NBA 2024-25
- Thread starter Madcows
- Start date
Guy Chamberlin
Active member
Okay, so Denver didn't make any trade deadline moves, but suddenly they're playing like champions again.
Jason Sitoke
New member
You must've missed Saturday night's game. Got smacked by the Lakers.
If somehow Portland, Phoenix, New Orleans can make the playoffs, Nuggets should absolutely go far. That's the caliber of teams they just beat on their winning streak.
Street Novelist
New member
:laughpound I take it you didn't watch their epic beatdown by the Lakers on Saturday?
Guy Chamberlin
Active member
Yeah, I saw that, but every team gets the occasional beatdown. The Nuggets body of work has definitely improved.
For that matter, the same people writing the Nuggets off early were also writing off the Lakers, and the Lakers had already gotten separation before Luka. . Lakers look formidable, but former players are openly mocking the Lakers defense with Luka and without Davis. This late season push should be interesting
My Warriors are back in the mix with Jimmy Butler rejuvenating players young and old, but I don't want to make too much of the six game sample size.
Jason Sitoke
New member
There are 3 elite teams in the league, and only one of them is in the west. So someone has to play the thunder in the WCF. In that sense…the west is kinda open.
Guy Chamberlin
Active member
Cavs are super solid and haven't suffered a rut all year. Some pundits still doubt them but I don't know why.
I think they're in the Celtic's heads now.
I think they're in the Celtic's heads now.
Jason Sitoke
New member
There's no reason to doubt the Cavs. Solid inside and out, defensively and offensively. Can beat you from the 3pt line or punish you in the paint. Celtics rely on frontrunning you from 3, and they'll have to beat Cleveland in close/tough games...which I don't think they can do in a long series. I pencil in the Cavs to the Finals, barring injury.
Street Novelist
New member
Hate to see it, but can't say I'm shocked
Guy Chamberlin
Active member
According to my math, the Mavericks were in the NBA Finals less than 9 months ago.
Guy Chamberlin
Active member
Denver firing Mike Malone and the GM just days before a playoff run is nuts.
It was nuts for Memphis to fire their HC, too, but the understanding was that Jenkins had lost the locker room, Ja Morant and perhaps others did not like his offense, and nobody was looking forward to next season, including Jenkins.
I didn't know there were any rumblings with the Nuggets and can't imagine a four game losing streak would be enough, just two years removed from an NBA championship. Jokic will say all the right things, but did he have a beef? Hard to think he wouldn't have been consulted or at least felt out on Malone's coaching.
It was nuts for Memphis to fire their HC, too, but the understanding was that Jenkins had lost the locker room, Ja Morant and perhaps others did not like his offense, and nobody was looking forward to next season, including Jenkins.
I didn't know there were any rumblings with the Nuggets and can't imagine a four game losing streak would be enough, just two years removed from an NBA championship. Jokic will say all the right things, but did he have a beef? Hard to think he wouldn't have been consulted or at least felt out on Malone's coaching.
Street Novelist
New member
It makes you wonder if Jokić wants out as well.
Jason Sitoke
New member
Close to it here and reading a lot of reports...
It appears Jokic was notified just before it was announced. Does not appear he was consulted. If you know how Jokic views his role, this is not surprising.
This is not due to a 4 game losing streak. This is due to a season plus of a major rift between the GM and coach that reached palpable levels and spilled over to the performance on the court this season. The Kroenkes (who own the team) took a personal interest in observing the dynamic over the past few weeks. Didn't like what they saw and decided things were going nowhere and they were going to move on from the GM and coach after the season. The reason they say they moved now is that they weren't willing to punt on the year, so this is a hail mary to give the team a shot in the arm. It was going nowhere with the status quo...what could it hurt to shake things up? Appears to be their thinking.
Felt like Malone was on his way out this past month. Will miss the guy, but it was time. Couldn't be more thrilled Calvin Booth got the pink slip. His arrogance and terrible decision making on the margins since the title run have put this franchise in a terrible position with maybe 6-7 playable guys on a roster around the best player in the league.
