nba playoffs aka the 'offs (which includes the 'ins) 2021

to be up 2-0 and know you have CP3 coming back

what was this

Boogie mad as hell shoving Devin Booker 😂 #LACvsPHX pic.twitter.com/4He197Cmbq

— Tony Clements (@TonyClementsTC) June 23, 2021

i’m sure the clippers feel like they can still win the series and it’s not unfounded based on the last two series but losing a game where devin booker scores 20 points is a pretty bad look

missing two free throws is very bad, as an NBA player

that was definite yips, paul george cant get out of his own way sometimes

which is to say anytime its an important playoff game, rip

cam Payne and Ayton were so great. Incredible ugly game with one of the best endings ever.

Shout out to Coach Jay Triano! After practice 1 day he was kickin random NBA facts to me and was like “ did you know theres no goaltending on a out of bounds play?” I was like really?? Nooo he said look it up.. 3 weeks later we found or selves in that situation

— Tyson Chandler (@tysonchandler) June 23, 2021

Can't wait for the ratings to come out tomorrow so I can decide whether or not that was fucking awesome.

— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) June 23, 2021

what a fucking game

Paul george had made some strides to shake the pandemic P thing, but then…

Chris Paul’s teams had lost 11 straight playoff games officiated by Scott Foster coming into tonight.

Despite Foster’s best effort, that streak is now snapped.

(Submitted by @DeePee30) pic.twitter.com/8LA5U24tJi

— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 23, 2021

real 07 flashback with devin booker's bleeding nose and scott foster playing the role of tim donaghy

Yah that was one of the worst reffed games I can recall

Paul George has been on the wrong side of a lot of big game winners huh

the reffing in these playoffs in general has left a lot to be desired

everyone really needs a nice long break across the board

Deandre Ayton is the first player in the shot-clock era (since 1954-55 season) with a 70+ FG pct in any 12-game postseason span (min. 100 att).

H/T @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/7jdMh8a9NO

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 23, 2021

The margin for error on this pass is like non existent

Looking at the Jae Crowder lob pass to Deandre Ayton from this angle, you can see how close the ball came to hitting the side of the backboard. It didn't. Suns win. pic.twitter.com/bHlzUAwV6A

— Michael Lee (@MrMichaelLee) June 23, 2021

it would’ve been funny if he had hit the side of the backboard

Run that simulation 100 times and that’s probably what happens on at least half of them

Sad state of modern sports with replay that everyone is only half celebrating 'cause they know it's going to get reviewed.

also second time down the stretch where the refs just didnt make a call and went straight to conference, which i dont think it what theyre supposed to do, you can see them looking around at each other like what do we do lol

lol

Anyone else see this? Watch to the end! @Suns #priceless pic.twitter.com/ThaHxhE6pM

— Jeremy Rodriguez (@jeremyr_az) June 23, 2021

beautiful

things of that nature

wilbon looks like his face is about to slide off his head

lol that is great

feels like the birth of a meme

lil bastard back

BREAKING: Phoenix Suns star Chris Paul intends to make his return for Game 3 of WCF against the Los Angeles Clippers barring unforeseen setback, league sources tell @YahooSports. https://t.co/UgzGxX4aaZ

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) June 23, 2021

the suns going up 2-0 without chris paul and then losing four straight with him back would be pretty hilarious

cursed thought

i thought the clips did a solid job on book last night. he was pretty flustered for much of the game, some really bad turnovers. this will open it up for him again.

yeah def a bunch of spots where they really couldve used cp

cam payne deserves so much credit. 29-1-9-2-2 and 0 TOs

Incredible that he was such a non entity while on the Bulls

and the thunder

i still don’t understand how he’s good, nothing about his game looks right. but i guess you can’t argue with the results at this point

the amazing thing is that given his journey out of and back into the league he carries himself like he’s the best player on the court

maybe thats all he needed? just to get his confidence up. his quickness is really off the charts, he can get by anyone without resistance.

i dunno, i can't say i was deeply familiar with his nba work prior to this stint but from what i remember confidence never seemed to be an issue for him. i think his decision making has improved so that he is actually able to use his quickness to greater effect. the tutelage of the point god can't have hurt in that respect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUQDIdRBJCA

great DN Spottie

ty, lebron blessed us

Portis just did a Mario-style buttstomp on Trae

whoa that off-the backboard pass from trae, can’t remember seeing someone do that from an angle like that before

Trae to Collins Level 2 Gamebreaker pic.twitter.com/feACr2AmAw

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 24, 2021

trae is going nuclear

Bucks do not seem prepared for this

if Middleton gets hot they should win

btw i'm a 60-something sportswriter just itching to jam out my "in game one we saw a giannis who refused to impose his will" column i've had percolating for three days