# 2024 NBA Playoffs **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** basketball-nba\ **Created:** [April 15, 2024, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297 "2024-04-15T00:39:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/201 "2024-05-24T23:51:51Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > So, is the self-proclaimed “king” going to taint his legacy over time if he just hangs on and gets eliminated year after year from here on out? Only if he hangs on long after he is able to meaningfully contribute. Being 40+ and still a top ten player in the league cannot possibly be bad for anyone’s legacy. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2024, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/202 "2024-05-24T23:57:39Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > is the self-proclaimed “king” going to taint his legacy over time if he just hangs on and gets eliminated year after year from here on out? His team finished 47-35 and were eliminated by the defending champs. He led the team in scoring, assists, and steals. That’s not just hanging on. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/203 "2024-05-25T03:28:51Z")
Mavs with a shocking 2-0 series lead. I can’t dig up the statistics but I would guess that teams that won the first two games of a series on the **road** probably win the series 90 or 95% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 10:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/204 "2024-05-25T10:43:34Z")
Minny just beat a team that had did exactly that. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/205 "2024-05-25T11:28:09Z")
When we turned off the TV at halftime, it looked like the Wolves had things pretty much in hand. Lost by one point. ONE POINT, YOU WANKERS! There is no way they’ll pull off another miracle like the last round. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/206 "2024-05-25T11:32:59Z")
What an unfortunate ending for Wolves fans! My wife predicted it — I think late in the third quarter, around when the Mavs had chipped the lead down from like 17 to 12, she said “Uh oh — Minnesota is going to lose this one, I can feel it.” Doncic just makes more mature decisions than Edwards at key moments. It’s understandable— Antmsn will get there in a couple years. It’s a bummer that the outcome (maybe of the entire NBA season, though maybe we’ll never know for sure) came down to that stupid rule that refs can’t call a foul while reviewing a play to determine an out-of-bounds call. At least Naz Reid got to play more (and CAT less, mainly due to foul trouble). And Gobert was rather effective for once, at least in the first half. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/207 "2024-05-25T11:55:49Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > late in the third quarter I just checked - it was actually _early_ in the third quarter, when the score got to 68-56, that my wife foresaw what was coming. Also — fun to see that World B. Flat is still the best ball handler in basketball. (He’s a charming interview, too. Too bad he’s a kook.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/208 "2024-05-25T12:12:49Z")
Why in the world they put only Gobert to guard Doncic in those final seconds is beyond me. They could have at least forced him to make it an overtime game instead of handing him the win. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/209 "2024-05-25T12:22:34Z")
Totally! I even thought it might be a good time for the team two points _ahead_ (Minnesota) to intentionally foul. Worst case, the game is tied, and they get the ball back. Does that ever happen? I was saying to my wife, “at least it’s better than letting Luka drain a three-pointer!”… and then exactly that happened. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/210 "2024-05-25T12:46:49Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I would guess that teams that won the first two games of a series on the **road** probably win the series 90 or 95% of the time. > [@DigitalC](#): > > Minny just beat a team that had did exactly that. Minny **was** the team that won the first two games on the road, and eventually won the series. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/211 "2024-05-25T13:39:54Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Minny **was** the team that won the first two games on the road, and eventually won the series. Yeah, i retyped that comment a couple times and utterly screwed it up lol. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/212 "2024-05-25T15:05:05Z")
Thanks. Now I can’t get Minnie Driver out of my head. She was great in _Good Will Hunting_. A good movie. Back to basketball, it’s starting to look decently well that the Celtics might get their 18th championship. They’re currently tied with the Lakers with 17 apiece. And then… > [@Railer13](#): > > His team finished 47-35 and were eliminated by the defending champs. He led the team in scoring, assists, and steals. That’s not just hanging on. Many have been arguing in social media about if he’s the GOAT, or if MJ is. It’s clear to me that MJ is. Or Kareem. But Lebron is near the end of what clearly has been an excellent career. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/213 "2024-05-25T15:20:16Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > It’s clear to me that MJ is. Agreed. MJ was the best ever. I would make the argument that LBJ belongs in the top 5, along with Kareem, Magic, and either Kobe or Bird. > [@Bullitt](#): > > it’s starting to look decently well that the Celtics might get their 18th championship. Also agree with this statement. I thought that the Wolves had a decent shot to beat Boston, but they may not make it to the Finals. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/214 "2024-05-25T15:25:10Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Mavs with a shocking 2-0 series lead. I can’t dig up the statistics but I would guess that teams that won the first two games of a series on the **road** probably win the series 90 or 95% of the time. I saw a graphic on ESPN that said teams that won the first two road games were 14-0 in the Conf/Finals. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/215 "2024-05-25T15:51:37Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Agreed. MJ was the best ever. Also agree. And I strongly disagree with all the blather about how Anthony Edwards is the “new” MJ. He has moments of brilliance, but is inconsistent and is prone to fatal errors. ---
**Author:** ![Dropo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce7236/32.png) [@Dropo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dropo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/216 "2024-05-25T20:14:46Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Agreed. MJ was the best ever. Mr. Frazier has a different take: [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/t66JVbWdE2E/maxresdefault.jpg "Walt Clyde Frazier: Why Michael Jordan is NOT The GOAT") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t66JVbWdE2E) ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/217 "2024-05-25T20:34:27Z")
Well said, Walt! ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/218 "2024-05-25T21:47:21Z")
I love Clyde, but Johnny Unitas was not in Brady’s league (so to speak). Unitas had 290 career TDs with 253 career interceptions. Brady’s numbers are 649 and 212. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2024, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/219 "2024-05-25T22:56:01Z")
True but before Joe Montana, Johnny U was in the discussion of QB GOAT. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2024, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297/220 "2024-05-26T00:53:19Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Agreed. MJ was the best ever. Yup. 2 rings, 2 finals MPVs, 1 Defensive player of the year award, 1 regular season MVP, 4 all defensive first teams, 9 scoring titles, 3 steal titles. That’s what separates Jordan from Lebron, that’s an easy hall of fame career of difference. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2024-nba-playoffs/1000297.md?page=12)