NBA Playoffs - 2022

Milwaukee fans will be very upset by this time next week.

PHI fans are really upset....RIGHT NOW!!

db

P.S. Worcester, so reading between the lines, the Celtics are sweeping the Bucks in your humble but accurate opinion?

dboss wrote:The yoyo master should be fired.

There is no good reason to keep Embid in the game deep into the 4th QTR in a blowout game
He already was playing with a bad thumb and now he got a broke face.

Why doc, why?

That was as dumb a coaching move as I have seen in a very, VERY long time.

I don't see his face as being the determining issue.  Larry Bird had an orbital fracture too and returned to the court that game.  Ok, that was Larry Legend and a different era where players were tough guys, but it's not necessarily a debilitating injury.  One can put a mask on and play through it.  HOWEVER, in addition to the orbital fracture, Embiid has also been diagnosed with a concussion.  The NBA will not allow a player on the court until after they have exited the league's concussion protocol program no matter what the player or team or medical staff wants or says.  According to the concussion protocol the injured player must be out a minimum of 7 days.  That will keep Embiid sidelined for the first two games of the Heat series, minimum, and that's assuming he exits the protocol at the earliest allowed moment and that he chooses to play through the orbital injury.  Throw in his torn right thumb ligament injury and anybody not named Glenn Rivers would have to question his effectiveness even if he did come back in 7 days.

It now becomes more important for the Celtics to take care of business in their next series, with Milwaukee, because the Heat are probably going to coast through theirs.

Harden must be sick to his stomach.  He asked out of Brooklyn because he saw dysfunction.  He's now looking at having to carry the Sixers almost single-handedly.  He couldn't do that with Westbrook in Houston and, despite all the shade being thrown at Westy now by Laker fans and their front office, neither the corpse of Tobias Harris nor Tyrese Maxey are Russell Westbrook.


Bob

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dbrown, it will be difficult, but I do see the Celts going up 3-0 over the Bucks in the next seven days. After that we may even sweep. How sweep it is.

Bob, You are so right about your assessment of Doc's dumbest move and the NBA concussion protocol. That's why I hope we sweep the Bucks, because the Heat will be rested.

Doc was overwhelmed by his own ego.

The Raptors beat them soundly in game 5 and also won game 4.

You could see that Doc wanted his team to crush them and they did. There was a point in the game however, where it turned into overkill. This has to be one of the more negligent situations that I have seen from a coach with vast amount of coaching experience

This was all ego.

With Philadelphia up just one game on the Raptors after taking a 3-0 series lead, Doc took aim at media members Wednesday for not telling the “whole story” when it comes to him:

My Orlando team was the eight-seed… no one gives me credit for getting up against the Pistons who won the title. … I dare you to go back and look at that roster. And you would say, ‘What a hell of a coaching job.’

The Clipper team that we lost 3-1… Chris Paul didn’t play in the first two games, and was playing on one leg; and we didn’t have homecourt. Then the last one, to me, is the one we blew. Now, it was in the bubble, and anything can happen in the bubble. … Some of it is I’ve gotta do better always. … Some of it, is circumstances happen.

Mr. doc 'Excuse' rivers

dboss wrote:Doc was overwhelmed by his own ego.

The Raptors beat them soundly in game 5 and also won game 4.

You could see that Doc wanted his team to crush them and they did.  There was a point in the game however, where it turned into overkill.   This has to be one of the more negligent situations that I have seen from a coach with vast amount of coaching experience

This was all ego.

With Philadelphia up just one game on the Raptors after taking a 3-0 series lead, Doc took aim at media members Wednesday for not telling the “whole story” when it comes to him:

My Orlando team was the eight-seed… no one gives me credit for getting up against the Pistons who won the title. … I dare you to go back and look at that roster. And you would say, ‘What a hell of a coaching job.’

The Clipper team that we lost 3-1… Chris Paul didn’t play in the first two games, and was playing on one leg; and we didn’t have homecourt. Then the last one, to me, is the one we blew. Now, it was in the bubble, and anything can happen in the bubble. … Some of it is I’ve gotta do better always. … Some of it, is circumstances happen.

Mr. doc 'Excuse' rivers

I actually think those are legit excuses, the Orlando team overachieved, Chris Paul used to get injured every year in playoffs….but the Embid injury is on him, stupid, makes no sense to have him still on the floor.

Well, if there ever was a time for James Harden to step up, this would be it. It will take little if any effort for him to return to his HOU mentality days. He's going to be the show. Unfortunately, MIA is going to swarm him like the bees do on Bee Czar and will be a non-factor, yet another role he is very comfortable with when the flood light is on. It should throw him into an amazing, dichotomic head spin. Definitely worth falling into the "record and speed through" db DVR Playoff Collection for your viewing pleasure during one's downtime.

I wouldn't throw this one into the hamper just yet. Let's see 4 quarters of JH on his own before we throw in the proverbial towel.

db

Cow

Yes perhaps for the 3-1 scenario but what about his crappy playoff record with the Clips and the Sixers?

Well, let's see Harden earn his money in this next Miami series. My guess is that Miami is already licking it's chops waiting for him. Maxey will outplay him for sure. The only thing he has impressed me with is his assists. I believe he had 15 the last game. But that is not going to win them a series. He needs to take over and start scoring big numbers to make up for the loss of Embid (for however long it will be) Doc Rivers job is on the line here, if he loses, he igone. They are wasting away the good years of Embid's career. Who knows how long he really will have. he hasn't played a full season since he came in. to the league. Doc? He may be gone no matter what

Vegas already calling for this to be over in 5 max with the new Embiid development.  It really is a shame.  

Doc had to get the monkey off his back and unfortunately his pride may very well have cost him his job.  Can you imagine if there was a G7 tonight?!  I would push the mortgage and the kids all-in on TOR.  PHI would be so dazed and confused it would be another ultimate train wreck.    

No one in the media is mentioning Harden.  Harden has played in a ton of these playoff games where he's the main man.  The problem is, it is very short-lived, at best maybe good for one round.  Well, this is his round.  Get through it and maybe Embiid's back for ECF.  

Don't go throwing the dirt on the grave just yet.  But as for Harden, this is it.  If he comes up short and doesn't leave EVERYTHING out on the court, he's done.   Harden's got the sun with a giant magnifying glass on him for a spotlight. Can't take off the 4th quarter anymore when things heat up, no pun intended. Harden never had an Embiid sidekick in all those years in HOU and he did just fine in the playoffs for at least a couple of rounds.  Doc's just asking for one round at a time.    

Now if MIA is going to swarm him, who knows.  It all depends on how MIA plays it.  We have seen MIA can be MIA about half the time.  I don't know, I can't seem to shake this one off initially the way the general thinking is going.  I'm probably wrong but it's worth a watch.  

db

Philly? Miami? Does not matter. Celts will have either for an appetizer and then move on to the main course in the NBA Finals. Finally.

bobheckler wrote:

dboss wrote:The yoyo master should be fired.

There is no good reason to keep Embid in the game deep into the 4th QTR in a blowout game
He already was playing with a bad thumb and now he got a broke face.

Why doc, why?

That was as dumb a coaching move as I have seen in a very, VERY long time.

I don't see his face as being the determining issue.  Larry Bird had an orbital fracture too and returned to the court that game.  Ok, that was Larry Legend and a different era where players were tough guys, but it's not necessarily a debilitating injury.  One can put a mask on and play through it.  HOWEVER, in addition to the orbital fracture, Embiid has also been diagnosed with a concussion.  The NBA will not allow a player on the court until after they have exited the league's concussion protocol program no matter what the player or team or medical staff wants or says.  According to the concussion protocol the injured player must be out a minimum of 7 days.  That will keep Embiid sidelined for the first two games of the Heat series, minimum, and that's assuming he exits the protocol at the earliest allowed moment and that he chooses to play through the orbital injury.  Throw in his torn right thumb ligament injury and anybody not named Glenn Rivers would have to question his effectiveness even if he did come back in 7 days.

It now becomes more important for the Celtics to take care of business in their next series, with Milwaukee, because the Heat are probably going to coast through theirs.

Harden must be sick to his stomach.  He asked out of Brooklyn because he saw dysfunction.  He's now looking at having to carry the Sixers almost single-handedly.  He couldn't do that with Westbrook in Houston and, despite all the shade being thrown at Westy now by Laker fans and their front office, neither the corpse of Tobias Harris nor Tyrese Maxey are Russell Westbrook.


Bob

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Forgot about that and that playoff game with Bird close to his last legs was legendary vs Indiana. Even Birds last years with a bad back were amazing how fierce he still was on the floor.

Embid showed real toughness, inspiring his team to victory. Big difference with him on the floor.

cowens/oldschool wrote:Embid showed real toughness, inspiring his team to victory. Big difference with him on the floor.

The man has just cemented himself as a Philly legend. 18 points and 11 rebounds and a block in 36 minutes after coming back from a concussion and still with an orbital eye fracture?! Remember when Westbrook didn't play when he had one? Embiid is looking a lot more like Larry Legend than Me-baller Westbrook. I didn't see the block but you have to figure that took real freaking guts for him to stand in there. You can't get a block from 8' away, you (and your face) have to be right up there near his elbows to get a finger on the shot.

Philly's still gonna lose the series but, damn, you gotta give it up to Embiid. Remember when he was injured often in the early part of his career and people were questioning his willingness to play with pain? Not anymore.


Bob


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The team can blame management in the end when PHI is bounced out, mainly Morey. While he should get the ax long before Doc will, Morey will probably still be around after next weekend. If he is axed, expect you-know-who to follow him out to pasture. Harden with 17/6/8 not setting the world on fire but didn't need to as MIA was a no-show except for Butler. One-trick pony. You will have to give MIA credit, they are inconsistent. We're not. And with each game the more we become familiar with our opponent, the tighter the constrictor gets. Easier offense follows.

Embiid gave an elongated Willis Reed moment for Philly fans. The remainder of the series will look like a Buster Douglas remake.

db

Sixers got smacked around by Heat.

Sorta hoping they win game 6. AH contract is looking even better with each Sixers loss.

dboss wrote:Sixers got smacked around by Heat.

Sorta hoping they win game 6.  AH contract is looking even better with each Sixers loss.

dboss,

And Tobias Harris' contract is looking even worse with each Sixers loss.  He's getting paid >$36M this year, and will be paid >$37M next year and >$39M the year after that.  That's almost $74M worth of guaranteed contract still left after this year.  If Al Horford looked untradeable because of his contract Tobias Harris is in Philly prison.  I don't think Harris is as bad a player as Sixer fans seem to think he is, although he does occasionally disappear, but he sure as Hell isn't worth that kind of money.  To his credit he's only 30 years old, he still has good years left.  To his diminishment, he's only 30 and his value is well below his pay scale.  He's averaged 17ppg during the season, and is averaging that in the postseason with 4 more mpg (so a slight drop off in efficiency) but 17ppg isn't too shabby for a team's 3rd option.  It's his contract that makes him look bad.  That's not a reasonable contract for a player who is a team's 3rd option and will never be more than the team's 3rd option.

The same story is true with James Harden.  His play has declined in the playoffs and his contract could choke a horse.  He has a player option year next year for $47M.  My money says he takes the money and doesn't try free agency.  


Bob

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Poor Sixers 2 hellacious contracts, Harris and Harden. Harden’s game has fallen down so fast….

bobheckler wrote:

dboss wrote:Sixers got smacked around by Heat.

Sorta hoping they win game 6.  AH contract is looking even better with each Sixers loss.

dboss,

And Tobias Harris' contract is looking even worse with each Sixers loss.  He's getting paid >$36M this year, and will be paid >$37M next year and >$39M the year after that.  That's almost $74M worth of guaranteed contract still left after this year.  If Al Horford looked untradeable because of his contract Tobias Harris is in Philly prison.  I don't think Harris is as bad a player as Sixer fans seem to think he is, although he does occasionally disappear, but he sure as Hell isn't worth that kind of money.  To his credit he's only 30 years old, he still has good years left.  To his diminishment, he's only 30 and his value is well below his pay scale.  He's averaged 17ppg during the season, and is averaging that in the postseason with 4 more mpg (so a slight drop off in efficiency) but 17ppg isn't too shabby for a team's 3rd option.  It's his contract that makes him look bad.  That's not a reasonable contract for a player who is a team's 3rd option and will never be more than the team's 3rd option.

The same story is true with James Harden.  His play has declined in the playoffs and his contract could choke a horse.  He has a player option year next year for $47M.  My money says he takes the money and doesn't try free agency.  


Bob

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Tobias needs to start wearing a ski mask to the games. OK player but as you said wayyy over paid. Its a good racket to get into if you land at the right spot at the right time.
Do you realize that Coach Mike Brown is still receiving 3 paychecks? One from the Cav’s one from the Lakers and one from his current team, Golden State.  Mail Box Money

Mike may be the smartest person in the room. But now it looks like he's officially been led out to pasture...I mean Sacramento.

I know he deserves a second chance and he does. But Sacramento?!! I say, "Come on, Man!!!"

db

dbrown4 wrote:Mike may be the smartest person in the room.  But now it looks like he's officially been led out to pasture...I mean Sacramento.

I know he deserves a second chance and he does.  But Sacramento?!!  I say, "Come on, Man!!!"    

db

If they give him the time too build that team it could turn out be a pretty good gig. “If they give him the time” being the operative phrase here. Their track record (13 coaches in 20 yrs ) speaks otherwise. Either way, i don't think Brown has anything to lose.

Couple of big questions this off-season that should be fascinating to watch.

1. Do the Nets offer Diarrhea Breath a max contract?

2. Do the 76s offer Harden a max contract?

I would be very reluctant in both cases, but are the teams boxed in?