NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[Who]

Since the Pistons and Celtics are out, the New York Knicks will have home-court advantage in the East Finals. Lucky them

I am trying to think of links between the Cavs and the Knicks. Cleveland have been around since 1970 (56 years) but there is almost no history between the two teams.

* Walt Frazier was traded by the Knicks to the Cavs.
* They played each other twice in the mid-90s in the first round. I believe in 1995 and 1996. Two defensive teams. Cleveland had not scorers. NY had Ewing. NY won both times and comfortably.
* Recent playoff series (2023) where M Robinson bossed J Allen in the paint and on the boards as NY upset the Cavs.

Man, LeBron never got a playoff series in NYC when he was with the Cavs. I think his Miami team played Melo's Knicks once or twice but they were never a competitive series. A lot like the Knicks vs Cavs in the 1990s.

Looks like the Knicks never made the playoffs during LeBron's 11 seasons in CLE. 9 trips to the playoffs in 11 years for LeBron in CLE. Actually, NY made it during LBJ's rookie season but LeBron didn't make it then. Got hammered by J-Kidd's Nets. LBJ's Cavs and the Knicks never made it to the playoffs the same season in his 11 years there.

I don't think the Mark Price Cavs ever played Ewing's Knicks either in the late 1980s early 90s. NY dominant early to mid 1970s. Then struggled. CLE started making the playoffs for the first time then and lasted a few years. Then they fell out. NY became a playoff team again. CLE one playoff appearance in 1985 or 1986 where Bird's Celtics trashed them. That is all in between their late 70s team and their Mark Price / Brad Daugherty / Larry Nance era in the late 80s early 90s. Pity Kemp's Cavs never got to play Ewing in the playoffs.

Shocking how little history these 2 teams have against each other. Both been around a long time.

Now they are going to meet in the ECF. Cavs possible 1st trip to the Finals since LeBron. Only their 2nd time in the ECF without LeBron after playing the Bulls in 1992 or 1993 ECF. Knicks looking for their first Finals trip since the days of Patrick Ewing in 1999 with A Houston and L Sprewell.

[Moranis]

Pistons are one of those teams that are great in the regular season, but fizzle in the playoffs. Like the Atlanta Hawks teams years ago. Detroit should have moved Harris at the deadline. Now he?s a UFA. Not sure how they are going to be able to get another star without his salary.

They are nothing like the Hawks.  They have a MVP candidate and a lot of high draft picks.  They are just young and defensive oriented and lack a second play maker. 

As for Harris, they wouldn't have gotten anything for him.  There was no point in moving him and frankly he is the 2nd best scorer they've had this post season.  They may not even get by Orlando without him.  Which is more an indictment on the rest of the team than anything.

They really need another scorer, but a play maker would also help. For that reason, I actually think they'd be a decent landing spot for White.  Holland, Jenkins, and LeVert for White.  Something like that.  Boston gets some younger players with promise in Jenkins and Holland and a veteran shooter for the bench (though LeVert is mostly just there for salary purposes).

I never said anything about the players being similar. Pistons are just one of those teams that are good in the regular season, but not the playoffs. Same with the Jazz when they had Mitchell and Gobert. The point of trading Harris at the deadline would have been to use his $26M salary in a deal with other players and picks to obtain a legitimate number two option. I don?t see how they can make a trade now without gutting their roster to match salary. If the Pistons went after Harden for example, they?d likely be in the ECF right now.

The Pistons have had 1 good season led by a 24 year old 5th year player who just finished 5th in MVP voting (with 2 1st place votes).  Their 2nd best player is 22 and still on the rookie contract. They have a 24 year old wing that finished 3rd in DPOY voting, also on rookie contract.  They have a 20 year old 2nd year player that was a top 5 pick. 

They simply are too young and have far too much talent to be called the Hawks or even the Jazz.  Cunningham alone is enough of a difference to make that comparison poor.  Now sure if the Pistons are still doing this in 3 years, then I'll buy the comparison, but not after 1 good season and not with their talent. 

[Who]

Cade has 12pts and 5ast midway through Q3.
He finished with 13pts and 5ast.

He did nothing the rest of the way.

[Who]

Naz Reid was very direct in his answer for how the Wolves run down the Western Conference finalists.

"Probably just the moodiness. You look at both of those teams and they're playing for one another, they're excited to be on the floor with one another, they're a team where they're selfless... I think we have more than enough talent... But just being less moody. I think that's just the name of the game for us, just being less moody and more selfless," Reed said.

Reid was one of several Timberwolves to directly address chemistry issues the team had this season.

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards also said that his team didn't build championship habits throughout the regular season.

I believe their coach was saying similar things about their regular season. Too up and down. Not consistent in their approach. Not building the right habits.

-----------------

I think they are short a ball-handler. Someone who can knit the team together. It is tough to play a team orientated style when you are starting two SGs (DiVincenzo, Ant) neither one of whom is much of a playmaker. And they have the same issue with Dosunmu.

They need a floor general. Ant is not a point-forward. He is a scorer. Only 3.8 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game. Only 3.8 assists against 20.7 FGA + 7.4 FTA. That is around 27 possessions (including turnovers) againt 3.8 assists. So 7/8ths of his possessions are for him and 1/8th of his possessions are assists for teammates.

You would like your two guard (or point forward) to be near a 2:1 AST:TOV ratio. Ant is not a PG. He is not a point forward like Harden or Luka or LeBron. Ant only 1.3:1.0 last season and around 1.5:1.0 over his previous 3 years.

Minnesota need to get a ball-handler alongside him to help him.

[rondohondo]

Cavs should put Harden on the bench , so he is only facing 2nd stringers. Start Shoeder  or Ellis. StartvStraus ahead of Dean wade

[Donoghus]

In case people are curious.

Exact NBA Finals Result

- OKC over NYK +130
- OKC over CLE +380
- SA over NYK +500
- NYK over OKC +750
- SA over CLE +1000
- NYK over SAS +1200
- CLE over OKC +3500
- CLE over SA +4000

[Goldstar88]

Naz Reid was very direct in his answer for how the Wolves run down the Western Conference finalists.

"Probably just the moodiness. You look at both of those teams and they're playing for one another, they're excited to be on the floor with one another, they're a team where they're selfless... I think we have more than enough talent... But just being less moody. I think that's just the name of the game for us, just being less moody and more selfless," Reed said.

Reid was one of several Timberwolves to directly address chemistry issues the team had this season.

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards also said that his team didn't build championship habits throughout the regular season.

I believe their coach was saying similar things about their regular season. Too up and down. Not consistent in their approach. Not building the right habits.

-----------------

I think they are short a ball-handler. Someone who can knit the team together. It is tough to play a team orientated style when you are starting two SGs (DiVincenzo, Ant) neither one of whom is much of a playmaker. And they have the same issue with Dosunmu.

They need a floor general. Ant is not a point-forward. He is a scorer. Only 3.8 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game. Only 3.8 assists against 20.7 FGA + 7.4 FTA. That is around 27 possessions (including turnovers) againt 3.8 assists. So 7/8ths of his possessions are for him and 1/8th of his possessions are assists for teammates.

You would like your two guard (or point forward) to be near a 2:1 AST:TOV ratio. Ant is not a PG. He is not a point forward like Harden or Luka or LeBron. Ant only 1.3:1.0 last season and around 1.5:1.0 over his previous 3 years.

Minnesota need to get a ball-handler alongside him to help him.

How many teams have floor generals, though? Those sort of players don?t really exist anymore. Just look at the guards remaining in the postseason. They are all score first.

[Moranis]

Harden is not score first anymore.  He is a floor general.  He just need to stop turning it over so much.

[Who]

Naz Reid was very direct in his answer for how the Wolves run down the Western Conference finalists.

"Probably just the moodiness. You look at both of those teams and they're playing for one another, they're excited to be on the floor with one another, they're a team where they're selfless... I think we have more than enough talent... But just being less moody. I think that's just the name of the game for us, just being less moody and more selfless," Reed said.

Reid was one of several Timberwolves to directly address chemistry issues the team had this season.

Minnesota star Anthony Edwards also said that his team didn't build championship habits throughout the regular season.

I believe their coach was saying similar things about their regular season. Too up and down. Not consistent in their approach. Not building the right habits.

-----------------

I think they are short a ball-handler. Someone who can knit the team together. It is tough to play a team orientated style when you are starting two SGs (DiVincenzo, Ant) neither one of whom is much of a playmaker. And they have the same issue with Dosunmu.

They need a floor general. Ant is not a point-forward. He is a scorer. Only 3.8 assists per game against 2.9 turnovers per game. Only 3.8 assists against 20.7 FGA + 7.4 FTA. That is around 27 possessions (including turnovers) againt 3.8 assists. So 7/8ths of his possessions are for him and 1/8th of his possessions are assists for teammates.

You would like your two guard (or point forward) to be near a 2:1 AST:TOV ratio. Ant is not a PG. He is not a point forward like Harden or Luka or LeBron. Ant only 1.3:1.0 last season and around 1.5:1.0 over his previous 3 years.

Minnesota need to get a ball-handler alongside him to help him.

How many teams have floor generals, though? Those sort of players don?t really exist anymore. Just look at the guards remaining in the postseason. They are all score first.

It doesn't need to be a high volume playmaker or that type of PG. Just someone who can help with the ball-handling.

A combo guard like D White would be great. Ayo has some of these qualities but he is not as stable a ball sharer / decision maker as D White. Ayo is more in the scoring variety. It still puts a lot of pressure on Ant.

Pritchard would be awesome for them. Someone who takes care of the ball. Shares the ball. Not a big playmaker or anything. Just a safe pair of hands who moves the ball around. Or C Gillispie who I think is a FA. He could be a good fit.

Just share the burden a bit more. That is all I am looking for.

[Donoghus]

Pels hiring Mosley.

[Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
6m
BREAKING: The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new head coach on a five-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Mosley accepts the Pelicans job after five seasons in Orlando where he guided the Magic to three consecutive playoff berths.

[celticinorlando]

The flopping Cavs vs the flopping Knicks. Gross.

[DefenseWinsChamps]

Pels hiring Mosley.

[Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
6m
BREAKING: The New Orleans Pelicans are hiring Jamahl Mosley as the franchise's new head coach on a five-year contract, sources tell ESPN. Mosley accepts the Pelicans job after five seasons in Orlando where he guided the Magic to three consecutive playoff berths.

Lol - What about Mosley's time in Orlando made the Pels so desperate to sign him to a 5-year contract only weeks after he was fired?

[Who]

I've been looking at the FA market for PGs for Minnesota & Ant and there are slim pickings there.

Looks like they are stuck with what they got.

G: Dosunmu, Bones Hyland
G: Anthony Edwards
F: Jaden McDaniels, T Shannon
F: Julius Randle
C: Gobert, Naz Reid

Others: Jaylen Clark, Joan Beringer

A quality 8 man rotation. Two good deep bench pieces.

It will be interesting to see if there is a trade market for Randle. I don't expect it to be good.

[rondohondo]

Harden is not score first anymore.  He is a floor general.  He just need to stop turning it over so much.

Who is supposed to guard Brunson? You don't want to put Harden or Mitchell on him IMO. You need to keep those guys out of foul trouble.

So my idea would be to have Schroder start out on Brunson, and also start straus to make up for the loss of Harden shooting in the starting 5.

This also allows you to have Mitchell or Harden on the floor at all times.

Just a thought.

I guess they could go

Schroder
Harden
Mitchell
Mobly
Allen

That way the matchup better in the backcourt and wings with the knicks starting 5.

[Who]

Trade ideas for Julius Randle

(1) Randle for A Gordon

I wouldn't do this if I were DEN. I'd much rather have A Gordon. His superior shooting and superior defense makes him more valuable than Randle.

(2) Randle for Jabari Smith Jr and a pick

Jabari and Reed Sheppard feels like too much. Worth a try though. But would probably have to accept a lesser asset instead. Houston do not have much else. They have 2 great assets in Sengun and Amen but they are too valuable for Randle. Then the two medium assets in Reed Sheppard & Jabari. Not much else to add value to a trade package. Minnesota gets younger. Jabari less talented but has a long future ahead of him. Short term downgrade, long term fixture. Jabari with his size and length would be a great fit to Minnesota's defense.

(3) Randle for De'Aaron Fox

I don't think the Spurs break up their nucleus. They have no big forward but do not seem to need one with Wemby patrolling the middle. Turn the backcourt over to S Castle and D Harper.

(4) Randle for Ja Morant

Ja Morant and Ant-man in the backcourt with Gobert holding down the middle. A PnR dominated offense.

(5) Randle for Darius Garland

I wouldn't do this if I were Minnesota. I do not believe in Garland as a winning player in the playoffs. Great deal for LAC. Kawhi does not like to play at PF and does not defend / rebound well against bigger more active forwards. He doesn't have the legs for it anymore. He wants a true PF next to him. Randle fits the bill. Plus, LAC is cleared to draft a PG with the #5 pick. A home run for LAC.

(6) Randle for Tyler Herro

MIA miss out on Giannis which they are likely to do. Riley has long been a fan of Randle. Bam has been crying out for big man help for years. Randle & Bam would be a strong big man combo with young K Ware as a 3rd big. MIA's backcourt is overcrowded with Norm Powell there. Powell and T Herro duplicate one another. They haven't worked well together as backcourt mates. MIA has liked to play Davion Mitchell in there instead because he will share the ball more and play better defese. So they would go small with Herro and Norm on the wings which is not ideal either. So clearing Herro would clean up that backcourt situation, wing situation, big man situation for Miami. Minnesota loses a big but gets another creator on the perimeter to help Ant. A scorer and some playmaking. A big time shooter who will help space the floor for Ant. Move Naz Reid to the starting lineup. Acquire backup bigs in FA. I like Joan Beringer. He will be good in the near future.

(7) Randle for Durant

This will be a big option if HOU decide to move on from Durant. There won't be much of a market for Durant given his age. I doubt anybody will offer anyone as good as Randle for him. Randle and Sengun would be a dynamic big man pairing.