General NBA thread

[Max Rockatansky]

Obviously we disagree that post-Golden State Kevin Durant can truly elevate a team to the next level.  There isn't anything he did with the Suns or Nets that suggested he can.  The Rockets will probably be a playoff team again, but won't make a deep run.

Durant makes them better. He doesn't make them a championship contender. And I just quoted two stats that shows he can elevate a team.

Stats often lie.  Yeah sure, the Nets despite being a dumpster fire were better than they were before they had Kevin Durant.  The worse part of Durant's tenure in Brooklyn wasn't that he kept getting hurt it was that he appeared to be totally unmotivated for most of those seasons (which reflected in their regular season records).  The Suns weren't any better and actually got worse over his tenure.  I wouldn't be surprised if this looked great on paper for Houston but all of the sudden, they win something like 45 games next year.

[Scott5114]

With Game 7 being held in Oklahoma City, this marks the first time in history a pro sports championship has ever been decided in Oklahoma City (and probably Oklahoma as a whole, unless Tulsa hosted some weird one-off thing I don't know of).

[CoreySamson]

The Rockets needed a clutch scorer. They got a clutch scorer, and they honestly didn't give up that much in return. They have lots of excess draft capital, and there's a lot of depth on the roster to replace Jalen Green at the guard position.

But there's some downside too. I'm concerned about Durant's injury history, his personality (will it mesh with the team?), and his contract (due at the end of next season. Will they keep him around 2-3 years after this one?). I think I would have preferred Giannis, but we'll see what Durant can do.

[SEWIGuy]

The Rockets needed a clutch scorer. They got a clutch scorer, and they honestly didn't give up that much in return. They have lots of excess draft capital, and there's a lot of depth on the roster to replace Jalen Green at the guard position.

But there's some downside too. I'm concerned about Durant's injury history, his personality (will it mesh with the team?), and his contract (due at the end of next season. Will they keep him around 2-3 years after this one?). I think I would have preferred Giannis, but we'll see what Durant can do.

Giannis isn't getting dealt.

[Max Rockatansky]

I'm genuinely surprised Indiana is still hanging in despite Haliburton going out so early in the game.

[Max Rockatansky]

Looks like Indiana is running out of gas with the lead up to 11.  We'll see if they got anything left after this timeout.

[Bruce]

A reminder that the OKC Thunder are effectively a new franchise created in 2007 and do not claim the history of the franchise they stole from Seattle. There's going to be a lot of inaccurate reporting about the "Thunder's second championship" coming up.

[Max Rockatansky]

A reminder that the OKC Thunder are effectively a new franchise created in 2007 and do not claim the history of the franchise they stole from Seattle. There's going to be a lot of inaccurate reporting about the "Thunder's second championship" coming up.

Playing pretend is nice, but everyone know they are Sonics.  It isn't too much different from people knowing the real Cleveland Browns now play in Baltimore. 

[Bobby5280]

I was disappointed Tyrese Haliburton got hurt early in the game. It puts a damned asterisk on the Thunder's win and title victory. That's despite TJ McConnell coming into the game and playing really well for a stretch. Other players from the Pacers' bench were contributing too. Ultimately the Thunder was able to pull away for good in the 2nd half. In the future whenever this Game 7 event is discussed everyone will be asking, "what if Haliburton had been able to play the entire game?"

Haliburton's injury looked pretty bad. The game broadcast showed a slow motion shot of him stepping forward with his left leg and extending the right leg behind him pretty far. I could almost see some kind of "pop" happen below Haliburton's right calf muscle. Not good. Early word on the Achilles injury makes it look like Haliburton will miss all of the next season. Even if/when he is able to return the injury may cost him a step or two in speed. Hopefully this doesn't end his career.

[Max Rockatansky]

The injury sucks, but it is part of sports.

[jgb191]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

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As a fan of Houston sports, here is my personal take on Kevin Durant:

Reasons for Concern
-- Possible return of his Achillies injury (suffered in 2019)
-- Getting Older.  At 36, he is around the same age as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
-- His mental toughness/resolve has been in question a lot (fairly or unfairly questioned).
-- Compatibility with Ime Udoka's tight ship coaching to be determined.
-- The Western Conference is a gauntlet.
-- Rockets mortgaged their future by giving the Suns several future draft picks.


Reasons for Optimism
-- His talent and scoring ability is precisely what the Rockets were in dire need of.
-- Championship experience; Kevin is a Finals MVP....twice consecutively
-- The Rockets got rid of Dillon Brooks.
-- Ironically Kevin being a free agent a year from now also be a big plus:  he knows this is last chance to play his best to get a new contract deal.  Even if he chooses to bolt, that will free up a considerable cap space to sign other free agents.


Making a prediction for next year, I'll say 50-55 wins in the regular season, and reach the Western Conference Finals likely vs Thunder (unless Nikola Jokic can do something about that).

[jgb191]

It puts a damned asterisk on the Thunder's win and title victory.

No it doesn't -- The Thunder won the Championship fair and square!  They didn't do anything unfair or illegal; they still played their game fairly.

[SEWIGuy]

I was disappointed Tyrese Haliburton got hurt early in the game. It puts a damned asterisk on the Thunder's win and title victory.

It most certainly does not.

[SEWIGuy]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

-------------------------

As a fan of Houston sports, here is my personal take on Kevin Durant:

Reasons for Concern
-- Possible return of his Achillies injury (suffered in 2019)
-- Getting Older.  At 36, he is around the same age as Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
-- His mental toughness/resolve has been in question a lot (fairly or unfairly questioned).
-- Compatibility with Ime Udoka's tight ship coaching to be determined.
-- The Western Conference is a gauntlet.
-- Rockets mortgaged their future by giving the Suns several future draft picks.


Reasons for Optimism
-- His talent and scoring ability is precisely what the Rockets were in dire need of.
-- Championship experience; Kevin is a Finals MVP....twice consecutively
-- The Rockets got rid of Dillon Brooks.
-- Ironically Kevin being a free agent a year from now also be a big plus:  he knows this is last chance to play his best to get a new contract deal.  Even if he chooses to bolt, that will free up a considerable cap space to sign other free agents.


Making a prediction for next year, I'll say 50-55 wins in the regular season, and reach the Western Conference Finals likely vs Thunder (unless Nikola Jokic can do something about that).

The number 10 pick and a bunch of seconds isn't "mortgaging" anything. He has always been a solid pro and easy to coach, so he will fit in fine with Udoka.

Injury and age are indeed factors. But I think they didn't think Jalen Green was getting them anywhere, and the team needed a proven scorer immediately.

[Bobby5280]

I hope Clay Bennet and the rest of the Thunder ownership group, as well as GM Sam Presti, are able to keep this Thunder squad together for a long time. I'm sure they'll do everything they can to keep SGA in OKC. Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren, Alex Caruso, Isaiah Hartenstein and several others will get more expensive to keep. It's a young team that will probably only get better. If they can improve their shooting and keep the same defensive swagger they'll be really scary to opponents next season.

Regarding Kevin Durant, I'm not sure what to think about him going to the Rockets. A number of different sports analysts correctly predicted Houston was where he would land. Maybe the big picture will sort itself out after the 2025 NBA Draft later this week.

[Max Rockatansky]

When is the last time an NBA team found a viable franchise guy with the number 10 pick? 

[JayhawkCO]

When is the last time an NBA team found a viable franchise guy with the number 10 pick? 

I mean, the best player in the NBA was a second round pick.

[Big John]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

-------------------------

The Milwaukee Bucks also won the 1971 NBA championship.

[Max Rockatansky]

When is the last time an NBA team found a viable franchise guy with the number 10 pick? 

I mean, the best player in the NBA was a second round pick.

So Jokic in 2014?  Anyone else since then?

[JayhawkCO]

When is the last time an NBA team found a viable franchise guy with the number 10 pick? 

I mean, the best player in the NBA was a second round pick.

So Jokic in 2014?  Anyone else since then?

Haliburton was #12 in 2020. The same draft also had all-stars Tyrese Maxey (PHI's best player last year with Embiid hurt) at 21 and Desmond Bane got picked 30th and Orlando's trade stash sure looks like that of what you'd pay for a franchise guy.

[Stephane Dumas]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

To be more precise, in the case of the Milwaukee Bucks, it's their 2nd NBA championship after their first one won in 1971.

[Henry]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

To be more precise, in the case of the Milwaukee Bucks, it's their 2nd NBA championship after their first one won in 1971.

Also, the Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Avalanche and Broncos previously won championships for their respective cities, and OKC had never won any titles until last night. As much as I hate ESPN (especially the ever-annoying Stephen A. Smith), I had to tune in to witness history in the making.

I also find it ironic that just before the Thunder clinched the championship, one of their first great players got traded to the Rockets, completing the sweep of the 2012 Big 3 playing in Houston at some point in their careers.

A reminder that the OKC Thunder are effectively a new franchise created in 2007 and do not claim the history of the franchise they stole from Seattle. There's going to be a lot of inaccurate reporting about the "Thunder's second championship" coming up.

Playing pretend is nice, but everyone know they are Sonics.  It isn't too much different from people knowing the real Cleveland Browns now play in Baltimore. 

At least the Washington Nationals acknowledge their Montreal roots, because they were the Expos.

[CoreySamson]

It puts a damned asterisk on the Thunder's win and title victory.

No it doesn't -- The Thunder won the Championship fair and square!  They didn't do anything unfair or illegal; they still played their game fairly.

I think if you tried hard enough, you could come up with an asterisk for any title from any sport.

[SEWIGuy]

Congrats to the Thunder team and the fans of Oklahoma -- they get to celebrate their first ever championship in the city's history.  Both the Finals combatants can only get better; I wouldn't believe they have reached their peak as of yet.  Since the Warriors repeated in 2017/2018: Toronto, Milwaukee, Denver, and OK City celebrated the first championship in their franchise or city's history.

To be more precise, in the case of the Milwaukee Bucks, it's their 2nd NBA championship after their first one won in 1971.

Also, the Maple Leafs, Blue Jays, Avalanche and Broncos previously won championships for their respective cities, and OKC had never won any titles until last night. As much as I hate ESPN (especially the ever-annoying Stephen A. Smith), I had to tune in to witness history in the making.

The Milwaukee Braves won the World Series in 1957.