The final score wasn’t indicative of this game at all as Minnesota held a 10-20 point need nearly the entire game. Damian Lee had a 4Q scoring barrage including 4 or 5 three’s including one at the buzzer. I’d say yes and no to your Chris Paul question. While he still manages the game as well as any PG the Suns real issue is that not only were they without him AND Booker but also without Payne who can capably run a team. Ayton is also not 100% with his ankle which showed. Their halfcourt offense was a disaster in the (brief) parts of the game I saw with the primary difference being show selection/half court flow without any orchestrators and turnovers due to these issues which led to Wolve runouts.
Brunson has been the PG that the Knicks have needed for the past couple decades. He’s been a phenomenal signing for them.
It helps that he's mentally tough enough to withstand the scrutiny that comes with playing for the Knicks. It doesn't look like much rattles him.
That seems to be the case with many of these kids who grew up around the NBA. Brunson, Austin Rivers, Klay Thompson, The Curry’s, Jeremi Grant, Hardaway, Payton, Cole Anthony……all these guys have a huge advantage in adapting to the NBA game and lifestyle as they grew up in it. They are already in their comfort zone. Nothing is going to faze them and they all learned first hand the work ethic and professionalism necessary to succeed.
It's not Paul, it's Booker. The Suns are 11-15 when Paul plays, compared with 18-11 when Booker plays. The latter is reasonably durable and as noted they've had other injuries, but speaking of Brunson's mental toughness, the Suns are just the opposite. It's amazing the crash they've suffered since that brutal game 7 beating last year:
That's a remarkable stat, highlighting both how good they were last year and how bad they've been this year. It will take a 2022 Celtics type run for them to get to 50 wins at this point, and nobody thinks they have that in them.
I'm not overly impressed with a win over the Bucks when Giannis (and Middleton) aren't playing. In their recent stretch, they really haven't had any truly impressive wins - their biggest wins have been against a sinking Suns team (without Booker), the Clippers (without Kawhi), the Lakers (without AD), the Wolves (without Towns) and now the Bucks without Giannis. They've also lost to the Lakers (with no Lebron or AD) and the Nets (with Durant missing the end of game to injury). When healthy they really should be in the middle of the pack in the playoff standings, but as is being made abundantly clear this season, being healthy is really hard.
Yep. In the same breath, Brunson is the player Dallas had to keep. It wasn't hard to see where he was going the last 2 seasons (ex-decorated college career). He trended up each and every season in Dallas
Maybe so, but dismiss the Heat at your own peril, especially if they're able to strengthen their roster before the trade deadline.
I'm not dismissing anyone we might see in the playoffs, but they're 7th in the east right now. I'd be more worried to face the Nets, Bucks, Sixers and Cavs in the playoffs than the Heat (assuming everyone is healthy). I guess they worry me more than the Knicks, who are a half game ahead of them for 6th. That's about it. Nothing in their recent performance indicates they are about to play like last year when they got the 1 seed and made it to game 7 of the conference finals.
it is going to be tough to overcome the notion that he isn't THAT dominant. But if he keeps this up....
If the Nuggets lose in the 1st round again (or if they get swept out of the 2nd), the critics will get LOUD for Jokic. If they stay healthy, anything short of a trip to the finals will be a disappointment for Denver.
With Aaron Gordon and Bruce Brown, they got some competitors (aka players who want to win games). So they should have enough to get to the finals (barring injuries)
Ummm what?? They took Portland to 7 in 2019 and in 2020 they went to west finals. I know it’s the bubble, but I count it. Unless you mean years he won mvp, which okay, but last season their second best player was Jeff green. 2021 no Jamal for playoffs. Can’t blame him for any of it.
Got to blame the coach (for not calling a timeout),.. for trusting Russel to NOT BE A HERO.
I liked the No TO call when you’ve got the iso w Embiid but once he lost his dribble Ham has to be next to the ref screaming for it.
Yes, I'm talking about the playoffs during the MVP years.
Just an FYI - Moses Malone lost twice in the first round during 2 of his MVP seasons
As an OKC fan, I'm getting a little tired of the "I can't believe our team lost to OKC!" from opponents' fans. The Thunder don't have a lot of well-known players, but they play hard and have generally been competitive all year.
Yeah those are casual fans who have no idea that OKC is 10-5 since mid-December. Teams are having trouble with that big big big SGA/Giddey backcourt. They are also so deep and Jalen Williams should get some 1st Team All-Rookie votes (although the top-5 seem pretty clear to me). Real fun team and one very undervalued for the betting thread.
6-4 since Poku got hurt. Per 100 possessions, OKC's net rating is 20.5 points better when he's off the court, which has to be one of the worst on/off ratings ever (at least by a player with real minutes who isn't a rookie).Yeah those are casual fans who have no idea that OKC is 10-5 since mid-December. Teams are having trouble with that big big big SGA/Giddey backcourt. They are also so deep and Jalen Williams should get some 1st Team All-Rookie votes (although the top-5 seem pretty clear to me). Real fun team and one very undervalued for the betting thread.
This is not correct. Philly lost to LA with Dawkins in 82 and won (beating LA) with Malone in 83. Moses was still on the Rockets in the 81-82 season.
Both of these things are true. He really has been genuinely good off the bench and, yet, he still goes full (bad) Westbrook at key moments. It's the yin/yang of a true star: RW has the ego to keep pushing despite being the center of so much criticism and have to admire that. And, yet, he also has the ego to take ridiculous low quality shots at key points of games that counteract his effectiveness.
This. Malone played for HOU in the first two years he won the MVP. Both those years, HOU lost in the first round of the playoffs (0-2 in '79, 1-2 in '82)
