Official NBA General Discussion 2024-25 V2.0

[mdenny]

What an epic meltdown lol. Up by 5 with 30 seconds left, why is Brunson passing that ball 5 seconds into the shot clock? I get that it looked like what would have been an easy bucket but the clock is your friend at that point.

What an up and down game by OG. Really good at some points, and atrocious at others.

I have Indy in 6.

OG had a really tough game. He always makes mistakes with the ball....it's just that in THIS game those mistakes came at extremely bad times.

He will bounce back. They need to keep the ball out of his hands though. I haven't noticed it specifically....but indy would be smart to funnel the ball to him while not leaving him open to shoot the 3. Force him to put the ball on the floor.

And I didn't see that thing with Kat but I don't blame them. Kat is infuriating to play with. Like the leafs Nylander. When OG has a tough game at least it's never through lack of effort or poor body language. What list frustrating is that Kat has the talent to be a franchise player but his attitude and psychology is brutal. His fear of losing is greater than his will to win.

[Potential]

Bunch of people saying we got fleeced for og because he made some good plays and knicks fans were chanting his name… ends up making some choke worthy plays down the stretch, finishes with 16/3/2, 6/15 shooting, 2/8 from 3… yeah we didn’t get fleeced, he’s exactly the same og… again I didn’t even hate him he was a great role player, but again that’s essentially why we had to trade him…

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

[MiamiSPX]

Bunch of people saying we got fleeced for og because he made some good plays and knicks fans were chanting his name… ends up making some choke worthy plays down the stretch, finishes with 16/3/2, 6/15 shooting, 2/8 from 3… yeah we didn’t get fleeced, he’s exactly the same og… again I didn’t even hate him he was a great role player, but again that’s essentially why we had to trade him…

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time

He also got caught napping that resulted in a key offensive rebound by Siakam. It was a weird game by OG. When they went on that run with Brunson out, that was some of the best I have ever seen him play, and then the closing 3 minutes were probably the worst he's played in his NBA career. Pretty bad turnover in OT too.

[ForeverTFC]

Bunch of people saying we got fleeced for og because he made some good plays and knicks fans were chanting his name… ends up making some choke worthy plays down the stretch, finishes with 16/3/2, 6/15 shooting, 2/8 from 3… yeah we didn’t get fleeced, he’s exactly the same og… again I didn’t even hate him he was a great role player, but again that’s essentially why we had to trade him…

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I'm pretty sure KAT was supposed to fight through the screens and OG was dropping to cut off Siakam rolling to the basket. If their gameplan was to switch, OG would have been way higher. Not sure why you'd fault OG for playing the scheme he's been told to play. KAT was getting caught on the screens and not doing a good job fighting through them and OG was not in position to switch.

[sidsid]

Bunch of people saying we got fleeced for og because he made some good plays and knicks fans were chanting his name… ends up making some choke worthy plays down the stretch, finishes with 16/3/2, 6/15 shooting, 2/8 from 3… yeah we didn’t get fleeced, he’s exactly the same og… again I didn’t even hate him he was a great role player, but again that’s essentially why we had to trade him…

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

It's admittedly hard to tell what the Knicks are running as a scheme sometimes as KAT and Brunson are so awful at navigating PNR that you don't know what's a mistake and when it's them being awful.

In those two sequences, KAT and Brunson ran into that reinforced rebar cement wall screen setter that is Siakam. My thoughts are that OG was meant to stay with Siakam to prevent some easy layups while they were tasked with staying with their man. Prevention of 3s should have been the strategy.

Bigger question is why are these two generational defensive liabilities together on the floor when you've got a big lead? It's winning time and the hard decisions need to be made by the coach in those circumstances.

[Potential]

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

It's admittedly hard to tell what the Knicks are running as a scheme sometimes as KAT and Brunson are so awful at navigating PNR that you don't know what's a mistake and when it's them being awful.

In those two sequences, KAT and Brunson ran into that reinforced rebar cement wall screen setter that is Siakam. My thoughts are that OG was meant to stay with Siakam to prevent some easy layups while they were tasked with staying with their man. Prevention of 3s should have been the strategy.

Bigger question is why are these two generational defensive liabilities together on the floor when you've got a big lead? It's winning time and the hard decisions need to be made by the coach in those circumstances.

Knicks went on that big run without Brunson too. Should've kept him out and run with McBride

[mdenny]

Bunch of people saying we got fleeced for og because he made some good plays and knicks fans were chanting his name… ends up making some choke worthy plays down the stretch, finishes with 16/3/2, 6/15 shooting, 2/8 from 3… yeah we didn’t get fleeced, he’s exactly the same og… again I didn’t even hate him he was a great role player, but again that’s essentially why we had to trade him…

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I disagree with you. The first two shots were DEFINITETLY on KAT. The first one he didn't rotate. The second one was brutal and after the shot you can see bridges (I think it's bridges) look in Kat's direction with his hands motioning as if to say "what was THAT?""

And the last one with 34 seconds left was on Kat too imo. Kat didn't make make an honest attempt to get around the siakam screen. He was asking OG to switch way too late in the action. He was just too lazy to work around the siakam screen. If OG steps up too far it allows screen siakam to roll with both KAT and OG lured away from lane protecting position.

Kat has to make a better attempt to go under that siakam screen. Totally let himself get taken out of the play with not an iota of resistance. Almost looked like he was PRETENDING to get caught up in that screen instead of putting in the hustle.

That's a regular season play by Kat. Not a playoff play.

Does anyone Have the clip where OG was yelling during the timeout? I haven't seen that.

[mihaic]

If OKC wins the championship, what argument will the anti-Presti crowd use going forward? He got lucky Kawhi asked the Clippers to trade for PG and in return got a future MVP SGA?

Wait, that's a fact , are you saying Presti planned it?

I mean OKC got lucky with sga, but also built much of their team through draft. Both can be true at the same time.

[mihaic]

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I'm pretty sure KAT was supposed to fight through the screens and OG was dropping to cut off Siakam rolling to the basket. If their gameplan was to switch, OG would have been way higher. Not sure why you'd fault OG for playing the scheme he's been told to play. KAT was getting caught on the screens and not doing a good job fighting through them and OG was not in position to switch.

On the first Nesmith 3, I think it was actually Brunson that got caught in the screen.

[Brinbe]

The funniest part to me was that during that TO with 40 seconds left, OG went after KAT on the bench hard. So hard that even Jalen was trying to calm him down, while also barking at KAT. I have never seen OG agitated, much less towards a teammate. Then OG and Jalen proceeded to go and flub the game away right after that lol.

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I disagree with you. The first two shots were DEFINITETLY on KAT. The first one he didn't rotate. The second one was brutal and after the shot you can see bridges (I think it's bridges) look in Kat's direction with his hands motioning as if to say "what was THAT?""

And the last one with 34 seconds left was on Kat too imo. Kat didn't make make an honest attempt to get around the siakam screen. He was asking OG to switch way too late in the action. He was just too lazy to work around the siakam screen. If OG steps up too far it allows screen siakam to roll with both KAT and OG lured away from lane protecting position.

Kat has to make a better attempt to go under that siakam screen. Totally let himself get taken out of the play with not an iota of resistance. Almost looked like he was PRETENDING to get caught up in that screen instead of putting in the hustle.

That's a regular season play by Kat. Not a playoff play.

Does anyone Have the clip where OG was yelling during the timeout? I haven't seen that.

Read on Twitter

never see OG that wound up unless it's for a good reason

[ForeverTFC]

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I'm pretty sure KAT was supposed to fight through the screens and OG was dropping to cut off Siakam rolling to the basket. If their gameplan was to switch, OG would have been way higher. Not sure why you'd fault OG for playing the scheme he's been told to play. KAT was getting caught on the screens and not doing a good job fighting through them and OG was not in position to switch.

On the first Nesmith 3, I think it was actually Brunson that got caught in the screen.

Yeah. OG wasn't in on that one though, it was Bridges. But pretty much the same thing. OG and Bridges are guarding their best players. The Pacers want the switch and the Knicks don't want to give it to them. But that means Brunson and Kat need to fight through screens. And they are failing at it.

Some combo of OG/Bridges/Hart/Robinson can tolerate one of Brunson or Kat and still give you elite team defense. But with both of them on the court, it's too hard.

[mdenny]

I don't understand why OG was mad at KAT. I rewatched the Nesmith threes and 2 of them was OGs fault. Why was he dropping down so damn low instead of playing up on him when everyone knew Nesmith was going for the 3 every time. Look at the 1st 2 threes given up with under a minute left to cut it to 6 and then 5. Both OGs fault. KAT wanted the switch but even if OG didn't why is he still so far down??

Read on Twitter

I disagree with you. The first two shots were DEFINITETLY on KAT. The first one he didn't rotate. The second one was brutal and after the shot you can see bridges (I think it's bridges) look in Kat's direction with his hands motioning as if to say "what was THAT?""

And the last one with 34 seconds left was on Kat too imo. Kat didn't make make an honest attempt to get around the siakam screen. He was asking OG to switch way too late in the action. He was just too lazy to work around the siakam screen. If OG steps up too far it allows screen siakam to roll with both KAT and OG lured away from lane protecting position.

Kat has to make a better attempt to go under that siakam screen. Totally let himself get taken out of the play with not an iota of resistance. Almost looked like he was PRETENDING to get caught up in that screen instead of putting in the hustle.

That's a regular season play by Kat. Not a playoff play.

Does anyone Have the clip where OG was yelling during the timeout? I haven't seen that.

Read on Twitter

never see OG that wound up unless it's for a good reason

Agreed. This is where player reputation comes into place. Knowing OG and his defensive reputation...I just kind of default to him being in the right if he appears to be that insistent and demonstrative. And Kat has pretty much the opposite reputation of not taking accountability, making excuses, being lazy.

I watched that 3 with 30 seconds left multiple times and I swear it looks like Kat was PRETENDING to get screened. Like he was making that screen look way more effective than it actually was to let himself off the hook in not hustling under it.

Something like "it won't be my fault if this siakam screen is really good....so instead of going under it I'm gonna make sure that I look really tied up".

I know it sounds crazy but watch it lol. He kinda steps INTO the screen and put his hands up to INDICATE he's tied up even though it was a pretty lackadaisical screen by siakim.

[ForeverTFC]

I disagree with you. The first two shots were DEFINITETLY on KAT. The first one he didn't rotate. The second one was brutal and after the shot you can see bridges (I think it's bridges) look in Kat's direction with his hands motioning as if to say "what was THAT?""

And the last one with 34 seconds left was on Kat too imo. Kat didn't make make an honest attempt to get around the siakam screen. He was asking OG to switch way too late in the action. He was just too lazy to work around the siakam screen. If OG steps up too far it allows screen siakam to roll with both KAT and OG lured away from lane protecting position.

Kat has to make a better attempt to go under that siakam screen. Totally let himself get taken out of the play with not an iota of resistance. Almost looked like he was PRETENDING to get caught up in that screen instead of putting in the hustle.

That's a regular season play by Kat. Not a playoff play.

Does anyone Have the clip where OG was yelling during the timeout? I haven't seen that.

Read on Twitter

never see OG that wound up unless it's for a good reason

Agreed. This is where player reputation comes into place. Knowing OG and his defensive reputation...I just kind of default to him being in the right if he appears to be that insistent and demonstrative. And Kat has pretty much the opposite reputation of not taking accountability, making excuses, being lazy.

I watched that 3 with 30 seconds left multiple times and I swear it looks like Kat was PRETENDING to get screened. Like he was making that screen look way more effective than it actually was to let himself off the hook in not hustling under it.

Something like "it won't be my fault if this siakam screen is really good....so instead of going under it I'm gonna make sure that I look really tied up".

I know it sounds crazy but watch it lol. He kinda steps INTO the screen and put his hands up to INDICATE he's tied up even though it was a pretty lackadaisical screen by siakim.

Pretending or not, he clearly didn't try to fight through it at all. And we're not talking about a Draymond or Steven Adams screen here, it's feaking Pascal. Pascal became a better screen setter at the end of his tenure here and recent articles say he's growing as a screen setter, but it's still Siakam. There is no way Kat should get caught in that screen so easily. And instead of fighting through it, he's telling OG to switch. It's clear as day what happened there.

[mdenny]

For anyone still lamenting our bad luck in the lottery.....this okc team is the best evidence that you don't necessarily need top 5 and top 10 picks in the draft to build a good team. Their team is built of mid first rounders, second rounders and undrafted players.

8 of their 9 best players were drafted outside the top 10.

The real lottery is the draft itself.

I think the public perception typically overvalues top 5 and top 10 picks relative to the value of mid to late first rounders. Which is probably best explained by the draft media hype machine. Selections 10 through 20 don't get the same clicks and attention as the top 5.

[douggood]

For anyone still lamenting our bad luck in the lottery.....this okc team is the best evidence that you don't necessarily need top 5 and top 10 picks in the draft to build a good team. Their team is built of mid first rounders, second rounders and undrafted players.

The real lottery is the draft itself.

I think the public perception typically overvalues top 5 and top 10 picks relative to the value of mid to late first rounders. Which is probably best explained by the draft media hype machine. Selections 10 through 20 don't get the same clicks and attention as the top 5.

or the raptors championship team.

[mihaic]

So Siakam blocked OG at 29.9 seconds to go, secured the ball, and also kicked OG in the ass in the process. LOL.

OG cost them the game on that possession, should've been a catch and dunk to put Knicks up 7.

[mdenny]

For anyone still lamenting our bad luck in the lottery.....this okc team is the best evidence that you don't necessarily need top 5 and top 10 picks in the draft to build a good team. Their team is built of mid first rounders, second rounders and undrafted players.

The real lottery is the draft itself.

I think the public perception typically overvalues top 5 and top 10 picks relative to the value of mid to late first rounders. Which is probably best explained by the draft media hype machine. Selections 10 through 20 don't get the same clicks and attention as the top 5.

or the raptors championship team.

I think the current knicks are the same thing. Unless i am forgtting someone....I think there's only 1 top 10 guy in their rotation too.

[mdenny]

So Siakam blocked OG at 29.9 seconds to go, secured the ball, and also kicked OG in the ass in the process. LOL.

OG cost them the game on that possession, should've been a catch and dunk to put Knicks up 7.

Agreed. Everyone is focusing on the miss free throw. But that simple bounce pass under the rim with Noone close enough to contest should have won the game for the Knicks. He fumbled it. That was bigger than the free throw.

I was a little surprised they didn't call a foul on siakam during the review. He grabbed his shirt, made contact with his arm, and kicked him in the ass.

[mdenny]

So Sga bought all his teammates expensive watches after winning the mvp. Do players always do that? Or is it just more evidence that SGA is such an amazing teammate and canadian?

[Boogie!]

Can’t believe people think sga is just a free throw merchant… guy is Legit superstar, bucket getter so many hating ass Canadians