*** OFFICIAL *** NBA 2020-21 Thread

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sheesfaced

Chris Paul in Covid protocol and out indefinitely. Wtf?

SloppyJoe tell your boy to quit being an anti-vaxxer. I guess it’s possible he got vaccinated though.

---

Brutal morning of NBA news, hoping Kawhi isn't out long term also. Seeing the Jazz make the finals is an outcome no one wants outside of Team Retard mormons.

If CP3 wasnt vaccinated then 100% on him for being retarded. Pretty gutting as a neutral, that Suns team has been fun as hell.

Lot of stuff out there with baseball players/football players not getting vaxxed. LOL America.

Have to imagine he's laid up with it bad; the league would definitely ignore an exposure at this point.

---

I watched 3 Vikings player press conferences after minicamp yesterday. Adam Theilen, Harrison Smith, and freshly signed Sheldon Richardson. All 3 not vaxxed. I was shocked that out of those 3 specifically, not even 1.

Pelicans definitely made the right move in sacking SVG.

He was ahead of the curve with those Dwight Howard Magic teams launching nonstop threes but that Pelicans team had no clue until toward the end when Zion was unleashed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Pelicans definitely made the right move in sacking SVG.

He was ahead of the curve with those Dwight Howard Magic teams launching nonstop threes but that Pelicans team had no clue until toward the end when Zion was unleashed.

---

Pels just shot themselves in the foot with every move theyve made in the past year.


CP3 apparently is vaxxed, so hopefully he wont have to miss any games.

I probably should consolidate the Haralabob talk into one thread, since it's both here and in the one Crowe started.

But yes, Sloppy Joe is correct. Obviously someone did an info dump to The Athletic about the dysfunction at the Mavericks front office, and they probably figured out it was Nelson.

They do need to get this situation under control if Doncic is pissed, though. If they drive him away, it will be a tremendous fail which they will regret for a very long time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan Druff

I probably should consolidate the Haralabob talk into one thread, since it's both here and in the one Crowe started.

But yes, Sloppy Joe is correct. Obviously someone did an info dump to The Athletic about the dysfunction at the Mavericks front office, and they probably figured out it was Nelson.

They do need to get this situation under control if Doncic is pissed, though. If they drive him away, it will be a tremendous fail which they will regret for a very long time.

---

He already said he is going to sign the SuperMax. I am guessing he is going to give them 2-3 years to build a contender before he demands a trade.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sheesfaced

Chris Paul in Covid protocol and out indefinitely. Wtf?

SloppyJoe tell your boy to quit being an anti-vaxxer. I guess it’s possible he got vaccinated though.

---

Brutal morning of NBA news, hoping Kawhi isn't out long term also. Seeing the Jazz make the finals is an outcome no one wants outside of Team Retard mormons.

If CP3 wasnt vaccinated then 100% on him for being retarded. Pretty gutting as a neutral, that Suns team has been fun as hell.

Lot of stuff out there with baseball players/football players not getting vaxxed. LOL America.

Have to imagine he's laid up with it bad; the league would definitely ignore an exposure at this point.

---

Low T beta male can’t put it together. High TEST BROS do not want to be vaxxxed by the state.

LOL Sixers.

The Bucks loss was bad but at least was on the road and because of a literal all time performance from Durant.

One of the most comprehensive choke jobs I can remember, top to bottom.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

LOL Sixers.

The Bucks loss was bad but at least was on the road and because of a literal all time performance from Durant.

One of the most comprehensive choke jobs I can remember, top to bottom.

---

I legit turned it off and just left the Indians game on. Had no idea they blew it until your post. Just looking at stats. Simmons 4/14 on free throws and 8 points in 3 point loss. Good god they need to finally break that pairing up.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

LOL Sixers.

The Bucks loss was bad but at least was on the road and because of a literal all time performance from Durant.

One of the most comprehensive choke jobs I can remember, top to bottom.

---

I legit turned it off and just left the Indians game on. Had no idea they blew it until your post. Just looking at stats. Simmons 4/14 on free throws and 8 points in 3 point loss. Good god they need to finally break that pairing up.

---

I had too, errantly reopened it on my iPad and watched as the Hawks clawed back from like 15 down.

Embiid was dreadful down the stretch. It was one of those where you knew it was happening, piece by piece.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

I legit turned it off and just left the Indians game on. Had no idea they blew it until your post. Just looking at stats. Simmons 4/14 on free throws and 8 points in 3 point loss. Good god they need to finally break that pairing up.

---

I had too, errantly reopened it on my iPad and watched as the Hawks clawed back from like 15 down.

Embiid was dreadful down the stretch. It was one of those where you knew it was happening, piece by piece.

---

I think it was 72-46 when I turned it off. Indians were in one run game. I never imagined Sixers would blow it to a bunch of kids.

Embiid basically lost the last 2 games with brutal 4th quarters. But that being said, there is no one else on this team willing or able to take over. They could really use Jimmy Butler or (healthy) James Harden right about now.

Monster Win for the Clippers without Kawhi. They played games without their stars all year and are prepared for this blow. It's over in game 6 and the Suns going down next.

Well, perfect timing on NY fully re-opening, Harden has plenty of strip club time available again.

CP3 story is confusing as fuck right now. Read articles from 2 major sites today, 1 said he was vaxxed, 1 said he wasn't. wtf.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

Well, perfect timing on NY fully re-opening, Harden has plenty of strip club time available again.

CP3 story is confusing as fuck right now. Read articles from 2 major sites today, 1 said he was vaxxed, 1 said he wasn't. wtf.

---

One thing that also isn't being discussed much is that many of these pro teams are giving the Johnson & Johnson shot, which has a much lower efficacy rate than Pfizer/Moderna.

On the surface, it makes sense -- it's one shot instead of two, you get to fully vaccinated status faster, and healthy youngish athletes aren't likely to have bad COVID symptoms anyway. It's far more important for older guys like me to have the best vaccine available, than for pro athletes.

However, this might also be the reason why some athletes are getting COVID despite being vaccinated, which of course is disruptive to the league, and can completely fuck up important situations like the playoffs.

The lack of serious COVID danger is also why some athletes simply won't take the vaccine. If you're 25, in great shape, and healthy, it's not unreasonable to fear the vaccine more than COVID itself. In fact, I don't even cast judgment upon young people who are refusing the vaccine, as it's actually a reasonable decision to forego it. At my age, not so much.

LOL Brooklyn not finishing them off. Lost semi big on this game.

Milwaukee able to overcome disastrous play calling by Bud throughout.

The Clippers and Bucks both gutting out huge games is incredible

Sixers, oof. So glad this trash team is gone.

Now will be selling on Ben Simmons at the absolute nadir of his value. Can still be a really important player on a winning team but Philly will get peanuts in return.

CJ McCollum + player feels fair.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Sixers, oof. So glad this trash team is gone.

Now will be selling on Ben Simmons at the absolute nadir of his value. Can still be a really important player on a winning team but Philly will get peanuts in return.

CJ McCollum + player feels fair.

---

If I were the Blazers I'd have been on the phone already offering a 1-for-1 CJ for Simmons

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Sixers, oof. So glad this trash team is gone.

Now will be selling on Ben Simmons at the absolute nadir of his value. Can still be a really important player on a winning team but Philly will get peanuts in return.

CJ McCollum + player feels fair.

---

If I were the Blazers I'd have been on the phone already offering a 1-for-1 CJ for Simmons

---

Do you think that is a good trade for Philly? Having CJ at the end of tight games could theoretically be a plus, as he wouldn't be scared of the moment like everyone else on Philly except Embiid, but does he offer enough for all the rest of the time?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalam

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

If I were the Blazers I'd have been on the phone already offering a 1-for-1 CJ for Simmons

---

Do you think that is a good trade for Philly? Having CJ at the end of tight games could theoretically be a plus, as he wouldn't be scared of the moment like everyone else on Philly except Embiid, but does he offer enough for all the rest of the time?

---

I think it is about as close to a perfect trade as possible now. They each bring their own faults with them, but their positives are what each team desperately needs. Now, in normal times, Simmons would be worth more, as his lack of shooting can hypothetically be fixed. You can try to make CJ better on D, but you can't teach size.

After this series though, I think 1 for 1 makes sense, as Simmons perceived value is probably lower than it should be. If I'm the blazers though, I'd have no issue throwing in a pick as well.

Imagine the PnR game with Dame and Simmons. Think Steph and Draymond.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kalam

Do you think that is a good trade for Philly? Having CJ at the end of tight games could theoretically be a plus, as he wouldn't be scared of the moment like everyone else on Philly except Embiid, but does he offer enough for all the rest of the time?

---

I think it is about as close to a perfect trade as possible now. They each bring their own faults with them, but their positives are what each team desperately needs. Now, in normal times, Simmons would be worth more, as his lack of shooting can hypothetically be fixed. You can try to make CJ better on D, but you can't teach size.

After this series though, I think 1 for 1 makes sense, as Simmons perceived value is probably lower than it should be. If I'm the blazers though, I'd have no issue throwing in a pick as well.

Imagine the PnR game with Dame and Simmons. Think Steph and Draymond.

---

Yeah I’d love to see him in Portland. I hope he doesn’t get traded to some Golden State or similar. If Klay came back healthy and you ran him as some passing center Draymond type, that would be frightening. I can’t think why Morey would want Draymond and Wiggins or whatever it would take to match, they’d have to add wiseman and a bunch of picks, but golden state has to be thinking of ways to maximize that last bit of Curry/Klay prime. There were a lot of rumors they were offering that 2 pick last year for him and sixers declined.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

I think it is about as close to a perfect trade as possible now. They each bring their own faults with them, but their positives are what each team desperately needs. Now, in normal times, Simmons would be worth more, as his lack of shooting can hypothetically be fixed. You can try to make CJ better on D, but you can't teach size.

After this series though, I think 1 for 1 makes sense, as Simmons perceived value is probably lower than it should be. If I'm the blazers though, I'd have no issue throwing in a pick as well.

Imagine the PnR game with Dame and Simmons. Think Steph and Draymond.

---

Yeah I’d love to see him in Portland. I hope he doesn’t get traded to some Golden State or similar. If Klay came back healthy and you ran him as some passing center Draymond type, that would be frightening. I can’t think why Morey would want Draymond and Wiggins or whatever it would take to match, they’d have to add wiseman and a bunch of picks, but golden state has to be thinking of ways to maximize that last bit of Curry/Klay prime. There were a lot of rumors they were offering that 2 pick last year for him and sixers declined.

---

Smart teams will be after Simmons and will win on any trade package given his value is in the toilet right now.

Philly has done an awful job with team building and has a long list of weird outcomes - trading up for Fultz (and Fultz lol), Butler saying fuck this shit, Simmons never coming close to developing a shot, maxing out Tobias Harris, Embiid never in shape and still launching threes etc.

Embiid's overall health has been miraculous; given how he how started out, the way things have gone have been equivalent to hitting a two outer. If not for that, The Process is one of the most disastrous experiments ever.

Team and city are pure poison.

Yeah if they had stood pat and taken Tatum and had that closer it would have been a success, but now a train wreck.

I have this weird feeling he’ll still be there for start of season even though everyone has him traded today. Morey is super stubborn, and I’m guessing he’ll want him to rack up some fake regular season stats to pump up his value.

I must have seen ten packages talked about, and CJ is the best player under 30 in most. They have to know they are on borrowed time with Embiid. I actually wonder what Embiid’s value is? Counter-intuitive, but the two don’t fit, and I assume Embiid could bring you a bunch of pieces that do fit and has way more value. Fans would burn the city, but I always view him as a guy who could be done any year, and has peak value.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan Druff

The lack of serious COVID danger is also why some athletes simply won't take the vaccine. If you're 25, in great shape, and healthy, it's not unreasonable to fear the vaccine more than COVID itself. In fact, I don't even cast judgment upon young people who are refusing the vaccine, as it's actually a reasonable decision to forego it. At my age, not so much.

---

Considering the long term effects on the lungs and the heart and other organs that regular people and athletes both often experience after covid, I dare say it IS unreasonable to fear the vaccine more than the disease, for any healthy person. While everyone is talking about Jayson Tatum, it must be pointed out he hasn;t been normal since Covid, and is currently still on an inhaler, and might be for the long term future. THAT shit should scare athletes more than any vaccine.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crowe Diddly

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dan Druff

The lack of serious COVID danger is also why some athletes simply won't take the vaccine. If you're 25, in great shape, and healthy, it's not unreasonable to fear the vaccine more than COVID itself. In fact, I don't even cast judgment upon young people who are refusing the vaccine, as it's actually a reasonable decision to forego it. At my age, not so much.

---

Considering the long term effects on the lungs and the heart and other organs that regular people and athletes both often experience after covid, I dare say it IS unreasonable to fear the vaccine more than the disease, for any healthy person. While everyone is talking about Jayson Tatum, it must be pointed out he hasn;t been normal since Covid, and is currently still on an inhaler, and might be for the long term future. THAT shit should scare athletes more than any vaccine.

---

:this


I agree with Druff anyone under 25 in good shape shouldn't worry much about Covid.

But they should worry even less about taking the vaccine.

Cavs caught a break moving up to 3. They really need to get rid of Love and one of these guards, preferably Sexton as I think Garland is a little higher ceiling and the top prospects likely to be available at 3 seem like guards.

I view Love as a negative contract. I wonder if there is any value in that package and what it might be? Be nice if the Sixers wanted the scoring and thought Embiid could make up for their poor defense.

Might be worth it just to get off Love. Going to be interesting dilemma if Green goes 2 and Mobley is clear third pick. I didn’t see much of any of these guys other than Cade, but everything I see says it’s Cade and Mobley/Green are 2/3 in some order. I wish that Kuminga could shoot. We need SF worse than anything.. Allen is a nice young player poised to get paid at C.

Sidedish tuning up for payday

Embedded Tweet

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by thesidedish

Embedded Tweet

---

That pass was sublime.

Ugly game that was there for the taking but the Clips never grabbed on. Paul George, tough..

A Nike executive as PBO and Jason Kidd? Idk man. The Nike guy is Luka’s boy, and maybe in the all friends league, a good choice where connections might mean more than anything, but Kidd? That’s a downgrade from Carlisle, plus they just had some hostile to women issue there and Kidd has a lot of drama in his past. The wife shit is a long time ago, but he’s got all kinds of drama outside that, and a questionable choice to bring into a situation that sounds already chaotic.

I would be shocked if Bob is still around, and if he is, likes his job. Ex player playmaker seems worst ear for analytics guy. They’re generally all gut feel and old school bullshit. They’ll be trying to work it into the post for a good 2 point turnaround from Zinger.

Feels like Cuban might be getting pushed around by the various camps and stuck placating a young primadonna.

Embedded Tweet

My take here is that if Bob is still there, he is effectively the GM. This Nike dude might just be there to cross the t's and dot the i's. Probably was already happening with Nelson.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

My take here is that if Bob is still there, he is effectively the GM.

---

Yeah, if Bob is still there , the next two guys are coming on knowing Bob is still there, and the point was likely explicitly made during the hiring process.

I'm almost positive I remember Haralabos really going hard at Kidd's ineptitude as a coach on a BS pod.

Coaches get better (see Monty Williams and Ty Lue) but Kidd was basically the worst in the league and the Bucks made a huge leap once he left.

Doesn't seem worth it, especially taking on a convicted domestic abuser after their recent issues with workplace culture.

Luka's got them by the balls. Expect Bob to be gone soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Crowe Diddly

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gut

My take here is that if Bob is still there, he is effectively the GM.

---

Yeah, if Bob is still there , the next two guys are coming on knowing Bob is still there, and the point was likely explicitly made during the hiring process.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

I'm almost positive I remember Haralabos really going hard at Kidd's ineptitude as a coach on a BS pod.

Coaches get better (see Monty Williams and Ty Lue) but Kidd was basically the worst in the league and the Bucks made a huge leap once he left.

Doesn't seem worth it, especially taking on a convicted domestic abuser after their recent issues with workplace culture.

Luka's got them by the balls. Expect Bob to be gone soon.

---

It’s funny how these are kind of opposite opinions yet one has to be true, and I agree with both. Either Cuban has his back fully and the guys walking in know exactly what’s up, or it would seem he’s toast.

I just struggle to imagine Kidd, with his ego and success, having the analytics nerd dictate rotations to him. Everything that a really sharp analytics guy contributes is really hands on rotation decisions and where you want guys shooting and then some draft and signing input about what types of guys work well together. It’s just hard to be the analytics guru and be hands off unless you’re just writing reports and making recommendations that can be ignored, but he was more than that previously if they considered him the shadow GM and anything about that was accurate.

Kidd has to be worth $100 million still I imagine.

I hope he’s open to it, as it will provide a more interesting situation where a talented kid is utilized optimally, but I’d be surprised given how horrible he was previously. He had Giannis when he was emerging and would win like 45 games. They instantly became a 60 win team just by ditching him.

Guys like Lue and Williams were role players and generally well-liked good locker room guys as far as I can recall. I recall Lue much more, but Williams was like a 6ppg guy. They were never the alpha dog like Kidd where I knew who he was while in high school with him being considered the top player in the country. That dude changes far less frequently than some adaptable role player ime. There really haven’t been many superstar players who were great coaches, particularly in the modern era after they made a lot of money. Who is even the best guy who was a star after the 1970s? Bird?


We will see how badly Kidd wanted back in the league, and whether Haralabob is laying low or not even really on staff any more. It feels polarized to he’s either actually the defacto GM now and has a greater role, or a greatly diminished or non-existent role. I hope it’s the first but have a feeling it’s the latter. If Cuban really had his back and was all in on doing things the smart way, I don’t think we have him hiring Jason Kidd.

What do you Blazers guys think about Chauncey hire? Was a cerebral player. Is so inexperienced as a coach, I guess it’s hard to have much of an opinion. Kind of a strange move when you need to win soon. I assume he had Dame’s blessing. As an announcer, I thought he was decent. Certainly not annoying guy. Was generally low key.

Made me wonder with Lue looking so much better than previous stints, if the word around the league was that Chauncey was really the brains. Just strange with all the guys who pay their dues to get a gig that quickly. I saw Kidd and Hammons rumored. Certainly better than Kidd, and idk how the Hammons hire will play out eventually. I’m sure she’s got a great mind to be the first serious contender, but still strikes me as a tough dynamic to be head coach with how important chemistry is

LOL I read the Blazers might hire a woman head coach! Funniest thing

I hope it’s Suns vs Hawks finals

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

What do you Blazers guys think about Chauncey hire? Was a cerebral player. Is so inexperienced as a coach, I guess it’s hard to have much of an opinion. Kind of a strange move when you need to win soon. I assume he had Dame’s blessing. As an announcer, I thought he was decent. Certainly not annoying guy. Was generally low key.

Made me wonder with Lue looking so much better than previous stints, if the word around the league was that Chauncey was really the brains. Just strange with all the guys who pay their dues to get a gig that quickly. I saw Kidd and Hammons rumored. Certainly better than Kidd, and idk how the Hammons hire will play out eventually. I’m sure she’s got a great mind to be the first serious contender, but still strikes me as a tough dynamic to be head coach with how important chemistry is

---

The rape settlement stuff is not playing well locally.

Embedded Tweet

Dame probably just saving face but a chance this blows up.

I think Billups would probably be a good fit but the roster issues remain. Olshey had more years on his contract but pretty miraculous he's still around.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sloppy Joe

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by BCR

What do you Blazers guys think about Chauncey hire? Was a cerebral player. Is so inexperienced as a coach, I guess it’s hard to have much of an opinion. Kind of a strange move when you need to win soon. I assume he had Dame’s blessing. As an announcer, I thought he was decent. Certainly not annoying guy. Was generally low key.

Made me wonder with Lue looking so much better than previous stints, if the word around the league was that Chauncey was really the brains. Just strange with all the guys who pay their dues to get a gig that quickly. I saw Kidd and Hammons rumored. Certainly better than Kidd, and idk how the Hammons hire will play out eventually. I’m sure she’s got a great mind to be the first serious contender, but still strikes me as a tough dynamic to be head coach with how important chemistry is

---

Dame probably just saving face but a chance this blows up.

I think Billups would probably be a good fit but the roster issues remain. Olshey had more years on his contract but pretty miraculous he's still around.

---

Well, considering the "owner" is now a trust of the dead owner, led by his widow who probably doesn't give a shit....Olshey is probably about as safe as a GM could be.

Billups I'm fine with. Glad it wasn't another retread hire.

So I'm reading The Ringers updated mock draft, and damn they must really love Cunningham based on their player comps. For him they say:

"Supersized Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Shorter Ben Simmons With a Jumper"

I mean, that is describing better-than-a-superstar. If you had to add a third comp to that, what would it be? Seems like "LeBron James" is what those first two are describing.