NORTHWEST DIVSION owned the Western Conference in 2024!

[ThunderWins]

NORTHWEST DIVSION owned the Western Conference in 2024!
Thunder takes out the Mavs I wonder if it has happened before.

If the Nuggets get swept and the front office makes major changes...

OKC has Nuggets 2027 1st Lottery 1-5 protected
and Nuggets 2029 1st Lottery 1-5 Protected

Another incredible potential fleecing by Presti!

[Clav]

Great point, but they will continue to retool around Jokic if things go south. Other pieces will be brought in for sure, he has a lot of career left. There's pretty much no way they will trade Nikola. I don't believe all other pieces are. Murray has been good for them in many moments but last night's TWolves game was rough for him. Gordon is really valuable for his defense, but can't do it all obviously.

They need upgrades to the roster where MPJ's big contract is and with Murray to play up to his level each game. One bad game doesn't define his career but the throwing things on the court can really affect their chances to win a series where losing is not an option now.

[ThunderWins]

@Clav
Too many front offices gamble on older veteran stars than try to fill out their roster with whatever they can find and think that is good enough. At least they didn't sell out all their picks until 2030 like the Suns Mavs and Clippers have. Presti needed to move draft picks forward anyway so having those 2027 and 2029 picks could payoff if nuggets make a desperate move and fail to retool/injuries etc.

Michael Porter Jr. fourth years 33mil 35mil 38mil 40mil dollars
Aaron Gordon three years 22mil 23mil 23mil dollars
Murray two years 33mil 33mil
To get more flexibility to retool they will need to make hard decision to trade someone to get under the cap and unlock MLE

The playbook to beat them is to blitz Jokic and Murray. With so few other good shot creators when the supporting cast can't hit anything its uphill battle.
The Thunder did the same thing to Kyrie/Luka. We are confident that Mavs supporting cast aren't good shooters.
The reason the Mavs can't successfully blitz SGA as unlike Nuggets the Thunder are a well rounded team.
Dort 3 Joe 3 Chet 3 Jdub 3 SGA 3 Jwill 3 Wiggins 3 Cason 3 even josh giddey 3
You never know who's going to take the next shot so when a team overcommits to stopping the drive the thunder are good of finding and trusting the open man.

While Joker is amazing he really needs a lot of shooters and defensive wings around him.
I don't think the team or front office was as hungry this year as they were last.