2022/3 season thread

Jimmy Butler again. Home court gone again. 🙄

The Celtics are a deeper and far more talented team than the Heat. But the Heat are tougher, smarter, and better coached. The Heat had a few things in their favour the other day….their 3s went in at a far higher rate than usual, Boston had less rest than the Heat, and they had to adjust mentally from the high of a G7 win etc.

I still think Boston will win the series, but they’ve made it very tough for themselves.

Coming back to the free throw disparity thing from last week.

There’s much more to it than just playing inside. There are fouls all over the court after all and then fouls in the penalty (regardless of where they’re committed) lead to free throws. To say it’s because LA go to the rim more is a complete oversimplification.

What wasn’t discussed is the way FTs affect the flow of the game. A team that plays a fast break run and gun style can’t do it as much if every second or third possession for the opposition is stopped for FTs.

Also, and this is where it can really affect a team with an older player for example is all those FTs lead to prolonged breaks in play which allows players to recover more in game.

That the Lakers have such a shockingly high positive FT number in the regular season since the non call in the game against Boston and in the a Play Offs is absolutely favouring them - and to deny that is basically lying to yourself. The Lakers took 42 FTs in one game (!) in the series v GS. The Warriors took 14 in the same game.

Whatever about the Lakers getting more FTs v “smaller” and “shooting” teams, the fact that they’re taking considerably more FTs against Denver in Denver is a bit eye opening.

LeBron choosing the wrong and lazy option time and time again last night to take a 3 over a drive to the rim….what about his famed high basketball iQ there? No criticism from the usual suspects on here of course 🙄It’s not like he wouldn’t get free throws either if he drove, given the stats!

He was 0-6 from 3 last night. And is 1-20 in Q4 3s these Play Offs. As I said earlier in the thread teams must love it when he does this. Shoot them all you want LeBron!

Mike/Michael Malone with a nice few digs at the Lakers in the post game too 🤣

Saw that "who is No. 15 for Denver?" is a trending search on google in the US. It's hilarious that people don't know who he is at this stage. He's a 2 time MVP (and should be 3 time), playing on the 1 seed in the Western Conference.

I hope he'll be able to play next season after that foul. Lucky not to break his neck really. I mean he's obviously out for the season now after that isn't he?

Another angle:

Another:

There's some great videos on YouTube celebrating his greatest flops. Worth watching sometime for those who can see no wrong in LeBron. The travel videos are just hilarious too btw.