All trying to chase the C's.Siakam went off.
Damn all these EC teams are getting better
-The Knicks grab Anunoby
-Pacers add Pascal
-Heat trade for Terry Rozier
-The 76ers have a bunch of assets to go get Dajounte Murray
and the BUCKS bring in DOC!!!
I think that the Celtics are highly, highly likely to get the #1 seed, but I'm not convinced it's that massive.The East is loaded, though hopefully not loaded enough that Round 1 will be an issue for the 1 seed. The top 6-7 teams are pretty tough, though Round 2 is always tough anyway. Getting the 1 seed this year is shaping up to be really massive.
They've got the same fundamental problem that they had before: Jalen Brunson is not a top 10 player, nor can he impersonate one for any length of time. They'll win a ton of regular season games, but without that top end talent, it's close to impossible to win 3-4 rounds of playoff series against quality opponents. Add in that it's a Thibodeau coached team (known for going all out in the regular season, not being able to play any harder/better in the playoffs), and despite the improvement, there's still a pretty hard ceiling on this team that doesn't exist for the Bucks and Sixers.Does it not put them with the top eastern contenders? I think they're absolutely as good as Milwaukee and Philly, in terms of both metrics and matchups. The Celtics are better for sure, but that would be a tough series.
This is a team with a +6 net rating that upgraded massively with OG. It sucks for them they don't have Robinson, but they're big enough at the wings to withstand it imo.
Yeah, I might just be way, way more skeptical than most about the Bucks and Sixers.They've got the same fundamental problem that they had before: Jalen Brunson is not a top 10 player, nor can he impersonate one for any length of time. They'll win a ton of regular season games, but without that top end talent, it's close to impossible to win 3-4 rounds of playoff series against quality opponents. Add in that it's a Thibodeau coached team (known for going all out in the regular season, not being able to play any harder/better in the playoffs), and despite the improvement, there's still a pretty hard ceiling on this team that doesn't exist for the Bucks and Sixers.
I'd much rather the C's face Miami over the Knicks. Maybe it's my green-tinted glasses, but I think this iteration rolls the Heat. The C's are just bigger and better on both sides of the floor. Even last night when the Heat were shooting lights out through the first three quarters, they still struggled to get within 10.The ideal situation for the Celtics in my opinion if they get the #1 seed is Milwaukee/Philly 2/3 and Miami 6, putting all three of those teams on the opposite side of the bracket. In that scenario, Cleveland/Knicks are 4/5, so the Celtics would have a grueling second round, particularly versus the Knicks, but only facing one of the the Bucks/76ers/Heat in the playoffs would be ideal.
Knicks 2023-24They've got the same fundamental problem that they had before: Jalen Brunson is not a top 10 player, nor can he impersonate one for any length of time. They'll win a ton of regular season games, but without that top end talent, it's close to impossible to win 3-4 rounds of playoff series against quality opponents. Add in that it's a Thibodeau coached team (known for going all out in the regular season, not being able to play any harder/better in the playoffs), and despite the improvement, there's still a pretty hard ceiling on this team that doesn't exist for the Bucks and Sixers.
Depends a lot on Jimmy Butler. Obviously, he's not playing very well right now - but will he turn it up in the playoffs?I'd much rather the C's face Miami over the Knicks. Maybe it's my green-tinted glasses, but I think this iteration rolls the Heat. The C's are just bigger and better on both sides of the floor. Even last night when the Heat were shooting lights out through the first three quarters, they still struggled to get within 10.
NYK last 13: 3 wins against contenders (MIN, PHI, and DEN); two losses to playoff teams (DAL and ORL), and wins over teams that are currently 11th or below in conference standings: CHI, WAS (twice), PDX, MEM, HOU, TOR, and BRK.All Knicks stats from before they got Anunoby are irrelevant IMO, it’s a wildly different team.
I don’t think anyone is stopping a healthy Celtics team but the Knicks have been playing unbelievably well since they got OG, 11-2 including 30+ point blowouts of PHI and DEN (Jokic’s biggest loss ever last night).
Yep, fully agreed, and they badly need a bench scorer to replace Quickley. One of those two losses was without Brunson (10-1 with both Brunson/OG, the one loss by 4 in DAL), the point differentials have been off the charts.NYK last 13: 3 wins against contenders (MIN, PHI, and DEN); two losses to playoff teams (DAL and ORL), and wins over teams that are currently 11th or below in conference standings: CHI, WAS (twice), PDX, MEM, HOU, TOR, and BRK.
After the ASB, they have @PHI, BOS, DET, NOP, GSW, @CLE, ATL, ORL, and PHI (twice) before going on a west coast trip. The should give us some indication of how far they can get.
They’re not as good as those teams yet, but there’s an argument to be made that they could contend without a mega star if they fill out their bench with one more scorer.Does it not put them with the top eastern contenders? I think they're absolutely as good as Milwaukee and Philly, in terms of both metrics and matchups. The Celtics are better for sure, but that would be a tough series.
This is a team with a +6 net rating that upgraded massively with OG. It sucks for them they don't have Robinson, but they're big enough at the wings to withstand it imo.
I was just emphasizing that they reflect Thibs approach.All Knicks stats from before they got Anunoby are irrelevant IMO, it’s a wildly different team.
I don’t think anyone is stopping a healthy Celtics team but the Knicks have been playing unbelievably well since they got OG, 11-2 including 30+ point blowouts of PHI and DEN (Jokic’s biggest loss ever last night).
One of the coolest things about the modern NBA is seeing players embrace the women's game. I would watch the shit out of that.https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39390119/curry-hints-battle-vs-ionescu-all-star-weekend
By far the most likable superstar in the NBA
They really haven't used any ammunition yet, to be fair. Getting OG was two birds one stone. Quickley and RJ weren't great fits with this roster, especially Brunson and they didn't use any of their important picks to do it.I was just emphasizing that they reflect Thibs approach.
I had the KNICKS as an OVER on win total to start the season (with MIL as an UNDER)
They are definitely better since the OG acquisition, now that they have one of the best WING stoppers.
PLUS they have more ammo to make another deal, what are the rumors there?
As an aside, what Knicks do in summer is a pretty interesting question - they surely want to cash in those picks for a star, but....They really haven't used any ammunition yet, to be fair. Getting OG was two birds one stone. Quickley and RJ weren't great fits with this roster, especially Brunson and they didn't use any of their important picks to do it.
The rumors right now are they will use Fournier + picks + Grimes potentially to get a player like Brogdon. There are some options out there, with rumors floating about a Burks reunion (no thanks), Bruce Brown, Murray (not very hot rumors), and Brogdon of course. In the offseason is when they are expected to use their draft capital (something like 7 first round picks IIRC) to go after a top dog.
Maybe go the Brad + KP route?As an aside, what Knicks do in summer is a pretty interesting question - they surely want to cash in those picks for a star, but....
1) it's not clear who will be available (that's not a statement no one will--just that it's hard to know for sure who it will be)
2) those picks are volume more than quality...which has a place, and value, but also means they can get outbid by several teams
3) they really don't need a big or a smaller guard so their targets are more limited
So I suspect they are going to end up deciding between holding pat (hoping guys come available, and eventually using picks) or taking a Siakam-like second level guy rather than an alpha. But no way to be sure, and they have a fun roster and (after a LOOOOONG time without) a strong management team so they'll be creative about all this
I was thinking about this last night watching the Kings-Warriors. First, what a fun game! Second, I just love Curry..all class and so damn great. Also love Steve Kerr. That said, fucking despise Draymond Green and more than anything despise their fan base which is about the most entitled fan base in sports with the maturity of teenage cheer squads. So I often find myself split in two watching their games: halfway rooting for Curry and Kerry and halfway hate-watching the franchise as a whole.https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39390119/curry-hints-battle-vs-ionescu-all-star-weekend
By far the most likable superstar in the NBA
And on 32 shots so far70 for Luka. Still 2:58 left.
That was really impressiveLuka the anti-KAT passing up shots for wide open threes for his teammates.
Crazy to say but he could have easily had 80-90 tonight if we was really trying to max out. Maybe even more.Luka the anti-KAT passing up shots for wide open threes for his teammates.
3 more assists which he easily could have had, and it would have been a 70-point triple double. Is that good?Watching Luka aggressively not hunt his own shot there in the last 5 min of that game was amusing. He should have had another 5 assists in that span, tons of blown layups and wide open 3s he generated from Atl's ultra-trapping