2023 NBA Playoffs Thread

I’m sure he covers the NBA or whatever but if someone always has bad takes then the answer is usually to follow better takes. Not lump everyone into the bad take.

I don’t know what “no friction” means, but yes they rotate

Here is Jamal Murray leaving his man to block a cutter

They’re 2 wins from the finals so the answer is almost certainly yes right? Like if you can go 2-0 in the WCF as a 2 seed you can win a title. That seems pretty fair to say

1 Like

Yeah, but had not been apparent prior, right, hence the question. As I mentioned at some point I think, this the first time Jokic has played a series with both Aaron Gordon (their best defender, especially big defender) and Jamal Murray (their best offensive player outside of him)

So he’s sort of been running “incompletes” for most of his career to date.

3 Likes

I exaggerate for effect. What I mean by no friction is that sometimes NBA games, and this was an example of one, feel mostly just like two teams taking turns doing things to each other.

A good twitter account to direct anyone to that doesn’t think there’s any defense or strategy in NBA games.

It’s crazy how much nuanced strategy goes on in a seven game series. The Dunker Spot podcast can do about a half hour on every game.

1 Like

Yeah, he’s the best dude on twitter I think for in game stuff

1 Like

I’ve never been much of an NBA fan and I think there can be a lot of stinky defense and offense played in the regular season for sure. But I’ve watched more of the playoffs since my son is into it and watching how team defense works at the final-four level is pretty impressive. They will definitely fall asleep or get toasted at times, but the switching or show-and-recover if you focus on the off-ball defense is pretty wild compared to college.

1 Like

I’m enjoying the Miami-Boston series. There’s a very healthy ratio of contested shots to non-contested. And in some of the games in the LA-Denver series that’s also been the case, but I see no reason why the defense being played should be above criticism. I also follow Steve Jones and like him.

1 Like

It’s not above criticism but I disagree last night was bad defense

Jamal Murray just made bonkers shots over pretty good contests

1 Like

NBA defensive scheme is more complex because the amount of spacing and they have to give different looks since giving them same look is suicide in a NBA playoff series.

It makes NCAA defensive scheme looked real simple in comparison plus the rules and the quality of players makes it easier to defend.

That’s why I roll my eyes whenever I hear people saying NBA does not play defense.

3 Likes

I think two things can be true. Murray went off, and it was impressive. That kind of shotmaking is something you see only in the NBA on the regular and is a big reason why people tune in. Lakers also had wide open lanes quite a few more times than you’d think appropriate, and that was not impressive.

I agree that the schemes and level of execution is far lower in the NCAA. However I also think that the nature of playing 82 games just naturally lowers the stakes of each game and the nature of playing 30 games in college raises the stakes of every game. So you get natural consequences from each approach.

I think of NBA defensive strategy (especially at this stage of the playoffs) as “what can we live with?”

Are you saying that all teams play good defense

In the conference finals, yes for the most part

There obviously some blown tire possessions

Okay. It’s okay to disagree.

1 Like

I think it’s fair to note that that’s not unique to the NBA. It’s just basketball. College teams execute such strategies as well.

Yeah, but in college there’s usually an obvious “Oh, yeah we can definitely live with that” option. There’s almost no one on an NBA roster that can’t shoot, get to the basket or catch a lob.

SVG and Reggie Miller make a good analyst pair. Reggie tends to be a little lazy with his analysis on his own.

1 Like

Duncan’s had a good game

Looks like Spo may ride him to the end here

2 Likes