Europeans in NBA playoffs 2020

[Katastroika]

Okay, I speak for myself. I hope I didn't offend anyone too much.

If it is sure fire ticket with capital letters I am wrong for sure.

I really don't see that big of issues as until now the swingman position was capped by Barton who is nothing better as a defender (even a little underrated) than Bogdanovic and also Porter who will occupy heavy minutes on SF from next season is nothing better. Harris contract value is way too high to get possibility to include him in any trade this summer so I am quite sure that Bogdanovic won't come to Denver anyways.

[Buckalis]

Speak for yourself. I would not want Bogdanovic anywhere near Denver. The kid is a sixth-man type of player with an ego of an all star. That in itself is a huge issue. If he were to accept a role to be a 25 minute a game player off the bench, with some overlap with starters he could be a good add for Denver. Otherwise, playing with Murray, Bogdanovic, Porter, Grant, Jokic is a SURE FIRE ticket to allow 140+ points every game.

Off the bench he would be great, because he can create for others as well and he will take good shots, get a lot of freedom to attack etc.

You may wouldn't, but I'm pretty sure many teams will apply for Bogdan and Denver will be among them.... The man is "borderline" All-Star... easily among the top 35 players in the league.

I'm also pretty sure, that if Bogdan will will part with Sacramento, Bjelica will follow him to the same destination.

I wish the Bucks can have them both... They are the perfect supplement around Giannis and Middleton with all their play-making, defensive and shooting ability, since Bogdan can play all 1,2 & 3 and Nemanja can handle all 2,3,4 and even sbC if needed... Normally, the Kings will require a couple of "bigs" to be included in any dial... and the Bucks have plenty of that...

[Buckalis]

For me would be hard to imagine how coach can built top 10 defensive NBA team with Jokic and Bogdanovich in starting 5?

All champions was atleast top 10 in defence, most of them in top 6.

If Nuggets dreams is ring with Jokic and Murray they need team up athletic D and 3s players more.

Giannis had 3 white boys shooters in main rotation in regular season it works superbly, in playoffs their weak and slow defence is punished.

Hang on a minute now... Divincenzo was a main rotation piece and he was great. It's Matthews who had the worst O/D rating and he is coloured... If you mean Connaughton, he didn't take major rotation minutes and he was positive whenever he was called from the bench...

The Bucks lost from the same issue they had last season against the Raptors... They made 60+ less 3pters than the Heat in the series...

[CoachZ]

You may wouldn't, but I'm pretty sure many teams will apply for Bogdan and Denver will be among them.... The man is "borderline" All-Star... easily among the top 35 players in the league.

I'm also pretty sure, that if Bogdan will will part with Sacramento, Bjelica will follow him to the same destination.

I wish the Bucks can have them both... They are the perfect supplement around Giannis and Middleton with all their play-making, defensive and shooting ability, since Bogdan can play all 1,2 & 3 and Nemanja can handle all 2,3,4 and even sbC if needed... Normally, the Kings will require a couple of "bigs" to be included in any dial... and the Bucks have plenty of that...

I am not saying that there will be no interest. Actually many teams will go with Bogdanovic, I am just stating the obvious. Dude is ideal in the NBA as a Sixth man, to utilize his full skillset. He cannot play PG full time as a starter, because he will get destroyed by quick guards. So, he has to play SG or SF as a starter. SF, he will have a huge issue with large wing players at the position. They would eat him alive. It comes to that, that as a SG and a starter in NBA, what is he. What is his value? What areas are there where he can be elite? He was playing on a shitty Kings team and still hasn't been able to put together a consistent season that would make him a star in the league. He started 52 games as a rookie, last two season combined he started 45 games. He comes off the bench, he is also a sub-30 minutes guy.

He is a streaky shooter. When he is hot, he is godly, when he is cold it is just bad. So, he can't really be a Korver-like specialist that would start at the position purely because of his shooting. He is also 28, in his prime and at the top of his development curve. All these things point that he would be ideal for a contender as a sixth man type. Go the Ginobili route. Be the guy in the second lineup and just light it up 25 minutes, with a chance to get more minutes if you are hot. Also versus second units he could create for others, he could run the offense, create his own shot much, much easier than as a starter.

Of course, he could also get a contract from a bad team to be a starter and then we would see more of the same Bogdanovic. He is nowhere near Top 35 player in the league. Just looking at SGs, these are players that I would take over him.

- Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, Spencer Dinwiddie and probably Caris LeVert from the Nets, Zach Lavine from the Bulls, Klay Thompson from GS, James Harden HOU, Victor Oladipo from IND, Kawhi LAC or George, whoever plays the SG, Tyler Herro from MIA, even Jimmy Butler at the SG, Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans, SGA from OKC, Devin Booker from the Suns, CJ McCollum from Trailblazers, DeRozan from the Spurs, Mitchel from the Jazz.

Those are just players at his position. Quite a few others already on or near his level as well, like Fournier from Magic etc. He is a low-level starter for weak teams in the NBA, ideally a perfect sixth man. But I think he would never be that, because of his ego and belief that he is actually better than he really is.

[Toruko]

I am not saying that there will be no interest. Actually many teams will go with Bogdanovic, I am just stating the obvious. Dude is ideal in the NBA as a Sixth man, to utilize his full skillset. He cannot play PG full time as a starter, because he will get destroyed by quick guards. So, he has to play SG or SF as a starter. SF, he will have a huge issue with large wing players at the position. They would eat him alive. It comes to that, that as a SG and a starter in NBA, what is he. What is his value? What areas are there where he can be elite? He was playing on a shitty Kings team and still hasn't been able to put together a consistent season that would make him a star in the league. He started 52 games as a rookie, last two season combined he started 45 games. He comes off the bench, he is also a sub-30 minutes guy.

He is a streaky shooter. When he is hot, he is godly, when he is cold it is just bad. So, he can't really be a Korver-like specialist that would start at the position purely because of his shooting. He is also 28, in his prime and at the top of his development curve. All these things point that he would be ideal for a contender as a sixth man type. Go the Ginobili route. Be the guy in the second lineup and just light it up 25 minutes, with a chance to get more minutes if you are hot. Also versus second units he could create for others, he could run the offense, create his own shot much, much easier than as a starter.

Of course, he could also get a contract from a bad team to be a starter and then we would see more of the same Bogdanovic. He is nowhere near Top 35 player in the league. Just looking at SGs, these are players that I would take over him.

- Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, Spencer Dinwiddie and probably Caris LeVert from the Nets, Zach Lavine from the Bulls, Klay Thompson from GS, James Harden HOU, Victor Oladipo from IND, Kawhi LAC or George, whoever plays the SG, Tyler Herro from MIA, even Jimmy Butler at the SG, Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans, SGA from OKC, Devin Booker from the Suns, CJ McCollum from Trailblazers, DeRozan from the Spurs, Mitchel from the Jazz.

Those are just players at his position. Quite a few others already on or near his level as well, like Fournier from Magic etc. He is a low-level starter for weak teams in the NBA, ideally a perfect sixth man. But I think he would never be that, because of his ego and belief that he is actually better than he really is.

Even though we argue here and there but you definitely know what you are talking about. Great explanation.

[Katastroika]

Nuggets vs Lakers 114-106

Jokic 38min, 22/10/5/1/1, FG 9/14, 3P 1/3, 5TO, +7

Statistically a good game of Jokic who really looked great in 1st half, good in 3rd quarter and very tired, not to say below average in 4th quarter. Great game by Grant and clutch by Murray saved the game for the Nuggets that led by 20 at beginning of the 4th with Lakers combining zone defenses and putting Rondo and Carruso both gambling between passing lanes which led to just -3 4 minutes before the end. Incredible turnovers of Denver by attacking the zone. In my opinion mostly Jokic's fault because he didn't drop to free throw line to play the most essential and easiest sets to beat a zone by putting the ball to the big to facilitate further. He shied away outside the 3 point line, was doubled and lost 2 balls in a row.

I suppose we all expected that Nuggets will pack the paint - they did. And it was successful and it is a way to beat the Lakers in my opinion. LeBron's triple double looks impressive on paper but again, besides 11 points in last quarter he couldn't take this game over completely. Nuggets play the "wall defense" of Boston against Giannis both against LeBron and Davis in most parts of the 1st half and they really looked clueless to attack this. Lakers have worst ball movement of all top teams and if shots aren't falling they have serious problems. All 4 key players of this series looked tremendously tired with the difference that Murray delivered when it was essential. LeBron's and Jokic's physical capabilities or disadvantages, however you want, could be the crucial part of this series. For me it's interesting how tired Lakers looked taking into consideration that they had 12 games until then in all playoffs. I understand that it is mentally very difficult and challenging to run after a lead whole game but there is no excuse for this physical shape. I think it was more mental, though. I understand LeBron, but also Davis, Kuzma, KCP could hardly breath.

To me it's very sad to see in which kind of clown Dwight Howard developed. I value that he is trying to break Jokic's rhythm and he is doing no bad job at all defensively against Jokic as Nikola is shying away from the paint while playing him but Dwight after all this private circus around him in Washington looks light a mentally retarded person. I think the winner of the next game will win the whole series. Both will go all in. And Malone should practice attacking a zone and combined zone today

PS: 44-25 in rebounding shows how prepared Denver was this time at the defensive glass. Even Lakers had maximum 1 player present at the rebound until late in the 4th. All 3 Lakers centers combined for incredible 4 rebounds. A statistical parameter I have never seen in my life at this level. Total enigma.

[Buckalis]

I am not saying that there will be no interest. Actually many teams will go with Bogdanovic, I am just stating the obvious. Dude is ideal in the NBA as a Sixth man, to utilize his full skillset. He cannot play PG full time as a starter, because he will get destroyed by quick guards. So, he has to play SG or SF as a starter. SF, he will have a huge issue with large wing players at the position. They would eat him alive. It comes to that, that as a SG and a starter in NBA, what is he. What is his value? What areas are there where he can be elite? He was playing on a shitty Kings team and still hasn't been able to put together a consistent season that would make him a star in the league. He started 52 games as a rookie, last two season combined he started 45 games. He comes off the bench, he is also a sub-30 minutes guy.

He is a streaky shooter. When he is hot, he is godly, when he is cold it is just bad. So, he can't really be a Korver-like specialist that would start at the position purely because of his shooting. He is also 28, in his prime and at the top of his development curve. All these things point that he would be ideal for a contender as a sixth man type. Go the Ginobili route. Be the guy in the second lineup and just light it up 25 minutes, with a chance to get more minutes if you are hot. Also versus second units he could create for others, he could run the offense, create his own shot much, much easier than as a starter.

Of course, he could also get a contract from a bad team to be a starter and then we would see more of the same Bogdanovic. He is nowhere near Top 35 player in the league. Just looking at SGs, these are players that I would take over him.

- Jaylen Brown from the Celtics, Spencer Dinwiddie and probably Caris LeVert from the Nets, Zach Lavine from the Bulls, Klay Thompson from GS, James Harden HOU, Victor Oladipo from IND, Kawhi LAC or George, whoever plays the SG, Tyler Herro from MIA, even Jimmy Butler at the SG, Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans, SGA from OKC, Devin Booker from the Suns, CJ McCollum from Trailblazers, DeRozan from the Spurs, Mitchel from the Jazz.

Those are just players at his position. Quite a few others already on or near his level as well, like Fournier from Magic etc. He is a low-level starter for weak teams in the NBA, ideally a perfect sixth man. But I think he would never be that, because of his ego and belief that he is actually better than he really is.

There is a lot of nonsense in this, to the extend that it would take pages to reply upon and then none would read it...

In any case the headlines would be:
-Bogdan is very good defender, especially if his role is in a "team defense" role.
-He can play either guard or 3&D wing.
-There will be a number of teams (half the league or more) after him and there is a good reason for that, despite the steep next salary he will sign for and the costly trade (it will have to be S&T)
-Bogdan is top-35.
-Starting or not in a contending team, would depend on the rest of the roster, in any case he would get more than 25mins in the rotation.

[Buckalis]

Nuggets vs Lakers 114-106

Jokic 38min, 22/10/5/1/1, FG 9/14, 3P 1/3, 5TO, +7

Statistically a good game of Jokic who really looked great in 1st half, good in 3rd quarter and very tired, not to say below average in 4th quarter. Great game by Grant and clutch by Murray saved the game for the Nuggets that led by 20 at beginning of the 4th with Lakers combining zone defenses and putting Rondo and Carruso both gambling between passing lanes which led to just -3 4 minutes before the end. Incredible turnovers of Denver by attacking the zone. In my opinion mostly Jokic's fault because he didn't drop to free throw line to play the most essential and easiest sets to beat a zone by putting the ball to the big to facilitate further. He shied away outside the 3 point line, was doubled and lost 2 balls in a row.

I suppose we all expected that Nuggets will pack the paint - they did. And it was successful and it is a way to beat the Lakers in my opinion. LeBron's triple double looks impressive on paper but again, besides 11 points in last quarter he couldn't take this game over completely. Nuggets play the "wall defense" of Boston against Giannis both against LeBron and Davis in most parts of the 1st half and they really looked clueless to attack this. Lakers have worst ball movement of all top teams and if shots aren't falling they have serious problems. All 4 key players of this series looked tremendously tired with the difference that Murray delivered when it was essential. LeBron's and Jokic's physical capabilities or disadvantages, however you want, could be the crucial part of this series. For me it's interesting how tired Lakers looked taking into consideration that they had 12 games until then in all playoffs. I understand that it is mentally very difficult and challenging to run after a lead whole game but there is no excuse for this physical shape. I think it was more mental, though. I understand LeBron, but also Davis, Kuzma, KCP could hardly breath.

To me it's very sad to see in which kind of clown Dwight Howard developed. I value that he is trying to break Jokic's rhythm and he is doing no bad job at all defensively against Jokic as Nikola is shying away from the paint while playing him but Dwight after all this private circus around him in Washington looks light a mentally retarded person. I think the winner of the next game will win the whole series. Both will go all in. And Malone should practice attacking a zone and combined zone today

PS: 44-25 in rebounding shows how prepared Denver was this time at the defensive glass. Even Lakers had maximum 1 player present at the rebound until late in the 4th. All 3 Lakers centers combined for incredible 4 rebounds. A statistical parameter I have never seen in my life at this level. Total enigma.

It was all mental in the 4th quarter... They thought the game was over early... The lack of experience in playing at this level is the factor they have to overcome when playing against Lebron.

[Katastroika]

Heat vs Celtics 112-109

Theis 30min 8/9/1, FG 4/5, 2TO, -14
Dragic 39min, 22/5/3/2, FG 8/21, 3P 3/9, 2TO, +11

Heat at the edge of the great final! What a game by Tyler Herro! Butler and Dragic combined for 16/41 but due to an impossible game of Tyler the Heat prevailed. From all finalists in their respective conferences Boston has by far the worst bench which was obvious again. 4 of 5 of their key players have to contribute and this time smart didn't. Besides all close game and I wouldn't write off Boston now!

[Katastroika]

Nuggets vs Lakers 108-114

Jokic 26min, 16/7/4/2, FG 6/13, 3P 2/3, 1To, +2

Strange game. Nuggets came back 100 times, Lakers prevailed 101 time and had right answer in every situation. KCP hit important shots, Nuggets got brutally outrebounded in this game and in clutch situations referees closed both eyes on both ends for Lakers. Davis camped at the free throw line, Murray got hit hard from LeBron at a drive at -3 (no foul), same thing again in next set from Nuggets, again no foul. Really difficult in this situations but Denver lost this game because of lack of ideas when they were down -1 and -3 multiple times in the 4th quarter. Hope they can take at least one more game - if nothing elso, so that the Eastern finalist can be as exhausted as this disgusting Lakers team

Jokic played overall a bad game in my opinion. Allowing multiple offensive rebounds and hiding in offense in the 2nd half. This was not enough. Denver needs him better. Murray majestic and fantastic but noone was able to follow him.

[Buckalis]

Nuggets vs Lakers 108-114

Jokic 26min, 16/7/4/2, FG 6/13, 3P 2/3, 1To, +2

Strange game. Nuggets came back 100 times, Lakers prevailed 101 time and had right answer in every situation. KCP hit important shots, Nuggets got brutally outrebounded in this game and in clutch situations referees closed both eyes on both ends for Lakers. Davis camped at the free throw line, Murray got hit hard from LeBron at a drive at -3 (no foul), same thing again in next set from Nuggets, again no foul. Really difficult in this situations but Denver lost this game because of lack of ideas when they were down -1 and -3 multiple times in the 4th quarter. Hope they can take at least one more game - if nothing elso, so that the Eastern finalist can be as exhausted as this disgusting Lakers team

Jokic played overall a bad game in my opinion. Allowing multiple offensive rebounds and hiding in offense in the 2nd half. This was not enough. Denver needs him better. Murray majestic and fantastic but noone was able to follow him.

IMO, the Nuggets have a better basketball team than the Lakers, but...

1. They luck experience to play at this level.
2. Jokic has extremely high basketball IQ and skills far better than AD, but AD wins in athleticism and quickness, therefore the more he plays against Jokic, the more he learns on what to expect out of his moves and how to restrict him. If Denver would have Giannis instead of Jokic, then this series would have been over already due to AD being good enough only to scratch Giannis' balls on the court in all the game's parameters...

[madmax]

IMO, the Nuggets have a better basketball team than the Lakers, but...

1. They luck experience to play at this level.
2. Jokic has extremely high basketball IQ and skills far better than AD, but AD wins in athleticism and quickness, therefore the more he plays against Jokic, the more he learns on what to expect out of his moves and how to restrict him. If Denver would have Giannis instead of Jokic, then this series would have been over already due to AD being good enough only to scratch Giannis' balls on the court in all the game's parameters...

Giannis' inability to score against zone defenses was well showcased in both NBA playoffs and FIBA competition as well lol
I'm pretty sure Vogel being a competent coach would find a way to slow down the "Freak" just like any other solid NBA team did pior to him - remove his driving lanes, clog the paint and make him a jumpshooter. That's the simple winning formula against this guy currently. At least AD can shoot and score reliably, which Giannis currently is not capable of doing

[Toruko]

Giannis' inability to score against zone defenses was well showcased in both NBA playoffs and FIBA competition as well lol
I'm pretty sure Vogel being a competent coach would find a way to slow down the "Freak" just like any other solid NBA team did pior to him - remove his driving lanes, clog the paint and make him a jumpshooter. That's the simple winning formula against this guy currently. At least AD can shoot and score reliably, which Giannis currently is not capable of doing

To slow down Giannis is not a secret. Form a wall in the entrance of the painted area and prevent him to accelerate and let him shoot. Similar things go for Simmons too. You dont have to be a great coach to recognize it.

[Katastroika]

IMO, the Nuggets have a better basketball team than the Lakers, but...

1. They luck experience to play at this level.
2. Jokic has extremely high basketball IQ and skills far better than AD, but AD wins in athleticism and quickness, therefore the more he plays against Jokic, the more he learns on what to expect out of his moves and how to restrict him. If Denver would have Giannis instead of Jokic, then this series would have been over already due to AD being good enough only to scratch Giannis' balls on the court in all the game's parameters...

Well, I don't know if Giannis is really the missing part. I think Denver needs much more a reliable shooting option from outside because they are spreading very well but hitting shit. It's a difficult topic but I think that this horrible transfer in giving away Juancho and especially Beasley and receiving nothing for them hurts Denver a lot in this series.

Also I think that LBJ and AD are not the major problems in this series, they will always deliver, if they score combined 50 or 60 is not important. Denver focuses on containg the rest of this team. And they failed yesterday (again).

[Buckalis]

Well, I don't know if Giannis is really the missing part. I think Denver needs much more a reliable shooting option from outside because they are spreading very well but hitting shit. It's a difficult topic but I think that this horrible transfer in giving away Juancho and especially Beasley and receiving nothing for them hurts Denver a lot in this series.

Also I think that LBJ and AD are not the major problems in this series, they will always deliver, if they score combined 50 or 60 is not important. Denver focuses on containg the rest of this team. And they failed yesterday (again).

What would Giannis do with respect to Jokic, is to attract one more defender in the paint and therefore open up more space on the periphery, as well as being able to finish on more occasions and still pass the assists... Additionally, Giannis would defend the paint better against drives and would keep Lebron on a distance from the paint.