NBA Season 2024-25

[Phantom255x]

I know Robinson has missed significant time and is easing back in, but if the Knicks are hoping he's some "solution" for them against OKC/CLE/BOS, then I think they'll be disappointed

[Who]

Eastern Conference

Contenders = BOS, CLE, MIL

Good Playoff Teams = NYK, IND

Food for the Hungry = ORL, DET, MIA, CHI, ATL

Milwaukee

I don't think the Bucks are getting enough attention since the trade deadline. Kuzma has been a big upgrade in terms of quickness & athleticism over Middleton. Their balance defensively is much improved with him on board. I love their front-court. It is big, long and imposing defensively.

F: Kuzma, T Prince
F: Giannis, B Portis
C: B Lopez

B Portis is suspended for most of the remaining part of the regular season. That will hurt them. Doc has said their small ball lineups have killed them all season so losing Portis and having to play small ball more often will damage their record heading into the playoffs. I believe that will lead people to viewing them as being less dangerous than they actually are.

They also play only one out and out small guard in Lillard. K Porter Jr gives them a big PG off the bench. They have two small SGs in AJ Green and Gary Trent who can give them shooting. That spot is still a question mark for them but the rest of the team is rock solid.

MIL have one of the most difficult guys in the league to matchup with and deal with in Giannis. They have a 2nd game-winning player in Lillard. And with Kuzma on board, they have fixed a lot of their defensive issues. This is a dangerous team.

Do I think they are as good as CLE or BOS? No.

Do I think MIL are good enough to beat CLE or BOS in a playoff series? Yes. MIL would be the underdog and it would be a bit surprising but it wouldn't be that large of a surprise. It wouldn't be a shock. This team is a lot better today than it was earlier in the year with Khris Middleton.

IND and NYK

I see these two teams as middle of the pack. Capable of winning a playoff series but I can't see either beating CLE or BOS in a playoff series. Now that would be a shock.

NYK still has some untapped potential with Mitchell Robinson returning to action but they have a lot to prove. I see them more on the same level as Indy than on a tier with Milwaukee, CLE or BOS.

Low Seeds

They suck. It is hard to see how any one of them could win a playoff series.

ORL and DET are the best of the bunch. ORL has an awesome defense but their shooting has been so bad that it is hard seeing them beat anyone in a playoff series. That has to turnaround for them to become a threat.

DET has no chance. They are reliant on Cade. Their depth carries them through the regular season. But they do not have enough star help for Cade to win a playoff series. And Cade himself is more of a 2nd tier / 3rd tier star. He needs the help.

[Who]

Haha, Luka from 30-35 feet.

That guy is ridiculous. A highlight reel waiting to happen. Every time he touches it he is capable of making a play that gets the whole arena to stand on their feet and cheer.

[SparzWizard]

I have to give @Who and a few others here credit. I still had my doubts GSW would come together and become a legit contender, but they might very well be. Butler has simply given them another option that teams have to account for, and in a way I also think it's made life a bit easier for Curry and the others. Curry's also looked like prime Curry for a bit now. Golden State probably is the 4th best team in the West IMO behind OKC, LAL and Denver. Maybe 5th depending on how you view Memphis, but around there.

I still think their frontcourt is a bit weak, but if they did end up playing a series against a non-OKC or Denver (iHart, Jokic, Chet) team I think they have a solid chance. Yes, I include the Lakers in that. Lebron has owned them with AD, but I do think the combination of Butler-Curry could give the Lakers guards/wings some fits too. I'm also not sold Len and Hayes will do much in the postseason, they'll have to rely heavily on Lebron, Rui and Vanderbilt in the frontcourt.

No one on the Warriors can guard Luka. Guy will take a backwards 3 and still nail it and torch the Warriors. And LeBron will have his way with them sadly; he's their kryptonite. JJ Reddick has done an excellent job this season and especially meshing Luka and LeBron and playing defense.

[Goldstar88]

After losing star Kyrie Irving to a season-ending ACL injury, ESPN?s Shams Charania floated the idea Tuesday that Anthony Davis, who is sidelined with an adductor strain, could sit the rest of the season as well.

I think him, his representatives are gonna huddle up, Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show. I think they?re gonna have some very hard conversations. It?s not out of the realm of possibility that one game was the last time we?ve seen AD this season.

[Who]

Jaxson Hayes has 19pts on 8-8 FGA at halftime. He had 6 alley oop dunk finishes.

3 assists / setups by LeBron
2 assists /setups by Luka
1 assist / setup by Knecht

[kraidstar]

After losing star Kyrie Irving to a season-ending ACL injury, ESPN?s Shams Charania floated the idea Tuesday that Anthony Davis, who is sidelined with an adductor strain, could sit the rest of the season as well.

I think him, his representatives are gonna huddle up, Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show. I think they?re gonna have some very hard conversations. It?s not out of the realm of possibility that one game was the last time we?ve seen AD this season.

There have been rumors in Dallas for weeks that Davis was done for the season anyways, and that the Mavs were hiding it. Now they get to pretend like they're in control of the situation and are doing something smart for the future.

[SparzWizard]

Jaxson Hayes looking like Bam Adebayo out there. They're doing all this without Austin Reaves too, jeez.

[Who]

There were expectations that Kyrie would opt out of his contract this summer in favour of a longer term deal. Especially after that Luka trade because Kyrie now had a huge amount of leverage. Dallas could not afford to lose him. Also, rumours he might opt out in order to leave if the season went finished badly with AD.

I wonder what Kyrie will do after the injury. He has $40+mil for next season which he could take. Or risk opting out for a longer term deal. If Kyrie misses most of next season or struggles when he returns, could he face an even harder time 12 months from now to get a large contract extension? Is he better off taking his chances now? 

And what would Dallas do now that Kyrie has this injury. They surely would have given him that longer term deal at massive money before the injury. Would they still? I don't think they should. But explaining to the fan base letting Kyrie walk away after trading Luka ... with Dallas then becoming what a .500 team? Yikes. Kyrie could still have a good bit of leverage there.

[Phantom255x]

I don't think history is gonna be that kind to Durant honestly when all is said and done. Apparently last night, he beefed with coach Bud on the sidelines and it was noticeable. And then Shams is reporting the Suns will "work with Durant" to find a trade for him to go to a contender.

Yeah, because once that team forks up young players and picks to get Durant, they will no longer be a contender either.

Durant's come close but ultimately hasn't won without being on that historic super team Warriors. He's supposed to be elevating these teams but he simply isn't. The 2021 Nets came close but otherwise he's about to be on his 4th team in the last 8 years. The Suns have other issues but they also made that massive trade to get KD to try and put them over the top.

I view Durant as a HOF, magnificent scorer but I also think he's slightly overrated when people put him into these Top-10 or even Top-15 all time lists.

[Roy H.]

I don't think history is gonna be that kind to Durant honestly when all is said and done. Apparently last night, he beefed with coach Bud on the sidelines and it was noticeable. And then Shams is reporting the Suns will "work with Durant" to find a trade for him to go to a contender.

Yeah, because once that team forks up young players and picks to get Durant, they will no longer be a contender either.

Durant's come close but ultimately hasn't won without being on that historic super team Warriors. He's supposed to be elevating these teams but he simply isn't. The 2021 Nets came close but otherwise he's about to be on his 4th team in the last 8 years. The Suns have other issues but they also made that massive trade to get KD to try and put them over the top.

I view Durant as a HOF, magnificent scorer but I also think he's slightly overrated when people put him into these Top-10 or even Top-15 all time lists.

Durant is a front runner, for sure. 

That said, if he's got a great team around him, he's still scary.  I'm curious to see where he ends up.  Would Cleveland do something really bold if they fall short this year?

I also agree:  he's not top-10 all-time. 

[DefenseWinsChamps]

I don't think history is gonna be that kind to Durant honestly when all is said and done. Apparently last night, he beefed with coach Bud on the sidelines and it was noticeable. And then Shams is reporting the Suns will "work with Durant" to find a trade for him to go to a contender.

Yeah, because once that team forks up young players and picks to get Durant, they will no longer be a contender either.

Durant's come close but ultimately hasn't won without being on that historic super team Warriors. He's supposed to be elevating these teams but he simply isn't. The 2021 Nets came close but otherwise he's about to be on his 4th team in the last 8 years. The Suns have other issues but they also made that massive trade to get KD to try and put them over the top.

I view Durant as a HOF, magnificent scorer but I also think he's slightly overrated when people put him into these Top-10 or even Top-15 all time lists.

Durant is a front runner, for sure. 

That said, if he's got a great team around him, he's still scary.  I'm curious to see where he ends up.  Would Cleveland do something really bold if they fall short this year?

I also agree:  he's not top-10 all-time.

I've been thinking about his career too. I think the biggest conclusion I come to is that he has always been individually a great, efficient scorer. But I'm not sure how much he makes his teammates better.

He's always played with great teammates at every stop. But I've had a tough time thinking about any role player (or other superstar) that was better because of KD.

[Phantom255x]

I don't think history is gonna be that kind to Durant honestly when all is said and done. Apparently last night, he beefed with coach Bud on the sidelines and it was noticeable. And then Shams is reporting the Suns will "work with Durant" to find a trade for him to go to a contender.

Yeah, because once that team forks up young players and picks to get Durant, they will no longer be a contender either.

Durant's come close but ultimately hasn't won without being on that historic super team Warriors. He's supposed to be elevating these teams but he simply isn't. The 2021 Nets came close but otherwise he's about to be on his 4th team in the last 8 years. The Suns have other issues but they also made that massive trade to get KD to try and put them over the top.

I view Durant as a HOF, magnificent scorer but I also think he's slightly overrated when people put him into these Top-10 or even Top-15 all time lists.

Durant is a front runner, for sure. 

That said, if he's got a great team around him, he's still scary.  I'm curious to see where he ends up.  Would Cleveland do something really bold if they fall short this year?

I also agree:  he's not top-10 all-time.

Probably Houston, Memphis or Miami. Those teams have the assets to get it done, especially Houston/Memphis.

The Suns should be scary with him and Booker but they are far from it. And this is a Suns team that made the Finals in 2021, not long ago 

[SparzWizard]

Kyrie Irving was live on IG and Luka Doncic dropped in a comment "Getter better. Leave that organization!" 

I don't blame em.

[Phantom255x]

Kyrie Irving was live on IG and Luka Doncic dropped in a comment "Getter better. Leave that organization!" 

I don't blame em.

LOL Sparz you got centel'd bro