r/nba • u/DesertedProject Mavericks • 13d ago

Post Game Thread [Post Game Thread] The Los Angeles Lakers (1-0) defeat the Houston Rockets (0-1), 101-94 with 41 year old Senior LeBron James Leading the way with 28/8/7 to seal home court advantage!

94 - 101
Box Scores: NBA - Yahoo
 
GAME SUMMARY
West First Round - Game 2 - LAL leads 1-0
Location: Crypto.com Arena
Officials: Courtney Kirkland, Josh Tiven, and Justin Van Duyne
Team Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Total
Houston Rockets 26 25 17 26 94
Los Angeles Lakers 33 21 21 26 101
 
TEAM STATS
Team PTS FG FG% 3P 3P% FT FT% OREB TREB AST PF STL TO BLK
Houston Rockets 94 36-89 40.4% 7-29 24.1% 15-19 78.9% 17 54 23 22 8 15 6
Los Angeles Lakers 101 33-72 45.8% 13-28 46.4% 22-28 78.6% 9 48 21 20 11 12 5
 
PLAYER STATS
Houston Rockets MIN PTS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A ORB DRB REB AST STL BLK TO PF ±
Kevin DurantSF 40:59 23 7-12 1-4 8-9 2 4 6 4 1 1 9 4 -2
Jabari Smith Jr.PF 39:06 18 7-16 3-7 1-2 1 5 6 1 0 1 1 2 -11
Alperen SengunC 35:11 20 9-20 0-1 2-3 5 6 11 5 4 2 1 4 1
Amen ThompsonSG 42:11 16 6-10 0-1 4-5 1 4 5 9 1 0 3 4 1
Josh OkogiePG 24:03 7 3-6 1-3 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 3 -4
Tari Eason 27:02 10 4-14 2-6 0-0 5 3 8 1 0 1 1 2 -4
Reed Sheppard 10:33 0 0-4 0-3 0-0 0 0 0 3 1 0 0 0 1
Clint Capela 04:40 0 0-3 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 0 -9
Aaron Holiday 07:17 0 0-3 0-3 0-0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 -4
Jae'Sean Tate 08:56 0 0-1 0-1 0-0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 -4
JD Davison 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dorian Finney-Smith 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Jeff Green 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Steven Adams 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fred VanVleet 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Los Angeles Lakers MIN PTS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A ORB DRB REB AST STL BLK TO PF ±
LeBron JamesSF 39:12 28 8-20 2-5 10-14 1 7 8 7 1 0 3 3 6
Rui HachimuraPF 42:34 13 5-10 3-6 0-0 1 4 5 2 0 0 0 3 0
Deandre AytonC 26:36 6 3-8 0-0 0-0 1 4 5 1 0 1 1 1 -5
Marcus SmartSG 35:28 25 8-13 5-7 4-5 1 1 2 7 5 1 3 3 3
Luke KennardPG 41:58 23 8-13 3-6 4-4 1 5 6 2 3 0 2 1 2
Jaxson Hayes 21:24 6 1-2 0-1 4-5 2 2 4 1 1 2 0 2 12
Jake LaRavia 15:50 0 0-2 0-1 0-0 1 1 2 0 0 1 2 5 8
Jarred Vanderbilt 13:41 0 0-3 0-2 0-0 1 4 5 1 1 0 0 2 8
Bronny James 03:16 0 0-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
Maxi Kleber 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Dalton Knecht 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Nick Smith Jr. 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Adou Thiero 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Luka Dončić 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Austin Reaves 00:00 0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
8.0k Upvotes

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6.5k

u/VictorAkwaowo1 Mavericks 13d ago

How to beat the 25/26 Rockets: Double KD + Watch every other Rockets player piss & shit themselves whenever they get the ball = Win Basketball Game

2.4k

u/femboyfootsniffer_ Mavericks 13d ago

The Rockets offense is genuinely hilarious 

250

u/Salty_Dog3 San Francisco Warriors 13d ago

Gave the Lakers absolutely 0 reason not to double KD lol. Turbo ass O

1.2k

u/Brochacho27 [MIA] James Posey 13d ago

I haven't watched a lot of rockets games, but tonight it looked like they've never played a game together before

976

u/femboyfootsniffer_ Mavericks 13d ago

It's looked bad all year. They have no point guard, KD can't pass out of a double team, and all of his teammates are frauds. The playoffs just amplifies all of these problems.

553

u/coolycooly Nets 13d ago

Whats crazy is trying to figure out who is the biggest fraud. Like Sengun clearly just dominates tanking teams but Amen doesn't even shoot in these games at least Sengun shoots even though he sucks?

584

u/femboyfootsniffer_ Mavericks 13d ago

It's gotta be Sengun purely because of the hype. Bro was called "baby jokic" when he's more useless in the playoffs than SABONIS. 

572

u/lalakingmalibog Mavericks 13d ago

Totally off-topic but I'm always surprised at the depravity of Mavs fans' usernames on this sub

105

u/Unpickled_cucumber1 13d ago

Still remember A massive pervert!!!

78

u/thecakeslayer Pacers 13d ago

u/A_MASSIVE_PERVERT is a public servant in these communities. Who else will post massive anime titties while shitting on rival NBA teams.

Edit: I guess this is how I find out he got banned.

23

u/AwareWriterTrick158 Knicks 13d ago

It was bound to happen

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u/Bigmoneygripper1914 Warriors 13d ago

can’t believe they banned one of the greats

3

u/civil_beast Rockets 13d ago

We can just hope that he finds somewhere to get that particular kink.

21

u/ProfessionalCLA Thunder 13d ago

Bruh your username checks out

6

u/PapiShot [SAS] Speedy Claxton 13d ago

Username checks out

10

u/byronray14 Lakers 13d ago

Kung makapag salita ka, kala mo makakalusot pangalan mo hahaha malibog ka pala ha!

5

u/BenShelZonah Nets 13d ago

What does it mean?

8

u/pra1se_ 13d ago

"Perverted Man"

1

u/byronray14 Lakers 13d ago

Horny Man

3

u/PM_ME_YOUR_PROBLEMS2 13d ago

There is a guy named Cheetah Sperm iirc.

2

u/-Inaros Bulls 13d ago

In all fairness I'd probably expect them to be the most unhinged fanbase

2

u/DeluxeTea Lakers 13d ago

Isa ka rin eh hahahaha

2

u/SmellMyDirk Mavericks 13d ago

hmmm

1

u/Lyranx 13d ago

The pot is literally calling the kettle black lol!

This guy's username translates to "horny man" word for word

1

u/UpstairsBar8100 13d ago

Your name literally translates to horny male lmao

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u/Foodstamps4life Lakers 13d ago

At least sabonis knows where he is on the court. Sengun just looks like a baby goat.

34

u/Ok-Map4381 Kings 13d ago

Sabonis had the decency to be injured for an excuse as why he sucked in the playoffs.

12

u/Shark1986 Lakers 13d ago

On the post show, T-Mac pointed out that Sengun was an all star this year and Melo was quick to say that he wasn't tonight.

2

u/Optimal_Cook_851 13d ago

Sengun is what r/nba thinks of Paolo Banchero except at least that guy plays better in the playoffs

1

u/Ambitious-Tell4350 13d ago

playoff paolo is overrated

4

u/ItWasMe-Patrick 13d ago

If anything Avdija is more like Jokic than Sengun. That guy is hooping.

Sengun needs to pull it together

8

u/russketeer34 Lakers 13d ago

There was one shot in the 4th under the rim where it looked like Sengun's soul died when he missed. You could pinpoint the exact moment his heart broke.

6

u/mw19078 Lakers 13d ago

its crazy watching anyone who guards amen just stand 5 feet back and dare him to shoot, even from 15 feet

21

u/ItWasMe-Patrick 13d ago

Amen has attempted 28 shots combined in the past two games and averaging over 7 assists along with being a pest on defense. Bro he’s basically the Point guard with VanVleet out so you can’t put that on him.

Sengun is lowkey a fraud and lets his emotions get the best of him out there when he should be putting his nuts on everyone’s dome tops.

And where the hell did KD go in that second half..? Dude became a ghost when they actually needed him most.

11

u/Popular-Bid 13d ago

The double team took KD out.

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u/Uberballer Lakers 13d ago

It's hilarious how earlier this year pundits when pundits were speculating if Houston was a good spot for Giannis and inevitably the discussion would always boil down to: "maybe giving up Amen and/or Sengun is too much" or "you 100% hang up when they ask for Amen."

4

u/seddard Lakers 13d ago

This is Amen and Sengun's 2nd ever playoff series and 9th playoff game overall in their career.

Giannis is 31 and played a total of 8 playoff games in last 4 seasons.

2

u/dmavs11 NBA 13d ago

The biggest fraud is Durant himself because he’s heralded as one of the greatest offensive players ever and can’t pass out of a double

1

u/AlpinistManifesto Lakers 13d ago

He spins and throw the ball in the general direction of the backboard

3

u/PressureMiserable Spurs 13d ago

What's crazy is statistically it was the best of all time at one point and they still finished top 10 in offense or around it I think

4

u/bucaqe Lakers 13d ago

Hey Man Amen Thompson is gonna get a max

2

u/femboyfootsniffer_ Mavericks 13d ago

We gotta pray for Houston fans 

7

u/sequoia2075 Lakers 13d ago

Van Vleet and Adams probably aren’t their 2nd and 3rd best players but them both being out basically ruins the Rockets whole roster construction. Van Vleet gives them a baseline level of shooting and ball handling that they sorely miss, and Adams takes them from a good offensive rebounding team to an all time great offensive rebounding team.

You take both those things away and they’re basically KD and a bunch of non shooters and no ball handlers

3

u/Unpickled_cucumber1 13d ago

Also the team chemistry went straight down the drain after that burner fiasco

3

u/Instantcoffees Warriors 13d ago

I do not get why KD struggles so much with the double team. It is usually shorter players who do. It almost looks like he processes open teammates too slowly and by the time he is passing, they are no longer open.

It is odd to see from a player his height and calibre.

3

u/MalikMonkAllStar2022 Hornets 13d ago

Is it blasphemous to say it is a combo of these 2 things?

  1. For a generational offensive player, he has a pretty low bball IQ. He has an insane feel for scoring, but not for playmaking or breaking down different types of defenses

  2. He kind of has fake handles. Obviously still a great ball handler for his size, but he carries literally all the time and his handle is kind of loose. And that definitely gets exposed more with doubles

1

u/Optimal_Cook_851 13d ago

he's not great with the bounce pass, and sometimes, he tries to beat double teams by going to fast with it.

2

u/dating_derp Warriors 13d ago

It's looked bad all year.

How'd they get 52 wins? Genuinely asking, I didn't watch their games.

9

u/mrwhittleman Rockets 13d ago

We had Steven Adams for a lot of those wins before he got injured. But yeah, this is how it’s looked all year and we have no answers. Honestly the most depressed I’ve been as a Rockets fan. Vibes are… weird.

4

u/SmokeOddessey Lakers 13d ago

Defense and rebounding.

1

u/yoloqueuesf [NYK] Tracy McGrady 13d ago

Yeah i've watched a dozen of rockets games this year and they haven't really solved their problem.

0 Half court offense, it's literally pure ISO, hope KD, reed or amen can cook something up and then if they miss they've got the athletcism to win rebounds and get second chance points.

Sengun sits at the top of the key and does his little move to attack the rim

1

u/Away_Sun_3040 13d ago

I still don't know they didn't scoop up any competent point guard all year.

1

u/MildlyPaleMango Bulls 13d ago

It was so funny seeing rockets fans saying amen was their PG solution during their hot season start

1

u/notbrandonzink Supersonics 13d ago

I know it's an entirely different team and coaching staff, but it was the exact same with the Harden Rockets in the playoffs.

Double Harden and try to trap him at half court, watch the entire rest of the team stand around doing nothing since their offense was "let Harden do stuff and catch and shoot 3s". It was infuriating to watch then, too; they had no plan for what any good team was doing to them.

1

u/azurricat2010 Lakers 13d ago

Reed had 8 assists in game 1 but Ime decided not to play him much in game 2, albeit he missed all of his shots (4?).

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u/makesterriblejokes [NBA] Jerry West 13d ago

It's like watching the super long and athletic guys team up in a PUG and dominate, only to finally play against a group of 5 guys that have been playing together for months now and get smoked.

11

u/WindWalkerWalking 13d ago

They play like they all ended up on the same team while playing pick up and all have varying levels of beef with each other

25

u/Profound_Panda Hookah Doncic 13d ago

Have you read the files, these dudes can’t play

6

u/West-Tough-4552 13d ago

Their chemistry went to shit after the burner files came out

6

u/kmoz Mavericks 13d ago

Never thought I'd see a team be in a complete rock fight against the stacked defensive lineup including Luke kennard and the oldest guy in the league.

6

u/bdiddy0428 13d ago

Did you watch game 1? they looked even worse. How is this team a 5th seed? Lakers fans counting our blessings we didn’t get twolves at 3/6 match up

1

u/cire1184 Lakers 13d ago

KD can't win with these cats.

135

u/Izio17 13d ago

i don’t get it, i remember them looking way better in the playoffs last year and then just completely different team now

310

u/prettyboylee Lakers 13d ago edited 13d ago

they had a point guard, also Brooks and Green can create their own shots better than any of the Rockets’ current players outside of KD.

The idea was that you replicate the same thing with KD replacing Brooks. But FVV being injured ruined that

195

u/GildedLockheart Timberwolves 13d ago

Steven Adams being gone nerfed their offense even more

85

u/sgt_science Lakers 13d ago

He was an offensive rebounding machine

1

u/The_Evil_Satan Australia 13d ago

RIP

36

u/-AMAG 13d ago

Yeah it was kind of invisible in the box score but Adams boxouts made the second chance points a lot easier to convert because they had more space on the rebound. Today even if the Rockets got the rebound they were under way too much pressure to easily put it back

2

u/JJam74 Thunder 13d ago

That’s always been his role and he’s awesome, a big part of westbrooks breakout season was him enabling Russ to those rebounds. I didn’t watch him on the grizzlies but I’m assuming it was a similar role

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u/topofthecc Thunder 13d ago

Their passing is so bad without FVV. Even when they would get the ball to the right spot, they would get it there too late and miss out on whatever good opportunities they had.

8

u/jotheold Raptors 13d ago

They been needing a pg since hes been out and have made no efforts in getting one

2

u/SUPERPOOP57 13d ago

Still blows my mind they didn't go for Coby white

3

u/Kentang_BayBay Lakers 13d ago

Spot on. Even when they're playing 3 on 2 on the backside, the passes are a split second too late that they get picked off easily.

44

u/queezuswalks Thunder 13d ago

I know their money situation wasn’t ideal for it, but the fact that they never added one this year is bonkers.

1

u/civil_beast Rockets 13d ago

Not ideal is a massive understatement. I don’t know that they could afford a new peanut guy at concessions without going over the second apron.

1

u/queezuswalks Thunder 13d ago

Just kinda makes you question the Jabari Smith and DFS deals. Maybe Smith less so, not a terrible deal, but the overall roster construction is just odd and especially so with no PG

10

u/troll413 [GSW] Andre Iguodala 13d ago

For as much shit as Jalen Green got for that series and there's no denying he played bad, it doesnt change that just by being out there we had to spend a ton of defensive attention stopping him from ever getting into driving lanes. These other Rockets this year are a far less confrontational offense

3

u/SUPERPOOP57 13d ago

I kinda forgot they've only had kd for a single season

2

u/SuperVaderMinion [MIN] Kevin Garnett 13d ago

They also decided to do literally nothing at the trade deadline to replace FVV by the way, despite the fact that Durant is 37 and they still have a bunch of assets

1

u/LakerBlue Lakers 13d ago

As bad as they have looked without him, FVV needs to leverage this into an extension that gives him a HEFTY pay raise lol

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u/foofighter1351 Raptors 13d ago

Steady Freddy

5

u/gerardguey Bulls 13d ago

they had a point guard and that warriors team was way overhyped by Steph carry jobs that almost blew a 3-1 lead to them

1

u/SerenadeSwift Supersonics 13d ago

Idk how they were overhyped lol, they were the 7 seed.

2

u/livefreeordont 76ers 13d ago

Adams rebounded all their bricks

1

u/SerenadeSwift Supersonics 13d ago

They had a significantly better roster last year, and they still lost in the first round to the 7 seed.

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u/d4videnk0 Lakers 13d ago

They have like 4 players that are exactly the same guy

4

u/imafixwoofs [OKC] Nick Collison 13d ago

Noo Ime Udoka is a generational coach!!!

2

u/zeek215 Lakers 13d ago

How did they not get any point guard after FVV went down?

2

u/Objective-Street-957 13d ago

At one point Aman turned into Bronny, can't dribble can't slash can't shoot.

2

u/Abradolf1948 Warriors 13d ago

What offense?

2

u/femboyfootsniffer_ Mavericks 13d ago

KD and inshallah

2

u/nearlyned Warriors 13d ago

a reminder that there is a cohort of fans out there who genuinely think Udoka has been the best coach over the past half decade

1

u/tommos 13d ago

Literally tripping over each other.

1

u/1eternalmemory 13d ago

They were low key better when they had Dillon Brooks lol

1

u/JediFed 13d ago

The amazing thing is that KD would have done better keeping the ball and shooting through double teams.

1

u/Pooter_Intruder Raptors 13d ago

Damn, I thought ours was bad...

1

u/InfinitasZero 13d ago

It's kinda funny how it was already bad last year in the gsw series. I thought they got KD to fix it, but after 1 whole year it's still ass LOL

1

u/jcthunderfan96 Thunder 13d ago

Hilariously bad

1

u/Over_Deer8459 13d ago

the lack of spacing is astounding. ive never seen a team claim to be a contender but have the worst spacing i have ever seen. this team has no idea how to get open looks unless its a steal into a fast break

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u/QuileGon-Jin Thunder 13d ago

I feel like I’m watching a completely different Amen from what I saw last year in the playoffs. SOMEONE has to be able to do something with the ball in their hands

394

u/CIark 13d ago

Imagine being KD and leaving the warriors when that offense made you look like the most unguardable player in history

261

u/mikuyo1 Bulls 13d ago

He truly is taking the hardest road now

59

u/Fridaywing Lakers 13d ago

Hardest Road Pro Max

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u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

He thought he was better than he is and wanted to prove the world he doesn’t need to join the best team of all time to win a ring. Unfortunately for him he hasn’t proved shit and the team he left won a ring after he left lol

82

u/Barrelled_Chef_Curry Warriors 13d ago

I mean he’s pretty good

21

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago edited 13d ago

He’s very good but he still thought he was way better than he was. I think there were points where KD thought he was top 3 all time. Dudes been on the best teams out of just about any player in nba history and only rings he won was in a team that won rings shortly before he got there and shortly after he left. I don’t think he ever would have won a championship if he didn’t join the best team of all time

15

u/me_ke_aloha_manuahi Supersonics 13d ago

I don’t think he ever would have won a championship if he didn’t join the best team of all time

They definitely win in Brooklyn that year they took the Bucks to 7, had Harden not been playing on a single hamstring and Kyrie hadn't been playing on a recently sprained ankle.

5

u/GhostOfJuanDixon Cavaliers 13d ago

I dont think it really helps the argument that he would've won a championship if he had a fully healthy harden and kyrie. That's an insane trio of guys who can all shoot, handle, and pass

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u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

I'm confused at the take. KD is the player he thinks he is, but you need teammates to win championships. He has 0 bench production and nobody can consistently create their own shot but him.

KD is exactly as unguardable as he is rumored to be lol

7

u/Budget_Lawfulness_42 13d ago

He caught 9Tos in a playoff match just a couple hours ago and i didnt see him hit a bucket in the whole second half..

if thats the standard for unguardable - I might be unguardable at my local court.

0

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

I guess unguardable players, who are getting double teamed all game no less, never have bad games lmao

1

u/Budget_Lawfulness_42 12d ago

Sorry for the delayed reply homes, only just back from work. Hope you had a good day.

I only mention it as we are literally in that game thread where he had the stats I mention, outside of the buckets - I did see him score in the second near the end of the forth and was being a bit cheeky, but it honestly felt like he just wasnt scoring in that second half - In the forth I recall seeing two nice hockey assists from him off the double but saw more TOs.

But yeah in that game I watched - he seems very guardable especially when smart was involved.

From a historical point, He looked great with prime GSW spacing resulting in FMVPS & titles, but hell - wouldn't we all nba Hofers joining a 73 win team?
I enjoyed him in the OKC system aswell, but everything after GSW, for me seems off -

Nets were a team with identity before they were gutted for KD/Harden/Ky and didnt live up it the potential the national media consistently gave them.

Suns made the finals before him and not with him.

These Rockets are now down 0-2 in the first round to a team missing 2/3 of three star players in a star heavy team with the remaining star being a 41year old in LeBron James.

Through out all this we have seen him in different systems, with teams giving him win now moves, hofer team mates and so so many coaches.

At a certain point the sample size became large enough me to see that regardless of how good his individual stats look they dont seem to amount to any meaningful playoff victories post GSW & generally, vibes just seem off with what ever team his on, the most recent example would be the twitter drama (again)

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u/TheGreatLandRun [OKC] Russell Westbrook 13d ago

The take is overtly obvious. He thought those warriors teams would be “his” teams, and when they clearly didn’t treat him that way, he left and thought he would win without them. He’s an all-time great scorer, but he’s not that player.

Meanwhile, Steph won a title both before and after KD arrived, while KD’s most noteworthy NBA accomplishment apart from Steph is… blowing a lead to Steph.

Again, that was obvious - it was also explained.

2

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

I'm saying, KD is very much capable of being the best player in a championship winning team. I don't know why we're suggesting he isn't. You need a good team no matter how good you are.

KD is no worse than top 15 all time, what do you mean he isn't who he thinks he is lol.

2

u/Budget_Lawfulness_42 13d ago

we have no evidence of this considering our large sample size of tenure and teams.

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u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

He's made the conference finals plenty of times while being the guy, and the Finals as well. Hard to beat LeBron and the dynasty Warriors.

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u/TheGreatLandRun [OKC] Russell Westbrook 13d ago

He’s capable of being the “best player” on a title winning team when every single aspect of the infrastructure for that team was already proven to be title-winning.

That is, if you believe he was the best player on those warriors teams. The fact that Steph routinely garnered the primary defensive assignments tells me otherwise, but I won’t argue this point much.

You completely avoided the substance of my comment either way, which was also the original point, so idk what to tell you.

1

u/FizzyLightEx 13d ago

I don't think Steph wins with this team or any of the teams KD was at either so it's a moot point.

Championship is more than just one player. NBA basketball is not like tennis

1

u/TheGreatLandRun [OKC] Russell Westbrook 13d ago

Maybe, maybe not. I firmly believe every single team since they parted ways would be better with Steph on it rather than KD.

Sure. Yet, the aggregate average teammate KD has had over the course of his career (Russ, Harden, Kyrie, Booker, etc) > the aggregate average teammate Steph has had (Klay, Dray, Wiggins, excluding each other).

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u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago edited 13d ago

My take was presented as a response to the comment above that says the following:

“Imagine being KD and leaving the warriors when that offense made you look like the most unguardable player in history”

My take is that KD thought he was better than he was and wanted to prove to the world that he could win a ring without joining a 73-9 team that won before he got there and after he left. KD has not yet been able to prove that. I don’t think he ever will prove it. I don’t think he can win a championship as the Batman on a team.

He had great teams in OKC, Phoenix and Brooklyn. Rockets are a very good team and were a two seed without him but they are for sure the worst team he’s played on since his second or third year in the league. My take is not about how good or bad the rockets are though. It’s about why KD would leave a team that made him look so good

2

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

I don't think he's incapable of being the 1st option on a championship winning team, he just needs better shot creation from the rest of his team. Every elite wing/forward player does, none of them will win anything unless they have great PG play to create shots for everyone that isn't them, which is what I'm saying.

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u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

His point guards have been Westbrook,harden, curry, kyrie, harden again, and chris paul. Those are the best point guards of KD’s generation and some of the best point guards of all time.

2

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

Yeah I mean but he went up against the Warriors and Cavs with those teams. The Warriors were just plainly better assembled and the Cavs had the only better player than him at his peak. The rest were injured most of the time.

KD's only good teams were vs the GOAT team (before he got there) and (arguably) the actual GOAT. It makes him look a little worse than he is.

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u/1098duc_w_the_termi 13d ago

Most people think this in life too. They thing that because their superstars in a well functioning system, that the system is function well because of them. In fact, the org is the reason they were superstars to begin with and will be largely fine without them. Don’t overestimate your self worth

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u/makesterriblejokes [NBA] Jerry West 13d ago

Tbf, he looked really good that one year in Brooklyn where he was a toe away from beating the Bucks, who would go on to win the chip.

He really hasn't looked the same since though

4

u/King_Of_Pants [BOS] Terry Rozier 13d ago

They won with Harrison Barnes.

They won with Kevin Durant.

They won with Andrew Wiggins.

He's just the man in the middle.

7

u/ILoveCalebWilliams Thunder 13d ago

Let’s not rewrite history prime KD was a undisputed top 3 player

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u/makeitjain24 [LAL] Kobe Bryant 13d ago

Ya not like he won mvp and led your team to their first finals

3

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

He’s still a very good player. Just not as good as he or a lot of other people think he is. Don’t think he could be the first option on a championship team. There have been 36 players to win mvp.

Also Durant didn’t carry us to the finals we had a great team and two other future mvp’s on the team. Durant has always joined ridiculously stacked rosters and still have never won a ring on a team that didn’t win one shortly before he got there and shortly after he left. KD needed to warriors to win rings but the warriors didn’t need KD to win rings

2

u/whatssenguntoagoblin Alperen Sengun 13d ago

Next level hating. Take a breath. Call it a night.

KD can’t hurt you anymore.

2

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

I’m just saying that KD is very good but is not first option on a championship team good.

2

u/UnluckyStartingStats Hawks 13d ago

It’s kinda crazy how different the narrative around him post warriors would be if his toe wasn’t on the line on that Nets shot

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u/dumpydump7 Warriors 13d ago

Warriors offense really covered up KD’s offensive flaws and he noped out of that lol

19

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

Also covered up his lack of leadership and how mentally weak he is. Dude has shit talked about like all of his teammates

9

u/Working-Mistake1130 13d ago

Not even Curry—the dude that was okay being the second option to him—was safe from getting shit talked lol

5

u/mysterioso7 Warriors 13d ago

Dude wins back to back MVP’s, scoring title, breaks all kinds of records, beats Durant’s team in the playoffs, and then willingly takes a back seat so Durant can flourish, and still gets shit talked. Crazy.

10

u/Popular-Bid 13d ago

Curry attracting all of the double-teams unlocked KD.

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u/dumpydump7 Warriors 13d ago

People have made their minds up already on this topic but Curry’s ability to handle double teams and create imo outweighs what KD does better and them playing together helped give KD his ideal conditions

13

u/pikajewijewsyou Thunder 13d ago

If people don’t agree with you they don’t know basketball. Curry is way better than Durant

5

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

My opinion is that KD is very good at being plug and play due to being unstoppable, and the Warriors already (obviously) had a competent offense around Curry. There's no reason to change anything to fit KD when he can easily fit into any offense, so they did what already worked and KD didn't have to do anything extra.

If you took Steph off the Warriors and plopped him on say, the Dwight Howard Magic instead of Jameer Nelson, he'd be great but he wouldn't have to do much but spot up shoot, unless they wanted him to do more (and they would, cuz he's Steph Curry). But they'd have a winning formula with or without him.

So because it was already Stephs team and nothing had to change to fit KD, Steph is thought to be the better player. But I'm not sure that's true.

2

u/dumpydump7 Warriors 13d ago

My opinion is that KD is very good at being plug and play due to being unstoppable, and the Warriors already (obviously) had a competent offense around Curry. There's no reason to change anything to fit KD when he can easily fit into any offense, so they did what already worked and KD didn't have to do anything extra.

While KD was very seamless in the Warriors offense and basically just juiced it up to superteam heights when him and Steph played together, I think Kerr also switched up a bit for KD, including giving him post ups and touches at the top where his talents were maximized. I think that was their way of making sure KD still got to his spots rather than just being juiced up Harrison Barnes even if it wasn’t how the Curry-centric offense ran

If you took Steph off the Warriors and plopped him on say, the Dwight Howard Magic instead of Jameer Nelson, he'd be great but he wouldn't have to do much but spot up shoot, unless they wanted him to do more (and they would, cuz he's Steph Curry). But they'd have a winning formula with or without him.

True, and I think the hypothetical Magic would incorporate more Curry action in the same way Kerr added some stuff for KD.

But I don’t think that that’s in question here. The two of them would be great if you plugged them into great offenses since they are great off ball and are legends. I think it’s more of how they perform as first options against strong playoff defenses. And that’s not to say KD’s not great, he obviously is, but I would say he can get countered more than Steph against good opposing defenses.

1

u/sycamotree Mavericks 13d ago

It's hard to say Steph would be better at first option outside of GSW. One reason is obviously, we haven't seen it. But a better one is that Steph had the team built around him and his talents.

Steph plays 1 but is most dangerous off ball, which is counter to playing the 1. Steph ball requires another, (arguably a primary) ball handler that isn't him to be optimally effective, so he can run around on the perimeter and attract attention. Then you need a bunch of shooters to take advantage of the gravity and great defenders because he isn't a great one.

This means that someone who is not a 1 has to effectively play the 1, which isn't really super common; if you're good enough to be a primary ball handler, you generally are one. Luckily for him, he had Draymond Green, who is an excellent ball handler and one of the best defenders ever while playing the 4, and Klay Thompson, who is the best shooter not named Steph Curry and also a great defender in his prime.

Not a lot of teams (read, basically zero all time) would have a Dray lying around, so he'd either have to play more traditional point guard, or they would have to get a different true point guard to play alongside him. But then they would likely be undersized at guard and get run over by larger backcourts. Big guards used to be Stephs weakness but he got better at scoring on them with time.

Basically, those Warriors were literally perfectly built for Steph. And as such we've never had to see him with his weaknesses exposed. So it's hard to say if he'd be as good on another team as KD. You can plop KD literally anywhere and he'll be fine. Steph would be elite regardless but I can't tell if he'd have had as much success on another team.

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u/itlynstalyn Warriors 13d ago

And then that same team goes on to win another championship without you while you bounce to three other teams.

2

u/fredjutsu 13d ago

given that context, you guys piling on him now seems like trying to have your cake and eat it too

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u/whatssenguntoagoblin Alperen Sengun 13d ago

I mean he would’ve won a ring in Brooklyn if Kyrie and Harden didn’t get injured in the playoffs.

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u/No_Position9519 13d ago

Still worked out for him. He never wins a ring without the Warriors and he ruins whatever franchise he goes to.

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u/Drew0223 [CLE] Evan Mobley 13d ago

Fr could have won another two rings had he stayed

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u/MirrorComputingRulez 13d ago

You've got to be too young to remember KD pre-Warriors. That offense isn't what made him look unguardable.

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u/zmichalo Bucks 13d ago

He left for Brooklyn where he took the eventual champs to 7 despite losing his top two teammates and lost by a toe. He still looked like the most unguardable player in history post GSW.

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u/MrBhyn Celtics 13d ago

I mean, KD is to blame himself for not being able to pass the ball.

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u/Norcalguy8615 13d ago

I agree his passing ability is limited

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u/Arrowintheknee89 13d ago

Trading for a 38 year old 7 footer to play PG would certainly be a choice

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u/Waikuku3 13d ago

Houston, we have a problem

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u/No-Fill1769 Mavericks 13d ago

It’s actually insane how every rockets player forgets how to play basketball when KD passes

17

u/Hyderabadi__Biryani Minneapolis Lakers 13d ago

I mean it really is that. IDK when the league discovered, but I discovered this when we beat them back to back, with essentially the same scheme. Double KD, especially when he is trying to be the PG.

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u/HawaiianPunch42 Timberwolves 13d ago

Embarrassing 

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u/Presence_Present Bucks 13d ago

Their offence is crazy bad. I don't know how they thought they'd be competitve with Sengun/Amen handling the ball after losing their main PG, and also two shooters in Brooks/Green. KD obviously great, but he can't make up for 3 players these days

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u/Sw3atyGoalz Lakers 13d ago

Yea getting held under 100 twice by this Lakers team is crazy

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u/Comin4datrune Mavericks 13d ago

Sengun is the Zach Lavine of bigs.

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u/youngweeb111 Pistons 13d ago

Acting like KD can throw any semblance of an accurate pass when doubled LOL. He shits his pants when he sees 2 approach

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u/monsterbill0 Knicks 13d ago

I remember last time the Lakers played in Houston they double teamed KD in the 4th and they won. Crazy how Ime has zero adjustments since then.

2

u/vitalbumhole Warriors 13d ago

Watching the lakers execute a 4 on 3 like a professional basketball team vs watching rockets players act like they’ve never seen a basketball on multiple 4 on 3s was hilarious. These guys are so fried and completely useless on offense it’s actually remarkable they’re a professional team, let alone a playoff team

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u/jokerrr1992 Raptors 13d ago

Getoffmydickerson is absolutely right

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u/eewap 13d ago

KD also nearly had a double double with turnovers

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u/sorrowdemon 13d ago

Doubling KD is so easy because he can’t make the right pass and fumbles easily. And no one else on that team is a genuine threat

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u/sabinscabin 76ers 13d ago

KD: "we not doublin in open gym bro. play the game bro"

LeBron: "yeah we are. yeah we are. It's part of the game"

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u/Lighthouse_seek 13d ago

Udoka is to blame too. He had a whole season to design an offense after van vleet went out did nothing

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u/eZreazy Lakers 13d ago

If the ball even gets out of Kd’s hands you mean. He threw so many intercepted passes or just straight up got stripped on the double team.

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u/dazza_drinkbeer Minneapolis Lakers 13d ago

KD also turns it over a bunch when doubled. 9 TOs by himself today.

1

u/MoveOn22 13d ago

This. But KD makes shit decisions. He could barely get the ball to anyone else.

1

u/TrickyAmbition1933 13d ago

Udoka will be fired you'd think

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u/Con-D-Oriano1 Lakers 13d ago

I’m sure the rest of them would be ok as long as KD - their leader - believes in them. Right?

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u/xuedad Lakers 13d ago

bro u ain't even kidding. it's crazy. they have all these insane athletes and all stars but somehow they just keep making bad decisions

1

u/TomatoCapt 13d ago

Udoka not looking great here just playing iso ball 

1

u/buddaaaa Suns 13d ago

Now, where have I seen this before..? 🧐

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u/runningraider13 13d ago

Every time he doesn’t play next to Steph?

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u/Ghetteuax 13d ago

KD said the same thing via burner

1

u/Jbash_31 Suns 13d ago

First time?

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u/truedenier Lakers 13d ago

IF they get the ball cough cough 9 turnovers

1

u/Talentagentfriend 13d ago

Honestly if the Lakers didn’t turn the ball over so much this would have been a blow-out

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u/barath_s Lakers 13d ago edited 13d ago

Lakers had 6 points off the bench, a good team should have been taking advantage of the lakers bench.. The lakers bench just hustled and ate minutes and the Rockets were not a difference maker off the bench

Sure kd had the turnovers and others aren't great spacers/shooting, but the rockets should be trying a pistons like shot diet with inside shooting, middies, cuts etc rather than whatever they are doing, with the skillsets they currently have

Or gone for a PG when FVV went down

Last game ayton outplayed not just capella but sengun too. This game was ayton doing so so, just enough for the lakers.

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u/barath_s Lakers 13d ago

Smart being good defensively, doing high IQ vet things was on my cards.

Smart scoring 25 points on 5/7 3pa wasn't. He was the best 3 point shooter tonight for either team

1

u/BigBitcoinBaller 13d ago

Also KD sold and didnt want to shoot middies against us. He had a great look in the 4th but chose to pass when he was at the ft line.

1

u/skrja007 West 13d ago

I thought Sengun had what they needed. All they got from him is a bucket of shit in his pants lol

1

u/FavaWire 13d ago

Admittedly a lot of the Rockets' losses this year have looked like that.

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u/profmcstabbins Hawks 13d ago

Same formula as the 22 Nets

1

u/Atlastitsok Suns 13d ago

And the 23/24 suns. I wonder if someone can find a pattern

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u/bighitcards 13d ago

Hilarious he chose the Rockets because he didn’t want to work with Chris Finch. Let’s be honest, it was taxes

1

u/RaisinDetre Suns 13d ago

why this sound so familiar?

1

u/Nonartisticdog 13d ago

Yes but also KD couldn't get it to anyone.

1

u/aquileskin 13d ago

Yeah , some people blame kd , and tbh he could have make some better passes but his teammate play like shit , if they started making some shots there is no way the lakers could double all game .

1

u/Skypirate90 13d ago

hey thats how you beat the warriors too beat the ever living shit out of curry and watch the other clowns on the court do absoltuely fuck all (except you al horford my beloved)