The NBA 2023-2024 thread - and Guns and Rose

[Lonk]

 Oh Lakers 

[Samsara]

Very happy for my guy NAZ REID. 6th man of the year!

If I were voting, and if had he not gotten hurt, and if the Kings finished in the playoffs at 6 instead of in the play-in, I would have voted for Monk. But those are a lot of IFs, and I'm glad the guy that saved the Wolves bacon all year long got his due.

[Samsara]

As of today, and for the remainder of their series against the Nuggets, I'm a Lakers fan. Run them into 4 OT and win, Lakers. Keep winning til game 7, then you can lose. But only after another 4 OT. 

I'm very happy for the Timberwolves. They are proving to be what I thought they could be. Say what you want about the Suns, but they won 49 games this year, including sweeping Minnesota 3-0 in the regular season. The Wolves are for real, and they are an extremely balanced team.

If they end up playing Denver, that will be a tilt for the ages (depending on Murray's health). Wolves in 7.

[Azyiu]

Nah... we are just a bunch of slackers ready to go home. Lol 

[Samsara]

Nah... we are just a bunch of slackers ready to go home. Lol 

Sadly, that is indeed what happened. 

Wolves at Nuggets on Saturday. Man, this is really the WCF, in my opinion. But the road to the chip goes through Denver. Might as well get on with it.

Timberwolves in 7.

[T-ski]

Bucks season is mercifully over. No Giannis in the playoffs, Dame was on one leg, rest of the team looked old and slow.

I still don’t want Doc Rivers as coach, but they signed him to a hefty three year deal so I doubt he’s going anywhere.

I expect a big shake up of the roster this summer.

I have no issue rooting on the Twolves as long as Samsara doesn’t mind me jumping on the bandwagon.

[lordxizor]

I was a big Wolves fan back in the Kevin Garrnet days, but haven't paid much attention for the last couple decades. I made it to a game this season with my son. What a huge jump they've taken in the playoffs. Dominant win against Denver last night. Don't want to get ahead of myself, but the Finals are looking very reachable for this team.

[SoundscapeMN]

the Wolves defense is suffocating.

[Samsara]

I became a fan of the Timberwolves on November 18, 1989. I had spent the summer of '89 playing a ton of hoops, and really became a basketball fan. I was watching my local team, the Knicks, and then the Hawks, as they were on TBS. But on November 18, I saw this guy, Tony Campbell of the Wolves, just keep coming AT the Knicks. They couldn't guard him. Johnny Newman of the Knicks was overwhelmed. I think he fouled out that day, if I remember right. Tony was too much for him. I fell in love with the guy's game, and with the team. I've been a hardcore ever since. In fact, to acquire my minor in Physical Education (Coaching) in college, I did this big paper on the history of the Timberwolves (this was in the late-90s), and the franchise sent me a bunch of media guides and other stuff to help me out. I still have them.

I say all this, because of what I witnessed last night. I have never, in my 34.5 years of fandom, seen a Timberwolves team play that level of defense. It was INSPIRING. The footwork, the commitment to rotation, it was a thing of beauty.

Make no mistake -- I thoroughly expect the defending champs to walk into Target Center on Friday and be hot from the jump, and perhaps even be rolling up large early. Pride is a real thing. But if the Wolves can weather that storm, and they will, wow. Just wow. If they can keep playing defense at this level, nothing is out of reach.

And someone needs to do some DNA testing. Edwards has to be Jordan's kid. Has to be.

As a long suffering Timberwolves fan, I have enjoyed this year immensely, and appreciating every second.

[SoundscapeMN]

I've been a fan since their inception, but I was born and have lived basically my whole life in the Twin Cities, so go figure.

Being a fan of sports in Minnesota, outside of 2 World Series wins over 30 years ago, you come to not believe the teams in Minnesota will win. The Vikings probably being the biggest culprit.

It's surreal, but I'm not willing to celebrate anything at this point.

[Lonk]

I've been a fan since their inception, but I was born and have lived basically my whole life in the Twin Cities, so go figure.

Being a fan of sports in Minnesota, outside of 2 World Series wins over 30 years ago, you come to not believe the teams in Minnesota will win. The Vikings probably being the biggest culprit.

It's surreal, but I'm not willing to celebrate anything at this point.

I'm rooting for you guys (Except if the Knicks actually make it to the finals, which I doubt).

[Samsara]

I'm not celebrating anything. But I am thankful for this run. This is the best team the Timberwolves have ever had, and that includes the KG years. So, I am taking it all in.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Congrats to Samsara and the Timberwolves faithful for an incredible win. What a fun team. Reid becoming possibly even more valuable than Towns has some serious Draymond over David Lee vibes, which eventually propelled the Warriors to a dynasty. Not saying the same thing is going to happen with the Wolves, just that this team is special and a ton of fun!

[hunnus2000]

Go Mavs! 

[Azyiu]

I don't think the Pacers will have a real shot at the Cs in the east.

The Wolves vs Mavs series will hopefully be epic.

[Samsara]

Congrats to Samsara and the Timberwolves faithful for an incredible win. What a fun team. Reid becoming possibly even more valuable than Towns has some serious Draymond over David Lee vibes, which eventually propelled the Warriors to a dynasty. Not saying the same thing is going to happen with the Wolves, just that this team is special and a ton of fun!

Thanks man. The whole neighborhood knew the Wolves won that one. I kept telling my daughter when the Nuggests lead hit 20, "patience. there's a lot of time left." So glad they turned the corner, and then blew the roof off the building. Eight down, eight to go.

[lordxizor]

My concern with the Wolves is that they were built to beat the Nuggets. Now that they've done that, will they be able to use the same personnel to beat a hot Mavericks team. I think the Wolves are the better team, but this will not be easy.

[SoundscapeMN]

I look at the Mavericks series like the Nuggets series. They need to win the 1st 2 games at least.

From a matchup standpoiint though, thie Mavericks remind me more of The Suns than the Nuggets. They don't play physical, which even with Denver, ultimately it was a problem (and Denver plays more physical than Dallas from my impression). If the Wolves play physical defense, they will give Dallas trouble. I just would hope they don't relax per it seemed like after Game 2, they relaxed, almost to the point they looked like a very different team.

By the way, I just noticed this in my neighborhood today

[lordxizor]

Naz Reid is awesome

[KevShmev]

Dallas has been the best team in the West since the All-Star break, but the T-Wolves have home court and Luka is still not close to 100%, so that could go either way.  The winner of the West should win it all, but the Celtics will likely get another easy series and coast into the Finals with the easiest path ever in a terrible conference, so the West winner may end up losing due to having gone through a war just to get to the Finals.

[King Postwhore]

The C's need a healthy Kristaps Porziņģis to beat the west teams in the finals.

[KevShmev]

With the East being such a cakewalk, having home court in the Finals, and the West winner (whoever it is) being new to that stage, this is easily the best chance this Celtics squad will ever have.  They have supposedly been on the verge for years, and if they can't get it done this year, it feels like they never will. 

I thought it was interesting that this is the first year ever that the final four teams don't have a single player who has ever been the MVP of the league. 

[King Postwhore]

It really does feel that way, Kev.  6 out of 8 years to the conference finals.  Only once to the finals.

[TAC]

The C's need a healthy Kristaps Porziņģis to beat the west teams in the finals.

I agree. Less against Dallas, but definitely. They need to get out of the Pacers series as quick as possible before they kill Horford.

[Samsara]

My concern with the Wolves is that they were built to beat the Nuggets. Now that they've done that, will they be able to use the same personnel to beat a hot Mavericks team. I think the Wolves are the better team, but this will not be easy.

None of it is easy. Not supposed to be. I'd rather say, the Mavs beat OKC. Are they able to beat the team that just dethroned the reigning NBA champs? We'll see.

By the way, I just noticed this in my neighborhood today

NAZ REID.

Dallas has been the best team in the West since the All-Star break, but the T-Wolves have home court and Luka is still not close to 100%, so that could go either way.  The winner of the West should win it all, but the Celtics will likely get another easy series and coast into the Finals with the easiest path ever in a terrible conference, so the West winner may end up losing due to having gone through a war just to get to the Finals.

Dallas has really impressed. No team is healthy though, so no excuses. Edwards and Conley are banged up significantly too. Edwards refuses to talk about it. I think Dallas/Minnesota will be entertaining. The PJ Washington pick up will help them immensely against the Wolves. But we have Jaden McDaniels and Ant to slow down Luka and Kyrie. I'd take Towns/Gobert/Conley/Reid over the next four best Dallas players. We'll find out.

my prediction: Timberwolves in 6.

As for the East, the Pacers are scrappy. But Boston is deep, experienced, and I think too much for the Pacers. The Pacers got a Giannis-less, and severely handicapped Lillard-led Bucks team and beat them. Then they beat a completely injured Knicks team. Boston, except for Kristaps, is generally healthy. I'd be very surprised if the Pacers get this past five games.

my prediction: Celtics in 5.

[TAC]

Speaking of Naz Reid, the one Celtics game we went to this year was against Minnesota. We were fairly close to the floor, so we got a good view of the height and size of each team. When Naz Reid came out to the floor, I turned to my son (who follows the NBA pretty closely) and I asked, "Who in the hell is THAT guy?"

The dude is a monstah!

[Samsara]

Speaking of Naz Reid, the one Celtics game we went to this year was against Minnesota. We were fairly close to the floor, so we got a good view of the height and size of each team. When Naz Reid came out to the floor, I turned to my son (who follows the NBA pretty closely) and I asked, "Who in the hell is THAT guy?"

The dude is a monstah!

His rookie year we attended a local G League game when he was with the Iowa Wolves G league squad. We had floor seats, next to the Wolves' bench. Here comes Naz, sprinting toward the sideline. I dove over my wife's lap to absorb the impact. Guy was a BEAST. That hurt like hell. Solid as a rock. And to think he cut MORE fat and got more muscle in the years to come. Gigantic human. We've met a few of these guys over the years. Naz, Jaden McDaniels, Jordan McLaughlin, etc. Really engaging and welcoming. Signed my old Starter Timberwolves jacket (which I gave to my daughter). So now, every year, she tries to get more signatures.

[TAC]

Post game..

Lisa Salters to Jaylen Brown:"What was the difference in overtime?"
Brown: "JT finally woke up."