Daily Discussion Thread + Game Thread Index | Playoffs
I hope the Spurs win so Reggie Miller can shut up with that Mr Chaos thing
The various adjustments made by the Spurs and Thunder building up to WCF Game 7
[CBS Sports] Ajay Mitchell has been ruled out for Game 7 of the WCF against the San Antonio Spurs
[Charania] Oklahoma City Thunder’s Jalen Williams has been ruled out for Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals against the San Antonio Spurs.
Zach Lowe: “If the Spurs win Game 7, and Shai has like another 6-18 game. I do think in a lot of corners, with at least some justification, it’s gonna make people rethink— not rethink, it’s gonna be a slight taint, on what has otherwise been a pretty spotless rise to #1 or #2 in the NBA, 2-time MVP”
Jeff Teague: “[Larry Bird] was talking about how good LeBron was, and I was like ‘LeBron better than you?’ He said, ‘LeBron’s the greatest player ever besides Michael.’ I was like damn. He was like, ‘I’ll never pay anybody who played with LeBron. I would never pick him up on my team.’ I said why?”
Jalen Brunson has already played 56 playoff games for the Knicks. Before Brunson arrived, the Knicks had played only 35 playoff games since 2000
Big Purr credits his Knicks fandom starting with Linsanity
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 31.1 PPG in the regular season to 24.3 PPG in the Conference Finals is The biggest scoring falloff by an MVP Guard from the regular season to the Conference Finals EVER.
Game 7 Refs Assignment
ESPN does a great game breakdown analysis of SGA foul hunting in WCF Game 6 and contrasts it to Spurs guards playing through contact
[Charania] BREAKING: The Orlando Magic are finalizing the hire of San Antonio Spurs associate coach Sean Sweeney as the franchise’s new head coach, sources tell ESPN. Sweeney broke into NBA coaching in 2011 and now lands the Magic head job as a top rising candidate.
Minnesota Timberwolves’ new rebrand jerseys have been leaked
Analytically, it’s Game 7 of Knicks and Cavs later today. Who wins and analytically advances to the Finals?
In 2 of 3 losses by the Thunder, they’ve basically thrown in the towel by the 2nd half. Why is nobody in the media talking about this? Shai played 10 minutes in the 2nd half last night.
[ESPN] Donovan Mitchell: “We may win a ring here. We may never win a ring here… but I’ve won in life.” Donovan Mitchell will become eligible for a 5-year $350 million extension with Cleveland next Summer.
[Highlights] Carter Bryant absorbing SGA’s arm contact on 3 straight isolations in the 2nd quarter (incl. him trucking the MVP)
[Katz] Mitchell Robinson did not sustain his broken pinky in a game or in practice, Mike Brown said. After a follow-up question to Brown about how Robinson actually got hurt, Knicks media relations stepped in to say, “We’re not going to get into specifics.”
The Salesian Sisters show they can ball before Game 6 - Thunder vs. Spurs. They also predicted a W for the Spurs.
[Highlight] Victor Wembanyama said that the robe he wore to the game tonight wasn’t because of the monks. It was to celebrate Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday.
Since the start of the 2025 playoffs, OKC has lost only 3 home playoff games. All 3 came in Game 1, and every series went to a Game 7.
[Charania] Just in: Cleveland Cavaliers general manager Mike Gansey has agreed to become the new President of Basketball Operations for the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.
[Deveney] The expectation is that the Magic will waive Jonathan Isaac and stretch his $8 million cap hit… the Magic are facing a cash crunch with Paolo Banchero’s extension kicking in.
Cavs GM Koby Altman on the decision to keep Atkinson: “It was never a conversation about Kenny at all. There doesn’t always have to be a fall guy. 64 wins last year, COTY, getting to a conference finals. He’s been remarkable on a record and player development standpoint.”
NBA Referee Assignments WCF Game 7
Donovan Mitchell defends Harden: “Sure, has he had some rough moments? We all have. LeBron is one of the greatest players ever. We don’t speak on the 2011 finals when he struggled. We don’t speak on Jordan taking 8 years to get to the finals. We speak on the wins.”
[Highlights] Kobe Bryant’s insanely difficult shotmaking, with bad spacing, in the 2010 Western Conference Finals vs the Phoenix Suns. Kobe averaged 33.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 8.3 APG on 52/43/88% shooting splits.
[Highlight] Shai lands in Harper’s landing space but no foul is called
[Charania] Mitchell Robinson has undergone surgery on his broken right pinky finger – and fully plans to play in the New York Knicks’ Game 1 of the NBA Finals against OKC or San Antonio next Wednesday while wearing a brace on his hand, sources tell ESPN.
Jalen Brunson averaged 40.6 minutes per game as a knick in his first playoff run in 2022-23. In 2026 he’s averaging 36.1 mpg in the playoffs.
Who will be the second-best player to change teams this offseason after Giannis?
[Lowlight] Shai flops twice in back to back possessions but doesn’t get the whistle
[Post Game Thread] The San Antonio Spurs (3-3) force a Game 7 as they blowout the Oklahoma City Thunder (3-3) in Game 6, 118-91, behind Wembanyama’s 28 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 5 stocks
[Collier] The Chicago Bulls are casting a wide net for their head coaching search, which includes interest and early conversations with BYU coach Kevin Young, sources told ESPN.
In NBA history, players are 7–0 when playing in a Game 7 on their birth day. Harrison Barnes turns 34 on the day the Game 7 between the Thunder and the Spurs takes place.
The Whistleblowers: Ranking the NBA’s Most Active Officials in 2026
Ramona Shelburne reported that the Orlando Magic are a team to watch in the Giannis Antetokounmpo sweepstakes. Hours later, the Orlando Magic hire Sean Sweeney as their head coach. Sweeney was a Bucks assistant during Giannis’ early years and they developed a very close relationship.
[Bontemps] The Nuggets have never been big spenders; the belief around the NBA is Cam Johnson (1y/\(23m) or Christian Braun (5y/\)125m) is likely moved to give Watson something similar per-year. “They could easily just pay him and pay the tax, but we know how the Kroenkes operate” a West scout said.
With the plug pulled on the starters, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander sits the entire fourth quarter in a blowout loss vs. San Antonio: 15 PTS │ 1 REB │ 4 AST │ 2 TOs │ 6-18 FG │ 0-5 3P │ 3-3 FT │ -28 +/-
Half the reason I want the Spurs to win is so the finals aren’t tainted by foul/ref discourse
Wemby pulls up to game 6 in a thobe
[Highlight] Devin Vassell blocks the dunk attempt by Chet Holmgren, pushes him, bumps him, and also has some trash talk (with a replay)
Has a player’s “legacy” ever taken a hit after winning a playoff series?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander through 6 games this series: 44⁄116 FG (37.9%), 6⁄23 3PT (26%), 52⁄54 FT (96.2%)
Victor Wembanyama answers a question in the postgame interivew on the court, says “Thanks.”, and quickly rushes to the locker room.
[Thinking Basketball] The Spurs Big Adjustment Forces Game 7
[Highlight] Carter Bryant trucks SGA on consecutive possessions. Called for the foul on the second
Koby Altman on Donovan Mitchell: “Donovan is our guy. He’s broken through to a Conference Finals and he wants more. Do we think we can win with him as the best player on a championship team? Yes, and we’re going to keep pouring into that.”