2024 NBA Playoffs

[2 For The Brew]

Holmgren with a crazy buzzer beater to end the first.

Lively first quarter. Luka was hot despite being hobbled.

The catch before that shot was highlight worthy alone.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

When is OKC going to actually cover Washington?

 

[KevinLoveFan]

Uncharacteristically poor perimeter D by OKC in the first half. They especially gave up a lot of corner threes, which is head-scratching. 68 points for Dallas.

The good news for them is they're still only down six and Luka could barely walk after the buzzer.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

OOF. Josh Giddey looks downright unplayable this series. Terrible defense with being late on so many rotations, and shooting poorly again after the moments of touch in the Pels series. -20 with him on the court tonight after 3 because he's killing OKC on both sides of the floor.

 

[2 For The Brew]

OOF. Josh Giddey looks downright unplayable this series. Terrible defense with being late on so many rotations, and shooting poorly again after the moments of touch in the Pels series. -20 with him on the court tonight after 3 because he's killing OKC on both sides of the floor.

-20? Should that be < 20? Too soon?

 

[Dr No]

Uncharacteristically poor perimeter D by OKC in the first half. They especially gave up a lot of corner threes, which is head-scratching. 68 points for Dallas.

The good news for them is they're still only down six and Luka could barely walk after the buzzer.

OKC has looked pretty bad, especially on D. Dallas has played about as good as they can, but OKC has not been good

 

[KevinLoveFan]

18/37 from 3 will do it. Tim Hardaway Jr. had 17 points in 17 minutes, and Washington got 29 with 7 threes.

Glad the Cavs were great tonight to make up for the disappointing Thuner (no D).

 

[cavsfever]

I guess @KevinLoveFan will stop liking my posts now, but I liked this outcome. Rooting for Luka, it’s his time, the Mavs are a plucky team and Kyrie has been humbled and deserves a new shot at playing in June. The Thunder are likable too but they’re so young and so stuffed with draft choices that it’s almost unfair — they could stand to suffer a little before they reach the promised land. Luka had to!

 

[Real Deal]

What's going on here @bushwick_bill

 

[KevinLoveFan]

I guess @KevinLoveFan will stop liking my posts now, but I liked this outcome. Rooting for Luka, it’s his time, the Mavs are a plucky team and Kyrie has been humbled and deserves a new shot at playing in June. The Thunder are likable too but they’re so young and so stuffed with draft choices that it’s almost unfair — they could stand to suffer a little before they reach the promised land. Luka had to!

I've been saying for months that I didn't expect them to get past the Semis. The Mavs are a good test for them. Giddey is the weak link at the moment. Hayward has also been useless. If Daigneault can manage to hide their glaring weaknesses and win this series, I'll actually be very surprised.

 

[AustinCarr]

I've been saying for months that I didn't expect them to get past the Semis. The Mavs are a good test for them. Giddey is the weak link at the moment. Hayward has also been useless. If Daigneault can manage to hide their glaring weaknesses and win this series, I'll actually be very surprised.

So what do you think they need to do to address their weaknesses? I have some ideas on things but I don't watch them nearly as much as you. They certainly have the assets to do about anything they want, though salary matching vets might get tricky.

 

[KevinLoveFan]

So what do you think they need to do to address their weaknesses? I have some ideas on things but I don't watch them nearly as much as you. They certainly have the assets to do about anything they want, though salary matching vets might get tricky.

The biggest weakness now is Giddey, who they frankly need to deal next year IMO. When they first got him, he looked to possibly be a tall version of Rubio at PG. But then SGA turned into what he is now, the primary ball handler and a far more efficient scorer. JDub is also now the secondary ball handler, and another far more efficient scorer than Giddey. OKC has no spot for Giddey anymore. He's not good enough off the ball, he's a poor shooter, and he's terrible defensively. He's a good rebounder, but not great enough to offset all his other glaring weaknesses. The Thunder need to move on from him and get a traditional 6-7 wing who can shoot and board/defend (Hayward was supposed to address some of this at the deadline, but alas), and more help down low (JayWill is okay, but still young and developing, and not a great rebounder, which they need).

 

[AustinCarr]

The biggest weakness now is Giddey, who they frankly need to deal next year IMO. When they first got him, he looked to possibly be a tall version of Rubio at PG. But then SGA turned into what he is now, the primary ball handler and a far more efficient scorer. JDub is also now the secondary ball handler, and another far more efficient scorer than Giddey. OKC has no spot for Giddey anymore. He's not good enough off the ball, he's a poor shooter, and he's terrible defensively. He's a good rebounder, but not great enough to offset all his other glaring weaknesses. The Thunder need to move on from him and get a traditional 6-7 wing who can shoot and board/defend (Hayward was supposed to address some of this at the deadline, but alas), and more help down low (JayWill is okay, but still young and developing, and not a great rebounder, which they need).

Do you think Chet is a long term solution at center? Or does he eventually move to PF?

 

[KevinLoveFan]

Do you think Chet is a long term solution at center? Or does he eventually move to PF?

Good Q. The Thunder, perhaps more than any other team, play almost position-less basketball, so I could see them playing Chet at either position. They do need someone who can board and be more physical alongside of him, whether that's a 4 or 5. Jaylin Williams (6-9) has shown some good physicality, and Daigneault has been playing him more minutes lately after finally giving up the ridiculous 6-6 Kenrich Williams at 5 experiment. But he's probably not enough, especially if he doesn't become a strong rebounder. They just don't have enough depth yet at 6-7 and above. Muscala and Biyombo were signed at the deadline, but never get time, so they will probably look elsewhere for that depth next year.

 

[bushwick_bill]