HOLY FUCKING SHIT

and this is how he gone do me??? lol…this series s gonna do a number on me, one way or another. My biggest sports wish for years, has been to see Russ get a ring…but, not at the expense of my squad. But, I called OKC/Boston Finals and I’m sticking with it.

>and this is how he gone do me??? lol…this series s gonna
>do a number on me, one way or another. My biggest sports wish
>for years, has been to see Russ get a ring…but, not at the
>expense of my squad. But, I called OKC/Boston Finals and
>I’m sticking with it.

If Russ hustles hard and avoids taking big shots Nugs are dangerous.

.

in those moments. Forever he would just put his head down there and try to get to the rim - and half the time he'd go berserk and the ball would go off his knee; turnover lol.

Now you can really feel him slowing down - just a tad - in those moments and realizing that he can just make the simple, correct play (as he did with that energetic drive and kick to Gordon for the game-winner) - and he's much more useful being more mindful.

Still Russ obviously (the good and the bad) - but I think he's actually reinvented himself the past year or so in a way that's cool to watch.

-->

I was doing too much I didn't need to frame it in such a negative way.

both teams can't lose?

i mean, i GUESS i never want OKC to sniff a title...but i hate the Nuggets SO MUCH.

this is hard, guys!

I iike this NY squad. they took that game from the celts.

on the other side, I just knew okc had that one in the bag. missed free throws at the end killed it.

great couple games.

on the other side, I just knew okc had that one in the bag.
>missed free throws at the end killed it.
>

"chet holmgren wanted no part of those free throws" (dudes right arm looked like it weighed a ton shooting the 2nd one)

>great couple games.

we just got tix for game 5 in okc, first game there/cant wait..

but never for a playoff game. If they make the next round, i might start looking into a game.

nice, any personal fave-recs for eat/drink around arena? (catching a concert at The Criterion night before so any recs for that ill take..)

if you have time and are interested, the OKC bombing memorial is also in walking distance and worth seeing. I’ve been a couple times…breathtaking.

that city loooves that team (minus our uber driver taking us back to airport.."enjoy your stay?" "yeah it was great, caught the thunder basketball game last night" "well im sorry to hear that.." me: "whys that?" "well after that stunt they pulled, threatening to leave if the taxpayers didnt get them a new stadium, when the one they're in now is only 6 years old.." "right, right.."--lol, i wasnt bothering trying to set him straight with 5min left of the ride)

fun fact: went to my first wrigley game in 2016, cubs went on to take the title. just sayin'..

and im sure you've been, but Ma Der Lao (laotian restaurant kinda in NW area from downtown) is a must, ridiculously good

>if you have time and are interested, the OKC bombing memorial
>is also in walking distance and worth seeing. I’ve been a
>couple times…breathtaking.

yes, very moving & thoughtfully designed (the 9:01/9:03 gates bookending the reflecting pool/chairs)

>and im sure you've been, but Ma Der Lao (laotian restaurant
>kinda in NW area from downtown) is a must, ridiculously good

Ma Der Lao is very good, although my favorite meal was flown-in seafood served in an industrial park on the way to the fairgrounds (Sedalia's)

>yes, very moving & thoughtfully designed (the 9:01/9:03 gates
>bookending the reflecting pool/chairs)

as someone old enough to remember the bombing, the entire museum is extremely thoughtful and passing through at night is a must

Bricktown is whatever (extremely low budget version of the Riverwalk) but the upside to OKC is that it's so small and concentrated you can literally walk from Midtown to Paycom with no issues

1, I like the Pacers.

But more importantly, I hope it could fuel a Lebron trade this summer, and he finishes his career there, while we a decent return.

this feels shitty like knicks/pacers last year where everyone slowly died

a season where you do everything right: don't run your players in to the ground, secure the No. 1 seed, whoop complete ass in round 1 at a historic level

only to go one game in the series and lose 2 guys atop the one you already lost due to injury and struggle through 2 games you would have clearly won with them present.

I could accept losing to Boston minus JA and Donovan, but not this bullshit.

Went up 20 more than once, and couldn't keep that lead because Ty Jerome decided to play the most CTE basketball of his life.

there are still more games but I am beyond pessimistic and if they're out, I'm out. I don't give a single shit what happens next. Warriors could win it all for all I care (even though it looks like Steph got hit with one of the worst injuries to have at this point in time).

Cold Truth: we're not taking LeBron back, he's not helping us. Holla at Miami, they are in need of that kind of help.

you could feel it.

little by little that Cleveland doubt started to creep in.

I put my glasses on for that last 20 second because I had a feeing.

Very diff outcome when the dubs do it.

He does all the little things to help the warriors be in the right position to defend. Stuff that the casual fan very clearly doesn’t see

That said we basically stomped out the Wolves on the road in Game 1. Game was never really in doubt (got a little close in the 4th but that's it). Edwards spent most of the game playing like ass, and our defense really stepped up.

But I'm not fooling myself that this is sustainable even for this series. They're saying Steph is out a least a week. We're very likely going to lose Game 2. I can see play-off Jimmy carrying us to at least one home win, but I wouldn't bank on winning both without Steph. Hopefully he'll be back for game 5 or 6.

Still very happy with last night. And i just now peeped Pat Spencer's fascinating back-story: Top colligate lacrosse prospect in the country, drafted first overall in the Premier lacrosse league, and forgoes it to pursue his basketball dreams. Tries to play a graduate year in Northwestern, only for the season to get cancelled due to COVID. Plays in Hamburg, Germany, then makes his way back to the G-League. Sits at the end of the bench for the Santa Cruz Warriors, and busts his ass enough to get himself a two-way deal with the team. Now he's playing quality minutes in the play-offs. Crazy.

Blowing 20pt leads back to back. Dude inherited a loaded roster. How the hell do you let your team jack up threes and threes and threes? How do you not demand that your players start actually shooting inside the arc? And Jayson Tatum is not a superstar. There's a reason he road the bench on Team USA. This team is infuriating to watch.

they deserve this.

.

paul pierce looks like his breath smells like fritos all the god damn time. looks like he's always got chewed up cheezits between his teeth

But his feet probably smell like the Method Man "Bring The Pain" bus right now

…for a long while after the last two games.

To have the same thing twice, and have it be even more embarrassing the second time, has to REALLY hurt.

Like, I’m pretty agnostic when it comes to the Celtics. I’m certainly not a fan, but I don’t suffering upon them or their fan base. However, that was some extremely cringe-worthy shit.

How is Boston sports media portraying the coaching staff and players these last two games?

I'm asking because I am genuinely curious.

Full disclosure: I am a Knicks fan, but I won't be snarky or trash talk if you respond; I honestly want a genuinely response.

The main reason I'm curious is since the Celts have been such a dominant team for the past 5 or so years and I'm curious how much leeway the players and coaches are getting from media and the fanbase.

From what I hear, everyone is getting fried. Incompetent coaching staff who relies on analytics too much as far as jacking up too many 3’s as well as issues with timeouts and plays called and then just a weak minded team with inconsistent stars.

but I have to imagine Joe Mazzulla being such an odd duck will make him an easy scapegoat if Boston does indeed go down in flames against my Knicks.

I do think Tatum and Brown not being 100% is a small part of why the Celts are floundering, but like I mentioned before; I am a Knicks fan, so I'm not exactly complaining about that either.

Zero percent chance they chuck one of their stars to save this weirdo. A coach's past success only counts for so much, lol.

saying the knicks are trash lol, i dont remember the station, 89.5 maybe?

...the Heat team that Jimmy lead to the finals. Probably better. And that team beat a lot better squads than this year's T-Wolves. Granted, Play-Off Jimmy is now two-years older, and he's going to actively put them on his back. So, take it to the rack and put a shot every time; no more of this pass and kick shit that he was doing in Game 1.

I'm not saying it's likely that they win the series with no Steph , but it's within the realm of possibility.

given they type of injury coupled with the fact Steph isn't exactly a spring chicken.

The timing of course is unfortunate, but he's lucky it's only a week.

Given how much Steph relies on constantly moving without the basketball, it'll be interesting to see how he looks when he returns.

and he isn’t going to be anywhere close to 100% if he came back in 7 days.

they need to sweep this series and let that man rest.

and he isn’t going to be anywhere close to 100% if he came back in 7 days.

they need to sweep this series and let that man rest.

this shit seems weird and ass backwards.

I can see fouling when up 3 with seconds left but this whole foul a player with 2 minutes oeft is some analytical bullshit.

Just play defense

guy acts like a total asshole on television for a decade

but heaven forbid he gets called an asshole


buddy there's like hours worth of video of you kicking, kneeing, elbowing and punching people...including a teammate

he called KAT soft for missing a game this year, only to later find out Towns was at a funeral. Once the reasoning was made public Draymond refused to apologize. This is who you're dealing with.

as skilled as he is, his antics are too much. he stay whining like he never does anything wrong.

he just a hoe ass nigga

Do some bullshit YouTube chatty Patty podcast that I can ignore.

He was a part of the studio crew for TNT and just shit all over the new format, and not in a constructive way or anything. He said “it sucks” and offered nothing.

I don’t expect the guy to lie per se, but buddy, you’re on TV to sell this thing. If you’re gonna criticize it, at least be insightful, or at least funny.

Or that people think he’s intelligent lol

He’s a mouth breathing troglodyte who would have been a career journeyman if he got drafted anywhere without the two greatest shooters in NBA history



>
>guy acts like a total asshole on television for a decade
>
>but heaven forbid he gets called an asshole
>
>
>buddy there's like hours worth of video of you kicking,
>kneeing, elbowing and punching people...including a teammate
>
>he called KAT soft for missing a game this year, only to later
>find out Towns was at a funeral. Once the reasoning was made
>public Draymond refused to apologize. This is who you're
>dealing with.

I do think Draymond has clearly been in the wrong with all his over the top antics and I also think Kerr should have done more in the past to try and reign in some of his more questionable actions.

However, I also think as much as he's benefitted from playing with Curry for all these years, I also think it's true Curry has also benefitted from playing with Draymond give how much of a beast he is on the defensive end, especially when you have to factor how weak Curry is as a half court wing defender. Draymond has done his part to earn those rings while the Warriors were at their peak, along with Klay guarding the better wing players and helping the Warriors hide Steph in half court defensive matchups.

Draymond and Curry are the interesting pairing of teammates existing in a mutually beneficial existence.

be slicker Draymond. shit is formulaic now, turn the ball over, attack your defender in a goofy way.

he should be suspended sporadically throughout the season

no one ever thought he was an angry Black man.

everyone who wasn't a Warriors fan/ass licker thought he was just a psycho version of Shrek's Friend.

Every day I wish he were drafted to the Bobcats so he would just be some guy either playing in China or cleaning toilets in Okemos, Michigan.

so that should speak volumes


>
>guy acts like a total asshole on television for a decade
>
>but heaven forbid he gets called an asshole
>
>
>buddy there's like hours worth of video of you kicking,
>kneeing, elbowing and punching people...including a teammate
>
>he called KAT soft for missing a game this year, only to later
>find out Towns was at a funeral. Once the reasoning was made
>public Draymond refused to apologize. This is who you're
>dealing with.

OKC wasn't running shit in the 4th and OT just straight 5 out, hot potato ball

>HOLY FUCKING SHIT

suddenly becoming a parent to his nephews after they lost their father, having to pick up the void left behind by bruce brown AND improve his 3 point range....he's done it all for the nuggets , and one could argue he's their 2nd best player( even though Murray has turned it on in the playoffs)

This one is tough, Knicks aren't playing "bad" but the sky is falling.

Went back to the drop coverage again first half and Boston pulled way ahead as usual.

Came out shooting flat on top of it. I had a feeling it would go like this, they always disappoint the home crowd lol.

My Knicks Keys for game 4 besides not sucking is stick to switching off on D, Start Mitch for Hart and let them hack him until we hit the bonus then bring Hart in and let him play like a maniac. Also don't Pritchard be a factor, attack him offensively make them take him out.

also KAT has gotten the Melo no-calls treatment from refs but he's got to stop bitching about it they'll never call them.

He’s always just needed to be the guy with the ball in his hands imo

the kids got tested, big time and responded with a great 4th quarter. Alex Caruso is a fucking stud.

cause it looks like Indiana is playing 6v5 w/ their energy level

.

that Game 1, where Mobley and Hunter got injured fucked this series.

The Pacers have had insane magnet ball for 2 games this series. If Ty Jerome does anything but throw up a brick the Cavs are facing a more favorable 2-2 now.


I am this close to not caring.
Just don't call us the Hawks. We the Spurs from that same season.
Bunch of dick eaters who mad we did anything post LeBron besides being the Wizards North. I hope they all catch what Porzingis got rn.

Fuck the Pacers, they can't win w/o an injured team on the other end. And especially fuck "Heil Hitler" ass Mathurin.

that was a Loyola Marymount half of basketball..

Hank Gathers would be proud

how the fuck?

what do you say at halftime?

Happy for mavs fans, hate that mavs owner got bailed out like this

shit is rigged

they also picked the wrong guy so many times for so many years, with the picks they did have.

They could’ve picked Chris Paul. Could’ve picked Giannis. So many bad picks.

The positive is recently they hit on both Ball and Miller. If they pick the right guy this year, they could be on the way to building something.

and Paul was picked 4th in 2005. Hornets had the 5th pick.

but regardless, this shit is ridiculous

Or Flagg in DC???

And Washington has a great young core, and now that Kuzma is gone, they have a year or two to follow the OKC format and add pieces.

Charlotte is fucked as long as they have LaMelo running the show...he's highly entertaining but its not winning basketball.

It’s already a sea of “derrr just think about it” and “do you think it’s just a coincidence…” question begging stupidity out here, but man, this is pretty much Christmas for those people.

Congrats to them, I suppose.

not mad at Dallas getting 1, means he ain't going to Spurs

but Spurs getting 2? They going right into Giannis talks

There are so many teams just brimming with intrigue and major decisions, and a lot of them seem destined to intersect.

The one thing that seems set in stone is that the west is going to be an even bigger bloodbath.

I hate conspiratorial thinking and “just throwing it out there”(c)Broussard bullshit, but I do enjoy when the speculation is within the realm of reality, and I think we have a lot of that this summer.

You have odds in your favor countless times and they go into a room where you can’t see what’s happening and they come out with the same results year after year..

this is the Charlotte Hornets.. lol.

Frankly, that would be a stronger indication of a fix.

Like...has there been an "official" explanation about it?

I suppose it would take longer and some would still claim it is rigged, but it wouldn't be as suspicious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCxgXS7EBI0

It's unexciting and increasingly anticlimactic, so I get why this isn't the televised event the way the reveal is.

I do know there are other observers in the room.

Whatever the case, the onus is on people screaming RIGGED! CONSPIRACY! etc to provide actual evidence to substantiate those claims, not just Charlie Day impersonations.

Until/unless that happens, even if some of this shit looks serendipitous enough to strain credulity, every last one of these people just look like mouth breathing buffoons.

Personally, I don't dismiss the possibility and don't mind general speculation. But everyone who says FIXED! with their chest out, I'm good with just laughing at them because they never, ever, ever have actual evidence for their claim.

Ever. It never happens.

The best we have for the rigged NBA lottery is a supposedly frozen envelope for the Ewing lottery.

But since nobody ever presents anything so much as resembling good supporting evidence for these claim, those claims warrant nothing more than ridicule. I'm more than happy to get in line once there's evidence though.

Instead of citing evidence that it was rigged, you just cited the low odds.

Improbable things happen all the time and beating improbable odds isn't evidence that it was rigged.

It's a terrible basis for forming conclusions and

People win lotteries all the time. Shit, some people win more than once.

Whether it was rigged or not - it's an unfathomable lottery return for the Mavs; a huge gift.

Is the draft rigged? Unclear - but what is clear is that you don't know either way (and neither do any of us). So to speak with such certainty that there's no way there's foul play going on is presumptuous.

The NBA is an entertainment business, after all. The notion that it's above any kind of behind the scenes dealing and manipulation is naive.

-->

>It's an unfathomable lottery
>return for the Mavs; a huge gift.

LMAO that's not "unfathomable", it's a number one draft pick for a potentially generational superstar. That's not "unfathomable" by any stretch. Neither is winning the NBA draft lottery, someone does it every year.

>Is the draft rigged? Unclear - but what is clear is that you
>don't know either way (and neither do any of us).


>to speak
>with such certainty that there's no way there's foul play
>going on is presumptuous.

Show me where I said anything even close to that. The exact quote.

Spoiler: I didn't.

Are you going to be an honest interlocutor, or are you going to keep replying to your imagination?

Because that's what's happening here. You're arguing against your imagination, not the actual things I've actually said.

Can you not be a dishonest, disingenuous participant for once?

Just once, can you have a conversation based in reality and not things you made up?

Once. Just once. Are you capable of that?

I don't think you are. The sort of dishonesty you employ is so pervasive that it's a deeply rooted character flaw. It just comes naturally. That type of shit is hard to turn off.

>The NBA is an entertainment business, after all. The notion
>that it's above any kind of behind the scenes dealing and
>manipulation is naive.

It would be. Good thing that's not my position.

As usual, you didn't address my actual words and just did this straw man bullshit like always.

I know you struggle with conversation but nobody is attacking or straw-manning you, relax. But I'll indulge you just for a moment.

Here's what you said: "It’s already a sea of “derrr just think about it” and “do you think it’s just a coincidence…” question begging stupidity out here" - referring to "conspiracy minded buffoons" who are questioning the veracity of this draft outcome.

This clearly implies that you think they are "buffoons" for entertaining the idea that the draft might be rigged.

My response was to say - let's not be so certain that they are buffoons - because we actually don't really know whether the draft is always on the up & up or not.

That made you mad, apparently.

>>It's an unfathomable lottery
>>return for the Mavs; a huge gift.
>
>LMAO that's not "unfathomable", it's a number one draft pick
>for a potentially generational superstar. That's not
>"unfathomable" by any stretch. Neither is winning the NBA
>draft lottery, someone does it every year.

Actually it is quite unfathomable to imagine Dallas winning the draft with a 1.8% chance to win the lottery, jumping 10 spots to grab the top pick - which is the biggest move by any team in lottery history - particularly in *this* context with what happened with the Luka trade, *and* the facts about the Mavs ownership team and its outsized influence in not just sports, but politics and American power en masse. To *not* question this whatsoever exposes a lack of healthy skepticism and intellectual curiosity.

But fine, you are offended by the word "unfathomable" here - so we'll use another word: unprecedented - as this has never happened before. Which is the reason why the Mavs execs were out of their minds in disbelief and joy to get this gift.

Statistical anomaly that just happened to play out this way? Maybe. But you choose to denigrate and attack anyone who suggests otherwise as "conspiracy buffoons" - which says a lot more about you than them.

Upset? You shouldn't be.




-->

>I know you struggle with conversation but nobody is attacking
>or straw-manning you, relax. But I'll indulge you just for a
>moment.

I'm great at conversation.

I just don't let dishonest interlocutors slide- but I can see how you would see that as "emo" and "crashing out" and "struggling with conversation. Because you're a habitually dishonest person.

>Here's what you said: "It’s already a sea of “derrr just
>think about it” and “do you think it’s just a
>coincidence…” question begging stupidity out here" -
>referring to "conspiracy minded buffoons" who are questioning
>the veracity of this draft outcome.
>
>This clearly implies that you think they are "buffoons" for
>entertaining the idea that the draft might be rigged.

No, that's me clearly addressing people who assert that it's rigged, not merely entertaining the notion. But again, you're disingenuous, and cannot understand the difference.

Worse, in no way is that me saying with any degree of certainty that it's not rigged.

The only thing you indulged here is your penchant for dishonesty.

Frankly, that's the charitable take here.

>My response was to say - let's not be so certain that they are
>buffoons - because we actually don't really know whether the
>draft is always on the up & up or not.
>
>That made you mad, apparently.

Wrong again. I'm far from angry, but I do get why you need to frame it that way. You can't conceive of anyone calling you out for our own disingenuous tact for any other reason, because you're incapable of admitting you're a bad faith actor- which you are in most discussions, with me or anyone else.

>Actually it is quite unfathomable to imagine Dallas winning
>the draft with a 1.8% chance to win the lottery, jumping 10
>spots to grab the top pick - which is the biggest move by any
>team in lottery history -

No, that's perfectly fathomable. Unfathomable would be winning the lottery despite not having an entry.

particularly in *this* context with
>what happened with the Luka trade, *and* the facts about the
>Mavs ownership team and its outsized influence in not just
>sports, but politics and American power en masse.

That's a lot of question begging without a shred of actual evidence.

Shocker.

>To *not*
>question this whatsoever exposes a lack of healthy skepticism
>and intellectual curiosity.

There's questioning, there's speculating, and then there's "the fix is in!", and there's a lot of that.

One of those things is not like the other and you know it. But bad actors do what bad actors do, and you're a bad actor every time out.


>But fine, you are offended by the word "unfathomable" here

I love the gaslighting. Does that actually work, like, ever?

Mad, offended, see the pattern?

You cannot conceive of someone calling out your dishonesty for the simple fact that it's dishonest. You instinctively find fault in the one who identified it, rather than address the actual accuracy of the statement.

But that's what a habitual, compulsive liar does. It's natural.

Kind of scary, actually.

-
>so we'll use another word: unprecedented - as this has never
>happened before. Which is the reason why the Mavs execs were
>out of their minds in disbelief and joy to get this gift.

Being unprecedented would be the least of any reasons to be excited.

It fixes, or at least masks, some serious problems. Literally every team would be ecstatic to win this lottery, but the fact that you had to go to


>Statistical anomaly that just happened to play out this way?
>Maybe.

Statistical anomaly's are a thing. Funny thing about them, though:

So many love to point to some other machinations for them, refusing to accept them for what they are.

>But you choose to denigrate and attack anyone who
>suggests otherwise as "conspiracy buffoons" - which says a lot
>more about you than them.

Not suggests, but proclaims. See how you have this persistent need to reframe everything in a way favors your imagined version?

This isn't an opinion or matter of debate, it's a readily observable and consistently repeating fact. Psst: that's called evidence.

I based my conclusion here on actual evidence.

And yes, considering this country is being overrun and eaten alive from the inside by legions of conspiracy minded buffoons and purveyors of magical thinking, they are rightly denigrated and mocked.

>Upset? You shouldn't be.

Good thing I'm not. Pointing out your routine, natural dishonesty doesn't take an ounce of emotion. Just a modicum of critical thinking and an ability to recognize you for who and what you are.

yet here you are having a long-winded, strange ass imaginary conversation about nothing really in particular, other than your obsession with arguing and calling people names like "buffoons" in prolific sophomoric fashion. You have no idea who really any of the people on this board are - yet you seem to have issues with so many different people here -- people who you've never met.

Everything Good? Wishing you wellness and some joy in your life, and I actually mean it.

Newsflash: the absence of evidence of something being rigged - or absence of substantive/conclusive evidence of a conspiracy does not mean people are "stupid" for questioning or looking into it - even if they have no tangible evidence upon which to base their suspicions. Sure, it doesn't mean people should take stock in wild-flinging conspiracy theory - but the only way to actually unearth conspiracy and something being rigged is to first have an intuitive hunch to investigate something that you *do not yet have evidence for* - yet you're out here chastising people because they don't have bonafide evidence for something which undercuts the entire investigative process.

All so you can call people stupid buffoons?

But yea I think I'm retired from engaging with your exhaustive rants. So enjoy the last word - I know you can't resist it.
-->

>yet here you are having a long-winded, strange ass imaginary
>conversation about nothing really in particular

Just factually incorrect. I've directly and specifically replied to and about the things you've actually said.

You have no idea
>who really any of the people on this board are - yet you seem
>to have issues with so many different people here -- people
>who you've never met.

Much ado about anything but the subject at hand. But I get it- when you know you don't really have a good argument about the subject, change the subject.

>Everything Good? Wishing you wellness and some joy in your
>life, and I actually mean it.

ZZZZZZZZZZ

>Newsflash: the absence of evidence of something being rigged -
>or absence of substantive/conclusive evidence of a conspiracy
>does not mean people are "stupid" for questioning or looking
>into it

I'm not talking about "questioning" or "looking into it".

I'm talking about people proclaiming it.

Yes, those people are fucking stupid. But the reason you have to continually frame it as "questioning" or "looking into it" when I've said a few times I'm talking about people who are proclaiming, is because you need to in order to appear to have anything resembling a leg to stand on.

When you have to blatantly mischaracterize a statement to make it look like you have a point, it means you don't have a point.

And let's keep it a buck: nobody is looking into it. There's no actual investigation. It's tinfoil time and nothing more out there.

- even if they have no tangible evidence upon which to
>base their suspicions.

No evidence at all thus far.

Yes, it's objectively stupid to form a conclusion without evidence to support the conclusion.

>Sure, it doesn't mean people should
>take stock in wild-flinging conspiracy theory - but the only
>way to actually unearth conspiracy and something being rigged
>is to first have an intuitive hunch to investigate something
>that you *do not yet have evidence for*

NO, that's not the only way. It is one way. It's bizarre that you have to frame it this way.

Another, better way is to have an actual basis for the hunch.

In either case, the time to form the conclusion is when you have evidence. More importantly, when you follow the evidence, not leading it.

- yet you're out here
>chastising people because they don't have bonafide evidence
>for something which undercuts the entire investigative
>process.

This is absurd.

What investigative process?

Where's the investigation? I can point to countless "it was rigged!" statements, but not a single investigatory inquiry. If there's anyone out here doing an actual investigation, they're far and few between.


>All so you can call people stupid buffoons?

No, I'm accurately identifying them as such based on supporting evidence.

Conversely, you're ranting at the fictional issue of me undercutting an imagined investigative process, when the reality is that I'm saying it's stupid buffoonery to form conclusions without evidence.

It's an objectively stupid and buffoonish thing to take issue with.

>But yea I think I'm retired from engaging with your exhaustive
>rants. So enjoy the last word - I know you can't resist it.

No, you're retiring from spewing bad faith arguments at someone who will call that dishonest bullshit out every time.

He deserved better than the support he got tonight.

If it's Achilles-- which is what it looked like-- then yeah, he's missing time next year and Mazzulla is cooked.

he's probably missing most of next season, or so i'd imagine.

but Knicks were kicking the Celtics' asses before that went down.

Mikal Bridges was unreal, Brunson was Brunson, OG was cookin', KAT did his job... and the refs were against New York, and they won that one convincingly after being down 10.

Knicks up 3-1 and they are absolutely going to the ECF after this.

all of my agendas are in shambles.

>HOLY FUCKING SHIT


We like to criticize Luka for that, and he deserves every bit but my god, Ant Man throws his hands up more than refs after a field goal, every single time he drives and doesnt get a call. Its exasperating

D Wade went to the rack, with just as much tenacity (Westbrook too) and they got fouled like hell and never whined this much

only downside to his game (aside from the atrocious early shot clock 3s he falls in love with)

im not saying you're wrong about Edwards, but Wade was treated with boundless respect from the officials, both when he had the ball and in turning a blind eye to his dirty play

The league owes them a generational prospect.

it's how certain teams are left out of the #1 pick.

Wizards, Pels, Hornets routinely left out (Hornets end up in top 4 pretty often). Closest they got was LaMelo and that's because GSW ate the poopoo when they had No. 2

someone had an interesting idea: the rigging is so that they don't lose markets rather than giving it always to big markets.

in their favor.

You want it to be rigged, just in favor the home team.

When you have actual evidence they're actually putting fingers on scales for anyone, I'm all ears.

Good luck though lmao

Good luck!

shit is brutal but at least the Hornets gear is 🔥.

got the #1 pick

Then after they lost AD they got Zion immediately.

they've dropped 5x to the tune of -9 since 2017, including all the way to 4th from 1st in 2020

>The league owes them a generational prospect.

The Nets were derailed by the superstars they chose to be on their super team. They deserve nothing.

and Dougie Hauser is going to light us up game 5. I smell this shit a mile away.

no media outlet could talk about anything NY actually did to win the game its just Tatum got hurt.

where was this sympathy the last 2 years when NY limped into the playoffs and then leaving in ambulances in the 2nd round?

it sucks he got hurt in what looks like the KD injury but damn. you know what dont ever give us credit once people start believe it all goes downhill.

also fuck silver and the mavs. how dare people say Ewing to NY was rigged, we had a 14.something % chance that year lol

>no media outlet could talk about anything NY actually did to
>win the game its just Tatum got hurt.

Knicks had that game wrapped, Celtics weren't scoring for shit. Not even Derrick White bullshit, and then Tatum went down...

Brunson, Bridges, OG had a run for the ages down the stretch.

I hate it for agenda purposes but it is what it is. They did it.

in regards to the Knicks beating the Celts around when Tatum suffered that injury, but he was balling throughout the game and they are the defending champs.

Let the media fawn and spend their attention on the Celts.

As long as the Knicks close out Boston on Wednesday and aren't cheated as result of dubious officiating, I could care less how the media chooses to spin this series.

>no media outlet could talk about anything NY actually did to
>win the game its just Tatum got hurt.
>

i mean Tatum is only one of the biggest stars and most clean cut guys in the league. it is more important than yall winning the game. and i saw that as someone that is firmly in the Knicks camp because I'd like to see Knicks fans in full hubris if they actually win the title.

>where was this sympathy the last 2 years when NY limped into
>the playoffs and then leaving in ambulances in the 2nd round?
>


newsflash no one is going to feel sorry for a team who coach runs their players in the ground when they do start to break down

>it sucks he got hurt in what looks like the KD injury but
>damn. you know what dont ever give us credit once people start
>believe it all goes downhill.
>

what do you need credit for? you're going to win the series who cares about credit

The Knicks haven’t even won the series yet, of course the Tatum injury gets the headline. Christ.

.

I remember seeing a slow-mo clip of KD where you could actually see the tendon rupture through the skin -- gruesome. Hoping Tatum didn't suffer the same injury but it doesn't look good.

And he was having such a brilliant game - one of his best ever - and I was rooting for him with all the unwarranted hate coming his way. Such a good, solid dude who does not deserve the ridiculous shade.

As for Mazzulla: I've never been a fan. Dude continually equates a basketball game to war and life/death situation. It's a fucking game bro, chill TF out. He takes himself and everything way too seriously. I also despised how he screamed at Tatum to 'get up!" after he hurt his wrist vs. Orlando, and you could argue he taxed Tatum unnecessarily running him to the ground which set up this injury to occur with his faux tough guy/military drill sergeant approach to the game. I'm sure this will change nothing with his approach and will give us some bathroom wisdom lecture on "toughness" and "darkness" in coming days.

-->

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45131551/celtics-jayson-tatum-undergoes-surgery-torn-achilles

Damn. Tatum was playing some of his best playoff basketball ever (after legitimately struggling in some big post-season moments) and this happens in the blink of an eye. Feel awful for him but rooting for him to comeback in a big way.

-->

as long as they remain healthy, which the Cavs were not.

One game missing Mobley/Hunter swung that series. DG played through an injury we'll learn was far worse than it was revealed, and he really could not go.

As a result, the spacing was fucked and the Cavs couldn't run their offense.

And Ty Jerome waited until game 5 to actually get a bucket of worth.

Kenny Atkinson didn't help with those 3 guard lineups down 1 when you need one stop to take the lead. Dean Wade was actually fucking healthy. Put him beside Mobley and Hunter and roll with Donovan/Jerome for like 3 minutes, my guy. This love of "so much ball handling and offense" irrespective of fucking conditions... we got the offensive version of JBB.


Just gotta pray you stay intact for the playoffs again. Get an actual playable 3rd big for Mobley insurance. I don't know what else.

We just might be the new pre-Kawhi Raptors.

Fuck the Pacers and their undercover dirty ass shit though. It's the shit the refs don't call (all those midair hits) that's gonna get someone fucked up.

I however won't take them lightly.

One clear advantage the Pacers have over the Knicks is that the Pacers have a much better and consistent bench rotation than the Knicks.

I am hoping the Knicks will be able to slow the pace of the game down as it's pretty clear the Pacers will look to run on fastbreaks to get open shots and/or mismatches in one-on-one matchups.

Mitchell Robinson, KAT, and Hart rebounding the ball well will be key against the Pacers; especially if Mitch and Hart get offensive rebounds in large chunks.

but it doesn't matter this year isn't last year and we got KAT out there like he's never played defense in his entire life lol

I understood the trade, i'm ok with the trade regardless of what randle is doing in minny right now. but this guy KAT hasn't shown me anything different. I was hoping he would morph into a decent, below average defender.

I wonder what Utah needed to come off of Kessler. I'd rather bridges and OG get more looks with a double headed defensive monster at the 5 with mitch and kessler.

I know that's a role that Trae Young has traditionally played, but no ATL in the playoffs now (or in the future TBH, that team needs a reset)...Halliburton is prime be the new bad guy. I wonder if Knick fans will chant overrated at him

Also, Cavs swept the Knicks this year...and just got obliterated by the Pacers

keeps playing like Kid Mero

>keeps playing like Kid Mero


he's injured tho, if they wrap this up at home he should get enough rest to be ready for Indiana

its insane. Also you can tell not getting fouls gets in his head, then he over does it on the defensive end with stupid fouls. its like clockwork, questionable no call(to him), over pursue on the VERY next possession on D.

No one is ever going to get a friendly whistle whether its warranted or not when you scream like a fool every time.

but thats like all he is now

....in a series defining game...

yikes

All because of internet message board beef lmao

I'm just making a casual observation about Jimmy Butler sucking


Don't take it personal Baljeet

but like i said, guys were going to come out super inspired.

Jaylen Brown grabbing dicks. Luke Kornet getting his "revenge"

5 brunson fouls in 15 minutes is fucking INSANE he was definitely frustrated.

KAT, man, idc if he plays PERFECT and hand delivers the knicks a championship. I'm shipping him in the offseason. Dude is such a negative on defense that it fucks up everyone else. Brunson sucks defending but at least he tries. KAT needs a defensive baby sitter on the floor to tell him to step up on the switch and stop drifting.

I'm expecting a win Friday only because we've bounced back after every loss so far this playoffs but if you can't win when you're supposed to It's hard to have confidence.

from *THE*

in a series closing game

Love to see it.

To getting Jimmy and pushing into the second round.

Got hit by untimely injury to the best player on the court and beat by a younger better team.


I guess some people prefer we rolled over and died at the 11th seed.

unfortunate injury but would’ve been nice to see Jimmy carry them for at least one game to try and get Steph back.

that door is closed..

it ain’t locked

but its closed right now

as far as my actual interest in them goes.

Just hoping either the Knicks or T-Wolves win the chip.

Please god don't let OKC win.

...I figured it was over.

Even then, we had legit shots at winning two of the games. Game 3 only Jimmy and Kuminga showed up offensively, and we were very much in it. And I feel like if Jimmy had been more aggressive last night, we could have had a shot. Not saying we would have won, but it wasn't unreasonable to expect more than 17 from him during an elimination game.

That said, still satisfied with the season. As said above, we looked fucking dead mid-season, and the Jimmy trade breathed new life into the squad. Finished the reg season strong, and beat a hot and up-and-coming #2 seed, which is very impressive. It would have been nice to see what a healthy squad could have accomplished, but I still feel like the WCF was our ceiling even under the best circumstances. I doubt anyone in the West (or likely the NBA) is beating OKC.

This off-season should be interesting. Steph and Jimmy is still very much an intriguing combo for a full season. We're goin to need a big. And it doesn't have to be a star, but like the 2025 equivalent of Javale MacGee or ZaZa. I don't know what happens o Kuminga. We held off on attempting a few trades based on what we thought he'd become, and I'm not sure he'll ever live up to what we want him to be. And it cetainly doesn't appear the Kerr is the only one that soured on him; Curry and Draymond seem to be done too. Pods had an on and off play-offs, but he still has a lot of potential.

Next season is likely our last best shot for a while. After that, Steph is pushing 40 and we're dealing with contract year Jimmy, which never ends well. Hopefully that can go for one last big run.

As I said before, still pretty satisfied overall. But losing sucks, especially after the team has spent so much of the last decade winning.

that the Nuggets/Thunder game is going to start at 8:30 EST tonight.

Michael Porter Jr is so useless , he doesn’t do anything except take ill advised shots

the NBA is on a tear lol

Lol can't dispute any of the fouls. If they called offensive fouls on his shoulder push offs he'd have 10 a game.

brunson scoffs at those 4 fouls in a half.

The obvious answer is OKC, but I mean...the Nuggets are just battle tested. Sure, they're bound to run out of gas, but it's just so obvious that the Thunder have been in so few close games. They're, somehow, still SO fucking young.

If Denver wins the series, I kind of expect Minnesota to be in the Finals. If OKC wins, I think they'll be in the finals.

The East? Man. It's just too hard to count out Indiana at this point.

Wild, wild ass year.

love the sound of that championship window closing on Boston.

Pacers series is going to be unnecessarily dramatic. pacer ny rivalry blah blah blah that shit was 30 years ago and NYK is due a good series vs them.

its going to be a knife fight.

also before i go fuck jaylen dick twistin' brown! the epitome of corny with his sony wega widescreen TRT forehead. fucking coward with them ugly ass oakley shade kicks lol. can't stand that dude

FUCK COMMAS! FUCK SEMICOLONS! WE RUN ON SENTENCES HERE!

my boy went to the game with a celtics jacket on like a moron then got mad he got heckled by a drunk retarded man

At least for game one

>love the sound of that championship window closing on
>Boston.
>

Congrats though. Can’t wait to see how the Knicks blow this opportunity.

aaron gordon has a grade 1 hammy which isn't good at all.

heard MPJ is being investigated for shaving points.

i can't see OKC losing but wtf is this 2:30pm cst tip off?

Dudes not helping him AT ALL.

and test ATL's interest for Trae.