***2021 NBA PLAYOFFS THREAD***

Originally posted by sacniner:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:
Right before the Ayton alley-oop:

Pat Bev is walking the length of the court to wave at Suns fans and four other Clippers are trying to restrain him.

— Sabreena Merchant (@sabreenajm) June 23, 2021

Pat Bev is great for the NBA, even though he's annoying af for all opposing fanbases. He's kind of a throwback.

I love him lol

Originally posted by Zachary:
I love him lol

he's great

Originally posted by sacniner:
Pat Bev is great for the NBA, even though he's annoying af for all opposing fanbases. He's kind of a throwback.

Yeah but you can't help but look stupid when you're doing the Mario Elie but your team ends up losing. He did the same thing last year when they choked away a 3-1 lead.

Then you've got Cousins who at this point in his career only brings the intensity after the game is over.

Cameron Payne what a game.
I don´t care about what happened to him before in his career and what will happen after.
But on this game 2 in the Western Conference Finals, he was the best player on the floor. He scored, he created for his teammates, he did his best on defense with 2 steals and 2 blocks.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

That's CP first win against Scott Foster in quite some time 😂

— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) June 23, 2021

Nobody:

Scott Foster when there's a close game: pic.twitter.com/oysakjlDeO

— #RingerNBA (@ringernba) June 23, 2021

Suns almost had this happen below. Foster almost got the ice pick into their backs. Not this time though, lol @ .7 seconds, dude trying to pull a Donahue.

Screwed by Foster (CP3 rant after) - 8 game win streak - Screwed by Foster again.

Foster should have called a blocking foul on Booker (on Zubac) on the Ayton alley-oop yes? 😂

Anyway i thought PG was built for the bright lights of the playoffs? Wow what a choke at the FT line. Mental.

Even with all the injuries, these playoffs have been so great. Not sure on the ratings, but it seems like people have been really engaged. Judging from people in my personal life, and even this thread… haven't really seen this much NBA engagement since the Cavs/Dubs finals? Maybe the first year of Durant in GS? And even then folks tuned into the finals, but didn't care much about the preceding rounds. I remember the 2016 finals, before KD joined GS, as one that really captured the nation

bunch of dope ass games so far

Originally posted by sacniner:
Even with all the injuries, these playoffs have been so great. Not sure on the ratings, but it seems like people have been really engaged. Judging from people in my personal life, and even this thread… haven't really seen this much NBA engagement since the Cavs/Dubs finals? Maybe the first year of Durant in GS? And even then folks tuned into the finals, but didn't care much about the preceding rounds. I remember the 2016 finals, before KD joined GS, as one that really captured the nation

bunch of dope ass games so far

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by 4ML:
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/06/10/insider-ben-simmons-workouts/

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18773006/philadelphia-76ers-players-laud-ben-simmons-work-ethic-positivity

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/16/injured-sixers-star-ben-simmons-back-in-the-gym-working-out-hard/

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/04/mike-scott-praises-ben-simmons-hard-work-calls-him-a-beast/

You can find fluff like this about any player. The proof is always in the pudding. On the court he hasn't made any meaningful progress as a shooter or a scorer which were his main weak points coming out in the draft. I'm sure he puts work into the stuff he already excels at but as far as being a better all around player, doesn't seem to be much interest there.

When four years later a guy is the exact same player they were as a rookie, it's fair to question just how serious they are about bringing up their weaknesses.

Nobody has to talk about guys like Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram or Donovan Mitchell having put the work in to get better. You see it in every game they play.

You could be 100% right and I could be completely wrong - I personally think it's mental and not the question of lack of work ethic. I remember how media ridiculed Fultz and look at him enow. Ben may need to work harder - but I don't think it's due to lack of work ethic.

Also - his defense has improved tremendously. That doesn't happen if you're not willing to put the time in in the film room. Also - it requires lot of effort and energy on the court. His body has transformed - so has his conditioning. That happens with hard work.

I am just saying - SAS is a proven liar. I wouldn't go by what he says.

Fultz is not currently a look at him now player lol. Dude was the #1 pick lets stop acting like he's living up to it

Originally posted by Knowledge:
Fultz is not currently a look at him now player lol. Dude was the #1 pick lets stop acting like he's living up to it

Are you kidding?? He went from a 47% free throw shooter to 90% this past season!

Originally posted by Knowledge:

Originally posted by 4ML:

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by 4ML:
https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/06/10/insider-ben-simmons-workouts/

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/18773006/philadelphia-76ers-players-laud-ben-simmons-work-ethic-positivity

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2020/09/16/injured-sixers-star-ben-simmons-back-in-the-gym-working-out-hard/

https://sixerswire.usatoday.com/2019/10/04/mike-scott-praises-ben-simmons-hard-work-calls-him-a-beast/

You can find fluff like this about any player. The proof is always in the pudding. On the court he hasn't made any meaningful progress as a shooter or a scorer which were his main weak points coming out in the draft. I'm sure he puts work into the stuff he already excels at but as far as being a better all around player, doesn't seem to be much interest there.

When four years later a guy is the exact same player they were as a rookie, it's fair to question just how serious they are about bringing up their weaknesses.

Nobody has to talk about guys like Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram or Donovan Mitchell having put the work in to get better. You see it in every game they play.

You could be 100% right and I could be completely wrong - I personally think it's mental and not the question of lack of work ethic. I remember how media ridiculed Fultz and look at him enow. Ben may need to work harder - but I don't think it's due to lack of work ethic.

Also - his defense has improved tremendously. That doesn't happen if you're not willing to put the time in in the film room. Also - it requires lot of effort and energy on the court. His body has transformed - so has his conditioning. That happens with hard work.

I am just saying - SAS is a proven liar. I wouldn't go by what he says.

Fultz is not currently a look at him now player lol. Dude was the #1 pick lets stop acting like he's living up to it

He went from a 'I forgot how to shoot a basketball' to a 'i can now shoot again' player

never forget...1:54 minute mark

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Originally posted by sacniner:
Even with all the injuries, these playoffs have been so great. Not sure on the ratings, but it seems like people have been really engaged. Judging from people in my personal life, and even this thread… haven't really seen this much NBA engagement since the Cavs/Dubs finals? Maybe the first year of Durant in GS? And even then folks tuned into the finals, but didn't care much about the preceding rounds. I remember the 2016 finals, before KD joined GS, as one that really captured the nation

bunch of dope ass games so far

The viewership share for this year's playoffs — the percentage of people with TVs in use that are watching the NBA — is at its highest since the the league first began logging that data during the 2002-03 season.
https://t.co/4J8PojBiNK via @Yahoo

— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) June 23, 2021

2021 NBA Playoff ratings are up 39% from the last season's playoffs 😎 pic.twitter.com/qJpAbROQIn

— The Lead (@TheLeadSM) June 22, 2021

Thanks for that info… I think fans like the new blood, and the level of play has been off the charts. Great stuff and dispels the idea that one of the big markets has to be in to get ratings

Gobert is a phenomenal center but man the Jazz could not take advantage of the Clippers going the small ball route. Ayton is the major mismatch in the entire series right now. Clippers have no answer for him scoring.