GIANNIS
With most of the season preview stuff I’m reading it seems like the Thunder are no one’s favorite this year. Which is wild because it was only 4 months ago or so when they were seen as a franchise that had broken and ruined the NBA similar to the 2017 Warriors. It’s amazing what last year’s playoffs did to shift the landscape (rightfully so) towards the Spurs and Knicks. Will Dub being back (hopefully) make a big difference for the Thunder? Or did the Spurs series show the massive flaw in the Thunder roster (Chet). Will be interesting.
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The surprises me because I heard two different NBA talking heads saying recently that they were pretty sure LeBron wants out of the West precisely because he knows it’s either OKC or Spurs winning it for the next ten years. I think it was on Jim Rome’s show.
Yeah but he might still be playing after that
I feel like Cleveland or golden state will get him. Although I have seen him photoshopped into an LA Sparks jersey and a New York Yankees jersey.
They are still the betting favorites on Polymarket (25%) followed by Spurs (20%) and then Knicks distant third (7%).
I feel the pundits just need to move on to a new talking point and saying the Thunder are still the best team who lost a tough series while down their second best player, isn’t a hot enough take.
Knicks seem way over-rated to me. Yeah, they had a nice playoff run, but it was mostly against bad teams and then had some huge luck vs. Spurs. No saying they didn’t deserve the title, but not even sure they are the best team in the East this year.
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You sound like a fan of other teams, most especially the Spurs. The Knicks looked great the whole playoffs and what they did to the Spurs should have proved it wasn’t the Knicks running over bad competition (necessarily) but that they overall played well because of how many people picked the Spurs to dominate them. You can call them overachievers if you want, but they wanted it more. The West playoffs were defined by inconsistent play (especially the WCF) and the Knicks exploited that inconsistency in the Finals. Never forget they beat the Spurs in 5, not 7. And they almost came back in the game they lost. To me, that’s a reflection on them vs. everybody else shrinking.
I think the Knicks had a great run but I don’t view them as much of a threat to repeat. That’s why seeing too early rankings having them like second seem crazy to me. I would probably have them around fifth best chance.
I don’t know how anyone can predict before all the rosters are at least basically set. I also think the Knicks have a very low chance of repeating.
Been watching a lot of mavs summer league. Sergio de Larrea was the mavs second first round pick at 25. Kid has 26 assists in last two games and just looks so good passing the ball. His offense needs work but I am impressed, even though he and some of his teammates look like they are 13 years old.
Free throws update?
Much of that concern was predicated on their war chest of picks, which many people assumed they would consolidate into a star like Brown or Giannis, and which instead they’ve appeared to have mostly squandered thus far.
They have a very good roster, but they’ve drafted pretty terribly of late. Presti gets praised for his drafting, but on an individual pick basis it’s pretty average, he’s just had so many kicks at the can thanks to trades. Unsure who the young guys on rookie deals will be to help OKC achieve their dynasty. Cason Wallace is pretty good, but anyone else? Stirtz has a chance to be solid and Mara too, but will Sorber ever play?
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Bucks signed Gary Trent to that deal because it was LeBron’s big ask to sign with Milwaukee.
I wish LBJ could go down for tampering
Who assumed that? I thought they’d use the picks to stay cheap and sell off players who got too expensive to get more picks.
Atlanta got outscored 32-2 in a summer league quarter. (10 minute quarters)
I haven’t been tracking percentages but it feels like there are a lot less free throws and that’s kind of nice. I don’t know if I have seen any three point free throws but I am sure I have seen some attempted.
Stat I heard is they do it in gleague and it speeds up games by 6-8 minutes.
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Right - they’ve made great use of the picks so far. It’s allowed them to keep their depth while also being able to pay their stars.
I guess anyone that saw Wemby owning them during season