2024-25 NBA Thread: Thunder starting to question having 140 pound guy playing in post in Finals (97 Viewers)

[msudaisy26]

They are letting the Pistons play a little more physical than the Knicks.

 

[whoknew]

Good first half. Nice to see Cade have a much better game.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Tobias looked kind of old on that dunk attempt.

Pretty sure he had zero dunks during his entire time in philadelphia

Speaking of dunks, and sorry if this has been posted, but fwiw (nothing), Braun led the league. What surprised me though, is that the next closest player was 20 back they said.

Is that true? I think it was Shaq who brought it up last night.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

Is that true? I think it was Shaq who brought it up last night.

Braun led guards in dunks.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Is that true? I think it was Shaq who brought it up last night.

Braun led guards in dunks.

I couldn't believe it and looked at basketball-reference briefly but couldn't find **** so I figured I might have caught the tail-end of it. Thanks.

ETA I'm surprised that Basketball-Reference (and PFR) are so antiquated. That site looks like 2010.

 

[Jayrod]

Giannis lead the league with 243 dunks. Braun was #20 overall and had 94 dunks. Everyone above him are forwards and centers.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_2025_shooting.html

 

[General Malaise]

BTW, certainly not knocking Jokic for the flops. I have mad respect for it.

Come on dude, seriously?

When soccer players take a dive and writhe around on the ground, do you have mad respect for that? You'll probably lean on his size making it different but I don't see NFL linemen in peril from hitting the ground a hell of a lot more, with bodies galore.

I'm honestly curious. Would/do you teach kids to fake and/or flop in sports?

if you're not you are probably doing it wrong.....some of the best players in the world have been flopping for years and it has worked to their advantage and their teams advantage...high school has implemented rules to try and prevent it from trickling down.....but kids still do it...just don't think it works as well as it does in the NBA...

At the same time, I can't stand flopping, but I have respect for a 7" 350 lb man that should have about 6 MVPs by now taking a dive on a hardwood floor to gain an edge in a close game.

A 20 year old 5'6 130lb soccer player taking a roll in the grass? Fine with anybody trying to gain an advantage, but a different sort of sacrifice.

Mostly I hate flopping, but in that moment, I had respect for a massive SOB like Jokic taking a dive on the hardwood. Makes every bone in my old body hurt just thinking about it.

Also, I'd think a man's man like Jokic also finds it incredibly distasteful. Which makes me respect it even more.

yeah....I personally can't stand flopping either in any sport....and it's not just plays like Joker one....it's more Hardin back in the day driving and flailing his arms in the air and throwing his head back like a sniper just shot him....or players shooting a three and coming down falling before there is even any contact....and I still for the life of me don't understand how on virtually every layup some of the most athletic people on the planet end up on the ground on the baseline...like EVERY layup...

The newest entry to this list seems to be Brunson. Dude flops around like a rag doll if anyone even breathes on him.

Remind me, what did Nico Harrison get in return for Jalen Brunson?

That wasn't Nico's fault. Dallas could only offer four years at like 60 million without making a trade. Cuban was very upset when Brunson's dad got involved.

I know, I'm just laughing at how badly my childhood team has bungled what could have been. Seems almost impossible to believe.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Pistons putting themselves in a great position to blow another one

 

[msudaisy26]

Pistons putting themselves in a great position to blow another one

I want to give this the laugh and cry emoji at the same time and can't.

 

[identikit]

Come on Pistons...

One more quarter

 

[msudaisy26]

Win or lose, I love the Pistons defense.

 

[identikit]

Knicks trying to win this thing via free throws

 

[Yo Mama]

BTW, certainly not knocking Jokic for the flops. I have mad respect for it.

Come on dude, seriously?

When soccer players take a dive and writhe around on the ground, do you have mad respect for that? You'll probably lean on his size making it different but I don't see NFL linemen in peril from hitting the ground a hell of a lot more, with bodies galore.

I'm honestly curious. Would/do you teach kids to fake and/or flop in sports?

if you're not you are probably doing it wrong.....some of the best players in the world have been flopping for years and it has worked to their advantage and their teams advantage...high school has implemented rules to try and prevent it from trickling down.....but kids still do it...just don't think it works as well as it does in the NBA...

At the same time, I can't stand flopping, but I have respect for a 7" 350 lb man that should have about 6 MVPs by now taking a dive on a hardwood floor to gain an edge in a close game.

A 20 year old 5'6 130lb soccer player taking a roll in the grass? Fine with anybody trying to gain an advantage, but a different sort of sacrifice.

Mostly I hate flopping, but in that moment, I had respect for a massive SOB like Jokic taking a dive on the hardwood. Makes every bone in my old body hurt just thinking about it.

Also, I'd think a man's man like Jokic also finds it incredibly distasteful. Which makes me respect it even more.

yeah....I personally can't stand flopping either in any sport....and it's not just plays like Joker one....it's more Hardin back in the day driving and flailing his arms in the air and throwing his head back like a sniper just shot him....or players shooting a three and coming down falling before there is even any contact....and I still for the life of me don't understand how on virtually every layup some of the most athletic people on the planet end up on the ground on the baseline...like EVERY layup...

The newest entry to this list seems to be Brunson. Dude flops around like a rag doll if anyone even breathes on him.

Remind me, what did Nico Harrison get in return for Jalen Brunson?

That wasn't Nico's fault. Dallas could only offer four years at like 60 million without making a trade. Cuban was very upset when Brunson's dad got involved.

I know, I'm just laughing at how badly my childhood team has bundled what could have been. Seems almost impossible to believe.

It actually was a fumble by the Mavs. Brunson has said he would have taken the 4-year extension when first eligible (even said he would have gone for a little less at 4/$50m). Mavs didn’t want to commit since they had new coach/gm and Cuban was looking to land another top star (a Brunson extension would have locked him up for trades for a while).

Mavs still didn’t offer him the extension in the offseason even after he had a big playoffs, and he even said he would have taken the 4/$55m then.

That next season Brunson blew up (especially after Doncic got hurt) and was no longer considering the same extension. He was mad at not getting the offer the previous season and offseason and totally outplayed that lower $ amount.

Mavs still could have offered more, but would have had to dump Hardaway’s contract somewhere. They didn’t want to do that. So Mavs had plenty of opportunity to extend Brunson but chose not to.

Link to an espn article: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44320045/the-wonder-boy-jalen-brunson-tim-macmahon

 

[msudaisy26]

Pistons are panicking on offense on every trip.

 

[Synthesizer]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

 

[msudaisy26]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

A little, but the Pistons are a physical team. The Pistons need to stop giving them free throws.

 

[msudaisy26]

Oof, the offense just can't get out of its own way.

 

[msudaisy26]

The Knicks are just doubling, holding and hugging Cade. They know no one else can beat them.

 

[identikit]

Pistons can't blow this one?

 

[msudaisy26]

Pistons can't blow this one?

You shut your mouth!

 

[GOB]

Nobody likes watching Brunson play offense, right?

 

[whoknew]

HELL YEA. PISTONS, BABY!

 

[msudaisy26]

Nobody likes watching Brunson play offense, right?

Watching no, but he is really good at it and makes a lot of tough shots.

 

[scoobus]

Going forward, I'd like to see Thibs shorten his bench.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

A little, but the Pistons are a physical team. The Pistons need to stop giving them free throws.

Knicks are pretty physical too. On the offensive end, Brunson was pretty much just shoving guys or bulldozing them every time he drove the lane, and it seemed like the Knicks were giving little shoves in the back when Piston defenders were coming down with rebounds along the baseline. Playoff basketball I guess

 

[trader jake]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

 

[msudaisy26]

Going forward, I'd like to see Thibs shorten his bench.

Are they going to play with four?

 

[whoknew]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

A little, but the Pistons are a physical team. The Pistons need to stop giving them free throws.

Knicks are pretty physical too. On the offensive end, Brunson was pretty much just shoving guys or bulldozing them every time he drove the lane, and it seemed like the Knicks were giving little shoves in the back when Piston defenders were coming down with rebounds along the baseline. Playoff basketball I guess

I'm a Pistons fan and I thought the teams were pretty equally physical. And the refs didn't call anything.

Brunson is a great player - but man he's annoying to watch. Just always flopping, jumping into defenders, and faking like he got hit in the head.

 

[msudaisy26]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

He is an all-NBA level player. Not 1st team/MVP candidate, but is definitely 2nd or 3rd tier.

 

[scoobus]

I thought the Knicks were being underrated by some entering the playoffs (even taking into account their awful record against quality teams), but man I dunno now. KAT is such a beast sometimes, and other times a Charmin soft ghost. Probably didn't factor in how poor rebounding they are at multiple positions, Josh Hart notwithstanding.

 

[GroveDiesel]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

He annoys me a lot, but his game seems well suited for the playoffs. He plays good defense, he’s physical on both ends of the floor, and he can draw fouls consistently.

 

[Jayrod]

Good basketball to start the Clips-Nuggets game. Kawhi 5/5 for 12 points but Denver is ahead.

 

[Kev4029]

Good basketball to start the Clips-Nuggets game. Kawhi 5/5 for 12 points but Denver is ahead.

9/10 now and they are all contested. He's tough to defend because he's so strong and he shoots straight over his head with his long arms and does it with basically just a wrist flick.

 

[Frostillicus]

I thought the Knicks were being underrated by some entering the playoffs (even taking into account their awful record against quality teams), but man I dunno now. KAT is such a beast sometimes, and other times a Charmin soft ghost. Probably didn't factor in how poor rebounding they are at multiple positions, Josh Hart notwithstanding.

Welcome to the KAT experience.

 

[trader jake]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

He annoys me a lot, but his game seems well suited for the playoffs. He plays good defense, he’s physical on both ends of the floor, and he can draw fouls consistently.

Those fouls dry up as the postseason gets deeper. I'm not sure Brunson's a good defensive player either. He's good at drawing non-sense charges and is a smart positional defender, but he can't stay in front of anybody and he's too small to be switchable.

Overall, he's overrated by the masses. Way too many people put him in the top10 category and I just don't think he's that guy. :head snap:

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

A little, but the Pistons are a physical team. The Pistons need to stop giving them free throws.

Knicks are pretty physical too. On the offensive end, Brunson was pretty much just shoving guys or bulldozing them every time he drove the lane, and it seemed like the Knicks were giving little shoves in the back when Piston defenders were coming down with rebounds along the baseline. Playoff basketball I guess

Brunson is a great player - but man he's annoying to watch. Just always flopping, jumping into defenders, and faking like he got hit in the head.

Huh? I loved it, mad respect for that stuff.


Sorry I couldn't help it.

 

[Yo Mama]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

His postseason stats are mostly better than his regular season stats since he’s been with the Knicks. Not sure if that’s a fair criticism for Brunson. I’m not defending the flopping, though, that sucks.

 

[Major]

Loving this DEN LAC series

 

[msudaisy26]

Knicks aren’t even trying to play basketball at this point. Just acting and flopping around and getting every whistle.

Brunson is the new Chris Paul

Constantly grifting to an annoying level. Also, big regular season stats that appear to put him among a level of player he isn't. Doubt he has what it takes to win deep in the playoffs either.

His postseason stats are mostly better than his regular season stats since he’s been with the Knicks. Not sure if that’s a fair criticism for Brunson. I’m not defending the flopping, though, that sucks.

For like the 45 years every NBA champion has had a first team all NBA player on it except the 04 Pistons. So down grading Brunson because he can't win deep in the playoff when literally no player of his caliber ever has.

 

[Yo Mama]

The league needs to step in and fine some of these flops like they’re supposed to.

 

[Jayrod]

What a game. Kawhi is still a stud. That was 2 really good teams going at it.

Denver crushed the Clippers on the boards 50-32, but had 20 turnovers to LA's 11. Denver got 10 more FTs but only made 4 more.

 

[Yo Mama]

Incredible game by Kawhi. Seemed like Gordon did a good job contesting his shots and he still made them all.

 

[Major]

Yeah, that Kawhi performance was God tier. I kind of forgot how good he can be. Easily the best player on the court last night.

 

[msudaisy26]

If the Pistons win this series, and I don't think they will, then the Knicks have to fire Thibs don't they?

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Last night was the first Pistons playoff win that my son has been alive for. He was excited about that (even though he isn’t a fan lol).

 

[msudaisy26]

Last night was the first Pistons playoff win that my son has been alive for. He was excited about that (even though he isn’t a fan lol).

First playoff win in 17 years. They were 0 and 15 before last night.

 

[identikit]

Loving Joe!!!

OMG

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Last night was the first Pistons playoff win that my son has been alive for. He was excited about that (even though he isn’t a fan lol).

First playoff win in 17 years. They were 0 and 15 before last night.

The current Pistons roster has players that were as young as 2 the last time they won a game.

 

[msudaisy26]

What a game. Kawhi is still a stud. That was 2 really good teams going at it.

Denver crushed the Clippers on the boards 50-32, but had 20 turnovers to LA's 11. Denver got 10 more FTs but only made 4 more.

If Kawhi stayed healthy, I think we would be looking at a top 10 all time player.

 

[Judge Smails]

What a game. Kawhi is still a stud. That was 2 really good teams going at it.

Denver crushed the Clippers on the boards 50-32, but had 20 turnovers to LA's 11. Denver got 10 more FTs but only made 4 more.

If Kawhi stayed healthy, I think we would be looking at a top 10 all time player.

That's a big if and a bit high. Could have seen him cracking top 20 though