Around the NBA (Part Two)

[Worm Guts]

I like the long rest. It gives all our players a great chance to heal up any bumps and bruises.

Personally, not a fan of the long rest. Look how poorly the squad played at home against Golden State. Hopefully, with whomever wins game 7, the Wolves will be focused. Stealing game one at an opponent's venue would set the stage.

Look what happened to Golden State without the rest though, Curry got hurt and Butler was worn out by the end of the series. Of course Golden State was an older team.

[Baseline81]

Look what happened to Golden State without the rest though, Curry got hurt and Butler was worn out by the end of the series. Of course Golden State was an older team though.

As I was reading your post, I immediately thought of the age factor.

[life_saver]

Rudy, Mike are older...they'd definitely prefer a longer rest. Rudy especially seems to have issues with back spasms in recent years during some of the B2B games. Also Jon mentioned something about Ant's ankle issue and how rest should be helpful for Ant

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[KGdaBom]

Agree. I think if we play OKC, it's going to be a slugfest. We can't turn the ball over, will need to contain them just enough, and we need everyone to step up with score 120+ points. I don't know I like the long rest. It didn't work for us in the last round. Everyone came back rusty in game 1

I like the long rest. It gives all our players a great chance to heal up any bumps and bruises.

Gordon has hamstring issues. I thought he was grabbing at his calf (it had been an issue earlier this season,) but Twitter and Hoopshype both have it as the Hamstring. If the Nuggets can win game 7 their best Ant defender now has even more soft tissue issues with only 1 day of rest before game 1. Denver had chances to put this thing away and get more rest, this is the consequence of not doing so. Just like guys falling into KAT’s knee or Ant having the bad fall was our consequence for letting go of the rope after going up 2-0 on Denver. Not only is the rest valuable, but not having to get worn down and banged up in extra games is essential.

Absolutely. If it ever comes down to rust vs rest I will always prefer rest to worrying about rust.

[shrink]

This doesn’t include the extra minutes that DEN players will add on Sunday.

Look how much fewer minutes the Wolves have played, by knocking off opponents 4-1! Only 3 in the 300’s!

I imagine we with be favorites for Game 1. The Nuggets lack of depth, and OKC’s regular season style of wearing opponents down, will likely be less effective against the Wolves for the whole series. I am really rooting for exhausted DEN on Sunday, because I think we will make short work of them - like DAL did to us last year when we were exhausted.

[KGdaBom]

This doesn’t include the extra minutes that DEN players will add on Sunday.

Look how much fewer minutes the Wolves have played, by knocking off opponents 4-1! Only 3 in the 300’s!

I imagine we with be favorites for Game 1. The Nuggets lack of depth, and OKC’s regular season style of wearing opponents down, will likely be less effective against the Wolves for the whole series. I am really rooting for exhausted DEN on Sunday, because I think we will make short work of them - like DAL did to us last year when we were exhausted.

With the Wolves only playing 10 games it's real easy to see our average MPG. Ant at 39.9 call it 40 appears to be the third most MPG. On a quick glance that makes him 3rd behind Murray and Joker. Julius at 38 is pretty high and Jaden at 36. No other Wolf has been getting enough minutes to get worn down.
Braun and Gordon have been playing huge minutes and could be worn down also.

On OKC only SGA at 37 MPG, Williams at 35 and Chet at 30. All the more reason to prefer facing Denver.

[Guest84]

Does any other sports league have a "draft lottery"? Should the NBA just go to the worst team gets the pick?

[shrink]

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Julius Randle, you beautiful man!

[life_saver]

Does any other sports league have a "draft lottery"? Should the NBA just go to the worst team gets the worst pick?

yes..both NHL & MLB have draft lotteries. But a single player in basketball is lot more impactful than a single player in hockey, baseball

[shrink]

Does any other sports league have a "draft lottery"? Should the NBA just go to the worst team gets the worst pick?

It’s quite possible we will see a change to the lottery system, because historically, when the current system creates a result that people feel is unfair, the system changes.

1. From 1971-1985, the worst teams got the best picks. However, in 1984, HOU brutally tanked to get Olajuwon.
2. In 1985 the NBA gave all lottery teams an equal chance. However, in 1990 they turned to a weighted lottery.
3. In 1993 they increased the weights after ORL got two #1 picks in a row, barely missing the playoffs in Year 1 with Shaq
4. Other changes have limited the lottery to top 3 picks, then top 4, and recently flattening the odds for worst teams.

Getting it right is critical. No other pro sport is so affected by adding a superstar to a failing franchise, so to maintain parity and keep teams financially solvent, the best prospects need to go to the teams that need them most.

[minimus]

I don't know if that is true for NBA level athletes, but when I played basketball it was not only physical fatigue, but also mental fatigue after game. Especially, after a high stakes game, I felt emotionally exhausted.

[KGdaBom]

Does any other sports league have a "draft lottery"? Should the NBA just go to the worst team gets the worst pick?

It’s quite possible we will see a change to the lottery system, because historically, when the current system creates a result that people feel is unfair, the system changes.

1. From 1971-1985, the worst teams got the best picks. However, in 1984, HOU brutally tanked to get Olajuwon.
2. In 1985 the NBA gave all lottery teams an equal chance. However, in 1990 they turned to a weighted lottery.
3. In 1993 they increased the weights after ORL got two #1 picks in a row, barely missing the playoffs in Year 1 with Shaq
4. Other changes have limited the lottery to top 3 picks, then top 4, and recently flattening the odds for worst teams.

Getting it right is critical. No other pro sport is so affected by adding a superstar to a failing franchise, so to maintain parity and keep teams financially solvent, the best prospects need to go to the teams that need them most.

Brilliant post.

[KGdaBom]

Knicks up 64-37 at the half. I don't see them blowing that. Gratz on the ECF Knicks.

[KGdaBom]

Warriors Will Try To Retain Jonathan Kuminga
May 17, 2025 7:35 AM

Warriors Will Try To Retain Jonathan Kuminga
The Golden State Warriors have gone on record indicating they would like to retain Jonathan Kuminga as he enters restricted free agency. Kuminga has been more of a favorite of Joe Lacob and the front office than of Steve Kerr throughout his tenure with the Warriors.

"We value JK," Mike Dunleavy Jr. said. "I think he had a resilient season. ... As far as bringing him back next season, I think it's something we're very interested in doing because, when I look at the things JK does well, in terms of getting to the rim, finishing, getting fouled, these are things we greatly need. We know he can bring those to the table. It's not hypothetical."

Dunleavy added: "For that reason, we'll try to bring him back, but you've got to have those conversations. You've got to figure it out. It's a two-way street in terms of creating -- getting a new contract and all of that. So, we'll see where it goes."

The Warriors could re-sign Kuminga, or they could also work on a sign-and-trade. Steve Kerr said if Kuminga remains with the Warriors, Kerr is committed to making things fit better than they did after Butler arrived at the trade deadline.

[Domejandro]

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Denver is probably cooked, but a miracle would almost be a free series win for Minnesota.

[KGdaBom]

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Denver is probably cooked, but a miracle would almost be a free series win for Minnesota.

I feel like Shooting you, but you are only the piano player (Elton John reference for those who don't know)... I mean messenger. No way Gordon plays and what chance does Denver have without Gordon?

[Movics]

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Denver is probably cooked, but a miracle would almost be a free series win for Minnesota.

I feel like killing you, but you are only the piano player (Elton John reference for those who don't know)... I mean messenger. No way Gordon plays and what chance does Denver have without Gordon?

A lesser team than Denver beat us at home without their best player once in the last round. It’s possible Denver wins today. Keep a positive mindset and enjoy the ride. See you at the parade on June 20th

[Domejandro]

I feel like Shooting you, but you are only the piano player (Elton John reference for those who don't know)... I mean messenger. No way Gordon plays and what chance does Denver have without Gordon?

Probably not happening, but when you have the best player in the world, anything is possible!

[winforlose]

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Denver is probably cooked, but a miracle would almost be a free series win for Minnesota.

I feel like Shooting you, but you are only the piano player (Elton John reference for those who don't know)... I mean messenger. No way Gordon plays and what chance does Denver have without Gordon?

A Joker’s chance. They need 70-80 points between Jokic and Murray. They need 30-40 points from everyone else, and they need Watson and Braun to defend like there is a gun to their heads. Strawther having a good game and Westbrook going nuts would also help. I wonder if we see Dario or DJ get some run.

The X factor which might decide this game is Scott Foster. If he backs Dort and Caruso off Murray and turns this into a offensive focused game, that favors Denver.

[life_saver]

Nuggets still have Jokic, Murray...in a single game situation, anything happen. Best case scenario for Wolves would Nuggets pulling off upset today