Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
I don't know what to say.
Pretty sure we don't get that commercial here. I think I would have remembered it. Now I hope to forget it.
Last edited:
The 2023–24 NBA Season
- Thread starter NonP
- Start date
Pretty sure we don't get that commercial here. I think I would have remembered it. Now I hope to forget it.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Of course, understandably. As MichaelNadal would say, “He better slay”Nah most of us are laughing at them. We knew this team from day 1. They changed the 2 guys that sell the most with 2 other dudes that also sell and then you have the Jays who take turns disappearing.
But Kralingen would have you believe this is as weak as the east was when Lebron was building his super teams and pretends the Nuggets don't exist.
The Celtics were Lebron's only competition for a decade plus out East. Of course this blud hates them.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
I like the dynamic we have here between two ultimate sandbaggers/jinxers. I throw my delusional confidence into the mix as well
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
I genuinely hope the Heat win because I have zero faith the Celtics can beat the Nuggets. And it has nothing to do with jinxes or any of that nonsense. All of that are memes from me. I know jinxes don't actually exist.
The Heat could save me a lot of time here. I would appreciate them for it.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Nah I don't jinx. With Kralingen you have to assume the opposite of what he says is what he wants to happen. What I say is what I really think will happen. I actually thought Boston had a good chance to win in 2022, I was just on break during the entire playoffs. I was pretty optimistic about them in the bubble as well.
Whereas Kralingen is a one track mind - Warriors, Arsenal, Celtics, can't ever lose.
Never compare me to that dude again.
That dude was in chat jinxing MSU Basketball against UNC. In 2024.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Can anyone beat the nuggets? Also, do you think a Boston loss here in the first would make them blow it up? I for one don’t know enough about C’s basketball. Sure I’ve watched them from the rivalry series but I can’t make up my mind whether their roster constructions is insanely stacked or whether the rhetoric is true that they’re playoff no shows/sell jobs and keep banging their head against the wall. Or maybe c) Miami have really just got that dawg in them and keep trolling.
Regardless I would def like to see it blown up not a fan of the J’s at all, I actually kind of liked Williams and Smart despite his flopping, like KP too and as much as I can’t stand White I have a ton of respect for that dude deep down
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
They got a nice wee zonal vs man to man talk at half-time.
Can remember Rafa Benitez always used to get stick for doing zonal at corners and his teams getting exposed.
Can remember Rafa Benitez always used to get stick for doing zonal at corners and his teams getting exposed.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Forgot about Medvedev
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Problem is Jrue and Pordingus are basically just the same type of guys that sell just like Marcus Smart, Grant Williams, and Robert Williams did.
Jrue hit that one random purple patch during the Bucks title run where he could actually shoot a basketball. In today's NBA, if all you can do is play defense, you're honestly pretty useless. Gobert, JJJ, Smart, Holiday...not exactly guys I salivate over.
I don't think the Nuggets are impossible to beat or anything but they are everything Boston is not. They're tough, tenacious, unflappable, and actually play as a team.
Oh, and they actually have a coach.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Don't get me wrong I love @Kralingen like a little brother. It's all in good fun, I missed you guys is the reality. My break was long and restful. It's okay if he hates the Celtics. I root more for the name than any of the players. I won't say I hate any of them, but I'm not crazy over any of them either. If you want my honest outlook on how far they go - I do think they SHOULD make the finals. But I could genuinely see them losing any series for the same reasons they've lost their series in the last ~7 years.
That's not a jinx, that's just what I really, truly think.
I also think it's quite troll to act like the Nuggets wouldn't be the favorite if they matched up h2h. For many of the same reasons the Warriors were able to see them off in 2022 the Nuggets have many of those luxuries as well. They have no pressure on them. If Kristaps is -30+ against the YMCA Heat roster what is he doing against the Nuggets?
That's not a jinx, that's just what I really, truly think.
I also think it's quite troll to act like the Nuggets wouldn't be the favorite if they matched up h2h. For many of the same reasons the Warriors were able to see them off in 2022 the Nuggets have many of those luxuries as well. They have no pressure on them. If Kristaps is -30+ against the YMCA Heat roster what is he doing against the Nuggets?
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
I loved him like a brother-in-law.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
I also missed @Poisoned Slice . Tried to email him and they'd send me to spam. Much more efficient to be here. The Celtics don't tilt me like they used to. They genuinely don't. After my sister passed away last July, which I don't think I shared here publicly but did privately, I can put sports into perspective much easier.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
What am I missing on KP? Yeah he put up a stinker tonight but for the whole time I saw him in reg szn he was a cheat code. Jrue I get but KP that’s just one game
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
My concern is that the dude has never played or showed up in 'real games' . Totally agree he was demonic in the season and a big reason why they won 60+ games. But also watched him get cooked by Jokic two times and I've always judged the Celtics mostly 1:1 against the Nuggets and I don't like what I see.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Nuggets > Celtics totally agreed, I think even if Boston cakewalk through they lose, but I wouldn’t rip KP or put him w Jrue/Williams. Jury still out. Yeah Jokic cooked and would cook again this year but prime Jokic has done that to everybody but Dwight Howard
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
While I'm just the clueless casual trying to work out what an iilegal screen is and the difference between pick and roll and pick and pop.
Pop music. oh oh oh oh. Can't touch this.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Chet defending like the final boss on that play. 
I guess the difference is, Chet was drafted to a good team and Wembley Stadium was drafted to White Hart Lane.
I guess the difference is, Chet was drafted to a good team and Wembley Stadium was drafted to White Hart Lane.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Btw I didn't actually leave because of the Celtics. That was for dramatic effect lmao. I needed the break. Genuinely wouldn't be back if I didn't think it was good for my mental health. Originally it was going to be until Boston lost but then I realized it's not that serious. Sure, seeing them win would be cool, but I got bigger things to worry about these days.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
I also have no animosity toward the Heat whatsoever. It's much like with the Packers and 49ers. Yeah, those two beat my teams a lot, but then they have to go play a raid boss in a final and they spare me the agony of it being my team getting their cheeks clapped by the raid boss.
It would be different if they beat us and like, the Pistons were waiting.
It would be different if they beat us and like, the Pistons were waiting.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
It’s ok I don’t know anything about the actual game myself, v casual I just get hyped
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Oh, I thought you were one of the lifelong fan crew. haha I'm glad I did get into it. I think the NBA 2k games made me try it out. It can be very exciting. I do enjoy basketball.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
My Duke hatred is, however, not a meme. Brandon Ingram is a Duke guy. No surprise this dude is a nothingburger in playoffs.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Actually, that commercial isn't so bad. lol I mean, SGA does give you the fashion tips on 2k so it all makes sense. Oozing cool.
InsuranceMan
Hall of Fame
Hell naw. I know tennis like the back of my hand but I am the first to admit that while I follow and watch I don’t know much about other sports. I’m a big time Heat fan don’t miss games/podcasts etc but there’s a lot of depth to basketball that I think is hard to grasp unless you play yourself. Kind of like tennis in that sense. But I’m more a heat fan more than a basketball fan so I cba to actually know ball. Playoff basketball is definitely a fun time though, you’re right it can be super exciting
Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
I confess even I don’t fully understand all the actions and micro adjustments in real time as I watch the games. Basketball is a frustratingly simple looking but very complex game behind the scenes. Sure it seems as simple as oh they put Bam on KP or they switched the screen etc but it’s all about space manipulation, angles, countering plays that happen 2-3 passes ahead etc.
College is popular bc you can actually see what’s happening with your eyes. NBA suffers from the fact that everyone is so scoured and honestly so good. Everyone on every team is full of shooting and size and athleticism. Caleb Martin would be the best shooter on every team in college easily. It’s just so hard to take away things in the NBA and that’s why it ends up looking a little wacky most of the time, most coaches create game plans reacting to forces beyond our comprehension.
Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
Joga bonito indeed.
onehandbh
G.O.A.T.
The Thunder have the unstoppable duo of:Chet defending like the final boss on that play.
I guess the difference is, Chet was drafted to a good team and Wembley Stadium was drafted to White Hart Lane.
Jalen Williams
Jaylin Williams
Fabresque
Legend
All sports suffer this fate. The athletes are too athletic and make it boring. We need some fatties to wheel out there with elite handles. Look at the PL. Salah is considered world class. DFKM the guy couldn’t do keepy ups they’d roll off his shin. We need old school fatso’s Ronaldinho, Lampard, Scholes, Rooney etc to come back and just ball out.
The NCAA is at least interesting cuz you can tell clearly who won’t make it in the league and who will, there’s clear differences in level which makes the tactical side that much more interesting. In pro sports everybody is basically the same so you lose the art of players who will become salesman after they graduate and not go pro lol.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
The Orlando Tragic are another reason why you never trust a Duke kid. The data is just overwhelming at this point.
@Kralingen
@Kralingen
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
And like I said last night, it helps he has 40 personalities, so only 2-3 are Duke products.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Honestly I would trust Zion too if he was more disciplined about staying lean and didn't play for a dumpster fire organization. That game against the Lakers is EXACTLY why I gassed him up earlier this year.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
haha they do,
They made Boston look like Kaka last night, in its original form, not the classy Brazilian player.
If you don't know,
Kaka ''A childish or informal word for feces or poop. In Maori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, "kaka" is the name of a species of forest-dwelling parrot. In Swedish, "kaka" means "cookie" or "biscuit". In Finnish, "kaka" is a slang term for a cake or pastry''
Kralingen
Talk Tennis Guru
Zion is a different thing completely. I can list on one hand the amount of times I’ve seen a guy just completely out-athlete and overpower LeBron like that. He’s 39 so i get it but still. He’s already one of the 3 best finishers at the rim statistically in NBA history. Just can’t stay on court and hasn’t developed his game much
fundrazer
G.O.A.T.
Apparently he hired a personal chef and dropped like 25lbs this season. We'll see if he can stay fit and healthy. Obviously that hasn't really been the case so far in his career. What's a little disappointing though is you think of BI or CJ showed even a little something in that game then he may not have gotten hurt. Who knows.
He's one of the guys on my shortlist of players who I absolutely want to see play live.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
I'm still allowing myself to get hyped for the match tomorrow morning. I think I gotta wait for it to be 3-0 before I lose all hope. Currently have about 0.5% hope flowing through my veins.
Can Lakers possibly do the Shawshank thing and make it so hope doesn't kill?
Tune in, find out.
Can Lakers possibly do the Shawshank thing and make it so hope doesn't kill?
Tune in, find out.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Had the pleasure of seeing him live when Duke played Michigan State and also when I visited my brother and we went to Duke Clemson and he did this:
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
They could easily be up 2-0, @Kralingen just uses all his luck on his hated teams losing, not his teams actually ever winning.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Yeah it does look pretty cooked. I can empathize because Vegas is to the Stars what Denver is to the Lakers. It's like 90 percent mental. The Lakers have the jimmies and joes to beat Denver but aren't ever finishing the deal. Same with the Stars, who are now 0-6 against Vegas this year.
Maddening and frustrating. Especially since the Lakers probably beat OKC and the Stars probably beat anyone not named Vegas. Both formats are pretty arse tbh.
Darvin Ham might be the only coach dumber than Joe Mazzulla as well.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
The Lakers series is actually precisely why I have doubts about the Celtics that aren't jinxes. Looking at it pragmatically, I could easily see a series in which the Celtics do get the Jays scoring 30+ a game against the Nuggets just like Lebron and AD are doing and it not being enough just like it hasn't been for the Lakers. Yes, the Celtics supporting cast is in theory better than the Lakers, but the coaching is equally terrible on both squads - and I'm not even that convinced on the Celtics supporting cast being anything other than flat track regular season bullies.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Can only imagine how it felt to be Jamal Murray the other night. Pretty sure I've done the buzzer beater on 2k once or twice, can remember one off the top of my head, but usually, It wouldn't even be a shot for me. I'd make it to the basket, go for a clean dunk and miss.
But good ol Jamal isn't built that way. Mury Goat.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Yep people get rightfully enraptured by the Serbian, but the Nuggets are just basically the perfect team, and they play as such. Michael Porter Jr's shot is a thing of beauty I must admit. Just the mechanics, very aesthetically pleasing. And Murray is still slept on for reasons that are beyond me. Guess it's because the Nuggets are not really that big of a market.
The West is a lot better than the East (in my opinion), so I could see the Nuggets getting beaten before the finals, but it will take some kind of herculean effort to do it. And it's probably the Celtics only real chance, because I have a really hard time seeing them beating Denver 4 times.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
Yep, and the Nuggets are elite at erasing deficits whereas all the Celtics are good for is front-running. I will give this to them - they are really good at that. But any kind of adversity, deficit etc they crap their diapers.
Poisoned Slice
Bionic Poster
Cavaliers on the receiving end of a good old-fashioned battering.
Federer and Del Potro
Bionic Poster
What happened?
