Exactly this. You can't excuse staying upcourt to argue while your teammates are playing four on five.
In theory every team wants their Jordan, Duncan, or Lebron, but obviously those types aren't easy to come by. Jordan/Pippen won 6 rings, but a theoretical Pippen/Pippen type of team would have a good shot at winning rings too, especially with a supporting cast like White and Holiday.
I disagree with that. Pippen was Robin to Batman Jordan. Two Robins alone don't save the endangered ladies and orphans. You need a Batman. Pippen never had the alpha, killer instinct but thrived next to Jordan he was perfect alongside without the pressure of being THE guy. I'm not to sure he has the same career and becomes the player he did if he doesn't play with the Bulls and jordan. Bullying or not, Jordan indirectly made Pippen as the player he became.
Last edited by JPB; 06-14-2024 at 10:53 AM.
Do you think Tatum has the Jordanesque killer instinct? Pippen led the Bulls to a 55 win season and a 7 game playoff series against the Knicks, who in turn lost the finals in a 7 game series. If Pippen had another Pippen level player I think they have a great shot at winning it all.
Last edited by R. DeMurre; 06-14-2024 at 11:12 AM.
What I'm about to write is somewhat of a hot take, but while we're at those Bulls, I think that Kukoc would be more valuable than Pippen in 2024 version of the game.
If only we could get a player like him. Would be a 6'10 point guard and definitely a better offensive player than Pippen.
I’m not saying that he shouldn’t be compared to all-time greats…in fact, it’s the opposite. Because I do think he’s on the trajectory to become an all-time great, I’m saying we have to hold him to a higher standard than just your run of the mill all-NBA guy.
If we’re comparing him to the all-time greats, his play in this Finals has been disappointing. He’s shrunk down the stretch of every game, he’s been putrid defensively, and his at ude has been awful at the detriment of his team.
Interesting Finals stat: Tatum and Brown are shooting 29.6% and 25% respectively on 3pt FG%s, on 47 total attempts. D White and Holiday are shooting 40.7% and 41.7%, on 39 attempts.
Ah I see.
Do not disagree, but think his play in the finals shouldn't negate the rest of the season. Of course if it'll happen multiple times it is a different matter.If we’re comparing him to the all-time greats, his play in this Finals has been disappointing. He’s shrunk down the stretch of every game, he’s been putrid defensively, and his at ude has been awful at the detriment of his team.
I picked the Celtics as I thought they were the superior team. I just thought they showed that throughout the regular season and now they're showing it in the playoffs. I don't know if their compe ion has been the best, but you can only play who you're given.
I will say, though, people trashing Tatum, sure he hasn't played incredible scoring wise, but he's been doing more than just trying to score the ball this series. I know it's different as he's considered a superstar by some (I'd say he's not quite a superstar), but he's playing similar to Manu IMO when his offense isn't working. He's been doing a lot of other things out there - playing defense, rebounding, passing the ball, leading. He hasn't been bad like some people have insinuated.
Jaylen Brown has been awesome this series, though, and also, D White, Jrue Holiday, Porzingis (in the short amount of time he was healthy) have been great too. Al Horford has been serviceable/solid as well. It's been a team effort from the Celtics. I won't say they're like the 2014 Spurs team play style wise, but playing as a team, yeah, they have that similarity where they're playing a total team game and not relying on one or two players to carry them. Almost everyone is making plays for them from game to game, and I think that is great basketball.
His playoffs have been painfully mediocre. His defense has been massively overrated, Luka has had more success against him than any other Celtic. He has been pretty bad and the 4th best player for the Celtic which for his salary is insane. Brown carried them.
Now yes, but not always. You need your closers. League has a lot more parity now but a Pippen/Pippen combo wasn't beating the Warriors or last year's Nuggets.
If Lively hits corner 3s, Mavs win Game 4.
Mavericks hitting corner threes and whaddaya know, they look like the team that owned the best defense in the L.
Also Luka playing much more inspired on defense and ing relatively little.
Watching Dante Exum, how did this guy go from being a top prospect and a top 5 overall pick to being a bench scrub? And what can we learn from that about how to evaluate the current crop of prospects?
Luka definitely looks like the kind of MFer who screams at his mother when the hot pockets are the wrong flavor.
Welp
can never trust the Celtics. Such a choker team.
This is the kind of first half deficit the 2000's Spurs would come back and win. So, I'm thankful this game at least reminded me of those times.
Mavericks defense and shooting has been the difference. It's a role players' game, right now. I'm jumping ahead of myself here, but if the Mavericks D stays stifling, then they've got every shot to extend the series to at least 6. Just hypothetically speaking as I have no horse in this race, but no one's going to come back from 3-0. Can the Mavericks take enough consolation psychologically with something like a 2-4 finish to keep up this type of hustle? It may seem counter intuitive, but the way you come back mentally from losing 4-2 or 4-3 in the Finals is way different from 4-0 or even 4-1.
If Celtics don't finish this thing on Monday then its def going 7, tbh.
Agreed
Imagine the Boston Red Sox being the first team in MLB history to come back from 3-0 and the Boston Celtics being the first team ever in NBA history to lose after being up 3-0.
Bananas coincidence lol
I thought this reporter would never stop asking dirk questions…
Morris can’t get in the game in scrub time. Is he hurt
The Mavericks made a key change that will likely be glossed over - but they immediately were posting Gafford and just in general, going at non-Irving/Luka matchups when the C's make switches that should be punished.. Luka and Kyrie both were straight up deferring to Gafford vs Tatum.. That may be a key adjustment that gets the Mavericks back in this series back in Boston. The role players seemed to feed off of that energy, at least at home. It'll be a big test for them to make it happen again in Boston.
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