2024-25 NBA Thread

[Billy Hoyle]

Trope back on.

Oh is it?

You really do try too hard.

[MuggsyB]

I think we got the 2 best teams for the Finals and the best match-up we could ask for.  OKC is a heavy favorite but Indy is capable of going ballistic fron 3 and an excellent offensive team.

[Mutaman]

Tyler is a traffic cone, but so are a lot of incoming rooks, he will improve

Its not like Delon Wright is Sidney Moncrief.

[MU82]

The Knicks can't beat Indy in an up tempo game.  And no, had they won game 1 they wouldn't have won this series. 

But OKC is a different animal.  They're not going to give up lay-ups or wide open 3's after made baskets. 

Agree. OKC in 5.

[Uncle Rico]

Either one winning will continue a pretty cool trend of franchises winning a first title or first title in decades.

Raptors in '19, Bucks in '21 and Nuggets in '23

[MuggsyB]

Another interesting thing about the Knicks is that Brunson and Towns really can't play together. They were much better when one of them was benched.

[The Sultan]

Another interesting thing about the Knicks is that Brunson and Towns really can't play together. They were much better when one of them was benched.

Neither can defend.

Anyway, KAT's contract is...yikes. Swapping that contract for Randle's alone means the Wolves won that trade. Brunson is obviously good, but he's not "carry a team to a title" good.

They don't have a lot of flexibility so they have to largely roll this team back next year, but I don't know about Thibs. They may just need a different voice in that room.

[MuggsyB]

Agree. OKC in 5.

I hear you but while Indy hasn't seen a team or defense like OKC, OKC hasn't seen an offense like Indy.  The question is will OKC kick the ball away like the Bucks, Cavs, and Knicks.  Siakam is also sneaky good.  SGA is clearly the best player on the floor but you can argue Haliburton and Siakam are 2 and 3.  I think OKC in 6, because they're a much more conplete team, but they have all of the pressure imo. 

[MuggsyB]

Neither can defend.

Anyway, KAT's contract is...yikes. Swapping that contract for Randle's alone means the Wolves won that trade. Brunson is obviously good, but he's not "carry a team to a title" good.

They don't have a lot of flexibility so they have to largely roll this team back next year, but I don't know about Thibs. They may just need a different voice in that room.

The also don't have a 2nd guy who can handle and create their own shot or dime.  Unless Tyko develops. 

[The Sultan]

I hear you but while Indy hasn't seen a team or defense like OKC, OKC hasn't seen an offense like Indy.  The question is will OKC kick the ball away like the Bucks, Cavs, and Knicks.  Siakam is also sneaky good.  SGA is clearly the best player on the floor but you can argue Haliburton and Siakam are 2 and 3.  I think OKC in 6, because they're a much more conplete team, but they have all of the pressure imo. 

Statistically, the Wolves were better than the Pacers offensively this year...albiet only slightly. Of course games are played on the court, but the Thunder have made a lot of good offensive teams look bad.

[MuggsyB]

Statistically, the Wolves were better than the Pacers offensively this year...albiet only slightly. Of course games are played on the court, but the Thunder have made a lot of good offensive teams look bad.

I think Indy has better overall weapons and are much harder to guard than Minny.  Haliburton is a problem.  Especially when he hits that floater or dimes on paint attacks. But, Indy will have to cook from distance and doing that 4 times seems unlikely.

[Billy Hoyle]

the NBA going the opposite direction of MLB:

https://x.com/FOS/status/1929004437315448867?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[Jockey]

Who was the last team to reach the Finals without having a 1st or 2nd team all-NBA player? ?


Cautionary note as to why to avoid Google AI: When asked that question, its answer was: The last NBA Finals team to not feature any First or Second Team All-NBA players on its roster was the 1999 Chicago Bulls. Their roster included players like Jordan, Pippen, and others, but they lacked the superstar-level players who consistently make those All-NBA teams.

[MuggsyB]

Who was the last team to reach the Finals without having a 1st or 2nd team all-NBA player? ?


Cautionary note as to why to avoid Google AI: When asked that question, its answer was: The last NBA Finals team to not feature any First or Second Team All-NBA players on its roster was the 1999 Chicago Bulls. Their roster included players like Jordan, Pippen, and others, but they lacked the superstar-level players who consistently make those All-NBA teams.

The Heat with Jimmy?

[MU82]

Cautionary note as to why to avoid Google AI: When asked that question, its answer was: The last NBA Finals team to not feature any First or Second Team All-NBA players on its roster was the 1999 Chicago Bulls. Their roster included players like Jordan, Pippen, and others, but they lacked the superstar-level players who consistently make those All-NBA teams.

That's hilarious.

Not to mention that the 1999 Bulls were laughingstocks who started the likes of Dickey Simpkins, Randy Brown, Mark Bryant and the unforgettable Kornel David.

As for KAT and Brunson ... I think I read somewhere that they were the two worst defenders in the league this season by some metric. If that's even close to true, it says a lot about the Knicks' ceiling.

[JWags85]

That's hilarious.

Not to mention that the 1999 Bulls were laughingstocks who started the likes of Dickey Simpkins, Randy Brown, Mark Bryant and the unforgettable Kornel David.

As for KAT and Brunson ... I think I read somewhere that they were the two worst defenders in the league this season by some metric. If that's even close to true, it says a lot about the Knicks' ceiling.

Kornel, the only Hungarian to ever play in the NBA!

As for KAT and Brunson ... I think I read somewhere that they were the two worst defenders in the league this season by some metric. If that's even close to true, it says a lot about the Knicks' ceiling.

Another issues for KAT/Brunson, which is ironic for a Thibs team, is they are INCREDIBLY soft.  KAT plays like he's the size of and with the physicality of someone like SGA, despite being a 7' center.  And Brunson, while rugged, has turned into such a pathological foul baiter that his entire game has softened, IMO

[MuggsyB]

Nm

[MuggsyB]

Kornel, the only Hungarian to ever play in the NBA!

Another issues for KAT/Brunson, which is ironic for a Thibs team, is they are INCREDIBLY soft.  KAT plays like he's the size of and with the physicality of someone like SGA, despite being a 7' center.  And Brunson, while rugged, has turned into such a pathological foul baiter that his entire game has softened, IMO

KAT is soft.  Brunson?  I think that may be a bit harsh JWags.  Now I will say that both of them fall down constantly which means if they don't call a foul, the other team generally scores in transition.  Would you start a team with Brunson or Haliburton?

[JWags85]

KAT is soft.  Brunson?  I think that may be a bit harsh JWags.  Now I will say that both of them fall down constantly which means if they don't call a foul, the other team generally scores in transition.  Would you start a team with Brunson or Haliburton?

Hali annoys me, but I'm choosing him 10 out of 10 times to start a team with over Brunson.

[MuggsyB]

Hali annoys me, but I'm choosing him 10 out of 10 times to start a team with over Brunson.

That's exactly what I was thinking.  Different players but Hali is a better playmaker. 

[JWags85]

Danny Ainge's son Austin is hired as the new president of basketball ops for the Jazz, after a decade+ with the Celtics as Director of Player Personnel and Assistant GM.  So naturally social media is ablaze with more terrible takes trying to equate front office jobs/hirings with NBA roster spots to defend and support Lebron/Bronny.

[MU82]

Danny Ainge's son Austin is hired as the new president of basketball ops for the Jazz, after a decade+ with the Celtics as Director of Player Personnel and Assistant GM.  So naturally social media is ablaze with more terrible takes trying to equate front office jobs/hirings with NBA roster spots to defend and support Lebron/Bronny.

I agree it's not a valid comparison. But I also think it's legit to wonder if Austin would have gotten that job were his last name not Ainge.

[Jay Bee]

Fourty-four right on the back like Danny Ainge

[MuggsyB]

I agree it's not a valid comparison. But I also think it's legit to wonder if Austin would have gotten that job were his last name not Ainge.

Nepotism exists everywhere.  But has been in the Boston front office for some time. 

[Uncle Rico]

Nepotism exists everywhere.  But has been in the Boston front office for some time. 

Nepotism exists, but birds don't