2024-25 NBA Season Discussion

[jalengreen]

Gonna be weird when they win the title and all the discourse is “Okay cool but he’s not Jordan”

[TheGOATRises007]

Gonna be weird when they win the title and all the discourse is “Okay cool but he’s not Jordan”

Current media is trash.

There's a photo circulating how Stephen A is playing solitaire and isn't even watching the game.

[Outside]

I gave Indiana props after game 1 for their poise. OKC showed it in game 4. Well done.

Great series. Great playoffs.

[falcolombardi]

I gave Indiana props after game 1 for their poise. OKC showed it in game 4. Well done.

Great series. Great playoffs.

Nahh

Meh finals, not enough ratings

[jalengreen]

Hope this isnt the moment where the Pacers suffer the fate of the 2000 Blazers and 2002 Kings and we look back saying they were up 2-1 w/ the lead heading into the 4th of game 4

It will be tbh

We now have

G4 vs DEN: OKC on the road down 8 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

G4 vs IND: OKC on the road down 7 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

Type of leads that can get wiped in a minute and both of them were at the start of the 4th but still, yeesh, heartbreakers you don’t forget as a fan

[GSP]

Gonna be weird when they win the title and all the discourse is “Okay cool but he’s not Jordan”

Prolly b/c of all the glazing we had to hear during the whole season and the historical company and convos ppl were putting him in including Mj. I mean there were threads here made about it too

[GSP]

Hope this isnt the moment where the Pacers suffer the fate of the 2000 Blazers and 2002 Kings and we look back saying they were up 2-1 w/ the lead heading into the 4th of game 4

It will be tbh

We now have

G4 vs DEN: OKC on the road down 8 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

G4 vs IND: OKC on the road down 7 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

Type of leads that can get wiped in a minute and both of them were at the start of the 4th but still, yeesh, heartbreakers you don’t forget as a fan

Denver were never gonna win w/ how shallow their team was this season. Wolves are a matchup problem they wouldve lost too if not theyre not beating Indiana either. Even if they went up 3-1 i still think Okc wouldve won. Now if Pacers went up 3-1 i think it wouldve been over

[jalengreen]

It will be tbh

We now have

G4 vs DEN: OKC on the road down 8 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

G4 vs IND: OKC on the road down 7 in the 4th quarter while down 2-1 in the series

Type of leads that can get wiped in a minute and both of them were at the start of the 4th but still, yeesh, heartbreakers you don’t forget as a fan

Denver were never gonna win w/ how shallow their team was this season. Wolves are a matchup problem they wouldve lost too if not theyre not beating Indiana either. Even if they went up 3-1 i still think Okc wouldve won. Now if Pacers went up 3-1 i think it wouldve been over

I think OKC would’ve had a solid chance down 3-1 in either series but yeah agree that DEN wasn’t winning a chip.

[jalengreen]

Gonna be weird when they win the title and all the discourse is “Okay cool but he’s not Jordan”

Prolly b/c of all the glazing we had to hear during the whole season and the historical company and convos ppl were putting him in including Mj. I mean there were threads here made about it too

Do you think Jordan hasn’t had seasons where other all time great guards would have won the Finals in his place? Honest question as that seemed to be part of your Shai criticism. Would make sense if you’re distinguishing MJ rings as “only MJ could have done this” vs a Shai ring

In either case I suspect the outcome of this series will only fuel more Shai threads so prepare to be more annoyed

[Verticality]

Crushed. Not over but that felt like our chance.

[ShaqAttac]

Why there so many big 4th qrt chokes these pos?

[Statlanta]

I'm OK with the Thunder winning the series as a neutral fan but I would be sick if they play the series highlights and show that Gilgeous-Alexander push off/gather step as a clutch moment.

[eminence]

I'm OK with the Thunder winning the series as a neutral fan but I would be sick if they play the series highlights and show that Gilgeous-Alexander push off/gather step as a clutch moment.

MJ's got nothing on SGA on this one at least.

GOAT tier push-off

[jalengreen]

Not over but Shai saved his legacy with that run, it was lookin rough. MVP moment for sure

Got away with a blatant travel and push off lol. Like yeah people won’t remember it if OKC wins the series but he got very lucky there.

I thought it was a travel at the time as well, but looks clean with a gather + two steps.

Nesmith also frankly fouls Shai right before the push-off. Man he was getting cooked down the stretch, could do nothing but foul.

[Outside]

I'm OK with the Thunder winning the series as a neutral fan but I would be sick if they play the series highlights and show that Gilgeous-Alexander push off/gather step as a clutch moment.

Indiana has been holding, grabbing, pushing him all series. They've been very physical with him. Shai has been tough under that pressure, still showing elite shot-making under that physical pressure. I don't have a problem with him pushing off considering what they're doing to him.

[eminence]

I think that they're quite generous with 'gather' to the point of it really being gather +3 these days, but it was fine within the way they've called it recently. Not unique to that play or any team in particular.

The general physical level to me still seems slanted too far towards perimeter ballhandlers in the RS, and it being close to evenly called in the playoffs is due to them adjusting the wrong way - allowing more physical (handsy) defense instead of pulling back on the level allowed from guys on offense, who are still throwing themselves into defenders. Obviously they should start those adjustments in the RS, not switching up the POs dramatically (not a big fan of that - which we're currently getting the other way), and just my preference - I'm sure some prefer current play.

[penbeast0]

I have real problems with the pushoff, it's illegal and it should be. Maybe allowable a bit in the post when they aren't moving and aren't as likely to create injuries. I also have a problem with illegal grabbing and pushing but two wrongs don't make for either right or good basketball.

[TheGOATRises007]

I have real problems with the pushoff, it's illegal and it should be. Maybe allowable a bit in the post when they aren't moving and aren't as likely to create injuries. I also have a problem with illegal grabbing and pushing but two wrongs don't make for either right or good basketball.

Might be something they look into during the off-season.

I like SGA, but he pushes off a lot. Egregiously at times.

[CKRT]

Man no idea what trade value is anymore. 4 picks and a swap for Bane seems insane.

[Doctor MJ]

Man no idea what trade value is anymore. 4 picks and a swap for Bane seems insane.

So, my thoughts in order when I read the trade:

1. Nice, the Magic got Bane. His shooting should really help them. I like this trade for the Magic!

2. Wait, the Magic are sending out Cole Anthony and not getting a point guard? Crap, are they really going to double down on the idea that Helio Paolo should run their offense? I'm worried about the Magic.

3. Wait, why are the Grizzlies trading Bane at all. They can't really covet Anthony or KCP that much can they? Oh no...

4. Oh my god, the Magic gave them absolutely everything for Bane. They must have fallen in love with him as the perfect fit to complete their core...but do they? I don't think so. I think they were going to need more assets, and I really worry that they are building their offense around a false premise.

5. Okay, I get it for the Grizz now. This gives them some options going forward, though it could easily get quite awkward if they don't use those assets to keep building around Ja & JJJ.