2023 Playoffs: Around the League Round 1 News Thread

[Split T]

Crowder couldn’t even play in this series. Incredible performance from Miami…am I crazy to think Miami might win the east?

I honestly think any of the east teams could win. Same with the west. There is honestly no combination of teams that would surprise me in the finals anymore. It’s wide wide open this year.

[SunsSince92]

Also, Fuck Jae Crowder. Bucks gave up 5 seconds to get him and he was ass.

I was never sure why they were so high on him to begin with, especially after such a long lay-off.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Looks like Monty was right on the money with that call.

[Split T]

Thought this was a good one

[Flagrant Fowl]

Great response.

[pickle]

[Split T]

It was stupid by Ant, but ya that’s not assault…unless I don’t know what qualifies as assault

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Jimmy Butler was unreal the entire series, and the tying shot in the fourth… stuff of legends.

[Aztec Sunsfan]

Great response.

Totally agreed.

[ShelC]

The Bucks have been on the decline since their title but still shouldn't have lost to the Heat. Outplayed and outcoached. Not sure what's up with Crowder but I don't know how you don't dust him off to try and slow down Butler. That's why you went out and got him. Knicks-Heat will be fun because of the history there.

[Mori Chu]

Wow. Shocked and stunned that the Heat really did it. Milwaukee has been banged up this year, but I thought they still had the size and muscle and the cheat-code of sending Giannis plowing to the basket, so I figured they would still win the series. I actually thought they would come back from 3-1 and make it a 7-gamer.

That interview with Giannis talking about failure was really cool. Great answer. He has a good perspective on the game and on life. It's hard to have that kind of clarity right after such an emotional loss.

Heat/Knicks is going to be a weird series. Feels to me like a consolation prize to be the team that will get beaten up by the Celtics in the ECF. But we'll see. I have underestimated both the Knicks and the Heat all season, so I don't have a good sense for which team is better.

It was really fun to watch Jimmy Butler cook the Bucks over and over. Loved every minute of it. And I had huge schadenfreude watching Crowder just rot on the bench. Enjoy your summer, Jae! Should be nice and well rested.

Now that the Bucks are eliminated, there's one less team I am afraid of left in the playoffs. I think the Bucks would have been the worst matchup for us in the Finals should we make it that far. I would rather play the Celtics or any of the other Eastern teams. So I'm happy about that.

[Split T]

Also why does Bud seem to be kind of a bad coach who doesn’t adjust(or know when to call a timeout) against everyone but us?

[SunsSince92]

Wow. Shocked and stunned that the Heat really did it. Milwaukee has been banged up this year, but I thought they still had the size and muscle and the cheat-code of sending Giannis plowing to the basket, so I figured they would still win the series. I actually thought they would come back from 3-1 and make it a 7-gamer.

That interview with Giannis talking about failure was really cool. Great answer. He has a good perspective on the game and on life. It's hard to have that kind of clarity right after such an emotional loss.

Heat/Knicks is going to be a weird series. Feels to me like a consolation prize to be the team that will get beaten up by the Celtics in the ECF. But we'll see. I have underestimated both the Knicks and the Heat all season, so I don't have a good sense for which team is better.

It was really fun to watch Jimmy Butler cook the Bucks over and over. Loved every minute of it. And I had huge schadenfreude watching Crowder just rot on the bench. Enjoy your summer, Jae! Should be nice and well rested.

Now that the Bucks are eliminated, there's one less team I am afraid of left in the playoffs. I think the Bucks would have been the worst matchup for us in the Finals should we make it that far. I would rather play the Celtics or any of the other Eastern teams. So I'm happy about that.

Whilst I agree with the sentiment of what Giannis was saying, I think he is being a bit disingenuous in saying this is simply a step towards a championship - it's at best a setback and at worst a failure. Of course you can learn and build upon your mistakes but this was a huge upset and certainly not how they envisioned their postseason going. They were top of the mountain two years ago and have since failed to make it to the conference finals. Using Jordan as an example was a bit extreme, but in his case, you could see that the 9 years led to 6 straight championships. There was no regression/failure/ setback after they reached the promised land.

[Split T]

I think it’s easy to analyze Giannis comments and find faults in it. But gotta remember it was made right after he lost. He made the point that only 1 team wins every year and that is true. It’s not 1 team is a success and every other team is a failure. I think his comment brushes off the loss though. I think if he said no it’s not a failure, it’s a learning experience…that would have made more sense. I also would’ve liked him to own up to the loss more. You were the 1 seed and lost to the 8 seed. You can believe it’s not a failure, but it’s incredibly dissapointing.

[Mori Chu]

Fuck Jae Crowder

[Superbone]

I think it’s easy to analyze Giannis comments and find faults in it. But gotta remember it was made right after he lost. He made the point that only 1 team wins every year and that is true. It’s not 1 team is a success and every other team is a failure. I think his comment brushes off the loss though. I think if he said no it’s not a failure, it’s a learning experience…that would have made more sense. I also would’ve liked him to own up to the loss more. You were the 1 seed and lost to the 8 seed. You can believe it’s not a failure, but it’s incredibly dissapointing.

The point getting lost in this is that it was a a lousy question and Giannis was pissed about that and let the reporter know which I respect. That was a hit 'em while they're down kind of question. In those terms, only one team every year is not a "failure." Just like life, it is a journey. If you don't make more money than everybody else on the planet, are you a failure?

[Flagrant Fowl]

Also why does Bud seem to be kind of a bad coach who doesn’t adjust(or know when to call a timeout) against everyone but us?

As a clear pro Monty Suns fan, you have no idea how much this kills me.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Keep in mind, the narrative would be completely flipped if Giannis had not dominated in the Finals two years ago.

Giannis' Best Player in the World ranking took a pretty significant hit going 10-23 from the foul line. I hope he was hurting physically because that's way below his expectations.

[Flagrant Fowl]

The Knicks/Heat series is going to be incredible nostalgia. Two teams who aren't worried about being physical. I think the Knicks will win, but Spoelstra and the Heat are Lue and the Clippers of the East. It'll be tough to break the Heat, but they just don't have the guys to compete with another team who has it going like the Knicks.

Then again, I don't know why I'm doubting Jimmy Butler's ability to be better than everyone else like he was in round 1.

[Split T]

If the Heat shoot like they did in round 1, I think they’ll win. Heat can defend the Knicks. Will Brunson be able to do his thing with Jimmy on him? Bam on Randle. I think it’ll be fun.