In the aftermath of left knee surgery, Boston Celtics All-Star guard Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the regular season and playoffs, league sources told ESPN.
3. "sheeeesh, man terrible." In response to Reply # 0
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
6. "Boston has been winning regardless of who's on the floor" In response to Reply # 0
but in the playoffs you need your big guns (unless you're Golden State and have MVP's to spare).
Sucks for Kyrie as he was playing exceptionally well - but Rozier is balling and Boston's system is superior. They will still be competitive and can beat anyone in the East w/ home-court advantage.
On a different note: This makes the news surrounding kyrie's alleged threat to sit out and opt for surgery if Cleveland didn't trade him all the more fascinating.
**************** TBH the fact that you're even a mod here fits squarely within Jag's narrative of OK-sanctioned aggression, bullying, and toxicity. *shrug*
16. "well - cbs, espn and many other sources reported on it" In response to Reply # 12
so it's not exactly something that emanates from "cavsstans.net" -- but do you think there's any scenario where Kyrie would be like "oh yea, no doubt - that's completely true. I threatened to sit out and used surgery as leverage to get traded." Nobody in league history would admit to it with a mega contract pending in a couple of years.
What we do know is that Kyrie was super adamant about leaving Cleveland - and being a free agent - it's feasible that he had to do something to force hands instead of stay in a situation where he was unhappy.
31. "reporting hearsay doesnt make it *not* hearsay" In response to Reply # 16
and a franchise putting out false rumors about someone who wanted out seems way more likely given that kyrie could have just "no commented" rather than issue an out-and-out denial
50. "There was a pretty funny anecdote on the latest Lowe Post pod" In response to Reply # 10
"Sounds like a HIPPA violation to me."
He's denied that quote since this news broke but I think that's a totally Kyrie style answer given all the media trolling he's done through his career.
18. "Cavs still fighting for the 3 seed." In response to Reply # 15
I don't think 2 home wins v. the Raptors changes the landscape entirely - nor does this injury. Bron will be playing with a new, inexperienced team that has never been in the playoff trenches together - and they will have to do it without home court advantage.
If Bron can carry this team to the Finals - it will be on-par with some of his greatest accomplishments.
37. "jeez for someone on bron jock he stay setting the bar low." In response to Reply # 20
Bron is goat.
Idk winning 4 games in front of drake is tuff.
*rolls eyes*
-The Knicks’ coaching search still includes a lone frontrunner, Kurt Rambis, whose qualifications for the position include a strong relationship with Jackson and a willingness to take the job.
40. "nah - bron has just spoiled everybody." In response to Reply # 37
They just take it for granted and presume he'll be in the Finals because he's that great - and they sniff at 7 straight finals appearances like it's no big deal - even though it's never been accomplished in the modern era.
How many teams in nba history have wholesale traded the core of their roster like this at the all-star break and made it to the Finals?
If he goes to the Finals for an 8th straight time - with this team that was banded together - ad hoc? yea - it's a big deal and the bitter Hurt Lockers won't be able to dilute it.
He’s about to take second place again. We all know that gets you guys hyped- no need to lower the bar and pretend this years second place is somehow more special.
Actually, his first second place since his return was a more impressive second place...
wtf are you talking about? First, the top two pplayers for the Cs are out for the playoffs.
Second, Boston flipped almost its entire roster from last year. The only remaining players from last season are Horford, Brown , Smart (hurt also), and Rozier.
----------- you think we playing chess, but i'm playing mad-making. Basaglia
65. "RE: the celts core?" In response to Reply # 62
They are scrambling as well but have had more time to gel than the Cavs - and have played more consistently throughout the season.
I know it's upsetting to imagine LeBron winning the east again - so it's reflexive to just say "the east sucks and he BETTER win" - but facts are facts: nobody else in the league could carry this cleveland team to the Finals - and if Bron does - partying will be scheduled.
87. "haha nice uppage. But upon review - I was right about 2 things:" In response to Reply # 86
(1) This Boston team is dynamic and very, very good even without Kyrie Irving (2) This playoff run has been unreal for LeBron James - and ranks up there with his greatest stretches of basketball, ever. To carry this team *like this* is out of this world.
33. "cavs in the finals has been a doubt for almost everybody" In response to Reply # 25
at some point this year. But nice classic hedging to try and downplay the accomplishment should they make it out of the East.
This will be the worst Lebron-led team that made it to the finals since he performed a miracle against Detroit in his first finals appearance. Cavs have no business going to the Finals this year except for one reason: The greatness of Lebron. It will be a huge achievement if it happens.
28. "I'm not even sure what you're getting at here..." In response to Reply # 24
gonna assume you think I'm going at Kyrie. I have been damn near singular on here saying the Cavs were coming out of the East...before all the trades, even. There's hella posts where I go on record. Even made a $100 bet with Dula, based on the old team with Shump and nem, so...
...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft
29. "nah, i think you going at a lot of players" In response to Reply # 28 Thu Apr-05-18 02:25 PM by Basaglia
i ain't giving the cavs the nod over the bucks or philly. too many people been out. i ain't been buying that "going to win anyway" shit people ben selling since hayward went down. all that is easy to say NOW.
let brogdon get up to speed and bucks start clicking. that the team i wanna see the cavs get by. they pretty much gonna be whole.
30. "bro, folks was partying on how sorry the Cavs..." In response to Reply # 29
were when they went on them losing streaks....WELL after people had forgotten about Heyward not being a piece of the puzzle, anymore for Boston. The mere mention of them and finals resulted in a string of "lols". I still said it. You keep stressin now, but I been on it. I ain't going at no one. I think Bron is still that good...right today.
...I'm from the era when A.I. was the answer, now they think ai is the answer - Marlon Craft
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Thu Apr-05-18 03:05 PM
36. "Boston's still gonna face Bron." In response to Reply # 0
Terry Rozier has really impressed me in Kyrie's absence, and between Brown and Tatum's skill on the wing and Stevens's skill coaching, I don't see this keeping Boston from winning the first round. It'll make it harder, of course, and it'll obviously make getting past Bron that much more daunting of a task-- but if anyone's up for making an unexpected run, it's Stevens and Co.
It's all leading to next season anyway. Assuming Bron is still with the Cavs.
41. "that's alot to ask of the young boys + Al Horford" In response to Reply # 36
it can be done, no doubt, especially with home court and coaching advantage, but the bottom 3 teams are all completely salivating right now. Who will be Boston's man in the clutch? They gonna just go with whoever's open?
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Thu Apr-05-18 06:06 PM
46. "It is, but they're still the best defense in the NBA." In response to Reply # 41
I don't think replacing Irving with Rozier will change that. They're also third in the NBA in 3-point percentage, and while that'll dip some with Kyrie out, Rozier's shown that he's certainly capable of lighting up.
In terms of who gets the ball in a clutch moment, sure, I'd feed the hot hand-- run a PNR with Brown/Tatum/Rozier with the ball and Horford setting the screen.
Combine all that with the homecourt advantage, and I still like the odds of moving on from the first round without Kyrie.
48. "Might not see them in the second round" In response to Reply # 36
If Philly wins this weekend's matchup with Cleveland. In that case, we'd get a Youth v. Youth battle with Philly in the second round most likely. And I like Tatum a lot, but not enough to score consistently enough against the Sixers to win.
Frank Longo Member since Nov 18th 2003 86672 posts
Fri Apr-06-18 10:31 AM
64. "I think you missed my point." In response to Reply # 56
My point was i expected his absence to affect their seeding— he *will* be our most likely the rest of the regular season. I never implied his absence would affect their playoff performance, as I too expect him back at some point during Round 1.
81. "you forgot that Cavs expended a ton of energy last night" In response to Reply # 73
and scrambled back from a 17-point deficit in the 4th vs. the Wiz. Tough ask on a back-to-back w/ the hottest team in the league rested and amped as hell for this game. And I agree that winner of this game gets the 3rd seed.
Philly is for-real. They can beat Boston, Toronto - and yes - Cleveland - especially if they have home-court advantage.
58. "fair, but his leadership pressured kyrie and led to that kneecap" In response to Reply # 54 Fri Apr-06-18 08:41 AM by Basaglia
kyrie sprained his foot against boston and was supposed to sit for the rest of the series and maybe the next. nope...bron implied that kyrie was soft since everyone was hurting (not injured, hurting) and kyrie stupidly played injured with trash biomechanics tryna alleviate pain in the foot, which led to tendinitis in the knee, which weakened his patella and it cracked the moment it got hit with a stern blow.
"However, it's likely the fracture is at least partially resultant from the tendinitis. As I've explained before, the inflammation caused by tendinitis can irritate other parts of the joint. Because the patellar tendon connects directly to the patella, tendinitis can in rare cases cause inflammation of this bone, and if prolonged without rest, that can cause the bone and it's articular cartilage to deteriorate."
when i read that, i hated lebron for a good year. but, you know what? that was ky's choice to play. so that was really on him. the only choice lebron had in the matter was to be the trash finger-pointing leader he is.
can't wait to see who he blames in a couple months. maybe sooner.
59. "ahhh and the Ba Bron envy truth comes out. #BlameLeBron" In response to Reply # 58
>kyrie sprained his foot against boston and was supposed to >sit for the rest of the series and maybe the next. nope...bron >implied that kyrie was soft
What are you referring to here? How did Bron imply kyrie was "soft"?
>when i read that, i hated lebron for a good year. but, you >know what? that was ky's choice to play. so that was really on >him. the only choice lebron had in the matter was to be the >trash finger-pointing leader he is.
LOL. Lebron is a "trash finger-pointing leader" now? What happened to Ky & The Kang? The party is over : (
>can't wait to see who he blames in a couple months. maybe >sooner.
Bron wanting to have the requisite (healthy) talent to compete with juggernaut stacked teams is nothing to get mad about.
71. "Touched. Special. (c) AB. I was just saying LeBron wasn't "lucky" in 201..." In response to Reply # 58
He had Love and Kyrie both go down around him. I wasn't saying anything about Kyrie being injury-prone (though he is) or whose fault it was or wasn't. Speedy recovery for your guy. I hope all your agendas blow up (on track) but not like this.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
78. "having a surgery he was gonna need anyway isn't "injury prone"" In response to Reply # 71 Fri Apr-06-18 05:41 PM by Basaglia
i was JUST saying he would have had kyrie in 2015 if they had played it smart with a simple ass foot sprain, instead of being captain macho and calling him out on some "pain management" type noise. if we speaking facts, kyrie could have pain managed his ass right into the playoffs this year, but HE'S the leader of HIS team and his teammates knew if he was saying something wasn't right, then dammit, that's the final word. it ain't like kyrie known for ducking wreck. and sure enough...wire and screws were rubbing against his tendon. so, he didn't GET injured. he needed all that shit taken out. it couldn't wait anymore.
and i'll be DAMN sure to pretend to be concerned about embiid's next injury (because he's injury prone and hasn't accomplished shit), since we offering unsolicited asides.
77. "You say that like they are gonna make some noise." In response to Reply # 72 Fri Apr-06-18 05:28 PM by hip bopper
They are gonna get bounced fairly easily.
Offensively they are at the bottom of the NBA. It’s gonna be even tougher for them to get buckets in the playoffs. They managed to be in the upper echelon thanks to Stevens, but when the playoffs roll around it’ll be the same story... an exit!!!
No Kyrie nor Hayward, and possibly no Smart spells disaster for them.
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