2018 NBA Game Thread

[HowBoutDemSox]

So does Charlotte cash in on Walker’s crazy start for a haul of picks/young players, or do they plan to lure him back with a max this off-season and build around him? They’re basically capped out for next year even without him, depending on who exercises their player options. And if they decide to trade him, is there a package from the Lakers centered around Lonzo that makes sense? LeBron gets a sidekick in his prime and Charlotte gets a young player under control to build around? Lonzo/Kuzma/Zubic works from a numbers perspective, for example. Or would Charlotte hold out for Ingram?

 

[cheech13]

So does Charlotte cash in on Walker’s crazy start for a haul of picks/young players, or do they plan to lure him back with a max this off-season and build around him? They’re basically capped out for next year even without him, depending on who exercises their player options. And if they decide to trade him, is there a package from the Lakers centered around Lonzo that makes sense? LeBron gets a sidekick in his prime and Charlotte gets a young player under control to build around? Lonzo/Kuzma/Zubic works from a numbers perspective, for example. Or would Charlotte hold out for Ingram?

Bobby Marks pointed out on twitter last night that Kemba would be "Super Max" eligible this offseason if he places on an All-NBA team, which is certainly possible. There's no way he's worth that kind of extension, but if he's eligible and asking it could make for a potentially contentious negotiation. They should at least consider trading him before that becomes a possibility.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Bobby Marks pointed out on twitter last night that Kemba would be "Super Max" eligible this offseason if he places on an All-NBA team, which is certainly possible. There's no way he's worth that kind of extension, but if he's eligible and asking it could make for a potentially contentious negotiation. They should at least consider trading him before that becomes a possibility.

Imho, Kemba makes a lot of sense in a place like Denver or with the Lakers.

 

[cheech13]

Joe Vardon‏ @joevardon 7m7 minutes ago
JR Smith will no longer be actively with the Cavs, a league source tells me. He is working with the team to trade him, and in the meantime will work out on his own

In other words he'll sit at a home for a month while the Cavs "try" to trade him, eventually get bought out and then sign with the Lakers for the minimum.

 

[djbayko]

In other words he'll sit at a home for a month while the Cavs "try" to trade him, eventually get bought out and then sign with the Lakers for the minimum.

The Lakers make a lot of sense for him but can you imagine Lebron signing off on that reunion?

 

[JCizzle]

56-34 Clippers over Wizards midway through the second quarter. Ummmmm

 

[Cellar-Door]

73-54 at the half. Wizards are a toxic waste dump, and they can't even get much value out of breaking up the roster except maybe for Beal

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Good game in Orlando. Raps and Magic tied at 89 with a minute left in the fourth.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

73-54 at the half. Wizards are a toxic waste dump, and they can't even get much value out of breaking up the roster except maybe for Beal

Up 2 now.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Zards might win, they got the biannual Jeff Green 20 point game and a +17 on free throws to go up 6 with a minute left.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Wizards are fucking up the Zion plan.

 

[InstaFace]

The Lakers make a lot of sense for him but can you imagine Lebron signing off on that reunion?

"I thought I left you over in the other damn conference!"

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Lebron is deferring to KCP, who sucks. Fun to watch.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

The Bucks are concerning. 43-point beatdown of the heretofore #1 seeded Blazers.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

The Bucks are concerning. 43-point beatdown of the heretofore #1 seeded Blazers.

I'm concerned about just about everyone other than the Bulls at this point.

If the season ended right now, our draft pick might be lower than the one we get from the Kings.

 

[Kliq]

Got to love Damien Lee rocking the Karate Kid-style headband.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Hamidou Diallo just suffered a gruesome injury for OKC. They cut to commercial. I didn't see it, and didn't want to look, so I'm not sure exactly what happened.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Osman

Hamidou Diallo just suffered a gruesome injury for OKC. They cut to commercial. I didn't see it, and didn't want to look, so I'm not sure exactly what happened.

Jerebko fell on his leg and it bent at an angle legs aren't supposed to bend. Gruesome.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Yup, another broken leg. Wheeling him off now on the stretcher.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Meanwhile OKC is stomping a Curry and Green-less GS at home.

 

[Kliq]

I was wrong about Schroeder. He’s been great so far in OKC; he’s playing off the ball in lineups with Westbrook and making shots. He was OKCs best offensive player tonight.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I was wrong about Schroeder. He’s been great so far in OKC; he’s playing off the ball in lineups with Westbrook and making shots. He was OKCs best offensive player tonight.

He had the skills but he clearly struggled with consistency and decision making in Atlanta. It may well be that he is simply maturing at the ripe old age of 25.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

I'm concerned about just about everyone other than the Bulls at this point.

Hah, me too. Long season, though...

 

[HomeRunBaker]

He had the skills but he clearly struggled with consistency and decision making in Atlanta. It may well be that he is simply maturing at the ripe old age of 25.

Schroder is scoring less than he did last season in Atlanta, shooting worse, distributing fewer assists, and turning the ball over more. He doesn't appear to be any better this season.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Just as we thought going into the year, Houston and the Celtics are the 8 seeds on Thanksgiving Day.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Just as we thought going into the year, Houston and the Celtics are the 8 seeds on Thanksgiving Day.

Never underestimate the heart of teams who almost made the 2018 NBA Finals but didn’t because they shot 3-4549 from downtown in a Game 7.

 

[AMS25]

Schroder is scoring less than he did last season in Atlanta, shooting worse, distributing fewer assists, and turning the ball over more. He doesn't appear to be any better this season.

Schroder's shooting is inconsistent and all, but he's a big upgrade for the Thunder at back-up point guard from Raymond Felton. He's their best back-up point guard since Reggie Jackson.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Just as we thought going into the year, Houston and the Celtics are the 8 seeds on Thanksgiving Day.

And the Grizzlies and Clippers have fewer losses than the Warriors.

 

[RedOctober3829]

And the Grizzlies and Clippers have fewer losses than the Warriors.

And the Kings Pick is worse than the Celtics Pick.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Schroder is scoring less than he did last season in Atlanta, shooting worse, distributing fewer assists, and turning the ball over more. He doesn't appear to be any better this season.

Fair enough except its been 17 games with a different team and in a completely different role. He was a starter the last two seasons and has only started eight games thus far. His usage is at the lowest point since his rookie year and its true his shooting numbers are down (George's general shooting numbers were down last year and are down again this year - wonder what the one constant is...) but his other numbers are way up including rebounds, steals and blocks.

Also, as AMS25 notes, Schroder, warts and all, is a big upgrade for the Thunder bench.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

I was just thinking up a trade and wonder what people think

Suns trade Ryan Anderson, Josh Jackson, 1st round pick
Wizards trade Bradley Beal

Ayton, Booker and Beal is a really nice core with almost enough cap space to sign a max guy. There would be only 4 other players on the roster though, in Warren, Bridges, Melton and Okobo but building a bench is easier than building a starting 5.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Schroder is scoring less than he did last season in Atlanta, shooting worse, distributing fewer assists, and turning the ball over more. He doesn't appear to be any better this season.

It's still early, but he's shooting a career high from 3 point range. He's also attempting 3s at his 2nd highest clip (% of total shots). He is a career .434 shooter from 16-<3 entering his 6th season at 25. He's also been trending upwards in that category since entering the NBA--> .313, .381, .415, .456, .468, .467. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he improves considerably on his .322 career mark from 3.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Schroder's shooting is inconsistent and all, but he's a big upgrade for the Thunder at back-up point guard from Raymond Felton. He's their best back-up point guard since Reggie Jackson.

Oh I totally agree he's been a good player in this league. I was only referring to the post about him figuring things out. As Dennis Green once said, "They are who we thought they were!"

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Oh I totally agree he's been a good player in this league. I was only referring to the post about him figuring things out. As Dennis Green once said, "They are who we thought they were!"

I am not clear on how you arrive at your judgments on players. Data shows that Schroder appears to be changing his game to adapt to his new role and you are dismissing it or at least not allowing for the idea that at 25 and five NBA seasons he is maturing. Yet you will note that a player like, say, Zach Lavine, is making a leap. Meanwhile Schroder is a about a year and a half older, has just one more year in the league (a rookie season in which he played roughly half the minutes Lavine did during his rookie season) and like Lavine wasn't in the best position to succeed early in his career.

You may well be right that Schroder is who he always was (whatever that means) but I would like to understand how you make the distinction between him and more seasoned young guys who you feel are "making the leap".

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I am not clear on how you arrive at your judgments on players. Data shows that Schroder appears to be changing his game to adapt to his new role and you are dismissing it or at least not allowing for the idea that at 25 and five NBA seasons he is maturing. Yet you will note that a player like, say, Zach Lavine, is making a leap. Meanwhile Schroder is a about a year and a half older, has just one more year in the league (a rookie season in which he played roughly half the minutes Lavine did during his rookie season) and like Lavine wasn't in the best position to succeed early in his career.

You may well be right that Schroder is who he always was (whatever that means) but I would like to understand how you make the distinction between him and more seasoned young guys who you feel are "making the leap".

You can take the same player who is competing against starting 1's every game and he isn't going to look nearly as good against them as he will in a lesser role without as much responsibility. In Schroder's case I attribute his success this year from being in a better role for his skillset rather than being in an unfavorable matchup nearly every night.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

You can take the same player who is competing against starting 1's every game and he isn't going to look nearly as good against them as he will in a lesser role without as much responsibility. In Schroder's case I attribute his success this year from being in a better role for his skillset rather than being in an unfavorable matchup nearly every night.

On the other hand, you can take a player, diminish their role/touches/usage and they can react by playing more selfishly. Thus far, Schroder appears to be settling into his new spot nicely. I get that you don't like him and I generally agree that at some point in pro sports, you are what you are. However I am not quite ready to give up on a guy like Schroder who was relegated to scraps early on in his career and then asked to carry the load for a tanking team more recently. Your results may vary but, at present, OKC looks smart for scooping him up.

In other Thunder-related headlines, good news on Diallo:

Despite leaving the floor on a stretcher against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, Oklahoma City Thunder rookie Hamidou Diallodid not suffer any kind of serious leg injury, a team spokesperson said.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

So the Cavs, who haven't won a road game all year, went into Philly and laid a beating (in relative terms) on the 76ers. Rodney Hood, Sexton, Thompson and Osman all played really well.

 

[Ed Hillel]

So the Cavs, who haven't won a road game all year, went into Philly and laid a beating (in relative terms) on the 76ers. Rodney Hood, Sexton, Thompson and Osman all played really well.

Four of the Sixers starters scored 20, too. But after those four, their roster is pure ass.

 

[mikeot]

Pacers about to drop their second straight, losing to SA at home.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Phoenix beat the Bucks, in Milwaukee tonight.

Edit: Giannis scored 35 on 14/16 shooting. He should have shot more though, because instead, Brooke Lopez took 17 shots, and went 0/12 from deep. What? Stop shooting dude.

 

[Kliq]

The Pistons wore home uniforms that were silver and black and according to the team's tv crew, were inspired by the Bad Boys teams' connection with the Oakland Raiders. What?

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Phoenix beat the Bucks, in Milwaukee tonight.

Edit: Giannis scored 35 on 14/16 shooting. He should have shot more though, because instead, Brooke Lopez took 17 shots, and went 0/12 from deep. What? Stop shooting dude.

Coach Bud was in a tough spot here. With Henson out he had nobody behind Lopez to matchup with Ayton defensively so he had to play those minutes and you have to take those shots within the offense or the entire set is thrown off. Pretty nuts that a 39% shooter out there misses 12 in a row though. Don't ever underestimate the tryptophan effect.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Coach Bud was in a tough spot here. With Henson out he had nobody behind Lopez to matchup with Ayton defensively so he had to play those minutes and you have to take those shots within the offense or the entire set is thrown off. Pretty nuts that a 39% shooter out there misses 12 in a row though. Don't ever underestimate the tryptophan effect.

Just look at a line graph of Eric Gordon's 3 point percentage during the course of a year and you can see just how volatile 3 point % actually is.

 

[chilidawg]

Four of the Sixers starters scored 20, too. But after those four, their roster is pure ass.

Starters all had substantial negative plus/minus for the game, bench were all positive.

 

[Royal Reader]

The Pistons wore home uniforms that were silver and black and according to the team's tv crew, were inspired by the Bad Boys teams' connection with the Oakland Raiders. What?

Sure enough, Detroit’s sudden affinity for physicality brought about an unlikely alliance with Los Angeles Raiders owner Al Davis. The mastermind of an NFL franchise whose “Commitment to Excellence” ethos placed an emphasis on winning at all costs, particularly at the expense of their opponents, Davis saw multiple similarities between his squad and Chuck Daly’s upstarts.

As a token of allegiance to his new favorite NBA team, Davis delivered a gift to the gates of the Pontiac Silverdome prior to the 1987-88 regular season. Inside: the Pistons’ new future.

Davis’ multiple gift boxes included an assortment of Raiders gear, ranging from sweaters to team programs. When the Pistons flew to Oakland for a game against the Warriors, Davis poured it on, delivering Raiders-themed warm-ups customized with the Pistons’ names and numbers.

https://detroitsportsnation.com/detroit-pistons-news/rake2204/the-origin-of-the-bad-boys-video/10-2015/47629/

LA Raiders, of course.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Starters all had substantial negative plus/minus for the game, bench were all positive.

Their bench is still horrible outside of Shamet and is something they'll have to address.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Their bench is still horrible outside of Shamet and is something they'll have to address.

The Korver rumors are out there (Lakers in on him too) but if you look at his numbers and his play, I would not be depending on him to be a big difference maker. Everyone knows that the guy is a liability on defense but the way his offense has trended down, he is looking kind of washed. Perhaps its his usage and role for the woeful Cavs but the guy is 37...

 

[lovegtm]

The Korver rumors are out there (Lakers in on him too) but if you look at his numbers and his play, I would not be depending on him to be a big difference maker. Everyone knows that the guy is a liability on defense but the way his offense has trended down, he is looking kind of washed. Perhaps its his usage and role for the woeful Cavs but the guy is 37...

He'd basically be the Sixers new Bellinelli, whom the Cs were able to abuse to the point of unplayability last year. On the other hand, Korver held up a bit better in the conference finals when targeted, so I could see the Sixers deciding that he might just be playable. He'd fit in perfectly with what they do offensively.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

The Korver rumors are out there (Lakers in on him too) but if you look at his numbers and his play, I would not be depending on him to be a big difference maker. Everyone knows that the guy is a liability on defense but the way his offense has trended down, he is looking kind of washed. Perhaps its his usage and role for the woeful Cavs but the guy is 37...

There's also Carmelo. They do need a scorer off the bench.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

The Korver rumors are out there (Lakers in on him too) but if you look at his numbers and his play, I would not be depending on him to be a big difference maker. Everyone knows that the guy is a liability on defense but the way his offense has trended down, he is looking kind of washed. Perhaps its his usage and role for the woeful Cavs but the guy is 37...

Korver played off LeBron in a tight offensive system that played to his strengths so it's natural for his numbers to be down in a cluster of an offense. He'd be a great fit in LA with LeBron setting up his shots again.