2024-25 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

We've got two G7's.  Both seem like coin flips to me even though home teams historically have a big advantage. 

[Uncle Rico]

Now that Pop is gone, hope Kerr is next and woke is gone

[MuggsyB]

Now that Pop is gone, hope Kerr is next and woke is gone

You're certainly entitled to have that opinion. 

[Jay Bee]

Too many midwestern dudes on Bucks. Crazy to see Gary (Minnesota), Jericho (Minnesota) and fricken AJ Green (Iowa; teammates with OUR Joey H) on the court together.

[The Sultan]

We've got two G7's.  Both seem like coin flips to me even though home teams historically have a big advantage. 

GSW looks really s...l...o...w...

[MU82]

GSW looks really s...l...o...w...

Was thinking the exact same while watching. It was like Ol' Shep was trying to keep up with a bunch of playful puppies.

Also, the Warriors surrendered way before Kerr pulled the plug. Body language and facial expressions were horrible the entire fourth quarter.

After the game, both Green and Kerr went on and on for several minutes about how the team's collective spirit was crushed by the 4-point play to start the fourth quarter.

Yeah, I could see why. After all, they were down all of 6 points with only 11 1/2 minutes to play. Game over!

[MuggsyB]

Was thinking the exact same while watching. It was like Ol' Shep was trying to keep up with a bunch of playful puppies.

Also, the Warriors surrendered way before Kerr pulled the plug. Body language and facial expressions were horrible the entire fourth quarter.

After the game, both Green and Kerr went on and on for several minutes about how the team's collective spirit was crushed by the 4-point play to start the fourth quarter.

Yeah, I could see why. After all, they were down all of 6 points with only 11 1/2 minutes to play. Game over!

I don't know what happened to Kuminga but he must really be in the doghouse.  The truth is Houston looks like the better team.  Much more athletic, bigger, and more guys that can score the ball.  The Dubs can't win if they get hardly anything from guys other than Curry or Butler. 

The other thing is while VV has been tremendous the past 3 games, Jalen Green has been abysmal.  And Sengun while putting up decent numbers, has been inefficient and often makes dumb decisions or complains.  My point is that I think Houston can play at a higher level.  In order for the Dubs to win tomorrow Curry may have to go for 45 or they need Pod or Moody to have a big game.  They have zero chance if they turn the ball over.  Houston's half-c offense can be a disaster at times. 

[Billy Hoyle]

The new Spurs coach, Mitch Johnson, was the starting PG for Stanford in the 2008 tourney heartbreaker against us, dishing out 16 assists, inclusive the final one to Brook Lopez. The most devastating MU loss I've experienced.

[MuggsyB]

This is an embarrassing performance from the Clippers.  Jokic and Murray aren't doing much and they're getting crushed?  Wow.  Just wow. 

[The Sultan]

The story they told on TNT last night about Pop, Shaq, and this video was hilarious.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2LRDO4jiBo

[Uncle Rico]

This is an embarrassing performance from the Clippers.  Jokic and Murray aren't doing much and they're getting crushed?  Wow.  Just wow. 

James Harden is not a winning player

[MuggsyB]

James Harden is not a winning player

That's fair.  7 pts on 2-8?  In a G7?  Axe him off the top 75?

[MU82]

James Harden is not a winning player

He really isn't.

He is a supremely talented offensive player and a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but he has a pretty amazing record of big-game failure.

I like being a contrarian, so I really want to say this perception is overblown. But it isn't.

He's 2-11 in his last 13 elimination games, shooting 39%. In his last five, he's averaging 14 points on 38% shooting.

In his career, he averages 7 fewer points in the playoffs than he does in the regular season, and his stats are lower in almost every category.

He's played in only one NBA Finals in 16 years, and that came when he was OKC's sixth man, a 22-year-old playing third fiddle to KD and Russ.

[MuggsyB]

He really isn't.

He is a supremely talented offensive player and a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but he has a pretty amazing record of big-game failure.

I like being a contrarian, so I really want to say this perception is overblown. But it isn't.

He's 2-11 in his last 13 elimination games, shooting 39%. In his last five, he's averaging 14 points on 38% shooting.

In his career, he averages 7 fewer points in the playoffs than he does in the regular season, and his stats are lower in almost every category.

He's played in only one NBA Finals in 16 years, and that came when he was OKC's sixth man, a 22-year-old playing third fiddle to KD and Russ.

Meanwhile, Westbrook has been reborn. I was completely wrong about him.  The guy still has that crazy athleticism and ampability.  Granted, he still makes hellacious decisions, but his acceptance  of his role off the bench has to be admired.  He's also clearly worked on his 3-Ball.  This guy was pretty much a disaster with the Lakers and Clippers.  He signed a min contract in DEN.  Jokic just makes guys better and I wouldn't discount his mostly chill nature on and off the court.  Although it would have been amusing if Jimmy Buckets actually tried to fight him that one time. 

[The Sultan]

Meanwhile, Westbrook has been reborn. I was completely wrong about him.  The guy still has that crazy athleticism and ampability.  Granted, he still makes hellacious decisions, but his acceptance  of his role off the bench has to be admired.  He's also clearly worked on his 3-Ball.  This guy was pretty much a disaster with the Lakers and Clippers.  He signed a min contract in DEN.  Jokic just makes guys better and I wouldn't discount his mostly chill nature on and off the court.  Although it would have been amusing if Jimmy Buckets actually tried to fight him that one time. 

https://x.com/cjzero/status/1918865233893818378?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

[Uncle Rico]

That's fair.  7 pts on 2-8?  In a G7?  Axe him off the top 75?

I'm not sure where he is all-time but he's the very definition of an empty calories player.  Maybe that's a tad harsh.  His talent is undeniable but unless he's a third banana, I never felt like he could carry a team as the primary or secondary option

[forgetful]

https://x.com/cjzero/status/1918865233893818378?s=46&t=ppua9BCUAa7dWM9-SthPmg

He's an example of a player that just loves playing basketball, and goes 100% (for good or bad).

He's also been criticized unfairly too much in his very good career.

[MU82]

I've been surprised by the number of layups Westbrook misses, including open layups. I guess he's just going so fast that he isn't in control.

But I've always enjoyed watching him play because he's an incredible athlete who always gives his all. And also because there are so many detractors, so he's weirdly become an underrated player.

Jokic is so enjoyable to watch that I've found myself rooting for Denver the last several years. If he could also help Westbrook win a title, that would be cool.

[forgetful]

I've been surprised by the number of layups Westbrook misses, including open layups. I guess he's just going so fast that he isn't in control.

I think that is the case, when I was a young basketball player I would have the same problem sometimes. I had to learn to take about 5-10% off my speed/explosiveness to better focus on everything else (decrease the adrenaline drive/tunnel vision type aspect). Tempo and control is important and a hard thing to learn sometimes as it can be hard to know when to switch it on/off.

Chase is a good MU example of this. I think the next phase in his evolution is to play under more tempo/control.

[MU82]

I think that is the case, when I was a young basketball player I would have the same problem sometimes. I had to learn to take about 5-10% off my speed/explosiveness to better focus on everything else (decrease the adrenaline drive/tunnel vision type aspect). Tempo and control is important and a hard thing to learn sometimes as it can be hard to know when to switch it on/off.

Nature solved that problem for me. On a scale of 1-to-10, my speed/explosiveness factor sat right about at 0.

[Scoop Snoop]

I think that is the case, when I was a young basketball player I would have the same problem sometimes. I had to learn to take about 5-10% off my speed/explosiveness to better focus on everything else (decrease the adrenaline drive/tunnel vision type aspect). Tempo and control is important and a hard thing to learn sometimes as it can be hard to know when to switch it on/off.

Chase is a good MU example of this. I think the next phase in his evolution is to play under more tempo/control.

And Sean. Love the guy, but judgement and brakes are two things he needs to add.

[BM1090]

He really isn't.

He is a supremely talented offensive player and a sure-fire Hall of Famer, but he has a pretty amazing record of big-game failure.

I like being a contrarian, so I really want to say this perception is overblown. But it isn't.

He's 2-11 in his last 13 elimination games, shooting 39%. In his last five, he's averaging 14 points on 38% shooting.

In his career, he averages 7 fewer points in the playoffs than he does in the regular season, and his stats are lower in almost every category.

He's played in only one NBA Finals in 16 years, and that came when he was OKC's sixth man, a 22-year-old playing third fiddle to KD and Russ.

He's struggled in elimination games for sure. He's been largely pretty good in the playoffs though. I think Kawhi deserves a lot more blame than he's got. He was great in 2019 with Toronto and that's given him a longer leash. But to me, Kawhi was just as much at fault for this exit as Harden. And he's for a guy who is their highest paid player, he doesn't impact the game nearly enough

[The Sultan]

He's struggled in elimination games for sure. He's been largely pretty good in the playoffs though. I think Kawhi deserves a lot more blame than he's got. He was great in 2019 with Toronto and that's given him a longer leash. But to me, Kawhi was just as much at fault for this exit as Harden. And he's for a guy who is their highest paid player, he doesn't impact the game nearly enough

Yeah, I find that this team looks better from a 2019 viewpoint rather than a 2025 one. Let's see what happens tonight, but I feel the same way about Steph.

[BM1090]

Yeah, I find that this team looks better from a 2019 viewpoint rather than a 2025 one. Let's see what happens tonight, but I feel the same way about Steph.

Steph has slowed but he still has it. They will obviously need a big game from him tonight.

Rockets are so much bigger and more athletic though. Will probably take some of those young guys not being up to the task for GS to pull it off. If they do, I think they'll beat Minnesota.

Like you said, we'll see.

[MU82]

He's struggled in elimination games for sure. He's been largely pretty good in the playoffs though. I think Kawhi deserves a lot more blame than he's got. He was great in 2019 with Toronto and that's given him a longer leash. But to me, Kawhi was just as much at fault for this exit as Harden. And he's for a guy who is their highest paid player, he doesn't impact the game nearly enough

Kawhi wasn't Harden bad yesterday ... but sure, he's not the player he was in 2019 and earlier.

Of course, Kawhi actually has won multiple championships - including with a 2019 Raptors team he carried to the title. So he gets a measure of grace that Harden doesn't, fair or not. (I happen to think it's fair.)