AROUND THE 2024 NBA PLAYOFF: PLAY-IN and FIRST ROUND

Ooof. They got fleeced!

 

The Clippers had a 200M payroll and a 142M luxury tax bill

 

Thunder beat Mavs 3-1 during season. Plus they've had time to rest. It'll be a tough matchup for Dallas.

 

LAC's new stadium will get stolen by the Lakers in 4 years, and the Clippers will have to move back into the Staples center

 

Thunder have too much length. Plus Dort will be draped all over Luka. Thunder in 5.

 

They going to play at the Pond?

 

Suns and Clippers, who win GM of the year?

 

Anthony Edwards can't be stopped
43 + other goodies

T-Wolves take 1st game in Denver

 

If Orlando beats Cleveland tomorrow, can we bring back "rebuild like the Magic"? That idea got pushed aside after OKC torched everyone with their rebuild.

 

interesting thought...it might be a better gauge than OKC and demonstrate the Blazers have a lot of work to do:

* over an 11 year period, Orlando had 12 lottery picks
* over the same period, Portland had 2 lottery picks

* over that 11 year period, Orlando had 9 top-10 picks
* over the same period, Portland had 2 top-10 picks

* over that 11 year period, Orlando had 8 top-6 picks and 5 top-5 picks
* over the same period, Portland had 1 top-6 pick; the same was a top-5 pick

* over that 11 year period, Orlando had 7 seasons with less than 30 wins; and 10 seasons with less than 40
* over the same period, Portland had 2 seasons with less than 30 wins; and 5 seasons with less than 40

Orlando learned there was no upside in riding expensive 20-something vets for a few extra meaningless wins. They dumped Aaron Afflalo at 28; Vucevic at 30; Fournier at 28; Elfrid Payton at 23; Aaron Gordon at 25. They cut their losses on injury-prone Victor Oladipo when he was 23 instead of hoping for a miracle

they certainly screwed up a few times; like taking Mario Hezonja with a 5th pick. But that's the value of stinging together a bunch of lottery picks. A few home runs can more than off-set the strike-outs

Blazers are just getting started with the suckage if Orlando is the template

 

Here's hoping that Scoot is our Jalen Suggs. I've said all along that that's an optimistic prediction for him.

 

Blazers are in a tank sweet spot currently. Only a few teams are as bad as Portland.

who's next to blow it up and give the Blazers ping pong competition? Chicago? Atlanta?? The Pelicans? Utah & Toronto tanked hard to end their season. They could play even worse next year and grab a bigger share of draft percentages.

Next season MUST BE HORRIBLE BALL for the Blazers future. They can't horse around and go on fun 5 game winning streaks. Portland absolutely needs to eyeball a sub 20 win season, and lock themselves into worst team in NBA.

Orlando is proof, don't dink around with picks 4-10. You gotta stink harder then imagined, and grab the Banchero's of the world.

 

Can’t believe you didn’t post this the DAY OF THE TRADE lol.

 

I wish the Timberwolves were playing the Mavs instead of the Nuggets. Of course, they may be playing them in the WCF...

 

Sharpe as #7 (a strong 7), Scoot at #3, and this year’s pick … and a to be expected lottery pick next year and #14 this year and players who can play in trade capital … ONE more year may get the sucking done. That’s what I’m hoping for.

 

big game for P-Ban
24/8/2/2/1
Magic up 10 at halftime

 

Rooting against Orlando … they really really need Simons.

 

nobody can hit a shot !! Cavs up double digits. Orlando really really needs a top class perimiter fire blaster.

got picks ??

 

Cavs staying aggressive, earning trips to the line. I should flip to the Magic broadcast to hear how horrible these cheater head refs are.

Get some glasses Blue !!