24-25 Season

[mufan2003]

To me, Boston is still the clear-cut best team in the East and the NBA. However, Milwaukee has never had its "Big 3" since winning the championship in 2021. No Middleton in 2022, no Giannis in 2023 or 2024, Lillard missing 2 games in 2024 and not being healthy in game 6 against Indiana.

If everyone is available, the way they are now playing together offensively and defensively as a team, they certainly can come out of the East and win it all. Not wishing for it, but Boston has not had to deal with missing Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. Cleveland has been very good. New York, Indiana and Miami all have talent and good coaching......but to me Boston is the best until someone knocks them off.

[Goose85]

To me, Boston is still the clear-cut best team in the East and the NBA. However, Milwaukee has never had its "Big 3" since winning the championship in 2021. No Middleton in 2022, no Giannis in 2023 or 2024, Lillard missing 2 games in 2024 and not being healthy in game 6 against Indiana.

If everyone is available, the way they are now playing together offensively and defensively as a team, they certainly can come out of the East and win it all. Not wishing for it, but Boston has not had to deal with missing Tatum or Brown in the playoffs. Cleveland has been very good. New York, Indiana and Miami all have talent and good coaching......but to me Boston is the best until someone knocks them off.

Winning the title is a crap shoot of who has all their top guys healthy.

Celtics are top dogs, but it is really hard to run it back. It was a long grind last year for the Celtics, and it will be another long season too. Holiday is 34 and Horford is 38. Hard to have fresh legs deep in the playoffs after NBA championship season, and another long season. They should really focus on load management with those two guys as the regular season doesn't matter as long as you get to the playoffs.

Like you said, Bucks haven't had the big 3 healthy since winning it all. Teams that are healthy have a shot. Let's hope the Bucks are healthy!

[mufan2003]

Way to go Giannis! Top vote-getter for his 9th All-Star appearance:

https://x.com/NBAPR/status/1882622812726469007

https://x.com/NBAAllStar/status/1882588838411047099

Lillard deserves to be 1 of the 7 East reserves selected by the league's coaches and announced next Thursday. He had an amazing 3-pt make in the corner right before halftime against Miami. He is in such better shape this season compared to last. Most importantly, Bucks have won 5 in a wow and 8 of 10.

https://x.com/Bucks/status/1882622992720744855

After the game, Giannis made a great statement regarding the travel issues the team faced around their scheduled game in New Orleans. You just have to love this guy's mindset! IMO, no doubt, the hardships he faced growing up in Greece makes him laugh at "difficulties" such as this.

https://x.com/TheGameMKE/status/1882780180348846454

https://x.com/eric_nehm/status/1882663511027073298

[Goose85]

Great perspective from Giannis. Another reason why he is so popular, he gets it.

[mufan2003]

Giannis out through the All-Star break (will sit out the All-Star game) with a left calf injury.

I don't mind Giannis having a nice 18-day, 19-day break mid-season which includes the All-Star game. Rest up and finish the regular season strong.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...all-star-break

[Goose85]

Good point. Take a break and make sure he is ready to go down the stretch.

After the All Star break there are 28 games left. Plenty of time to work in the new guys with Giannis, and try to solidify the four seed. Not sure it makes sense to shoot for anything higher than that seed.

[mufan2003]

An interesting breakdown of the Kuzma addition. Albeit a small sample size, I like what I have seen through 4 games.

https://youtu.be/4TTZoPpJYTY?si=J9smrhh2M4dWdsRx

[mufan2003]

https://x.com/BucksLead/status/1892327141234130987

[mufan2003]

Portis suspended 25 games for taking Tramadol (pain reducing, anti-inflammatory pill) which is banned by the NBA/NBPA Anti-Drug program.

He could return with 5 games remaining in the regular season.

https://x.com/eric_nehm/status/1892606689196531807

[Goose85]

Well, I guess not paying his salary for those 25 games puts the Bucks further under the tax apron (if they count that).

Too bad, as it would be nice if we could get the whole gang together while working in the new players for more than just a couple games before the playoffs.

Back to back games, so I would think Giannis may not play in them. If he does, my guess would be just one so we will be short handed.