NBA Season 2025-26

[SparzWizard]

Kinda concerning that there's been no upsets today (LAL at home shouldn't be an upset win- the Rockets are THAT bad anyways with their abysmal offense).

Thinking the upsets might happen on Sunday. Hope it's not the Celtics game.

[Who]

Luke Kenard was the game high scorer with 27pts. He was 5-5 from 3pt. Also shot 48% from deep on the season which is insane.

The Lakers commentators were wondering if Kennard could be the 1st 55-50-90 player ever. He was close for a while.

He finished 53-48-91.

[Who]

Yesterday's games were great ... but I don't think today's will be.

The first 3 matchups look like they will all be duds. BOS over PHI. OKC over PHX. DET over ORL. All should be comfortable wins. The final game of the day SAS vs POR is the only one with some potential. Not a sure thing but hopefully we'll see if POR can push the Spurs some.

[Birdman]

Detroit and Orlando May be closer than ppl think

[Who]

I was optimistic at first that ORL could give them a go but after thinking about it I have changed my mind.

Orlando finished tied 3rd from bottom in 3PT% (34.3%) and bottom 10 in 3PT attempts. I just do not know if ORL has the shooting necessary to beat a top defensive team like DET in a playoff series.

On the other hand, I do think DET has the offense to score against ORL's high caliber defense. They have a great creator (scorer & passer) in Cade, shooters around Cade, and a great roll man in Duren. ORL have bad roll men, bad shooters and no great creator.

[celticinorlando]

Refs aren't going to allow the Knicks to lose the series. They got every call yesterday and bailed out several times.

[Who]

I had forgotten Minny played Denver in the playoffs two years ago until I saw them on the court in Game 1. That was a great series 2 years ago. Should be a great series this time too.

I also forgot Ant played DEN in the 1st round the year before that. So this is the 3rd time these two teams are meeting in 4 years. That is what you need to start developing a rivalry.

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Minny played well in the 1st half but fell apart in the Q3.

I am not surprised by offensive lulls for Minny though because they have no PG. They are playing Ant / DiVincenzo at PG. They are going to continue having lulls offensively in big playoff moments if they continue to do this.

In the summer, they need to get a a true ball-handler / playmaker. Whether that is a PG or a wing ... it doesn't matter. But it needs to be somebody who is comfortable running the offense, maintaining flow, keeping everyone involved. And looking for Rudy when he rolls to the rim. They did a good job yesterday finding Rudy but typically they are terrible at finding him when he is open.

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I was surprised their coach used an all-bench unit in the first half.

G: Conley
G: Bones Hyland
G: A Dosunmo
F: Slow Mo
C: Naz Reid

Then in the 2nd half, in that Q3 in the midst of that 14-0 run, he went back to this unit with one change. He didn't play Bones Hyland and instead kept Jaden McDaniels on the floor.

I do not understand why Minny doesn't have Ant or Randle on the floor at all times. They have 2 high quality shot-creators and a bunch of mediocre ones. Keep one of your 2 main guns on the floor. That is what Denver are doing on the other end. J Murray or Jokic are on the floor at all times.

[Who]

Reed Sheppard

Houston needed Reed Sheppard to have a big game. Reed is their 2nd best offensive player behind Sengun with Durant out.

Reed was 6-20 FGA. 0 FTs. 4 TOVs to 8ast.

Amen Thompson

I don't trust Amen as a scorer. He still can't shoot. If he is not getting to the rim, he can't score. His per game scoring numbers are misleading. He is more volatile than that. He can just as easily end up with 10-12pts as 20-22pts. And opposing teams can do that to him if they can limit how often gets to the rim.

Amen 21.6% 3PT + 33.3% on long twos (16-23 feet) + 32.5% on midrange twos (10-16 feet). The guy can't score outside of the paint.

Jabari Smith Jr

Jabari is a decent but below average (relative to other starting PFs) offensive player.

He lacks ball-handling and passing so he doesn't facilitate the offense at all. In fact, he harms ball movement by being unable to do much of anything in this regard.

In terms of shot creation, he is limited. He is not good off the dribble from 25 feet which is where most opportunities are in today's game. He is effective if you iso him in the mid-post. He also has a solid 3pt shot. Reminds me of Rashard Lewis albeit Rashard was an elite shooter whereas Jabari is only a solid one.

Back to Reed

This is why Reed Sheppard needed to be their 2nd best player last night -- because you cannot depend on Amen or Jabari.

Reed is still developing his consistency. He can get in trouble sometimes in terms of creating separation from his defender. He is still learning how to navigate the floor against NBA level athletes to find space to get his shot off. But even with that current (and maybe long term) flaw, he is still their 2nd best option behind Sengun. They needed big games from those 2 guys. Neither guy played well enough to get the job done.

[Who]

I was wondering what the Lakers lineup looks like without Luka or A Reaves. I haven't watched them since Luka got hurt.

G: L Kennard
G: LeBron
F: LaRavia
F: Rui Hachimura
C: D Ayton

That is a strange starting lineup. One slow wing in Kennard. 3 slow forwards in LeBron, LaRavia and Rui. A defensively vulnerable group to any speed.

I forgot Smart!

I forgot Smart when I did this post yesterday before the game. So LAL do have 1 legit rotation caliber guard on their team. Kennard more of a wing. Then a bunch of big slow forwards.

G: M Smart, Bronny
G: L Kennard, Nick Smith Jr
F: LeBron, LaRavia
F: Rui Hachimura, Vanderbilt
C: D Ayton, Jaxson Hayes, Kleber

Two dodgy small backup guards in Bronny (defense) and Nick Smith Jr (offense). The forward depth is strong. The big man depth is fine.

Houston have to do a better job of attacking Luke Kennard. He is one of the worst defenders in the entire league. You can't give him a free pass to stay on the court. He is too good of a shooter. He will punish you and he did in Game 1.

I was surprised the Lakers offense worked as well as did in Game 1. I thought HOU would be able to limit LeBron better than they did. That they could load up on him defensively and force the other guys to do more. And that they had a great stopper in Amen to do a job on LeBron. Also surprised that Okogie got the nod ahead of Amen to defend LeBron + Tari Eason was the next man up after Okogie. Amen needs to take that assignment.

LAL looked good. Smart provided enough secondary playmaking after LeBron to keep the ball moving. The have 2 quality shooters in Kennard and Rui to space the floor. Ayton was active as a roll man. The spacing was good. Smart had a good game (he has been very poor for LAL this year). The spacing got a bit dodgier with Vanderbilt in the game but other than that they looked like a quality offensive unit. 

Houston can't let LAL score like this. They have to be able to get stops. Amen has to check LeBron. And they have to force those roll players to make more plays off the dribble.

[slamtheking]

I noticed that in yesterday's games that the winning team pulled away from the loser in the 3rd quarter.  curious if the trend continues with today's games.  even without that trend, still need to see the C's come out strong to start each half (and just play strong throughout the whole game but don't want to push my luck)

[Phantom255x]

I noticed that in yesterday's games that the winning team pulled away from the loser in the 3rd quarter.  curious if the trend continues with today's games.  even without that trend, still need to see the C's come out strong to start each half (and just play strong throughout the whole game but don't want to push my luck)

The C's themselves have to prove they can play in the 2nd half. Hate to keep beating a dead horse, but they blew multiple 20 point leads in the Knicks series and often were the inferior team in the 4th against them despite having dominant stretches before that. They'll have to prove better in those moments later this postseason and this round can at least give them some chances to try some things or learn. After this, it's likely NY/DET/CLE then SAS/DEN/OKC in the Finals. The Celtics can hang with any of them, but to beat them they'll have to get to another level in the 2nd half and 4th quarter of games. I don't think they can frontrun or rely on blowouts like in 2024 where OKC wasn't OKC yet and the East had a lot of injuries.

[Who]

Sounds like there is a chance A Reaves and/or Luka could return for Round 2 if LAL advances.

Possibly even late in Round 1 if the series goes long.

[Phantom255x]

Sounds like there is a chance A Reaves and/or Luka could return for Round 2 if LAL advances.

Possibly even late in Round 1 if the series goes long.

I think Doncic has a real chance at coming back later this series, maybe Game 5 or beyond. Reaves is probably out. But yeah, both guys should be back for the second round, maybe Reaves has to miss the first 1-2 games of it but that's it?

[SparzWizard]

Sounds like there is a chance A Reaves and/or Luka could return for Round 2 if LAL advances.

Possibly even late in Round 1 if the series goes long.

I think Doncic has a real chance at coming back later this series, maybe Game 5 or beyond. Reaves is probably out. But yeah, both guys should be back for the second round, maybe Reaves has to miss the first 1-2 games of it but that's it?

Sure hope OKC sweeps them next round then. With Luka they were struggling and without Luka they were also struggling

[Phantom255x]

Sounds like there is a chance A Reaves and/or Luka could return for Round 2 if LAL advances.

Possibly even late in Round 1 if the series goes long.

I think Doncic has a real chance at coming back later this series, maybe Game 5 or beyond. Reaves is probably out. But yeah, both guys should be back for the second round, maybe Reaves has to miss the first 1-2 games of it but that's it?

Sure hope OKC sweeps them next round then. With Luka they were struggling and without Luka they were also struggling

I'm not worried about LAL making a deep run. OKC will dispatch either of these teams in 5