Around The NBA : 2024-25 Season

[DASMACKDOWN]

I just had this feeling-Indy was hanging around, hanging around and OKC couldn't put them away.

I also think OKC blows them out in Game 2-but it's a great start

Knicks fans said the same thing after their Game 1 collapse too.

Indy was actually terrible in game 1. So at this point I have no idea what to think.

[Ice Man]

Haliburton in this post-season has been like Big Shot Bob if you made Horry into a really good player for the first 47 minutes, too. If Indy wins this series, Hali will go down in history as having one of the greatest NBA playoff runs ever.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Haliburton in this post-season has been like Big Shot Bob if you made Horry into a really good player for the first 47 minutes, too. If Indy wins this series, Hali will go down in history as having one of the greatest NBA playoff runs ever.

To be clear, you must mean in the clutch.

His overall numbers are rather basic so far in the playoffs.

[kodo]

I'll add that I wouldn't be surprised if AK looks at Indiana and thinks they prove his "9 players can win a championship". Sigh.

Definitely, although it ignores that Haliburton was ranked the 7th best player in the NBA so that's just outside of MVP consideration and Pascal was the 2nd best player on a championship team. So it's the "Two Stars + 8 good guys + Best Coach in the NBA can win a championship" which isn't a new formula.

[ChiefILL53]

OKC had no business losing that game. They let Indy stick around for too long and I saw moments of them settling for jumpers or shots early in the shot clock instead of staying aggressive and attacking the basket, especially after generating so many TOs in the first half. They also need to do something about their defense giving up open 3s.

I know it seems impossible because theyve done it a lot, but I dont think Indy can keep coming back from these deficits. Sooner or later thats gonna tire them out. Gotta play a cleaner game, but good job on stealing game 1 on the road.

I cant believe there were people that thought this was going to be a boring series lol.

[kodo]

Haliburton in this post-season has been like Big Shot Bob if you made Horry into a really good player for the first 47 minutes, too. If Indy wins this series, Hali will go down in history as having one of the greatest NBA playoff runs ever.

To be clear, you must mean in the clutch.

His overall numbers are rather basic so far in the playoffs.

The most shocking thing about the game (other than the final result) is that Indy actually went away from Haliburton, even in the clutch. It was the Andrew Nembhard show in the final minutes. The amount of trust the team has in each other to be in the Finals and and be so non-star driven that it allows this 2nd round guy to run the team is the unique part of this run. Even the Bulls would not have just let John Paxson just run the show because the other team had a good defender on MJ.

Carlisle also subbed out Turner at the final 3 minute mark and to my surprise he never came back in, OB Toppin closed. Turner was playing well too. A lot of teams preach they go deep, but not in the final 3 minutes of the Finals. Indy is the only team I've seen that's willing to bet the championship on their bench.

[Jeffster81]

I think Indy got the one game they were going to get. I still think this series ends in 5 and an OKC victory.

[Dan Z]

I'll add that I wouldn't be surprised if AK looks at Indiana and thinks they prove his "9 players can win a championship". Sigh.

Definitely, although it ignores that Haliburton was ranked the 7th best player in the NBA so that's just outside of MVP consideration and Pascal was the 2nd best player on a championship team. So it's the "Two Stars + 8 good guys + Best Coach in the NBA can win a championship" which isn't a new formula.

Details...details. AK doesn't care about that because it doesn't fit his narrative.

[kodo]

OKC had no business losing that game. They let Indy stick around for too long and I saw moments of them settling for jumpers or shots early in the shot clock instead of staying aggressive and attacking the basket, especially after generating so many TOs in the first half. They also need to do something about their defense giving up open 3s.

I know it seems impossible because theyve done it a lot, but I dont think Indy can keep coming back from these deficits. Sooner or later thats gonna tire them out. Gotta play a cleaner game, but good job on stealing game 1 on the road.

I cant believe there were people that thought this was going to be a boring series lol.

Not sure about changing their defense, that's been their identity all playoffs to double and help. They even stepped it up vs Denver and triple-teamed Joker and left multiple wide-open, c&s shooters open. I was discussing this with an OKC fan and it worked vs DEN because their shooters just bricked. Murray 30%, Braun 28%, MPJ 25%, Westbrook 21% (and 34% FG). Any of those guys shoot a little better than Dalen Terry on a bad day and Denver is in the Finals.

Indy is actually going to make their shots if you leave them wide open to double the ball all game, and at a very good % too. They're the most accurate 3P% team all playoffs, exactly not the kind of team you should be coaching to leave wide open with set shots.

Agreed on the rest, clutch come from behind wins isn't going to last forever. But Indy can lose G2 safely and still feel pretty good, going back home splitting 1-1.

[Red Larrivee]

I'll add that I wouldn't be surprised if AK looks at Indiana and thinks they prove his "9 players can win a championship". Sigh.

Definitely, although it ignores that Haliburton was ranked the 7th best player in the NBA so that's just outside of MVP consideration and Pascal was the 2nd best player on a championship team. So it's the "Two Stars + 8 good guys + Best Coach in the NBA can win a championship" which isn't a new formula.

Haliburton and Siakam are playing like all-stars, but haven't been close to superstars. It's very 2004 Pistons in that sense. I'd argue that Indiana's depth is their most important feature. Haliburton is going to get the spotlight, but he's been so up and down. But their model is really perfect for where the league is going.

Because of apron rules there's no Big 3 Celtics/Heat/Warriors that's feasible going forward through trade or free agency. There's also not an MJ, Kobe, LeBron or Steph that has a chokehold on the league.

Combine that with apron rules making repeat winners extremely difficult and redistributing talent from 2nd apron teams, and there's never been a better path for middle teams and teams without a superstar to become relevant.

AK is probably not the one to get us out, but I'd bet on other teams being able to pull an Indiana going forward.

[Ice Man]

To be clear, you must mean in the clutch.

His overall numbers are rather basic so far in the playoffs.

Immaterial for the narrative. Dirk's overall playoff numbers were better in '06 than in 2011, and Iverson's were better in '02 and '03 than in 2001. Nobody remembers it that way. If Indy wins, Haliburton will have worn Superman's cape.

[MrSparkle]

To be clear, you must mean in the clutch.

His overall numbers are rather basic so far in the playoffs.

Immaterial for the narrative. Dirk's overall playoff numbers were better in '06 than in 2011, and Iverson's were better in '02 and '03 than in 2001. Nobody remembers it that way. If Indy wins, Haliburton will have worn Superman's cape.

Yeah, there’s a real skew with averages. Generally, big men and scoring wings pump their numbers the more in deep playoff games. PGs and creators are drawing as much defensive attention as possible (from the presumably an elite defense, if they made the final), so it’s only natural that he’s not taking a ton of shots. His stats are remarkably even with his regular season, though. Curry’s post-season efficiency generally dropped, for comparison.

[Charlesareed]

I still okc winning in 6 maybe it will take 7 games cause Indy will get blown out in games 2&5

[Chi town]

I'll add that I wouldn't be surprised if AK looks at Indiana and thinks they prove his "9 players can win a championship". Sigh.

Definitely, although it ignores that Haliburton was ranked the 7th best player in the NBA so that's just outside of MVP consideration and Pascal was the 2nd best player on a championship team. So it's the "Two Stars + 8 good guys + Best Coach in the NBA can win a championship" which isn't a new formula.

Haliburton and Siakam are playing like all-stars, but haven't been close to superstars. It's very 2004 Pistons in that sense. I'd argue that Indiana's depth is their most important feature. Haliburton is going to get the spotlight, but he's been so up and down. But their model is really perfect for where the league is going.

Because of apron rules there's no Big 3 Celtics/Heat/Warriors that's feasible going forward through trade or free agency. There's also not an MJ, Kobe, LeBron or Steph that has a chokehold on the league.

Combine that with apron rules making repeat winners extremely difficult and redistributing talent from 2nd apron teams, and there's never been a better path for middle teams and teams without a superstar to become relevant.

AK is probably not the one to get us out, but I'd bet on other teams being able to pull an Indiana going forward.

Well said. Their team fits their style and Carlisle is elite.

Billy did a good job of getting the Bulls to play his way this season. I would not be surprised at all to see a healthy Bulls team rise next season because they already have some key pieces and if Vuc is gone they will be a lot better on D. We beat the Pacers at the end of the season playing our way but they didn’t have Haliburton.

What been fascinating is seeing the belief and confidence of OKC and the Pacers rise. Young teams that are starting to believe how good they can be.

[Wingy]

Remember when quite a few, and a quite noticeable quantity of y’all, who pay more attention to college prospects than I, were calling for the FO to draft Haliburton?

Patrick Williams.

Patrick. Williams.

Patri…

[Chi town]

Remember when quite a few, and a quite noticeable quantity of y’all, who pay more attention to college prospects than I, were calling for the FO to draft Haliburton?

Patrick Williams.

Patrick. Williams.

Patri…

Many of us believed in Haliburton but Pistons and AK both were reported as wanting PW.

Hopefully AK has learned a lot about motor and mindset.

[MAQ]

Haliburton in this post-season has been like Big Shot Bob if you made Horry into a really good player for the first 47 minutes, too. If Indy wins this series, Hali will go down in history as having one of the greatest NBA playoff runs ever.

To be clear, you must mean in the clutch.

His overall numbers are rather basic so far in the playoffs.

Yeah, as I was watching yesterday's game, my biggest takeaway was how easy it was to neutralize Hali for OKC.

Still not sure I feel like Hali can impose his will on a game the way you expect superstars to be able to do.

[dumbell78]

Knicks wanting Kidd now, the runner up (to Thibs) in their 2020 interview process. What a New York state of mind lol.

[kodo]

Knicks wanting Kidd now, the runner up (to Thibs) in their 2020 interview process. What a New York state of mind lol.

Lol Kidd is going to pass on leading the team with Cooper Flagg & Anthony Davis?
NYK is going to be a meat grinder, if he doesn't get to the Finals next year he'll be eviscerated by the media like Thibs.

[boozapalooza]

Knicks wanting Kidd now, the runner up (to Thibs) in their 2020 interview process. What a New York state of mind lol.

Lol Kidd is going to pass on leading the team with Cooper Flagg & Anthony Davis?
NYK is going to be a meat grinder, if he doesn't get to the Finals next year he'll be eviscerated by the media like Thibs.

Kidd only leaves Dallas if Giannis to NY is happening behind the scenes. In which case, the Giannis/Brunson duo would make NY the favorite in the East next year. Might be too good for JKidd to pass up.

Kidd also coached Giannis his first 5 years in Milwaukee so the connection is there

Could be interesting as NY can put together a great offer with a combination of KAT/OG/Mikal/Hart plus picks