The 2024-2025 NBA Basketball Season

[WiggyRuss]

Healthy Dallas is tier 2, Houston is close

my Cavs matchup very very well with Dallas too is prob. part of why I think that. I feel Mobley and Allen would have their way with them while Garland and Mitchell could play Kyrie and Doncic fairly evenly. Doncic is a big dude - he is really versatile and plays pretty big.

 

[WiggyRuss]

what worries me about the Cavs- is that almost always, championship teams have a MVP candidate, top 5 or at worst top 10 player leading it.

Mitchell is really good but hes not a top 10 guy. You might have to go back to 2004 for a team without a top 10 guy winning a championship. OKC, BOS, DAL, DEN all have top 10 guys.

and - whether it is relevant or not at this point- while that Knicks series is a long way back from how this roster has developed- the Cavs will still need to answer toughness questions in the playoffs. I think Allen and Mobley have both improved a ton in that category since that Knicks series- but they wont completely be able to shake that until they really put a team on their ass in the playoffs.

 

[WiggyRuss]

its why I just cant totally discount the Sixers yet. Embiid is always freaking hurt--- and it may never happen- but if that guy was healthy for a full playoff run, and had Maxey and George healthy, they would not be an easy out for ANYONE.

Lakers do have LeBron and Davis- but at least for right now- they are not winning 3-4 playoff series in a row with that defense. No way.

Denver is still dangerous but they dont have the depth they used to have- but Jokic is still Jokic and Murray can still play with just about anyone in the back court on certain nights.

There are some dark horses- but I would still say Boston is the favorite with Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, White and Holliday if they are all healthy. That is a really good starting 5 with a ton of length, shooting and experience.

OKC could win it, but I think they are not even close to having their best team- but they do have an MVP type guy in SGA so its certainly possible- and I think getting through the West will not be nearly as difficult as getting out of the East.

 

[tlance]

if I am going tiers- and assuming guys that are due to get healthy- do get healthy

Tier 1
BOS
CLE
OKC

Tier 2
Knicks

Tier 3
Denver
Milwaukee
Orlando
Dallas
Houston

Tier 4
LAL
MIN
PHI
IND

(I almost put Miami in tier 4- but without Butler- its hard to imagine them having the guns to win a playoff series)

I’m with @msgkings322 on this

Houston, Dallas and Memphis for me belong in tier 2

Don’t think the Knicks are better than those teams.

 

[shopson67]

It looks like our April here in Michigan

LOL. It's been in the teens here in Western NY, but not much snow (at least in Rochester). Going to warm up all the way to 30 this weekend, which means we probably get some snow.

 

[shopson67]

2 straight wins without Kyrie/Luka. This is how you stay in the top 6

More like this is how you tank for Portland?

 

[dtgold88]

Cavs probably win but they are having a classic hangover/letdown game on a back to back tonight

worked out well for me. Took the ML before the game and cashed out when down by 7.

And yeah did so as was not unexpected.....also no Mitchell.

 

[dtgold88]

Is Donovan Mitchell the best player?

I don’t think I agree with that anymore.

Mobley and Garland IMO.

Totally agree....at least based on what we have seen this season. No way this team could keep winning like they did last year with DG/Mobley out a long stretch.

Not even saying this as a knock on Mitchell as for this to happen he had to be a star willing to do less. Love DM as a leader.

 

[dtgold88]

He is considered the best player around the league is all I mean.

Watching the team this year Garland has been the best.
Mobley has been the most important.

Has likely happened but not sure I can recall a turnaround like this from a guy who went from all star to where he was last season. Clearly that injury was worse than expected (some PTSD?) and other off court issues.

 

[dtgold88]

Donovan is still the best. It is getting a lot closer- but I think Donovan makes it go in a lot of ways. There is a reason they are the #1 offense and it isnt Mobley.

Can make a strong case DG and Mobley are better and/or more important. DM scoring more than DG....because he takes a lot more shots.

 

[The Q]

its why I just cant totally discount the Sixers yet. Embiid is always freaking hurt--- and it may never happen- but if that guy was healthy for a full playoff run, and had Maxey and George healthy, they would not be an easy out for ANYONE.

Lakers do have LeBron and Davis- but at least for right now- they are not winning 3-4 playoff series in a row with that defense. No way.

Denver is still dangerous but they dont have the depth they used to have- but Jokic is still Jokic and Murray can still play with just about anyone in the back court on certain nights.

There are some dark horses- but I would still say Boston is the favorite with Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, White and Holliday if they are all healthy. That is a really good starting 5 with a ton of length, shooting and experience.

OKC could win it, but I think they are not even close to having their best team- but they do have an MVP type guy in SGA so its certainly possible- and I think getting through the West will not be nearly as difficult as getting out of the East.

Celtics have 2 top 32 picks in this draft

Time to go all in

 

[dtgold88]

It seems that a new era is starting in the NBA- been reading a lot of articles- and they talk about how the era of player empowerment and super teams, team ups, etc. is coming to an end.

It looks like the expirements in Philly, LAC and Phoenix are failing.

teams like the Cavs, Thunder, Magic, Grizz, Rockets are all on the way up.

A lot of the older guard is starting to really get up there age wise-- the Durant/LeBron/Steph/Butler/Paul/Beal/Leonard/George etc. era is coming to an end- just like the Kobe/Duncan/Dirk/Nash/Pierce/KG/Allen etc. era came to an end.

There are really no hard, specific dates you can point to for the end of each era, but it feels like this is the year where the era of the guys that have been around a long time is ending. For the first time in what seems like forever- none of those guys are on teams that anyone thinks has a top 5 shot at the finals.

Giannis almost fills like the bridge between the eras- kind of caught in between.

some great comments/points......and CBA makes it hard to build superteams unless done a lot through draft/trade like OKC and Cavs have done (as well as some teams you mentioned).

 

[dtgold88]

Dallas at full strength is better than this

read this before I got ninjad. and for this to happen the Bucks need to be at full strength.

 

[dtgold88]

if I am going tiers- and assuming guys that are due to get healthy- do get healthy

Tier 1
BOS
CLE
OKC

Tier 2
Knicks

Tier 3
Denver
Milwaukee
Orlando
Dallas
Houston

Tier 4
LAL
MIN
PHI
IND

(I almost put Miami in tier 4- but without Butler- its hard to imagine them having the guns to win a playoff series)

IF stayed healthy for a while might move the Bucks and Philly up. Dallas, too.

Also think you forgot Memphis

 

[dtgold88]

what worries me about the Cavs- is that almost always, championship teams have a MVP candidate, top 5 or at worst top 10 player leading it.

Mitchell is really good but hes not a top 10 guy. You might have to go back to 2004 for a team without a top 10 guy winning a championship. OKC, BOS, DAL, DEN all have top 10 guys.

and - whether it is relevant or not at this point- while that Knicks series is a long way back from how this roster has developed- the Cavs will still need to answer toughness questions in the playoffs. I think Allen and Mobley have both improved a ton in that category since that Knicks series- but they wont completely be able to shake that until they really put a team on their ass in the playoffs.

To outside media and some fans I'm sure toughness still questioned but not something I'm worried about at all. I mean, even without arguably our most important player for a long stretch finished off a big and allegedly tough Magic team. Yeah, lost to Cs but played them well considering no Allen, Wade and Mitchell all or most of series.

Your first comment is true but can only hope this team is different and I think it is. I think this team has more talent than the 2004 Pistons (think that's who it was, right?). And it's not all scoring. Mobley can do everything Ben does but far better on offense. They did have more size and better D at PG/SG.

 

[The Q]

IF stayed healthy for a while might move the Bucks and Philly up. Dallas, too.

Also think you forgot Memphis

I think Philly and mil are at the top of tier 3

PG isn’t hurt, he just looks cooked

 

[Shanemansj13]

Has likely happened but not sure I can recall a turnaround like this from a guy who went from all star to where he was last season. Clearly that injury was worse than expected (some PTSD?) and other off court issues.

And a couple people, they know who they are, thought he wasn’t worth a top pick in a what was considered a poor draft and no clear top options. Remember the Ingram talks too.
I was low on Garland like a lot bc of the injury but I never thought his value was that low.

 

[dtgold88]

And a couple people, they know who they are, thought he wasn’t worth a top pick in a what was considered a poor draft and no clear top options. Remember the Ingram talks too.
I was low on Garland like a lot bc of the injury but I never thought his value was that low.

I did think was very possible last year was an aberration due to injury and off court issues but for sure was concerned. And, sure, at time IF an offer was made for him for a stud SF then have at it.

But I know some Cavs fans (not here) were begging to unload both Garland AND Allen to get Ingram and filler. Cannot stress enough how lucky we are the FO does not care what fans think.

Think I'm good without Griff here. We seem to have survived that loss. As well as being fleeced by the great Ainge 2X.

 

[The Q]

I did think was very possible last year was an aberration due to injury and off court issues but for sure was concerned. And, sure, at time IF an offer was made for him for a stud SF then have at it.

But I know some Cavs fans (not here) were begging to unload both Garland AND Allen to get Ingram and filler. Cannot stress enough how lucky we are the FO does not care what fans think.

Think I'm good without Griff here. We seem to have survived that loss. As well as being fleeced by the great Ainge 2X.

Tanking to keep the pick that became agbaji was so huge for you

 

[WiggyRuss]

Has likely happened but not sure I can recall a turnaround like this from a guy who went from all star to where he was last season. Clearly that injury was worse than expected (some PTSD?) and other off court issues.

Garland had a couple of rough injuries last season and never found his rhythm. So glad they did not give up on him. If I remember- he had like a broken jaw or something- and then a bad shoulder? It was a rough year for him.

Having your jaw wired shut and not being able to eat and worried about contact cannot be easy. Mobley was hurt too which did not help his development last year.

Health has a lot to do with who wins a title- and "knock on wood"- so far they have been healthy and both look like they have taken big steps


honestly- considering Zion's isssues, and Ja's injury and gun issues, you could make the argument Garland has been the best player in that draft.