2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Donoghus]

League has to do something to Murray, right?

[celticsclay]

League has to do something to Murray, right?

They will assign him the value of a technical for penalty points and give him a fine but that is about it. League already came out and said he shouldn’t have been ejected, just given a tech.

[Who]

Players 'exposed' by the Wolves over the last two weeks:

-Beal
-Booker
-Durant
-Murray
-Jokic

Maybe it isn't the players.

Maybe it is the defense.

[celticsclay]

Have the Jokic Nuggets ever beaten an elite team in the playoffs? They had a historically easy path to a title last year. They've disappointed in prior years, albeit often in part due to injuries. And now this year they're getting smoked by a talented but relatively inexperienced Wolves team.

I always remember the adage "they were never as good as you thought they were, but they're not as bad as you now think they are" 

The other thing to keep in mind is that as the defending champions they've been absolutely under the microscope for 82 games by 29 teams. There's a reason why repeat titles are so rare in the NBA.

Yeah, one of the more interesting things about the great Spurs teams is that they never went B2B.  It's hard, and the competition in the West is real.

I haven’t really seen people mentioning it, but Murray is pretty injured right now. It is killing him on the defensive end. I don’t think he would be even playing if this was regular season. I have gone to like 30 nuggets games this year and the way he is moving around is very different. He managed to still hit some tough shots game 1 but was pretty awful on both sides of the ball last night

[celticsclay]

Players 'exposed' by the Wolves over the last two weeks:

-Beal
-Booker
-Durant
-Murray
-Jokic

Maybe it isn't the players.

Maybe it is the defense.

I’m not really sure why we would say half these guys have been exposed. Phoenix lost cause the rest of team is terrible. Booker and Durant did fine. The problem was nurkic and eubanks against town, gobert and Reed.

[Roy H.]

League has to do something to Murray, right?

Yeah.  My guess is it will just be a fine, but he could get somebody hurt doing that.   

[Donoghus]

League has to do something to Murray, right?

Yeah.  My guess is it will just be a fine, but he could get somebody hurt doing that.

Exactly.

[Who]

Jamal Murray's playoff shooting percentages now

37.5% FG%
28.6% 3PT%

44.6% TS%

[Who]

Ooh, LeBron as FA target for ORL.

G: Suggs
G: F Wagner
F: LeBron
F: Banchero
C: Wendell Carter

It is interesting. I'd love to see them get a real guard with quickness and shooting ability and some playmaking ... but LeBron is about as good of an alternative to that if that is unavailable. He gives the ball-handling and playmaking. Not really the shooting but he will give you some shooting. Certainly not the quickness on defense. Forces Franz out of position to guard.

It is looking like this FA class has more forwards in it. Few guards. Not many good options for Orlando to upgrade their team despite their cap space.

LeBron would be a legit option for them.

[celticsclay]

Ooh, LeBron as FA target for ORL.

G: Suggs
G: F Wagner
F: LeBron
F: Banchero
C: Wendell Carter

It is interesting. I'd love to see them get a real guard with quickness and shooting ability and some playmaking ... but LeBron is about as good of an alternative to that if that is unavailable. He gives the ball-handling and playmaking. Not really the shooting but he will give you some shooting. Certainly not the quickness on defense. Forces Franz out of position to guard.

It is looking like this FA class has more forwards in it. Few guards. Not many good options for Orlando to upgrade their team despite their cap space.

LeBron would be a legit option for them.

There are probably members of the forum with a greater chance of playing with the magic next season than Lebron .

[Phantom255x]

Ooh, LeBron as FA target for ORL.

G: Suggs
G: F Wagner
F: LeBron
F: Banchero
C: Wendell Carter

It is interesting. I'd love to see them get a real guard with quickness and shooting ability and some playmaking ... but LeBron is about as good of an alternative to that if that is unavailable. He gives the ball-handling and playmaking. Not really the shooting but he will give you some shooting. Certainly not the quickness on defense. Forces Franz out of position to guard.

It is looking like this FA class has more forwards in it. Few guards. Not many good options for Orlando to upgrade their team despite their cap space.

LeBron would be a legit option for them.

There are probably members of the forum with a greater chance of playing with the magic next season than Lebron .

Suit up for next season Clay! 

In theory he does make sense there, but I can't see him going cross country for Orlando. Also, the "LeMickey" jokes will be at an all-time if he goes to Orlando 

[Moranis]

I don't think Lebron leaves the Lakers, but if he does it will be to a team that will be a real title contender, which Orlando is not. A team like the Warriors or Cavs.

I do think the Lakers should trade Davis though (whenever they can).  The Thunder make a lot of sense. Something like Dort, Giddy, and a bunch of 1st's.  Lakers have cap space to sign someone and then the picks from Thunder to pair with expiring contracts to trade for a 3rd star.

[Who]

Malik Monk looks like the best SG available in the offseason. Klay Thompson and DeMar DeRozan are other big names available. KCP, D'Angelo Russell. Buddy Hield. Not an inspiring list.

I wonder if there is any good PGs available. Have Suggs play SG.

--------------------------

James Harden could be pretty good for Orlando.

Maybe Quickley. He is a restricted FA. You would have to overpay him. Not ideal. A sign and trade for Cole Anthony would be great for Orlando but I do not know if TOR would have any interest. Cole Anthony has had a rough season.

Bruce Brown has a team option. He might be available. One of the better alternatives. Not ideal but good rotation player. Young. Athletic. Quality defender. Fits their team identity.

Gary Trent Jr

[kraidstar]

Have the Jokic Nuggets ever beaten an elite team in the playoffs? They had a historically easy path to a title last year. They've disappointed in prior years, albeit often in part due to injuries. And now this year they're getting smoked by a talented but relatively inexperienced Wolves team.

I always remember the adage "they were never as good as you thought they were, but they're not as bad as you now think they are" 

The other thing to keep in mind is that as the defending champions they've been absolutely under the microscope for 82 games by 29 teams. There's a reason why repeat titles are so rare in the NBA.

there is something to say about how last year the highest seed they faced was the 4th seed suns. and thats including the finals. sometimes it takes luck to win. look at milwaukee they were a durant toe away from us questioning Giannis legacy.

part of the shock too is people on this board have overrated them all season as this unstoppable juggernaut.

Yeah the hype train was out of control. I do think there is a lot of parity in the league now. Injuries are deciding many of the outcomes, and it's a coin flip beyond that.

[kraidstar]

https://x.com/bleacherreport/status/1787600939245052024?s=46

This guy has to have become the most cringe professional athlete ever right?

Yup, what a clown.  I'm surprised he still gets invitations to events like that.  Luke Kornet has played better basketball than Simmons for a couple years now and he wasn't invited.

Luke Kornet is busy in May (and every other month, really).

Lol TP

Maybe Ben thinks he is Doctor Who? But I'm probably being generous. He's like an unwitting parody of spoiled young celebrities.