Around the NBA 24-25 - the playoff race

[bwgood77]

I haven't watched other teams all season and don't really pay too close attention outside of the Suns until the NFL season is over, but so many good games today.

I can say watching that first half that the Mavs look TOUGH and are way more fun to watch than the Suns, even without Luka and Lively. AD is a monster.

They look like they are on a different level than us. AD is so impactful on both ends. Looks way more impactful than any of our players.

[sunsbg]

I wouldn't draw conclusions from one game for their title chances but if healthy Mavs will finish in front of us with 99% certainty. Entertaining game, AD looks incredible. Potential Lakers - Mavs series is a dream come true for Silver though I hope OKC crushes both teams if they meet. Rockets look like 1st, max 2nd round team to me. Nice young players in Green and Thompson. Hopefully Slim's dream somehow comes true and we get one of them + our picks back.

[Slim Charless]

Watching the Rockets vs Mavs game, Rockets losing streak highlighted, maybe they should have upped their offer for KD or Booker.... they have a good chance to go real deep in the playoffs, and one Shai ankle tweak and its free for all.

It's better for us in the off-season. Then Sengun and Jalen's poison pill deals end and their contracts are easier to move.

What we need to see is a 1st round exit by them...and hopefully OKC and Orlando. Not sure if ATL even makes the playoffs, but if they do then them as well goin home early would be great.

Dallas looks tough and they don't even have Lively who is a lot better than Gafford...chatting with a Mavs fan who is saying that.

When you can play PJ at SF, then have Klay and Kyrie. Then Max Christie is good and Naji Marshall is extremely underrated. Then they have Dinwiddie.

Rockets are on a 5 game losing streak. They are missing FVV and another main rotation player I can't remember, but they desperately need a go to scorer. I think we could get a ton for Book, as I've mentioned.

I think they'll take Durant too.

I'd almost rather trade Booker to an east coast team the more i think about it, depending on the offers of course. I think Orlando will be just as desperate, maybe more so. Atlanta will probably give Trae for Booker-maybe more, but that's a scarier situation to have for our team somewhat.

I know you won't agree but i wonder-depending on who gets the pick, if we can get Flagg for Booker?

[thamadkant]

It's better for us in the off-season. Then Sengun and Jalen's poison pill deals end and their contracts are easier to move.

What we need to see is a 1st round exit by them...and hopefully OKC and Orlando. Not sure if ATL even makes the playoffs, but if they do then them as well goin home early would be great.

Dallas looks tough and they don't even have Lively who is a lot better than Gafford...chatting with a Mavs fan who is saying that.

When you can play PJ at SF, then have Klay and Kyrie. Then Max Christie is good and Naji Marshall is extremely underrated. Then they have Dinwiddie.

Rockets are on a 5 game losing streak. They are missing FVV and another main rotation player I can't remember, but they desperately need a go to scorer. I think we could get a ton for Book, as I've mentioned.

I think they'll take Durant too.

I'd almost rather trade Booker to an east coast team the more i think about it, depending on the offers of course. I think Orlando will be just as desperate, maybe more so. Atlanta will probably give Trae for Booker-maybe more, but that's a scarier situation to have for our team somewhat.

I know you won't agree but i wonder-depending on who gets the pick, if we can get Flagg for Booker?

No one trading Flagg for any player unless its Wembanyama or Jokic.

[Slim Charless]

Dallas looks tough and they don't even have Lively who is a lot better than Gafford...chatting with a Mavs fan who is saying that.

When you can play PJ at SF, then have Klay and Kyrie. Then Max Christie is good and Naji Marshall is extremely underrated. Then they have Dinwiddie.

Rockets are on a 5 game losing streak. They are missing FVV and another main rotation player I can't remember, but they desperately need a go to scorer. I think we could get a ton for Book, as I've mentioned.

I think they'll take Durant too.

I'd almost rather trade Booker to an east coast team the more i think about it, depending on the offers of course. I think Orlando will be just as desperate, maybe more so. Atlanta will probably give Trae for Booker-maybe more, but that's a scarier situation to have for our team somewhat.

I know you won't agree but i wonder-depending on who gets the pick, if we can get Flagg for Booker?

No one trading Flagg for any player unless its Wembanyama or Jokic.

We need an Ishbia-like owner lol. Someone to say "Fuq them picks"

[bwgood77]

I wouldn't draw conclusions from one game for their title chances but if healthy Mavs will finish in front of us with 99% certainty. Entertaining game, AD looks incredible. Potential Lakers - Mavs series is a dream come true for Silver though I hope OKC crushes both teams if they meet. Rockets look like 1st, max 2nd round team to me. Nice young players in Green and Thompson. Hopefully Slim's dream somehow comes true and we get one of them + our picks back.

Unfortunately for them, AD and PJ Washington got injured today.

[sunsbg]

I wouldn't draw conclusions from one game for their title chances but if healthy Mavs will finish in front of us with 99% certainty. Entertaining game, AD looks incredible. Potential Lakers - Mavs series is a dream come true for Silver though I hope OKC crushes both teams if they meet. Rockets look like 1st, max 2nd round team to me. Nice young players in Green and Thompson. Hopefully Slim's dream somehow comes true and we get one of them + our picks back.

Unfortunately for them, AD and PJ Washington got injured today.

No contact groin injury it seems. Mavs are the new Suns when it comes to injuries and their stars being old. Not good for AD, but we need all the help, miracle wins like Kings/Jazz games, to sneak into the playoffs.

[bwgood77]

Spurs lost. Big game from Franz.

[sunskerr]

Spurs lost. Big game from Franz.

He's better than Paolo which is pretty wild. Not just because of Paolo returning from injury either...right now it's pretty clear Franz has a more natural feel for playing PG than he did. The offense just flows better and they should think about running things more through Franz than Paolo if they want to make the playoffs, especially while Paolo has been struggling.

[thamadkant]

Spurs lost. Big game from Franz.

He's better than Paolo which is pretty wild. Not just because of Paolo returning from injury either...right now it's pretty clear Franz has a more natural feel for playing PG than he did. The offense just flows better and they should think about running things more through Franz than Paolo if they want to make the playoffs, especially while Paolo has been struggling.

Franz is mini-Luka in my head, better defense and not as chatty.

[sunsbg]

Interesting games last night, which just showed Celtics or OKC are marching to the title if they stay healthy. Thunder don't need any of our "Big 3", that's for sure. Butler with good first game for GSW. If Butler, Kuminga + picks for KD was rejected as reported, it's just another blunder by our FO, nothing new.

[Iceman36]

Saw someone Butlers first Warriors Game? Stats look good…

[thamadkant]

Interesting games last night, which just showed Celtics or OKC are marching to the title if they stay healthy. Thunder don't need any of our "Big 3", that's for sure. Butler with good first game for GSW. If Butler, Kuminga + picks for KD was rejected as reported, it's just another blunder by our FO, nothing new.

Celtics likely to win if healthy. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the reason why. Both sacrifice their game but at the same time, give it all, incredibly high IQ players.

[bwgood77]

Interesting games last night, which just showed Celtics or OKC are marching to the title if they stay healthy. Thunder don't need any of our "Big 3", that's for sure. Butler with good first game for GSW. If Butler, Kuminga + picks for KD was rejected as reported, it's just another blunder by our FO, nothing new.

Celtics likely to win if healthy. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the reason why. Both sacrifice their game but at the same time, give it all, incredibly high IQ players.

If Chet is healthy, I kind of have a hard time seeing the Celtics beat OKC.

Then again, one or both of those teams might get upset.

The Cavs getting there might not be an upset given they are the 1 seed now and just got Deandre Hunter. Houston and Memphis don't look on the Thunder's level

The question will be do the Lakers have enough for Luka to pick apart OKC now. But they are also a year further along and I just don't see the Lakers beating them. The Mavs looked very tough and big defensively when healthy.

But OKC just looks on a different level. The Thunder have a bunch of great defenders, but they need both Chet and Hartenstein against Boston or Cleveland. Because most of their best defenders are smaller.

They have the best depth too and will just keep adding to it with picks. They may miss on some but will hit on some.

[thamadkant]

Interesting games last night, which just showed Celtics or OKC are marching to the title if they stay healthy. Thunder don't need any of our "Big 3", that's for sure. Butler with good first game for GSW. If Butler, Kuminga + picks for KD was rejected as reported, it's just another blunder by our FO, nothing new.

Celtics likely to win if healthy. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the reason why. Both sacrifice their game but at the same time, give it all, incredibly high IQ players.

If Chet is healthy, I kind of have a hard time seeing the Celtics beat OKC.

Then again, one or both of those teams might get upset.

The Cavs getting there might not be an upset given they are the 1 seed now and just got Deandre Hunter. Houston and Memphis don't look on the Thunder's level

The question will be do the Lakers have enough for Luka to pick apart OKC now. But they are also a year further along and I just don't see the Lakers beating them. The Mavs looked very tough and big defensively when healthy.

But OKC just looks on a different level. The Thunder have a bunch of great defenders, but they need both Chet and Hartenstein against Boston or Cleveland. Because most of their best defenders are smaller.

They have the best depth too and will just keep adding to it with picks. They may miss on some but will hit on some.

Playoffs proved Thunder still wet under the ears... if Shai is in foul trouble or off the court, they don't have enough offense against teams that draw free throws a lot... so yes I think even though Lakers are a far inferior team, with LeBron and Luka getting every whistle and putting thunder wings on foul trouble... thunder can absolutely be in trouble. Playoffs depend on those critical game changing events.

Suns have that too but the problem is suns just suck as a team overall so that they can't even male the playoffs or are in trouble in making it.


Celtics have enough offense and defense to beat any team any given series... thunder need a 6th man who can score 20ppg when given minutes... that's the missing ingredient.... in case Shai is having a bad game, injured or in foul trouble.... Jalen Williams is always good for 20, but he doesn't have the mind set to score 40 if needed be.

[bwgood77]

Celtics likely to win if healthy. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the reason why. Both sacrifice their game but at the same time, give it all, incredibly high IQ players.

If Chet is healthy, I kind of have a hard time seeing the Celtics beat OKC.

Then again, one or both of those teams might get upset.

The Cavs getting there might not be an upset given they are the 1 seed now and just got Deandre Hunter. Houston and Memphis don't look on the Thunder's level

The question will be do the Lakers have enough for Luka to pick apart OKC now. But they are also a year further along and I just don't see the Lakers beating them. The Mavs looked very tough and big defensively when healthy.

But OKC just looks on a different level. The Thunder have a bunch of great defenders, but they need both Chet and Hartenstein against Boston or Cleveland. Because most of their best defenders are smaller.

They have the best depth too and will just keep adding to it with picks. They may miss on some but will hit on some.

Playoffs proved Thunder still wet under the ears... if Shai is in foul trouble or off the court, they don't have enough offense against teams that draw free throws a lot... so yes I think even though Lakers are a far inferior team, with LeBron and Luka getting every whistle and putting thunder wings on foul trouble... thunder can absolutely be in trouble. Playoffs depend on those critical game changing events.

Suns have that too but the problem is suns just suck as a team overall so that they can't even male the playoffs or are in trouble in making it.


Celtics have enough offense and defense to beat any team any given series... thunder need a 6th man who can score 20ppg when given minutes... that's the missing ingredient.... in case Shai is having a bad game, injured or in foul trouble.... Jalen Williams is always good for 20, but he doesn't have the mind set to score 40 if needed be.

Maybe if Shai got injured, but in foul trouble or whatever would likely not happen and if it did it would only be in 1 game. As good of a defender as he is, he's still like their 5th best defender and they would put him on the least offensive threat.

Anyway, if the Lakers were to get to the NBA finals, it would probably be the refs doing. I am not an NBA conspiracy guy but I am pretty certain that in one of LeBron's last years in the NBA with Luka in his first year in LA, the NBA would LOVE for the Lakers (or Lukers) to be in the finals.

Hopefully a team like OKC just beats them so bad the refs can't help it.

[bwgood77]

I can't believe Dallas is hanging with Miami. I know MIami isn't that good, especially after the Butler trade, but they still play yard.

But Dallas, aside from missing AD, LIvely, Gafford, PJ Washington and Powell, have no Kyrie or Klay either tonight. Tight game there. Their big is some guy named Prosper. They have like Exum, Dinwiddie, Christie, Marshall and Kessler Edwards. Mostly smaller guys. I really like Marshall and Christie, but still, they are thin. They need this break and to at least get PJ and Gafford back, in addition to Kyrie and Klay. If they get AD and LIvely back too for the playoffs and can hang onto like the 8 spot, they will be pretty tough.

TWolves surprisingly spanking OKC too, and GS looking very physical against Houston, who looks sloppy tonight. Draymond looks like 5-7 years younger.

[bwgood77]

Now that I am watching more teams across the league with the NFL season over, I really think if one team can knock off OKC, it's Dallas.

That may sound strange with AD having played less than one game, but if they are healthy, and watching their role players Max Christie and Naji Marshall, PJ, Gafford, who destroy our role players, and then more end of rotation cheap guys like Exum, Kessler Edwards, etc, they fight and are solid, and Christie getting a lot of time and really looking good.

But I think a team like OKC would really struggle with their size.

I want to say Memphis but they seem to be a little lacking compared to OKC. JJJ and Ja are great, Bane very solid, but they start two rookies who are very good, and have very solid depth, but they seem a tier under OKC.

Houston DESPERATELY needs a go to scorer to fit their timeline. They have said they really don't want to go after KD due to timeline, but if Book becomes available, they would be heavily interested, so we will see.

Then the LA teams. The Clips are playing tough. The Lakers are a mystery to me. How they crush Indy without Luka (or AD) and then lose with Luka, LeBron, etc, and their record feels deceiving. Are they that good? They IQ of Luka and LeBron on the court will be strong, but their role players outside of Reeves and DFS are fairly weak, with Hayes, Rui, Vanderbilt, Vincent and Len are fairly weak.

Luka can raise their play, but not sure how much, and in the playoffs, their lack of defense will be a big problem.

Not sure why DFS is listed where he is on this depth chart. Should be starting at the 3 which would give them a solid starting 5 outside of the C spot.

https://www.espn.com/nba/team/depth/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers

[bwgood77]

Celtics likely to win if healthy. Derrick White and Jrue Holiday are the reason why. Both sacrifice their game but at the same time, give it all, incredibly high IQ players.

If Chet is healthy, I kind of have a hard time seeing the Celtics beat OKC.

Then again, one or both of those teams might get upset.

The Cavs getting there might not be an upset given they are the 1 seed now and just got Deandre Hunter. Houston and Memphis don't look on the Thunder's level

The question will be do the Lakers have enough for Luka to pick apart OKC now. But they are also a year further along and I just don't see the Lakers beating them. The Mavs looked very tough and big defensively when healthy.

But OKC just looks on a different level. The Thunder have a bunch of great defenders, but they need both Chet and Hartenstein against Boston or Cleveland. Because most of their best defenders are smaller.

They have the best depth too and will just keep adding to it with picks. They may miss on some but will hit on some.

Playoffs proved Thunder still wet under the ears... if Shai is in foul trouble or off the court, they don't have enough offense against teams that draw free throws a lot... so yes I think even though Lakers are a far inferior team, with LeBron and Luka getting every whistle and putting thunder wings on foul trouble... thunder can absolutely be in trouble. Playoffs depend on those critical game changing events.

Suns have that too but the problem is suns just suck as a team overall so that they can't even male the playoffs or are in trouble in making it.


Celtics have enough offense and defense to beat any team any given series... thunder need a 6th man who can score 20ppg when given minutes... that's the missing ingredient.... in case Shai is having a bad game, injured or in foul trouble.... Jalen Williams is always good for 20, but he doesn't have the mind set to score 40 if needed be.

They are still 40-10 without Chet.

I think the Lakers could take a couple, but LA would probably have to get out of the first round first. I just don't see any team beating OKC 4 times outside of possibly Cleveland or Boston.

Dallas would have a chance with their size, and oddly enough, they beat them 3 out of 4 times without Luka this year. That is almost a 3rd of their losses, and knocked them out last year, so they have their # and their size would be a massive problem.

I am guessing that Minnesota loss last night was a bit of a fluke, though Minny is playing well. OKC's defense is just too tough if healthy, and Shai can carry the offense.

You mention him getting into foul trouble, but that's not common and he really can guard the worst player on the other team if need be. As great as he is at defense, he's still not as good as Jalen Williams, Dort, or Caruso, and won't guard their bigs, who can hold their own defensively with Chet and Hartenstein.

Their biggest risk is an injury to Chet or Hartenstein or both. I imagine they draft another C this offseason. Heck, they could go after Ayton as a bench C who likely would play a lot with Chet injured. Doubtful but he may not have much of a market.

[bwgood77]

Currently OKC has the 15th and 21st pick. They could move up, or take flyers on two guys, and are great at drafting. Will need a lot of rookie contracts.

They are a team that can afford 3 big 2nd contracts due to always being able to restock with rookie scale contracts.

Their 15th pick (Miami's) may move up, though that may mean it is protected (may be lotto protected) but then it rolls over unprotected next year. Miami probably wants it to convey this year to avoid a catastrophe next year.

Miami' making the playoffs really probably comes down to a playoff matchup against the Hawks, unless Philly gets right and makes a run. Philly will probably get up to 10 with the Bulls terrible now, which means they will likely play the Hawks or Miami in a play in and then the other in the 2nd play in.

But they still might not be that good even with Embiid and George.