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Brian WindhorstBrian Windhorst

Oklahoma City and Boston are the clear favorites for the NBA Finals

I booked a certain hotel that I want in Boston. I booked it in October for the finals. And Oklahoma City... I booked that sucker. If you had to pick one from the west, Oklahoma City and Boston [for the finals].

Oklahoma City did make the Finals and won the championship. However, Boston was eliminated in the second round. The Thunder half was correct; the Celtics half was wrong. The actual Finals was Thunder vs. Pacers.

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Apr 18, 2025
#23621
Big CatBig Cat

Cooper Flagg is a choker

Even though [Cooper Flagg] is a choker. That's fine.

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The outcome of Cooper Flagg's collegiate and professional career is pending in this timeline.
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Apr 18, 2025
#12165
Big CatBig Cat

Paying Josh Giddey $35 million a year would be a massive mistake for the Bulls

They also have a guy named Josh Giddey who they're gonna probably pay $35 million to, which would be a very big mistake... Josh Giddey is just good enough to get you in the play-in game and not the playoffs.

The Bulls signed Giddey to a 4-year, $100M extension ($25M/year), less than the $35M predicted. Whether it's a mistake depends on Giddey's future performance, but the contract was more modest than feared.
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Apr 18, 2025
#12164
Big CatBig Cat

The Chicago Bulls are a joke of an organization with no path forward

This franchise [the Bulls] is a joke and it should be called out as a joke and stop pretending that March and April basketball means something and actually pick a lane and go for it. They do not know how to tank. They do not know how to win.

The Bulls' performance over the last decade supports the claim of mediocrity, though 'joke' is subjective.

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Brian WindhorstBrian Windhorst

The Thunder, Timberwolves, and Nuggets title windows will stay open through the end of the decade.

SGA is like 26. Jalen Williams is the third season, Chet, this is technically his third season, but he's only played two seasons. I could see these three guys, us talking about these three guys in playoff games like this for the rest of the decade.

This will be determined by the performance of these teams through 2030.
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Brian WindhorstBrian Windhorst

The Timberwolves will likely be forced to break up their core roster next season due to the salary cap.

I don't think they can keep this team together. The core, the big piece is they can, but, so Julius Randle's a free agent, Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a free agent, and Naz Reed is a free agent. He has an opt-out... I would be surprised if they were able to re-sign all three guys.

The Timberwolves did indeed lose Nickeil Alexander-Walker in free agency and traded Julius Randle in the following offseason to manage the cap.
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Brian WindhorstBrian Windhorst

Aaron Nesmith's ankle injury is a more significant X-factor for the Knicks-Pacers series than any tactical adjustment.

Another thing I'm gonna say is that a big factor is Aaron Nesmith's ankle. That potentially is a huge X factor. And another reason why, if you're a Knicks fan, you think that you can do it. That to me, more than any Xs and O thing or whatever lineup you wanna play or who's ever got a hot shot, that potentially is a huge X factor.

The relative impact of an injury versus tactics is a matter of analyst opinion.

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