2018 NBA Game Thread

ifmanis5

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Sep 29, 2007
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National TV Sked: http://www.sportsmediawatch.com/nba-tv-schedule/

The 2018 NBA Playoffs begins Saturday, April 13 and the NBA Finals Thursday, May 30. The May 30 start is the earliest for the NBA Finals since 1985 (May 27).

Full national TV list in spoiler:
ALL TIMES EASTERN. Schedule subject to change.

REGULAR SEASON NBA TV SCHEDULE
TIME GAME NET
Tuesday, October 16
8:00p Sixers-Celtics TNT
10:30p Thunder-Warriors TNT
Wednesday, October 17
8:00p Pelicans-Rockets ESPN
10:30p Mavs-Suns ESPN
Thursday, October 18
8:00p Bulls-Sixers TNT
10:30p Lakers-Blazers TNT
Friday, October 19
8:00p Celtics-Raptors ESPN
10:30p Warriors-Jazz ESPN
Saturday, October 20
7:00p Raptors-Wizards NBA TV
10:30p Rockets-Lakers ESPN
Sunday, October 21
9:00p Rockets-Clippers NBA TV
Monday, October 22
7:30p Magic-Celtics NBA TV
10:30p Spurs-Lakers NBA TV
Tuesday, October 23
7:00p Sixers-Pistons NBA TV
Wednesday, October 24
7:00p Mavs-Hawks ESPN
9:30p Sixers-Bucks ESPN
Thursday, October 25
8:00p Celtics-Thunder TNT
10:30p Nuggets-Lakers TNT
Friday, October 26
7:30p Warriors-Knicks NBA TV
10:00p Wizards-Kings NBA TV
Monday, October 29
8:00p Lakers-T’Wolves NBA TV
Tuesday, October 30
7:30p Sixers-Raptors NBA TV
Wednesday, October 31
8:00p Pacers-Knicks ESPN
10:30p Spurs-Suns ESPN
Thursday, November 1
8:00p Bucks-Celtics TNT
10:30p Pelicans-Blazers TNT
Friday, November 2
8:00p Thunder-Wizards ESPN
10:30p T’Wolves-Warriors ESPN
Saturday, November 3
7:00p Celtics-Pacers NBA TV
Monday, November 5
8:00p Pelicans-Thunder NBA TV
10:30p Grizzlies-Warriors NBA TV
Tuesday, November 6
8:30p Wizards-Mavs NBA TV
Wednesday, November 7
8:00p Sixers-Pacers ESPN
10:30p T’Wolves-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, November 8
8:00p Rockets-Thunder TNT
10:30p Bucks-Warriors TNT
Friday, November 9
7:00p Hornets-Sixers NBA TV
9:30p Celtics-Jazz ESPN
Saturday, November 10
8:30p Rockets-Spurs NBA TV
Monday, November 12
7:30p Pelicans-Raptors NBA TV
10:30p Warriors-Clippers NBA TV
Tuesday, November 13
7:00p Hornets-Cavs NBA TV
10:30p Hawks-Warriors NBA TV
Wednesday, November 14
8:00p Pelicans-T’Wolves ESPN
10:30p Blazers-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, November 15
8:00p Warriors-Rockets TNT
10:30p Spurs-Clippers TNT
Friday, November 16
7:00p Raptors-Celtics ESPN
9:30p Bulls-Bucks ESPN
Saturday, November 17
7:30p Jazz-Celtics NBA TV
Sunday, November 18
7:00p Warriors-Spurs NBA TV
Monday, November 19
7:00p Suns-Sixers NBA TV
10:00p Thunder-Kings NBA TV
Tuesday, November 20
7:30p Blazers-Knicks NBA TV
Wednesday, November 21
8:00p Lakers-Cavs ESPN
10:30p Thunder-Warriors ESPN
Friday, November 23
7:00p Rockets-Pistons NBA TV
10:30p Jazz-Lakers NBA TV
Saturday, November 24
8:30p Spurs-Bucks NBA TV
Monday, November 26
7:00p Rockets-Wizards NBA TV
Tuesday, November 27
9:00p Lakers-Nuggets NBA TV
Wednesday, November 28
7:00p Knicks-Sixers NBA TV
10:00p Magic-Blazers NBA TV
Thursday, November 29
8:00p Warriors-Raptors TNT
10:30p Clippers-Kings TNT
Friday, November 30
8:00p Rockets-Spurs ESPN
10:30p Nuggets-Blazers ESPN
Saturday, December 1
8:00p Celtics-T’Wolves NBA TV
Monday, December 3
7:00p Thunder-Pistons NBA TV
Tuesday, December 4
9:00p Spurs-Jazz NBA TV
Wednesday, December 5
8:00p Sixers-Raptors ESPN
10:30p Spurs-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, December 6
8:00p Knicks-Celtics TNT
10:30p Rockets-Jazz TNT
Friday, December 7
7:00p Sixers-Pistons ESPN
9:30p Warriors-Bucks ESPN
Saturday, December 8
7:30p Wizards-Cavs NBA TV
Sunday, December 9
6:00p Bucks-Raptors NBA TV
Monday, December 10
7:30p Pelicans-Celtics NBA TV
10:30p Heat-Lakers NBA TV
Tuesday, December 11
8:00p Blazers-Rockets NBA TV
10:30p Raptors-Clippers NBA TV
Wednesday, December 12
8:00p Thunder-Pelicans ESPN
10:30p Raptors-Warriors ESPN
Thursday, December 13
8:00p Lakers-Rockets TNT
10:30p Mavs-Suns TNT
Friday, December 14
7:30p Pacers-Sixers ESPN
10:00p Thunder-Nuggets ESPN
Saturday, December 15
5:00p Jazz-Magic NBA TV
Monday, December 17
8:00p Jazz-Rockets NBA TV
10:30p Grizzlies-Warriors NBA TV
Tuesday, December 18
7:30p Lakers-Nets NBA TV
Wednesday, December 19
7:30p Suns-Celtics NBA TV
10:00p Thunder-Kings NBA TV
Thursday, December 20
8:00p Rockets-Heat TNT
10:30p Mavs-Clippers TNT
Friday, December 21
8:00p Bucks-Celtics ESPN
10:30p Pelicans-Lakers ESPN
Saturday, December 22
7:30p Raptors-Sixers NBA TV
Tuesday, December 25
12:00p Bucks-Knicks ESPN
3:00p Thunder-Rockets ABC
5:30p Sixers-Celtics ABC
8:00p Lakers-Warriors ABC/ESPN
10:30p Blazers-Jazz ESPN
Wednesday, December 26
7:30p Raptors-Heat NBA TV
Thursday, December 27
8:00p Celtics-Rockets TNT
10:30p Sixers-Jazz TNT
Friday, December 28
8:00p Mavs-Pelicans NBA TV
10:30p Clippers-Lakers NBA TV
Saturday, December 29
7:00p Rockets-Pelicans NBA TV
10:00p Warriors-Blazers NBA TV
Monday, December 31
7:00p Celtics-Spurs NBA TV
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
7:30p Jazz-Raptors NBA TV
Wednesday, January 2
8:00p T’Wolves-Celtics ESPN
10:30p Thunder-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, January 3
8:00p Raptors-Spurs TNT
10:30p Rockets-Warriors TNT
Friday, January 4
8:00p Wizards-Heat ESPN
10:30p Thunder-Blazers ESPN
Saturday, January 5
8:30p Raptors-Bucks NBA TV
Sunday, January 6
6:00p Pacers-Raptors NBA TV
Tuesday, January 8
8:00p T’Wolves-Thunder NBA TV
10:30p Knicks-Warriors NBA TV
Wednesday, January 9
8:00p Bucks-Rockets ESPN
10:30p Pistons-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, January 10
7:00p Celtics-Heat TNT
9:30p Thunder-Spurs TNT
Friday, January 11
7:30p Pacers-Knicks ESPN
10:00p Lakers-Jazz ESPN
Saturday, January 12
8:30p Spurs-Thunder NBA TV
Sunday, January 13
9:30p Cavs-Lakers NBA TV
Monday, January 14
8:30p Hornets-Spurs NBA TV
Tuesday, January 15
7:00p T’Wolves-Sixers NBA TV
10:30p Bulls-Lakers NBA TV
Wednesday, January 16
8:00p Raptors-Celtics ESPN
10:30p Pelicans-Warriors ESPN
Thursday, January 17
3:00p Knicks-Wizards NBA TV
7:00p Sixers-Pacers TNT
9:30p Lakers-Thunder TNT
Friday, January 18
8:00p Spurs-T’Wolves ESPN
10:30p Pelicans-Blazers ESPN
Saturday, January 19
3:30p Thunder-Sixers ABC
8:30p Lakers-Rockets ABC
Monday, January 21
12:30p Thunder-Knicks NBA TV
3:00p Magic-Hawks NBA TV
5:30p Pelicans-Grizzlies TNT
8:00p Rockets-Sixers TNT
10:30p Warriors-Lakers TNT
Tuesday, January 22
8:00p Blazers-Thunder NBA TV
Wednesday, January 23
8:00p Spurs-Sixers ESPN
10:30p Nuggets-Jazz ESPN
Thursday, January 24
8:00p Warriors-Wizards TNT
10:30p T’Wolves-Lakers TNT
Friday, January 25
8:00p Raptors-Rockets ESPN
Saturday, January 26
8:30p Warriors-Celtics ABC
Sunday, January 27
6:00p Bucks-Thunder ESPN
Monday, January 28
7:00p Warriors-Pacers NBA TV
10:30p Hawks-Clippers NBA TV
Tuesday, January 29
8:00p Pelicans-Rockets TNT
10:30p Sixers-Lakers TNT
Wednesday, January 30
8:00p Pacers-Wizards ESPN
10:30p Jazz-Blazers ESPN
Thursday, January 31
8:00p Bucks-Raptors TNT
10:30p Sixers-Warriors TNT
Friday, February 1
7:30p Celtics-Knicks ESPN
10:00p Rockets-Nuggets ESPN
Saturday, February 2
8:30p Lakers-Warriors ABC
Sunday, February 3
2:00p Thunder-Celtics ABC
Monday, February 4
7:30p Bucks-Nets NBA TV
10:00p Spurs-Kings NBA TV
Tuesday, February 5
8:00p Raptors-Sixers TNT
10:30p Heat-Blazers TNT
Wednesday, February 6
8:00p Wizards-Bucks ESPN
10:30p Spurs-Warriors ESPN
Thursday, February 7
8:00p Lakers-Celtics TNT
10:30p Spurs-Blazers TNT
Friday, February 8
7:00p Nuggets-Sixers ESPN
9:30p T’Wolves-Pelicans ESPN
Saturday, February 9
8:30p Thunder-Rockets ABC
Sunday, February 10
3:30p Lakers-Sixers ABC
8:30p Heat-Warriors NBA TV
Monday, February 11
7:00p Wizards-Pistons NBA TV
Tuesday, February 12
8:00p Celtics-Sixers TNT
10:30p Jazz-Warriors TNT
Wednesday, February 13
7:00p Nets-Cavs ESPN
9:30p Rockets-T’Wolves ESPN
Thursday, February 14
8:00p Thunder-Pelicans TNT
NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND SCHEDULE
TIME GAME NET
Friday, February 15
tbd Celebrity Game ESPN
tbd Rising Stars Challenge TNT
Saturday, February 16
tbd All-Star Saturday Night TNT
Sunday, February 17
tbd NBA All-Star Game TNT
NBA TV SCHEDULE, CONT’D
TIME GAME NET
Thursday, February 21
8:00p Celtics-Bucks TNT
10:30p Rockets-Lakers TNT
Friday, February 22
7:00p Spurs-Raptors ESPN
9:30p Jazz-Thunder ESPN
Saturday, February 23
8:30p Rockets-Warriors ABC
Sunday, February 24
7:30p Spurs-Knicks NBA TV
Monday, February 25
8:00p Sixers-Pelicans NBA TV
10:30p Mavs-Clippers NBA TV
Tuesday, February 26
8:00p Celtics-Raptors TNT
10:30p Thunder-Nuggets TNT
Wednesday, February 27
8:00p Pistons-Spurs ESPN
10:30p Pelicans-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, February 28
7:00p T’Wolves-Pacers TNT
9:30p Sixers-Thunder TNT
Friday, March 1
8:00p Wizards-Celtics ESPN
10:30p Bucks-Lakers ESPN
Saturday, March 2
8:30p Warriors-Sixers ABC
Sunday, March 3
3:30p Rockets-Celtics ABC
7:00p Grizzlies-Thunder NBA TV
Monday, March 4
7:30p Mavs-Nets NBA TV
10:30p Clippers-Lakers NBA TV
Tuesday, March 5
8:00p Rockets-Raptors TNT
10:30p Celtics-Warriors TNT
Wednesday, March 6
8:00p Sixers-Bulls ESPN
10:30p Nuggets-Lakers ESPN
Thursday, March 7
8:00p Pacers-Bucks TNT
10:30p Thunder-Blazers TNT
Friday, March 8
8:00p Sixers-Rockets ESPN
10:30p Nuggets-Warriors ESPN
Saturday, March 9
8:30p Celtics-Lakers ABC
Sunday, March 10
3:30p Pacers-Sixers ABC
6:00p Pelicans-Hawks NBA TV
Sunday, March 10
8:30p Suns-Warriors NBA TV
Monday, March 11
7:00p Raptors-Cavs NBA TV
10:30p Celtics-Clippers NBA TV
Tuesday, March 12
8:00p Bucks-Pelicans TNT
10:30p T’Wolves-Nuggets TNT
Wednesday, March 13
7:00p Pistons-Heat ESPN
9:30p Warriors-Rockets ESPN
Thursday, March 14
8:00p Lakers-Raptors TNT
10:30p Mavs-Nuggets TNT
Friday, March 15
7:00p Lakers-Pistons NBA TV
10:30p Bulls-Clippers NBA TV
Saturday, March 16
8:30p Warriors-Thunder ABC
Sunday, March 17
3:30p Sixers-Bucks ABC
9:00p T’Wolves-Rockets ESPN
Monday, March 18
8:00p Warriors-Spurs ESPN
10:30p Pacers-Blazers ESPN
Tuesday, March 19
8:00p Lakers-Bucks NBA TV
10:30p Pacers-Clippers NBA TV
Wednesday, March 20
7:00p Celtics-Sixers ESPN
9:30p Raptors-Thunder ESPN
Thursday, March 21
7:00p Nuggets-Wizards NBA TV
Friday, March 22
8:00p Spurs-Rockets NBA TV
Saturday, March 23
7:30p Sixers-Hawks NBA TV
10:00p Pistons-Blazers NBA TV
Sunday, March 24
7:30p Spurs-Celtics NBA TV
Monday, March 25
7:00p Sixers-Magic NBA TV
10:00p Nets-Blazers NBA TV
Tuesday, March 26
8:00p Rockets-Bucks TNT
10:30p Wizards-Lakers TNT
Wednesday, March 27
8:00p Pacers-Thunder ESPN
10:30p Lakers-Jazz ESPN
Thursday, March 28
8:00p Nuggets-Rockets NBA TV
Friday, March 29
7:00p Pacers-Celtics NBA TV
Saturday, March 30
8:00p Sixers-T’Wolves NBA TV
Sunday, March 31
8:00p Wizards-Nuggets NBA TV
Monday, April 1
7:30p Heat-Celtics NBA TV
10:00p Cavs-Suns NBA TV
Tuesday, April 2
8:00p Lakers-Thunder TNT
10:30p Nuggets-Warriors TNT
Wednesday, April 3
7:30p Celtics-Heat NBA TV
10:30p Rockets-Clippers NBA TV
Thursday, April 4
8:00p Bucks-Sixers TNT
10:30p Warriors-Lakers TNT
Friday, April 5
8:00p Celtics-Pacers ESPN
10:30p Blazers-Nuggets ESPN
Saturday, April 6
5:00p Nets-Bucks NBA TV
8:00p Sixers-Bulls NBA TV
Sunday, April 7
Noon Heat-Raptors NBA TV
3:30p Thunder-T’Wolves ABC
6:00p Suns-Rockets NBA TV
8:30p Clippers-Warriors NBA TV
Tuesday, April 9
7:00p Celtics-Wizards TNT
9:30p Rockets-Thunder TNT
Wednesday, April 10
8:00p Magic-Hornets ESPN
10:30p T’Wolves-Nuggets ESPN
XMAS Games:
Tuesday, December 25
12:00p Bucks-Knicks ESPN
3:00p Thunder-Rockets ABC
5:30p Sixers-Celtics ABC
8:00p Lakers-Warriors ABC/ESPN
10:30p Blazers-Jazz ESPN

Complete schedule: https://stats.nba.com/schedule/
 

JCizzle

Member
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Dec 11, 2006
20,532
I hate NBA TV games since they prevent league pass subscribers from watching a feed of their choosing. 12 this year is so dumb.
 

Mystic Merlin

Member
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Sep 21, 2007
46,769
Hartford, CT
This Warriors ring ceremony sucks.

They’re rolling out a banner from like the 1946 title team and handed out rings to the front office before the players. And they capped it off by lowering the players’ rings from the rafters.

The Dentist looks a lot better having seen this I gotta say.
 

Kliq

Member
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Mar 31, 2013
22,671
Durant with a block and stairs down Russ on the bench. Is there a faker tough guy than Durant?
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,671
Everyone that isn’t Paul George on offense looks terrible for OKC. Schroder in particular looks bad. Tough to hang with GS when you only have one creator on offense.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Dec 24, 2002
48,205
Um, contrary to popular opinion, OKC did not cede this game at halftime. Impressive game thus far by the Westbrookless Thunder.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
22,671
OKC has a ton of defensive potential; they have a lot of long, athletic players that are built to combat Golden State and Houston's switch-heavy offense. Golden State can hit some incredible shots, but if the effort and length is there on defense you can contain their offense. Plus they were missing Roberson.

Their offense was hard to watch in the first half, although Schroder rebounded with a good second half to give Paul George a break from having to create every shot. With Westbrook obviously they'll have one of the best creators in the game, so if they can get consistent shooting from their other wing players OKC has a lot of potential because their defense can be that good.
 

ElUno20

Member
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Jul 19, 2005
6,055
OKC's defense stood out last night. The difference without Melo is striking
 

Sam Ray Not

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Jul 19, 2005
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NYC
I don't think I've seen anyone play a better 7 minutes.

Although the Ws did get 22 points, 13 rebounds, 5 blocks and 4 assists from the C spot.
I might actually put Kevon Looney above Jordan Bell in my "may be scary good" book, if he can stay healthy. Loon's a year younger than Bell (came out of UCLA two years earlier, but as a 19 y.o. baby) and while he lacks Bell's explosive athleticism, has much better length (7'-4" wingspan, 9'-2" standing reach). Put up 10 pts, 10 rebounds (8 offensive), 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks last night, and a team-high +23 in 18 minutes, while guarding anyone and everyone, from Dennis Schröder to Paul George to Steven Adams.

The Warriors had actually put themselves in a tough spot in the offseason by having failed to pick up Looney's option year; and even in this offseason's relatively cash-strapped environment, it remains a total mystery to me how a skilled, high-character, 7'-4" wingspanned 22 year-old who can capably guard 1-5 and had just played productive minutes in the WCF & Finals could not find more than the cheapie $1.6M deal he got. I would have thought taking him off the Warriors might be reason enough to go harder after him for a team like Houston or the Lakers.

Anyway, I'm stoked he stuck around. Bob Myers' stated plan was to get younger this offseason, and taking the training wheels off Jones/Looney/Bell and letting Zaza/West/McGee walk was a big part of that. Through one game, it seems like a sound plan — Damian Jones also looked good, last night and during the preseason — though I'm sure there will be some growing pains. On the bright side, even if they all regress, they have that DeMarcus fellow waiting in the wings in December or whenever.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Mar 26, 2005
30,494
I might actually put Kevon Looney above Jordan Bell in my "may be scary good" book, if he can stay healthy. Loon's a year younger than Bell (came out of UCLA two years earlier, but as a 19 y.o. baby) and while he lacks Bell's explosive athleticism, has much better length (7'-4" wingspan, 9'-2" standing reach). Put up 10 pts, 10 rebounds (8 offensive), 2 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks last night, and a team-high +23 in 18 minutes, while guarding anyone and everyone, from Dennis Schröder to Paul George to Steven Adams.

The Warriors had actually put themselves in a tough spot in the offseason by having failed to pick up Looney's option year; and even in this offseason's relatively cash-strapped environment, it remains a total mystery to me how a skilled, high-character, 7'-4" wingspanned 22 year-old who can capably guard 1-5 and had just played productive minutes in the WCF & Finals could not find more than the cheapie $1.6M deal he got. I would have thought taking him off the Warriors might be reason enough to go harder after him for a team like Houston or the Lakers.

Anyway, I'm stoked he stuck around. Bob Myers' stated plan was to get younger this offseason, and taking the training wheels off Jones/Looney/Bell and letting Zaza/West/McGee walk was a big part of that. Through one game, it seems like a sound plan — Damian Jones also looked good, last night and during the preseason — though I'm sure there will be some growing pains. On the bright side, even if they all regress, they have that DeMarcus fellow waiting in the wings in December or whenever.
Well, if you're going to tout Kevon Looney, I just have to point out the he currently leads the league in ORtg (120.0), DTrg (64.1), Net Rating (55.9), and Off Rebounding % (34.8), while trailing only MaMo in Rebound %.

I will note that for Defensive Rating, after Looney comes: Rozier, Tatum, Hayward, Smart, Baynes, and Horford, who is followed by KD and then Kyrie and Jaylen!

Hopefully the season will end without change that leaderboard . . . .
 

Cesar Crespo

79
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Dec 22, 2002
21,588
It's only one half and the Hornets aren't a good team, but the Bucks have looked really good. Giannis is at 8 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
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Dec 22, 2002
21,588
It's only one half and the Hornets aren't a good team, but the Bucks have looked really good. Giannis is at 8 points, 11 rebounds and 7 assists.
Barely held on to win.

Also something to watch is Andre Drummond. Everyone knows about the improvement in FTs, but it looks like he may have added a 3 point shot.
 

InstaFace

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Sep 27, 2016
21,759
Pittsburgh, PA
Pelicans just crushed the Rockets, 131-112. Pelicans could be really good this year.
Yeah what happened there? Last year handing the Rockets an L required turning the Marcus Smart dial up to 11. They were really fucking good, probably the second best team in the league. I really doubt losing Ariza made much of a difference.

Jordan Bell may be scary good for the Warriors.
Nonsense, I have it on good authority that he went to a non-ACC school, therefore it's all a sham and a mirage.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Apr 12, 2005
41,948
Twolves down 4 at San Antonio with 2 minutes left. KAT fouled out in 22 minutes, after taking only 6 shots from the field. Butler is 8-22 for 20 points and Wiggins is 7-16 for 18 points.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Jul 19, 2005
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Yeah what happened there? Last year handing the Rockets an L required turning the Marcus Smart dial up to 11. They were really fucking good, probably the second best team in the league. I really doubt losing Ariza made much of a difference.
• Lost Ariza
• Lost Mbah a Moute
• Added Melo
• Harden got kinda fat after winning his MVP
• CP3 is 33.5
• Lost defensive guru Jeff Bzdelik (who likely wanted no part of constructing a perimeter defense around chubby Harden and Melo)

I mean, one-game sample alert. And the Pels are a really good young team (Blazers say hi) who made one of the best under-the-radar signings of the offseason in Randle. Their bench seems a little thin, but AD is a Top 4 NBA player, and I really like how their core pieces fit together (AD, Randle, Holiday, Payton, Mirotic, Moore).

Still: I'm pretty much on the "the Rockets' D is trash and their window has closed" bandwagon.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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I’m not sure how many 30-10 games New Orleans is going to get out of Nikola Mirotic.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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Yeah what happened there? Last year handing the Rockets an L required turning the Marcus Smart dial up to 11. They were really fucking good, probably the second best team in the league. I really doubt losing Ariza made much of a difference.
Losing Ariza and Mbah a Moute…..and replacing them with Carmelo and James Ennis is a significant culture change to that lineup especially on the defensive end.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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I get the Booker love, but asking him to be a primary ballhandler would basically take away the one thing that he actually does well.
.
Phoenix up 16 in the 3rd over the Mavericks. Ariza leading the way with a 21/5/3 including 5 3's midway through the 3rd. Canaan and Okobo have played all of the Suns PG minutes and there has even been a Tyson Chandler sighting.
 

Cesar Crespo

79
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Dec 22, 2002
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Booker finished with 35 points on 12/19 shooting with 4 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 TO.

Ayton finished with 18 points on 8/11 shooting, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and 0 TO.

Interesting.
 

Kliq

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Mar 31, 2013
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Boban had 18 points and 8 rebounds in 17 minutes, and also had this dunk. His vertical is unreal:

 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
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Boban has looked good whenever he's played and now Doc is finally expanding his told. Guy was dominant in the preseason.
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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Watched the first half in Phoenix. The Suns couldn't miss and the Mavs couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Watched the first half in Phoenix. The Suns couldn't miss and the Mavs couldn't throw the ball into the ocean.
Doncic shot 33% from 3 vs Euro length defenders last year. He won't shoot 0-5 every night but this isn't surprising for the time being. He is going to be a good/solid player but I don't see this elite upside that others do. We'll see.

There was a Tweet last night somewhere showing Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson doubling Vince Carter in a trip with the caption, "Vince Carter is 2 years older than both of these rookies combined age!"
 

Big John

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Dec 9, 2016
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Doncic shot 33% from 3 vs Euro length defenders last year. He won't shoot 0-5 every night but this isn't surprising for the time being.
Dennis Smith and Wesley Matthews were just as bad. At least Doncic made some nice passes. Meanwhile, the Suns shot 55% as a team from beyond the arc. That won't happen every night either. The two that Isaiah Canaan made in the first half were from 30+ feet.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Mar 26, 2005
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Doncic shot 33% from 3 vs Euro length defenders last year. He won't shoot 0-5 every night but this isn't surprising for the time being. He is going to be a good/solid player but I don't see this elite upside that others do. We'll see.

There was a Tweet last night somewhere showing Kevin Knox and Mitchell Robinson doubling Vince Carter in a trip with the caption, "Vince Carter is 2 years older than both of these rookies combined age!"
I had mostly seen Doncic through videos but when I saw him last night (briefly) he struck me as being a lot bigger than I remember. They say he's 218 but he looks bigger than that.

He's got good feet and makes players play at his speed. I don't know if he'll be a top 20 player in this league but he's good enough to win with.

 

ifmanis5

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Dennis Smith and Wesley Matthews were just as bad. At least Doncic made some nice passes. Meanwhile, the Suns shot 55% as a team from beyond the arc. That won't happen every night either. The two that Isaiah Canaan made in the first half were from 30+ feet.
It will happen every night because Dallas is awful defensively. Luka will be a stud, though.
 

HomeRunBaker

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That somewhere is on this very page, about half way up :)
I knew I saw it somewhere lol.


He's got good feet and makes players play at his speed. I don't know if he'll be a top 20 player in this league but he's good enough to win with.
This is where I'm at. I'll peg him as a guy who may sneak onto the back end of an All-Star team once or twice and be a real solid player but certainty not one to revolutionize the game as some have portrayed. I don't know if that's over or underrating.....it depends what your opinion is on his upside.
 

Kliq

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Donic's upside to me is somewhere near Ben Simmons' upside. He's not quite as explosive or long as Simmons, but he has the same vision and ball handling abilities, and he's still really big for a primary ball-handler. He is also a much better shooter than Simmons, even if you thought that he should have shot a better percentage from three in Europe. He also has the potential to be a good, multi-positional defender that theoretically could eventually guard 1-4 in the NBA. The intangibles, the accomplishments he has done at such a young age, the competitive drive, is perhaps his most outstanding aspect.
 

DannyDarwinism

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Donic's upside to me is somewhere near Ben Simmons' upside. He's not quite as explosive or long as Simmons, but he has the same vision and ball handling abilities, and he's still really big for a primary ball-handler. He is also a much better shooter than Simmons, even if you thought that he should have shot a better percentage from three in Europe. He also has the potential to be a good, multi-positional defender that theoretically could eventually guard 1-4 in the NBA. The intangibles, the accomplishments he has done at such a young age, the competitive drive, is perhaps his most outstanding aspect.
That "not quite" is doing a lot of work there. To my eye, he's not nearly as explosive as Simmons, who can get blow by good defenders regularly despite not having the threat of a jump shot. Of course Doncic does carry that threat, both spot up and off the dribble, which differentiates him from Simmons. I agree with the rest and I think he's smart, savvy and skilled enough to compensate for below-average NBA athleticism. Given that, I think strength & conditioning and shooting will a long way to determining his ceiling. He has the frame to add the muscle needed to defend bigs and develop a post game. I kinda see his floor as a rich-man's (stronger, better passer, more assertive) of the good version of Nic Batum. That may sound like I'm underselling him, but that's a really good "floor" player. I think he'll have growing pains, but I'm buying long term.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Donic's upside to me is somewhere near Ben Simmons' upside. He's not quite as explosive or long as Simmons, but he has the same vision and ball handling abilities, and he's still really big for a primary ball-handler. He is also a much better shooter than Simmons, even if you thought that he should have shot a better percentage from three in Europe. He also has the potential to be a good, multi-positional defender that theoretically could eventually guard 1-4 in the NBA.
I'll agree that Doncic is not as explosive as Simmons nor is nearly as good as a multi-positional defender. These are two of the primary reasons why I don't have his upside near that of Simmons who doesn't need a perimeter shot as he easily gets whenever he wants on the floor with the ball. This is one part of Simmons game where my evaluation differs from many. It will prevent him from being LeBron.....not from being a perennial All-Star.

The intangibles, the accomplishments he has done at such a young age, the competitive drive, is perhaps his most outstanding aspect.
I place zero weight on Doncic's accomplishments overseas against Tyrese Rice and similar non-NBA players. I evaluate ones skillset not their production. If it were the latter I'd have an erection over Jimmer Fredette.
 

Kliq

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I'll agree that Doncic is not as explosive as Simmons nor is nearly as good as a multi-positional defender. These are two of the primary reasons why I don't have his upside near that of Simmons who doesn't need a perimeter shot as he easily gets whenever he wants on the floor with the ball. This is one part of Simmons game where my evaluation differs from many. It will prevent him from being LeBron.....not from being a perennial All-Star.


I place zero weight on Doncic's accomplishments overseas against Tyrese Rice and similar non-NBA players. I evaluate ones skillset not their production. If it were the latter I'd have an erection over Jimmer Fredette.
I agree in the sense that Simmons is still going to be a star player even if he can never hit a shot outside of 15 feet; although I'd argue that it could end up being a fatal flaw in his game that won't just prevent him from being the next LeBron, but prevent him from being the primary player on a championship team because that's a serious issue as we learned in the series against the Celtics. I do think that shooting is overrated for players like Simmons and Giannis; because they are so uniquely long and explosive that you can't let them build up a head of steam by playing off of them on defense. You can't just sag off them the way you could DeAndre Jordan, or Dwight Howard.

As to your second point, there is obviously a difference between Jimmer putting up empty stats in the CBA, a league which is heavily weighted towards the two foreign players you are allowed to have on a team, and Doncic as a teenager being the MVP of the EuroLeague. His success as a teenager is unprecedented and he's shown the ability to thrive in a professional environment against grown men. I'm not going to say that is going to equal dominance in the NBA, but it tells me something about his intangibles and ability to thrive in a fiercely competitive environment.