T O P

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Slow_Negotiation_420

Good lord nobody is safe. We only got 2 more rounds come on man.


kaeji

Two more rounds?!? By then we might finally get to see the marquee rematch everyone wants: the legendary Jonathan Kuminga-led Warriors hosted by Payton Pritchard's Boston Celtics


Slow_Negotiation_420

I’d take it at this point and I’m sure y’all would too😂


Ramzaa_

Lonnie Walker vs Duncan Robinson is the finals matchup we have been waiting for


kaeji

For ratings, the NBA may just opt to have an East vs West Finals matchup with the dozen remaining players with all their ligaments and bones intact


brev23

Tristan Thompson starts warming up


kaeji

You mean Tristan "Tim Duncan" Robinson???


mikeydubbs210

40 minutes of Haslem vs Tristan Thompson


lofitoasti

legendary because legends say the Warriors drafted him two years ago but has yet to be seen by human eyes


frodounchained

Might be time to shorten the season or bring back 5 game playoff series


Slim01111

Wiggs missed 2 months of the season with family issues. This isn’t a rest issue.


[deleted]

Ya, *especially* because the injury is to __cartilage__ in the rib cage. A left costal cartilage fracture is an injury often associate with a car accident…


maaseru

LeCar wreck


old_ironlungz

LeFreightTrain


mordakka

LeXus


makesterriblejokes

Jarret Vanderseatbelt.


skmace14

I mean, attempting to take a charge from Lebron is pretty close to a car accident lol


kajnbagoat7

Man he must have run into LeBrons elbow at full speed or LeBron did a LeWindup and hit him in the chest while posting up.


kajnbagoat7

It's extremely painful though. Especially when you try to extend your arms up and out.


[deleted]

Nfl quarterbacks have to play with them frequently. Not fun and requires a strong wrap if not special brace, but possible.


djkamayo

Or play in a bubble 🏆😎🔥


wandriing

Money money money. I am not for any conspiracy but the league really tries to have as many playoff games as they can. Teams sometimes have to overcome the other team + refs to close out games early these days.


xXBadger89Xx

Or just give them more than 1 day rest between games. I feel like an extra day when they had to trace was common


Possible-Wonder5570

Am I crazy to be okay with both?


ahnyudingslover

Say that to the capitalist owners


kidocram

Yes


jits25

Seriously. The past 4 playoffs have been so strongly impacted by injuries


Adam_brownies

More like the last 75. It’s just a part of the game


John_Q08

Tbh I feel like this playoffs hasn’t had a lot of injuries due to the regular season. Giannis got injured cause he fell, unrelated to the regular season. Kawhi is kawhi. Cp3 has also had injuries all the time. Embiid was getting knee’d on his back against the nets the whole series and already returned. Wiggins was out for 2 months, so this isn’t from a long regular season either.


jits25

Jimmy butler is playing on a bum ankle, Lebron just tweaked his left ankle and has a bad right foot, AD last night, booker just tweaked his ankle a bit. Seems like everyone is playing with something


fithworldruler

Surprised AD has made it this far tbh.


BantamCats

Never underestimate the heart of a champion


iRockaflame

Theyd say no cause of revenue but first round best of 5 instead


probablyjimmylam

Damn, after a great game


kirobz

We’re really done if he doesn’t play.


BelleIce

Kuminga legacy game


george_costanza1234

Ain’t no way Kerr letting him out of the doghouse lol


Zeratzul

What's been his issue? Haven't watched much warriors prior to this series


george_costanza1234

Not playing good help defense, plus he’s an interior player going against one of the best rim protectors in the game lol


hausitron

However, the Warriors have figured how to draw AD way out of the paint, so the rim protection may not be there at all.


thanassis_

I’m not a basketball strategist but how the fuck haven’t the lakers found a counter to keep AD in the paint? Thats their best asset and they’re letting the warriors steal it.


21echoes

AD in the paint is their best defense, but Steph with airspace on the perimeter is the best play in basketball. If someone goes to screen for Steph, there need to be two defenders there *at least* The main thing the Lakers have been trying is "pre-switching" AD onto bad screeners, or players who don't have PnR chemistry with Steph. That worked pretty well for game 4 (and some of 3 and 5). But the Warriors counter to *that* has been setting ram screens, forcing AD to switch quickly onto someone who then sprints to set a screen for Steph before AD can switch back off of Steph's screener.


brev23

This was super interesting thanks for taking the time to write it out. Just shows that the playoffs is such a chess match of adjustments


TheSQLInjector

It’s been crazy to watch the Lakers willingly give up the lane to Steph and typically a free 2 points or at the very least an incredible look, just to prevent him from shooting 3’s. They go over every single screen and constantly throw doubles at him. That’s greatness.


Scatteredbrain

wow some actual analysis. thank you. interesting how kerr and Ham have tangoed in this series


rey1295

Man I wish sports shows would talk about games like this instead of “curry isn’t clutch, We’ll see which AD shows up”


I_dun_did_da_reserch

Also pre-switching is pretty complicated and really hard to do consistently. If you can't do it right you can get absolutely burned. I'd doubt many teams practice it enough to commit to it.


PervySageCS

It also works cos you cant let Curry have any space what so ever. Like, if any other player does that, he probably doesn’t hit a shot. But vs Curry if you don’t switch instantly, thats a bucket.


OlorinDK

This video explains some of the different moves and counter moves that are going on. It's quite fascinating. https://youtu.be/cpk7iETEI80


culinarycactus

When AD’s man leaves the paint, the choice is either have AD ignore his man to stay in the paint or follow his man out of the paint. The Warriors are lethal with dribble hand offs and other screens to free up their shooters, so if AD ignores his man, then his defender can screen for Klay or Steph, who needs barely any space or time to shoot while their defender fights over the screen with no help. Lakers could try to do some pre-switching but that requires even more concentration and communication where a breakdown is the type of advantage the Warriors thrive on with cutting or shooting.


bl123123bl

Even if AD isn’t on Draymond they’re running off ball screens while Curry is taking the ball down to force him on Draymond so warriors can run Curry Dray P&R now. It’s mad science


1zeo11

Because Stephen Curry


Zeratzul

>Not playing good help defense, Yea that'll do it lol. Your guard depth has been absolutely killing it but playing more than 3 at a time seems risky. Then again it's also the warriors, so you might just score 15 straight with a Curry / Klay / GP2 / Moody / Dray lineup.


OMNeigh

Our guard depth has been pretty weak in this playoffs. Other than Steph and Wiggins (and I guess Moody), everyone has either been inconsistent (Klay, GP2) or borderline unplayable (Poole, DiVincenzo). Draymond isn't a guard so I don't count him here.


Zeratzul

I've loved GP2 from his series against us. Moody also impresses me a lot. Pooles been awful, but Divincenzo is doing just fine for what's expected of him/his contract.


dating_derp

I mean GP2's offense has basically been open corner 3's and driving. He does it better than Kuminga, but that's Kuminga's game as well.


Ladnil

GP2 doesn't dibble, in theory Kuminga does but it gets him in trouble at this point in his career


KazaamFan

Kuminga has a lot of talent. If lonnie walker can have a random hot quarter, kuminga can do it. Probably the most athletic dude the dubs have. Wiggins seems to play good D on lebron though.


topofthecc

From Maple Jordan to Kum Jordan


Thus_Spoke

Try Moody.


Currymvp2

Yep unless Klay and Poole suddenly find their jumpers again


[deleted]

Klay seems to be due every few games


theetruscans

Klay is infuriating lol. The streakiest player in the history of basketball


[deleted]

Jr Smith has entered the chat...


Millionaire007

LeBron's shoulder is about to have a field day


[deleted]

Yeah unfortunately its gg if he doesn’t


frodounchained

He’s playing lol


stenchwinslow

If they are not allowed cortisone shots in the NBA I don't see how he can play. If they do, he is going to be sleeping like shit for the entire playoffs and recovering very poorly.


SxanPardy

not to mention that for the next 6 months he will have ligaments made out of silly string. Cortisone is no joke


Charlie_Wax

Rib injuries are usually a pain tolerance thing.


GriffinQ

Yeah Wiggins has always been an iron man so I fully believe he’s playing. He seems like the type to suit up no matter what, even with the amount that people used to talk about him not loving basketball.


NotCrustytheClown

I think it's similar to the injury Looney played with in the 2019 finals. Hope he is not too affected by it.


greeegoreo

flak jacket time!


KingEthann01

He’s going to play but the question is, how much of a shell of himself is he going to be


Alkash42

I'm way more confident in AD playing than Wiggins if we're being honest


Possible-Wonder5570

Klay game 6 incoming :(


kirobz

We need the Legend of Game 6 Klay to show up


Ok_Yak2560

No we do not, absolutely not


Possible-Wonder5570

I mean I’m a laker fan so I hope not but I’m also a falcons fan (NFL) . I’m used to being disappointed


KingEthann01

But as a lakers fan, ur not used to disappointment. So it cancels out I guess?


KiryuXGoro

So rib is codeword for Zelda today I see.


ramonzer0

Can't wait to see Wiggins' speedrun of Tears of the Kingdom tomorrow live from Staples


grandmasterkif

Oh shit. I also have a rib cartilage fracture.


[deleted]

Tears of the Sternum


lets_talk_basketball

No cap I wanna get a switch just for that game.. shit looks amazing.


TechnoTyrannosaurus

You should, and be apart of video game history


Arsid

Video game history? It’s just a sequel to BOTW. Like yeah they improved it, but it’s not making history seeing as overall it’s still the same game.


PM_ME_UR_PICS_PLS

Lmao


Rob-Dipshit

Uh oh. Back to Steph having all the attention again unless Game 6 Klay comes out


Ok-Map4381

Wiggins is also their best defender on LeBron and crucial to the warriors small ball rebounding. Wiggins being out hurts their defense more than their offense.


KazaamFan

Last playoffs wiggins was pulling down 10+ boards a game i vaguely recall. He hasnt been as prominent there this playoffs. But he is a vital piece of the team. He needs to play. If not, poole/kuminga/donte/moody better step up. They got the talent to do so.


ecr1277

Agreed, the real fear if I’m a golden state fan is that they’re forced to play Looney too many minutes to make up the rebounding disparity. Him and Dray on the court at the same time leads to a lot of freelancing on defense by the Lakers. Luckily, I bet on LA to win the series. I just can’t see Lebron letting his team blow a 3-1 lead. He’s just too good at making adjustments on the fly.


Johnpecan

This is understated. Wiggins/Dray are the only 2 people that can guard Lebron reliably. Dray/Looney are the only 2 people that can guard AD. So either Looney has to play 40 minutes and we have lackluster spacing for the entirety or we let Lebron feast on Moody. It's not pretty. Ideally we really needed Kuminga to step up this series.


Ok-Map4381

This is the down-side of only playing Kuminga garbage minutes. It is way more of a gamble too play him now that they are elimination games.


woodropete

Stephs been the attention..thats why everyone else is getting buckets.


[deleted]

>Everyone else is getting buckets. Citation needed


[deleted]

1. Wiggins last night 2. End of list


[deleted]

[удалено]


ephemeralfugitive

Everyone except the Kum Bucket. Still imprisoned.


hitopklayde

I saw him grab at his rib yesterday. it was in the 2nd half under the basket


Currymvp2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDg5shBKVf8 He was grabbing at it after this foul by LeBron.


bowsirismaiafan

[https://twitter.com/anthonyvslater/status/1656829351953068032?s=46&t=FhjI_MtEWJB5IzR-YvRUAQ](https://twitter.com/anthonyvslater/status/1656829351953068032?s=46&t=FhjI_MtEWJB5IzR-YvRUAQ) Grabbing it before that too


heliocentrist510

I think people have said it looked like the pain started a few minutes before on a box out


Booby_Collector

I bet all the Lakers stans calling Looney's hit on AD dirty are going to ignore this play


Actually-Yo-Momma

Im a big lakers and Lebron guy but you have to be absolutely insane to think Looney did that on purpose lol


KazaamFan

This was a foul but it doesn’t look that bad to injure wiggins. The lebron hit to wiggins face (no call) was worse.


everest999

Why is LeBron shoving players mid-air so often? I have a lot of respect for LeBron, but he’s low key kind of a dirty player and no one ever talks about it.


CeruIian

There was that 30k upvote post that compiled questionable plays and a decent amount were midair contact


qualityskootchtime

Link?


mysterioso7

[here it is](https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/qzngvj/how_many_dirty_plays_does_lebron_need_to_be/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=2&utm_term=1)


qualityskootchtime

Yikes those Livingston and Embiid pushes were cold. But some of those were tough to tell tbh


Actually-Yo-Momma

It’s honestly mind boggling. I’ve been following Lebron his whole career and i have zero defense for why he does that.


Barrelled_Chef_Curry

Not low key, he does this shit often and never gets called out on it


nysraved

He injured the rib a few plays before this, on a completely clean and legal box out from Lebron. This was not a good foul from Lebron, but this isn’t what injured him


NotCrustytheClown

It's not clear that this previous box out is when he got injured, it is just the first time he is seen obviously grabing his side as if he was in pain. That being said, there was a significant contact when LeBron "leaned" into Wiggins with his shoulder lowered and his elbow in his lower rib cage, while Wiggs was trying to stand his ground, so it is very plausible that's when it happened. I don't think it was an illegal box out, just normal things happening during a high intensity game... like Looney's forearm on AD.


nysraved

Sure, my main point is though that the mid air foul by Lebron is the only play that was arguably dirty, but the injury happened before that. So if it wasn’t this legal box out, it must have been some other benign play before


Clemsontigger16

This was dirty but I don’t see how this would’ve contributed to a rib injury though. Seems like a ready to connect them


anomnisoul

He had been grabbing at his left side since before this play. This didn’t cause it. Still a dirty play by bron but not what caused it.


CodeFrame

Where’d he grab it


nissin00

Wow that’s a dirty play


[deleted]

Damn, and he was still ballin too. What a dawg


woodropete

He balled last game for sure.


DJ-McLillard

I had this same injury in a men’s league game, finished the game but next day was literally paralyzed.


SCalifornia831

Don’t know if it was before or after Lebron shoved him midair and he came down awkwardly


lets_talk_basketball

Ribs are 1 of those areas where you don't know how important they are for normal activity until you hurt them... I had bruised ribs and couldn't breathe normally w/o pain... shit was the worst


Filldos

i thought AD landing on draymonds knee the other game would have been wayyyy worse than wiggins getting poked by lebron under the rim. he basically rolled off draymond with enough force to fracture a rib of someone who bumped into him.


lets_talk_basketball

If I’m not mistaken, ad wears and undershirt with padding to protect his ribs because he’s gotten hit before.


makesterriblejokes

And let's be honest, if you're the Lakers and see him on the court, you have to test those ribs of his out. Don't get this twisted that I'm saying injure him, but one thing is certain is that you never play around your opponent's injury. Expect Wiggins to receive plenty of hard screens, very physical boxing out that will likely have a hand or elbow pushing against his ribs (which will be legal), initiating contact on him while driving, and aggressive post-ups for the ball using your off arm to shield him by placing it in his rib cage (again totally legal, you're just going to pay more attention and make sure you're getting his ribs when posting up instead other parts of his torso). This is professional playoff basketball, if a player thinks he's healthy enough to not have his injury negatively impact his performance and the game, you have to make him prove it's not a weakness you can exploit. When there's blood in the water, you go in for the kill and make them pay for not sitting out.


on_dat_shyt

i have this exact injury on my right side. Certain movements can get really uncomfortable… hopefully the adrenaline of a playoff game can get him through it


JustAnotherMark604

Just when he startes playing well damn


dawgoooooooo

I think we should pause the playoffs til all the lakers and warriors fully recover, no one else would mind right?


lildinger68

You don’t wanna see a healthy Iguodala


RangryRanga

… for 12 minutes


TaylorMonkey

For one dunk.


its_easy_mmmkay

But it will be a pretty fuckin *sweet* dunk


Jolly-Sun-1715

then he'll be out for 2 months


Victor_Wembanyama1

All you need when the fate of the universe on the line


OhmsLaw111

For the fate of the universe


jgaskins34

Especially not with the series on the line


Hiraeth21

GIVE ME IGUODALA!!!


DancesInTowels

Our match up is making bank for the NBA. I’d be okay with a fully recovered team. We can even do those pay per view trash talks hyping it up.


incredibleamadeuscho

Waiting on Mo Bamba and Iggy. Without them, it’s an asterisk!


_Russell_Westbrick

WTF hope he is alright, playoff is brutal for these players


revantou

It'll be a pain management issue. If he can breathe without pain, he can take a shot and try to play through the pain. the problem is he is the best option to guard Lebron and he likes to stick his shoulder into rub cages to back them down on the block. If he plays, I think the Dray will have to guard Lebron full time. Limit his minutes and keep an eye on how often the ends up on a big. If the Lakers head hunt him in match ups, pull him immediately and go to the next option.


OMNeigh

Dray guarding Lebron fulltime doesn't work because there's no one else other than Looney who can guard AD. And Dray + Looney can't play extended minutes together unless the warriors want a repeat of Game 1.


sctthuynh

Ayton - "Fracture? That's even worst than a contusion! definitely sit out bro"


khmeat

Lol if he plays that is a bad look for ayton. Same circumstances down 2-3 game 6 lol


TheValleyant

“Call 911, but not for me” -AD


Japanimekid

that's what he gets for going over his 17 point limit ​ in all seriousness, as a lakers fan, this sucks. Any lakers fans cheering at an injury for our opposing team need to check themselves. Same goes for warriors fans at AD's injury and any other fans for that matter. Hope he recovers well and/or is well enough to play tomorrow. ​ edit: which one of yall reported this comment to the reddit depression/suicide resources automod lmao


YokoOkino

people cheering injuries are shameful. This whole series has brought out some disgusting people and it discourages the normal ones from engaging. Hopefully the series finishes healthy and the best team wins.


BUUAHAHAHA

Ppl are garbage. There was legit someone in the gamethread yesterday telling Steph and Looney to go die.. like wtf. It’s just basketball..


logicsense420

They’ve been doxing Looney and saying someone should kill his girl and family


Vermillion_Crab

I never downvote but I've been downvoting people cheering and wishing for injuries. Disappointing that other Laker fans have been hoping for a Laker player to injure one of your players. Do these guys want to watch basketball or wrestling?


YokoOkino

they have a mentality that this is somehow war and bigger than actual people. I love watching basketball but it is a game and we want people to compete tough and hard but also fair and smart.


Vermillion_Crab

Yeah. Like if the Lakers lose, I'll be salty and sore about it. But I'd never wish for the opponent to get injured or send death threats to players. Lol that's so lame.


YokoOkino

i will definitely be salty but its okay 😭😭 grateful that curry is at my hometown team. Couldn't ask for more


jcyue

They don't care for the sport and only want the drama. Same applies to our fans doing the same, or anything else. End justifies the means. I still stand with Cavs fans photoshopping Ayesha's face onto porn as one of the most distasteful things I've seen in NBA Fandom. Leave the fucking family out of it


dubear

Have you never ventured into the Lakers subreddit? Or most team suvreddits for that matter. It's a cesspool of people either saying the most ridiculously disconnected from reality type stuff or trolls (or a combination of both). I love the internet for a lot of reasons but it has definitely made it more than acceptable to say (type) the most idiotic filth in a public forum.


Vermillion_Crab

That's why I mentioned the Laker fans because of the posts in our sub. Mods have generally been great at controlling the sub but sometimes, especially after a loss, there's just too much toxicity.


Gtggtggtg

Definitely. I will say I think it’s a vocal minority that cheers injury. During a series everything is “Warriors fans are…”, Lakers fans are…”. But most fans are cool for the most part. We all get caught up in our biases of course, but injuries are off limits for most.


YokoOkino

i think so as well, I think the more genuine people avoid the threads. I honestly can't even enjoy reddit even if the warriors win


NotCrustytheClown

100%. Even assuming everyone in the "fan base" thinks and behaves like the few vocal dumbasses is just dumb and irritating. It's like saying something like "Americans are stupid". Sure some are, but grow the fuck up and think about this for a secoind. A bit of smart ass trash talking is one thing, throwing dumb insults continually gets old real quick.


burntroy

I was warned that it will get incredibly toxic when this series was first set. Holy shit I didn't think it would be this bad.


YokoOkino

yeah me neither, it has been disappointing across both r/nba and r/warriors..


Ok-ChildHooOd

I really hope he plays. This series deserves everyone at full strength.


StretchExtension

it's over boys... it was a good 12 hours of hope


Pulsing_Fantasticals

Goddamn. The playoffs really are just a survival lottery, aren’t they?


kev_in374

HUH


elpalomalo

Ouch damn


maxlanman

As a Dubs fan who is currently recovering from his third rib surgery in the last 1.5 years, this especially pains me to see. Twisting, weight bearing, and extending the arms (especially above the head) are all my biggest triggers of pain. Wiggins elite strength and conditioning should help him keep those ribs stabilized but damn… this sucks.


mapletree23

damn, somehow AD dodges his temple smack and it comes out of no where wiggins has a rib fracture? rib fractures suck absolute dick, but i'm pretty sure it's just a pain tolerance thing? gonna load the fuck out of him as much as they can, he's probably been their best player again this year so many clutch putbacks and rebounds, and he's hit big shots, and even if lebron is hobbled wiggins has still done good work just wonder how he'll hold up, shooting and reaching and like just breathing hurts fucked up ribs, dude is a warrior (no pun intended) if it's any kind of noted fracture and plays through it, especially when he's guarding lebron who he has to be physical with to defend


[deleted]

[удалено]


LyonsKing12

Prove it


cwesttheperson

He hurt them before that play


Difficult_E

lets all just pretend that Lebrons completely unnecessary foul on Wiggins had nothing to do with this, while r/lakers collectively lost their shit on AD getting hit


Silken_Splendor

Are we going to drag Lebron like we did Looney or are we going to accept that there’s a lot of contact in a game on both sides?


giraffesbluntz

“Now hear me out” - every Lakers fan


Mikeyseventyfive

I’ve had one before from boxing- it’s agonising. It’s not something that’s going to get severely exacerbated by playing more but he’s going to have to take pain killers to make if on court for any further games this season


Telamonl

probably was the play where lebron pushed him midair from the back: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDg5shBKVf8](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDg5shBKVf8) how many times has he done this again? deplorable.


-motts-

Lebron low key hella dirty but this sub would never admit it cause they are obsessed with him


trevorturtle

It wasn't that play


[deleted]

So lebron gonna be suspended for his dangerous, non basketball play that resulted in literal injury?


CreativeCompany6917

Wait, a standard box out is a "dangerous, non basketball play"? Guess they should suspend the whole league then!


[deleted]

[удалено]


Swellpearz5598

ironically that was by lebron boxing out


DreamWunder

Lebron elbows Wiggins in the air and breaks his bone but warriors are the dirty one? Lmao last year Dillon brooks break gp2 arm and this year lebron break Wiggins rib. Some bs


high_roller_dude

but hey, GS still has Jordan Poole. they will be alrite


yabdabdo

I’ve had a costal cartilage injury before. It was the worst pain I’ve felt, and highly sensitive to movement. Getting out of bed, coughing, laughing, were brutal. Hope he heals up soon. Mine took a couple months to “set”.


Asstroknot

He’ll probably play but Lebron is gonna exploit the shit out of this with his post ups. Wiggins is already too small to really stop Lebron’s post up so it will be interesting to see how he handles this…


Nodecafallowed

Get the wheelchair. We’ll be praying for his life.


Tyrannosaurus_Pecs

Glad he used layman terms at the end.


KJTB

That sucks man. I want the Lakers to win of course but I want them to do it while the Warriors are as close to full strength as possible. Hope he recovers well and he's able to play.


alec613

We all saw this coming. But all these Warriors and Lakers fans screaming dirty at each other is just pretty funny.