#because my remaining teammate went out last week we went through everything that East is responsible for

[zenathezee]

Being able to go to my boss and say "the difference between me happy to work here until I go to grad school and wanting to quit everyday is this one thing" and have her be like yeah that's fair is SO POWERFUL

[thelaclippings]

A Season in Retrospect

So, turns out Kawhi’s knee injury was significantly worse than we thought. I mean, it’s not career ending (at least that we know of), but the reality is that he never was coming back to the 2021 Playoff Picture. Do I think the Clippers handled this information well? Maybe. Do I think the Clippers should do everything in their power to keep Kawhi around long-term? Probably. But do I think betting everything on Kawhi coming back to his prior form justifies selling the farm? Absolutely not.

Here’s the thing: as a Clippers fan I am absolutely happy to see Kawhi having chosen the Clippers as his team of the future two years ago. I was excited to see Paul George traded to LA and not end up in the purple & gold, a year removed from spurning the Lakers in free agency, even if it broke my heart to see SGA heading back to OKC in return. I was happy to watch them piece together a team that could legitimately combat LeBron and his then-new running mate Anthony Davis. But the season came, the Clippers looked great (especially against LA - trust me, I was there opening night in a sea of crying Laker fans) and it took a pandemic to derail everything. 

Now, I am not a Bubble-whiner, but was it ideal to have the Bubble be the lasting impression of what it prototypically means to traverse the grueling 82 game season and battle the best of the best? No. The Bubble had it faults, but the Clippers had every shot to win it all just like anyone else that was there. Their collapse is historic and another black mark on the Clipper name, but for me that was greatly the fault of Doc Rivers and his relentless approach at sticking to his guns and NEVER making the unconventional adjustment. He’s absolutely known for it, and the Bubble proved it. Would this have been any different if there had not been the bubble? Maybe not, but the many factors of what happened between stopped play and restarting in the Bubble had more effect than is given credit for (i.e. Montreal Harrell and the loss of his best friend, his grandmother).

This last season showed that the Clippers can be scary when everything is clicking. Yes, other teams suffered injuries throughout the season but the Clippers always appeared to be playing at a 7 with intent to turn it up to 11 when the playoffs came. But their secret weapon was the adjustments Ty Lue was willing to make. If you rewatch each series, you will see the EXACT same formula in each one. Games 1 & 2 were close losses, and by Game 3 the adjustments would kick in. Each series had a young Superstar taking the reigns and showing they were unstoppable. Stephen A. Smith talked about it after every game and even went so far to declare Donovan Mitchell the “greatest Jazz player of all time” based on his performance against the Clippers. Then, the Clippers would put that fire out and the rest of the team would have to pick up the slack. And despite the positive depth of each team (and the universal agreement that the Clippers lacked depth), the Clippers rose to the occasion time and time again.

And when Kawhi went down, we didn’t blink. The momentum of confidence from the coaching staff gave guys like Terrance Mann & Luke Kennard the added support to produce some amazing performances. I firmly believe the Clippers could have won it all had Game 1 of the WCF had a couple calls go our way and PG hit a single Free Throw at the end of Game 2. Then some adequate rest between the WCF and the Finals might have recharged enough for a true run of the Bucks. BUT this isn’t a woulda-shoulda-coulda. Like the team, even I was exhausted by Game 6 following a marathon of games every other day for a solid 3 weeks. 

So it’s on to the next season. A chance to let the excitement and accomplishments from this past season settle in and optimism of the future. Except we are now regularly inundated with news about Kawhi and his future with the team and what the extent of his injury might mean. And while it is probably the most unpopular opinion on the internet, I’ll be the first to say it: if Kawhi doesn’t want to be here, then he needs to go.

If Kawhi wants to be in Dallas or Miami, then let him. If his only avenue there is through a sign and trade, then get some quality in return for his loss and move on. Make more adjustments, get into the right groove, and move on. 

I’ve watched nearly every game of the last two seasons and Kawhi on the floor is universally the best player. But there are moments - regularly - where I am not confident that he inspires his teammates. He is known to be low-key on his attitude and that can be jarring. I want passion, emotion, excitement. I personally thrive off the energy of others and maybe that’s where seeing Kawhi on TV or from a distance at the Staples Center doesn’t always translate. But PG’s energy does. Even when he’s saying some dumb stuff (Playoff P...) he still seems to have the support of his teammates. Without PG we wouldn’t have kept Reggie Jackson at next-to-nothing. PG might be the reason Reggie sticks around on a reasonable contract over the loads of money another team might throw at him.

Kawhi brought us Ibaka, sure, and barring the injury might have been a really great impact on the playoffs. But it’s the role players that carried us through the playoffs when Kawhi went down. And if Kawhi still had a big hand in keeping them motivated, then let’s not lose him. Let’s hope that matters enough for Kawhi to not only want to stick around but keep this team together.

The idea of trading away the bench in order to bring in another question-mark player is nauseating to me. If we have to lose guys like Patrick Beverly, Marcus Morris, or Terrance Mann, I don’t want to see the return be mid-level guys who need to jive in a new situation. If the return is anyone but Damian Lillard, I don’t want them. No John Wall. No Russell Westbrook. No Ben Simmons. No middle-of-the-road players that don’t truly elevate over what we have. Marcus Morris was once seen as one of these guys, and at his best still is. Why trade him unless you are absolutely certain the guy coming back is better? Pat Bev is the heart of our team, and proved that in crunch time he is still easily the most effective defensive stopper in the league. Don’t believe me, listen to comments from the Jazz series on guys not wanting to get stuck with him on them.

Yes, their contracts are high. And yes, nothing can be done without moving on from these guys. But why does anything need to be done? If there’s one for certain that needs to be addressed, it’s Kawhi. If he is not the leader of this team, which I would argue Paul George has more of the proven leader qualities than Kawhi has outwardly shown, and he might want to play somewhere else, then use his albatross contract and the unknown of his injury and how it affects his future as the last-ditch-effort trade chip to bring some talent back and give us the flexibility.

Would I be opposed to Kawhi-to-Dallas? Mostly, as I don’t like enough of the surrounding talent to come back as collateral. Short of getting every draft pick imaginable from Dallas, guys like Tim Hardaway, Jr. or Kristaps Porzingis don’t give me the confidence that I would want to be traceable assets or reliable otherwise. Hardaway had a great resurgence, sure, but he needs to find a way to Indiana to keep playing for Rick Carlisle. Porzingis on the other hand is still a good player, but has proven he’s not worth the contract and thus untraceable to a third team so you’re stuck with him. And he does not signlehandedly replace what Kawhi brings. I like guys like Maxi Kleber, but then we have so many bigs we wouldn’t know what to do with, and trading away Zubac’s to accommodate incoming bigs would be a huge mistake. I also would hate the combination of Luka & Kawhi from a competitor standpoint. If we ran into Dallas a third time in the playoffs next season, but they now have Kawhi instead, we are toast. Bottom line.

I’d send Kawhi to Miami. Mostly because he would only be our problem if they made it to the finals, and as a basketball fan I’d love to see that Miami team go head to head with the Nets for a couple seasons and see what shakes out. If Kawhi joined Jimmy Butler in Miami, the East would, in my opinion, have effectively balanced itself back out with the West. I also think the return would be better. Guys like Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, Kendrick Nunn all have trade value. Get some picks in return as well and we have some quality building blocks. Or truly pull off the incredible by making this trade as a stepping stone to another one that nets the Clippers Damian Lillard.

I’ve tinkered with the NBA Trade Machine and made this work a variety of ways. Sending Ibaka to the Blazers and Kawhi to the Heat allows the Clippers to bring back not just Lillard, but potentially one of Miami’s sharpshooters or even a talent like Jones Jr. or Kanter. Sporting a lineup that includes George and Lillard without giving up guys like Morris, Zubac, Mann, or Beverly would be a huge win. Keeping Rondo for experience and leadership would be welcome though he likely wouldn’t play much, and spending the remaining resources on retaining guys like Nic Batum & Reggie Jackson would be crucial.

All in all, I would hate to see Kawhi leave a team that could have won it if the injury never happened. I would hate to see this team broken up at all. Bring back Batum, bring back Jackson. Bring back guys like Cousins or even Pat Pat (despite his effective 0 minutes played in the playoffs). Leadership and chemistry is the final piece in this already established puzzle. 

But if Kawhi needs to follow his own path, then I think the Clippers need to suck it up and move on.

[cheapnfljerseysreviews-blog]

Golden State Warriors have the ability to be title contenders to cleveland Cavs

Nearly a complete year after Kyrie Irving nailed the step-back shot over Stephen Curry and Lebron jumped, then wept at successfully achieving ending Cleveland’s championship drought, we’re back where we began.  Actually, back in which the entire basketball world likely to be once the 2016-17 season tipped off on March. 25.

Cavaliers-Players III.  The one which settles everything.

Uh, until the coming year Leonel Campos Jersey?

Inside a boxing context, this is the Thrilla in Manila, where Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier pummeled one another towards the edge and Ali would later express it was the nearest factor he’d ever felt to dying.  The finish from the trilogy.

But regardless of the number of haymaker 3s Curry and Kevin Durant can bury for Golden Condition or even the a large number of body blows which are arrived by James and Irving for Cleveland, who’s likely to say we can’t write it to the calendar for June 2018 - Cavaliers-Players IV.  Then V, Mire and VII.

Who’s likely to stop them? The Celts, Rockets, Raptors, Spurs, Wizards, Clippers or Jazz?  Please.

The Players just sailed with the Western Conference just like a kite on the breeze to some perfect 12- record.  The Cavaliers had that inexplicable Game 3 hiccup against Boston and remained as 12-one in the Eastern Conference.

Inside a plumbing context, the pipes are clogged.

“This may be the finest talent differential, in my experience, in National basketball association history Blue Jays Apparel Canada.”

-Ex-National basketball association coach and current broadcaster Shaun Van Gundy

There has not been 1-2 dominance such as this within the good reputation for the National basketball association. It will likely be the very first time ever the same two teams have met within the Finals 3 years consecutively.

The Ray Bird-Magic Manley competition ushered in the current era from the National basketball association using their clashes within the 1980s using what appeared to become their annual coast-to-coast showdowns within the Finals. However, the celts and Opposing team only went mind-to-mind using the title at risk three occasions car decade. There have been Sixers and Rockets and Pistons that poked their heads in to the picture.

When Jordan required the league in to the stratosphere within the 1990s having a matching group of “three-peats,” his Bulls beat back five different challengers in the West, managing a gauntlet of Hall of Famers that incorporated Magic, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley, Gary Payton, John Stockton and Karl Malone. Within the East, he experienced Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars, Patrick Ewing and Alonzo Mourning, all within their prime.

“I think greatness will work for the league,” stated former coach Shaun Van Gundy. “But what’s better for that league is greatness to become challenged. I do not think we’re getting that let's focus on Cleveland and Golden Condition.  The only real roadblock they need to winning a championship is one another.”

It isn't a talent gap, it’s a gorge.  Toronto is originating from the best four-year run in franchise background and needs to consider blowing some misconception to begin throughout simply because they haven’t attracted nearer to the Cavs and, actually, were dismissively taken this year.

“If we'd LeBron on the team, too, we'd have won,” stated Raptors’ DeMar DeRozan nhl merchandise.

But until cloning is perfected, we’re left to ponder when maybe there is somebody to part of and prevent James from extending his streak of reaching The Finals in the current seven consecutively?

James has owned the Eastern Conference in the last decade, eliminating at some point every team in the playoffs except Cleveland, Miami and Orlando.

“I are only able to talk to my very own experience in individuals days when there have been some good teams and great players that didn't win titles due to one man,” stated former point guard Mark Jackson, whose 17-year National basketball association career spanned the Jordan Era.  Jackson’s Knicks and Pacers teams were eliminated four occasions by Jordan’s Bulls within the playoffs.

“I think there are several great teams today, however i have no idea there are as numerous today as in those days,Inches he stated.  “When you consider Stockton and Malone not winning a championship, consider San antonio not winning a championship.  Even that Dallas team returning to Rolando Blackmon, Mark Aguirre,  Derek Harper and Mike Perkins. Which was an excellent team. Within the East we’re speaking about Patrick, Barkley, Indiana, some good Miami Heat teams, Milwaukee with Alvin Robertson.  Man, there have been some loaded teams that couldn’t overcome the hump. And also the hump was Jordan.

“But the factor is, we believed it. You usually believed it, each year. I was close enough to obtain him.  There have been situations having a tipped ball here, a loose ball there, maybe. However in the finish, it’s a credit to his greatness.

“Do other teams today really believe they are able to beat the Cavs and Players?  I am not sure. I do not know.

Therefore the regular season could be about Russell Westbrook and James Harden dueling for triple-doubles, Gregg Popovich ranting at sideline reporters, Blake Griffin trying to not harmed and Charles, Kenny, Shaq and Ernie keeping many of us quite highly entertained.  But it’s like going for a spin class and pedaling to nowhere until Golden Condition-Cleveland take us for any ride in June.

“Look, Jordan still won all individuals years,” Van Gundy stated.  “But it was not like he wasn’t pressed. It was not such as this, a mowing lower. Everyone expects in early models, 1-8 matchup to become easy.  Although not 1-2 or perhaps in Cleveland’s situation 2-1.  To conquer another team on their own home floor by 46 after being up 25 the sport before. Are you currently kidding? Where's this likely to finish?”

Prognosticators and straightforward human biology would appear to state that James needs to slow lower eventually.  But he’s 32, completing his 14th pro season and spitting out opponents such as the back finish of the wood chipper.  Irving is 25.  Kevin Love is 28.  Who are able to you say normally takes them lower in 2017-18?

That Warriors’ side from the bracket is much more lopsided with Curry 29, Durant 28, Eco-friendly 27, Thompson 27.

“This may be the finest talent differential, in my experience, in National basketball association history.  This is where I believe I simply wanted there is a bit more challenging them, particularly the Players,” Van Gundy stated.  “Because basically we possess the huge gap between your top two teams and all of those other league, there's a big gap between 1 and 2, from Golden Condition to Cleveland.  Consider it.  Otherwise for Draymond Green’s punch on LeBron, I do not think anybody doubts they win in five this past year and opting for three consecutively - with Kevin Durant.  It’s absurd.

“The first couple of years, these were lower inside a series or more.  However this differs.  This team is really far better, more gifted, compared to 73-win team due to Durant.  Are you currently saying there’s a method to beat them four occasions if they’re healthy?  I do not view it.Inches

Give Boston anybody you would like using the No. 1 pick within the Draft as well as say Gordon Hayward decides to join the celts in free agency.  Does that place them beyond the Cavaliers?  The Wizards can’t work through the 2nd round.  The Dollars and Sixers have youthful talent, but they are years away.  The Pacers and Pistons have regressed.  The Bulls are stuck within the dirt.

The Jazz make impressive strides in the western world, however must battle to keep Hayward and have plenty of ground to pay for to trap the Players.  The Memphis core is aging, youthful rosters in Denver and Phoenix are greener than St. Paddy’s Day beer, Houston and OKC are circus sideshows with features.  The Opposing team can’t see respectability having a telescope.  The Pelicans are confused.  The Spurs really are a tweaked Kawhi Leonard ankle from not really having the ability to compete.  And you may not wish to bank around the Clippers hockey merchandise?

“We are all aware reality states that certain day James won’t have the ability to perform the things he is doing,Inches Van Gundy stated.  “But we’re going to need to observe that happen before we begin believing it.  Like a coach, he enables you to re-believe that a group ‘can transform it on’ and ‘turn them back.’  We’re simply because this season.  So Cleveland keeps doing what they’re doing.

“Then, let's say I stated the Players are gonna go 7 or 8 straight many years to The Finals?  This is three.  Individuals four core guys are within their 20s.  Is the fact that great for the sport?Inches

It's in June. Until somebody may come along and flush the pipes.

As I have stated before, Marshall will leave searching better simply automatically. Richardson place the ball in Marshall's court also it was the simple -- and proper -- move for Marshall is the bigger person and leave.

However, nobody knows the genesis from the Marshall-Richardson feud, which caused the happy couple to apparently fight within the Jets locker room this past year and snipe backwards and forwards through the season. Inside a recent interview with Newsday, Richardson stated Marshall was the locker room "poster boy," and pointed out "drama queen antics." When requested by Newsday to reply to Richardson's claims the 2009 week, Marshall also required our prime road because he did Thursday.

Richardson appeared upset he was considered the "cancer" within that locker room (his words), while Marshall could escape any blame. There's a high probability Richardson is totally within the suitable for calling out his former teammate.

Digging much deeper in to the fight could give Jets fans a fascinating perspective on which went so wrong this past year and who they ought to truly be pulling for. However with Marshall putting the bickering to sleep for the time being, can we ever know?

[zenathezee]

Being able to go to my boss and say "the difference between me happy to work here until I go to grad school and wanting to quit everyday is this one thing" and have her be like yeah that's fair is SO POWERFUL