The 2025 NBA playoffs

[Phrazbit]

Shai definitely deserves the MVP. What the Thunder have done with Chet missing more than half the season is remarkable.

Nuggets outscored their opponents by 10 points per 100 when Jokic was on the court and were smoked by 9 per 100 when he sat, they went 4-8 in games he didn't play. IMO, he's still the best player in the league by a wide margin and he is also the most important to his team's success. They're awful without him, while SGA is great, OKC is so good that they hum along while he rests. OKC went 5-1 in games SGA didn't play.

 

[Hoop Head]

Nuggets outscored their opponents by 10 points per 100 when Jokic was on the court and were smoked by 9 per 100 when he sat, they went 4-8 in games he didn't play. IMO, he's still the best player in the league by a wide margin and he is also the most important to his team's success. They're awful without him, while SGA is great, OKC is so good that they hum along while he rests. OKC went 5-1 in games SGA didn't play.

Jokic is great but Center is weak. Shai is playing at a position where he doesn't get a night off. He averages a +12 nightly and led the league in scoring as well while leading his team to 68 wins.

Jokic will always be in the conversation but so are guys like Giannis and LeBron. He hasn't done anything to really prove he's the best player in the league this year, IMO.

 

[Russ Smith]

Man Bagley looks awful, he looks 60 years old out there.

 

[Phrazbit]

Jokic is great but Center is weak. Shai is playing at a position where he doesn't get a night off. He averages a +12 nightly and led the league in scoring as well while leading his team to 68 wins.

Jokic will always be in the conversation but so are guys like Giannis and LeBron. He hasn't done anything to really prove he's the best player in the league this year, IMO.

I mean... he leads the league in a ton of core stats and his team is garbage without him and great with him, he's put up the best season of his career.

I don't think it's a crime if SGA gets it over him, but IMO, Jokic should be the MVP and it isn't even close.

 

[Hoop Head]

I mean... he leads the league in a ton of core stats and his team is garbage without him and great with him, he's put up the best season of his career.

I don't think it's a crime if SGA gets it over him, but IMO, Jokic should be the MVP and it isn't even close.

I know it wasn't Jokic's fault but has someone ever won MVP in a season where their coach is fired?

I can see the case for Jokic but I've watched more OKC this year. Shai is just on another level. The Thunder as a whole are great but I think that starts with Shai as their leader. I also believe SGA deserves an All Defensive team placement. Maybe not first team but he's better on both ends than Jokic. That's what really sets him apart.

 

[Dback Jon]

I guess the Lakers are enjoying their extra days off.

Looking good right now

 

[Mainstreet]

The Lakers-Timberwolves game is so intense. I'm not used to this type of play after watching the Suns.

 

[Mainstreet]

How in the world was that offensive foul by Randle? And the referees take away the points.

Any contact was after the shot was in the air.

 

[Russ Smith]

How in the world was that offensive foul by Randle? And the referees take away the points.

Any contact was after the shot was in the air.

one of the most bizarre calls I've ever seen.

And then right after Lebron gets a rebound staggers starts running with the ball blatantly travelled no call. They were probably going to win anyways but those 2 calls probably sealed it.

I will say this Luka's defense in this series has taken a jump up, he's actually guarding people and he's been really good in help

 

[Mainstreet]

one of the most bizarre calls I've ever seen.

And then right after Lebron gets a rebound staggers starts running with the ball blatantly travelled no call. They were probably going to win anyways but those 2 calls probably sealed it.

I will say this Luka's defense in this series has taken a jump up, he's actually guarding people and he's been really good in help

Yeah, bizarre call best describes it. The replay was clear. Randle's shot should have counted.

 

[Mainstreet]

Doncic walks down the court, really... and no call.

 

[95pro]

Even

How in the world was that offensive foul by Randle? And the referees take away the points.

Any contact was after the shot was in the air.

even before that Randle picked up a foul when Lebron flopped. Then a play later I think Reid picked up a foul when LeBron flopped again on his drive.

 

[Mainstreet]

Even

even before that Randle picked up a foul when Lebron flopped. Then a play later I think Reid picked up a foul when LeBron flopped again on his drive.

I'm glad I didn't watch the entire game. I was getting stressed out for nothing.

From what I saw, the Lakers deserved to win, it was an intense game, but the referees not calling the game correctly detracts from the win.

 

[Hoop Head]

I'm glad I didn't watch the entire game. I was getting stressed out for nothing.

From what I saw, the Lakers deserved to win, it was an intense game, but the referees not calling the game correctly detracts from the win.

I was feeling the same way. Probably going to avoid the rest of the series. Ive enjoyed the other series across the board but I absolutely despise the Luka'rs.

 

[GatorAZ]

I know it wasn't Jokic's fault but has someone ever won MVP in a season where their coach is fired?

I can see the case for Jokic but I've watched more OKC this year. Shai is just on another level. The Thunder as a whole are great but I think that starts with Shai as their leader. I also believe SGA deserves an All Defensive team placement. Maybe not first team but he's better on both ends than Jokic. That's what really sets him apart.

Caruso, Wallace, Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet and Hartenstein are all better defenders than SGA. Their entire rotation is above-average to elite defensive players.

SGA can go 14-43 through 2 playoff games and his team is +70. Not shocking the young GM that robbed us of two first rd picks for Kurt Thomas built a juggernaut.

 

[Hoop Head]

Caruso, Wallace, Dort, Jalen Williams, Chet and Hartenstein are all better defenders than SGA. Their entire rotation is above-average to elite defensive players.

SGA can go 14-43 through 2 playoff games and his team is +70. Not shocking the young GM that robbed us of two first rd picks for Kurt Thomas built a juggernaut.

Dort and Caruso are but I wouldn't say Jaylen or Wallace are. Chet and Hartenstein are also tasked with entirely different roles so comparing their defense as back end rim protectors to perimeter defenders like Shai is difficult.

Shai is a leader and he doesn't need to have huge scoring explosions for OKC to win. They're a balanced team that can hit you multiple ways. The MVP is for the regular season and Shai was the constant in OKC. He led there and led the entire league in scoring. Jokic had a good year but ultimately his team didn't perform at the same level as the Thunder and team success plays a role in MVP voting. If if didn't then Cade could make an argument for what he did in Detroit in taking a big leap this year.

 

[Ronin]

NBA playoffs: Pacers take 2-0 lead in Damian Lillard's Bucks return as bad blood spills over

An already heated series intensified, but Lillard's return wasn't enough to make it competitive.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Ronin]

Gilgeous-Alexander scores 27 as the Thunder roll past Grizzlies 118-99 to take 2-0 series lead

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, and the Oklahoma City Thunder dominated the Memphis Grizzlies 118-99 on Tuesday night to take a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series. Oklahoma City delivered a strong follow-up to its record-setting 131-80 win on Sunday in the series opener...

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Ronin]

Celtics' Jayson Tatum doubtful for Wednesday's Game 2 vs. Magic with bone bruise in right wrist

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum is doubtful for Wednesday's Game 2 matchup with the Orlando Magic because of a bone bruise in his right wrist.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[Ronin]

Jeff Van Gundy is the Clippers' secret weapon: 'He's changed the identity of our team'

The former broadcaster is schooling (and wrestling) opponents again — and he's helped turn the Clippers into scary title contenders in the process.

sports.yahoo.com

 

[BirdGangThing]

i don't have tnt or espn - not upgrading our hbo/max scrip to watch a sunless playoff

 

[Mainstreet]

i don't have tnt or espn - not upgrading our hbo/max scrip to watch a sunless playoff

If I didn't already have the programming, I'd feel the same way.

Watching the teams in the playoffs made me realize how bad the Suns were. They were lucky to win 36 games.

It's amazing to see other teams put out incredible effort in the playoffs.

I think Suns fans were robbed with their pathetic effort most nights.

 

[Hoop Head]

If I didn't already have the programming, I'd feel the same way.

Watching the teams in the playoffs made me realize how bad the Suns were. They were lucky to win 36 games.

It's amazing to see other teams put out incredible effort in the playoffs.

I think Suns fans were robbed with their pathetic effort most nights.

We were also saved from more embarrassment. There's no way this team would have been successful in the play in or against OKC. Any sort of late surge could have pushed the front office to run it back, blaming the record on health and availability instead of it being a poorly constructed roster that doesn't resemble a cohesive team working for the same goal.

I've enjoyed the playoffs so far as a spectator. I'm glad I can enjoy OKC without it effecting the Suns directly. The other Western series are toss ups and the East is sort of interesting as a prelude to what should be an amazing second round with Cleveland vs Indiana and Boston vs New York. Seeing Detroit, Orlando, and to a lesser extent Miami grow as teams is also fun.

 

[Mainstreet]

We were also saved from more embarrassment. There's no way this team would have been successful in the play in or against OKC. Any sort of late surge could have pushed the front office to run it back, blaming the record on health and availability instead of it being a poorly constructed roster that doesn't resemble a cohesive team working for the same goal.

I've enjoyed the playoffs so far as a spectator. I'm glad I can enjoy OKC without it effecting the Suns directly. The other Western series are toss ups and the East is sort of interesting as a prelude to what should be an amazing second round with Cleveland vs Indiana and Boston vs New York. Seeing Detroit, Orlando, and to a lesser extent Miami grow as teams is also fun.

The Suns front office and ownership should have known the Suns were going nowhere, even if they made the play-in.

This was a horribly constructed roster, especially on defense.

This should have been a GIVEN and a fact. It's scary to think anyone in the Suns front office could think otherwise.

Where we might have differed, I would have like to see how the Suns played under an interim head coach to finish the season. There was never any consistency with Bud as the head coach. I wanted to see how much of the problem related to the coaching and how much it related to the players.

 

[Cheesebeef]

The Suns front office and ownership should have known the Suns were going nowhere, even if they made the play-in.

This was a horribly constructed roster, especially on defense.

This should have been a GIVEN and a fact. It's scary to think anyone in the Suns front office could think otherwise.

Where we might have differed, I would have like to see how the Suns played under an interim head coach to finish the season. There was never any consistency with Bud as the head coach. I wanted to see how much of the problem related to the coaching and how much it related to the players.

Main… how many coaches do you need to see that the general construct of the team is fatally flawed? We saw them get embarrassed out of the playoffs with a 30 point home less with Monty, get embarrassed out of the playoffs in an ugly 4-0 sweep with Vogel and then be the most embarrassing team in the league with the highest payroll that didn’t even give them a chance to get embarrassed out of the playoffs with Bud.

That’s 3 different coaches, 2 of whom were recent NBA Title winners and the other 1 was a recent Coach Of The Year winner and the results kept getting worse. When someone shows you who they are not once, not twice, but three times, all to worse results than the last, I tend to believe them.