NBA Playoffs 2024

[Fitzjess21]

Ant Man….

This kid might be the next face of the NBA. Hes incredible

 

[tman87]

TWolves have taken the next step. Antman the difference. But having 3 great Bigs (Towns, Gobert who isn't even playing tonight, and now Naz Reid) is tough to beat. Then really good long and talented role player wings also. Conley that solid PG vet holding things steady.

Love it.

No hate to Denver - they are good. But they don't have the juice to beat Antman and the rather stout rest of the Minny roster. Also, Minny is elite coached. So are the Nugs, but we see two teams that are at similar level, one that is deeper and at least as well coached. Antman still the difference maker in the whole thing. It is really, really hard to repeat champ in pro sports. Nugs are finding out why. Lakers took the gas out of their legs. And I still maintain, Minny, Nugs and Lakers are the three best teams in the West. Minny just has too much for a gimpy Nugs at this point.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

Yeah I’m at the game. It sucks

 

[skersker]

Fuck the nuggets little crybaby asses as always. Watching them get smacked by the wolves is beautiful

 

[IM4NUALWAYS]

I don't necessarily think he "flops" a lot, but he is probably one of the softest bigs to ever play the game. The smallest inconvenience and he is out for 2 weeks...

He flops more than any player ever in the NBA. Hell, he flops more than soccer players.

 

[Fargo Husker]

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Jokic with an all-timer last night

 

[Kaladin]

Wow the Nuggies are fucking idiots

 

[Fitzjess21]

Wow the Nuggies are fucking idiots

Looks like only Jokic and Murray showed up to play. 16 combined from the starters if you take out Jokic and Murray's points. Wow

 

[Seaofred92]

That was legit one of the best NBA playoff series of the last 5 years. Just awesome from the beginning and uber competitive throughout.

Can’t wait for the conference finals

 

[Fargo Husker]

 

[tman87]

Looks like only Jokic and Murray showed up to play. 16 combined from the starters if you take out Jokic and Murray's points. Wow

It it is really, really hard to repeat champs in sports. Nuggets are very good. But they lost depth in the offseason, and, as I said from the jump after round 1 - the Lakers series took a ton out of their legs. They were spent.

Minny is arriving. Now, with their cap situation, they may actually take a step back next season or two, but this is not the offseason yet. They have arrived. Antman is the best 2 guard int the league, bar none. He shot poorly tonight, but still contributed well in other ways. That's what great 2-way players do.

Minny has some really good supporting cast players now, and they have been huge. KAT getting a monkey off his back is also huge. Minny outlasted a spent/not as deep, Nuggets team.

WCF will be fun. Mavs have massively upgraded their supporting cast. A supporting cast who have come into their own. Two really long and athletic wings who are not just defenders, you gotta respect their ability to hit shots also. Adding Gafford and Lively was huge. Luka and Kyrie are their two stars, but the real difference is their much improved starting cast.

Has been an excellent playoffs in the NBA so far, especially in the West. But even the lEast has had some really hard fought, tough series. But the West is where the majority of the best teams reside. Will see if they beat each other up enough to allow the Keltics to cakewalk to a bling. I wouldn't count on it - Keltics are suspect IMO. Until they have won it all, they haven't, and whoever comes out of the much tougher west will be quite battle tested.

Just been a great playoffs so far, no matter what team(s) one roots for.

 

[Baron Winnebago]

It it is really, really hard to repeat champs in sports. Nuggets are very good. But they lost depth in the offseason, and, as I said from the jump after round 1 - the Lakers series took a ton out of their legs. They were spent.

Minny is arriving. Now, with their cap situation, they may actually take a step back next season or two, but this is not the offseason yet. They have arrived. Antman is the best 2 guard int the league, bar none. He shot poorly tonight, but still contributed well in other ways. That's what great 2-way players do.

Minny has some really good supporting cast players now, and they have been huge. KAT getting a monkey off his back is also huge. Minny outlasted a spent/not as deep, Nuggets team.

WCF will be fun. Mavs have massively upgraded their supporting cast. A supporting cast who have come into their own. Two really long and athletic wings who are not just defenders, you gotta respect their ability to hit shots also. Adding Gafford and Lively was huge. Luka and Kyrie are their two stars, but the real difference is their much improved starting cast.

Has been an excellent playoffs in the NBA so far, especially in the West. But even the lEast has had some really hard fought, tough series. But the West is where the majority of the best teams reside. Will see if they beat each other up enough to allow the Keltics to cakewalk to a bling. I wouldn't count on it - Keltics are suspect IMO. Until they have won it all, they haven't, and whoever comes out of the much tougher west will be quite battle tested.

Just been a great playoffs so far, no matter what team(s) one roots for.

Most definitely.

Big questions for Conference Finals:
1. Can Indiana speed up the game? They like to get out and run and put pressure on teams off the inbound. Boston can be lackadaisical bringing the ball up and still has a tendency to get into their stuff late. Feels like the formula for Indiana is to push the pace, get out in front, and make the Celtics play catch up where every possession matters and some of their bonehead decisions will be more consequential.

2. Does Haliburton understand the moment? He did in game 7 at the Garden, but he was too passive at times during that series. Is he going to come out pedal to the metal?

3. How good of coach is Joe Mazzulla? Sure he took out Spo and the Butler-less Heat, but Bickerstaff is a nobody. Second Row Joe is now staring down the barrel of Rick Carlisle and that's going to be no easy task on Xs & Os.

4. Can Dallas's supporting cast keep showing up? I think it's safe to say that PJ Washington, Derrick Jones Jr, and Derrick Lively all played well above what anyone should have expected from them last series. Is that real or will PJ/DJ who shot like 50% from 3 revert to their 32ish% selves?

5. Does Luka have any gas left? He's beat up and he keeps going. Real testament to him as a player to get them back to the WCF for the 2nd time in 3 years but a brutal draw for him given the size and length Minnesota can throw at him for basically the full 48.

6. Is KAT going to have a Mile High Hangover? He took Jokic for most of the previous round and that's gotta be a killer physically and mentally. It feels like we have a new look KAT who plays D and gives a shit about the little things but will that stick around for a 3rd round of playoff hoops?

 

[skersker]

Fuck the nuggets little crybaby asses as always. Watching them get smacked by the wolves is beautiful

 

[Kaladin]

I assume Celtics will kick the shit out of the Pacers

Mavericks v. T-Wolves should be fun to watch though

 

[Seaofred92]

Pacers… total meltdown

 

[2010sarenevercomingback]

Pacers… total meltdown

Like a Ron Artest style Pacers meltdown?

 

[Fitzjess21]

Pacers… total meltdown

4 REALLY bad turnovers at the end of regulation and OT. You have to foul up 3 with under 10 seconds left. Pacers pissed it away.

 

[Seaofred92]

4 REALLY bad turnovers at the end of regulation and OT. You have to foul up 3 with under 10 seconds left. Pacers pissed it away.

Yup. Just atrocious. The end of regulation was an abomination. And then end of OT not even getting a shot back to back possessions… major choke

 

[Kaladin]

stupid pacers