NBA Season 2024-25

[Who]

Denver's zone causing some issues for OKC.

This is the big question OKC still has to answer effectively in the playoffs. I believe they are only somewhere around 14th in the league in 3PT%.

Their 2 best 3PT shooters come off the bench in I Joe and A Wiggins. Both are undersized SGs. Both are subpar defenders & rebounders. So questions about (1) how well the starters can shoot the outside shot if kept outside? (2) how well they can maintain their defense & rebounding advantage if they have to go small with their bench to get extra shooters on the court?

[Phantom255x]

OKC giving Denver all they can handle

Denver's weathered it nicely. MPJ with 21/15. Jokic the usual impressive 19/11/6.

Even with their bench issues I still think people are sleeping on them.

[SparzWizard]

We pulling for Milwaukee or Cleveland later today? Cleveland to make sure Milwaukee loses so there's more breathing room to not overtake the Knicks? Or Milwaukee to end that Cleveland winning streak? Cleveland winning/losing won't matter to us anyway since they're essentially locked in as #1 seed.

[Who]

G: Caruso
G: C Wallace
G: A Wiggins
F: J-Dub
C: Chet (vs Jokic)

Small alignment. Only one legit big and he has a major bulk / strength disadvantage versus Jokic. Jokic has to attack Chet. And there is the 5th foul on Chet as soon as Jokic takes him inside. Good job Jokic.

Hartenstein comes in for Chet. Not much offense on the court now for OKC. Keep J-Dub quiet. And stay home on A Wiggins. The other guys are low utility offensive threats.

Agh! You can't let them run out and get easy transition hoops. Keep your floor balance. Make them play halfcourt basketball. They don't have the scorers out there right now. Force them into the halfcourt. Bad play Denver.

[SparzWizard]

OKC giving Denver all they can handle

Denver's weathered it nicely. MPJ with 21/15. Jokic the usual impressive 19/11/6.

Even with their bench issues I still think people are sleeping on them.

Tight game. Perhaps this is the gameplan Boston needs to look at to slow OKC down

[Who]

J-Dub has had a couple of impressive offensive plays with SGA out.

[Who]

Jokic set 1 good screen and then 2 illegal screens. Stop letting DEN cheat!

Great D by Caruso to navigate those 3 screens. He was pressuring J Murray so closely that Jokic couldn't set a decent screen.

[Who]

Commentators said Jokic would be the 1st player ever to finish in the top 3 for points, rebounds and assists.

Wilt finished top 3 in total points, rebounds and assists but not points per game. He was 4th / 5th the two seasons he was top 3 for assists.

[Who]

I don't see DEN threatening any of the top teams in a playoff series. Too weak. Not enough defense. Not enough shooting from their role players. Lack depth.

[Who]

Happy for Shai. Reasserts his case for MVP.

40pts performance. His team takes down DEN & Jokic.

[Phantom255x]

We pulling for Milwaukee or Cleveland later today? Cleveland to make sure Milwaukee loses so there's more breathing room to not overtake the Knicks? Or Milwaukee to end that Cleveland winning streak? Cleveland winning/losing won't matter to us anyway since they're essentially locked in as #1 seed.

[SparzWizard]

Happy for Shai. Reasserts his case for MVP.

40pts performance. His team takes down DEN & Jokic.

Def locked for MVP esp after today.

[Vermont Green]

Happy for Shai. Reasserts his case for MVP.

40pts performance. His team takes down DEN & Jokic.

Def locked for MVP esp after today.

The current Kia Ladder is as follows:

1.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2.  Nikola Jokić
3.  Giannis Antetokounmpo
4.  Jayson Tatum
5.  LeBron James

They have Donavan Mitchell at #7.  I am not sure that both Tatum and Mitchell shouldn't be ahead of Giannis.  I would certainly have Mitchell ahead of LeBron.  But yes, SGA deserves to be at the top of the ladder based on individual and team success.  And Jokic is still Jokic.

[SparzWizard]

Happy for Shai. Reasserts his case for MVP.

40pts performance. His team takes down DEN & Jokic.

Def locked for MVP esp after today.

The current Kia Ladder is as follows:

1.  Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2.  Nikola Jokić
3.  Giannis Antetokounmpo
4.  Jayson Tatum
5.  LeBron James

They have Donavan Mitchell at #7.  I am not sure that both Tatum and Mitchell shouldn't be ahead of Giannis.  I would certainly have Mitchell ahead of LeBron.  But yes, SGA deserves to be at the top of the ladder based on individual and team success.  And Jokic is still Jokic.

Yeah wonder why JT and Mitchell are both behind Giannis. And LeBron at #5 dang. The top 2 is right tho.

[Who]

Giannis is beasting.

Giannis' growth as a midrange shooter has been impressive. He has hit 120-246 midrange jump shots this season. He has already taken more this season than in all of last season and raised his FG% from around 35% to 49%. He deserves a lot of credit for still improving his game this far into his career. Keeps working, keeps developing.