NBA Season 2024-25

[Who]

Mobley seems to be the x-factor.  He has taken a leap, especially with 3-point shooting.  If he continues to play in the 20/10 range with 3P% around 40% (he is more like 18/9 and 43% from 3 right now for the season), this team is right there with anyone.

Evan Mobley is shooting a good 3PT% but he is taking hardly any threes. He only takes 2.5 3PTAs per game. He takes no long twos (5 all season). Barely any midrangers (17 all season). That means that 285 of his 386 shot attempts (74%) have come inside of 10 feet. This guy is not a reliable shooter.  He is still a limited jump-shooter.

Then the other forward is Dean Wade. He has been an inconsistent shooter throughout his career. A fine defender but an inconsistent shooter. He is managing 35% shooting. He takes 4 threes a game.

Between the two of them, they only take 6 threes and then the center Jarrett Allen does not shoot them at all. I do not see why opposing teams cannot squeeze the floor againt the frontcourt and force the guards into tougher shots. There isn't enough shooting in that frontcourt to keep defenses honest. I believe this will show more in the post-season than the regular season when teams can better game-plan for a specific opponent.

[Neurotic Guy]

Mobley seems to be the x-factor.  He has taken a leap, especially with 3-point shooting.  If he continues to play in the 20/10 range with 3P% around 40% (he is more like 18/9 and 43% from 3 right now for the season), this team is right there with anyone.

Evan Mobley is shooting a good 3PT% but he is taking hardly any threes. He only takes 2.5 3PTAs per game. He takes no long twos (5 all season). Barely any midrangers (17 all season). That means that 285 of his 386 shot attempts (74%) have come inside of 10 feet. This guy is not a reliable shooter.  He is still a limited jump-shooter.

Then the other forward is Dean Wade. He has been an inconsistent shooter throughout his career. A fine defender but an inconsistent shooter. He is managing 35% shooting. He takes 4 threes a game.

Between the two of them, they only take 6 threes and then the center Jarrett Allen does not shoot them at all. I do not see why opposing teams cannot squeeze the floor againt the frontcourt and force the guards into tougher shots. There isn't enough shooting in that frontcourt to keep defenses honest. I believe this will show more in the post-season than the regular season when teams can better game-plan for a specific opponent.

Mobely provides a good example of how a low volume shooter can look better than he is or worse than he is.  In year 2 he made .3 threes shooting 1.3 per game, an awful .216%. In year 3 he made .4 threes shooting 1.2 per game, a very respectable .373%.     
He?s shooting about 1 more three a game and he?s making more but I?m not sure it?s all that meaningful.

[radiohead]

The Cavs are looking like a legit threat to Boston. With a healthy KP i think we?re still the better team. But man they?re on a heater right now and slowly distancing themselves from Boston. They?re now 5 games ahead if I?m not mistaken. The Knicks are also right there at 5.5 games back.

[SparzWizard]

The Cavs are looking like a legit threat to Boston. With a healthy KP i think we?re still the better team. But man they?re on a heater right now and slowly distancing themselves from Boston. They?re now 5 games ahead if I?m not mistaken. The Knicks are also right there at 5.5 games back.

I'd worry about the Cavs in the playoffs, and I'm sold on them. Even the Hawks of 2014-2015 weren't that insane. Right now it's New York creeping behind us and the Celtics themselves we need to worry about.

[Phantom255x]

Man I really want Sabonis down the road

A big 4 of White-Jaylen-Tatum-Sabonis after 2026. Chills

[jpotter33]

Here in Ohio Cavs fans are already planning the June parade. Heard things like "This is the greatest team in the modern era", "This team moves the ball better than any team in history", "We are Boston from last year but on sterioids."


I keep telling them that they did this last season on a 17 game win streak only to lose in the playoffs. But they don't want to listen. That is the thing about Cleveland sports fans. Anytime the Tribe, Cavs or Browns have a little early success they go 0-100 and start talking immediate championship like it is a given.

I do not think the Cavs are built for the playoffs. I think they are overachieving for the 1 seed.

I am sure that the local fans are over-hyping the Cavs but I think the national fans are under-appreciating this team.  They are not the greatest anything in the modern era, that is for sure, but they are good team.  Like any team, they need to stay healthy.  Garland was not healthy last season and not quite 100% to start this season.  For the last 15 games, he is averaging 21 pts, 41 3P%, 6.5 assists.  Mitchell is still a star that can take over any game.  Mobley is emerging as well, again, last 15 games, nearly 20/10 with 48 3P%.  And they just got Max Strus back to give them even more bench scoring.

CLE does not have great wings but it seems that the trend is now guards and bigs.  OKC is the same.  On CLE, I am completely convinced on what they have in Mitchell and Garland.  Those are two really good players, better in my opinion than a lot of people seem to think.  Mobley seems to be the x-factor.  He has taken a leap, especially with 3-point shooting.  If he continues to play in the 20/10 range with 3P% around 40% (he is more like 18/9 and 43% from 3 right now for the season), this team is right there with anyone.

Their guards are small, no denying that.  Their DRtg (109.7) is about the same as BOS (109.0).  That is good for 8th best.  The small guards thing does not seem to be as big a deal as some think.  They are 2nd in the league for points off turnovers (OKC is first).  They are 8th lowest in opponents 2nd chance points.  Their defense does not seem that bad.

Granted, you?re also assessing these things in the regular season where they matter less. These kinds of defensive limitations get exposed in the playoffs over a series, especially when you play a team like the C?s that thrives on exploiting mismatches.

Also, I?ll keep harping on the fact that they?re getting a ton of luck on injuries and shooting variance - both ways. I think we?ll see these things even out over the rest of the season, and I think their offense will deflate some once the game slows down in the playoffs, too.

They?re good, but I don?t think they?re the juggernaut that their record suggests.

[Who]

Phoenix just fell out of the play-in spots

Top 6 = OKC, MEM, HOU, DEN, DAL, LAC
Play in = LAL, MIN, SAS, GSW

Phoenix and Sacramento are just outside the play-in spots. San Antonio looks the only questionable team in the top 10.

Props to the Clippers for being in 6th place. No Kawhi. No PG13. Harden is doing a good job leading that squad.

[Vermont Green]

Here in Ohio Cavs fans are already planning the June parade. Heard things like "This is the greatest team in the modern era", "This team moves the ball better than any team in history", "We are Boston from last year but on sterioids."


I keep telling them that they did this last season on a 17 game win streak only to lose in the playoffs. But they don't want to listen. That is the thing about Cleveland sports fans. Anytime the Tribe, Cavs or Browns have a little early success they go 0-100 and start talking immediate championship like it is a given.

I do not think the Cavs are built for the playoffs. I think they are overachieving for the 1 seed.

I am sure that the local fans are over-hyping the Cavs but I think the national fans are under-appreciating this team.  They are not the greatest anything in the modern era, that is for sure, but they are good team.  Like any team, they need to stay healthy.  Garland was not healthy last season and not quite 100% to start this season.  For the last 15 games, he is averaging 21 pts, 41 3P%, 6.5 assists.  Mitchell is still a star that can take over any game.  Mobley is emerging as well, again, last 15 games, nearly 20/10 with 48 3P%.  And they just got Max Strus back to give them even more bench scoring.

CLE does not have great wings but it seems that the trend is now guards and bigs.  OKC is the same.  On CLE, I am completely convinced on what they have in Mitchell and Garland.  Those are two really good players, better in my opinion than a lot of people seem to think.  Mobley seems to be the x-factor.  He has taken a leap, especially with 3-point shooting.  If he continues to play in the 20/10 range with 3P% around 40% (he is more like 18/9 and 43% from 3 right now for the season), this team is right there with anyone.

Their guards are small, no denying that.  Their DRtg (109.7) is about the same as BOS (109.0).  That is good for 8th best.  The small guards thing does not seem to be as big a deal as some think.  They are 2nd in the league for points off turnovers (OKC is first).  They are 8th lowest in opponents 2nd chance points.  Their defense does not seem that bad.

Granted, you?re also assessing these things in the regular season where they matter less. These kinds of defensive limitations get exposed in the playoffs over a series, especially when you play a team like the C?s that thrives on exploiting mismatches.

Also, I?ll keep harping on the fact that they?re getting a ton of luck on injuries and shooting variance - both ways. I think we?ll see these things even out over the rest of the season, and I think their offense will deflate some once the game slows down in the playoffs, too.

They're good, but I don't think they're the juggernaut that their record suggests.

I don't think they are a juggernaut either.  I don't think OKC is a juggernaut.  BOS probably isn't a juggernaut at this point.  OKC plays small, a center and 4 guards for the most part, and they have the best defense so far.  I guess the question in your mind is whether CLE can defend well enough to win a title, to beat BOS or OKC in a series.

Assuming that all teams are healthy (and healthy for BOS seems to be that Porzingis plays about half the time), I would still favor BOS over CLE or OKC in a series.  But I have CLE right there with OKC or anyone else.  So far this season, Boston's defense has been no better than Cleveland's defense.  CLE has been the best team in the league through 33 games (about 40% of the season).  They are legitimate.

CLE has been mostly healthy but Strus has missed a lot and Wade and Okoro have both missed some.  And yes, their 3-point shooting will probably recede some from the current 40.7%.  Mitchell, Garland and especially Mobley are all shooting above their career averages.

[Who]

De'Andre Hunter continues to kill it for Atlanta.

He has been ridiculous. He is averaging 20.6ppg off the bench in only 28mpg. Incredible scoring volume in those minutes. And he has been super efficient as well. 50% FG% 45.7% 3PT% 86.4% FT%. He has a TS% of 65.8%. So massive volume & excellent efficiency.

Clear frontrunner for Sixth Man of the Year.

Atlanta is 18 wins 16 losses on the season but Hunter missed the early part of the campaign. Since he returned, Atlanta is 15 wins and 8 losses in his 23 appearances. He has had a massive impact.

[BitterJim]

De'Andre Hunter continues to kill it for Atlanta.

He has been ridiculous. He is averaging 20.6ppg off the bench in only 28mpg. Incredible scoring volume in those minutes. And he has been super efficient as well. 50% FG% 45.7% 3PT% 86.4% FT%. He has a TS% of 65.8%. So massive volume & excellent efficiency.

Clear frontrunner for Sixth Man of the Year.

Atlanta is 18 wins 16 losses on the season but Hunter missed the early part of the campaign. Since he returned, Atlanta is 15 wins and 8 losses in his 23 appearances. He has had a massive impact.

With 11/34 games missed, though, that 65 game minimum looms large. He can only miss 6 more games this season while remaining eligible for the award

[Phantom255x]

Phoenix just fell out of the play-in spots

Top 6 = OKC, MEM, HOU, DEN, DAL, LAC
Play in = LAL, MIN, SAS, GSW

Phoenix and Sacramento are just outside the play-in spots. San Antonio looks the only questionable team in the top 10.

Props to the Clippers for being in 6th place. No Kawhi. No PG13. Harden is doing a good job leading that squad.

Phoenix is paying a 408M roster (player salaries + luxury taxes) with KD, Beal, Booker, etc. and they can't even make the play-in right now. Ooof

I like seeing teams like Houston and San Antonio there. Young teams rising.

Memphis when mostly healthy is a real dark horse threat. Last year their entire team was hurt and/or dealing with off-field drama (Ja Morant), to the point where they'd go into games with only 7-8 active players and a majority of them from the G-League just to fill-in. But that's a talented and pretty deep squad too

[Roy H.]

Phoenix just fell out of the play-in spots

Top 6 = OKC, MEM, HOU, DEN, DAL, LAC
Play in = LAL, MIN, SAS, GSW

Phoenix and Sacramento are just outside the play-in spots. San Antonio looks the only questionable team in the top 10.

Props to the Clippers for being in 6th place. No Kawhi. No PG13. Harden is doing a good job leading that squad.

Phoenix is paying a 408M roster (player salaries + luxury taxes) with KD, Beal, Booker, etc. and they can't even make the play-in right now. Ooof

I like seeing teams like Houston and San Antonio there. Young teams rising.

Memphis when mostly healthy is a real dark horse threat. Last year their entire team was hurt and/or dealing with off-field drama (Ja Morant), to the point where they'd go into games with only 7-8 active players and a majority of them from the G-League just to fill-in. But that's a talented and pretty deep squad too

Houston is such an interesting team.  They've got no 20 ppg scorers, and they rank 29th in eFG%.  But, they keep turnovers very low and play excellent defense.

I think that Ime has proven that he's for real as a coach.

[Redz]

Phoenix just fell out of the play-in spots

Top 6 = OKC, MEM, HOU, DEN, DAL, LAC
Play in = LAL, MIN, SAS, GSW

Phoenix and Sacramento are just outside the play-in spots. San Antonio looks the only questionable team in the top 10.

Props to the Clippers for being in 6th place. No Kawhi. No PG13. Harden is doing a good job leading that squad.

Phoenix is paying a 408M roster (player salaries + luxury taxes) with KD, Beal, Booker, etc. and they can't even make the play-in right now. Ooof

I like seeing teams like Houston and San Antonio there. Young teams rising.

Memphis when mostly healthy is a real dark horse threat. Last year their entire team was hurt and/or dealing with off-field drama (Ja Morant), to the point where they'd go into games with only 7-8 active players and a majority of them from the G-League just to fill-in. But that's a talented and pretty deep squad too

Houston is such an interesting team.  They've got no 20 ppg scorers, and they rank 29th in eFG%.  But, they keep turnovers very low and play excellent defense.

I think that Ime has proven that he's for real as a coach.

They infused some good battle worn vets to the mix in the last couple of years,.

[Vermont Green]

Phoenix just fell out of the play-in spots

Top 6 = OKC, MEM, HOU, DEN, DAL, LAC
Play in = LAL, MIN, SAS, GSW

Phoenix and Sacramento are just outside the play-in spots. San Antonio looks the only questionable team in the top 10.

Props to the Clippers for being in 6th place. No Kawhi. No PG13. Harden is doing a good job leading that squad.

Phoenix is paying a 408M roster (player salaries + luxury taxes) with KD, Beal, Booker, etc. and they can't even make the play-in right now. Ooof

I like seeing teams like Houston and San Antonio there. Young teams rising.

Memphis when mostly healthy is a real dark horse threat. Last year their entire team was hurt and/or dealing with off-field drama (Ja Morant), to the point where they'd go into games with only 7-8 active players and a majority of them from the G-League just to fill-in. But that's a talented and pretty deep squad too

Houston is such an interesting team.  They've got no 20 ppg scorers, and they rank 29th in eFG%.  But, they keep turnovers very low and play excellent defense.

I think that Ime has proven that he's for real as a coach.

I don't get to see HOU play that much but they are winning the points off TO and 2nd chance points battle:

HOU 2ndCPts    17.1 /  3rd
Opp 2nd CPts    13.3 / 12th

HOU Pts off TO  18.8 / 10th
Opp Pts off TO   15.4 / 4th

That is a net +7.1 pts right there.

Compared to BOS

BOS 2ndCPts    14.1 /  12rd
Opp 2nd CPts    12.2 /  4th

BOS Pts off TO  16.2 / 23th
Opp Pts off TO   13.6 / 2nd

So +3.5 overall.  What stands out to me is BOS POTO being low.  We don't force enough TOs as compared to some of the better defensive teams.  We mostly play with only 1 big so I don't expect us to win the 2nd chance points battle but we are doing OK on that one.

[Who]

Houston are killing teams on the boards. All those extra possessions is how they are beating teams despite having such a poor offense themselves.

They have a +5.6 rebounding differential. Memphis are 2nd at +4.7. 3rd place team is all the way down at +2.8 so a huge gap at the top for those two teams.