NBA 2019 NBA Playoffs Thread (MVP, finals, win, games)

[Cowboy310]

Hat's off to KD !!!

The greatest scorer in this 2010 era...

What he did in game 5 was historic and courageous...
No matter the outcome,KD is forever a legend now...

So now on to the series,This is about as confusing as a series I've seen in a while.But let's remember the Warrior's aren't 100% at all in this series.

If Klay plays game 3,the Warrior's are probably up 3-2.
Than If Warrior's never had the 18-0 run in game 2 the series is probably 3 - 0 or still 3 - 1 for the Raptors.

Than in game 4 Klay plays but Curry wasted all of his energy going for 47 pts in game 3 so he was wasted in game 4.

Now Game 5 is the game that the Raptors should've won.No KD after the 2nd quarter is when you take control and close it out on a 75% Warrior's team.
Cousins is not even playing at an all star level so you got to take advantage of that in game 5 immediately.

So here's how I see it,This is the Warrior's last game at Oracle no matter who wins so they're definitely not losing at home tomorrow night.

With that being said,The Raptors still have the edge because game 7 is back in Toronto...But the mental edge will be on the Warrior's side because now the momentum has shifted back to Warrior's with that little bit of spark from KD....

A ) If Warrior's lose than the narrative is they should've loss because Klay was hurt in game 3,No KD at all,
Looney is out and Cousins is still banged up...

B ) If Warrior's win than the narrative is Kawhi had no real help and he's leaving in the off-season to another team..

C ) With KD injury,This changes the landscape of the entire NBA universe.The Warrior's dynasty is over whether they win the title or not... Not having KD makes them beatable and even if he comes back he won't be the same monster he was before.So with 2 or 3 rings,KD is a top 15 player of all time if he never plays again.

D ) If Curry wins his 4th title without KD,than he's the greatest player since the early 2000's Shaq.This is no doubt Curry team and he's the one that makes the boat sail just like Shaq did from 00 - 04

E ) If Raptors win,Than Kawhi with 2 rings can stake his claim as the greatest player in the world today.
He ran through a great Philly and Milwaukee team that on paper had better talent than his Raptors.

F ) The Great Lebron James !!!!!!!! What happens if he gets no help in the off-season ? Does he retire with just 3 rings and he's supposed to be the air apparent to Michael Jordan ? Even with 4 rings,he's not catching Jordan or Magic but 1 more ring will complete his amazing story.And if he never wins another ring than he's ranked behind everyone in the top 10 except Bird and Hakeem... Everyone else has more rings and more success on the court than him if he retires with 3 rings...


So many different stories and plot holes,we just gotta wait and see...2020 will be a bang...As it is a new decade after all✓

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Cowboy310

F ) The Great Lebron James !!!!!!!! What happens if he gets no help in the off-season ? Does he retire with just 3 rings and he's supposed to be the air apparent to Michael Jordan ? Even with 4 rings,he's not catching Jordan or Magic but 1 more ring will complete his amazing story.And if he never wins another ring than he's ranked behind everyone in the top 10 except Bird and Hakeem... Everyone else has more rings and more success on the court than him if he retires with 3 rings...

Robert Horry has more championship rings than Kareem or Jordan.

Rings are not a criteria that is weighted that heavily especially considering that the Celtics from the era of black and white television have piles of rings due to a tiny league and a packed team.

P.S. When Russell joined that team they had 2 guys that were already 1st team all-nba. Something most casual NBA fans don't know when hoisting Russell as an ATG. He belongs in coversations, don't get me wrong, but most people really don't know the story.

[Mr. Ryu]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

Robert Horry has more championship rings than Kareem or Jordan.

Rings are not a criteria that is weighted that heavily especially considering that the Celtics from the era of black and white television have piles of rings due to a tiny league and a packed team.

P.S. When Russell joined that team they had 2 guys that were already 1st team all-nba. Something most casual NBA fans don't know when hoisting Russell as an ATG. He belongs in coversations, don't get me wrong, but most people really don't know the story.

Also, the average height of the players back then was not what it is now. Russell had a huge advantage.

[weezerfan84]

Originally Posted by Mr. Ryu

Also, the average height of the players back then was not what it is now. Russell had a huge advantage.

And basketball gifts or basketball IQ went far further during that time. Height doesn't get you that far these days; however, back then height could get you very far. Just 20 years ago, teams were still building around a big man. The adaptation and league wide transition to the 3 ball has changed the game for athletes of all heights. Now, you can't be 6'10" and just clog the paint and wait for lobs. All of sudden you see guys like Deandre Jordan and Clint Cappella having minimal value in the postseason. They become unplayable when teams can stretch the floor and draw them out of the paint, when a team is constantly switching to get the matchup to expose them.


You'll likely see more teams searching for their own Draymond Green. A high motor/high basketball IQ player who appears undersized, but can play useful minutes at the 5.


The landscape will continue to evolve as teams study or luck into a player that breaks the current mold. Basketball is played a break neck speeds these days.

[Cowboy310]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

Robert Horry has more championship rings than Kareem or Jordan.

Rings are not a criteria that is weighted that heavily especially considering that the Celtics from the era of black and white television have piles of rings due to a tiny league and a packed team.

P.S. When Russell joined that team they had 2 guys that were already 1st team all-nba. Something most casual NBA fans don't know when hoisting Russell as an ATG. He belongs in coversations, don't get me wrong, but most people really don't know the story.

The Robert Horry theory just doesn't end huh lmao.

When we talk rings, we're talking about the leader's of the team not the role players...

Example ~

Kareem + Magic not Byron Scott lol
Shaq + Kobe not Derek Fisher
Wade + Lebron not Shane Battier
Curry + KD not Shaun Livingston...

I get it,it's takes a team to win championships but a team isn't nothing without that leader...

Jordan made those bulls great because of his greatness

Curry impact on the court makes his team better because of how much the defense focuses on him...

Nobody is double teaming Robert Horry or Paxton lmao
They just play they role when it's needed...

So again,as currently constructed Jordan has 3x more rings than Lebron so that has to hold some weight...

Jordan first Bulls team from 91 - 93 only had 1 All star in Pippen and they went against some great teams that was more talented on paper like the Sun's & Blazers...

Lebron Miami team from 11 - 14 was way more stacked with all star caliber players than Jordan Bulls from 91

Even his Cavs from 15 - 18 was super stacked so I just call it like I see it....

We play the game to lead our teams to titles and that's the most important stat out there....

If it's not about titles than Westbrook has been the GOAT of this era....but since he can't lead his team to titles than the narrative will always be how the Curry's of the world was better....

And nobody led their team to titles better than Jordan except Bill Russell....Combine that with all of the other accolades and we see why he's recognized as the GOAT

Even Magic has claim as GOAT because his leadership and impact on the court was unmatchable in history...

And this is what Curry is doing... leading his team to titles as the core leader...We can argue KD as being better but I remember Curry team beating KD team...

I remember GSW having a greater record with Curry playing with no KD vs KD playing with no Curry...

Now if Lebron can get #4, he's still not touching Jordan or Magic but he'll be in pretty rare company amongst the greatest to ever play...

It's all about getting 6 rings to catch Jordan and winning 7 to surpass him....We talk down on rings because the feat looks damn near impossible...

But Kobe & Duncan came damn near close to #6

Curry can get #6 if he has another 3 years left in him as an elite player but I just don't see it happening....Him winning 4 or 5 is more realistic....And even if never wins another title,His 3 rings and 5 final appearances lands him as the greatest point guard ever behind Magic...

[ipkl07]

Gasol stinks. Darn near every shot he takes is a brick. He will cost Raptors Championship and why coach continues to leave him out on the court is beyond me. Coach and Gasol will cost Raptors Championship. Oh well, you have to tip your cap to the Raptors, but no way they should have won.

[Chevalier de Saint-George]

I'm not a Warriors fan but GS is playing with a ton of grit and heart right now especially with two crucial players out.

[Taiko]

I guess the monkey is now off of Chris Webber's back

[DOUBLE H]

Toronto 114, Golden State 110. Congratulations to the Toronto Raptors!!

[nc17]

Leonard vindicated on many levels. Congrats to Toronto.

Slight deja vu to the NBA Finals 30 years ago to the calendar day, with a hobbled Lakers dynasty failing to 3peat against a tough as nails Pistons team. Klay's father was also playing.