I bet against Barkley in the ncaa pool and did quite well

Another boring NBA season drags to a merciful end. What a surprise, the Warriors are sleepwalking through another championship.

NBA basketball right now is just the worst. They're actually making baseball look not boring by comparison. That's actually unfair - MLB playoffs have been very interesting for many years now, even for casual baseball fans, while the NBA playoffs are a cure for insomnia. They're making early-season baseball (which only the most rabid baseball fan could care about) look more interesting by comparison.

But, yah, nice job, Portland, putting up a team that's LESS competitive than the frigging CLIPPERS. Your city and your team suck loudly and smell like poop.

It takes a pretty smart guy to be able to earn big bucks saying stupid stuff.

The east coast narrative now is that interest
is diminished given small market Toronto or Bucks.
They find so many ways to hate this team and diminish their achievements it's sad

Toronto's finally figuring out they are way better with Ibaka in there and not gasol.

I just don't know if Toronto is deep enough if this series goes 7.

Hoping so cause mil is deep and very big, long and athletic.

If the dubs get Toronto, they will make gasol unplayable, which essentially means Toronto will be going 6-7 deep

I don't watch the NBA during the regular season but I never miss a Warrior post season game and I try to catch as many of the other playoff games as I can. Real good basketball.
Watching the playoffs inspired me to look up this cocktail party trivia material (which will have to be recalibrated after the next round of Max contracts):

The highest-paid NBA players of all time - Business Insider


https://www.businessinsider.com/highest-paid-nba-players-all-time-2017-2#4-lebron-james-2695-million-22

sycasey said:

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The Bucks definitely have a talented enough roster to beat the Warriors without KD. But they are also a young team that hasn't been this far before, and you wonder how they'll handle pressure down the stretch from a battle-tested veteran champ.

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I guess we better see if the Bucks get past Toronto before I expend any more energy figuring out how the Warriors D up the Greek Freak (who, BTW, sure takes a lot of steps).

Of course, figuring out the matchups depends on who the Warriors have ...

I'm guessing Iguodala is full go (as long as his body holds up, which might not be seven games) and Cousins is at least available for a few minutes a game at the start, and maybe 30 minutes by the end.

My sense is Durant is out, and even if he gets back at the end of the series, he'll be significantly below 100%.

Which means we're going to find out just how good Alfonso McKinnie really is, whether we want to or not.

Drake v Bucks feud grows as Milwaukee turns its ire on rapper's courtside antics

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/may/22/drake-toronto-raptors-milwaukee-bucks-nba-playoffs?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

I'm thinking we have to confer on Nellie the title of "Honorary Cal Guy." He has the look.

Mow Oui, over there



http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/basketball-nba-finals-golden-state-warriors-head-coach-al-attles-on-picture-id475007400?s=594x594

Games 2-4 could have gone either way. The Warriors swept, but by no means dominated.

GS blew out LAC for 3 of the 4 wins.

POR played GS tougher than LAC.

GBear4Life said:

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Games 2-4 could have gone either way. The Warriors swept, but by no means dominated.

GS blew out LAC for 3 of the 4 wins.

POR played GS tougher than LAC.

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Durant played in one of the series.

Riordan versus Al Attles, and I won't forget that 4 game sweep. Go Dubs.

Methinks Lacob lobbied behind the scenes to keep Klay off an All NBA Team. It saved Lacob having to pay up to $220 million; and since Lacob will pay the $191 million (and no team can pay more), Klay has no incentive to go elsewhere.

https://nypost.com/2019/05/23/the-moment-klay-thompson-realizes-he-just-lost-30-million/

bearister said:

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Methinks Lacob lobbied behind the scenes to keep Klay off an All NBA Team. It saved Lacob having to pay up to $220 million; and since Lacob will pay the $191 million (and no team can pay more), Klay has no incentive to go elsewhere.

https://nypost.com/2019/05/23/the-moment-klay-thompson-realizes-he-just-lost-30-million/

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You really think so? 1. Why would anyone do Lacob that favor? 2. If Lacob got caught doing that, and there is a high risk of that happening, he has a ticked off Klay who might just take less money in retaliation and he risks losing the rest of the team and a lot of fans if it blows up in his face.

First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs. I don't think he deserved it. Second of all, it is more likely the influence of people who just don't like the Warriors or who discount Klay's contribution as being assisted by the presence of Curry and Durant.

If anyone voted against Klay out of spite against the Warriors it is funny because it helps them stay together

Love Klay, but he's not an All-NBA player

Klay Thompson may be a good All-NBA candidate, but he's not getting the numbers with both Curry and Durant on the team. Not enough shots to go around.

I'm just a jilted Oakland boy spreading Deep State NBA conspiracy theories involving the greedy, arrogant man leaving Oakland behind in the wreckage.

"First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs."
Players with the heart of a champion come up BIG in the playoffs and those with the heart of a chicken come up small.

bearister said:

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I'm thinking we have to confer on Nellie the title of "Honorary Cal Guy." He has the look.

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He has the look of someone who grows his own stuff and enjoys it regularly. ;-)

ClayK said:

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Of course, figuring out the matchups depends on who the Warriors have ...

I'm guessing Iguodala is full go (as long as his body holds up, which might not be seven games) and Cousins is at least available for a few minutes a game at the start, and maybe 30 minutes by the end.

My sense is Durant is out, and even if he gets back at the end of the series, he'll be significantly below 100%.

Which means we're going to find out just how good Alfonso McKinnie really is, whether we want to or not.

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I agree that Durant is out for the Finals, except perhaps for a few minutes late in the series. The official news sounds optimistic because they don't want to irritate KD by writing him off, but he's not even on the basketball court yet.

Iggy will start game 1.

My guess for Cousins is that he starts game 3 in Oakland. He'll play 20 minutes per game if he can, to keep Iggy's minutes at a reasonable level.

Toronto beat the Bucks in Milwaukee tonight. IMHO, the Raptors pose much more of a problem to the Warriors then do the Bucks. Lot of veterans with playoff experience compared to Milwaukee. Toronto beat the Dubs both games this year. Opinions? I am no basketball guru, but I think I see Toronto giving the Dubs all they can handle in the Finals.

sonofabear51 said:

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Toronto beat the Bucks in Milwaukee tonight. IMHO, the Raptors pose much more of a problem to the Warriors then do the Bucks. Lot of veterans with playoff experience compared to Milwaukee. Toronto beat the Dubs both games this year. Opinions? I am no basketball guru, but I think I see Toronto giving the Dubs all they can handle in the Finals.

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Vegas would vehemently disagree.

This is my opinion. Bucks have a higher upside (if they make their threes) and can beat the dubs if they give their A game. They have more depth, more size, more versality, more length and more athleticism. The problem is that their star can be shut down (especially if the periphery players don't make their threes when Giannis kicks to them.). It's not rocket science trying to figure out how to slow down Giannis, the problem is when the other dudes can't hit their threes. When that happens, mil has a very low floor.

If mil goes super big (playing Lopez, mirotic, Giannis) at the same time, that could be a very problematic lineup for the dubs especially without kd.

Toronto is a smarter team, but even at their best I can't see them beating the warriors unless the dubs play like absolute crap the entire series.

Toronto isn't deep and they are already looking pretty tired (especially Kawhi). It won't help that gasol will be unplayable against the warriors (just like every other lumbering average center that came before him - zubac, capela, Kanter).

Which means siakim and ibaka will basically be splitting time at the 5 (maybe they play together a bit, but not for long stretches). So Kawhi will play the 4. Which leaves Lowry, green, van fleet, Powell for the other three positions. That doesn't necessarily strike fear in anyone.

OaktownBear said:

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bearister said:

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Methinks Lacob lobbied behind the scenes to keep Klay off an All NBA Team. It saved Lacob having to pay up to $220 million; and since Lacob will pay the $191 million (and no team can pay more), Klay has no incentive to go elsewhere.

https://nypost.com/2019/05/23/the-moment-klay-thompson-realizes-he-just-lost-30-million/

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You really think so? 1. Why would anyone do Lacob that favor? 2. If Lacob got caught doing that, and there is a high risk of that happening, he has a ticked off Klay who might just take less money in retaliation and he risks losing the rest of the team and a lot of fans if it blows up in his face.

First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs. I don't think he deserved it. Second of all, it is more likely the influence of people who just don't like the Warriors or who discount Klay's contribution as being assisted by the presence of Curry and Durant.

If anyone voted against Klay out of spite against the Warriors it is funny because it helps them stay together

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Basing max contracts on the whims of a bunch of writers and broadcasters seems ridiculous just for the reason you stated.

If people really wanted to try to break up the dubs, just keep voting their dudes on the all nba team. You telling me these voters are all completely objective and unbiased? You can't put actual power in these people's hands

Come on ARod

bearister said:

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I'm just a jilted Oakland boy spreading Deep State NBA conspiracy theories involving the greedy, arrogant man leaving Oakland behind in the wreckage.

"First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs."
Players with the heart of a champion come up BIG in the playoffs and those with the heart of a chicken come up small.

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First of all, the vote is supposed to be about the regular season. I don't know if it is correct, but I heard the votes were cast before the playoffs. I love Klay. Don't care much what he or Iggy or Draymond do regular season if they show up in the playoffs. He's better when it counts then many of the guys picked. But this award is for regular season play and he didn't earn it this year.

bearister said:

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I'm just a jilted Oakland boy spreading Deep State NBA conspiracy theories involving the greedy, arrogant man leaving Oakland behind in the wreckage.

"First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs."
Players with the heart of a champion come up BIG in the playoffs and those with the heart of a chicken come up small.

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I like Klay too. He is more valuable to the Warriors, then he would be on another team, IMHO. As for the guards that DID get selected:

2018-19 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

• F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
• G James Harden, Houston
• G Stephen Curry, Golden State
• F Paul George, Oklahoma City
• C Nikola Joki, Denver

ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

• C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
• F Kevin Durant, Golden State
• G Damian Lillard, Portland
• F Kawhi Leonard, Toronto
• G Kyrie Irving, Boston

ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

• G Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
• F Blake Griffin, Detroit
• F LeBron James, L.A. Lakers
• C Rudy Gobert, Utah
• G Kemba Walker, Charlotte

Kemba Walker is the only one that Klay may have an issue with. The others are pretty solid (although I'm not a fan of some of them as much as Klay). I also think the other position players are more solid then Klay as well. For example, I don't think Detroit would bench Griffin for Klay.

I'm liking this opinion ducky. I have one question.

Who is Van Fleet going to guard on the W's? Curry in the PnR? Klay? Maybe Livingston for those brief minutes? I see that as a major mismatch in favor of the W's.

Uthaithani said:

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Another boring NBA season drags to a merciful end. What a surprise, the Warriors are sleepwalking through another championship.

NBA basketball right now is just the worst. They're actually making baseball look not boring by comparison. That's actually unfair - MLB playoffs have been very interesting for many years now, even for casual baseball fans, while the NBA playoffs are a cure for insomnia. They're making early-season baseball (which only the most rabid baseball fan could care about) look more interesting by comparison.

But, yah, nice job, Portland, putting up a team that's LESS competitive than the frigging CLIPPERS. Your city and your team suck loudly and smell like poop.

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I'm sorry you are so negative that you are missing great drama.
Clearly you are not following the ample story lines happening in the NBA at this time.
I can't help you if you're both blind and have a sour attitude about it.

BeachedBear said:

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bearister said:

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I'm just a jilted Oakland boy spreading Deep State NBA conspiracy theories involving the greedy, arrogant man leaving Oakland behind in the wreckage.

"First of all, Klay didn't have a good year until the playoffs."
Players with the heart of a champion come up BIG in the playoffs and those with the heart of a chicken come up small.

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I like Klay too. He is more valuable to the Warriors, then he would be on another team, IMHO. As for the guards that DID get selected:

2018-19 ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM

• F Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee
• G James Harden, Houston
• G Stephen Curry, Golden State
• F Paul George, Oklahoma City
• C Nikola Joki, Denver

ALL-NBA SECOND TEAM

• C Joel Embiid, Philadelphia
• F Kevin Durant, Golden State
• G Damian Lillard, Portland
• F Kawhi Leonard, Toronto
• G Kyrie Irving, Boston

ALL-NBA THIRD TEAM

• G Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City
• F Blake Griffin, Detroit
• F LeBron James, L.A. Lakers
• C Rudy Gobert, Utah
• G Kemba Walker, Charlotte

Kemba Walker is the only one that Klay may have an issue with. The others are pretty solid (although I'm not a fan of some of them as much as Klay). I also think the other position players are more solid then Klay as well. For example, I don't think Detroit would bench Griffin for Klay.

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Voted on by press, no?
I wonder how many of them decided to jigger their votes to impact salaries.
It does some teams favors (warriors) and others non-favors.

Stephen A. Saying Jordan ain't gonna pay Kenna the $231M supermax for a losing squad, and so Kenna is gonna want a trade or just sign elsewhere. What about Bradley Beal? Is he is play?

This off season is going to be incredible, and we haven't even seen who is going to face the (with or without KD & Boogie) warriors: MVP candidates Giannis or Kawhi.

bearister said:

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Methinks Lacob lobbied behind the scenes to keep Klay off an All NBA Team. It saved Lacob having to pay up to $220 million; and since Lacob will pay the $191 million (and no team can pay more), Klay has no incentive to go elsewhere.

https://nypost.com/2019/05/23/the-moment-klay-thompson-realizes-he-just-lost-30-million/

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that was my first thought, too.
Just TELL me those press voters aren't "buyable".

Of course, the vote tally may be somewhere and if anyone were caught, it would cause them to lose their team.
Instead, the arrangement needs to be adjusted so that player salaries are not determined by media members votes. I think there's only like 50 votes or something from tallies I saw. That's not right. Players union should change that. They have to win a popularity contest with media AND play balls out? No.

OaktownBear said:

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Uthaithani said:

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Another boring NBA season drags to a merciful end. What a surprise, the Warriors are sleepwalking through another championship.

NBA basketball right now is just the worst. They're actually making baseball look not boring by comparison. That's actually unfair - MLB playoffs have been very interesting for many years now, even for casual baseball fans, while the NBA playoffs are a cure for insomnia. They're making early-season baseball (which only the most rabid baseball fan could care about) look more interesting by comparison.

But, yah, nice job, Portland, putting up a team that's LESS competitive than the frigging CLIPPERS. Your city and your team suck loudly and smell like poop.

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This post has all the earmarks of someone who hasn't watched a single game and just wants to rain all over everybody. If you can't enjoy the way the Warriors play, the overcoming injury, the comebacks of 17+ 3 straight times, you are a moron or Lakers fan, probably both.

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Wow!
Your comment got starred 10 times! Lol.
It's very rare to get to 10 stars.
Clearly, the original post is so far off the mark....
Dude was a big negative ranter during the Cal season, and now suddenly shows up on this thread with that?
Make me laugh, thank you.