Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[basketballRob]

OKC are amazing basketball team.
Their net rating is second highest in nba, in past decade.
SGA is one of top 4 best basketball players in the world today and now even favorite, betting vise, to win MVP.
Their guard defense is anti- current era of basketball, that's what refreshing "zag" is.

But you can tell that they will have tough time winning title without Chet by just watching this game. Mobley & Allen were massive problem for them.
This version of Mobley is guy i envisioned being when i thought he should go 1# overall in 2021.


But team that scares living crap out of me are Bucks. Giannis is so damn good this year and they just need little changes in that roster to jump from some imaginary 70th percentile to 85th or so. If they can find Middelton suitor in trade they will propel back into title contender ( and probably play vs us in first round anyway).

https://stathead.com/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&seasons_type=perchoice&player_id1=wagnefr01&p1yrfrom=2025&p1yrto=2025&player_id2=gilgesh01&p2yrfrom=2022&p2yrto=2022

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your link doesn't work.

It works for me. I just tried it.

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[Skybox]

That center is REALLY good. I like KCP but a Hartenstein and Tyus summer was what I was hoping for.

Goga on $7m is insane value, TBF. He’s currently ranked 6th amongst starting C’s in DFG%.

He’s like our Robert Williams.

I wanted to keep him too

WCJ would have been traded this summer if I was running the magic and was able to snag Hartenstein. That said, I don't think we had much of a shot against OKC who is further along in their build while having a lot of free cap space last summer.

Their blew their last (likely) wad on an overpay for a Center before their pack of rookie extensions hit. We did the same on a SG. Both only a few years. Just trade possibilities now...I think their overpay was more, but it was also more directly addressing a need. I'd say both worked out, but OKC's ultimately is a bigger impact.

Not to drag it into every thread, but I think Hartenstein is in such a perfect situation that he looks better than he is. That's why Presti threw SO much money at him. Kind of how I see Simons would fit here...just plugging a glaring need perfectly enough to forget about his shortcomings or his short-term overpay that will probably be corrected (in both cases) with next contract.

[JoshuaPotter]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

[Optimus_Steel]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

Their talent level doesnt scream that.

[Skybox]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

[jezzerinho]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

To think we probably should have beaten them in 7 games and both rosters are basically unchanged...

We are right up with them, IMO. We've been decimated and they've been totally healthy. They're a v tough matchup but one I wouldn't be petrified of in another playoff series.

[JoshuaPotter]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

To think we probably should have beaten them in 7 games and both rosters are basically unchanged...

We are right up with them, IMO. We've been decimated and they've been totally healthy. They're a v tough matchup but one I wouldn't be petrified of in another playoff series.

On top of that we added even better defense in the backcourt and Gortat might be surging ahead for a starter role.

But I honestly don't know. It's an unbelievable start. One if you told me would happen I would have put a quarter down and take that bet. I won't get into all the reasons it can't be true. Nobody will really have the answer until the complete season comes to an end.

Much like if you told me we have our current record but Paolo / Franz / Suggs are going to miss "X" games. I wouldn't know what to say. I'd be happy to be just under .500 and here I sit, happy as a clam with our current state.

[Bergmaniac]

Is Cleveland barring injury one of the best teams of all time?

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

To think we probably should have beaten them in 7 games and both rosters are basically unchanged...

We are right up with them, IMO. We've been decimated and they've been totally healthy. They're a v tough matchup but one I wouldn't be petrified of in another playoff series.

Garland being healthy this year makes a big difference for them, last year he broke his jaw, lost weight and was never the same afterwards. Also Mobley has improved so much this year, he's legitimaly a really good offensive player now as wel as a DPOY level defender, they'd be a very dangerous playoff team. Having a better coach helps too, of course.

[Optimus_Steel]

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

To think we probably should have beaten them in 7 games and both rosters are basically unchanged...

We are right up with them, IMO. We've been decimated and they've been totally healthy. They're a v tough matchup but one I wouldn't be petrified of in another playoff series.

Garland being healthy this year makes a big difference for them, last year he broke his jaw, lost weight and was never the same afterwards. Also Mobley has improved so much this year, he's legitimaly a really good offensive player now as wel as a DPOY level defender, they'd be a very dangerous playoff team. Having a better coach helps too, of course.

Garland makes so many mental mistakes, I can't take him seriously.

[pepe1991]

Ty Jerome is massive swing for them. Rock solid and realible ballhandler and decision maker.
Also last year vs us, they lost Allen for half of the series.

[eyriq]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

[three3d]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

Is TdS part of the core 4?

[eyriq]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

Is TdS part of the core 4?

Say what? I'm talking about the Cavs core 4 of Mobley, Garland, Allen, and Mitchell.

[thelead]

Ty Jerome is massive swing for them. Rock solid and realible ballhandler and decision maker.
Also last year vs us, they lost Allen for half of the series.

And they didn’t have Dean Wade against us either. Throw in their new coach and they are much better than what we faced in last year’s playoffs.

[byeganyo]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

And that's despite them trading for a star. Imagine if they wanted to do the things the right way, to grow organically, to wait for their championship window to open... how much better they could have been right now, lol.

[eyriq]

People crow about the West but their talent is distributed throughout the conference. They are not top heavy at all. There is OKC and then a large drop-off until you hit Dallas/Memphis/Denver/Houston. I think Boston, Cleveland, and OKC are in a tier of their own.

[Skybox]

Their Big 4 is really good on paper, and lately, on hardwood...but they still seem "fragile" to me. Kind of like UTA with Mitchell & Gobert with Coach Snyder...their regular season ball movement was just overwhelmingly beautiful but they fell apart in the playoffs. I think it may have been lack of depth or just unable to handle the playoff physicality the way it clicked in the regular season.

Maybe that's me being hopeful but I think ORL's physicality can shake up their flow and, if we can put a few more points up, give ORL as good a chance as anyone in a playoff series. I agree with previous posters who said Giannis. He is maybe the only guy that laughs at defensive physicality and just keeps running you over. We have the playing style to upset any team's game plans...but we just have to make more shots and turn it over less.

To think we probably should have beaten them in 7 games and both rosters are basically unchanged...

We are right up with them, IMO. We've been decimated and they've been totally healthy. They're a v tough matchup but one I wouldn't be petrified of in another playoff series.

On top of that we added even better defense in the backcourt and Gortat might be surging ahead for a starter role.

But I honestly don't know. It's an unbelievable start. One if you told me would happen I would have put a quarter down and take that bet. I won't get into all the reasons it can't be true. Nobody will really have the answer until the complete season comes to an end.

Much like if you told me we have our current record but Paolo / Franz / Suggs are going to miss "X" games. I wouldn't know what to say. I'd be happy to be just under .500 and here I sit, happy as a clam with our current state.

I have to admit I forgot about KCP's addition- I've gotten so used to having him that I forgot he wasn't there last year. Mitchell & Garland are the engines (Garland is playing MUCH better) and you can only hope to slow Mitchell or make him work - you're just not going to sweep a team with Mitchell (no matter who you are) - he's as capable as anyone of just putting a team on his back. But, counterpoint - we've now got 3 (including AB-who's progressed some) big, physical POA defenders to throw at them...and, as you mentioned, Gortat (Goga? ) has come much farther too...if he and WCJ and Isaac all come into the playoffs healthy-I don't fear that matchup anymore than BOS or MIL, maybe even PHI-if they get on a roll. I really think that this team, at full strength, could make some noise THIS year in the playoffs and really put the league on notice of what to expect for the next few years out of ORL.

*Man, if we just added some more backcourt offensive firepower...I'll stop, wrong thread

[JoshuaPotter]

Cavs core 4 all have PER > 20. That's pretty wild.

As I said. My feelings make me suggest that last season they were on the verge of imploding.

Now, they are in the conversation at the moment for best team in NBA and or possibly one of the best teams of all time.

These are the facts of the pace they are currently at.

Edit : I need to emphasize that is "if their record rate holds, and especially if they win a championship".

Then we are talking about one of the best teams of all time and I can only remember Mitchel and had to "think about Garland" - I can't remember the rest of the team.

[basketballRob]

Ty Jerome is massive swing for them. Rock solid and realible ballhandler and decision maker.
Also last year vs us, they lost Allen for half of the series.

Goga played Allen well in the regular season.

We could trade all our future picks like Cleveland and NY to enhance our talent.

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[Klomp]

People crow about the West but their talent is distributed throughout the conference. They are not top heavy at all. There is OKC and then a large drop-off until you hit Dallas/Memphis/Denver/Houston. I think Boston, Cleveland, and OKC are in a tier of their own.

This has somewhat been the case for a few years. Sometimes there's a clear one team at the top of it, but usually there's two or three teams clearly defined and then a pack of like 8 teams separated by only a few games.