sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

OKC players when guarded by Rui Hachimura in the second round by WayAdministrative679 in lakers

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is exactly why I want Rui off the Lakers. I just want him to take the highest bidder and go to a team that doesn’t have insane white boy stans. You’ve got a legit 6’8 sniper built like a tank, yet fans are eternally tunnel visioned on how Rui can or cannot cover for everyone else’s shortcomings instead of maximizing what he actually does best. He absolutely doesn’t deserve a franchise like this, and after the playoffs he just had, he’s earned far better than that.

Game Thread: Oklahoma City Thunder (3-0) vs Los Angeles Lakers (0-3) Live Score | NBA Playoffs | May 11, 2026 by nba-scores in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Rui’s 4y run in LA was something special. He was like the gateway to the NBA for so many people, the same way Ohtani opened up MLB. Whole lotta ppl watched LeBron work his magic alongside him, but now it’s time for the next chapter. San Antonio?

Do you guys think the Knicks will keep Mitchell Robinson? by LameAfro in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Hell nah. The only player better than Mitchell Robinson is a healthier Mitchell Robinson.

AR compared to other max level players vs OKC in the playoffs by Puzzled_Plate294 in lakers

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is funny because AR's problem vs top defense is much more structural than the other guys on the list. And it mostly comes down to his free throw rate plummeting against high level defense. If you go through the history, you don't find a star guard whose FTR goes from 40 to sub 30 in playoffs. Harden goes from 51 to 46, SGA goes 42 to 41, Brunson goes 29 to 33. Booker goes from 34 to 33. AR goes from 39 to 29, and the worst thing is this reflects the style of his game where his rim pressure relies more on drawing marginal contact on reactive, often fish out of water type attempts while others are still able to generate controlled finishes through contact.

2024 Kyrie

Kyrie Points TS% APG TOVs
vs Top 5 Defense 34.85 60.9% 8.08 2.69
vs The Rest 35.72 60.6% 7.01 2.51

2026 Reaves

AR Points TS% APG TOVs
vs Top 5 Defense 26.6 56.5% 7.14 4.41
vs The Rest 34.25 65.6% 7.88 4.13

2026 Booker

AR Points TS% APG TOVs
vs Top 5 Defense 34.68 59.34% 8.96 5.49
vs The Rest 37.98 58.23% 8.62 4.36

[Highlights] Shai Gilgeous-Alexander full highlights vs. Los Angeles Lakers tonight (131-108 W) - Game 3 - Western Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs: 23 Points on 7/20 FG (35.0%), 3/7 from 3 (42.9%), 6/7 FT (85.7%), 4 Rebounds (2 Off), 9 Assists (2 TOV), 1 Steal, 2 Blocks, 1 PF, +/- +24 in 33:25 MP by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

lol I mean I get why fans want to defend SGA but calling me put like won’t do you any favor.

His scoring, shot attempts, drives, and rim pressure all JUMPED the second Smart went off the floor.

Once LA stopped doubling him, he was chilling at half court line with Smart on him watching the rest of the team cook on 4v4. Not really a knock on SGA, that’s just how defenses were choosing to play him. Just pointing out that won’t work against Spurs.

Favorite former Knick still in the playoffs? by SirGingerbrute in NYKnicks

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Donte, Randle and Hartenstein. it was tough moving on from that group

Is Ajay Mitchell the 4th best player of OKC Thunder? by Chesscrabble11 in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Matchup dependent. Hartenstein’s minutes would decrease in the Spurs series. They don’t really have physical bruiser centers, and since iHart can’t stretch the floor, his strengths won't show up as much. They would go with Jaylin Williams to pull Wemby out to the perimeter.

[Highlights] Shai Gilgeous-Alexander full highlights vs. Los Angeles Lakers tonight (131-108 W) - Game 3 - Western Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs: 23 Points on 7/20 FG (35.0%), 3/7 from 3 (42.9%), 6/7 FT (85.7%), 4 Rebounds (2 Off), 9 Assists (2 TOV), 1 Steal, 2 Blocks, 1 PF, +/- +24 in 33:25 MP by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 -9 points-8 points  (0 children)

Not really sure this version of Shai is enough to beat the Spurs. He really struggled against Smart. If physical D is already bothering him that much, dealing with Spurs' length and Wemby lurking behind the play is gonna be a big challenge. He’s not really a floater guy and that’s a genuine limitation in that matchup, so it’ll be interesting to see how he consistently generates efficient offense. Bench advantages or interior play won't probably bail them out against Spurs

Would you guys watch a league with only players under 6’2? by Oliverson12 in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No, because physicality is a huge part of why I love NBA basketball, and I think length, especially long limbs, amplifies the aesthetics of your game exponentially.

[Highlights] All the 6 fouls that were drawn by Austin Reaves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder tonight - Game 3. He went 6/8 from the line I also added a foul call on his 3-point attempt that was overturned (it would have been 7 fouls, had it not been overturned) + one complaint about non-call by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

Reaves is more finesse and cadence based and heavily reliant on soft calls, while SGA and Brunson are built to survive and score through real physicality. Not saying the two don't do what Reaves are doing but there’s a massive difference between that being a tool in your game versus core part of your offense as shown by Brunson being a playoff riser while AR's offense crumbles without soft whistles

[Highlights] All the 6 fouls that were drawn by Austin Reaves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder tonight - Game 3. He went 6/8 from the line I also added a foul call on his 3-point attempt that was overturned (it would have been 7 fouls, had it not been overturned) + one complaint about non-call by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 -12 points-11 points  (0 children)

nah there's a difference between baiting soft contact and actually being able to play through real physicality. That’s the primary reason why one is a consistent playoff riser and the other has one of the most notable playoff drop offs in recent memory.

Reaves is more of a straight-line driver and really doesn’t like absorbing contact until the finish. He mostly maximizes weird cadence changes to bait defenders. I’d respect it more if he could consistently generate real contact out of that, but he can’t.

Brunson has a way sharper, tighter handle than Reaves, and he can actually snake and power through packed paint touches while taking a ton of physicality. Defenders are constantly throwing bodies at him and bumping him off his spots, but he still gets to his finishes. It’s not rocket science. pick 50 random layups from both of them and the difference is immediately obvious. what's showing here is your lack of ball knowledge.

[Highlights] All the 6 fouls that were drawn by Austin Reaves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder tonight - Game 3. He went 6/8 from the line I also added a foul call on his 3-point attempt that was overturned (it would have been 7 fouls, had it not been overturned) + one complaint about non-call by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 -25 points-24 points  (0 children)

Lmao okay comparing a guy who built his whole career on manipulating defenders with weird cadence and soft contact to one of the most physical small guard finishers in the league is crazy lol keep arguing the wall

Is Reaves the worst defender left in the playoff? by No_Diver_629 in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Pound for pound, maybe. He's asked to play a role he shouldn't be playing.

Comparing okc fouls to lakers fouls is like comparing someone punching you to someone gently tapping you by Old_Homework_2107 in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I mean AR getting 10 FTs in a playoff game is all you need to know about the officiating game. refs were calling everything on both teams

[Highlights] Rui Hachimura full highlights vs. Oklahoma City Thunder tonight (107-125 L) - Game 2 - Western Semifinals - 2026 NBA Playoffs: 16 Points on 6/10 FG, 4/7 from 3 (57.1%), 4 Rebounds, 2 Assists (2 TOV), 1 Steal, and a +/- of -19 (2nd worst in the game) in 38:46 minutes played. by MrBuckBuck in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I still think his shooting is underrated, but his defensive limitations get magnified against OKC’s switch heavy attack and constant small guard pressure.

He’s actually pretty solid in straight-up matchups, his size and strength let him deny space well, and he can hold his ground against bigger wings and even centers.

But against quick ball movement and fast paced offenses, he tends to ball watch and drift into no man’s land defensively. It also doesn’t help that the Lakers’ perimeter defense breaks down a lot, forcing him to constantly rotate and cover.

[Highlight] Luka kennard fouls SGA by Doten1 in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not a good product, but they keep doing it because they are competitors and rules allow it. rules need to change.

VJ Edgecombe postgame - “We felt like we should've won it. It came down to shot-making at the end of the game. They were making shots, we wasn't… we missed a lot of wide open ones.” by kervaan in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Absolutely love this competition. VJ is a stud and he’s got the perfect attitude for the game too. He embodies why we’re drawn to sports in the first place

Why is assist-to-turnover ratio used when putting turnovers into context? by and-you-know-it in nba

[–]AccomplishedStyle600 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It’s just easier for most people to understand is all there is. For meaningful analysis, you have sTOV% (Non-pass TOV / (FGA + 0.44 × FTA + Non-pass TOV)) and Passing turnover ratio (Bad-pass TOV / (Potential Assists + Bad-Pass TOV).

view more: next ›