2026 Playoffs Elimination Ruminations: Suns, Blazers, Hawks, Nuggets

PHOENIX SUNS (0-4)

Whether or not the Suns' season was a success is a matter of debate.  They fielded what many considered to be a mediocre roster yet were arguable, throughout most of the season at least, the NBA's most surprisingly-good team.  But then, during the postseason, they proved to be more or less a scrimmage team for the defending champions to warm up against.

I think Phoenix plays too much iso.  Their offense doesn't look like it has any type of discernible strategy.  Some other teams are able to get away with that style of play, but the Suns aren't that all-around talented.

The bigger issue - like I don't now what happened to Mark Williams, but they need more of an interior presence obviously, especially on defense.

I would imagine that, given their current roster, the Suns have some money to spend.  So it'll be interesting to see what they do during the offseason.  And besides a big, this team could really benefit from like a Jrue Holiday, i.e. a PG that actually knows how to run a team.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (1-4)

I'm not going to say that Scoot Henderson is a bust, but it's obvious, at least to me, that he isn't a starter.  Still waiting for a highly-touted rookie to breakout after three seasons doesn't sound like a wise bet.

So basically, the Blazers traded Scoot for Dame, reacquired the latter, and it's very much possible that next season, Lillard will be starting over Henderson.  That doesn't sound like efficient braintrusting, but then again, neither does hiring a coach who rigs poker games.  And Portland should've known that, unless you're drafting Iverson or some shit, you don't just throw young PGs in the fire like that.

Avidja is a tough, drive-oriented(?) allstar but someone who can benefit from having a teammate more formidable than Robert Williams III or Donovan Clingan downlow.  I'm not dissing either one of them, but you know what I mean.  The Blazers are a wing-oriented team, but their Gs and Fs aren't talented and deep enough to really shake anyone.

Also, how about a round of applause for Holiday?  Dude is old AF in NBA years yet was Portland's best player for at least a couple of games.  He's the consummate professional who, despite his pedigree, doesn't demand to be on a contender and competes, even on a lowly squad like the Blazers.

On one hand, I'm hoping that next season he ends up on a team that can better use his services.  Time isn't really on his side type shit.  But on the other, I'm looking forward to seeing the level-headed, defensive specialist Jrue playing alongside the more sporadic and offensively-talented Dame.  Few backcourts would have balance like that.

ATLANTA HAWKS (2-4)

Even if Atlanta had won the First Round, which for a second there I thought they might, that wouldn't have negated the fact that the Knicks are a much better team.  NYK - as I have said numerous times before - has the most talented starting five in the league, even moreso than the Thunder.

The Hawks traded away Clint Capela - who isn't what he used to be - earlier this season, but now you see the folly in just discarding bigs like that.  They could have at least used a bigger body to throw at the likes of KAT, Robinson and even Anunoby.  Currently, it looks like the biggest guy on this squad is Jonathan Kuminga.  That isn't going to cut it, now that the NBA is trending semi-interior again.

And speaking of busts, what's up with Risacher?  Apparently he isn't injured, yet I didn't even hear his name mentioned this postseason.

Granted, the 2024 Draft has yet to produce any truly exceptional player (besides maybe Stephon Castle), but the Hawks dropped the ball on that one.  They could've at least tried to like trade the pick or something.  And I'm not dissing Zaccharie or anything, but he was amazingly ineffective for a number-one pick.

That said, I can imagine Trae Young got a kick out of seeing his former team get their asses bust like that.  That Game 6 loss is going to linger all the way into next season, even though the Hawks were no match for an inspired Knicks' team.  So it'll be interesting to see how the braintrust adjusts and tries to boost morale during the offseason.  It should probably start with shipping Risacher out who, if nothing else, would arguably benefit from a change of scenery (perhaps even back to Europe).

DENVER NUGGETS (2-4)

All things considered, the Nuggets losing to the Timberwolves isn't overly surprising.  What is is the fact that they lost even though Minnesota didn't have Edwards (and DiVincenzo).  So it's almost like Denver's starters got outclassed by the Wolves' second team.

I don't know what's up with Aaron Gordon.  Apparently he wasn't injured, i.e. unable to play but still proved to be a nonfactor.  Jokic + Murray, imo, are like the best inside-out combination of the 2020s, but Gordon is the x-factor.  When's he unable to play or whatever, it's like Denver loses its grit.

Nikola does get into his fair share of fights, perhaps more than any other player in the league, but he isn't known as a shit-talker media wise.  So the fact that he's been so vocal after Denver was eliminated says a lot, that now, finally a rebuild of sorts is inevitable.  I love Aaron, but he isn't consistent enough these days.  So Giannis, anyone?  I can also sorta picture Kawhi in the equation.

The Nuggets have one of the better braintrusts, so it's unlikely they make a nonprogressive move two offseasons in a row.  Trading Porter Jr. for Cam Thomas, in hindsight, was a mistake.  This isn't a knock against Cam, even though Michael has since proven himself the better all-around player.  It's a knock against the coaching staff for (under)utilizing him the same way they did Porter, i.e. having one of the tallest guys on the court constantly perched behind the 3-point line.  Jokic and the gang have slowly come to realize that they're not going to win again using the same strategy (and players) from 2023.  And speaking of coaches, I bet Mike Malone is getting a kick out of this also.

If I Could Send One Player to Any Team (Southwest Division)

Remember that in 2024, it wasn't all the way 'til like the last week of August that KAT ended up in New York.  So I don't want to start hastily giving out offseason grades, because by the time all the ink has dried we still don't know who may end up where.  For instance, Giannis still has yet to definitively state he's going to remain in Milwaukee.  And even someone like CP3, if he ends up on a contender that actually appreciates and needs his skillset, that could be monumental.

But most of the roster moves heading into next season have already transpired.  So unlike the first installment of "If I Could Send One Player to Any Team", henceforth I'm going to try to be more practical, focusing on players whom teams can more realistically acquire, such as free agents that are still on the market.  Doing so may not be as exciting as going full fantasy, but it is more practical.  And on that note...

DENVER NUGGETS (JONATHAN KUMINGA)

It's more difficult to call this one because we don't know if Valanciunas is going to report for duty.  But I foresee something like Aaron Gordon noticeably aging this coming season.  And I don't know how much better Cameron Johnson is supposed to be over Porter Jr., but with Denver recently acquiring Brown and Hardaway, there appears to be more of a need in the frontcourt.

I don't want to see Westbrook re-signed, considering the way they devalued him in the postseason.  I'm thinking more like a PF, and realistically the best one that may be available is Kuminga.  His athleticism and all-around game would almost be like a second Gordon next to Jokic.  He can also run the point a bit, which will come in handy once Murray is inevitably injured.

If I really wanted to go wild, I would even suggest trading Kuminga for Gordon straight up as, considering age and experience and all that kinda sh*t, the latter may now be better suited for the Dubs.  Imagine Aaron Gordon on Golden State?  They never had a PF like that.

If I were still on that hardcore fantasy shit, I'd rather go with Giannis over Kuminga.  Giannis + Jokic would be a definite championship, but again, dude ain't a free agent.  So Denver would literally have to trade like their entire team to get him, though Giannis + Jokic could probably win a championship with virtually any supporting cast, so long as dudes can play defense and score a bit.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (MALCOLM BROGDON)

I went with a PG because I still find it kinda odd how large of a role Conley has on this team.  I have nothing against Mike and rather think he deserves more recognition for being one of the few players who's still viable in his late 30s.  He makes timely plays on occasion, but it's hard to understand why he's averaging nearly 25 minutes on a team built like the Timberwolves.  Apparently, he's like a really good teammate or some shit.

Having Ben Simmons alongside Rudy Gobert isn't ideal from a scoring standpoint.  That type of dynamic would dictate that Edwards and Randle be allowed to take as many shots as they like.  That isn't a bad thing, if not for the fact that the former appears shy at times, while the latter can be shutdown if the right type of defense focuses on doing so.

A high-scoring PG like Steph, it's hard to imagine him co-existing alongside Edwards.  This is Anthony's team, for better or worse.  So ideally anyone who comes in would complement, not overshadow, Ant-Man.  Yeah, I know what you're thinking, 'isn't that Mike Conley anyway'?  But that just goes to show how complex the Wolves' situation is.  They're too extraordinary to fail yet not good enough to actually win.

So I'm going with Malcolm Brogdon.  Remember there was a time, before the injuries started piling up, when he was one of the most-formidable scoring Gs in the NBA, like early in his career, even from his rookie season.  But the reason I'm espousing him is not only because Brodgon can score, but also his game is more cerebral, like it wouldn't take away from Edwards or Randle.  Also, having him plus Conley around, like if you were to mesh those two together, you'd have the perfect PG.  All things considered, Minnesota doesn't need a major upgrade like another superstar.  They just need to figure things out type shit, while making the right under-the-radar additions.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER (CHRIS PAUL)

There were reports that CP3 may go to the Knicks, which sounded exciting at first.  But then when I really thought about, NYK is a team that seems to flourish with shoot-first PGs, like Brunson and McBride.  So no need to change that dynamic now, as it currently looks like they're going to take the East next season.

Out of all of the contenders out there, Paul going to OKC makes the most sense.  He may not be a starter as he prefers, but this is a team that could really benefit from a pass-first PG when SGA is on the bench or sometimes even when he's on the court, thus allowing him to solely focus on scoring.  With a teammate like CP3, Shai may even go on to average like 35ppg.

Meanwhile, let's just say that whereas the Thunder took home to Larry O'Brien, they didn't necessarily impress in the Finals.  Given the youth of their roster, a noticeable degree of internal growth is expected.  But it won't hurt to upgrade externally also, and their frontcourt isn't lacking.  Meanwhile, for whatever reason, CP3 is available on the cheap, and no one will see this coming.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS (NIKOLA JOKIC)

The Trailblazers are like a youth movement with no discernible future.  So in this case, I'm not going to go with a player who's a free agent but rather, you know, with the best guy in the league, i.e. Nikola Jokic.  Technically, SGA is MVP, but it's hard to imagine how a PG, as opposed to a C, can turn this ship around, even though their guard rotation, especially since trading away Simons, leaves something to be desired also.

It's been awhile since I did any research on Scoot, and by the looks of things, he has more or less materialized into a bust, as I predicted, not due to any shortcoming on his part (tho he may have been overrated) but rather Portland's braintrust unwisely throwing him (i.e. a rookie PG) into the fire too fast.

UTAH JAZZ (JOSH GIDDEY)

The Jazz is a team that has become so irrelevant that it's a chore to even write about them.  The thing I dislike about Utah is that they overtly tanked over the last couple of seasons, just to have shit totally backfire on them.  The biggest news to come out of Jazz land over the past 18+ months has been acquiring a rookie who doesn't or didn't even want to play for them.

They also recently gave up on Sexton and Clarkson which, if you look at the rest of their roster, doesn't really make sense.  But maybe Ainge and co. know something that we don't.  It's almost like now, they're in a semi-rebuild.  Markannen is still the star of the team I guess, but if he actually wants to win, it's hard to imagine him being content with this lackluster organization, which also happens to be in the West.

It almost feels like an insult suggesting any player go to the Jazz.  But since he is White and is currently the best all-around (restricted) free agent available, I have to go with Josh Giddey.  As it currently stands, it's hard to imagine a primarily White team winning a championship, even if there are a couple of above-average Europeans thrown in the mix.  But all things considered, something like that may happen sooner than we think.

2025 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (May 19)

DENVER NUGGETS (3) vs OKC THUNDER (4)

It was obvious from the get-go that Aaron Gordon shouldn't have been playing.  The fact that he was forced or compelled to do so anyway, even though it was a Game 7, is indicative of how thin Denver's bench is or how little faith they have in their backup players.

Speaking of David Adelman, it also shows a lack of creativity on the part of the team's coaching staff.  Steph went down, and they told him not to come back 'til Game 6, and he didn't try to force himself back, even though his team got their asses bust.  I still believe, if Curry were healthy, the Warriors would have won.

But anyway, the point is that sometimes you just have to man-up and take the lost, if it's like that.  At least the younger dudes, like Peyton Watson - who would have most logically replaced Gordon in the starting lineup - would have gotten invaluable playoff experience in the process.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (0) vs OKC THUNDER (0)

Speaking of the Timberwolves, I know that they're a formidable, even if lucky, team.  But I totally expect OKC to dominate them in the next round.

NEW YORK KNICKS (4) vs BOSTON CELTICS (2)

It felt like Boston threw Game 6, maybe not intentionally per se, but it was clear, at least to me, that they didn't really-really try.  The Knicks were dominating, and very early in the game the Celtics gave up.  They're saying something now like Brown was playing through injury, so that probably has something to do with it.  What's the use of making the Conference Finals when you already know that Jaylen needs rest also?  Chasing those championships, some NBAers finally get the trophy but can never make it back again.

The Knicks destroyed the Celtics, at MSG, in Game 6.  But that was something to have been more expected than celebrated.  NYK has the most-stacked starting lineup in the league, and they're all healthy.  Boston, at full strength, is not as talented as the Knicks but have more of a winning culture.

They're saying that Tatum's injury is so serious that the Celtics should more or less initiate a rebuild in the name of saving money, or something like that.  I was saying since before last postseason ended that Boston needed some upgrades, most specifically to cover for the fragility of Porzingis who, ironically enough, did manage to play in Game 6.  In hindsight, maybe they should have went after a Jimmy Butler type , like a third superstar.  That's what they need instead of just gutting the team, but obviously they can't afford it.

I've also been critical of Boston from the get-go for more or less forcing Jrue Holiday to become one of those solely-defense type of players, like Matisse Thybulle, if you will.  Jrue is a traditional PG, stuck in league where old-school, pass-first PGs no longer exist.

Teams are built these days whereas virtually anyone from the 1 to the 5 can bring it up the court.  But reportedly, he's like the player most likely to move, and I guess logically so, since being forced to play that way limits Holiday's overall effectiveness.

But it'll be interesting to see if BOS or anyone else lets him play traditional point next season.  There are certainly teams, like the Magic, who could use a traditional point, if the stars are actually willing to conceded ball handling.  And speaking of Holiday, is it just me, or does he look like he's grown a couple of inches?

INDIANA PACERS (0) vs NEW YORK KNICKS (0)

Both the Knicks and Pacers have had lucky breaks during the 2025 postseason.  But n all honesty, I'm more impressed with Indiana.  The way they dominated the Cavs, even when Cleveland was more or less at full strength, was more impressive than they way NY beat BOS.

But that said, congratulations to NYK.  I would assume that most NBA fans don't want opposing players, especially stars, to get hurt, even if they party like 1999 if their team beats a limp opponent.  So regardless of how the Knicks may or may not have made it, at least they're there.  But it'll still be a disappointment if they can't get pass the Pacers.

HAS PARITY BEEN ACHIEVED?

These Playoffs have been pretty exciting, but we're once again met with a postseason where dudes are being commonly and let's say randomly beat by 20 or more points.  Has parity been achieved, Mr. Silver?  I guess we won't really know until the next round.

2025 NBA Playoffs Ruminations (May 11)

NEW YORK KNICKS (2) vs BOSTON CELTICS (1)

The Celtics drubbing of the Knicks in Game 3 was, imo, the biggest win of any series in the Playoffs thus far.  Yes, Cleveland pulled off same thing in Indiana after falling into a 2-0, home-based hole.  But the difference, this is in fact BOS vs. NYK, with the Celtics being considered the opponent the Knicks must overcome to reach that next level.  Indiana beat NYK last postseason, not Boston, but still, everyone knows that beating the Celtics is the true mark.  Meanwhile, NYK failed to do so in four attempts during 2024-25 Regular Season, including having their asses handed to them, at MSG, back in February.

It was that February embarrassment when all of the pundits were like 'damn, these Knicks are stacked, but they still aren't ready to topple the Celtics'.  So it's like dudes really need to win.  If they don't, there's going to be more questions than answers.

One thing I'd probably suggest, if it weren't this late in the season, is starting Miles McBride, most likely over Hart.  McBride is sort of a one-trick pony who I wouldn't expect to be able to really defend any guard in Boston's rotation.  But he plays hard and appears to be really proficient at scoring, i.e. making threes.  So if given more of an opportunity, maybe he can counter some of the Celtics' shooters.  And as for Hart, maybe his energy will be more beneficial, in this series, coming off the bench.

All things considered, I don't think it's sustainable for Boston to continue shooting like 50% from three for the rest of the series.  But going back to the point I was trying to make earlier, it's like now they've reasserted their dominance over the Knicks, like some confidence, bully type shit, like 'you only won because I let you' type shit.  It sucks, from a New York fan's perspective, that they couldn't take Tatum & co.'s heart when they had the chance.

The Knicks won those first two games on last second plays, and obviously that type of luck, if you will, isn't sustainable either, not against a champion.  So the thing they need to worry about is not allowing themselves to fall into a big deficit early on, as has happened in all three games thus far I think.

DENVER NUGGETS (2) vs OKC THUNDER (1)

I'm sure I said even way back when this season began that if any team in the West was likely to give OKC serious issues in a series, it would the Nuggets.  I don't know if Jokic + Gordon would classify as a twin towers, but they have the size to counterbalance OKC's bigs.  Aaron Gordon has the bulk of a traditional PF yet the athleticism and shooting ability of a SF.  I can't think of anyone else in the NBA who fits that description besides Lebron and maybe Tobias Harris.  Besides those two or three, I can't even think of anyone else who's big like PFs from the 1990s, period.  It definitely ain't these tall, lean "unicorn" types.  When I hear the word "unicorn", I think of My Little Pony and shit like that.

By this point, I'm convinced that the mainstream media has something against Russell Westbrook, since they refuse to show him ample love, i.e. give him credit, consistently as due.  Every once in awhile they'll mention him, maybe.  He's getting like the DeMarcus Cousins treatment.  So with this being NBA Inception, the next step is to theorize on what it is they may have against him, though that's a post for another day.

The thing that's really fuckin OKC up is that all of the Nuggets' starters - surprise surprise - are both healthy and effective.  I, at least, didn't see that coming, especially not this deep into the Playoffs.  Let's hope it remains that way, so it won't be one of those series like 'the only reason this team won is because an integral player on the other squad was injured'.

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (1) vs MIINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (2)

Speaking of which, the T-wolves are the luckiest team in Playoffs thus far, as even without Steph, they had to go almost down to the wire to beat GSW in Game 3.  So if Curry were around, you already know.

Minnesota came out arguably better from that KAT deal, but, I mean idk with this squad. They've had issues maximizing rosters for like the past decade, now even post-KAT.  Well, I guess I can't really say that until they maybe beat the Warriors and then face whoever it is they'll be facing in the WCF.  But beating the overrated Lakers and then maybe GSW with an injured or hobbled Steph, like those shouldn't be counted as major accomplishments for a squad of this caliber.

I'm starting to respect the coaching stylings of Steve Kerr.  He's been doggedly loyal to the team's (star) vets, even as they've aged, yet at the same time makes bold, unexpected roster moves.  But by this point, if Steph must come back next season, then they really need to start exercising the option of him coming off the bench for a number of reasons.  None of us (outside of Minnesota) want to see him hurt at this point in the season.

INDIANA PACERS (2) vs CLEVELAND CAVALIERS (1)

I guess the implicit lesson of Game 3 is Darius Garland being more important to the Cavs' success than a lot of us assume.  Cleveland is stacked, but apparently they need all of their stars to win against a quality team or whatever.  That may come back to haunt them if they go on to face the Celtics.

The way Haliburton fizzled out of Game 3 reminds me of Myles Turner unexpectedly doing the same against Boston during one of those pivotal games during last season's Playoffs.  I don't know what to make of these types of occurrences, especially for someone who's a perennial allstar, like Tyrese is supposed to be.  Maybe the Cavs' defense is really that good?  Anthony Edwards sometimes does the same thing, i.e. disappearing during big games.  So I guess shit happens or whatever.  But now you see why dudes be calling Haliburton overrated.

Speaking of Edwards, earlier I forgot to mention the way he banged on Looney in Game 3.  Golden State's interior D is atrocious - as it's more or less been for the past few years - so there were a number of times it looked like "Ant-Man" could've banged it if he really wanted to.  Btw, "Ant-Man" is the most nonimaginative, unapplicable nickname in the NBA.  But that said, the 2025 Playoffs have featured some of the illest dunks ever.  Remember what Gordon did to Holmgren in Game 1, what Nesmith did to Spida in Game 2?  And there's at least one or two other ones from this postseason I'm forgetting at the moment.

2023-24 NBA Playoffs Game 3 Ruminations

TIMBERWOLVES 3, SUNS 0

The T'wolves are a better all-around team than the Suns.  But I presumed Phoenix would perform better than this, with the series being a clash between two different playing styles - wings v. size.  In fact, I heard one announcer say that the Suns swept the season series against Minnesota, which is in fact true.  You'd never know that looking at the way the Wolves are currently dominating them.

Phoenix made two major roster mistakes going back to last season.  One was, when KD arrived, not forcing him to cede the point to CP3.  Second, which is only really becoming obvious now, was parting with Deandre Ayton.  I'm not saying if he was still around they'd win the series, but you have to presume they'd at least fare better against for instance a slashing Anthony Edwards.  Beal, one of the most overrated superstars in the league (nothing personal), isn't really doing anything.  And I'm sure I said before that teaming him up KD + Booker felt sorta like overkill.

But that said, again, I had some pretty high hopes for the Suns.  Too bad their 1st round opponents are the team that's likely to take the West.  I feel bad for KD, but this is what happens when you prioritize instant super-teaming over gradually building a complementary roster.

KNICKS 2, SIXERS 1

In Game 3, Embiid shot more free throws than the entire Knicks' roster.  Prior to that, in Game 2 at the Garden, Philly complained about the officiating.  So this looks like a series where home court matters, you know, in that sorta way, like college basketball if you will.

With that in mind, the Knicks should take the series.  Furthermore, I would argue that they are the superior team.  I criticize Thibs a lot and also enjoy making fun of NYK's braintrust, but this team they've constructed is like some real guru sh*t.

The Sixers' roster is not inferior to the Knicks.  Currently, their main problem, the way I see it, is Joel having basically lost his defensive efficacy.  That's more or less to be expected given his injury woes.  Superstars with these battered bodies can still score, but their defense tends to suck.

MAVERICKS 2, CLIPPERS 1

I made a big mistake claiming that Dallas doesn't have any interior presence based on their Game 1 performance.  But I have been rightfully arguing for a long time that the Clippers' main problem was lack of depth at the 5.  And that really hurts when you're starting someone as small as Kawhi Leonard at the 4.

When LAC acquired Mason Plumlee, I thought that he may be answer.  What I'm imagining now is that they should start Mason at the 4 and move Terrance Mann out of the starting lineup.  That may not be a perfect fit, considering the speed of Dallas's bigs.  But they can't just be letting dudes highlight reel them at will.

CAVALIERS 2, MAGIC 1

The way the Cavs got their asses bust in Game 3, despite being the better team, connotes one of two things.  Either they were really off that night, or, you already know.

I've been saying, since the conclusion of last season, that the NBA powers that be do not favor Cleveland.  I won't go as far as to speculate that Orlando will take the series.  But either way, I'm not expecting the Cavs to really go far in these playoffs.

NUGGETS 3, LAKERS 0

Aaron Gordon is the best PF in the NBA.  There are other players at that position who are more talented, but none better at holding down the innate responsibilities of being a 4 than he is.

When Gordon first came to Denver, he was shooting threes, and the team was losing.  Since then he got incepted, got his ass back in the post, and now Denver is virtually unbeatable.

The reason Jokic can play like 2 and Porter Jr., as tall as he is, can lurk around the three-point line is because of the efficacy of Aaron inside.  While other teams were out trying to build their own version of the Dubs, the Nuggets' braintrust, which has always been better than average, was like 'wait, better to fight fire with water'.

So starting Lebron at the 4 and expecting him, at his advanced age, to hold Gordon is borderline comical.  It's almost judgment time for Darvin Ham.  But it isn't really his fault.  The Lakers' roster feels like one with more problems than solutions, and some things they do are inexplicable.  For instance, Jerrod Vanderbilt is probably the second-best rebounder on the team, you know, if you actually give him playing time.  So why is he riding the bench?

Hopefully, LAL will follow my advice and get Zach LaVine during the offseason.  He may not solve their defensive woes, but at least it'll have the team feeling like the Lakers once again.

Also, as King James ages, you know what |I'm saying?  He shouldn't be eating up an inordinate amount of the team's salary.  If dudes want to win, he has to give up a little so they can afford the types of players they need.  Besides Austin Reeves, every Laker outside of LBJ and AD feels expendable.

CELTICS 2, HEAT 1

I don't mean to sound racist are anything, but Miami is fielding too many white players to hope to contain Boston.  Whiteboys are excellent shooters, and on rare occasion you may come across one, like Alex Caruso, who is a plus defender.  But that's more of the exception than the rule, especially when it comes to wings.  And the best Caucasian player of the series, Kristaps Porzingis, happens to belong to the Celtics.

I criticized Kristaps in my last post, in terms of his reluctance to play inside, but he's effective enough against the Heat.  The only real advantage Miami has (on offense) would be playing Adebayo in the post (against Porzingis).  Jacquez is also good at penetrating and scoring.  But the Heat have become so reliant on three-pointers that asking them to re-strategize at this point is apparently out of the question, even though they're up against a team that shoots better than they do.  Duh.

I also want to give Kristaps additional props, because now I see the value of having a 7+ footer who's good at shooting threes.  It's like he's so tall that it doesn't really matter if a defender is in his face, unless the defender also is really tall.

All of that said, the Heat are without Jimmy Butler, their franchise player who also happens to be one of the best playoff performers.  I believe in miracles, but without Butler and against a better team with a similar playing style, it doesn't appear that Miami truly has a chance unless maybe, as a team, they're hitting at least 40% from three.

PACERS 2, BUCKS 1

The Bucks have a lot of heart.  They're aged, and their roster isn't that deep.  But still, they're giving a younger and more talented team a run for their money.

Or let me clarify that - Indiana is deeper and definitely more talented than Milwaukee with Giannis not playing.  It is that injury, imo, which has the Pacers the advantage.  But you have to give them credit for also appearing poised enough, against a really good team, to capitalize on it.

THUNDER 3, PELICANS 1

Of the 16 teams currently in the Playoffs, three of them - Milwaukee, Miami and New Orleans - are without their franchise player.  And in the case of NOP especially, the question must be begged: what value is a superstar, if he's injured when you need him most?  (The answer = ticket sales).

One thing I like about OKC's offensive game is that they appear to be patient.  It isn't like watching teams such as the Heat where, if their three-pointers aren't going in, they aren't going to win.  The Thunder play like they have strategic options on offense.

Also, I'm increasingly becoming appreciative of Holmgren's defensive game.  As for Josh Giddey, he needs to learn how to at least jump on defense.  

2023 NBA Finals Ruminations (June 10th)

SHOUTOUT TO BRUCE BROWN

One of the biggest problems with having a group of superstar divas on the same roster, like what the Nets had been dealing with up until recently, is that the other quality players on the team tend to get overlooked.  That's what happened to Bruce Brown last season.  There were games, to my remembrance, in which both KD and Kyrie played, but Brown was the most-effective player on the squad.  And I was saying to myself that if there's any 'role player' who Brooklyn should go out of its way to retain, it would Bruce.

But in reality, the Nets' braintrust really isn't that smart to begin with.  For example, I like Cam Johnson but don't know if I would really risk breaking the bank for him.  Also, for some reason they like refuse to give Cam Thomas burn, even though he's obviously one of the best scorers in the league.

AARON GORDON - THE LAST TRUE POWER FORWARD

I remember back later in his career, Shaq used to refer to himself as something like 'the last true center in the NBA'.  He wasn't stepping outside settling for midrange shots like others, and since he was 'the last true center', it was like other teams didn't really have a strategy for defending him.

And that's the same thing I see when I look at Aaron Gordon dominating like this.  The NBA has become so guard/wing oriented that teams like Miami have no answer for him, and I doubt it would be much different if the Celtics were here in their place.  Hell, even Gary Payton II, who's only listed at 6'2", is able to dominate inside these days.  So as I have been predicting for the longest, the teams that do still respect interior presence, at the top of the list currently being the Nuggets, are going to dominate into the future.  Or as the old saying goes, nothing is new under the sun.  And any team that doesn't have a couple of Splash Bros., of which currently there is only one, shouldn't be trying to win every game via the usage of three-pointers.

FUK HAPPENED TO MO BAMBA?

When the Lakers unexpectedly went out and got Mo Bamba a couple of months ago (while simultaneously getting rid of Thomas Bryant), I thought they were going to actually play dude.  They could have definitely used him, for instance against these selfsame Nuggets.  He's one of those types of players I'm talking about, a lumbering big, the type who's no longer en vogue but virtually every team needs one.  So it'll be interesting to see where he ends up next season after being devalued by both the Magic and LAL.  Hopefully, it'll be on a roster where he actually gets some burn.

THE FUTURE OF THE HEAT

Even if the Heat somehow go on to miraculously win this series, it's obvious that their roster needs adjustments.  I mean, that's been obvious pretty much all season.  Jimmy Butler is one of my favorite players, but looking at him on the surface, you wouldn't know how much NBA mileage his body has endured.  Dude was playing for the Bulls way back in the Rose + Noah days.  So it ain't like he's a spring chicken, and I don't know how much of an onus the Heat should realistically be placing on him by this point.

So the future of this team, obviously, is with Bam Adebayo.  Herro is also a keeper, and like might as well play him by this point.  Maybe he'll prove to be the additional star the Heat need, now that Denver seems to have more or less neutralized Miami's wily role players.  And Butler is also someone you would want to keep around, though primarily as a defensive specialist by this point.  'Playoff Jimmy Butler' is real sometimes, but at this age not all the time.  So come this offseason, if I were Miami I would basically slot Bam into the PG position and then do what they have to do from there (like maybe finding a way to get rid of Lowry's contract).

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? (CHRIS PAUL EDITION)

CP3 is the type of PG that can literally fit in with any team, though whether as a starter or bench player depends on the squad.  But as soon as I heard that the Suns were finna to cut him, even til now I can't think of any team that would be an ideal fit that he would actually want to go to.

The thing about these superstars, how they sorta self-sabotage themselves these days, is that they're always switching teams.  If, after your rookie contract expires, you spend your entire career bouncing around to teams that are instantly in position to win championships, that likely means there isn't a quality core of young players developing under you.  So what happens is that these contenders become too old to compete, which is not how aging is supposed to work.

In other words as you age, no matter what walk of life you're in as far as I could tell, you need youngsters to have your back.  So if you're on a team that's gradually building into a champion and then just be like 'fukit, I'm leaving, I want to win now', you know, when the time comes that you need youth on your side, you're may not have it.  And that's also a problem a lot of the better teams in the NBA are facing, even the Warriors in a way.

What I would really like to see is CP3 go to a team that could really use him as a starter, like the Rockets or Magic, but again, that's not likely.  So I need to think some more before pinning down an actual contender he can go to.  Off the top of my head the Bucks keep poppin into mind, but him alongside Jrue Holiday may be too undersized.

SHOUTOUT TO MIKE MALONE

I sorta dissed Mike Malone in my last post for only using a eight-man rotation despite having at least three quality bench players who aren't getting any burn in the Finals whatsoever.  But the strategy is working, in part I would say because Miami really isn't on Denver's level to begin with.  And the cool thing about it nonetheless is that DeAndre Jordan is on the verge of finally getting a ring, whereas neither CP3 nor Blake Griffin have been as lucky.

2023 NBA Finals Ruminations (June 5th)

THE KEVIN LOVE FACTOR

Kevin Love may not be the scorer he used to be, but he can still rebound his ass off, on top making a timely 3 at least once a game.  When he was traded to the Cavs, it's like Lebron sorta sonned him, but prior to that he was the alpha of the cursed Timberwolves for six seasons, averaging something like 20pts and 12 rebounds.  And there's always people out there who be like 'it's easy to be the star of a garbage team'.  Um, no it isn't, or else every starter on a garbage team would be a star, which is far from the case.

And let me remind the world that I did suggest the Heat start Love in Game 2, after not playing him at all in Game 1, in my last post.  Spoelstra followed that advice, playing him only 22 minutes, but Kevin the second highest +/-, at +18, in the entire game.  And who was at number one?  Gabe "Lil Homie" Vincent.

TF IS YOU DOING?! (MICHAEL PORTER JR.)

Believe or not, there's people out there in the world actually on their knees praying to grow past their natural height in the name of being a better basketball player.  Then you have someone like Michael Porter Jr. with that natural gift - wasting it on three-pointers.  Meanwhile there's little dudes, like Seth and Jamal, who can do it a lot better than he can.  In other words, play to your advantages, son.

I can think of four solid reasons why Porter has developed the habit of lingering out at the perimeter.  One, he has a frightening injury history, and staying out on the perimeter decreases his chances of being hurt .  Two, they don't really need him downlow like that with two better post players, Jokic and Gordon, on the roster.  Three, it takes less effort (i.e. work) to shoot jumpers than to drive the lane.  And lastly he is mad tall, meaning that it's virtually impossible to block one of his jump shots.

But maybe that's what the Nuggets need in this series.  Gordon has always been an exceptional post player, but sometimes that aspect of his game disappears.  And I've been saying for the longest that Nikola, as good as he may be, needs a consistent presence down there with him.  I always meant that more defensively, but now these days against Miami, like the last thing Denver needs is Michael taking 75% of his shots from outside and then missing most of them at that.

DOES MIKE MALONE REALLY KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING?

Mike Malone is considered one of the better coaches in the NBA, but it ain't like he turned around a garbage team or works for a braintrust that is inept.  Denver has been well-coached with a competitive roster, throughout the entire 21st century as far as I can remember.  Now they have a really-good roster that's also healthy, and in these cases you really have to ask whether it's the players, the coach or both that is the source of the squad's success.

For instance, for whatever reason Malone he refuses to play DeAndre Jordan, Ish Smith, Reggie Jackson(!) and Thomas Bryant(!!).  Earlier this season, Jackson was a starter for the Clippers and is one of the most experienced PGs in the NBA to never make an allstar team.  Meanwhile, Bryant was one of the better backup Cs when he was playing for the Lakers.  Ish Smith also, btw, ain't no slouch, and Jordan occasionally has his moments also.  And these moves, i.e. benching quality rotation players, look brilliant when you're winning.  But once you start losing it's definitely a point of scrutiny, running an eight-man rotation without bringing any true bigman, or PG for that matter, off the bench.

NBA Finals Ruminations (June 3rd)

DAMN, THE HEAT GOT THEIR ASSES BUST

Game 1 was what a matchup is supposed between a 1-seed and an 8-seed was supposed to look like.  The Heat are outmatched, but getting their asses bust like that it isn't only due to the Nuggets being flatout better.  Obviously there's also a major size discrepancy between the teams when for instance you regularly find someone like Gabe Vincent having to defend Aaron Gordon.

In fact now that I think about, the Nuggets can be considered to biggest team in this year's playoffs in general.  Their frontline has an average height of about 6'10".  This of course makes me think of all the dumbasses the last few years who've been indirectly saying stupid sh*t like size doesn't matter in today's NBA or forthrightly even saying dumber sh*t like there's no longer any place for traditional bigmen, which brings me to...

SHOUTOUT TO AARON GORDON

Jokic + Murray are such that they're going to do what they do regardless.  And there are a number of exceptional role players on their team.  But to me, the real ex-factor, when he's on, is Gordon.  And I have to give him his props because, he's not one of the tallest players on the court but out there settling for jump shots.  He's banging on the inside, and, if someone smaller tries to defend, will post them up.  This isn't how he played when he first came to Denver, but it seems that now, finally, he's been incepted.

And the really sad thing is that at least half of the teams in the NBA are currently lacking in size, either in quality and/or depth.  So the teams that already have bigman quality and depth, such as the Nuggets, Bucks or even Lakers I guess, should be dominating into the foreseeable future.

PLEASE HEAT, MAKE ADJUSTMENTS

Erik Spoestra has been quoted by NBC Sports as saying "scheme is not going to save" the Heat.  Rather, he thinks the team needs to rectify its "toughness and... collective resolve".  And I believe that's a disappointing strategy for a Head Coach to adopt in this situation for a couple of reasons.

First is that just as the Heat can turn up their toughness and resolve, so too can the Nuggets.  And again, Denver is the better squad.  Do I believe they have the best starting 5 in the NBA in terms of raw talent?  Not particularly, though arguably.  But more importantly, their stars are more compatible than, say, the Suns.

But second and most importantly, as a coach you're always supposed to be looking for adjustments.  And that's especially true when the opposing team's starting five is more talented than your own.  I understand where Spoestra is coming from, that it does look kinda stupid trying to make major adjustments this late in the season.  But based on what I seen in Game 1, I have some suggestions.

For instance, I would consider starting Lowry and Highsmith in Game 2 over Strus and Martin.  Strus, Martin and even the beloved Gabe Vincent are arguably bench players anyway.  So the Heat are lucky they even got this far starting them.  But now, they really have to respect their opponent, if for no other reason then due to the height advantage.

I would also consider starting Kevin Love or at least, you know what I'm saying, giving dude some run.  I strongly doubt if Love can defend Jokic, Gordon or Porter.  But at least he has size and is an exceptional rebounder.

SHOUTOUT TO BAM ADEBAYO

That said, there's probably no other team in the NBA (besides the Warriors) as proven in turning unknown players into stars or notable names than the Heat.  For instance I remember when Bam Adebayo was drafted, and like no one was expecting him to be a perennial all-star.

Of course he's the one player the Nuggets have to worry about most.  Why?  Because first of all Jokic's defense is suspect, and secondly, Bam is the most athletic center in the NBA, meaning that there's no way Nikola can realistically defend him.  This is something I wanted to point out even before the series started, and now I wish I did since that theory proved true in Game 1.

But Adebayo is not going to be able to do this alone.  So I hope the Heat do the right thing and maybe, for Game 2, have a starting lineup like Bam + Jimmy + Gabe + Kyle + Highsmith.  That may not solve all of their problems, but maybe it will.  Or in the very least, it'll give them a better chance against a team as big as the Nuggets.