76ers just lost by 50 points at home to the Celtics. I would hold off a little longer before planning on how you are going to spend the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by thesidedish
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76ers just lost by 50 points at home to the Celtics. I would hold off a little longer before planning on how you are going to spend the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by thesidedish
Will there ever be a season where the Knicks aren't a joke and a disappointment?
They just blew a 28-point lead against the Nets playing scrubs, and this is the 3rd 20+ point lead they've blown in the past 11 games. They also lost to to OKC before this game.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/...-brooklyn-nets
I had Nets +4.5. Never in doubt.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Also, FWIW Nets were playing their full team minus Kyrie, KD and Simmons so not sure the "scrubs" characterization is very accurate. It will be interesting to see how they integrate Simmons, because since the trade Nets seem to have found something that works splitting time between Drummond/Aldridge as their inside big men, but Simmons also plays inside, so hard to see how he can be on the court with either of them.
Shortly after stripping it down, the Blazers have ripped off four in a row, taking down the Lakers and Knicks at home, and Bucks (no Giannis, but still) and Grizz on the road.
They play super fast and aggressive all of a sudden and Anfernee Simons is living up to the promise that the front office and teammates have been saying is there for like three years now. I was out on him and appear to have been wrong.
They won't keep winning at this clip but so good to have a fun team back in town.
Yeah I'm surprised as well. Thing is, while his game is slightly different than CJ's, they are not that different. Individual defensive ratings are not exactly a science, but i think he rated last in the entire NBA in some major metric last year. Not great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
It feels like the only logical thing to do is trade Dame in the offseason. Build around Simons now. Simply replacing CJ with Simons is just rearranging the deck chairs...
Quote:
Originally Posted by gutYeah I'm surprised as well. Thing is, while his game is slightly different than CJ's, they are not that different. Individual defensive ratings are not exactly a science, but i think he rated last in the entire NBA in some major metric last year. Not great.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
It feels like the only logical thing to do is trade Dame in the offseason. Build around Simons now. Simply replacing CJ with Simons is just rearranging the deck chairs...
Haralabob is high on him.
CJ is an absolute sieve on defense; Simons isn't good yet on D but think he still has space for improvement just based on his jumps in explosiveness and athleticism.
I'm almost there in thinking that now is the time to move Dame, but he's coming off a surgery and was looking crummy this year. Probably worth it to see what things look like with emerging stud Simons and let Dame recoup some of his value. But if a team like the Knicks comes in heavy with an offer of young talent and picks I would consider it. All signs so far point to rebuilding through Dame though.
Nassir Little is also out, and will fit in perfectly with this style of play once back.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalam76ers just lost by 50 points at home to the Celtics. I would hold off a little longer before planning on how you are going to spend the money.Quote:
Originally Posted by thesidedish
howd they look 2nite on the road vs the defending champs you faggot!!!!!!!!!!!!
Embiid is so fucking good this year; if like me you got sick of the Sixers being meh its time to tune in.
The rare time when a guy with his injury history and size has been able to fade the odds of additional devastating injuries, all the while exceeding all expectations.
Really hope the addition of James Harden doesn't fuck it up.
I watched the game. Great win, but it struck me how thin both teams were (Bucks a lot of it is injuries). Even if everything breaks right and Embiid and Harden can play together and avoid injury (I am pessimistic they will both stay healthy through a playoff run) the 76ers are going to have to rely on good crunch time play from players like Korkmaz, Niang, and Millsap. I just don't see it. Can you really rely on Niang to go 5-10 from the 3 in a tight playoff game?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
I think for Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Philly winning the buyout market to add depth is going to be important, and there aren't that many potential players and they aren't that good (Off the top of my head Eric Gordon, Dragic, Gary Harris).
Boston just gave Philly a 50 point beat down. People better quit sleeping on the Celtics, they have two great players, good role players and they're one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.Quote:
Originally Posted by KalamI watched the game. Great win, but it struck me how thin both teams were (Bucks a lot of it is injuries). Even if everything breaks right and Embiid and Harden can play together and avoid injury (I am pessimistic they will both stay healthy through a playoff run) the 76ers are going to have to rely on good crunch time play from players like Korkmaz, Niang, and Millsap. I just don't see it. Can you really rely on Niang to go 5-10 from the 3 in a tight playoff game?Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
I think for Brooklyn, Milwaukee and Philly winning the buyout market to add depth is going to be important, and there aren't that many potential players and they aren't that good (Off the top of my head Eric Gordon, Dragic, Gary Harris).
Then they turn around and lose as 12 point favorites to the lowly Pistons. I’m sure folks got wrecked as they were lured into the Celtics trap.Quote:
Originally Posted by nightmarefishBoston just gave Philly a 50 point beat down. People better quit sleeping on the Celtics, they have two great players, good role players and they're one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalam
The Celtics and Jason Tatum lack character.
Lotta crazy differentials in the league. Enormous leads given up too. It’s a cautionary tale but irresistible schadenfreude as you imagine the bankroll destruction
On one of the Ringer pods they talked about the Celtics recent success (they talk about the Celtics a lot, believe it or not). Basically, the analytics and W/L record indicate the Celtics are a very good team when they are basically playing a 6 man rotation (Tatum, Brown, Smart, Horford, R Williams, G Williams) and anytime they play other players the team EV craters dramatically. In theory, White (and to a much lesser extent Theis) will add much needed depth of +EV players.Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarThen they turn around and lose as 12 point favorites to the lowly Pistons. I’m sure folks got wrecked as they were lured into the Celtics trap.Quote:
Originally Posted by nightmarefish
The Celtics and Jason Tatum lack character.
Lotta crazy differentials in the league. Enormous leads given up too. It’s a cautionary tale but irresistible schadenfreude as you imagine the bankroll destruction
At the beginning of the season they were experimenting with a lot of rotations and the team was very mediocre. Recently they have just been playing all their starters 40 min/game and have had much better results. In the Detroit game 2 of those players (Smart, R Williams) were out, and they lost the game. But yeah, as much promise as the Celtics recent play indicate, the fact they are so reliant on such a short rotation, and one of the players (Smart) gets hurt a lot and is in and out of the lineup, could limit their success.
Ya they lost to the Pistons but they had won 9 in a row. Short rotation isn’t really an issue as long as those 6 players are healthy. Playoff time teams shorten their rotations anyway.
As bad and pointless as the All Star Game is, it's even less interesting now that it's not East vs West.
If I want to see teams picked by two captains, I'll go to Ben's school and watch them play kickball during PE.
This random assortment of players gives you absolutely nothing to root for. Add the complete lack of defense, and the game is a snoozefest.
If anyone else DVRed the dunk contest like me do yourself a favor and do literally anything else with your time.
I don’t think I’ve watched one in twenty years and I like the other events enough to bet on them. It’s just a pointless event. Some choreographed dunk was already boring the second year they had the contest. I can’t recall a single great moment from the dunk contest. People would point to Dwight in a cape or times they jump over a teammate, but even those are lame to me and always have been.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
I remember Starks dunking on the Bulls in ‘93 like it was yesterday. Okoro had one earlier this year where he split three defenders that made me immediately stand up. A great dunk that occurs in the flow of the game is just infinitely better than anything choreographed could ever be. I already know these guys are absolute freaks. Doing it in the flow is just so much more impressive.
It also doesn’t help that the great leapers rarely compete. It’s just been lame since the start imo, and one of the worst events in sports. The homerun contest is kind of lame also in comparison to an exciting walk off homer in a real game with all the tension, but at least the great sluggers generally compete. And batting practice is fun to watch the guys with real power.
The NBA dunk contest is like having a contest among utility infielders who hit 11 HR’s during a career year. I’m shocked they even bother. It jumped the shark after one season imo.
Down by 1 out of a timeout for potential last shot of the game against the Clippers, and the best play the Lakers can come up with is a Melo contested 30 footer. Are you fucking kidding me?
I don't know what Lebron (Vogel?) was thinking, but Melo cant do anything being passed the ball when he is 30 feet away from the basket, and he is too selfish to realize this and quickly pass it back. Should have been Monk or even Russ in that spot. They can at least penetrate and create something. Preferably Monk because he has better decision making and less likely to miss free throws.
That final play was atrocious.
No clue what Vogel is doing. Every game he runs Lebron iso ball at the end and Lebron ends up jacking up a 3, it's so painful to watch. When Vogel was out with covid, the interim coach was running Lebron/Russ pick in roll in those spots with huge success. I actually like Russ setting the pick and rolling to the basket, creates all sorts of problems for the defense. It's beyond me how Vogel hasn't been fired yet. Of course it's a huge blow that street clothes Davis can't stay on the floor but Vogel can't figure out how to get the most out of the players he has.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalam
LeBron got a piece of Fenway Sports Group a while ago in an affront to the Boston LA rivalry. LeBron really represents no team so we learned to get past this.
Fenway Sports Group - Sawks, Liverpool, Pittsburg Penguins
John Henry apparently is eyeing putting an NBA team in Vegas. LeBum will follow and no doubt will also serve as General Manager fresh off his success in that role in LA.
Westbrook is crying because fans (home + away) are taunting him calling him "Westbrick"
:lol
I've always thought that media flings around 'death threats' too often. Like did someone with a Lakers avatar on Twitter just tell him to kill himself?Quote:
Originally Posted by simpdog
He's fed off of and sought out criticism from opposing fans his entire career. Now he can't handle it because it stings when it's 100% legitimate?
Just go the route of 'I make 44 million, lol' and shut up. Tell your kids that you can't make shots anymore but still get paid exorbitantly because you used to be awesome.
While LA ponders the Westbrook/Westbrick debacle, they need to ponder why DeMar DeRozan never became a Laker.
DeRozan was literally straight outta Compton, and a big Lakers fan. He was one of those guys who wanted to play for his home team. He's dreamed his entire career about coming back to LA and making a difference for the Lakers.
In 2021, he thought a trade from San Antonio to the Lakers was a "done deal", and was thrilled. Then he got the rug pulled out from under him -- it fell through, and the trade was suddenly off.
Instead, he ended up on the Bulls, via a sign-and-trade during the summer 2021 offseason.
The Bulls are now 39-26 and he's been a huge part of it.
The 21-22 Lakers are one of the most disappointing teams of all time, and are only going to make the playoffs because there's 10 teams in each conference which make it, and the other 5 in the west are tanking.
If I had to guess, it was Lebron not trusting him. Those Cavs ran into the Raptors every playoffs and DD came up small and like a regular season player in every one. Post Duncan, Spurs are never on, and he didn’t fully realize the tweaks Pops and staff had made to DD’s game had taken him from good empty stats guy to efficient and useful. We still need to see it in the playoffs, but that would be my guess. Clearly Lebron is the loudest voice in the room when making decisions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
Probably this. I was caught off guard by Spurs DeRozan actually being good because nobody except degen sickos and Spurs fans was watching that team.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCRIf I had to guess, it was Lebron not trusting him. Those Cavs ran into the Raptors every playoffs and DD came up small and like a regular season player in every one. Post Duncan, Spurs are never on, and he didn’t fully realize the tweaks Pops and staff had made to DD’s game had taken him from good empty stats guy to efficient and useful. We still need to see it in the playoffs, but that would be my guess. Clearly Lebron is the loudest voice in the room when making decisions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
You would think that the Lakers and Klutch have analytics teams that could have dissuaded LeBron, but evidently not. Next to no intelligent basketball personality thought this would be anything but a disaster.
I think I suggested it may just be a good way to have RWB mop up a lot of regular season minutes and have his empty stats land some wins while giving AD and LeBron a break, couldn't have been more wrong. Lakers gave up a ton of depth and he's awful.
Some guys just completely fall apart when they lose a step and that's that. Chris Paul is a good example of the opposite; early CP3 was explosive and an above the rim player.
That's a good point. I forgot about the whole Cavs/Raptors dynamic, where Lebron just owned Toronto's face every single time in the playoffs -- even when Toronto was dominant in the regular season.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCRIf I had to guess, it was Lebron not trusting him. Those Cavs ran into the Raptors every playoffs and DD came up small and like a regular season player in every one. Post Duncan, Spurs are never on, and he didn’t fully realize the tweaks Pops and staff had made to DD’s game had taken him from good empty stats guy to efficient and useful. We still need to see it in the playoffs, but that would be my guess. Clearly Lebron is the loudest voice in the room when making decisions.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
It's kinda like a poker player who loses every time you're at the table with him. Even if you hear he's good and is a big winner overall, it's hard to get out of your head that the guy just seems to get beat every time you see him.
Whenever the Lakers engage in star worship rather than focusing on what pieces they really need, they fail. It happened with Glenn Rice in 1999. It happened in 2004 with Gary Payton and Karl Malone. It happened from 2012-2015 with Steve Nash. It happened in 2012 with Dwight Howard.
This debacle with Westbrook is the worst of them, though, because he's making a ton of money and he was supposed to elevate them to a championship. Then, of course, they brought in has-beens Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony -- both guys who could never quite "get there" even in their prime.
Lebron is 37, AD can't stay healthy, Westbrook is awful, and the team has no depth. Big trouble ahead.
Taking a pass on DD is forgivable. I kind of found the new DeMar narrative suspicious and figured he was a product of Pops putting him in good spots.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan DruffThat's a good point. I forgot about the whole Cavs/Raptors dynamic, where Lebron just owned Toronto's face every single time in the playoffs -- even when Toronto was dominant in the regular season.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCR
It's kinda like a poker player who loses every time you're at the table with him. Even if you hear he's good and is a big winner overall, it's hard to get out of your head that the guy just seems to get beat every time you see him.
Whenever the Lakers engage in star worship rather than focusing on what pieces they really need, they fail. It happened with Glenn Rice in 1999. It happened in 2004 with Gary Payton and Karl Malone. It happened from 2012-2015 with Steve Nash. It happened in 2012 with Dwight Howard.
This debacle with Westbrook is the worst of them, though, because he's making a ton of money and he was supposed to elevate them to a championship. Then, of course, they brought in has-beens Dwight Howard and Carmelo Anthony -- both guys who could never quite "get there" even in their prime.
Lebron is 37, AD can't stay healthy, Westbrook is awful, and the team has no depth. Big trouble ahead.
That contact wasn’t loved by most for DD. Vegas wasn’t buying it either. Their win total was 42 iirc.
I was a total Bulls skeptic and I still kind of am. I’ll need to see DD, Lavine and Vuc do it in the playoffs to believe it.
Taking a pass on him and choosing Westbrook is what’s hard to forgive. The worst elements of DD’s game in Toronto are far better than anything RWB brings to the table.
Yeah, that trio isn't going anywhere but the Bulls are getting unfairly criticized imo.Quote:
Originally Posted by BCRTaking a pass on DD is forgivable. I kind of found the new DeMar narrative suspicious and figured he was a product of Pops putting him in good spots.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
That contact wasn’t loved by most for DD. Vegas wasn’t buying it either. Their win total was 42 iirc.
I was a total Bulls skeptic and I still kind of am. I’ll need to see DD, Lavine and Vuc do it in the playoffs to believe it.
Taking a pass on him and choosing Westbrook is what’s hard to forgive. The worst elements of DD’s game in Toronto are far better than anything RWB brings to the table.
They came out hot largely because Caruso and Lonzo were smothering teams defensively; yes DDR and LaVine were good then too but the defense was the variable that made them awesome from the jump. Probably wasn't sustainable, but if Caruso and Lonzo were healthy and nearing their initial output that team would still be top 3-4 imo and wouldn't be 0 for X against the upper echelon.
DeRozan has been stunning but him + LaVine are probably the 6th best tandem in the East, maybe 7th if you throw the Miami guys in there.
Bill Simmons had a great spiel about the Lakers being a disaster for like 10 years running; save for the bubble title, have they had a fun team and made any smart moves in that range?
Lowlights: Howard/Nash was a disaster, end of Kobe era was terrible, mostly bricked with high picks from being terrible or traded them for scraps (Russell, Randle, Ingram, Lonzo), gave the universe for Anthony Davis, cheaped out on paying Caruso, passed on DeRozan/Hield and blew up depth of team for RWB, have no future assets whatsoever and are effectively beholden to Klutch Sports until/when LeBron and Davis bounce and they're left with nothing.
Did get the one chip, but that would be a tough fucking decade of turmoil for me to swallow as a fan.
I’m not sure they’ll even make the playin games Druff tonight was pathetic against the eventual 2022 NBA Champion Phoenix Suns. Lebron tossed up one fugly air all at the halftime buzzer. They gave up 78 for the half and 140 overall. The game was over halftime. They’re not that far ahead to Assume a 10th seed they’re only 2.5 ahead of Portland and could easily slide out in the remaining games. If Portland holds playing 4-6 per 10 games and Lakers remain 3-7 avg they easily slide down to 10th and just a hiccup and they’re out as Portland should gain 1.5 based on remaining games. In fact looking at the remaining schedule for Portland and Lakers. Portland has a much easier schedule compared to LA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
@ftp
I was switching around during hockey intermission and tuned in to see LeBron fail to transition from offense and the opponents gets an easy 2. LeBron just chillin alone in his offensive end.
It was about 6 min.s before the half. Commentators called him out. LeBron just pisses me off. I can do without that.
“The future is crook”.
I had repeatedly heard that Charles Barkley described the Lakers were the 2010 All Star team - in 2022. I thought that was a funny line.
I looked it up and this is what he actually said:
I think the truth is that old geezer LeBron was running the show and assembled his old geezer bro’s in a traveling pick up game called the Lakers. LeBron knows nothing of future or developing talent aside from his son.Quote:
“Is that Rob Pelinka? I haven’t seen him since he put that Laker team together, been missing in action,” Barkley said. “He put a bunch of old-a– geezers together that would have been great in 2010.”
I do miss Charles Barkley. There is no reason for me to watch him any more.
Lakers thing does suck though; I don't want LeBron wasting away on some shitty team. Along with being no lower than #3 on any reasonable person's GOAT list he's totally taken over the league.
What he, Rich Paul and Klutch have done to completely disrupt the status quo of the league has been amazing.
Underreported in media because much of ESPN are CAA clients (top competitor) and agency work largely thrives in shadowy conditions. Klutch clients get paid all over the place, and GM's now know to stay in their favor. Precisely why the Celtics mostly strike out in free agency.
I’ve been so removed from the NBA that your post is the first time I have seen a mention of the “Klutch Agency”. I’m a big fan of disruptive influences and it sounds like I’m missing out on some goodness.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
Is this disruptive like raping and plundering the product or just redefining it?
Gimme something to read.
Celtics seem to be doing fine but I get your point and it’s interesting.
Rich Paul Still Won’t Speak To Bill Simmons Because Of His ESPN Column On ‘The Decision’
I’ll be damned. I may have stumble upon a new understanding of the NBA. This may prove very interesting.
I’m about to check out Bostonian Bill Simmons on the Klutch story and instantly there was payoff.
Garnett just had his number retired in Boston. Last title the kids 30’ish and under remember. Garnett was on the cusp of this new nonsense if I recall. Garnett built that championship season. Hmmm.
Kids just don’t know what the NBA used to be like.
I just made some March Madness wagers. I’m looking forward to that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ftpjesusI’m not sure they’ll even make the playin games Druff tonight was pathetic against the eventual 2022 NBA Champion Phoenix Suns. Lebron tossed up one fugly air all at the halftime buzzer. They gave up 78 for the half and 140 overall. The game was over halftime. They’re not that far ahead to Assume a 10th seed they’re only 2.5 ahead of Portland and could easily slide out in the remaining games. If Portland holds playing 4-6 per 10 games and Lakers remain 3-7 avg they easily slide down to 10th and just a hiccup and they’re out as Portland should gain 1.5 based on remaining games. In fact looking at the remaining schedule for Portland and Lakers. Portland has a much easier schedule compared to LA.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan Druff
The "race" for the 10th spot will be very interesting. Portland at the management level is clearly tanking, by giving all their best players fake injuries. But on the court the G League team they are putting out is playing hard and winning games. So it will be interesting to see how Portland plays this. Will they decide to go for the 10 seed, or will they keep taking players out of the rotation?
But yeah, unless management keeps pulling out the effective players, I think Portland should overtake the Lakers, and be the playoff teams with New Orleans. If Portland decides to go scorched earth and pull out Hart, Watford, Eubanks, Ellebey, etc. with fake injuries, dont sleep on San Antonio either. You know Popovich would love to get that 10 seed and knock the Lakers out if the opportunity arose, but they would need to go on a run to do it.
Rich Paul was LeBron's childhood friend and didn't go to college, now is probably most powerful agent in league.Quote:
Originally Posted by SanlmarI’ve been so removed from the NBA that your post is the first time I have seen a mention of the “Klutch Agency”. I’m a big fan of disruptive influences and it sounds like I’m missing out on some goodness.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
Is this disruptive like raping and plundering the product or just redefining it?
Gimme something to read.
Celtics seem to be doing fine but I get your point and it’s interesting.
https://medium.com/elite-media-group...r-eefb7dc80a83
https://hoopshype.com/reps/rich-paul/
Russ getting cucked nightly at this point after a career of talking shit.
Even funnier is Russ leaving hand in the air striking a pose like he thought it was in. How the fuck do you not know you’re 5 feet off? Even I know when I’m five feet off on a shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe
Well, it happened. The Lakers missed the playoffs.
20 out of 30 teams make it, and the Lakers just needed to best San Antonio's .430 record to get there. Couldn't do it. They're officially eliminated.
Pretty amazing, given that many were claiming they were one of the favorites for the title once they signed Westbrick.
Honestly one of the most disappointing teams in NBA history, and there's a lot of competition for that title, thanks to the New York Knicks.
Good article about this year's failure, and what it means for the future: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/w...y-in-solution/
20 of 30 made the playoffs. Why not 29 of 30, I wonder.
Only 5 NBA players played in all 82 games this year.
I learned this as the TNT announcers were ripping NBA load management and the current sad state of affairs during the Suns game last night. All the Suns starters were in street clothes and sunglasses.
It was such a wretched display of a farcical athletic contest and the announcers were so embarrassed for the spectacle that I couldn’t stop watching.
The woman announcer was pretty good I have to say. She didn’t try to cover up for the NBA.
Just sprinkled a bit on Embiid +200 for MVP.
He is clearly, desperately trying to win it at the end and I like his chances to have huge games in their remaining ones.
Think a final push from Joel may move writers on the fence to go with the charismatic guy and look past the tiresome analytics arguments that favor Jokic.
Jokic being a 2x MVP would be hilarious though, he's completely indifferent to it and watching the NBA try to delicately market him is fun.