'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
LeBron James' former teammate Richard Jefferson covered the Dallas Mavericks-LA Clippers game on Sunday for NBA on ESPN. Jefferson had a hot take following the Clippers' huge win over the Mavs to take a 1-0 lead. The take was about the NBA playoffs and it got fans online riled up.
During ESPN's broadcast of the Clippers-Mavs game, Jefferson said something baffling about a seven-game series in the playoffs.
"The thing about these seven-game series is the team that loses has the advantage," Jefferson said.
At first glance, Richard Jefferson's take didn't make any sense, as how can a losing team have an advantage in the playoffs? If the team loses a seven-game playoff series, they are eliminated and can't progress to the next round.
That's what a lot of fans possibly understood based on the replies to the quote:
"He still celebrating 4/20," one fan wrote.
"The advantage of getting to Cancun before everyone else," another fan replied.
"So the Heat, Mavs, Pacers have the advantage even after getting blown out?" a fan asked.
Of course, some fans defended Richard Jefferson because his quote was taken out of context.
Jefferson is talking about losing Game 1 and having the advantage of making the adjustments the winning team cannot do. It makes more sense, as the losing team has no other choice but to adjust or they could lose again and go down 2-0.
"When Cavs was down 3-1 to Warriors, Cavs had the advantage cuz the pressure was on Warriors to close it out," one fan explained.
"He means the losing team gets to make adjustments. Good teams still make adjustments when they win though so his statement is flawed," this fan remarked.
"The losing team get to go make readjustments. It's on the winners to adapt or risk losing home advantage figures that all the geeks and young ones can't fathom the long game," one fan commented.
Kendrick Perkins defends Richard Jefferson from NBA fans
Kendrick Perkins came to the rescue of his longtime friend and ESPN colleague Richard Jefferson when NBA fans on X took his comments about playoff advantage out of context.
Perkins was critical of fans because Jefferson knew what he was talking about due to his experience playing in the league.
"Y'all might want to listen when a brother like Richard Jefferson has played in 140 playoff games, four NBA Finals appearances and one NBA Championship. I think he just might know a thing or two when it comes to the postseason. Carry the hell on," Perkins wrote.
Jefferson played in the league for 17 years and was in the playoffs 12 times, winning one championship with the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers. Perkins, meanwhile, had a 14-year career and won a title with the Boston Celtics in 2008.
