In search of Larry O'Brien: 2015 NBA Playoffs

[Unocal]

These Nets are that rare 8 seed that's not exactly easy to root for.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

These Nets are that rare 8 seed that's not exactly easy to root for.

[Lights Out]

Please stop it. You're making me like the Celtics.

And I'm starting to hate the Cavs as well. Between these shenanigans and the 3 lotteries won between 2011-2014 despite having a top 3 odds just once makes me want to hate Cleveland.

Or am I just a horrible person?

At least they're not the :censored:ing Oilers.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

The Cavs pulled off what the 76ers hope to -- accumulate assets, and then hope to flip them for the greatest player of a generation (preferably still in his prime).

The key difference is that they jettisoned their win-nothing point guard before surrounding him with good players, and 2006 Kobe Bryant isn't going to sign in Philadelphia because he feels like it.

For reference, outside of Wilt Chamberlain and Bryant, there aren't many great NBA players from Pennsylvania. Kyle Lowry is probably the best active guy.

FWIW, I don't know how you can be a basketball fan and be okay with what Olynyk did. Mistake or not, he took one of the best players on one of the best teams out due to either malfeasance or incompetence. He shouldn't be in the league anymore if he's a danger simply playing the game. Eff that guy.

[Unocal]

The Nets, man.

I'm all for 8 seed mayhem, but.... I can't in good conscience root for these guys.

They're the antithesis of the 2007 Warriors.

[Rockstar Matt]

The Nets, man.

I'm all for 8 seed mayhem, but.... I can't in good conscience root for these guys.

They're the antithesis of the 2007 Warriors.

You can't in a good conscience root for anybody, really.

Still don't understand why you subject yourself to such misery.

[FiddySicks]

Well, honestly, I kind of agree with him. This Nets team isn't your typical scrappy 8th seed with little depth and from a quirky market. They're the rich, lazy underachievers in a brand new building right in the center of probably the biggest sports market in the country. Deron Williams is their star player, for crying out loud. The guy who ran the lovingly loyal Jerry Sloan out of the league! How can you root for that?

[CLEstones]

Kevin Love sought a second opinion and has been ruled out of the entire Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Bulls/Bucks. I think this injury is a lot worse than what they are letting on. Word from the press after the injury was Love was very optimistic and came across as a guy who wasn't going to miss much time. Regardless of length of series, Game 1 of the Cavs -vs- Bulls/Bucks will be Monday, May 4.

JR Smith has been handed a 2 game suspension. I'm conflicted on this. I think 5 games would have been too long. But I also think the NBA let the series get that physical, they let it get dirty... kind of the you made your bed, now you must lay in it sort of thing.

Kendrick Perkins received a $50,000 fine for his shove and face poke.

Kelly Olynyk received just a 1 game suspension. What he did was just as egregious as JR Smith and should have received a minimum of 2 games.

The referee team has not been handed any suspensions or fines to my knowledge. Which seems to be exactly where the majority of the blame should be.

[OnWis97]

This all sucks for Cleveland, but punishment-wise, this went in their favor. Olynyk should have received the following number of games: 0. It was worthy of an intentional foul but the intent to injure was not there. Smart move the the Cavs ruling Love out for the next series; it probably reduced Smith's suspension. Honestly, it does not matter that Love was taken out; you don't do that. Smith needs to be out for the entire playoffs. There's no place for that.

It's too bad it took Cleveland so long to get going early in the season. Had they been the #1, they may be able to take the Wiz without Love. But the series with the Bulls is already over. It probably does not matter, though as I suspect Love would not be back until the NBA finals. Love has played his last game with the Cavs.

[NJTank]

Paul Pierce be like

Is that why the Raptors did not bother to appear for the final three games.

[CLEstones]

This all sucks for Cleveland, but punishment-wise, this went in their favor. Olynyk should have received the following number of games: 0. It was worthy of an intentional foul but the intent to injure was not there. Smart move the the Cavs ruling Love out for the next series; it probably reduced Smith's suspension. Honestly, it does not matter that Love was taken out; you don't do that. Smith needs to be out for the entire playoffs. There's no place for that.

It's too bad it took Cleveland so long to get going early in the season. Had they been the #1, they may be able to take the Wiz without Love. But the series with the Bulls is already over. It probably does not matter, though as I suspect Love would not be back until the NBA finals. Love has played his last game with the Cavs.

Not sure how anyone can look at the replay and say there was no intent on Olynyk's part. He gripped, re-gripped and THEN jerked the arm. Sure, maybe Olynyk didn't set out so dislocate the arm and have Love miss 2-4 weeks, but he definitely wasn't concerned with Love's health. Had he ACTUALLY been trying to prevent him from getting to the rebound (which Olynyk was clearly out of position for), Kelly could have simply held on to his arm. He didn't have to re-grip and yank.

EDIT: From Cavs GM David Griffin: "Kevin Love return this season is highly unlikely. Damage to shoulder was extensive. Surgery an option."

Again... Olynyk getting suspended 1 game is a joke and a disgrace.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Not a huge Cavs fan, but I'm surprised people are giving Olynyk the benefit of the doubt. He was far from the basket, the play was essentially over, and he exerted a lot of force over Love; enough to seriously hurt him. Purposeful or reckless, it doesn't really matter. He wasn't playing safe and he seriously hurt someone due to his lack of self control.

Injuries are part of the game, but stupid injuries shouldn't be.

Also, Smith got lucky. He could have easily received more for what he did.

[Nyk33]

Am I evil for wanting the Clippers to be eliminated as fast as possible so that I can laugh at their rebranding when it becomes official?

[NJTank]

Not a huge Cavs fan, but I'm surprised people are giving Olynyk the benefit of the doubt. He was far from the basket, the play was essentially over, and he exerted a lot of force over Love; enough to seriously hurt him. Purposeful or reckless, it doesn't really matter. He wasn't playing safe and he seriously hurt someone due to his lack of self control.

Injuries are part of the game, but stupid injuries shouldn't be.

Also, Smith got lucky. He could have easily received more for what he did.

I think Kelly Olynyk's play is one of the dirtiest moves I ever seen on a NBA court. I saw J.R. Smith throwing punches at Jawe Crowder and it confused me, because if anyone deserved to be cold cocked it was Olynyk.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Well, those were Olynyk's punches. He was just off the court until garbage time because he would have been murdered if he were back sooner.

I read a piece on Yahoo that Boston had been a potential Love destination on the off season, at least until that play. Couple that with his team's rallying around his injury, and I think re-signing in Cleveland just became more possible.

I will say that if Rondo signs in LA first, all bets are off. If I were a star player, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near a Rondo-led team.

Love may just remain in Cleveland by default. Olynyk may have really screwed the Celtics long-term.

[CLEstones]

Not a huge Cavs fan, but I'm surprised people are giving Olynyk the benefit of the doubt. He was far from the basket, the play was essentially over, and he exerted a lot of force over Love; enough to seriously hurt him. Purposeful or reckless, it doesn't really matter. He wasn't playing safe and he seriously hurt someone due to his lack of self control.

Injuries are part of the game, but stupid injuries shouldn't be.

As someone said, its one thing when 2 contending teams are going at it and a star player rolls an ankle going for a rebound.

Its another thing when a roll player, on a scrappy team, down 3-0 in the series, who are just happy to be in the playoffs, makes a vicious, non-basketball move on a star player, on a contending team, no where near the basket.

Its a shame. I still think this '15 Cavs team is better than the '14 Heat... but the problem is, the '14 Heat got run off the floor in the Finals and they didn't have to face nearly as tough of teams as Chicago and Atlanta to make the Finals. There is always the LeBron factor... but I fear the drought will continue.

51 and counting...

[vmd9]

Not a huge Cavs fan, but I'm surprised people are giving Olynyk the benefit of the doubt. He was far from the basket, the play was essentially over, and he exerted a lot of force over Love; enough to seriously hurt him. Purposeful or reckless, it doesn't really matter. He wasn't playing safe and he seriously hurt someone due to his lack of self control.

Injuries are part of the game, but stupid injuries shouldn't be.

Also, Smith got lucky. He could have easily received more for what he did.

I think Kelly Olynyk's play is one of the dirtiest moves I ever seen on a NBA court. I saw J.R. Smith throwing punches at Jawe Crowder and it confused me, because if anyone deserved to be cold cocked it was Olynyk.

The Cavs were heated after the Love injury and Crowder took a cheap shot at Shumpert right before the Perkins "pick." Much like a baseball pitcher hitting a batter in retaliation. The Cavs had to do something. Unfortunately they'll be without two starters for two games, and Love will miss the rest of the playoffs.

[Seadragon76]

The only thing Cleveland can hope for now is to see the Chicago-Milwaukee series go to a game 7. This way they can get the full amount of rest despite losing Love for the remainder of the playoffs and Smith getting suspended for Games 1 and 2 of the semis.

[CLEstones]

The only thing Cleveland can hope for now is to see the Chicago-Milwaukee series go to a game 7. This way they can get the full amount of rest despite losing Love for the remainder of the playoffs and Smith getting suspended for Games 1 and 2 of the semis.

Doesn't matter. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals is scheduled for Monday, May 4... regardless of how long the Bulls/Bucks series goes.

The best case scenario was Love gets hurt, but is a partial separation and can return after a week. Cavs lose Game 4, JR Smith is suspended for 2 games, Cavs lose Game 5, win Game 6. Smith suspension would have been done, Love would possibly miss only the first 1 or 2 games of the Bulls/Bucks, and the Cavs as a whole would finish the Celtics in 6, still getting a couple extra days rest.

[dfwabel]

Dork Elvis finally builds a roster which wins a playoff series.

Dirk looked so old all series, Rondo is gone, Tyson Chandler could be as well, Ellis can optout and Chandler Parsons may need micro fracture... Not a promising off season.