2024-25 NBA Thread

[WilyWestbrook0]

Nuggets/Clippers game one was some fantastic competitive playoff basketball. Really enjoyed watching that one. Definitely has the potential to be a really great series. I hope it goes to seven so whoever wins will be exhausted when they face likely the Thunder. I kind of am rooting for Denver because I'd love to see Westbrook face his old team and of course the Jokic/SGA MVP battle would be a great theme. Clippers though would be a great match-up as well with Harden being yet another former Thunder.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Love my Thunder. What dominance.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison admits he didn't realize how important Luka Dončić was to fan base - Yahoo Sports

LOL

[pwaldo]

Wow could these games have been any better for the Thunder? First they crush the Grizz by like 50 points and then the Lakers lose and the #2 seed Rockets lose.

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison admits he didn't realize how important Luka Dončić was to fan base - Yahoo Sports

LOL

Who did he think Mavericks fans liked? Irving? Somebody else? lol

Has he been in a coma since 2016? Even people who don't watch basketball and knew sports knew Luka was a big deal.

[WilyWestbrook0]

I'm definitely feeling confident in the Thunder's chances with the way things have started. And yeah I just don't know how Nico can be so oblivious.

So after an awful start to ratings during the season, ratings are the best they've been in 25 years for the playoffs:

Adam Silver calls NBA ratings for opening weekend of playoffs 'fantastic' - ESPN

There are lots of great matchups this year for sure, so I'm sure that's helping drive back interest in watching the games. The Nuggets and Clippers had another tight game last night with the Clippers tying the series. Wish I could've seen it but it was on too late for me. The Pistons also edged out the Knicks for their first playoff win since 2008, which was surprising to me. I didn't realize they had gone that long without a win, which I learned was actually the longest playoff drought for a team in league history. I also didn't realize how long ago 2008 was, lol. It doesn't seem that long ago to me in some respects, but that was already 17 years ago. Heck, Curry wasn't even in the league yet, and it seems like he's been playing for ages now, so I guess it really was a long time ago. Time feels so much different now in my 40s than it did in my 20s.

[WilyWestbrook0]

That Grizzlies/Thunder game was just EPIC. What a comeback by the Thunder fueled by Chet on offense and Caruso's maniac energy and hustle on defense. Feel bad for Ja, though. I don't think Memphis would have collapsed like they did if he hadn't been hurt. Dort slipped, but he shouldn't have put his hand out when Ja was in the air like that. Also, Konchar is awful.

[pwaldo]

It looks like if the Clippers can't stop the Thunder then nobody else in the West will have a chance. It is looking pretty thin with these teams beating each other up that nobody will be able to stop the Thunder. I mean SGA isn't even playing great and the Thunder and rolling the Grizzlies. If he plays like an MVP how can anybody stop this team?

[WilyWestbrook0]

Cavs stomped all over the Heat today without Garland and with Mitchell not having a great game. Such depth. Jerome and Hunter just kill teams off the bench.

[Rybowski]

Magic did well last night, albeit without Tatum playing. I see the Celtics winning that series either 4-1 or 4-2. The Rockets just don't impress me that much as a 2 seed. They are so hit and miss, and the Warriors have a chance in that series with a key Game 3 tonight. The Knicks are lucky to not to be down 2-1 in their series. The other series, the lower seeds might only lose 1, with the exception of the 2 #1 seeds probably not losing 1 game opening round.

[pwaldo]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2025/04/...-this-way.html

Damian Lillard vows that his career didn’t end on Sunday night, when he fell to the court due to a non-contact injury that was diagnosed as a left Achilles tear.

While the Bucks guard and nine-time All-Star could end up missing all of next season, he has no plans to call it quits. Lillard expressed his feelings to head coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday, as Michael Marot of The Associated Press reports.