2025 NBA Post-Season thread!!!

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

So much to unpack



Yet even with tonight's game, he wouldn't get that overrated badge. Huh.



The only reason it's close is because J-Dub has been awful all series. It's more of a Jalen Williams thing that starters vs starters thing. Btw, I also think that SGA hasn't gotten enough help this series.




Good game or not, Denver's bench is bad. Sure, they can have one good game out of 5 or 6. Awesome.



Like I mentioned before, in the semis, Tatum, Antman and Brunson have had a better #2 and overall supporting cast (so far). That's what people mean by no or little help.

There has not been a better postseason Robin than Murray the past half-decade. I don't even know how you can even begin to make a counter-argument to that. Would love to hear it, though.

And he's the clear best #2 this series.


And Gordon has outplayed Chet. His 2 missed free throws during that implosion may have very well cost them the series. Meanwhile, Gordon's been the polar opposite and clutch when they've needed a critical basket.


I'd say a good reason why this series has been so close is because SGA's lack of starting support has been mitigated by bench play. Which is the exact opposite for Denver. It equalizes out.


Brunson has a better number 2? Lol what universe are we living in now? I'd love to hear this. I think you may still be stuck on regular season badges or past performances. I would take absolutely nobody on that new york roster over Murray in a 7 game series.

Crazy talk, bruhman.



And for the zillionth time: Yoker is still the best player in the league. But nobody is exempt from playoff adversity. Just have to find ways to navigate through it and handle your candle.

[Nomad]

Denver is the one team that I, as a Pacers team, am afraid of. Only one that has Jokic, that wears the ring. Denver only going to get better. Book it.

[Bosoxfan5990]

Celtics in 7.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

There has not been a better postseason Robin than Murray the past half-decade. I don't even know how you can even begin to make a counter-argument to that. Would love to hear it, though.

And he's the clear best #2 this series.


And Gordon has outplayed Chet. His 2 missed free throws during that implosion may have very well cost them the series. Meanwhile, Gordon's been the polar opposite and clutch when they've needed a critical basket.


I'd say a good reason why this series has been so close is because SGA's lack of starting support has been mitigated by bench play. Which is the exact opposite for Denver. It equalizes out.


Brunson has a better number 2? Lol what universe are we living in now? I'd love to hear this. I think you may still be stuck on regular season badges or past performances. I would take absolutely nobody on that new york roster over Murray in a 7 game series.

Crazy talk, bruhman.



And for the zillionth time: Yoker is still the best player in the league. But nobody is exempt from playoff adversity. Just have to find ways to navigate through it and handle your candle.

Murray has had 2 great postseason run. Only one was this decade. His postseason numbers outside of that have been good but like I said, won't even be top 30 in the league with that.

I don't think Gordon has necessarily outplayed Chet, they've been pretty close. Which is a problem for OKC. Like I mentioned before, I also think SGA hasn't gotten enough help this series.

I think KAT's been better than Murray in the second round (so far). You think it's the other way around. It's fine, the crazy thing is to think there is some kind of huge gap between them.

I think Joker is the best player in the league and SGA is the MVP. I also think they don't have enough help this series for different reasons - Joker doesn't have a great supporting cast, SGA's top guy is not producing.

[Nomad]

I was shocked to see that one of Murray's key RPAs, was it like an NT to /10, was going unsold at like $800. How many rings to break the $1k barrier for a Robin?

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by Nomad

I was shocked to see that one of Murray's key RPAs, was it like an NT to /10, was going unsold at like $800. How many rings to break the $1k barrier for a Robin?

Jamal Murray is a great playoff riser but he's never shown enough in the regular season to generate any accolades

He's never been an all-star for example

[Nomad]

Yeah, but we know how the All Star voting works. One player per small market team.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by Nomad

Yeah, but we know how the All Star voting works. One player per small market team.

The Cavs had three this year

[Nomad]

LeBron was that great.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by kipgen

Jamal Murray is a great playoff riser but he's never shown enough in the regular season to generate any accolades

He's never been an all-star for example

Personally, I'd much rather have a playoff "riser" (Murray) than a playoff "choker" (different sport but Kershaw).

The primary objective of the regular season is to win enough games to make the playoffs. The primary objective of the playoffs is to make it to the end and win the NBA finals. What's accomplished during the regular season, other than getting into the playoffs, really means little in the grand scheme of things (not everyone cares for individual accolades).

Also, it's not like Murray is horrible during the regular season.

[Nomad]

That said, it's difficult to be a buy on a second unless they make it through to the Finals. Though you could scoop some bargains, it's more likely the product will just sit around in cases without another ring.

I don't see Jamal in those New Balance ads either.

[Siberian13]

Originally Posted by Bosoxfan5990

Celtics in 7.

I’ll be cheering for Derrick White tonight! Hope he has a big game

[Nomad]

I don't know his recent track record, but is he not Mr. Consistency?

Always had a grudge against him, cause he made Nesmith redundant. But I have to admit, Celtics have a ring.

[dsprague12]

First Game 7 for anyone on OKC besides Caruso? Not sure if that’s accurate, but I assume so. Hope Chet doesn’t soil himself at the FT line this time if he gets there late.

Edit: Actually looks like Caruso hasn’t ever seen a Game 7 either.

[kipgen]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Personally, I'd much rather have a playoff "riser" (Murray) than a playoff "choker" (different sport but Kershaw).

The primary objective of the regular season is to win enough games to make the playoffs. The primary objective of the playoffs is to make it to the end and win the NBA finals. What's accomplished during the regular season, other than getting into the playoffs, really means little in the grand scheme of things (not everyone cares for individual accolades).

Also, it's not like Murray is horrible during the regular season.

I agree with you but in the context of card prices a guy with a ton of regular season accolades is going to do better than a dude that just turns it on and can win a bunch in the playoffs

Of course the ideal player is somebody who has both

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by kipgen

I agree with you but in the context of card prices a guy with a ton of regular season accolades is going to do better than a dude that just turns it on and can win a bunch in the playoffs

Of course the ideal player is somebody who has both

Oh yeah, under the context of card prices, I 99% agree with you (sole exception might be someone with no/little regular season accolades, particularly a guard, who turns it on in the playoffs and wins a bunch of playoff accolades [MVPs] and CHIPs).

And you hit the nail on the dot. The most collected NBA players are those who have/had both and are/were the alphas of their respective teams (MJ, LeBron, Curry, Rockets legend Hakeem, etc).

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Murray has had 2 great postseason run. Only one was this decade. His postseason numbers outside of that have been good but like I said, won't even be top 30 in the league with that.

I don't think Gordon has necessarily outplayed Chet, they've been pretty close. Which is a problem for OKC. Like I mentioned before, I also think SGA hasn't gotten enough help this series.

I think KAT's been better than Murray in the second round (so far). You think it's the other way around. It's fine, the crazy thing is to think there is some kind of huge gap between them.

I think Joker is the best player in the league and SGA is the MVP. I also think they don't have enough help this series for different reasons - Joker doesn't have a great supporting cast, SGA's top guy is not producing.

Well, considering Murray's first playoff series came in 2019, it makes sense.

And I'm not sure how many 'great' series' you expected him to have this decade or what kind of numbers you expect, as we're only discussing #2's and there have been no established dynasties over that time span. Is there anyone else that trumps him? I guess you 'could' make the argument AD or Lebron, but even then it's close. And Murray gets the edge because he's garnered a reputation for rising when things are on the line when the others haven't. He can't control what his teammates do.


If we're discussing this second round only, I suppose you could create the argument KAT's been better. Marginally. Murray's scoring efficiency hasn't been stellar, but he's been absolutely clutch the 4th quarters in all their wins.

Conversely, I think Kat's numbers are a bit skewed. 19 points last game means virtually nil when half those points came in the 4th when his team was already down 20+ and Thibs was keeping his starters in typical Gulag purgatory to rack up slavery minutes. Yeah...he rebounds a lot. He's a 7 foot big.


The entire premise of my argument was that the 'no help' statement was gross hyperbole. And you pretty much proved it. And if you assume that's the case, then SGA has negative help.

To sum up this series thus far:

Starters - edge Denver
Bench - edge OKC
system (particularly defensive) - slight edge OKC


Game 7 should be a nail biter.

[ninjacookies]

Damn.

KAT getting absolutely media dragged rn. Can't blame them. Getting bodied by Lucas Kornet (respectfully) will do that. Seems to be the theme of his career. Net -95 in the postseason. If he shrivels tonight he'll forever be unable to shake the zest tag.

[drobfan8]

If Bridges gives you offense you're in trouble. Boston that is.

[Nomad]

Feels like a game 7.

As a Pacers fan, love to see that.

[drobfan8]

Boston throw up some terrible 3 point looks.

They deserve to lose.

1 pass shoot garbage.

[fabiani12333]

Three-pointer watch:

Celtics: 3 of 10

Knicks: 1 of 10

4 of 20 combined (20%)

2:11 left in the 1st quarter.

This has been your three-pointer-chucking update

[ninjacookies]

White has to have 20+ for them to have a chance. Brown isn't going to drop 60.

Any lead under 15 heading into the 4th isn't safe either way.

[Nomad]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Murray gets the edge because he's garnered a reputation for rising when things are on the line when the others haven't. He can't control what his teammates do. If we're discussing this second round only, I suppose you could create the argument KAT's been better. Marginally. Murray's scoring efficiency hasn't been stellar, but he's been absolutely clutch the 4th quarters in all their wins.

I was going to say, too bad Pacers too equally distributed to even merit a mention in this discussion. Then realized, it's series specific.

Enjoy this debate while it lasts.

Still not much discussion on the Ant front. Upside too locked in?

[kobebeast2020]

Mitch just OWNED Brown what a steal