New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[Steve Williams]

Lakers were down as many as 16 in the first but rally and at the end of 1st half Lakers trail 57-56

Good game to watch Lillard is on fire. Even a slimmed down Melo looks good

 

[WLVCA]

Whiteside is blocking a lot of shots....still a close game.

 

[Steve Williams]

Fabulous game to watch except Lakers couldn't make free throws or three pointers plus Damian Lillard was raining down 3's from everywhere in the court.

Lakers played a good game but Portland played a great game

So the number one seeds in east and west fall on the first day of playoffs. This either bodes bad for both or suggests the series will go 6 or 7

 

[jadis]

Lillard and CJ Mc, boy, they are like double barreled shotguns, and playing with nothing to lose and all to gain. One can get quiet and the other shoots. Then both gets quiet, then both reload to shoot even more. Lilliard has ice in his veins with those 3s near the halfcourt and he did it twice with the game so close. Talk about knockout punches. To think their starter Collins is not even in. With Whiteside and Nukic, how did these Blazers end up having to win a play in game to get a spot. They should have easily been at 4th place.

 

[JackD201]

What a time for Whiteside to wake up from his defensive slumber as he looked lethargic all season long.

 

[jadis]

What a time for Whiteside to wake up from his defensive slumber as he looked lethargic all season long.

5 Swats, Jack, including one on Lebron's sure 2 points. And how about Melo, last key 3 pointer cemented the lead, plus 10 rebounds, 2 more than Whiteside. He fits the role of those seasoned veterans like Ric Fox or Ron Harper, nailing the crucial shots down the line.

 

[Steve Williams]

It’s only one game as the saying goes but to me the obvious was that the Lakers were simply outplayed and outclassed. by Portland and when Lillard made that 3 from almost center court I knew this series doesn’t bode well for the Lakers whose shooting 3’s since they entered the bubble have all been bricks. So many better teams than the Lakers LeBron continues to suck at the free throw line

 

[Steve Williams]

Both Giannis and LeBron had triple doubles yesterday and both lost

I believe that Sir Charles got it right when he is the only one who has said that Portland is going to win the series

 

[Steve Williams]

here's the read of the day which sums up Bucks and Lakers woes inside the bubble

NBA playoffs real or not: Biggest concerns after Game 1

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29691282/nba-playoffs-real-not-biggest-concerns-game-1

 

[Steve Williams]

But the Lakers still put the "off" in offense, shooting a discouraging 35.1% as a team from the field and an abysmal 15.6% from 3 (5-for-32). It was the second-lowest 3-point percentage by a team with at least 30 3-point attempts in a playoff game in NBA history
In their eight seeding games prior to the postseason, the Western Conference's top seed shot just 30.3% on 3-pointers, the worst of the 22 teams invited to Orlando.
.

One statistic the Lakers have which is going to end their season unless they find the basket from outside the arc

 

[jadis]

Both Giannis and LeBron had triple doubles yesterday and both lost

I believe that Sir Charles got it right when he is the only one who has said that Portland is going to win the series

Giannis and LeBron play for the fans. Without fans, they have to play for themselves and for their team now that the home court advantage does not exist anymore. Their motivation to level up, like scoring 40-50 points, may be hampered. And no fans means the rest of the team should react and up their performance even more. As solid the team roster of the Bucks are as I was impressed by their completeness in the lineup, the playoffs is another 'league' and they have to show they can up the ante.

 

[jadis]

As for Barkley, IIRC, he predicted Dallas would win the title in the Heat vs Mavs year, and he was right. He might end up right again, Blazers in the Finals. Btw, their inside passing was magnificent in game 1. Looks like Nukic even has learned the Bill Walton Blazermania sign language.

 

[Steve Williams]

you hit it right on Phil

Teams work hard all season to gain home court advantage but the bottom line is that this makes zero impact without fans,

This reboot is an enigma as every team at this time of the season is basically healthy and have just as much chance as the team they play

Saving grace forLakers was to see Rajon Rondo on the Lakers bench and he might play on Thursday although has yet to practice

 

[Steve Williams]

As for Barkley, IIRC, he predicted Dallas would win the title in the Heat vs Mavs year, and he was right. He might end up right again, Blazers in the Finals. Btw, their inside passing was magnificent in game 1. Looks like Nukic even has learned the Bill Walton Blazermania sign language.

To me the Blazers are the hottest team in the league now and Lillard is absolutely on fire. To say the Blazers in the finals means they have to get by the Clipps. If they can do that it could be a Toronto vs Blazers final

 

[Steve Williams]

as I see it it but still too early to predict is a Clippers Raptors final and it would give me no greater pleasure than to see the Raptors beat Kawhi and the Clippers it would show that they are a great team even without him

 

[jadis]

The Heat is also strong. If they advance, they will face the Bucks, if they advance as well.

 

[Steve Williams]

The Heat is also strong. If they advance, they will face the Bucks, if they advance as well.

I agree

I was surprised they beat the Pacers who lead most of the game

Jimmy Butler says the Heat can win it all

 

[WLVCA]

Sorry to hear about the Celtics Gordon Hayward injury. He'll be out 4 weeks

 

[WLVCA]

Celtics up on 76ers 98-75 at the end of the third quarter

 

[Steve Williams]

Celtics up on 76ers 98-75 at the end of the third quarter

Good game for the Celtics. I bet Al Horford is rethinking his move to Philadelphia. The Celtics are shooting with great accuracy