ITS THE OFFS BABY THE 2023 NBA PLAYOFFS

That's actually a very good look for Poole in that situation down 3. Just didn't make it.

— Nate Duncan (@NateDuncanNBA) May 3, 2023

Dubs missed some easy layups brow has them shook inside

The Warriors outscored the Lakers 21-6 from behind the 3pt line. Over the last 5 seasons, teams that have scored 15 or more 3’s than their opponents in a game went 59-1.
Make that 59-2.

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 3, 2023

yeah that definitely ended up being a “lakers better win this or the series is over” game

really dont understand how this wasnt a jump ball, or a foul. granting the TO is crazy

So this poses an interesting situation where a team needs possession to call time out. Also, a jump bal should be called when both players have a firm grasp of the ball. It’s most likely why the lead ref on baseline wasn’t giving the lakers a time out. pic.twitter.com/ix71in2Mhd

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) May 3, 2023

well well well look who it is

Despite being listed as doubtful on injury report, Joel Embiid plans to make quick return for Game 2 barring any setbacks per @ShamsCharania https://t.co/3nowMwcwvX

— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 3, 2023

wonder if the sixers were lying about the severity or hes just coming back way too soon

one would think its the former considering they won game one and could afford to rest him for game two

if he can go he should go, there’s no round 3 if they lose

if they lose hell have plenty of time to rest up tho

i hope for his sake he isn't rushing this back

before game one they put it out that it was a greater than grade one sprain which using advanced math we can conclude is grade two, a 4-6 week recovery, its been two weeks, who knows if that diagnosis was gamesmanship or what, apparently they have very good braces for this injury idk

I mean, it's obviously a tricky and individualized decision and depends on how serious his injury is. but I don't know how much sense it makes to be extra cautious when a trip to the finals is right there for them...they might never be in this position again where they've got home court in the second round and waiting to play a 5 or 8 seed in round 3

like you could argue that this series is more or less the conference finals, might want to push your chips in

you just dont want one of those situations where one injury leads to a worse one, but if he wants to play then he will play, will see how good hes moving out there

i hope for his sake he isn't rushing this back

I would be conservative - I also hope he doesn't try to show everyone he deserves his newly minted MVP and does too much.

but I don't know how much sense it makes to be extra cautious when a trip to the finals is right there for them...they might never be in this position again where they've got home court in the second round and waiting to play a 5 or 8 seed in round 3

― k3vin k., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 10:57 AM (nine minutes ago)

yeah unless he tears his ACL

i assume if there was real re-injury risk here the sixers wouldn't be letting him play. but i'm curious how he looks

also btw they don't have home court

mobility on defense is crucial v the celtics as they regularly put five shooters out there

i'm curious as well if the celtics put in any real plan to attack him. lowe & bontempts were talking on his recent podcast about how the celtics have a lot of possessions that don't feel intentional -- i.e. tatum having maxey on him and just passing the ball or whatever. they should be putting embiid in every single pick and roll every single time they run one, and they should be trying to get out on the fast break as much as possible. if they just let him have a normal embiid game w/o pointedly testing his knee it'll be a major red flag for me as far as mazzulla goes

the celtics are often not that smart its just one of their lovable quirks

dating back through multiple coaches fwiw

Sixers have had poor transition defense at least the last two seasons despite being pretty good defensively this year. The shocking thing from Game 1 was they beat Boston at the turnover/transition game.

The Sixers penchant for lots of bad turnovers was the hallmark of the Embiid-Simmons teams. They've definitely been better at it this year.

yeah if embiid cant move well and the celtics start ripping him and going it could get bad (good)

i do think mazzulla has been better tactically than udoka, lot more nice movement on offense

the celtics are often not that smart its just one of their lovable quirks

― lag∞n, Wednesday, May 3, 2023 11:18 AM (one minute ago)

to me there are two prongs. stuff like, do you have a strategy to attack embiid and are you consistently executing that strategy? that feels like a coaching thing to me. the other part is that it's just gotta be on tatum as the best player to recognize that there's a number of possessions where he needs to demand the ball, find his match up, get to his spot and exploit the defense, even if it's just to set up a pass for an open shooter. that's stuff that guys like steph, butler etc are doing all the time in these games even long before crunch time. maybe it's just a "managing the game" thing that comes w/ more age & experience, but maybe it's just a personality thing w/ him idk

wouldnt call it a glowing endorsement

Draymond Green didn’t have a problem with Jordan Poole’s late 3

(Via @TheVolumeSports) pic.twitter.com/Y4SffEjBEX

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) May 3, 2023

sure but he hasn't exactly been subtle in the past when it comes to problems with Jordan Poole

i really dont think it was an awful shot, he was open, not ideal but who knows if they woulda got a better look from three in the next few seconds.

it wasnt awful and it wasnt great not even good tbf it was an ok shot all things considered

it was just really far and also something jordan poole would do, you know?

people saying "he was open!", well of course he was. it was a 30 footer from a dude who is notably NOT Steph or Klay, I'm thinking the Lakers will live with that being open

also btw they don't have home court

― J0rdan S., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 11:15 AM (two hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

when the lower seed wins game 1 they have home court, if the home team wins every remaining game the sixers win

in fairness to poole, steph got trapped and it was kind of desperation time. but I do agree with jordan that it just seemed like the kind of sequence that was written in the stars

when the lower seed wins game 1 they have home court, if the home team wins every remaining game the sixers win

― k3vin k., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 2:14 PM (six minutes ago)

do you really think boston just isn't winning a game in philly c'mon now

jordan I am concerned about you just say I’m right!!

it was just really far and also something jordan poole would do, you know?

― J0rdan S., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 10:57 AM (thirty-six minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

i mean i 100% yelled wtf when he pulled it but rewatching its just... fine. poole is a turnover machine in crunch time and out of control so getting an open look that didnt require him to dribble is fine. wish he woulda screened down for klay and klay got that shot instead.

jordan I am concerned about you just say I’m right!!

― k3vin k., Wednesday, May 3, 2023 2:35 PM (five minutes ago)

no i think the whole concept of "they stole home court!" is stupid because it implies that the higher seed is not capable of winning a road game, which, if we looked at all the "they stole home court!" series of the past i'm sure would not bear out much if any truth

what a hill to die on

now, if you told me that the heat stole home court from the knicks we may be able to get on the same page. but i'm sorry, the celtics are going to win a game in philly

xxxp spottie otm, poole earned the right to take that shot by hitting some tough ones throughout the night, if he'd been ass like he was in so many recent games it would be more unconscionable

a very poole sequence was in the first half when he passed up an open three then hit two threes that were good looks then pulled up from the logo and missed badly

yeah he had one heat check three i for sure yelled whyyyyyyyyy at. but i yell that at about 50% of klay shots too so its just something you live with when watching the dubs. warriors need something fron donte who has really just folded in the playoffs so far, he was a big part of the rotation and seemed like a lock for playoff rotation minutes.

stealing home court is a fake idea regardless of seeds

i think its good it adds a stealing dynamic to the series

you can steal a basketball you can't steal a basketball court

they should do a animal house style prank where the visiting team sneaks back in late at night, tears up the court and reassembles it on the roof of the arena

I would prefer if Philly simply keep winning this postseason and then this issue is academic.