Around the NBA 2026-27

Post #61 » by **DASMACKDOWN** » Fri May 1, 2026 12:31 am

Jcool0 wrote:Wow Ayo out tonight with a calf injury

Oh wow. Just terrible timing for the Wolves given they are already down their starting backcourt.

I guess Denver is going to make the 3-1 comeback after all.

dumbell78 · Post #62 » by **dumbell78** » Fri May 1, 2026 12:34 am

Minny has some unbelievable luck. This whole NBA playoffs has been a mess with injuries.

jordanwilliams6 · Post #63 » by **jordanwilliams6** » Fri May 1, 2026 2:21 am

Vuc is still exposed at being terrible. I thought there might have been a small chance that he would look good in a reduced role on an elite team with defense.

I guess he's just bad in all situations.

PaKii94 · Post #64 » by **PaKii94** » Fri May 1, 2026 2:46 am

jordanwilliams6 wrote:Vuc is still exposed at being terrible. I thought there might have been a small chance that he would look good in a reduced role on an elite team with defense.

I guess he's just bad in all situations.

That was 2021-2023 Vuc. He's way too old now

dumbell78 · Post #65 » by **dumbell78** » Fri May 1, 2026 2:51 am

Minny deserves to win this. Denver showing no heart facing the JV Minny team.

Dan Z · Post #66 » by **Dan Z** » Fri May 1, 2026 4:36 am

DASMACKDOWN wrote:
Jcool0 wrote:Wow Ayo out tonight with a calf injury

Oh wow. Just terrible timing for the Wolves given they are already down their starting backcourt.

I guess Denver is going to make the 3-1 comeback after all.

I was surprised Minnesota won tonight.

The Spurs should easily beat them in the next round.

kodo · Post #67 » by **kodo** » Fri May 1, 2026 5:00 am

Terrence Shannon Jr delivers, another Chicago kid wins it for Minny.

dumbell78 · Post #68 » by **dumbell78** » Fri May 1, 2026 5:29 am

Jamal Murray with a horrendous series, choked this last game big time.

Denver needs a hard re-set. Committed way too much money to guys that dont show up or are often injured.

NecessaryEvil · Post #69 » by **NecessaryEvil** » Fri May 1, 2026 6:50 am

Denver is clearly NOT the same team without Mike Malone

dumbell78 · Post #70 » by **dumbell78** » Fri May 1, 2026 7:44 am

NecessaryEvil wrote:Denver is clearly NOT the same team without Mike Malone

He was too hard and rigid was the subtle knock on him. Ownwrship thought they could get someone that was easier on the players and could relate more. Well they got it and got smoked in the first round.

Nikola made a joke that in Serbia everyone would be fired after that showing. Some kinda unintended truth to that comment.

Post #71 » by **DASMACKDOWN** » Fri May 1, 2026 10:27 am

I find it unbelievable that Denver lost that series. Especially the last game. There is no excuse to losing to that team that they had on the floor.

Shame on them.

The Spurs are going to have light work with what is left on the Twolves. Wemby has owned Gobert in the matchups this year and Spurs have the defensive chops to deal with the Wolves. Id say Spurs in 5 or 6.

kodo · Post #72 » by **kodo** » Fri May 1, 2026 4:21 pm

People always assume those small trades at the deadline are not really meanginful, but Ayo literally saved Minny's postseason and literally ended Denver's postseason. That game 4 Jaden was horrible (37%), Randle horrible (37%), Gobert couldn't make a layup (25%), Ant was awful when was in (1-8) and they lost Donte. Ayo literally replaced the offense of the entire starting lineup and won.

If Minny stayed pat at the deadline like Houston, then Denver advances. And what's crazy is they're 3-1 vs the Spurs. Joker is the only the guy in the league who's well equipped to defeat San Antonio. Instead Minny will be easily handled by SAS.

Talk about a butterfly effect.

MrSparkle · Post #73 » by **MrSparkle** » Fri May 1, 2026 5:20 pm

Yeah. Well, and I know Schanowski and Stacey were angry that Shannon Jr. wasn’t included in the Bulls trade (as a throw-in”)… and for a guy who hardly played all year, he stepped up and closed the series. Feel like he has the whole package for an athletic wing; the only knock was his age.

Have to say though, that Gobert and Randle frontline, they’ll have their brutal stretches, but all in all, both bigs have received a lot of criticism over the years considering how solid and impactful they can be in the playoffs. The numbers weren’t pretty, but they successfully neutralized Jokic.

FriedRise · Post #74 » by **FriedRise** » Fri May 1, 2026 5:22 pm

kodo wrote:People always assume those small trades at the deadline are not really meanginful, but Ayo literally saved Minny's postseason and literally ended Denver's postseason. That game 4 Jaden was horrible (37%), Randle horrible (37%), Gobert couldn't make a layup (25%), Ant was awful when was in (1-8) and they lost Donte. Ayo literally replaced the offense of the entire starting lineup and won.

If Minny stayed pat at the deadline like Houston, then Denver advances. And what's crazy is they're 3-1 vs the Spurs. Joker is the only the guy in the league who's well equipped to defeat San Antonio. Instead Minny will be easily handled by SAS.

Talk about a butterfly effect.

Thanks AK. Yup, I bet Minny wouldn't get past Denver if they still had Dillingham.

Jcool0 · Post #75 » by **Jcool0** » Sat May 2, 2026 12:00 am

Orlando looking pretty good so far.

Chi town · Post #76 » by **Chi town** » Sat May 2, 2026 12:06 am

Jcool0 wrote:Orlando looking pretty good so far.

Pistons just don’t have any scoring outside of Cade.

I think Ausar is way overrated too. Kid can’t and doesn’t shoot. That hurts the whole offense.

MrSparkle · Post #77 » by **MrSparkle** » Sat May 2, 2026 12:28 am

Chi town wrote:
Jcool0 wrote:Orlando looking pretty good so far.

Pistons just don’t have any scoring outside of Cade.

I think Ausar is way overrated too. Kid can’t and doesn’t shoot. That hurts the whole offense.

He’s also just 23 and has positive playoff on/off ratings in both years… so I doubt he’s the problem. Sure, it’d be nice if he could shoot (he’d be a superstar), but he’s versatile and productive. Averaging 3/2 stocks, and he’s switched between 3 tough assignments (Orlando’s 3 best scorers).

Meanwhile Duren laid a huge egg against Wendell… when your main guy goes from 26 PER in regular season to 12 in the first round… you’re in trouble.

Duncan and Tobias were expected to provide veteran scoring, but have been absolutely terrible (hugely negative on/off). 3 starters dropping production and giving up their defensive match-ups is impossible to overcome in the playoffs. Numerous times have seen TH and DR clank WIDE open 3s.

Cade’s numbers are insane, but feels like maybe there’s a disconnect in his role as a playmaker. Can’t blame him with his high TS, but I dunno… maybe Orlando’s gameplan was to let him get his, and suffocate the rest. Either way, this Orlando team ended up NOT being an ordinary 8-seed.

Jcool0 · Post #78 » by **Jcool0** » Sat May 2, 2026 1:15 am

Epic Magic collapse

Post #79 » by **DASMACKDOWN** » Sat May 2, 2026 1:18 am

Wow Orlando just wow.

They lost that lead in the same fashion that most expected. Cant hit any shots.

I cant even say if Pistons win this game they win the series. Magic are weird like that to still pull it out in game 7.

In saying that thought, they better win tonight.

ChicagoStrong · Post #80 » by **ChicagoStrong** » Sat May 2, 2026 1:29 am

Detroit is really on a 50-15 run