NBA 23/24:season

Enjoying Murray and his lucky nonsense getting completely shut down.

Looking like 4 or 5, which is a massively surprising outcome. Simmons was waxing lyrical on his pod a week ago or so about how Denver were like the 2017 Warriors, undefeatable, just have an aura, etc. Pure nonsense as usual. Minny are just too long, athletic and well coached. And suddenly that’s that. No Denver dynasty, just a great individual season.

Gobert/Towns were awful last year but really clicked together this year. Reid and Edwards both also had massive leaps forward this year.

Jokic wins his third MVP, I'm sure it doesn't feel great while down 2-0 though.

Shaq is a clown for this

thoughts on timberwolves vs the celtics if it happens. As a celtics fan I would worry a bit to be honest !! they are a very good team

Boston don’t really inspire confidence

if they make the finals, I don’t think they’ll win it

Cleveland shot 54.7% (47 - 86) including 46.4% from 3 (13 - 28)

Boston shot 41.3% (33 - 80) including 22.9% from 3 (22.9%)

Still 6 games max series, probably 5

While some of the disparity last night (or the game dropped against Miami) is quality of play and tactical deployment, the majority of it is just shooting variance imo. And Boston are due a key series where they get the right side of jump shooting variance, may as well be the finals.

spurs could be back to relevancy if they get their picks right to go with Wemby

Hilarious that commentators were actually talking about the Nuggets being swept a few days ago.

Tom Thibodeau strikes again

Always runs his teams into the ground. He will never learn

So far it feels like they've just been winning by virtue of having more talent, not necessarily due to playing all that well. It's not exactly a problem as they're winning anyway and I don't think any of the teams remaining in the East are much of a threat to them, but they'll need to kick it up a gear if they make the finals.

I think you haven't made your peace with this Boston team all season. Marcus Smart and Robert Williams were players you personally liked, and your opinion (as expressed here) was that they didn't need to shake it up.

From what I can see, Boston just enjoyed a magnificent regular season (probably a top ~15 regular season ever given their net rating, including ratings for lineups when Tatum wasn't on the floor). They are about to advance to the ECF in 10 games, and their two losses involved abnormally proficient shooting days from their opponents. They are going to be strong favourites when the lines open against Indiana.

Fair enough, but I am still struggling to understand what you are seeing really. Boston have had a great regular season, objectively, and they are about to beat two teams they were supposed to beat in 5 games each. I think you’re really squinting to see them as playing badly or as “individuals”. They are doing what needs to be done.

Moreover, once the Cavs have been dispatched it’s been a good season no matter what happens. If Stevens was okay up till this year I don’t see how another Conference Finals or Finals loss changes that.

Anyway, all will be revealed.

Nikola Jokic.

Questioned through 2 games.

Elite for the last 3.

Scored or assisted over 70 points - the first to do that with no turnovers in close to 45 years.

Again, some thought they were getting swept.

It really wasn't mad to have watched game two and think they might get swept. There was an unusually large gap between games two and three and Malone and his staff deserve credit for using the time wisely. Murray also healed up a bit and it looks like the rest is history.

But immediately after game two finished, it was fully reasonable to expect a 1 game suspension for Murray and to wonder how Denver as a whole might figure it out. Game 5 looked nothing like game 2. It's like a different series from a different year involving different opponents.

Agreed, he is so utterly dominant and will retire as the greatest big man ever (at a minimum). Shaq must be going crazy :)

the celtics hit 1/25 at the start of the match last night, 1/20 leading up to the game. never have I seen a worse 1/20 shot. I would not have them favorites' against Denver, if that is the final match up

They have literally cruised through the first two rounds in ten games.

Have to imagine Boston will make it to the Finals with fewer scars than whoever gets out of the West. DEN/MIN going to 7 games and OKC/DAL to a minimum of 6, then two of those have to play each other in what I'd imagine would be a long series too.

Boston have made the ECF in 10 games and now have nearly a week to rest while the Knicks and Pacers continue to slog it out. They're the only team to not lose 2+ games during the semis.