I stopped reading after the 4th paragraph , because it looks like the writer may not have seen many NBA games " one of the greatest in history " and or perhaps not much of the last series either .
I know the lucky shot that did take great skill from maybe the best player in the game to even get off has made everything else that happened disappear from reporting , but the truth is toronto only got the chance to advance because Philadelphia's unstoppable Center Embiid was sick the last 3 or 4 games and could barely walk . A healthy Embiid would have scored about 40 points being checked by the statue that was Gasol and Philly would have won in 5 or 6 games over a Toronto team that played much better during the season and had all of its key players underperform and some terribly ( Kyle, Gasol, Ibaka , Green ) and was a one man team ( Kawhi ) on offense .
Unless they play much better they have no chance against the Bucks unless Yannis gets injured like Embiid was .
Another exciting NBA playoff season is here and another playoffs without the Knicks. They won the lottery yesterday for Zion Williamson's used Nikes. But despite bringing the self-impressed Phil Jackson in for a spin, and becoming a high-priced version of the New Jersey Generals, what has James Dolan accomplished in his tenure? He has banned paying fans for telling him to "sell the team". He has banned his former players for conduct he found untoward. He is a bully, a coward, but most of all, he is a loser, pouring his father's money down the sewers on 7th Avenue. Sell. The. Team.
@Jeff M
Interesting that Jeff chose to rehash what every Knicks fan knows at a time when the future of the team is perhaps the most promising in decades . They have the best crop of young players with potential already on the team , just got to pick no 3 in the draft for a player the experts says could be real good , and have the money to get at least 2 great or very good free agents .
Not a time to revisit the sad past I would think . Does anyone agree ?
I would give KL a small edge over the Bucks big man. The so-called Greek Freak.(I hate the nickname). Milwaukee has a clear edge based upon the rest of the roster.Sad to say. The Bucks in six.
@Milton Lewis: I also hate the nickname, and really get pissed off at announcers who use it (even the usually admirable Ernie Johnson.) For what the announcers are paid, they should learn to say the last name. If they cannot, then at least say the first, which is easy: Giannis is pronounced "Yannis"
I'm hoping for a great series between two super-talented teams. But I'd like to take issue with the first sentence of this article referring to "cantankerous fans in Philadelphia." Philly fans are (for the most part) not bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative (the definition of cantankerous). We are passionate, knowledgeable, and we love our team and our city. When Kawhi's shot bounced three times before going through the net, we were heartbroken.
Leonard, Siakim, and their point guard must be at the top of their game to have any chance against the Bucks.
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This is probably 5 or 6 games for Milwaukee. They have the best team in the East and possibly the NBA. They do not rely on just the FREAK. Toronto is a one trick pony. It is all Leonard, but this series he might have to shoot over the Freak and he might also have to guard the Freak. It is just too much to ask.
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@CA Dreamer - in the last series, yes it was all KL but that isn't a reflection of this team when it performs as it has all year.
Also, the Bucks ARE the best team in the NBA - their record this year proves that. I'm guessing you are biased to GS, as you appear to be from Cali.
I have no dog in this fight. But, Antetokounmpo is allowed to violate the rules of play more than any other player in history, with perhaps the exception of Shaquille O'Neal. The Greek Freak travels on his way to the basket 10 times a game, at a minimum. The invented term "Eurostep" is a total joke. Every one of those travels should be called and result in a turnover. The NBA loses legitimacy with every passing year.
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@Joe Agreed - being from Toronto I'm biased however Giannis's "step" takes travelling to a whole new level.
@Joe Let me guess...hockey fan?
@Joe: I adisaggre with characterizing the Eurostep as a travel. Technically the Eurostep is the same number of steps as players have always taken. The difference is that the long lateral step both breaks rhythm and forward momentum. It looks obvious, but it's a LOT harder to do than it looks. But it is not a travel. Now James Harden's stepback....
I agree with your characterization of Shaq as the worst officiated player in NBA history. If his offensive fouls (that elbow in the low post!) and three-second violations had been enforced with anywhere close to the rate they were applied to his contemporaries doing the same thing, Shaq would never have won a single ring. In fact, his career would have looked like it did in Orlando: dominant, but plagued by foul trouble and turnovers. (Yes Dorothy, Shaq was once officiated fairly.)
In this year's playoffs, I have a new candidate: Joel Embiid. I have been stunned by the number of clear fouls on blocks that have not been called by the officials. And honestly it undermines my confidence in the game and hence my interest. Except for that game 7, I had stopped watching Philly play because the discrepancy between officiating on Embiid vs other players was so egregious. In game 7, 3rd quarter, Embiid bowled over Serge Ibaka on the follow through while trying to block a runner in the lane (it went in; 7:30 below). Soon after, Embiid plowed through a set Marc Gasol on a baseline drive (not shown).
https://youtu.be/-5RWxUUJ7lQ?t=450