2024 NBA Playoffs: West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #5 Dallas Mavericks (DAL WINS 4-2)

[Chuck Everett]

No player can do it alone, and while SAS has some decent assets (2 lotto picks and hawks picks), they dont have any real good young talent besides Wemby. Theyre gonna have to hit on picks and actually build well before theyre a real threat to OKC's western primacy

Even Denver is now showing how mediocre they are around Jokic. OKC has a path to Lebron like Eastern conference dominance

This seems highly unlikely. They would have to be stack the deck like Lebron did or KD joining the Warriors for that kind of dominance and we know FA are not going to OKC. So Presti is going to have to make a huge trade to get there. We'll see if he has the stones to do that.

They got a big 3 with one of them being an MVP, but unlike the other historical big 3's, they didnt have to gut their depth and assets to get them. Instead, they have far more assets than anyone else in the league.

Depends on how Chet and JDub continue their growth, but both look like stars to me. And that puts them at the top of the conference for a long time

They have the big three, but the apron is going to be a real issue once they have three max guys (which they absolutely will have). So it is incumbent on them to put the requisite pieces in place now, while they still get two more rookie year contract slots from Chet/Dub. 'Cause by year three, it's going to be real hard to add anyone. It will have to be sign and trades.

[Forbes]

mid August signing Derrick Jones was huge for Dallas the last 3 games. 22 tonight on 8-13 FG 4-6 3PT 2-2 FT.

2 million. Dude will get paid this summer

I would think just MLE. But some team might go crazy and give him the Bruce Brown contract

I am pretty sure you're right, but I believe he (and his team) is going to be looking for the years. He's been a journeyman his entire career. If he can land a 3/4 year deal, he is going to probably look for that over unquestioned most money.

What’s crazy teams underestimate how much a players production is all about fit. DJJ hasn’t performed like this anywhere else. Teams keep falling for this we see it every year.

[Jasen777]

MVP talent. 2 budding stars. Max cap space. Lotto pick and like 20 1st rounders over the next 5 years

Who can possibly stop OKC this decade?

Clay Bennett

[Chuck Everett]

I would think just MLE. But some team might go crazy and give him the Bruce Brown contract

I am pretty sure you're right, but I believe he (and his team) is going to be looking for the years. He's been a journeyman his entire career. If he can land a 3/4 year deal, he is going to probably look for that over unquestioned most money.

What’s crazy teams underestimate how much a players production is all about fit. DJJ hasn’t performed like this anywhere else. Teams keep falling for this we see it every year.

The Bulls were playing him at the PF spot, since they refuse to balance the roster and add size. The man is clearly a SF, who can be a POA defender. Some organizations don't know what they're doing. Like clearly you shouldn't want Jones guarding Jaren Jackson Jr., Lebron, Paolo Banchero, Julius Randle or Aaron Gordon for 35 minutes a night.

[Old Man Game]

MVP talent. 2 budding stars. Max cap space. Lotto pick and like 20 1st rounders over the next 5 years

Who can possibly stop OKC this decade?

Clay Bennett

burn

[Old Man Game]

Frustrating game to watch from the thunder perspective. Get some more physicality in the front line or GTFO, Sam.

I could see the Mavs winning it all but I could also see them losing in 5 games next round. Seem like a wide variance team.

[Bourne85]

MVP talent. 2 budding stars. Max cap space. Lotto pick and like 20 1st rounders over the next 5 years

Who can possibly stop OKC this decade?

Who’s the other star? I know you’re not talking about Chet. You can’t just loosely throw out star like this guys. Players have to earn it. Chet is not a star in any capacity. Now I do agree they have a bunch of picks and young guys that they should combine and trade them for legit stars, yes. It’s rare super young team wins the championship. They have an MVP caliber player and should look to trade for a superstar ready player to pair him with. All those picks and young guys ain’t gonna get it done when it matters but if they trade them for legit players then they have a chance. Too bad I don’t think Presti has it in him.

[G R E Y]

Strong fight by OKC, valiant come from behind W by the Mavs.

Stings for OKC but you need to go through this to learn how to win.

Mavs have been the best clutch team in regular season and it's carried over to playoffs. 69-52 second half.

Luka and Kyrie playing some D has stood out.

PJ both making two FTs and then clutch missing the third one on purpose needs more credit. Perfect placement.

[ItsDanger]

Holmgren 3 rebounds, 0 offensive.

That's terrible.

[WestbrookGOATed]

MVP talent. 2 budding stars. Max cap space. Lotto pick and like 20 1st rounders over the next 5 years

Who can possibly stop OKC this decade?

Clay Bennett

I think he learned his lesson. Hopefully. I still can't get over Harden for Kevin Martin and Jeremy Lamb

[SweaterBae]

I would think just MLE. But some team might go crazy and give him the Bruce Brown contract

I am pretty sure you're right, but I believe he (and his team) is going to be looking for the years. He's been a journeyman his entire career. If he can land a 3/4 year deal, he is going to probably look for that over unquestioned most money.

What’s crazy teams underestimate how much a players production is all about fit. DJJ hasn’t performed like this anywhere else. Teams keep falling for this we see it every year.

Eh, he played some important minutes and contributed to playoff wins, but he's the same dude he's always been. He averaged 8 and 4 for Miami 5 years ago. The improved 3 point shooting is nice, but right now it's way too subject to noise.

[WestbrookGOATed]

Holmgren 3 rebounds, 0 offensive.

That's terrible.

He's a rookie man. Which Lively showed out all series so I guess no excuse. Pulling him out of the paint helped Dallas tremendously. Hopefully he bulks up some more this offseason.

[The Corey's]

Would you shut up about the foul? Even Shai admits it.

Read on Twitter

Actually what he said was was he assumed it's a foul cause they looked at it.

He admitted to having NOT seen it.

Don't you have some parlays to go make?

Edit*

Clicking on your profile to confirm you was a Mavs fan and the first thing I see is you claiming the 06 finals was rigged.

Got it. When it doesn't go your way it's rigged and when it goes go your way I have to shut up.

Enjoy the beating coming next round.

This dude lost some serious money betting on this game, lol. Someone give this guy the gambling help line number.

Gambling is for degens.

[G R E Y]

Read on Twitter

[ItsDanger]

Winning the rebound battle is an underrated stat in these playoffs.

[Roscoe Sheed]

I don't know who's going to win the WCF it could be any of the 3 teams but I got any of them over Boston in the Finals. Hopefully Mavs. Lots of good basketball left.

the remaining teams are dangerous for their own unique reasons, but I think people are underrating the Celtics- they haven't played any true competition yet, but in some ways that is to their advantage. They should have a lot left in the tank mentally and physically. They also have more talent than people give them credit for- they have 3 top notch 2 way players and if KP can come back close to healthy, that should push them over the top

[cdubbz]

jason kidd called a timeout? hallelujah!

Kidd was a player not too long ago. What exactly do we think happens during timeouts that Kidd doesn't know?

[kacey ring]

I gotta say, ive had a lot of issues with Kidd in the RS, but this is the 2nd playoff run that i am extremely impressed by how prepared his Mavs have come into series and how theyve been able to adjust game to game.

Is there such thing as a playoff coach? Playoff Kidd?

Haha

Kidd has started every playoff series, as a Mavs’ coach, 0-1 too. 5 series now (Jazz, Suns, Warriors in 2022; Clippers, OKC in 2024).

[Forbes]

I am pretty sure you're right, but I believe he (and his team) is going to be looking for the years. He's been a journeyman his entire career. If he can land a 3/4 year deal, he is going to probably look for that over unquestioned most money.

What’s crazy teams underestimate how much a players production is all about fit. DJJ hasn’t performed like this anywhere else. Teams keep falling for this we see it every year.

Eh, he played some important minutes and contributed to playoff wins, but he's the same dude he's always been. He averaged 8 and 4 for Miami 5 years ago. The improved 3 point shooting is nice, but right now it's way too subject to noise.

You looking at stat when there is a difference between having the same stats and actually having an impact on games. In Miami he barely played in the playoffs. Meaning they felt they had no use for him. On the Mavs he is literally starting and having an impact especially on defense. Point is like every year in the playoffs, other teams see this then overpay a player.

Like Gabe Vincent on Miami tricked the Lakers.

[Forbes]

I don't know who's going to win the WCF it could be any of the 3 teams but I got any of them over Boston in the Finals. Hopefully Mavs. Lots of good basketball left.

the remaining teams are dangerous for their own unique reasons, but I think people are underrating the Celtics- they haven't played any true competition yet, but in some ways that is to their advantage. They should have a lot left in the tank mentally and physically. They also have more talent than people give them credit for- they have 3 top notch 2 way players and if KP can come back close to healthy, that should push them over the top

Celtics are 100% the most stacked team left. I think they get underrated because they just don’t have it mentally when the pressure is on.