Ohonsi's NBA Blog

MVP: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) DPOY: Victor Wembanyama (Spurs) MIP: Deni Avdija (Trail Blazers) ROY: Cooper Flagg (Mavericks) 6th Man: Jaime Jacquez Jr. (Heat) COTY: J.B. Bickerstaff (Pistons) My All-NBA teams are a mix of stats (mainly) and their squad's record. The focus is my law of basketball (primarily) as well as creating shots for others. The rosters won't be position based per the NBA and eligibility is determined by the NBA. 1st: Brunson (Knicks), Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder), Brown (Celtics), Jokic (Nuggets), Wembanyama (Spurs) 2nd: Maxey (76ers), Mitchell (Cavs), Murray (Nuggets), Leonard (Clippers), Durant (Rockets) 3rd: Harden (Clippers/Cavs), Ingram (Raptors), Johnson (Hawks), Avdija (Blazers), Banchero (Magic) The most important skill in basketball by far is being able to score in isolation (off the dribble, posting up, or the face up jumper) at an all-star level. (To a bit of a lesser extent, taking advantage of mismatches by scoring in drop coverage in ...

  Rules -A mix of player (mainly) stats and team record  -The priority is my law of hoop and creating shots for others -Info past 1/14 isn't allowed (NBA rule) -Enough games have to be played ( nba.com  > player stats > official leaders) -Positions won't be applied (NBA rule) West starters: Curry (GSW), Edwards (MIN), Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC), Doncic (LAL), Jokic (DEN) Bench: Fox (SAS), Murray (DEN), Booker (PHX), Leonard (LAC), Avdija (POR), Durant (HOU), Markkanen (UTA) East starters: Brunson (NYK), Maxey (PHI), Mitchell (CLE), Cunningham (DET), Brown (BOS) Bench: Powell (MIA), Ingram (TOR), Johnson (ATL), Siakam (IND), Porter Jr. (BKN), Banchero (ORL), Towns (NYK) Hoop law:  The most important skill in basketball by far is being able to score in isolation (off the dribble, posting up, or the face up jumper) at an all-star level. (To a bit of a lesser extent, taking advantage of mismatches by scoring in drop coverage in the pick n' roll is also a va...

I think OKC wins this series in 5 (and the Pacers will take game three). SGA is a way better basketball player than anyone on Indy's squad. The Thunder's perimeter defense will hound the Pacers who barely post-up, lack an elite scorer, and don't have a great foul drawer besides Bennedict Mathurin who only plays 16 minutes a night in these playoffs. Thus, Indiana has to maximize on-ball screens and drives or shots immediately off the catch. Shai will exploit Aaron Nesmith's and Andrew Nembhard's defensive pressure by getting to the free throw line a lot. Indiana is a bad rebounding team who let Mitchell Robinson collect many offensive boards in the 2025 conference finals and will struggle to contain Isaiah Hartenstien as well. Gilgeous-Alexander will spend most of his time guarding a mediocre hooper (a perimeter guy outside of Tyrese Haliburton and Pascal Siakam). Therefore, he gets to save his energy to lead the Oklahoma City offensive attack. 

I was right when I said OKC wouldn't make round 3 before the '24 playoffs due to bad rebounding. They were 27th on the boards and got beat by 16 in that category in their season ending loss. Hartenstien, who came in the 2024 offseason, averages 11 of them in 28 min thus the Thunder are 12th on the glass. Their inexperience coming into last year's postseason is gone which is why I think J-Dub will have games of at least 25 points to lighten SGA's load. He failed to do so in the prior postseason. Chet scored over 25 once in that time, 26 points, and I believe he'll play better too. Oklahoma City has the best point differential ever, a great defense, and is led by an MVP candidate (Shai would get my vote). Every aspect of basketball is performed at an elite level by at least 1 player. However, I predict the big skill gap the Lakers big 3 has over OKC's trio will get LA to the finals. The April games between them, before Luka's ejection, should concern the Thund...