeah but you beat the 76ers on the last night of the season.
Who won't forget that?

Knicks need to get into the top 3 to guarantee themselves a PG now.
Fultz, Ball, Jackson, Fox, Smith Jr., Monk could all be off the board and Knicks would be looking at Tatum or Markihan.

 

[Melancer46]

Yeah but you beat the 76ers on the last night of the season.
Who won't forget that?

Knicks need to get into the top 3 to guarantee themselves a PG now.
Fultz, Ball, Jackson, Fox, Smith Jr., Monk could all be off the board and Knicks would be looking at Tatum or Markihan.

Knicks aren't going anywhere anytime soon anyways. Getting a good young player at any position should be fine for them. Markkanen would probably be the worst case scenario since he's essentially a worse version of Porzingis. At any rate, I'd be pretty surprised if all the PGs are gone if the Knicks stay at 7. At least 2 of Jackson, Tatum, and Monk will almost certainly go in the top 6 and there's 5 good PG prospects in this draft.

 

[Knicks411]

I don't want Monk. I don't have a good feeling about him

 

[MikeSU02]

I don't want Monk. I don't have a good feeling about him

I'm just holding out hope for Fox.

 

[MikeSU02]

I would definitely have s aid no a few days ago. I thought the Cavs had another level. They still may, but you would've thought they'd have shown it in these first 2 games. The cavs are still probably good enough to win a shootout with the Wiz, but they better go up about three notches if they want to stay on the court with GS.

Until someone beats the Cavs in Cleveland, I still think they are going to make it to the Finals.

I don't think Boston would go 4-0 at home against them and that's if Boston can get past the first two rounds.

Cavs definitely have issues, but the team's ceiling is still much higher than anyone else in the East.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Gripe about the local Utah media - they're giving up on this game and series for the Jazz, and I don't get it. Yes, Gobert is huge to who they are and what they do, but the Clippers are the team facing deconstruction if their core shows they can't advance in the playoffs. It's expected by the local media that the Clippers are going to be motivated and play their best with their backs against the wall and the Utah media is basically conceding this game for the Jazz and saying the Jazz have done enough earning the split.

That's fine to say and think if you get the split on game 2, but where you control the series I hope the Jazz are looking at it like it's time for them to put their boot on the Clippers' throats. Punch them in the mouth, match the intensity people believe the Clippers will bring, and break their spirit. That Clippers team is fragile. Make them doubt themselves more than they already do. And then go back and defend your homecourt and let that organization dismantle itself - if Paul and Griffin are gone because management doesn't believe they can win with that core, Doc's not sticking around.

The Jazz can do more than win this series. They can weaken a future opponent for years in the future.

 

[MikeSU02]

Raps/Bucks might be the most fun series of the first round.

Love watching Giannis.

 

[OrangeDW]

MCW just has got to play smarter than that. He gets the steal...great. Pushes it up trying to create something...great. But then forces it when there's nothing there, throws up some off balanced heavily contested layup that gets hammered off the backboard and goes the other way for an uncontested hoop seconds before the end of the quarter...not great. Hope that bucket doesn't come back to hurt them.

He did bank one in the possession before though, so maybe it evens out regardless.

 

[Trueblue25]

What the hell is going on with Boston. I know jimmy butler's good but come on...

 

[OttoinGrotto]

What the hell is going on with Boston. I know jimmy butler's good but come on...

Did they peak too early?

 

[OrangeDW]

What the hell is going on with Boston. I know jimmy butler's good but come on...

They aren't really that good and overachieved big time in the regular season.

I think they can win this series even if they do go down 0-2, but that's more my lack of faith in Chicago than anything else.

 

[MikeSU02]

They aren't really that good and overachieved big time in the regular season.

I think they can win this series even if they do go down 0-2, but that's more my lack of faith in Chicago than anything else.

I think people over-scrutinize Cleveland and under-scrutinize the rest of the East.

Consider this for Boston: the team's best player is a listed 5'10" and plays *horrible* defense and has to be on the floor for the final five minutes of a game.

I think they are a well-coached team and I think what IT does is amazing, but in a seven game series, all your deficiencies are exposed.

 

[OrangeDW]

I think people over-scrutinize Cleveland and under-scrutinize the rest of the East.

Consider this for Boston: the team's best player is a listed 5'10" and plays *horrible* defense and has to be on the floor for the final five minutes of a game.

I think they are a well-coached team and I think what IT does is amazing, but in a seven game series, all your deficiencies are exposed.

Yeah. I mean...we all know Cleveland is winning the East. I know why media pretends to know different...because they need something to talk about. But fans should all know better.

As much as I like Thomas(I used to draft him in fantasy every year and stew that Sacramento didn't use him better) and as good as he is, and as incredible of a season he's had, Jimmy Butler is the clearly the best overall player on either team. No question about that.