Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[DuckIII]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/spurs-rumors-bill-simmons-drops-153437533.html

Strongish rumor of Durant to SA (not including #2).

The article says that that Simmons claims no inside info, so it’s not really a rumor. It’s a prediction.

[kodo]

Yeah, I'm also mixed on the Knicks. I watch the Knicks as my second team. He hasn't really changed (although he did seem a little less intense this season) but he continues to overplay his starters and, IMO, it catches up to him in the playoffs. It's easy to say Indy was better, but they came into the series more rested and, if not for that crazy Indy comeback, the series may have gone the other way. That said, it was kinda crazy that the Knicks made it through the season with all of it's starters relatively healthy...especially Brunson and KAT, the way those guys play, I can't believe they stayed upright.

Barring a deal for Giannis, I'm running back that squad and try to shift KAT to PF (and Hart to the bench) next season.

I'm not even hating on Thibs for the minutes thing, as KAT & JB play only slightly elevated minutes, it's mostly Hart / OG / Mikal he grinds to dust.
Over the years Thibs has gotten better on many negatives we complained about when he was here. But the one aspect that hasn't changed is that he just lets his guy, or two in the case of KAT & JB, just basically play 1 on 5 out there. Both guys take some incredibly tough shots, his offense doesn't generate easy looks for his best guys. Even Mikal who is a tertiary option is mainly taking fadeaway baseline middies...the tertiary option should be scoring on wide open set corner 3s or cuts/layups. There's no reason for a tertiary guy to be taking MJ shots.

It's the opposite of Kerr. You know who is the most dangerous guy every time you play them. And somehow 12 seconds into the shotclock and all 5 warriors running around in some pattern somehow Steph Curry is wide open, how does that even happen.

[2weekswithpay]

Read on Twitter

[Chi town]

What a game.

Some high level hoops being played.

[DASMACKDOWN]

I totally disrespected the Pacers lol

[ImSlower]

That was such a fun game. Pacers simply ran em off the court. Holmgren and SGA both made poor plays late as they could hardly take their hands off their knees.

Mathurin with the best game of his career was nails. Siakim was max effort every moment he was in the game. Just a great performance from the underdogs

[Ice Man]

These playoffs have convinced me of what you guys already realize -- that I know nothing about NBA basketball.

[drosestruts]

That was a great game. I love how the Pacers player are just constantly working, they never take a play off or just stand around watching. Every guy on the court is always up to something.

They highlighted it late in the game when Hali took a shot and then immediatley moved to position to rebound the ball if missed while SGA just watched the shot.

They're active, their aggresive, and they just don't stop. It's fun to watch.


Mathurin plays every minute of every game like he's the best player on the court, in the past this has negativley affected his impact because he's often not the best player on the court and him playing like it can hurt the team. Well, last night he was the best player on the court.

Look no further than Obi Toppin as an example that older draft picks can and do still improve.

I will point out that a common talking point during this Finals and playoffs in general has been that the Pacers since January were the second best team in the NBA by several metrics. Analysts take stock and value in this enough to report on it.

When the Bulls have a good second half of the season it's always - soft schedule, teams were resting players, or not trying, etc etc.

If it means something for the Pacers, it should mean something for the Bulls.

[drosestruts]

These playoffs have convinced me of what you guys already realize -- that I know nothing about NBA basketball.

You and me both

[kodo]

That was such a fun game. Pacers simply ran em off the court. Holmgren and SGA both made poor plays late as they could hardly take their hands off their knees.

Mathurin with the best game of his career was nails. Siakim was max effort every moment he was in the game. Just a great performance from the underdogs

Hustle & stamina won that game, I didn't think Indy could win one shooting worse from 3 than OKC. OKC shot 46% from 3, when they're that on from long range it's a guaranteed win for them but the Pacers just outhustled them.

In some ways it mirrors how the Bulls kept beating better teams at the end of the season, Bulls were one of the best fourth quarter teams in the league IIRC. Giddey & White both have tremendous stamina and play with extreme hustle late in the 4th.

Post ASG, #1 4th Q scoring - Chicago. #2 4th Q scoring - Indiana.
4Q +/-
1. Indiana +4.6
2. Cleveland +3.1
3. Chicago +3.0
...
7. OKC +2.3

[jnrjr79]

These playoffs have convinced me of what you guys already realize -- that I know nothing about NBA basketball.

One takeaway from me: AK is sure getting a lot of ammunition for his "stay competitive and try to acquire 8 or 9 good players" plan.

[Hangtime84]

I totally disrespected the Pacers lol

They had the best offense in the nba at one point. I just don’t see how people did. Okc gets majority of their points by forcing TOs

[Hangtime84]

I think Luke Walton gets another shot at head coach. He played this style as well just didn’t have the FO that believed in it.

[drosestruts]

That was such a fun game. Pacers simply ran em off the court. Holmgren and SGA both made poor plays late as they could hardly take their hands off their knees.

Mathurin with the best game of his career was nails. Siakim was max effort every moment he was in the game. Just a great performance from the underdogs

Hustle & stamina won that game, I didn't think Indy could win one shooting worse from 3 than OKC. OKC shot 46% from 3, when they're that on from long range it's a guaranteed win for them but the Pacers just outhustled them.

In some ways it mirrors how the Bulls kept beating better teams at the end of the season, Bulls were one of the best fourth quarter teams in the league IIRC. Giddey & White both have tremendous stamina and play with extreme hustle late in the 4th.

Post ASG, #1 4th Q scoring - Chicago. #2 4th Q scoring - Indiana.
4Q +/-
1. Indiana +4.6
2. Cleveland +3.1
3. Chicago +3.0
...
7. OKC +2.3

Haven't you heard - anything the Bulls do well is just a mirage and not indicative of any actual internal growth.

[Chi town]

That was such a fun game. Pacers simply ran em off the court. Holmgren and SGA both made poor plays late as they could hardly take their hands off their knees.

Mathurin with the best game of his career was nails. Siakim was max effort every moment he was in the game. Just a great performance from the underdogs

Hustle & stamina won that game, I didn't think Indy could win one shooting worse from 3 than OKC. OKC shot 46% from 3, when they're that on from long range it's a guaranteed win for them but the Pacers just outhustled them.

In some ways it mirrors how the Bulls kept beating better teams at the end of the season, Bulls were one of the best fourth quarter teams in the league IIRC. Giddey & White both have tremendous stamina and play with extreme hustle late in the 4th.

Post ASG, #1 4th Q scoring - Chicago. #2 4th Q scoring - Indiana.
4Q +/-
1. Indiana +4.6
2. Cleveland +3.1
3. Chicago +3.0
...
7. OKC +2.3

Haven't you heard - anything the Bulls do well is just a mirage and not indicative of any actual internal growth.

A healthy Bulls team without Vuc and Collins Smith at C will help a ton defensively as will Zo and Ayo.

I think Bulls on paper are at 6-8 seed team if we can unload Vuc.

[cocktailswith_2short]

Indiana did a great job of team building . Every players game compliments the others . Also bench is super critical in todays faster pace . You can have 2 superstars but it won't matter if you don't have a bench . You're almost better off just having a 1-10 guys who can play without drop off than superstars with Jaxson Hayes etc .

[MrSparkle]

I always thought Pacers were a diamond in the rough. They’ve been so consistent with all their moves, top-down, for the last 30Y. Almost makes me think of the Spurs’ small-market model AAA decision-making… but with a few bad breaks (literally) that have held them back from sniffing rings- the Malice at the Palace, Granger’s shoulder issues, George’s leg break, Oladipo’s meteoric rise and subsequent injuries… I dunno if Larry Bird is still involved, but whatever the case, they’ve done a respectable job without ever blatantly tanking, all while hitting bumps in the road. Like, if AK was successful in every move he’d make, the strategy would largely be the same (competing in mediocrity, acing your 10-20 picks and trades, etc.). Difference being his various blunders and sitting on sunk assets. Lonzo and Caruso were probably the closest success moves, including the injury enigma.

Anyway, shout out to TJ, who has been their Caruso for many years. I don’t know how he’s such an effective defender, but his wingspan is 6’2.

It’s crazy that these two finals teams are intertwined from a decade old deal.

[CobysHairpick]

Wish I took the Pacers to win the Finals at +9000 like I thought about! Curses!

[sco]

I always thought Pacers were a diamond in the rough. They’ve been so consistent with all their moves, top-down, for the last 30Y. Almost makes me think of the Spurs’ small-market model AAA decision-making… but with a few bad breaks (literally) that have held them back from sniffing rings- the Malice at the Palace, Granger’s shoulder issues, George’s leg break, Oladipo’s meteoric rise and subsequent injuries… I dunno if Larry Bird is still involved, but whatever the case, they’ve done a respectable job without ever blatantly tanking, all while hitting bumps in the road. Like, if AK was successful in every move he’d make, the strategy would largely be the same (competing in mediocrity, acing your 10-20 picks and trades, etc.). Difference being his various blunders and sitting on sunk assets. Lonzo and Caruso were probably the closest success moves, including the injury enigma.

Anyway, shout out to TJ, who has been their Caruso for many years. I don’t know how he’s such an effective defender, but his wingspan is 6’2.

It’s crazy that these two finals teams are intertwined from a decade old deal.

Yeah, I think they turned the corner after the Siakam acquisition. He/Hali/Turner form a big 3 who do things beyond just scoring...you have defense, shot blocking and 3pt shooting from the guys who touch the ball a lot.

[ChiefILL53]

I knew this was gonna be a good series, but omg the pacers unironically lived up to their name and ran OKC off the court. Mixing up coverages and guarding 94ft really gassed them out. I think OKC needs to switch up coverages and do the same. I've noticed they give up a lot of space on jumpers due to biting on over helping. It'll interesting to see game 4. I'm still pulling for the thunder cuz I like that squad (and eff the pacers if we're being real as bulls fans lol), but man this series is turning out way more compelling than I thought.