2017-18 Toronto Raptors and General NBA Thread

[Senator Clay Davis]

Congrats to LeBron on carrying this piece of crap team to the Finals, but really it's the ultimate, final, undeniable proof of just what a #### conference the East really is. No doubt whatsoever the Cavs lose in the first round if they are out West, and that's why while there will be some chatter that he'll leave Cleveland to head out West, the better question would be why would he leave the East? Unless they eliminate conferences for playoff seedings, and assuming he joins the Sixers, he might make 10-12 Finals in a row. Who would give that up?

[corporatejay]

Are you Skip Bayliss?

[Senator Clay Davis]

*Bayless.

Full credit to LeBron, without a doubt. But there's a reason he's about to be 3-6 in NBA Finals. He is the best player who is virtually never on the best team. Like seriously, maybe twice in his entire career would you say he was on the clear best team in the NBA, and one of those times is when the Mavs won the title. The East is pathetic, and has been pathetic for the better part of a decade. The NBA badly needs to eliminate conferences for playoffs if they want actual intrigue. But if LeBron stays out East and they keep things as is, be prepared for more years of total boredom.

[GGG]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

*Bayless.

Full credit to LeBron, without a doubt. But there's a reason he's about to be 3-6 in NBA Finals. He is the best player who is virtually never on the best team. Like seriously, maybe twice in his entire career would you say he was on the clear best team in the NBA, and one of those times is when the Mavs won the title. The East is pathetic, and has been pathetic for the better part of a decade. The NBA badly needs to eliminate conferences for playoffs if they want actual intrigue. But if LeBron stays out East and they keep things as is, be prepared for more years of total boredom.

The Celtics / Sixers rivalry for the next 5 years with or without Lebron in the east is going to be great. You had Kyrie instead of 0-10 Rozier and Hayward allowing you to have Brown coming off the bench and that team is significantly better.

I think the days of saying the East is terrible are over. The West is Faux competitive. Teams 3-10 are all close but none could touch Houston or Golden State. Sixers / Celtics will be legitimate 3/4 teams next year depending on where LeBron ends up. Maybe Celtics becoming number 2 if Tatum doesn't have a step back and their guys come back in top form.

[Senator Clay Davis]

That was strange. A Texas congresswoman tweeted Chris Paul was playing tonight, but promptly deleted it. Rockets had to respond...

https://twitter.com/user/status/1001236380540915718

Here's, I guess, a more "official" take, which sounds more grim

https://twitter.com/user/status/1001228342853623808

Either way it sounds like at most he'll be a minor contributor tonight. Doubtful he plays any meaningful minutes

[Strange Brew]

Paul is not playing tonight. ####.

[Strange Brew]

Harden not playing great after the first quarter, but he has to work so hard for everything. Rockets missing some wide open 3’s and Curry hitting everything.

[troutman]

Rocket fans come out all in red, and the team wears black?

[Strange Brew]

Congratulations Warriors. That is a great team.

Even without Paul, Rockets had a chance in this game. But they were working so hard on one end I think it affected their shooting.

Great season. Pushed the champs to the very limit.

[GGG]

7/44

A lot of bad shots in the second half where they forgot to drive to set up the 3s. The 2nd Bell screen to Curry between the legs was ridiculous. Curry passing as he was going out of bounds then runs to his spot and the ball is waiting for him. (The first one should have been a foul though)

[nik-]

Originally Posted by troutman

Rocket fans come out all in red, and the team wears black?

Appropriate dress for a funeral.

[Samonadreau]

NBA is so predictable. Lebron is going to get ####ing paid. Blank cheque.

[Senator Clay Davis]

The Celtics and Rockets both lost because of the Warriors. And the idea that Warriors created with the Splash Brother, that you could simply break teams with runs of three pointers that just crush the oppositions soul. They kept thinking that they would eventually make that run of three or four in a row and the Cavs and Warriors would fold. Instead they missed a combined 69 (!!!!!!!!) threes in eight quarters. Mind bottling to say the least. They both fell into the trap. And while they both might be back in the conference finals again next year, this may well have been their best look.

As far as Yawnfest Vol 4, I'd like to see the NBA spice it up a bit and force the Warriors to win in a sweep, or they don't win the title. Or like eliminate the three point line for just the Warriors. Something to keep it interesting.

[savemedrzaius]

I hope Lebron wins but I doubt he can get it done. He will need to go MVP+++

People talk about how Lebron is unlikable but there is something about Curry I just don't like.

[Tsawwassen]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

As far as Yawnfest Vol 4, I'd like to see the NBA spice it up a bit and force the Warriors to win in a sweep, or they don't win the title. Or like eliminate the three point line for just the Warriors. Something to keep it interesting.

The sweep could happen here as the past 3 series ended in 5,6, and 7 games. The 2016 final was the best out of the 3. The former ABA and its players must be thrilled with all these 3 point attempts and baskets, it was their idea.

[Senator Clay Davis]

So the Finals will probably suck, but at least we got this

https://twitter.com/user/status/1001304010584805376

[Drake]

Remember the time the NBA welcomed Bryan Colangelo in replacement of Sam Hinkie because Sam Hinkie was deemed too embarrassing for the league?

Hilarious Embiid is now liking Bryan Colangelo’s burner account tweets about him lmao.

[bluejays]

Colangelo always seemed like a snake who probably played the corporate game better than most. Could've been his dads name or whatnot, but I didn't like him towards the end. Certainly doesn't look good for him, and if he in fact leaked privy medical information about HIS OWN TEAM or talk badly toward former management, I'm sure he's done in the NBA (as should be). At first I'd think that the 76ers would do a BS investigation and say, "nope, false alarm", but this thing has really taken off and it looks like Colangelo will be screwed in the public's eye regardless if they "clear" him. It simply won't end well for him. From all the apparent amateur investigators out there who did the forgot the password option and linked it potentially to him, it's really not looking good for him.



There's always NCAA basketball who seem to take every dbag no matter what the character flaw.

[troutman]

Close call of a block on LeBron could change the outcome. If it was a charge, Cavs probably win.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by troutman

Close call of a block on LeBron could change the outcome. If it was a charge, Cavs probably win.

Block is the right call there. It is close though.