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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Brad Stevens is still a top-three coach in the NBA despite the Celtics' struggles.

I still think Brad Stevens is probably top three coach in the league. And then there's the whole part of managing egos.

This is a subjective ranking of coaching ability.

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Win
May 10, 2019
#620
Big CatBig Cat

The Warriors winning the Rockets series without Kevin Durant will be viewed as an indictment of Kevin Durant's impact.

If the Warriors win this series, it will be an indictment on Kevin Durant by everyone else. Are the Warriors better without Kevin Durant? People are going to ask that. I'm already asking it.

The Warriors did win the series and sweep the WCF without KD, sparking massive debate, though they ultimately lost the Finals when he was absent/injured.
Push
May 10, 2019
#621
PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Kevin Durant will sit out the Western Conference Finals to save himself for a potential NBA Finals matchup against the Bucks.

In which case, I think [Kevin Durant] would probably sit out and save himself for the finals against the Bucks. Something to be on the lookout for.

KD did sit out the WCF, but he returned briefly in Game 5 of the Finals (against the Raptors, not Bucks) where he tore his Achilles.
Win
May 10, 2019
#622
Big CatBig Cat

James Harden has consistently disappeared in the fourth quarters of the 2019 Rockets-Warriors series.

James Harden on Wednesday night with 10:47 left, he hits a bucket. He shot one more shot until there's 18 seconds left in the game... The Rockets win game four, James Harden scores 38 points... [but] he scores three points after that, the Warriors come all the way back. That's two straight fourth quarters where James Harden, Jimmy Harden has kind of been nowhere to be seen.

Harden's scoring did drop off significantly in late-game situations during several games in this series, notably Games 5 and 6 as well.

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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The Ravens' fourth-quarter problems are moving earlier

Historically, the fourth-quarter Ravens have not been a great team. That fourth-quarter Ravens has started to creep its way into the third-quarter Ravens. And I think eventually it's going to keep creeping earlier and earlier in the game. I don't think it's going to get better because the defense does not look good.

This is a season-long assessment that can only be judged against Baltimore's eventual 2026 performance.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

Baker Mayfield has a real revenge game against Cleveland

This is like a big Baker revenge spot too. This is not a made-up Baker—I have a perceived slight against me because some team didn't trade for me when I was on the market. This is Baker Mayfield against Stefanski, and they haven't talked since he left Cleveland.

Whether the personal history materially affects the game is subjective, though the stated public grievance is part of the episode's context.
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PFT CommenterPFT Commenter

The NFL should reduce the season to 16 games

I'm going to say it. I think that 17 games is too much. I like the scarcity. I like if you brought it back to 16, because the NFL's also been playing this game for a long time where they have to find safer-looking ways to do a dangerous activity.

The preferred NFL schedule is a policy judgment, though the player-safety rationale is grounded in the discussion's cited study.