ATL - Road teams now up 5-0 (Indy, NYK, Den, GSW)

[ReasonablySober]

Reese and HVL on the same team. Think I'mma have to tune in, that sounds like fun.

[rilamann]

Like I always said, Bud is a good coach, but he's a bit overrated. I still feel the same about Bud, I don't think he's a bad head coach. Ironically, after Bud's stint in Phoenix I would probably have to argue in Bud's favor that he is still a good NBA head coach....lol.

However, I would still take Bud back in a heartbeat if my other option is Doc Rivers. Some of you might remember, back in 2023 I always prefaced my Bud rants with You can do worse at head coach than Coach Bud. And that's exactly what we did, twice.

[paulpressey25]

Was reading some of the Phoenix stuff. Gambo reports that Bud told Brad Beal that he needed to play more like Jrue Holiday and Beal went off, saying “Don't ever disrespect me like that. Don't ever tell me to play like another player"

Didn’t realize Ishbia hired Mark Bartelstein’s son to run operations two years ago. Supposedly he was involved in wanting them to trade for Beal. Their personnel moves post 2021 have been a dumpster fire, worse than anything we’ve complained about here.

Bottom line: We broke that franchise by coming back from being down 2-0.

[soxperry]

Lol... Beal sounds like exactly the kind of player you should never give a big contract to....much less a no trade clause

[Ryan5UW]

Per ESPN:

Booker is eligible to sign a two-year $149.8 million extension this summer, which Phoenix is expected to offer, sources said.

$75 million per year for Booker is absolutely crazy.

[Prez]

I don’t know that I’ve seen a media love affair and changing of MVP criteria for a player quite like what I’ve seen with Jokic this year. It’s absurd.

[German Athens]

I don’t know that I’ve seen a media love affair and changing of MVP criteria for a player quite like what I’ve seen with Jokic this year. It’s absurd.

In the last 35 years, there’s been 3 mvp’s where they didn’t have a top 4 record in the league.

I’m not saying it’s been correct in the past, necessarily, they’re just different rules for him. The lack of consistency this year is even worse, though.

Jokic has largely been deemed the MVP on the back of EPM or LEBRON being the best in the league, but this year, Shai leads in both, and he’s on a 68 win team. Shai seems like the pretty clear MVP.

[BUCKnation]

I don’t know that I’ve seen a media love affair and changing of MVP criteria for a player quite like what I’ve seen with Jokic this year. It’s absurd.

Jokic has to be the least wanting/charismatic cult leader of all time.

[German Athens]

The other weird thing with the Jokic discourse is that he pretty much gets all the credit for his team’s success, because he’s this master offensive orchestrator, but it belies logic.

Whereas players like Giannis will be openly questioned about who the Batman on the team is because Khris is stepping up. In that case, Khris gets credit for Khris, but in the other Jokic is getting a lot of credit for Murray’s performance.

Murray played better on that post season run than anyone Giannis has ever played with, and yes, part of that is Jokic, but most of that is still Murray stepping up and hitting shots.

He put up 26/6/7 on that run.

No one should get credit other than Murray for shooting 37% on 4 pull-up 3’s per game, shooting 39% on 5 tight and open 3’s per game, 50% on 7 pull-up 2’s per game, being the predominant ball-handler, and a hell of an off-ball mover.

He was sensational, too, and that’s what’s needed to win titles - people stepping up.

[Ron Swanson]

If Denver loses to a good but unspectacular Clippers squad with Jokic getting roasted on Harden pick and rolls, I don't really wanna hear about this "he's an underrated defender" crap anymore, or that he still has a stranglehold on the "best player in the world" title. He's close to being in Peyton Manning territory for me. On paper, the Nuggets are healthy and the more talented team. They should be favored in the 1st round even if it's a difficult matchup for them.

[SirChurros]

Reese and HVL on the same team. Think I'mma have to tune in, that sounds like fun.

Don’t forget to hydrate.

[German Athens]

Jokic’s place in the league feels unimpeachable, through the media or forums like this, kinda like how Lebron’s was - when he came up short, it was always someone else’s fault.

The even weirder aspect though, is it felt like Lebron would drive that narrative himself through his antics and passive aggressiveness, Jokic, on the other hand, doesn’t say anything. Yet, here we are.

It’s just become a really toxic fandom.

[paulpressey25]

I don’t know that I’ve seen a media love affair and changing of MVP criteria for a player quite like what I’ve seen with Jokic this year. It’s absurd.

Listened to Simmons/Rusillo the other night. They go on this rave about how incredible Giannis has been. Simmons even claims that he’ll vote Giannis #3 on his ballot over Tatum.

But then Russilo chimes in he’s voting Jokic for MVP and Bill seems to say he might follow his lead. I’m like WTF.

[WeMajor34]

I don’t know that I’ve seen a media love affair and changing of MVP criteria for a player quite like what I’ve seen with Jokic this year. It’s absurd.

Listened to Simmons/Rusillo the other night. They go on this rave about how incredible Giannis has been. Simmons even claims that he’ll vote Giannis #3 on his ballot over Tatum.

But then Russilo chimes in he’s voting Jokic for MVP and Bill seems to say he might follow his lead. I’m like WTF.

Listened to the same pod. Simmons/Russillo are far from the only media guys who fawn over Jokic (he's undoubtedly an amazing player and one of the best to ever do it) but they seem like the loudest at times. Bill loves Jokic and always mentions how Jokic/Curry are his favorite non-Celtics. I wonder if that affects his voting and/or narrative buildup......

I really don't think Jokic wins, but if he does, 4 MVP's for a guy who's won 1 title and does not care a lick about defense is borderline crazy (the Jokic-kicked ball violation ESPN story is a sight to behold). People will look back at the Giannis-Jokic era and realize Giannis was deserving more often than not.

[MickeyDavis]

Go Orlando and Memphis

[emunney]

If there's one player who can hard carry his team to a title this year, it's Giannis. If there are two, the 2nd is Jokic. There is definitely not a 3rd.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

If there's one player who can hard carry his team to a title this year, it's Giannis. If there are two, the 2nd is Jokic. There is definitely not a 3rd.

Luka? he was pretty close last year. Granted he has a lighter load with playoff LeBron but that's penalizing a guy for having a good teammate

[Baddy Chuck]

Anthony Black is either going to be Derrick White or MCW but I'm a buyer.

[Plossum]

Kinda hoping the Fibs make it out of the play in. I think it’d be a fun series vs Cleveland. Atlanta isn’t serious and Miami is just bland af.

[Matches Malone]

Hawks making it a game.