New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[jerrybj]

Love how Aaron Gordon started the game. No ounce of hesitation.

Have only watched to half time.
From what I've seen, Miami lost it on their screen defense.
And Struss/Robinson shooting 1/16.
Highsmith might get some more minutes.

Spoelstra is shrewd.
Interested to see his adjustments in Game 2.

 

[Steve Williams]

Bottom line was Butler was contained and a non factor in the game. Heat would close the gap only to have Denver quickly restore the big lead.

 

[jadis]

Brad has faith.

Celtics to keep Mazzulla, 'want Jaylen to be here'

The Celtics will bring back head coach Joe Mazzulla next season and hope that star guard Jaylen Brown, who is eligible for a supermax extension, decides to return as well.

www.espn.com

 

[jadis]

Vogel to Suns.

Report: Frank Vogel, Suns Finalizing 5-Year, $31M Contract; HC Won Title with Lakers

The Phoenix Suns have tabbed Frank Vogel as their next head coach. According to The Athletic and Stadium's Shams Charania, Vogel and the Suns are finalizing a…

bleacherreport.com

 

[Steve Williams]

Brad has faith.

Celtics to keep Mazzulla, 'want Jaylen to be here'

The Celtics will bring back head coach Joe Mazzulla next season and hope that star guard Jaylen Brown, who is eligible for a supermax extension, decides to return as well.

www.espn.com

I’ve heard they wont pay Green a max contract

there is no good reason Mazzulla should have been fired imo

 

[Steve Williams]

Vogel will be good with the Suns. I like him

 

[jadis]

I’ve heard they wont pay Green a max contract

there is no good reason Mazzulla should have been fired imo

Agree on both. Paying Brown almost $60m a year a really too much, specially when he never stepped up after Tatum was injured. He was supposed to do a Caleb Martin and Martin earns only $6m a year. That was his chance for a big payday and had he scored 50 points that night, this supermax extension would be a no brainer.

There needs to be continuity for the C's. This core moved from having Brad as HC, to Ime Udoka to Joe Mazulla all within 3 years. It can be a bit confusing for the players with different systems. Keep him and get good assistants.

 

[jadis]

And Struss/Robinson shooting 1/16.
Highsmith might get some more minutes.

Heat were 13/38 on 3 balls. 38 attempts. Easy math is if they had hit 20 of those, they would win, Lots of those were open looks. Maybe it's really the altitude.

 

[jerrybj]

Altitude, fatigue, nerves.

I see game one for the Heat, like round 1 in a boxing match.
Many unknowns for them this series.
More counters developed after this game.

Have only played them twice this year.
Both within 5. Second game in Feb, (with full rosters) Miami had a 5 point lead to start the 4th, lost by 5.

I could see Miami taking Game 2. Could see them losing 4-1 as well.
They have the grit I like. Means winning some games they shouldn't.
But can they keep Denver's starters under 80?
And get enough offense from Strus, Robinson, Martin, Vincent (maybe Highsmith & Herro) - 50+
And Jimmy/Bam 50+

 

[jerrybj]

I think they need to give Love some minutes on Aaron Gordon.
And there's another 5-8 points in the first quarter.
Also see what the Nuggets do in transition D.
Is Love going to get 1-2 of his outlets off?

 

[jadis]

I think they need to give Love some minutes on Aaron Gordon.
And there's another 5-8 points in the first quarter.
Also see what the Nuggets do in transition D.
Is Love going to get 1-2 of his outlets off?

Love started for most of the playoffs till Game 4 of the Boston series, for more small ball fast movements leading to better looks for outside shots. I agree Love should come back against big ball Nuggets. Spo never hesitates to go against the common thinking, he is a maverick who dares at anything, even in playoffs, that is his strength. So in a way, Nuggets were fortunate those 25 threee balls missed. Half of them sinking in would have killed them. They have to be careful there. The worry about Love on Gordon is Gordon is much younger and faster, and perhaps stronger. When Gordon requested a trade from Orlando 2 years ago, rumors had it that the C's were in the mix, but Denver ultimately got him, great great acquisition. I would have loved to see him in the green uniform, and aging Horford will have to come off the bench. Oh well...

 

[jadis]

Altitude, fatigue, nerves.

I see game one for the Heat, like round 1 in a boxing match.
Many unknowns for them this series.
More counters developed after this game.

Have only played them twice this year.
Both within 5. Second game in Feb, (with full rosters) Miami had a 5 point lead to start the 4th, lost by 5.

I could see Miami taking Game 2. Could see them losing 4-1 as well.
They have the grit I like. Means winning some games they shouldn't.
But can they keep Denver's starters under 80?
And get enough offense from Strus, Robinson, Martin, Vincent (maybe Highsmith & Herro) - 50+
And Jimmy/Bam 50+

Game 2 is critical for BOTH teams. Nuggets to hold serve and feel some cushion. Heat to make it close. Anything is possible. Miami had made Vegas bookies suffer big losses in the eastern playoffs. Miami wins by its effort, with a consensus of having 'lesser' talent, none more evident that their 7 undrafted and cheap salaried players. Denver has the most cohesive array of talent in these playoffs, and where Jokic used to falter in the clutch, he has come back with a vengeance and proved critics wrong. MVP is for the regular season, but Finals MVP is the ring, and that's what matters most. Miami winning this Finals will be a testament to supreme effort against super talent. That is unorthodox the way the league has trended or shaped up, it's all about super max, super stars and big names moving here and there. Miami has had none of that after LeBron left them. Unorthodox team with an unorthodox coach, led by a veteran player who was bounced around by 3 teams, and finally landing in a culture that fitted him. It is a unique bunch, and they thrive on the saying that the ball is round, and anything can happen. Denver is now the giant that they would be wanting to slay. But Denver is playing like a wise giant.

 

[Steve Williams]

If Denver wins game 2 it’s probably quickly over. If Heat win it becomes a best of 5. I’ve learned that baby team the Hear faces must have at least a 20 point lead before they can feel comfortable s we have seen the Heat close huge deficits in a matter of minutes

 

[jadis]

Vegas has Denver favored by 8 points for game 2. Game one Nuggets favored by 6 points. Vegas apparently believes a lot in the home court advantage thing.

 

[jadis]

There's 2 days break from games 1 and 2. We don't know if it's good or bad for the Heat, at the high altitude place.

 

[Steve Williams]

Talking about heat., Cathy and I are in Washington DC. Yesterday it was 97 here and hotter today.

 

[jadis]

Talking about heat., Cathy and I are in Washington DC. Yesterday it was 97 here and hotter today.

Yeah. That's typical Manila hot, most of the year round.

 

[Steve Williams]

Yeah. That's typical Manila hot, most of the year round.

I feel we are half way to hell it’s so hot

 

[rblnr]

I think we’ll see Love start to play too, they need the size. I think Denver wins in 6.

 

[rblnr]

I feel we are half way to hell it’s so hot

Hopefully the DC humidity isn’t full blast yet