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2023 NBA Playoffs Discussion Thread




Saw this and loved it (long but worth it)

You know what…

Maybe it’s a good thing LeBron James is considering retirement, because maybe, just maybe, people will FINALLY come back down to earth and realize we were holding a player to the most ludicrous and unrealistic expectations known to sport for 20 years.

Last night’s game was the latest example, as a 38 year old LeBron James in his 20th season with an injured foot played 48 minutes and was asked and expected, to literally do it all.

For context, James has played in 282 playoff games, that’s the equivalent of nearly 3 and a half regular seasons. Throw in USA basketball and his heavy minutes, and LeBron’s mileage mirrors a workload of someone in their 24th NBA season.

But it’s not enough, it’s not enough for the fans, the haters, even the “expert” commentators who expect this one man to do the unthinkable every single second, of every single game.

In an elimination game on his home floor, he was the only Laker to leave it all out there. He scored 31 points in the first half - the most of his playoff career. But again, it wasn’t enough for people, he wasn’t allowed to be gassed in the second half, he wasn’t allowed to not have 50, he wasn’t allowed to miss a game winner.

The icing on the cake was Jeff Van Gundy, who midway through the third quarter says “And if I’m the Lakers, I’m having LeBron guard Nikola Jokic” despite supposedly the best defender in the NBA Anthony Davis standing there watching a 38 year old exhausted do his defensive job because he couldn’t, and chose not to rise to that challenge in the series.

But again, LeBron did what was necessary, he guarded Jokic, he switched on to Jamal Murray, all while taking perhaps the last ounces of energy he had left in his career.

I don’t blame LeBron one bit if he chooses to call it a day. In truth, all things considered, I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.

Only when he officially retires and walks away from the game for good will people understand who he was, and the impossible individual burden he had to carry on and off the court.

I’m glad I wasn’t one of them, and I feel sorry for the people who could never see it, or worse never accept it.
 
Agree with you for LBJ. The greatest players of the last 20 years. For me he remain under MJ and Kobe for some reasons ( No load management at this time, MJ play all games he could), but yes never understood the LBJ haters.
 
fishonjazz said:
Saw this and loved it (long but worth it)

You know what…

Maybe it’s a good thing LeBron James is considering retirement, because maybe, just maybe, people will FINALLY come back down to earth and realize we were holding a player to the most ludicrous and unrealistic expectations known to sport for 20 years.

Last night’s game was the latest example, as a 38 year old LeBron James in his 20th season with an injured foot played 48 minutes and was asked and expected, to literally do it all.

For context, James has played in 282 playoff games, that’s the equivalent of nearly 3 and a half regular seasons. Throw in USA basketball and his heavy minutes, and LeBron’s mileage mirrors a workload of someone in their 24th NBA season.

But it’s not enough, it’s not enough for the fans, the haters, even the “expert” commentators who expect this one man to do the unthinkable every single second, of every single game.

In an elimination game on his home floor, he was the only Laker to leave it all out there. He scored 31 points in the first half - the most of his playoff career. But again, it wasn’t enough for people, he wasn’t allowed to be gassed in the second half, he wasn’t allowed to not have 50, he wasn’t allowed to miss a game winner.

The icing on the cake was Jeff Van Gundy, who midway through the third quarter says “And if I’m the Lakers, I’m having LeBron guard Nikola Jokic” despite supposedly the best defender in the NBA Anthony Davis standing there watching a 38 year old exhausted do his defensive job because he couldn’t, and chose not to rise to that challenge in the series.

But again, LeBron did what was necessary, he guarded Jokic, he switched on to Jamal Murray, all while taking perhaps the last ounces of energy he had left in his career.

I don’t blame LeBron one bit if he chooses to call it a day. In truth, all things considered, I’m surprised he’s lasted this long.

Only when he officially retires and walks away from the game for good will people understand who he was, and the impossible individual burden he had to carry on and off the court.

I’m glad I wasn’t one of them, and I feel sorry for the people who could never see it, or worse never accept it.
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Lebron has had great teams if not Super Team around him outside of his first seasons. I just can't agree that he's asked to do it all. AD is a top 10 player when healthy and Reaves was arguably the best 3rd man in the playoffs. Rui was inconsistent but offered 15ppg against the Nuggets. DLo and Schroder are not amazing but they are serviceable. Lonnie Walker had his moments for being an 7th or 8th option. And definitely not Lebrons doing but Beasley and Vanderbilt should've had a bigger impact.

Lebron will definitely be missed and is definitely in the mix for Goat(behind MJ and Kobe imo) but to act like he's had to do it all himself, I just don't agree.
 
ONE LOVE said:
Could the Celtics become the first team to come back from 0-3 and win?
Click to expand...
I thought so before tonight's game. So yes I think they could. I think they are the better team and the better team usually wins a 7 game series.
If it were ever to happen it seems it would be likely to happen to an 8th seed
 
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