Watched OKC NOP tonight and enjoyed the heck out of the game. Good solid play, neither team excessively flopping, or complaining. Good ball movement for the most part. SGA and BI are both fluid dynamic players that are fun to watch. I hope these teams can progress without being screwed up by a prima donna, selfish, or Kyrie Irving type roster killer.
I only caught the last quarter of that Wolves-Lakers matchup, but I found it wildly entertaining. Admittedly, it wasn't great basketball. But so much drama! I could have enjoyed double OT.
If only okc didn't have to play the nuggets they could have did some damage in the playoffs, I could see them beating the kings, suns, clippers grizzlies, they just don't have anything to slow jokic
Interesting consequence of the play in tournament that I'm sure has been pointed out but I've never really thought about: the top two seeds get less time to gameplan for their opponent bc of the tourney so you're giving the top two seeds a disadvantage which seems weird. Generally you think playing the "worse" team would supercede that but when things are this bunched up? Like would the nuggets rather play us or the clips and know it on day 1 vs having to wait until Wednesday?
I'm thinking they get 1-2 excellent scouting opportunities during the play-in to see what their opponent is doing now. Add that to the rest days and I think they're more than happy with the situation.
They have less time to game plan, but they're not only playing 'lesser' teams; they're also playing teams that have had extra games and in some cases, travel. Whoever faces Denver will have played at last one and possibly two road games. So they've had the extra exertion plus the travel. I think that more than offsets the shortened game planning time, especially given that over the course of a seven-game series, there's still time to make adjustments.
The team that plays the Grizz has only played one extra game, but Memphis knows pretty early in the week.
Whether OKC gets into the playoffs or not, they are a very promising team. All their starters are below 25 with two of them rookies. Very impressive. I think they will beat the Wolves.
They have soo many picks and already have a keeper backcourt, plus Dort. In a couple of years, all their young talent will need extensions. They have a lot of assets to go get another top-25 player this offseason or next, plus a sniper like Huerter. Maybe Miami rebuilds if they miss the playoffs, and Bam becomes available? OKC would be scary.
What do I know, but I doubt that Luka would be a target for them. They already have to share the ball between SGA, Giddey, and SC JWill. They need a modern D-minded big that can rebound and stretch the floor. Not many of those around.
Butler, Lowrie, Love, Zeller, and of course Haslem (who's retiring) are the old men in Miami. Duncan Robinson is next, I think, 28. The rest are still pretty young. Bam is 25 (signed through '25-'26), Herro is 23 (signed through '26-'27). If they think they can rebuild fairly quickly (maybe swap Butler for youngsters/picks), maybe they keep one or both of those two as a foundation.
Maybe? This season was pretty rough for the Raptors when I watched them, weird roster construction notwithstanding. But I've heard he's a good schemer, so I'm probably missing something.
He isn't responsible for the construction of the roster. And I think they had a bunch of injuries early on. The coach is always gonna take the fall for a bad roster - not the GM who put the mess together.
Watched OKC NOP tonight and enjoyed the heck out of the game. Good solid play, neither team excessively flopping, or complaining. Good ball movement for the most part. SGA and BI are both fluid dynamic players that are fun to watch. I hope these teams can progress without being screwed up by a prima donna, selfish, or Kyrie Irving type roster killer.
So far except for the LOLakers the play-in's have been fun.
I only caught the last quarter of that Wolves-Lakers matchup, but I found it wildly entertaining. Admittedly, it wasn't great basketball. But so much drama! I could have enjoyed double OT.
If only okc didn't have to play the nuggets they could have did some damage in the playoffs, I could see them beating the kings, suns, clippers grizzlies, they just don't have anything to slow jokic
Interesting consequence of the play in tournament that I'm sure has been pointed out but I've never really thought about: the top two seeds get less time to gameplan for their opponent bc of the tourney so you're giving the top two seeds a disadvantage which seems weird. Generally you think playing the "worse" team would supercede that but when things are this bunched up? Like would the nuggets rather play us or the clips and know it on day 1 vs having to wait until Wednesday?
I'm thinking they get 1-2 excellent scouting opportunities during the play-in to see what their opponent is doing now. Add that to the rest days and I think they're more than happy with the situation.
They have less time to game plan, but they're not only playing 'lesser' teams; they're also playing teams that have had extra games and in some cases, travel. Whoever faces Denver will have played at last one and possibly two road games. So they've had the extra exertion plus the travel. I think that more than offsets the shortened game planning time, especially given that over the course of a seven-game series, there's still time to make adjustments.
The team that plays the Grizz has only played one extra game, but Memphis knows pretty early in the week.
Draymond pointed that out in one of his recent pods
On the plus side you have a minimum two day rest advantage. I'd rather have that.
Whether OKC gets into the playoffs or not, they are a very promising team. All their starters are below 25 with two of them rookies. Very impressive. I think they will beat the Wolves.
They have soo many picks and already have a keeper backcourt, plus Dort. In a couple of years, all their young talent will need extensions. They have a lot of assets to go get another top-25 player this offseason or next, plus a sniper like Huerter. Maybe Miami rebuilds if they miss the playoffs, and Bam becomes available? OKC would be scary.
They'll be interesting for sure... I am gonna laugh soooo sooo hard if they talk themselves into trading 6 picks for Doncic though...
They can get Gobert for only 4
What do I know, but I doubt that Luka would be a target for them. They already have to share the ball between SGA, Giddey, and SC JWill. They need a modern D-minded big that can rebound and stretch the floor. Not many of those around.
Yeah. They need offball players, not someone to take the ball out of SGA's hands. That guy makes dribbling up the court look like an art form.
Butler, Lowrie, Love, Zeller, and of course Haslem (who's retiring) are the old men in Miami. Duncan Robinson is next, I think, 28. The rest are still pretty young. Bam is 25 (signed through '25-'26), Herro is 23 (signed through '26-'27). If they think they can rebuild fairly quickly (maybe swap Butler for youngsters/picks), maybe they keep one or both of those two as a foundation.
While the two J Wills and OKC's bench struggled to score, SGA, Giddey, and Dort put the team on their backs and carried them to victory.
Thunder beat the Pelicans 123-118. OKC will face the Wolves in Minnesota for the #8 spot of the West on Friday.
Based on what we've seen of the West play-in tournament so far, I'm guessing only 6 Timberwolves show up at the correct arena.
And there's a 50-50 chance of fisticuffs...
OKC going to win this
Thunder fouling the Pels to prevent them from shooting a three. Smart move.
Entertaining OKC-NOP game
Thunder up 115-114 with 28 seconds left.
Thunder up 96-87 thanks to a 39-24 3rd quarter.
Future sky thinking, if Kerr rides off into the sunset with the OG's, who do you want to replace him not named Mike Brown?
Gregg Popovich. Assistant coach can be anyone Max Kellerman chooses.
But obviously that would never happen. Pop is 74 and will retire a Spur.
I'd rather not have Popovich drive Kuminga out of town like he did with Leonard.
"Give me Iguodala!"
When you have the best coach in the league it's hard to decide which downgrade you'd want
Fax. It’s so far away with so many variables too…
Kent Lacob.
Seriously, who knows? If it happened this summer (it ain't), maybe Vogel or Silas.
Four or five years from now (which is about when I expect the last gasp to happen) it's probably going to be someone we haven't even heard of yet.
nick nurse might be available
He may be a good assistant coach next season if he doesn't get another head coaching job.
I'm guessing he does the Quinn Snyder thing and takes a year or more off. The way he was talking, he sounded a little burned out.
Maybe? This season was pretty rough for the Raptors when I watched them, weird roster construction notwithstanding. But I've heard he's a good schemer, so I'm probably missing something.
He isn't responsible for the construction of the roster. And I think they had a bunch of injuries early on. The coach is always gonna take the fall for a bad roster - not the GM who put the mess together.
Yeah, that's fair. I didn't watch the Raptors much, and I was more struck by how weird their roster was.
Erik Spoelstra, but he isn't going anywhere.
Spoelstra with our young players in a few years would be hella fun
i like the OKC team - play well and dont talk like the grizzlies
I'm just glad they are in the other half of the bracket, TBH. They are good.
Same, I’m rooting for them to win this game
Pelicans up 63-57 against the Thunder at halftime.
Diar DeRozan highlight reel! https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1646334501218586625
She’s cute and annoying at the same time
That is a decent summation of nine year olds everywhere...
I thought I was hearing a small animal being killed at first.
DeRozan said his daughter begged him to come but will not be there Friday because she has to get back to school.
https://twitter.com/KCJHoop/status/1646336241737125889
That was so annoying. And mom egging her on, imagine if all of the teams kids were doing the same thing, cus that's what's going to happen.