2024-25 NBA Thread

[WilyWestbrook0]

Yeah the Pacers might have been the worst draw for the Cavs to get. Even when fully healthy it wasn't a great match up for them. But it isn't like the Cavs have been the only underperforming high seed. The Thunder just had an all time regular season and they should be tearing up the playoffs and they aren't. The Rockets got bounced pretty easily as a #2 seed in the West. The Celtics are struggling against a Knicks team that struggled with the Pistons. Nobody really playing at a high level right now and if they are they have hurt players. Just a weird post season so far.

And to add to all that, Celtics just lost again with Tatum looking like he tore his Achilles late in the game after trying to carry them all game. I was just box score watching but I wondered why they subbed him out for Pritchard with just under 3 to go. Then I saw the footage of him being unable to bear weight on his right leg and crying in a wheelchair in the tunnel. Absolutely devastating to see.

[Fido]

Tatum's injury is horrible. But if you take the emotions for the player out of it, he is under contract for 4 more years guaranteed at $54 mill + ending with a 5th year player option at $71 mill. It is always a question mark what kind of player you will be after an Achilles injury like that.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Tatum's injury is horrible. But if you take the emotions for the player out of it, he is under contract for 4 more years guaranteed at $54 mill + ending with a 5th year player option at $71 mill. It is always a question mark what kind of player you will be after an Achilles injury like that.

Yeah, they are definitely one of the harder injuries to make a complete recovery from. It does help that Tatum is only 27. The injury is more common between the ages of 30 and 40 and harder to come back from with increased age, although Dominique Wilkins had a couple of good years after his at age 31 IIRC. Durant is the most recent success story. But they're the only two that I can think of who came back successfully. Kobe was older and never quite the same after his, Klay hasn't really been either. We'll see how Tatum recovers, if it's indeed that kind of injury as it appears to be (still waiting on the MRI).

[pwaldo]

Celtics are basically done now this year. Even if they moved on they aren't winning the NBA Finals this year. And it quickly went from Cavs versus Celtics to see who goes to the NBA Finals to possibly being the Pacers versus the Knicks. Who predicted that one?

But for Tatum he's done for roughly a year and while he should easily recover from it and not have it hurt his career too much he is going to be limited because of it. Not as much as it would have been later in his career but you'd always go what would he be like without the injury no matter what he does now.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Cavs were up 19 and looking sharp by going down low to Mobley, and then they decide to chuck up iso shots with Mitchell and Garland while not defending Haliburton on the 3. Now the Pacers are up again. So maddening.

What made the Cavs great for most of the season was their ball movement and shooting. I did wonder if it was sustainable in the playoffs. Clearly it wasn't. Still, why not keep feeding the bigs at least? When they were going inside/out in the first half, it was looking great. Now Mobley is hardly involved. They said all year the key was unlocking him, and he had a great year, but now it's...ugh. I'm so disappointed in the Cavs. They deserve to lose this series for sure. Underperforming, and Carlisle definitely outcoaching KA.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Nuggets up 12 on the Thunder. They just get better shots and have a more patient offense with the magic facilitating abilities of Jokic. The Thunder don't have anywhere near his level in passing. As much as I like SGA, he's a one-on-one guy, and against playoff defense, he's just not nearly as efficient. And as a non-true PG, he doesn't have great facilitating abilities. I'm officially in full doubt of OKC being able to win this series. And I have to (yet hate to) admit, Jokic should probably get the season MVP as well. His skill set is just unmatched in the league.

oops lulz

[WilyWestbrook0]

WWWOOOWWW was I WRONG, LOL!
YEEEAAHHH THUNDER!!!!!

[pwaldo]

We are down to the Pacers, Knicks, Wolves, and either the Thunder or the Nuggets

Pretty interesting that the Knicks and Wolves made that big trade in the off season and they are still here where as everyone else seems to be going down. Did the trade end up helping both teams? Or just dumb luck?

[WilyWestbrook0]

We are down to the Pacers, Knicks, Wolves, and either the Thunder or the Nuggets

Pretty interesting that the Knicks and Wolves made that big trade in the off season and they are still here where as everyone else seems to be going down. Did the trade end up helping both teams? Or just dumb luck?

I was just thinking about that today. It does seem that trade ended up being better than it seemed at the time. I remember thinking the Wolves really lost out and learned it was done because they couldn't really keep KAT's salary. But they did just as well. It helps they still have a big in Gobert and that Randle has really excelled this postseason. And for the Knicks, obviously KAT's skill set has helped them. So yeah, it definitely looks like a win-win trade after all at this point.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Looks like this one is going to seven. If the Thunder lose the series, it's on Jalen Williams not stepping up as a proper #2 to SGA. He's been downright embarrassing to watch tonight.