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Is it crazy that Rudy Gobert is tied for the most DPOY awards Never? More on this below.
Thunder rolls too
We’re not panicking enough about OKC
The Minnesota Timberwolves are off to their best playoff start ever (6-0). They swept the Suns and surprised everyone by winning Games 1 and 2 of their second-round series with the defending champion Nuggets. It’s been an incredible ride, so we’re right to panic about what Anthony Edwards and company are doing. That said, holy shit, look what the Thunder have done so far. They opened their semifinal match by hosting Dallas 117-95.
No one should downplay OKC’s dominance during its 5-0 start to the playoffs. In fact, maybe we should give more importance to the Thunder’s departure despite his young age. Sure, we can compare OKC’s opponents to Minnesota’s. If we did, we could admit that the Suns (swept in the first round by Minnesota) have more power and gravitas than a Pelicans team without Zion Williamson (swept by OKC). The Nuggets are the defending champions and superior to the Mavericks, but the Thunder blow out their opponents regardless.
0-0 mentality pic.twitter.com/VCIKFCNoEq
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 8, 2024
❝We have a group of guys who embrace their role and try to excel in it.❞ pic.twitter.com/tF6rbVB0ev
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 8, 2024
Three of their five wins so far in the playoffs have been blowout victories (by 20 points or more). In five games, the Thunder have a plus-85 point differential. That number is the second-best over a five-game span in team playoff history. This also fits perfectly with the Wolves’ plus-93 playoff mark (behind the Celtics at plus-103).
OKC outscored Dallas in the fourth quarter to end the opener, but that thing remained hidden for most of the night. The Thunder had complete control, which is only further amplified by their balance with such an inexperienced core. No one on the Mavs can slow down Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams were perfect in their roles, and Lu Dort was on the committee to slow down an always hobbled Luka Dončić.
One thing is obvious after the first game: Dallas needs to get its two stars rolling. The Thunder have such a balanced attack that the Mavericks must be overwhelmed with star power.
Super overreaction to game 1: Thunder in five.
There is no shortage of heart and energy ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/boH81VoF5a
– OKC THUNDER (@okcthunder) May 8, 2024
The latest news from Shams
Brandon Ingram speaks
League sources tell me that Pelicans forward Brandon Ingram and coach Willie Green had a minor exchange in the locker room during Game 2 of the team’s first-round series against the Thunder, with Ingram essentially saying to Green that he wanted the ball and he wanted the coach to help him. facilitate this.
Ingram returned from a season-ending injury and is entering the final year of his contract in 2024-25. Given his usually calm demeanor, his speaking out during that moment in Game 2 was something that stood out as the Pelicans tried to salvage their season with Williamson injured.
New Orleans, however, was swept out of the first round despite a 49-win regular season, and shortly afterward, team manager David Griffin promised roster changes in the future. How the Pelicans approach this offseason will be worth watching in the coming weeks.
The Celtics still dominate
Jay King explains if they can continue like this
Even though Kristaps Porziņģis is questionable to play in the second round, the Celtics have been heavy favorites to return to the Eastern Conference Finals. They started their series with the Cavaliers by blowing them out – no Porziņģis for Boston, no Jarrett Allen for Cleveland. Regardless, the Celtics won 120-95 behind a team-high 32 points from Jaylen Brown. Instead of digging into my thoughts on the win, let’s chime in Jay King, one of our Celtics scribes, with three questions.
Boston did not feel the absence of Porziņģis in this game. How did you feel about Jarrett Allen’s absence?
King: This might sound weird, but Horford might be better off expanding this particular defense. Unlike Porziņģis, who often hits the paint on rolls or post-ups, Horford generally stays stationed outside the 3-point arc. He will space Mobley. Once Allen returns, Horford will also put him in a difficult situation: Should he stay with Horford, a sharpshooter, or leave him alone to defend the rim? Regardless of the option, the Celtics will have plenty of scoring opportunities. Porziņģis seems to be missed more against teams with big changes.
Game 1 comes back to us 💪 pic.twitter.com/FzPwa3rYCf
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 8, 2024
Boston outscored Cleveland by 21 from the 3-point line. Is there anything Cleveland can do to make this happen?
King: The Cavaliers actually produced 42 3-point attempts after averaging just 29.9 per game in the first round. I thought their approach on that side of the field made sense. To pull off an upset, they’ll need to open up their offense and generate 3s. Without Allen, they downsized by shooting more from the field and got going – they just didn’t make many. Only Isaac Okoro (3 out of 8) really succeeded from downtown. They need more of their best shooters, including Max Strus and Sam Merrill (if Merrill stays in the rotation).
Do you think Donovan Mitchell is really making Boston’s defense afraid of losing this series?
King: I actually think the Celtics should be more worried about stopping Mitchell’s teammates. He had some big games against Orlando, but the Magic managed to keep the other Cavaliers quiet for most of the series. Cleveland’s offensive rating this round was alarming (ranked 15th out of 16 teams with 100 points per 100 possessions). With all the perimeter defenders the Celtics have, they should be able to force Mitchell into tough shots without overcommitting to him. If they are able to limit the supporting cast, they should score enough to advance.
My overreaction to the first game: The Celtics could lose one more game in the East.
It’s one, guys ☝🏾 pic.twitter.com/A7uymm89YC
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 8, 2024
ayyyy good game Derrick 😂 pic.twitter.com/4YCVVgNkM0
– Boston Celtics (@celtics) May 8, 2024
The historic DPOY of Rudy Gobert
Future Hall of Famer Confuses History
It was a big week for Rudy Gobert. His Timberwolves lead 2-0 over the Nuggets. He welcomed his first child into this world. On top of that, he won his record fourth Defensive Player of the Year award in imposing fashion. Gobert won the award, receiving 72 of 99 first-place votes. Second place went to fellow Frenchman and this season’s Rookie of the Year winner, Victor Wembanyama. Bam Adebayo came in third, but the three places were separated by gaps.
– NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 7, 2024
say it with us:
DPOY 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Dp3uCjAHyn
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 7, 2024
a little more material for the collection. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/jtWvobo9uo
– Minnesota Timberwolves (@Timberwolves) May 7, 2024
Gobert has now tied Dikembe Mutombo and Ben Wallace with the most DPOY awards, and the basketball world is deeply confused about it. Gobert has won more DPOY awards than Kawhi Leonard (two), Draymond Green (one) and Bam Adebayo (none) combined. Many people wonder out loud if the voting system got it wrong regarding Gobert’s wins, given that he hasn’t had much success in the postseason. It’s a bit like Giannis Antetkounmpo and Nikola Jokić winning multiple MVP awards before winning a title. Gobert could justify some of that by winning even more in the playoffs, but that’s more about perception than reality. In reality, it has nothing to do with the price itself.
It’s a regular season award, and Gobert has been a defensive player in the regular season since he started getting regular minutes. While I believe there is a huge difference between Mutombo and Gobert as defenders compared to their era, is the chasm SO huge that it’s ridiculous to compare them to each other? I believe versatility as a defender is more valuable than having a big in the paint. And I also think Draymond should have more of those awards, but sometimes it’s the breaks. Gobert is in the history books, like it or not.
“They got the job done… they did it amazing defensively and offensively… it’s something I’ll never forget.” 💯
Rudy Gobert on Minnesota’s dominant Game 2 performance pic.twitter.com/CkCCGwL7kG
– NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 7, 2024
Bouncing passes
I to dare you need to get Josh Hart out of a match.
Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson is out for the season.
Does TNT Sports need the NBA? It looks like we’ll find out.
Screenplay (all times Eastern)
(Top photo: Joe Murphy/Getty Images)