NBA Playoffs 2023

[Who]

I was looking up MIL's defensive efficiency since the All-Star break since there have been several posts about how badly they were defending late in the season and giving up large numbers of points to numerous teams.

MIL ranked 14th in the league over that post ASG period.

MIL were giving up 114.1 points per 100 possesions. For comparison, BOS ranked 2nd in the league at 110.4 points per 100 possessions. Almost 4 points better.

Denver was the team directly behind MIL in 15th place at 114.4 def eff. Interestingly, Philly and NY were 17th and 18th respectively. LAC 20th. MIA 22nd. ATL was 25th.

https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/defense?PerMode=Per100Possessions&SeasonSegment=Post%20All-Star&SeasonType=Regular%20Season&dir=A&sort=DEF_RATING

[Donoghus]

Let’s say the Bucks come back and win this series. Would your opinion of them change? I still look at them the same regardless. If Giannis never got hurt it’s 2-2 at worst. I also think the C’s are their toughest matchup in the league.

They're the Celtics' biggest impediment to the title.  I'm never going to discount a team that has given the Celtics fits over the past few seasons and trots out arguably the best player on the planet. 

I'm not ready to pour dirt on them even down 3-1.

[Neurotic Guy]

Let’s say the Bucks come back and win this series. Would your opinion of them change? I still look at them the same regardless. If Giannis never got hurt it’s 2-2 at worst. I also think the C’s are their toughest matchup in the league.

They're the Celtics' biggest impediment to the title.  I'm never going to discount a team that has given the Celtics fits over the past few seasons and trots out arguably the best player on the planet. 

I'm not ready to pour dirt on them even down 3-1.

 It’s tough to come back from 3-1. Miami just needs to stay in a game and get some late game breaks - or another tour de force by Butler.

But I still expect Bucks to win the series and they’ll be very tough to beat if the Cs make it to the ECF.

[Donoghus]

Let’s say the Bucks come back and win this series. Would your opinion of them change? I still look at them the same regardless. If Giannis never got hurt it’s 2-2 at worst. I also think the C’s are their toughest matchup in the league.

They're the Celtics' biggest impediment to the title.  I'm never going to discount a team that has given the Celtics fits over the past few seasons and trots out arguably the best player on the planet. 

I'm not ready to pour dirt on them even down 3-1.

 It’s tough to come back from 3-1. Miami just needs to stay in a game and get some late game breaks - or another tour de force by Butler.

But I still expect Bucks to win the series and they’ll be very tough to beat if the Cs make it to the ECF.

I just think they bounce back at home in Game 5.  Butler isn't going nuclear two games in a row.   

Games 6 & 7, who knows.  Although if it goes 7, I think MIL wins it at home. 

[Who]

The biggest danger for MIL will be MIA's shooters getting hot from 3 in one of those three games. Love, Lowry, D Robinson, Strus. That is what would worry me if I were a Bucks fan.

[Who]

That was LeBron's first 20-20 game.

His 20-20 line -- a career first through 1,693 regular-season, play-in and postseason games -- made him the oldest player to achieve the statistical mark since Wilt Chamberlain did it at 36 in 1973.

"I've done some pretty cool things in my career," James said. "I've never had 20 and 20 before. So, that's pretty cool, I guess."

I was wondering as it happened if LeBron was the oldest player ever to have a 20-20 game. I was wondering if Duncan may have had one or not. Maybe Kareem.

It went all the way back to Wilt.

[Amonkey]

Let’s say the Bucks come back and win this series. Would your opinion of them change? I still look at them the same regardless. If Giannis never got hurt it’s 2-2 at worst. I also think the C’s are their toughest matchup in the league.

They're the Celtics' biggest impediment to the title.  I'm never going to discount a team that has given the Celtics fits over the past few seasons and trots out arguably the best player on the planet. 

I'm not ready to pour dirt on them even down 3-1.

 It’s tough to come back from 3-1. Miami just needs to stay in a game and get some late game breaks - or another tour de force by Butler.

But I still expect Bucks to win the series and they’ll be very tough to beat if the Cs make it to the ECF.

I just think they bounce back at home in Game 5.  Butler isn't going nuclear two games in a row.   

Games 6 & 7, who knows.  Although if it goes 7, I think MIL wins it at home.

I think their biggest chance will be on game 6 because if it goes to 7, it’s all over.

[tazzmaniac]

That was LeBron's first 20-20 game.

His 20-20 line -- a career first through 1,693 regular-season, play-in and postseason games -- made him the oldest player to achieve the statistical mark since Wilt Chamberlain did it at 36 in 1973.

"I've done some pretty cool things in my career," James said. "I've never had 20 and 20 before. So, that's pretty cool, I guess."

I was wondering as it happened if LeBron was the oldest player ever to have a 20-20 game. I was wondering if Duncan may have had one or not. Maybe Kareem.

It went all the way back to Wilt.

Am I missing something?  Lebron is 38 now.  If Wilt was 36 when he did it, that would make Lebron the oldest player ever to do it. 

[Who]

Anthony Davis is leading all players in blocks per game in the playoffs with 4.8bpg. Next closest is JJJ at 2.5bpg.

LeBron now leads all players in rebounds per game with 13.0 after his monster 20 rebound game in Game Four. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis is 3rd highest with 12.3rpg. Looney was 2nd at 12.5rpg. AD is also 12th among all players in steals per game with 1.8spg.

So despite his horrid inconsistency on offense, AD has been doing some work on defense & rebounding.

[Who]

That was LeBron's first 20-20 game.

His 20-20 line -- a career first through 1,693 regular-season, play-in and postseason games -- made him the oldest player to achieve the statistical mark since Wilt Chamberlain did it at 36 in 1973.

"I've done some pretty cool things in my career," James said. "I've never had 20 and 20 before. So, that's pretty cool, I guess."

I was wondering as it happened if LeBron was the oldest player ever to have a 20-20 game. I was wondering if Duncan may have had one or not. Maybe Kareem.

It went all the way back to Wilt.

Am I missing something?  Lebron is 38 now.  If Wilt was 36 when he did it, that would make Lebron the oldest player ever to do it.

Yeah, I think that is just badly worded. I imagine they were trying to say LeBron broke the previous record for oldest player to have a 20-20 game held by Wilt at 36 years old.

[tazzmaniac]

That was LeBron's first 20-20 game.

His 20-20 line -- a career first through 1,693 regular-season, play-in and postseason games -- made him the oldest player to achieve the statistical mark since Wilt Chamberlain did it at 36 in 1973.

"I've done some pretty cool things in my career," James said. "I've never had 20 and 20 before. So, that's pretty cool, I guess."

I was wondering as it happened if LeBron was the oldest player ever to have a 20-20 game. I was wondering if Duncan may have had one or not. Maybe Kareem.

It went all the way back to Wilt.

Am I missing something?  Lebron is 38 now.  If Wilt was 36 when he did it, that would make Lebron the oldest player ever to do it.

Yeah, I think that is just badly worded. I imagine they were trying to say LeBron broke the previous record for oldest player to have a 20-20 game held by Wilt at 36 years old.

Looks like even more poor wording.  Wilt was the previous oldest for playoff games.  Tim Duncan was the previous oldest ever at 37 years 221 days during the regular season. 

[Moranis]

That was LeBron's first 20-20 game.

His 20-20 line -- a career first through 1,693 regular-season, play-in and postseason games -- made him the oldest player to achieve the statistical mark since Wilt Chamberlain did it at 36 in 1973.

"I've done some pretty cool things in my career," James said. "I've never had 20 and 20 before. So, that's pretty cool, I guess."

I was wondering as it happened if LeBron was the oldest player ever to have a 20-20 game. I was wondering if Duncan may have had one or not. Maybe Kareem.

It went all the way back to Wilt.

Am I missing something?  Lebron is 38 now.  If Wilt was 36 when he did it, that would make Lebron the oldest player ever to do it.

Yeah, I think that is just badly worded. I imagine they were trying to say LeBron broke the previous record for oldest player to have a 20-20 game held by Wilt at 36 years old.

Looks like even more poor wording.  Wilt was the previous oldest for playoff games.  Tim Duncan was the previous oldest ever at 37 years 221 days during the regular season.

Only 5 Lakers have done it in the playoffs ever (at any age).  Lebron, Baylor, and the 3 all time great centers i.e. Shaq, Kareem, Wilt

[SparzWizard]

Looks like Nuggets advances. Suns about to finish the Clippers too

[Celtics2021]

Suns trying to pull a Celtics in the 4th.

[Who]

Jamal Murray is the guy that takes Denver from a good team to a title contender.

35pts on 12-23 FGA along with 5 assists.

Jamal Murray is the perimeter creator Jokic needs alongside him to give DEN that potent 1-2 punch.