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NBA General Discussion: 24-25

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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1281 » by mjkvol » Mon Jun 9, 2025 1:57 pm

Murray_17 wrote:
mjkvol wrote:The Pacers can't get to the rim over even clean looks from 3 against this swarming defense, the only chance they have to keep games close is to spam 3's and hit a crazy % like they did in the 4th quarter of game 1. OKC is too deep with long wings who can guard, they defend the rim and are still able to close hard on 3's, and they can play big or small as they choose. And they have the best shot creator in the game right now.


OKC gives the most corner 3s in the entire league, and Indiana was exploiting that pretty good in the first quarter. It would also help them extend the OKC defense. Playing Hali off ball also is a great option because you had Dort glued to him so you can get a side of the floor clean

And then the bench unit came and the game went to **** :lol:

I get that Carlisle doesn't like to over-extend players, but this is the finals, just play your best guys all the minutes it takes. Yes, it's a long shot, and you need to shoot well every time to win, but if that's what it takes, just do it. It's not like you have to worry about keeping guys fresh for another series. Not that I think this is gonna make them favorites or that they can actually win, but it's the closest you're gonna get to do it.

Yeah OKC has, probably, the best defense in the story of the league that's tailor-made to stop you, and they also have the MVP. More reason to stick to the desperate plan


Carlisle sticks with the deep rotation so they can play at the pace they play and pressure the ball for 48 minutes. Problem is, as you alluded to, they are at such a talent disadvantage that guys like TJ are unplayable in this series.

My guess is he goes down playing the way that has worked for them so far in the playoffs, but it'll be interesting to see how he adjusts in game 3.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1282 » by sodmoraes » Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:17 am

TJ is a beast

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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1283 » by Jailblazers7 » Thu Jun 12, 2025 1:26 am

Crazy watching TJ swing a Finals game
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1284 » by Jailblazers7 » Thu Jun 12, 2025 2:35 am

Hell of a third quarter from Jalen Williams
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1285 » by zaz102 » Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:00 am

Can this be called the TJ McConnell game?
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1286 » by mjkvol » Thu Jun 12, 2025 3:44 am

The Pacers beat them at their own game down the stretch - killer defense and transition scoring.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1287 » by the_process » Thu Jun 12, 2025 4:13 am

How ‘bout them Pacers?

They’ve officially exceeded any realistic expectations now, even if they get blown out the next three games (which is still a possibility).
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1288 » by M2J » Thu Jun 12, 2025 5:48 am

Pacers feel like a great college team
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1289 » by MVP1992 » Thu Jun 12, 2025 7:38 am

mjkvol wrote: Problem is, as you alluded to, they are at such a talent disadvantage that guys like TJ are unplayable in this series.



Lucky TJ played the minutes he did :)
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1290 » by Stanford » Thu Jun 12, 2025 9:53 am

TJ>Mikal Bridges.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1291 » by zaz102 » Thu Jun 12, 2025 11:23 am

I'm waiting for the notification that the Knicks got their request denied to interview Rick Carlisle.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1292 » by mjkvol » Thu Jun 12, 2025 12:10 pm

MVP1992 wrote:
mjkvol wrote: Problem is, as you alluded to, they are at such a talent disadvantage that guys like TJ are unplayable in this series.



Lucky TJ played the minutes he did :)



Yeah, that comment didn't age well, did it? After watching game 2, it appeared that any TJ minutes were going to be a disaster, but isn't it just like him to flip the script.

If Indy manages to pull this out, which I still don't believe they actually will, they have to go down as perhaps the unlikeliest NBA champion ever.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1293 » by Murray_17 » Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:12 pm



For people who think coaching doesn't matter
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1294 » by Jailblazers7 » Fri Jun 13, 2025 4:18 pm

I definitely underrated the coaching advantage for Indy in this series. The youth + coaching inexperience for OKC has been a huge issue for them.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1295 » by zaz102 » Fri Jun 13, 2025 5:23 pm

Murray_17 wrote:

For people who think coaching doesn't matter
I'm a big believer that the best coaches in the NBA aren't much better than the worst coaches in the NBA outside a few outliers. And by that I mean that talent mostly drives championships.

However, when you look at the past, the teams that won the championships have had at least borderlone MVP level talent as their best player with either multiple all-stars and/or practically a super team- Celtics, Nuggets, Bucks, Warriors, etc.

Haliburton is one of the weakest best player and I would say the supporting cast seems average at best when compared to other Finals teams.

Carlisle has been great. I've seen great moves at when to call or not call timeouts, when to go to certain players, and run a style that is tough for the opponent to go against. I always liked Carlisle, but damn is he putting on a clinic this playoffs.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1296 » by Jailblazers7 » Fri Jun 13, 2025 6:16 pm

I think it’s time to stop discounting the Pacers talent level tho. They have a very deep and talent team + Hali is clearly a top 10-15 player when fully healthy. Carlisle has done a masterful job putting all the pieces together but this is a real championship level roster.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1297 » by Murray_17 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 12:55 am

zaz102 wrote:
Haliburton is one of the weakest best player and I would say the supporting cast seems average at best when compared to other Finals teams.



I mean, outside of playing Siakam at the nail. All of those adjustments are possible because OKC need to keep a man on Hali at all times and because he can play off ball. It's obviously not Curry's level gravity but it's the same concept.

At this point i think is easy to say Hali is, at worst, a top 12 guy in the league and he's not in his prime yet
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1298 » by zaz102 » Sat Jun 14, 2025 1:06 am

Murray_17 wrote:
zaz102 wrote:
Haliburton is one of the weakest best player and I would say the supporting cast seems average at best when compared to other Finals teams.



I mean, outside of playing Siakam at the nail. All of those adjustments are possible because OKC need to keep a man on Hali at all times and because he can play off ball. It's obviously not Curry's level gravity but it's the same concept.

At this point i think is easy to say Hali is, at worst, a top 12 guy in the league and he's not in his prime yet
I agree, but who are you putting current Haliburton above from these teams?

'24 Celtics (Tatum)
'23 Nuggets (Jokic)
'22 Warriors (Curry)
'21 Bucks (Giannis)
'20 Lakers (James)
'19 Raptors (Leonard)
'17-'18 Warriors (Curry)

I would say only Tatum is close, but I consider the Celtics a super team.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1299 » by Sixersftw » Sat Jun 14, 2025 1:22 am

Tj da goat.
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Re: NBA General Discussion: 24-25 

Post#1300 » by Iverson Armband » Sat Jun 14, 2025 2:29 am

Haliburton’s passing is special. He’s basically what everyone thought Lonzo Ball was going to be, funky shot and all.
always a jump shot away.

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