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2024-25 NBA Thread: Finals return after 3-month hiatus (111 Viewers)

What a game!!
It's had a lot of ups and downs
44-25 the Cavs were up at one point
You would think once the Pacers take the lead that the Cavs would roll over but they've fought back
Agreed pretty good game, just feels like the Cavs are waiting to be knocked out
Not impressed with Atkinson as a coach during this Series
I understand 64 wins, 1-seed, coach of the year...maybe he's not as good as some think
 
I'm more anxious about Boston tonight than I've been in 2 years.

This is a season (and era) defining game. Win and take control of the series again and get poised to make another Finals run and possibly go back to back. Lose and you are likely going to get beat in the 2nd round and last year's title will be labeled a lucky fluke with a ton of roster questions going into the offseason. All the criticism of Tatum would suddenly seem justified and proven right.
I'm a prophet, FYI
 
The Tatum injury has scared me away from wanting to push in a lot of chips for Giannis and his max contract ... not just Tatum, but also the recent injuries to other max contracts, Kyrie and Dame; they add to the fright. I have not forgotten Giannis' calf issues in the playoffs the previous season either.

Also , I am quickly warming up to the idea of a three guard rotation of Fox-Castle-Harper. Then go grab Kornet and present a 3-2 (3 guards, 2 Bigs) lineup to match up what the thunder are cooking.

That leaves Vassell, Keldon, Barnes, Sochan, and 15 min/game CP3 to round out the rotation. And Blake Wesley (still have hopes he can develop into rotational level guy) and the #14 pick overall to round out the team. Not bad. Still leaves us with a nice cache of draft capital and an easy to manage salary structure.

Sheesh, It was not that long ago Jeremy Sochan was our starting PG.

That 2028 Boston swap is looking very sexy right now, though it is top-1 protected.
Still trying to decide if I'm a Spurs fan or a Thunder fan now. I connected to OKC after college there and many friends, but I also have connections to San Antonio. They're the two closest franchises and any other choice just feels random.

Or maybe I just continue to never watch again. That path seems sadder though.
Damn, abandoning your team when they get worse, and choosing between 2 teams that should be good for a long time. That's some next level bandwagonning.
Who abandoned who?
Instinctive was always a vocal Mavs fan until they got worse, and now says he is trying to decide between the Spurs and the Thunder as his new favorite team :lmao:

Guys......he's joking. He's not really looking for a new team to root for. Fix your sarcasm detectors.
I'm not actually being particularly sarcastic.

You all have no idea the level of outright betrayal and sadness and hurt.

The team may not even be worse. Especially with the number one pick in Flagg now. This isn't like "oh no they're not as good now I guess I'll do something else" - I suffered through the Monta Ellis and Harrison Barnes and Dennis Smith Jr years lol.

The Luka trade, the execution of it, and most importantly the backstabbing and outright mean way they went about every aspect of it not only to Luka but to the fans, is morally reprehensible to me. It disgusts me on a deep level.

I don't think I can ever give my money to those gross people. It just hurts still.

The only logical choices left, then, are:
1. Just ignore basketball forever (ridiculous, because I love the sport)
2. Root for nobody (idk that just seems like not me)
3. Pick another team and try to rebuild the sense of joy and love that comes with watching a team you feel proud to root for.

So three is the likely best option. Now in picking a team, you can't just bandwagon. So I have more or less narrowed it to 3 teams, which are the ones I have ties to.

A. OKC - I was there at the beginning as a college student, they are the closest team to me by distance, I respect their culture and how they do business, I frequent the area due to friends and for alumni activities...so its a solid option

B. SAS - the next closest team, and one I have personal ties to because my one of my friends and mentors is the President. They have also always done business the right way and value people as people, moreso than any other sports franchise I've ever encountered. Moreso than any business, period, I've encountered. So I can feel good rooting for them.

C. The Bulls - my parents are from Chicago and root for them, and we lived there for a couple years when my wife went to grad school. But it was COVID, so I never really got to go see them or form a bond.

I think OKC is the one that gives me the most games to go to, and will be the most fun in group chats.

So, esteemed General, no need to defend me. FWIW, this demon guy is on my ignore list with a note to remind me why, but the note is kind of mean so I wont repeat it. Suffice to say I don't think he knows much about any sport, doesn't contribute much to the board, and is kinda mean. That's what ignore is for!

Cry me a river on being a Mavs fan. They made a bad trade, deal with it. Try being a Knicks fan for last 40 years. It has been brutal. The number of brutal trades/signings, etc. are too many to count during the incompetency of Dolan. Our biggest win in last 25 years was a non-close out game in the Eastern Conference Semis. You had years of relevance and a championship with Dirk. A good run with Luka and now the first pick.

We actually started this line-up - https://x.com/KnicksMuse/status/1764693608630812749?lang=en Don't tell me about Monta Ellis and Dennis Smith era was so tough. Hell, we got Smith back as part of the deal trading away our only good talent on the team at the time - KP.


@SWC - Is this what you are looking for?
 
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All the hustle plays going to the Pacers. The Cavs just look beat up.
Indy wants it more. They've wanted it more all series. This is the Cavs ceiling. Can't run it back with this group. Pillow soft.

I wouldn't go that far. Mitchell and Garland look hurt. Mobley doesn't look like himself since he missed game 2
Hard to win when you three best players are playing hurt and not playing well because of it..
 
So if you lose in the playoffs just blow it up? Good thing the last four NBA champs didn't do that.
I certainly think it's disappointing for the Cavs to win 64 and bow out in 5 during the Semi-Finals
In hockey, the Panthers were the 1-seed and got beat in the opening round, overhauled the roster and then went B2B NHL Finals, 1 Stanley Cup
In the NBA you can't overhaul the roster but you can flip the coach out
The Bucks got rid of theirs not long after they won a title

I've seen this coach fail with the Nets and the Cave were already a good team when he arrived, anything short of Conference Finals major disappointment
Lose 3 games at home and get trounced in 5
Yeah let's do it again next season
This was a golden opp for the Cavs and they wasted it
 
So if you lose in the playoffs just blow it up? Good thing the last four NBA champs didn't do that.
I certainly think it's disappointing for the Cavs to win 64 and bow out in 5 during the Semi-Finals
In hockey, the Panthers were the 1-seed and got beat in the opening round, overhauled the roster and then went B2B NHL Finals, 1 Stanley Cup
In the NBA you can't overhaul the roster but you can flip the coach out
The Bucks got rid of theirs not long after they won a title

I've seen this coach fail with the Nets and the Cave were already a good team when he arrived, anyhting short of Conference Finals major disappointment
Lose 3 games at home and get trounced in 5
Yeah let's do it again next season
This was a golden opp for the Cavs and they wasted it

He's not going anywhere
 
Incredible meltdown by the #2 best offense eff in NBA history. 34-6 at home in the regular season (not counting the game they sat 9 guys) and to go 0-3 at home in 2nd round.

In a year where Boston goes down and the pathway opened up vs a Knicks team you dominated 4-0.

Time to root for OKC
 
So if you lose in the playoffs just blow it up? Good thing the last four NBA champs didn't do that.
I certainly think it's disappointing for the Cavs to win 64 and bow out in 5 during the Semi-Finals
In hockey, the Panthers were the 1-seed and got beat in the opening round, overhauled the roster and then went B2B NHL Finals, 1 Stanley Cup
In the NBA you can't overhaul the roster but you can flip the coach out
The Bucks got rid of theirs not long after they won a title

I've seen this coach fail with the Nets and the Cave were already a good team when he arrived, anyhting short of Conference Finals major disappointment
Lose 3 games at home and get trounced in 5
Yeah let's do it again next season
This was a golden opp for the Cavs and they wasted it

The Celtics went to the finals3 seasons ago, lost to an 8 seed in the conferences two years ago and finally won last year.

Denver went to the conference finals during covid then got bounced early the next two years then won it 2 years

Warriors didn't even make the playoffs after losing in the finals, had a bunch of early exits and then won in 22

Bucks lost to the Raptors in the conference finals in 19, then got beat in the first round the next year before winning in 21.

Anyone saying the Cavs should blow it up doesn't know basketball at all.
 
I'd take a full Hippling over a NBA carpetbagger showing up in the playoffs to opine
Let's get you a Knicks jersey and take that Heat hat off
You have nothing to say or argue, you just try to prop yourself up as a superior NBA fan
I wouldn't get in your way of climbing to the top of that pyramid, be my guest bud

Nominee for NBA fan of the Year in the FFA (y)
 
I'd take a full Hippling over a NBA carpetbagger showing up in the playoffs to opine
Let's get you a Knicks jersey and take that Heat hat off
You have nothing to say or argue, you just try to prop yourself up as a superior NBA fan
I wouldn't get in your way of climbing to the top of that pyramid, be my guest bud

Nominee for NBA fan of the Year in the FFA (y)

This just in: Anthony Edwards is still playing, and playing well
 
So if you lose in the playoffs just blow it up? Good thing the last four NBA champs didn't do that.
I certainly think it's disappointing for the Cavs to win 64 and bow out in 5 during the Semi-Finals
In hockey, the Panthers were the 1-seed and got beat in the opening round, overhauled the roster and then went B2B NHL Finals, 1 Stanley Cup
In the NBA you can't overhaul the roster but you can flip the coach out
The Bucks got rid of theirs not long after they won a title

I've seen this coach fail with the Nets and the Cave were already a good team when he arrived, anyhting short of Conference Finals major disappointment
Lose 3 games at home and get trounced in 5
Yeah let's do it again next season
This was a golden opp for the Cavs and they wasted it

The Celtics went to the finals3 seasons ago, lost to an 8 seed in the conferences two years ago and finally won last year.

Denver went to the conference finals during covid then got bounced early the next two years then won it 2 years

Warriors didn't even make the playoffs after losing in the finals, had a bunch of early exits and then won in 22

Bucks lost to the Raptors in the conference finals in 19, then got beat in the first round the next year before winning in 21.

Anyone saying the Cavs should blow it up doesn't know basketball at all.
I remember 2013, and 2014.
 
If there is one thing I've learned in this playoffs, it is that there is nothing certain. Maybe the league has more parity than we originally thought?

It clearly isnt just OKC, Cleveland and Boston. Pacers are a really good, really deep team playing great basketball. The Knicks have played hard for years and have a legit go-to closer and several guys that know their role and do them well. The Nuggets have the best player and 2 really good players with him. The TWolves are deep and can play great on both sides of the ball. If Curry was healthy the Warriors would be right there, too.
 
I don't know why the Cavs would blow it up. #1 seed is great. Losing in the quarters in 5 is definitely disappointing, but they've had tons of impactful injuries this round. Should the Warriors be all mad at their players since Curry got hurt and they're likely out in 5?

Who would they trade? It would be dumb to trade Mitchell, Garland, or Mobley so that''s leaves with Jarrett Allen who has 4 years/$110 million left on his deal. Max Strus? De'Andre Hunter?

They have pretty much zero draft picks too. Gotta run it back and hope for better luck and/or another step up from Mobley on offense.
 

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