NBA Contender Rankings: Celtics or Thunder title favorite? Jokic & Nuggets a true threat? | NerdSesh

[@reezySZN]

No Houston after what they just did to the top of the eastern conference is kind of insane.

[@sgrey9181]

Yeah exactly. They might not be a top 5 contender but they’re *so incredibly easily* higher than Timberwolves

[@javiercereijodiaz3655]

One of the things that was little talked about last year in the series between Mavs and Thunder is that Oklahoma won the minutes with Chet on the court, even playing badly by their standards the +- was positive. The problem was, among others, that Jaylin is far from being a rotation center in a contender.

[@nickaylmer5481]

The disrespect to Houston is criminal… you’re correct MN gets bounced in the first round, by a team like Houston…..

[@Yeahhghjkklll]

Y’all are so disrespectful to the rockets. They beat the best teams.

[@Laynevelum]

tbf, the thunder did the same thing last season, beat all the best teams, but lost in the second round. unfortunately they’re probably too young

[@MaddenDawg-fv6nj]

Do y’all even watch Houston? They have court offense is not even bad. This is a misconception. There half court offense was bad to start the season but there half court offense has tremendously improved in the last 20 games

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

playoffs setting is different

[@alex77195]

they straight up forgot houston was a team

[@JoshAhlstrom]

Damn…STILL not putting the Rockets top 10 yet you have the Wolves is just pure hating.

[@benson5750]

What team are they beating in a playoff series

[@JoshAhlstrom]

@ Clippers, Wolves, Suns, Warriors, maybe even Lakers. I’m not saying they’re going to win a championship but it’s straight up disrespectful to disclude them with where they’re at right now and I’m not even a Houston fan.

[@benxfrosti]

@@benson5750its a short list but if they face an old team in the first round (phx/lal/etc), their youth will prevail

[@SupportEtownTrendys-hj6zc]

​@@benxfrostiTalent is Talent. And one thing that travels anywhere is defense. What these guys do they just go with big name players on big name teams. How can you say you have Timberwolves and Clippers over Rockets?? Or suns? Who can the suns defend? Can the rockets struggle vs OKC? yes , Dallas Maybe? Yes , Denver maybe? Yes and thats it. Minessota has nobody beside ANT

[@sssh8596]

Yea bro people said the same thing about Memphis and the kings 2 years ago yet they got beat by an old Lakers and GSW ☠️​@@SupportEtownTrendys-hj6zc

[@Chris-fo8rr]

Fradulent ass list. Somehow gonna discredit the 2nd seed in the West who is one of the best at beating the best. Not saying regular season means everything but to omit a team who is 3-0 against the Clippers, 3-0 against the Grizzlies and have yet to lose to any of the Lakers, Nuggets, Knicks. Gotta mean something

[@dusk5121]

It does mean something but their half court offense is really bad and they have zero experience. They're legit and will probably do a lot of winning in the future but unless they make some trade for offensive fire power they're not winning anything this year

[@H-Town_83]

​@@dusk5121​In the last 24 games, they have the number offense and the number 3 half court offense in the NBA. You haven't been paying attention. On the season as a whole they are top 10 on both offense and defense.

[@dusk5121]

@H-Town_83 it doesn't matter because jalen green and Fred van vleet are too inconsistent. I'll believe it when they do it over a large sample size. Also they don't have the resilience in offense when other teams strangle the pace. The rockets live in transition and that's a great strength to have but they're too reliant on it. If amen becomes a legit pull up shooter by the time the playoffs come around then we can talk. They're a tough 1st round exit rn but next year they're gonna be pretty scary especially considering their in-house development and they have the assets to make a splash on a trade

[@-caspo-]

@@dusk5121 I think a Rockets trade in the next week is more likely that a healthy Kawhi.

[@dusk5121]

@-caspo- idk about that but I don't think they should trade right now. They have a really good cohesion building and great development in house so they can if the right trade comes along but I wouldn't over pay for lavine or smtn like that

[@nikkrelj471]

Dallas and Denver offense honestly isnt that far apart

[@basedswoop]

I just want people to hold the Thunder to these high standards like they do Boston if they don’t complete the mission. I don’t want to hear “They’re young” if they don’t win the title. It’s title or bust.

[@nomorepartiezz]

@@basedswoop facts lowkey

[@bnsz8704]

They still are young. It would absolutely be a disappointment especially if they don’t even make the finals. Especially if Chet is healthy.

[@basedswoop]

@@bnsz8704 That’s fine you can say they’re young but acknowledge it as a failure. OKC fans want the status with none of the expectations

[@garretttank1711]

I would say it would only be a failure if they lose in the WCF. If they go up against Boston in the finals and lose then they lose to an also historic basketball team (with the experience OKC doesn't have)

[@kevinscott9242]

The Thunder are better set up to dominate for the foreseeable future than any team in modern sports history. They started the year as the youngest team in NBA. But yet it's "Title or Bust"? Sounds like some bitter & jealous fans out there.

[@Nizculman2009]

Trading assets and giving Fox a max deal doesn't seem smart for a team that wants to contend

[@thesportsknowitall]

If you have Twolves over the rockets your just dumb. They literally only have Edwards

[@blakelarson5005]

Yikes take

[@kingkocher]

I thought I was the only one who thought Liam Cohen looked like Carson! The "DUUUUVAAAAL" was uncanny.

[@H-Town_83]

17:23 Houston wont trade Jalen until next season when his contract goes up. Tari, and Amen are untouchable.

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

The disrespect on Dallas in unbelievable every time I come to this channel from dude on the right. I love it how everyone wants to bring up how Mavs struggled in the FINALS but then dismiss Nuggets and OKC getting bounced in the 2nd rd. How Luka gets hammered for his defense in Finals, but Jokic’s defense or poor shooting isn’t held against him. Mavs had a bunch of young dudes that had never been to the Final, all 25 and under and yet folks want to act like losing to a 62 win stacked Boston team who had Finals experience is a shock.

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

Mavs beat the #1, 3 and 4 best teams in the West on the road and my guy wants to say that they weren’t the best in the West because they didn’t face Denver. Well, maybe Denver shouldn’t have blown a 20pt lead at home in a game 7!

[@mattstringer8408]

You’re practically doing tricks on the tip of Luka just accept it you’re not going anywhere this year

[@killswitch639]

I hope yall address this on the next video but it’s hard to take yall seriously with the rockets not on the list, on the rockets trade I think they have a ton of young peaces and plenty to be of capital to make it happen

[@carsenwilliams9419]

Sent the whole Cleveland portion talking about Boston :(

[@Htowntilidrown]

LAKERS CLIPPERS AND TWOLVES OVER ROCKETS LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@nomorepartiezz]

The Nuggets glazing is a bit much from Carson in my opinion. I’m always scared of Jokic and if Murray starts turning the clock back of course I’m scared of them. But idk banking on Russ being able to continue playing like an all star in the playoffs is kind of crazy to me regardless of how much Jokic elevates him. I just don’t see how Aaron Gordon being your backup center is sustainable in the playoffs either. Again, of course Jokic is always a threat. But yea I also like the part where we keep acting like the Nuggets offense is THE BEST EVER SEEN BEFORE by using offensive rating which like Logan said is always super high during the regular season. I swear every single season has the best offense in the history of the sport nowadays

[@justhechamp1]

Who was the nuggets back up big when they won the chip?

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

@@justhechamp1they played two play-in teams on the way there. If Mavs had played that Heat team, Luka would be a champion too.

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

@@angelsaint-hilaire4372 weird logic. they played against AD, who was a play in, but he's one of the best bigs. Mavs didn't even make the play in that season, so horrible comparison and take.

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

I think it's because they coast in games. They play based on mood I believe.

[@nomorepartiezz]

@justthechamp1 I mean DAJ was 2 years younger then even if I doubt he played much. Bruce Brown and KCP on the perimeter definitely made life easier for the interior defense.

[@Bruhmstick]

Y’all have too be trolling having no rockets. Y’all dumb

[@RyanMcWha-uh5ns]

Love the pod. Both very knowledgeable. But Carson mainly talking about Denver during the Dallas segment is so funny to me 😂 he’s a BIG homer. Not saying he’s wrong or right, he just can’t stop talking about Denver

[@josephrafferty6763]

Here’s one thing you’re both missing about Boston v OKC: OKC doesn’t have the big game experience or the scar tissue from losing that Boston has. That’s important. There are not many teams - even the great ones - that win a championship without going through it for years. The exceptions usually tend to be when a high end veteran joins a new team.

[@Jsoccer1999]

As always - disgusting jokic glazing

[@ephraimuzorchukwuozabor836]

Y’all screaming about the Rockets are forgetting the difference between power rankings and contender rankings. A young team with limited offensive punch has never been competitive in the playoffs.

[@ronmoody3001]

WTF FOX & GREEN ARE EVEN TALENTS ROCKETS NOT TRADING GREEN AND OTHERS FOR FOX....SMDH

[@6stringgroover]

if they bench jamal, it will be impossible to trade him like ever with what he's getting paid. they can't just do "let the best player play" stuff

[@lousteek]

You play Russ 35 minutes in a playoff game you gonna regret it lol

[@6stringgroover]

luka didn't look like he had much mobility at all in the finals. his body has to hold up better or they need an easier path to the finals

[@nomorepartiezz]

@@6stringgroover because he had to put up 34/10/9 all season to keep a bad team afloat for most of the year and that workload led to him having to play the entire playoffs on one knee

[@nikkrelj471]

Its much harder to be a Luka and succeed as a scorer than how Jokic plays. No doubt Jokic is the best in the world but to say Jokic is so much better than Luka us just disrespectful to Luka and just isnt true.

[@justhechamp1]

He is and I’m not a Denver fan

[@angelsaint-hilaire4372]

@@justhechamp1But what happened to Jokic last year? How come he didn’t get past the 2nd rd? Luka is not that far apart from Jokic and he has proved it. Luka was hurt in the playoffs last year, but dude has proven that he’s a playoff riser and has taken lit multiple 50+ and 60+ win teams on the road in the playoffs. Luka is averaging 31/9/9 in the playoffs and dude is acting like there’s a wide gap between he and Jokic. Get outta here!

[@mattstringer8408]

@@angelsaint-hilaire4372hey bud when Jokic can hit the three he is far superior to Luka when he’s not hitting the three there are somewhat close stop glazing Luka you’re annoying

[@larrylegend545]

Why is Minnesotas defense worse this year? They still have all their main pieces, was kat that much better of a defender than Randle? And wouldn’t getting Donte also improve their perimeter d

[@Ligmaballs619]

Nuggets imo are the scariest team in the west come playoffs. Doesn’t matter what seeding they get eventually. People should NOT be sleeping on them.

[@ronmoody3001]

LOL THE FOX TAKE IS WILD....LOL

[@Conky1452]

Everything you said about the Nuggets is spot on and I just watched it against the Knicks. So much lazy defense especially in transition and that carried over to the offense with lazy passes that lead to so many turnovers. And even with all that it was close until late in the 4th

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

they're coasting. Not taking defense seriously. Very moody team

[@Conky1452]

@ yep. It’s pretty frustrating because I think they can be a top-15 fringe 10 (maybe) def with the effort but it’s not there consistently. So frustrating to watch your favorite team let anyone drive to the lane for an easy 2

[@dbb484]

Timberwolves CANNOT trade Julius for Fox. 2nd apron doesn't allow for any type of trade between the kings and timberwolves involving these guys.

[@Cheesehead2025]

Bucks fan here, I agree with you on our team, I have come to accept the fact we are a likely a first or second round exit unfortunately, which I believe will mean the end of the Giannis Era in Milwaukee, and as upsetting as would be to see Giannis playing for another team, it may be better for our team to blow it up and trade him if we can get a massive haul consisting of draft picks and young talented players, preferably a player with all star level potential.

[@6stringgroover]

the nuggets/jokic content ain't timestamped

[@kevinscott9242]

The Kings cant get anything for DDR. I doubt they can get much for Sabonis w/ his contract. If the Kings can get Whitmore, T.Eason, a 1st rd pick & salary filler, the Kings can still be a perennial playoff team

[@pemp9606]

Seemed like the whole roster didn’t like Mike Brown, I wouldn’t put that all on Fox. He’s a great player, get him to San Antonio.

[@todward3295]

Nuggets didn’t “threaten” the Timberwolves at all when I was at the game the wolves beat them by 30 basically 😂

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

Bad loss. they played earlier and nuggets lost by 1 point

[@pjdewitz0314]

Murray, Zeke, Julian, and 3 first for Fox?

[@justhechamp1]

They don’t have three first plus the money has to match

[@tebra643]

Jabum is Denver's biggest problem! They have to trade him ASAP!!! Westbrook is exposing him in front of the hole world, as the biggest Jokić merchant ever 😡

[@killswitch639]

Yall need to bring Jason Timpf in before yall do a top 10 list again

[@nikkrelj471]

Saying Jokic is way better than Luka is just wrong. Saying this denver offense is an all time offense is just delusional. We will sew how Russ will perform in the playoffs

[@justhechamp1]

He is

[@AbdullahFarhanLife]

what? r u being serious right now?

[@ronmoody3001]

WTF HOW THEY AVOID DENVER WHEN JOKER & DENVER LOST TO A WOLVES TEAM DALLAS NEARLY SWEPT.... Y'ALL LOVE FOR JOKER & NUMBERS JADE Y'ALL JUDGEMENT

[@vvvawdad1767]

The wolves are just a very bad matchup for the nuggets. Just because dallas gentleman swept the wolves doesnt mean that they would sweep denver

[@L9ines]

We were top 6 defence when healthy [mavs]

[@trunks727]

I think when healthy we're top 2 in the west. When we finally got healthy we went 11-3 before Lucka injury. The rockets are 4th behind nuggets whom I'm pretty shaky on, IMO they're reallyyy good. Feel like they getting underrated.

[@ronmoody3001]

WTH......HOW IS JOKER WAY BETTER THAN LUKA LUKA AVG 34 9 9... LUKA HURT LED MAVS TO FINALS....