NBA Playoffs Open Thread: Nuggets @ Thunder, Game 7 WCSF 2025-05-18 43 By Chris Francis Good evening CtB! Still hungover from the Cavs’ epic collapse, no thoughts… just vibes. Chill here for what should be an entertaining Game 7. Go Cavs. Eastern Conference Semifinals Live Thread: Pacers @ Cavs, Game 5
Incredible defense by both teams in the first half last night. T-wolves had clamps on SGA for the entire half and he couldn’t even bait his way to many FTs; never seen that before. Couldn’t contain him down the stretch though. And the Wolves need to adjust to the fact that if you take all day backing down your defender, someone’s going to swipe the ball away – have to be quicker in making a move.
Nate, your boy Caruso is killing it.
don’t know which team I dislike more between OKC and Min. the usual theory of “root for which ever team is furthest from salt water” doesn’t apply very well here.
anyone have a theory on which team to root against in the WCF?
I don’t hold too much beef with any of the remaining teams. Just hoping for some competitive and entertaining match-ups. Boring answer.
In my pettier days I’d just root against the home teams to send an arena full of nuts home angry. That’s some Cleveland sports fan angst right there. Lebron helped exercise those demons back in 2016.
Pretty evenly split on these two teams, although I think Ant can be a bit of a douche sometimes, and I like Shai’s game. Finding myself leaning OKC’s way.
KOBY CHALLENGES DG TO GET STRONGER THIS OFF SEASON—— SHOULD PUT IN 80% OF ROSTER IN THAT CATEGORY ——— REALLY HOPE KA / COACHES SPEND TIME/ ENERGY WORKING WITH NYQUIL / TYSON THIS OFF SEASON—-ALONG WITH CPJ ——THOSE 3 CAN IMPROVE OUR BENCH ——- EMONI STILL A BIG ????
Shots fired
…so Draymond…?
getting better, being healthy, and being lucky will be a good start.
system changes should include
I mean der. That was the recipe for game 5. They stopped executing it
right — way insufficent emphasis!
it is always easier to chuck up a three than to work for a good shot. for top teams in the regular season, it is easy to get in the habit of firing away, because you are going to win most games no matter what you do. then you run into trouble in the playoffs.
and Indiana packed the paint to stop it, but as a rule they don’t do enough of it. ( Especially late in games )
This is outstanding.
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/pigeon-nba-slang-nobody-wants-be-called-determining-playoff-winners/80287ebf9028cffa0eca2e42
good stuff. targeting weak defensive players is one of many aspects of success. but it is one of many — the author seems to think it is the only one.
Disagree. He’s noting the increased focus of it in the playoffs.
I’m sure he’s aware it isn’t the only tactic.
IDK, the last sentence suggests he thinks this is the key.
Cavs’ defensive rating while each player was on the floor vs. Indiana in Round 2:
Cavs’ offensive rating while each player was on the floor vs. Indiana in Round 2:
super interesting data. def checks out re: Darius. I would think the minutes sample was too small for some of the guys like Okoro who really did not play more than 10-15 minutes per game
The main story people should take away from the data is our youngest players performed the worst, which is typical in the playoffs.
I am having trouble seeing much pattern in the data. can you summarize it?
The 23 year old starting PF and the 25 year old starting PG were the poorest performing playoff players for the Cavs. Not sure how much more plainly I can put it.
this table indicates that the guys that played in garbage time are way better than the rotation guys
If that is how your mind is telling you to interpret the data, then so be it.
Anyone catch Koby’s presser, or are you all still drinking? I have just returned from a week in wine country, exactly where I needed to be when the wheels fell of the Cavs bus.
Seemed to be a repeat of previous years pressers. Growth mindset, get tougher etc. Interesting that he mentions part of the reason to get KA was for off-season development.
Let’s hope Kenny has a guest house over at Mobley’s this summer.
Yeah that’s why KA was hired in the first place, his NBA come up was skill development coach, working on an individual basis to improve player skill.
Yessir, sorry I should have added context instead of saying “interesting”. Koby during his rearguard action presser was alluding to KA not having had a full off-season with the team yet (“he’s still unpacking his bags from Paris”) and NOW he has a chance to work with these guys … Koby has always been good at spin but this one caught my attention. I think he is under pressure, wouldn’t surprise me if he is moved on soon.
Locking up the core four last summer looked really good during the regular season (dynasty?). Now it can be looked at in a different way. Interesting.
Yeah, there’s the argument for patience with player development (and having a healthy roster come the 2nd season), which is my preferred. But the level of disappointment resulting from reg season dominance to playoff irrelevance has to cause some reaction, whether that be aggressive trade moves or maybe FO restructure. Koby was also fawning Dan a lot, which he does regularly for the obvious reasons, but again it caught my attention. Maybe I’m becoming Joe Vardon, shit I don’t know.
right. there are no sure things. it is probably a good move. avoiding panic moves is the most important thing.
Lmfaoooo you’re all good brother, no apology necessary great catch just filling in the picture!!
from cleveland.com.. “Will Darius Garland ever be a clutch playoff performer? And, Terry Pluto asks, should he come off the bench?”.. not likely, and yes..
RAOUL OKC THREW ALOT OF BODIES AT HIM FROM HARD ROCK / HOLMGREM / CARRUSO —- DOUBLING/TRIPLING DOWN ON. HIM —- IF THEY FOULED/ THEY LIVED WITH IT —-OKC — SIMILAR TO THE PACER s ARE NEVER OUT OF IT ( CAN BE 30 down ) AND COME BACK
CALLED THAT 1 RIGHT—- KNEW OKC WOULD GO “ FULL THROTTLE “. SIR G – SURE MVP
NOMAD bro.. OKC may not lose again this season.. too many lethal weapons, and with hard rock and others, they bring a physical threat that the wimpy charmin-sodt cavs can only dream about..
didn’t watch, but did hear reports that OKC used the “foul Joker nonstop and hope they don’t call many” plan to win. any opinion on this?
and putting a small (Caruso) on a big (Jokic) and just daring the refs to call it. I think it’s a great strategy. The refs know the NBA product does not want to be a parade to the foul line. It is unfortunate but it’s how human psychology works and you can get the Thunder coaches are instructing their players thus
OKC DOUBLE DIGITS WIN SURFACING
HARD ROCK “ TEARING MY HEART “ OUT—— MAN HE GOES FULL THROTTLE ENTIRE GAME
LOVE ME SOME HARD ROCK
OKC BY DOUBLE DIGITS WIN TODAY