2022 NBA Playoffs Gamethread
- Thread starter JohnnyTheBone
- Start date
I honestly can’t believe every bad move the Sixers have made since they fired Hinkie six years ago: hiring Colangelo and his fail son, lighting the number one overall pick on fire (Fultz), hiring Elton Brand, maxing Tobias Harris but not Jimmy Butler, running Ben Simmons out of town, using their cap space on Al Horford, hiring Doc and Morey after their expiration dates, and finally trading for this version of James Harden. I think even the Kings ownership could have raised a banner with Embiid, Simmons, Butler, and the number one pick.
The amazing this is how many chances they’ve had to right the ship. Even this summer, they have a chance to move Harris, extend Harden, and free up a max salary slot before they have to pay Maxey big money.
The amazing this is how many chances they’ve had to right the ship. Even this summer, they have a chance to move Harris, extend Harden, and free up a max salary slot before they have to pay Maxey big money.
Fixed it for ya.
Saw the presser. Apparently this years Ben Simmons is James Harden? Dude doesn’t care who he throws under the bus.
that deal will be underwater before the ink dries
this version of James Harden actually sucks at 1yr/$48M
Is it a little revisionist history? Yes, but let's not let that get in the way of a good burn.
Butler definitely wanted to go to Miami, but Philadelphia didn't seem to try all that hard to keep him and the Sixers eventually facilitated a sign and trade in order for him to fit into Miami's cap. The Sixers had Bird rights on both Butler and Harris, so they could have kept both if they wanted. (Obviously that would be a really expensive team once Ben Simmons' rookie extension kicked in.) The summer of 2019 was a great time for free agents, as many teams cleared the decks for Leonard or Durant, so Butler had the leverage of leaving as a free agent if that's what he desired. Definitely has the same vibes as Kyrie Irving proclaiming "Kemba Walker over me!"
I don’t believe this version at all. Butler sure didn’t respond to that question like a guy who turned down a deal from Philly. Woj reported at the time there there was no 4 or 5-year deal on the table for Butler either.
I believe if I remember correctly the word was PHI didn't want to go with the full 5 year max, and wanted to go 3 years
Here's what Zach Lowe wrote about Butler in the fall after free agency
But on June 30, there was no five-year maximum offer for Butler, multiple sources say. Perhaps the Sixers pivoted after learning of Horford's interest in joining. Perhaps they were concerned about tension between Butler and some within the team, including on the coaching staff. Maybe those two things were interrelated. Like every team chasing Butler, they probably wondered how he would age.
(The great irony of this quote is that Butler is the same age as Harden, born less than three weeks apart actually, and those aging concerns are a lot more germane to Harden.)
But here is what Tom Haberstroh wrote on July 1.
Butler made it known he wanted out, so much so he flew down to Miami to begin free agency and make it clear that’s where he wanted to be.
Butler’s trip to Miami was not a leverage play. A source close to the situation says Butler was indeed offered the five-year, $190 million full max from Philly, but Butler wanted to move on. And perhaps the Sixers put the offer on the table with the understanding that Butler wouldn’t take it.
I don't know whose version to believe, but in my view, the decision was at least somewhat mutual. As bad as the Philly front office was at the time, I find it hard to believe they would have offered the five-year max to Harris but not Butler. My best guess of event was that the deal was on the table for a long time but Butler was noncommittal and by June 30 the Sixers decided to execute the Horford plan, as Al's free agency was somewhat of a surprise and the Sixers had just been destroyed during Embiid's bench minutes.
"It's a normal collar, find a new slant" is an incredible sliding doors moment for the NBA. The Sixers zombie front office after that Twitter-forced resignation made a laundry list of mistakes that had ripple effects across the league.
I'd also say.....
Butler would bring a lot of problems to PHI, especially PHI as it was constructed then. He can't really shoot 3s, you need to have at least 3 shooters around him, and very good ones. PHI didn't have that with Embiid and Simmons.
MIA built for Butler, just a ton of shooters
Game 7 Mavs Suns will be at 8PM ET Sunday so curious when Game 7 would be for GSW Mem if Mem wins tonight
Monday?
Monday?
Memphis scoreless the last 4:26 of the half, Warriors making 3s, but it's a 2 point game. Bodes well for the Grizz me thinks.
To this day, whenever that whole thing comes up in conversation, I still can't believe it happened.
who has hidden reserves to finish this game off? 4 yrs ago GSW had it.... but the splash bros are getting older.
This series is awesome. And Taylor Jenkins (the Wyatt Russell of the NBA) deserves a ton of props. His adjustments have been great.
Dubs need to win here. Memphis is a nightmare for them.
Dubs need to win here. Memphis is a nightmare for them.
After watching the Celtics just stifling teams with their D it is amazing to watch several plays in this quarter resulting in wide open layups or dunks in the half court offense.
If Ja can avoid Derrick Roseingian himself, Memphis is going to be a handful.Without him they just don't have enough
so dallas and phoenix are able to beat GSW? I don't know, all these teams can be great and can be blah
Any of the 6 teams left can win, and none is a big favorite, who knows when the last time that happened was.
70-44 Warriors on the glass. My god. Loon (22) picked the right night to morph into the second coming of Dennis Rodman.
Honestly, you're 100% right -- but the conferences are so different. Boston, Miami and Milwaukee are all fucking bowling balls covered in razorblades who can score and defend. GSW, Phoenix, and Dallas have these insane offensive players who can all explode for points in a way we haven't really seen. I'm terrified and excited.
Agreed. A lot of people are saying the winner of MIL/BOS should be the favorite, and that's probably true but honestly who knows. Right now, GS is the Vegas favorite (because they're already in the next round) but Memphis just gave them fits without Ja. This is the closest NBA playoffs I remember in a while.
Edit: Also, all of the second round series went to at least 3-2.
Adams has been so effective with his screening the smaller Warriors. For all his other limitations the guys grinds the sh*t out of games when they matter.
Mil and Boston beating each other up is going to Miami happy. The failure to finish these game reminds me a bit of Anunoby's buzzer beater (2020) that led to a 7 game series (rather than a 4 or 5 game sweep, since the Celts would of been up 3-0). Miami was rested after taking out Mil in 5.
Sucks, but that's the reward for finishing first.
Not buying the Toronto excuse, as Butler simply schooled Tatum that entire series. I don’t expect that to happen again.
