2024-25 NBA Season / Playoffs

[Newhouser]

Holmgren is good but he’s capped by lack of strength

IF OKC loses this series they may look to move him. He is going to be due a big salary and in my opinion does not merit it. I don't see OKC running it back if they don't win.

 

[Cusefan0307]

IF OKC loses this series they may look to move him. He is going to be due a big salary and in my opinion does not merit it. I don't see OKC running it back if they don't win.

I would take him in a heartbeat. He’s just scratching the surface. He’s probably going to average 20, 10, and 3 next year. SGA deserves the blame for last night. Too much foul hunting, turnovers and he was exhausted down the stretch.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

IF OKC loses this series they may look to move him. He is going to be due a big salary and in my opinion does not merit it. I don't see OKC running it back if they don't win.

Chet right now is vastly overrated by media pundits. Not sure he can stay healthy enough for a 10-12 year career either. I don't see OKC moving him though not their style but with the new salary cap, apron blah blah they may have to at some point

 

[kirbivore]

Sometimes? That would be an understatement. It seems that media have already given OKC the title, traded Giannis, Jaylen Brown, CAT and 1/2 of the Rockets current roster and Sam Presti is their god as well as Daryl Morey. What has Morey ever won, BTW? They have also already put Chet in the hall of fame as well. It just never ends with NBA media and their podcasts. They are ALL draft and salary cap experts now too. It is ridiculous.

Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo are the worst of this bunch

 

[kirbivore]

when are people going to realize Indiana is no joke? All I’ve heard is how this was going to be a sweep . Then it was going to be 4 in a row for OKC after the pacers G1 win. I truly have no rooting interest in this series but I just don’t see much of a gap between these squads

 

[OttoinGrotto]

when are people going to realize Indiana is no joke? All I’ve heard is how this was going to be a sweep . Then it was going to be 4 in a row for OKC after the pacers G1 win. I truly have no rooting interest in this series but I just don’t see much of a gap between these squads

The Pacers have taken it to every team they've seen in the playoffs. They genuinely believe in what they do and who they are.

Also Rick Carlisle is a really good coach. He plays a big part in it.

 

[Newhouser]

Chet right now is vastly overrated by media pundits. Not sure he can stay healthy enough for a 10-12 year career either. I don't see OKC moving him though not their style but with the new salary cap, apron blah blah they may have to at some point

SGA is going to be 70 million plus. JW is going to make a ton and Chet would be north of 40 million I'm sure. Don't trust his health, his ability to add strength, or his ability to develop a game inside the arc.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The Pacers have taken it to every team they've seen in the playoffs. They genuinely believe in what they do and who they are.

Also Rick Carlisle is a really good coach. He plays a big part in it.

Prognosticators are lazy and want to think regular season results predicts postseason success. I think we have seen in recent years that regular season records mean less than they used to. Especially with key guys not playing every game. Not surprised what Indiana is doing so far. They are better than Denver and Denver gave OKC all they could handle.

 

[Cusefan0307]

SGA is going to be 70 million plus. JW is going to make a ton and Chet would be north of 40 million I'm sure. Don't trust his health, his ability to add strength, or his ability to develop a game inside the arc.

That would mean Hartenstein would be the only guy taller than 6'6" in their rotation. They are a team of 6'4" to 6'6" guys. The chance they get anyone back for the same value and production at his size is zero. They likely are going to have to ship off a couple of their other younger wings who probably can start somewhere else. Wallace, Dort, and/or Wiggins me thinks.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Bill Simmons and Ryen Russillo are the worst of this bunch

Simmons is in a league of his own here. At least they both watch a lot of basketball. My issue with both is they don't really know as much about the smaller markets as they believe they do. Simmons throws around hypothetical trades way too much as well. Look every player can be traded if given the right offer but sometimes it just gets tiring. Simmons protege Kevin O'Connor is in this group as well.

It was unfathomable that the Pacers could win the title to these three just a week ago because of their infatuation with OKC and the genius that is Sam Presti

 

[Melancer46]

That would mean Hartenstein would be the only guy taller than 6'6" in their rotation. They are a team of 6'4" to 6'6" guys. The chance they get anyone back for the same value and production at his size is zero. They likely are going to have to ship off a couple of their other younger wings who probably can start somewhere else. Wallace, Dort, and/or Wiggins me thinks.

They could always trade him while getting back someone else with size. I don't know; everyone is reporting that this time is different and the OKC owners are finally going to pay a ton in luxury taxes, but between their ownership history and the new CBA making it so difficult, I am skeptical. Damn near impossible to have three near max contracts on a roster anymore and they'll obviously have no interest in moving Shai so I see them eventually needing to make a decision between Jalen and Chet.

 

[Melancer46]

Simmons is in a league of his own here. At least they both watch a lot of basketball. My issue with both is they don't really know as much about the smaller markets as they believe they do. Simmons throws around hypothetical trades way too much as well. Look every player can be traded if given the right offer but sometimes it just gets tiring. Simmons protege Kevin O'Connor is in this group as well.

It was unfathomable that the Pacers could win the title to these three just a week ago because of their infatuation with OKC and the genius that is Sam Presti

I find KOC to be even worse personally. Partly because Simmons is at least a likeable personality most of the time and KOC seems like he sucks as a person, but KOC also takes himself a lot more seriously as an NBA analyst and basically any time a team doesn't win a championship, he believes they should just blow the entire team up and start over. It's incredibly tiresome vs. Simmons IMO just having some fun with hypotheticals.

Does feel a little like that workplace harassment meme though where I just excuse Simmons for it more because I like him more.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

I find KOC to be even worse personally. Partly because Simmons is at least a likeable personality most of the time and KOC seems like he sucks as a person, but KOC also takes himself a lot more seriously as an NBA analyst and basically any time a team doesn't win a championship, he believes they should just blow the entire team up and start over. It's incredibly tiresome vs. Simmons IMO just having some fun with hypotheticals.

Does feel a little like that workplace harassment meme though where I just excuse Simmons for it more because I like him more.

Certainly a valid point and I agree on KOC. I think KOC is just a dork that loves basketball who couldn't make a lay up if his life depended on it. I listen to all three podcasts as I do like certain aspects of all three and I guess they have to talk about something but I feel like they all have their favorites that they defend to the death. Morey seems like one and they all worship the ground that Sam Presti walks on. With a gun to my head I would probably listen to Russillo over the other two but Russillo goes out of way sometimes to make himself sound like he knows about the X's and O's more than I actually believe he does. No disputing Simmons success though, he's built one hell of an empire

I like KOC's former partner from the ringer Chris Vernon quite a bit. I just find him entertaining

 

[Knicks411]

Indiana fitness level is a step above OKC in these close games.

Their fitness level has been a step ahead of everyone all playoffs. Definitely a paytern

 

[Knicks411]

A lot of the okc stuff depends on where the extensions for Chet and Jalen come in; Williams probably gets to 30% (needs all nba next year; okc probably secretly hopes he misses time and isn’t eligible) while Chet probably won’t make all nba and probably won’t win DPOY so he’s probably going to be at 25%, which makes thinks more manageable.

The hartenstein deal was signed with a team option on the third year, so OKC can get out of it when the extensions for Chet and Jalen kick in. It really doesn’t make any sense to trade either of those guys this summer; they’re still very cheap next year and Chet at 25% even is still a pretty good deal. Much more likely hartenstein is gone after 2 years

 

[Melancer46]

Certainly a valid point and I agree on KOC. I think KOC is just a dork that loves basketball who couldn't make a lay up if his life depended on it. I listen to all three podcasts as I do like certain aspects of all three and I guess they have to talk about something but I feel like they all have their favorites that they defend to the death. Morey seems like one and they all worship the ground that Sam Presti walks on. With a gun to my head I would probably listen to Russillo over the other two but Russillo goes out of way sometimes to make himself sound like he knows about the X's and O's more than I actually believe he does. No disputing Simmons success though, he's built one hell of an empire

I like KOC's former partner from the ringer Chris Vernon quite a bit. I just find him entertaining

Vernon's voice drives me crazy, but he is an entertaining listen for sure.

 

[IthacaBarrel]

Vernon's voice drives me crazy, but he is an entertaining listen for sure.

Noted! He does have a raspy voice! He does a nice job as we know he not only works for the Griz but is a homer as well. I just like the way he looks at the league in general, can be critical at times but still a huge fan as well and doesn't waste too much time on firing this coach or GM and wild trade ideas

 

[MikeSU02]

Vernon's voice drives me crazy, but he is an entertaining listen for sure.

I can't believe he has that voice once I saw his face.

I like Simmons, generally, but I've read/listened to him for decades now. I get he is the fan at the bar. Once I generally accept that, I can deal with his content/takes more.

Zach Lowe is awesome. Rob Mahoney is awesome. Caitlin Cooper is insanely good, but obviously focuses on the Pacers. Legler is really good. And for the most part, I like Windhorst. There are others, but you need Simmons to throw in the views he has or it is way too dry a discussion at times.

I will say, at least Simmons does have inside info. He cleary has connects and he is very good at sourcing talent (both done at Grantland and at The Ringer).

As it pertains to the studio shows, I think TNT has gotten a pass the last few years because 1) they have been good for so long and they never really are "bad" and 2) ESPN's studio show is so awful, that basically anything would be better.

Once KOC wrote that Daryl Morey piece, I was really turned off on him and I was lukewarm on him even before that.

 

[MikeSU02]

I would take him in a heartbeat. He’s just scratching the surface. He’s probably going to average 20, 10, and 3 next year. SGA deserves the blame for last night. Too much foul hunting, turnovers and he was exhausted down the stretch.

Yeah - Chet needs some runway. You can't just give him away and expect to get something back that would match.

 

[MikeSU02]

The Pacers have taken it to every team they've seen in the playoffs. They genuinely believe in what they do and who they are.

Also Rick Carlisle is a really good coach. He plays a big part in it.

100%

Team that started 10-15, had injuries and still won 50 regular season games.

Has a good coach. Has a star playing like a super star and has depth and balance.

They also dictate the style of play.

And man does OKC feel young when you watch these games.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Jay-Z Loses $1 Million on Bet That the Oklahoma City Thunder Would Win NBA Finals in 5 Games

The Pacers took a 2-1 series lead after defeating the Thunder in Indianapolis on June 11

www.yahoo.com

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Prognosticators are lazy and want to think regular season results predicts postseason success. I think we have seen in recent years that regular season records mean less than they used to. Especially with key guys not playing every game. Not surprised what Indiana is doing so far. They are better than Denver and Denver gave OKC all they could handle.

The strongest case that could be made for OKC ripping through this series was their point differential on the season.

But that doesn't say anything about the matchup with the Pacers.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I find KOC to be even worse personally. Partly because Simmons is at least a likeable personality most of the time and KOC seems like he sucks as a person, but KOC also takes himself a lot more seriously as an NBA analyst and basically any time a team doesn't win a championship, he believes they should just blow the entire team up and start over. It's incredibly tiresome vs. Simmons IMO just having some fun with hypotheticals.

Does feel a little like that workplace harassment meme though where I just excuse Simmons for it more because I like him more.

KOC seems like a crappy person? I don’t see it. Maybe I’m missing something . He’s seems pretty nice to me. If you tell me Zach Lowe is an Ass Then you have no credibility

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Jay-Z Loses $1 Million on Bet That the Oklahoma City Thunder Would Win NBA Finals in 5 Games

The Pacers took a 2-1 series lead after defeating the Thunder in Indianapolis on June 11

www.yahoo.com

That’s a whole lotta baby oil

 

[STEVEHOLT]

I can't believe he has that voice once I saw his face.

I like Simmons, generally, but I've read/listened to him for decades now. I get he is the fan at the bar. Once I generally accept that, I can deal with his content/takes more.

Zach Lowe is awesome. Rob Mahoney is awesome. Caitlin Cooper is insanely good, but obviously focuses on the Pacers. Legler is really good. And for the most part, I like Windhorst. There are others, but you need Simmons to throw in the views he has or it is way too dry a discussion at times.

I will say, at least Simmons does have inside info. He cleary has connects and he is very good at sourcing talent (both done at Grantland and at The Ringer).

As it pertains to the studio shows, I think TNT has gotten a pass the last few years because 1) they have been good for so long and they never really are "bad" and 2) ESPN's studio show is so awful, that basically anything would be better.

Once KOC wrote that Daryl Morey piece, I was really turned off on him and I was lukewarm on him even before that.

TNT is god awful from an actual analysis perspective but I love the show for the pure entertainment value and banter (like when Chuck mis-speaks and says a player brings a different animal to the table instead of a he’s a different animal or he brings something different to the table )

But these guys don’t even know who is on the teams. Kenny is the only one who actually tries to make legit points and he fails often.