₦airaland Forum

Roland17:
The Spurs have wasted a lot of time retooling, instead of flat out rebuilding. Getting L. Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan were very bad ideas that set them back, worsestill, they did not make the playoffs during this period. Trading D. Murray is the right decision, he is going to be 26 this year, has never made the playoffs with the Spurs. They are getting 3 first round picks and Danilo Gallinari whom I think they should move, they don’t need that salary.

Also, there is a ton of uncertainty regarding the future of the Spurs in San Antonio. There are strong rumors that the owners of the Spurs are looking to move the team to Austin, Texas which is has become a huge tech hub with a lot of young people and a booming city in comparison to San Antonio. The Spurs are going to play 4 games in Austin coming season and that has fueled the rumor even more.

With D. Murray joining the Hawks I guess they are going to be utilizing the double PG which is now getting popular.

Popovich's coaching is also a sticking point. His style simply does not work in today's NBA. I like Pop as a human being, but I remember how he outed the previous coach Bob Hill during a down year filled with injuries and took over as coach. Its time for Pops to leave as well - at least he will have more benefit of doubt than he gave Hill.

It would be sad for Spurs to leave San Antonio, given how much identity that city has shared with the organization, 5 rings inclusive. But like I always said, I am more loyal to players than teams, because at the end of the day, its a business.

felix00:
Harden is declining his Max player option and taking a lesser contract to give Philly space to improve the squad

You really believe he is leaving that money on the table? Theres likely more to it - who knows what leverage the owner has on him

Android17:
Lebron wanted him but Kyrie slied the Lakers by using them to get his contract from the Nets. Similar to how Kawhi flattered and then went to the Clippers. I don't think it favors the Nets though. 3 cursed players on one team gotta have repercussions. lol

Based on what Lebron tweeted when this first started, I would say no. Lebron never came out to say anything officially, so we are all conjecturing. But that twitter post of a clown on the day all this news started to me is as good a confirmations as we can get. Went to check his timeline now, and its gone - someone probably advised him to keep mute. Its Kyrie that keeps mentioning Lebron as if they are still buddies. Lebron never talks about Kyrie publicly. Its like Durant/Westbrook. Sure they gon still chat, but that trust will NEVER be there again. Lebron butters up everybody's game with tweets. Dont mean they are buddies. Nobody in the league wants Kyrie right now - the guy burns houses down.

Even Durant and Nets, na to dey manage Kyrie. If they can trade him midseason, and take a hit, I think Nets would do it. The disrespect is too much.

But if you are right, and Lebron wanted Kyrie again, that would be very foolish to say the least.

Khanben:
Kyrie staying . Probably after no team guaranteed him close to max money without performance clauses

Thank God. I refused to believe Lebron would be ok playing with this guy again - once a snake, always a snake. Most of the noise was probably the front office, they will always entertain trades no matter how ridiculous

Skrrrrrrr:
Banchero is hella good. His game is more matured than Jabari IMO

People were saying that on Rockets forum, but I got that feel that we were saying it to make ourselves feel better

My problem is can Banchero play that way versus bigger, faster guys in the NBA? We have seen mature players not last long in in the nba. Where is oj mayo? Plus that Banchero name sounds like Darko milicic to me

For me Jabari's mindset is the biggest plus. He already has the skills. But he also has that attitude, and he has a legit jumpshot, better than Banchero's jumpshot IMO.

Shittaakeem:
I come in peace

I have no problem with the truth. Lebron's place on mount rushmore of the nba is secured. Better concentrate on your team

In other news, Rockets did extremely well in yesterday's draft. I was really worried we were going to get the Banchero guy - the name alone sef dey fear me . I still cannot believe we got Jabari!!! Wohooooohooooooo

Nets are understandably trying to get assurances from Kyrie before handing out a long term deal. Surely Kyries camp is not surprised

Roland17:
Caleb Swanigan’s story is heartbreaking. I watched this man while he was at Purdue. I knew he would have a short NBA career because of his limited skill set when compared to what the league expects from today’s NBA big man.
Sometimes it’s best for these guys to just stay in the league or any competitive professional sports because it may be the only reason they are still breathing.
This life no balance at all! Stay safe out there everyone.
#RIPCalebSwanigan
#RIP24

I never heard of this guy till today/ Looks like he was in league for just one season

Android22:
It was the post game conference after beating Miami. They asked him how he was going to prepare for the warriors knowing they will pose a different problem to his Celtics team. Where other coaches will show respect and say things like yea..they have an experienced core and bla bla and how the Celtics will watch film and use their pieces to get the job done etc.

Instead he was yapping about how they are not worried because when they lost 111-107 it was a close game even though his team were still figuring things out and that by the time they had figured things out they beat GSW "pretty badly". I just felt it was disrespectful because Draymond and Kerr were just talking about how long and athletic and everyone can switch and defend 1-5 and how it is expected to be really tough etc.

lol. you made it sound like the guy straight up disrespecting you guys. enjoy your win and stop nitpicking. the coach did nothing wrong

Roland17:
You are entering the season that you assured me your Rockets will be relevant again. I dey watch closely oh!

Bro, where did I give this assurance. We just need to win like 25 games this year

[quote author=steady986 post=113904310][/quote]you know its officially offseason when steady starts posting pictures

Android22:
Before I scatter the place, Celtics deserve credit. They are worthy finalists. Unlike many Warrior's fans, I was not offended by the Celtics fans or the toxicity of the TD Gardens.

Marcus Smart etc and their antics was good for the finals. Horford blowing the kiss in game 1. It was all fun. Funny enough the only person I hated about Celtics was our very own Ime Udoka. I never wanted any Nigerian coach to lose so badly in my life like I wanted Ime to lose.

Arrogant, careless with his words and buying his own hype. He was very disrespectful about the warriors before game 1 and I never forgave him for it. Kerr was so intentional about his glowing praise and about how dangerous we all knew the young Celtics would be. But Ime won't give warriors the same credit.

His words when asked about the impending series was that Warriors winning 111-107 at the garden was at a point when the Celtics were still discovering themselves and that by the time they did, they beat the Warriors pretty badly at Chase center.

Not because Smart had Zaza Pachuliad Curry? That Klay and Draymond were on restricted minutes having just come back from long injuries?

Well, he now knows what it is to play the warriors. And yes, Steve Kerr ran circles around him.

What did Ime say. I must have missed it

This offseason is already rough. We traded Wood for Boban. Haba, that first round pick is useless

Roland17:
Baba, this playoffs was a wild ride for me, a lot of emotions and the manner with which we lost the series in game 4 still hurts. After game 4 loss, I knew there was no way back against a multiple championship side like the Warriors. But like you said, this team will remain in the conversation in the now dreaded Eastern Conference and I believe they will find their way back to the Finals again. By the time they got to the finals our 1-2 punch were already burnt out physically, Tatum especially. I am proud of them and Coach Ime, he proved his mettle.

#Greenrunsdeep

sometimes the fun is in the ride. I wouldnt feel too bad if I was a celtic. Dem boys played their hearts out every series.

Roland17:
It’s the Stanley Cup Finals who is with me?

Lightning 3-3 Avalanche and we are off to OT in game one of this series. The Lightning, typical to their identity are about speed while the Avalanche are sticking to their physicality.

stankinni. Na game 6 wey wait for hia. you wan take style reduce tension

KNIGHTBlaed:
This series will be over in game 6. E too sure for me. You ask why ba?
I watched game 1, GSW lose, I vex no watch game 2. They win game 2
Out of happiness I relax watch game 3, they lose again. I no watch game 4, and they win again
Yesterday I no watch game 5, they still win.
As e be now, nothing go carry me watch game 6. No be say victory get anything to do with me o, but make I play my part from this side

Watch nau, we want game 7 abeg. Some folk don dey talk about kevin love for here sef. Pls, we need game 7 to deliver us from idle talk.

steady986:
Bros, it's showing where it matters. He had 8 assists, 9 rebounds and 4 steals in yesterdays game. I'm sure that counts for something. Don't tell me you expect Draymond Green to score 15+ every game.

Wasn't he an all-star this year?

His average performance does not match his mouth. Thats all Im saying.

steady986:
What Draymond does doesn't show up in the box score. He's the leader of their defense and instigator of their offense.

Really? Why is it showing up in the box score for other great defenders?

when last did he win DPOY? What is his last year blk/game, steals per game?

etidy:
He's literally a passenger at this point you can't be this bad and be collecting 25 mill +

What annoys me is that the guy talks so much, you will think he is the reason they have rings. Meanwhile Curry no dey talk. Klay no dey talk. The guys that make this thing work dey humble. Meanwhile scrub PF/C is doing podcast up and down

Roland17:
I was about declaring an APB on you. How your side? This is the most important game in my opinion.. We need to secure game 4, the Warriors are that good. One day someone will research the Warriors 3rd quarter offensive explosions.

I dey bro. This series dey give me palpitations. I think I'ma skip game 5. Celtics need to win game 5. Period.

Roland17:
I think people forget the Warriors are a very good team. Game 4 is a must win for us, we need a 2 game cushion against this team. Nothing to see here, we did what we needed to do.
#Greenrunsdeep
#Celticpride
#LuckytheLeprechaun

Yeap, you have to beat the warriors, they wont beat themselves. If you let those Curry 3s get to you, game over. You have to play the warriors like they owe your mama money for 48 minutes.

Android22:
We saw him against the same Celtics. We don't miss him.

I watched this same team game 1 against the Nets and concluded they have what it takes to win it all.

But I don't get down over one loss in the same way I won't get high over one win. Steve Kerr will tell you he prefers Tatum to score 40 pts than for Horford, Smart and White to hit 15/23 3s or score 70 points.

The series reminds me of GSW vs OKC in 2016. I hope it favors GSW still.

If you were talking about the early season celtics, yes, you prefer Tatum to go off and keep the rest of the team cold. But these guys have gelled, and they are comfortable with Tatum getting his while they play other roles. Notice Jaylen's 4Q takeover. Previously, he and Smart would have been trying to force the issue in Q2, Q3.

Warriors will have to get really technical to win this series. As in matchups, substitutions, foul trouble. Curry was hot for 1Q, but they still lost. Curry cant be hot then 4 games in a row. The one thing Warriors have over Celtics is ball movement. Celtics really didnt solve that in game 1.

A40:
Hahaha. The thing just dey rub me dey wrong way ni. And I like the Warriors. Ordinarily I would never say any negative comments about them. However seeing Warriors and Curry fans joining in the KD slander is just out of pocket for me.

This is a man that came to join your team and helped you win two Championships essentially sacrificing any claim to a top 10 conversation while he did, this man put his longevity on the line rushing from a serious injury to help the Warriors win a 3peat cos they knew good and well they couldn't win without him. Took insults from haters and even teammates and this is the thanks he gets? O wrong nauu

Even if Bronsexuals dey slander KD Steph and Warriors fan no suppose join inside. They better beat Boston sha. Cos if they don't this will be their 3rd straight Finals loss.
And the ones that are trying to be clever by half talmbout KD got swept and well they got to the Finals. Duhhh. KD couldn't do it that's why he came. You're the ones that swear you could do it without KD. So do it

Why Draymond Green is taking 12 shots in an NBA Finals game in year 2022 is beyond me

Jordan Poole also looked quite shook. As it is on any night he's not giving you 15-25 points he's pretty much a liability on the floor as he can't guard nobody

Fans forget, thats the name of the game. They brought in Durant to counter Lebron's united nations team, and it worked. But like they told Durant then, it wont help your legacy long term. He said he didnt mind, he just wanted the rings. It is what it is

A40:
Small little factoid I stumbled upon. The Warriors are 1-8 their last 9 Finals games without Kevin Durant

0-6 in home games

I saw the 4th quarter again and I have to say. Jaylen Brown mehn. Jayson Tatum gets all the love most times but Jaylen Brown. There's a Sadio Mane-Mo Salah dynamic going on there. Where the other guy is just as good but for some reason never quite gets the accolades and adulation. We talk about Jayson Tatum as a superstar and a guy like Jaylen barely gets All star mention.

In that game again one of those one man 8-0 runs I always talk about that happen inside 1:20secs that turn potential blowouts to comebacks

Durant is that you lol

Jaylen and Tatum have matured. They used to fall in love with that jumpshot and shoot themselves out of games. They are more patient now, they read the game and pace themselves. Tatum had a horrible shooting game, but he racked up assists. Jaylen picked his shots. Their defense was decent, but it can get better - they kept Green and Looney from getting easy buckets, but some of those Curry 3s in Q1 could have been avoided.

Looking forward to game 2! Maybe they will free bjelica, sharp shooter of life!

2 pages of blocked posts. Wetin happen

A40 I know sey u go get hand inside


I kid bro, i kid

donlittle25:
This man green has 4 points.

Las las e go cancel dat yeye podcast.
On to game 2 biko

donlittle25:
someone can say this about lebron with those Miami championships. But you saw lebron attitude during those times, I won, deal with it. Why is it so hard for this nigga? like bro, stop arguing with niggas that earn $50 per hour on twitter.

Lebron went to an ok team with another superstar (Wade) and a very good role player (Bosh). Without Lebron, Celtics/Pistons would have come out of ECF instead of Heat. And year 1 they still lost to a more complete Mavs team, showing they had to go back to drawing board. That pain allows Lebron to feel like he put in blood sweat and tears.

Durant went to arguably the best team in the league, with the best scoring duo in NBA history. A team that bounced him the previous year. And he left without telling his partner in crime. Advice that you do not take when young, you will eat of it when you are old. Thats why he's fighting on twitter. That move, and the way the move was done was not kosher. It allowed Durant to jumpshoot his way to an easy ring, they flogged Cavs like small boy. And the older Durant now knows, it wasnt as sweet as it should be.

It cant be as sweet as Giannis winning with the Bucks. Lai lai.

donlittle25:
Kevin Durant is on Twitter defending his golden state championships

Without him, Lebron would have beaten the warriors for one more ring. But, hey, he chose to go to an already very good team. Lay on your bed, Durant

Khanben:
Both teams IMHO have a good mixture of scoring. For teams that are a 1-2 punch combo like the Celtics and GSW, and who also play good to great defense, winning will boil down to how much scoring they have in the squad.
On offense, both teams need 3 of the others on their team to average double figures 4x in the same game.
For the Celtics, they need 3 out of AL, Smart, Robert, Grant, White and Pritchard to score in the double figures 4x in the series, and it can happenin any combination.
As for GSW, they also need 3 out of Poole, Draymond, Wiggins, Looney, Kuminga, GP2.

On the defensive end, how well the Celtics switch to limit open looks for the snipers in GSW and take advantage of their length in terms of getting rebounds especially offensive boards.
On the other hand, can the GSW zone continue to cause the same issues that it has done since the beginning of the playoffs and whenever they go man, ensure that the limit the switches to Steph and Poole.

PS : Both teams are prone to having huge TOs games, whichever reduces their bad TOs nights to just 1 or 2 will also matter for this series.

Excellent analysis. I would ask for roland17s comments, but I hear the brother dey bar beach with candle, incense and very black soap

benji93:
But you trust more than one person on the Celtics to get hot and help win a game? . Very interesting. I suppose the Warriors aren't able to adjust game to game(Interesting). I mean they clearly breezed through the West, no adjustments necessary, apart from ending the Series at home after losing by 50. Not that far-fetched. . I would like to see how the Celtics don't get breezed away too. I certainly hope Kerr won't be sleeping through this series.

Only Tatum, maybe imo. I alluded to warriors being a good team, so obviously they make good adjustments as well. In short, unless Curry can go hot 3 or 4 games out of 7, celtics have a shot to play good team bball and at least win their 2 home games. From there, things happen. But make no mistake, celtics are the underdog. Outside of Lebron and Kawhi led teams, no one has really stopped these warriors.

etidy:
This Boston team has played the Brooklyn Nets, Bucks and heats and have not lost a back to back game in this playoffs.
Abeg dead the idea of this series ending quick.
That defense is legit

Indeed. Superstars getting hot will win you one or two games in a series. But excellent team play tends to win out the longer the series goes on. The wahala is, the Warriors have superstar Curry that can go off and win you one or two games, AND they also play well as a team. So this series will not be easy for the celtics. They could lose 0-4, or it could go to game 7. Any analyst that is telling you they know who will win this series is lying. Simple.

benji93:
Honestly, I am looking forward to seeing that great defensive Boston Celtics team that everyone keeps harping about. This series could end quicker than many think. Stephen Curry better stand out in this one. What we need is a monster performance and an emphatic win in the first game, get Marcus Smart running into multiple screens, and let's see how the defensive player of the year holds up. Try to limit loose-ball situations, reducing the possibility of accidental injuries(there'll very likely be a lot of hustling in this one). Throw this young team into confusion, Ime resorts to sending double teams, then we end it in 6. .

Some say there's no weak link in the impenetrable Boston defense.
What do you say Curry and company? what do you say?

The Celtic defense is vulnerable to superstars getting hot, yes. But in every series, they have managed to overcome that, even if it meant a game 7. Outside of Curry, Im not sold on anyone on the warriors being able to get hot and help win a game. Which means if they can calm Curry to 25pts or less, they stand a good chance in any game. The Celtics strength is not just the defense, its being able to adjust game to game while sticking to the script. Udoka as a coach is the real deal.