NBA Season 2024-25

[slamtheking]

Pistons record today = 42 wins 32 losses

Record on Jan 01 = 14 wins 18 losses. So they have had 28 wins and only 14 losses since the turn of the New Year. That is a 55 win pace over the course of a full season.

You could go back to Mid December when Detroit were 10 wins and 16 losses for a 32 win 16 loss record. Same win rate. Even larger sample size.

They're gonna be a pain in the butt in the playoffs.

Not to look too far ahead, but things could work out well for us in the first two rounds. Decent chance we face Atlanta in the first round, or Orlando, but likely not Chicago unless they leap Orlando for the 8 seed and get into that matchup. That's good, CHI has been red hot and is not a team I'd want to face.

Meanwhile, MIL has slipped to the 6 seed and will likely stay there. That means our 2nd round could be either the Knicks or Bucks without Lillard. That's good.

And then in the process, IND/DET/CLE can cannibalize each other in the other side of the bracket

At that point, it's very likely the Pacers may be waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals. Especially with how Cleveland's been playing the last 10 games

I'd still be surprised if that were the case, but I do agree right now I'd rank the East:

1. Cleveland
2. Boston
3. Indiana
4. Detroit
5. New York

(Yeah I'd have DET slightly above NY right now even when Brunson returns, but in a playoff series if they met maybe I'd still take NY in 7 simply because of experience + HCA)

Record be [dang]ed, Boston is the #1 team in the East.  If healthy, no one is beating them in the East.  No one.

agreed.  C's would have to have 4 ice-cold shooting games out of 7 and be playing matador defense which I don't see happening by the time they'd be playing in the conference finals. 

only team that concerns me is OKC.

[Phantom255x]

Pistons record today = 42 wins 32 losses

Record on Jan 01 = 14 wins 18 losses. So they have had 28 wins and only 14 losses since the turn of the New Year. That is a 55 win pace over the course of a full season.

You could go back to Mid December when Detroit were 10 wins and 16 losses for a 32 win 16 loss record. Same win rate. Even larger sample size.

They're gonna be a pain in the butt in the playoffs.

Not to look too far ahead, but things could work out well for us in the first two rounds. Decent chance we face Atlanta in the first round, or Orlando, but likely not Chicago unless they leap Orlando for the 8 seed and get into that matchup. That's good, CHI has been red hot and is not a team I'd want to face.

Meanwhile, MIL has slipped to the 6 seed and will likely stay there. That means our 2nd round could be either the Knicks or Bucks without Lillard. That's good.

And then in the process, IND/DET/CLE can cannibalize each other in the other side of the bracket

At that point, it's very likely the Pacers may be waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals. Especially with how Cleveland's been playing the last 10 games

I'd still be surprised if that were the case, but I do agree right now I'd rank the East:

1. Cleveland
2. Boston
3. Indiana
4. Detroit
5. New York

(Yeah I'd have DET slightly above NY right now even when Brunson returns, but in a playoff series if they met maybe I'd still take NY in 7 simply because of experience + HCA)

Record be [dang]ed, Boston is the #1 team in the East.  If healthy, no one is beating them in the East.  No one.

agreed.  C's would have to have 4 ice-cold shooting games out of 7 and be playing matador defense which I don't see happening by the time they'd be playing in the conference finals. 

only team that concerns me is OKC.

I've been wavering back and forth about a CLE-BOS series. Three things that would worry me (in no particular order) is Mitchell in the 4th being a beast as usual, Mobley's elevated play and skillset giving us issues, and a potential Game 7 being on the road.

I sort of look at Mitchell as the new Lebron/Butler in the East, that "thorn" in the East playoffs who just always goes off against us and shows up in the 4th often as well win or lose.

Hopefully Porzingis is healthy that series, because I really do think we need him to beat CLE and then OKC in a series. He can neutralize Mobley/Allen and then as long as our guards + wings mostly outplay their non-Mitchell guards/wings we should be good.

[Neurotic Guy]

Pistons record today = 42 wins 32 losses

Record on Jan 01 = 14 wins 18 losses. So they have had 28 wins and only 14 losses since the turn of the New Year. That is a 55 win pace over the course of a full season.

You could go back to Mid December when Detroit were 10 wins and 16 losses for a 32 win 16 loss record. Same win rate. Even larger sample size.

They're gonna be a pain in the butt in the playoffs.

Not to look too far ahead, but things could work out well for us in the first two rounds. Decent chance we face Atlanta in the first round, or Orlando, but likely not Chicago unless they leap Orlando for the 8 seed and get into that matchup. That's good, CHI has been red hot and is not a team I'd want to face.

Meanwhile, MIL has slipped to the 6 seed and will likely stay there. That means our 2nd round could be either the Knicks or Bucks without Lillard. That's good.

And then in the process, IND/DET/CLE can cannibalize each other in the other side of the bracket

At that point, it's very likely the Pacers may be waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals. Especially with how Cleveland's been playing the last 10 games

I'd still be surprised if that were the case, but I do agree right now I'd rank the East:

1. Cleveland
2. Boston
3. Indiana
4. Detroit
5. New York

(Yeah I'd have DET slightly above NY right now even when Brunson returns, but in a playoff series if they met maybe I'd still take NY in 7 simply because of experience + HCA)

Record be [dang]ed, Boston is the #1 team in the East.  If healthy, no one is beating them in the East.  No one.

agreed.  C's would have to have 4 ice-cold shooting games out of 7 and be playing matador defense which I don't see happening by the time they'd be playing in the conference finals. 

only team that concerns me is OKC.

I've been wavering back and forth about a CLE-BOS series. Three things that would worry me (in no particular order) is Mitchell in the 4th being a beast as usual, Mobley's elevated play and skillset giving us issues, and a potential Game 7 being on the road.

I sort of look at Mitchell as the new Lebron/Butler in the East, that "thorn" in the East playoffs who just always goes off against us and shows up in the 4th often as well win or lose.

Hopefully Porzingis is healthy that series, because I really do think we need him to beat CLE and then OKC in a series. He can neutralize Mobley/Allen and then as long as our guards + wings mostly outplay their non-Mitchell guards/wings we should be good.

I think it goes without saying that without KP the C's will have their hands full with Cleveland - a nice way of saying they probably can't beat Cleveland without him.   That doesn't mean I think it couldn't be a competitive series - the C's are talented and experienced and could still beat Cleveland - but probably not.  The playoffs bring out a different, more focused Celtics team as we've seen evidenced in the last few weeks.  I don't know if Cleveland has another gear.

Mobley/Allen v. KP/Al/Luke is lightyears better for us than Mobley/Allen v. Al/Luke.  So, KP healthy is what it's about. 

BTW - Cleveland needs to be healthy too.

[Who]

Graphic on the Bulls game states J Giddey over his last 3 games is averaging 20ppg 10rpg 12apg.

Showing some nice moves early in this one too. However, on the other end PJ Washington is going right at Giddey. He has posted him up a couple of times and driven past him a couple of times. Good offense for Giddey, bad defense by Giddey.

[Birdman]

Graphic on the Bulls game states J Giddey over his last 3 games is averaging 20ppg 10rpg 12apg.

Showing some nice moves early in this one too. However, on the other end PJ Washington is going right at Giddey. He has posted him up a couple of times and driven past him a couple of times. Good offense for Giddey, bad defense by Giddey.

Wow and beat lakers on half court shot

[Phantom255x]

Yeah if it's Lakers-Grizzlies first round that'll be an easy gentlemen sweep for LAL

[Who]

Indy putting up a poor showing in OKC.

OKC's defense has them rattled.

[Birdman]

OKC don?t win it this year then there something wrong..that team looks unstoppable

[Silas]

OKC don?t win it this year then there something wrong..that team looks unstoppable

If the Cs are healthy, OKC is stoppable.

[Phantom255x]

OKC don?t win it this year then there something wrong..that team looks unstoppable

If they make the Finals but lose you can kind of get it. Sometimes you need to get there first and experience it before you come through. Celtics experienced the same in 2022 before finally pulling through in 2024.

Now if they do not reach the Finals I 100% agree. There is no clear #2 in the West IMO. OKC should get by the West. Only excuse is if they suffer multiple major injuries

[perks-a-beast]

Even more incompetence in Dallas as they continue to win games when they should be doing everything in their power to try and tank for a good pick.

[jambr380]

Yeah if it's Lakers-Grizzlies first round that'll be an easy gentlemen sweep for LAL

Of course that's how it'll work out because they're the stupid Lakers, but a GSW or LAC matchup is just as likely. Keeping the Lakers in 4th ensures they get a fresher OKC in the 2nd round

[Who]

Even more incompetence in Dallas as they continue to win games when they should be doing everything in their power to try and tank for a good pick.

I caught parts of the last 2 Mavericks games. They are surprisingly easy on the eye. Good team even without Kyrie.

I like that PG they picked up from the G-League Brandon Williams Small quick guard. He penetrates well. He can shoot it. He has given the bench a lift with Dinwiddie moving into the starting unit to replace Kyrie. They got a fun offensive minded backcourt with Brandon Williams and Jalen Hardy who come in and put up points in a hurry. Good backup forwards in Naji, Max Christie, C Martin. Dwight Powell when available is serviceable. A strong bench.

The starting unit is solid. It is AD and solid role players.

The center is a question mark in Kai Jones. I don't know what to make of him. He was struggling in the parts of the games I watched but from the box score it looks like he had a big 2nd half that I did not see. Kai Jones looks small out there. I thought that guy was bigger. A slight 6-10 center. Good quickness / mobility. Doesn't look like he knows what he is doing. Just playing off athleticism and energy.

Anyway, the rest of the starting lineup is interesting. Dinwiddie at the controls is always fun. Klay gets to be the 2nd option again and let loose. PJ Washington is playing against smaller SFs that he is trying to bully. Looks like PJ is expanding his offense and his leadership within the Mavs.

Good looking side.

I like them better (even without Kyrie) than Sacramento or Phoenix. Better balance. More teamwork. More fun to watch.

[Goldstar88]

OKC don?t win it this year then there something wrong..that team looks unstoppable

They looked really good last year as well and lost second round. Playoffs are a different animal.

[SparzWizard]

Yeah if it's Lakers-Grizzlies first round that'll be an easy gentlemen sweep for LAL

Of course that's how it'll work out because they're the stupid Lakers, but a GSW or LAC matchup is just as likely. Keeping the Lakers in 4th ensures they get a fresher OKC in the 2nd round

Not sure if we want the Lakers to beat OKC in the 2nd round lol!