The Play-In tournament's in full swing. Disappointing loss for the Pelicans at home against a young, impressive OKC team. They're way ahead of schedule, and the duo of SGA/Giddey is ridiculous.

New Orleans definitely has a Zion problem. Unless he makes a serious commitment to transforming his body and getting his health right, he won't have a long career. I saw him on the sidelines and he looks bigger. A body his size wasn't meant to move like a guard on the basketball court.

Impressive win by the Bulls, overcoming a 19-point deficit. So, Friday night's all set; Bulls/Heat, Thunder/T'Wolves. I want OKC to win and go up against Denver in the opening round.

Finally, I have a Knicks team to be proud of. Like Clyde Frazier says, they play with a lot of hustle and grit. Haven't felt this good about my team since the 2012-13 season. They're not championship-caliber yet, but they have a nice core of young players to build around. I have no problem eating crow about signing Brunson, and what more can you say about Josh Hart. My two big keys for the Knicks beating the Cavs - keep the ball moving on offense (no iso-Randle), and tighten up the interior defense. Looking forward to the Mitchell vs Brunson match-up, and how NY deals with the big front court of Allen & Mobley.

Surprised you didn't make a thread earlier in the year. As someone who doesn't really keep up with the Eastern Conference I've always been struck the Knicks have been pretty damn solid in the standings this year.

Why weren't you on-board with Brunson? Dude was the soul of the Mavs. This is why I'll always miss my Suns radio guy of 51 seasons, he's great at hyping up not just the superstars, so last playoffs he was hyping up Brunson maybe even more than Luka, when national TV was like The Luka Show. The Mavs started pretty meh and finished meh and I figured it was because they ditched Brunson. He was bound to drastically improve the fortunes of wherever he went.

Zion is fat. He makes Bill Walton look like he deserved a perfect attendance award. It's that New Orleans cuisine. Like how Luka's Texas locale somehow makes him get fatter every game despite burning calories intensely like 48 minutes 82 games a year. Dude's probably getting chicken fried steak at halftime.

Meanwhile for my Suns it looks like it'll be all gravy if Skeletor Durant doesn't trip on a feather and twist one of his stick man limbs for the season. It's a roll of the dice, but if he can go less than 20 games chances look better than ever for the Suns, which does not excite me for some reason. Am I whacked out? This big money superteam shit feels very L.A. and not as exciting as previous Suns teams, which gave more of a Bad News Bears kinda vibe.

As a "born again" fan within the last few years who was a bball junkie in the 90s, the recency bias is crazy too, the younger fans mock the old heads, they overrate their new gen heroes just as much. KD, Kawhi, meh... I mean they're good, but 90s greats just felt more explosive to watch anyway... Some of these dudes seem on the border to washed oldtimer themselves, but we'll in see in the opening round.

[Edited 4/14/23 6:13am]

WhisperingDandelions said:

Surprised you didn't make a thread earlier in the year. As someone who doesn't really keep up with the Eastern Conference I've always been struck the Knicks have been pretty damn solid in the standings this year.

Why weren't you on-board with Brunson? Dude was the soul of the Mavs. This is why I'll always miss my Suns radio guy of 51 seasons, he's great at hyping up not just the superstars, so last playoffs he was hyping up Brunson maybe even more than Luka, when national TV was like The Luka Show. The Mavs started pretty meh and finished meh and I figured it was because they ditched Brunson. He was bound to drastically improve the fortunes of wherever he went.

Zion is fat. He makes Bill Walton look like he deserved a perfect attendance award. It's that New Orleans cuisine. Like how Luka's Texas locale somehow makes him get fatter every game despite burning calories intensely like 48 minutes 82 games a year. Dude's probably getting chicken fried steak at halftime.

Meanwhile for my Suns it looks like it'll be all gravy if Skeletor Durant doesn't trip on a feather and twist one of his stick man limbs for the season. It's a roll of the dice, but if he can go less than 20 games chances look better than ever for the Suns, which does not excite me for some reason. Am I whacked out? This big money superteam shit feels very L.A. and not as exciting as previous Suns teams, which gave more of a Bad News Bears kinda vibe.

As a "born again" fan within the last few years who was a bball junkie in the 90s, the recency bias is crazy too, the younger fans mock the old heads, they overrate their new gen heroes just as much. KD, Kawhi, meh... I mean they're good, but 90s greats just felt more explosive to watch anyway... Some of these dudes seem on the border to washed oldtimer themselves, but we'll in see in the opening round.

[Edited 4/14/23 6:13am]

I thought NY overpaid for Brunson. I admit, I was 1000% wrong. Brunson has been a blessing, the best PG the Knicks have had since Mark Jackson, and before Mark, the HOFamer Clyde Frazier.

As for Zion, why the hell is he doing windmill dunks before the game, but can't play in the actual game????? That's some bs right there. If I'm a teammate, I'm giving him the side-eye. Zion obviously has HOF talent, but not the fire the greats like Magic, Kareem, Bird, Jordan, Kobe, etc. had. I remember Jordan saying he had to physically transform his body and get stronger to deal with the Pistons physicality. Or Charles Barkley getting himself together after Moses Malone called him 'fat & lazy'. Zion doesn't have that iron will. The human body wasn't meant to do guard moves at 284 lbs.

[Edited 4/14/23 8:52am]

It's a different generation now, it feels like 90s and pre they'd see it as a badge of honor to play every game of the season, to get lean and transform the build in the offseason to body up against the division rivals the next go-round. Sometimes I'll watch games where the other teams down like 25 yet a player from the trailing team will do some fancy dunk and start doing a touch down dance in the paint like, wtf, you gotta earn it.

Or the whole LeBron scoring record thing, that shit was nuts. The league carried on for like a month and a half, wall-to-wall coverage on every network, had Kareem literally pass the baton on in like four different occasions. Back in the 90s MJ broke records all the time, they'd throw a graphic on the TV and pan to Wilt in the crowd looking pissed off. That was about it. No public address announcement. None of this stopping the game for two months. LeBron making speeches in center court n shit, the whole thing was like a parody.

[Edited 4/15/23 6:44am]

Whew! Knicks grab Game 1 in Cleveland!

Brunson & Hart are making it fun to be a Knicks fan again.

uPtoWnNY said:

RJOrion said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Whew! Knicks grab Game 1 in Cleveland!

Brunson & Hart are making it fun to be a Knicks fan again.

WORD!...when Cleveland came back and took the 93-92 lead, i thought the Knicks had choked the game away, but Brunson & Hart hit BIG shots, Randle got the big offensive rebound and Grimes hit the clutch free throws to seal the deal for the Knicks...great road win.

Knicks won the rebounding battle 51-38, 17 offensive to just 11 for Cleveland. But NY better be ready, because you know Mitchell and the Cavs will come out smoking in Game 2. But I get nervous when Randle's handling the ball, pounding it in the post and slowing down the offense. The offense flows much better when the ball's in Brunson's hands.

Amazing win by the Kings....Fox was incredible, 38 points, 4 of 8 from three. But Sacramento has to be careful - Golden State is battle-tested. Kings must hold serve at home.

[Edited 4/16/23 6:51am]

The Warriors been having troubles on the road this season, it will be interesting to see how that plays out after seeding and not securing homecourt.

The momentum's all in the Kings favor right now, they got the beam, they got the fans, they just gotta stay the course, because the Warriors are the complete opposite in their own arena.

Warrior defending champs 1st round exit would be major.

And a kinda a basketball history nerd I like when the Knicks do well. and of course MSG is important to sports/entertainment period.

WhisperingDandelions said:

The Warriors been having troubles on the road this season, it will be interesting to see how that plays out after seeding and not securing homecourt.

The momentum's all in the Kings favor right now, they got the beam, they got the fans, they just gotta stay the course, because the Warriors are the complete opposite in their own arena.

Warrior defending champs 1st round exit would be major.

And a kinda a basketball history nerd I like when the Knicks do well. and of course MSG is important to sports/entertainment period.

Josh Hart's questionable for Game 2. The Knicks already got the split. I'd rest him for Friday's Game 3 at the garden.

Bucks and Grizzlies are down 3-1.....damn, who would have thought that?

Out-of-this world performance from Jimmy B. And to think, Philly chose Ben Simmons over him....smdh.

Knicks advance to the semis for the first time in ten years. And what a performance by Mitchell Robinson....18 rebounds, 11 offensive. So much fun to be a Knicks fan these days. And their reward is going up against Miami and Playoff Jimmy. The Garden will be on this Sunday. It'll be like the late 90s all over again....mah goodness! Get the ready!

uPtoWnNY said:

Sacramento showed me something avoiding elimination and winning Game 6 on the road.

LOL at Memphis....bunch of front-runners.

Coach Bud fired. From everything I've heard, Giannis signed off on it;

Bucks fire coach Mike Bud...early exit

Congrats to Joel Embiid winning the MVP, the fifth Sixer to win the award (Wilt, Doc, Moses, AI):;

Sixers' Joel Embiid wins ... MVP award

[Edited 5/5/23 18:04pm]

uPtoWnNY said:

Coach Bud fired. From everything I've heard, Giannis signed off on it;

Bucks fire coach Mike Bud...early exit

Congrats to Joel Embiid winning the MVP, the fifth Sixer to win the award (Wilt, Doc, Moses, AI):;

Sixers' Joel Embiid wins ... MVP award

[Edited 5/5/23 18:04pm]

And all the Jokic lovers and Embiid haters are mad.

The MVP is nice but I'm wanting the Sixers to win a chip

Lakers have been hot or cold but I like the way they're playing.

Must-win for my Knicks tonight.

Lakers need to take care of business too. Don't let the Warriors tie this series up.

Big Laker fan here. I have been watching the games (when work permits) and commenting discussing it in our underused chat. If anybody wants to drop in and watch it with me and another couple of Prince fans feel free. Tomorrows game are the Knicks vs Heat (I am looking for the Heat to finish the Knicks though I wanted the Knicks to do well in the playoffs, I feel like it is a matter of time for the Heat to win.

The Lakers game is where my heart is and I will be watching the Lakers play GSW. it is a big ask for the Lakers to win tomorrow, but hopefully a bigger ask for the Warriors to win the next 3.

We also discuss Prince stuff. Org note me if you are keen or just drop on in. Lisa has assured me the water is warm enough (computer blue)

Love watching Joker play. I don't say that about a lot of today's NBA players. Dude's basketball I.Q. is insane. He put ON the Suns last night. 81 points in the first half????

Saw this comment on YouTube;
"Imagine how good the Nuggets are going to be next season with Jokic, Murray and KD!"

Very disappointed in Philly, but they still have a chance in Game 7.

Let's go, Knicks!!!!

[Edited 5/12/23 1:13am]

uPtoWnNY said:

RJOrion said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Disappointing end to my team's season. Brunson gave everything he had, but it wasn't enough, not with Randle & RJ having bad nights. Solid season by the Knicks, but they seriously need a talent upgrade. And stop with all the iso stuff. Got to get more ball movement

Word...Randle, Barrett, & Grimes were a combined 5 for 30, and 2 for 16 from 3...cant win a playoff game with so little contributions from the starting lineup other than Brunson...

Knicks are officially Jalen Brunson's team...he's earned it and more. Now it's up to the Knicks to pair Jalen with a legit star that COMPLIMENTS him. I'd move Randle, but only for the right deal(if possible), and definitely bring Josh Hart back. RJ Barrett? He's still young, so I'm not ready to get rid of him (unlike some fans), but this summer, his ass better be in the gym working on his game.

All good things come to and end. The Warriors had a great run, but looks like it's over. Happened to all the great teams of the past (Celtics, Lakers, Pistons, Bulls, Spurs).

AD vs Jokic...this has the makings of a classic series. Nuggets in 7.

[Edited 5/13/23 8:45am]

uPtoWnNY said:

RJOrion said:

uPtoWnNY said:

Knicks are officially Jalen Brunson's team...he's earned it and more. Now it's up to the Knicks to pair Jalen with a legit star that COMPLIMENTS him. I'd move Randle, but only for the right deal(if possible), and definitely bring Josh Hart back. RJ Barrett? He's still young, so I'm not ready to get rid of him (unlike some fans), but this summer, his ass better be in the gym working on his game.

Ive been a supporter of Julius Randle for the longest...but, I think Randle's problems are more due to his seeming inability to control his emotions during high pressure situations...for someone so big, strong and athletic, he can be so awkward and clumsy with the ball...he looks like he gets frustrated too easily and then starts trying to force things, and he appears to exude bad body language and gets confrontational with refs, teammates and coaches far too often...he's like a dark cloud on the court when hes not playing well...im not sure he can fix that...he is who he is at this point...

Randle stinks..........

This shit is fixed.

Jokic is already in foul truble 4 Mondays game.

Gooddoctor23 said:

Doc Rivers fired....not surprised at all;

Doc Rivers fired by 76ers...econd- ...

A couple of us will be in the chat for the Lakers game today. See you there?

robertgeorge8 said:

A couple of us will be in the chat for the Lakers game today. See you there?

I was watching the games at my dad's house.

Both the Celtics and Lakers are on the verge of getting swept out of the conference finals. I don't think that's happened since the 50's. Boston looked like they quit last night. When Duncan Robinson is taking cats off the dribble, I knew Celtics were in trouble, lol.

Miami/Denver in the Finals - the NBA's worst nightmare, lol.