After two lopsided games on the first night of the NBA’s play-in tournament, the league got the drama it had been hoping for on Wednesday. The Grizzlies defeated the Spurs by four points in an elimination game, then the Lakers and Warriors delivered an instant classic with LeBron James posting a triple-double and Stephen Curry scoring 37 points.
The outcome was in doubt until the final play, and the game-winner turned out to be a desperation three-pointer that James hit from about 30 feet away with 58 seconds remaining. James had been poked in the eye moments earlier and said his vision was blurry on the shot, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
“After (Draymond Green‘s) finger to the eye, I was literally seeing three rims out there,” he said. “I just shot for the middle one.”
Sources tell Shelburne that the NBA’s competition committee had discussed the idea of a play-in tournament for five or six years before trying it out last year in the Orlando bubble. The original plan was to have the ninth- and 10th-place teams meet for a chance to face the eighth team for the final playoff spot. That never happened, but last year’s setup was so successful that the league expanded it to include four teams in each conference.
There’s more from the play-in tournament:
- The Warriors won 15 of their last 20 games to finish eighth in the West, but they now face a must-win game Friday night against the Grizzlies to avoid an early elimination. Curry promises the team will “come out swinging” with its season on the line, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. “We’ve had to do it the last 20 games, so it’s no different,” he said. “It is a win-or-go-home scenario, but we’ve had a high confidence and put together a string of wins and had a tough loss and had to bounce back, so we’ve been there.”
- Memphis is also very confident heading into Friday’s game, states Evan Barnes of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. The winner will travel to top-seeded Utah for the first two games of a first-round series. “Our plan is to pack for a three-game road trip,” Ja Morant said after Wednesday’s win. “No matter who we’re facing … our goal is to go out and win.”
- The first night of the new tournament was a success in the ratings, according to Sports Media Watch. The Hornets-Pacers matchup averaged an 0.8 rating and had 1.39 million viewers, and the Wizards-Celtics game had a 1.5 rating with 2.5 million viewers, making it TNT’s most-watched game since opening night.
The Lakers/Warriors was a good game, but I wouldn’t call it drama. The loser still gets to play again at home. That still doesn’t make the idea any better. So far, the two 7 seeds are the teams that were actually the 7 seeds in the first place and the 2 10 seeds were eliminated. If the two home teams win the next games, then this whole thing changed nothing and the tourney basically just proved to be a complete exercise in futility.
I’m sure the league accountants wouldn’t consider the extra games futile. The rest of us however…
Still a really entertaining game tho.
I don’t deny that at all. But Lakers/Warriors in the regular season is just as good IF everyone comes to the party and doesn’t take a mental health day.
Felt like you coulda stopped at Lakers/Warriors was a good game
I felt like you coulda stopped before you hit the reply button, but I’m living with it just fine. Look into it.
Why do the teams that weren’t good enough to qualify for the playoffs deserve a second chance to qualify? The answer is that the league makes more money, not because the 9 or 10 seeds actually deserve it.
Does the 5 seed actually deserve it? How about the four seed? Or the sixth seed? All they’re doing is moving the qualifying line down a tad. Why don’t the two best records play for the championship.., one game, winner take all? The answer is because playoff games are exciting.
Maybe because I’m a warrior fan but I loved last night’s Thriller. I’ll be watching again Friday in the elimination game against the Memphis. It will be a nail-biter for sure win or go home. I understand why others don’t like this format but I’ll check the box and okay it for the future. I think these play-in games are more exciting than game 1 of a 1 vs 8 seed, or a 2 vs 7 seed. These are Scrappy teams on the edge of the bubble.
It’s to discourage tanking, would you rather have tanking? Can you think of a better way to get the 10-14 teams more invested in the season?
Yes.
It’s discouraged tanking so much than the magic and thunder doubled down on it. Lol, it doesn’t incentivize or prevent anything.
Of course it’s to make more money. The NBA is not a nonprofit. Money is the only reason this league exists. Stop pretending that’s a bad thing for some reason.
@tedtheodorelogan… who cares ’bout competition or whatever?
The NBA is all ’bout entertainment & a business, & as such $$$ are the priority, if this format makes more $$$, then all is good, if anyone don’t like it don’t need to watch it, right?
I’ve never once heard “deserve” mentioned in any argument for the play in game.
It would make more sense if it was the 7/8/9/10 place teams league wide, irrespective of conference.
We’ve seen excellent teams in the West not make the cut while Orlando, Detroit etc have snuck in. That does provoke the question ‘what if’.
Does anyone believe LeBron was seeing 2 baskets? That got to be one of the biggest lies ever. There is no way he could have played if he was seeing 3 of anything. Why does he flop and lie like that. Does he think people are that stupid?
He’s so good at that he could play in the Premier League.
-twitter last night.
Does he know we all can see Draymonds fingers come nowhere near his face? LeFraud will never be on Curry’s tier. This game proved that. Little league tactics.
Everyones top 4 all time: Wilt, Kareem, MJ, Steph. Say. It. Back.
He hit him in the face, flagrant watched the game live and it was tough hit across the face, LeBron is Goat deal with it. Most durable and consistent superstar in the games history. All the Skip Bayless and Trump clones are out
Durable? Sure he got hit in the face but it wasn’t intentional or a hard hit. He was fine and flops all the time. Never know when to believe him
What game were you watching? Green went straight up and LeBron ran into him. If you were seeing 3 baskets you wouldn’t be able to dribble like he was. Just like how he pretended earlier in the game to be hit on the chin and the replay showed he was never hit on the chin.
arc89 that is ignorant. What do you know of double vision. Your brain has to repair or relearn focus. Data from eyes goes to different places.
JVG said at the end of his hysterics that Draymond aimed lower than the ball because he can’t jump as high as the ball was, in effect admitting it was a dirty play, but thinking that was fine because that is JVG’s style, and all LJ haters would agree regardless. Nobody said Dray’s hand never touched his face.
Dray jumped from the middle of the circle… can’t tell me he did not know that, and just aimed out of anger.
x%sure your comment is so bias full of BS. His hands were up and LeBron ran into his hands it was just a common foul. LeBron did not have double vision. Any doctor would tell you that was a lie. If that happened he would not have been running up and down the court with NO problems. Sounds like you have a bias opinion against Green. By the way when Lebron smashed Poole’s dunk and no foul call after it showed he went all body into a smaller play was that a dirty play too? If that is a NO you are bias…
Arc89 you are talking about dizzy not double vision. You are dizzy.
The replay on Poole shows arms missing each other. They did not pursue the body angle for more than that one replay. That is the truth. Bodies may have collided but not from any evidence presented. And if bodies did collide, Poole would have had more change of direction than just from getting the ball, and arm holding it, altered. Curry lands on his back all the time; it’s a method.
I waited for more replays to show the body foul but they did not come. I am not one for relying on MJ’s only live look, especially after what happened at the end, and not mentioning the poor heel-toe stride of LJ.
“Lebron ran into his hands” what crap. You were never a player. It was almost simultaneous and LJ was in full flight with now way to change course. Dray, standing, IN THE CIRCLE, aimed his hand-heels right for his jaw.
And you have the bias for one side. I don’t care except for my bet which are always $0.
The most durable superstar in NBA history was clearly Wilt not LBJ.
Steph Curry the Finals MVP virgin is no where near top 5. LeBron destroyed his legacy by making him the only superstar in NBA history to blow a 3-1 finals lead and have to get KD to win.
Steph ruined Lebrons legacy by taking 3 chips that the NBA wanted him to have. Keep lying to yourself, Steph. Curry. Is. Better. Than. LeFruad. Period.
My issue with LeBron is not that he is not a great player but why does he flop and cry about every foul?? Win it with your talent no need to flop. He flop 3 times in the game. Mathews flop in closing minutes changed the game. The whole team flops. They are good enough not to need to flop. Tells me they are scared to face Utah.
Yup, that Matthews flop on Green was a big one.
No flop, no whistle. Nature of the game. Football players do it too, to get the offsides call made, not just seen and ignored.
Marty the NBA always liked GSW.
LeBron couldn’t win in LA by himself so he had to go out and get AD. No AD and lakers don’t make the playoffs. LeBron has a history of surrounding himself with all stars. So why do you call out Curry when every team in the NBA does the same? Name the last team with 1 star to win a championship?
2018-19 Every key Laker player got injured beyond LeBron. Ridiculous season to judge them by. Its like saying the 49ers are bad based off last season.
LeBron still needed AD to win last year. Face it no team can win a championship with only 1 all star.
The Warriors were 73-9 as defending champions and still couldn’t win a title and Draymond had to call KD in the parking lot. Thats nothing close to the Lakers trading for AD. Steph just couldn’t do it with 2 other all stars anymore. They had to get a super team. People were saying the Lakers might not even be better than the Pelicans after the AD trade. ESPN told us the Clippers were better and the Lakers weren’t really title contenders. Warriors won the 2017 and 21018 NBA title on July 4th 2016. Those two seasons were just for show. The league was unbalanced until KD decided to he didn’t want easy titles anymore.
arc89 you’re just a hater, why are you trying to justify yourself with irrelevant points?
x%sure you have nothing in the conversation but to bandwagon on the Lakers all of a sudden. Must be sad you got to jump teams every year and pretend to be a fan not a bandwagoner.
You cannot recognize what happened.
That game was more impressive in resilience than the one where Jordan had food poisoning and 38 points. At least he could run.
I have rarely seen such an attack as on LJ by Dray, and JVG should take Marv Albert’s cue and retire.
Green’s fingers never came close to LeBron’s eyes. Complete prima donna move that a player of his caliber should not have to sink to. Steve Nash in 2010 playoffs needed stitches and literally could not see out of his right eye while eliminating the Spurs. Google how a man reacts to an actual injury and see how much of a tool you look like, LeBron.
Yes they still doubt him, only Lebron’s pathetic haters could dis the man after he hits a game winning 30 footer in a big game after getting popped in the face an flagrant fouled. Absolutely you can hit a shot with blurry vision from a foul, the fact you doubt that shows you must of hardly ever played.
He even said it was lucky, as did Steph, Stephen A. and Skip Bayless
Warrior fans are so mad lmao. Curry had more turnovers than points in the last 3 minutes.
Yep, because the Lakers quadruple teamed him like cowards they are.
Lakers full strength vs Steph and 6 g-leaguers yet you still tried and claim underdog status and then on top of that Lebron pulls some phony Curt Schilling bloody sock fake injury “I cant even see” – no one believes you.
Why did this “physical marvel”, “most durable all-time” lie crumpled on the ground for 5 minutes if he wasn’t injured bad enough to not return to the game? That’s the cowardly, lying part. LeFraud is not top 5. Kobe is better, he would have never acted like that.
Lebron destroyed his legacy WITH THIS GAME you guys! Wake up! Open your homer eyes!
The Lakers are cowards because they tried to win a game with major playoff implications on the line – Warrior fans
Let me correct you. 1 warrior fan calling them a coward. Just like saying all laker fans think LeBron could win a championship without AD when only you claim that.
He could win with any all star caliber 2nd player. Just happened to be AD. Look at the pathetic Cavs roster he dragged to the finals in 2018.
You guys sound like eight year olds.
Amk1920 with any all star? He couldn’t do it with Jameson with cavs in 07’, he also couldn’t get it done without kyrie in 2018. Lost to mavs with wade and bosh and lost to an aging spurs with just kawhi and the corpse of tim duncan. Lebrons johnson is so far down your throat man wake up!
Oh boy Jameson in ’07. No such luck— that was ’10 and he was not much help. The highest Cavs PER after James’s in ’07 was 18.
Was a total line of crap indeed
Caruso was the real hero last night but you’d never know by {trying} to listen to that horrible broadcast
I’ve been saying this for years. DeMar DeRozan is HORRIBLE in the 4th quarter of a close game. He will bring your team down if you are going to him for a key basket. And if you watched last night DeRozan missed a 12 footer with 90 seconds to go and they never went back to him the rest of the game.
Right after that they went to Rudy Gay for a key shot. 35 years old and makes half the money of DeMar DeRozan. At least Popovich has a clue.
Hopefully Rudy will get a call from the Nets Suns. I was hoping the Celtics would trade for him.
Seems odd that Spurs don’t start Poeltl. Valencuinas tore them up, and the Spurs started so slow. The WC is tough.
Couple of excellent games last night. Very exciting to watch and my Warriors had the game in their pocket but LA and it’s cream Rose to the top at the end. Great defense and Game Plan for the third quarter popped the bubble of the Warriors. Huge 3-point shot by LeBron at the end and as Curry said, “the great ones make great shots.”
I’m looking for the Lakers or the Clippers to come out of the West as I said the other day. Being a seven seed won’t stop LA’s train until perhaps round 2 versus the clips.
GSW played absolutely perfect basketball in the first half. If they can play like that the rest of the way, they are beating everyone. This game is going to make Steph so mad he will go for 60 on Friday just out of anger and to bring fear to Utah, lol
First half they looked pretty good. Even Bazemore was hitting shots and he was almost halfway to the 25 I said he needed for the Warriors to win. Three bombs in the first half also I think. Needed to do that in the second as well but oh well. At least Jordan Poole didn’t go 3-15 LOL.
Sadly on that tip: Draymond literally has to score only 8+ points for GSW to win. He can’t even get there. Smh. GSW should make him try and get there in the first quarter then let him play his no scoring game the rest of the way.
Kerr blew it by benching JTA for Mulder in the 4th and then killed like 5 seconds on that last play because his head isn’t in the game.
Still can’t help but be proud of this 8-man team who went up against a full strength team of one of the best defenses including two elite superstars. With Steph going Joker/sicko mode, we win this game 5/10 times, just not last night. My god, Steph Curry is the best player in the game – and always has been since 2015.
Kerr tried calling timeout way sooner but they wouldn’t give it to him
Marty you have been blasting those players as dumb all year, not realizing they were there for defence, like Bazemore. The dummies kept them in games and it was Curry’s job to win it. The plan almost worked; they looked cohesive and in the moment. Unlike LJ haters confronted with his shot winning.
GSW looked very legit last night. I could see them stealing a game or 3 from Utah, esp if Mitchell and Conley aren’t 100
They wont play Rd 2 … Clippers Made SURE of that !
It always makes me wonder when people of legitimate greatness lie with such ease. Btw. He stole that line from Muhammad Ali’s trainer Dundee, when he got a foreign substance in his eye from the gloves of Sonny Liston.
It always makes me wonder why people cling to this idea of sacred competition. It’s a game dude, it’s designed to entertain people. If you don’t want personality from the players go watch simulations in 2K.
LaFraud is such a liar, he was literally on the ground rubbing his eyes to make it look red, Dray never touched his eyes. Clown. Play like a grown man.
Golden State is now 1-15 in their last 15 games officiated by either John Goble or Tre Maddox including 5 playoff losses with Goble. Lakers are now 11-0 with Goble over their last 11. Pathetic choice by Silver to chose these particular refs, of course there would be bias against GSW.
Steph Curry is easily the MVP, he proved that. Only way to beat him is to triple team him – that means he’s already won no matter if a bucket happens. Coward play by Lakers all round. No respect given for that game, Lebrons hail mary 3 was cancelled out by his lies about his vision.
You are such a baby. It’s humorous seeing you call anyone a clown, Marty, when all you do is post ridulously stupid homer “clown” comments on a regular basis.
Typical. Blame officials. And then trash LeBron. Let me guess Steph is better then LeBron and LeBron isn’t a top 5 player ever. Got it.
You mad bro?
The bay’s salt level is off the chart this morning. “The Lakers tried too hard triple teaming Curry” is a new delusional excuse from their fanbase LOL. LeBron is about to go back-to-back all but negating the Warriors run and putting him 2 rings ahead of the finals MVP virgin.
Yall went full strength against Steph and 6 g-leaguers but tried and played the underdog. Numbers dont lie, Goble hates GSW with a passion. We had no chance the second he was announced and he came through with terrible calls all night for Lakers.
Why does Lebron cry to the refs so much if he’s the GOAT? MJ never did that. Steph doesn’t do that.
Delusional? That’s not what that word means, which means you are gaslighting, because we all saw Steph triple and quadruple teamed all night. You are saying that didn’t happen and we are delusional now?
Phony team – and its just because Lebron. Kobes memory and legacy deserves better than this FRAUD flopper loser LeBum James. I actually like the Lakers, but I hate LeBron so much because he acts like a 2 year old to the refs and flops, when he should be bigger than the game. That’s why he’s not on Steph’s and MJ’s and Kobe’s tier anymore. This game proved what a loser he really is. Shame you Lakers fans can’t see this, but he’s making your team corny.
Dray went straight for LJ’s head from well inside the circle and still could not knock him out. Loser.
“LJ took too long being injured”… making his critics who say that just those people that hold him to immortal standards.
The refs chose not to call Dray for a flagrant, yet they are biased for LJ? LJ has a winning playoff record in general, yet wins with these refs are suspect?
Personally I think the contact was between both heels of Dray’s hands and maybe the jaw of LJ, making him see stars and feel weak like a normal person. There was some reflexive ruse element making it about fingers in the eye. His eyes would have been on the floor if that was the case. The impact was hard and LJ probably saw stars and needed to stop the clock. Dray’s fault though, he had no legal play at hand.
x%sure LeBron tried to injure Poole on the dunk. tried to take out his legs and did a complete flagrant foul on him. Luckily he yelled at the refs and they are scared to call fouls on Lebron. Only foul was called was a overturn of a obvious blocking foul. Like how he pretended to be hit in the chin on the play when replay showed nothing hit his chin. That’s pathetic.
The Lakers barely got past a 39-33 team to reach the playoffs and their fans instantly have delusions of grandeur thinking their team will repeat. When in fact they will be lucky just to get past Phoenix.
Last postseason was so fun when Harden-Westbrook MVPs kept saying the Lakers were going to lose every series and they won easily. Here we go again! Who on the Suns is stopping Bron or AD?
Horseshoes and hand grenades Wally
* You’ll just keep kicking this can No matter what tho
Next series it will be open season on you going after CP3 and the Phx inexperience when we beat them
Rinse and repeat
Its sad
Lebron haters are most pathetic in sports. If LeBron was a sellout like Jordan this dopey country would already recognize him as the clear Goat. If Jordan hit that shot they would be in here talking about how Mike was legally blind when he hit that shot. Only fraud are the LeBron haters
Team hopping, ring chasing worse than KD loser LeFraud, can’t beat Curry without the refs and another top 5 player. Pathetic loser.
The “golden goat” isn’t the real GOAT. Every knows it’s MJ.
Calling Jordan a sellout is simply pathetic. Did he make everyone watch his decision on national TV like LeBron did? Talk about a drama queen.
If Jordan hit that shot the majority of us on this board would be either adolescents, infants, or sperm cells.
Frankly, I’m turned off equally by the blind hatred of LeBron and the blind reverence. You’re falling into the latter category.
Boring staged game. Outcome was expected as was the predictable outcome with it coming down to wire. Called it before season ended, lakers will be 7th seed and go on to beat nets in finals. It’s all done to stage another feather in lebrons cap, for his scripted resume as being the “goat” If he loses he gets the excuse of his ankle injury was much worse than anything doctors had seen, or he beats superteam in nets and gets casuals calling him daddy. Not my goat.
You are a fake Laker fan. I loved Kobe too but its about the team on the front, not the name on the back. At this point I think you are a troll because no one is this mad that their supposed “team” won. At the end of the day LeBron hit an insane shot to win the game and its comical how tin foil hats like you call it staged. I would love to hear your theory on how the NBA orchestrated him hitting that shot.
@amk1920 I can be a fan of lakers and not of lebron. Sorry your not smart enough to have a different thought to what the tv tells you. I Don’t like the guy, don’t see the talent. I see a guy who receives zero blame or criticism (other than skip bayless) for poor play over the years and is quick to throw teammates under the bus (kyrie, wade, love) He then Gets teammates traded when under performing and gets all the glory when he loads up with super teams as if he doesn’t have help. Again viewership is down nearly 45 percent since 2011 wonder why? Pinnacle of basketball was 90’s-2000’s anyone with half a brain knows this
Nah he’s right you a phony Lakers fan lol
Tatsu is so needy in validating his hate he says “I called it” before it even plays out.
Tatsu did not call it, and many predicted LAL would finish ahead of GSW as soon as Klay went down, and for valid reasons.
“Staged” my ass. You missed a great game. Why even watch. Probably do not.
Thats the game nowadays X……… build a wall with pre-mediated semi- secured boarders (excuses) if something happens to penetrate that line of thinking …..
New age thinking….Its all about safe spaces and comfort and No need to ever re-evaluate b/c we are all so perfect in the Now
Anybody still doubt Caruso is a starter, and not just against teams with a Steph Curry? You get top defense by someone who always looks for the ball in the backcourt instead of resting. Offense doesn’t hurt either. Great for a team with LJ.
But Caruso should depart, go to a place where fans value creativity and spontenaity. One might think, that would be the Hollywood team, but ha. How creative is Hollywood anyway.
I absolutely buy into Caruso being a starter, especially over Schroder. I’ll be happy when Schroder is gone next season.
They have got to do something about JVG and MJ in the booth ……these guys could make the first moon landing unwatchable !
Play of the game was a Caruso poke/ deflection off Currys leg at halfcourt in the last 2 mins . They didnt even comment about it as they were so deep in some irrelevant story . NBA fans deserve better
Frankly, I think this almost religious devotion to the idea that ONLY people directly involved with coaching or playing in the NBA can “authentically” comment is really hampering the quality of the in-game analysis.
Let’s face it, most guys who have been blessed with being the best in the world at dunking or shooting or drawing up x’s and o’s aren’t ALSO going to be the best in world at COMMENTING on it. Entertaining speakers are hard enough to find, period—nvm if you limit yourself to ex-athletes.
It’s why when they find a semi-entertaining ex-coach or player like JVG or Barkley these networks just ride them for decades until ultimately they have nothing left to say. There are plenty of voices online who know the game and are entertaining—but bc they didn’t play they’re basically not even considered.
I have never been able to stand Mark Jackson, in particular. Jeff Van Grundy has always just seemed like a cartoon character to me. That goes back to the coaching days for both of them, and it’s brutal listening to them commentate now.
Just terrible, Lakers had inbounded the ball and AD was driving to the hoop w 2;30 left and these guys are in the middle some dumbass story
For a sport doing so many things right CMON get these guys outta here
Hate to make so many comments, but I think LJ had no heel-to-toe movement in his stride, and did not jump much. His shoes in wedge-shaped colors made it hard to tell, but I think he shuffled all game long, kind of on his toes.
Critics are right though, if he tried to sell the Dray fingerpokes. But did he, or has he? Well there should be plenty of words written.
Great game, props to Steph, that dudes a killer
Liked the No flagrant call on Dray
Caruso player of the game
Lakers offense looked pathetic 1st half, LBJ has no lift currently, might not all playoffs
AD needs to get lower in the post, he should be able to eat vs Phx, we’ll see, its all mental/desire Now . Loved how they kicked him to the 5 2nd half, thats what its gonna take to win 4 series
They better make the best of this year b/c their gonna have some feelings hurt going into the offseason with 29 other vultures awaiting – Harrell Schroeder THT cant be happy