13 Rules: Random NBA Thoughts – NBA Finals

NBA Finals – Western Conference

• We can talk about Shai Gilgeous-Alexander all day long as the MVP and leading score in the league this year. A not mentioned enough part that Thunder success is their defense. Their defensive rating is 104.7. By comparison, the New York Knicks are 112.3 in the Indiana Pacers a 113.8. Not only is the rating outstanding but the Thunder have great on the ball defenders in Lu Dort and Cason Wallace. They also have Alex Caruso, another great defender both on and off the ball. The Thunder had seven players with defensive ratings under 1:10 during the regular season. Included in that is the three mentioned as well as team best rated defender Isaiah Hartenstein, Kenrich and Jalen Williams and believe it or not Shai.
• For the Minnesota Timberwolves it was a good season although they were knocked out by Oklahoma City. The big question for them is, to quote Peggy Lee, “Is that all there is?” New ownership has to decide if they want to spend money or not with a large tax the result if they do. Naz Reid and Julius Randle have player options and Nickeil Alexander-Walker is a restricted free agent and due a nice raise.

NBA Finals – Eastern Conference

• Memo to Tyrese Haliburton. You had a game for the ages in game four against the Knicks and were easily the best player on the court that night and then disappeared in game five. You need to bring it every night to be a star. If you don’t you’re just a very good player.
• If the Knicks keep up the defensive intensity and ball pressure they can pull off the comeback. They held Indiana under 100 points Thursday night and the pace was uptempo.
• I thought, though he is a good coach, Tom Thibodeau would never win an NBA title. In this round of the playoffs I’m starting to think at some point he has a chance to get one. Problem is he’s on the downside of his coaching career at 67 years old it may not have many more chances. The reason I changed my view is that he has utilized and is learning to trust his bench more than ever. His bench was not used much in the regular season but in the playoffs has held their own in this round.
• To pile up to my last point, Thibs, is doing this with a bench that has four players making minimum salary. Three of them have played extensively in this year’s playoffs. The league is a copycat league and if other teams are taking notice, they may be looking for minimum salary players, usually players on the downside of their careers, to fulfill bench roles.

NBA Finals – Random Thoughts

• An interesting stat to examine. 1999 the last four teams left in the playoffs had an average age of thirty years old. This year the average age is 26.9. What does this mean? I think with players playing less games and making more money as they age teams will choose younger and cheaper players in the future.