Around the NBA: Weeks 24 & 25 (3/31 - 4/13)

[Mori Chu]

KD for Mikal Bridges back. (ducks) (I don't actually think this would be a good trade)

[Split T]

If Hart comes too, which would be needed for salaries, it’s great

[Superbone]

If Hart comes too, which would be needed for salaries, it’s great

This team needs some H(e)art for sure.

[JeremyG]

KD for Mikal Bridges back. (ducks) (I don't actually think this would be a good trade)

Along with a draft pick or two, it would be.

[Split T]

Knicks have no draft picks to trade

[Split T]

The playoff race is looking very fun down the stretch…here’s a quick breakdown:

1. OKC 64-13 - They’ve been locked into the 1 seed for awhile..only question was if they were gonna win 70. The loss to Houston ended that, but they should still set the all time point differential record.

Home vs Lakers
Home vs Lakers
@Phoenix
@Utah
@New Orleans

Depends a bit on how hard they try, but I’d guess 3 or 4 wins.

2. Houston 51-27. Magic number for the 2 seed is 2, with 4 games to play. They likely lock it up, but they do have a tough schedule:

@GS
@LAC
@LAL
Home vs Denver

Laker game is especially big as the Lakers are 3 and winner gets the tie breaker.

Here is where it gets real interesting as next 3 are 1 game apart total. In fact, 3-8 is just 1.5 games apart as there is a 3 way tie for 6th.

3. Lakers 47-30
4. Denver 47-31
5. Golden State 46-31

We’ll tackle these three first. Lakers have a pretty tough schedule if OKC tries as they go:

@OKC
@OKC
@Dallas
Home vs Houston
@Portland

3-2 seems likely. Maybe 4-1 if OKC pulls the plug. Lakers do have the tiebreaker over GS, but series is 2-2 vs Denver. Next tie breaker would be division winner, which Lakers could get, Denver can’t.

Denver goes

Home vs Indy
@ Sacramento
Home vs Memphis
@ Houston

Set up nicely for them to win out and get to 51-31 if Houston has locked up the 2 seed already and doesn’t try. Indy and Memphis could be tough, but they are at home. They have tiebreaker over GS. Tiebreaker with Houston is up to the last game, though not likely to matter.

GS finishes:

Home vs Houston
@Phoenix
Home vs SA
@Portland
Home vs LAC

Big one tomorrow as I think they should be able to win out if they get Houston. Clippers could be tough.

All 3 should be finishing with 50-51 wins so tiebreakers likely will come into play.

6. Minnesota 46-32
7. Clippers 46-32
8. Grizzlies 46-32

Tiebreakers here are interesting, Minny holds it over LAC, LAC holds it over Memphis, and Memphis holds it over Minny. Currently Minny would win a 3-way tie, but Minny and Memphis still play. If Memphis wins and all 3 end up tied, they’d also all be tied h2h record wise. Minny would win due to conference record.

Minny goes

@ Bucks
@ Memphis
Home vs Brooklyn
Home vs Utah

Memphis goes

@Charlotte
Home vs Minny
@Denver
Home vs Dallas

Clippers go:

Home vs SA
Home vs Houston
@Sacramento
@Golden State

Memphis/Minny game will be huge and probably be what determines who gets 6th. Of course these teams could all catch 3-5 too. It’s gonna be crazy..

Oh ya, Dallas, Sacramento, Phoenix, and Portland are also still alive(technically the Spurs too), but none of them seem all that interested in winning games. Spurs have pulled the plug, Blazers blatantly tanked to lose their last game and I’m kinda wondering if the Kings might start tanking. Mavs are the safest of these teams and just lost by 30 to a likely opponent in the 8 vs 9 game…basically there is a massive gap from 8 to 9 and none of these teams matter.

[Split T]

I don’t know if this is a hot take, but I think Warriors are winning the west. 2022 repeat with Warriors vs Celtics…leaning to Celtics winning right now.

[JeremyG]

[Mori Chu]

Wtf?? Why? Isn't he, like, really good? And one of the longer tenured head coaches in the league? First the Grizz and now this. Very odd.

[Uncle_Gene]

UNBELIEVABLE !!

[TOO]

Absurd.

[Uncle_Gene]

Shams is also reporting Nuggets fired GM Calvin Booth.

WOW !!

[The Bobster]

Well, there you go - our next choice for "Annual Former Championship Coach" hire.

[Split T]

If we follow the pattern, we need Kerr before we can hire Malone.

I think Malone is a jerk and I’m not sure he’d mesh with the team either…of course it should be a completely new team anyways.

I half wonder if the Nuggets want Taylor Jenkins

[ShelC]

So.....we gonna hire Mike Malone?

[Split T]

We gotta make the KD trade before we decide on a coach. If we somehow end up with say Sabonis, then I would be open to Malone…if we end up with youth from Houston, I don’t want Malone.

[wpmiller42]

If Ishbia isn't on the phone with Making right now, he's crazy.

[ShelC]

We need some of this tbh.

[Wally_West]

I’d throw all the money at Malone. Idgaf the optics of it. Lol


Holy shit lmaooo wtf is wrong with Denver?!?!?

I do wonder tho, do the Spurs go after Malone? Pop probably not coming back, go get one of the best coaches in the league for Wemby. Then give us all the ATL picks and castle for KD.

A trio Fox/KD/Wemby with Malone coaching shiiii.


Bud probably convinces pop to come on as a consultant or some shit and saves his job for one more year lol

[Mori Chu]