Official NBA General Discussion 2024-25 V2.0

[tanuki1031]

I really hate this version of the Celtics (Tatum is the cringe GOAT) and have something of a soft spot for the Knicks (their '99 run captivated me as a youngin'), so this is fantastic.

Maybe things will settle down and it will just be OKC vs. Boston in the finals anyway, but these playoffs are softening me up to the idea that we should just get back "in the mix" and stop worrying about having a guy who could be the best player on a championship team.

Tatum choking pretty hard. That last shot was one for the ages.

Brown getting the ball ripped out of his hand to end game 1 and everyone predicting Tatum doing dumb blinders on step back jumper **** eventually stumble dribbling into a triple team behind the backboard to end game 2 - love to see all of it.

[Basketball_Jones]

This is why Tatum isn’t a superstar despite the gaudy numbers. I can’t recall a great playoff run by him since his rookie year and what not. Huge up’s and downs. Jalen B is normally more steady then this as well.

[Son Goku 25]

Masai gonna be like a proud dad if Siakam and OG meet in conference finals. We told the world our guys are legit good and can't be had that easily until we ** up a bit and didn't trade them early enough lol

[Clutch0z24]

I really hate this version of the Celtics (Tatum is the cringe GOAT) and have something of a soft spot for the Knicks (their '99 run captivated me as a youngin'), so this is fantastic.

Maybe things will settle down and it will just be OKC vs. Boston in the finals anyway, but these playoffs are softening me up to the idea that we should just get back "in the mix" and stop worrying about having a guy who could be the best player on a championship team.

Would love to be back in the mix but idk if we are ready just yet....We will deff make a push next year but if we do not get a top pick this draft its hard for me to see Ingram (OFT Injured And hasn't lead a team)....If Barnes does not take a leap next year it will be concerning....I still think we are a Cooper Flagg/Harper level player away from actually being an ok playoff performance of a team.

[Raps in 4]

This is why Tatum isn’t a superstar despite the gaudy numbers. I can’t recall a great playoff run by him since his rookie year and what not. Huge up’s and downs. Jalen B is normally more steady then this as well.

He's in the Embiid tier of playoff chokers. Even during their title run last year, Brown won MVP in both the ECF and Finals.

[Raps in 4]

I really hate this version of the Celtics (Tatum is the cringe GOAT) and have something of a soft spot for the Knicks (their '99 run captivated me as a youngin'), so this is fantastic.

Maybe things will settle down and it will just be OKC vs. Boston in the finals anyway, but these playoffs are softening me up to the idea that we should just get back "in the mix" and stop worrying about having a guy who could be the best player on a championship team.

Would love to be back in the mix but idk if we are ready just yet....We will deff make a push next year but if we do not get a top pick this draft its hard for me to see Ingram (OFT Injured And hasn't lead a team)....If Barnes does not take a leap next year it will be concerning....I still think we are a Cooper Flagg/Harper level player away from actually being an ok playoff performance of a team.

If we win the lottery, we're probably the best team in the East in 2-3 years.

[Thaddy]

Celtics are battling themselves. They are done.

I'm guessing they swing for a Giannis trade with Brown and another piece. I don't know if they believe in their core anymore.

The Pacers and Knicks will meet in the finals. I have New York in the finals with Denver. Jokic will ultimately win.

[Clutch0z24]

I really hate this version of the Celtics (Tatum is the cringe GOAT) and have something of a soft spot for the Knicks (their '99 run captivated me as a youngin'), so this is fantastic.

Maybe things will settle down and it will just be OKC vs. Boston in the finals anyway, but these playoffs are softening me up to the idea that we should just get back "in the mix" and stop worrying about having a guy who could be the best player on a championship team.

Would love to be back in the mix but idk if we are ready just yet....We will deff make a push next year but if we do not get a top pick this draft its hard for me to see Ingram (OFT Injured And hasn't lead a team)....If Barnes does not take a leap next year it will be concerning....I still think we are a Cooper Flagg/Harper level player away from actually being an ok playoff performance of a team.

If we win the lottery, we're probably the best team in the East in 2-3 years.

No doubt...Adding Flagg to a team Masai can build on would put us up there with any eastern conf team....Thats why i am still a lil pissed with how we half assed the tank this year because even a Harper level player could propell us....Picking 7/8th your more likely to be drafting a role player....And i feel we need more than that to be where we wanna be...

[Raps in 4]

Would love to be back in the mix but idk if we are ready just yet....We will deff make a push next year but if we do not get a top pick this draft its hard for me to see Ingram (OFT Injured And hasn't lead a team)....If Barnes does not take a leap next year it will be concerning....I still think we are a Cooper Flagg/Harper level player away from actually being an ok playoff performance of a team.

If we win the lottery, we're probably the best team in the East in 2-3 years.

No doubt...Adding Flagg to a team Masai can build on would put us up there with any eastern conf team....Thats why i am still a lil pissed with how we half assed the tank this year because even a Harper level player could propell us....Picking 7/8th your more likely to be drafting a role player....And i feel we need more than that to be where we wanna be...

Agreed. The road becomes A LOT harder if we don't land a top pick. Masai will need to either find a gem wherever we pick or one of our current players will need to make an unexpected leap. We're not tanking next season, so this is our last chance to add elite talent to the roster.

[Scizzup]

OKC not winning the title this year (if healthy) would be a huge choke. Only team that should even take them 7 games are the Celtics and Idk what they are doing right now.

They are so much more talented than the rest of the field and they have a legit top 3-4 player in Shai. Losing is not an option with such an historic regular season team.

[Clutch0z24]

OKC not winning the title this year (if healthy) would be a huge choke. Only team that should even take them 7 games are the Celtics and Idk what they are doing right now.

They are so much more talented than the rest of the field and they have a legit top 3-4 player in Shai. Losing is not an option with such an historic regular season team.

They are prolly winning it all if they stay healthy.....This Nuggets series will be the biggest test to them because Jokic is capable of having historic nights like in game 1....But he will prolly need to do that every game for Nuggets to even have a chance....Because like tonight if Joker has a bad game they lose by almost 50....

Curry is banged up, Timberwolves prolly don't beat them and i don't think any east team makes it a competitive series if Boston is eliminated....

Shai will be the face of the NBA if this team stays together and healthy ....They will be tough to beat for many years....And good for them...

[Stromile12]

Tatum don't got that dawg in him. Put a little pressure on him, talk a little ****, man will fold like a tent. Soft.

[Raps in 4]

OKC not winning the title this year (if healthy) would be a huge choke. Only team that should even take them 7 games are the Celtics and Idk what they are doing right now.

They are so much more talented than the rest of the field and they have a legit top 3-4 player in Shai. Losing is not an option with such an historic regular season team.

They are prolly winning it all if they stay healthy.....This Nuggets series will be the biggest test to them because Jokic is capable of having historic nights like in game 1....But he will prolly need to do that every game for Nuggets to even have a chance....Because like tonight if Joker has a bad game they lose by almost 50....

Curry is banged up, Timberwolves prolly don't beat them and i don't think any east team makes it a competitive series if Boston is eliminated....

Shai will be the face of the NBA if this team stays together and healthy ....They will be tough to beat for many years....And good for them...

There is no way a soft-spoken Canadian playing for the NBA's smallest market becomes the face of the league.

It's going to be Luka most likely, and then possibly Flagg (depending on where he lands).

[Clutch0z24]

OKC not winning the title this year (if healthy) would be a huge choke. Only team that should even take them 7 games are the Celtics and Idk what they are doing right now.

They are so much more talented than the rest of the field and they have a legit top 3-4 player in Shai. Losing is not an option with such an historic regular season team.

They are prolly winning it all if they stay healthy.....This Nuggets series will be the biggest test to them because Jokic is capable of having historic nights like in game 1....But he will prolly need to do that every game for Nuggets to even have a chance....Because like tonight if Joker has a bad game they lose by almost 50....

Curry is banged up, Timberwolves prolly don't beat them and i don't think any east team makes it a competitive series if Boston is eliminated....

Shai will be the face of the NBA if this team stays together and healthy ....They will be tough to beat for many years....And good for them...

There is no way a soft-spoken Canadian playing for the NBA's smallest market becomes the face of the league.

It's going to be Luka most likely, and then possibly Flagg (depending on where he lands).

Winning will make Shai the face of the league....If he keeps winning chips....Luka Lakers have a long way to actually compete and Flagg will be a rookie....Winning propells any player....And Shai is deff going to be one of the best in the league for a long time.

[Mattatron]

I hate both the Knicks and Celtics roughly the same, but it irritates me that Masai may have helped the Knicks make a potential Finals run with that trade. OG is a difference maker. Should have traded him out West.

Maybe there wasn't a compelling trade offer for masai compared to RJ and IQ lol. It takes two for a deal. But yeah RJ, IQ is not a good deal either.

[sidsid]

As with last year, the Celtics are incredibly lucky that they play in the east. Their "woe is me, the threes are not falling!" Schtick has a much better chance of getting them drummed out of the playoffs if they were playing at least 3 competitive series like they would in the west. My bet is they don't have a chip without it.

[Raps in 4]

I hate both the Knicks and Celtics roughly the same, but it irritates me that Masai may have helped the Knicks make a potential Finals run with that trade. OG is a difference maker. Should have traded him out West.

Maybe there wasn't a compelling trade offer for masai compared to RJ and IQ lol. It takes two for a deal. But yeah RJ, IQ is not a good deal either.

It was fine return considering OG was a role player and an expiring contract. If we wanted more, we should have traded him earlier.

It doesn't matter who comes out of the East. They're going to get destroyed by OKC.

[UnderdogRaptors]

Easter conference sucks. We should be in the mix next yr

[WaltFrazier]

I hate both the Knicks and Celtics roughly the same, but it irritates me that Masai may have helped the Knicks make a potential Finals run with that trade. OG is a difference maker. Should have traded him out West.

Maybe there wasn't a compelling trade offer for masai compared to RJ and IQ lol. It takes two for a deal. But yeah RJ, IQ is not a good deal either.

Lots of posters here have claimed Raptors won the OG trade, Masai fleeced the Knicks, etc. Laughable

[Ari_Emanuel]

Wow, both home teams in the East down 0-2. That's something new.

I realized, I'm ok with NY going all the way. Better than other options in the East. Or West other than maybe OKC because of SGA.

However, I see similar scenario playing where NY will eventually break down in the playoffs and Indiana will be there to benefit even if they advance. And a West team will come out on top in that case.

Yeah....Barring injuries....Whichever team wins this OKC/Nuggets series are prolly the Champs this year....I don't see any east team beating them.

Everyone is totally glossing over the fact that Mitch Robinson is healthy and dominating defensively.

He's greater than +30 in his limited minutes this series. Boston has no answer for his size, strength, foot speed, and defensive instincts.

He's a game changer for the Knicks and might be the piece to get them over the hump.