2026 West Semifinals: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder Vs. (4) Los Angeles Lakers

Gonna be hard for him to claim that without winning at least 4 or so titles? The Harden trade is probably the worst trade of the modern era in terms of title equity. He gave up what is likely several titles and created the warriors dynasty, okc was a total clown show for years till Tillman came along and they started tanking.

 

Westbrook, Durant, and Harden have proven to be headcases. I get it, all three MVPs, and Durant is a two-time Finals MVP, but still all headcases.

 

He's played like this since his year at Gonzaga, which is why I've rooted for him ever since. Despite his thinness, he plays fearlessly and doesn't back down from anybody.

 

Getting Hartenstein off the floor was so important to keep this game close. It allowed LeBron to cover smaller players while the Laker center covered Chet. Chet scored at least a couple of important baskets when guarded by LeBron and got offensive rebounds. Hartenstein got a couple of assists to Chet, too. All of that in that last stretch.

I hate the NBA because it seems like they always know exactly what they're doing with officiating to make the games close. I am glad that the Lakers could not take the gift-wrapped game.

 

This is my obligatory Ajay Mitchell and Jared McCain postgame comment.

I wondered how they would react to the playoffs. Well, as a Rockets fan, watching Mitchell level up so high in this series almost makes me want to give up. Then there's McCain averaging 11 pts in 15 mins and shooting at an insane pace after playing for OKC less than half a season.

IMO, it isn't fair to compare any GM to Presti, but I would love to see Stone hit a home run or two this offseason. Something big has to change for the Rockets to matter.

 

Harden is proven defective over and over and over again in the Post Season. He's got Mitchell to bail him out and take pressure off consistently at the moment.

 

Durant from about 7 years ago was a spectacle to behold. He was at least on Dirk's level. Could defend on a team level and didn't get injured as much nor choke in the Playoffs. He's since become a head case to the extreme yet teams are baited to trade for him.

 

I would not call them head cases but they were never unselfish like this OKC team......the team was not that deep as well.

 

Welp, at least the Rockets YOUNG CORE showed some fight against a Lakers team that OKC old schoolers didn't even have to get out of bed against and treated like a Summer League game

I don't really get people who come on the NBA dish forum and don't watch the games and then post like this

We've all been posting here for decades, we watch the games, I wouldn't even lift a single metaphor to swat this down, like OKC on Jaxson Hayes

0/10 post, ignore list

 

Braided Jimmy Butler.

 

Of course the Jazz have interest. He's white

 

It would be a perfect match for me if he went to Utah, my least favorite NBA team.