NBA General Discussion

[Mik317]

Ant has been to back to back CF

he will be fine

[76ciology]

Ant has been to back to back CF

he will be fine

I think the team was built to stay competitive around Randle and DiVincenzo, but ultimately, they’re just biding time for Rob Dillingham to step in as the true “Robin” and take over Conley’s role.

[76ciology]

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[76ciology]

All four playoff teams left are now starting double-big lineups:

Holmgren/Hartenstein
Randle/Gobert
Towns/Robinson
Siakam/Turner

A lot of guard depth. That allows you to play double big. And double big needs a lot of guard depth.

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That’s why I like the idea of drafting Tre or Kasparas. In today’s game, you need multiple players who can bring the ball down and break the first line of defense. That opens up early offense opportunities and helps generate shot attempts earlier in the shot clock.

The problem with teams like the Knicks or Wolves is that they rely too much on just one perimeter creator, Brunson for the Knicks, Ant for the Wolves. That makes it easy for defenders like Lu Dort or Nesmith to hound them without any real consequence. But when you have multiple ball handlers, it stretches the defense and forces them to make choices, it’s much harder to apply tight pressure without compromising your halfcourt defense.

Having multiple guards also improves your offensive floor.. it reduces turnovers, increases passing and tempo, and adds more skill across the board. You can then balance that by playing a double-big lineup to protect the paint.

Defensively, what stood out in this playoffs is that they’re allowing more physicality. Specially for a smaller defender against the big (i.e Caruso was allowed more physicality than Jokic, which allows Caruso to deny him the ball).

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I think Morey understands this, you saw it when he added Butler, Walker, and Hood-Schifino to close the season. I also questioned why he was adding that much guards but now its making sense. Crossing my fingers he sees what I’m seeing.

[mjkvol]

All four playoff teams left are now starting double-big lineups:

Holmgren/Hartenstein
Randle/Gobert
Towns/Robinson
Siakam/Turner

A lot of guard depth. That allows you to play double big. And double big needs a lot of guard depth.

The two teams I'm looking forward to watch with interest in what should be a really interesting off season are the Cavs and Wolves. You see things about the Cavs looking to break up their 'core four' after another playoff failure, but how much of it can also be blamed on the injuries they had throughout that Indiana series? Do the Pacers beat them at full strength? Good question.

They have your two creators and double big setup, and they won 64 games and looked unbeatable at times. If it's me, I would run that thing back once more before breaking them up, unless you can get Reaves from LA for Allen, the only way I'd make that deal. That would free them up to see what Garland's value is around the league, and maybe grab a D&3 wing and a straight PG.

MIN is in a tougher spot, with Gobert and Randle eating up so much of the cap. If they move Gobert their rim protection is gone, as that isn't Naz' strength, but they need to keep him at only 26 yrs. old. They have to find a way to move Randle and Conley and let some of their youth become part of the core, which might require a step back to take two steps forward. Will the new owners prefer that, which might give them some cap relief?

[Mik317]

I just don't see it with KP.

not that we are in a position to be drafting solely for fit but I don't see him as better than Maxey or McCain to get the on ball reps he probably requires. The other guard prospects we have been talking about are either bigger, more capable of guarding up or are elite off ball shooters. Fit does matter a little in terms of just getting dudes on the floor and getting the reps they need to develop. otherwise we should probably just take Fears lol.

[ProcessDoctor]

All four playoff teams left are now starting double-big lineups:

Holmgren/Hartenstein
Randle/Gobert
Towns/Robinson
Siakam/Turner

A lot of guard depth. That allows you to play double big. And double big needs a lot of guard depth.

Watch on YouTube

That’s why I like the idea of drafting Tre or Kasparas. In today’s game, you need multiple players who can bring the ball down and break the first line of defense. That opens up early offense opportunities and helps generate shot attempts earlier in the shot clock.

The problem with teams like the Knicks or Wolves is that they rely too much on just one perimeter creator, Brunson for the Knicks, Ant for the Wolves. That makes it easy for defenders like Lu Dort or Nesmith to hound them without any real consequence. But when you have multiple ball handlers, it stretches the defense and forces them to make choices, it’s much harder to apply tight pressure without compromising your halfcourt defense.

Having multiple guards also improves your offensive floor.. it reduces turnovers, increases passing and tempo, and adds more skill across the board. You can then balance that by playing a double-big lineup to protect the paint.

Defensively, what stood out in this playoffs is that they’re allowing more physicality. Specially for a smaller defender against the big (i.e Caruso was allowed more physicality than Jokic, which allows Caruso to deny him the ball).

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I think Morey understands this, you saw it when he added Butler, Walker, and Hood-Schifino to close the season. I also questioned why he was adding that much guards but now its making sense. Crossing my fingers he sees what I’m seeing.

If we go guard (VJ), post-draft rotation could be:

Maxey/McCain
Grimes/Edgecombe
George/Edwards
(Big)/(TMLE)
Embiid/Bona

If we go wing (Bailey):

Maxey/McCain
Grimes/Edwards
George/Bailey
(Big)/(TMLE)
Embiid/Bona

Either way, it'll be malpractice if Morey doesn't acquire two legit PFs this offseason. Paul George can't be that guy.

[76ciology]

All four playoff teams left are now starting double-big lineups:

Holmgren/Hartenstein
Randle/Gobert
Towns/Robinson
Siakam/Turner

A lot of guard depth. That allows you to play double big. And double big needs a lot of guard depth.

The two teams I'm looking forward to watch with interest in what should be a really interesting off season are the Cavs and Wolves. You see things about the Cavs looking to break up their 'core four' after another playoff failure, but how much of it can also be blamed on the injuries they had throughout that Indiana series? Do the Pacers beat them at full strength? Good question.

They have your two creators and double big setup, and they won 64 games and looked unbeatable at times. If it's me, I would run that thing back once more before breaking them up, unless you can get Reaves from LA for Allen, the only way I'd make that deal. That would free them up to see what Garland's value is around the league, and maybe grab a D&3 wing and a straight PG.

MIN is in a tougher spot, with Gobert and Randle eating up so much of the cap. If they move Gobert their rim protection is gone, as that isn't Naz' strength, but they need to keep him at only 26 yrs. old. They have to find a way to move Randle and Conley and let some of their youth become part of the core, which might require a step back to take two steps forward. Will the new owners prefer that, which might give them some cap relief?

Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like the team doesn’t enjoy playing with Mitchell. Their regular season success shows they can be good when in rhythm, they’re well constructed on paper. But the real issue seems to be egos. Mitchell and Garland overlap, Mobley wants a bigger offensive role, and Jarrett Allen ends up benched in certain lineups.

As for the Wolves, they clearly know they need a perimeter shot creator, which is why they overpaid for Dillingham. But like I said a month or two ago, it’s a bad bet. Dillingham just isn’t close to being playable yet due to his defensive limitations. Maybe they plan to hedge with Terrence Shannon, a guy I liked last year. But in the end, it feels like a slow evolution: from Randle to Dillingham, then Naz Reid, and eventually finding that ideal big who can defend without being a liability.

Overall, being part of this team has conditioned us to think in all-or-nothing terms. But the league’s shifting. Once you hit a certain threshold, sometimes it’s just about rolling the dice, hoping to Indiana Pacers your way into the Finals.

[76ciology]

I just don't see it with KP.

not that we are in a position to be drafting solely for fit but I don't see him as better than Maxey or McCain to get the on ball reps he probably requires. The other guard prospects we have been talking about are either bigger, more capable of guarding up or are elite off ball shooters. Fit does matter a little in terms of just getting dudes on the floor and getting the reps they need to develop. otherwise we should probably just take Fears lol.

I think adding another guard actually makes a lot of sense, contrary to what a lot of podcasters are saying. You need guard depth in the playoffs. We’ve got the 3 and 4 spots covered.. George starts with Edwards backing him up, Oubre starts with Yabu behind him. But who’s backing up the shooting guard?

The league is letting guards get more physical defensively, which allows them to play bigger than their size, something OKC has been taking full advantage of. What we need are high-IQ, high-feel, high-motor players who can move the ball, pass, shoot, attack closeouts, and create offensively, then just have good motor and defend as a unit.

McCain and Kasparas both rebound well for their size, too.

[Iverson Armband]

I just don't see it with KP.

not that we are in a position to be drafting solely for fit but I don't see him as better than Maxey or McCain to get the on ball reps he probably requires. The other guard prospects we have been talking about are either bigger, more capable of guarding up or are elite off ball shooters. Fit does matter a little in terms of just getting dudes on the floor and getting the reps they need to develop. otherwise we should probably just take Fears lol.

I think adding another guard actually makes a lot of sense, contrary to what a lot of podcasters are saying. You need guard depth in the playoffs. We’ve got the 3 and 4 spots covered.. George starts with Edwards backing him up, Oubre starts with Yabu behind him. But who’s backing up the shooting guard?

The league is letting guards get more physical defensively, which allows them to play bigger than their size, something OKC has been taking full advantage of. What we need are high-IQ, high-feel, high-motor players who can move the ball, pass, shoot, attack closeouts, and create offensively, then just have good motor and defend as a unit.

McCain and Kasparas both rebound well for their size, too.

If you’re going to take KP, better off just taking Tre. I’d even go VJ over KP if you don’t believe in Tre at all.

[Mik317]

I just don't see it with KP.

not that we are in a position to be drafting solely for fit but I don't see him as better than Maxey or McCain to get the on ball reps he probably requires. The other guard prospects we have been talking about are either bigger, more capable of guarding up or are elite off ball shooters. Fit does matter a little in terms of just getting dudes on the floor and getting the reps they need to develop. otherwise we should probably just take Fears lol.

I think adding another guard actually makes a lot of sense, contrary to what a lot of podcasters are saying. You need guard depth in the playoffs. We’ve got the 3 and 4 spots covered.. George starts with Edwards backing him up, Oubre starts with Yabu behind him. But who’s backing up the shooting guard?

The league is letting guards get more physical defensively, which allows them to play bigger than their size, something OKC has been taking full advantage of. What we need are high-IQ, high-feel, high-motor players who can move the ball, pass, shoot, attack closeouts, and create offensively, then just have good motor and defend as a unit.

McCain and Kasparas both rebound well for their size, too.

I agree that you def need more ballhandlers if nothing else I just also think that most of them need to be useful without the ball or jumbo sized.

I will have to do more digging on KP tho tbf

[mjkvol]

A lot of guard depth. That allows you to play double big. And double big needs a lot of guard depth.

The two teams I'm looking forward to watch with interest in what should be a really interesting off season are the Cavs and Wolves. You see things about the Cavs looking to break up their 'core four' after another playoff failure, but how much of it can also be blamed on the injuries they had throughout that Indiana series? Do the Pacers beat them at full strength? Good question.

They have your two creators and double big setup, and they won 64 games and looked unbeatable at times. If it's me, I would run that thing back once more before breaking them up, unless you can get Reaves from LA for Allen, the only way I'd make that deal. That would free them up to see what Garland's value is around the league, and maybe grab a D&3 wing and a straight PG.

MIN is in a tougher spot, with Gobert and Randle eating up so much of the cap. If they move Gobert their rim protection is gone, as that isn't Naz' strength, but they need to keep him at only 26 yrs. old. They have to find a way to move Randle and Conley and let some of their youth become part of the core, which might require a step back to take two steps forward. Will the new owners prefer that, which might give them some cap relief?

Maybe it’s just me, but it feels like the team doesn’t enjoy playing with Mitchell. Their regular season success shows they can be good when in rhythm, they’re well constructed on paper. But the real issue seems to be egos. Mitchell and Garland overlap, Mobley wants a bigger offensive role, and Jarrett Allen ends up benched in certain lineups.

As for the Wolves, they clearly know they need a perimeter shot creator, which is why they overpaid for Dillingham. But like I said a month or two ago, it’s a bad bet. Dillingham just isn’t close to being playable yet due to his defensive limitations. Maybe they plan to hedge with Terrence Shannon, a guy I liked last year. But in the end, it feels like a slow evolution: from Randle to Dillingham, then Naz Reid, and eventually finding that ideal big who can defend without being a liability.

Overall, being part of this team has conditioned us to think in all-or-nothing terms. But the league’s shifting. Once you hit a certain threshold, sometimes it’s just about rolling the dice, hoping to Indiana Pacers your way into the Finals.

OKC is showing that smart management and drafting plus some patience trumps all-or-nothing, and SA and HOU will go that route if they're smart. We've been all-or-nothing for the last six years - where has it gotten us other than into mess after mess?

The Cavs aren't moving Mitchell or Mobley, those are the lock certainties of their off season.

[Jailblazers7]

I’m having a hard time imagining either of these teams giving OKC a competitive series.

[76ciology]

I’m having a hard time imagining either of these teams giving OKC a competitive series.

There was a noticeable gap in the level of competition between the Knicks–Pacers series and the Wolves–OKC or Nuggets–OKC matchups.

That said, I think the Pacers could actually pose more problems for the Thunder than the Knicks would. I can easily see New York struggling to score against OKC’s defense.. Dort would likely make life difficult for Brunson, and KAT would have a tough time dealing with OKC’s twin towers.

[76ciology]

Wings are struggling to get paint touches in the playoffs. Defenders, especially guards, are doing a great job staying in front and using physicality to keep them out of the lane. As a result, wings are often forced to settle for mid-range jumpers or tough threes. Even elite scorers like Ant and Tatum have been pushed out of their spots and end up relying heavily on shooting a lot of 3s.

[Negrodamus]

Haliburton really, really hates contact near the rim.

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He’ll bounce back

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[mjkvol]

I have honestly never recall seeing Towns as physical and focused as he's been in this series. He's generally happy spamming 3's, but here he is going hard to the rack and fighting for offensive boards. If he maintains this level of play for two more games, the Knicks might actually have a shot.

On the other hand, what a disappointment Mikal "five 1st's" Bridges has been. I've always loved the guy as a player, but he is clearly not more than a solid role player. He's always been just that, but giving up what they gave up to get him created greater expectations. I call it the Bobby Bonilla syndrome.