Two young teams with no playoff experience bumbling through a series.
NBA: 2022 NBA Playoffs
- Thread starter JP4CY
- Start date
I don't think KAT gets outworked as much as he just gets out of control way too much and gets gassed.
KAT is not an elite rebounder because he's just not quick off the floor or super mobile. Vanderbilt is fine, but given what he provides on the offensive end, they really need him to be elite on the glass, and he's not.
But this series they are getting slaughtered on the boards because their wings and guards are lazy and undisciplined on the glass. They don't body up anybody. Memphis' wings and guards are getting rebounds, getting taps to keep it alive, or in the case of last night - getting their bodies on Minn's bigs and freeing up guys like Clarke to get offensive rebounds.
And that's definitely a factor.
On the surface, it's nice to see small market teams look like there's a good future there.
Golden State should be able to handle either team really, and if Booker isn't back and healthy for that series (assuming they beat NOP and Dallas/Utah), trying to run around chasing Klay and Steph on a bad hammy is not going to be fun.
I admittedly haven't seen them much in the last few years but he sure seems to spend an inordinate amount of time 25-30 feet from the basket.
Memphis won't be easy for Golden St if they come out of this series. Denver is not a good defensive team at this point, Memphis is much better and Jackson provides rim protection that Jokic does not. Denver also doesn't have the guards to go at Steph with Murray out. Morant is going to be a real challenge for Golden St to stop since they can't rely on post-injury Klay to handle point guards as easily
I'm good with him at the 3p line. The only times they have struggled offensively is when he's been catching it way out 20 ish feet from the basket. Too far away for him to be doing anything off the dribble, but not spacing the floor. When KAT has been avoiding that no-man's land and either been a spacer/3 pt. shooter, or catching deeper and attacking with one dribble, they've been incredible offensively.
The emergence of Edwards has the T'wolves more what they should be. KAT is really good. He's a max guy, but a lower tier max guy that should be a #2. Russell is a good player that is not quite worth that contract. I probably like him as a player better than most, but I think it's fair to say he's a tier below his contract. Unfortunately for franchises like Minn, it's not exactly a free agent hotbed, so you're probably going to always have to have the lower-tier max guys, and maybe give a guy a max deal that probably is just a shade below the max-tier quality of player. Then hope you can make up the gap through having some good play from guys on rookie deals and your role players.
One thing you can't do in the NBA is think that since your team is young you've got a big window. It closes in a hurry. Things get drastically difference after the next two years with Edwards contract.
I think the last two games were ugly enough. Not sure where the Bulls slot in next year in the East. Can DeRozan stay at this high of a level of play? Hard to see their current group getting past Boston/Milwaukee/Toronto in the short term, Miami is always going to be up there too, Atlanta could pass them. Who knows what happens with all the max contracts in Brooklyn and Philly, Detroit and Cleveland will only be improving in the next few years too.
Not calling a single timeout the other night when Memphis went on that 21-0 run was just unfathomable.
Welcome to NBA hell. Just good enough to be out of the lottery. Semi-stars that aren't nearly good enough to take them in the playoffs. Guess maybe they are good enough to pitch themselves to a top tier FA that could take them to next level, but basically all their chips in that basket now.
New coaching staff & front office a welcome breath of fresh air though.
GSW shooting % in Q4 was ridiculous. They are a scary offensive team right now.
You can't totally blame the organization because of the injuries, but Denver maybe letting a title or two slip away with Jokic playing so many games without some super star supporting players. Monte has probably been their second best player over past two years when you look at total games, minutes, etc. He's my favorite player/Cyclone and has proven this year he can be a starter in the league but he's not the second scoring option or defensive enforcer they need.
These two years are very likely some of the greatest of all time for a player to not win a championship, Jokic might already have an argument for greatest statistical player without a ring, Malone jumps to mind as the other one to most consider.
last year:
26.4ppg, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 57%FG
This year:
27.1ppg, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 58%FG
3rd all time in player efficiency rating behind only MJ and LBJ. To shoot that % and be such a historic passer, if they had any pieces at all around him as shooters and defensive stoppers.
You can't totally blame the organization because of the injuries, but Denver maybe letting a title or two slip away with Jokic playing so many games without some super star supporting players. Monte has probably been their second best player over past two years when you look at total games, minutes, etc. He's my favorite player/Cyclone and has proven this year he can be a starter in the league but he's not the second scoring option or defensive enforcer they need.
These two years are very likely some of the greatest of all time for a player to not win a championship, Jokic might already have an argument for greatest statistical player without a ring, Malone jumps to mind as the other one to most consider.
last year:
26.4ppg, 10.8 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 57%FG
This year:
27.1ppg, 13.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 58%FG
3rd all time in player efficiency rating behind only MJ and LBJ. To shoot that % and be such a historic passer, if they had any pieces at all around him as shooters and defensive stoppers.
Really hope Nuggets can get Murray, MPJ, and Jokic all healthy together next year. They should be scary good
