2019 NBA Playoffs Thread

[EdRomero]

What the hell happened was they wanted the guy to get on the court. Not unreasonable even with chance of injury. It's expected. That's why you get the bucks, to put it on the line in the finals. Damn near no brainer to run him out there in a close out game when he likely doesn't play for them again if they lose.

I think that's absolutely how you'd view a race car or something similarly necessary for competition but not a human being.

I can also understand that logic for Zdeno Chara playing with a broken jaw because he’s 42 and nearing retirement. But not an athlete in his prime years heading into free agency with expectations of a $150-200M contract.

Did they hold Durant up at gunpoint to play the game? He had a choice. If he was afraid of getting hurt then he should have decided not to play the game. Of course the Warriors organization was pushing him to play. He is the best player in the league. He gives them an edge. But he could have easily told them he was not ready to play.

Most players want to return too early before they are ready. Ideally, the team and doctors that know better should be the reasonable ones.

[Joe K]

What the hell happened was they wanted the guy to get on the court. Not unreasonable even with chance of injury. It's expected. That's why you get the bucks, to put it on the line in the finals. Damn near no brainer to run him out there in a close out game when he likely doesn't play for them again if they lose.

I think that's absolutely how you'd view a race car or something similarly necessary for competition but not a human being.

I can also understand that logic for Zdeno Chara playing with a broken jaw because he’s 42 and nearing retirement. But not an athlete in his prime years heading into free agency with expectations of a $150-200M contract.

Did they hold Durant up at gunpoint to play the game? He had a choice. If he was afraid of getting hurt then he should have decided not to play the game. Of course the Warriors organization was pushing him to play. He is the best player in the league. He gives them an edge. But he could have easily told them he was not ready to play.

Most players want to return too early before they are ready. Ideally, the team and doctors that know better should be the reasonable ones.

Exactly. I’m sure RG3 really wanted to play in that playoff game against Seattle where he was limping around all game and then shredded his knee.

[mister d]

Dave Dravecky is probably the only pitcher who ever wanted to leave a game with an injury. Its not supposed to be up to the player.

[DSafetyGuy]

So many "narratives" coming out of that game.
4) Is the series now over (with the Warriors a lock to run away with the next two games)?

Nice reverse jinx attempt.

ESPN's BPI now has the Raptors at over 76% chance to win the series.

538 has the Raptors at 82%.

Raptors are a -350 bet to win the series, which is 77.8%

[mister d]

At one point you could have parlayed Boston +250 and Golden State at +350.

[Pruitt]

So many "narratives" coming out of that game.
4) Is the series now over (with the Warriors a lock to run away with the next two games)?

Nice reverse jinx attempt.

ESPN's BPI now has the Raptors at over 76% chance to win the series.

538 has the Raptors at 82%.

Raptors are a -350 bet to win the series, which is 77.8%

Not my reverse jinx attempt - that's a secret.

No, that is something that I've heard rumblings of. Chauncey Billups said as much last night during the pre-game.

[Joe K]

So many "narratives" coming out of that game.
4) Is the series now over (with the Warriors a lock to run away with the next two games)?

Nice reverse jinx attempt.

ESPN's BPI now has the Raptors at over 76% chance to win the series.

538 has the Raptors at 82%.

Raptors are a -350 bet to win the series, which is 77.8%

Not my reverse jinx attempt - that's a secret.

No, that is something that I've heard rumblings of. Chauncey Billups said as much last night during the pre-game.

I have an outstanding bet on the Warriors from the preseason that I fully expect to lose. Cousins played by far his best game of the series last night, the Warriors made 20 3s and they still only won by 1. If the Raptors keep their composure mentally they should be fine.

[Johnnie]

I do think Golden State wins game 6. Just seems likely.

Game 7 though? No clue. I need to see the drama coming out of game 6 and need knee jerk reactions from the taking heads before I can tell you how I feel.

[Pruitt]

So many "narratives" coming out of that game.
4) Is the series now over (with the Warriors a lock to run away with the next two games)?

Nice reverse jinx attempt.

ESPN's BPI now has the Raptors at over 76% chance to win the series.

538 has the Raptors at 82%.

Raptors are a -350 bet to win the series, which is 77.8%

Not my reverse jinx attempt - that's a secret.

No, that is something that I've heard rumblings of. Chauncey Billups said as much last night during the pre-game.

I have an outstanding bet on the Warriors from the preseason that I fully expect to lose. Cousins played by far his best game of the series last night, the Warriors made 20 3s and they still only won by 1. If the Raptors keep their composure mentally they should be fine.

As a long time fan of bad teams, a part of me refuses to believe that anything but a slow, painful, epic loss is in store.

But I tend to agree with what you said. I don;t think it's coming back here.

[Giff]

I liked a parallel I read to the Astros first WS team. Crowd was pumped, wanting to watch us clinch the first trip ever at home during game 5. Then Brad Lidge happened and before game 6, I remember having the same emotions Pruitt is feeling now. Then Roy Oswalt faced Pujols in the first inning and I had a pretty good feeling the series wasn't coming back to Houston. Maybe Leonard goes off for 20 in the first quarter (or maybe they just don't shoot 25% on threes overall) and makes the game a laugher.

[Joe K]

I liked a parallel I read to the Astros first WS team. Crowd was pumped, wanting to watch us clinch the first trip ever at home during game 5. Then Brad Lidge happened and before game 6, I remember having the same emotions Pruitt is feeling now. Then Roy Oswalt faced Pujols in the first inning and I had a pretty good feeling the series wasn't coming back to Houston. Maybe Leonard goes off for 20 in the first quarter (or maybe they just don't shoot 25% on threes overall) and makes the game a laugher.

Yeah, Toronto has been virtually unbeatable this postseason if they can hit even an average 3 point shooting efficiency. Maybe they have two more clunkers, but I wouldn’t count on that. Also, I’ve always liked Boogie Cousins but I have zero confidence in him stringing together multiple quality games. Golden State definitely doesn’t win last night without the combined 25 points (on very efficient shooting) that they got from Cousins and Durant.

[Pruitt]

We hope you're right!

[DSafetyGuy]

I liked a parallel I read to the Astros first WS team. Crowd was pumped, wanting to watch us clinch the first trip ever at home during game 5. Then Brad Lidge happened and before game 6, I remember having the same emotions Pruitt is feeling now. Then Roy Oswalt faced Pujols in the first inning and I had a pretty good feeling the series wasn't coming back to Houston. Maybe Leonard goes off for 20 in the first quarter (or maybe they just don't shoot 25% on threes overall) and makes the game a laugher.

Yeah, Toronto has been virtually unbeatable this postseason if they can hit even an average 3 point shooting efficiency. Maybe they have two more clunkers, but I wouldn’t count on that. Also, I’ve always liked Boogie Cousins but I have zero confidence in him stringing together multiple quality games. Golden State definitely doesn’t win last night without the combined 25 points (on very efficient shooting) that they got from Cousins and Durant.

In the 20 quarters of the NBA Finals thus far, the Warriors have outscored the Raptors in two of them. One of them involved Durant scoring 11 points when they won the quarter by six.

And regarding the threes, Toronto has shot under 30% from three in five of their eight playoff losses, only twice hitting one-third or better. In their 15 postseason wins, they shot under 30% from three once and made fewer than one-third of their threes four times.

[mister d]

[Pruitt]

Maybe I should be on Twitter. Seems like I'm missing some big news.

[EdRomero]

"looks like he fouled him."

[brian]

Go nuts, Canada.

[EdRomero]

Hurry it up refs. I'm worried about Pruitt's heart.

[brian]

Dragging out this torture for Golden State is so awesome. I hope this last second takes 10 minutes.

[degenerasian]

It actually not a bad play by Draymond. If he doesn't take the non-timeout the game is over

[Johnnie]

Longest, most useless .9 seconds I've ever seen. The game is over. This is ridiculous.

[degenerasian]

Longest, most useless .9 seconds I've ever seen. The game is over. This is ridiculous.

I think it played out normally. Raptors up by 2, GS fouled Leonard on the inbound. If he had missed a free throw. A hailmary 3 could have tied it.

[degenerasian]

ABC dropped the qualifier that the Warriors had injuries within two minutes of the final buzzer, lol. They wanted to get that in right away.

Then went to commercial.

[brian]

Doris Burke has the kind of voice where it seems like there should be an SNL parody of her.

[Joe K]

If there was any doubt left before this series, Kawhi and Masai are definitely slam-dunk Hall of Famers now.

[Pruitt]

If there was any doubt left before this series, Kawhi and Masai are definitely slam-dunk Hall of Famers now.

Put the statues up now!

I am at a complete loss, but I am shocked at how dusty this house has been for the last 45 minutes or so. It is really unbelievable. My wife is making fun of me, but it doesn't matter. Fucking unreal.

Just unreal. I feel like a 12 year old right now.

[brian]

Pat McCaw (hometown St Louis, MO, by the way) just won his third title in his third year in the NBA.

[DaveInSeattle]

Just seeing the Klay injury...I'm not a doctor...but I played Ultimate for a lot of years, and I'm pretty good at spotting a blown ACL when I see it.

[sancarlos]

Congrats Pruitt!

[Joe K]

Just seeing the Klay injury...I'm not a doctor...but I played Ultimate for a lot of years, and I'm pretty good at spotting a blown ACL when I see it.

Klay was having a great series when he was able to play. Once that injury happened they were pretty screwed. The game still went down to the final seconds, but that was due in no small part to the very favorable whistle that the Warriors got in the fourth quarter.

[A_B]

Just seeing the Klay injury...I'm not a doctor...but I played Ultimate for a lot of years, and I'm pretty good at spotting a blown ACL when I see it.

Dave wins!

[Rams Fanny]

Congrats Pruitt!

[Pruitt]

Just seeing the Klay injury...I'm not a doctor...but I played Ultimate for a lot of years, and I'm pretty good at spotting a blown ACL when I see it.

Good call Doctor.

If it is possible to feel sympathy for a team that just finished an absolutely epic run of success, I feel it for the Warriors.

But I'll send the condolence card after the parade on Monday.

[Ryan]

My American Invasion Plan For Canada:

1. Annex a disgruntled Texas
2. Wait for California and New York to fall into the oceans
3. Kyle Lowry, I guess?

[Johnnie]

Longest, most useless .9 seconds I've ever seen. The game is over. This is ridiculous.

I think it played out normally. Raptors up by 2, GS fouled Leonard on the inbound. If he had missed a free throw. A hailmary 3 could have tied it.

No, before that. After the Curry miss and ensuing scramble for the ball the timeout was called when they didn't have one. In reality, it's game over. Stopping the clock, giving a technical foul shot, and then allowing an inbound pass which allowed an immediate foul and your scenario...makes no sense whatsoever.

Granted, it's great awareness that you're able to pull out all stops with a "maybe we can get a magic bucket," but they should never have the opportunity.

[degenerasian]

Longest, most useless .9 seconds I've ever seen. The game is over. This is ridiculous.

I think it played out normally. Raptors up by 2, GS fouled Leonard on the inbound. If he had missed a free throw. A hailmary 3 could have tied it.

No, before that. After the Curry miss and ensuing scramble for the ball the timeout was called when they didn't have one. In reality, it's game over. Stopping the clock, giving a technical foul shot, and then allowing an inbound pass which allowed an immediate foul and your scenario...makes no sense whatsoever.

Granted, it's great awareness that you're able to pull out all stops with a "maybe we can get a magic bucket," but they should never have the opportunity.

Yes. Maybe NBA needs a 10 second run off rule for certain things like NFL.

[Joe K]

If there was any doubt left before this series, Kawhi and Masai are definitely slam-dunk Hall of Famers now.

Put the statues up now!

Masai Ujiri had an all-time great offseason in 2018. He fired the 2018 Coach of the Year and promoted an assistant with no NBA head coaching experience, and then traded the best player in franchise history for a player coming off injury who everyone assumed had no interest in playing for Toronto. (People even speculated Kawhi might refuse to show up.) Those were two massively high-risk gambles that both paid off big time.

Also, it’s worth noting that the Raptors don’t have a single lottery pick on their roster, which is unheard of for an NBA Champion. They also didn’t sign any marquee free agents. Obviously Kawhi, Gasol and Ibaka were well-established when the Raptors traded for them but the Raptors had to make very aggressive trades and give up key rotation pieces to land all three of those guys.

[Ryan]

If there was any doubt left before this series, Kawhi and Masai are definitely slam-dunk Hall of Famers now.

Put the statues up now!

Also, it’s worth noting that the Raptors don’t have a single lottery pick on their roster, which is unheard of for an NBA Champion.

With everything we've been told about roster building in the NBA, that is legit in the top 10 amazing things that have happened in our sports lifetime.

[Johnnie]

If there was any doubt left before this series, Kawhi and Masai are definitely slam-dunk Hall of Famers now.

Put the statues up now!

Also, it’s worth noting that the Raptors don’t have a single lottery pick on their roster, which is unheard of for an NBA Champion.

With everything we've been told about roster building in the NBA, that is legit in the top 10 amazing things that have happened in our sports lifetime.

TRUST THE PROCESS.

[HaulCitgo]

Everything about roster building is wrong. Duh... It's a team. Duh you have to defend. Not like they got throwaway parts. They got former Champs and guys that excel in roles and gusy that have got it done for a long time. There are multiple ways to do it but the stats guys will have you believe there's only one.