2017-18 NBA (Playoffs): A gasping, wheezing thread begs message board poster arguing how Jordan never lost a Finals to just let it die in peace (3 Viewers)

[DJackson10]

what i've always wondered about the "Lebron only wins because the East is so weak.." argument is..... why don't "smart" players head back East and challenge Lebron in the "weak" East if it would be such an easy path to the Finals?

why are the cream of the crop heading West to play in the "tough" conference for a 1 in 8 chance at the Finals instead of teaming up with another top 10 player and taking a 1 in 2 chance at the Finals (allegedly, if the East is so bad).

is it because "smart" players realize that Lebron is blocking everyone's path to the Finals and the easier route is actually out West? 

sure looks that way

Or they want a challenge 

 

[DJackson10]

Are contact lenses illegal?

Thats a matter of bettering someone's life though. If you can't see can't do much of anything. Plus it's legal and for the most part also doesn't harm your body or have the negative effect PED have

 

[Stuart Ullman]

WTF

When did this game start? How did I miss tipoff?

 

[Stuart Ullman]

the game is at 6 p.m. With rush hour traffic, i am amazed there are as many people there as there are. Just real dopey of NBA to schedule the game like this

Yeah, wtf? I didn't even know the game was on. I checked to see if it started at 7PM or 8PM and NBA tells me it's already almost halftime...

 

[modogg]

lol, that is what happens when you know the calls are leaning your way. Sami just pushing Belinelli off the pick was amusing, but about as blatent as can be

ETA: and this isn't complaining about the officials. they did adjust after a bit to even things out

 

[GOB]

Jesus H., Kevin McHale is utterly terrible. Guy doesn't even know what he is watching

Did you hear McHale say that the Morris twins look an awful lot alike?

This type of commentary should be behind a ### ####ed paywall

 

[DJackson10]

So I guess its safe to say the NBA wants this series to not be at least a Boston Sweep? 

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

only if the next GM is unbelievable. My guess is it is closer to 10

If he had taken Mitchell instead of Kennard he would still be employed. 

 

[modogg]

Did you hear McHale say that the Morris twins look an awful lot alike?

This type of commentary should be behind a ### ####ed paywall

i'll give him credit on that one, at least made me laugh out loud. No f'n #### Kevin, they really look similar?

 

[modogg]

Scary Terry   . only thing he did there was fire Embiid up

 

[msudaisy26]

So I guess its safe to say the NBA wants this series to not be at least a Boston Sweep? 

 Your takes are the worst. How do you do it?

 

[trader jake]

Irving was traded to the Celtics.  

Kyrie made his "free agency" choice when he threatened to have surgery if the Cavs didn't trade him.

because everything runs through Simmons and he can't shoot to give any kind of a credible threat so everyone would just go under and hang back.  They have done it with Redick a little bit.  I don't think that Ersan and Belinelli are good enough ball handlers to do it.  Ersan, Redick, Belinelli and Saric (and Covington a bit) did all kinds of ball screens, DHOs and re-screening during the regular season and some vs Miami, but haven't seen it nearly as much vs. BOS.  You are right about the floppy stuff and I hadn't been looking that closely, but Duncan mentioned the other day how hard that is in the playoffs because the refs let so much more holding go.  

Good point on the lack of ball handling by some of the Sixers.  Against Simmons I don't believe laying back makes much sense though.  His shot is bad, but play that far off him and it serves as a runway for his athleticism toward the rim.

Brown made the right call to bench Covington for McConnell tonight.  TJ has brought the fight to the Celtics and Covington got in quick foul trouble again...he's just letting his poor outside shooting effect the rest of his game (especially defensive focus).

 

[ShamrockPride]

Embiid is way too soft in the paint at this point in his career. No way a dude like that should be getting swatted by Horford.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Yoooo on the TNT halftime, Chuck just made a "joke" about his tutors doing his homework in college lol.

 

[Stuart Ullman]

Yoooo on the TNT halftime, Chuck just made a "joke" about his tutors doing his homework in college lol.

"EJ'S NEAT-O STAT OF THE NIGHT"

 

[DJackson10]

 Your takes are the worst. How do you do it?

I think you're naive if you don't think the NBA is rigged. There's numerous examples. The 01 West finals Sac/LAL, Donaghey. Draft lottery win for Ewing on the Knicks. The calls they are making are laughable. Push off? You can call on every guy every possession. The Illegal screen made me laugh too. Bellinelli just had a bear hug on Taytum on the Rozier three in the post and the whistles were silent. A Boston sweep does nothing to help the league. Scott Foster is also best buddies with Donaghey. Joey Crawford should've lost his job years ago. 

I think people are naive if they don't think this league is fixed to an extent. The Wester Conference finals in 02 between the Kings/Lakers are a great example of that. Sacramento Kings were robbed and Bill Walton was incredible creditical of the league, officiating etc in that series. Why don't you think the dude has been given a chance at an NBA game since then? David Stern was incredible quick to sweep the Donaghey stuff under a rug. If I was the boss of a huge company and something happened I'd want Law Enforcement to do anything they can to make sure others weren't apart of it but Stern was very uncooperative including protecting his officials. We could write a whole essay on the Joey Crawford special treatment from Stern. Dude was fired and brought back. Steve Javie basically admitted he T'd up players he had grudges on including AI. Then theres the whole Mark Cuban had a PI investigate the 06 Finals. The PI was asked what did he tell Cuban when his investigation was concluded. "Retired FBI agent Warren Flagg, a 20-year veteran of the bureau, said he consulted with Cuban after that playoff debacle. Flagg now runs his own New York-based investigation and security firm. He looked deep into officiating, as Flagg said, Cuban was considering a lawsuit."Cuban asked me what he should do," Flagg said of the 2006 Finals. "I told him, 'Sue and you'll win your case,' but he knew he'd be killing the Golden Goose."' People who try to argue against these theories is why didn't Cuban go and sue the league? Your answer is in the last sentence. He didn't want to kill the Golden Goose that was making him money. Plus he probably wouldn't have gotten enough support from the other owners from it. Seriously you don't think the NBA wants a Lebron/Simmons Match up in the playoffs in Simmons rookie year? That's a ton of money and big views. This is no different then people with college sports who don't think their School is covering up stuff like the PSU or MSU scandals. If you think your school isn't dirty I got some swamp land to sell you in Florida you can build a nice little city on. Sixers were the 3rd highest selling Jersey this year. Embiid and Simmons also finished in the top 10 in Jersey Sales. That Simmons/James Match up is one many NBA fans have been waiting for awhile now in the playoffs. That's big ratings. 

Anyway here's a few links on the NBA being rigged

Part 1 of a documentary on 02 WCF of 6 parts

The Greatest tragedy in Sports officiating

Joe Rogan on NBA Betting scandal

McGrady says game was fixed

Three stories that prove NBA is fixed

Simmons says 88 Dunk Contest rigged

Donaghey talks about how NBA refs alter games

Lets not forget Stern's #### blocking of the CP3 trade by NO either among numerous draft lottery conspiracies such as Ewing to Knicks, Bulls moving up from #9 so they could take Rose, Clevland almost in the exact same spot get Kyrie Irving a year after losing Lebron. There's a ton of stuff on the NBA events wise that make people believe the league is no different then scripted wrestling. There's just too many coincidences. David Stern also threatened to reveling dirty laundry to the players union in lockout talks not long ago as well

 

[trader jake]

Horford is playing Embiid well, but i also think the refs just like Al and look the other way when he is guarding Embiid. Watching Embiid all year, i can't remember seeing anybody guard Embiid as physical as Al and the refs just don't call anything

Playoff defense.  Watch any shooter run off screens...they're all getting bumped to some extent.

Embiid is a monster on those picks. He took out Tyler Johnson last series and is just a brick wall when these guys run into him

Only time Embiid got the worst on one of those exchanges was when his own man (Fultz) ran into him.

 

[msudaisy26]

It is so bad it is funny. 

 

[Stuart Ullman]

Celtics playing terrible defense in the third quarter. Watching some white guy dribble into the paint and dunk.

 

[modogg]

it is like Marcus Smart gets shot by someone in the crowd once a quarter

 

[modogg]

Only time Embiid got the worst on one of those exchanges was when his own man (Fultz) ran into him.

. it is interesting to think how the Sixers would be looking now if Embiid didn't miss that big chunk of time.

 

[Workhorse]

Ref ball.

 

[ShamrockPride]

Ref ball.

Really starting to feel like it.

 

[DJackson10]

Ok WHat's with these T's Wheres the replay of what was said by Brown? 

 

[Stuart Ullman]

Ref ball.

Yeah, this game is rigged.

 

[DJackson10]

Celtics playing terrible defense in the third quarter. Watching some white guy dribble into the paint and dunk.

Missing 3s as well

 

[ShamrockPride]

Talking trash down 3-0 isn't a good look Joel...

 

[Stuart Ullman]

Missing 3s as well

I turned the TV off after those phantom technical fouls. Waste of time watching when it's rigged like this. Good win, 76ers.

 

[DJackson10]

Yeah, this game is rigged.

Can't be having the NBA's next poster boy they are gonna try to shove down everyone's throat in Simmons get swept now can we...

 

[Workhorse]

Brothers is the worst. Why in the world does the league let him ref a playoff game?

 

[DJackson10]

Talking trash down 3-0 isn't a good look Joel...

Dude never learns. He was talking crap about players all off season of social media. There's no questioning the dudes talents but the dude needs some maturation

 

[modogg]

Talking trash down 3-0 isn't a good look Joel...

maybe Brown shouldn't talk about not playing with his food, dude runs his mouth for being the 6th best player on his team

 

[modogg]

i honestly have no idea what you guys are talking about with the officiating. DId you miss the 1st quarter? simply seems to be a balancing act. It is pretty bad officiating for sure, but it was poorly called in the 1st quarter, and has been whole game. 

I feel like he officiating in the series has brainwashed some to think that when the refs are actually calling fouls on the Celtics that they aren't fouls because they didn't call them in other games. 

 

[ShamrockPride]

Some sloppy a## basketball from Boston. They deserve this L. The youngbloods gotta refocus, get a W at home game 5 and get ready for LeBron.

 

[Dungeon Master]

 

[Gr00vus]

Complaining about the refs - it's faaaaaantastic!

 

[Long Ball Larry]

That last play notwithstanding, impressed with the sixers lack of turnovers.  Keep it up nerds.

 

[modogg]

Complaining about the refs - it's faaaaaantastic!

that is the only possible way the Celtics could lose to the Sixers, amiright?

 

[Gr00vus]

that is the only possible way the Celtics could lose to the Sixers, amiright?

Game's not over yet Dr. J....

 

[msudaisy26]

Complaining about the refs - it's faaaaaantastic!

It is so rigged,not sure why we even watch. 

 

[modogg]

Game's not over yet Dr. J....

please, i already released the confetti at my house.....           TJ McConnell >>>>>>>> Brad Stevens + Tatum

ok, i'm all done with the bragodocious talk. Just happy to see the Sixers we have seen for the last 2 months show up for more then just flashes. seems a good chunk of this is being done without Simmons on the floor too, which is good and bad

 

[Gr00vus]

please, i already released the confetti at my house.....

TJ McConnell >>>>>>>> Brad Stevens + Tatum

ok, i'm all done with the bragodocious talk. Just happy to see the Sixers we have seen for the last 2 months show up for more then just flashes. seems a good chunk of this is being done without Simmons on the floor too, which is good and bad

Sometimes the best thing for a youngster in their first playoffs is to do a bit of watching from the sidelines. Hopefully the staff can use that time to get him to see what's going on out there from a different/less stressful perspective but still in real time. Also, having a team do well without him on the floor may take some pressure off him to feel like he's got to be perfect for them to succeed.

 

[Gr00vus]

It is so rigged,not sure why we even watch. 

Refs aren't the reason a team goes down 15 points.

 

[msudaisy26]

Refs aren't the reason a team goes down 15 points.

Oh come on didn't you see those D Jax links? The 88 dunk contest, the 88 dunk contest man!

 

[Dedfin]

I think I read Marcus Morris beat up a deaf and blind woman once.  Do I have that story right?

 

[Stuart Ullman]

Refs aren't the reason a team goes down 15 points.

Disagree.

 

[modogg]

it sucks when the Sixers are playing like they should be, it is eerily quiet in here from the Boston faithful. seems to be refs or bust

 

[DJackson10]

Disagree.

100% with you. NBA is the one league referee calls can drastically change an outcome. 4 key guys with 3 fouls by halftime. The Phantom techs when Boston goes on a run. Kind of blatant

 

[modogg]

I think I read Marcus Morris beat up a deaf and blind woman once.  Do I have that story right?

him and his brother are definitely from Philly. they have had a few things in their past. Been cleared, so who knows, but you get the feeling like they could be other athletes from Philadelphia where once the retire they get caught up in something and get in trouble. 

Disclaimer, i don't know much about the Morris twins outside they are from South Philly area. 

 

[Dedfin]

it sucks when the Sixers are playing like they should be, it is eerily quiet in here from the Boston faithful. seems to be refs or bust

THEY ARE WASHING THEIR HAIR