₦airaland Forum

Skrrrrrrr:
My friend shut up.
Until Luca wins a title, a scoring title, an unanimous MVP, he has not done anything.
For now, Luca is only a prospect who has achieved nothing. In fact, he is still way below Dirk Nowitzki in the Dallas hierarchy.
BTW, I was talking about this series where he is minus 20. You guys came into the series claiming the white boy is the best player left in the playoffs. Now he is -20, has a lower FG%, lower 3pt%, and is about to get bounced.

How many people have won a unanimous MVP? How many people have won a scoring title? So that is your criteria. You have somehow decided to remove other accolades like all NBA and all-star selections because it is rubbish abi. Bros, be calming down. Should I bring yo stephs plus and minus from last season? There's no point sef, baba did not make the playoffs so it's not a valid argument. If you cannot understand the role of building the right team, then go and be dragging your worst analyst award with keyshawn. My boy would be on his 3rd straight Nba first team. I don't even want to bring in the age argument. What had Steph achieved at 23? Eh. My boy's story has barely begun and he is already a lock for the HoF. GTFOH

Android22:
Absolute nonsense. If Phil Jackson had not changed Jordan's way of playing he would still have put up big numbers and lost in the playoffs to the Pistons and Celtics alike. His way of hunting his own shots was never going to make his team a winning one and Jordan adjusted. Then swapping Luka with Steph and the Mavs would be leading 3-0. How you affect winningness is not the shots you took or the points you garnered but how you got those points whilst maximizing the talents or lack of it around you. Without Steph's gravity, every body else on that GSW roster will play far worse than they currently are playing but we saw the Mavs roster play better against the Jazz without Luka. I won't even touch the completely bogus point about the GSW roster last season. That does not qualify as a basketball take.

Mavs played better against the jazz with Luka absent? Lol. So you are one of those people who believe role players playing far above their averages is sustainable because their best player was absent? You do know kleber was shooting 12/16 from across games 2 & 3. You think he could have maintained that? Bros. Stop it. Just stop it

Android22:
Cap. Luka is not better than Jokic. I already said it here. Nobody in this current era of basketball can put up more numbers than Curry if he had that mamba mentality (because he shoots better than everyone at his worst). But mamba mentality won't make other players around you good and it certainly would not win you anything. Warriors roster in 2019-21 was the worst in the NBA back to back. 20-21 was only different because Steph was there to play compared to 2019-20 where he got hurt in game 2 or so and GSW won only 15 games.

To put this into context, that G-league warriors team only had scoreless Draymond during the play-in to compete with Lebron and AD and then Ja Morant and his Grizzlies and they lost by 1 point in both games. What's more? That Grizzlies team were awarded a 3-pt shot for a shot that reviews have shown was clearly 2-pt in OT where they won. So the Warriors were essentially cheated having put up more regular season wins than Dame and CJ, Lebron, AD and Westbrook etc. I can name better rosters that won less than the GSW team of last season.

Alot of you are getting a reality check this season. Media, pundits, fans alike. Not just concerning Steph, even Steve Kerr. Only Tim Legler can hoist his head high as he was the only one who never disrespected the warriors to garner click baits.

Don't get me wrong, Luka's day in the sun will come but he is not there yet.

Like I said, there is no fun if we need to argue rationally. Jokic has an argument because of his 2 MVPS of which people can debate if he deserved them or not as the criteria seems to be changing any season. For Jokic, his ceiling is far lower than doncic's. You can watch him, see the holes i his game that needs improvement, only to realize this man has given you a 30 point triple double, with the win. It's apples and oranges. At the moment, i would say they are exchangeable but i'd give doncic the edge because i jokic can be very passive at times on the offense. Something that would never happen with doncic.
2-Also, lets stop with the whole warriors were robbed, cheated argument. Any team can make a case for one or two calls that changed their season. It's a lazy argument and i won't say further.
3-Curry can not play with mamba mentality because it would make him a worse player. No one would go near a shoot fiist PG who takes 40 shots, of which 20 are 3s no matter how good you are. So, it circles back to what I'm saying, the team construction, situation, and a host of other factors have to align to ensure you are successful. I'd say, no one was more important to the curry you are seeing now than Kerr. If not for him, i doubt we would be seeing curry in the same lighn now.

Khanben:
Thank you, sometimes when I hear people talk, I wonder if they are watching tennis or golf.
This is a team sport, and they is nothing no one player can do if the other team is way better.
MJ has the highest points scored in a nba playoffs game at 63pts, but you know what, he not only lost that game, he was swept in that series. I watched KG go 3 straight years in his prime without making the playoffs, was that because he was not one of the best 5 players in basketball or because his team was just crap.
You swap Luka with Steph for both teams and the Mavs would have a worse chance of winning 1 game, than they have now.

PS: Steph team last year was not worse than this Mavs team and they couldn't even make the playoffs

We like to troll and sometimes are blinded by sentiments when it comes to teams and players that we like. Everyone loves a hero story, one man striving against the odds to victory. But even with how much the whole narrative of one man carrying his team to the championship, the reality is other people played their parts. The last one man show was dirk. That is why it is called a miracle run. Even with that, Jason terry outplayed dirk in many games during that run. Without him, my man's would still be ringless. So let's stop the cap. Some players are drafted into a perfect situation, with the perfect team and tend to underachieve, some player get drafted, become so good that it almost becomes a problem for their team ala, my mavs. Some players take a while to blossom, while some with great potential might end up battling demons on and off the court that would never let them realize their potential. But this is basketball. Shit would be boring if we tried to argue rationally hence, another hot take. Achievements of white/European players would always be discredited because they are white. They would never allow a white person become basketball's GOAT.

Skrrrrrrr:
If you mean Luca, then he has not been the best player in the western conference finals.
He only leads in points and is -20 in this series. Steph tops him in assist, rebounds, Fg%, 3pt%, and is +19.

1- Basketball is the game of Hot tajes so I’ll oblige. Only during Luka’s rookie season was Steph above him in anything, since then, Luka has shown, and proven to be the better player. This is not a knock-on Steph, it’s just the reality. When Steph was asked to do more with less, just this last season, he put up otherworldly numbers only to be bounced in the play-in. The exact same situation Luka is in now, only that the baby Goat against all odds, managed to drag this sorry ass excuse for a team to the WCF.
2- Ya'll need to stop with the Jayson Tatum over hype. This man was drafted into one of the best-run organizations. Has been coached by some of the league's brightest minds, and has a team that is expected to make a run at the championship every year since he got to the league. Yet nothing to show for it. I put it to you that if JT had been drafted by a Cleveland, Kings, hell, even my Mavs, my man would be another Bradley Beal. A decent player putting numbers on a below-average team whose yearly target is to make the playoffs and get bounced in the first round. The kid is a star but is too inconsistent now to be called a superstar.
3- If you are a gambling man, few websites have the Mavs winning these series at +63 points. You are all about to witness the start of the greatest basketball story ever told. MAVS IN 7!!!!!

Blueelf:
You frustrated yet?

You thought GSW was Phoenix right?

You guys never learn. In the words of the immortal kobe, is the job done? Calm down and watch history unfold before your eyes. Future generations would be talking about this series centuries from now on . Just watch.

I just spoke with adam silver, he said to make the legend of luka more interesting, he would allow golden state go 3-0 up so he can come back 4-3. Just to update you guys. Mavs in 7

In Adam Silver i trust. He won't let us lose this game.

Blueelf:
I thought #green runs deep



Waiting for Thanos frustration next

Everybody talks tough when they're up.

Marcus smart = Zero calories hype man. lol. After all the ginger, you gingered to a L. Damn.

Jayson Tatum? Superstar my assss.

Blueelf:
Oga, take your L

You make mouth say na Dallas in 6 abi?

Your Dallas better win in that 6 or else this small trolling wey you dey see now ehn..I go give you double

You dey make noise say you beat Phoenix..with a fraud of a point guard called CP3

Now CP3 don turn fraud abi? The point god? Lol. Na so. Continue. Everybody acting tough when they're up. Na here we dey na.

Roland17:
Game 3 is a must win for the Mavs, else this is going to be a sweep or at best a gentleman's sweep.

Sweep? With the baby GOAT? Make una continue. I am keeping receipts. Everyone of you.

Blueelf:
Oga, no dey look for excuses in case una loose

Una go still loose

Warriors in 5

There's a difference between excuses and analysing a game to know what you have to improve on. This bros, keep this same energy when I win this series. Mavs in 6

Blueelf:
Shut up, take the L and donate your tears in a bucket for me to flush my toilet with

E pain am

Dude, calm down and don't be unruly. Troll with class if you want to. All these warriors bandwagon fans sef.

steady986:
Lol. This man. Sure say this series no go short so? I can't believe I'm saying this but you have no answer for Looney

Honestly, I've made my piece with it. The man is doing things in this series. Its really no news though. Our lack of a decent center is an open secret. Maxi kleber shines when teams go small. When there is a decent big with the right scheme, my man's becomes unplayable. But still, mavs in 6

benji93:
You better just shut up and watch the game. GSW was down by 19, and still managed to beat you by almost 10. I suppose your adjustments were not good enough today.

Egbon, be calming down. Na me f.. up sha. We know as una quiet for half time. Una dey come dallas na. All those yeye refs wey just dey allow Draymond dey shout anyhow for their face go soon end. Mavs in 6

donlittle25:
it’s been almost 7-8 years of Golden state being the best 3 point shooting team in the world and no team has been able to match them in a 3 point shooting contest.

secondly, when their threes aren’t falling they have players that can penetrate the paint and not only that, Looney was giving them easy second chance point in the paint. something we lack, If care is not taken, it will be a sweep

Have some faith. We lost this game, not the other way around. GsW played one of their bestt games with well distributed points across board and it was this close. Dinwiddie will not score only 6 points again. I get my 13-15 from him a d we win this game. Watch things pop off in dallas.

Roland17:
This una 3 point shooting strategy no go fit beat the Warriors. I said it after game 1 that the Warriors are a better 3 point shooting team if both teams shoot the ball well, better still, they can now score on 3 levels with Looney's impact.

If its a three point shooting contest. I have confidence we can match gsw stride for stride. Its in the paint they are winning the battle. No worries. I'm bringing out my secrete weapon in game 3. Boban is about to feast this Sunday.

On to dallas. It's o news that our interior defense is shit due to the lack of a serviceable center. Maxi kleber scored all his points against the Jazz and forgot how to shoot. Dinwidie who is our x factor was none existent. No worries. Adjustments are coming in dallas . Baby Goat will figure it out. Time to win the next 4 games. 2-0 down. We have them right where we want them. Mavs in 6.

Blueelf:
It's a lie. It is your ilk that question taytum

I once said taytum is a superstar and you and A40 lambasted me. That was 20 games into the season if I remember correctly. So don't act like you always supported the guy

Taytum? Superstar? Okay...

KNIGHTBlaed:
Abeg, who be this one na? Wetin you dey yarn sef? A team that was not afraid of Jokic should be afraid of Luka? Na people like una dey heap pressure on young players, enjoy Luka's game and stop yarning dust, no be only you like the guy. Accept your L and incoming Ls in peace. I see a clean sweep in this one.

Make una dey comot small small. Start revealing yourselves. In short, we need more folks against us. No be pressure, it based on believe. This is the church of the mavs and Daddy G.O, the don, the legend is carryout deliverance. GSW would be delivered the same way the jazz and suns were put out of their misery. If you do not believe,fine. Mavs in 6

Skrrrrrrr:
No problem, I just wanna let you know that the warriors are like 19-1, in a playoff series where they won game 1.
Losing only to Prime LeBron and Kyrie.

93% of teams usually win series after being 2-0 up. Guess who bucked that trend just days ago. Make we chill egbon. I know.my boy. You'll all become belivers soon.

Skrrrrrrr:
Lol, I have been seeing your comments since, and trust me, you better be bothered because at their best, you can't outshoot the warriors and the warriors aren't at their best. A lone superstar cannot beat the warriors and the warriors seem to be able to handle Doncic better than Morant.
Comparing the warriors to the sun's is like living in a fools paradise.
Warriors in 5.

Egbon, you are tailor built for espn. You could pull all these from just one game. It's almost as if you guys did not learn from the previous series. The baby GOAT literally had his worst ever playoff game ever. Please keep up.with the slander. Everybody likes to talk when they arr up. If you think this is going to happenDamn. Na here we dey na. Abi?, just advice, if you are a gambling man, the odds of the mavs winning this series just jumped. You know what you have to do. Mavs In 6.

Blueelf:
Many of them are waiting for a GSW loss so that they can call Luka the new floor General and say he was always better than Steph

Awon Fraud

No, it's that people have learnt not to overreact after one game. The phoenix series was a chastisement for arm chair analysts who flip flop after each games. Like. It is said, a series only begins when a road team wins a game. The fear of luka is the beginning of wisdom. And yes he is better than steph is. Is that an argument? Mavs in 6.

benji93:
Calm down, Series just start. . But the bolded though.

Yes na
You are judging this GSW team based of reputation rather than raw stats. This is not the curry/klay of 4 years ago. They have declined as expected due to.afe and injuries. The most shocking thing yesterday was not the loss but Stephen missing free throws. Like that shit was weird. Point is the GSW team a re very beatable and we are the highest 3 point shooting team by volume. So, when everything regresses to the mean as they would, i would still knock down 20+ 3's in a minimum of 2 games this series

Roland17:
This one na wetin Shaq dey call 'barbeque chicken".

The Mavs are getting smoked on both ends of the court. This is a favorable match up for the Warriors because of K. Looney's interior presence. The Mavs do not have anyone that can match up with him when they use their preferred lineup. When the Warriors have the ball, they are searching out Doncic and forcing him to defend the P&R which has become the Interstate Highway for the Warriors.

The Mavs are 11-43 from beyond the arc and truthfully, if shooting 3's is the only way the Mavs are looking to play this series then they will be in big trouble because the Warriors will match and surpass their 3 point shooting on most nights. I have seen Doncic get into the paint for open layups and instead of laying the ball or shooting, he kicks it out in search of a 3 ball. The Warriors have very good length in the perimeter and have been successful in making those shots from outside the arc very difficult shots.

Lets see how the Mavs react and the adjustments Kidd makes in game 2.

I'm not bothered one bit. Once I saw them miss 3 straight open 3's, I knew it was one of those games. I am not going 11-43 and GSW will not be shooting almost 60% throughout this series. If they want a three point contest, they'll get a three point contest. After one game, they are already hyping looney. You seem to forget that doncic specializes in playing bigs off the floor. That man would become a bench warmer from game 3. Same initial gra gra wey phoenix carry come. I love the way curry was hitting the griddy when making his threes. Make them keep that same energy. Mavs in 6.

Ellexy:
You want Heats for the Warriors cos you think the Mavs are a walkover... E fit shock all of us

What do you mean by shock? It's like you people never learn. Continue with the disrespect. Mavs in 6

birdman:
No, its on court. If you partied hard the night before and cant play in sync the next night because you missed practice, its on court.

If you sulk and choose to take only 2 shots in do or die game 6, its on court.

CP3 has neither of these issues. To compare them is overreaching

My oga, we are saying the same thing. Didn't you see the stats? CP3 was shooting 50 % from the field. The problem was, he just stopped shooting after game 2. My man's only shot the ball 8 times in 3 quarters in the final game. Even out of that 8 shots, 3 were in the 4th quarter when they were down by 40 and all of the mavericks starters were benched. So since you are criticizing harden for only shooting twice in the second half of their loss to the heat, why are you not criticizing paul for exactly the same thing? Are you not seeing the double standards? You are beginning to sound like steven A. bros with these mental gymnastics o

benji93:
Almost every football fan saw Messi and knew. Similarly, most people here have always known Doncic would turn out great. No be news. . The koko be say, keep this same energy when they get crushed. Also you are a MAVs fan, your belief that you will win is understandable.

Ha! Bros. What size do you wear. Make I send you one 77 jersey for the NBA finals. Keep am o. It will become a collector's item in the future. You heard it here first. Mavs in 6.

birdman:
Of course, but that has little to do with who the best players are. When you say ring is all that matters when evaluating a player, I beg to differ. Derek Fisher has 5 rings, Robert Horry has 7 rings. Barkley has 0, TMac has 0. Gary Payton 0. So obviously just rings is not enough. That is why there are many good players on the nba 75 anniversary that didnt win a ring. You need a good front office, solid team, solid coach and fewer injuries than your opponent to win a ring. Some of this is outside the control of you individual skill. Go ask Durant how it went this season.

POC: the glove won a ring with Miami in '06. Even though he road the bench sha I admit that.
In the context of greatness, I dare say having a ring solidifies your case by 65 %. You can put up all the other worldly stat but if you don't win anything, you'll just be regarded as another good player of his era. I mean, look at John Stockton, the guy is basically looked upon as an afterthought despite being the league leader in assists and steals and it's not even remotely close. People even put paul over him. I mean, if he won just 1 ring, my man's would be viewed differently. If you want to be remembered as a good player for his time, you can focus on winning. You cannot enter the Greatness debate without a chip. Your argument is automatically invalid. You can see it in Charles Barkley eyes everytime on TNT. If the man had just one ring. Just one, all the disrespect from shaq and Kenny would not be happening. So boss, at the end of the day, if you want to claim greatness in any sense, the minimum criteria is winning abeg.