NBA Season 2024-25

[Who]

Assuming Conley, Gobert, Dillingham and picks is the deal to get Durant.

G: NAW
G: Ant
F: Durant
F: Randle
C: Naz

G: NAW
G: Ant
F: Jaden McDaniels
F: Durant
C: Randle

Naz isn't a good team defender. Minny's defense tends to crater when he replaces Gobert in the lineup. Durant at 37 moving back to SF to defend quicker more skilled small forwards rather than his main position at power forward. Randle is too small and limited as a rim protector to play center full time. Situational lineups will be fine. Both Randle and Durant are too good and too important to accept coming off the bench. Jaden McDaniels is too good to be a bench player but he might accept it.

Minny still has a PG problem. Not enough playmaking next to Ant. Ant the only creative ball-handler / playmaker in the backcourt / permeter. I imagine they will still have ball movement issues.

G: Ant
F: Jaden McDaniels
F: Durant
F: Randle
C: Naz

A super sized lineup. Ant becomes full time PG. He doesn't have the right mentality to play PG but he was basically doing exactly that for most of last season anyway. Jaden is versatile enough defensively to cover opposing team's best guard threat.

[Who]

Gobert could get Phoenix back in the playoff picture. Their defense is dreadful. He would fix a lot of their woes. There would be some drop-off offensively without Durant but Beal can replace a good chunk of Durant's scoring by taking a larger offensive role.

Beal, D Booker & Gobert as their main trio.
R O'Neale, Grayson Allen as quality role players.

G: Grayson Allen
G: B Beal
F: D Booker
F: R O'Neale
C: Gobert

Not enough size or defense outside of Gobert to pose much of a threat in the playoffs. Ideally they could get a big forward in there somehow.

They still have a hole a PG but I liked them better with G Allen at PGa year ago than I did this season with Tyus Jones or Monte Morris. Better to play an elite offensive role player like G Allen at PG than a mediocre backup PG instead.

[Who]

Ah good, Hartenstein is back in the lineup.

I do not understand sitting one of your best players and only giving him 19mpg. He is too good / too important.

[jpotter33]

Indy looks unreal right now. OKC is feeling the pressure.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

The way this game is being reffed benefits the Thunder.

I can't imagine if you threw the 2008 Celtics into this series with the way this game is reffed.

[Who]

Jalen Williams has had a great start. Aggressive. Lots of drives. Multiple trips to the FT line. 10pts already.

SGA has looked a bit out of it. Not sure where his shots are. A few half hearted moves. J-Dub's strong start is bailing him out.

[Who]

Siakam has been terrific. 4 steals in Q1. 10pts already. 2 dunks where he simply overpowered smaller defenders. Multiple strong drives in transition.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

By my count that is 5 pretty questionable/soft calls that have gone for the Thunder.

[Who]

Interesting lineup by OKC to start Q2

G: Cason Wallace
G: I Joe
F: SGA
F: Kenrich Williams
C: Hartenstein

They brought in Kenrich Williams to matchup with Siakam. Siakam was abusing their smaller guards. A bigger body to battle Siakam.

I Joe back in the rotation as well. A Wiggins wasn't doing much. Give the better shooter a run.

[Who]

Oh my goodness! What a block by Chet Holmgren on Nesmith's driving layup.

Kenrich Williams has done a nice job for OKC. Strong defensive. Good physicality on big forwards Siakam & Toppin. Made OKC bigger without sacrificing perimeter D. Kenrich is quick enough and mobile enough to defend the perimeter at a high level. Him and Chet have been a good defensive duo.

[jpotter33]

What a soft flagrant foul call. Good grief, Foster. The extender working his magic!

[jpotter33]

Foster is legitimately awful. Clearly off OKC.

[Who]

OKC getting a bunch of friendly whistles.

[Atzar]

Can't stand Dort's game.  Flopping hackers are the worst type of player.

[Who]

I love those Obi Toppin follow up slams