The 2024-2025 NBA Season

[InsuranceMan]

To be serious for a second, I'd probably give the Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Thunder, and Warriors equal chances of winning it all.

And now back to our regularly scheduled programming

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

To be serious for a second, I'd probably give the Nuggets, Celtics, Cavs, Thunder, and Warriors equal chances of winning it all.

I believed you were serious til you put the tenth seed in there. Replace Warriors with Lakers and I agree

 

[InsuranceMan]

I believed you were serious til you put the tenth seed in there. Replace Warriors with Lakers and I agree

No way, you put them top 5?

 

[Kralingen]

I believed you were serious til you put the tenth seed in there. Replace Warriors with Lakers and I agree

This is just as absurd as my Dubs take

down 24 to the Jazz rn and they're contenders? That defense is an abomination. Got cold feet on the Williams trade and bottled it

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

No way, you put them top 5?

I’ll never count a LeBron team out . Especially with him only having one or two more playoff runs in him

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

This is just as absurd as my Dubs take

down 24 to the Jazz rn and they're contenders? That defense is an abomination. Got cold feet on the Williams trade and bottled it

Celtics have been cooked by numerous hospital teams this year, the Hawks , Sixers, Mavericks. They have a few less losses than Lakers but just as many atrocious ones.

 

[InsuranceMan]

This is just as absurd as my Dubs take

down 24 to the Jazz rn and they're contenders? That defense is an abomination. Got cold feet on the Williams trade and bottled it

I’ll never count a LeBron team out . Especially with him only having one or two more playoff runs in him

Celtics have been cooked by numerous hospital teams this year, the Hawks , Sixers, Mavericks. They have a few less losses than Lakers but just as many atrocious ones.

The anti-kraligen

A ridiculous take imo

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

The anti-kraligen

A ridiculous take imo

We can’t call anything else ridiculous as long as Kral dooms about a .500 team.

I can’t accurately give the Lakers their chances without knowing the matchups.

Last year they had a good team and got one of the few trash matchups for them. It all depends.

The Knicks are the same way

 

[Kralingen]

Nico Harrison cooked. Luka was fat, slow, horrendous defensively, and the Lakers decimated their size and shot blocking.

 

[InsuranceMan]

We can’t call anything else ridiculous as long as Kral dooms about a .500 team.

I can’t accurately give the Lakers their chances without knowing the matchups.

Last year they had a good team and got one of the few trash matchups for them. It all depends.

The Knicks are the same way

How about the matchup against transition defense

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

How about the matchup against transition defense

Lakers would lose to OKC / Denver in the West. Have a chance vs anyone else over 7 games.

Knicks would lose to Celtics. Have a chance vs anyone else over 7 games in East.

Lakers Celtics you could throw record out the window in that rivalry. Not to mention LeBron has been the father of Boston for a decade.

Cavs Lakers I’d favor Cavs but maybe experience wins out.

The West has a lot of parity. The East as usual not so much

 

[travlerajm]

This is just as absurd as my Dubs take

down 24 to the Jazz rn and they're contenders? That defense is an abomination. Got cold feet on the Williams trade and bottled it

The fat man was a team worst -19 today.

I expect he’ll morph into a lean mean semi-defensive machine after 3 months on LeFitness program.

 

[Kralingen]

TFS has a lot of explaining to do. Never go full Kralingen if you aren’t experienced in it

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Like the freaking Pistons are a non play-in team in the East. The East is pitiful.

I’ll be embarrassed if Boston loses before the ECF

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Guess the West also depends on how good you think the Grizz are as well. Lakers losing JJJ’s father AD might move the needle in the Grizz’s favor in that matchup. But LeBron seems to like putting Morant and his cringe dad in their place.

 

[Kralingen]

It remains unclear whether Ja is a serious professional basketball player at this point. Dude barely plays and seems to really throw off their rhythm and team dynamic. but on the other hand, they absolutely need him and have no chance of beating a good team without him. Grizzlies are a conundrum for me.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Lakers best path would be OKCs father, the Mavericks, taking them out. Then they’d probably need Denver to lose too. Is it likely? No, I admit not. Lakers could have a Djokovic AO 25 run though and ruin some contenders title dreams before they’re ousted. I do doubt the Lakers have the endurance to win 16, but ruining 1 or 2 teams seasons? Absolutely doable

 

[Kralingen]

Believe me on the Warriors now? 12-2 run and it’s over.

They can just lock in and reach a special, untouchable zone

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Believe me on the Warriors now? 12-2 run and it’s over.

They can just lock in and reach a special, untouchable zone

No

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Is it 2016? Kyrie DESTROYING the false dawn Dubs. Believe me yet?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Wardell and HIMmy choking lmao. Glad I stayed up for this. #Washed

 

[InsuranceMan]

Jimmy 10/7/21 gonna go crawl in a hole and cry

 

[travlerajm]

Wardell and HIMmy choking lmao. Glad I stayed up for this. #Washed

It’s over.

 

[Kralingen]

Let’s be clear about what we just saw. Rigged game against the Dubs. only reason they lost.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Nico a secret genius. Max Christie better than Doncic.

MSU represent. Since we can declare teams done after 1 loss here, I declare the Warriors goose COOKED

 

[onehandbh]

Is it 2016? Kyrie DESTROYING the false dawn Dubs. Believe me yet?

Maybe the Luka trade will be good for Uncle Drew. Opens up the court for him.

 

[Kralingen]

Wardell and HIMmy choking lmao. Glad I stayed up for this. #Washed

Is it 2016? Kyrie DESTROYING the false dawn Dubs. Believe me yet?

You win this round. Kyrie always plays out of his mind vs Steph. When they beat the Rockets tomorrow we’ll see

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

As a long time Warriors fan since 2015, I can’t see any path to a championship for us. Can’t believe we paid fossilized Jimmy 111M. The league hates Wardell too. I think I may be done. I am very anhedonic about the season now. This sucks.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Going to go cry myself to sleep while reading Queen Ayesha Curry’s book. Enjoy cheering on our downfall, trolls. Sorry we beat your favorite team.

 

[InsuranceMan]

Wait what? Steph was born in Akron? What am I missing here there’s no way it’s right on the wiki page

 

[optic yellow]

Wait what? Steph was born in Akron? What am I missing here there’s no way it’s right on the wiki page

Dell Curry was a Cavaliers player at the time.

 

[TheFifthSet]

Rumors of Murray’s demise have been greatly exaggerated by @Kralingen and @TheFifthSet

Meh, even now he’s shooting a little bit below league average on the year. It’s been a great stretch of play but Murray’s always been a streaky player. Glad he’s picked it up, though.

 

[Kralingen]

Meh, even now he’s shooting a little bit below league average on the year. It’s been a great stretch of play but Murray’s always been a streaky player. Glad he’s picked it up, though.

I blame Russ more than anything. He finally sits on the bench and stops his weird audition to be the alpha ball handler and speedrun chemistry with Jokic, et voila.

Russ is a pleasant surprise but his ball hogging is not good for the Denver basketballing project.

 

[TheFifthSet]

I blame Russ more than anything. He finally sits on the bench and stops his weird audition to be the alpha ball handler and speedrun chemistry with Jokic, et voila.

Russ is a pleasant surprise but his ball hogging is not good for the Denver basketballing project.

Disagree here I think Murray just plain wasn't hitting his shots or creating separation. Russ has been a great regular season add so far. Will it hold? Doubtful, teams won't respect his jumper in the 'offs and I doubt he'll make them pay. But Mal is a big boy, he doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt when he's historically been a pretty ordinary RS player/slow starter (even in '23 he was ass in the first 2-3 months).

 

[Barton]

Luka Doncic trade reminds me of that South Park episode where Cartman wants to be a slave owner and looks at student basketball players as slaves.

 

[weakera]

Nico Harrison cooked. Luka was fat, slow, horrendous defensively, and the Lakers decimated their size and shot blocking.

He is clearly hurt atm

 

[weakera]

How do we get Cooper Flagg to the Lakers so that we can see a Reaves-Knecht-Flagg-Doncic-LeBron lineup next year?

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Meh, even now he’s shooting a little bit below league average on the year. It’s been a great stretch of play but Murray’s always been a streaky player. Glad he’s picked it up, though.

Murray drops 55.

TFS:

 

[TheFifthSet]

Murray drops 55.

TFS:

Touche.

And hey, don’t get me wrong, I’m glad it looks like he’s no longer our “18 ppg on 55% TS and mediocre defence” #2 player.

 

[Kralingen]

Disagree here I think Murray just plain wasn't hitting his shots or creating separation. Russ has been a great regular season add so far. Will it hold? Doubtful, teams won't respect his jumper in the 'offs and I doubt he'll make them pay. But Mal is a big boy, he doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt when he's historically been a pretty ordinary RS player/slow starter (even in '23 he was ass in the first 2-3 months).

I mean, the Nuggets are absolutely title contenders now, probably 3rd or 4th best odds. That’s a huge improvement. And honestly, OKC doesn’t have a single answer for Jokic. There’s really only one team who’d actually be clear favorites over Denver…

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

Kral will say "Oh well, Warriors are on a back to back" when we lose again tonight. Sick of this guy always jinxing my squads.

 

[Kralingen]

Kral will say "Oh well, Warriors are on a back to back" when we lose again tonight. Sick of this guy always jinxing my squads.

Oh the Warriors are a “we” now?

Anyway they will win. Houston literally cannot score the basketball, except against a putrid defense like the Lakers. Just rewatched some of the game, Luka’s defense was even worse than I expected. Nico may have been onto something

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

As a long time Warriors fan since 2015, I can’t see any path to a championship for us. Can’t believe we paid fossilized Jimmy 111M. The league hates Wardell too. I think I may be done. I am very anhedonic about the season now. This sucks.

Oh the Warriors are a “we” now?

Anyway they will win. Houston literally cannot score the basketball, except against a putrid defense like the Lakers. Just rewatched some of the game, Luka’s defense was even worse than I expected. Nico may have been onto something

Didn't you get the memo ^^

 

[travlerajm]

If Nico ends up winning this trade (after sticking his neck out in complete defiance of his fan base), I will salute him.

And they would probably make a Moneyball-style Hollywood movie about him, and it would be better than Moneyball because it wouldn’t have to climax around a meaningless streak-breaking game in the middle of a season because the team stunk in the playoffs anyway.

 

[TheFifthSet]

I mean, the Nuggets are absolutely title contenders now, probably 3rd or 4th best odds. That’s a huge improvement. And honestly, OKC doesn’t have a single answer for Jokic. There’s really only one team who’d actually be clear favorites over Denver…

The Thunder currently have the highest SRS in NBA history — higher than the ‘71 Bucks, ‘86 Celtics, ‘96 Bulls, ‘17 Warriors, you name it — by over a full point. They also have the highest net rating in history. And this is all without their second best player.

Last year I said they’re in the “‘13-‘14 Warriors” phase of their franchise, if all goes according to plan. I thought that statement was tinged with a bit of hyperbole, but now…lol.

Don’t let the last eight games against middling-to-poor teams fool you man. The Nuggets are a good team. The Thunder are a historic team. It’ll take a 35pt td on 70% TS from Jokic for them to have a viable chance.

 

[travlerajm]

The Thunder currently have the highest SRS in NBA history — higher than the ‘71 Bucks, ‘86 Celtics, ‘96 Bulls, ‘17 Warriors, you name it — by over a full point. They also have the highest net rating in history. And this is all without their second best player.

Last year I said they’re in the “‘13-‘14 Warriors” phase of their franchise, if all goes according to plan. I thought that statement was tinged with a bit of hyperbole, but now…lol.

Don’t let the last eight games against middling-to-poor teams fool you man. The Nuggets are a good team. The Thunder are a historic team. It’ll take a 35pt td on 70% TS from Jokic for them to have a viable chance.

They types of stats are often highly predictive. Except when a series features shift-into-playoff-mode players like prime LeBron and prime Jimmy Buckets who can make regular season stats look meaningless.

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

The Thunder currently have the highest SRS in NBA history — higher than the ‘71 Bucks, ‘86 Celtics, ‘96 Bulls, ‘17 Warriors, you name it — by over a full point. They also have the highest net rating in history. And this is all without their second best player.

Last year I said they’re in the “‘13-‘14 Warriors” phase of their franchise, if all goes according to plan. I thought that statement was tinged with a bit of hyperbole, but now…lol.

Don’t let the last eight games against middling-to-poor teams fool you man. The Nuggets are a good team. The Thunder are a historic team. It’ll take a 35pt td on 70% TS from Jokic for them to have a viable chance.

OKC looks good, will lose to their fathers again ( Dallas)

 

[Kralingen]

The Thunder currently have the highest SRS in NBA history — higher than the ‘71 Bucks, ‘86 Celtics, ‘96 Bulls, ‘17 Warriors, you name it — by over a full point. They also have the highest net rating in history. And this is all without their second best player.

Last year I said they’re in the “‘13-‘14 Warriors” phase of their franchise, if all goes according to plan. I thought that statement was tinged with a bit of hyperbole, but now…lol.

Don’t let the last eight games against middling-to-poor teams fool you man. The Nuggets are a good team. The Thunder are a historic team. It’ll take a 35pt td on 70% TS from Jokic for them to have a viable chance.

If Jokic is actually as good as LeBron, a double digit net rating is nothing in a playoff series

We just have to hope the Dubs don’t spoil the party before the WCF.

 

[TheFifthSet]

They types of stats are often highly predictive. Except when a series features shift-into-playoff-mode players like prime LeBron and prime Jimmy Buckets who can make regular season stats look meaningless.

Yep, and even then a lot has to go right in order for it to tip the scales.

‘16 finals are a good example. The Warriors were probably like a ~60-65 win calibre team by the time the finals rolled around (boatload of injuries, utter exhaustion), and even LeBron playing one of the best series ever only barely got it done.

 

[TheFifthSet]

If Jokic is actually as good as LeBron, a double digit net rating is nothing in a playoff series

perhaps he can will the Thunder into having 3-4 members of their rotation injured and them as a whole being in “mile 25 of a marathon” mode by the time they face off.

Otherwise, I’m bearish.