2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[Phantom255x]

Magic and Pacers have started to cool off a bit, just as the Knicks and Cavs are finding a groove. It is starting to become a pretty clear Top-3 though, with PHI/MIL/BOS likely in some order. Miami lurking as usual, could be as high as the 3 seed, could even be the 8 seed again, who knows

The Clippers might be the best in the West though and maybe the league, they have figured it out and are on a 9-1 stretch. Obviously health is a huge factor but if they can stay healthy, watch out.

[SparzWizard]

Magic and Pacers have started to cool off a bit, just as the Knicks and Cavs are finding a groove. It is starting to become a pretty clear Top-3 though, with PHI/MIL/BOS likely in some order. Miami lurking as usual, could be as high as the 3 seed, could even be the 8 seed again, who knows

The Clippers might be the best in the West though and maybe the league, they have figured it out and are on a 9-1 stretch. Obviously health is a huge factor but if they can stay healthy, watch out.

Saturday's game could be an NBA Finals preview. Boston/LA.

[Who]

Austin Reaves going for 15ppg 5apg 4.5rpg on 60% TS% in 30mpg for LAL.

His numbers look even better if you just look at what he has done since moving back to the bench. So he has started 9 games and come off the bench for 19 games. In those 19 games, he has a TS% of 64%. Those starts came at the start of the season so after a slow start his shooting has recovered nicely. About 50% from the floor and 40% from 3 in those 19 bench games. 89% on FTs. His minutes went down from 32mpg to 28mpg and his production went up. 15.7ppg, 5.4apg, 4.5rpg.

[PAOBoston]

Magic and Pacers have started to cool off a bit, just as the Knicks and Cavs are finding a groove. It is starting to become a pretty clear Top-3 though, with PHI/MIL/BOS likely in some order. Miami lurking as usual, could be as high as the 3 seed, could even be the 8 seed again, who knows

The Clippers might be the best in the West though and maybe the league, they have figured it out and are on a 9-1 stretch. Obviously health is a huge factor but if they can stay healthy, watch out.

I will believe nothing about the Clippers until the playoffs. The health of PG/KL and the playoff underperformance history of Harden/Westbrook is what they need to overcome.

[Who]

I saw some Clippers fans on RealGM saying the addition of Daniel Theis is the reason for their turnaround. That Plumlee got hurt and it left them with only one big man in Zubac. It made them super-small whenever Zubac was off the court and the team were getting bullied especially on the boards. Daniel Theis came in and stopped the bleeding. Covered a big hole for them. Helped spur the turnaround.

[Yuckabuck33]

The Cleveland Cavaliers have received trade interest on Jarrett Allen from multiple playoff contenders including the New Orleans Pelicans, sources tell Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.

Allen is in Year 2 of a five-year, $100 million contract.

The Cavaliers remain committed to their core of Allen, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, sources add.

Beyond the murky future of Mitchell with the Cavaliers, there are also doubts on whether Mobley and Allen can co-exist in the frontcourt long-term.

I do not understand New Orleans. They have a good thing with Jonas Valanciunas as a floor spacing big who enables Zion to be more of a paint presence as either a driver or a post up option.

Now they want to get rid of the floor spacing big for a paint clogging big who will get in Zion's way and make his life more difficult. Not for the first time either. They did the same in the past with Steven Adams and with that high lotto pick Jaxson Hayes that they wasted.

Why do they keep trying to pair Zion with a big man who makes his life more difficult?

Maybe they're not trying to pair them but are trying to have depth at the 5 when Zion is injured again or traded due to Sullinger problems.

[Phantom255x]

Idk if this was reported here, but apparently because Zion Williamson only played 29 games last season, the final three years of his deal are no longer guaranteed. Meaning the Pelicans can simply waive him and not face any financial repercussions. That feels like a pretty big deal.

Also apparently he has a clause in his contract that the sum of his weight in pounds and body fat percentage has to be below 295 to hit certain incentives and/or to get back his guarantees if he also plays in enough games.

Either way, it's possible New Orleans decides to move on from him after 2024 especially if he doesn't make strides and disappoints in terms of availability and staying in shape. It's not expected of course, but the Pelicans may have an "out" if things turn even more sour

[Vermont Green]

NBA Central: “Zach LaVine, OG Anunoby, those are two names to keep an eye on as guys that Philadelphia has monitored.” – @ShamsCharania (Via @RunItBackFDTV )

It will be interesting to see if PHI can pull off anything.  They have some pretty chunky contracts on players who aren't that good (what some would call bad contracts).  Tobias Harris ($39.2M), Marcus Morris ($17.1M), Batum ($11.7M), Covington ($11.6M).

LaVine makes $40.0M and Annunoby $18.6M but I can't see CHI or TOR wanting any of those PHI players.  It isn't clear to me how PHI is going to make a big trade.

[Roy H.]

NBA Central: “Zach LaVine, OG Anunoby, those are two names to keep an eye on as guys that Philadelphia has monitored.” – @ShamsCharania (Via @RunItBackFDTV )

It will be interesting to see if PHI can pull off anything.  They have some pretty chunky contracts on players who aren't that good (what some would call bad contracts).  Tobias Harris ($39.2M), Marcus Morris ($17.1M), Batum ($11.7M), Covington ($11.6M).

LaVine makes $40.0M and Annunoby $18.6M but I can't see CHI or TOR wanting any of those PHI players.  It isn't clear to me how PHI is going to make a big trade.

I think the path to a trade is pretty easy, honestly.  If, say, Philly offered an expiring contract, the best of its 2026 picks, and another #1, I think they could land either player.

[Birdman]

I saw some Clippers fans on RealGM saying the addition of Daniel Theis is the reason for their turnaround. That Plumlee got hurt and it left them with only one big man in Zubac. It made them super-small whenever Zubac was off the court and the team were getting bullied especially on the boards. Daniel Theis came in and stopped the bleeding. Covered a big hole for them. Helped spur the turnaround.

I was hoping for him

[A Future of Stevens]

Oh my goodness. I just realized the Pistons started the season 2-1, and are now on a 24 game losing streak. I feel like that is hard to do in the era of 3pt variance.

I knew they were having a rough season, but good grief.

[liam]

I saw some Clippers fans on RealGM saying the addition of Daniel Theis is the reason for their turnaround. That Plumlee got hurt and it left them with only one big man in Zubac. It made them super-small whenever Zubac was off the court and the team were getting bullied especially on the boards. Daniel Theis came in and stopped the bleeding. Covered a big hole for them. Helped spur the turnaround.

I was hoping for him

Theis is a solid player.

[Birdman]

Oh my goodness. I just realized the Pistons started the season 2-1, and are now on a 24 game losing streak. I feel like that is hard to do in the era of 3pt variance.

I knew they were having a rough season, but good grief.

Whats the record for losing games in a row? Does Philly hold it?

[Celtics2021]

Oh my goodness. I just realized the Pistons started the season 2-1, and are now on a 24 game losing streak. I feel like that is hard to do in the era of 3pt variance.

I knew they were having a rough season, but good grief.

Whats the record for losing games in a row? Does Philly hold it?

26 in a season, 28 total (stretched across two seasons).  Philly holds both.  We would play Detroit on loss 28 next week if they don’t win before then.

[A Future of Stevens]

Oh my goodness. I just realized the Pistons started the season 2-1, and are now on a 24 game losing streak. I feel like that is hard to do in the era of 3pt variance.

I knew they were having a rough season, but good grief.

Whats the record for losing games in a row? Does Philly hold it?

26 in a season, 28 total (stretched across two seasons).  Philly holds both.  We would play Detroit on loss 28 next week if they don’t win before then.

Adds a little bit of drama to an otherwise snoozefest of a game.