Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[thelead]

Fultz looked solid in his return. Hope he can stay healthy.

[Idiosyncratic]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

[pepe1991]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

That's 67% win rate at least( winning 40th before losing 20th )/ around 55 win a season. Meaning such team will always win 2 out of 3 games.

Tbh i still struggle to see how any current team can beat Celtics in 7 games - 4 times.

[Idiosyncratic]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

That's 67% win rate at least( winning 40th before losing 20th )/ around 55 win a season. Meaning such team will always win 2 out of 3 games.

Tbh i still struggle to see how any current team can beat Celtics in 7 games - 4 times.

I agree I am starting to lean toward Boston. When I watch them this year I feel like they will have another gear for the playoffs, they seem to be cruising at times and their record is still really good anyway. They do potentially have a pretty tough path as they will likely have to go through both the Knicks and the Cavs which could work against them. The Cavs can't be underestimated, Boston has more experience but still think it should be series that could go either way.

The problem I have with the Thunder is there is going to be so much on Shai's shoulders. They just don't have the ball-handlers outside of him and I think that can be exploited in the playoffs. Now if he can really be like Kobe or MJ or something in the playoffs they can win it all, but otherwise I am worried about that. They are clearly the best regular season team though, better net rating than the Cavs despite the harder conference and missing Chet? Sheesh.

And obviously can't count out any teams that have Jokic or Giannis or maybe even Luka, but still feels like it would be a surprise if one of those teams won it.

[eyriq]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

Love this

Edit: so this year it's only Cavs, Celtics, and Thunder with the Knicks, Griz, and Nuggets needing three straight wins to be edge cases.

[Idiosyncratic]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

Love this

Edit: so this year it's only Cavs, Celtics, and Thunder with the Knicks, Griz, and Nuggets needing three straight wins to be edge cases.

Yeah it is no longer possible for any other teams to reach his milestone this year, but those other teams can be very close.

Surprise title winning teams are really rare in the NBA. That really is the case in most sports I would bet, but I can at least think of unexpected teams winning recently in the other major sports. 2006 Heat are like the statistically most unexpected recently and had a very young star, but they still were #2 in the East with 52 wins. Baseball has the near .500 Cardinals recently, ditto the NFL with the Giants and Hockey had the 8 seed Kings pretty recently. I guess some of these aren't that recent even though they feel like yesterday to me

Maybe the NBA has a crazy weird unexpected run in store soon. Would be neat.

[thelead]

Meanwhile, Fultz is taking and making normal looking 3's for the kings... this team is cursed.

Read on Twitter

[ogmagicfan]

Meanwhile, Fultz is taking and making normal looking 3's for the kings... this team is cursed.

Read on Twitter

I'll need to see a bigger sample size, but the jumper is looking fairly fluid

[thelead]

Meanwhile, Fultz is taking and making normal looking 3's for the kings... this team is cursed.

Read on Twitter

I'll need to see a bigger sample size, but the jumper is looking fairly fluid

IMO, it's about how his body holds up. He started last year with us the same way and then his 'knee' changed his shot again.

[eyriq]

Meanwhile, Fultz is taking and making normal looking 3's for the kings... this team is cursed.

Read on Twitter

LOL, people see a glimpse and it's immediately like "it's happening!!!!"

[RichCollab]

I’m happy Fultz is playing. He doesn’t look the same attacking the basket.

[thelead]

I’m happy Fultz is playing. He doesn’t look the same attacking the basket.

His defense was solid but he's still super loose with the handle and had careless turnovers.

[Bensational]

Fultz V Payton? I hope Pepe has that game recorded! If not I’ll buy a DVD burner to make him a copy.

[pepe1991]

Fultz V Payton? I hope Pepe has that game recorded! If not I’ll buy a DVD burner to make him a copy.

Clash of Trash

Jokes aside, those MFers combined for 32 min vs each other and scored 5 points. Combined.

Since he joined Hornets Payton stats:

6 games
3-21 FG (14% FG)
0-0 for 3
3,3 apg
1,1 TO
plus minus - 43


it's actually pretty damn impressive how bad he is, like Lebron's son level bad.

[eyriq]

Fultz V Payton? I hope Pepe has that game recorded! If not I’ll buy a DVD burner to make him a copy.

Clash of Trash

Jokes aside, those MFers combined for 32 min vs each other and scored 5 points. Combined.

Since he joined Hornets Payton stats:

6 games
3-21 FG (14% FG)
0-0 for 3
3,3 apg
1,1 TO
plus minus - 43


it's actually pretty damn impressive how bad he is, like Lebron's son level bad.

AB should never get compared to either of these bums ever again

[pepe1991]

Phil Jackson has a rule where if you win 40 games before you lose 20 you are considered a title contender. I believe this has held up ~90% of the time since the NBA went to a 16 team playoff. The last team to break this rule was the Bucks in 21 at 40-24 (weird covid year, but not far off record-wise) and then you need to go back to the 2006 Heat who went 40-20, I guess got their 20th loss 1st.

Regardless, not exactly rocket science, the best or one of the best teams usually wins in basketball. Maybe 3 point variance could make this a little more wacky these days? But so far, not really.

Anyway going by that the Cavs, Celtics and OKC are the extremely likely title winners. Anyone else winning it would be a pretty big surprise. I mean this is pretty obvious even without the rule, but interesting nonetheless given how often it holds true.

Gives you a good idea of how close your team is to being in the realm of being able to compete for a title.

That's 67% win rate at least( winning 40th before losing 20th )/ around 55 win a season. Meaning such team will always win 2 out of 3 games.

Tbh i still struggle to see how any current team can beat Celtics in 7 games - 4 times.

I agree I am starting to lean toward Boston. When I watch them this year I feel like they will have another gear for the playoffs, they seem to be cruising at times and their record is still really good anyway. They do potentially have a pretty tough path as they will likely have to go through both the Knicks and the Cavs which could work against them. The Cavs can't be underestimated, Boston has more experience but still think it should be series that could go either way.

The problem I have with the Thunder is there is going to be so much on Shai's shoulders. They just don't have the ball-handlers outside of him and I think that can be exploited in the playoffs. Now if he can really be like Kobe or MJ or something in the playoffs they can win it all, but otherwise I am worried about that. They are clearly the best regular season team though, better net rating than the Cavs despite the harder conference and missing Chet? Sheesh.

And obviously can't count out any teams that have Jokic or Giannis or maybe even Luka, but still feels like it would be a surprise if one of those teams won it.

I tuned in Knicks vs Celtics in second half, as Knicks grind their back to competitive game, and in matter of like 2 min Celtics just pull back without any issues. Brown hits 2 open 3s, White gets open 3, Porzingis has open 3 but misses it. They spread floor so much with so many shooters and ball movement that defense collapses, and with so many good players every night somebody will be hot.

And once they need it, they lock down on defense with combination of mobility but with still enough size to control rebounds.

Just so damn well coached team.

As for OKC, i'm not sure what's their ideal 5 still is. Is that lineup with both Chet and I Hart? Or matchups vise, J Will at PF creates way more problems for any defense?

Western playoffs will be crazy. There are legit 8 great teams + Warriors who are heating up. Tbh if you are one of a teams you really want Houston in first round, that's easiest matchup you can hope for.

[pepe1991]

Legit question- do 76ers keep a pick if they win lottery?

[eyriq]

Legit question- do 76ers keep a pick if they win lottery?

Yes, top 6 protected

[thelead]

Legit question- do 76ers keep a pick if they win lottery?

Yes, top 6 protected

Yep. They have every incentive to pull the plug and tank HARD. It’s top 6 protected this season, and top 4 protected in 2026 and 2027. If they don’t covey a 1st by 2027, the only give up a 2nd rd pick in 2027… but they also owe a top 8 protected 1st to Brooklyn in 2027 or 2028. They’re screwed unless Embiid is miraculously healed by his next surgery.

[pepe1991]

Legit question- do 76ers keep a pick if they win lottery?

Yes, top 6 protected

if ( When?) they fall to 5th worst their pick will be very secured, i'm just not sure will they trade or keep pick.