2023/2024 NBA THREAD: WHO WANTS TO GO ON PARADE?!?

[TahoeJ]

Refball strikes again. That screen call is almost never made, likely can't find an example of that type of "moving" screen being called this whole playoffs. Let alone the "kickball"

NBA is such a farce. Why even bother being a small market team in the playoffs

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It wasn’t a moving screen it was a space violation.

[The SnowShow]

Nuggets, ooof

[TahoeJ]

Holy moly… well, I guess Minnesota is for real. Incredible defense.

[cinnepa]

Nuggets, ooof

I think it's more like T-wolves
...ooof

[I Skied Bandini Mountain]

Denver crowd not enjoying the show

[ticketchecker]

Finally getting a chance to watch the Pacers in the playoffs after basically following box scores all season. Not sure they’ll survive the Knicks but they’re fun to watch, that Brunson kid is a baller and it’s bullshit that a kicked ball violation isn’t subject to a coach’s challenge.

And Halliburton needs to be better down the stretch in a playoff game


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[EWG]

I can't argue with any of that, but I'm kinda thinking the Nuggets don't want it enough. Or maybe Jamal is too hurt. Either way, I'm wondering if Minn has the edge now.

Or maybe I'm just an overly nervous Denver fan too used to disappointment.

Well, I was not overly nervous. Denver is on life support. T Wolves are coming for it.

[fool]

I’m a Nugs fan but I can’t even be that mad at the game - the Wolves played amazing defense. Not sure how the Nugs can battle that through seven games, especially given Jamal’s (probable) injury/poor performance.

Could any team have handled that defense? How would Boston have held up? Seems like if the Wolves play that way, no team is beating them in a seven game series. But I also haven’t been paying that close of attention to the other series.


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[KQ]

It’s time to believe it, the return of the Sonics is closer than ever

[Danno]

I’m a Nugs fan but I can’t even be that mad at the game - the Wolves played amazing defense. Not sure how the Nugs can battle that through seven games, especially given Jamal’s (probable) injury/poor performance.

Could any team have handled that defense? How would Boston have held up? Seems like if the Wolves play that way, no team is beating them in a seven game series. But I also haven’t been paying that close of attention to the other series.


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That same defense could put the entire team in foul trouble on a different night.

[BmillsSkier]

No JA = predictable result.

I’m happy this team is in the EC Semis. I would really like it if the talking heads would shut the fuck up about where Mitchell is going or not going after the season as their sole, and I mean sole, narrative to the season/series. The NBA media is a Stephen A led trite and boring machine - even more so since the guy hasn’t said shit about where he wants to play since his time in Utah.

[brutah]

Welcome to the Donovan Mitchell experience!

Definitely witnessing a changing of the guard a with these emerging teams. Thunder looked dominant last night and have the size to match up well with the timberwolves. Still holding out hope for the Nuggets!

In the east, it looks like the C’s are the team to beat with or without KP. They’ll need him in the finals but I suspect they will be able to coast to the finals without him, which gives him plenty of time to get healthy.

[Danno]

I definitely think the Nuggets can come back.

And Luka is too good to write off the Mavs.

Hard to see any of the east teams taking out the Cs right now. The only ones that could have -- because they would have the best player on the floor -- are gone (Sixers and Bucks).

[TahoeJ]

If the Nuggets had lost the first two games in Minneapolis I’d say well then they just need to hold serve at home, but getting beat up in their own house I don’t like their odds to come back. Time for Malone to make some serious coaching adjustments.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

As a C's fan the Nuggets still scare me more than Minnesota and much more than the the Thunder or Mavs.

[brutah]

I definitely think the Nuggets can come back.

And Luka is too good to write off the Mavs.

Hard to see any of the east teams taking out the Cs right now. The only ones that could have -- because they would have the best player on the floor -- are gone (Sixers and Bucks).

I agree with ya.

The Nuggets can definitely mount a come back but they’ve dug themselves quite the hole to get out of and I think it’s going to be tough to win 4 out of 5 games against the wolves especially without home court advantage. I hope the nuggets pull it off but it’s an uphill battle at this point.

Think about all the turmoil around the wolves ownership…. What if they pull off finals appearance and the ownership deal is still in limbo?

The thunder have an amazing team and after watching SGA in the World Cup over the summer, that dude is a killer! I honestly think the thunder could come out of the west, no diss on Luka or any other western all stars/teams. I just think it’s a really good team and SGA is the type of player (much like Ant, Jokic, LeBron, Curry, etc) that elevates the team around them while also carrying them.

[Danno]

OKC is so young, Hayward is the only 26+ yo that gets any PT and he's been playing less than 10mpg.

Part of me thinks they're too young to pull this off, but part of me thinks they don't know that and so maybe they can.

[North]

I don't know what adjustments are left for the Nuggets. They have no bench, and are playing against one of the deepest benches in the league. Justin Holiday getting serious minutes is an issue (shot was falling in G2 though).

G1 nobody aside from Ant could make a shot in the first half. G2 no Gobert. Feels like Nuggets need great games from all of their stars, and bad games from multiple Wolves players. Wolves have been getting good looks all series thus far, and shots have been falling. Nuggets need KAT in foul trouble coupled w/poor performances by Naz, and/or Kyle Anderson, lid on the basket, etc.

Not sure there's an edge to be gained for the Nuggets strategy or rotation-wise. Need their dudes to be better than our dudes.

- Wolves fan

[riser4]

This is only round two, so as a Celtics fan through the good times and the not as good times, I'm not celebrating anything yet. The remaining teams in the east are going to make them earn any wins. I don't see any coasting to be done.

[TahoeJ]

I don't know what adjustments are left for the Nuggets. They have no bench, and are playing against one of the deepest benches in the league. Justin Holiday getting serious minutes is an issue (shot was falling in G2 though).

G1 nobody aside from Ant could make a shot in the first half. G2 no Gobert. Feels like Nuggets need great games from all of their stars, and bad games from multiple Wolves players. Wolves have been getting good looks all series thus far, and shots have been falling. Nuggets need KAT in foul trouble coupled w/poor performances by Naz, and/or Kyle Anderson, lid on the basket, etc.

Not sure there's an edge to be gained for the Nuggets strategy or rotation-wise. Need their dudes to be better than our dudes.

- Wolves fan

I was referring to strategic adjustments, not roster changes. But yeah I think Denver is cooked.

[Diamond Joe]

This is only round two, so as a Celtics fan through the good times and the not as good times, I'm not celebrating anything yet. The remaining teams in the east are going to make them earn any wins. I don't see any coasting to be done.

Same, same, and agreed.

That being said though, this is the best Celtics team IMO since Bird/McHale/Ainge/Parrish (at least, when Porzingis is in the lineup it is). I honestly think their starting 5 and bench is better than the KG/Paul Pierce/Ray ray team that won it in 08.

This is a Celtics team that completely boat-raced the entire league in the regular season, and has shown no signs of letting up in the playoffs (Four 20+ point wins in 6 games?!?). They are making good teams look bad, and its really hard not to be excited about their immediate future. That being said, with a lineup this stacked, if they DON'T make it -at least - to the NBA Finals, it will be a huge disappointment.

[North]

This is a Celtics team that completely boat-raced the entire league in the regular season

3-5 against the top 4 seeds in the west.

But the Celts look great. Think it'll be a fun matchup whoever meets them in the Finals (minus mavs).

[EWG]

I don't know what adjustments are left for the Nuggets. They have no bench, and are playing against one of the deepest benches in the league. Justin Holiday getting serious minutes is an issue (shot was falling in G2 though).

G1 nobody aside from Ant could make a shot in the first half. G2 no Gobert. Feels like Nuggets need great games from all of their stars, and bad games from multiple Wolves players. Wolves have been getting good looks all series thus far, and shots have been falling. Nuggets need KAT in foul trouble coupled w/poor performances by Naz, and/or Kyle Anderson, lid on the basket, etc.

Not sure there's an edge to be gained for the Nuggets strategy or rotation-wise. Need their dudes to be better than our dudes.

- Wolves fan

As a Nuggets fan: I think the Nuggets are cooked. Murray needs to be great and right now he's not - maybe injury, maybe just a bad post season. Wolves' intensity is far beyond the Nuggets. Unless Malone can have them come up about three levels the series is over. I don't really think it's the bench or the roster, I think it's the hunger.

T Wolves are willing to crush themselves every possession - whatever it takes. Nuggets are losing rotations, taking halfhearted shots, letting people pick the ball from behind.

I love the level of effort from the T Wolves. It's awesome.

[riser4]

Minnesota vs Boston would be a heckuva series.

[TahoeJ]

Minnesota vs Boston would be a heckuva series.

Wolves are hungry but most of this Boston team has been through this before - and hopefully learned their lesson against the Warriors after going up 2-1, being super cocky about it and then Steph said congrats on your last win of this series. Pretty sure that humbled them and lessons were learned. I’ll take that experience and sticking with Boston as my pick. OKC and MIN are sexy picks right now but relatively inexperienced in comparison.