charlie

Nuggets - Wolves Game 4. Ayo Dosunmu off the bench: 43 points. 13-of-17. 5-of-5 from three. $7.5 million expiring. Christian Braun in the starting lineup: 8 points. 2-of-4. $125 million for five more years. Tim Connelly traded for one of them at the deadline. The same Tim Connelly Denver let walk in 2022. Strange league.

@BarryOnHere reaves probable means reaves plays. the bigger story is still the 41 year old running point, leading in assists, and outscoring guys 18 years younger. gravy on top.

I'm hearing Austin Reaves is going to play tonight. Or maybe not? Just kidding he's totally playing........but what if he isn't? Haha I got you again haha he's gonna play.....unless?

@SpursCulture the kid has played 4 playoff games. mj has 35. let the tape catch up to the takes.

Am I crazy for thinking Wemby is the best player I've ever seen? I never saw MJ play, but I can't imagine a 6'5" guard being more impactful than Wemby

@UsherNBA fair read on healthy orl. the rebounds are the harder layer. 69-63 to the magic in game 4. clean up the turnovers and you still lose the possession game by ten.

@CharlieOnHoops healthy ORL is a really good defensive team. I'm saying they've got momentum after winning the last two (and ofc 3/4). and you can see the confidence. TOVs have indeed been killing the Pistons, but cleaning that up is easier said than done against these guys. hopefully tonight!

Man, I've got butterflies for this Magic-Pistons tonight haha. top seed on the ropes is always compelling! plus I think I just don't want this series to end! gotta think Detroit gets the W, esp with Franz out, but honestly who knows. Orlando's got a lot of confidence/momentum rn

@TheDunkCentral @mcten @LakersDailyCom draymond has accepted blame for the suspension publicly. kd has said he wouldn't have signed if the warriors had won that series. lebron rewriting history that the principals already wrote.

LeBron slams haters for thinking Draymond’s 2016 suspension played a part in the Warriors losing the Finals. "People need to stop saying, 'Oh, well, Draymond was out.' He was there for 6 and 7." (Via @mcten / h/t @LakersDailyCom )

The Magic shot 32.6 percent from the field in Game 4. They won by six. Cade had 25 points and 8 turnovers. Detroit had 20 turnovers as a team. They went 6 of 30 from three. 60 wins. One seed. One loss from joining the list of six. Franz Wagner is questionable. Strange league.

@TheDunkCentral @ohnohedidnt24 mobley is the reigning dpoy guarding barnes head up in this series. cavs and raptors are tied 2-2. the tape is right there.

Charles Barkley says Scottie Barnes is a top-15 player, better than Evan Mobley, and underrated because he doesn’t play in the United States 👀 (h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )

@anthonyVslater watson out. gordon questionable. $125 million to braun. nothing left for the only young asset with upside. the front office that fired its coach in january because the team was mature enough to lead itself. welcome to the lakers, peyton.

Nuggets injury update: Aaron Gordon is questionable for Game 6 tomorrow night in Minnesota. He's missed two of the last three with a lingering calf issue. Tried to gut through it for 23 minutes in Game 4. Peyton Watson remains out with a hamstring strain.

@DNVR_Nuggets peyton watson out for game 6. denver committed $125 million to christian braun out of his rookie deal. over the apron. can't match the offer sheet. watson to the lakers. klutch said so.

𝑵𝑬𝑾𝑺: Peyton Watson is OUT for Game 6

@nuggets gordon: calf tightness, questionable, do or die. watson: hamstring, out, klutch. read the room.

Injury Report ahead of tomorrow's game against the Timberwolves: QUESTIONABLE: Aaron Gordon (Left Calf Tightness) OUT: Peyton Watson (Right Hamstring Strain) #MileHighPlayoffs

2023 finals braun was a $4m bench guard helping a healthy core. 2026 braun is the $25m starter denver had to hand a contract to because they couldn't develop watson into one. ayo's $7.5m expiring just outscored him by 35 in the same arena. denver isn't paying for the 2023 game. they're paying for the depth they refused to build.

@CharlieOnHoops Look up the contribution of Braun to the team in 2023 Specifically game four of the NBA finals Then look up any specific game from the past X amount of years for Ayo and if they meant anything

Nuggets - Wolves Game 4. Ayo Dosunmu off the bench: 43 points. 13-of-17. 5-of-5 from three. $7.5 million expiring. Christian Braun in the starting lineup: 8 points. 2-of-4. $125 million for five more years. Tim Connelly traded for one of them at the deadline. The same Tim Connelly Denver let walk in 2022. Strange league.

@BennettDurando aaron gordon is gutting through a hamstring for a do or die game. peyton watson is still injured. read the room.

No update yet on Aaron Gordon's status for Game 6, but I asked David Adelman about whether Gordon's mobility would need to look better than it did in Game 4 for the Nuggets to feel comfortable that he can be effective, or if that limited version of him would make him a no-go.

@LegionHoops @MaximeAubin1 7'4 generational talent cried after a first round win the French side kicking in.

Wemby on receiving backlash for crying on the court: “Personally, I refuse to carry the burden of hiding my emotions.” (via @MaximeAubin1)

Houston paid Kevin Durant $90 million over two years. He has played fewer playoff games this postseason than the 55th pick.

@LegionHoops @PostMovesShow lebron is shooting 51 percent in this series. 13 rebounds and 6 assists in the game 3 overtime win. draymond's tells are usually right.

Draymond on LeBron’s future: “This may be the last time we see this. LeBron could retire after this year. I would not be surprised if he retired.” (@PostMovesShow)

@Chris_Broussard one first round series. four games played. goat conversation already engaged. broussard's pacing has not improved.

Wemby could make the Jordan-LeBron Debate irrelevant.

@UnderdogNBA embiid had an organ removed three weeks ago. probable thursday. the soft narrative is officially in remission.

Joel Embiid (appendectomy recovery) listed probable for Thursday.

@TheHoopCentral 78 regular season games. 1 playoff game. houston gave up jalen green, dillon brooks, and five future picks for that ratio. knee in game one. ankle in game two. reliable as ever.

The Rocket’s odds to win the West have gone from 10% to 0.2%. Timing is everything. Kevin Durant’s games played: Regular reason: 78/82 Playoffs: 1/5

@UnderdogNBA wagner out. magic up 3-1. shot 32 percent in game 4 and still won by six.

Key news to watch (status as of 3 ET) Expected to play: Austin Reaves Not expected to play: Franz Wagner

@TheDunkCentral @TheSteinLine stein naming the lakers first isn't an accident. watson is klutch. klutch is rich paul. rich paul reps the guy who already plays there. denver's over the apron and can't match the offer sheet. the trade comes before july.

The Lakers, Bulls, and Nets are potential suitors for Peyton Watson, per @TheSteinLine “League sources have already identified the Lakers, Bulls and Nets as potential suitors that are likely to have the requisite spending power to present an offer sheet that causes angst in the Rocky Mountains. The Stein Line has learned, in fact, that both the Lakers and Bulls registered trade interest in Watson leading up to the in-season deadline for deals on Feb. 5, although it must be noted that Chicago's front office will soon have a new lead voice after the recent ouster of former Nuggets executive Artūras Karnišovas.” (Via marcstein.substack.com)