2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[SparzWizard]

Jamal Murray still "questionable" with left calf strain for Game 6 

[j804]

If healthy Murray is certainly the 3rd most important player among the 2 teams and very well might be the 3rd best player behind only Jokic and Tatum.

He's not better than Jaylen.

healthy I’d take Murray

[smokeablount]

If healthy Murray is certainly the 3rd most important player among the 2 teams and very well might be the 3rd best player behind only Jokic and Tatum.

He's not better than Jaylen.

that is very much debatable

Agreed. I would take J Murray over Jaylen.

The last time this came up I was thinking about Jamal Murray's playoff run last year and not only whether it surpassed anything Jaylen Brown has ever done in the playoffs but whether it had surpassed anything Jayson Tatum has ever done in the playoffs. This is not to say J Murray is better than Tatum but to encapsulate how good Murray was on that title run.

2022-23 Title run

26ppg 7apg 5.7rpg 47% FG% 39.6% 3PT% on 7.5 3PTAs per game 92.6% FT% Only 2.5 turnovers per game. His TS% was 58.6%.

Going series by series

Minny = 27ppg 6.4apg 5.6rpg 47% FG% 43% 3PT%
Phoenix = 24.8ppg 6.5apg 4.8rpg 45% FG% 36% 3PT%
Lakers = 32.5ppg 5.4apg 6.3rpg 53% FG% 41% 3PT%
Miami = 21.4ppg 10apg 6.2rpg 45% FG% 39% 3PT%

That was a phenomenal playoff run. I am constantly amazed how little credit Jamal Murray gets for it. People care more about whether he got named to an All-Star Game than they do what he did in the playoffs to help lead Denver to the title.

Murray was my guy in that draft. I think it’s very much still up for debate with breaking news still to come.

But I don’t think there’s any way you can say Jaylen is clearly butter than Murray when Murray played like he did last playoffs, and Jaylen had his game 7 vs Miami. Jaylen needs to prove it.

[Who]

The wolves won the minutes with Naz at the 3 last night 17-14 (six minutes)

I would go with Naz at SF over Slow Mo. Slow Mo has been killing Minny throughout most of the playoffs. Naz hasn't been great either but still better than Slow Mo.

[Goldstar88]

Wrong thread

[RJ87]

They just listed all of Luka's lower body injuries during the playoffs. Maybe if he committed to getting - and staying - in shape, he wouldn't break down so much when it matters most.

[Phantom255x]

As long as one of IND/NY or DEN/MIN goes 7, our series starts Tuesday. I expect that.

[jpotter33]

If healthy Murray is certainly the 3rd most important player among the 2 teams and very well might be the 3rd best player behind only Jokic and Tatum.

He's not better than Jaylen.

healthy I’d take Murray

Right now it shouldn't even be a question - JB is playing substantially better ball than Murray. Here's their playoff stats (not counting tonight's game that isn't registered yet):

JB: 24.4, 6.9, 2.0 on 56% fgs and 37% 3pfgs.

Murray: 20.2, 4.7, 5.9 on 40.7% fgs and 31.5% 3pfgs.

And that's all with JB being a much better defender than Murray, who is at best a slight negative defender.

[hpantazo]

They just listed all of Luka's lower body injuries during the playoffs. Maybe if he committed to getting - and staying - in shape, he wouldn't break down so much when it matters most.

This. The same goes with Embiid.

[Who]

Why is Hardy playing?

Oh, instead of Exum. Interesting call.

[Who]

That was a very small lineup Dallas used late Q1

G: Kyrie
G: Hardy
F: Josh Green
F: Tim Hardaway Jr
C: Gafford

A small PG in Kyrie. A small SG in Hardy. Two average sized SGs in Josh and THJ. Four guard lineup. Only one big. Not even that big of a big in Gafford. A little undersized in both height and bulk.

I am surprised by this lineup in terms of skill-sets too. Hardy and THJ are two me-first gunners next to Kyrie. Josh Green team offensive player but mediocre defender. Neither of the two play defense. Kyrie is literally the most talented defender 1 through 4. Strange lineup. Gunners. No defense. Lacking in teamwork. None of the 4 guards rebound well either.

[Who]

Kidd trying to make a run here early Q2

G: Kyrie
G: Tim Hardaway Jr
F: Doncic
F: PJ Washington
C: Lively

Very strong lineup. One of their best. Kidd running it out there against OKC's 2nd unit. An 11-5 run in first 3 minutes of Q2.

I said it before. I feel the greatest inexperience showing isn't from the OKC players but from the OKC coach. He is getting out-coached. By Jason Kidd, ouch.

Update: Still no SGA after the timeout. Coach sees the problem. Does not address the problem. Dallas have too much talent on the floor for SGA to be on the bench.

Update: Nevermind. SGA did not come in after the timeout but did 20secs later. Coach woke up.

[Who]

Luka is awesome. He reminds me so much of Magic Johnson when he comes down in transition and finishes layups. Neither guy was a great athlete but both guys so good at changing direction and using their bulk to gain driving lanes, get to the rim and finish with the layup.

[Who]

Bigger OKC lineup with Chet and Jaylin Williams. Two bigs. Unusual for OKC to play two bigs. Then their two star wings SGA and J-Dub. Cason Wallace at PG.

[Who]

Great Q2 for Dallas. Up 2 after one, now up 12 with 4min remaining.

OKC look timid. Short of belief. Short of ideas. Outside of SGA, I am not sure I see anyone else out there I trust to do anything. Chet plays well but it is random. Not on demand. Jalen Williams is quiet again. Cason, Joe, Wiggins are all quiet. The coach has lost trust in Giddey. Dort is solid but not an offensive creator. Somebody needs to step up and help SGA.

Need a few more instigators. Whether offensive creation, forcing turnovers, increasing physicality, grabbing boards. Something. Somebody who will step up and challenge Dallas. Raise the intensity. Raise the physicality. Guys are timid.