NBA Season 2024-25

[Birdman]

Anyone else think that Thibs will be fired by the Knicks if they lose? I do

[Vermont Green]

Both teams started reasonably well. Even game after 5 minutes. Tie game or thereabouts. Then OKC had a few turnovers. A few easy breakaway dunks for Minny. OKC missed some makeable shots. MIN hit the shots they have been missing from outside in first two games. Suddenly in the space of about 2-3 minutes it was a 10 point game.

OKC brought some bench guys. They were missing their outside shots. Solid looks. Caruso in particular. Minnesota kept hitting their shots. Minny stretched the lead to 15 then 20. End of Q1. OKC ice cold. Minny hot.

OKC's bench struggled. Their guards Cason and Caruso weren't doing well. Jaylin Williams played instead of Kenrich Williams. He didn't have much of an impact. Neither I Joe or A Wiggins had much of an impact. They turned to Ajay Mitchell late in Q2. He kept missing his shots just like the others. So nobody from the supporting cast was contributing.

Chet and Hartenstein were playing well. SGA and J-Dub were turning the ball over. They had 7 turnovers in the first half (ball park figure). They were struggling to get their scoring go. So a lack of go-to scoring from the 2 main stars + terrible supporting cast contributions from the bench. Minny stretched a 20pt lead to a 30pt lead.

OKC just never got back in the game. It was like they collapsed in that Q1 and never found anything that worked well enough to build some rhythm / some confidence to make a run.

They just limped through the game like a lame dog.

Meanwhile, Minny kept hitting all the outside shots they had been missing in OKC. Red hot shooting vs ice cold shooting.

Thanks for this, I did not get to see the game either.  Could not believe that MIN put up 143 on OKC defense.

I found it a little funny as I read this and thought what Mazzulla gets criticized for.  Too many 3s (MIN took 44).  Doesn't play the scrubs enough (looks like OKC played 10 or 11 before garbage time).  And what do you know, OKC got blown out by a lesser team based on who hit shots and who didn't.

This game is probably just a one off bad game.  I expect OKC to win game 4 in fact.  Still stunning that MIN could beat them in this manner. 

[tazzmaniac]

Anyone else think that Thibs will be fired by the Knicks if they lose? I do

After beating the Celts and getting the Knicks to the ECF for the 1st time in 25 years, that would be very surprising. 

[tazzmaniac]

Both teams started reasonably well. Even game after 5 minutes. Tie game or thereabouts. Then OKC had a few turnovers. A few easy breakaway dunks for Minny. OKC missed some makeable shots. MIN hit the shots they have been missing from outside in first two games. Suddenly in the space of about 2-3 minutes it was a 10 point game.

OKC brought some bench guys. They were missing their outside shots. Solid looks. Caruso in particular. Minnesota kept hitting their shots. Minny stretched the lead to 15 then 20. End of Q1. OKC ice cold. Minny hot.

OKC's bench struggled. Their guards Cason and Caruso weren't doing well. Jaylin Williams played instead of Kenrich Williams. He didn't have much of an impact. Neither I Joe or A Wiggins had much of an impact. They turned to Ajay Mitchell late in Q2. He kept missing his shots just like the others. So nobody from the supporting cast was contributing.

Chet and Hartenstein were playing well. SGA and J-Dub were turning the ball over. They had 7 turnovers in the first half (ball park figure). They were struggling to get their scoring go. So a lack of go-to scoring from the 2 main stars + terrible supporting cast contributions from the bench. Minny stretched a 20pt lead to a 30pt lead.

OKC just never got back in the game. It was like they collapsed in that Q1 and never found anything that worked well enough to build some rhythm / some confidence to make a run.

They just limped through the game like a lame dog.

Meanwhile, Minny kept hitting all the outside shots they had been missing in OKC. Red hot shooting vs ice cold shooting.

Thanks for this, I did not get to see the game either.  Could not believe that MIN put up 143 on OKC defense.

I found it a little funny as I read this and thought what Mazzulla gets criticized for.  Too many 3s (MIN took 44).  Doesn't play the scrubs enough (looks like OKC played 10 or 11 before garbage time).  And what do you know, OKC got blown out by a lesser team based on who hit shots and who didn't.

This game is probably just a one off bad game.  I expect OKC to win game 4 in fact.  Still stunning that MIN could beat them in this manner.

Criticizing the too many 3s I agree with.  Take the ball to the basket whenever its available.  Criticizing only playing 7 or 8 players in the playoffs is dumb.  Pretty much every coach reduces the roster rotation to 7 or 8 in the playoffs except for garbage time or blowouts. 

[Goldstar88]

Anyone else think that Thibs will be fired by the Knicks if they lose? I do

After beating the Celts and getting the Knicks to the ECF for the 1st time in 25 years, that would be very surprising.

It would be really dumb.

The Knicks' 51-31 record is their best record since 2012-13, and it's the first time since 1995 that they have won 50 games in back-to-back seasons. 5th best record in the league, 5th best offensive rating, 13th-best defensive rating, and 8th best net rating.

[Phantom255x]

Knicks were off to a great start but now IND is up 8. Probably not a good sign for NY

[tenn_smoothie]

Appears the title was ours for the taking IF we had been healthy and IF Brad would have pulled his head out of his ass and fired Jittery Joe after the '23 season.

[Phantom255x]

Appears the title was ours for the taking IF we had been healthy and IF Brad would have pulled his head out of his ass and fired Jittery Joe after the '23 season.

Maybe but the reality is, we weren't healthy. Porzingis was as useful as the two of us, and Jaylen was hobbled. Plus Tatum's achilles later on

I will say though, we would have lost to IND in 5 games BUT I'm still mad they couldn't beat NY in the 2nd round. Even with all the injuries, we went down 3-1 before JT suffered the achilles injury. And watching this current ECF, IND is just bullying them inside and generating open looks (not all 3s btw, they are taking the easy 2s too) and they are exploiting KAT hard. Also playing fast/in transition. Stuff we should have done more... 

[jpotter33]

Am I crazy to think that Indy actually has a shot to win it all, even against OKC? I keep hearing that OKC would love to run with Indy, but I don't know. By pushing the ball and pace like Indy does, it neutralizes alot of OKC's greatest weapon in their halfcourt defense. They also don't have the rebounding to punish Indy either.

On the other end, Indy is just as physical defensively as OKC is. So I can very well see it, and honestly I would love to see it. Indy is by far the most likable team remaining in my eyes.

[tenn_smoothie]

The criticism of Mazzulla not playing his bench is more about the regular season and not playing Tatum and Brown into the ground (both end up with tissue damage wear & tear injuries). Having said that, more regular season minutes would have better prepared the bench guys to be productive in the playoffs. I think that Queta, Scheirman, Craig and even Walsh for defensive energy @ 6-8 minutes each game could have helped keep momentum going and rested the first 7 more.

[Phantom255x]

Wow, Pacers up 20 now

[blink]

Am I crazy to think that Indy actually has a shot to win it all, even against OKC? I keep hearing that OKC would love to run with Indy, but I don't know. By pushing the ball and pace like Indy does, it neutralizes alot of OKC's greatest weapon in their halfcourt defense. They also don't have the rebounding to punish Indy either.

On the other end, Indy is just as physical defensively as OKC is. So I can very well see it, and honestly I would love to see it. Indy is by far the most likable team remaining in my eyes.

Indy is currently blowing out the knicks and unless something drastic changes in the 2nd half, they will go up 3-0.   I think Indy has a shot at OKC.   Pacers are playing the best I have ever seen right now. 

[blink]

Wow, Pacers up 20 now

They just came on like a freight train these last 4-5 minutes.

[Phantom255x]

Am I crazy to think that Indy actually has a shot to win it all, even against OKC? I keep hearing that OKC would love to run with Indy, but I don't know. By pushing the ball and pace like Indy does, it neutralizes alot of OKC's greatest weapon in their halfcourt defense. They also don't have the rebounding to punish Indy either.

On the other end, Indy is just as physical defensively as OKC is. So I can very well see it, and honestly I would love to see it. Indy is by far the most likable team remaining in my eyes.

Right now I'd pick OKC in 6 but I wouldn't rule out Indiana. That'd be such a fun series

[Phantom255x]

LOOK EVERYBODY. Brunson and KAT with 3 fouls. What does IND do? Attack them hard and now Brunson has 4 before halftime. What a concept