Which of the 4 remaining teams HAVE to get it done this year?

guynumber45 · Post #1 » by **guynumber45** » Tue May 20, 2025 11:36 pm

All 4 of these teams either have not won a championship in their franchise's history, or they haven't won in a real long time (50+ for the Knicks).So out of these 4 teams, which team do you feel HAS to get it done this year because this is the best opportunity they will have for a while?

For me, it's the Wolves. OKC is young enough and has enough assets that I think they will get back to this position again. With Tatum's achilles tear and how putrid the East is, I think the Pacers and Knicks are clearly the top dogs for next year in the East and will also get another opportunity to make a deep run.

Minnesota, on the other hand, I think this will be their best opportunity in a long time. I get Ant is not close to his prime, but this is probably the best team he will have around him for his tenure in Minnesota. The Wolves already spent most of their assets on the Rudy trade, so there aren't many avenues to improve. Conley is critical to them as their PG, and he is on the way to retirement. Gobert is also on the older side and is taking a few steps back defensively with each passing year. They will lose either one of NAW or Reid this offseason due to the 2nd apron. The West is also brutal and has a chance of being even stronger next year with a potentially improved Lakers team, Dallas getting back on track with Flagg/AD/Kyrie, Spurs with Wemby/Fox and a potential Giannis move to one of the West contenders.

That's why I think Minnesota has got to get it done. The stars are aligning for them and they got to take advantage

MrGoat · Post #2 » by **MrGoat** » Tue May 20, 2025 11:43 pm

Really all of them. It won't be long before either Giannis or Jokic becomes a Laker

Marvin Martian · Post #3 » by **Marvin Martian** » Tue May 20, 2025 11:47 pm

OKC is less likely to be able to afford their current team moving forward, so they have to win this year or else it's all over.

Post #4 » by **og15** » Tue May 20, 2025 11:55 pm

Marvin Martian wrote:OKC is less likely to be able to afford their current team moving forward, so they have to win this year or else it's all over.

It's all over? Seems a bit dramatic

ImmortalD24 · Post #5 » by **ImmortalD24** » Wed May 21, 2025 12:02 am

I'm going to say the Knicks. Unfortunately they won't be able to replicate what they did this season as the entire roster experiences Hollywood status whether they win a championship or not. They'll get too comfortable similar what happens in LA (except LA has All-time level talent) Hence they need to win it all.

Lalouie · Post #6 » by **Lalouie** » Wed May 21, 2025 3:02 pm

history says nyk has been a "once in a blue moon" team

whelp, the moon is cobalt and it's in its 50yr once every half century cycle

Patches Perry · Post #7 » by **Patches Perry** » Wed May 21, 2025 3:04 pm

Marvin Martian wrote:OKC is less likely to be able to afford their current team moving forward, so they have to win this year or else it's all over.

They have this team fully intact for next season too.

iggymcfrack · Post #8 » by **iggymcfrack** » Wed May 21, 2025 3:13 pm

I mean, the Thunder are massive favorites this year and they're going to be massive favorites every year going forward too. You can't say any of the other teams "have to win it", because it would take the biggest upset of all-time, but it's also as good of a chance as these other teams are likely to get. OKC's probably going to be the first team to win 4 in a row since the Bill Russell Celtics.

playoffs · Post #9 » by **playoffs** » Wed May 21, 2025 3:45 pm

MrGoat wrote:Really all of them. It won't be long before either Giannis or Jokic becomes a Laker

Jokic + 2 FRPs for Rui, DFS, and fillers. Who says no?

funkatron101 · Post #10 » by **funkatron101** » Wed May 21, 2025 4:13 pm

Conley might be gone after this year. Gobert? Maybe 2-3 years? Randle may be gone after this year.

OldSchoolNoBull · Post #11 » by **OldSchoolNoBull** » Wed May 21, 2025 4:55 pm

iggymcfrack wrote:OKC's probably going to be the first team to win 4 in a row since the Bill Russell Celtics.

See, this is why I'm having such a hard time rooting for the Thunder. The hype around them is nuts. I'm sorry, but this just strikes me as an absurd statement. They haven't won one yet, no team has repeated in seven years, and you've got them four-peating.

Chuck Everett · Post #12 » by **Chuck Everett** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:00 pm

Indiana and Minnesota. Indiana because I am not sure if they have ever paid the tax, so eventually their depth is going to start getting chipped away.

For Minnesota, I am not sure what this team looks like once Gobert starts to decline (I mean they don't have a backup center on the roster that the coach trusts). He's needed more for the regular season, but if he declines, the West is tough enough that they could easily end up in the play-in for multiple years. Lucky for them, Rudy has been somewhat of an ironman during his career. Nevertheless, he's still going into his mid-30's as a big.

BlzMwt · Post #13 » by **BlzMwt** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:10 pm

OldSchoolNoBull wrote:
iggymcfrack wrote:OKC's probably going to be the first team to win 4 in a row since the Bill Russell Celtics.

See, this is why I'm having such a hard time rooting for the Thunder. The hype around them is nuts. I'm sorry, but this just strikes me as an absurd statement. They haven't won one yet, no team has repeated in seven years, and you've got them four-peating.

You find it hard to root for OKC because of one absurd comment that one poster wrote?

Either it's hyperbole, trolling or that poster doesn't really understand how basketball works.

I wouldn't even say that there enough people so confident in the Thunder to be anything resembling a dynasty that we could call it a minority opinion.

Really just seems like a silly reason for you not to cheer for OKC... but do your thing!

OldSchoolNoBull · Post #14 » by **OldSchoolNoBull** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:13 pm

BlzMwt wrote:
OldSchoolNoBull wrote:
iggymcfrack wrote:OKC's probably going to be the first team to win 4 in a row since the Bill Russell Celtics.

See, this is why I'm having such a hard time rooting for the Thunder. The hype around them is nuts. I'm sorry, but this just strikes me as an absurd statement. They haven't won one yet, no team has repeated in seven years, and you've got them four-peating.

You find it hard to root for OKC because of one absurd comment that one poster wrote?

Either it's hyperbole, trolling or that poster doesn't really understand how basketball works.

I wouldn't even say that there enough people so confident in the Thunder to be anything resembling a dynasty that we could call it a minority opinion.

Really just seems like a silly reason for you not to cheer for OKC... but do your thing!

Not just one comment. I'm seeing people all over the place saying nobody is beating OKC four times, and how massive a favorite OKC is, and it doesn't matter who comes out of the East because they have no chance against OKC, etc. The comment in question was just one example.

WestbrookGOATed · Post #15 » by **WestbrookGOATed** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:13 pm

I don't think a single team left HAS to win it all this year. These teams are all going to be contenders next year.

ShootersShoot · Post #16 » by **ShootersShoot** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:18 pm

All the teams are pretty young. The wolves for me because it would be cool to see conley win one before he retires

ProcessDoctor · Post #17 » by **ProcessDoctor** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:20 pm

I think the Wolves due to financial constraints. It'll be hard to replace Conley, re-sign/replace Randle (if he opts out), and re-sign/replace Reid.

It seems like the other squads will be able to stay together for at least another year.

Post #18 » by **jbk1234** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:21 pm

I have the Knicks. First, Mitchell Robinson is actually healthy. Bridges is looking for an extension this summer. Brunson isn't going to voluntarily play for 75% of his market value indefinitely.

jkvonny · Post #19 » by **jkvonny** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:39 pm

WestbrookGOATed wrote:I don't think a single team left HAS to win it all this year. These teams are all going to be contenders next year.

This. Agreed
And they are all young, too.

But if I had to pick.one, I'd say Knicks. They are the older team and some of their players are at the end of contracts. Unless they stay, re sign and not traded.
Have to stay healthy too, coach Tippytoes needs to let them rest!

morosis · Post #20 » by **morosis** » Wed May 21, 2025 5:43 pm

i feel like with the current conference imbalance and the propensity for injuries in the playoffs, its the west teams that have more pressure. there are some good teams in the east but its not nearly the bloodbath that the west is. the first round in the west felt like the second round. the second round felt like the wcf, at least the DEN/OKC series did anyway, and the GSW/MIN series would have been vastly different w/steph playing.

it takes a minor miracle to win once. good injury luck, a good draw, some lucky bounces in close games, no bad officiating (cough DET/NYK), and a huge amount of focus/leadership/strategy from both players and coaches. to create a sustainable run you have to add excellent cap management and drafting/player development. to forecast all those things over multiple years and think any one team will for sure have another shot is a bit foolish.

so i'll go with the teams that play in the tougher conference. there's just less likelihood you get another shot when the opposition is better, and there are more, better teams you have to overcome to be in the position to win.

Which team NEEDS to get it done this year?