'25-26 NBA Thread

[MU82]

Shamet has made 18 of his last 23 shots from 3. I mean, lots of really good shooters would have trouble going 18/23 in an empty gym.

[MuggsyB]

Shamet has made 18 of his last 23 shots from 3. I mean, lots of really good shooters would have trouble going 18/23 in an empty gym.

The Knicks are healthy and dangerous.  I think it's closer to 45/55 then them having no chance vs SA or OKC. 

[wadesworld]

The Knicks are healthy and dangerous.  I think it's closer to 45/55 then them having no chance vs SA or OKC. 

Only if those teams are banged up.

[MuggsyB]

Only if those teams are banged up.

They are banged up.  The Knicks' starting 5 definitely is more balanced and has more offensive weapons than OKC or SA.  Granted, they've played some really meh teams, but once Brown allowed Towns to facilitate more they've been really good and efficient. 

As for SA, it's truly amazing the impact Wemby has had on the floor, and the dude is nowhere near his potential.  The +- numbers are crazy. It seems to me he's most effective playing the 4 with another big out there. 

Holmgren btw has been abysmal in this series.  Will he show up the next few games?  He was 3rd team all NBA.  SA might not win this series or the title this season, but it could very well be utter dominance moving forward assuming Victor is healthy.

[Uncle Rico]

They are banged up.  The Knicks' starting 5 definitely is more balanced and has more offensive weapons than OKC or SA.  Granted, they've played some really meh teams, but once Brown allowed Towns to facilitate more they've been really good and efficient. 

As for SA, it's truly amazing the impact Wemby has had on the floor, and the dude is nowhere near his potential.  The +- numbers are crazy. It seems to me he's most effective playing the 4 with another big out there. 

Holmgren btw has been abysmal in this series.  Will he show up the next few games?  He was 3rd team all NBA.  SA might not win this series or the title this season, but it could very well be utter dominance moving forward assuming Victor is healthy.

Wemby can't carry a team

[StillAWarrior]

That Harden trade isn't exactly a positive for the Cavs.  Another dismal playoffs performance. 

As a Cavs fan, I have to keep reminding myself...they made it to the ECF. On the one hand, I guess it's an overall positive when the team you follow is good enough that losing in the ECF is considered a disappointment. On the other hand...damn... that was a disappointing playoff performance. I'll always wonder how the series might have been if the Cavs hadn't blown game one at MSG.

I suppose it's a problem when a team's two biggest superstars have a history of not getting it done in the playoffs.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

Wemby can't carry a team

...yet

[MuggsyB]

Wemby can't carry a team

Wemby has to improve his conditioning and get stronger.  Once that happens?
Uh-Oh. 

[MuggsyB]

As a Cavs fan, I have to keep reminding myself...they made it to the ECF. On the one hand, I guess it's an overall positive when the team you follow is good enough that losing in the ECF is considered a disappointment. On the other hand...damn... that was a disappointing playoff performance. I'll always wonder how the series might have been if the Cavs hadn't blown game one at MSG.

I suppose it's a problem when a team's two biggest superstars have a history of not getting it done in the playoffs.

You also traded a 26 yr old fir a 36 yr old with a history of crapping the bed in the playoffs.  Garland has his probs but Harden was never the answer to make them title contenders. 

[The Sultan]

You also traded a 26 yr old fir a 36 yr old with a history of crapping the bed in the playoffs.  Garland has his probs but Harden was never the answer to make them title contenders. 

Yeah, I get the desire to get rid of Garland's contract, but Harden was never going to be the answer. I think the question is if the Cavs had a backdoor agreement to extend his contract, will they actually follow through with that. Because there is no way I would roll it back with him.

[MU82]

I'll always wonder how the series might have been if the Cavs hadn't blown game one at MSG.

They'd have lost in 5 to the better team IMHO. The opener is always the least important game in a best-of-7.

Then again, Kenny Atkinson thinks the Cavs were up 2-1 "analytically" heading into Game 4, so there's a banner Cleveland can hang with pride!

[Jay Bee]

I think the question is if the Cavs had a backdoor agreement to extend his contract, will they actually follow through with that.

Reeko prob has insights here

[Billy Hoyle]

Nice of Cleveland to show up. 

at least it was game 4 of an unwinnable series. The Pistons had already checked in for their flights the next day to Punta Cana instead of showing up for GAME SEVEN at home.

The Cavs will go down in history as having the worst playoff record for a conference finals team:

https://x.com/TheCavsJack/status/2059095778249871527

[Uncle Rico]

Reeko prob has insights here

Why would I have insights?

Also,

Respect other posters.  Insults, and flames will not be tolerated

You continue to break the rules of scoop and it behooves the mods to give you a 2-week break until you can learn to follow the rules.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[MU82]

Harden has a $42.3M player option. Guessing he rejects it and tries to get a two-year deal from the Cavs or someone else for at least $50M annually.

Not sure why any team would pay that to an aging, ball-dominant, turnover-prone defensive liability who has conclusively proven he can only help a team get so far in the playoffs ... but I've been amazed at some of the contracts doled out by NBA teams in recent years, so who knows.

[MuggsyB]

Apparently Harden said "we're the better team" after his squad got their asses handed to them and swept.  "We didn't make shots."  You can't make this stuff up.  This is analogous to me saying, when I was a little tyke, "I am tall enough" to go on the roller coasters at Great America.  I always wanted to take out those freaking cartoon measurement things. 

[Uncle Rico]

Apparently Harden said "we're the better team" after his squad got their asses handed to them and swept.  "We didn't make shots."  You can't make this stuff up.  This is analogous to me saying, when I was a little tyke, "I am tall enough" to go on the roller coasters at Great America.  I always wanted to take out those freaking cartoon measurement things. 

He's right

[MuggsyB]

Terrible officiating at the end of the 3Q of this game. 

[MU82]

Scoopers got ticked off when Ben Gold wasn't taking the ball to the hoop enough in any random Marquette game.

How about the great 7-foot-5 superduperstar Victor Wembanyama being content to just drift around the arc for most of Game 5 of the conference finals?

Crazy stuff.

[MuggsyB]

Scoopers got ticked off when Ben Gold wasn't taking the ball to the hoop enough in any random Marquette game.

How about the great 7-foot-5 superduperstar Victor Wembanyama being content to just drift around the arc for most of Game 5 of the conference finals?

Crazy stuff.

Didn't get it. He has to come out woth prime-time aggression. 

It's unfortunate most of the games in this series have been totally one sided.

[MU82]

Didn't get it. He has to come out woth prime-time aggression. 

Not only disappeared on the court, but also disappeared after the game. His most aggressive move all night was the way he stormed past the media (and by extension, NBA fans) after the game.

Given that Wembanyama was voted the most media-friendly player in the NBA this season by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, and given that he usually makes thoughtful responses to questions, it was definitely out of character for him. He must have been too embarrassed and/or frustrated to carry out his obligation this time.

You want to be the face of the league and campaign for yourself to be MVP? That's cool. But that comes with responsibilities. Michael, Kobe, LeBron, Bird, Curry ... they never dodged the press after a playoff loss.

[MuggsyB]

Not only disappeared on the court, but also disappeared after the game. His most aggressive move all night was the way he stormed past the media (and by extension, NBA fans) after the game.

Given that Wembanyama was voted the most media-friendly player in the NBA this season by the Professional Basketball Writers Association, and given that he usually makes thoughtful responses to questions, it was definitely out of character for him. He must have been too embarrassed and/or frustrated to carry out his obligation this time.

You want to be the face of the league and campaign for yourself to be MVP? That's cool. But that comes with responsibilities. Michael, Kobe, LeBron, Bird, Curry ... they never dodged the press after a playoff loss.

I expect a big G6 from Wemby but your points are valid despite his young age.  He'll be fine, he's just not quite there yet.  However, mentality wise?  It would behoove him to read Scoop and develop a relentless/no mercy mentality. 

I was thinking what my stats would be if I was 7'5 with my overall skill-set......let's just say total and thorough dominance. 

[MU82]

The last time the Knicks won the NBA championship, I was studying for my Bar Mitzvah. Now I'm on freakin' Medicare!

[Uncle Rico]

I expect a big G6 from Wemby but your points are valid despite his young age.  He'll be fine, he's just not quite there yet.  However, mentality wise?  It would behoove him to read Scoop and develop a relentless/no mercy mentality. 

I was thinking what my stats would be if I was 7'5 with my overall skill-set......let's just say total and thorough dominance. 

Wemby isn't good

[wadesworld]

NM