13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts – NBA Conference Finals

Make sure to listen and add the 13 Rules: NBA Random Thoughts podcast to your list! This week Steve shares his thoughts as the Conference Finals teams are getting set in the 2024-25 NBA Playoffs.

NBA Conference Finals – Eastern Conference

• Hats off to the NY Knicks who pulled it off. They played really well in the deciding game, a blow out of the Cetics. Jalen Brunson was his usual great self in this round, For the Knicks to continue to win they need Brunson and any two of OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns to play well. if Josh Hart is shooting from long distance that means the offense is struggling.
• Jayson Tatum tearing his achilles was tough to watch. What makes it tough is he’s not only good on the court; a star who can do it all, score, rebound and defend. The shame of it is he’s not a “show player” that has to tell you how good he is. He just plays and over time after watching him you understand how good he is.
• In the clincher game between the Indiana Pacers and the Cleveland Cavaliers the Cavaliers didn’t quit and played hard to the end. Donovan Mitchell deserves credit for giving the effort he gave while injured. The Cavaliers have an interesting off season coming up. They have to decide whether to run it back or not. I think it would be wise to see what they can get for Darius Garland. He’s a real good offensive player when healthy. I believe it’s hard to defend in the NBA with two small guards especial when the opposition has a big scoring guards like the Pacers with Nembhard, Nesmith and Haliburton all bigger than Cleveland’s guards. Mitchell is 6’3 and Garland 6’1. The Cavs need to get a bigger guard that can defend to pair with Mitchell. Someone like a younger Marcus Smart but a better shooter.

NBA Conference Finals – Western Conference

• The Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma City Thunder series is interesting. You have the classic story. The older champions trying to get back on top against the upstart and more talented team. But they have never been at this level before. It’s experience versus ability. If I were to pick ‘d take ability especially at home.
• The Golden State Warriors are at an interesting point as a franchise, I understand running it back with the team because there really is no choice. They need to thread the needle so their only goals should be staying in the top six in the regular season and being healthy for the playoffs. If they can do both they are dangerous.

NBA Conference Finals – Random Thoughts

• In watching the playoffs you understand defense is important but more team defense than individual defense. You can have a great defender but let’s face it, teams run pick and roll to get their offensive star on the weakest defender of the opposition so individual defenders can be taken out of play. Defenses that are successful need to be in sync pressuring the ball and try to force teams to do things they aren’t comfortable doing. In the playoffs it seems teams that impose the will defensively for a stretch are the winners.