NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[smicker16]

We may have underestimated the Knicks a bit. They do have a really good starting 5 and Brunson does not turn the ball over a ton for his usage rate. They have found some good production out of their bench which has been big and a bit unexpected for sure.

Personally I am really hoping OKC or the Spurs make quick work of them but do not think it is going to be that easy for them. I bet on the Knicks to win it all earlier in the playoffs to hedge my emotions at least.

We have underestimated the Knicks. They could still lose the series but there is no doubt we have underestimated them. I also do think the 3pt% is the great equalizer at this point. Basically whoever shoots the higher % from 3 seems to win in the eastern conference so maybe the Celtics are closer to competing because seemingly they just need to shoot higher than like 39% from three in the playoffs next year.

[jambr380]

I like how ESPN has the graphic, ?New York State of Clutch? when they blew a 14 point lead with 6 minutes left and the only reason they were in a position to win is because of an awful TO by Wemby (although Castle absolutely should have been looking for the ball).

Whatever - Knicks fans will be insufferable if they win it all and the Spurs should have more chances

[Who]

Anunoby = 5-10 FGA 5-5 FTA 17pts 2s2b
Towns = 8-12 FGA 2-2 FTA 21pts 13reb 4ast 1s1b
M Bridges = 8-13 FGA 20pts 6reb 6ast

Combined = 21-35 FGA 7-7 FTA for 58pts

That is what 38 possessions for 58 points. Plus 3 turnovers. 0 for OG, 2 for Towns, 1 for Bridges. 41poss for 58pts. 1.41pts per possession from those 3 guys.

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The rest of the team was 16-54 FGA (29.6%) 9-14 FTA 9 turnovers for 47 points. 0.67pts per possession.

Those 3 guys carried NYK.

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Brunson was only 7-25 FGA (28%) 4-5 FTA and NY still won. He had 4 turnovers too although he also had 5 steals so net +1 possession wise for him. 6ast 5reb 20pts.

That means outside of Brunson and the 3 guys above, NYK was 9-29 FGA 5-9 FTA (M Robinson 3-6 FTA) and 5 turnovers. 27pts on 43poss. 0.63pts per poss.

Shamet did most of the damage for the supporting cast. 5-12 FGA for 13pts. He played well. M Robinson 7pts 3reb in 14min. Alvarado 2pts in 10min on 0-4 FGA. McBride 5pts 2-7 FGA. Hart 0-4 FGA 0pts. So 14pts 4-17 FGA 5-9 FTA 5 turnovers from the other 4 guys. M Robinson had a solid game too. Kept NY in it while Towns was sitting in foul trouble (2 phantom calls to take him out of the game).

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You gotta look at that and wonder how San Antonio managed to blow this one. Brunson that bad. Hart only 18min due to foul trouble. Only 3 guys supporting players playing well for them.

Wemby came up big 2nd half. 7pts 1st half. 22pts 2nd half. Fox finally had a good game with 20pts. D Harper was strong with 15pts. S Castle wasn't great with an inefficient 14/4/4 but okay. Vassell 14pts 9reb 5ast.

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Spurs only 19-27 FTA. Make your FTs and you would have won the game. Wemby 5-8 FTA Castle 2-4 FTA. 7-12 FTA. Rest of the team was 12-15 FTA. Their main guy Wemby and arguably their 2nd best player in Castle the ones missing freebies.

NY 89 FGA to SAS 78 FGA. 11 extra shots.

Spurs had 6 more FTs so equivalent to 3 of those 11 shots. So really 8 extra scoring attempts. Half of that is from turnovers (16 SAS 12 NYK) with the other half on offensive rebounds (10 NYK 5 SAS).

Spurs actually did a good job protecting their defensive glass with 37 def rebounds to 10 off rebounds. Only around ~20% off reb rate. They just no offensive rebounds of their own on the other end. Only 5 against 34 def reb for NY. Roughly ~12% off reb rate.

Wemby is spending far too much time at the three point line. Can't get offensive rebounds out there. Kornet not playing much so he is not getting off rebounds. Keldon Johnson struggling. His playing time has decreased. He is a good off rebounder for them. Another loss. After that it is S Castle. D Harper. They are the next best off rebounders for them.

On the regular season, Kornet led them with 2.7 off reb per game (in 21mpg). Wemby 2.0, Keldon 1.7, Castle 1.4. Champagnie 0.9, D Harper 0.8 but in only 22mpg. Fox and Vassell only 0.6 per game each.

[celticinorlando]

Series is over. Spurs just commit way too many turnovers and have empty possessions.

Knicks on a heater.

Boston at NYK opening night for their banner raising.

[hardlyyardley]

Knicks playing exciting ball!!
Who was the homer announcer who questioned every call that went the Knicks?

[Goldstar88]

We may have underestimated the Knicks a bit. They do have a really good starting 5 and Brunson does not turn the ball over a ton for his usage rate. They have found some good production out of their bench which has been big and a bit unexpected for sure.

Personally I am really hoping OKC or the Spurs make quick work of them but do not think it is going to be that easy for them. I bet on the Knicks to win it all earlier in the playoffs to hedge my emotions at least.

We have underestimated the Knicks. They could still lose the series but there is no doubt we have underestimated them. I also do think the 3pt% is the great equalizer at this point. Basically whoever shoots the higher % from 3 seems to win in the eastern conference so maybe the Celtics are closer to competing because seemingly they just need to shoot higher than like 39% from three in the playoffs next year.

Yeah, Knicks have been shooting insanely well the entire postseason. 50% from the field and 39% from 3pt. I was hoping they?d cool off by now. Reminds me of the Heat when they made it to the Finals a few years back.

Also have to give credit to Jalen Brunson. He performs well under pressure. Seems like he always makes the right play in crunch time.

[Who]

Listening to a thing about LAL targetting whoever OKC decides to salary dump this summer.

I like the Lu Dort idea.

G: A Reaves, M Smart
G: Lu Dort, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

You could swap out Lu Dort and put Caruso in there instead. Either guy would be a massive boost to their perimeter defense.

Hartenstein also being talked about.

G: A Reaves, Bronny
G: M Smart, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Hartenstein, Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

Basically, all those OKC role player guys are ideal for the Lakers. All defense first guys. Two way role players. Ultimate glue guys. Exactly what LAL needs.

Hartenstein a bit different. Not the above the rim, rim runner, that Luka desires ... but his defense & intensity is exactly what they need.

LAL with a lot of cap space this summer. About $50 million. If OKC lets one of those 3 guys go, they could be one of the top teams to pursue them.

[SparzWizard]

Listening to a thing about LAL targetting whoever OKC decides to salary dump this summer.

I like the Lu Dort idea.

G: A Reaves, M Smart
G: Lu Dort, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

You could swap out Lu Dort and put Caruso in there instead. Either guy would be a massive boost to their perimeter defense.

Hartenstein also being talked about.

G: A Reaves, Bronny
G: M Smart, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Hartenstein, Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

Basically, all those OKC role player guys are ideal for the Lakers. All defense first guys. Two way role players. Ultimate glue guys. Exactly what LAL needs.

Hartenstein a bit different. Not the above the rim, rim runner, that Luka desires ... but his defense & intensity is exactly what they need.

LAL with a lot of cap space this summer. About $50 million. If OKC lets one of those 3 guys go, they could be one of the top teams to pursue them.

Healthy Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, and Hartenstein would make them a top 2 team in the West.

Brad needs to target one of those OKC guys too

[Phantom255x]

Listening to a thing about LAL targetting whoever OKC decides to salary dump this summer.

I like the Lu Dort idea.

G: A Reaves, M Smart
G: Lu Dort, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

You could swap out Lu Dort and put Caruso in there instead. Either guy would be a massive boost to their perimeter defense.

Hartenstein also being talked about.

G: A Reaves, Bronny
G: M Smart, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Hartenstein, Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

Basically, all those OKC role player guys are ideal for the Lakers. All defense first guys. Two way role players. Ultimate glue guys. Exactly what LAL needs.

Hartenstein a bit different. Not the above the rim, rim runner, that Luka desires ... but his defense & intensity is exactly what they need.

LAL with a lot of cap space this summer. About $50 million. If OKC lets one of those 3 guys go, they could be one of the top teams to pursue them.

Healthy Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, and Hartenstein would make them a top 2 team in the West.

Brad needs to target one of those OKC guys too

I would love Hartenstein. He did alright in the Spurs series too, it was Chet who laid an egg

[MattyIce]

Listening to a thing about LAL targetting whoever OKC decides to salary dump this summer.

I like the Lu Dort idea.

G: A Reaves, M Smart
G: Lu Dort, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

You could swap out Lu Dort and put Caruso in there instead. Either guy would be a massive boost to their perimeter defense.

Hartenstein also being talked about.

G: A Reaves, Bronny
G: M Smart, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Hartenstein, Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

Basically, all those OKC role player guys are ideal for the Lakers. All defense first guys. Two way role players. Ultimate glue guys. Exactly what LAL needs.

Hartenstein a bit different. Not the above the rim, rim runner, that Luka desires ... but his defense & intensity is exactly what they need.

LAL with a lot of cap space this summer. About $50 million. If OKC lets one of those 3 guys go, they could be one of the top teams to pursue them.

Healthy Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, and Hartenstein would make them a top 2 team in the West.

Brad needs to target one of those OKC guys too

you think they can keep Reaves, le'queen...and.. get both reeves and hart?

[Who]

Listening to a thing about LAL targetting whoever OKC decides to salary dump this summer.

I like the Lu Dort idea.

G: A Reaves, M Smart
G: Lu Dort, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

You could swap out Lu Dort and put Caruso in there instead. Either guy would be a massive boost to their perimeter defense.

Hartenstein also being talked about.

G: A Reaves, Bronny
G: M Smart, Kennard
F: Doncic, Thiero
F: Hachimura, LaRavia
C: Hartenstein, Ayton, Jaxson Hayes

Basically, all those OKC role player guys are ideal for the Lakers. All defense first guys. Two way role players. Ultimate glue guys. Exactly what LAL needs.

Hartenstein a bit different. Not the above the rim, rim runner, that Luka desires ... but his defense & intensity is exactly what they need.

LAL with a lot of cap space this summer. About $50 million. If OKC lets one of those 3 guys go, they could be one of the top teams to pursue them.

Healthy Doncic, Reaves, LeBron, and Hartenstein would make them a top 2 team in the West.

Brad needs to target one of those OKC guys too

you think they can keep Reaves, le'queen...and.. get both reeves and hart?

I think LeBron would have to take a huge paycut for that to happen. Down to something like $20mil per year.

It is doable but it depends on his willingness to do that. It sounds like Lakers fans are hoping he'll do something like that. I was listening to James Worthy mention this but he didn't know whether LeBron would do this or not.

Personally, I'd rather keep Hachimura than LeBron. Hachimura has been playing great ball for them and would be a longer term fixture there as starting PF than LeBron can be.