2021 NBA Playoffs Gamethread

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
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Didn’t the Yankees have a ton of fully vaccinated guys get Covid later on anyway? I don’t know anything about Paul’s views on vaccines (and I’m not at all a Chris Paul fan) but it’s entirely possible that he did everything “right” and still got Covid.
 

Bread of Yaz

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Mar 12, 2019
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Paul is apparently a pretty devout Christian and vaccine hesitancy amongst Black Americans is a real and understandable thing.

Vaccine hesitancy among Black Americans who are poorly educated, have been denied access to our health care system or have had subpar interactions with it, an who have experienced daily racism and been denied opportunities to take part is society in a meaningful way, is understandable. Paul is none of those things. If he didn't get vaccinated (and I agree we need to await the facts), its completely inexecusable.
 

Cellar-Door

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Not clear on Paul yet on a few fronts:

1. whether he entered protocol for a positive test
2. If he is vaccinated

Shams' tweet mentioned that NBA has different rules for length of protocol if you are vaccinated.

so basically 4 options:

1. Vaccinated but tested positive... unclear how long he'd miss
2. Not vaccinated and tested positive... probably missing 14 days minimum
3. Vaccinated, entered for close contact with a positive... probably not missing much time
4. Not-vaccinated entered for close contact... probably misses 7-14 days (but not necessarily)


Edit- some media people saying NBA not isolating for close contact if you are vaccinated? If true either Paul isn't vaccinated or he's a breakthrough case and has the worst luck ever.
 

radsoxfan

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That Kawhi landing made me nervous but he walked it off like nothing happened. I guess he is a robot.

ACL tear (maybe partial?) or meniscus tear I would think.
 

radsoxfan

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When is game 1 WCF?

Seems like Paul got “lucky” with the timing, he will miss a lot of off days at least.

Maybe he and Lebron made an anti-vaccine pact together.
 

Fishy1

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It’s almost like playing a condensed schedule isn’t a great thing for the on court product!
It was ridiculous that people were ignoring the effect on last year's conference finals teams and it will be just as ridiculous when they continue to ignore it now. The league asked too much of these guys. We'll see more of them go down.
 

johnmd20

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It was ridiculous that people were ignoring the effect on last year's conference finals teams and it will be just as ridiculous when they continue to ignore it now. The league asked too much of these guys. We'll see more of them go down.
Come on. Chris Paul isn't out because of the schedule.

And Kawhi has always gotten hurt and always been nicked up.
 

Fishy1

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Come on. Chris Paul isn't out because of the schedule.

And Kawhi has always gotten hurt and always been nicked up.
The condensed schedule and lack of a real off-season would absolutely make those who are injury prone even more likely to go down. I'm not even sure how this is controversial. Of course Chris Paul has nothing to do with it.
 

DJnVa

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This is crazy. Every futures NBA title bet has been taken off the board.

Oh man.
Which us why it always strikes me as strange when people say things like "There's no chance the Celtics can get by Team X or Y this season, so...." Shit happens.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Not clear on Paul yet on a few fronts:

1. whether he entered protocol for a positive test
2. If he is vaccinated

Shams' tweet mentioned that NBA has different rules for length of protocol if you are vaccinated.

so basically 4 options:

1. Vaccinated but tested positive... unclear how long he'd miss
2. Not vaccinated and tested positive... probably missing 14 days minimum
3. Vaccinated, entered for close contact with a positive... probably not missing much time
4. Not-vaccinated entered for close contact... probably misses 7-14 days (but not necessarily)


Edit- some media people saying NBA not isolating for close contact if you are vaccinated? If true either Paul isn't vaccinated or he's a breakthrough case and has the worst luck ever.
Wrt to bolded, I believe that is correct - NBA.com has article about a memo sent by league office back in March relaxing rules for vaccinated players, including the close contact rule. https://www.nba.com/news/nba-tells-teams-rules-will-be-relaxed-for-vaccinated-persons

So we're down to 3 options.
 

Cesar Crespo

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The condensed schedule and lack of a real off-season would absolutely make those who are injury prone even more likely to go down. I'm not even sure how this is controversial. Of course Chris Paul has nothing to do with it.
Do you think these players live in saran wrap during the offseason? Do you think they are just sitting on there ass doing nothing? It's just an excuse. Tatum is going to really suck next year since he's playing for Team USA this year. If Tatum gets injured in the oylmpics, we'll never hear the end of it even though he could have just as easily gotten injured in practice or a pick up game.

Also, isn't Chris Paul head of the players union or whatever? Really good look if he's an anti vax guy.

I just get a kick how people act like NBA players aren't going balls to the walls during the offseason.
 

Jakarta

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Do you think these players live in saran wrap during the offseason? Do you think they are just sitting on there ass doing nothing? It's just an excuse. Tatum is going to really suck next year since he's playing for Team USA this year. If Tatum gets injured in the oylmpics, we'll never hear the end of it even though he could have just as easily gotten injured in practice or a pick up game.

Also, isn't Chris Paul head of the players union or whatever? Really good look if he's an anti vax guy.

I just get a kick how people act like NBA players aren't going balls to the walls during the offseason.
Then why not make the season 150 games long? Maximize revenues and the players get paid more for the exact same effort!
 

cheech13

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Wasn’t the ridiculous load management we saw all season supposed to help prevent these postseason injuries?
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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In addition to the current injuries, Durant just played 48 minutes high-effort minutes. If the Nets don't play KD only like 20 something minutes in Game 6 - maybe the Bucks jump out big early and the decision is made for them - then he is running the risk of his playoffs ending abruptly like his last year with the Warriors.
 

CoffeeNerdness

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The problem for the Nets is that they got an all-time game from Durant and the random god-tier game from Green, and it was still tied with 90 seconds left, and they still have to win another one. What happens if Durant wears down a little and Jeff Green turns back into Jeff Green?
Joe Harris could play the Jeff Green role next game. Yes, they had to grind out the win, but the second half was a pure blowout.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Then why not make the season 150 games long? Maximize revenues and the players get paid more for the exact same effort!
Because the viewers would get burned out, otherwise they probably would.

People seriously overstate fatigue, especially for athletes who are in tip top condition.
 

lars10

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Do you think these players live in saran wrap during the offseason? Do you think they are just sitting on there ass doing nothing? It's just an excuse. Tatum is going to really suck next year since he's playing for Team USA this year. If Tatum gets injured in the oylmpics, we'll never hear the end of it even though he could have just as easily gotten injured in practice or a pick up game.

Also, isn't Chris Paul head of the players union or whatever? Really good look if he's an anti vax guy.

I just get a kick how people act like NBA players aren't going balls to the walls during the offseason.
I think there’s a huge difference between the season and offseason... flying all over the place for games, for one, takes a huge toll. Playing an NBA game vs pickup games is also a huge difference.. and during the season I’m sure their schedule is packed with practices between games. Players are still playing and working out in the offseason, but you have to let your body rest a bit.
 

terrynever

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In addition to the current injuries, Durant just played 48 minutes high-effort minutes. If the Nets don't play KD only like 20 something minutes in Game 6 - maybe the Bucks jump out big early and the decision is made for them - then he is running the risk of his playoffs ending abruptly like his last year with the Warriors.
Vegas would be stupid to take bets on Game 6 unless they make the Bucks 15-point favorites. Game 6 already reeks.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I think there’s a huge difference between the season and offseason... flying all over the place for games, for one, takes a huge toll. Playing an NBA game vs pickup games is also a huge difference.. and during the season I’m sure their schedule is packed with practices between games. Players are still playing and working out in the offseason, but you have to let your body rest a bit.

I'd argue someone is more likely to get injured in a pick up game half assing things than in a real game. Plus they are still playing real games. A rookie will go from college to the summer league to preseason to regular season to summer league to preseason to...

Superstars will often play in the Olympics over the summer. Some of these guys also have ridiculous off season workout routines. Playing a basketball game for 35-40 minutes every other night isn't some great physical feat.
 

Fishy1

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I'd argue someone is more likely to get injured in a pick up game half assing things than in a real game. Plus they are still playing real games. A rookie will go from college to the summer league to preseason to regular season to summer league to preseason to...

Superstars will often play in the Olympics over the summer. Some of these guys also have ridiculous off season workout routines. Playing a basketball game for 35-40 minutes every other night isn't some great physical feat.
It's not a question of physical feats, it's a question of load, rest, and workout type. You're dismissing our arguments out of hand as ridiculous, which means there's no reaching you on this subject.

I don't know how you can imagine off-season workouts are more dangerous to players than in season games when the vast majority of injuries occur during the season. You can continue to post on this without any data or you can look it up.

I mean it's not hard to look this stuff up: "Data shows NBA injuries up in condensed season" https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592404/data-shows-nba-injuries-condensed-season?platform=amp

Not that I expect people to listen to or believe NBA players, their trainers or the science, of course!
 

Cesar Crespo

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It's not a question of physical feats, it's a question of load, rest, and workout type. You're dismissing our arguments out of hand as ridiculous, which means there's no reaching you on this subject.

I don't know how you can imagine off-season workouts are more dangerous to players than in season games when the vast majority of injuries occur during the season. You can continue to post on this without any data or you can look it up.

I mean it's not hard to look this stuff up: "Data shows NBA injuries up in condensed season" https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31592404/data-shows-nba-injuries-condensed-season?platform=amp

Not that I expect people to listen to or believe NBA players, their trainers or the science, of course!

They are more dangerous than a workout. That's not the argument. I'm arguing a player is just as likely to get injured in game 1 as he is game 82.

Also that article barely lists any data so there's almost nothing to compare it to.

Basically, if someone is going to get injured... they are going to get injured. It's the game of basketball itself that is the injury risk.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Give me data that pre dates 08/09. Give me data of the 80s when players played 38 minutes a game and schedules were far worse.


edit: as far as the pick up game stuff, I'll stand by that. Going at 50% effort is the best way to get injured.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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FWIW Jalen Rose said on one of the ESPN shows this morning that Chris Paul is vaccinated. So either Jalen has bad info or Chris Paul is the unluckiest man on the planet.
 

Fishy1

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They are more dangerous than a workout. That's not the argument. I'm arguing a player is just as likely to get injured in game 1 as he is game 82.

Also that article barely lists any data so there's almost nothing to compare it to.

Basically, if someone is going to get injured... they are going to get injured. It's the game of basketball itself that is the injury risk.
Not worth engaging you on this subject. I'm not going to do the reading for you. There's plenty of science on cumulative load, rest, the importance of an offseason, and the rest. You certainly don't have to engage with any of it or me.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Not worth engaging you on this subject. I'm not going to do the reading for you. There's plenty of science on cumulative load, rest, the importance of an offseason, and the rest. You certainly don't have to engage with any of it or me.
Telling me you aren't engaging is engaging. It's also passive aggressive trolling. But you do you.

Team did load management all year. Did wonders.

edit: It's like lower pitch counts. Sure lead to a reduction in TJ surgery or injuries to pitchers in general.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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FWIW Jalen Rose said on one of the ESPN shows this morning that Chris Paul is vaccinated. So either Jalen has bad info or Chris Paul is the unluckiest man on the planet.
I also think with reopening accelerating, getting more common colds with potential overlapping symptoms to Covid is a thing we have to deal with more. I'm sure my immune system is unprepared for many germs after I've babied it from almost all outside forces this past year. If he has symptoms but is vaccinated plus tests negative the next few days, my guess is Paul will be removed from the protocols fairly quickly. If it is 5 days from now and there is no sign of him getting out, then uh oh.
 

radsoxfan

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I also think with reopening accelerating, getting more common colds with potential overlapping symptoms to Covid is a thing we have to deal with more. I'm sure my immune system is unprepared for many germs after I've babied it from almost all outside forces this past year. If he has symptoms but is vaccinated plus tests negative the next few days, my guess is Paul will be removed from the protocols fairly quickly. If it is 5 days from now and there is no sign of him getting out, then uh oh.
If someone has cold symptoms, is vaccinated, and tests negative, do they still go into the protocol?
 

radsoxfan

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Bingo.

A non-twisting non-contact "sprain" is not good news for the ACL. Certainly not a mechanism for a primary MCL or LCL injury.

Partial tears are less common than complete tears, but they do happen. My guess is that he would be announced as immediately out for the year if he had a no-doubt complete tear. Partial tear isn't good news either, especially if his exam is unstable clinically. I'm sure he will be getting multiple opinions on the exact grade and best course of action. Anything other than a low grade sprain is probably a season ender, regardless of surgery or not.

If his MRI comes across my desk, I will be sure not to report back.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

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If someone has cold symptoms, is vaccinated, and tests negative, do they still go into the protocol?
This is all I got from the ESPN story: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31644110/phoenix-suns-chris-paul-indefinitely-placed-nba-health-safety-protocols

In March, the NBA relaxed some of the protocols that were put into place in the fall, doing so in response to players and coaches choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.

But the league also cautioned at that time that "if an individual has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, the previous protocols apply," which would mean that anyone with those symptoms "may be subject to quarantine" regardless of their vaccination status.
So it is possible to need to quarantine even with the vaccine. When the negative test has to fall in terms of amount of time passed since your close contact, I'm not sure and uncertain if that is publicly available in the NBA policy.
 

jon abbey

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As a general NBA fan, the rash of injuries have largely destroyed what promised to be a historically great and evenly balanced playoffs. It seems like every series is hugely impacted by at least one major injury, I want to be deeply impressed with the Suns (and I am), but it's impossible (for me) not to watch that Nuggets series and constantly wonder how a healthy Jamal Murray would have impacted it. There's a similar example in almost every series and it is bumming me out (and I wrote something similar here recently before Kawhi and Kyrie and whoever else went down).
 

cheech13

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This would be a complete catastrophe for the Clippers given how many draft assets they have given up to build that team, and the lack of long term security they have with the Kawhi/George contracts. That team needs to win NOW.

Presti on the other hand is rubbing his hands together and cackling.
It’s probably a blessing in disguise. Kawhi is probably less likely to opt out and test free agency now coming off an ACL injury. They’ll probably get 1-2 more chances with this core intact.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The chances of beverly attempting to kill Ingles today are about 200%.
I have to wonder if they are two of the more polarizing people in the NBA from a player's perspective. The best Beverley take belongs to Russ but there are plenty of others out there. Meanwhile Ingles is allegedly one of the biggest trolls in the NBA. I know I am on a tiny island but I would pay to hear them mic'd up during the game. But then again, I kind of enjoyed the bubble where we not only got the omnipresent "aye!" on every take (contested or not) but also the swears and emoting that happen on every sequence. It was glorious.
 

ElUno20

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I have to wonder if they are two of the more polarizing people in the NBA from a player's perspective. The best Beverley take belongs to Russ but there are plenty of others out there. Meanwhile Ingles is allegedly one of the biggest trolls in the NBA. I know I am on a tiny island but I would pay to hear them mic'd up during the game. But then again, I kind of enjoyed the bubble where we not only got the omnipresent "aye!" on every take (contested or not) but also the swears and emoting that happen on every sequence. It was glorious.
I would say Ingles is more a "traditional" dirty player. See the innocuous Kawhi play. While Bev is just an awful awful dangerous dirty player. See his whole career. I would think players would "prefer" ingles style.

I would watch ingles tonight. He's already mind fd PG for years and now with the inevitable ass kicking for 2 games, he might send PG into a panic attack on the court.