₦airaland Forum

steady986:
I'm surprised no one is talking about the obvious coaching disparity in this series. Steve Kerr is an OG in this game and Ham is a rookie. We saw how Steve Kerr removed Looney from the game down the stretch and played Dray at the 5 with 3 shooters and Wiggins at the 4. What happens? They go on a 14-0 run as a result.

I really don't trust Ham to be a key factor in this series. It's all down to those on the court.

Ham did the right thing. That was a bait, to make Lakers go small as well. And that would have been a mistake because the Lakers strength is their size, while the Warriors strength is small ball. That run ended with the Lakers bigs reasserting themselves in the paint. Even when the Lakers didnt score by going into the paint, it still slowed down the game enough for defense to setup on the other end.

You are NOT going to stop the Warriors from making runs. Best you can do is absorb it, dont panic and stick to the game plan. Ham's rotation was actually key here. Again, I saw that Reaves/Lebron combo which I think has potential.

Afromentalist:
Reading some people here it is as if it is just a walk in the park for LA. You are just pretending so that the minute the Lakers fail you can spew your hate and thrash them.

The last minutes of the game just showed the series is competitive. It is going to take a good 6 games for any of these teams to win. This is just game 1.
.

Yup. Usually teams get scared when curry starts raining 3s. Lebron sensed the moment and forced the issue on the paint. If not, Lakers would have lost.

The warriors are the modern day spurs - if you want to rebuild your team, just follow their pattern and get their coaches.

This tension in this game reminds me of the series where Lebron had to overcome the Celtic big 3. Wow!

First, Curry. I am convinced this cat's game is spiritual. I watched him for long periods, and what he does on the floor, I am not sure how he is doing it. There has to be an inner game this man is playing. A half second mistake by a defender and next thing a 3. Forget Klay, forget Durant. Curry has always been the engine of this team.

Kudos to the Lakers for not folding under the 4Q assault that was surely to come. Lebron picked up at the right time to chip in points. The role players looked bewildered a bit, but they kept calm and didnt make mistakes. AD is definitely the game MVP, beast mode. Game 1 to the underdog!!!

felix00:
Deserved?

Yes.

A40:
You people are not ashamed one bit. Can you name one or two players in MJ's roster let's compare with those that played with Lebron. We're not even going to get into the fact that Jordan had taken 3 years of basketball and had already completed 2 3peats. See malaria comparison

I've never seen a team have two top 10 caliber players and they're not expected to do anything. Anything at all.

This dude missed the whole playoffs with 3 top 75ers. Had a 33 win season ffs. 33!!

Oh btw Jordan was 39 and 40 when he missed the playoffs. And if there was a play in tournament who knows? Get your facts right

We are not saying he should move mountains. We're saying stop pretending he's some underdog while going against teams that are well inferior or teams they match up well against. Don't be so disrespectful to your goat. Ja Morant and Dillon Brooks are not better than Lebron and AD I'm sorry. My 'hate' no reach that level

They comfortably beat the Grizzlies with Lebron averaging 22ppg. Two of the 4 wins ended in blowouts. So clearly there is no need to move mountains because they have a deep squad

Nightmare that what happened? You jokers are clueless. I predicted this team would be a problem as far back as early January. Not my fault that most of you are too chickenshit to stand on one square. How do you gloat at the haters when you've been playing poosie all season long

na jus game o. oga be calming dan lets enjoy the series

I dont like the way everybody, including the Grizzlies and pouring it on Dillon Brooks. The guy did what you asked of him, as well as he could. Try to get in the other teams head, rough them up and help your team. I feel like the guy is being thrown under the bus. I understand Laker fans or Lebron fans hating on the guy. But the team that you played for also? Nah, that aint right

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10074680-nba-rumors-dillon-brooks-told-he-wont-return-to-grizzlies-under-any-circumstances

Honlucas:
The way everyone is picking GSW to qualify ahead of Lakers .

Hmmmm......

.I don't see it..

Either Lakers 4-2 or 4-3

What singular thing do you see that gives the edge to Lakers over warriors. And thank you for your predictions, Ill take the 4-2, thank you

Maynman:
The Most underrated first seed.

underrated by who? The question mark was if Murray could be his pre-injury self. With Gordon and Porter, both who are borderline all stars, Denver is deep and talented. And well coached. Pre-playoffs I though it would come down to a Warriors-Nuggets WCF. Why? None of the young teams has the playoffs experience, and the two older teams that have the experience, Suns and Lakers have not played long enough to gel the same way.

Im still seeing Ham work new rotations for Lakers in the playoffs. And Suns have still not figured out how to maximize Ayton, plus they depleted their bench to acquire Durant. Nuggets and Warriors have been very smart with personnel moves, and they are both clicking at the right time.


Durant is going to have to drop 40+, same for AD to have chance

Afromentalist:
A prediction is just that. A prediction not a prophecy.

The point here is not to debate whether it will turn out as predicted but which team as of now is considered favorite.

Bookmakers consider GSW (defending champion o!) the top team. Sport analysts overwhelmingly predict the same.

Why do you want us to consider your OPINION as supreme with regards to which team is the underdog except you are actually the one with a not so hidden motive to use it as an argument to despise Lebron should the Lakers fail?

I see no lies told!

Question for yall using style to hate. MJ with the Wizards at 38, how far did they go in the playoffs, in the East?

Oh thats right, they didnt even make the playoffs twice, including a 37 win season!! Your GOAT o. But here they are insisting Lebron at 38 must move mountains. Does that not mean he has surpassed your GOAT at 38? According to you o, not me.

Do I want Lebron to win? Yeap. That doesnt mean I am blind to whats on the ground. You think he can play like he did 5-6 years ago for 48 minutes every other night? If he was a guard, like MJ, you could even say smaller body, less wear. Lebron has played more power than finesses his entire career. But nooo, you insist he must defeat father time as well.

Thats why Im not even going to pay attention to the haters anymore. Let them have nightmares every night sef. Im going to enjoy this matchup. Its one for the ages. But I amnot watching this with blinders

Harden playing D. My my...

In other news, all this shalaye, on top 38 year old man. Make u na fear God o

steady986:
My brother I tire o. At least Vegas is putting their money where their mouth is.

yup. that is the only reasonable way. opinions are just opinions until you can put money in. So it looks like the streets are putting this at 60/40% with the Lakers likely winning only if they can push to game 7. First 2 games are in Oakland, so GSW has home court. This makes sense imo. A 2-0 hole for the Lakers would be terrible

steady986:
But is 38 not old enough for you people? You people still scrutinize my guy at 38 the same way you scrutinized him at 28. Yes the series is LeBron vs Steph based on name and history between the two, but if you expect LeBron to be trading buckets with Steph in this series then you're in for a disappointment AD is the man now

steady, they have already started saying Lakers are the favorite . Ha people, please fear God! Defending champs full squad, no injuries, versus a team put together in the last 2 months, with one superstar almost retiring, is now favorite. Lol!! So Vegas no sabi bball again? The excuses continue.

This is going to be tough. The main issue with warriors is they have a squad that has played together a long time, they know their rotation, all players know each other. I dont see what rotation Lakers could throw together that would slow down ball movement. This series, Lebron/AD will have find some magic. The role players cant possibly win this

steady986:
Steph attempted 38 shots today. Damn

They said he called a meeting after game 6, gave everybody the business. Thats what Ive been saying all along. You gotta be vocal as a leader. And it showed game 7

Afromentalist:
These are the odds from bookmakers.

you know, till now, I dont know what odds mean, the +/-. lol. I really have no clue

benji93:
Fair point. Even though I want to, I cannot argue with this. . But stop running away, the discussion was on whether Lebron was Old or not. Don't bring that nonsense here. Some folks like @Birdman even dey round am up to 40, to make him even look older. That's unacceptable.

When you hit 38 baba, you too you will round up. E get why

A40:
Jamal Murray is back with a vengeance. This is a Roy Jones y'all musta forgot performance

E get why I rank them above the Warriors. That year in the bubble, the things that kid was doing in the playoffs. Las las na Lebron guard am to seal the series on the way to a championship. That athletic Lebron is long gone, and frankly, I dont think anyone still playing right now can defend the kid. Maybe Kawhi if the Clippers were still in the mix.

steady986:
I wouldn't go that far, but he made some nice adjustments, one of which is taking Beasley out of the rotation (although i expected it to come since game 3 or 4). I thought he was going to replace him with Lonnie Walker but he gave his minutes to Wenyen. Kudos to him.

perhaps you right. but its much better than last season imo. They dont make many mistakes, and they are able to set the pace of the game. I sighted a Lebron Reaves PnR one time. a thing of beauty

Honlucas:
I told you

Props where due, you went 3 for 3. We are awaiting your predictions for game 7 Kings vs Warriors

Lakers have won these 4 games all types of ways. So its not just the players, but the game plan as well. This ball club is well coached, and I think they out coached the Grizzlies to this win.

steady986:
So you saying they're better without Ja?

They do play faster, and shoot better from the 3pt line without Ja. I dont think they are better though. Its just that when they get hot, they got hot quick and blow you out

wow. Im still shook. What happened to all that grizzly spark?

OTOH, I cant believe some grizzlies were laughing on the bench. What could be so funny in the middle of a failed season

benji93:
The pain was clear. It has to be very serious for you to have to invoke the GOAT. But the example is not useful, even though the GOAT had his struggles. By the way according to Jay Williams, failure can only be used in the context of a supposed bad father/parent. Very interesting people these talk heads.

speaking of context, you can look at Shaq's take vs Barkelys take on failure as well. To be honest, both of them appeared right to me, such is life.

Roland17:
I felt Giannis’s pain in that post game interview. I loved everything he said and admired how he tried to explain the situation and carried himself. The analogy using the GOAT was good but the GOAT thought differently about seasons when he did not win a ring with the Bulls .

Personally, I still think the season was a failure for the Bucks, only because they lost in the 1st round as the number 1 seed and he had a bad game when it mattered the most and it comes with the territory.

He just needs to pick himself up, hit the gym and improve on his free throws because it cost them that game 7.

He was very eloquent, but that was a failure. They are not an up and coming team learning lessons. They took the top seed from the celtics all season. So a first round exit is failure. No way around it. Now you can learn from failure, but it is still failure.

Roland17:
Looks like L. Jackson has gotten his bar oh! 5 years and while it is undisclosed at this time, the deal will make his the highest paid NFL player in history.

We await details. I am so happy he is getting his bar, that is all this is about..

wohooo! Why all the hardball though?

A40:
If Giannis does not push for his firing then he's not a serious guy. Nick Nurse is still available. You think Nick Nurse let's Spo coach circles around him with this talent? You can win with an average coach you can't win with an incompetent one

He better learn from Magic who won a title with Westhead and still tried to get Pat Riley

Giannis is a nice guy. Having stayed this long with coach, he wont say anything. I think the front office will have to do the needful

Honlucas:
Yes kings will win the next game ..
I even staked on them with confidence..

Lakers will win too

Bro i just begged you na...abeg. Can you predict celtics vs hawks tonite, lets test

Honlucas:
Remember I said Lakers will win 4-2

Are you not the one that predicted Kings will win? Please, I beg you, I take God beg you, avoid predicting for Lakers. Bahd market...

After the red wedding night, I enter the gym this morning clothed in humility

A40:
I'm disappointed by Mobley and Allen as well. They're still young though but considering Randle was a non factor in this series the Cavs really shat the bed.

The series was surprisingly uncompetitive. What an anticlimax

Indeed. I expected it to go 7, or 6 in favor of cavs

tough ending for cavs. there goes one of my teams. Giannis, wey you! Lakers obviously did not come to play today

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard has been diagnosed with a torn meniscus in his right knee, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Leonard averaged 35 points in first two games of this postseason vs. Suns before the meniscus injury was revealed and he was shut down by medical staff.

Well, this sounds ominous

benji93:
Why is nobody talking about the fact that Booker has been the best player on that Suns team so far? Is he the best player on that team?

Wait till the Durant only fans drag you