Official 2025 NBA Playoffs Thread

[LeBowen]

:lol...it just looks worse all the time

Tbf, it could've been worse:

https://i.imgur.com/qDgyKS2.png

A lot of top10 busts in the draft.
COVID draft with not enough scouting material available, was bound to happen.

[Strategic]

Gobert not being any kind of scoring threat on the pick and roll is such a disadvantage.

[Strategic]

Naz Reid with 3 turnovers in a row

[lefty20]

Minny playing like they're trynna make the Red Eye to Cancun tonight.

[Dex]

Minnesota already cooked

[ginobilized]

How embarrassing for the T-Wolves. Getting out hustled and not bringing the requisite fire.
OKC's defensive intensity is so off the charts. Great communication, focus, cohesion. They don't have a KAT, Gobert or other whack job player who is messing up their schemes. Spurs need to be taking notes.

[LakerHater]

Chet gonna ring b4 wemby.
Hopefully wemby rings more times than Chet

[Dex]

Chet gonna ring b4 wemby.
Hopefully wemby rings more times than Chet

Don't know why it needs to be Chet vs. Wemby. Chet came into a much more established team with an MVP-level player and it shows.

I like to watch them go head-to-head just because of their similar size and play-styles, but I ain't losing any sleep if the Thunder win a ring before Wemby does.

[skin27]

Chet gonna ring b4 wemby.
Hopefully wemby rings more times than Chet

why do people rival wemby with chet? Chet isnt even a allstar caliber player. They are not in the same tier.

[benefactor]

Minnesota lost before they left the tunnel

[Strategic]

Ant missing the pony and then crying all the way back

[lefty]

Beat defensive team ever tbh

[Dex]

ESPN tomorrow: "Maybe Ant isn't the next Jordan!?"

[benefactor]

AE is ready to be in Cancun.

[benefactor]

I mean we all new Minnesota was overmatched...but damn:lol

[Strategic]

Wolves gonna be doubled up at half.

[SpursFan86]

Wasn’t expecting Minnesota to win but was at least hoping for a competitive game. Geez.

[Strategic]

Damn looks like all the Thunder guys have 7’6” reach on D

[Dex]

People on reddit already chirping about "ref bias" as if it's their fault the Wolves are down by 1000 points

[benefactor]

ESPN tomorrow: "Maybe Ant isn't the next Jordan!?"
It's actually sort of unfair. Ant doesn't have Phil Jackson or Scottie Pippen. Jordan was Tracy McGrady until both of them showed up

[Dex]

It's actually sort of unfair. Ant doesn't have Phil Jackson or Scottie Pippen. Jordan was Tracy McGrady until both of them showed up

Agreed, he didn't ask for the attention but it's been piled on him since their playoff run last year.

Still, one playoff run does not deserve to put you in the conversation of next GOAT, but they keep pushing the narrative.

[Strategic]

Thunder making all the Wolves look like shit

[benefactor]

Agreed, he didn't ask for the attention but it's been piled on him since their playoff run last year.

Still, one playoff run does not deserve to put you in the conversation of next GOAT, but they keep pushing the narrative.
The media is on the hunt. They know LeBron is about to hang up the shoes and they need someone to fill the void. The funny thing is when it comes to Jokic they talk about all the great things he does, but it seems like he doesn't get talked about as if he could potentially become the greatest big man of all time. They don't talk about him potentially becoming better than Hakeem, Kareem or Duncan...and if we are being honest he's very much on the way.

[Dex]

The media is on the hunt. They know LeBron is about to hang up the shoes and they need someone to fill the void. The funny thing is when it comes to Jokic they talk about all the great things he does, but it seems like he doesn't get talked about as if he could potentially become the greatest big man of all time. They don't talk about him potentially becoming better than Hakeem, Kareem or Duncan...and if we are being honest he's very much on the way.

Yep, but they half-heartedly comment about him...."oh yeah, Jokic is just the best player in the world but WHAT ABOUT ANT-MAN!?"

Even Shai isn't getting the love he deserves as MVP even though his game is very similar to Edwards

[poopbox]

The wolves are making this okc defense look way better than it really is. Almost none of the strategies they are deploying against the wolves are going to work on the Pacers. Wouldn't be surprised if the Pacers won in 6.

[Strategic]

Hartenstein is dead eye with push shot

[Dex]

The wolves are making this okc defense look way better than it really is. Almost none of the strategies they are deploying against the wolves are going to work on the Pacers. Wouldn't be surprised if the Pacers won in 6.

By the metrics, OKC's defense is historically good, so....

[benefactor]

The wolves are making this okc defense look way better than it really is. Almost none of the strategies they are deploying against the wolves are going to work on the Pacers. Wouldn't be surprised if the Pacers won in 6.We will see how well this take ages

[Strategic]

The wolves are making this okc defense look way better than it really is. Almost none of the strategies they are deploying against the wolves are going to work on the Pacers. Wouldn't be surprised if the Pacers won in 6. Yeah I always point to the players, but it doesn’t look like they have any way to attack. I’d like to see them just constantly attack the basket and let the chips fall. This shit I’m seeing is depressing

[timtonymanu]

We will see how well this take ages

That’s some good copium for when OKC rings, tbh.

[timtonymanu]

Yep, but they half-heartedly comment about him...."oh yeah, Jokic is just the best player in the world but WHAT ABOUT ANT-MAN!?"

Even Shai isn't getting the love he deserves as MVP even though his game is very similar to Edwards

It’s that desperation they have for American born players to become the next generational talent. Everyone did that with Butler when he was leading Miami to the finals two years ago. They’re desperate for Edwards to be that. Old LeBron and old Curry is all they have right now. And they’re all being outshined by non American players.

[scott]

Yep, but they half-heartedly comment about him...."oh yeah, Jokic is just the best player in the world but WHAT ABOUT ANT-MAN!?"

Even Shai isn't getting the love he deserves as MVP even though his game is very similar to Edwards

They need an American hero. Jokic and Shai being the face of the league isn't going to help them when the World Cup or Olympics roll around. Same forces will work against Wemby, IMO. I expect the heavy burden of that crown to be quickly placed on Flagg's head. All-American white boy... the media is creaming their jeans.

[Dverde]

Timberwolves are going to move heaven and earth to try to get KD after this game. They don’t got enough for Greek.

[Strategic]

Wolves gettin stomped and still nobody getting chippy

[Dex]

Wolves gettin stomped and still nobody getting chippy

I'd be getting my starters out ASAP just to avoid any potential cheap shots or random injuries, this shit is over

[lefty20]

OKC doing their part to give Ant more time to spend with his beloved children.

Very cool, thank you.

[Strategic]

We can always hope that half the Thunder’s rotation wants more money and leaves town soon

[scott]

We can always hope that half the Thunder’s rotation wants more money and leaves town soon

Who will be the first OKC role player to leverage his role on this team into a big overpay of a free agency deal. The Thunder version of Bruce Brown, if you will.

[Chillen]

Good I hope the Thunder getting to the Finals and possibly winning it all makes Silver get the Sonics back to Seattle soon. If they win it all they will have their own legacy and the 1979 title goes back to Sonics.

[Dex]

We can always hope that half the Thunder’s rotation wants more money and leaves town soon

Problem is they have like 100 draft picks

[Spurs Homer]

I sure hope the pacers upset these kunts…

[RC_Drunkford]

How embarrassing for the T-Wolves. Getting out hustled and not bringing the requisite fire.
OKC's defensive intensity is so off the charts. Great communication, focus, cohesion. They don't have a KAT, Gobert or other whack job player who is messing up their schemes. Spurs need to be taking notes.

All 15 players on their roster are positive defenders. That’s the only way to guard modern offenses. Meanwhile all players on our roster besides 3 are negative defenders. And 2 of those can’t shoot.

[scott]

All 15 players on their roster are positive defenders. That’s the only way to guard modern offenses. Meanwhile all players on our roster besides 3 are negative defenders. And 2 of those can’t shoot.

Defense, passable shooting, and BBIQ... what a concept.

[Chillen]

I sure hope the pacers upset these kunts…

Pacers got to close the Knicks out first. Most of the games in this series have been close in the 4th quarter. I don't think the Pacers are a lock quite yet.

[objective]

All 15 players on their roster are positive defenders. That’s the only way to guard modern offenses. Meanwhile all players on our roster besides 3 are negative defenders. And 2 of those can’t shoot.

Can't shoot? Excuse me, did you not see a cherry picked clip of a still hitchy Sochan making 3 long distance shots in a row? It was enough for about half this forum to declare that he can shoot now .... What will it take to convince you? Another 30 second clip of an unguarded casual shooting session?

[Robz4000]

As great as OKC looks at home, they haven't looked like worldbeaters on the road. To make it a series Indy needs to take game 1 imo.

[Spurs Homer]

Pacers got to close the Knicks out first. Most of the games in this series have been close in the 4th quarter. I don't think the Pacers are a lock quite yet.

Pacers are a better team and their depth will eventually wear out the 5-6 deep knicks tired roster…

[Dex]

Pacers are a better team and their depth will eventually wear out the 5-6 deep knicks tired roster…

Knicks also love to choke at home. They are 3-5 in Madison Square Garden in this postseason

[Spurs Homer]

Knicks also love to choke at home. They are 3-5 in Madison Square Garden in this postseason


yup

[spurraider21]

It’s that desperation they have for American born players to become the next generational talent. Everyone did that with Butler when he was leading Miami to the finals two years ago. They’re desperate for Edwards to be that. Old LeBron and old Curry is all they have right now. And they’re all being outshined by non American players.
once canada becomes a state we can claim SGA :lol

[spursistan]

The one single reason why I'm not (a) trading Castle or (b) passing up on Harper. I don't want be in the position of Clippers fans right now.

With budding young talents/prospects, it is imperative that you give them proper time and opportunity to evaluate before putting them on the block..

https://x.com/TomerAzarly/status/1011321143460917249

[timtonymanu]

The one single reason why I'm not (a) trading Castle or (b) passing up on Harper. I don't want be in the position of Clippers fans right now.

With budding young talents/prospects, it is imperative that you give them proper time and opportunity to evaluate before putting them on the block..

https://x.com/TomerAzarly/status/1011321143460917249

:lol Clippers and especially :lol Paul George.

His two old teams reaching heights he never could while the Clippers are stuck with broken down, old stars.

[spursistan]

:lol Clippers and especially :lol Paul George.

His two old teams reaching heights he never could while the Clippers are stuck with broken down, old stars.
It's such a terrible feeling if you're a Clippers fan, tbh. The "what could have been'' part with a young prospect is an even worse place to be than when your bonafide star player bolts in free agency or forces his way out.. This is why I am all for giving Harper-Castle a minimum 3-4 years together to see what we have in both. Even then, you could still make a terrible mistake in player evaluation (see Thunder with Harden in 2012)

[LeBowen]

It's such a terrible feeling if you're a Clippers fan, tbh. The "what could have been'' part with a young prospect is an even worse place to be than when your bonafide star player bolts in free agency or forces his way out.. This is why I am all for giving Harper-Castle a minimum 3-4 years together to see what we have in both. Even then, you could still make a terrible mistake in player evaluation (see Thunder with Harden in 2012)

It was still the right move to make.
It was effectively a trade for both PG13 and nephew.

PG13 just finished 3rd in both MVP and DPOY voting, nephew carried his team to a ring and won another FMVP.
PG13 was 29 and nephew was 28, it was supposed to be a 4 year window of having the best duo in the league, but then covid and injuries struck.

If Giannis was a couple of years younger, we'd all be for trading both Castle and Harper without any hesitation.

[heyheymymy]

Clippers coughing up what became SGA is a cautionary tale. Lots of teams going in on big mistakes trying to shortcut the process. I don't really like many of the big type moves lately. Not sure Gobert to MIN worked out. KAT to NYK but even if that was just about money context Bridges to NYK has not seemed to be worth the premium either. Obvs teams have to do something and obvs teams want to manage their contention windows, and not sure if you can just rewind the timeline and still have contracts work. But at some point the Knicks eg took it too far and I wonder how the team just a few moves back would fare in place of the current one.

I'd also point to MIL getting Dame. Would welcome context corrections but still feel like the Bucks took it too far trying to finagle some superteam duo to jar their window still open and in doing so sacrificed flexibility, depth, and chemistry. Even PHX had they not gone after Beal and focused around KD and Booker taking their time to move off Ayton and think of what they could've done with that Beal chunk instead? I know there are circumstances like money and compatibility and star demands so maybe I'm wrong but some of those moves are just rushed, dumb, and hamstrung the teams.

imho there had to be better moves to take. It looks like tunnel visioning for some premature finishing touch in hamfisted impatience and lack of discipline while spilling value.

[RC_Drunkford]

Defense, passable shooting, and BBIQ... what a concept.

:pop: "That's not who we are!"

[LeBowen]

#11
#12
#2
undrafted
#43
undrafted
#10
#55
#49
undrafted
#34

Thunder's 11 players who got non-garbage time minutes in these playoffs.
Yeah, Giddey was #6 and he got traded away, but the point is that Spurs need to find some more good players with late picks or get reclamation projects like Champagnie or Bassey who have some value.
This becomes even more important with the new CBA.

We got our Fox, Wemby and hopefully Castle, Harper core, the rest of the roster can be acquired for cheap if our front office proves to be competent enough.

[RC_Drunkford]

#11
#12
#2
undrafted
#43
undrafted
#10
#55
#49
undrafted
#34

Thunder's 11 players who got non-garbage time minutes in these playoffs.
Yeah, Giddey was #6 and he got traded away, but the point is that Spurs need to find some more good players with late picks or get reclamation projects like Champagnie or Bassey who have some value.
This becomes even more important with the new CBA.

We got our Fox, Wemby and hopefully Castle, Harper core, the rest of the roster can be acquired for cheap if our front office proves to be competent enough.

which is why I'm against trading the pick. Especially when there are a lot of good defenders available in our range and those are hard to come by on the trade market. I totally expect the Spurs to trade it away though.

[LeBowen]

which is why I'm against trading the pick. Especially when there are a lot of good defenders available in our range and those are hard to come by on the trade market. I totally expect the Spurs to trade it away though.

I guess it's going to come down to if there's anyone they think is worth picking available.
Last year's trade was a huge overpay by Minnesota and a good decision in hindsight, considering how weak the draft was.

#14 has way lower value than #8 and I'd hate to see another similar trade, I'd be fine if it's used in a trade for a legit player.

Our four player core should be set after the Harper pick, we just need to stack up on 3-D wings with legit size and we're good to go.
We could even take a brute force, quantity first approach to it. Just get 2 or 3 Champagnie-style reclamation projects every summer, eventually a couple of those will hit.

[exstatic]

Who will be the first OKC role player to leverage his role on this team into a big overpay of a free agency deal. The Thunder version of Bruce Brown, if you will.

Chet. I’m guessing that Jalen will correctly insist on his SuperMax after his All NBA selection. Guessing that they’ll offer Chet a < max extension, and he’ll go into FA next year.

It would be ironic if Wemby’s injury, and subsequent non selection for All NBA might be the cause of the first OKC cracks, because Jalen was selected.

[RC_Drunkford]

Chet. I’m guessing that Jalen will correctly insist on his SuperMax after his All NBA selection. Guessing that they’ll offer Chet a < max extension, and he’ll go into FA next year.

It would be ironic if Wemby’s injury, and subsequent non selection for All NBA might be the cause of the first OKC cracks, because Jalen was selected.

you can only sign a supermax when you have been in the league 5 or more years. What you are talking about is the 30% rookie max.

[CorrectCrusader]

They're gonna sleepwalk to the finals. OKC vs Boston is gonna be crazy though.

Well to be fair I didn't expect the Boston injuries.

[exstatic]

you can only sign a supermax when you have been in the league 5 or more years. What you are talking about is the 30% rookie max.

Yeah,but the usually rookie max is 25%, so BabyMax?

[pad300]

...
#14 has way lower value than #8
...

Inside a given draft year, this is obviously true, but (IMO of course), this year's draft is much better than last years. In terms of the quality of prospect you might draw, I'd say the two picks (#8, 2024 and #14, 2025) are even, maybe even leaning towards this year (#14, 2025).

[CorrectCrusader]

Inside a given draft year, this is obviously true, but (IMO of course), this year's draft is much better than last years. In terms of the quality of prospect you might draw, I'd say the two picks (#8, 2024 and #14, 2025) are even, maybe even leaning towards this year (#14, 2025).

It's not even close. This draft is FAR better.

[poopbox]

By the metrics, OKC's defense is historically good, so....

Cavs were historic in multiple metrics and got destroyed in the second round...

[lefty]

Cavs were historic in multiple metrics and got destroyed in the second round...
OKC’s perimeter is better than Cleveland’s though
It’s easier to abuse Garland because of his size

[RC_Drunkford]

Cavs were historic in multiple metrics and got destroyed in the second round...

the Cavs play defensive liabilities. Garland and Mitchell are both negatives on defense. All you gotta do is get the switch and go 1-on-1 against them. Indiana is exposing the Knicks for it in the ECF.

OKC doesn't have any liabilities on the roster. All 15 players are positive defenders by defensive EPM.

[scott]

#11
#12
#2
undrafted
#43
undrafted
#10
#55
#49
undrafted
#34

Thunder's 11 players who got non-garbage time minutes in these playoffs.
Yeah, Giddey was #6 and he got traded away, but the point is that Spurs need to find some more good players with late picks or get reclamation projects like Champagnie or Bassey who have some value.
This becomes even more important with the new CBA.

We got our Fox, Wemby and hopefully Castle, Harper core, the rest of the roster can be acquired for cheap if our front office proves to be competent enough.

Yep. Would be nice if we started taking the second round seriously, for starters.

[scott]

Chet. I’m guessing that Jalen will correctly insist on his SuperMax after his All NBA selection. Guessing that they’ll offer Chet a < max extension, and he’ll go into FA next year.

It would be ironic if Wemby’s injury, and subsequent non selection for All NBA might be the cause of the first OKC cracks, because Jalen was selected.

Jalen's All NBA selection this season doesn't actually make him eligible for the Rookie SuperMax. He still needs to make All NBA (or win MVP/DPOY) next season. He can sign an extension this summer that includes language that allows for his contract to scale up to the 30% max *if* he meets the criteria.

Not specific to JDub, but Rookie "SuperMax" deals can include criteria for the scaling up beyond 25%. For example, OKC could do a contract where JDub gets 27% for making All NBA third team, 28% for second team, 29% for first team, 30% for MVP (as an example). This is one of those little known features of Designated Rookie Extensions, it's not just a 25% or 30% situation.

[Spurs Homer]

Hoping to see the knicks eliminated at home...

might not happen due to the pacers youth/inexperience - but maybe carlisle can keep them focused...but its 50/50 that we see either a pacers blow out/knicks elimination

or

pacers relax and assume they can just turn it on again in indiana?

[skin27]

The one single reason why I'm not (a) trading Castle or (b) passing up on Harper. I don't want be in the position of Clippers fans right now.

With budding young talents/prospects, it is imperative that you give them proper time and opportunity to evaluate before putting them on the block..

https://x.com/TomerAzarly/status/1011321143460917249

man the clippers doesnt have a young superstar like wemby..so its different. Even if we passo on harper or castle it doenst matter because we have wemby.

[exstatic]

Jalen's All NBA selection this season doesn't actually make him eligible for the Rookie SuperMax. He still needs to make All NBA (or win MVP/DPOY) next season. He can sign an extension this summer that includes language that allows for his contract to scale up to the 30% max *if* he meets the criteria.

Not specific to JDub, but Rookie "SuperMax" deals can include criteria for the scaling up beyond 25%. For example, OKC could do a contract where JDub gets 27% for making All NBA third team, 28% for second team, 29% for first team, 30% for MVP (as an example). This is one of those little known features of Designated Rookie Extensions, it's not just a 25% or 30% situation.
Thought I read that the selection had to be in one of the two years before the new contract or extension kicks in.

Edit: the actual criteria…

Be named to an All-NBA team in the most recent season or two in the last three seasons.

[exstatic]

man the clippers doesnt have a young superstar like wemby..so it’s different. Even if we passo on harper or castle it doenst matter because we have wemby.
Milwaukee has Giannis, a top 3 NBA player, and they’re still in the shitter. One guy can’t do it, not even a superstar.

[scott]

Thought I read that the selection had to be in one of the two years before the new contract or extension kicks in.

Edit: the actual criteria…

Be named to an All-NBA team in the most recent season or two in the last three seasons.

Yep, it has to be in the most recent season prior to the extension kicking in (which would be next year). You'll see extensions with the Designated Criteria built into them (but not yet earned) show up this way in Spotrac (Cade's is now earned, it just hasn't updated yet):

https://i.imgur.com/iVonXeH.png

But my original question was not so much is who is OKC going to lose... but which OKC Free Agent will earn a deal that will eventually be viewed as an overpay because they're coming from OKC (like Bruce Brown when he left DEN)?

They amazingly have no free agents of significance this offseason... but the year after iHart, Dort, Cason and Jaylin Williams are set to become Free agents. I could see Dort and Cason getting oversized deals from dipshit team like Atlanta or Brooklyn.

[skin27]

Milwaukee has Giannis, a top 3 NBA player, and they’re still in the shitter. One guy can’t do it, not even a superstar.

His talking about the clippers not the bucks.

[timtonymanu]

His talking about the clippers not the bucks.

I think his point is saying guys like Castle and Harper are important so Wemby isn't on a one man team like the Bucks with Giannis and Nuggets are with Jokic. Generational stars still need supporting players.

[skin27]

I think his point is saying guys like Castle and Harper are important so Wemby isn't on a one man team like the Bucks with Giannis and Nuggets are with Jokic. Generational stars still need supporting players.


thats not the point of my reply to the other poster. The other poster is talking about the clippers being left with an old superstar which is a very different from spurs situation. Spurs have wemby who is only 21 years old.so even if spurs pass on either castle or harper its not the end of the world because spurs have wemby.

[spurraider21]

They amazingly have no free agents of significance this offseason... but the year after iHart, Dort, Cason and Jaylin Williams are set to become Free agents. I could see Dort and Cason getting oversized deals from dipshit team like Atlanta or Brooklyn.
and chet

[Dex]

and chet

We should bring in Chet along with Giannis and KD, and then bring Boban back.

TOWER POWER LINEUP

[scott]

and chet

RFA

[spurraider21]

RFA
if they dont get him extended, he will get offer sheets

[scott]

if they dont get him extended, he will get offer sheets

Maybe, but of course OKC will just match them. Might even save them a little money that way. Point is... OKC isn't really at risk of losing him that summer. (JDub will also be an RFA at the same time if not extended)

[ace3g]

8:04 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
23
22
28
11
84


NY
27
29
34
6
96

[ace3g]

3:26 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
23
22
28
15
88


NY
27
29
34
14
104

[Chillen]

I think I said earlier Pacers are not a lock to make the Finals. It's the East and the Knicks are pretty good now the pressure is back on the Pacers for game 6.

[mystargtr34]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKOVidjRVyh/?igsh=MXhtc2VrcWh6dTBzeA==

[Robz4000]

Pacers win game 6 by 20+ tbh. Knicks had to win this game for pride.

[RC_Drunkford]

Yep, it has to be in the most recent season prior to the extension kicking in (which would be next year). You'll see extensions with the Designated Criteria built into them (but not yet earned) show up this way in Spotrac (Cade's is now earned, it just hasn't updated yet):

https://i.imgur.com/iVonXeH.png

But my original question was not so much is who is OKC going to lose... but which OKC Free Agent will earn a deal that will eventually be viewed as an overpay because they're coming from OKC (like Bruce Brown when he left DEN)?

They amazingly have no free agents of significance this offseason... but the year after iHart, Dort, Cason and Jaylin Williams are set to become Free agents. I could see Dort and Cason getting oversized deals from dipshit team like Atlanta or Brooklyn.

I'm curious what they are going to do this offseason. They have 15 players under contract and 2 first round picks.

[Sugus]

thanks for proving my point that you're just a bandwagon Spurs fan, just like those bandwagon Warriors fans after they won their first ring in 2015. That explains why you have no clue about anything that you are talking about, since you never even watched this franchise play when they were at their peak. You just watch 5 min highlight videos of the Big 3 on youtube and you might actually be older than me :lol I'm not talking about the 80s, I'm talking about the 2010s you dumb fuck :lol

Too late for a good ol' necro? I don't check my mentions often, but didn't want to leave this without reply, unlike KA's imbecile message.

I'm definitely not older than your TOSB ass :lol but what's not a "bandwagon fan" for the Spurs then? Only fans who watched all 5 rings are "true fans"? Stupid expectation and gatekeeping. I did watch the Spurs at their absolute best - 2014 - despite not actively posting on ST at the time (as I'm guessing most non-US Spurs fans would, save for a handful who found this site). But I've been a Manu fan before I became a Spurs fan - I watched him play live with the Argentina NT, in person, during their Golden Age.

Respectfully, fuck you for gatekeeping sports fandom, I hope you come to realize what bullshit you're spewing. The argument had nothing to do with the 80's, and I find the attitude we were talking about condemnable at any era (and again, I'll be waiting to hear your takes when playoffs come around and the Brooks and Dort's of the league are trying to injure Wemby on purpose).

Anyways, carry on believing you're the only "true fan" around while actively shitting on the team you're an alleged fan of at every turn, like most fart-sniffing basement-dwellers on this forum have been doing for the almost-20 years that I've happily lived my life elsewhere. Cheers.

[Sugus]

You got me thinking how funny the concept of "bandwagon fans" really is. The divide between the "true fans" who were there "through thick and thin", in opposition to the "bandwagoners" who only jumped in after the team was successful. When is the last time the Spurs were really, truly bad, unsuccessful, and in the "true fans only" position? It's gotta be the LMA-DeRozan era. But I'm sure most in this forum (myself included) don't count that as real "dark times".

Anything past that, and there's really no point after Timmy joined the Spurs where you can say it was truly hard times - you can always point back to a previous championship or source of success as an exclusionary cut-off to gatekeep. Maybe there were some down-years, relative to Spurs fans' expectations, but nothing like Charlotte's or Chicago's or Minessotta's droughts. Would you have to go back to the McCombs-owned years for that? DRob getting no help for his roster, perhaps even earlier since DRob was a joy on his own? Which would put the last batch of "truly true fans" at people who were fans at the end of the 80's, when McCombs sold the team to the Holts.

This would place our resident True Fan cutoff at no less than 40 years old, of continued Spurs fandom. Quite a bar to clear! I somehow doubt most of the active forum users clear it - I certainly don't - but it's interesting to think of. Literally any fan who came aboard after Timmy was drafted, and rang in '99, is by definition a "bandwagon fan" - never suffering through the truly dark years of the Spurs.

I'm tempted to make a poll on this, it would be quite an interesting survey of the forum. Can any of these fabled True Fans chime in on a date cut-off we could use for the poll? I'd like to be more precise.

[RC_Drunkford]

The argument had nothing to do with the 80's.




The fuck do I care what the Spurs were doing in the 80's?



:lol

[Sugus]

:lol

Can you stop being so fucking dumb for the sake of being contrarian?

Your two quotes don't contradict at all. The fuck would I care about the 80's when the argument - whether it's morally OK for Dillon Brooks to target Steph Curry's fingers outside of a basketball play in order to injure him - is completely devoid from any 80's context or relevance? When I never brought up the 80s and have nothing but consistently bad things to say about players in the 80s, Spurs players included, using these shitty and bush-league tactics?

Are you dolt? Daft? Fucked in the head?

Take your meds, Jesus, and cut the shit. It's like you want to bring the discussion down to idiotic levels on purpose.

[Sugus]

Purposely attacking players' injuries to make up for a lack of basketball talent is pathetic behavior, tbh. Surprised you embrace it so readily, I'd be embarrassed.

Here's my first comment on the matter, for reference. Whatever the fuck the 80's have to do with this is anyone's guess, and I'm curious, tbqh.

[R. DeMurre]

the Cavs play defensive liabilities. Garland and Mitchell are both negatives on defense. All you gotta do is get the switch and go 1-on-1 against them. Indiana is exposing the Knicks for it in the ECF.

OKC doesn't have any liabilities on the roster. All 15 players are positive defenders by defensive EPM.

I was saying this early in the year with Cleveland, that they can beat most teams with their sheer talent, but when the playoffs come and they face quality teams, their undersized back court is a problem. When you face a good team and that team has a size advantage at PG, SG, and SF, it's a problem. 6'1", 6'3', & 6'5" means you're facing serial mismatches on every possession, and even on the majority of switches. It <might> be different if one of your undersized guys is a Joe Dumars type, but none of those Cavs are. OKC is closer to following the blueprint of the Harper/Jordan/Pippen Bulls, where teams struggle to find a single mismatch all game. Jalen Williams looks like the odd guy out in that configuration, but his 7'2.25" wingspan is actually similar to Pippen's.

[R. DeMurre]

I think Presti is a really smart guy, but even his career shows how much luck and circumstance play out in the NBA. He's on record saying Oden was the best player of the Durant draft, and that he would have drafted Oden if he'd had the #1 pick. But he got the #2 pick, chose Durant, and then was applauded for choosing the best player of the draft.

With Shai, Presti was totally at the mercy of Paul George wanting to leave the team, and demanding to to be traded to one and only one team-- the Clippers. Picking Shai as the best young player to demand in return was a pretty easy choice. Plus I'd add that Paul George wanting to team up with Kawhi over Westbrook was a basketball choice based on looking at Russ and realizing you're probably not winning with him as your #1 guy. In a way, you could argue that Presti holding on to Westbrook for too long led to him being rewarded with Shai... not because of any long term planning or insight, but thanks to pure luck.

[RC_Drunkford]

Can you stop being so fucking dumb for the sake of being contrarian?

Your two quotes don't contradict at all. The fuck would I care about the 80's when the argument - whether it's morally OK for Dillon Brooks to target Steph Curry's fingers outside of a basketball play in order to injure him - is completely devoid from any 80's context or relevance? When I never brought up the 80s and have nothing but consistently bad things to say about players in the 80s, Spurs players included, using these shitty and bush-league tactics?

Are you dolt? Daft? Fucked in the head?

Take your meds, Jesus, and cut the shit. It's like you want to bring the discussion down to idiotic levels on purpose.

suck my dick.

Multiple people here made the point 100 times that that's what Spurs players did as well when they were contending. Nobody cares that Dillon Brooks behaviour makes your pussy bleed. You're running around cocksucking without knowing what you are talking about. Ain't nobody gatekeeping fandom anywhere. You're bandwagoner who has no clue how this franchise operates or what their M.O. was when they were winning titles. That's why you just stick your nose up PATFO's ass and love to smell their shit.

You're in love with every move they make, a pure yes-man. If they were all on cocaine Sugus would stand their and applaud, cause that's what you do: suck dick. If you're viewing basic criticism as hating then you're just a soft bitch, plain and simple. Calling the 2014 Spurs the "peak years" is hilarious btw.

[RC_Drunkford]

I was saying this early in the year with Cleveland, that they can beat most teams with their sheer talent, but when the playoffs come and they face quality teams, their undersized back court is a problem. When you face a good team and that team has a size advantage at PG, SG, and SF, it's a problem. 6'1", 6'3', & 6'5" means you're facing serial mismatches on every possession, and even on the majority of switches. It <might> be different if one of your undersized guys is a Joe Dumars type, but none of those Cavs are. OKC is closer to following the blueprint of the Harper/Jordan/Pippen Bulls, where teams struggle to find a single mismatch all game. Jalen Williams looks like the odd guy out in that configuration, but his 7'2.25" wingspan is actually similar to Pippen's.

that's why OKC's defense is so lethal, because they are doing the complete opposite. Players like Dort, Williams and Caruso can guard positions up, which let's Chet roam in the paint instead of being stuck on the perimeter. They can just switch everything and let him be the low man at the rim.

[Sugus]

suck my dick.

Multiple people here made the point 100 times that that's what Spurs players did as well when they were contending. Nobody cares that Dillon Brooks behaviour makes your pussy bleed. You're running around cocksucking without knowing what you are talking about. Ain't nobody gatekeeping fandom anywhere. You're bandwagoner who has no clue how this franchise operates or what their M.O. was when they were winning titles. That's why you just stick your nose up PATFO's ass and love to smell their shit.

You're in love with every move they make, a pure yes-man. If they were all on cocaine Sugus would stand their and applaud, cause that's what you do: suck dick. If you're viewing basic criticism as hating then you're just a soft bitch, plain and simple. Calling the 2014 Spurs the "peak years" is hilarious btw.

:lmao so you really think dirty play and bush-league behavior is a core part of Spurs fandom? That the "franchise operates" these dirty tactics willingly, even today, and condones them? That the Spurs fandom includes cheering for our players causing injuries to opponents as some core, "true fan" belief, and everyone who doesn't agree just doesn't have enough "Spurs fandom" in them? :lol

What a bullshit view, and the rest of your pathetic charade is nothing but justification of your shit logic. You sure as fuck were saying "Fuck Zaza" along with everyone a few years ago, what a fucking hypocrite if you think the same behavior is part of Spurs' fundamental operation.

I'd rather be a fan of a team that has pride in itself, than whatever sorry excuse of a Stockholm behavior that you think your support is. Oh no, Sugus supports the team's decisions that have taken them from a rebuild into playoff contentions! :cry :cry why can't he be a pussy-ass Debbie Downer "realist" like the rest of us :cry :cry

Anyways, pointless to argue this now, I'll revisit this point once Wemby is inevitably in the playoffs and having dirty shit done to him. You'll tell me aaaall about true Spurs fandom then :rollin

[RC_Drunkford]

:lmao so you really think dirty play and bush-league behavior is a core part of Spurs fandom? That the "franchise operates" these dirty tactics willingly, even today, and condones them? That the Spurs fandom includes cheering for our players causing injuries to opponents as some core, "true fan" belief, and everyone who doesn't agree just doesn't have enough "Spurs fandom" in them? :lol

What a bullshit view, and the rest of your pathetic charade is nothing but justification of your shit logic. You sure as fuck were saying "Fuck Zaza" along with everyone a few years ago, what a fucking hypocrite if you think the same behavior is part of Spurs' fundamental operation.

I'd rather be a fan of a team that has pride in itself, than whatever sorry excuse of a Stockholm behavior that you think your support is. Oh no, Sugus supports the team's decisions that have taken them from a rebuild into playoff contentions! :cry :cry why can't he be a pussy-ass Debbie Downer "realist" like the rest of us :cry :cry

Anyways, pointless to argue this now, I'll revisit this point once Wemby is inevitably in the playoffs and having dirty shit done to him. You'll tell me aaaall about true Spurs fandom then :rollin

what a fucking moron you are :lmao

"The Spurs would never hurt their opponent to win, mi-mi-mi :cry"

"Pop would never do this :cry"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPNZHDuISTo

go buy yourself a pack of these

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61pHb4xWsvL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

[Sugus]

what a fucking moron you are :lmao

"The Spurs would never hurt their opponent to win, mi-mi-mi :cry"

"Pop would never do this :cry"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPNZHDuISTo

go buy yourself a pack of these

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61pHb4xWsvL._AC_UF894,1000_QL80_.jpg

"If you don't like players injuring other players on purpose, you're too much of a pussy to be a Spurs fan".

Glad you're not the one making the rules :rolleyes :wakeup

By the way, you never answered, do tell me if you shut your mouth about Zaza when it happened, or how glad you are to be a hypocrite. Eager to hear your spin on it.

[RC_Drunkford]

"If you don't like players injuring other players on purpose, you're too much of a pussy to be a Spurs fan".

Glad you're not the one making the rules :rolleyes :wakeup

By the way, you never answered, do tell me if you shut your mouth about Zaza when it happened, or how glad you are to be a hypocrite. Eager to hear your spin on it.

You mean like Pop when every TV network said he's a hypocrite when he said that stuff about Zaza because he had Bruce do it back in the day? Call Pop and complain to him since you love to sniff his farts. Things you still can't comprehend with your peanut size brain :lol


https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6bbw32/anyone_find_it_hypocritical_that_pop_got_irate/

(https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6bbw32/anyone_find_it_hypocritical_that_pop_got_irate/)https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/featured/fox-sports-radio/content/2017-05-16-gregg-popovich-is-being-a-hypocrite/

https://sportsnaut.com/nba/old-gregg-popovich-quote-shows-hypocrisy-zaza-pachulia-attack/

https://www.complex.com/sports/a/angel-diaz/greg-popovich-is-a-hypocrite-and-funny-to-ya-boy

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1564163
(https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1564163)


Then-NBA disciplinarian Stu Jackson called Bowen over the incident and threatened to fine him. Popovich brought up other players doing the same thing in a vintage rant of its own time and purpose. Let's break down the quotes:


"Did (the league) call them?" Popovich said. "Did they call all those guys (Dirk) Nowitzki landed on when he sprained his ankles the past three, four years? The answer is no."
This is just outright bad logic from a very smart man. Not everyone who speeds gets caught. That doesn't make it OK.

"So why did they call Bruce? Because it's happened to him twice? Bruce guards an All-Star every night. If he was doing what they're accusing him of doing, wouldn't it have happened a higher percentage of times?"

Maybe it had? The NBA wasn't stressing shooters' landing zones as much in the 2000s as it has in the 2010s, so these fouls weren't on people's minds.


"The people who cry about it are just frustrated about having to go against Bruce."
Couldn't the same be said about Pachulia?


"The league is just trying to cover its ass," Popovich said. "I told Bruce, 'You be Bruce Bowen. You're the best (expletive) defender in this league. You will NOT change the way you play defense.'

"Stu Jackson is not going to change my team just because he thinks he's doing the right thing."

[Sugus]

You mean like Pop when every TV network said he's a hypocrite when he said that stuff about Zaza because he had Bruce do it back in the day? Call Pop and complain to him since you love to sniff his farts. Things you still can't comprehend with your peanut size brain :lol


https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6bbw32/anyone_find_it_hypocritical_that_pop_got_irate/

(https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/6bbw32/anyone_find_it_hypocritical_that_pop_got_irate/)https://foxsportsradio.iheart.com/featured/fox-sports-radio/content/2017-05-16-gregg-popovich-is-being-a-hypocrite/

https://sportsnaut.com/nba/old-gregg-popovich-quote-shows-hypocrisy-zaza-pachulia-attack/

https://www.complex.com/sports/a/angel-diaz/greg-popovich-is-a-hypocrite-and-funny-to-ya-boy

https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1564163
(https://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?t=1564163)


[/INDENT]

No, I meant your take on it. You're hiding behind Pop's ass now? Who's the fart sniffer tbh? :lol

I've been clear with my point and, as much as you want to call me a sniffer or whatever, I have zero issues disagreeing with Pop's take on this. Fuck purposely injuring opposing players, be it a Spurs player or opponent doing the harm.

I was pissed at Zaza's bitch maneuver and I can only say I would've been equally displeased at Bowen's had I shared them at the time. It's so funnily apologetic of you to think that you have to agree with every decision and behavior of a team in order to be a fan of it.... Where's the contrarianism? Where's the going against the FO? Only when it suits your shtick, eh?

I find it really amusing that you've called me all sorts of names on my supposed apologism of everything Spurs FO-related, yet here we are faced with a supposed "pillar of Spurs fandom" and I'm firmly opposite of sniffing Pop's farts on the topic. Irony is really lost...

[RC_Drunkford]

No, I meant your take on it. You're hiding behind Pop's ass now? Who's the fart sniffer tbh? :lol

I've been clear with my point and, as much as you want to call me a sniffer or whatever, I have zero issues disagreeing with Pop's take on this. Fuck purposely injuring opposing players, be it a Spurs player or opponent doing the harm.

I was pissed at Zaza's bitch maneuver and I can only say I would've been equally displeased at Bowen's had I shared them at the time. It's so funnily apologetic of you to think that you have to agree with every decision and behavior of a team in order to be a fan of it.... Where's the contrarianism? Where's the going against the FO? Only when it suits your shtick, eh?

I find it really amusing that you've called me all sorts of names on my supposed apologism of everything Spurs FO-related, yet here we are faced with a supposed "pillar of Spurs fandom" and I'm firmly opposite of sniffing Pop's farts on the topic. Irony is really lost...

Oh now all of a sudden you DISAGREE with Pop? You're a hater now, wow. How can you hate on the third most winning franchise in the NBA? What kind of doom and gloom fan are you?

If you haven't checked it yet, I'm using your same logic against you. You run around here calling people haters when they criticize moves of the FO yet you suck PATFO off and now you disagree all of a sudden? What a hater you are shame on you. Matter of fact, call the Spurs franchise because Bruce Bowen's jersey is still in the rafters :wow

How can they do such a thing?
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR6csLAs2Fv0PGFfNOyePW6saNw_egAg ZmMZQ&s

They put a players jersey in the rafters who blatantly karate kicked an opponent in the face. How dare they?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FD1K6vyhek

This is the thing you're not understanding: This is prime Spurs basketball. This is prime Popovich. And all of us love Bruce. This is why people here have been criticizing Pop for going soft. You only know the "let me show you penguin videos" version of Pop. This is the real Popovich, when we won 3 rings in 5 years.

We're all fans here, but a lot of us know what the franchise was like when the Spurs were really winning and a lot of that attitude went away with Pop going soft after nephew left. It's not blatant hate if you criticize it, nor does it feed our own agenda. Some of us just see that the same fire ain't there and miss some of that nostalgia the Spurs had when the big 3 were at their peak. You might not be aware of it and that's the point people were trying to get across to you. Young Pop was a whole different coach back then, in a good way.

I don't like the Mitch hiring, but I hope he's hungry, really wants to prove himself and brings some of that fire back. That doesn't mean we have to sign players who try to injure other players, but a guy like Sochan who can get under the opponents skin is always needed on a winning team, like it or not.

[skin27]

Its funny people bashing sga of being a freethrow merchant, actually most mvp caliber players are freethrow merchants. Heck even thunder Durant was a freethrow merchant from 2010 to 2014.

[CGD]

Go Knicks!

[Dex]

Its funny people bashing sga of being a freethrow merchant, actually most mvp caliber players are freethrow merchants. Heck even thunder Durant was a freethrow merchant from 2010 to 2014.

It is the best way to pad your scoring in the "new NBA".

And let's not pretend like Timmy didn't hunt fouls with his sweep-through move (which has now been adjusted to an on-the-floor foul), or that Manu didn't run into defenders and flop from time to time.

I don't support egregious flopping, but drawing fouls is the new art of the war.

[skin27]

It is the best way to pad your scoring in the "new NBA".

And let's not pretend like Timmy didn't hunt fouls with his sweep-through move (which has now been adjusted to an on-the-floor foul), or that Manu didn't run into defenders and flop from time to time.

I don't support egregious flopping, but drawing fouls is the new art of the war.

yeah, like i said before, timmy was also a freethrow merchant in his mvp days.

[ace3g]

Ref just missed a blatant backcourt violation.

[skin27]

Pacers vs knicks must go 7 games ( silver and the NBA)

[mystargtr34]

On one hand I feel like the Knicks match up better against the Thunder

Robinson on Hart
KAT on Chet
OG on J Dub
Bridges on SGA
Brunson on Dort

But then I feel the Thunder will be able to swarm and shutdown Brunson and the Knicks don’t really have any other creators as I don’t trust Towns to do that.

The Pacers have more advantage creators on paper and rely more on ball movement. Just not sure how they’re going to stop SGA, J Dub and Chet. Nesmith is good defensively. He probably guards SGA, who guards J Dub? Nembhard?

[scott]

Close out home game energy gonna take over here in the second half. Pacers going away.

[skin27]

Knicks fumbling

[ace3g]

Thomas Bryant 3-3 from 3.

[ace3g]

2:31 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
17

71


IND
25
33
29

87

[ace3g]

30.1 - 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
21

75


IND
25
33
32

90

[ace3g]

End of 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23

77


IND
25
33
34

92

[ace3g]

Damn that Walker ankle injury...

[ace3g]

9:54 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23
6
83


IND
25
33
34
1
93

[mystargtr34]

Damn that Walker ankle injury...

What happened I missed it was it a sprain or break?

[ace3g]

7:57 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23
9
86


IND
25
33
34
6
98

[Robz4000]

This is some 2002 WCF-level officiating tbh. Knicks are just too incompetent to take advantage so far.

[ace3g]

What happened I missed it was it a sprain or break?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GsUtEoqX0AADxcW?format=png&name=360x360

[ace3g]

6:38 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23
13
90


IND
25
33
34
12
104

[ace3g]

4:20 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23
17
94


IND
25
33
34
21
113

[Dod01]

And people were hating on Becky when she said you can't win a chip with Brunson :wakeup

[Dex]

Knicks are cooked, and would have gotten blown out by OKC worse than the 2007 Cavs anyways

[Dod01]

Was actually hoping for a game 7

[ace3g]

2:11 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


NY
24
30
23
22
99


IND
25
33
34
26
118

[mystargtr34]

Pussycat Towns 😂

[Dex]

Towns is so fucking clumsy with the ball, why are are they letting him play like he is a guard?

[skin27]

So its going to be thunder vs pacers in the finals

[skin27]

Who’s that lady in white?

[Dod01]

I can't believe (ok, I can somewhat believe it, but you get the point) the league is actually going to allow an OKC-Pacers finals. Cmon, admit it, you can't believe it either, lol.

[skin27]

I can't believe (ok, I can somewhat believe it, but you get the point) the league is actually going to allow an OKC-Pacers finals. Cmon, admit it, you can't believe it either, lol.


i didnt expect it either.

[Dex]

So its going to be thunder vs pacers in the finals

Silver already on the phone trying to get Giannis to the Lakers

[Chillen]

Silver already on the phone trying to get Giannis to the Lakers

They going to have to give up Luka if they want Giannis.

[KobesAchilles]

Too late for a good ol' necro? I don't check my mentions often, but didn't want to leave this without reply, unlike KA's imbecile message.

I'm definitely not older than your TOSB ass :lol but what's not a "bandwagon fan" for the Spurs then? Only fans who watched all 5 rings are "true fans"? Stupid expectation and gatekeeping. I did watch the Spurs at their absolute best - 2014 - despite not actively posting on ST at the time (as I'm guessing most non-US Spurs fans would, save for a handful who found this site). But I've been a Manu fan before I became a Spurs fan - I watched him play live with the Argentina NT, in person, during their Golden Age.

Respectfully, fuck you for gatekeeping sports fandom, I hope you come to realize what bullshit you're spewing. The argument had nothing to do with the 80's, and I find the attitude we were talking about condemnable at any era (and again, I'll be waiting to hear your takes when playoffs come around and the Brooks and Dort's of the league are trying to injure Wemby on purpose).

Anyways, carry on believing you're the only "true fan" around while actively shitting on the team you're an alleged fan of at every turn, like most fart-sniffing basement-dwellers on this forum have been doing for the almost-20 years that I've happily lived my life elsewhere. Cheers.
I like how you’ve been proven wrong every step of the way and yet I’m the imbecile. You don’t know the recent history of the very franchise you cheer for nvm the actual history of it in the Ice days (which I’ve never got to see). You even stupidly said that Bruce wasn’t a beloved Spur. Like you didn’t even see him play. How tf would you know how well he was liked. Btw Bruce was fucking loved as a Spur. That’s why his number is in the rafters you dumbass.You can’t bitch and complain about what makes a bandwagon fan when you don’t even know you’re team.

You literally said that winning players wouldn’t resort to cheap methods. Well guess what. We did. All the time as a franchise. Horry hip checked Nash buddy. Since you don’t know anything about Spur history and seem to wear that as a badge of honor while TOSBs seem to know that. And guess what, unlike Brooks, Horry made zero basketball play and shoved him into the scorers

This whole thing started bc you were up in arms about Brooks slapping a pinky finger. And then you overreacted from there every step of the way just being wrong after wrong after wrong. Guess what. Curry didn’t get injured from Brooks. His ouchy was okay after all. Then you bring up Zaza for no reason other than that’s the first year you probably followed the Spurs. That’s how sports work buddy. You like it when things go well for your team and hate it when they go bad for your team. Fans hate PI calls in football against them and love them when they go their way. I’m glad you realized this super secret fact about fans :lol

Also Draymond Green is on the Warriors. You know the the team that has Steph Curry and he’s a dirty player. And he’s won 4 championships. You know when you said that dirty players never play competitive basketball and you can tell that since they are dirty.

And 2014 was the Spurs best? Again how tf would you know? You never saw them play before then. 1999 would smoke them. 2005 Spurs would smoke them. Fuck I’d take 2006 Spurs too over 2014. Here’s a list of all the things you’re wrong about that this tired ol shitbag and the rest of the forum know.

*Brooks tried to injure Curry.

Brooks wasn’t trying to injure Curry. I know this bc he didn’t fucking injure Curry. You think Brooks isn’t strong enough to really fuck up Currys hand if he really wanted to.

*Dirty basketball isn’t in today’s game and was only in the yesteryears.
Um Draymond literally plays in today’s game. 2 years ago Jokic injured a player and almost ended his career. Players jumping into other players to foul bait. That shit is dirty as hell.

* Only people who have never played competitively play dirty basketball.
Yeah that was easily refuted.

* We are hypocrites for not liking it when Zaza injured Kawhi
No shit buddy. This isn’t some groundbreaking revelation that you think it is. But by cheering for the Spurs who have a “dirty player” in the rafters you are by default also a hypocrite.

* You are against dirty plays in any era. You aren’t even aware that your favorite player is seen as a dirty player. Around the NBA, other teams thought that Manu played dirty and cheap. They thought he was trying to injure people with his flopping. They thought he would foul people roughly. The exact same way that you are demonizing Brooks, other fan bases echoed with Manu. But it was ok for Manu to be a dirty and cheap player bc you are his fan. You can even disagree and say that Manu wasn’t dirty or cheap or never tried to injure people, but guess what. Other fans say the opposite. Which again you would know if you know actually followed the Spurs back then.

[timtonymanu]

Lol suck it Silver!

[chubbs]

I like how you’ve been proven wrong every step of the way and yet I’m the imbecile. You don’t know the recent history of the very franchise you cheer for nvm the actual history of it in the Ice days (which I’ve never got to see). You even stupidly said that Bruce wasn’t a beloved Spur. Like you didn’t even see him play. How tf would you know how well he was liked. Btw Bruce was fucking loved as a Spur. That’s why his number is in the rafters you dumbass.You can’t bitch and complain about what makes a bandwagon fan when you don’t even know you’re team.

You literally said that winning players wouldn’t resort to cheap methods. Well guess what. We did. All the time as a franchise. Horry hip checked Nash buddy. Since you don’t know anything about Spur history and seem to wear that as a badge of honor while TOSBs seem to know that. And guess what, unlike Brooks, Horry made zero basketball play and shoved him into the scorers

This whole thing started bc you were up in arms about Brooks slapping a pinky finger. And then you overreacted from there every step of the way just being wrong after wrong after wrong. Guess what. Curry didn’t get injured from Brooks. His ouchy was okay after all. Then you bring up Zaza for no reason other than that’s the first year you probably followed the Spurs. That’s how sports work buddy. You like it when things go well for your team and hate it when they go bad for your team. Fans hate PI calls in football against them and love them when they go their way. I’m glad you realized this super secret fact about fans :lol

Also Draymond Green is on the Warriors. You know the the team that has Steph Curry and he’s a dirty player. And he’s won 4 championships. You know when you said that dirty players never play competitive basketball and you can tell that since they are dirty.

And 2014 was the Spurs best? Again how tf would you know? You never saw them play before then. 1999 would smoke them. 2005 Spurs would smoke them. Fuck I’d take 2006 Spurs too over 2014. Here’s a list of all the things you’re wrong about that this tired ol shitbag and the rest of the forum know.

*Brooks tried to injure Curry.

Brooks wasn’t trying to injure Curry. I know this bc he didn’t fucking injure Curry. You think Brooks isn’t strong enough to really fuck up Currys hand if he really wanted to.

*Dirty basketball isn’t in today’s game and was only in the yesteryears.
Um Draymond literally plays in today’s game. 2 years ago Jokic injured a player and almost ended his career. Players jumping into other players to foul bait. That shit is dirty as hell.

* Only people who have never played competitively play dirty basketball.
Yeah that was easily refuted.

* We are hypocrites for not liking it when Zaza injured Kawhi
No shit buddy. This isn’t some groundbreaking revelation that you think it is. But by cheering for the Spurs who have a “dirty player” in the rafters you are by default also a hypocrite.

* You are against dirty plays in any era. You aren’t even aware that your favorite player is seen as a dirty player. Around the NBA, other teams thought that Manu played dirty and cheap. They thought he was trying to injure people with his flopping. They thought he would foul people roughly. The exact same way that you are demonizing Brooks, other fan bases echoed with Manu. But it was ok for Manu to be a dirty and cheap player bc you are his fan. You can even disagree and say that Manu wasn’t dirty or cheap or never tried to injure people, but guess what. Other fans say the opposite. Which again you would know if you know actually followed the Spurs back then.

https://i.makeagif.com/media/4-29-2014/Xxkqb3.gif

[ace3g]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GsU3oUFXQAA_aOf?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

[Atl Spur]

I could see it being a good series..

[dn0774]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GsU3oUFXQAA_aOf?format=jpg&name=4096x4096

Awful pacing, 3 days between every game except 3 and 4.

[dn0774]

They going to have to give up Luka if they want Giannis.

Ehh the NBA will just give the Bucks AJ Dybantsa as a thank you.

[RC_Drunkford]

Ehh the NBA will just give the Bucks AJ Dybantsa as a thank you.

they probably gift him to the Celtics, since he's a huge Celtics fan and from Massachusetts.


On that note: Let's go Pacers!!!

they have always been a well run franchise that came close to a chip a bunch of times, but never made it. Would love if they beat the Thunder, although my guess is OKC gentleman sweeps them 4-1.

Also podcast P must be punching the air rn :lol


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_xekKeS2vQ

[Sugus]

I like how you’ve been proven wrong every step of the way and yet I’m the imbecile.

"Proven wrong"? For arguing that purposely injuring players is bitch-made, bush-league behavior, no matter which team and player is doing so? Please quote where I was "proven wrong" on that, I'll wait. And beginning your post with such a failure of reading comprehension - I specifically said imbecile message - is just par for the course. But I'll indulge you once;


You don’t know the recent history of the very franchise you cheer for nvm the actual history of it in the Ice days (which I’ve never got to see). You even stupidly said that Bruce wasn’t a beloved Spur.

How is not cheering for injuring opponents not knowing the team's history? What message led you to believe I'd never heard of Bowen's antics, or the hip-check against the Suns, etc? If anything, it's been multiple tangential bullshit brought into the conversation by yourself and Drunkford to whataboutism your way out of a perfectly valid critique. IDGAF what Bowen did in the 80's, I watch basketball today, and I want the rules respected today to keep all players healthy. Get it yet? Or still too abstract a point?



You literally said that winning players wouldn’t resort to cheap methods. Well guess what. We did. All the time as a franchise. Horry hip checked Nash buddy. Since you don’t know anything about Spur history and seem to wear that as a badge of honor while TOSBs seem to know that. And guess what, unlike Brooks, Horry made zero basketball play and shoved him into the scorers

This is like saying you can't be a true American Patriot if you don't condone slavery, or killing off all the natives, or any of the horrible crimes in the US' history of becoming a modern nation. BULLSHIT. I can perfectly criticize aspects of my own franchise's history that I don't condone or find OK. Miss me with this "no true Scotsman" bullshit, I don't care about your prerrogatives of what dogma you need to accept to be a "true Spurs fan" or whatever.


This whole thing started bc you were up in arms about Brooks slapping a pinky finger. And then you overreacted from there every step of the way just being wrong after wrong after wrong. Guess what. Curry didn’t get injured from Brooks. His ouchy was okay after all. Then you bring up Zaza for no reason other than that’s the first year you probably followed the Spurs. That’s how sports work buddy. You like it when things go well for your team and hate it when they go bad for your team. Fans hate PI calls in football against them and love them when they go their way. I’m glad you realized this super secret fact about fans :lol

You mean a scummy roleplayer attempting to injure the opposing star player in a pivotal playoff game, to be precise, right? Again, I'll be sure to tag you and Drunkford when Wemby is inevitably targeted in the playoffs as well. I'll get to hear all about how justifiable, "men's ball" and "true Spurs basketball" it is then.

And no, being a fucking hypocrite is not "how sports work buddy" :lmao the fucking delusion on some of you, Jesus. Sports have rules to be followed, if you don't care for them, don't play the sport or watch the games..... Or at the very least, be consistent in your judgment instead of a hypocritical asshole to others who do care about keeping it clean and within the rules.


Also Draymond Green is on the Warriors. You know the the team that has Steph Curry and he’s a dirty player. And he’s won 4 championships. You know when you said that dirty players never play competitive basketball and you can tell that since they are dirty.

Please quote me condoning Draymond's antics again? I do not like him as a player, nor speak positively of him. I believe Curry is a winning player, yes, and haven't seen him resort to dirty shit which I appreciate and like him... I don't for a second believe Draymond's antics are needed for them to win championships - in fact there's an argument that they've cost them rings as well, karmic justice if you will - so what's your point? That all winners are dirty by definition? Or maybe it's more nuanced than your imbecile message once again lets on?


And 2014 was the Spurs best? Again how tf would you know? You never saw them play before then. 1999 would smoke them. 2005 Spurs would smoke them. Fuck I’d take 2006 Spurs too over 2014. Here’s a list of all the things you’re wrong about that this tired ol shitbag and the rest of the forum know.

Yes, I take 2014 to be the Spurs' best. You're free to disagree and present an argument for your personal best Spurs iteration - when did I say otherwise? :lol fucking retard grasping at any straw to get back at me. Take 2006 over 2014, hell take '99 if you wish, what the fuck do I care about your opinion on it? Lol


Brooks wasn’t trying to injure Curry. I know this bc he didn’t fucking injure Curry. You think Brooks isn’t strong enough to really fuck up Currys hand if he really wanted to.

:lmao :lmao you cannot be this fucking idiotic :lmao :lmao he wasn't trying to injure him because he didn't injure him? So I'm not taking a shot unless I make the shot? The lengths you will twist yourself to try and make my points look as dumb as yours are..... :lol

Fucking watch the video again, and see Brooks aim three times at Curry's finger completely outside of his "block" attempt, and tell me that I've been "proven wrong at every turn" again. You know you've got no point when you're twisting reality to fit your narrative lmao, there's actual video tape evidence of my point :lmao


*Dirty basketball isn’t in today’s game and was only in the yesteryears.
Um Draymond literally plays in today’s game. 2 years ago Jokic injured a player and almost ended his career. Players jumping into other players to foul bait. That shit is dirty as hell.

Yes.... And? We condone and criticize Draymond for it. Are you gonna tell me now that you've never talked shit about his antics? Not a single time, since Bowen and Horry did it as well? Fuckin bullshit and you know it...


* We are hypocrites for not liking it when Zaza injured Kawhi. No shit buddy. This isn’t some groundbreaking revelation that you think it is.

Yeah, don't worry, I've quickly come to realize just how shitty and spineless some Spurstalk posters really get when you press them for it. Duly noted!


But by cheering for the Spurs who have a “dirty player” in the rafters you are by default also a hypocrite.

:lol how so? This is where your brain farts cloud your judgment. I did not choose nor vote for Bowen to be in the rafters - I literally was not supporting the team when that happened, and don't consider it a part of the Spurs' "glorious history" that I bring up, personally. How ever would I be held accountable for that? Unlike you, a true hypocryte, proudly bringing him up as some Spurs role-model player and "true fan" measure. Fuuuuck that.

Again, since I'm sure you're an American, do tell me how you're not, by your same default, a slavery apologist, colorism-supporter, etc? You sure contribute more to the US as a citizen than I do to the Spurs by watching illegal streams on the internet :lol fucking idiot.


* You are against dirty plays in any era. You aren’t even aware that your favorite player is seen as a dirty player. Around the NBA, other teams thought that Manu played dirty and cheap. They thought he was trying to injure people with his flopping. They thought he would foul people roughly. The exact same way that you are demonizing Brooks, other fan bases echoed with Manu. But it was ok for Manu to be a dirty and cheap player bc you are his fan. You can even disagree and say that Manu wasn’t dirty or cheap or never tried to injure people, but guess what. Other fans say the opposite. Which again you would know if you know actually followed the Spurs back then.

I'll give you this one -- I am aware of the Manu debate. Honestly I'd love to speak about it with nuance - I personally make a distinction between flopping, where players exploit both rules and ref's whistle for personal benefit, and injury attempts to other players. To this date I have not seen any footage of Manu doing the latter, and I had the luck to see him play in his prime as well as through countless games' footage. But feel free to share your "Dirty Manu" compilation or whatever.

At this point, I'm honestly doubtful of whether you could even grasp such a distinction, tbh :lol and I'll leave it there. You really thought you had me there, eh? But you showed your own colors instead. Carry onto the Hypocrite Club that you so love and believe to be what "true fandom" is, pal, I have no interest in your brand.

[Sugus]

At the end of the day, it really is a fucking funny argument to be having.

These current playoffs have seen one of the highest number of star players being out for injuries. It's a big, big problem for the NBA, from ratings to game quality to fan engagement. Everyone wishes players were injured less, and pitches go from less Regular Season games, to a better enforcement of the rules, to changing the refs. The bottomline is - star players healthy = good for the game.

And the Spurs currently have one of, if not the most fragile superstar-level player in the league.... Who is coming off a major health scare, by all speculation caused from a hit to his shoulder. A jump-shooting big man - one of the easier player archetypes to target.

Yet in an attempt to keep some sense of gatekept "True Spurs Fandom" you've got folks round here actively cheering for roleplayers trying to injure stars, because apparently that's the way it's always been, and we're just too dumb to know or act better? Improvement and change suddenly impossible? As if I can't put 2 + 2 together and see that Wemby will be on the other side of this coin as soon as next year?

It's one of the most puzzling discussions I've found myself in, really. Talk about a lack of foresight and common sense in the name of pride.

[LeBowen]

I'd really want the Pacers to win even if it wasn't OKC on the other side, but I can't see them taking more than 2 games.
Siakam has to outplay and shut down Chet, that's the key factor, imo.

[CGD]

they probably gift him to the Celtics, since he's a huge Celtics fan and from Massachusetts.


On that note: Let's go Pacers!!!

they have always been a well run franchise that came close to a chip a bunch of times, but never made it. Would love if they beat the Thunder, although my guess is OKC gentleman sweeps them 4-1.

Also podcast P must be punching the air rn :lol


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_xekKeS2vQ

It’s like the Hershel Walker trade back in the day

[RC_Drunkford]

"Proven wrong"? For arguing that purposely injuring players is bitch-made, bush-league behavior, no matter which team and player is doing so? Please quote where I was "proven wrong" on that, I'll wait. And beginning your post with such a failure of reading comprehension - I specifically said imbecile message - is just par for the course. But I'll indulge you once;



How is not cheering for injuring opponents not knowing the team's history? What message led you to believe I'd never heard of Bowen's antics, or the hip-check against the Suns, etc? If anything, it's been multiple tangential bullshit brought into the conversation by yourself and Drunkford to whataboutism your way out of a perfectly valid critique. IDGAF what Bowen did in the 80's, I watch basketball today, and I want the rules respected today to keep all players healthy. Get it yet? Or still too abstract a point?




This is like saying you can't be a true American Patriot if you don't condone slavery, or killing off all the natives, or any of the horrible crimes in the US' history of becoming a modern nation. BULLSHIT. I can perfectly criticize aspects of my own franchise's history that I don't condone or find OK. Miss me with this "no true Scotsman" bullshit, I don't care about your prerrogatives of what dogma you need to accept to be a "true Spurs fan" or whatever.



You mean a scummy roleplayer attempting to injure the opposing star player in a pivotal playoff game, to be precise, right? Again, I'll be sure to tag you and Drunkford when Wemby is inevitably targeted in the playoffs as well. I'll get to hear all about how justifiable, "men's ball" and "true Spurs basketball" it is then.

And no, being a fucking hypocrite is not "how sports work buddy" :lmao the fucking delusion on some of you, Jesus. Sports have rules to be followed, if you don't care for them, don't play the sport or watch the games..... Or at the very least, be consistent in your judgment instead of a hypocritical asshole to others who do care about keeping it clean and within the rules.



Please quote me condoning Draymond's antics again? I do not like him as a player, nor speak positively of him. I believe Curry is a winning player, yes, and haven't seen him resort to dirty shit which I appreciate and like him... I don't for a second believe Draymond's antics are needed for them to win championships - in fact there's an argument that they've cost them rings as well, karmic justice if you will - so what's your point? That all winners are dirty by definition? Or maybe it's more nuanced than your imbecile message once again lets on?



Yes, I take 2014 to be the Spurs' best. You're free to disagree and present an argument for your personal best Spurs iteration - when did I say otherwise? :lol fucking retard grasping at any straw to get back at me. Take 2006 over 2014, hell take '99 if you wish, what the fuck do I care about your opinion on it? Lol



:lmao :lmao you cannot be this fucking idiotic :lmao :lmao he wasn't trying to injure him because he didn't injure him? So I'm not taking a shot unless I make the shot? The lengths you will twist yourself to try and make my points look as dumb as yours are..... :lol

Fucking watch the video again, and see Brooks aim three times at Curry's finger completely outside of his "block" attempt, and tell me that I've been "proven wrong at every turn" again. You know you've got no point when you're twisting reality to fit your narrative lmao, there's actual video tape evidence of my point :lmao



Yes.... And? We condone and criticize Draymond for it. Are you gonna tell me now that you've never talked shit about his antics? Not a single time, since Bowen and Horry did it as well? Fuckin bullshit and you know it...



Yeah, don't worry, I've quickly come to realize just how shitty and spineless some Spurstalk posters really get when you press them for it. Duly noted!



:lol how so? This is where your brain farts cloud your judgment. I did not choose nor vote for Bowen to be in the rafters - I literally was not supporting the team when that happened, and don't consider it a part of the Spurs' "glorious history" that I bring up, personally. How ever would I be held accountable for that? Unlike you, a true hypocryte, proudly bringing him up as some Spurs role-model player and "true fan" measure. Fuuuuck that.

Again, since I'm sure you're an American, do tell me how you're not, by your same default, a slavery apologist, colorism-supporter, etc? You sure contribute more to the US as a citizen than I do to the Spurs by watching illegal streams on the internet :lol fucking idiot.



I'll give you this one -- I am aware of the Manu debate. Honestly I'd love to speak about it with nuance - I personally make a distinction between flopping, where players exploit both rules and ref's whistle for personal benefit, and injury attempts to other players. To this date I have not seen any footage of Manu doing the latter, and I had the luck to see him play in his prime as well as through countless games' footage. But feel free to share your "Dirty Manu" compilation or whatever.

At this point, I'm honestly doubtful of whether you could even grasp such a distinction, tbh :lol and I'll leave it there. You really thought you had me there, eh? But you showed your own colors instead. Carry onto the Hypocrite Club that you so love and believe to be what "true fandom" is, pal, I have no interest in your brand.

https://i.ibb.co/xS13vSm6/Sugus-Maxi-Pads.jpg

[Biggems]

Go Pacers

[tonight...you]

https://i.ibb.co/xS13vSm6/Sugus-Maxi-Pads.jpg

Holy crap! I'm sorry, but that's funny!
:lmao

[R. DeMurre]

If Chet wins his first championship, you can bet that'll make Victor more eager than ever to win one.

[exstatic]

Awful pacing, 3 days between every game except 3 and 4.

If you have game 1 on the 5th, and game 2 on the 8th, that’s TWO Days in between,June 6th and June 7th.

[timtonymanu]

OKC in 6 cause I can see the Pacers getting hot for a game or two. I think the games will be close in most of this series.

[Seventyniner]

All I have learned from this exchange is you can really trigger some people by saying Bowen = Zaza.

[Joseph Kony]

OKC in 5. The Thunder play a level of defense that is tiers above anyone else the Pacers have played. imo 3-0 deficit, Indy wins a blowout game 4 before getting thrashed in game 5

[lefty]

Evan Turner vs the double big men setup of OKC , Indy willl have the edge there

[exstatic]

OKC in 5. The Thunder play a level of defense that is tiers above anyone else the Pacers have played. imo 3-0 deficit, Indy wins a blowout game 4 before getting thrashed in game 5

The Pacers have more ball handlers and smarts than anyone the Thunder have played. Thunder have been winning strictly by creating live ball turnovers, and I think they’ll have a harder time doing that this series.

Pacers in 7

[LeBowen]

Evan Turner


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1UT32ZNOg

And now, with the hot hand, Sir Evan Turner is going to light Hinkie on fire from mid-range distance!
Commence The Long Two!

(sorry, I have to post this one every time Evan turner is brought up. The most hillarious thing is that it's still relevant. :lol)

[Extra Stout]

The Pacers are the 50-win team their record says they are. They made it through because the Cavs aren’t built for the playoffs and the Celtics are a high-variance team with no plan B when the threes aren’t falling.

The Thunder will clobber them.

[Spurs Homer]

I give the edge to the pacers…

better coach
better point guard (yes fuck that flopping kunt Sga)
better 3 pt shooters


pacers in 6

[LeBowen]

The Pacers are the 50-win team their record says they are. They made it through because the Cavs aren’t built for the playoffs and the Celtics are a high-variance team with no plan B when the threes aren’t falling.

The Thunder will clobber them.

The Thunder are definitely a tier above, but the Pacers had a really good regular season after a slow start that was riddled with injuries.
10-15 at the start of the season, 40-15 after that.

Also, trade deadline final boss:
https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcReu66NElPIjNLcnRSzdzrqdb5ZC7aD5 39gINfvVN202EbVb1oo
And he just turned 29.

[John B]

It will be OKC in 5. But I’m rooting for the Pacers. I don’t like Chet getting his 1st ring before Wemby.

[Killakobe81]

If the pacers win ii will be really impressed snd it means Haliburton Has reached superstar status officially…
Pacers rely a ton on jump passes, specifically ones that they leave their feet without a clear target …
If they don’t limit those - they will have a ton of turnovers we did not see
In the East
I have OKC in 5
Also if Turner can’t move his feet to stay in from of KAT if Chet is aggressive he can get up the paint in iso whenever he wants …

[benefactor]

It will be OKC in 5. But I’m rooting for the Pacers. I don’t like Chet getting his 1st ring before Wemby.
Why does anyone care about this? Chet isn't a franchise player and lucked into a team that already had one and a solid #2. He both got chosen in the lottery and hit the team lottery. Good for him.

[spurs10]

Would prefer Pacers, but OKC will be hard to handle. Could care less about if Chet rings. He ain't the head of the snake.

[John B]

Why does anyone care about this? Chet isn't a franchise player and lucked into a team that already had one and a solid #2. He both got chosen in the lottery and hit the team lottery. Good for him.

It has nothing to do with anything. I’m a basketball fan and part of that is rooting against competition. Likewise I respected Kobe but I never wanted him to have more rings than Timmy.

[Dex]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7S1UT32ZNOg

And now, with the hot hand, Sir Evan Turner is going to light Hinkie on fire from mid-range distance!
Commence The Long Two!

(sorry, I have to post this one every time Evan turner is brought up. The most hillarious thing is that it's still relevant. :lol)

GoZ was so legit. Imagine the content they could come up with this year

[benefactor]

It has nothing to do with anything. I’m a basketball fan and part of that is rooting against competition. Likewise I respected Kobe but I never wanted him to have more rings than Timmy.
Both of those guys are rival franchise players on rival teams. Some of the best all time at their respective positions. They are equals in their era. There's nothing equal about Chet and Wemby. There's no reason to see them as rivals. The only similarity about them is they were drafted in the same draft.

So I say all that to say this...what the fuck are you actually talking about? Is it franchise player versus franchise player? Because that doesn't exist in this scenario. Is it because they were in the same draft? Would you like to go back to other drafts and find franchise players and turn them into rivals against role players? Seriously, I'm curious.

[KobesAchilles]

If the Pacers win does this put Carlisle in the HOF?

[Mnky]

Pacers have the better coach and more experience. They match-up decently and I think on a normal night can definitely get a win, if they were to get hot for a couple games, this could be a series for sure.

Not sure why people harp on the OKC defense being so much better than others. They barely beat Jokic with a team of non impact players. Granted AG gave them a miracle shot, but Jokic pushing them to 7 is wild.

Then they beat a bad Timberwolves team that wouldn't have been there if Curry didn't get hurt.

OKC has been gifted the easier schedule and whistle and did not look impressive outside a couple of games tbh. Maybe they're playing down to their opponent though.

Pacers had a much more impressive run. Thunder are young. Emotions happen.

I'm hoping for a good series and wouldn't be surprised if it's more competitive than people are thinking. Pacers are really a coin flip team. If they call the right side every game, they might pull an upset.

[John B]

Both of those guys are rival franchise players on rival teams. Some of the best all time at their respective positions. They are equals in their era. There's nothing equal about Chet and Wemby. There's no reason to see them as rivals. The only similarity about them is they were drafted in the same draft.

So I say all that to say this...what the fuck are you actually talking about? Is it franchise player versus franchise player? Because that doesn't exist in this scenario. Is it because they were in the same draft? Would you like to go back to other drafts and find franchise players and turn them into rivals against role players? Seriously, I'm curious.

What rock did you crawl out from? People will make narratives because both are unicorn and our boy happens to be not American. Already the media tried it in the ROY race. Already there are comparisons with playoffs Chet 3, Wemby 0. Chet winning a ring will add to that narrative. Again I’m a fan who has a dog on the race, so I’m rooting against any of Wemby’s competition. It makes the rivalry fun. It has nothing to do with anything. It’s fun to root against a competition.

[John B]

If the Pacers win does this put Carlisle in the HOF?

Damn I hated his whiner face :lol all those Mavs years. But I’m rooting for Pacers with him I guess.

[Ice009]

They weren't drafted in the same draft. Chet missed his first year due to injury. He was only going against Victor in the rookie of the year race due to that.

Would they have still been considered rivals if he played the year before?

[Dex]

OKC in 6 cause I can see the Pacers getting hot for a game or two. I think the games will be close in most of this series.

I can also see the refs...encouraging a win or two on either side to make sure this goes to 6 or 7.

It's already small-market teams, and they will want viewership.

[skin27]

Why does anyone care about this? Chet isn't a franchise player and lucked into a team that already had one and a solid #2. He both got chosen in the lottery and hit the team lottery. Good for him.


this, i dont get it why some people comapre wemby to chet? Yes the are the same size but wemby is a better player overall than chet. Chet isnt even a allstar caliber player,(atleast for now) while wemby is a superstar.

[skin27]

What rock did you crawl out from? People will make narratives because both are unicorn and our boy happens to be not American. Already the media tried it in the ROY race. Already there are comparisons with playoffs Chet 3, Wemby 0. Chet winning a ring will add to that narrative. Again I’m a fan who has a dog on the race, so I’m rooting against any of Wemby’s competition. It makes the rivalry fun. It has nothing to do with anything. It’s fun to root against a competition.

Looks like SGA would be the competitor of Wemby in future because they are both superstar of their respective teams.

[skin27]

Both of those guys are rival franchise players on rival teams. Some of the best all time at their respective positions. They are equals in their era. There's nothing equal about Chet and Wemby. There's no reason to see them as rivals. The only similarity about them is they were drafted in the same draft.

So I say all that to say this...what the fuck are you actually talking about? Is it franchise player versus franchise player? Because that doesn't exist in this scenario. Is it because they were in the same draft? Would you like to go back to other drafts and find franchise players and turn them into rivals against role players? Seriously, I'm curious.

chet was drafted 1 year ahead of wemby. But he got injured and missed the supposed to be his rookie season(2022-2023 season).

[benefactor]

I stand corrected. It's Sunday. It happens.

Point stands...there's nothing to see here. No one cares about Chet when it comes to Wemby. He can have his ring. He's the third best player on the team.

[scott]

Both of those guys are rival franchise players on rival teams. Some of the best all time at their respective positions. They are equals in their era. There's nothing equal about Chet and Wemby. There's no reason to see them as rivals. The only similarity about them is they were drafted in the same draft.

So I say all that to say this...what the fuck are you actually talking about? Is it franchise player versus franchise player? Because that doesn't exist in this scenario. Is it because they were in the same draft? Would you like to go back to other drafts and find franchise players and turn them into rivals against role players? Seriously, I'm curious.

Not even that, tbh... Chet was drafted a year earlier than Wemby.

edit: I see this already got pointed out... wasn't trying to bust your balls... more saying "there isn't even that reason to see them as rivals"

[gilmor2002]

The Pacers are the 50-win team their record says they are. They made it through because the Cavs aren’t built for the playoffs and the Celtics are a high-variance team with no plan B when the threes aren’t falling.

The Thunder will clobber them.

I would say Indy really has the whole team concept in playing bball; Siakam, Turner, Haliburton, Nemhard and Toppi practiced hard since they lost last year ECF;

Celtics really struck the bad luck this year round - tatum broken archiles and Porzinghis playing like shit..

[RC_Drunkford]

yeah can't really compare Wemby and Chet, since Chet is not a franchise player. But OKC vs. Spurs looks like it will be a huge rivalry in the future, which is why I'm rooting against them.

[Ice009]

And people were hating on Becky when she said you can't win a chip with Brunson :wakeup

Becky Hammon said that? When/what was the context?

[RC_Drunkford]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Az91cJSfRk

[ace3g]

Becky Hammon said that? When/what was the context?

https://x.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1929533062640968048

[The Truth #6]

Indy's offense vs OKC's defense is going to be a good Finals. Two deep teams. Probably the only Finals I've cared about in a while.

[R. DeMurre]

I think the Chet/Victor comparisons are natural and inevitable, and it'll be interesting if OKC wins a couple of championships in the next few years because that will start a Russell/Chamberlain type of debate about individual skills vs team composition, etc... Gotta say, Chet is a pretty incredible player embracing his role, and much better than the title "role player" implies. If Wemby wasn't around, he'd be in discussion for best young Big, and personally I think he's better than Banchero because he doesn't have the more glaring shortcomings of Paolo's mediocre shot selection, average efficiency, poor rebounding, and absence of rim protection.

[Jordan Jackson]

Of course Becky was right. A lot of historically data was on her side. Plus, Brunson is foul baiting unethical player. They’re going to pin the blame on Thibs and KAT. Probably hire Mike Malone.

Anyway. Thunder should win easily. But Rick Carlisle is a dangerous coach. He finds flaws in your roster you didn’t even know were there.

[TD 21]

Thunder over Pacers in 5.

[Strategic]

Don’t want to pick on Brunson too much, but when he got double teamed out front he would get out of trouble and then stop, which allowed the defense to regroup. Tony Parker or Chris Paul would beat the double and head to the lane before the D could adjust. Take the ball toward the hoop and let the chips fall.

[benefactor]

Not even that, tbh... Chet was drafted a year earlier than Wemby.

edit: I see this already got pointed out... wasn't trying to bust your balls... more saying "there isn't even that reason to see them as rivals"
Yeah that was a brain fart on my part. All good.

[Ice009]

Yeah, Rick Carlisle is the wild card if you ask me. I still wonder, how responsible was he for coming up the game plan in the 2011 finals against the Heat? That was a masterful job. Made Lebron look worse than he ever has in his life.

Just as the poster above (Jordan Jackson) said, I give the Pacers a chance, in large part, because Rick Carlisle could be devising a game plan as we speak that could expose some flaws or weaknesses of the Thunder that aren't as glaring to the average person or fan.

[RC_Drunkford]

https://x.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1929533062640968048

Pop would‘ve never said that. He always had a love affair for small shooters who don’t play any D

[Spurs Homer]

pacers had an impressive run so far...

beating the #1 team in the league
beating the refs darlings and nba/espn fave knicks

i would have hated watching okc flop to 50 free throws per game
and
brunson flopping for another 50 ft's per game -

just a free throw fest....

maybe this way the pacers can push the pace and run run run...as okc also likes to run - it might not be a boring finals...

[scott]

Pop would‘ve never said that. He always had a love affair for small shooters who don’t play any D

Maybe that's why Mitch is in the corner office now and Becky is still in LV :lol

[Joseph Kony]

The Pacers have more ball handlers and smarts than anyone the Thunder have played. Thunder have been winning strictly by creating live ball turnovers, and I think they’ll have a harder time doing that this series.

Pacers in 7
i would prefer this outcome because fuck OKC tbh but I find it very hard to imagine the Pacers beating this Thunder team in a 7 game series. i'm not sure i agree that Indy has more smarts than a recent champ in Denver, they were the kind of test OKC needed to really tighten up for the rest of their run and OKC has all the defenders to guard Indy's perimeter attack

[mudyez]

I'm all for the Pacers to somehow surprise everybody and win it, but...

a) ...I'm wondering why I hate the Thunder that much. They are build the right way, SGA is somewhat likable (at least he is not a Tre Young, Draymond Green), small market, team first, defense first, and so on. The answers have to be: I hate them because of our history in the Durant era, maybe some stuff between Chet and Wemby and because they are the biggest threat to become a strong rival when (if) the Wemby championship era arrives. Which brings me to...
b) ...wouldn't it be better for the Spurs if OKC wins this ship? Do we rather go up against a team that has had some time for the "disease of more" to hit, or against a hungry team that came close but still has something to prove?

[Ice009]

I don't like the Thunder due to the past playoff series against the Spurs. I don't believe they should have made the finals in 2012 and were smashed (they got what they deserved as they shouldn't have been there in the first place). Spurs got screwed in game 5 with the blown goal tending call and that swung the series, and then game 6 on the road, touch foul after touch foul in the second half/start of 4th quarter after the Spurs had a 20 point lead at half time. 2016 series also had questionable calls. Don't like them at all.

[Dex]

https://x.com/JeffGSpursZone/status/1929533062640968048

I love how Perk is getting paid just to disagree with valid points and opinions.

[exstatic]

i would prefer this outcome because fuck OKC tbh but I find it very hard to imagine the Pacers beating this Thunder team in a 7 game series. i'm not sure i agree that Indy has more smarts than a recent champ in Denver, they were the kind of test OKC needed to really tighten up for the rest of their run and OKC has all the defenders to guard Indy's perimeter attack

It’s not necessarily just about smarts, it’s about having enough ball handlers and creators. If you have a pressing trapping defense, you need to be able to turn the tables on them, and create your own advantage by beating the trap, and getting numbers. This is also why I am totally on board with the Fox, Castle, and Harper trio.

I would also point out that Indy was pretty clear underdogs in their last two series.

[ambchang]

I originally thought pacers would get swept but then you guys reminded me of Carlisle. Thunder in 6.

Btw, Becky forgot about zeke, but zeke had an incredibly balanced team.

Btw2, love Becky for pointing out MAGA was the best player on that team, not pedo.

[Sugus]

.

Lol, as if me being a woman would make you any less of a hypocrite.

I'm not offended, I just dislike players purposely injuring other players when they can't beat them within the rules of the game. It's fucking bush league behavior, whatever they did in the 80's notwithstanding -- as if we still lived by 80's standards anywhere else... :rolleyes

[RC_Drunkford]

Lol, as if me being a woman would make you any less of a hypocrite.

I'm not offended, I just dislike players purposely injuring other players when they can't beat them within the rules of the game. It's fucking bush league behavior, whatever they did in the 80's notwithstanding -- as if we still lived by 80's standards anywhere else... :rolleyes

exept it wasn't in the 80s, it was in the mid 2000s you dumb fuck :lol

[Robz4000]

Game 1 decides whether this is a quick series or not imo.

[Strategic]

Come on Pacers at least make this a series.

[skin27]

everyone thinks this is gonna be an easy series for okc but pacers isnt a push off team and i think they can beat okc.

[Ni-G]

OKC D is killing Indiana, 8 TOs in 10 minutes already.

[scottspurs]

Can’t wait to watch the documentary on Toppin throwing the 2025 Finals because he bet the house on OKC

[scottspurs]

Can’t wait to watch the documentary on Toppin throwing the 2025 Finals because he bet the house on OKC

[Strategic]

Time out Dallas he said

[Strategic]

Nine turnovers and still in it

[lefty20]

9 TOs in the 1st Q...

Stick fork in em. Pacers are done.

[skin27]

Nine turnovers and still in it

they’re in deep shy if they continue to turn the ball over.

[scott]

Ajay Mitchell getting minutes in the finals... this is the guy I wanted with our SRP last year... it still hurts :cry

[scott]

Ajay Mitchell getting minutes in the finals... this is the guy I wanted with our SRP last year... it still hurts :cry

Mitchell bricks twice and then gives up a 3 :lol

[Robz4000]

Feels like everything is going OKC's way (including the refs) and Indy is still in it.

[Dex]

19 turnovers in a half is crazy.

That's a bad total for an entire game.

[skin27]

All of a sudden the pacers cant make a bucket lmao.. while they cant miss against cavs celtics and knicks.

[Strategic]

Keep daring Thunder to shoot 3’s. Dort gets 3 wide open enough to get the Sochan fan club going. 20 turnovers, wow.

[skin27]

19 turnovers in a half is crazy.

That's a bad total for an entire game.

pacers play good defense thats why they’re only down by 12 despite having 19 turnovers.

[Dex]

pacers play good defense thats why they’re only down by 12 despite having 19 turnovers.

Counterpoint: they could be up 12 if they didn't turn the ball over 19 fucking times.

[Strategic]

With all the traveling and ball carrying moves happening, they call a traveling on Indy.

[ace3g]

Thunder answering any of the Pacers' 3s with a 3 of their own.

[skin27]

This is over pacers cant get over the hump

[Strategic]

Gonna have to start calling Thunder’s coach Dagwood. He always looks like he’s trying to fart.

[Dejounte]

The Thunder so far have only played their >6’6” guys 28 minutes total

yet spurstalk think its necessary to have a tall forward

[Strategic]

Wasn’t that back court

[Strategic]

Damn Shea

[ace3g]

Well, was 6 and then SGA hit a 3 basically at the buzzer

End of 3rd





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31

76


OKC
29
28
28

85

[skin27]

SGA will be the difference in this series

[Strategic]

With all the turnovers it’s hard to sluice this one out. It appears the Pacers are still in this one, but

[Dex]

OKC (and SGA) gonna be a huge problem to deal with

[scott]

The Thunder so far have only played their >6’6” guys 28 minutes total

yet spurstalk think its necessary to have a tall forward

Might have to change my Castle is a SF campaign to Castle is a C

[ace3g]

9:42 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
3
79


OKC
29
28
28
9
94

[Strategic]

It looks like the Pacers are scoring when they need to and the thunder are scoring when they want to.

[Spurs Homer]

I like that the pacers have hung tough…

this game was a good experience for them and they will steal game 2

although i would love for them to steal this one…still have time

[ace3g]

8:12 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
9
85


OKC
29
28
28
11
96

[ace3g]

7:44 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
12
88


OKC
29
28
28
11
96

[Spurs Homer]

Cmon pacers…please put the fear of god in these front runners….

[Spurs Homer]

Pretty sure the foul merchant and his partner flopper dort are about to get some calls…

[Spurs Homer]

Fuckin called it

[ace3g]

6:27 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
15
91


OKC
29
28
28
13
98

[ace3g]

Turner banks in the 3 from the corner, lol

[Spurs Homer]

Two flops and counting…

[ace3g]

5:57 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
18
94


OKC
29
28
28
13
98

[ace3g]

5:25 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
20
96


OKC
29
28
28
15
100

[skin27]

Here comes the refs to save okc

[ace3g]

4:36 - 4th





1
2
3
4
T


IND
20
25
31
22
98


OKC
29
28
28
17
102

[Spurs Homer]

Three flops…since i posted …