***Official 2022-2023 NBA Thread***

[dirk digler]

Can't believe the regular season starts tonight. Just seemed like the Finals ended a couple weeks ago.



Philly vs Celtics: 6:30PM CST TNT

GSW vs Lakers: 9:00PM CST TNT

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Klay really killed any chance they had with those 2 terrible shots in the last couple minutes. It was hilarious that they didn’t even include him in the rest of their possessions after those shots.

Klay was horrible tonight. Curry was the only reason the Warriors were even in the game, so I don't blame them for staying away from Klay.

[KC_Connection]

Lonnie Walker IV, the man who saved basketball.

[Iconic]

1. shot selection under a minute was some of the ugliest and spaztastic shit i have ever seen

2. are kerr/steph completely reeruned? how is there no to called

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Iconic

1. shot selection under a minute was some of the ugliest and spaztastic shit i have ever seen

2. are kerr/steph completely reeruned? how is there no to called

3. Wasting their last timeout challenging a play where Steph clearly threw the ball out of bounds.

I still have no idea why Steph attempted two shots over AD when he'd been getting to the rim all night and just scored a 2 on a layup before that. Even if they collapse on him at the rim, someone else will be open.

[POND_OF_RED]

On the plus side everyone wanting to somehow create comparisons between Lebron and Steph’s legacy will now get a chance to avenge that 3-1 deficit thing as well. Let’s see how it plays out.

[KC_Connection]

Steph Curry: Not Clutch pic.twitter.com/8Bk2PYKGXP

— Barry (@BarryOnHere) June 23, 2022

When you're in a game winning shot contest and your opponent is Stephen Curry pic.twitter.com/X8Xv65ECvf

— Barry (@BarryOnHere) May 9, 2023

[KC_Connection]

LeBron James, who famously is "afraid of the free throw line", despite being in the league for 20 years and no one being able to point to a SINGLE playoff game he's lost because he missed late free throws, was 4-4 from the line in the final 3 minutes, including the winning points

— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 9, 2023

The clutch GOAT.

[Hammock Parties]

he missed plenty of free throws against dallas in the finals

false narrative

lebron is done winning titles in the NBA so pump the brakes

[KC_Connection]

After the Klay 3 to go up 99-96 with 3:00 left...
-Steph fouls LBJ
-Klay misses 3
-Lonnie jumper over Steph
-Klay misses bad 3
-Steph fouls LBJ
-Steph makes layup
-Steph misses jumper & 30 foot 3
-Draymond turnover
-Steph throw away on jumpball

Tough stretch for the Dynasty 3.

— nick wright (@getnickwright) May 9, 2023

Yikes. Not the guy you want in the clutch.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

lebron is done winning titles in the NBA so pump the brakes

Lakers are the betting favorites as of tonight to win the West btw, be afraid

[KC_Connection]

Career on shots to take the lead in the final 50 seconds of 4th Q/OT in the playoffs (UPDATED):

LeBron James: 17-29 FG
Stephen Curry: 0-14 FG

— Barry (@BarryOnHere) May 9, 2023

Incredible. And completely unsurprising.

[tyecopeland]

Draymond, klay, Kerr and Curry all choked that game away late in the 4th. Klay had two terrible shots with plenty of time to run an offense, Curry had the one bizzaro possession where he's shooti.g terrible from 3 but tries one on ad anyway, draymond goes up with nowhere to go down 3 and Kerr doesn't make his guys run the action with ad that had been working all night.

That said, Lonnie walker won the game for the lakers.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by tyecopeland

Draymond, klay, Kerr and Curry all choked that game away late in the 4th. Klay had two terrible shots with plenty of time to run an offense, Curry had the one bizzaro possession where he's shooti.g terrible from 3 but tries one on ad anyway, draymond goes up with nowhere to go down 3 and Kerr doesn't make his guys run the action with ad that had been working all night.

That said, Lonnie walker won the game for the lakers.

It's hard to be too down on Curry - he CARRIED those guys. He was a monster in that game.

But yeah, those 2 shots from Klay and then that last possession from Curry (and the desperation turnover) were just bizarre.

I think I can understand the final turnover - he just got sped up. He knew they were really short on time and that ball NEEDED to get out there. So it was like a 4th down arm punt - "hey, if it gets picked, we're no worse off. But we have to try something and maybe we'll get lucky..."

I just think he was hoping someone might be there as opposed to truly expecting it because he didn't feel like he had any other alternatives. I don't think he was right - but the Lakers were collapsing on him and I believe they were out of TOs. So his window was closing fast to figure something out.

[tyecopeland]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

It's hard to be too down on Curry - he CARRIED those guys. He was a monster in that game.

But yeah, those 2 shots from Klay and then that last possession from Curry (and the desperation turnover) were just bizarre.

I think I can understand the final turnover - he just got sped up. He knew they were really short on time and that ball NEEDED to get out there. So it was like a 4th down arm punt - "hey, if it gets picked, we're no worse off. But we have to try something and maybe we'll get lucky..."

I just think he was hoping someone might be there as opposed to truly expecting it because he didn't feel like he had any other alternatives. I don't think he was right - but the Lakers were collapsing on him and I believe they were out of TOs. So his window was closing fast to figure something out.

They weren't out of timeouts, they used the last one to review to see if someone else may have touched the ball. But I'm sure he didn't want to have another instance of calling timeout when they didn't have one. The rest of it I completely agree with. Besides after draymond threw the ball away that led to the jump ball it should have been a foul not a jump.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

Lakers are the betting favorites as of tonight to win the West btw, be afraid

I'm elated.

Either the Lakers advance, becoming the first 7 seed to make a conference finals - or LeBron blows a 3-1 series lead.

Both of these possibilities are just fine by me.

One of those 'ho hum' 4-2 GS wins where James plays really well but ultimately they just aren't good enough would've suuuuuuucked. But so far the Lakers supporting cast has been outstanding and have proven vital to all 3 of these wins. And it hasn't just been Davis - it's been the depth overall. Davis dominated game 1, but games 3 and 4 have been a rotating cast of characters. About the only guy that doesn't seem to have a fit in this series is Vanderbilt (and Hachimura is having similar issues).

But otherwise, they're getting contributions from all over the lineup and from guys that are easy to root for.

It's been fun. And if it all falls to hell - I get to blame Lebron! Afterall - the GOAT would never blow a 3-1 series lead. Surely mere force of will by the greatest to ever play should be enough for them to win 1 game in the next 3...