Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[eyriq]

Hawks getting blasted again at home. Down 22 in the 2nd quarter.

Would put the Magic 1.5 games up for the 7 seed in the play in.

I don't think the Hawks' FO even cares tbh. I'm still trying to make sense of them trading away De'Andre Hunter.

I'm curious what their long-term plan is. They've built a good young core: Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. They have Trae Young, who is good enough to build around. I really like what they appear to be doing. I suspect they've got enough player development tailwinds to boost them into the top six by as early as next season

[Rainwater]

Hawks getting blasted again at home. Down 22 in the 2nd quarter.

Would put the Magic 1.5 games up for the 7 seed in the play in.

I don't think the Hawks' FO even cares tbh. I'm still trying to make sense of them trading away De'Andre Hunter.

Yeah, I don’t think they care either especially after Jalen got hurt. Hunter got traded due to salary reasons and they have Risacher and Jalen. No need for Hunter at this point.

[Rainwater]

Hawks getting blasted again at home. Down 22 in the 2nd quarter.

Would put the Magic 1.5 games up for the 7 seed in the play in.

I don't think the Hawks' FO even cares tbh. I'm still trying to make sense of them trading away De'Andre Hunter.

I'm curious what their long-term plan is. They've built a good young core: Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu. They have Trae Young, who is good enough to build around. I really like what they appear to be doing. I suspect they've got enough player development tailwinds to boost them into the top six by as early as next season

They do have a nice young core but they don’t have a number one option. I don’t think Trae is that guy. Until they get that option they will continue to be a borderline play in team.

[thelead]

Hawks getting blasted again at home. Down 22 in the 2nd quarter.

Would put the Magic 1.5 games up for the 7 seed in the play in.

I don't think the Hawks' FO even cares tbh. I'm still trying to make sense of them trading away De'Andre Hunter.

Yeah, I don’t think they care either especially after Jalen got hurt. Hunter got traded due to salary reasons and they have Risacher and Jalen. No need for Hunter at this point.

The Hunter trade was definitely salary related but he finally was living up to that contract and then they practically gave him away. It's not like Atlanta is swimming in talent to take downgrades for the sake of it.

[pepe1991]

Hawks start two rookies, for whatever reason within that team, their FO does not give a flying f*** about making any sense short nor long term.

Hunter was locked for 2 more years on okey money $24M a year, they flipped him and Bogdan for exp. Levert, they also failed to trade exp. Capela ( injury), wasted Larry Nance (also exp) as they kept him out of rotation for majority of a year but also failed to trade him, despite fact we know he is very good backup C.

They actually only have 1 more year of Trae Young, 2026-27 for Trae is player's option that he can decline and become UFA.
They don't have pick, their current sucking makes no sense, they did all this to help Spurs become even better.

It would make way more sense if they traded Trae this year to Spurs to get Castle and get 25 pick back. But much like majority of teams from East, nothing they do makes any sense.


Btw it's not like Miami makes any sense. They start two rookies, removed Terry Rozier and Jaquez from rotation. HOWEVER, if they miss playoffs ( probable) they will save pick from sending it to OKC ( lottery protected) with 14% chance at top 4 pick and they will get Warriors pick as it's top 10 protected. Imo Heat are headed to very busy summer.

[AdamTheGreek]

Knicks win in Atlanta. We’re 1.5 games in front of them for 7th.
Gianni did us a favor and beat the Heat in Miami.

Bulls should win Charlotte and Hawks should beat the Jazz today.

If we beat Atlanta both times, it’s likely we’re hosting either Miami or Chicago in the 7v8 game.
That Heat-Chicago game Wednesday will be a huge factor in that.

[pepe1991]

Looking forward Lakers v OKC

[eyriq]

Looking forward Lakers v OKC

Lakers don't have a single plus defender?

[pepe1991]

Looking forward Lakers v OKC

Lakers don't have a single plus defender?

After first quarter, OKC won't go to finals with this level of defense

[thelead]

Lakers have shooters... makes Luka's and LeBron's lives so much easier

[thelead]

Lakers are 15/20 from 3 before the end of the 1st half

[pepe1991]

Lakers have shooters... makes Luka's and LeBron's lives so much easier

They are also very good at involving others.

Look at shot distribution vs Houston for example, in win

Luka 16 shots
Vincent 14 shots
Smith 13 shots
Lebron 12 shots
Austin Reaves 11 shots
Hachimura 10 shots

Lebron, one of two greatest players in history is taking step back to involve Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent. And it's not that he just involves them, they literally take more shots than him

Among contenders, OKC is only team where you know where will offense come from, for other top teams it's diversity and concept of alive offense.
That offense being league's MVP, yet still too predictable to feel comfortable proclaiming them title favorites.

To me, most annoying Magic game of a year was one loss to Wolves, you had Caleb Houstan making 6 out of 9 shots (6-8 for 3) and his teammates, but especially main two "ball handlers" simply don't look after him, not respecting fact he has career night, in game where Franz shoots 4-16 and Paolo takes 32 ( but at least made half) shots. It just shows lack of maturity and " i first" mentality.



As for OKC, imo, there will be times when I Hart and Chet won't be best solution playing together. Defending pick&roll against elite offensive player when they switch from I Hart to Chet as recovery is still miss match for pick&roll maestro. Luka sent Chet dancing several times in first half alone, and Lakers ball movement and extra passing broke OKC's defense so many times.

[drsd]

Lakers have shooters... makes Luka's and LeBron's lives so much easier

They are also very good at involving others.

Look at shot distribution vs Houston for example, in win

Luka 16 shots
Vincent 14 shots
Smith 13 shots
Lebron 12 shots
Austin Reaves 11 shots
Hachimura 10 shots

Lebron, one of two greatest players in history is taking step back to involve Dorian Finney-Smith and Gabe Vincent. And it's not that he just involves them, they literally take more shots than him

Among contenders, OKC is only team where you know where will offense come from, for other top teams it's diversity and concept of alive offense.
That offense being league's MVP, yet still too predictable to feel comfortable proclaiming them title favorites.

To me, most annoying Magic game of a year was one loss to Wolves, you had Caleb Houstan making 6 out of 9 shots (6-8 for 3) and his teammates, but especially main two "ball handlers" simply don't look after him, not respecting fact he has career night, in game where Franz shoots 4-16 and Paolo takes 32 ( but at least made half) shots. It just shows lack of maturity and " i first" mentality.



As for OKC, imo, there will be times when I Hart and Chet won't be best solution playing together. Defending pick&roll against elite offensive player when they switch from I Hart to Chet as recovery is still miss match for pick&roll maestro. Luka sent Chet dancing several times in first half alone, and Lakers ball movement and extra passing broke OKC's defense so many times.

Dalton Knecht is also an interesting player for the Lakers.

[drsd]

After the Hawks / Jazz game, is Atlanta's defense actually getting worse? It is sad.

[pepe1991]

76ers lost 12th in row.
They pretty much secured 5th worst record with solid chance at falling to 4th .

By doing so they now have 63,3% at keeping pick ( and drafting top 6).
If they fall to 4th, they will have 81% chance.


If they win 1# again it will be hilarious.

[basketballRob]

The Nuggets fire Mike Malone.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[sk8wrulz]

The Nuggets fire Mike Malone.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

We can now choose between Jenkins or Malone.

[Idiosyncratic]

These late season coach firings of good coaches have been crazy.

Their GM fired too. Has not added good vets around the fringes and this is definitely a more logical move than the coach firing IMO, but they have so much money into their top 4 that it is so limited as to what they can even do. I guess try to split MPJ into two players who play a lick of defense?

These aprons are rough man. Whole teambuilding philosophy has to be a little different. If they can affect teams with MVP's like Jokic and Giannis they can affect anyone.

[basketballRob]

The Nuggets fire Mike Malone.

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

We can now choose between Jenkins or Malone.

I've always liked Malone

Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[eyriq]

These late season coach firings of good coaches have been crazy.

Their GM fired too. Has not added good vets around the fringes and this is definitely a more logical move than the coach firing IMO, but they have so much money into their top 4 that it is so limited as to what they can even do. I guess try to split MPJ into two players who play a lick of defense?

These aprons are rough man. Whole teambuilding philosophy has to be a little different. If they can affect teams with MVP's like Jokic and Giannis they can affect anyone.

Insane. Glad we didn't trade the Denver pick.