@BrandonSnass@WembyCentral Sure but KAT’s been the dynamic that’s dominated the matchup. He’s playing the best ball of his career by miles all playoffs, and has been the best player through 2 games by a chasm. The advantages he has are more likely to continue to play out than Brunson flipping the dynamic
@NNicx__@eastowilko@Carsobi Drops off a cliff, his playoff career to this point is terrible. Luka’s the unquestionably better playoff performer, as is Jokic. Difference for Jokic having a bad series is that it’s an outlier. I think the 3 of them are basically tied for 2nd rn, but Shai is def as low as 4.
@DonaldToli66380@EmmaVigeland Sure, but you’re talking about a post prime phase of his career (where he’s still better than his historical peers). Cavs were -8.8 this playoffs when Harden was off vs +1.8 when he was on, they don’t get out the 1st round without him, he saved them multiple times vs the Pistons
@CityLightSports@EmmaVigeland The reason he never beat Steph is that Steph is one of the 5-10 best players ever with a way better team. The “gassed” thing isn’t really what happened, his issue was he never developed a reliable intermediate game and played a variance style based on high volume step back 3s.
@CityLightSports@EmmaVigeland There is a distinction to draw between Luka and Harden. Luka’s been one of the best playoff risers in NBA history, winning countless playoff series he had no business winning, while giving legendary performance after legendary performance. They’re not the same.
@james_final_mp4@EmmaVigeland Then what’s the conversation? That’s generally where he’s considered on all time lists (around top 25), I personally have him higher than the average person, but idk why we have to pretend like a top 25 player all time isn’t a winning player.
@ttrev_l@automaticnba@ReavesSeed@bontahillstan Ended up with Luka so it worked out but 24 was a year worth going all in for. If they could’ve got Caruso+DFS that deadline, Bron and AD could’ve probably won the West. IMO both were top 4 that year behind Jokic and Luka. DLo and Rui were just so bad on both ends that series
@james_final_mp4@EmmaVigeland A Reddit thread? The only stars who won more playoff games since he entered the league are LeBron, Steph, and KD. In his prime he couldn’t get over the hump of GS, but he beat everyone else. He’s not a top 10 player all time or anything, but he’s absolutely a winning player
@james_final_mp4@EmmaVigeland He’s consistently made his teams great. In 2018, if he doesn’t have to play the greatest team ever assembled in the conference finals (he still took them to 7 and was up 3-2 before his costar got hurt), he would’ve won it all and you would view him as the winner he is
@levelsoundz@EmmaVigeland Who? If you’re confused, the statmuse with LeBron at the top has Harden 8th in career playoff wins (only behind guys who were role players on dynasty and Steph, LeBron, and KD). He’s won a whole lot of playoff games for someone who’s not considered a winner.
@Imeli692@Carsobi Maxi setting a good screen is more space created than Rui’s attention, Austin got space for his shot. I personally would’ve had Rui in but if the most reliable shot they could get was an Austin pull up 3, I think it’s a lil silly to hyper focus on who was on the floor
@MinnieFluff@Carsobi@WembyCentral I mean he’d be right? It was close but I think Jokic had a lil gap over Shai after the playoffs. And I guess it’d be a lil disingenuous because he was the best regular season player this year, but if Wemby outplays him H2H and Spurs win it all, he’d have a pretty damn good case.
@caveman20222@blaiden I mean them getting a bye week just means that even in a 4 team format they’d fall from 1st to 3rd and still make it. CFB is better when it’s not BCS 2 teams off a computer. Playoff keeps more programs fans engaged in the sport, it’s peaking right now.
@FeelLikeOBK@BrunnCarrigg Hayes is better this year, the Lakers players are better this year (one of those was without Luka or AD), the Clippers are worse this year. What are we doing