2021-22 NBA Thread: Bill Simmons furiously recording 2.5 hour long pod about how Boston is still better than Golden State (1 Viewer)

[modogg]

Durant is seriously frazzled this game.

yeah, it is weird. he looks just off. i think some credit needs to be given to the way Ime has chose to defend against him, but he does just seem off quite a bit for the playoffs. 

 

[DJackson10]

The awards at the end of seasons at times is nothing more then popularity contests. 

To add to this the all star games are nothing but popularity contests as well. When I hear all star thats a game you reward the best players for that current season not guys having a down year just because of name recognition etc. Don't mind the he's retiring at the end of the season lets give him one more all star game here and there for the best either. 

 

[Ghost Rider]

Durant and Irving are 7 for 20 from the field and the Nets are winning.  This does not bode well for the Celtics. 

 

[ShamrockPride]

Jaylen is torching Kyrie right now wtf

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Nets are missing Harden big time. It’s not scoring they need—it’s playmaking  and facilitating they are missing.  They literally rely on KD and Kyrie to handle all of the scoring and playmaking—which makes them a lot easier to defend in late game situations. Regardless of if the Celtics or Nets win tonight—I think Brooklyn’s lack of a true facilitator is getting exposed tonight. 

 

[modogg]

Nets are missing Harden big time. It’s not scoring they need—it’s playmaking  and facilitating they are missing.  They literally rely on KD and Kyrie to handle all of the scoring and playmaking—which makes them a lot easier to defend in late game situations. Regardless of if the Celtics or Nets win tonight—I think Brooklyn’s lack of a true facilitator is getting exposed tonight. 

wil be interesting when Ben comes in game 3 or game 4 if he can fill that role. i do agree though, every possession down the court just looks like a mess by the Nets

 

[modogg]

Nets really don't believe in boxing out or going for offensive rebounds.......

Nets are in big trouble, this utter meltdown in the 4th Q looks like a broken team

 

[modogg]

i am also beginning to think Steve Nash is one of the bottom 5 coaches in the league. the last 2 minutes of the game look like they have no interest in trying to win this game. they can't be this over-confident in winning their home games, can they?

 

[brun]

i am also beginning to think Steve Nash is one of the bottom 5 coaches in the league. the last 2 minutes of the game look like they have no interest in trying to win this game. they can't be this over-confident in winning their home games, can they?

IIRC, KD & Kyrie said they don't need a HC because they're good leaders. Maybe they were wrong.

 

[Major]

Nice comeback for Boston.  I really enjoy watching Kyrie lose.  The Nets did indeed look lost in the 4th.   

 

[modogg]

i never watched much of Harden outside of highlights before, but man oh man he would be an easy guy to root against if he was on the opposing team

 

[Insein]

21 turnovers and 5 missed FTs for the sixers. Still have a chance to win this. 

 

[Insein]

Harris aww man. That was it. That was the shot to steal the win. Just short. 

 

[modogg]

lol, refs. clean block by Embiid, looks like the Nurse complaining and #####ing is working full time tonight

 

[Insein]

Dear God Embiid!!!!

 

[identikit]

lol, refs. clean block by Embiid, looks like the Nurse complaining and #####ing is working full time tonight

Foul was before that IMO

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

M. V. P. 

 

[modogg]

Dear God Embiid!!!!

that is f'd up replaying that shot by Kawhi a few times to show big time shots. F'd up man....

 

[Insein]

MVP MVP MVP!

 

[Capella]

That Embiid shot was too clean. Wow 

 

[identikit]

That was a great game...

 

[Major]

That Embiid shot was too clean. Wow 

Smart not to let Harden take it 

 

[identikit]

Smart not to let Harden take it 

Considering he fouled out already, not smart

Necessarily

 

[Insein]

Doc gets a lot of crap but calling that timeout at the end was huge. 

 

[Major]

Considering he fouled out already, not smart

Necessarily

Haha, I forgot this game was on (damn you NBATV) and just caught the highlights.   But we all know, Harden misses that in the clutch.  

 

[Frostillicus]

Watching Derozan is like watching some sort of alien. 

 

[Frostillicus]

Can one of you nerds get the top 10 guys in percentage of shots taken from like, 15-20 feet? I'm sure Derozan and KD are near the top, but who else is doing this? and How poorly and is it still Wiggins?

 

[jvdesigns2002]

Can one of you nerds get the top 10 guys in percentage of shots taken from like, 15-20 feet? I'm sure Derozan and KD are near the top, but who else is doing this? and How poorly and is it still Wiggins?

I feel like cp3 would be near the top of that list as well. 

 

[identikit]

People leaving the arena in Milwaukee...

 

[identikit]

Watching Derozan is like watching some sort of alien. 

Alien engaged

 

[Juxtatarot]

 

[identikit]

That's how it's done, Bulls...

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

That's how it's done, Bulls...

You can take that to the bank, brohan. 

 

[Bluesbomber]

That's how it's done, Bulls...

You can take that to the bank, brohan. 

 400 moneyline, DeRozan, Levine and Billy Donovan...Thank you very much.

Great game, clutch shots, blocks and defense by the Bulls and Caruso, Vooch , Patrick and the above.

 

[gruecd]

Middleton with suspected MCL sprain, MRI scheduled for this morning. You’ve gotta assume he’s done for at least the rest of this series and possibly longer.

Bulls needed 65/20 from DeRozan/Vooch, Bobby getting knocked out with a cheap shot elbow, Khris/Jrue playing like ###, a friendly whistle, and 15 Bucks turnovers just to win by four last night. Bucks can still win this series without Middleton, but they're either gonna need him back or else Grayson/Pat are gonna need to  really step up if they're gonna have a chance in hell against Boston.

 

[SayWhat?]

Middleton with suspected MCL sprain, MRI scheduled for this morning. You’ve gotta assume he’s done for at least the rest of this series and possibly longer.

Bulls needed absolutely everything to go their way last night to win by 4. I feel like the Bucks can still win this series without Middleton, but they'll need him back if they're gonna have any chance against Boston.

Agreed.  Though if Giannis can’t get his shut together from the line, that’s going to ultimately bite them in the ###.

Also, NBA playoff injuries suck. 

 

[gruecd]

Agreed.  Though if Giannis can’t get his shut together from the line, that’s going to ultimately bite them in the ###.

Also, NBA playoff injuries suck. 

He was over 70% for the regular season, but yeah, going 11/18 like he did last night isn't gonna cut it.

 

[the moops]

The rest of the starters are the ones that really picked things up. I think Smart won the award as being the most notable defensive player of an ensemble cast.

could  not agree more, which wouldn't be my definition of DPOY.

Jrue, Bam and several others would have got my vote before Smart.

I also agree. I think it is really hard for a wing defender to have the impact of a big. Thus I would have gone Gobert once again.

However, if it was going to be a guard/wing - I think Smart was the choice over Bridges, and most assuredly over Jrue who did not have a good defensive year.

 

[identikit]

Agreed.  Though if Giannis can’t get his shut together from the line, that’s going to ultimately bite them in the ###.

Also, NBA playoff injuries suck. 

They sure do.

Season-ending ones do too, like Ball for the Bulls

 

[wikkidpissah]

You can take that to the bank, brohan. 

dood, where is @SWC?!

you will pay for throwing the Power of the Brohan back @ my boyee. dont be surprised if your eternal torment involves being stuck in one of them rope-thingee lines at First Damnational

 

[Navin Johnson]

Can one of you nerds get the top 10 guys in percentage of shots taken from like, 15-20 feet? I'm sure Derozan and KD are near the top, but who else is doing this? and How poorly and is it still Wiggins?

10ft-3p

Derozan 58.5%

KD 48%

Wiggins 20.5%

 

[Jayrod]

Middleton with suspected MCL sprain, MRI scheduled for this morning. You’ve gotta assume he’s done for at least the rest of this series and possibly longer.

Bulls needed 65/20 from DeRozan/Vooch, Bobby getting knocked out with a cheap shot elbow, Khris/Jrue playing like ###, a friendly whistle, and 15 Bucks turnovers just to win by four last night. Bucks can still win this series without Middleton, but they're either gonna need him back or else Grayson/Pat are gonna need to  really step up if they're gonna have a chance in hell against Boston.

Didn't get to watch more than a couple of minutes of the Bucks/Bulls game, but the Bulls winning was the biggest surprise of the night for me.  The little bit I saw looked like the Bulls were hitting their shots and the Bucks were not...but I'm sure that ebbed and flowed throughout the game (much like the BOS/BKN game).

Looking at the box score, the biggest thing that jumped out to me was Vucevic & Lavine's numbers.  They seem to have been very efficient (combined 17/21 with 7/13 from 3) and Vuc's 13 rebounds were likely important.

It does seem like the Bulls played above their normal levels and the Bucks had just a few too many hiccups to pull it out.  I still think the Bucks win in 6, but no Middleton would be a real blow against either Boston or Brooklyn.  Especially considering whoever wins that series may be getting back a plus defender (TimeLord or Simmons) to help contain Giannis.

 

[Toby2ElectricBugaloo]

Durant is seriously frazzled this game.

Glad to hear it wasn't just me. He looked an absolute mess.

It's weird to think about and should probably have a trigger warning for readers enduring midlife crises, but he IS 33 already. And he's got a lot of miles on that skinny body- one and done out of college, deep postseason runs virtually every season.  

 

[wikkidpissah]

Glad to hear it wasn't just me. He looked an absolute mess.

It's weird to think about and should probably have a trigger warning for readers enduring midlife crises, but he IS 33 already. And he's got a lot of miles on that skinny body- one and done out of college, deep postseason runs virtually every season.  

i had also wondered why he hadnt geared up his defensive presence late and during the play-in game. dunno boutchoo, but when i think of playoff KD, i see him doing his thing after ridiculous stop after ridiculous stop. Nets mighta leaned on him too much thru all those transitions. the shots look OK, but those picks - even tho its a Celtic specialty - make him look worn down.

 

[wikkidpissah]

Didn't get to watch more than a couple of minutes of the Bucks/Bulls game, but the Bulls winning was the biggest surprise of the night for me.  The little bit I saw looked like the Bulls were hitting their shots and the Bucks were not...but I'm sure that ebbed and flowed throughout the game (much like the BOS/BKN game).

Looking at the box score, the biggest thing that jumped out to me was Vucevic & Lavine's numbers.  They seem to have been very efficient (combined 17/21 with 7/13 from 3) and Vuc's 13 rebounds were likely important.

It does seem like the Bulls played above their normal levels and the Bucks had just a few too many hiccups to pull it out.  I still think the Bucks win in 6, but no Middleton would be a real blow against either Boston or Brooklyn.  Especially considering whoever wins that series may be getting back a plus defender (TimeLord or Simmons) to help contain Giannis.

and the best way to put down the Bulls when theyre being uppity is to expose Vuc up top with screens, but the Bucks usage guy is Anteaternintendo, who doesnt use foot speed on his drives so you can create mismatches. if Jevon Carter is your drive guy, you aint exploiting Chicago's biggest weakness.

 

[Anarchy99]

Odds to win the championship for the remaining teams . . .

ESPN Basketball Power Index:

BOS 40.4%
PHX 19.1%
MEM 8.0%
UTH 5.6%
MIL 4.9%
MIA 4.4%
GS 3.9%
PHI 3.8%
DEN 1.9%
DAL 1.8%
ATL 1.5%
TOR 1.5%
NO 0.9%
BKN 0.6%
MIN 0.4%
CHI 0.0%

Five Thirty-Eight RAPTOR:
Celtics 32%
Suns 22%
Bucks 13%
Warriors 9%
Heat 7%
76ers 5%
Grizzlies 4%
Jazz 3%
Mavericks 2%
Nets 2%
Hawks 0.8%
Timberwolves 0.3%
Pelicans 0.3%
Raptors 0.2%
Nuggets 0.2%
Bulls <0.1%

Five Thirty-Eight ELO:
Celtics 44%
Suns 22%
Grizzlies 10%
Warriors 5%
Heat 4%
76ers 3%
Mavericks 3%
Bucks 2%
Jazz 2%
Raptors 2%
Hawks 1%
Timberwolves 0.9%
Nuggets 0.6%
Nets 0.5%
Pelicans 0.2%
Bulls <0.1%

Basketball Reference:
Celtics 26.9%
Suns 23.3%
No other team above 10%

The analytics sites all love Boston . . . from slight favorites to overwhelming favorites. Either Boston is flying way under the radar or the data analytics aren't worth much of anything. There really isn't a middle ground here. I also don't get how the Celtics are betting favorites to beat the Nets, while the Nets have better odds to win the championship than Boston does.

Updated chances to win the NBA championship . . .

ESPN Basketball Power Index:
BOS 33.4%
MIA 12.0%
PHX 11.8%
MEM 10.5%
UTH 6.6%
MIL 5.5%
GS 5.0%
PHI 4.9%
DAL 2.3%
NO 1.1%
MIN 0.8%
DEN 0.7%
ATL 0.5%
BKN 0.2%
CHI <0.1%
TOR <0.1%

Five Thirty-Eight RAPTOR:
Celtics 39%
Suns 18%
Warriors 11%
Bucks 9%
Heat 7%
76ers 7%
Grizzlies 3%
Jazz 3%
Mavericks 2%
Nets 0.6%
Timberwolves 0.4%
Pelicans 0.3%
Nuggets 0.2%
Hawks 0.2%
Raptors <0.1%
Bulls <0.1%

Five Thirty-Eight ELO:
Celtics 49%
Suns 14%
Warriors 9%
Grizzlies 7%
Heat 6%
76ers 6%
Jazz 2%
Mavericks 2%
Bucks 1%
Timberwolves 1%
Pelicans 0.6%
Hawks 0.3%
Nuggets 0.2%
Nets 0.2%
Raptors 0.1%
Bulls <0.1%

Basketball Reference:
Boston Celtics 29.0%
Phoenix Suns 21.3%
Golden State Warriors 12.9%
Utah Jazz 9.4%
Miami Heat 9.2%
Memphis Grizzlies 7.6%
Philadelphia 76ers 3.8%
Milwaukee Bucks 2.8%
Dallas Mavericks 1.7%
Minnesota Timberwolves 1.2%
Atlanta Hawks 0.3%
Denver Nuggets 0.3%
Brooklyn Nets 0.2%
Toronto Raptors 0.2%
Chicago Bulls 0.1%
New Orleans Pelicans 0.1%

 

[identikit]

Didn't get to watch more than a couple of minutes of the Bucks/Bulls game, but the Bulls winning was the biggest surprise of the night for me.  The little bit I saw looked like the Bulls were hitting their shots and the Bucks were not...but I'm sure that ebbed and flowed throughout the game (much like the BOS/BKN game).

Looking at the box score, the biggest thing that jumped out to me was Vucevic & Lavine's numbers.  They seem to have been very efficient (combined 17/21 with 7/13 from 3) and Vuc's 13 rebounds were likely important.

It does seem like the Bulls played above their normal levels and the Bucks had just a few too many hiccups to pull it out.  I still think the Bucks win in 6, but no Middleton would be a real blow against either Boston or Brooklyn.  Especially considering whoever wins that series may be getting back a plus defender (TimeLord or Simmons) to help contain Giannis.

 

[identikit]

Didn't get to watch more than a couple of minutes of the Bucks/Bulls game, but the Bulls winning was the biggest surprise of the night for me.  The little bit I saw looked like the Bulls were hitting their shots and the Bucks were not...but I'm sure that ebbed and flowed throughout the game (much like the BOS/BKN game).

Looking at the box score, the biggest thing that jumped out to me was Vucevic & Lavine's numbers.  They seem to have been very efficient (combined 17/21 with 7/13 from 3) and Vuc's 13 rebounds were likely important.

It does seem like the Bulls played above their normal levels and the Bucks had just a few too many hiccups to pull it out.  I still think the Bucks win in 6, but no Middleton would be a real blow against either Boston or Brooklyn.  Especially considering whoever wins that series may be getting back a plus defender (TimeLord or Simmons) to help contain Giannis.

Also Lopez doubled his scoring avg points in last night's game.

 

[DJackson10]

lol, refs. clean block by Embiid, looks like the Nurse complaining and #####ing is working full time tonight

Joel's lucky they don't call him for body checking on offense every time down the floor. Lebron and Giannis get away with it too. Giannis got away with a Clear one Anthony and Johnson were surprised didn't get called. But the league doesn't want to cut down on scoring chances. 

 

[DJackson10]

Can one of you nerds get the top 10 guys in percentage of shots taken from like, 15-20 feet? I'm sure Derozan and KD are near the top, but who else is doing this? and How poorly and is it still Wiggins?

I believe I saw DeRozen led the league in shots from that range by a large margin. He has I believe more 3O and 4O pts games shooting less then a certain amount of 3s in a game this this