"The most likely [Celtic] to be moved, according to [Chris Mannix of SI], is backup wing Sam Hauser. Hauser, an excellent shooter and decent defender, is entering the first season of a four-year, $45MM contract extension…”
6’8”; 27 y.o.; Last two seasons: .420 3pt% on 9.5 attempts/36
My 1st (5th, 10th?) dumb trade proposal of the month (actually more than 1 because the Suns can't trade more than 1 player at time) (long, so splitting up):
Overall Trade:
Spurs: Giannis, Lillard
Bucks: Fox, KAT, Beal, Vassell, 4+ picks/swaps (+ some 2nds) from Spurs (mostly via other teams), but not #2
Suns: Kuzma, Keldon Johnson, Sochan, Portis, Connaughton, 1 or 2 1sts (or 1st and a few 2nds) from Spurs
Knicks: Durant
(Details of the split up up trades don't really matter, except than the Suns only trade one player at a time, and don't take back more than they send out. Durant out in one trade, Beal out in the other.)
TL:DR : If Giannis wanted out, would the Bucks consider an instant rebuild with good but not great players instead of high draft picks and tanking?
Well, in the specific case of Milwaukee, they don’t have their own picks. So yeah, I’d think they'd be pretty happy to avoid tanking. That, or try to retrieve their picks (from, I believe, Portland and New Orleans?).
In general, though, I do wonder if teams will start seeking out this kind of rebuild, with a mix of good players and picks, and a the plan (unless things go way better than expected) to do a second tear-down in a couple years (trading Fox, KAT, and maybe Vassell for even more picks). Sort of like how OKC traded Russ for CP and two picks + two swaps, stayed decent, and then traded CP to Phoenix for another first before starting the tank in earnest.
I haven't evaluated your actual proposal because you inspired me to think of an idea for media and fans: a cap on dumb trade proposals expressed publicly.
My idea is that you get five opportunities to air a trade proposal per month. You can swap a 2025 proposal opportunity for someone else's opportunity in another year. So for example, if you hit your fifth, you can trade for my unused June 2025 trade idea in exchange for one 2026 trade proposal -- or really what I'd prefer, which is two 2027 proposals, because that's when Steph and Draymond and Jimmy will be expiring and I want the ammunition available.
Media and users can also package trade proposals with other Fake GM opportunities such as draft rants or tanking ideas.
If this passes, we may hear "I'll trade you two August 2026 trade proposals for one at the trade deadline, plus I get back the rights to a draft day rant about whether the Warriors should go for best available player or best fit, and you get the rights to fire Steve Kerr after a dispirting loss (Note: By rule, fake firing a coach must follow at least a three game losing streak.)"
Spurs lineup: Castle, Harper, Barnes, Giannis, Wemby (they have to take on Lillard's contract for at least a year until it can be traded as an expiring in 2026, but they keep #2)
Bucks: Fox, Beal, Vassell, KAT, Lopez??. If Giannis wants to leave, they might opt to field a decent team rather than tank. They aren't title contenders anymore, of course, and they got a huge haul of picks, but no great picks. A healthy Lillard for Beal would have been . . . not good, but at least Beal can play next season (both of them would probably be gone a year from now, anyway).
Suns lose Durant, but get rid of Beal, and gain some depth and a couple of picks (not their own, but better than nothing, and they keep Booker). Not keeping KAT gives them more flexibility, and at least improves the team's floor, if maybe not their ceiling.
One of the (many?) problems with this trade is Beal: would he waive the NTC to go to a Giannis-less Milwaukee? Maybe, maybe not, although the new Bucks team would probably be 5th (at worst) in conference, probably higher then the Suns would be in the West without Durant, but with KAT.
If Beal's going to waive the NTC, presumably it would be to go to a team where he really wants to play. Otherwise there's nothing in it for him. Giving up control and relocating to play for a mediocre Bucks team doesn't seem likely unless he really likes Milwaukee in the winter. I also don't see why MIL would want Beal's contract.
Finally, I would not assume Beal is gone in a year. Beal has a player option for '26-'27 at way more money than he's likely to get in any future deal. He can opt in for the second season, make bank, and be UFA in the summer of '27. At that point he probably won't make megabucks but he'll be financially set. He can sign a MLE-level deal or even a vet min deal (not too shabby as a 15-year vet in '27) and and go to his choice of teams.
For bettors the Pacers are still +255 to win the series. They’ve just won game one on the road after 24 turnovers. They’re 13-4 in the playoffs overall with two 64+ win opponents. Maybe anticipate a big loss in game 2 and get better odds.
For me it’s a 6/10 smart bet, and 9/10 fun bet to just really go all in on Pacers magic.
The one thing I was thinking about a bit prior to the series and definitely now is the last Carlisle Finals team, the 2011 Mavs. IIRC they were not favored in any series but they absolutely pounded the West. Most notably sweeping two time defending champ Lakers. Most of the story stuck with the Lakers collapse, the Thunder being too young etc.
Then they were big underdogs to the first Heatles team. Snuck in a comeback upset in the first two games, and then took over the series.
Could mean nothing as it pertains to this Finals, but I just wouldn’t want to be matched up in the Finals against a Carlisle coached team that’s clicking. He might figure out something about your team that you don’t have a great answer for.
Schematically, I think excellent offense/good defense is the better build over excellent defense/good offense. Which maps out to the difference between Pacers vs. Thunder. Obviously, the quality of the offenses and defenses matters greatly, but the schematic build is one of the reasons why I think the Pacers chances were/are being underrated.
1) I wasn't talking about the absolute offensive/defensive rating, but about the *build* -- what side of the court a team focuses on. Of course if you can be excellent in both, awesome! But if I had to choose, I would prefer a team that leans on the offensive side and hold its ground on the defensive, because I think that's a more winning formula than the other way around.
2) I put some stock in the regular season ratings but not all. OKC won a lot of games in blowouts, so of course their RS season ratings are sky high. Meanwhile, Indiana started the season badly but were one of the best teams in the second half. But in these playoffs, I think it's pretty clear that while OKC's defense is crushingly effective, their offense is so-so, with SGA lifting them up to pretty good. Meanwhile, the Pacers have an amazingly flexible, relentless offense featuring a squad of very good shot makers, while having just enough good defense to make stops when necessary.
3) Now, OKC may yet smoke the Pacers; they are just so loaded with talent. But the Pacers *build* gives them a tilt in their favor so the odds aren't as lopsided as the stats on paper or the regular season ratings might indicate. I believe in the Pacers ability to score on OKC's almighty defense and clamp down, somewhat, on OKC's merely good offense. Might not be enough but, to quote/paraphrase Jim Carrey, "I'm saying there's a chance!"
Well OKC had a better offense and defense in the regular season. You could maybe argue their offense is less adaptable/ post-season ready (bc of e.g. SGA's foul rate), but this feels like overanalyzing a single game.
Edit to add: I just checked the season-long ft rate, and OKC was near the bottom of the league. My *guess* is that they had a higher ftr if you exclude fast breaks, and that their low rate is due to their dominant defense. I could also imagine this accounts for the team's high ORTG. But neither point to your central thesis
OKC biggest weakness is exactly what the warriors have destroyed over the years - very little ball movement. They have one guy dribble dribble dribble - and then maybe someone will get a pass!
Actually better defense is better - the most basic reason I can give us that it is much harder to score by putting that ball in the basket then preventing someone from putting it into that basket !
The Pacers have simply made every single big shot all postseason. They have good shooting all over the place, and they're on a collective shooting hot streak. That does limit the defensive strategies you're able to employ, since there's nobody to give the #tonyallentreatment, and get janky with it. But if you don't have plus defenders at every position, and good help defense, the mismatch attack is gonna eat you alive. I expect that the Thunder will do a better job attacking Hali in isolation in G2... and we'll see how that all works out.
Agree about Pacers' fortunate shooting down the stretch. Haliburton got that crazy bounce on the jumper that forced OT against the Knicks at the buzzer and Turner banked in a prayer of a three pointer down the stretch last night. In their four huge last minute comeback wins in the playoffs, they've pretty much needed every break to go their way, and they pretty much did.
With that said, hats off to the Pacers and particularly to Carlisle, who keeps his team playing hard all game and doesn't give up. They've owned the Dubs in the Chase era. I remember the one game in '22 where the Dubs were home playing a Pacers team resting/missing most of its regulars and the Pacers still won in OT. Dubs leaned on Andre to play big minutes that game and he didn't set foot on the court after that for a couple of months. A true testament to the Pacers' never give up attitude.
We need to talk, New York Times Crossword. Today, Friday June 6, 2025 the clue for 44 across is "Point guard's crafty maneuver." Seven letters. I finally figured out the answer using the down clues, but this is so ... you tell me. I'll reveal the answer in the thread in case you want to guess; and then I want your opinion on it.
Is that a thing? I've never heard Mike Breen say "Kyrie with the hop step!"
Here are some terms I'd choose for a point guard's crafty maneuver before that, although admittedly many are not seven letters: CROSSOVER, STEPBACK, BEHINDTHEBACKPASS, EUROSTEP, EURO, GOINGTHROUGHTHEFIVEHOLE, PASSFAKE, WRONGFOOT (verb), BOUNCEPASS, HESI, NASHDRIBBLE, FEEDINGTHEPOST........
OKC is probably going to bounce back just fine but losing a game on your home floor where you won the turnover battle 6 to 24 hurts. I wouldn't be shocked to see Pacers win Game 2 as well only for OKC to win the next 2 in Indiana.
In terms of random bigs who could fit here, I like how Thomas Bryant looks in a move the ball offense. He’s definitely had his moments in the league and he’s been coached the last couple years by Carlisle and Spoelstra.
He plays hard on D…and that jumper he splashed in there was wet. Nice quick release on it too.
Yep. Add him to the list of Indiana players who would look great on the Dubs (and, in many cases, whom we either actively or implicitly passed upon: as I recall he was known to be up for grabs before the Pacers got him for a second-round pick swap).
You guys are harshing my mellow with this guy. I'm enjoying his run. I have no bitter feelings about what could have been because that's not how my brain seems to operate. He seems like a nice guy. He is playing some vastly entertaining basketball. I am choosing to enjoy it. Can't we all just enjoy it? You know you do, you know you do. Come on the water is warm hop in the pool.
I tend to watch him with pride because I was so high on him. Scottie Barnes was my other big draft crush. Both of them impressed me in interviews I watched; really mature, self-assured, aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and got excited talking hoops and strategy. (I see a lot of that in Podz as well.)
Fully healthy, they lost on their home floor to CHARLOTTE, who started Miller-Micic-Martin-Green-Richards (hoops nerd gold star to anyone who can provide the first names of those five guys) to fall to 10-15 on the season.
Crazy game, crazy fun. Not a huge OKC fan (though I like them plenty), but not exactly a Pacers rooter either. Still, huge fun, and how can you not love that Hali game winner? Answer: you cannot not love it. Pure joy.
Delicious! Reminds me of the Rockets fans and their utter surprise that Harden scored a ton on inefficient iso/hero ball, while not getting his usual calls. As for the screen complaints, maybe the refs have watched enough of Dort flopping after getting screened that he's not getting that benefit of the doubt?
I dunno... to me, the Thunder have always felt like a regular season paper tiger. They've got the grifter at the top (less grifty than peak Haren, but still grifty), and the grifters never get as many calls in the playoffs, and for no explicit reason whatsoever, I've felt like their defense was more regular season dominant, and it wouldn't be quite the advantage in the playoffs when teams get used to it in a series. So I expected some regression on the margins for this team.
But it's a 7 game series, and we can expect the Thunder to blow out the Pacers on Sunday, and we'll see what happens in Indy.
Word on the aggregates is Monte Poole saying the Warriors won't move JK this summer. I don't think that's much of a surprising move though.
"The most likely [Celtic] to be moved, according to [Chris Mannix of SI], is backup wing Sam Hauser. Hauser, an excellent shooter and decent defender, is entering the first season of a four-year, $45MM contract extension…”
6’8”; 27 y.o.; Last two seasons: .420 3pt% on 9.5 attempts/36
Looney #36 we hardly knew yah.
https://imgur.com/a/X0t5X0Z
My 1st (5th, 10th?) dumb trade proposal of the month (actually more than 1 because the Suns can't trade more than 1 player at time) (long, so splitting up):
Overall Trade:
Spurs: Giannis, Lillard
Bucks: Fox, KAT, Beal, Vassell, 4+ picks/swaps (+ some 2nds) from Spurs (mostly via other teams), but not #2
Suns: Kuzma, Keldon Johnson, Sochan, Portis, Connaughton, 1 or 2 1sts (or 1st and a few 2nds) from Spurs
Knicks: Durant
(Details of the split up up trades don't really matter, except than the Suns only trade one player at a time, and don't take back more than they send out. Durant out in one trade, Beal out in the other.)
TL:DR : If Giannis wanted out, would the Bucks consider an instant rebuild with good but not great players instead of high draft picks and tanking?
Well, in the specific case of Milwaukee, they don’t have their own picks. So yeah, I’d think they'd be pretty happy to avoid tanking. That, or try to retrieve their picks (from, I believe, Portland and New Orleans?).
In general, though, I do wonder if teams will start seeking out this kind of rebuild, with a mix of good players and picks, and a the plan (unless things go way better than expected) to do a second tear-down in a couple years (trading Fox, KAT, and maybe Vassell for even more picks). Sort of like how OKC traded Russ for CP and two picks + two swaps, stayed decent, and then traded CP to Phoenix for another first before starting the tank in earnest.
I haven't evaluated your actual proposal because you inspired me to think of an idea for media and fans: a cap on dumb trade proposals expressed publicly.
My idea is that you get five opportunities to air a trade proposal per month. You can swap a 2025 proposal opportunity for someone else's opportunity in another year. So for example, if you hit your fifth, you can trade for my unused June 2025 trade idea in exchange for one 2026 trade proposal -- or really what I'd prefer, which is two 2027 proposals, because that's when Steph and Draymond and Jimmy will be expiring and I want the ammunition available.
Media and users can also package trade proposals with other Fake GM opportunities such as draft rants or tanking ideas.
If this passes, we may hear "I'll trade you two August 2026 trade proposals for one at the trade deadline, plus I get back the rights to a draft day rant about whether the Warriors should go for best available player or best fit, and you get the rights to fire Steve Kerr after a dispirting loss (Note: By rule, fake firing a coach must follow at least a three game losing streak.)"
Just be aware that since I'm over the 2nd apron, I can't send you cash in any trade.
Dang it. That damned apron. Could we pull in Sleepy for a three-person deal? I'm willing to throw in a Summer League instant overreaction.
Spurs lineup: Castle, Harper, Barnes, Giannis, Wemby (they have to take on Lillard's contract for at least a year until it can be traded as an expiring in 2026, but they keep #2)
Bucks: Fox, Beal, Vassell, KAT, Lopez??. If Giannis wants to leave, they might opt to field a decent team rather than tank. They aren't title contenders anymore, of course, and they got a huge haul of picks, but no great picks. A healthy Lillard for Beal would have been . . . not good, but at least Beal can play next season (both of them would probably be gone a year from now, anyway).
Suns lose Durant, but get rid of Beal, and gain some depth and a couple of picks (not their own, but better than nothing, and they keep Booker). Not keeping KAT gives them more flexibility, and at least improves the team's floor, if maybe not their ceiling.
One of the (many?) problems with this trade is Beal: would he waive the NTC to go to a Giannis-less Milwaukee? Maybe, maybe not, although the new Bucks team would probably be 5th (at worst) in conference, probably higher then the Suns would be in the West without Durant, but with KAT.
If Beal's going to waive the NTC, presumably it would be to go to a team where he really wants to play. Otherwise there's nothing in it for him. Giving up control and relocating to play for a mediocre Bucks team doesn't seem likely unless he really likes Milwaukee in the winter. I also don't see why MIL would want Beal's contract.
Finally, I would not assume Beal is gone in a year. Beal has a player option for '26-'27 at way more money than he's likely to get in any future deal. He can opt in for the second season, make bank, and be UFA in the summer of '27. At that point he probably won't make megabucks but he'll be financially set. He can sign a MLE-level deal or even a vet min deal (not too shabby as a 15-year vet in '27) and and go to his choice of teams.
For bettors the Pacers are still +255 to win the series. They’ve just won game one on the road after 24 turnovers. They’re 13-4 in the playoffs overall with two 64+ win opponents. Maybe anticipate a big loss in game 2 and get better odds.
For me it’s a 6/10 smart bet, and 9/10 fun bet to just really go all in on Pacers magic.
The one thing I was thinking about a bit prior to the series and definitely now is the last Carlisle Finals team, the 2011 Mavs. IIRC they were not favored in any series but they absolutely pounded the West. Most notably sweeping two time defending champ Lakers. Most of the story stuck with the Lakers collapse, the Thunder being too young etc.
Then they were big underdogs to the first Heatles team. Snuck in a comeback upset in the first two games, and then took over the series.
Could mean nothing as it pertains to this Finals, but I just wouldn’t want to be matched up in the Finals against a Carlisle coached team that’s clicking. He might figure out something about your team that you don’t have a great answer for.
Schematically, I think excellent offense/good defense is the better build over excellent defense/good offense. Which maps out to the difference between Pacers vs. Thunder. Obviously, the quality of the offenses and defenses matters greatly, but the schematic build is one of the reasons why I think the Pacers chances were/are being underrated.
Just to respond to some of the points below:
1) I wasn't talking about the absolute offensive/defensive rating, but about the *build* -- what side of the court a team focuses on. Of course if you can be excellent in both, awesome! But if I had to choose, I would prefer a team that leans on the offensive side and hold its ground on the defensive, because I think that's a more winning formula than the other way around.
2) I put some stock in the regular season ratings but not all. OKC won a lot of games in blowouts, so of course their RS season ratings are sky high. Meanwhile, Indiana started the season badly but were one of the best teams in the second half. But in these playoffs, I think it's pretty clear that while OKC's defense is crushingly effective, their offense is so-so, with SGA lifting them up to pretty good. Meanwhile, the Pacers have an amazingly flexible, relentless offense featuring a squad of very good shot makers, while having just enough good defense to make stops when necessary.
3) Now, OKC may yet smoke the Pacers; they are just so loaded with talent. But the Pacers *build* gives them a tilt in their favor so the odds aren't as lopsided as the stats on paper or the regular season ratings might indicate. I believe in the Pacers ability to score on OKC's almighty defense and clamp down, somewhat, on OKC's merely good offense. Might not be enough but, to quote/paraphrase Jim Carrey, "I'm saying there's a chance!"
Gather round and let Ol’ Man Goofus tell you about when the Warriors had both an excellent defense AND offense. Now, THAT was a construct!
Well OKC had a better offense and defense in the regular season. You could maybe argue their offense is less adaptable/ post-season ready (bc of e.g. SGA's foul rate), but this feels like overanalyzing a single game.
Edit to add: I just checked the season-long ft rate, and OKC was near the bottom of the league. My *guess* is that they had a higher ftr if you exclude fast breaks, and that their low rate is due to their dominant defense. I could also imagine this accounts for the team's high ORTG. But neither point to your central thesis
OKC biggest weakness is exactly what the warriors have destroyed over the years - very little ball movement. They have one guy dribble dribble dribble - and then maybe someone will get a pass!
Both are half of the game, neither is more important than the other imo.
Also though the Thunder had a higher rated offense than the Pacers in the regular season.
Actually better defense is better - the most basic reason I can give us that it is much harder to score by putting that ball in the basket then preventing someone from putting it into that basket !
And a higher rated defense - maybe the west is actually overrated since there we’re many mediocre teams
Whoops, shoulda refreshed the page
I disagree. Excellent defense is a must.
The Pacers have simply made every single big shot all postseason. They have good shooting all over the place, and they're on a collective shooting hot streak. That does limit the defensive strategies you're able to employ, since there's nobody to give the #tonyallentreatment, and get janky with it. But if you don't have plus defenders at every position, and good help defense, the mismatch attack is gonna eat you alive. I expect that the Thunder will do a better job attacking Hali in isolation in G2... and we'll see how that all works out.
Agree about Pacers' fortunate shooting down the stretch. Haliburton got that crazy bounce on the jumper that forced OT against the Knicks at the buzzer and Turner banked in a prayer of a three pointer down the stretch last night. In their four huge last minute comeback wins in the playoffs, they've pretty much needed every break to go their way, and they pretty much did.
With that said, hats off to the Pacers and particularly to Carlisle, who keeps his team playing hard all game and doesn't give up. They've owned the Dubs in the Chase era. I remember the one game in '22 where the Dubs were home playing a Pacers team resting/missing most of its regulars and the Pacers still won in OT. Dubs leaned on Andre to play big minutes that game and he didn't set foot on the court after that for a couple of months. A true testament to the Pacers' never give up attitude.
We need to talk, New York Times Crossword. Today, Friday June 6, 2025 the clue for 44 across is "Point guard's crafty maneuver." Seven letters. I finally figured out the answer using the down clues, but this is so ... you tell me. I'll reveal the answer in the thread in case you want to guess; and then I want your opinion on it.
I was going to guess SHAMGOD
Technically 8 letters because it's Shammgod but you are the big winner here. Well played.
EPIC!!!
Only tangentially related but if anyone wants a site where they can access the NYT crossword for free let me know
yes please
downforacross dot com
HOPSTEP
Is that a thing? I've never heard Mike Breen say "Kyrie with the hop step!"
Here are some terms I'd choose for a point guard's crafty maneuver before that, although admittedly many are not seven letters: CROSSOVER, STEPBACK, BEHINDTHEBACKPASS, EUROSTEP, EURO, GOINGTHROUGHTHEFIVEHOLE, PASSFAKE, WRONGFOOT (verb), BOUNCEPASS, HESI, NASHDRIBBLE, FEEDINGTHEPOST........
CRABDRIBBLE!!! I see you LeBron
OKC is probably going to bounce back just fine but losing a game on your home floor where you won the turnover battle 6 to 24 hurts. I wouldn't be shocked to see Pacers win Game 2 as well only for OKC to win the next 2 in Indiana.
In terms of random bigs who could fit here, I like how Thomas Bryant looks in a move the ball offense. He’s definitely had his moments in the league and he’s been coached the last couple years by Carlisle and Spoelstra.
He plays hard on D…and that jumper he splashed in there was wet. Nice quick release on it too.
Yep. Add him to the list of Indiana players who would look great on the Dubs (and, in many cases, whom we either actively or implicitly passed upon: as I recall he was known to be up for grabs before the Pacers got him for a second-round pick swap).
Haliburton. Need I say more?
Sigh.
I'm guessing the Kings' organization is NOT enjoying Haliburton's playoff breakout.
You guys are harshing my mellow with this guy. I'm enjoying his run. I have no bitter feelings about what could have been because that's not how my brain seems to operate. He seems like a nice guy. He is playing some vastly entertaining basketball. I am choosing to enjoy it. Can't we all just enjoy it? You know you do, you know you do. Come on the water is warm hop in the pool.
I’m with you. Enjoyment. Of an entertainment product. With no direct bearing on our (actually true, important, and valid) devotion to the Warriors.
You're goldarn right about that.
I tend to watch him with pride because I was so high on him. Scottie Barnes was my other big draft crush. Both of them impressed me in interviews I watched; really mature, self-assured, aware of their own strengths and weaknesses and got excited talking hoops and strategy. (I see a lot of that in Podz as well.)
I think we have a duty to harsh your Melo.
Someone needs to be retrained on how to do their job.
r/nba
6 hr. ago
Mission_Pay_3373
emoji:bos-3: Celtics
The ABC affiliate in Fort Wayne, Indiana accidentally transistioned to the weather station during the last minute of game 1 of the Finals
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1l4m73c/the_abc_affiliate_in_fort_wayne_indiana/
I just know this happened because somebody at that station is still bitter about the Pistons leaving Fort Wayne in 1957.
lol Oh boy, I would've lost my mind if that happened to us. Glad to see they remedied their error right before Hali's clutch shot winner.
Pacers are awesome. I’m so jealous of how much fun their fans are having right now, lol.
They started the season 10-15, and were something like a 30-1 shot entering the playoffs. Legit miracle territory if they can somehow pull this off.
They were 28-1 just to win the East entering the playoffs.
Here was their game 25:
https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/202412080IND.html
Fully healthy, they lost on their home floor to CHARLOTTE, who started Miller-Micic-Martin-Green-Richards (hoops nerd gold star to anyone who can provide the first names of those five guys) to fall to 10-15 on the season.
Meanwhile, the Cavs started 33-4.
Just an insane season.
Dude, those ARE their first names.
So, you're saying that Charlotte just needs to get Miller back on the floor, and TGBC?
Yeah. Now it I can only remember his first name…
Crazy game, crazy fun. Not a huge OKC fan (though I like them plenty), but not exactly a Pacers rooter either. Still, huge fun, and how can you not love that Hali game winner? Answer: you cannot not love it. Pure joy.
Answer: Have it happened against the Dubs.
Our old friend the pretend bleach drinker has popped up the Thunder sub reddit.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/comments/1l4igrc/my_current_state_of_mind/
And a nice GS mention
https://www.reddit.com/r/Thunder/comments/1l4kai1/pacers_played_more_physical_on_offense_they_had/
Delicious! Reminds me of the Rockets fans and their utter surprise that Harden scored a ton on inefficient iso/hero ball, while not getting his usual calls. As for the screen complaints, maybe the refs have watched enough of Dort flopping after getting screened that he's not getting that benefit of the doubt?
I dunno... to me, the Thunder have always felt like a regular season paper tiger. They've got the grifter at the top (less grifty than peak Haren, but still grifty), and the grifters never get as many calls in the playoffs, and for no explicit reason whatsoever, I've felt like their defense was more regular season dominant, and it wouldn't be quite the advantage in the playoffs when teams get used to it in a series. So I expected some regression on the margins for this team.
But it's a 7 game series, and we can expect the Thunder to blow out the Pacers on Sunday, and we'll see what happens in Indy.
They 12-5 in the playoffs with a +10.4 scoring margin and two of the losses have been on last second shots. They’re a real playoff Tiger.
Good game.
Damn the Pacers just keep on impressing, I’m happy for them.
Heh heh heh