The Official 2024-25 NBA Regular Season Discussion Thread

[Apoho Creed]

Durant is playing out of his mind in this Series. Problem is if they win in OT I can't see him doing this at this level forever when Harden is giving next to nothing and Irving seemly out for the rest of the Playoffs I imagine.

 

[Chris]

Damn, the Bucks fucking won

 

[Apoho Creed]

One hell of a Game 7 a classic for sure. Now time is ticking till Hawks vs Sixers Game 7 tomorrow. I know I'm going to bite through all my Nails on both hands like I did in Game 6.

 

[Doom]

I gotta hand it to the Bucks for keeping up with the Nets to squeeze a huge victory to punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals. Kudos to them for the accomplishment. I didn't see it coming. That shot my prediction for the Nets to win, straight to hell lol

 

[Necro]

Yeah Durant was amazing tonight, but it will cool to see where the Bucks can go.

 

[Doom]

It's going down to the wire between the Clippers and Suns. The Suns are up 116-114 with 22 seconds left.

What a game.

 

[Doom]

The Suns advance to the Western Conference Finals!!!

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

The Suns advance to the Western Conference Finals!!!

I thought this was the WCF?

 

[Doom]

I thought this was the WCF?

I've quickly changed it when I realized the mistake.

 

[Grimoire Lenin]

I've quickly changed it when I realized the mistake.

It's alright Doom

 

[Doom]

The Atlanta Hawks have punched their ticket to the Eastern Conference Finals for the second time in franchise history!!!

 

[Apoho Creed]

I guess I'll be able to not watch the rest of the NBA Playoffs after the loss tonight vs the Hawks in Game 7 at fucking home. The Refs for sure had an importance in tonight's Game 7 and it killed the flow on both teams. If you told me Trae would go 5/23 from the Field I would said Sixers blow out the Hawks by Double Digits. Embiid was all heart in this Series he gave it his all but Ben needs to go. I thought my Eagles Offseason was spicy yeah the Sixers take the Cake because you have talent but what are lacking and that is a scorer to help Embiid and not taking about Perimeter Shooters you need a guy to take the load from Joel and get that buckle in tight Games. Ben as of yet has shown to be that guy and I'm not sure he'll ever be that guy you can rely on to win you a NBA Championship. Hawks vs Bucks Trae dancing around the Court and Giannis dunking or going to the rim every chance he gets hooray.

 

[Doom]

Sources: Chauncey Billups, Becky Hammon advance to second interviews with Portland Trail Blazers

LA Clippers assistant Chauncey Billups and San Antonio Spurs assistant Becky Hammon have emerged among the leading candidates and advanced to second interviews in the Portland Trail Blazers' search for a head coach, sources told ESPN.

Both assistants are set for additional meetings with Portland officials in the coming days, sources said.

Brooklyn Nets assistant Mike D'Antoni is another candidate who still figures into the Blazers search, sources told ESPN.

Billups has been in contact with several teams in this search process and remains with the Clippers in their Western Conference finals series against the Phoenix Suns. This is Billups' first season as an assistant coach in the NBA. He was a five-time NBA All-Star and was the NBA Finals MVP in 2004.

Hammon, who would become the first female head coach in NBA history, has been on Gregg Popovich's staff for seven seasons and has interviewed for several jobs in recent years. She was a six-time WNBA All-Star in her professional playing career.

After a fourth first-round playoff exit in five seasons, the Blazers and coach Terry Stotts parted ways after nine seasons together. Stotts left Portland as the second-winningest coach in franchise history, including eight consecutive playoff appearances -- the longest streak in the league.

Portland's season ended with a 4-2 series loss to the Denver Nuggets in the opening round of the Western Conference playoffs. Stotts led the Blazers to a 2019 berth in the Western Conference finals, plus two other trips to the conference semifinals, in his nine seasons with Portland.

 

[Necro]

NBA draft lottery 2021: How to watch, odds, picks and intel

The 2021 NBA draft lottery drawing will be unveiled Tuesday night at 8:30 ET on ESPN. The ultimate prize is believed to be the right to select Oklahoma State star Cade Cunningham at No. 1, but inclusion in what NBA evaluators believe could be a historically strong top five is a much-coveted circumstance for every team with their logo on a pingpong ball.

Here's everything you need to know in advance of the lottery, including the odds for every team involved, the top prospects to watch, the latest intel from around the league, traded picks to track and what's next.

How to watch
Tuesday's lottery broadcast is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and the ESPN App, immediately preceding Clippers-Suns Game 2.

The show will feature representatives from all 14 lottery teams, including announced or reported reps Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets), Ben Wallace (Pistons), Jeff Weltman (Magic), Nazr Mohammed (Thunder), Koby Altman (Cavaliers), Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves), Fred Van Vleet (Raptors), Marc Eversley (Bulls), Monte McNair (Kings), Swin Cash (Pelicans), Miles Bridges (Hornets), Peter J. Holt (Spurs), Nancy Leonard (Pacers) and Rick Welts (Warriors).

The 2021 NBA draft will be held July 29 on ESPN and ABC.

This year's lottery odds
Here's a quick look at the odds for every team with a chance to win a top pick this year:

1. Houston Rockets

• Average pick: 3.7
• No. 1: 14.0%
• Top four: 52.1%

Note: If Houston's pick falls outside the top four, it gets conveyed to Oklahoma City.

2. Detroit Pistons

• Average pick: 3.9
• No. 1: 14.0%
• Top four: 52.1%

3. Orlando Magic

• Average pick: 4.1
• No. 1: 14.0%
• Top four: 52.1%

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

• Average pick: 4.6
• No. 1: 11.5%
• Top four: 45.1%

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

• Average pick: 4.8
• No. 1: 11.5%
• Top four: 45.1%

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

• Average pick: 5.5
• No. 1: 9.0%
• Top four: 27.6%

Note: If Minnesota's pick is not one of the top three, it gets conveyed to Golden State.

7. Toronto Raptors

• Average pick: 6.2
• No. 1: 7.5%
• Top four: 31.9%

8. Chicago Bulls

• Average pick: 7.5
• No. 1: 4.5%
• Top four: 20.2%

Note: If Chicago's pick does not move up to the top four, it gets conveyed to Orlando.

9. Sacramento Kings

• Average pick: 8.1
• No. 1: 4.5%
• Top four: 20.2%

10. New Orleans Pelicans

• Average pick: 8.7
• No. 1: 4.5%
• Top four: 20.2%

11. Charlotte Hornets

• Average pick: 10.4
• No. 1: 1.8%
• Top four: 8.5%

12. San Antonio Spurs

• Average pick: 11.3
• No. 1: 1.7%
• Top four: 8.1%

13. Indiana Pacers

• Average pick: 12.5
• No. 1: 1.0%
• Top four: 4.7%

14. Golden State Warriors

• Average pick: 13.7
• No. 1: 0.5%
• Top four: 2.4%

The top prospects
There have been only six drafts with three or more All-Stars selected in the top five since 2000. With executives regularly saying this crop has multiple No. 1-caliber picks, the 2021 NBA draft has that type of firepower at the top.

Here's a quick case for each player in the most likely top five, via ESPN's Mike Schmitz:

• Cade Cunningham: Cunningham's versatility is a big reason he's the favorite to go No. 1 overall regardless of who ends up winning the lottery. ... He's the only player projected in the top five who could legitimately play four positions.
• Evan Mobley: It's no secret in NBA circles that Mobley could very well end up as the best player to come out of this draft once his body fills out. He could use a more physical big alongside him early on given his rebounding struggles and slight build.
• Jalen Green: Green has no shortage of fans in NBA front offices, and there's an argument that he has the most star potential in the draft. One NBA executive said Green has a chance to be a "10-time All-Star and 25 point-per-game scorer" once he settles into the NBA game.
• Jalen Suggs: Suggs is a culture-changer who will instantly bring toughness and a winning mentality wherever he goes. ... Coaches and staff who have been around him say he's the most competitive player they've ever coached.
• Jonathan Kuminga: Kuminga is the most physically ready of the top five, with ideal tools for a two-way wing in today's NBA. Of the aforementioned prospects, Kuminga is the only one an NBA coach could comfortably ask to slow elite wing scorers such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and Tatum, even if his discipline and motor on that end are still evolving.

The rest of the first round should allow for a variety of possibilities. Get ESPN's full top 100 rankings with scouting reports on the likely first-rounders here.

Mock draft and projections

Heading into the lottery drawing, here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony is projecting the top five picks, based on the current order:

1. Rockets: Cade Cunningham | PG | Oklahoma State
2. Pistons: Evan Mobley | C | USC
3. Magic: Jalen Green | SG | G League Ignite
4. Thunder: Jalen Suggs | PG/SG | Gonzaga
5. Cavaliers: Jonathan Kuminga | SF/PF | G League Ignite

 

[Necro]

Phoenix game winner tonight, wow!


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