From Distance: Playoff Questions

four point play, with a bunch of and-ones……….

With two Game Sevens remaining in the second round of the Playoffs, I thought it time to ask some Playoff questions. It seems the general evaluation process of players is more fickle than I can ever remember. After each game, somebody declares a winning player as a Hall of Famer, and laments any star player on the losing team as a terrible human being, unworthy of love.

Frankly, it is exhausting. And fun.

We normally try to keep some levity here at C:tB, but no one is patently against some fun hot takes! With that, I will ask and answer a few questions regarding the many notable story lines of the 2019 Playoffs. I’ll keep my answers short. Let us have yours in the Comments.

In no particular order:

1. Who is the most overrated Houston Rocket?

Chris Paul. Despite his solid Game 6 performance in the Rockets’ losing effort, Paul has consistently been pretty good in the playoffs, but rarely great. For a player that is widely considered to be a top 10 Point Guard of All Time, that just isn’t good enough for me.

His poor defensive rotation on a Klay Thompson three pointer late in the game may have cost the Rockets their season. Should we kill an otherwise good defender for missing one rotation. Sure!

2. Are the Rockets better without Kevin Durant? (Of course I meant the Warriors, but yes, that mess up is hilarious)

Of course not. BUT, I think the Warriors’ floor is higher without Durant than with him. That may seem strange considering Durant is a very consistent player. Still, the Warriors’ offensive attack isn’t quite as fluid with Durant as it is without him.

That can cause the Dubs to go through some tough stretches when the other guys get out of rhythm. When they are firing on all cylinders, the Durant Warriors probably have the highest ceiling of any team ever.

3. Who is having the best Playoffs?

Can it be anyone other than The Freak? Giannis may have had a less than stellar Game 1 against the Celtics, but other than that, his Bucks have mowed through the competition. He is leading the NBA in Playoffs win shares per 48, leading in Defensive Rating, and is leading in PER. Yes, a dude is leading in both PER and Defensive Win shares. That is not a common occurrence.

Beyond the numbers, Giannis is taking people’s hearts out, one crazy play at time. When he blocked Horford’s shot from a defensive post position in the Bucks’ closeout victory, it was emblematic of The Freak’s rise. “No more!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2ZvPDWRs50

4. Would you want Embiid or Jokic going forward?

Not shocking to anyone who has ever read me, I would take The Joker 10 times out of 10. Embiid can be more physically dominating, a more fearsome defender, and a tougher guy to stop one-on-one. When healthy, he is monster.

And yet, Jokic is the better basketball player. Jokic’s overall floor game is simply spectacular. He knows when to do what on a possession to possession basis as well as anyone I have seen. His soft touch off spin moves, in the floater game, and clearly in his passing, is a wonder to behold. Defensively, Joker is huge, moves his feet well considering his size, and has disruptive hands.

More than anything, Jokic can play with anybody. Put him with Ben Simmons and Simmons becomes a fearsome rim-roller. His decision making would unlock any limitations that Simmons has. That shouldn’t be a deciding factor between the two star bigmen, but it says a lot about Embiid’s limitations as a passer and shooter.

5. Are Hood and Hill better without LeBron James?

Yes. And so am I.

6. In a vacuum, with no injury concerns, would Eric Gordon be better than Klay Thompson?

I love Gordon’s game. But the answer is, “are you frickin kidding me?” Gordon is a good shooter. Klay is an all-timer who allows the Warriors to Warrior. If you would have subbed in a healthy Gordon for Thompson, they probably would still have won a couple championships, but Klay is the better player overall. Breaking someone down off the dribble is not the only skill in the world.

7. With Irving’s terrible shooting percentage in Round 2, has Kyrie officially turned into Kobe Bryant? 

I can’t wait to root against him wherever he ends up next year. But let’s not insult Kobe. At least Kobe is actually a bright guy and not an intellectual wannabe. Well… Actually… We need more information.

8. How has the NBA media still not gotten the memo that Khris Middleton is legit good?

Middleton hasn’t scorched the earth this year like he did last Playoffs, but his two way play as a two guard has been incredibly important to the Bucks success. Khris is huge, but has the smarts and feet to hang playing the two guard for huge stretches. That has allowed the Bucks to play Mirotic with Lopez and Giannis in the frontcourt. Good luck scoring against that size, or grabbing an offensive rebound.

Mirotic has been better than expected as a defender in the playoffs. (Not good, just not terrible). That isn’t possible without Middleton’s flexibility.

9. What do the Sixers do?

Game 7 will go a long way to deciding the Sixers’ fate. Harris is at his best when he handles in the PnR. Butler is at his best when he handles in the PnR. Simmons is at his best when he handles, period. Embiid needs the rock.

Butler and Harris are equipped to play off ball, so Coach Brett Brown has bent over backwards trying to play through Simmons and Embiid as much as he can.

I don’t expect that to happen in Game 7. If they want to win, Harris and Butler need to be their primary play-makers, Simmons needs to not play in crunch time, and Embiid needs to show up.

Still, would you really trade Simmons to resign Butler and Harris? Elton Brand will have a tough off-season unless the Sixers make the Finals.

10. Are the Warriors still the favorites with Durant out for the foreseeable future?

Sigh. Yes… And who knows how a sans Durant championship would affect his free agency decision. Seriously, who knows? Anyone?