2024-25 NBA Season

[STEVEHOLT]

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Malice in the Palace. That Pacer team was probably the best team in the league that year. But losing Artest just derailed their title hopes.

I will always remember that game for being one that followed us losing to OK state in the garden

There was all kinds of purse clutching and what not going on but I found the entire incident wildly entertaining.. especially when Jermaine O’Neill connected on that fat guy

 

[Eric15]

There was all kinds of purse clutching and what not going on but I found the entire incident wildly entertaining.. especially when Jermaine O’Neill connected on that fat guy

In fairness, it was basically a societal breakdown that was extremely dangerous for all involved.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

In fairness, it was basically a societal breakdown that was extremely dangerous for all involved.

I like to think of it more along the lines of an around and find out phenomenon

 

[jncuse]

Ty Jerome on pace for a 50 point game at halftime.
Who had that on their bingo card?

I was surprised to see him a few days ago, on my opponent's team this week in fantasy basketball. Clearly OrangeAuburn knew what he was doing.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

In fairness, it was basically a societal breakdown that was extremely dangerous for all involved.

Like i said. Very entertaining. Like Carlin said, I’ve always been a big fan of entropy

 

[MikeSU02]

West-East Head to Head Matchups: 37-18 for the Western Conference.

Not last year, but in the few years prior to that the gap had closed between conferences... West was still better, but it was certainly closer.

This year is as worse as ever. East needs the Sixers and Bucks to turn around.

Forgot who reported it, but low key with expansion, there will be a number of teams lobbying to be the ones that go from West to East.

The thing is, the way the lottery is, it's inherently going to help the better conference. The non playoff teams get into the lottery, but half the lottery teams in the west would be playoff teams in the east.

Giannis is going to demand a trade. Embiid is probably at a level below where he was. His knee is toast in terms of playing like 70 games in a season. He got his MVP. He doesn't really care. He's never been big into being in super shape.

Jokic, Luka, SGA, Wemby, Steph, Bron, AD, KD.

It's really Giannis (who may want a trade soon) and Embiid (who has a knee injury that just may be chronic) in the East as top tier guys.

It's kind of just Tatum that is 100% entrenched in the East for the future.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Forgot who reported it, but low key with expansion, there will be a number of teams to be the ones that go from West to East.

The thing is, the way the lottery is, it's inherently going to help the better conference. The non playoff teams get into the lottery, but half the lottery teams in the west would be playoff teams in the east.

Giannis is going to demand a trade. Embiid is probably at a level below where he was. His knee is toast in terms of playing like 70 games in a season. He got his MVP. He doesn't really care. He's never been big into being in super shape.

Jokic, Luka, SGA, Wemby, Steph, Bron, AD, KD.

It's really Giannis (who may want a trade soon) and Embiid (who has a knee injury that just may be chronic) in the East as top tier guys.

It's kind of just Tatum that is 100% entrenched in the East for the future.

The same story since Jordan retired 25 years ago. I really thought the East was on the upswing a bit the past few years, but the Bucks and Sixers falling apart have completely changed that. I suppose Orlando could make a push to be a top team.

 

[cliftonparksufan]

The same story since Jordan retired 25 years ago. I really thought the East was on the upswing a bit the past few years, but the Bucks and Sixers falling apart have completely changed that. I suppose Orlando could make a push to be a top team.

No one mentioning Cleveland. Like everyone else, they have to be healthy. But, can't see anyone but Boston coming out of the East. And the West is a crapshoot. Lots of good teams but no one real dominant.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

No one mentioning Cleveland. Like everyone else, they have to be healthy. But, can't see anyone but Boston coming out of the East. And the West is a crapshoot. Lots of good teams but no one real dominant.

A hero will emerge

Btw, what has happened to Jamal Murray. Single-handedly buried Canada in the Olympics and has continued his shenanigans into the nba season

 

[Cusefan0307]

A hero will energe

Btw, what has happened to Jamal Murray. Single-handedly buried Canada in the Olympics and has continued his shenanigans into the nba season

He looks like he gained the Harden 15.

 

[shandeezy7]

A hero will energe

Btw, what has happened to Jamal Murray. Single-handedly buried Canada in the Olympics and has continued his shenanigans into the nba season

He feels like a guy that is only really good in spurts. Super inconsistent.

 

[jncuse]

Went and checked the intra-conference numbers. There is a link on basketball reference. I was actually surprised to see they were even in intra-conference matches in 21/22 and East was actually better in 22/23. They took a pretty sizable fall in 2024 and now a bigger one in 2025.

NBA Eastern vs. Western Conference Record by Season | Basketball-Reference.com

NBA Eastern vs. Western Conference Record by Season

www.basketball-reference.com

So the East beat the West in the regular season in 1999.
Between 2000 and 2021 (a 22 year period), the East was only better once in 2009.

In 2021/2022, they were .501.
In 2022/2023, they hit .509, their best winning % since 1998.

This year they are all the way down to .453. This would be the second worst record since 1971 (2014 was worst at .452)

 

[Knicks411]

Forgot who reported it, but low key with expansion, there will be a number of teams lobbying to be the ones that go from West to East.

I was talking about this in a Knicks Substack like a week ago; it’s pretty hard to actually find a combination that works. (Also when you look at it you realize Minnesota probably “should” already be in the east geographically. The closest western city to minny is about 800 miles; Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Indy are all closer to Minneapolis than that)

If you assume two new teams in Seattle and Vegas then you need to send a team from west to east. Memphis and Minnesota (maybe New Orleans?) are the candidates but it’s tough. No matter what you’re gonna have one or two teams that just don’t fit

If anyone cares, this is what I came up with for 4 8 team divisions. It's relatively clean; midwest is a little shaky with Portland and Seattle in with Memphis and New Orleans, but your hands are kinda tied.

I also did one with 8 4 team divisions, that really makes things hard. I wanted a division with Denver/Utah/Seattle/Portland but that left me with Golden State/Sacramento/Memphis/New Orleans, which is kinda untenable.

 

[MikeSU02]

I was talking about this in a Knicks Substack like a week ago; it’s pretty hard to actually find a combination that works. (Also when you look at it you realize Minnesota probably “should” already be in the east geographically. The closest western city to minny is about 800 miles; Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, and Indy are all closer to Minneapolis than that)

If you assume two new teams in Seattle and Vegas then you need to send a team from west to east. Memphis and Minnesota (maybe New Orleans?) are the candidates but it’s tough. No matter what you’re gonna have one or two teams that just don’t fit

Yeah, I figured those would be the three in contention.

It really feels like Minny has to be one of them because essentially all the midwest teams are in the EC and they should be, too.

Then it comes down to Memphis vs NO. Not sure who should be in, but I actually think NO would be better, maybe. Either would be fine.

But I do think Minny has to be a lock to move over. Like you said, their natural rivals are all in the East.

 

[Knicks411]

Yeah, I figured those would be the three in contention.

It really feels like Minny has to be one of them because essentially all the midwest teams are in the EC and they should be, too.

Then it comes down to Memphis vs NO. Not sure who should be in, but I actually think NO would be better, maybe. Either would be fine.

But I do think Minny has to be a lock to move over. Like you said, their natural rivals are all in the East.

Unless I'm thinking about this wrong, you only need to move one team. It's 15-15 right now, if you assume its Vegas and Seattle thats 17 in the west, so Minny gets you to 16-16.

 

[MikeSU02]

Unless I'm thinking about this wrong, you only need to move one team. It's 15-15 right now, if you assume its Vegas and Seattle thats 17 in the west, so Minny gets you to 16-16.

OH! My bad. Then 100% Minny would be the choice for me.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

I'll just be happy when the Supersonics are back.

 

[Red Holzman]

The same story since Jordan retired 25 years ago. I really thought the East was on the upswing a bit the past few years, but the Bucks and Sixers falling apart have completely changed that. I suppose Orlando could make a push to be a top team.

Knicks new lineup starting to gel -look like an East contender the past 3 games, fun to watch again.
Want to see them vs a top team now that they seem to have found chemistry.

 

[Newhouser]

Knicks new lineup starting to gel -look like an East contender the past 3 games, fun to watch again.
Want to see them vs a top team now that they seem to have found chemistry.

I agree but I think if every team plays their best they are still only the 4th best team in the East. C's. Magic, and maybe the Cavs.

Orlando is good.

 

[kirbivore]

Forgot who reported it, but low key with expansion, there will be a number of teams lobbying to be the ones that go from West to East.

The thing is, the way the lottery is, it's inherently going to help the better conference. The non playoff teams get into the lottery, but half the lottery teams in the west would be playoff teams in the east.

Giannis is going to demand a trade. Embiid is probably at a level below where he was. His knee is toast in terms of playing like 70 games in a season. He got his MVP. He doesn't really care. He's never been big into being in super shape.

Jokic, Luka, SGA, Wemby, Steph, Bron, AD, KD.

It's really Giannis (who may want a trade soon) and Embiid (who has a knee injury that just may be chronic) in the East as top tier guys.

It's kind of just Tatum that is 100% entrenched in the East for the future.

For strictly geographical purposes Memphis makes the most sense to move from WC to EC.

 

[shandeezy7]

 

[Day2]

So Daryl Morey reneged on his agreement to pay James Harden the max, traded Harden to the Clippers, then gave that same max deal to Paul George, in part to stick it to the Clippers.

How’s that working out for you, Daryl?

 

[STEVEHOLT]

So Daryl Morey reneged on his agreement to pay James Harden the max, traded Harden to the Clippers, then gave that same max deal to Paul George, in part to stick it to the Clippers.

How’s that working out for you, Daryl?

This guy has been bad at his job for a long time and has mostly skated

 

[Day2]

Lakers after 17 games last year: 10-7
Lakers after 17 games this year: 10-7

They’re not a good team. Despite playing one of the softest schedules in the league so far, they also have one of the worst defenses. LBJ/AD have been healthy, too.

 

[Knicks411]

Lakers after 17 games last year: 10-7
Lakers after 17 games this year: 10-7

They’re not a good team. Despite playing one of the softest schedules in the league so far, they also have one of the worst defenses. LBJ/AD have been healthy, too.

I would say they are good but thats as far as it goes. (Though net rating of -2.1, hmm) Crazy they've had Lebron and AD healthy for this year and all of last year as well and they're maxing out at good.