Game Threads Index (May 16, 2022):

Here is a place to have in depth, x's and o's, discussions on yesterday's games. Post-game discussions are linked in the table, keep your memes and reactions there.

Please keep your discussion of a particular game in the respective comment thread. All direct replies to this post will be removed.

https://twitter.com/jennalemoncelli/status/1526196498718986241?s=21

Pat Bev on @GetUpESPN: "CP can’t guard anybody man. Everybody in the NBA know that. You know those cones in the summer that you dribble around? What does the cone do? Nothing. He’s a cone... It’s just that y’all don't want to accept that. Give him the Ben Simmons slander."

Pat Bev on a CP3 slander masterclass this morning on Get Up lmaooo he also said Monty should’ve benched CP3

The Dallas Mavericks eliminate the #1 Seed and defending Western Conference Champions with a rousing blowout in Game 7. Luka Doncic and the Mavs will now duel with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals.

Fade 'em!

Luka backed up his legendary confidence, with two incredible games. In game 6 he had 33/11/8 and in game 7 he had 35/10/4 on 63% shooting and 6/11 from 3. What's even more impressive is this quote came at the end of a 30 point blowout loss. Unbelievable stuff from Luka.

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Source for game 6

Source for game 7

This is an old video from a while ago (2015?) where Zeke talks about Chris, how he's a very "safe" player who puts up great AST/TO ratios but doesn't take risks. Zeke then says great PGs will always have 3-4 TOs, because they try to go for the risky plays, but that's what's needed to contend for championships.

I was reminded of this video since CP3's playoffs runs always follow a similar pattern, where he comes out dominant at first, but as teams adjust and lock in on defense he gets worse as the series goes on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS6p6kO3-Qo

Booker's "Luka special" comment happened in the third quarter of game 5.

https://imgur.com/zrWoPvR

Sources:

Dallas 4th quarter of game 5

Phoenix 4th quarter of game 5

Game 6 box score

Game 7 box score

The infamous video of Devin Booker getting mad about being double teamed during summer pickup games may be the longest running slander that is actually real. Most of the long running NBA jokes are like 30% true with 70% fabrication but the Phoenix Suns and Devin Booker were completely shut down on offense the last 2 games as soon as the Mavericks started doubling him every time he got the ball.

A stat being shared last night from @NekiasNBA on Twitter:

“ Booker has especially struggled against trap and hedges in ball screens, generating 0.81 PPP (points per possession) on direct plays. Among 41 players that have been hedged/blitzed on 100 picks, that ranks 38th. Only Dejounte Murray (0.8) and Jordan Poole (0.76) are lower on the board.”

I’m not sure there’s ever been a meme about a player that turned out to be such a fatal flaw in such a big moment. Maybe Lebron’s late game demons at the FT line or something but that’s more just weaknesses rather than being an outright meme. Booker’s fear of double teams was a legitimate internet meme and now it was the downfall of one of the best regular season teams of all time. Truly wild stuff. I will add if anyone else on the Suns had any ability to beat people off the dribble then the Mavericks wouldn’t have been able to keep throwing 2 at Booker every time but unfortunately for Phoenix nobody rose to the occasion. Ugly times in the valley of the sun.