Catching up, few thoughts from the past few days:
- Rudy Gobert can win a million DPOYs, it won't matter. 1) His defense isn't the most valuable for where the league is right now, 2) that man can't make a small lineup pay on the offensive end for how much he makes? 3) They were hunting him. I get no FA is coming to Utah, so you have to roll with what you got, but Utah is in a tough spot with him. Lot of regular season wins will come their way, though.
- Kudos to the Clips and Ty Lue. I'm still rooting for them and rooting that Kawhi can come back. With CP3 out in game 1, they have to try to get that game. Paul George coming through.
- Brookyln probably cruises to the title if all their guys were healthy. Maybe even if it were just Harden and Durant, even. If they run it back, they have to be the favorites barring any other major changes in the league.
- I'm fine if the Bucks or Philly win the title, but both those teams' offenses are tough to watch. For Philly, I'm not sure where you rank Simmons in terms of value for your team in these playoffs. For the Bucks, I didn't want to jump on the "slam Coach Bud" bandwagon, but I think this team can go up a level with a better coaching mind on the sidelines.
- As much as I hated Trae against my Knicks, that dude can flat out ball. Without Hunter and a dinged up Bogie, they really are capped, but wouldn't surprise me if they got game 7.
- My favorite player on PHX is probably Ayton. Glad to see him coming along.
- Re-stating my top five from when I wrote it about a month ago (in some order): Bron, Steph, KD (those three are locks until there is a substantial drop off: top three player all time, best shooter all time, best scorer all time) and then Kawhi and Luka. Nothing in these playoffs has made he come off that feeling.
- I don't mind any team that is left winning the title. Good stories all around.
- Even though it won't happen, I'm rooting for Luka and then Zion to decline any max extensions, get to FA more quickly and come to the Knicks. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk on "things that will never happen, but would be cool if they did". Neither of those guys are turning down $200M, but I would wager on Zion to at least think about it.
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