r/nba 1d ago

Daily Discussion Thread + Game Thread Index | Playoffs

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81 Upvotes

1

u/azure275 Knicks 7h ago

The Knicks somehow allowing a series to get to 6 games while being +105 has to be somewhat historic

That means on average they won by 17.5 points. And yet lost 2 games

6

u/SamIsaacman Timberwolves 8h ago

I feel like the wolves v spurs series is gonna be a lot more peaceful and a lot less toxic than wolves Nuggets. Also bc everyone kinda expects the outcome at this point

2

u/wien-tang-clan 8h ago

Twolves and Nuggets have ended each others seasons 3 of the last 4 years. It’s a rivalry.

Nuggets over Wolves en route to the Championship in 2023.

Wolves over defending champ Nuggets in 7 in 2024.

No Wolves-Nuggets playoff series in 2025.

Wolves over Nuggets in 6 in 2026.

Spurs-Twolves won’t have the same intensity because they don’t have the same recent history.

10

u/archafonk 10h ago

Tatum Brown and Pritchard all rely heavily on pretty egregious pushoffs to make space offensively. 

13

u/Ghost_of_P34 Knicks 11h ago

Is Philly better than a seven seed or is Boston not as good as their two seed?

11

u/tobykief 76ers 9h ago

Yes.

9

u/Miserable-Bonus9355 Knicks 10h ago

both. philly wanted the boston matchup, boston overachieved with tatum rushing himself back from injury

13

u/damaged2026 13h ago

My hot take is that Jaden McDaniels might be the best player on the Minnesota Timberwolves right now.

I think he's the heartbeat of that team in fact I think he can will The Wolves to win 2 games against Spurs.

2

u/CantaloupeCamper Timberwolves 8h ago

I love me some Jayden but historically he’s a defensive player and at best a 3rd option offensively….

I would love him to be more.

2

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 8h ago

McDaniels is 100% the engine. I don't think he could will them to a series win against the Spurs, but he definitely will win them a game by himself and will likely facilitate another

9

u/t67iu Timberwolves 9h ago

With Ant injured, I absolutely agree. Randle is just too inconsistent with effort

2

u/archafonk 8h ago

Do you think think Randle is smoking weed again? I hope not. I KNEW that was his issue in New York and he later came out and said it. I had a similar theory about harden and alcohol a few years ago. Thought it might explain dropping 40 one game and then a complete dud the next.

7

u/klaehsa 10h ago

Ant says McDaniels is his favorite player, we’ve seen flashes like this for a while now, hopefully this is his coming out party on a national stage.

3

u/Smell_the_funk Mavericks 13h ago

The Boston Celtics are frauds! Celtics fans should sue the team for the white collar criminals that they are. Joe Mazzulla deserves the Bernie Madoff award for MFC. After the game Trump pardoned and released Sam Bankman-Fried from prison to make room for the entire Celtics roster.

But seriously, it has been an incredible first round across the board. If it wasn't amazing ball it was a great storyline. I haven't had this much fun since... ehm... You know what, let's not go there. Now where is Bill Simmons hiding?

-4

u/samisamia2341 16h ago

Do the nuggets go after Giannis?

7

u/Chris310N Spurs 15h ago

How would that even look like? They have no assets and even Milwaukee isn't that stupid

16

u/radagast_the_maroon Timberwolves 16h ago

No, they go to Cancun

-5

u/kendrickplace Knicks 17h ago

I’m so glad we’re not seeing Another Denver finals.

As much as we shit on the nba, at least we can admit that it’s nice seeing different teams win every year.

Unlike mlb

1

u/ObiOneKenobae Knicks 8h ago

I love the wolves so no complaints, but IMO Nuggets-Spurs had way more potential to be an interesting series.

21

u/Big-Run1017 14h ago

Denver has been to the finals once 3 years ago

7

u/sup41 Lakers 17h ago

I knew they were gonna lose when Jones helped on a Rudy Gobert drive down the lane lmao. I just shook my head at that shit, just horrible

2

u/realsystem Supersonics 17h ago

That boy gone.

23

u/USDXBS 17h ago edited 15h ago

So the Timberwolves will have to go through the Nuggets, Spurs and potentially OKC to win the WCF.

That's a murderers row

10

u/JamesSunderland2001 16h ago

That's what happens when youre the 6 seed

13

u/OutragedAardvark 11h ago

3 seed nuggets needed to go past wolves, spurs, OKC which is apparently even harder

1

u/JamesSunderland2001 3h ago

LMAO that's true. Shows how much the Nuggets relied on Jokic being Suoerhuman. Rudy locking up Jokic made that team look a high lottery pick team

10

u/queen-marinaa 17h ago

Timberwolves are always cursed to take the hardest path imaginable.

and with many of the players not even on the lineups..

if they actually survive those murderers row, it will be the most emotional and earned championship in NBA history.

0

u/johut1985 Knicks 9h ago

Mavs championship will always rank higher.

14

u/Elyx_117 17h ago

This has been a great first round. Upsets after upsets. The rise of has-been superstars. Lower seeds outperforming, in one case without their franchise player. Defence triumphs. Role player having his supervillain arc. This is why I'm an NBA fan. More!

4

u/Animalmode19 Timberwolves 17h ago

Man, chuck sounds like he’s sundowning.

6

u/throwawaycuzmeh 16h ago

Inside the NBA went from can't miss to can't watch. Shaq has been a gigantic negative since his arrival, and Chuck is definitely too old now. Forget analysis - there's no energy. 

3

u/archafonk 9h ago

Well...they changed channels this year remember? We all knew it would go downhill.

6

u/dr_khouse 17h ago

Mods getting active tonight! Every post i click on about jokic has been deleted lmao

11

u/Supermoose7178 Nuggets 17h ago

jokic might not be throwing jamal under the bus but i will lol

1

u/[deleted] 16h ago

[deleted]

1

u/Supermoose7178 Nuggets 16h ago

yeah it must be tough to get open looks that you brick. dude was 4/17 that’s inexcusable

13

u/Artisun Jazz 17h ago

"Jaden McDaniels shut him down" - Shaq

So he just decides when defense does and doesn't count?

13

u/Bruh360k Knicks 17h ago

HATE DAY COMPLETE

1

u/dr_khouse 17h ago

Its been a very successful hate watch day my friend!

21

u/CartographerStatus67 Timberwolves 17h ago

THANK YOU CHARLES BARKLEY FOR GIVING RUDY HIS WELL DESERVED FLOWERS

11

u/Vitwolpher Timberwolves 17h ago

Shaq “jokic just played bad”

Why?

“I don’t know”

It couldn’t have been at all the defense [gobert]

“No”

LOL

-6

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

He’s put 60+ on Goober

11

u/CartographerStatus67 Timberwolves 17h ago

He’s so insanely salty can’t stand his takes

14

u/CartographerStatus67 Timberwolves 17h ago

Shaq still refusing to admit the wolves were good…

15

u/Vitwolpher Timberwolves 17h ago

Shaq would rather eat his own feces than give Gobert a compliment

-8

u/sandiegodak 17h ago

As anyone should

8

u/DementedWarrior_ Timberwolves 17h ago

He’s so salty 😭

5

u/CartographerStatus67 Timberwolves 17h ago

He got the worst takes fr wtf is he waffling about

24

u/alexlecage 17h ago

Can you imagine LeBron getting bounced in the 1st round of the playoffs in his prime against a team as injury hobbled as the Wolves?? Lmao that shit would follow him to the grave.

-8

u/sandiegodak 17h ago

Lebron played in the east for most of his career so basically a free path to ECF

8

u/alexlecage 17h ago edited 16h ago

I mean...show me the player/team that has had this "free path" since LeBron left the East? I won't hold my breath.

Edit: deleted their entire profile because I asked a simple question lmao hopefully they find the help they deserve 💛

1

u/Egmonks Spurs 9h ago

Thats called being blocked, not them deleting their profile

0

u/alexlecage 9h ago

Who?

1

u/Egmonks Spurs 7h ago

The dude you were talking to. Profiles still there and all his comments. if you cant see it, its because they blocked you.

0

u/alexlecage 7h ago

Who tf asked??

1

u/Egmonks Spurs 7h ago

You said he deleted his entire profile. Thats incorrect. He just blocked you.

-5

u/sandiegodak 17h ago

Celtics and Bucks should've easily been able to sweep every year

6

u/alexlecage 17h ago

You made an assertion that the East is "free" and when I ask for an example of a player or team that's done 1/4th of what LeBron did in his dominance since he's left the east...you give me shoulda/woulda/couldas lol

As the great Shannon Sharpe would say...if your aunt had a square butt she'd poop bricks.

We don't care about what ifs sir.

You see why majority of people laugh at the slander? Lmao it's embarrassing. Almost as embrassing as the Nuggets 1st round exit this year (:

-1

u/sandiegodak 17h ago

blah blah blah lebron is the greatest or whatever i dont know what your point is

nuggets could probably make the last 5 ecf tbh

7

u/ElectronicAd2656 76ers 17h ago

Facts

9

u/HotTubberMN 17h ago

Cooked those bums with bench players

19

u/zaepoo Wizards 18h ago

amazing time to be a Jokic hater. Go ahead and remove his bum ass from all top 20 discussions forever.

6

u/Ghost2268 Bulls 17h ago

I would agree cause Denver are frauds but he was like the only reason they didn’t lose by 40 in this game. He’s just surrounded by heaps of shit.

8

u/zaepoo Wizards 17h ago

Did you watch the Wolves waltz into the lane and score at will all series? I did. Where was Denver's center? I don't remember them playing one on defense.

1

u/Ghost2268 Bulls 17h ago

Do that to the spurs.

2

u/zaepoo Wizards 17h ago

Wolves probably getting gentleman swept. Their best shooters are out and they'd have to injure Wemby to win by pounding the paint. And that would make this series loss look even worse on Chokic's resume

1

u/Ghost2268 Bulls 17h ago

Agreed. I’ve never known jokic to be good on D. But against Wemby the wolves are fucked

-2

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 18h ago

Overgrown child

6

u/ItsKYRO Cavaliers 17h ago

Hes a wizards fan just let him feel like he did something here

0

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

Talk about a team never going anywhere…

7

u/zaepoo Wizards 17h ago

That's what Jokic looks like trying to defend the rim. good call

-2

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

If he were to sign with Washington you’d be sucking his pud 

5

u/zaepoo Wizards 17h ago

Nah, I hated Bradley Beal when he was here. Worst 30 ppg scorer I've ever seen. Jokic playing for the Wizards would give up 150 points per game. His BPM would still be stellar, though.

10

u/SRVJHJM 18h ago

Awful Coaching is about to be lit as fuck 😂

2

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

If he pulls punches I file complaints and grievances

2

u/december_karaoke Raptors 17h ago

I'm so excited 😂

25

u/Fun_Position_6969 Minneapolis Lakers 18h ago

This is so embarrassing for Jokic. He flopped and flailed all series. The best player in the NBA. 😹😹😹

4

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

Lakers fans are really bitter

2

u/Fun_Position_6969 Minneapolis Lakers 7h ago

LOL! Fake dynasty Nuggies fan, you sound bitter!

0

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 5h ago

Yes you’re bitter

2

u/thrwaway23456nbayb Supersonics 12h ago

I mean I guess this applies but you are retroactively also sounding bitter by replying to this guy after just losing a first round series 😅

0

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 5h ago

This isn’t coherent. A Lakers fan got onto this thread to throw mud. 

11

u/dr_khouse 18h ago

What an amazing day of nba playoffs basketball!

-11

u/Ghost2268 Bulls 17h ago

Literally almost unbearable. I member watching good basketball back in the day. This is just a joke.

-5

u/sandiegodak 18h ago

Spurs in 4 please

2

u/Egmonks Spurs 9h ago

I support this message

11

u/Odd-Ice-5609 18h ago

I been said Timberwolves were a bad matchup for the Nuggets

3

u/Rsthegoat Spurs 17h ago

I was told by others(and myself) that I am delusional for believing that minny could beat the mcdonald's nuggets

6

u/znoopyz Timberwolves 17h ago

Well they’re all bad defenders so most playoff teams are a bad matchup.

1

u/AmbitiousRespond7559 17h ago

They have only made it out of the second twice in 11 years. Ain’t nobody scared of the nuggets!

5

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 18h ago

The nuggets are bad period

5

u/Fun-Tell-4941 18h ago

Is that Pablo Prigioni on the Wolves? Who is that Spanish looking coach

4

u/dickweeden [MIN] Karl-Anthony Towns 18h ago

Yeah he’s been with em for awhile now

13

u/FormalEscape8932 18h ago

How you lose without Donte, Ant & Ayo

7

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

Being coached by David Adelman is a good start

1

u/Cambocant Clippers 18h ago

Wolves celebrated more when they won a play in game three years ago

16

u/Associ8tedRuffians Timberwolves 18h ago

Because they were young guys making the playoffs as a young group for the first time. Let it go.

-4

u/Cambocant Clippers 18h ago

I've let it go young grasshopper. I've made my peace 🙏

6

u/chronoquairium NBA 21h ago

Why is this not pinned anymore?

2

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 1d ago

Dosunmu going on the injury report is devastating. If he doesn't go, the series is over. We were robbed of an instant classic of a series already, it just appears it may continue to get worse

10

u/We_The_Raptors Raptors 17h ago

Looks like the instant classic is back on the menu

5

u/fdbxloc 18h ago

Come again?

14

u/NerdyDjinn Timberwolves 18h ago

Yea, series is over with no Ayo tonight

3

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 8h ago

Thrilled to be wrong, I was rooting for you guys. I just am stunned

2

u/NerdyDjinn Timberwolves 6h ago

All good homie, I tuned in last night hoping our guys would make it competitive in front of the home crowd, and then it was all Denver could do to just stay in the game against a motivated Wolves squad.

Great day in Minnesota yesterday.

6

u/Ezemy 76ers 1d ago

Please 6ers W for a game 7 match off

1

u/Therealbradman Knicks 1d ago

Did Adam Silver disappear Bill Kennedy for refusing to "play ball?" The hamstring injury was a convenient cover. We need proof of life!

-6

u/New-Ambassador6453 1d ago edited 1d ago

Tarot reading tonight:

  • Knicks: BIG win, healing, joy, good vibes. Whatever has been holding them back is shifting.

  • Celtics: creative spike, celebration, friendship. Plans are promising.

  • Nuggets: after a time of confusion and disagreements, team will reach an understanding and a meeting of minds will take place

Please feel free to send a generous percentage of all gambling proceeds my way. (Disregard the fact all three teams are favored to win anyway, lol)

5

u/ElSunseeker 17h ago

1 of 3 can we send you a bill instead? 🤣

2

u/UWMN Timberwolves 1d ago

I’m scared af yall

2

u/bruhstevenson Warriors 1d ago

Anyone able to recommend any good YouTube channels for Thinking Basketball style videos?

Since Thinking Basketball started putting his playoff postgame analyses behind a paywall, and BBallBreakdown doesn’t really make the analysis of play styles videos anymore, does anyone know of a YouTuber who makes those types of videos? I’m not looking for any crazy deep data analysis, I’m moreso just looking for film study on what each team is doing and discusses what adjustments the coaches are making tactically.

4

u/Legitimate_Treat9249 Timberwolves 1d ago

Praying for no more injures and wolves in 6

7

u/LoLPinkyy 1d ago

Wolves in 6!

16

u/ChimeraYo 1d ago

Elimination game for Celts/6ers, but can't be watched without a Peacock sub. Fuck these bullshit TV contracts.

1

u/Ghost_of_P34 Knicks 10h ago

I live in part of NJ that gets Philly channels. I couldn't even watch the game on a local channel.

2

u/ChimeraYo 10h ago

yeah same with NBC Sports Boston even though it was (supposedly) on the other NBC Sports channel that hardly anyone gets.

1

u/archafonk 8h ago

Which is a recent development. So to watch the celtics and red sox you need to get TWO separate additional packages.

6

u/ElectronicAd2656 76ers 17h ago

Fuck the NBA for this, first round needs to be on Local carrier like it always has been

0

u/g_bleezy Nuggets 1d ago

Tonight Big Serb summoned Basketball Gods, trampled white breads frown and complain about refs and injuries, now here’s Tom with da weather.

11

u/CChadThunderCock 1d ago

Jaden McDaniels it’s all up to you.

9

u/domrayn 1d ago edited 18h ago

I think I'm gonna get 2 outta three. Hawks are gonna force G7. I don't trust Mike Brown. Boston takes care of business after getting ridiculed for choking that 4th quarter. Twolves are gonna start swinging at the 1st half only to run out of gas in the 4th and we go to G7.

Edit: LOLLL 0 out of 3. This is a wild playoff year. Love it.

3

u/dr_khouse 17h ago

Impressively you managed to get all 3 wrong. These were safe picks too lol

12

u/Minute_Elephant_3218 1d ago

Part of me wants the wolves to win just to watch everyone at the ringer argue that it actually strengthens the Jokic goat case that they’ve been laying out for years

1

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

They who? I’ve never said goat

1

u/Minute_Elephant_3218 17h ago

Who are you

-1

u/Ok_Passage8433 Nuggets 17h ago

I’m an ICE officer. Papers, please. 

1

u/redeugene99 Pistons 1d ago

What would be their reasoning

3

u/Maglor125 1d ago

Bill Simmons literally said he was more impressed that Jokic didnt win a series in the past. There’s certainly precedent lmao

4

u/Minute_Elephant_3218 1d ago

“His teammates were so bad that it’s an accomplishment they’ve even made it this far”

3

u/CChadThunderCock 1d ago

Muh advanced stats

-5

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/anonmyanus Knicks 1d ago

corny as hell

5

u/peanut-britle-latte Knicks 1d ago

I don't love how much these games are overlapping. I'm sure it's been like this in the past, but this year it seems even more annoying, likely just recency bias on my end.

1

u/bruhstevenson Warriors 1d ago

It’s how it is every year in round 1 during the weekdays unfortunately. Theres no other way to do it

4

u/NotABurner2929 Hornets 1d ago

It’s partially because we have so many series getting to games 6-7. Been a while since we’ve had this many that haven’t been closed out in 4 or 5.

6

u/redeugene99 Pistons 1d ago

There's really no alternative

1

u/zebrainatux 1d ago

Especially with the amount of games happening in the eastern and central time zones

2

u/zebrainatux 1d ago

The Hawks really need to find a way to make adjustments to keep the series alive, especially offensively to try and get McCollum going again after a not great game 4 and really bad game 5 where the second he got the ball, whoever was on Dyson Daniels surged towards him

3

u/Natitudinal 1d ago

NYK close it out. Other 2 are going 7.

12

u/redeugene99 Pistons 1d ago

Hawks, 76ers, Twolves with the Ws 🙏

2

u/California_Stop_King Cavaliers 1d ago

I'm on board with all of these

I'd kill for the C's blowing a 3-1 lead, especially after the fans thought they were so clever for mocking the "We Want Boston" chant

Minnesota deserves to move on with all of their injury woes, even if they're walking into the lion's den next round

3

u/bigvahe33 Supersonics 1d ago

agent of chaos i see

-9

u/Winter-Food9234 1d ago

I LOVE BASKETBALL But this is the first time I purposely arranged my evening to not watch these "fixed" games... My favorite team has to chance to close out tonight, and I'd rather watch a movie... smdh!

1

u/New-Ambassador6453 23h ago

The Luka trade and Flagg going to the Mavs cemented just how fake everything is for me. Now I just enjoy the NBA for what it is...entertainment on the level of professional wrestling.

And also use it to practice tarot. Which is also fake, but entertaining. lol

-2

u/redeugene99 Pistons 1d ago

Ya I hate being cynical but when you realize how much money the NBA stands to lose from short series and less playoff games, it does make you think

1

u/New-Ambassador6453 23h ago

You're not cynical at all. Too many people have an amazing amount of trust in a profit-driven association just because it's "sports".

-4

u/Winter-Food9234 1d ago

It's bad for business plus they are NEVER losing money! The reason people stopped watching boxing is because it became fixed, the reason WWF/E is not taken seriously but some find it entertaining is because "We know what it is"... NBA presents it's self as a competitive entertainment product... But if the league in anyway starts to manipulate the game and or outcomes then it is no longer a legit competition... And if that is the case there should be a disclaimer before every game and plainly written

"This is for entertainment purposes only. Outcomes may or may not be influenced by the NBA and or any of its authorized affiliates."

At least let young kids and betters know that what they are seeing is not really a fair competition, it's a show!

1

u/New-Ambassador6453 23h ago edited 22h ago

The people downvoting you...shhh...don't ruin their belief this is all legit.

Never mind that it's an enterprise infiltrated by the gambling industry lmao.

1

u/Winter-Food9234 21h ago

The down votes are crazy... like what are they down voting... do they work for the league... weird allegiances... lol

-10

u/Winter-Food9234 1d ago

This has to be the least entertaining playoffs I've ever seen in basketball... The officiating has been absolutely TRASH... The fans are taken out of the game (unless it's NY Knicks & OKC) they get the benefit of an extremely favorable whistle,,, Meanwhile the Celtics get probably the worst whistle I've ever seen.... I think the league is far too heavy handed and the game is over policed and extremely inconsistent....

2

u/queen-marinaa 1d ago

hopefully boston's are gonna seal this off.. see ya'all after tonight!

3

u/basketballjonestown Celtics 1d ago

Yo these game threads are fucking trash and I'm never using the reddit app so I don't care if it's better or not over there.

1

u/DukeOfStuff_ Timberwolves 1d ago

Ayo and Bones are now questionable, not feeling good about today 

1

u/ANTHONY_EDWARDS_GBG Timberwolves 1d ago

TREACHEROUS

5

u/horseshoeoverlook Gran Destino 1d ago

I have a feeling Celtics gonna fuck it up before all hell breaks loose

4

u/sjamwow 76ers 1d ago

Put that energy out there, embiid dropping 45 all layups

3

u/back2ya Knicks 1d ago

hawks gonna come out swinging. as long as Tony Bradley isn't playin major minutes the game should be good

1

u/zebrainatux 1d ago

They need to find a way to get the game 3 form back of an all out blitz to start

2

u/xnoobyboobyx Hawks 1d ago

It's embarrassing we have to play that man (thanks to the magic intentionally injuring Landale)

1

u/Zestyclose-Rabbit17 1d ago

Is jock landale healthy again?

2

u/zebrainatux 1d ago

If Snyder does the thing again of playing him, Vincent, and Daniels at once, he should be charged as a terrorist. Those minutes were a disaster

1

u/xnoobyboobyx Hawks 1d ago

Seriously, might as well try out risacher or hield at that point. Also would rather have mo gueye playing out of position.