NBA 2024-25 Thread

[DaveC]

i've never experienced a true tank season before. it's really funny to me how many raptors fans are getting legitimately angry when they play well and win. as if the difference between a 7.5% chance and a 6% chance at the first pick is going to destroy the raptors for a generation lol.

 

[Hewson]

i've never experienced a true tank season before. it's really funny to me how many raptors fans are getting legitimately angry when they play well and win. as if the difference between a 7.5% chance and a 6% chance at the first pick is going to destroy the raptors for a generation lol.

Having experienced getting Ron Mercer and Chauncy Billups instead of Tim Duncan and anyone else in 1997 I can tell you they have a legit gripe.

 

[lazarus]

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

I'm not sure the results last night says what you think it does

 

[Hewson]

I'm not sure the results last night says what you think it does

Parade route mapped out in LA baby!

 

[mikal]

I remember when my favorite team won a regular season game once.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

look - any team that has Luka has a puncher's chance in a short series.

but i wouldn't be planning any parades over an early april lead over a team with nothing to play for who maaaaaybe don't want to give away any secrets as to how they'd defend the lesser opponent in a potential playoff series.

i mean SGA shot zero free throws. zero.

 

[cobl04]

What I would be planning for, however, is to light beams all across the country. The Kings have now destroyed the East's best team and one of the best contenders in consecutive days.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

good finish by Aussie Tyrese Proctor the other night

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

the nuggets saw the grizzlies do something stupid and said hold my beer

 

[Hewson]

I mean WTF can that possibly accomplish at this stage?

 

[phanan]

It's not like they are gonna win anything anyway.

The number of baffling decisions in the NBA this season have truly been...baffling.

 

[Hewson]

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Nick Nurse may be a good tank commander, but there are better ones

 

[Hewson]

Remember when folks in Philly thought bringing in Day-off P made them a true title contender?

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i was pretty confident that it could turn out to be a disaster because of the inability of either star to stay healthy - and even I undershot how much of a disaster it actually turned out to be. what a mess.

May 12 will be the day that decides whether Philly or Phoenix was the bigger clusterfuck.

Phoenix is already out of the playoffs - and will lose their pick this year - currently slated at 9th. KD has diminishing trade value, an Beal has zero trade value, and their only true way out is to trade Booker - which they obviously don't want to do.

Philly is a mess - but currently has their pick - slated at 5. If two teams jump them in the lottery - they'll also lose their pick - as it's top 6 protected. embiid is a disaster with an untradable contract. pg is a disaster, but at least on a shorter contract. but they do have a way out if they somehow keep their pick or, god forbid, win the lottery. if they lose their pick - their only way out is to trade Maxey - which they obviously don't want to do.

clusterfuck upon clusterfuck.

hoping david stern is up there rigging the lottery in a favorable way. philly doesn't deserve it after how they managed the process and post process, and their egregious tanking and "load management." new orleans doesn't deserve it after how they've butchered zion and that rebuild. san antonio - come on - you have your guy. brooklyn? is where players go to die of irrelevance.

washington (and i'm not just saying that because of obvious reasons), Utah and Charlotte are due for some good luck. toronto has done things the right way - so wouldn't be that much of a bummer if they won - but they also had a chip not to long ago - so, like, give them the #3 pick.

 

[Hewson]

Beal's play has become shockingly putrid. Watched him score a whopping 1 point vs the Celts in 30 minutes last Friday.
Durant let down by his teammates yet again. When will the guy catch a break.

Hoping Philly falls to 7th in the draft and OKC gets their pick. Reap what you sow.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Beal's play has become shockingly putrid. Watched him score a whopping 1 point vs the Celts in 30 minutes last Friday.
Durant let down by his teammates yet again. When will the guy catch a break.

Hoping Philly falls to 7th in the draft and OKC gets their pick. Reap what you sow.

I mean - not for nothing? This was an inherently predictable outcome.

I thought that maybe Bud would be able to get it to work with his five out offense because it's worked (at least in the regular season) everywhere else he's been - but seems like that place was more toxic than anybody knew.

You put three guys together who all do the same thing. They all shoot the mid range jumper. And two are clearly better than the third - but the third holds all the cards because of his no trade clause.

And oh, by the way, Beal hasn't played defense in 10 years. He's a dreadful off ball defender.

 

[mikal]

While I do NOT believe the Bucks have a legit shot at the title (even though they already won it this year), I will take joy in the fact that I didn't think any team will want to face them in the postseason. Also, they're finally younger and found some gems and I suddenly have hope for future seasons. Been a fun end to the season.

 

[Hewson]

While I do NOT believe the Bucks have a legit shot at the title (even though they already won it this year), I will take joy in the fact that I didn't think any team will want to face them in the postseason. Also, they're finally younger and found some gems and I suddenly have hope for future seasons. Been a fun end to the season.

They're a formidable offensive force as currently constructed. Have some 3-point pop off the bench with Trent, Connaughton and others, But I think their defense will be their eventual downfall. I think they take out Indiana and could give Cleveland a run for their money. Not getting past a healthy Celtics if they both get to the ECF.

 

[mikal]

They're a formidable offensive force as currently constructed. Have some 3-point pop off the bench with Trent, Connaughton and others, But I think their defense will be their eventual downfall. I think they take out Indiana and could give Cleveland a run for their money. Not getting past a healthy Celtics if they both get to the ECF.

For sure they're not getting to the finals, I'm more talking about their youth movement and midseason trade paying off.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

you might get Kuz'd

 

[U2inUtah]

Take that 'Zards! Jazz are officially the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked (at least this season)

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Take that 'Zards! Jazz are officially the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked (at least this season)

a self inflicted wound in a season of them.

i suppose i should be happy that the kids showed improvement as the year went along and that we tanked "ethically" - as opposed to Utah and Charlotte - who have more talent than we do - or Philly, who is just a clusterfuck of ineptitude.

but - alas... i'm not lol.

i guess the hope is that the worst team hasn't won the first overall pick since they started flattening the odds. but we could also fall to 6th now - and falling to 6th after that year would be so fucking depressing.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

i don't think the lakers or warriors are championship level teams... but damn it if the sun doesn't shine on that dog's ass each and every year.

they each have by far the easiest path to the conference finals - and once you get to a conference finals - welp anything can happen from there.

OKC's going to have to go through either the best player in the world in Jokic or a sneakily good team in the Clippers - who may actually have a shot at a ring if - and this is a gigantic if - Kawhi can keep it together and stay healthy through June.

lakers and warriors could both lose their first round matchup - but i'm assuming they'll win - provided that GSW wins the play in game. it should be a no brainer - but if Butler's leg is hurt and he's limited then Memphis could pull it out, which throws my whole argument out the window.

the east... well... the western conference playoffs will be good!

 

[Hewson]

a sneakily good team in the Clippers - who may actually have a shot at a ring if - and this is a gigantic if - Kawhi can keep it together and stay healthy through June.

Just have to jettison Day-off P and your fortunes change. And of course, if you're the team that signs him to a 4-year $211 Mil contract, your fortunes will also change.

 

[Hewson]

If that Clips/Warriors game yesterday was any indication the west playoffs should be something. And the east definitely on paper looks blah until the projected ECF, but one never knows.

 

[Headache in a Suitcase]

Phoenix is currently paying three coaches to not coach - and unless they hire one Frank Vogel or Monty Williams here - conceivably will be paying four head coaches next year.

 

[U2inUtah]

a self inflicted wound in a season of them.

i suppose i should be happy that the kids showed improvement as the year went along and that we tanked "ethically" - as opposed to Utah and Charlotte - who have more talent than we do - or Philly, who is just a clusterfuck of ineptitude.

but - alas... i'm not lol.

i guess the hope is that the worst team hasn't won the first overall pick since they started flattening the odds. but we could also fall to 6th now - and falling to 6th after that year would be so fucking depressing.

Yeah, the only think Jazz “won” yesterday was a guarantee to stay in top 5. Hopefully nothing crazy happens and and Jazz and Wizards go 1, 2

 

[U2inUtah]

Light The Beam! Light The Beam! Light The Beam!