The 2024-2025 NBA Season

marc45

G.O.A.T.
damn, Cavs can win any way....ugly first half at GS, 46-38 Cavs...both teams missing open shots, a lot of fouling and constant turnovers...good defense too...Mitchell comes out and hits three three-pointers in the first couple minutes of the second half and that was that...game wasn't close after that..GS really trying to get into the Cavs face, playing physical, trash talking...nothing fazes this Cavs team...quietest Warriors crowd I've heard too...Atkinson with the good return
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
Happy New Year everyone

another one for the Cavs, handled the Lakers pretty comfortably on the back to back road game...Lakers hadn't played since Christmas...Jarrett Allen with a huge game on both ends

on to Dallas, minus Doncic, on Friday to end the road trip before playing Charlotte at home on Sunday, then two more days off

if you're wondering who's the team to step up and take it to them, the Cavs do play OKC in back to back weeks coming up in a week or so
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Cavaliers continue to take teams to the gulag.

Celtics playing better after a bad, bad stretch. @Minnesota @Houston @OKC @Denver a tough stretch. So far, so good. Not really looking at the top seed anymore, I don't see the Cavaliers giving that up. Big battle is for the 2 with the Knicks.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Butler kind of a clown when it comes time for him to leave teams. He has done this to every team he has been a part of.
This was incredibly disappointing from my fav all time player. He is in a tricky spot as he wants his money, and it has been clear Riley won’t pay him, but the pressure amped up recently because of where Spo and the offense are trying to evolve. The evolution doesn’t leave a lot of room for him to shine and increase/maintain his value for the free agency market so he doesn’t want to get caught behind. So waiting until FA next summer isn’t desirable really.

I know Riles is a hard-*** so it’s tough to know what the situation exactly is. I would guess that he’s spoken to Riley with his agent and everything, I know he respects Pat and the Heat a lot. Maybe Pat said no and so he decided he had to take it public?

I honestly think at the end of the day that he and Pat approach this the same way but had simply reached an impasse. Both are strong-willed, both know the other is going to protect their interests at the end of the day because both know it’s a business. It’s really just a shame.

That said, I don’t condone his behavior. I think he’s going about this a lot better than he could have, but a lot of things were wrong. In that press conference he threw Spoelstra under the bus, for example. Spoelstra didn’t deserve that. It wasn’t about his joy or whatever he excuse he was giving because he didn’t want to get fined, it’s been about the bag for weeks now. Heat also put out a statement that there have been “detrimental” moments for some weeks now, and that kind of checks out from following the team religiously.

Anyway I’ve been gutted all day, actually been bummed. I just received a late Christmas gift which was one of the limited edition plaque/frames of his 56 pt game vs MKE
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
This was incredibly disappointing from my fav all time player. He is in a tricky spot as he wants his money, and it has been clear Riley won’t pay him, but the pressure amped up recently because of where Spo and the offense are trying to evolve. The evolution doesn’t leave a lot of room for him to shine and increase/maintain his value for the free agency market so he doesn’t want to get caught behind. So waiting until FA next summer isn’t desirable really.

I know Riles is a hard-*** so it’s tough to know what the situation exactly is. I would guess that he’s spoken to Riley with his agent and everything, I know he respects Pat and the Heat a lot. Maybe Pat said no and so he decided he had to take it public?

I honestly think at the end of the day that he and Pat approach this the same way but had simply reached an impasse. Both are strong-willed, both know the other is going to protect their interests at the end of the day because both know it’s a business. It’s really just a shame.

That said, I don’t condone his behavior. I think he’s going about this a lot better than he could have, but a lot of things were wrong. In that press conference he threw Spoelstra under the bus, for example. Spoelstra didn’t deserve that. It wasn’t about his joy or whatever he excuse he was giving because he didn’t want to get fined, it’s been about the bag for weeks now. Heat also put out a statement that there have been “detrimental” moments for some weeks now, and that kind of checks out from following the team religiously.

Anyway I’ve been gutted all day, actually been bummed. I just received a late Christmas gift which was one of the limited edition plaque/frames of his 56 pt game vs MKE

Where do you want him to go? Has to be Warriors so Kral craps his pants, right?
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Where do you want him to go? Has to be Warriors so Kral craps his pants, right?
Could see Dubs. He owns property out in Cali and spends parts of his summer there. They prolly wanna go all in on Curry. Kral pissing himself is always funny. Personally I don’t know that much about Dubs offense so idk how much of a fit it is, I don’t really want Kuminga here, and I dunno how well he gets along with Draymond
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
I would like to see him on the Nuggets.
Who would they move though? Don’t think they have a lot of capital. Jokic untouchable, we don’t want Gordon or MPJ, it’s gotta be Murray. We would like Braun but pretty sure he’s a starter don’t see them giving two starters away. Don’t know how well Murray/Herro is either, Murray needs the rock and now that this has unfolded they gonna go with Tyler as the man (Bam still franchise player though)
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Could see Dubs. He owns property out in Cali and spends parts of his summer there. They prolly wanna go all in on Curry. Kral pissing himself is always funny. Personally I don’t know that much about Dubs offense so idk how much of a fit it is, I don’t really want Kuminga here, and I dunno how well he gets along with Draymond
Despite the mountain of soiled diapers I have had to throw in the dumpster thanks to Kral, I think the Warriors are just about cooked. Their roster construction is poor, Draymond is incredibly mid these days and even Wardell himself seems to have lost a bit of his skill. Their bigs are abhorrent and I don't think the Schroeder trade moved the needle at all. The Warriors were always going to crash back down to earth once Wiggins/Hield stopped playing otherworldly. And it's happened.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Who would they move though? Don’t think they have a lot of capital. Jokic untouchable, we don’t want Gordon or MPJ, it’s gotta be Murray. We would like Braun but pretty sure he’s a starter don’t see them giving two starters away. Don’t know how well Murray/Herro is either, Murray needs the rock and now that this has unfolded they gonna go with Tyler as the man (Bam still franchise player though)

I'm honestly not sure who has what assets tbh. I would assume draft pick packages would also be in play for Butler. So that might open doors for teams like Denver, though I have no idea what their draft capital situation is.

Memphis could also be interesting.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Despite the mountain of soiled diapers I have had to throw in the dumpster thanks to Kral, I think the Warriors are just about cooked. Their roster construction is poor, Draymond is incredibly mid these days and even Wardell himself seems to have lost a bit of his skill. Their bigs are abhorrent and I don't think the Schroeder trade moved the needle at all. The Warriors were always going to crash back down to earth once Wiggins/Hield stopped playing otherworldly. And it's happened.
Well said man. Yeah I never got where they were going with the bigs setups either. Schroeder trade is a fat nothing imo I don’t see that at all. I’m a huge Draymond hater don’t get him either (at this stage in the career) Steph can’t win a chip with that at this point. Hield been trash and Wiggins has been whelming his whole career I feel like
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
I'm honestly not sure who has what assets tbh. I would assume draft pick packages would also be in play for Butler. So that might open doors for teams like Denver, though I have no idea what their draft capital situation is.

Memphis could also be interesting.
Wow, Edey JJJ Butler Bane Morant? Nice one I hadn’t thought of that

Don’t think Denver has a lot of draft capital
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Well said man. Yeah I never got where they were going with the bigs setups either. Schroeder trade is a fat nothing imo I don’t see that at all. I’m a huge Draymond hater don’t get him either (at this stage in the career) Steph can’t win a chip with that at this point. Hield been trash and Wiggins has been whelming his whole career I feel like

Wiggins ebbs and flows, definitely agree with whelming overall. He was legitimately excellent (to my misery) in the finals against Boston. He had Tatum on clamps and was offensively excellent. Jordan Poole also decided to play the best ball of his career that series. But in many ways I am grateful - because it brought Jrue/Porzingis. And got rid of guys I never liked - Smart, Williams x2 and wasn't very fond of Brogdon either. I'd say this Celtics roster is a lot more likable than the one in that final.

I will be sad to see Jimmy go as the Heat are a Boston rival I, funnily enough, do not hate. Would always root for the Heat against Knicks/Bucks/Sixers etc.

I'll very likely be rooting for the Eastern Conference rep. I will root for @marc45 and @Fabresque 's Cavs if they make the final tbh. I like the way they play. Really entertaining hoopers over there.

Would probably root for the Knicks as well. Freaking love Brunson.
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
He can go dive for players ankles in Turkish league

One of the greatest saboteurs in Celtics lore. Locker room cancer. Fake DPOY getting cooked by Wardell constantly in the finals. I did an actual jig IRL when they got rid of him. And always wanted to be the main character at the end of games, despite being an atrocious player on offense.
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
Wiggins ebbs and flows, definitely agree with whelming overall. He was legitimately excellent (to my misery) in the finals against Boston. He had Tatum on clamps and was offensively excellent. Jordan Poole also decided to play the best ball of his career that series. But in many ways I am grateful - because it brought Jrue/Porzingis. And got rid of guys I never liked - Smart, Williams x2 and wasn't very fond of Brogdon either. I'd say this Celtics roster is a lot more likable than the one in that final.

I will be sad to see Jimmy go as the Heat are a Boston rival I, funnily enough, do not hate. Would always root for the Heat against Knicks/Bucks/Sixers etc.

I'll very likely be rooting for the Eastern Conference rep. I will root for @marc45 and @Fabresque 's Cavs if they make the final tbh. I like the way they play. Really entertaining hoopers over there.

Would probably root for the Knicks as well. Freaking love Brunson.
Cavs are good fun don’t know many people who dislike the Cavs. Knicks a lot more likable now that they have been cleansed of DiVincenzo. Brunson likable, Hart likable, Bridges too. Anunoby is a meh, KAT dislike.

I miss the Timelord/Smart/Brogdon days y’all seem bulletproof almost now. I mean Pritchard evolved >> Brogdon
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
One of the greatest saboteurs in Celtics lore. Locker room cancer. Fake DPOY getting cooked by Wardell constantly in the finals. I did an actual jig IRL when they got rid of him. And always wanted to be the main character at the end of games, despite being an atrocious player on offense.
What was the locker room cancer stuff?

Yeah he was a good defender, I’ve heard him talk defense and his approach but DPOY was nuts. Who takes that thing seriously man. I guess it’s irrelevant now that Wemby is going to win until the day he dies
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
What was the locker room cancer stuff?

Yeah he was a good defender, I’ve heard him talk defense and his approach but DPOY was nuts. Who takes that thing seriously man. I guess it’s irrelevant now that Wemby is going to win until the day he dies

To be fair to Smart, a lot of it is hearsay but a lot of theories that the Jays didn't particularly care for Smart. Lots of unconfirmed stuff I would have to do a deep dive into in order to source, but I think Smart ruffled feathers as early as the bubble playoffs. I don't think the locker room was particularly healthy in 2023.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/the-2023–24-nba-season.752186/#post-17432142 - My reactions to the Smart departure lmaooo
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
To be fair to Smart, a lot of it is hearsay but a lot of theories that the Jays didn't particularly care for Smart. Lots of unconfirmed stuff I would have to do a deep dive into in order to source, but I think Smart ruffled feathers as early as the bubble playoffs. I don't think the locker room was particularly healthy in 2023.

https://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/index.php?threads/the-2023–24-nba-season.752186/#post-17432142 - My reactions to the Smart departure lmaooo
Kral in that thread complaining about Miller and saying he’s glad he’s not a magic fan

Magic fans today have one of the brightest futures and Brandon Miller was probably the 2nd best pick in the top 10 there. (I’m still taking JJJ and some 10-20 guys but not nearly as bad as made out)
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
I'm honestly not sure who has what assets tbh. I would assume draft pick packages would also be in play for Butler. So that might open doors for teams like Denver, though I have no idea what their draft capital situation is.

Memphis could also be interesting.
Just saw DK has Memphis as tied favs to land him now
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
9fotj7.jpg
 

Federer and Del Potro

Bionic Poster
Kinda feel cringe announcing this but just don't want anyone to worry when they see me me not signed in - Just letting y'all know taking my annual TTW break starting tomorrow. I will probably be gone a month or two. Maybe longer. Enjoy the hoops. Y'all will have the Kralster back soon to fill in the gaps. Appreciate all the contributors to the thread here. Obviously wouldn't be possible without y'all. Again don't want to make it a big thing or big deal I just don't want anyone to worry anything happened. Nothing did. Just typically take 1-4 months off of here and my socials to reset and focus on IRL things to kick off the new year.

I should be back by the NBA playoffs but you never know I guess. Gl to everyone's teams if I am not. I am leaving on a good one at least. Celtics-Thunder has been a very entertaining game (albeit more awful 3 pt shooting).

I'll catch y'all crazy cats when I catch y'all. Take it easy, stay safe out there and don't let Kral Warriors jinx too much while I'm gone.

Peace.
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
damn, OKC not playing around...they fall behind the Knicks by double digits and come back and win, same today against the Celtics...now on to the Cavs on Wednesday for a battle of the NBA's best
 

InsuranceMan

Hall of Fame
damn, OKC not playing around...they fall behind the Knicks by double digits and come back and win, same today against the Celtics...now on to the Cavs on Wednesday for a battle of the NBA's best
I believe it is the battle for NBA’s best. Winner comes out with best record/win pct in NBA
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
I believe it is the battle for NBA’s best. Winner comes out with best record/win pct in NBA
31-4 Cavs on a ten game win streak, 6 games up in the East

30-5 Thunder on a 15 game streak, 7 games up in the West

ESPN primetime Wednesday

teams play again next week in OKC

p.s. third match-up all time of teams on 10+ game winning streak
 
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marc45

G.O.A.T.
great win by the Cavs, with little help from Mitchell who was shut down by Dort...but everybody else, starting with Allen and Mobley did great...Garland, Strus, Wade, Jerome all played wonderfully...Okoro is back so mostly healthy...woeful Toronto comes to town tomorrow..hopefully Mitchell plays better in OKC next week
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
was really happy to see Allen and Mobley go right at Hartenstein...still bad memories of that playoff series against the Knicks when Hartenstein and Robinson bullied Allen and Mobley into submission...Hartenstein played well, got into foul trouble, but Cleveland's bigs fought back a lot harder than the playoffs

and yes, I know Holmgren being back for a potential finals match-up will make things more difficult, though I wouldn't put him in Robinson's league of physicality when healthy
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
“Was that a great basketball game or what?” Atkinson said. “...Whoever won, lost, it’s just a good game for the league, for the fans. Really exciting. Great for the game.”
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
Cavs on court reporter with Allen after the game :)
https://x.com/realcavsfans
RealCavsFans.com
@realcavsfans

The follow-up we’ve all been waiting for...

@SerenaWinters: SW: “The people want to know what that actually means (ethical basketball)?”

JA: “Farm raised, non-GMO, organic, ya know… free range, you know ethical basketball.”

SW: “I think we’re all going to still be confused.”

................

the guy really is a gem
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
home and home with Indiana Sunday and Tuesday followed by the rematch with OKC on Thursday...only time things didn't really go well for the Cavs this year was the home and home with Atlanta, and Indiana seems to be playing better
 
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marc45

G.O.A.T.
OKC taking out their frustrations about losing to the Cavs by blowing out the Knicks at MSG... second win over the Knicks in a week...Knicks getting booed at home for the first time this year...SGA with 39 through three...locking up MVP before the season's half over
 

marc45

G.O.A.T.
well, it finally happened, Cavs lose...and they blow a big lead for the first time all year, up 15 in the third over the Pacers at home...and Halliburton didn't play the second half with a hamstring injury...figured it would be another easy home win but Indiana raised their intensity, got right in the Cavs faces with full-court pressure causing many turnovers...got in their heads too, multiple technicals on the Cavs...Cavs also couldn't hit many wide open threes too...was waiting for them to have an off night, was more like a bad half but you knew it was coming at some point...on to Indiana on Tuesday and OKC on Thursday
 
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