OFFICIAL 2020 NBA PLAYOFF THREAD - DISNEY COVID INVITATIONAL EDITION - MAMBA FOREVER - LAKERS WIN THE RONA RAND - ALA FOREVER

[ill steelo]

Missed the game,

danm what adjusments did Denver make to stop the Jazz?

Nothing Jazz had a Houston Rockets-esque reversion to the mean. They had a 123 offensive rating in the halfcourt heading into the game, scored 60+ in the first half. Then went ice cold.

I It's interesting to me how different the media an NBA fans perceive Lillard and Harden. I feel like Harden catches a lot more flack. Imagine if Harden had Lillard's playoff record? Dame leads his team to the playoffs every year where they usually get destroyed early in the playoffs (except last season where they got swept by a KD-less Warriors team)

Harden gets absolutely crushed for his playoff failures and Dame seems to get a pass. Is it Harden's style of play that makes him less sympathetic? Is it Dame's warrior/"me against the world" attitude that makes people like him more? Is it the fact that Harden has had better teams than Dame over the last couple of years

Dame only started scoring 30 a night consistently this year. James has averaged 30 three years in a row and led the league in assists before that.

Dame has 4 all nba teams total. James has been 1st team 5 times.

Dame-led teams have lower expectations as a result.

 

[noblekane]

It puts pressure on the ppl that have an interest in the games being played plus the power to get things done in this country to act Cuz it messes up the money and publicity....The league office and ownership have ppl in it that could make a few calls and get the cop that shot Jacob arrested and charged by tonight if they really wanted to

if this is the case shouldnt every team in the bubble boycott?

most of these racist pieces of **** could care less what the nba is doing.

we need to vote this piece of **** out of office and let a new regime take over. and if the new regime dont do **** we burn this ***** down to the ground.

 

[finessence]

Paul George was very brave in speaking up last night. Unfortunately, for Black men in particular, showing signs of supposed weakness is frowned upon by peers. However, once cleansed of the guilt surrounding such admissions, you begin to see the world through a more balanced lens. Depression is nothing to joke about, and considering the plight of Black people in this country, and the constant reminder of what being Black actually means in this world? Many of us could use a mental health check, but with a progressive Black lean, and then one not of christian/abrahamic origins. There is nothing wrong with dealing with your emotions, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you need help. The sad thing is, many would rather ridicule people who seek help, instead of simply listening.

PG ridiculed Dame Lillard though. Nah. I disagree. Don’t talk big, then hide your hand and cower. Forget PG

 

[atlsfinest]

Paul George was very brave in speaking up last night. Unfortunately, for Black men in particular, showing signs of supposed weakness is frowned upon by peers. However, once cleansed of the guilt surrounding such admissions, you begin to see the world through a more balanced lens. Depression is nothing to joke about, and considering the plight of Black people in this country, and the constant reminder of what being Black actually means in this world? Many of us could use a mental health check, but with a progressive Black lean, and then one not of christian/abrahamic origins. There is nothing wrong with dealing with your emotions, there is nothing wrong with admitting that you need help. The sad thing is, many would rather ridicule people who seek help, instead of simply listening.

I'm all for Paul George getting the help he needs but broadcasting it publicly when you play in a competitive sport doesn't help. Whether you like it or not, his detractors will use it against him.

Also, Paul George isn't exactly a sympathetic figure seeing as he fires shots at other people on a constant basis.

 

[finessence]

PG been throwing negative energy out there into the universe. Serves him right. No sympathy for him

 

[storm2006]

For everyone who was talking about The Pacers doing Nate McMillian grimey by letting him go after the extension...FWIW because of that extension even though he may be out of a job, he’s actually guaranteed a portion if not all of that money so the Pacers FO did right by him, financially at least.

 

[noblekane]

I'm all for Paul George getting the help he needs but broadcasting it publicly when you play in a competitive sport doesn't help. Whether you like it or not, his detractors will use it against him.

Also, Paul George isn't exactly a sympathetic figure seeing as he fires shots at other people on a constant basis.

pg do be talking hella reckless. but people do react to depression differently

 

[reformeDWS]

James is my guy, but he gags when things are tilted in his favor like Kawhi sitting out in 2017 and Durant sitting out last year.

the game against the spurs is definitely in play. came out and laid an egg with no kawhi.

"durant sitting out" is the biggest BS narrative people continue to push because it's based on the premise that the warriors and rockets were equal when the series started. one team had KD steph klay dray and iggy. the other had harden, a diminished chris paul, ariza, eric gordon, and PJ Tucker. the warriors should have swept houston.

durant left game 5 with 2 minutes to go in the 3rd. he effectively sat out for 5 quarters. they still had steph, klay, draymond, and iggy. they were uniquely positioned to "lose a star" and not have it be anywhere equal to another team losing a star. but somehow james averaging 35 a game for the series is "gagging when durant sits out".

 

[Cashflow]

Shake The Table

 

[KHUFU]

PG ridiculed Dame Lillard though. Nah. I disagree. Don’t talk big, then hide your hand and cower. Forget PG

I'm all for Paul George getting the help he needs but broadcasting it publicly when you play in a competitive sport doesn't help. Whether you like it or not, his detractors will use it against him.

Also, Paul George isn't exactly a sympathetic figure seeing as he fires shots at other people on a constant basis.

I am not aware of what George has done to other players. However, if abusive, it is one of the signs of depression. Let's take Mike Tyson for an example, he is different these days. However in his heyday, it was obvious that there was something wrong, seriously wrong.

 

[noblekane]

pacers organization saw mike dantoni gonna available and it was just too tempting for them.

 

[QU!K]

As a lifelong Raptors fan I’m 100% behind the boycott, hopefully it results in these cops getting arrested for their crimes. Our own president was subject to this abuse. Some things are bigger than basketball.

 

[storm2006]

It puts pressure on the ppl that have an interest in the games being played plus the power to get things done in this country to act Cuz it messes up the money and publicity....The league office and ownership have ppl in it that could make a few calls and get the cop that shot Jacob arrested and charged by tonight if they really wanted to

Like I said before the "Bubble Invitational" started, the play just simply drowns out the social justice message being discussed. Regardless of what players say in interviews, or what message is displayed on their shirts & jerseys (Which I commend the effort and jesture), the on-court play is what is trending and being discussed.

Rather it be "Dame Time" or Playoff P shooting woes or Luka's game winner and bubble domination or the Mitchell/Murray scoring fest, the topics from the NBA have been strictly about basketball. Look up BR, ESPN, SI and other news outlets and find when the last article on NBA social justice activity. was posted. Even the Masai Ujiri situation wasn't given the proper attention IM, where it is a case where a black man was lied on and sued by a white cop, and the masses believed the cop.

I'm not blaming the players, because they are truly keeping up the effort, but we're getting EXACTLY what we expected on the coverage.

Whether the NBA goes on or not, I think it’s unrealistic to imagine that if basketball stops that all of a sudden white cops are going to stop killing innocent black folks. This isn’t a new problem and no matter how much racist ***** want to dig their head in the sand and validate the BS, police brutality against black bodies is well known. Is the NBA going to use their bottomless pockets to lobby for defunding the police and shift some of the funds to other social service avenues as well as support better training practices? Is the NBA going to Insist on better qualifications to wear a badge and carry a gun instead of 6 months of training?

I think it’s important and good that the players are trying to use their platform/status whether they’re playing or not but I don’t see how it will affect policy. They are probably better served by playing, earning their salaries and donating to well-establishes social advocacy programs. Investing in the black community. Improving healthcare availability. Opening businesses for jobs for minorities. Funding schools in underprivileged neighborhoods. Starting an after school program with trained advocates to get the kids off the street.

 

[lawdog1]

So people gonna start questioning the motives of the guys saying they might leave the same way they did with Kyrie when he suggested maybe they shouldn’t go at all?

 

[MVP]

So people gonna start questioning the motives of the guys saying they might leave the same way they did with Kyrie when he suggested maybe they shouldn’t go at all?

Kyrie was villianized in the moment but will end up being vindicated in the end. Crazy how he basically got a gag order put on him.

 

[reformeDWS]

Whether the NBA goes on or not, I think it’s unrealistic to imagine that if basketball stops that all of a sudden white cops are going to stop killing innocent black folks. This isn’t a new problem and no matter how much racist ***** want to dig their head in the sand and validate the BS, police brutality against black bodies is well known. Is the NBA going to use their bottomless pockets to lobby for defunding the police and shift some of the funds to other social service avenues as well as support better training practices? Is the NBA going to Insist on better qualifications to wear a badge and carry a gun instead of 6 months of training?

I think it’s important and good that the players are trying to use their platform/status whether they’re playing or not but I don’t see how it will affect policy. They are probably better served by playing, earning their salaries and donating to well-establishes social advocacy programs. Investing in the black community. Improving healthcare availability. Opening businesses for jobs for minorities. Funding schools in underprivileged neighborhoods. Starting an after school program with trained advocates to get the kids off the street.

I fundamentally disagree with the premise that in order to change the system, nba players have to continue to participate in the system. The NBA players will never amass enough money to sizeup to the owners, league, tv sponsors, etc.

 

[P C H]

Spencer spitting about the role that Nike plays in basketball discourse and dialogue

 

[frshstunna]

Whether the NBA goes on or not, I think it’s unrealistic to imagine that if basketball stops that all of a sudden white cops are going to stop killing innocent black folks. This isn’t a new problem and no matter how much racist ***** want to dig their head in the sand and validate the BS, police brutality against black bodies is well known. Is the NBA going to use their bottomless pockets to lobby for defunding the police and shift some of the funds to other social service avenues as well as support better training practices? Is the NBA going to Insist on better qualifications to wear a badge and carry a gun instead of 6 months of training?

I think it’s important and good that the players are trying to use their platform/status whether they’re playing or not but I don’t see how it will affect policy. They are probably better served by playing, earning their salaries and donating to well-establishes social advocacy programs. Investing in the black community. Improving healthcare availability. Opening businesses for jobs for minorities. Funding schools in underprivileged neighborhoods. Starting an after school program with trained advocates to get the kids off the street.

The cops are never gonna stop killing without fear and consequences...To get to that point you need an eye for an eye or them being thrown under the jail every time they do some wild ****...Some ppl in the NBA can help with the 2nd part because they have direct lines to the ones involved in that judicial process...But you have to force them to hit those lines n that’s where boycotts, messing up the money and making the league look crazy comes into play...It’s like a protest/riot , the louder you are or more actions you take the quicker the wheels get moving for any hope of “justice” or consequences

I think most of these players are smart enough to know that just not playing a basketball game won’t stop a cop from pulling a trigger...But if not playing the game puts extra heat on real consequences for that cop, then that’s something

 

[dmbrhs]

It's almost as if ESPN execs sit around all day coming up with more reasons to not watch their NBA studio show.

 

[Cashflow]

 

[tomdiginson]

So wait... boycotting the league is going to change how cops treat people? Come on.

What kind of question is this. You do realize in this country when money gets messed up, that's the only time they go into action to resolve things?

 

[KHUFU]

It's almost as if ESPN execs sit around all day coming up with more reasons to not watch their NBA studio show.

Well, expect even more biscuitry to be added to their broadcasts.

 

[storm2006]

The cops are never gonna stop killing without fear and consequences...To get to that point you need an eye for an eye or them being thrown under the jail every time they do some wild ****...Some ppl in the NBA can help with the 2nd part because they have direct lines to the ones involved in that judicial process...But you have to force them to hit those lines n that’s where boycotts, messing up the money and making the league look crazy comes into play...It’s like a protest/riot , the louder you are or more actions you take the quicker the wheels get moving for any hope of “justice” or consequences

I don’t know, man. I hope I’m as wrong about this as I was about the idea of The Bubble but it seems farfetched that NBA is going to boycott, a group of owners are going to get together and then the Kentucky AG (who spoke at the Republican National Convention) is going to get pressured into arresting the cops that killed Breonna Taylor.

Even if that is the case, and play resumes after their arrest, what happens next month when another innocent black person is killed? Will there be another boycott until an arrest?

I’m all for boycotting if they want to do it but I’m not sure a singular boycott provides any long-term solutions to a systemic problem that has persisted for centuries.

 

[atlsfinest]

The cops are never gonna stop killing without fear and consequences...To get to that point you need an eye for an eye or them being thrown under the jail every time they do some wild ****...Some ppl in the NBA can help with the 2nd part because they have direct lines to the ones involved in that judicial process...But you have to force them to hit those lines n that’s where boycotts, messing up the money and making the league look crazy comes into play...It’s like a protest/riot , the louder you are or more actions you take the quicker the wheels get moving for any hope of “justice” or consequences

I think most of these players are smart enough to know that just not playing a basketball game won’t stop a cop from pulling a trigger...But if not playing the game puts extra heat on real consequences for that cop, then that’s something

Please explain the connection between NBA owners and the judicial system. Explain how hurting Jim Dolan and Jeannie Buss' pockets is going to change things. I feel like some of you guys are trying to draw connections where they don't exist.

 

[lovehateself]

What kind of question is this. You do realize in this country when money gets messed up, that's the only time they go into action to resolve things?

and when has the money actually gotten " messed up" to the point where systematic change was made.
i respect their decision if they choose to walk but its gonna take a whole more for things to change.