2024 NBA Playoffs

[Kiddo]

I really can’t stand the nba, you call that screen set by turner an offensive foul???? But let the Warriors get away with murder for 4 years against us. Garbage league and obviously they want the Knicks in the finals

That was such a garbage call, ticky tack that should never be called in that situation. Big time flop by DD

 

[Tlyons]

That was super childish and dangerous for Murray to throw that heating pad into live play like that.

Should be getting a fine before game 3

 

[Rich]

Well I'm gonna take a victory lap because I've said all season Minnesota was a problem for Denver.

I got a lot of laughing emoji responses when I said they'd win this series at the start of the playoffs. Some of those people nowhere to be found now.


But some thoughts:

1) series isn't over. Denver deserves to not ve counted out. Miami went up 2-0 on Boston, in Boston, and that series ended up 3-3. Denver are the Champs and they've got the best player in the world.

2) Minnesota was built to deal with this team. What was striking was how easily they dismantled Phoenix, a team they were not designed to deal with and a team they couldn't beat in the regular season. They are peaking at the right time.

3) Denver is leas talented than they were last year. Bruce Brown was huge for them and they didn't replace him. Which leads me to

4) the nba salary cap rules are going to make it essentially impossible to build a long term dynasty. That's kinda the point of them. The difference between the non-taxpayer MLE and the taxpayer MLE is so substantial it makes replacing a player like Brown impossible through free agency. You HAVE to hit on late draft picks to sustain now.

And finally, 5) Denver is ultimately less talented in reality than they look on the court. You know how many guys on that team have made an allstar game? 1. An all nba team? 1. Just Jokic. He makes those other guys better than they are. Now, Murray has some massive playoff games to his credit and has hit insanely clutch shots. So on that, he's pr9bably worth the max deal he's getting.

MPJ? Probably not.

But the point is there are two guys on the team getting max dollars with zero nba all-star games to their name and zero all nba teams.

So if you have a bunch of good big men who can challenge Joker on BOTH ends of the floor and tire him out, Denver is kinda reliant on guys who don't have the credentials that say they can carry a team.



Now I picked Minny to get out of the West and I'm sticking to that.

But at least on paper they aren't nearly as equipped to deal with either of the two teams in the next round. Those teams will spread Gobert and KAT out and make them play in space in ways Jokic and Gordon don't. So if they win this series I do expect them to have far more issues than they've had to this point.

That said, they've got the deepest roster in the West, peaking at the right time. KAT has fully bought in on defense this season. A fully unlocked KAT is scary.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

Good call on Minnesota @Rich . You were off on the Lakers series, but got the Wolves right when few thought they'd get far in the deep and veteran-heavy West. I was off on my Clippers WCF prediction, so @JMoneyYourHoney was right to laugh at me there. But I also called the Thunder to make at least the Semis, so at least I'm more insightful than Shannon Sharpe. This year, it appears depth and defense are every bit as important as experience. The Nuggets lost depth when they lost Bruce Brown, who was a vital part of their run last year. And the Wolves and Thunder have tenacious D, so they aren't the typical young teams in that regard.

I'd actually love to see a Wolves/Thunder WCF. They had some feisty games in the regular season with Ant barking at the refs. But OKC will have to get past the Mavs first. And the Wolves will have to finish what they've started. It's a great start, but as has been pointed out before, a few teams have come back from 2-0 home losses to win a series. If any team can do it, the champion Nuggets are high on the list, but we'll see if their weak bench can finally offer something.

 

[Dr. Claw]

I really can’t stand the nba, you call that screen set by turner an offensive foul???? But let the Warriors get away with murder for 4 years against us. Garbage league and obviously they want the Knicks in the finals

on blatant flopping to boot. Pacers were pooping it up late, but taking that last possession from them in that way was disgusting. compared to what Orlando was doing off the ball for the entire series with no whistle, that was a mild tap.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Yet he gets picked for team USA and DM doesn’t

Or Brunson. Then again Dame got the starting ASG vote not Mitchell or Brunson who were both much better.

 

[2 For The Brew]

Well I'm gonna take a victory lap because I've said all season Minnesota was a problem for Denver.

I got a lot of laughing emoji responses when I said they'd win this series at the start of the playoffs. Some of those people nowhere to be found now.


But some thoughts:

1) series isn't over. Denver deserves to not ve counted out. Miami went up 2-0 on Boston, in Boston, and that series ended up 3-3. Denver are the Champs and they've got the best player in the world.

2) Minnesota was built to deal with this team. What was striking was how easily they dismantled Phoenix, a team they were not designed to deal with and a team they couldn't beat in the regular season. They are peaking at the right time.

3) Denver is leas talented than they were last year. Bruce Brown was huge for them and they didn't replace him. Which leads me to

4) the nba salary cap rules are going to make it essentially impossible to build a long term dynasty. That's kinda the point of them. The difference between the non-taxpayer MLE and the taxpayer MLE is so substantial it makes replacing a player like Brown impossible through free agency. You HAVE to hit on late draft picks to sustain now.

And finally, 5) Denver is ultimately less talented in reality than they look on the court. You know how many guys on that team have made an allstar game? 1. An all nba team? 1. Just Jokic. He makes those other guys better than they are. Now, Murray has some massive playoff games to his credit and has hit insanely clutch shots. So on that, he's pr9bably worth the max deal he's getting.

MPJ? Probably not.

But the point is there are two guys on the team getting max dollars with zero nba all-star games to their name and zero all nba teams.

So if you have a bunch of good big men who can challenge Joker on BOTH ends of the floor and tire him out, Denver is kinda reliant on guys who don't have the credentials that say they can carry a team.



Now I picked Minny to get out of the West and I'm sticking to that.

But at least on paper they aren't nearly as equipped to deal with either of the two teams in the next round. Those teams will spread Gobert and KAT out and make them play in space in ways Jokic and Gordon don't. So if they win this series I do expect them to have far more issues than they've had to this point.

That said, they've got the deepest roster in the West, peaking at the right time. KAT has fully bought in on defense this season. A fully unlocked KAT is scary.

Jimmy Butler was your favorite player a year ago (my wife & I as well). Is that still the case? For me ANT is making a strong claim.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

This is a very balanced NBA. I said it last year when Denver won and many decreed Jokic the most talented player of all time, somehow better than prime Bron.

I’ll say it again this year. The same as when the Bucks won it.

All championships count as 1, but the idea that the 16 Cavs or 17 warriors wouldn’t dog walk the entire nba right now is an impossibly bad take.

Yes I am very bitter that we finally got the balanced west as soon as we are not the unquestioned best team in the East. That 16 team would be a dynasty in the current NBA

 

[Rich]

Jimmy Butler was your favorite player a year ago (my wife & I as well). Is that still the case? For me ANT is making a strong claim.

I like Jimmy for his demeanor. He never, ever, ever bitches to the refs.

 

[Marcus]

This is a very balanced NBA. I said it last year when Denver won and many decreed Jokic the most talented player of all time, somehow better than prime Bron.

I’ll say it again this year. The same as when the Bucks won it.

All championships count as 1, but the idea that the 16 Cavs or 17 warriors wouldn’t dog walk the entire nba right now is an impossibly bad take.

Yes I am very bitter that we finally got the balanced west as soon as we are not the unquestioned best team in the East. That 16 team would be a dynasty in the current NBA

That team would have been a dynasty if not for KD making the most cowardly move of all time and breaking the league for the rest of the time we had that core in Cleveland. They easily win one or two more without Golden State adding (at the time) the second-best player in the world to a roster that won 73 games and was well on their way to a repeat. (I also contend that the 14-15 team wins the title if not for Kelly Olynyk and Kyrie’s knee breaking after bumping Klay Thompson’s at the exact right angle.)

I will always root for him to fail, and watching them flame out in just spectacular fashion in the first round this year was fantastic. I look forward to watching his cap strapped, empty cupboard franchise flounder around for the foreseeable future.

 

[American Hero]

That team would have been a dynasty if not for KD making the most cowardly move of all time and breaking the league for the rest of the time we had that core in Cleveland. They easily win one or two more without Golden State adding (at the time) the second-best player in the world to a roster that won 73 games and was well on their way to a repeat. (I also contend that the 14-15 team wins the title if not for Kelly Olynyk and Kyrie’s knee breaking after bumping Klay Thompson’s at the exact right angle.)

I will always root for him to fail, and watching them flame out in just spectacular fashion in the first round this year was fantastic. I look forward to watching his cap strapped, empty cupboard franchise flounder around for the foreseeable future.

LeBron started the trend going to Miami. He set the ground work for that move by KD.

 

[DirtyDan]

LeBron started the trend going to Miami. He sat the ground work for that move by KD.

KD is the type of dude that would do that regardless of precedent. He's out for himself through and through.

 

[American Hero]

KD is the type of dude that would do that regardless of precedent. He's out for himself through and through.

I don't think he would have had the guts to be the first one to pull something like that

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

LeBron started the trend going to Miami. He set the ground work for that move by KD.

lol

 

[N7RobBob]

LeBron started the trend going to Miami. He set the ground work for that move by KD.

Which was caused by Kevin McHale handing over Garnett to his old buddy Ainge. Pierce, Garnett,and Allen were in his way. I don't fault LeBron for going Miami. He would've been dragged rightfully so if he joined Boston like KD did to his rival in GS. He had a 3-1 lead and lost then joined them.

Different levels completely.