NBA Thread

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,338
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I think it is assuming a lot that if Davis had missed that shot that last night would have went the same way. I doubt it would have (Just IMO and that is all we have). The next game will decide the series as if the Lakers win the Nuggets are down 3-1 and I don't think anyone on here sees them winning 3 straight against AD & Lebron but you never know. If the Nuggets win again it is game on, but I figure the Lakers will come out with more intensity in game 4 after a lazy end to game 2 and a pathetic showing for Quarters 2 and 3 in game 3. The NBA definitely wants longer conference finals and the NBA definitely wants Celtics vs. Lakers in the finals if at all possible for obvious ratings reasons.
 
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BoulderCat_rivals187983

All-Conference
May 22, 2002
7,871
3,227
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They are gritty.
Been quite the ride. It’s tempting to say if AD hadn’t gotten or missed that shot the Nuggets would be up 2-1, but if that had happened the Lakers wouldn’t have come out flat last night. Still almost came back anyway. If the Nuggets go down 3-1 again I don’t see a 3-1 comeback happening this time.
 
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KyCat

All-American
Sep 29, 2006
5,688
9,416
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Been quite the ride. It’s tempting to say if AD hadn’t gotten or missed that shot the Nuggets would be up 2-1, but if that had happened the Lakers wouldn’t have come out flat last night. Still almost came back anyway. If the Nuggets go down 3-1 again I don’t see a 3-1 comeback happening this time.
To be fair, how many saw them coming back from two down the first two rounds? However, I do not disagree with you.
 

MWes11

Heisman
Apr 22, 2012
12,025
10,106
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LeBron’s All-Star bigs always have a tendency to become a shell of what they were before they teamed with LeBron. See Bosh pre-LeBron and with LeBron. Same with Kevin Love.
And neither of them were close to sniffing titles without LeBron. I would be fine with decreasing my personal numbers if it meant gaining a world championship. I'm sure they are fine with it, too.

Doesn't seem like AD has become a shell of himself.
 
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Mar 23, 2012
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It's not like AD is embarrassing himself.

Yes but he’s not putting up the same numbers as he did in NO, just more efficient. Per game numbers are down across the board other than assists compared to past playoff appearances. It’s just what happens with LeBron’s All-Star bigs, they go from being THE guy on their team to sharing the load with arguably the best to have ever played the sport. Four of his five single-digit rebound playoff games are this year. He had never scored fewer than 20 in a playoff game, but he’s done it twice this year. He’d only once previously had a playoff game of fewer than two blocks, he’s done it 7x this year. He only had zero steals in one playoff game before, done it 4x this year.
 
Mar 13, 2004
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Yes but he’s not putting up the same numbers as he did in NO, just more efficient. Per game numbers are down across the board other than assists compared to past playoff appearances. It’s just what happens with LeBron’s All-Star bigs, they go from being THE guy on their team to sharing the load with arguably the best to have ever played the sport. Four of his five single-digit rebound playoff games are this year. He had never scored fewer than 20 in a playoff game, but he’s done it twice this year. He’d only once previously had a playoff game of fewer than two blocks, he’s done it 7x this year. He only had zero steals in one playoff game before, done it 4x this year.

That's what happens when you don't HAVE to carry the team every night.
 

GonzoCat90

Heisman
Mar 30, 2009
32,377
34,559
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There's no excuse for AD to get 3 rebounds in 42 minutes. He's too good for that.

He should have had a few more, for sure, but he was clearly the focal point on offense and using his energy on that end.

I think the real reason for the low rebounding numbers is Vogel's gameplan though. They're clearly trying to use McGee and Dwight against Jokic in the post and using Davis in more of a perimeter PnR disruptor/shot contesting role.

Then you factor in playing alongside LeBron at the point, and the team as a whole is just bigger and more capable on the glass.

I think you'll see him at the 5 more going forward, but even with last night's gameplan, 3 is too few.
 
Mar 23, 2012
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He should have had a few more, for sure, but he was clearly the focal point on offense and using his energy on that end.

I think the real reason for the low rebounding numbers is Vogel's gameplan though. They're clearly trying to use McGee and Dwight against Jokic in the post and using Davis in more of a perimeter PnR disruptor/shot contesting role.

Then you factor in playing alongside LeBron at the point, and the team as a whole is just bigger and more capable on the glass.

I think you'll see him at the 5 more going forward, but even with last night's gameplan, 3 is too few.
The whole team was trash on the boards other than LeBron, he had 10, no one else more than 4. Murray out rebounded all the Laker bigs combined and the Nuggets were +19 on the boards in what turned out to be a close game.
 

MWes11

Heisman
Apr 22, 2012
12,025
10,106
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The whole team was trash on the boards other than LeBron, he had 10, no one else more than 4. Murray out rebounded all the Laker bigs combined and the Nuggets were +19 on the boards in what turned out to be a close game.
I still don't really understand what point you are trying to make. I would say last night is more of the anomaly than the norm. AD is averaging 29 and 10 this post season, compared to when he was in NO and averaged 31 and 12. The payoff is you don't have to do absolutely everything and still have zero shot at winning a title in NO. He doesn't have to avg massive numbers, although he still is, and his team is the favorite to win the title. Would much rather have that as a player than to try and drag a **** franchise with zero help to the playoffs like he had to do in NO. AD is a top 5 player in the game, playing with the best player in the game.
 

LineSkiCat14

Heisman
Aug 5, 2015
38,856
60,901
113
I dont think it was on purpose... but I was not a fan of the way they (Billups) insinuated that Kentucky kinda held Bam back, in the interview. Saying how he only had 1 APG.

.. he WAS only 18 and playing as our only legit big man.. not sure how many assists he's supposed to have. I think Calipari and UK prepped him quite well.
 

SuporChin

All-Conference
Mar 2, 2011
1,148
1,149
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I'm listening to the game on ESPN radio, and I keep expecting to hear Cal yelling at someone in the background.
 

SuporChin

All-Conference
Mar 2, 2011
1,148
1,149
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I dont think it was on purpose... but I was not a fan of the way they (Billups) insinuated that Kentucky kinda held Bam back, in the interview. Saying how he only had 1 APG.

.. he WAS only 18 and playing as our only legit big man.. not sure how many assists he's supposed to have. I think Calipari and UK prepped him quite well.
That's a bad take by Billups. We had an All-American level PG and a SG who could handle the ball as well. Bam developed his passing ability overtime. There were no signs of that while he was here.

There's the idea that you need to learn the rules before you can break them. See what Bam can do now, is a great example of that.
 

Baller Cal

Heisman
Dec 28, 2019
7,014
15,822
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That's a bad take by Billups. We had an All-American level PG and a SG who could handle the ball as well. Bam developed his passing ability overtime. There were no signs of that while he was here.

There's the idea that you need to learn the rules before you can break them. See what Bam can do now, is a great example of that.

I'd counter Billups by saying that Cal stresses to share the ball so Bam had the right mindset coming in.