2023 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (May 22nd)

DAMN, THE CELTICS ARE GETTING THEIR ASSES BUST

From what I've been able to gather, there's been more blowout losses during this year's playoffs than close games.  That would imply that the NBA's parity thing isn't working, or something like that.

I'll give it to the Heat that they're obviously a tough out.  But it's still hard to believe that they truly went from barely making the playoffs to now being the most formidable team in the East.  Or if that is the case, and if it's also true that the Lakers got to the WCF by merit, then maybe I should take a step back and say to the contrary, parity is working, as now any seed can make it to the Finals.

One issue I see with the Celtics roster which I'm sure I mentioned last season also is lack of interior presence, besides for Robert Williams of course.  They need someone that can block shots when these fearless Miami scab players come driving into the lane.  Some of these teams that have been neglecting size for the past few years, like the Kings and I guess you can Warriors also, are now suffering due to their folly.

SHOUTOUT TO CARMELO ANTHONY

I still think it's kinda grimey that no team picked up Melo this season, but I guess they had their reasons.  Today he finally retired from the NBA - you know, might as well type shit - meaning that he may still head over the China and average over 20ppg.

I was recently doing research on Anthony and discovered that there was a time he was actually considered a better basketball player than Lebron.  And he appears to be a true phenom, i.e. someone who nobody even thought of as a potential NBA player until like his senior year in high school.

SHOUTOUT TO THE NUGGETS

This is what I always pictured the Nuggets to be if they were actually healthy - a championship squad.  If Miami proceeds to beat them also, then I'm calling it quits.

My only gripe with Denver is that at 6-feet 10-inches tall, Michael Porter Jr seems to spend all of his time lurking around the perimeter on offense.  But he is their third-leading scorer, so something is working right.  And to illustrate just how good the Nuggets are, they've only been running an eight-man rotation during these playoffs.  Meanwhile other teams who were forced or chose to do the same, like the Suns and Warriors, fumbled.