Around the League: 2024-25 Season

[Bensational]

Hali 12 and 7 going into the half. Bringing that superstar game.

[Idiosyncratic]

Indiana might just be a bad matchup for OKC. They don't turn it over and they can match their depth and keep their starters as fresh as OKC's because of that.

Wonder if OKC needed to win that first game they blew. Maybe we will be lucky and get 7 games.

[RookieStar]

It really is a different ballgame when your 3s are falling.. both teams have it

[dsg2021]

Both teams are playing with great poise that you just don't see from other NBA teams, but tonight IND was looking special with these number of players who can land into 12+ points or even 16-20+ points on any given night. TJ McConnell was a shorter Jalen Suggs for 15 minutes too.

[pepe1991]

2 wins away from tittle and Pacers look scary.

OKC thrives on pressure on main ball handler. Pacers have like 6 men who can handle the ball.

[jezzerinho]

Both teams are playing with great poise that you just don't see from other NBA teams, but tonight IND was looking special with these number of players who can land into 12+ points or even 16-20+ points on any given night. TJ McConnell was a shorter Jalen Suggs for 15 minutes too.

2 very deep teams obviously but depth is useless if you're heliocentric. Thunder and Pacers though are so democratic with the ball and so good at finding the open guy to trust with the finish. They're both playing disciplined frantic defense but it doesn't feel like it because off-ball movement and total comfort handling the ball makes it easy to find the opening.

[dsg2021]

Both teams are playing with great poise that you just don't see from other NBA teams, but tonight IND was looking special with these number of players who can land into 12+ points or even 16-20+ points on any given night. TJ McConnell was a shorter Jalen Suggs for 15 minutes too.

2 very deep teams obviously but depth is useless if you're heliocentric. Thunder and Pacers though are so democratic with the ball and so good at finding the open guy to trust with the finish. They're both playing disciplined frantic defense but it doesn't feel like it because off-ball movement and total comfort handling the ball makes it easy to find the opening.

Yes I agree for the most part, but I think the Magic do a ton of cuts and unselfish passing too, we often looked the best like this and it still had Paolo and Franz both going 20+. And I was not super impressed with either team's defense like I am with the Magic's.

[Bensational]

Both teams are playing with great poise that you just don't see from other NBA teams, but tonight IND was looking special with these number of players who can land into 12+ points or even 16-20+ points on any given night. TJ McConnell was a shorter Jalen Suggs for 15 minutes too.

2 very deep teams obviously but depth is useless if you're heliocentric. Thunder and Pacers though are so democratic with the ball and so good at finding the open guy to trust with the finish. They're both playing disciplined frantic defense but it doesn't feel like it because off-ball movement and total comfort handling the ball makes it easy to find the opening.

Yes I agree for the most part, but I think the Magic do a ton of cuts and unselfish passing too, we often looked the best like this and it still had Paolo and Franz both going 20+. And I was not super impressed with either team's defense like I am with the Magic's.

Yeah, Mosley is a Carlisle protege, when the team is playing their best they resemble what Indiana are doing. And we have traditionally matched up well with Indiana. I think Orlando is poised for a good future.

[pepe1991]

Pacers have best pace control ( pun i guess) in nba.
They forced OKC into playing their game, Carlisle always keeps starters fresh and has them ready to 4th quarters, that's why they have those "miracle" wins, especially against Knicks, who are polar opposite as Thib plays 6 men rotation.

They have 3 point guards on roster that are in rotation. There are several more players capable of self creation and creation for others, especially Siakam.
This concept of 3 point guards and pace control allows them to never panic, that's why they are so damn elite on a road. They never lose head.

When you look at their shot distribution it's crazy how balanced they are.
Siakam game 1: 15 shots
Siakam game 2 : 11 shots
Siakam game 3: 14 shots

Haliburton: 13,13, 17 shots.
Mathurin 5,7, 12 shots
Toppin 9,8,8 shots

They are so programmed to believe and buy into this team- first- team friendly system that they don't even feel like nba team. They feel like some Euroleague / Maccabi team from mid 2000s where all players were stars but they played in such fashion where you couldn't tell who is "star" and who is "role player" but you couldn't defeat them.

I enjoyed every second of game 3. Pacers were simply better team. OKC has pace issue, they are unsure what they want. Unforced adjustment to rotate I Hart out of starting 5 before series started was big surprise to me. Still can't understand why.

[Rainwater]

I keep trying to put dirt on them, but they keep on proving me wrong. Pacers just have great cast of guys.

[Rainwater]

It really is a different ballgame when your 3s are falling.. both teams have it

It's also a different game when you have more than two guys that can create for themselves and others. The Pacers have 8 to 9 guys that can randomly go off.

[Skybox]

It really is a different ballgame when your 3s are falling.. both teams have it

It's also a different game when you have more than two guys that can create for themselves and others. The Pacers have 8 to 9 guys that can randomly go off.

It shows the fallacy of “that talented guy will take the ball out of Paolo & Franz’ hands” as a reason to stick with do-nothing scrubs. Paolo will not have his feelings hurt- he asked for it…he wants to win

[pepe1991]

I mean, in some alternate reality, where Mathurin is on like 20 other teams, he would be babied due draft stock, average not very efficient 22-26 ppg and his fans would be busting nuts with some over a top comparisons like i don't know, lite Edwards, modern day George Gervin .

Even in current setting, for regular season he was 16 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg / 58% TS guy on 30 mpg / 23% usage.

Fact that Pacers don't give a f*** and start second round pick over him tells you that they are led by logic, not feelings and egos.

[basketballRob]

I mean, in some alternate reality, where Mathurin is on like 20 other teams, he would be babied due draft stock, average not very efficient 22-26 ppg and his fans would be busting nuts with some over a top comparisons like i don't know, lite Edwards, modern day George Gervin .

Even in current setting, for regular season he was 16 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg / 58% TS guy on 30 mpg / 23% usage.

Fact that Pacers don't give a f*** and start second round pick over him tells you that they are led by logic, not feelings and egos.

Black punked Mathurin a couple of times.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

[Skybox]

I mean, in some alternate reality, where Mathurin is on like 20 other teams, he would be babied due draft stock, average not very efficient 22-26 ppg and his fans would be busting nuts with some over a top comparisons like i don't know, lite Edwards, modern day George Gervin .

Even in current setting, for regular season he was 16 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg / 58% TS guy on 30 mpg / 23% usage.

Fact that Pacers don't give a f*** and start second round pick over him tells you that they are led by logic, not feelings and egos.

Black punked Mathurin a couple of times.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Not sure what that means...but I can tell you, without a doubt, that Mathurin is contributing to a Finals team atm.

If your contention is that AB > BM

[basketballRob]

I mean, in some alternate reality, where Mathurin is on like 20 other teams, he would be babied due draft stock, average not very efficient 22-26 ppg and his fans would be busting nuts with some over a top comparisons like i don't know, lite Edwards, modern day George Gervin .

Even in current setting, for regular season he was 16 ppg, 5 rpg, 2 apg / 58% TS guy on 30 mpg / 23% usage.

Fact that Pacers don't give a f*** and start second round pick over him tells you that they are led by logic, not feelings and egos.

Black punked Mathurin a couple of times.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Not sure what that means...but I can tell you, without a doubt, that Mathurin is contributing to a Finals team atm.

If your contention is that AB > BM

It all depends on matchups. Mathurin can't get anything against Black and has tried to start a fight with him a couple of times. Just brought that up because it seemed like their were insinuations that Black is only getting minutes because he was the 6th pick


Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

[Skybox]

Black punked Mathurin a couple of times.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM mobile app

Not sure what that means...but I can tell you, without a doubt, that Mathurin is contributing to a Finals team atm.

If your contention is that AB > BM

It all depends on matchups. Mathurin can't get anything against Black and has tried to start a fight with him a couple of times. Just brought that up because it seemed like their were insinuations that Black is only getting minutes because he was the 6th pick


Sent from my SM-G998U1 using RealGM mobile app

Interesting...and yet, he's killing Caruso, Wallace, JayW

[tiderulz]

2 wins away from tittle and Pacers look scary.

OKC thrives on pressure on main ball handler. Pacers have like 6 men who can handle the ball.

i disagree. They have McConnell, Haliburton and Nembhard. The others get the ball taken from them a lot.

[yoyojw17]

Both teams are playing with great poise that you just don't see from other NBA teams, but tonight IND was looking special with these number of players who can land into 12+ points or even 16-20+ points on any given night. TJ McConnell was a shorter Jalen Suggs for 15 minutes too.

2 very deep teams obviously but depth is useless if you're heliocentric. Thunder and Pacers though are so democratic with the ball and so good at finding the open guy to trust with the finish. They're both playing disciplined frantic defense but it doesn't feel like it because off-ball movement and total comfort handling the ball makes it easy to find the opening.

This has been what we have lacked.

But I'll give it time to experience for our top guys and our offensive coaches. Part of why I believe our three point shooting was so terrible this year.... even with wide open shots... player lacked confidence to shoot.... once they finally got the ball. We do now know what we have offensively in Paolo and franz... And they are out Alpha 1 and 2 .... Offensive engines. Even in a democratic play scheme ... The ball will still gravitate mainly back to those two players. Just in better spots.

[zaymon]

Pacers have best pace control ( pun i guess) in nba.
They forced OKC into playing their game, Carlisle always keeps starters fresh and has them ready to 4th quarters, that's why they have those "miracle" wins, especially against Knicks, who are polar opposite as Thib plays 6 men rotation.

They have 3 point guards on roster that are in rotation. There are several more players capable of self creation and creation for others, especially Siakam.
This concept of 3 point guards and pace control allows them to never panic, that's why they are so damn elite on a road. They never lose head.

When you look at their shot distribution it's crazy how balanced they are.
Siakam game 1: 15 shots
Siakam game 2 : 11 shots
Siakam game 3: 14 shots

Haliburton: 13,13, 17 shots.
Mathurin 5,7, 12 shots
Toppin 9,8,8 shots

They are so programmed to believe and buy into this team- first- team friendly system that they don't even feel like nba team. They feel like some Euroleague / Maccabi team from mid 2000s where all players were stars but they played in such fashion where you couldn't tell who is "star" and who is "role player" but you couldn't defeat them.

I enjoyed every second of game 3. Pacers were simply better team. OKC has pace issue, they are unsure what they want. Unforced adjustment to rotate I Hart out of starting 5 before series started was big surprise to me. Still can't understand why.

and we.have two guys chucking shots while others watch and rarely touch the ball.