Around the NBA

winforlose · Post #1281 » by **winforlose** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:00 am

KGdaBom wrote:Phoenix leading Denver 22-19 late first. It's a start.

19-1 Suns run over Nuggets. 11 point lead 55-44 for the Suns with around 2:30 left in the 2nd quarter.

Post #1282 » by **Klomp** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:00 am

I'm totally fine calling the Nuggets the favorite to come out of the West. They've certainly earned that distinction. But among the rest, I'll still put the Timberwolves up against anyone. Maybe we don't win the series. Maybe we do. But I think we have as good of a chance as anyone.

Post #1283 » by **Calinks** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:14 am

Klomp wrote:I'm totally fine calling the Nuggets the favorite to come out of the West. They've certainly earned that distinction. But among the rest, I'll still put the Timberwolves up against anyone. Maybe we don't win the series. Maybe we do. But I think we have as good of a chance as anyone.

If we aren't making bad mental mistakes and are executing then yea, I think we can take anyone. I just don't see us not doing those things for majority of the playoffs.

shrink · Post #1284 » by **shrink** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:17 am

KGdaBom wrote:
Calinks wrote:Celtics wtih 12 straight and maybe 13 in a minute? Good Lord. That is balling out of this galaxy!

But they lost by 1.

Yeah, Celts were up by 22 in the fourth quarter too.

I mention this because our doom-and-gloomers act like only MIN can fall apart in the fourth quarter. It’s can happen to any team in the NBA these days, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t a contender.

KGdaBom · Post #1285 » by **KGdaBom** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:28 am

shrink wrote:
KGdaBom wrote:
Calinks wrote:Celtics wtih 12 straight and maybe 13 in a minute? Good Lord. That is balling out of this galaxy!

But they lost by 1.

Yeah, Celts were up by 22 in the fourth quarter too.

I mention this because our doom-and-gloomers act like only MIN can fall apart in the fourth quarter. It’s can happen to any team in the NBA these days, and it doesn’t mean you aren’t a contender.

That's exactly it. We all see all the times we F up and think how horrible we are. Every other team does it just as much as us. Every team is what their record says they are. Our record says we are damn good.

KGdaBom · Post #1286 » by **KGdaBom** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:29 am

Suns up 17 on Denver with 8 minutes to go in the 3rd. That's without Booker. Denver is far from unbeatable.

shrink · Post #1287 » by **shrink** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:31 am

I checked out the “last 10 games” in the standings

MIN, OKC and DEN are all 7-3. NOP too

LAC, DAL, PHX, SAC are all 5-5.

We are right where we were 10 games ago, just closer to the finish line.

Post #1288 » by **Klomp** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 4:43 am

Calinks wrote:
Klomp wrote:I'm totally fine calling the Nuggets the favorite to come out of the West. They've certainly earned that distinction. But among the rest, I'll still put the Timberwolves up against anyone. Maybe we don't win the series. Maybe we do. But I think we have as good of a chance as anyone.

If we aren't making bad mental mistakes and are executing then yea, I think we can take anyone. I just don't see us not doing those things for majority of the playoffs.

I did a 10-minute statistical deep dive into the 2023 playoffs. The two Finals teams, Denver and Miami, only had two statistical categories where they were both in the Top 4 in the postseason: 3-point percentage and turnovers.

Now if you switch over to the 2023-24 Timberwolves, 3-point percentage is a definite strength at .389 (2nd in NBA). Volume doesn't necessarily have to improve either, as Miami and Denver were 10th and 15th in 3-point attempts per game, respectively, out of the 16 playoff teams.

Turnovers have been a definite bugaboo all season long. As of today, we are 23rd in the NBA at 14.6 turnovers per game. Denver (11.6) and Miami (11.7) were first and second, respectively, during the 2023 postseason, for a comparison. But a point of optimism is that since acquiring Monte Morris at the trade deadline, the team's turnovers average has dropped to 12.6 per game in these 10 games.

Post #1289 » by **Calinks** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:05 am

If Towns doesn't turn the ball over like crazy or draw a lot of fouls, that alone makes me feel like we will be very dangerous in the playoffs. Even though the Clipeprs beat us, watching that match up for 3 games. I don't really see anywhere the Clippes have a serious advantage against us in reality though on paper I would cite their experience and star power at the wings.

On the court we look clearly better to me, like, its not even that close, I think we just look like a clear cut better team against them so they don't worry me that much if we match up but my gut tells me they should, I just don't see any evidence in our three matchups that they can beat us in 7 games without a serious effort.

Post #1290 » by **Calinks** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:08 am

Let's see if Denver's amazing exectuinos comes out in these last 4 minutes.

TimberKat · Post #1291 » by **TimberKat** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:21 am

Calinks wrote:Let's see if Denver's amazing exectuinos comes out in these last 4 minutes.

Not really but Suns couldn't buy a basket. Doesn't look good for Suns going to OT.

winforlose · Post #1292 » by **winforlose** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:31 am

Suns meltdown in the 4th is reversed in OT. Denver loses by double digits.

TimberKat · Post #1293 » by **TimberKat** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:32 am

TimberKat wrote:
Calinks wrote:Let's see if Denver's amazing exectuinos comes out in these last 4 minutes.

Not really but Suns couldn't buy a basket. Doesn't look good for Suns going to OT.

Durant was hot in OT and the Sun also rises. Just need a little more separation with OKC.

KGdaBom · Post #1294 » by **KGdaBom** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:58 am

winforlose wrote:Suns meltdown in the 4th is reversed in OT. Denver loses by double digits.

OMG the Suns choked away a big 4th Qtr lead, but won in OT. You can't make this stuff up.

KGdaBom · Post #1295 » by **KGdaBom** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 5:59 am

Our lead is slim, but it is a lead.

winforlose · Post #1296 » by **winforlose** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 8:43 am

So LAL is half a game back of Dallas who is a game behind the Kings for 7th. Am I the only one who wonders if Dallas might not make the playoffs this year? I could see a GSW or LAL beating them in a play in game. Especially if Dallas is on the road.

Post #1297 » by **Calinks** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 1:12 pm

winforlose wrote:So LAL is half a game back of Dallas who is a game behind the Kings for 7th. Am I the only one who wonders if Dallas might not make the playoffs this year? I could see a GSW or LAL beating them in a play in game. Especially if Dallas is on the road.

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

winforlose · Post #1298 » by **winforlose** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 3:07 pm

Calinks wrote:
winforlose wrote:So LAL is half a game back of Dallas who is a game behind the Kings for 7th. Am I the only one who wonders if Dallas might not make the playoffs this year? I could see a GSW or LAL beating them in a play in game. Especially if Dallas is on the road.

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

TimberKat · Post #1299 » by **TimberKat** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 3:23 pm

winforlose wrote:
Calinks wrote:
winforlose wrote:So LAL is half a game back of Dallas who is a game behind the Kings for 7th. Am I the only one who wonders if Dallas might not make the playoffs this year? I could see a GSW or LAL beating them in a play in game. Especially if Dallas is on the road.

Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

From 5th to 10th is a mad scramble. All those teams could be anywhere with one big winning or losing streak. The good news maybe none of them will fall out of play-in. Let's hope Wolves maintain momentum and not join that group.

winforlose · Post #1300 » by **winforlose** » Wed Mar 6, 2024 3:27 pm

TimberKat wrote:
winforlose wrote:
Calinks wrote:Dallas looked so good after the trade then they dropped like a rock in the last week or so.

It wasn’t just after the trade deadline. Before Kyrie went out the first time they were a top 4 team in the west. After he went out they dropped like a stone. Even when they got healthy again before the deadline they still weren’t consistently winning.

From 5th to 10th is a mad scramble. All those teams could be anywhere with one big winning or losing streak. The good news maybe none of them will fall out of play-in. Let's hope Wolves maintain momentum and not join that group.

I think the days of Utah or Houston making the play in are done. They both seem to be tanking and are 5 or more games back of 10th. I also question whether the Clippers are truly a top 4 team in the west right now? I see the Wolves, Thunder, and Nuggets as all being a considerable step ahead of them. It would not surprise me to see either the Suns or Pels catch them.