2024-25 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

This is bad.  Has a coach ever been dismissed during the playoffs?

[The Sultan]

This is bad.  Has a coach ever been dismissed during the playoffs?

Doc just isn't a good coach. He had a great year with three all-stars and Thibs running his defense, but he wasn't great at the end of his Celtics tenure, and largely underperformed in LA and Philly. He's just stealing money at this point.

[MuggsyB]

Doc just isn't a good coach. He had a great year with three all-stars and Thibs running his defense, but he wasn't great at the end of his Celtics tenure, and largely underperformed in LA and Philly. He's just stealing money at this point.

Should they just eat his contract?  And then trade Giannis and start over?  They don't seem to have many options. 

[MuggsyB]

The fact that they're only down 5 is a minor miracle. 

[The Sultan]

Should they just eat his contract?  And then trade Giannis and start over?  They don't seem to have many options. 

Only trade Giannis if he asks out. Otherwise you run out the GM and coaching staff, see what you can get for Dame, and build from the ground up around Giannis. No one else is off limits. But this GM is just trying to build around a core that no longer can do it.

[MuggsyB]

Only trade Giannis if he asks out. Otherwise you run out the GM and coaching staff, see what you can get for Dame, and build from the ground up around Giannis. No one else is off limits. But this GM is just trying to build around a core that no longer can do it.

No one is taking Lillard's contract. 

[MU82]

No one is taking Lillard's contract. 

Folks have said that about a LOT of bad contracts, but trades still amazingly get done.

[MuggsyB]

Folks have said that about a LOT of bad contracts, but trades still amazingly get done.

Well, maybe with the new cap it's possible.  But he's owed 100+ mill over the next two seasons.

[MU82]

Well, maybe with the new cap it's possible.  But he's owed 100+ mill over the next two seasons.

I didn't say it would be easy, but I've been amazed at some of the contracts that have been traded.

[MuggsyB]

I didn't say it would be easy, but I've been amazed at some of the contracts that have been traded.

I don't see a lot of assets on the Bucks.  I think Fluffy is right.  They must dismiss the GM and Doc. 

[MuggsyB]

Minny isn't ready to play tonight.

[forgetful]

How do you overturn a call, where the defender clearly reached and fouled before the offensive player made contact/fouled the defender.

I get that Divincenzo also fouled Vanderbilt, but you could argue he wouldn't have committed that foul if he wasn't fouled first.

Makes no sense to overturn that call.

This game is reminding me that NBA officiating is as terrible as NCAA.

[MuggsyB]

How do you overturn a call, where the defender clearly reached and fouled before the offensive player made contact/fouled the defender.

I get that Divincenzo also fouled Vanderbilt, but you could argue he wouldn't have committed that foul if he wasn't fouled first.

Makes no sense to overturn that call.

This game is reminding me that NBA officiating is as terrible as NCAA.

There's gonna be a brawl if the refs don't get this under control. 

[JWags85]

Doc just isn't a good coach. He had a great year with three all-stars and Thibs running his defense, but he wasn't great at the end of his Celtics tenure, and largely underperformed in LA and Philly. He's just stealing money at this point.

I think there was a time he was a good coach, or decently above average.  He faded in Boston but started well in LA.  But now he's just archaic and coasting off of reputation.  I like Doc, but I can't think of another coach who has a reputation so outsized from their actual success.  He was named one of the 15 best coaches of all time for the 75 anniversary of the NBA which is absolutely insane for a guy who had only been to a pair of conference finals and only made the finals the year the Cs won

[BM1090]

They definitely found some things that worked. They tried Brook for 6 quarters. It didn't work. Gotta go Giannis and Bobby for starter minutes.

Doesn't feel like a Prince series either. Bucks will get game 3. If they get game 4 I like them to win the series.

[Jockey]

They definitely found some things that worked. They tried Brook for 6 quarters. It didn't work. Gotta go Giannis and Bobby for starter minutes.

Doesn't feel like a Prince series either. Bucks will get game 3. If they get game 4 I like them to win the series.

I don't share your optimism but as a fan I hope you are right.

I think there is always players are done with Doc and losing is the best way to assure that he is gone. There is not a single player in the NBA that respects his coaching abilities.

[MU82]

Timberwolves were 21-for-42 from 3 in Game 1, and then 5-for-25 from 3 in Game 2.

All kinds of factors decided both games, but when you miss the same wide-open shots you got just a couple days earlier - to the tune of 48 fewer points from behind the arc - it's hard to ignore.

[Jockey]

Timberwolves were 21-for-42 from 3 in Game 1, and then 5-for-25 from 3 in Game 2.

All kinds of factors decided both games, but when you miss the same wide-open shots you got just a couple days earlier - to the tune of 48 fewer points from behind the arc - it's hard to ignore.

You live and die with shots going in or not. But Minny didn't get all of the wide open 3s that they did in the 1st game.

[MU82]

You live and die with shots going in or not. But Minny didn't get all of the wide open 3s that they did in the 1st game.

Still lots of wide-open 3s, though. Off the top of my head, I can remember several for Reid, McDaniels and Conley. Make even 3-4 more and it's a different game.

[MU82]

Not bad for a league that's "in trouble" ...

The NBA's eight playoff games on opening weekend averaged 4.4 million viewers, the highest number in 25 years and a 17% increase over last year, per the league. ESPN said it was the most-watched opening weekend ever on its platforms.

[Uncle Rico]

Not bad for a league that's "in trouble" ...

The NBA's eight playoff games on opening weekend averaged 4.4 million viewers, the highest number in 25 years and a 17% increase over last year, per the league. ESPN said it was the most-watched opening weekend ever on its platforms.

Go woke, go broke

[MuggsyB]

I know this is the biggest of ifs.....but if Kawhi is actually healthy for the playoffs, do you see the Clippers as a viable threat?  It's easy to forget how good that guy is when he's right. 

[Jockey]

I know this is the biggest of ifs.....but if Kawhi is actually healthy for the playoffs, do you see the Clippers as a viable threat?  It's easy to forget how good that guy is when he's right. 

He's a top 10 player when healthy- maybe top 5.

But beating OKC is a really big order.

[MuggsyB]

He's a top 10 player when healthy- maybe top 5.

But beating OKC is a really big order.

I would definitely say top 5.  Especially when you consider his defense.

[BM1090]

I don't share your optimism but as a fan I hope you are right.

I think there is always players are done with Doc and losing is the best way to assure that he is gone. There is not a single player in the NBA that respects his coaching abilities.

I agree on Doc, but Giannis is way too prideful to play out the string. And Dame is motivated. The rest of the guys will follow.

If they lose game 3 it's obviously done, but I don't expect them to. Trent and AJ and others will feed off the crowd. Pacers get rattled when things don't go their way. Only 20-20 on the road this year (same as Milwaukee)