Iowaggie said:

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Quinn Snyder can join Bud and Doc as coaches earning plenty of heat this round.

Lost 3 in a row after having a 3-1 lead last year.
Lost 4 in a row after leading 2-0 lead this year and the Clippers losing their best player.



I think part of the problem with Snyder and Bud is that they really do well with lesser talent in the regular season that sets an expectation that is never met in post-season as they never play up to their seeding, it seems.


I would have liked to have seen Jazz or Bucks win (or Suns) as they weren't exactly benefiting from guys who tanked their contract with a previous team that allowed them to be picked up on the cheap and/or weren't built by the Superstar collab project.

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Exactly, the Utah Jazz finished with the NBA's best regular season at 52-20, but their season came to a crashing ending after blowing a 25-point lead in a must win Game 6.

I am a Warriors fan, and I am rooting for the Suns to win the NBA Finals. It would be incredible for the Suns to go from 19-63 in the 2018-2019 season to NBA champions in just 2 years. Even with Chris Paul's indefinite absence, I think the Suns will beat the Clippers in the Western Conference Finals and the the Eastern Conference champion in the NBA finals. The Suns are the hottest remaining playoff team. They have won 7 straight playoff games, including 4 road games, and 5 of them by 14+ points.

I don't think the Suns can matchup with the Clips, and even previously thought the Jazz would have taken them out.

Clippers - nets is the worst possible finals. It seals the mentality yet again that the only way to win is with a pre-orchestrated super team where the players circumvent the tampering rules and dictate general management and coaching decisions

If those teams make it to the Finals, it won't be because of the "super team-ness". They're beating or going the distance with major guys out/hurt.

Head Ninja In Charge said:

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If those teams make it to the Finals, it won't be because of the "super team-ness". They're beating or going the distance with major guys out/hurt.

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Part of the benefit of the super team is that when one star has an off night or even gets injured, there's a lot more options.

If Kyrie gets hurt, there's still 3 other former or current All-NBA guys playing for the Nets (actually 4 with DeAndre).
If Kawhi gets hurt, they can still beat the Jazz who had their two all-stars playing at reduced capacity.

If Giannis or even Middleton get hurt, the Bucks are toast.

WTH Brooke Lopez? Just shoot the ball towards the basket to keep the clock running!

Lopez's play was so bad, that JR Smith is actually trending on twitter right now

Brook Lopez JR Smithzou?

— Guilherme Beltrão (@gbeltraoNFL) June 20, 2021

How Khris Middleton looking at Brook Lopez:#Bucks #Hawks pic.twitter.com/YIYwrm8jFb

— Jay Shah (@TheJayShah3) June 20, 2021

Milwaukee Bus to Brook Lopez after the game #bknvsmil pic.twitter.com/vCB0ycfvo5

— stfu (@stfu010669) June 20, 2021

This game!

Durant is a sip. He just proved it. Go Bucks.

So, if the Hawks can win tomorrow, the Bucks will be the most recent title winner...

50 years ago.

In the Milwaukee Bucks vs Brooklyn Nets Eastern Conference Semifinals, the home team had won each of the first 6 games, and I had expected that trend to continue. But the Bucks pulled off a 115-111 overtime win Game 7 on the road after going 0-6 in their previous Game 7 road games. The track record isn't all that great for road teams historically. Home teams have won 77.9 percent of the previous Game 7s throughout NBA history and the last team to win a Game 7 on the road was the Portland Trail Blazers during their 2019 Western Conference Semifinals series with the Denver Nuggets.

https://behindthebuckpass.com/2021/06/19/milwaukee-bucks-a-checkered-history-when-it-comes-to-game-7/

The Bucks will either travel to Philadelphia or host Atlanta in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

It seemed like Middleton stopped Durant every single time down the stretch. His shot wasn't falling consistently, but he was incredibly stout on D. He picked up 5 steals + 10 rebounds (only 2PF in 52 minutes). He also had the biggest bucket in the game too. Fantastic performance.

Hard to believe Harden shot like this in an elimination game

Guitarsoup said:

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Hard to believe Harden shot like this in an elimination game

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First time for everything eh?

Durant, Harden, and Kyrie can all choke on it

Guitarsoup said:

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Hard to believe Harden shot like this in an elimination game

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The best part was on the Nets' final real chance to win or tie, Harden had the ball advancing forward around midcourt and immediately stopped and waited for Durant to come get the ball with his body language clearly saying "big shot in the playoffs? NO THANKS!"

You absolutely hate to see Harden not get that ring.

If the Sixers win today, the ECF will be a rematch of 20 years ago which was the last time the Bucks made it this far. George Karl was their coach back then leading a team featuring Ray Allen, Big Dog, Sam Cassell, and Tim Thomas along with a box of spare parts including Lindsey Hunter, the not-nearly-as-good Ervin Johnson, Darvin Ham, and a 38-year-old Jerome Kersey. They lost in 7 games to Allen Iverson (31.3 per). None of the gaes went into OT but Iverson averaged 46 minutes per game anyway.

DubFalls said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Hard to believe Harden shot like this in an elimination game

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First time for everything eh?

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2020:

Game 7 vs OKC:

4-15 shooting
1-9 3pt shooting
4 turnovers
5 fouls
17 points

2019:

Game 5 vs Utah:
10-26 FG 3-12 3PT, 5TO/5PF

Game 6 vs Warriors
Crucial turnover with 8s left. Three turnovers in the final 2m30s, four turnovers total in the 4th Q. He shot 11-25.

Game 5 vs Lakers:
Shot well, but 1-4 with a turnover in the 4th quarter before throwing in the towel.

2018:

Close out vs Minnesota:
Game 5: 8-21 shooting, 4-11 3pt.

Close out vs Utah:
Game 6: 7-22; 1-7

Close out vs GSW:
Game 6 (up 3-2): 10-24 FG, 4-12 3pt; 9 turnovers
Game 7: 12-29 FG, 2-13 3pt, 5 turnovers, 3 turnovers in the 4th quarter and missed crucial 3 to essentially seal the game for GSW. Would have cut it to 4 points with 40s left.

2017:

Game 5 vs OKC:
8-25 FG; 2-13 3pt

Game 6 vs San Antonio:
2-11 FG; 2-9 3pt in a complete give up. 10 points, 6 turnovers, 6 fouls

Game 5 vs SA, had the chance to take the game-tying shot in overtime and got destroyed by a 48-year old Manu Ginobili


2016:
Shot well in game 5, but shot 41%/31% with 26 turnovers in 5 games. First round exit with a 33 point blowout loss in game 5.

2015:

Game 7 vs LAC:
7-20 FG; 2-7 3pt; 7 turnovers

Game 5 vs GSW:
2-11 FG, 0-3 3pt, 14 points, 12 turnovers.

2014: First round exit.

Game 6 vs Portland, played well for the game, but 1-4 shooting with no assists or steals in the 4th quarter

Unlike James Harden, Dame Lilliard made a 3 in the 4th quarter.


2013:

Game 6: 7-22 FG; 4-10 3pt; 2-6 FG in the 4th quarter with 2 turnovers vs OKC

Paul George could get called for push offs on every single drive. I can't stand watching him.

The No. 5 Atlanta Hawks stunned the No. 1 Philadelphia 76ers 103-96 in Game 7 on the road. The Hawks had been 0-9 in Game 7s on the road, but they have won 5 road playoff games, including 3 in Philadelphia. For the 2nd night in a row, the road team wins a Game 7 to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. On March 1, the Atlanta Hawks were 14-20, 11th in the Eastern Conference, and fired head coach Lloyd Pierce. After Nate McMillan took over as head coach, the Hawks won 27 of their last 38 regular season games to finish 41-31 and 5th in the Eastern Conference. Now, the Hawks advanced to their first conference finals appearance since 2015.

Both No. 1 seeds Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers fail to even advance to their respective conference finals. The 76ers finished 49-23 in the regular season, which was the best record in the the Eastern Conference, and they had an excellent opportunity to reach at least the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001. The 76ers blew an 18-point lead in Game 4 at Atlanta and 26-point lead in Game 5 at home to trail 3-2. If they had not blown either of these leads, they would have won in 5. They had a chance to redeem themselves with home court advantage in Game 7, but choked in front of their fans. For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Eastern conference No. 1 seed lost in the semifinals round: the 2018 Toronto Raptors lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0, 2020 Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Miami Heat 4-1, and the 2021 Philadelphia 76ers lost to the Atlanta Hawks 4-3.

I am predicting a Phoenix Suns vs Milwaukee Bucks NBA Finals.

Suns and Hawks in their respective conference finals, just as we all predicted at the beginning of the season.

Morey gonna have to trade Simmons for pennies on the dollar. He can't have him come back next year and expect to win and the rest of the league knows it. Question is, who will be trading for him on the cheap?

superaggie73 said:

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Morey gonna have to trade Simmons for pennies on the dollar. He can't have him come back next year and expect to win and the rest of the league knows it. Question is, who will be trading for him on the cheap?

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Lonzo time.

superaggie73 said:

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Morey gonna have to trade Simmons for pennies on the dollar. He can't have him come back next year and expect to win and the rest of the league knows it. Question is, who will be trading for him on the cheap?

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Best I got is Lonnie Walker and a conditional second rounder. Top 55 protected.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked postgame if Ben Simmons can be the point guard on a championship team.

"I don't know the answer to that right now," Rivers said.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2021

LawHall88 said:

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Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked postgame if Ben Simmons can be the point guard on a championship team.

"I don't know the answer to that right now," Rivers said.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2021

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Oof. Doc, the answer is "Absolutely. He just had 13 assists in game 7 and has been All-Defense 1st team the last two years. He's an essential building block of a championship team in Philly."

Guitarsoup said:

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superaggie73 said:

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Morey gonna have to trade Simmons for pennies on the dollar. He can't have him come back next year and expect to win and the rest of the league knows it. Question is, who will be trading for him on the cheap?

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Best I got is Lonnie Walker and a conditional second rounder. Top 55 protected.

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Straight up for dehaun watson.

Rockets dodged a bullet not trading for Ben Simmons. He is not the guy you want to re-build around. Then again, he might be a valuable add to tank for a few more years

superaggie73 said:

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Morey gonna have to trade Simmons for pennies on the dollar. He can't have him come back next year and expect to win and the rest of the league knows it. Question is, who will be trading for him on the cheap?

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They almost got Harden for him...crazy how far his value has fallen. As a Mavs fan, I wouldn't even want to swap KP for him.

I'd take a flier on Simmons. I obviously wouldn't pay top dollar, but the kid has three skills that are difficult to teach: Defense, athleticism and court-vision.

You can still win a title with a guy who misses free throws. Shaq did it many times, Giannis might do it this year. Simmons' team/coach didn't give him the confidence to make mistakes. I don't care if you miss 10 free throws, just try to dunk it every time you get near the restricted area. Missed free throws are inconsequential compared to the amount of fouls and psychological damage you can inflict by bullying people in the paint. If an elite shooter/finisher like Curry or Dame ends up with Simmons, the results could be devastating. Embiid is not going to help Simmons unlock his potential...if anything his constant trash talking and bravado probably made Simmons more afraid of making mistakes.

Guitarsoup said:

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LawHall88 said:

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Sixers coach Doc Rivers was asked postgame if Ben Simmons can be the point guard on a championship team.

"I don't know the answer to that right now," Rivers said.

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) June 21, 2021

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Oof. Doc, the answer is "Absolutely. He just had 13 assists in game 7 and has been All-Defense 1st team the last two years. He's an essential building block of a championship team in Philly."

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Not sure Doc has what it takes to be a championship coach anymore. He got completely worked by Nate McMillan and then he goes up to the podium and throws his players under the bus. Thats pretty low...

Quote:

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After a series that will be remembered by Philadelphia fans as a blown opportunity -- the Sixers squandered a 2-1 series lead by failing to protect an 18-point cushion in Game 4 and a 26-point advantage in Game 5 and then lost game Game 7 at the Wells Fargo Center, where the team had held the best home record in the league over the past two seasons -- Joel Embiid said that he believed Simmons opting against taking what seemed to be an open opportunity under the basket in the fourth quarter Sunday ended up being the turning point in the loss.

"Man, I will be honest. I thought the turning point was, you know, when we, I don't know how to say it, but I thought the turning point was just we had an open shot and we made one free throw and we missed the other and they came down and scored," Embiid said.

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https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/31678457/ben-simmons-shoulders-blame-philadelphia-76ers-second-round-playoff-exit-offensively-there