The 2025 Play-in Tournament

[Russ Smith]

The NBA is lucky GS/Kuminga never figured out how to use him/how to step up because if they had a legit third scoring option/super athletic wing to add to this mix, they’d be almost impossible to beat.

Russ… what do you think the deal is with Kuminga?

My take is when they got Butler, Kuminga was hurt and when he came back even though he scored, he shot under 20% from 3. Kerr thinks he can't play Butler, Draymond and Kuminga at the same time because of spacing. Even with Dray having a career year from 3 and Butler made 2 last night, you can't have 3 guys on the court at once that teams dare to shoot the 3. So it means Kuminga was only going to play when one of Dray or Butler is out. IN the playoffs their minutes go UP so his go down

The last few games Kuminga was really rushing shots, not passing, and taking too many 3's. I think Kerr just decided he can't alter his game to fit what we need. I don't necessarily agree but I think it's why he's playing Post and Hield they can stretch the floor although Hield can't buy a bucket. Post was huge last night he made 3 threes and even rebounded.

I do think they will need Kuminga at some point I hope he's ready to play he seems disinterested on the bench

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think Kuminga feels a lot of pressure on that roster, he is talented but it seems like he feels the weight of being a young guy on a dynasty.

Subtract Durant, add Butler and Kuminga to our roster... I don't know that we're a contender, but we'd sure have been a lot more interesting. Butler's intensity would have made a huge impact on this roster, the Suns have no one like that. As has been discussed, Booker seems to mold himself to the "alpha" on the team, I think Butler would have been a great guy for him to follow... and Durant just isn't an Alpha, he just wants to "hoop".

At the very least, I think the Warriors should be glad that Durant rejected the trade. They'd have lost Kuminga, Wiggins, a few first round picks, not gotten Butler, but had gained Durant... and if Durant rolls his ankle or pulls something or he and Green recall "oh yeah, we hate eachother" they miss the playoffs entirely.

I would have been all over that KD deal that got us Butler, Kuminga and picks. Still wouldn’t be close to contender but agreed they’d be more interesting. And I think short term it would have made GS just as good if not better than they are now. But KD is too much of a beta to admit he’s a better 2 than a 1 and needs a Stef to win another title.

 

[Hoop Head]

The Heat are destroying the Bulls. It's 78-63 halfway through the 3rd. The Heat are just different and don't shrink in these moments. I expect them to win comfortably and cruise through Atlanta as well.

 

[Russ Smith]

As expected the 2 minute report shows refs missed 4 calls last night

Podz block on Pippen was clean not a foul.

The ball Morant knocked out of bounds with 7.3 seconds left should have been off Curry so should have been Memphis' ball.

They missed a foul on Draymond at about 1:30.

ANd the putback by Edey on that play was offensive goaltending. So those calls equaled out they got the 2 points.

The surprise is they said the foul called on Looney was correct they did not mention that Edey fouled Moody first

 

[Hoop Head]

Anyone miss the Suns? Watch Dallas light up the Kings, who are turning it over Suns style.

 

[Ronin]

Sources: McNair out as Kings GM after play-in loss

Monte McNair is out as Kings general manager following the team's season-ending loss to the Mavericks on Wednesday night in the play-in tournament, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com

 

[Covert Rain]

Some of these play in games have been AWFUL. After watching some of these teams play it's obvious why they are play in teams.

 

[Superbone]

Some of these play in games have been AWFUL. After watching some of these teams play it's obvious why they are play in teams.

And yet they were better than the Kevin Durant led Phoenix Suns.

 

[Covert Rain]

And yet they were better than the Devin Booker and Kevin Durant led Phoenix Suns.

FTFY.

 

[Superbone]

FTFY.

The Chris Paul/Devin Booker led Suns went to the NBA Finals.

 

[Covert Rain]

The Chris Paul/Devin Booker led Suns went to the NBA Finals.

It was Booker AND CP3. It was Booker AND Durant. CP3 was the only leader out of all of them. Neither Booker or Durant is. That has been evident. Even that wasn't enough of an addition to Booker to get it done. Which says something.