2024-25 NBA running thread

[PCLoadLetter]

Suns had a must-win tonight against the Thunder. OKC sat out SGA, Hartenstein and Dort. Suns had a 15 point lead in the first half.

Thunder wins by 13. Suns are eliminated from the postseason.

Mat Ishbia needs to pack this team with dynamite in the offseason. They were in a play-in spot, then lost the last 8 straight.

 

[qtlaw]

After two absolutely idiotic turnovers in the LTM to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. If they end up in the playin, this game is why.

I’m sitting outside Arena saying the exact thing to my boy. They lacked urgency. Two idiotic TOs by their most seasoned, championship players, Green and Steph. How can you turn it over on an inbounds play after a time out?? Mind boggling. They’re in the play in, will be too gassed to do much now in Playoffs. Butler is a gem though, played his ass off.

 

[Webster]

I'm sitting outside Arena saying the exact thing to my boy. They lacked urgency. Two idiotic TOs by their most seasoned, championship players, Green and Steph. How can you turn it over on an inbounds play after a time out?? Mind boggling. They're in the play in, will be too gassed to do much now in Playoffs. Butler is a gem though, played his ass off.

Even at their absolute peak, Curry and Green had too many loose possessions with sloppy turnovers.

 

[HanSenSE]

He's just LBJ.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7877zznd0po

 

[swingline]

He's just LBJ.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7877zznd0po

Who’s going to voice L’il LeBron, Will Smith?

 

[nietsroob17]

Is there any question why EJ Jr. is one of the most beloved figures in sports media?

I'm glad the show is continuing with ABC/ESPN next season, but it's going to be a bummer to see the NBA no longer with Turner. Much like it was for me to see the Braves off TBS.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

On why the Nuggets cleaned house:

The Nuggets are a tepid 12-13 since the All-Star break and have lost some of what made them so dynamic just two years ago, even though they remain in fourth place in the West following Wednesday's win against the Sacramento Kings.

There has been more infighting on the bench and the court than Kroenke had ever seen. And every clip of those arguments seemed to go viral, whether it was Jokic's frustration at the team's defense, a heated exchange between Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson, or Gordon attempting to huddle on the court and Murray ignoring him.

Moreso, the cold war between Malone and general manager Calvin Booth had become toxic for everyone in the organization.

Coaches, front office staffers and support staff felt compelled to choose sides, multiple team sources said. Instead of focusing on how to get the most out of a team with a three-time MVP having arguably his best season as a professional, energy was being spent on determining which side people were on -- and whether they could be trusted.

"Everybody in the organization was miserable," a team source said. "That's what Josh felt. It's a bad vibe. You can't operate like that. He felt that if he removed those two people, everybody could just focus on doing their job. Change needed to happen."

In interviews with more than a dozen team and league insiders, a theme quickly emerged: Not only was this war between Malone and Booth toxic for the two men, but it had infected the entire organization. For the better part of two years, winning had hidden the toxins coursing through the Nuggets. Then they started losing.

Kroenke made the decision to fire Malone and Booth late Sunday night, sources told ESPN. It wasn't the first time this season that Kroenke seriously pondered parting ways with the winningest coach in franchise history and the executive who had put together the final pieces of the Nuggets' championship puzzle. Kroenke wanted to clean house at the All-Star break, sources said, but an eight-game winning streak spared Malone and Booth.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...malone-calvin-booth-just-days-left-nba-season

 

[DanOregon]

https://www.kgw.com/article/sports/...zers/283-0b2d79e3-7d3c-4a20-81d2-e945b340d603
I don't know what the odds were about him getting an extension at the start of the year, even at Christmas. But he's done a solid job after the GM who hired him was canned. The team finally seems on the upswing.

 

[TigerVols]

What’s with the stripe across the Buck’s floor?

 

[Cosmo]

Suns fire Budenholzer, not a surprise there.

Play-ins start Tuesday. Six teams at .500 or below made the play-in round. Yuck. The Magic won their terrible division with a 41-41 record.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

problem solved in phoenix

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Not sure where you guys are seeing this. Nothing has been announced.

 

[Cosmo]

Swore I saw something on social media, but it could have been premature. I denounce myself.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Swore I saw something on social media, but it could have been premature. I denounce myself.

Eh, don't denounce yourself too hard. I suspect your post was just a few hours early.

 

[HanSenSE]

Eh, don't denounce yourself too hard. I suspect your post was just a few hours early.

He gone.

 

[sgreenwell]

Now on the ole ESPN:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44671389/sources-suns-fire-coach-mike-budenholzer-one-season

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Eh, don't denounce yourself too hard. I suspect your post was just a few hours early.

LOL. We got the press release from the Suns less than ten minutes after I posted this.

 

[BYH 2: Electric Boogaloo]

Nobody kills coaches like Kevin Durant. At least LeBron wins.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Nobody kills coaches like Kevin Durant. At least LeBron wins.

Budenholzer had a team with the largest payroll in the league and finished 11th in the West -- tied with the Portland Trailblazers, who were half-heartedly tanking.

I watched this team all season. If Durant killed Budenholzer, Durant deserves a ****ing medal.

 

[DanielSimpsonDay]

no snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible