NBA Season 2024-25

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Shai looked absolutely exhausted late in this game.

[Vermont Green]

It goes hand in hand. IND had 24 turnovers, but they also had 17 more rebounds

Getting more rebounds isn't the impact.  OKC had 16 more FGA, largely due to the turnovers.  16 more shots by OKC is going to lead to more rebounds by IND but it isn't a good thing.  It is a bad thing that they turned it over so much.  The reason they got more rebounds is because of the turnovers.

IND did have 3 more ORebs.  ORebs lead to additional possessions and more FGA (assuming you don't get an OReb and then turn it over).  This helped offset the turnovers a little.

Hard to believe a team can have 24 turnovers and win a playoff game.

[Vermont Green]

It feels to me like in a week or so we will be coming back to OKC tied 2-2.

We shall see.

[Phantom255x]

It feels to me like in a week or so we will be coming back to OKC tied 2-2.

We shall see.

Yeah I still think OKC in 6 personally. But man if IND goes up 2-0 or even 3-1, I think they win.

IND played one of their worst games this postseason run especially the turnovers and still won on the road. Encouraging for them, a bit worrisome for OKC

[Endless Paradise]

It feels to me like in a week or so we will be coming back to OKC tied 2-2.

We shall see.

Yeah I still think OKC in 6 personally. But man if IND goes up 2-0 or even 3-1, I think they win.

IND played one of their worst games this postseason run especially the turnovers and still won on the road. Encouraging for them, a bit worrisome for OKC

To be fair, they shot very well from the field, particularly in the 4th. OKC shot under 40% from the field, only scored 11 points off all those turnovers, and had no-shows offensively from Chet and J-Dub. Both teams can clean up quite a lot.

[Atzar]

Shai looked absolutely exhausted late in this game.

Looked like Indy made an attempt to run a lot of their action at him.  Nembhard initiated a lot of the offense down the stretch, I think in large part because SGA was guarding him. 

I think that's something Indy needs to do all series long.  Run everything at him.  SGA isn't a poor defender he's the closest thing to a weak link in that starting lineup.  Better than trying to go through Caruso or Dort, with all of the crap they get away with hacking dudes to cause turnovers.  Not only is SGA easier to initiate offense on, but it also serves the dual purpose of wearing him out.  If Holmgren and JDub continue to struggle, that could be a real problem for OKC late in games.

[86MaxwellSmart]

OKC missed all of those shots they make all the time down the stretch it was beautiful to see....Pressure them and like all the other teams, they are human.

[Who]

Chet had a bad game. He could have had a half dozen dunks but blew them repeatedly. Got stripped several times to deny him. Went up soft a few other times and blew the layups when it should have been a dunk.

I feel most confident in all my takes that that will continue.  The Pacers are not a good match up for him.  He probably will have 1 maybe 2 good games, but he will mostly have a bad series. It is why I thought he'd be a detriment to the Thunder winning.

I don't understand why the Pacers are a bad matchup for him. Can you explain why?

He is a quicker and more dynamic big man than M Turner. He has a speed advantage, height advantage, length advantage, and skill-wise a ball-handling advantage.

He also matches up well with Siakam. Siakam isn't big enough to bully him (neither is M Turner) which is Chet's main weakness defensively. Chet is quick enough to stay with Siakam and deny him on drives. Offensively, I do not see Chet having any advantages against Siakam as Siakam can also cover Chet well on the other end.

[LatterDayCelticsfan]

Chet had a bad game. He could have had a half dozen dunks but blew them repeatedly. Got stripped several times to deny him. Went up soft a few other times and blew the layups when it should have been a dunk.

I feel most confident in all my takes that that will continue.  The Pacers are not a good match up for him.  He probably will have 1 maybe 2 good games, but he will mostly have a bad series. It is why I thought he'd be a detriment to the Thunder winning.

I don't understand why the Pacers are a bad matchup for him. Can you explain why?

He is a quicker and more dynamic big man than M Turner. He has a speed advantage, height advantage, length advantage, and skill-wise a ball-handling advantage.

He also matches up well with Siakam. Siakam isn't big enough to bully him (neither is M Turner) which is Chet's main weakness defensively. Chet is quick enough to stay with Siakam and deny him on drives. Offensively, I do not see Chet having any advantages against Siakam as Siakam can also cover Chet well on the other end.

Let me hazard a guess and suggest that Turner and Siakam each have at least an extra decade or so of experience in playoff/NBA savvy on Chet Holmgren, and this is showing.

[Neurotic Guy]

Chet had a bad game. He could have had a half dozen dunks but blew them repeatedly. Got stripped several times to deny him. Went up soft a few other times and blew the layups when it should have been a dunk.

I feel most confident in all my takes that that will continue.  The Pacers are not a good match up for him.  He probably will have 1 maybe 2 good games, but he will mostly have a bad series. It is why I thought he'd be a detriment to the Thunder winning.

I don't understand why the Pacers are a bad matchup for him. Can you explain why?

He is a quicker and more dynamic big man than M Turner. He has a speed advantage, height advantage, length advantage, and skill-wise a ball-handling advantage.

He also matches up well with Siakam. Siakam isn't big enough to bully him (neither is M Turner) which is Chet's main weakness defensively. Chet is quick enough to stay with Siakam and deny him on drives. Offensively, I do not see Chet having any advantages against Siakam as Siakam can also cover Chet well on the other end.

Let me hazard a guess and suggest that Turner and Siakam each have at least an extra decade or so of experience in playoff/NBA savvy on Chet Holmgren, and this is showing.

This.

Would love to have Chet on the Cs.  His skills at his length are amazing. The question for me is body type.  Will he put on muscle without losing quickness, ball-handling, shooting? Is he likely to be injury prone?   
3 years ago the Cs had two of the top under 25s in the league. Today they are very suddenly no longer a young team - especially given the likelihood that the Jays will skip a full year in their window. Best scenario (if still together) they are 30 and 29 in their next competitive season with the Cs. Not old, but no longer NBA young. White, 32.

Cs need to replenish their youth - leaving me wishing for a young big like Holgrem.  Hope Brad can work a miracle and find a young diamond in trade or draft this off-season. 

[Moranis]

Chet struggles against guys like Turner.  He isnt used to someone who is basically his size but that also moves well.  Offensively, Chet can't post him up, he can't go by him, and he can't shoot over him.  The things he does well offensively he can't do against Turner.  As he gets more experience he will develop more moves and learn what to do but he isnt there yet.  Defensively Turner also neutralizes him some because Chet has to stay on him and he gets pulled out of the paint.  If he us too far away Turner will shoot a 3 and if he too close Turner will go by him or pass around him.  Turner basically eliminates Chet's best defensive attributes by pulling him out of the post.

Chet has played less than 150 games in his career, 114 regular season and 27 playoff.  He just hasn't learned enough yet to be effective against someone like Turner.  He is immensely talented so I wouldn't be surprised if his talent sparks a big game or 2, but I would be surprised ifnhe has a good series overall.  I expect more games like game 1

[slightly biased bias fan]

[Neurotic Guy]

Run it up Tyrese - still have 6 games to force more ties or get Gwinners.  Who would have guessed (known) Hedo would be in the conversation? 

[Who]

Rumours of Toronto going after Kevin Durant. According to Jake Fischer at Bleacher Report.

But what could they offer?

Durant is too old to give up an asset as prized as Scottie Barnes. They just acquired Brandon Ingram and given him an extension. Who else on that roster has the juice to get a Kevin Durant? No-one. An offer built around RJ Barrett and picks? Quickley and picks? RJ Barrett's contract is too far off Durant's contract. So RJ + Poeltl for Durant? With some picks going to PHX? That is a weak offer.

Suns

G: Beal
G: D Booker
F: RJ Barrett
F: R O'Neale
C: Poeltl

That is one mediocre looking roster. Why bother?

Raptors

And where does Durant fit if you are keeping Scottie Barnes? If you lose Poeltl, do you just play S Barnes as a center?

G: Quickley
G: G Dick / Ja'Kobe Walter
F: B Ingram
F: K Durant
C: S Barnes

Ingram and Durant are too slow to check SGs. S Barnes too big and bulky. Tough to play all three of them full time alongside a center. I think it would be S Barnes that has to play center. He has the physicality, youthful energy, rebounding to compete there.

It would be a fun dynamic team. Hard to matchup with for opponents. Nowhere to hide your center. Maybe the SG spot.

[Who]

Chet struggles against guys like Turner.  He isnt used to someone who is basically his size but that also moves well.  Offensively, Chet can't post him up, he can't go by him, and he can't shoot over him.  The things he does well offensively he can't do against Turner.  As he gets more experience he will develop more moves and learn what to do but he isnt there yet.  Defensively Turner also neutralizes him some because Chet has to stay on him and he gets pulled out of the paint.  If he us too far away Turner will shoot a 3 and if he too close Turner will go by him or pass around him.  Turner basically eliminates Chet's best defensive attributes by pulling him out of the post.

Chet has played less than 150 games in his career, 114 regular season and 27 playoff.  He just hasn't learned enough yet to be effective against someone like Turner.  He is immensely talented so I wouldn't be surprised if his talent sparks a big game or 2, but I would be surprised ifnhe has a good series overall.  I expect more games like game 1

I don't think the same of Myles Turner. I don't see the footspeed that you credit him with. Chet has far more speed. He will have opportunities in transition, movement off ball (cuts), and drives.

Chet had about half a dozen dunk opportunities in Gm 1 that he blew. He got stripped or he went up soft and tried to finish a layup instead of dunking it. He capitalizes on those easy dunks and it is a different game from him. I expect him to recover from this bad performance. To learn what he did wrong. That he didn't attack with enough power when he went to the basket.

I do not consider this a bad matchup for Chet. I expect him to have a good series.

Anyway, we will see. Time will tell.