2024-25 NBA Thread: Thunder starting to question having 140 pound guy playing in post in Finals (38 Viewers)

[MAC_32]

The damn coach is saying it

"I feel like we've got another jump to make with our mental strength,"
"They wore us down. They beat the Knicks last year the same way, they wore em down, mad respect"
"I think they were stronger, we got a lot of work to do in the offseason."
"We've obviously got guys who've gotta make jumps from a physical standpoint."

I'll accept ignorance, but otherwise you people have lost your damn minds. Pillow soft. Mentally, physically soft.

 

[Moe.]

Dort needs to get nice and comfy on the bench

 

[scoobus]

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.

Tristan Thompson IMO.

 

[scoobus]

Impressive close to the half by the Thunder, seemed like things were about to get away from them.

 

[SWC]

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

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?

you bet your sweet keester it is take that to the bank brohan

 

[Major]

Enjoyed the latest from Zach Lowe taking us behind the curtain of the ping pong balls and all the craziness that went down: https://youtu.be/dipYubphNXY?si=3KprvYZ5PoK9II_-&t=1227

 

[Kev4029]

Dort needs to get nice and comfy on the bench

No idea why they haven't started Caruso the last couple games. He has been their second best player in this series.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The damn coach is saying it

"I feel like we've got another jump to make with our mental strength,"
"They wore us down. They beat the Knicks last year the same way, they wore em down, mad respect"
"I think they were stronger, we got a lot of work to do in the offseason."
"We've obviously got guys who've gotta make jumps from a physical standpoint."

I'll accept ignorance, but otherwise you people have lost your damn minds. Pillow soft. Mentally, physically soft.

Could the same players that won 64 games do better in the post season under different leadership?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Impressive close to the half by the Thunder, seemed like things were about to get away from them.

Hold that thought, feels like it's about to get away from them again

 

[Jayrod]

Jamal Murray's shot making is just nuts when he is on.

 

[offdee]

What’s going on with Michael Porter Jrs bandaged up shoulder for the past month? Did he get a new tattoo or something?

 

[MAC_32]

The damn coach is saying it

"I feel like we've got another jump to make with our mental strength,"
"They wore us down. They beat the Knicks last year the same way, they wore em down, mad respect"
"I think they were stronger, we got a lot of work to do in the offseason."
"We've obviously got guys who've gotta make jumps from a physical standpoint."

I'll accept ignorance, but otherwise you people have lost your damn minds. Pillow soft. Mentally, physically soft.

Could the same players that won 64 games do better in the post season under different leadership?

Good lord, no. If this team were playing for wins in March / April, they may have won 70 with Kenny. Them coming up small when the lights get bright (again) is a player problem, not coaching. This series was so much bigger than just injuries, this team got worked.

 

[Kev4029]

What’s going on with Michael Porter Jrs bandaged up shoulder for the past month? Did he get a new tattoo or something?

He has a badly sprained shoulder and he is wearing it because of that. No idea exactly what is going on though with the arm diaper. His left shoulder is clearly trashed, he hardly uses it.

 

[Jayrod]

This just in: Nikola Jokic is good at basketball.

 

[Frostillicus]

LeBron James
@KingJames
·
Hali fkn hooping!!!! Where the lames who said he was overrated??!! Quiet as hell. That boy NICE and even more someone everyone would love to play with!

@General Malaise

 

[Kev4029]

This just in: Nikola Jokic is good at basketball.

Defensively the Nuggets are locked in but offensively, he is carrying a huge load in this game. Gordon has been fine, Murray has been very good, the other players have sucked.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The damn coach is saying it

"I feel like we've got another jump to make with our mental strength,"
"They wore us down. They beat the Knicks last year the same way, they wore em down, mad respect"
"I think they were stronger, we got a lot of work to do in the offseason."
"We've obviously got guys who've gotta make jumps from a physical standpoint."

I'll accept ignorance, but otherwise you people have lost your damn minds. Pillow soft. Mentally, physically soft.

Could the same players that won 64 games do better in the post season under different leadership?

Good lord, no. If this team were playing for wins in March / April, they may have won 70 with Kenny. Them coming up small when the lights get bright (again) is a player problem, not coaching. This series was so much bigger than just injuries, this team got worked.

You'd prefer to over turn the entire roster or which specific pieces?
Or do you think the same team can return and get better results in '26?

 

[Kev4029]

Man, I was not pumped to see Jokic out there at the start of the 4th and we are seeing why.

 

[offdee]

What’s going on with Michael Porter Jrs bandaged up shoulder for the past month? Did he get a new tattoo or something?

He has a badly sprained shoulder and he is wearing it because of that. No idea exactly what is going on though with the arm diaper. His left shoulder is clearly trashed, he hardly uses it.

Don’t see how any of that would help with a sprain or be at all comfortable.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

Who said this OKC crowd reminded them of North Korea? Now I can't stop seeing it.

 

[offdee]

Is Alex Caruso or Dante Divincenzo considered a better NBA player? Caruso for his defense I assume?

 

[ShamrockPride]

How tf Joker

 

[ShamrockPride]

Denver defense has been trash though.

 

[Chris B.]

How tf Joker

Dude switched his pivot foot.

 

[Kev4029]

Denver defense has been trash though.

It was looking good with anybody in for MPJ. I don't understand how teams don't just screen with his man over and over

 

[fatness]

@Capella , this is your best thread title ever. Kudos.

 

[Courtjester]

Going 7 the only series worth ratings at point

 

[Deamon]

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!

lol says the guy who bails on his team and picks OKC as his new fave

 

[Deamon]

okc and denver were destined for g7.

Thursday Denver wins BIG.

 

[ShamrockPride]

okc and denver were destined for g7.

Thursday Denver wins BIG.

Feels like a classic Joker playoff trip-dub is a tasty bet.

 

[MAC_32]

Or do you think the same team can return and get better results in '26?

I think the same team can win 60-some games in the regular season then as soon as they face a physically imposing team in the playoffs they're gonna get butt ****ed on national tv, Dwayne. If wins in December are your thing, this team is for you, but if you want to win in spring ball, you'll find them cowering in the corner sucking on their thumb - the lights get too bright. What we just saw was ctrl c / ctrl v what the Knicks did to this core 2 years ago. They were soft then. They are soft now.

 

[identikit]

Why is MPJ even playing at this point?

 

[the moops]

Why is MPJ even playing at this point?

I thought both Watson and Strawther looked very playable.

 

[Moe.]

Why is MPJ even playing at this point?

Thunder playing the long game and not picking on him too much

 

[identikit]

Oh Max

 

[Jayrod]

Oh Max

Role players need to be role players. When your 28 year old #7 guy with a negative career BPM is trying to be the vocal leader that's not a good sign.

 

[MAC_32]

Oh Max

Role players need to be role players. When your 28 year old #7 guy with a negative career BPM is trying to be the vocal leader that's not a good sign.

Yep, but role players feel like they need to go over their skis when the core is pillow soft.

 

[Jayrod]

Oh Max

Role players need to be role players. When your 28 year old #7 guy with a negative career BPM is trying to be the vocal leader that's not a good sign.

Yep, but role players feel like they need to go over their skis when the core is pillow soft.

Is Donovan Mitchell just not liked or is he scared to lead? He's clearly "the guy" on that team, but maybe he's not a leader?

Not everyone has it in them to lead others. I feel like Atkinson has been overblown as a coach prior to this as well. Maybe its on him? NBA culture is difficult to navigate, IMO. If you don't have a rep that precedes you (like Pop or Kerr) you have to either be a player's coach or some kind of X's & O's genius to get the players to buy in. But the players make the team. Maybe it doesn't matter who the coach is. The Bucks won because of Giannis & Jrue, not Bud. Vogel won because of LeBron & AD, not him. Players can overcome a coach, but I don't think the opposite is true.

 

[Jayrod]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

 

[Chemical X]

boston favored by 4.5 tonite. they have been favored the first 4 games on spreads between 6.5-9.5. i’m a homer, but i can’t see boston covering. i won’t say i can’t see them winning, well maybe i will. i just don’t know how they replace tatum and not sure psychologically where they are. who takes tatum’s 40 minutes and 20-25 shots? KP looks corpsey. maybe PP?

 

[Jayrod]

boston favored by 4.5 tonite. they have been favored the first 4 games on spreads between 6.5-9.5. i’m a homer, but i can’t see boston covering. i won’t say i can’t see them winning, well maybe i will. i just don’t know how they replace tatum and not sure psychologically where they are. who takes tatum’s 40 minutes and 20-25 shots? KP looks corpsey. maybe PP?

Derrick White and Jrue Holiday have to take on much more of a playmaking role, IMO.

JB is what he is. He can drive and finish or kick and he can score, but he isn't a playmaker or distributor really, plus he is prone to high turnovers when he tries to do too much.

I'd much rather see the offense run through White and Holiday on a regular basis. Definitely need to have a lot of ball movement.

Defensively and rebounding wise they will need Horford, Kornet and KP to step up as well. Tatum was on KAT a lot and was getting 12 rpg this series, almost all defensive rebounds.

 

[Chemical X]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

took a look at indy round 2. the bench i think in their 4 wins was -17, -30, -37, -33?

in the knick game 2 win over boston, 91-90, every knick starter was minus, the 3 man bench was plus 32.

 

[Jayrod]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

took a look at indy round 2. the bench i think in their 4 wins was -17, -30, -37, -33?

in the knick game 2 win over boston, 91-90, every knick starter was minus, the 3 man bench was plus 32.

I think it has less to do with their +/- and more to do with the starters getting rested and the pace being forced. It's OK to lose some ground as long as Mitchell & Co. are being forced to handle the ball against pressure and run back on defense and chase TJ McConnell around in circles for 10-15 minutes.

 

[identikit]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

took a look at indy round 2. the bench i think in their 4 wins was -17, -30, -37, -33?

in the knick game 2 win over boston, 91-90, every knick starter was minus, the 3 man bench was plus 32.

I think it has less to do with their +/- and more to do with the starters getting rested and the pace being forced. It's OK to lose some ground as long as Mitchell & Co. are being forced to handle the ball against pressure and run back on defense and chase TJ McConnell around in circles for 10-15 minutes.

There's little rhyme/reason as to where the scoring's going to come from on any given night

Hard to defend that.

Haliburton is a great example of this. He'll contribute in other productive ways. Or he'll score 30.

Nesmith had 13 rebounds last night. Unexpected

Thomas Bryant had 9 points in less than 11 minutes.

Myles had only 10 points. But 7 rebounds, 4 big blocks and the final dagger 3

 

[identikit]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

took a look at indy round 2. the bench i think in their 4 wins was -17, -30, -37, -33?

in the knick game 2 win over boston, 91-90, every knick starter was minus, the 3 man bench was plus 32.

I think it has less to do with their +/- and more to do with the starters getting rested and the pace being forced. It's OK to lose some ground as long as Mitchell & Co. are being forced to handle the ball against pressure and run back on defense and chase TJ McConnell around in circles for 10-15 minutes.

Most everyone on the court is fresh throughout the 48 minutes

 

[MAC_32]

Oh Max

Role players need to be role players. When your 28 year old #7 guy with a negative career BPM is trying to be the vocal leader that's not a good sign.

Yep, but role players feel like they need to go over their skis when the core is pillow soft.

Is Donovan Mitchell just not liked or is he scared to lead? He's clearly "the guy" on that team, but maybe he's not a leader?

Not everyone has it in them to lead others. I feel like Atkinson has been overblown as a coach prior to this as well. Maybe its on him? NBA culture is difficult to navigate, IMO. If you don't have a rep that precedes you (like Pop or Kerr) you have to either be a player's coach or some kind of X's & O's genius to get the players to buy in. But the players make the team. Maybe it doesn't matter who the coach is. The Bucks won because of Giannis & Jrue, not Bud. Vogel won because of LeBron & AD, not him. Players can overcome a coach, but I don't think the opposite is true.

Tl;Dr - Donovan ain't the problem

I'll unpack all my thoughts sooner vs later, but workload says that's probably not this week.

 

[Anarchy99]

boston favored by 4.5 tonite. they have been favored the first 4 games on spreads between 6.5-9.5. i’m a homer, but i can’t see boston covering. i won’t say i can’t see them winning, well maybe i will. i just don’t know how they replace tatum and not sure psychologically where they are. who takes tatum’s 40 minutes and 20-25 shots? KP looks corpsey. maybe PP?

Games this year when JT sat and most everyone else played. Shots from each player . . .

DET (W): JB 21, KP 17, PP 15, DW 15, SH 12
DET (W): PP 20, KP 18, DW 13, JB 12, JH 8
ORL (L): JB 29, JH 12, DW 12, KP 10, AH 10
PHO (W): KP 15, JB 15, DW 11, JH 10, AH 10, PP 10
WAS (W): PP 18, JH 13, AH 12, SH 12, JB 9, LK 9
ORL Playoffs (W): JB 19, DW 14, KP 14, PP 11, AH 10, JH 9

 

[Navin Johnson]

This article talks about Indiana's style.

Honestly, I think it is more built for the playoffs than I previously thought. If you deal with Indiana for one game, then their depth and effort isn't a big deal, but for 4-7 games in a row? That pace can become exhausting. Maybe the top-heavy teams don't have it in them to stay with that for multiple games in a row. They play 11 dudes. Most playoff teams play 8. That's a lot less minutes and a lot fresher legs at the end of games and maybe it matters.

I do like Indy's offense much better than most teams. They don't iso ball much. The ball is moving and guys are rotating around the court on almost every possession. That's hard to guard for 48 minutes.

took a look at indy round 2. the bench i think in their 4 wins was -17, -30, -37, -33?

in the knick game 2 win over boston, 91-90, every knick starter was minus, the 3 man bench was plus 32.

That cumulative +/- is distributed across all of their player minutes, and their bevch plays a lot. If you have 5 bench guys play an entire quarter and are -6, that translates to a -30 for the bench, but it doesn't hurt as much as that number would seem to imply as it's only 6 points and, as others have said, it eats into the opponent's gas tank and keeps their starters fresh.

 

[General Malaise]

Mark Cuban, Shaq and Bronny's dad want to own an NBA team together. I know one for sale if somebody wants to get word to them for me.

TIA.

 

[Yo Mama]

Mark Cuban, Shaq and Bronny's dad want to own an NBA team together. I know one for sale if somebody wants to get word to them for me.

TIA.

I thought LeBron already owned the Raptors.

:rimshot