2024-25 NBA Thread

[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?

I jumped the gun here. The Celtics haven't been eliminated. They are still playing against the Knicks

[WilyWestbrook0]

I jumped the gun here. The Celtics haven't been eliminated. They are still playing against the Knicks

It would be near impossible for them to come back from the 3-1 deficit without Tatum. I was surprised they won game 5. But I just looked at the score tonight and they're down over 30 in the 3rd quarter, so this is probably it.

[WilyWestbrook0]

So I got to thinking, with the Celtics out, we'll have a new champion, and there are a lot of angles to look at with this. All but the Nuggets haven't won a title in a long time (the Timberwolves never). Of course I want the Thunder to win, but I wouldn't be totally surprised if the Nuggets' experience is too much for them in this series, and the Nuggets will be a team no one else remaining wants to face, either (Minny did beat them last year, but that was when they still had KAT to help out on Jokic). If the Nuggets go all the way, I'd find some solace in Westbrook getting a ring, if nothing else; Jokic would also have a good argument as probably a top 15 all-time player since most of the big centers historically have at least two rings (Hakeem and Wilt come to mind).

I'd really prefer one of the other teams besides the Nuggets to win though if my Thunder fail. The Pacers haven't won since the ABA and they've had a respectable franchise for so long. It would also cement Carlisle as one of the all time great coaches, as he'd get a ring with two separate franchises if the Pacers do it. No one would ever say Haliburton is overrated ever again, as well, so they have a lot of interesting stories if they win. Even the matchup with New York is exciting because I remember the competitive series between them back in the 1990s when I was a young girl.

If New York wins, people can't make fun of Thibs anymore for running his starting five into the ground. It would make the depth argument irrelevant. And the storied Knicks franchise would have their first championship since the 1970s, over a decade before I was even alive. That would be absolutely huge for the league, of course with them loving a big market win. People would stop making fun of KAT. And Brunson would be viewed as yet another player Dallas should have never let go of.

If the Timberwolves win, I'd be excited for my birth state. Minnesota sports fans have had to endure so much failure with their pro teams, so it would be great for them to have something to be proud of. If I'm not mistaken, they haven't had a championship team in the major pro sports since the Twins when I was a little girl, so that's a heck of a long drought to end. And finally, if my Thunder manage to do it somehow after all, Presti would finally fully earn his rep as an outstanding team manager, and SGA would become the face of the league.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Gordon's playing on an alleged grade 2 sprain and Curry couldn't play on his? Cavs had guys miss a lot of time in the Semis with lesser injuries? Makes no sense. I wish there was consistency across the board in how teams and players addressed injuries.

[WilyWestbrook0]

Good grief. Thunder passive as can be to start, passing up open looks, and they aren't hitting the threes they actually are taking. Then they get dominated by a guy who's playing on a grade 2 hamstring injury and clearly can't move well, but he's putting more effort and energy into rebounding and scoring than they are. This is absolutely shameful! This is a game 7. Play with some STRENGTH. You're at home and have all the advantages! Absolutely maddening game by them so far.

[WilyWestbrook0]

The defense is back! JDub is back! Don't fumble away this double digit halftime lead, fellas! Daigneault, keep Caruso in the game - that guy knows how to WIN in the playoffs!

[pwaldo]

Gordon's playing on an alleged grade 2 sprain and Curry couldn't play on his? Cavs had guys miss a lot of time in the Semis with lesser injuries? Makes no sense. I wish there was consistency across the board in how teams and players addressed injuries.

The Nuggets weren't going to move on if they upset the Thunder. They left eveyrthing on the table and were too banged up to even win a game 7 and they probably would have been swept by the Wolves if they advanced. It was a bad matchup for them 100% healthy but they were running on fumes at the end of this series and the Wolves would have beaten them even worse than last time.

Don't know how the Thuder match up with the Wolves but if they are 100% healthy I like the Thunder against whoever wins out of the Pacers/Knicks series. Because as weird as it sounds the Nuggets may have been the biggest roadblock to the Thunder winning an NBA championship barring injuries.

[WilyWestbrook0]

The Nuggets weren't going to move on if they upset the Thunder. They left eveyrthing on the table and were too banged up to even win a game 7 and they probably would have been swept by the Wolves if they advanced. It was a bad matchup for them 100% healthy but they were running on fumes at the end of this series and the Wolves would have beaten them even worse than last time.

Don't know how the Thuder match up with the Wolves but if they are 100% healthy I like the Thunder against whoever wins out of the Pacers/Knicks series. Because as weird as it sounds the Nuggets may have been the biggest roadblock to the Thunder winning an NBA championship barring injuries.

Possibly, although the Wolves did split the season series with them, and I remember those games being highly competitive. In fact the Thunder blew a big lead in the final matchup with Minnesota and the Wolves ended up winning in OT. It could end up being a really great series, and it could also go seven. That said, if the Thunder get by again, it should be easy for them whomever comes out of the Pacers/Knicks series, as they swept both of those teams in the regular season. I remember them really putting the clamps on Haliburton in particular. Unlike the Cavaliers, they can easily match Indiana's physicality, and their swarming defense will be able to rotate to cover the shooters so much better than Cleveland's. They also torched the Knicks; I remember Isaiah Joe shooting the lights out in one of those games. So yeah, if the Wolves can't defeat them, the Thunder could end up sweeping the Finals against either of those Eastern opponents.