If OKC doesn’t make the finals, do you think they will get a pass from the media/fans?

[Damnshow]

No excuses if they lose the series to Denver.

OKC are well rested, playing against a team with no coach who had to play 7 games in 1st round.

Sometimes that shyt happens when a well rested team plays with no focus in game 1. But they better get their shyt together. One of the most dominant #1 seeds going out like that would make them look like frauds.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

It’s set up perfectly for them to make it now. They’ll roll Minny* in the next round.

 

[FaTaL]

No, the media doesn’t fuj with them like that, they actually don’t want them in the finals

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

I posted this before the playoffs -

They've seemingly been untouchable during the regular season, but that's because they've been to thrive in being more physical on defense than the large majority of the league, along with Shai setting the tone of torturing teams on the other end by putting them in foul mitigation.

They've had historical results in a regular season setting, but I wouldn't automatically assume that'll happen all throughout the playoffs when that same physicality advantage won't be the same when the officials start calling it more evenly.

They're still a young team too, so we can't be neglectful of how much experience matters.

And even with Dort being allowed to do whatever out there on defense, this post is reflective of their struggles in the 2nd round.

We'll see over the next 2-3+ games if they're capable of pushing through this.

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

I think regardless of them winning/losing this season, Presti will have to prioritize vets above all else in the offseason. They only have two guys on their roster above 26 (and they're both only 30).

You'd have to go back all the way to the 1980 Lakers to find a team with somewhat similar experience that last won a title, and even Cap was 32 that year.

 

[Don Homer]

No excuses if they lose the series to Denver.

OKC are well rested, playing against a team with no coach who had to play 7 games in 1st round.

Sometimes that shyt happens when a well rested team plays with no focus in game 1. But they better get their shyt together. One of the most dominant #1 seeds going out like that would make them look like frauds.

nah, they're a young team. they got time

 

[tremonthustler1]

I think regardless of them winning/losing this season, Presti will have to prioritize vets above all else in the offseason. They only have two guys on their roster above 26 (and they're both only 30).

You'd have to go back all the way to the 1980 Lakers to find a team with somewhat similar experience that last won a title, and even Cap was 32 that year.

they are but some vets still wanna play,

they added Hartenstein and Caruso. SGA is in year 7 already. Chet and JDub are core pieces. Lu Dort's got 5 years in. They even tried Hayward to see if he could be a vet off the bench (didn't work). The rest of the bench is super green and you wanna make upgrades sure, but for a team that's gonna penny pinch, who are these vets saying "sure I'll play for the minimum and give you solid production?"

 

[WesCrook]

I hope both OKC and the Cavs make the finals just to stick it to casuals and the media.

Well, it won't be the Cavs but it will be a better if the Pacers get by the Knicks.

 

[QuintessentialBM]

Welp, they gotta win it now... Bench better shoot the hell outta the ball to beat Indy.

 

[Street Knowledge]

No matter what they aren’t making a big trade for a big fish.

 

[SchoolboyC]

Regardless of who they draw in the Finals, I’ll be shocked if they don’t win it all

They’ve been the best team in the league from beginning to end, anything less than a deep run like this would’ve been a major underachievement in my eyes

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

No matter what they aren’t making a big trade for a big fish.

I’m glad they held their nerve and didn’t break up their group. I know a lot of posters questioned them when they didn’t make any moves at the deadline.