Oklahoma City Thunder Win the 2024-2025 NBA Championship

 24-25 NBA Finals:  Congratulations to Thunder.  They deserved this championship, and I love how they did it with a combination of defense and young talent.  Shai was dominant averaging 30 points per game but had lots of help from Jalen Williams (23 ppg) and Chet Holmgren with his defense.  We got a seven-game series, great moments and some really good games.  There were some blowouts as well but that doesn't mean we didn't enjoy the playoff's Cinderella, Indiana, making us believe they could win this series.  OKC is a very young team outside of 30-year-olds Alex Carusso and Kenrich Williams.  They are setup for a long successful run.  I won't put money on more championships, because as we've seen parity is the name of the game in the NBA right now.

2025 NBA Finals: Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder

We get Pacers - Thunder in the NBA Finals.  While I'm sure ABC execs are not excited about having two small market teams in the Finals, I am.  We get two great teams and great players in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tyrese Haliburton.  OKC was the class of the league the entire season.  Their defense and the play of MVP SGA were overwhelming for teams.  While Denver took them to seven games, the Thunder only took nine games to dismiss the Grizzlies and Timberwolves.  The Pacers were 20-9 after the All-Star break and took out the Cavs, Bucks and Knicks in the playoffs.  They shouldn't be overlooked, and Tyrese Haliburton is the real deal having some amazing games in the playoffs.  I do think OKC wins this series.  Maybe 4-2.  I understand it could even be 4-1 but I have more confidence in Indiana.

Who am I rooting for?  Indiana.  This only their second NBA Finals and they've never won an NBA championship.  OKC has won a championship as the SuperSonics in the '78-79 season.  I also think their window for competing for a championship is longer than the Pacers.  No matter who wins I think it is a win for fans.  These small market teams built their teams through good front office moves in the draft, free agency and the trade market.  There are lots of fun players outside of the stars.  They are both deep.  We should celebrate these teams.  We are getting some "old school" basketball in the playoffs, so it'll be interesting to see how much they let them play.  Enjoy!

NBA Playoffs Round 2

 The NBA playoffs gave us a good first round though no major surprises.  You weren't surprised by LA losing, right?  Clipper-Nuggets was the most fun though not all games were close.  The Aaron Gordon slam at the buzzer off a Nokic miss is a play that will be replayed for a long time.  I think all four of the Round 2 series should be fun for their own reasons.  OKC vs Denver should be good, but I think the Thunder are just too good while the Nuggets must be tired.  The T-Wolves and Warriors should be a fun series.  I don't know who to take but I think Golden State wins this one.  Knicks and Celtics could be a slugfest, but Boston falls into the too good to lose category at this point.  Cavs-Pacers should be another good series, but it may have been undone due to Darius Garland's injury.  Hopefully Cleveland can rebound from their game 1 loss and make this a good series.  No reason they can't.  An OKC-Boston Finals still feels like how this plays out and I wouldn't mind that.  I think they are the two best teams and a seven-game series would be great.  That said, I think we get OKC-Golden State and Cleveland-Boston in the Conference Finals matchups.

NBA Trade Craziness: Doncic to the Lakers and the Spurs rob the Kings

The Luke-AD trade really is perplexing.  If you don't want to pay Luka the super max extension and would rather trade him, I'm okay with that.  But no way what they got from LA is the best package they could get for a 25 year-old superstar in Luka.  Why not go into the offseason and start a bidding war and not get a massive haul.  Really, why not?  At worst run it back this season.  Doncic will be back from injury this month.  Let the season play out and then get everyone in the league on the same page - we're open for business.  I keep hearing how Dallas was ticked about Doncic's conditioning, but while that isn't petty, it isn't the reason to take less.  It just feels like a knee jerk reaction. 

I do give all sides props for keeping this quiet though.  If word had gotten out, LA and Dallas lose momentum and the whole deal could have been torpedoed.  Not saying it was a good deal.  Just props on not letting anyone know and letting players or agents drive the bus.

I'm not sure this works for the Lakers short term.  They are the #5 seed today, but does this screw up the chemistry?  And they still have no big.  But assuming Luka signs with them long term when he is eligible in the offseason, this is massive.  They have the franchise's long-term star and direction set.  Until now there was no succession plan to LeBron leaving.  Sure, they have to build around Luka still but that's just what you do.  

And somehow Luka is being painted as a victim in all this.  Yes, he'll lose ~$50M because he won't be eligible for the super max contract extension, but he'll be in LA.   He'll make that up in spades with endorsements and LA is the mecca of basketball.  If he doesn't resign with the Lakers, he can take his talents to free agency and go wherever he wants.  This is a huge win for him, period.  

Feeling left out Sacramento then trades De'Aaron Fox for very little in my opinion.  They get Zach Lavine, who Chicago hasn't been able to give away for a year due to his play, injuries and huge contract.  They get some first-round picks but Charlotte's won't convey and will turn into two second rounders.  The Spurs didn't have to give up one of Atlanta's first round picks which are much more valuable than what the actual Spurs pick.  The Timberwolves pick may be the only pick worth something in the long run.  I know Lavine is having a good year, but I can't see him being a difference maker in Sacramento.  

I know folks are in love with the idea of Fox in San Antonio but I'm not sure if it really works as well as everyone wants it to.  That said, the Spurs are in a great spot.  They have time on their hands here.  Wemby is so young that if it doesn't work out, they can move on from him after his contract ends in 2026 or trade him before that.  And Wemby will still just be reaching his prime.  If it does work out, you extend Fox and it's a good thing.  And Wemby would still be in his prime after that contract.  They'll also have flexibility in all this to add a third star if they want to.  The Spurs should be arrested for this deal.  Craziness!

CBS Sports .com does a great job breaking trades.  Hoopsrumors.com is a great site for anything basketball but especially analyzing things from a calmer perspective.

As part of a 3-team trade, traded by the Los Angeles Lakers with Max Christie and a 2029 1st round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks; the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Doncic, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris to the Los Angeles Lakers; the Los Angeles Lakers traded Jalen Hood-Schifino and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Utah Jazz; the Utah Jazz traded cash and a 2025 2nd round draft pick ( was later selected) to the Dallas Mavericks; and the Utah Jazz traded cash to the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles also received a trade exception 2025 2nd-rd pick is LAC own Dallas also received multiple trade exceptions 2025 2nd-rd pick is a right to swap 2029 1st-rd pick is LAL own

 

Spurs get: Fox, Jordan McLaughlin

Kings get: LaVine, Sidy Cissoko, three first-round picks (2025 via Hornets, 2027 via Spurs, 2031 via Timberwolves)

Bulls get: Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, their own 2025 first-round pick from Spurs

Portland Trail Blazers 2024-2025 Season Preview

 The Portland Trail Blazers have room for improvement.  Sure, it helps when you only won 21 games the season before, but this team has talent albeit on an unbalanced roster.  I was willing to give Deandre Ayton a chance last year but he's definitely not the answer.  Jerami Grant is good but he signed a big contract when they were going all in with Dame and that didn't work out.  Still not sure who Anfernee Simons is.  Shaedon Sharpe is still young and figuring out who he is too.  Donovan Clingan was the #7 pick in this year's draft but it's too early to know what he brings to the table.  Scoot Henderson is the guy after being picked #3 last year.  He struggled last year but showed some improvement in the second half of the season.  Coach Chauncey Billups has his work cut out for him.  Too many guards and too many centers does not make for a good rotation.  The front office needs to do something to help.  An Ayton trade would be great and Anfernee Simons might be the odd man out in the backcourt, if not now, later.  I do think they win more than 21 games.  Health kept them from playing consistent lineups last season.  If they're healhty this year, it will go a long way determining the team's identity.  A little optimism but I think Scoot really needs to show he's going be the guy.  Doesn't have to be a star this year but he needs to show he can be the point guard of the future for this team commensurate with being a #3 pick.

Scoot

Atlanta Hawks Season Preview

The Atlanta Hawks are not in a great place.  There are little ways for them to better themselves.  They tried switching things up in the off season, moving on from Dejounte Murray in a trade with the Pelicans but the return of Larry Nance Jr, Dyson Daniels, E.J. Liddell, and Cody Zeller aren't game changers nor are the two low 1st round draft picks they also received.  The Hawks traded three of their own 1st for Murray just a few years ago.  Those of course are more valuable.  The Hawks also tried to trade star Trae Young but there were no takers.  I think many don't see Young as a player who takes their team to the next level and the $136M left on his contract as too much to swallow for the player they see him as.  The Hawks have very limited options.  They did get the #1 pick in the 2024 draft but as is their luck, Zaccharie Risacher, isn't seen as a franchise type guy either.  I said it last year.  Unless many of their role players take a major leap in play this team is probably looking at 36 wins again.  Maybe. While Murray didn't work with Young, will De'Andre Hunter or Jalen Johnson take a huge leap to become a great second option for this team.  I just don't see it.  Somebody will get the points Murray left behind, but I don't think they can make up for his quality play.  And bless Trae Young, that man is really good and can fill up a stat sheet.  But he hasn't shown he's a "The Franchise".  Lots of negativity I know but I don't see improvement this season.  Here's hoping I'm wrong.

Jerry West Passes Away

Jerry West passed away last week.  While I never saw him play, I'm a big fan and love his game.  He was a baller.  His competitive fire had few peers.  Think MJ.  His game was amazing.  He played defense.  He could shoot, he could score and he could pass.  In the second act of his life became an great executive.  I read his autobiography some years back.  It isn't for every NBA fan but it's a good book.  Jerry West is a true legend of the NBA.  The Logo will be missed.

Boston Celtics Win the 2023-2024 NBA Championship

The Boston Celtics defeated the Dallas Mavericks four games to one to win the 2023-2024 NBA Finals.  The series played out like it probably should have.  We all wanted seven games or at a minimum some close games but it wasn't to be.  The Celtics won two games by seven points but the three other games were blowouts.  Boston was the better team hands down.  Too much talent and really good defense that came from multiple players.  Luka and Kyrie had good stretches in games but overall they didn't seem comfortable.  Neither could hit a three either.  Tatum and Brown couldn't either but the rest of the Celtics picked up the slack.  Jaylen Brown was MVP but I could make an argument for Jrue Holiday.  No complaints from me though.  Brown guarded Doncic a lot and he did a good job.  I had no dog in this fight but I've always been an Al Horford fan so it was fun seeing him be so happy at age 37.  Tatum, Brown, Holiday, White, Porzingis and head coach Joe Mazzulla all deserved this too.  Boston was great all season, great in the playoffs and great in the NBA Finals.  Congratulations Boston Celtics.

2023-2024 NBA Finals: Dallas Mavericks vs Boston Celtics

 2024 NBA Finals: The Finals start tonight as Dallas and Boston go at it.  Noone is surprised Boston is here.  The Boston-Indy series was closer than the sweep looks but still the Pacers were way overmatched.  But again, this was to be expected.  The Celtics are the best team in the East.  A healthy Milwaukee or New York would have been a fun Eastern Conference Finals but it wasn't to be.  Dallas surprised me by tearing through the darling Timberwolves.  And it was all about Luka and Kyrie.  They were great offensively and had zero respect for the Minnesota defense which looked great against Phoenix and Denver.  Dallas was also the hottest team coming into the playoffs.

I like Boston in The Finals.  I get Luka and Kyrie are playing out of their mind.  The Celtics just have too much talent.  That said they can lose this.  Is Porzingis healthy?  Can Al Horford keep up the hot shooting from three?  This will be key to stopping the Maverick bigs from clogging the lane.  The Celtics also have guys who can play defense on almost anyone in the Dallas lineup in Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.  That said, Dallas is surging.  Boston will have to play defense and they shoot a lot of threes.  If they go cold the Mavs could easily win this series.  I'm going with Boston in six games and expect close games but I'm not putting money on it.  Let's hope for seven games and plenty of fun games.

2023-2024 NBA Conference Finals

 It's that time of the year and the NBA Playoffs are down to four teams.  In the East we get Boston and Indy.  Love Indy and their move to pick Piascal Siakam from Toronto.  It's helped them get to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2014.  This team is centered around Tyrese Haliburton, Myles Turner and Siakam.  Knicks may have been banged up but nobody expected them to come back from a 3-2 deficit in that series.  Even without Kristaps Porzingis dinged up Boston is too good not to get this far.  They have so much fire power with Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Jrue Holiday and Derrick White.  

I didn't think Dallas could make it this far but they out muscled OKC and got enough from their big two in Luka and Kyrie.  They can score and they played defense in the last round to help win a huge game 7.  The Minnesota Timberwolves are the darlings of the playoffs.  Their tenacious defense and breakout star, Anthony Edwards, make them so much fun to watch.  Hard to think they could come this far after they looked so bad last year after trading for Rudy Gobert.  And that comeback against Denver in the Semi-Finals.  Down 3-2.  Down 20 points in the third quarter of game seven.  Amazing.

I'll be rooting for Minnesota, and Georgia alum Edwards, as well as Indiana.  Neither team has won a championship, and it would be so special to watch another team hoist their first banner.   We've already seen two teams do it in the last five seasons - Toronto and Denver.  That said, I think its the Timberwolves and Celtics in the NBA Finals.  I do think Dallas can make this a really good series but Minnesota is just too good right now.  Boston is just too good period.  Way too much talent even with Porzingis not on the floor while he heals.  I think those two teams would be a great matchup as well.  Hopefully no matter who we get in The Finals, I hope the Conference Finals series are fun.

Atlanta Hawks get the #1 Pick in the 2024 NBA Draft

 The Atlanta Hawks beat the odds and have the top selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.  Unlike 2023, there is no consensus #1.  The Spurs couldn't lose.  Even if Wemby did nothing in his career nobody faults them for that pick.  The Hawks will not have it so easy.  Atlanta is already rumored to be up for major changes.  Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and the supporting cast have not made for a playoff caliber team.  Personally, I'm okay if Trae Young goes.  His lack of defense has always been a sticking point for me.  Getting Murray was a fail for me.  I like Murray but he just isn't a fit with Young and now that's he's on a big extension he'll be hard to move.  If nothing else, the #1 pick gives Atlanta lots of options.  Whether that is who they pick or the ability to make trades.

Portland has two picks in the top 14.  They need lots of help so this is good.  Same thing in that they'll have options in regard to making trades.  I'm okay if they move up using those two picks but I wouldn't mind them getting two players who can really help.  They are struggling to stay healthy, helps their young core take the next step and to see the benefit of picking up Deandre Ayton.

No matter how much grief teams get for drafting, the NBA draft is a crap shoot.  So whether you're #1 or #14 you have your work cut out for you.  The draft is May 12 in Chicago.

Portland Trail Blazers Season Preview

For Portland this offseason was all about trading Dame.  It set them up for moving forward with Scoot Henderson as the face of the franchise.  In doing so they added Malcom Brogden, Robert Williams and DeAndre Ayton.  I'm not a fan of Ayton but maybe he can finally find another gear.  They also have draft picks that may come in handy down the line.  They have young talent in Anfernee Simons, Shadeon Sharpe, and Jerami Grant.  And Brogden was is the reigning 6th Man of the Year.  It feels like the team is guard heavy.  It'll be interesting to see what Chauncey Billups can do with the lineup.  The team has to be better.  They basically tanked last season.  Do they get to 40 wins.  I don't know.  The West is so tough so that may be too much to ask for right now.  What we all want to see is Scoot succeed.  He doesn't have to be a top ten player in the league this season.  But he needs to show signs he can lead this team moving forward.  I would be happy with 40 wins but would be happier if everyone stays healthy and we see signs this team looks like it'll be a playoff team and contender in years to come.

Atlanta Hawks Season Preview

The Hawks offseason really came down to moving off John Collins and extending Dejounte Murray.  Getting off John Collins was huge.  Atlanta gave him a five-year $125M deal and instantly regretted it.  What they were thinking I'll never know.  They've tried trading him for two years and finally were able to offload him to Utah.  While the return isn't anything to write home about it gives them more cap flexibility.  Extending Murray was also key.  He's needed to bring balance to the team and defense that Trae Young doens't know how to play.  The Hawks are solid at center with Capella and Okongwu.  De'Andre Hunter may be becoming the scorer they need him to be but it's still early to tell how consistent he'll be or if he can take it to another level.  After that I just don't know.  Bogdanovich can shoot and provide some scoring off the bench but after that there's a lot of unknowns.  Maybe Saddiq Bey or AJ Griffin take big steps but I don't see a path to major improvement without multiple players getting much better.  I don't think Murray and Young can carry this team.  I do think Quin Snyder was a big add as coach.  Can he make the difference this season? Maybe they get in as a #8 see but that feels like the best we can look forward to.  Hopefully I'm wrong.    

Damian Lillard To the Milwaukee Bucks In Three-Team Trade

I knew it was coming but it still hurts.  Damian Lillard is my favorite all-time Trail Blazer and beyond hope I wanted him to retire in Portland.  Lillard now goes to the Bucks where he'll team up with Giannis Antetokounmpo.  At my core I don't like trade requests but it's part of the game.  Also at my core I'm glad he'll go somewhere where he can compete for a title and play with a great like Giannis. I hope he does great and gets that ring.

Portland's haul isn't bad but not great.  Sounds like Jrue Holiday will not be with the team long since his age (33) doesn't match up with the teams young core.  But Holiday should bring back something good. He's still an excellent defender and can shoot the three.  The definition of a 3 and D guy.  Something a contender would covet.  Deandre Ayton is probably the prize catch here.  He's only 25 and averaged 18 and 10 last season.  That said I'm not big on him, but we'll see if I can get behind the big man in a Portland uniform.  The Draft picks will probably be fodder in the future for another trade down the road.  It's not the haul Brooklyn got for KD but it good and much better than anything Miami could come up with.  What they get for Holiday could really make this look even better.  As is I give it a B+.

Portland receives: From Milwaukee, guard Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee's unprotected 2029 first-round pick, the right to swap first-round picks with Milwaukee in 2028 and 2030, From Phoenix, center Deandre Ayton, and forward Toumani Camara from the Suns in the deal.

Phoenix receives: From Portland, center Jusuf Nurkic, forward Nassir Little, and guard Keon Johnson,  from Milwaukee, wing Grayson Allen

Damian Lillard Requests a Trade

Dame has officially requested a trade.  This hurts.  While not completely a surprise I still held out hope when he didn't ask for one early last week when meeting with the team and a trade request didn't come out of that.  Lillard is my favorite Trail Blazer of all-time.  It's easy to have recency bias but I am truly a big fan.  I hope all the best for him.  I know Portland will try to maximize their return.  Not often a top 10 players is traded.  They need something that will set them up for success.  That can happen in different ways so it'll be interesting to see how this turns out.  No matter how it turns out I doubt I'll be happy for a while.

Denver Nuggets Win the 2022-2023 NBA Championship

 Your 2022-2023 NBA Champion, Denver Nuggets!  Denver wins their first championship, winning the NBA Finals 4-1 and it was appropriate.  The Nuggets are a great team and have one of the best players on the planet in The Joker.  Loved seeing the celebration afterwards and I don't think anyone left the arena until way after the post-game presentations were over.  Looking over stats it's easy to say they were close and that Denver may not have "dominated" but in the end they were the better team and it showed on the court.  Miami played tough but in the end even Jimmy Butler couldn't will them to a series victory.  Denver played good defense overall and they had Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.  Jokic was amazing putting up stats in this playoff run and Finals that haven't been seen before.  30/14/7 in the NBA Finals as a center while shooting 58/42/83%.  Amazing.  Murray played great averaging 10 assists a game next to the 21 per game he poured in.  Congratulations to Denver and their fans.  Getting that first championship must be the best feeling a sports fan can have.  The Heat should be congratulated as well for a great run.  Too bad it's over.  It's been fun.

Nuggets go up 3-1 on the Heat

 2023 Finals: Again Denver shows us who they are and got nice contributions from the supporting cast down the stretch.  Combined with Aaron Gordon's big game they take a 3-1 lead.  Denver played good defense as well.  Looks tough for Miami but again don't count them out.  That said how cool would it be for Denver to win the Championshiop on their home court?  Can't wait for Monday night.

Heat-Nuggets Tied 1-1

In Game 2 Jimmy Butler and the Heat reminded us why we don't count them out.  Great game with Miami coming back after the Denver Nuggets took the lead throughout the game.  This time the supporting players for the Heat came to play while Nuggets not named Jokic didn't rise to the occasion.  I have no idea which way this series goes but I'm enjoying it.  Can't wait to see what we get in game three.

 

Denver up 1-0 in the NBA Finals

 The NBA Finals have started and game two is tonight.  As the playoffs played out this is the matchup I wanted.  Denver hasn't won a championship and have one of the greatest players in the sport today.  Miami has Jimmy Butler who has willed his team to the Finals.  I love it.  Denver is the better team on paper and I think that is pretty much agreed upon.  Miami though has proven us doubters wrong series after series. I love watching Jokic and Butler play.  They are amazing in their own ways.  I've been able to see The Joker more over the last two seasons and am firmly in the camp that says he's the best player after Kevin Durant (when healthy) in the league today.  And I just love Butler and have since he was with the Bulls.  To the series.  The Nuggets showed us who we thought they were in game one but like Mike Malone stated, they haven't done anything yet.  I always thought Denver wins this series but it's hard to count out Miami.  Still the Nuggets have so much talent in that starting lineup to throw at them.  Would be happy with either team winning though I lean towards the Nuggets whose fans and players deserve that first championship.

NBA Conference Finals

 

Conference Finals are here and I'm excited.  Been some fun basketball so far in the playoffs.  Not the matchups we would have put money on but these are fun no matter how we got them.  Personally, I want to see a Denver-Miami Finals.  A Lakers-Heat Finals rematch or even a Lakers-Celtics Finals would be fun too.  But for me I want Jokic and the Nuggets to get there and see Jimmy Butler get another shot at a title.

Wow this one should be fun.  I already gush about Jokic and anyone who watches him play should as well.  This should be a great matchup against Anthony Davis.  Jokic and the Nuggets may have had some second half regular season issues but both have put all that behind them in the playoffs.  This dude is amazing.  I think the Nuggets take this in six games.  Can LA win?  Of course.  I don't discount LeBron and AD but the Nuggets as a whole are a better team.

I love Jimmy Butler and he has carried the Heat in the playoffs especially after Tyler Herro and Victor Oladipo went down. Who didn't think the Heat were done for at that point?  Boston is a great team and led by two superstars in Jayson Tatum and Jaylon Brown.  Maybe they haven't been on every game but they are by far much better than the Heat.  Boston should win this one in five.  Knowing Jimmy Buckets this could go seven for sure and it should be a hard fought series no matter how it ends up.