Thunder Strikes, Bulls Stumble (Season 2 NBA 2k25)

Simon Carver

Alright, welcome back to the 2k Bros Podcast—Thunder Strikes and Bulls Stumble. I’m Simon Carver, joined by the man with the fastest radio drawl this side of the Mississippi—Jimbo. Jimbo, where do we even start with the Oklahoma City Thunder? That playoff run was... something else, wasn’t it?

Jimbo

Oh absolutely, Simon. I mean, 9-1 in the playoffs, capping it all off with a Finals sweep? That kind of run just doesn’t happen in this league format. And they didn’t just limp into the paint either—points per game jumped from, what, 64.2 in the regular season up to 76.5 in the postseason? That’s just... I’m kind of jealous, not gonna lie. Phillip now has 2 Championships over Joe leading 2 to Zip.

Simon Carver

It’s wild. And if you look at the efficiency—it’s almost cartoonish. They were shooting 52.5% from the field, 43% from three, 83% at the line in the playoffs. Their point differential balloons to plus 13—usually you see numbers cool off in the postseason, but OKC just flipped a switch and said, “Yeah, we’ll take another gear.”

Jimbo

That’s true! And, man, Malik Monk—can we just say it? He was straight up NBA Jam “on fire” mode. 13.1 points a game, 62.2% from the field, 54.1% from deep? There’s gotta be a glitch, right? Because that’s the kind of stuff that gets you accused of cheesing sliders at family gatherings.

Simon Carver

Yeah, it does. And he wasn’t even their top scorer in the regular season! Like, Monk’s production just shot up at the perfect time. Between that and the team’s ability to torch every defense—most Finals games weren’t even close. I mean, that Game 3 box score: Monk drops 21, LeBron with 15 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists, Thompson, Rozier, Lopez, all double figures... That was a clinic, not a contest.

Jimbo

It felt like it, right? Every time the Wizards made a push, OKC would just come right back with a string of threes. And those splits—honestly, Simon, it feels like defense couldn’t even put a dent in ‘em. I guess that’s what happens when everyone is making shots—I mean, how do you even make a tactical adjustment to that?

Simon Carver

Seriously. And you can’t understate the confidence that comes from that kind of rhythm. OKC hit the tape just right, all postseason long. And with that, let’s finally look at the other side of the coin—where things went sideways for the Bulls.

Jimbo

Aww, Simon, this one has to sting Joe. The Bulls ran the table—14 and 0, league-best defense, nearly +12 margin, hitting almost 41% from three. It was a feel-good story, and they looked like the favorites. So I’m just gonna say it... this was a Titanic-size playoff collapse, wasn’t it?

Simon Carver

It honestly was. The hype was there, Joe’s Bulls steamrolled the league—then the playoffs start, and suddenly, can’t buy a bucket. Scoring drops to 45 points per game, field goal percentage drops, three point percentage too. It’s like someone replaced the controller batteries right before Game 1. That’s a tough way to go out after all that regular season firepower.

Jimbo

Offense just froze. And look, they had Kawhi Leonard trying to hold it together—he’s putting up 12.7 points on 54% shooting, 50% from deep, lockdown defense. Bam wins Defensive Player of the Year, averages, what, 9 points, 6 rebounds? Still wasn’t enough when the wheels fell off. Simon, I gotta ask—have you ever totally seized up on air? Like, just blanked?

Simon Carver

Oh man, you’re talking to the king of the on-air freeze-up. My brain used to go blank just describing a pick-and-roll, and I’d end up talking about cassette decks or lunch. That’s what the Bulls felt like—everything works in rehearsal, then under the lights it’s a different ballgame. I mean, 44% shooting in the playoffs, only 37.9% from deep, and you just feel the air leaking out of the building with every missed shot.

Jimbo

Yup, and when the other team smells blood, it gets ugly quick. That first-round exit is gonna haunt Joe for a while. But as we talked about last episode, playoff pressure just exposes stuff—doesn’t matter how pretty it looked in the regular season, you have to adapt. Honestly, still hurts, but I respect the way the Thunder kept their foot on the gas. And hey, the beauty of this league, Simon, is you’re only as good as your last season. Time for a rebuild, right?

Simon Carver

That’s the deal. No dynasties allowed! It’s always on to the next build, the next draft. But before we jump forward, let’s give some shine to the guys who lit up the stat sheet—and maybe the ones who did the little stuff, too.

Jimbo

Let’s pull out the highlighters, Simon, because the Thunder had more than just one star. Finals MVP LeBron James—13 points, 3.6 boards, almost 5 assists in the playoffs, shooting 54%. Dude set the tone all series long. But then Rozier, he’s dropping 12.7 points on 56% and shooting almost 56% from three? That’s not just depth, that’s dangerous depth.

Simon Carver

Exactly. And Klay Thompson—8.4 a game, knocking down 39% from deep, and that’s in the playoffs with defenses gunning for him. But what sets this Thunder run apart is the role guys. Like, DiVincenzo—4.6 points, 2.4 assists, hitting 44% of his threes. Those are winning plays that don’t always show up in the highlight packages, but if you’re a stat geek like I am, you notice every one.

Jimbo

I mean, do you think that’s the secret sauce, Simon? Is it about a balanced attack instead of just one alpha scorer? Because the Bulls, for all the regular season success, had Leonard at 12.8, Bam at 11.7, Vassell at 11.6—all super efficient, all nearly a point a shot—but it fell apart with no supporting cast stepping up when the defense locked in. Rozier, Monk, Klay, DiVincenzo—they all made the leap. Maybe that’s the real lesson.

Simon Carver

Yeah, I think you’re right. The NBA, the digital one or the real one, is about those “next man up” moments. When it’s not your superstar’s night, do you have a Monk or a DiVincenzo who’ll make the right cut or hit the open three? Basketball’s not always about the guy with the biggest name on the back of the jersey. Even LeBron will tell you—finals MVPs come from team wins, not solo acts.

Jimbo

And that’s why, as much as I’d love to blame sliders, sometimes you gotta admit you got outplayed from top to bottom. Ok, Simon—next season’s another reset. We know the championship race never stays quiet for long. Any last words for the folks before we get our spreadsheets ready for a new draft?

Simon Carver

Just that this league keeps proving nobody’s safe—no matter how strong you look in the regular season, playoff pressure finds you out. Congrats to the Thunder, and here’s hoping the Bulls are back with a vengeance. Alright, Jimbo, that’s gonna do it for us—thanks for listening to the 2k Bros Season 2 Recap. Ready to run it back next season when phillip heads to the eastern conference and goes with the Celtics, and Joe Heads to Intuit Arena to lead the Clippers in a 0-2 Championship hole against Phillip.

Jimbo

Always, Simon. Catch y’all soon, and remember—every possession matters. Later, Simon. Later everyone!

Simon Carver

Take care, folks. See you next time.