2018 NBA Game Thread

BigSoxFan

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I wouldn't take too much out of this game against a really really bad Hawks team. It's really hard to play 28 minutes of a game when your team is up 20-30 for nearly all of it......and finish with a -8. He was on the floor during the Hawks two biggest runs in the late 1st and garbage time 4th.
The kid just turned 19 and is putting up 24/7 in his 2nd NBA game. He’s going to be good. Obviously, the Hawks suck but he doesn’t look out of place, which most kids his age do.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Umm, it's 81-69 Jazz against Golden State.

AT FUCKING HALFTIME. My God, play some defense.
Welcome to the new NBA. 8 teams scored 120 or more points yesterday, 11 teams scored more than 110 points yesterday. Only 2 failed to put up at least 100. Only 18 played.
 

Cesar Crespo

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The Bucks scare me more than Toronto.
They are similar in some ways. Both of them have a top 5-6 player in the league, and both have a decent 2nd star. Neither have any young players you'd expect to make a huge jump (unless you include Giannis) as the season progresses. They both have a few who could make a moderate jump. Both teams have a decent bench too.

I'm more worried about the Bucks too, though. Their starting 5 is better than Toronto's imo and Giannis is a nightmare. I'm also a Middleton fanboy and think he's one of the most underrated players in the league.
 

HomeRunBaker

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The kid just turned 19 and is putting up 24/7 in his 2nd NBA game. He’s going to be good. Obviously, the Hawks suck but he doesn’t look out of place, which most kids his age do.
Yeah he's going to be good. I don't think last nights game tells us any more as to how good than his 10/5 on 2-6 shooting did vs a quality Pacers team in the opener.
 

BigSoxFan

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Yeah he's going to be good. I don't think last nights game tells us any more as to how good than his 10/5 on 2-6 shooting did vs a quality Pacers team in the opener.
Did I really suggest otherwise? I didn’t see his first game so was merely commenting on last night.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Hey HRB, Kris Dunn is missing tonight's game due to a "personal matter" and according to Hoiberg, he's not sure if he'll return in time for the next game. Said the "incident" happened on Wednesday. Any idea what that's about?
 

The Needler

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Anyone watching the Sixers? Looks like Simmons may have gotten hurt. Only 8 minutes played.

EDIT: Twitter says back stiffness.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Sixers almost blew the game tonight. Vucevic went off for 27, 13 and 12. There are going to be a lot of triple doubles this year.

Also, Doncic had 15 points and 5 rebounds in the first half.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Anyone else finding League Pass to be working much better so far this year? Doesn’t get hung up or buffer as much, loads quicker, and I’ve found the improvement to be universal across different streaming platforms (mobile, laptop, Roku TV).
 

Deathofthebambino

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So it's now 10:44, and the Lakers are still going through pregame ceremonies. Only in LA. They are going to milk Lebron for every second of entertainment they can get.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Jokic is currently 10/10 from the field, 7/8 from the line with 30 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks with 3 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter. Probably going to be done after 3 since the Nuggets are up 21 points over the Suns atm.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Jokic working on possibly the most insane 25 minute line I’ve seen: 30 pts, *zero missed field goals* (10-10), 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks. Zero turnovers.

I’m gonna float a working hypothesis that he’s a top 5 NBA player right now, and at least as good as 34 y.o. LeBron James.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Ooh, Phoenix possibly making a game of it (down 13 after 3), so we may get to see Jokic add to his insane night.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Twolves give Butler the night off, and they give 140 points to Dallas. Think Jimmy makes a difference on the defensive end?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Hey HRB, Kris Dunn is missing tonight's game due to a "personal matter" and according to Hoiberg, he's not sure if he'll return in time for the next game. Said the "incident" happened on Wednesday. Any idea what that's about?
Yes, his girlfriend delivered his first child on opening night. He was with the team in Philly and flew out in the afternoon to be with her. Unless something unexpected happens he'll play Monday night.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jokic is currently 10/10 from the field, 7/8 from the line with 30 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks with 3 minutes to play in the 3rd quarter. Probably going to be done after 3 since the Nuggets are up 21 points over the Suns atm.
Fun with numbers...…

Nuggets are up 16. Backup PG Monte Morris is a -21 in 9 minutes of play.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Jokic working on possibly the most insane 25 minute line I’ve seen: 30 pts, *zero missed field goals* (10-10), 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks. Zero turnovers.

I’m gonna float a working hypothesis that he’s a top 5 NBA player right now, and at least as good as 34 y.o. LeBron James.
Woah, I love Jokic, and think he's a great talent, but top 5? As good as Lebron? Let's not get crazy. Jokic is just way too inconsistent on a nightly basis to even be in that conversation. He goes through stretches where he disappears, and doesn't even reach double figures for multiple games. Just go look at his game log from last year, and you'll see what I'm talking about. When he's on, and involved, he can be as good as anyone, but he just isn't quite a bit of the time.

Lebron has maybe 1-2 games a year like Jokic will have 5-6 times in a month.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Jokic working on possibly the most insane 25 minute line I’ve seen: 30 pts, *zero missed field goals* (10-10), 10 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks. Zero turnovers.

I’m gonna float a working hypothesis that he’s a top 5 NBA player right now, and at least as good as 34 y.o. LeBron James.
At least as good as Lebron right now? You wouldn't even catch Felger going down this road on a slow news day.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Jokic's at 33, 10, 10, 3 steals, 1 block on 11/11 shooting, 3/3 from 3, 8/9 from FT line.

edit: I'm guessing he is done for the night. 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers on 11/11 shooting, 3/3 from 3, 10/11 from the line in 31 minutes.

Wow.
 
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Sam Ray Not

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Best line in NBA history? Too bad he had to go and miss that one free throw! Scrub.

Bring on the Warriors tomorrow night. I hope Dray$, KD, Jones, Looney, and co. are paying attention.
 
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HomeRunBaker

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Tomorrow night should be a fun one with Golden State traveling to Denver. The Warriors have a history of neutralizing Jokic but they split at 2-2 last year.
 

luckiestman

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Jokic's at 33, 10, 10, 3 steals, 1 block on 11/11 shooting, 3/3 from 3, 8/9 from FT line.

edit: I'm guessing he is done for the night. 35 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, 4 steals, 1 block, 0 turnovers on 11/11 shooting, 3/3 from 3, 10/11 from the line in 31 minutes.

Wow.
Ringer nba podcast talked about him a lot on Thursday. Apparently the team made a point to tell the Joker that it was his team this year and they wanted him to take over more.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Best line in NBA history? Too bad he had to go and miss that one free throw! Scrub.

Bring on the Warriors tomorrow night. I hope Dray$, KD, Jones, Looney, and co. are paying attention.
Maybe the best line in the non-Wilt Chamberlain division. Wilt had an 18/18 game, a 16/16 game, etc. Wilt also made 35 consecutive field goals at one point. Gary Payton had a 14/14 game in 1995, in which he also went 3/3 from the line for 32 points (1/1 from 3).
 

Sam Ray Not

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At least as good as Lebron right now? You wouldn't even catch Felger going down this road on a slow news day.
Hmm. To me they're substantially similar players at this point: Jokic is the better shooter and rebounder, an equally elite passer (imo), and a comparably efficient scorer who rated significantly better by advanced stats last season. LeBron's main claim to being superior are that he scores at a higher volume and is nominally a better and more versatile defender (although he seems to be losing his fastball on that end, possibly seriously so).

The "working hypothesis" part also presumes it's better to be 24 in the NBA than 34. We'll see how it plays out this season; Jokic might not be ready to take his crown just yet. But if I could have the next three seasons of Jokic v. the next three of LeBron, I think I'd take Jokic.
 
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Kliq

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Lol; LeBron might take a lot of defensive possessions off but Jokic is one of the worst defenders at his position. It’s not even close even if you consider them equal offensive players.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Man, the defense in this LAL-HOU game is atrocious.

I still have no idea who the second-best player on the Lakers is. I like Ingram okay, but am not sold on him as any kind of a break-out star.
 

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Man, the defense in this LAL-HOU game is atrocious.

I still have no idea who the second-best player on the Lakers is. I like Ingram okay, but am not sold on him as any kind of a break-out star.
Ingram does look pretty good and is probably the second best. But good lord you're right about the defense in this game. It's a joke.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Not just this game. Scoring across the entire league has been off charts the first couple of games.
It's all about increased Pace this year. Entering tonight (small sample of course) the league has shot 2-pt and 3-pt FG's at a slightly lower rate than last year. I disagree with those who say that teams are not defending......they are, however the offenses are more aggressive and placing more pressure on defenses than I've ever seen.

For Over/Under betting purposes there have been 12 instances where the line has increased 3 points or more off the opening line. Tonights Laker game is the 12th......the overs are currently 11-0 versus the closing number with most exceeding the number easily.
 

LesterFan

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The over/under lines are pretty telling of the current state. There hasn't been a single game with a total under 200 and the majority are over 210.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Punches thrown in Lakers game!!!!

Ingram shoves Harden.
Rondo gets in Paul's face
Paul says Rondo spit in his face.
Paul extends hand and shoves finger in Rondo's eye
Rondo swings at Paul, Paul retaliates with haymaker
Ingram returns to fray and takes shot at Paul as LeBron is trying to get his buddy Paul out of the scuffle.


Hysterical that LeBron is protecting Paul more than he even paid attention to Ingram. LOL!! I'd hate to be Ingram in that locker room. Get out the popcorn.....and I hope you're renting Mr. Ingram.


Ingram is going to be made an example of.....expect a massive suspension.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Some really selfish shit by Ingram. Nobody was in his face, nobody talking shit to him, they were all yammering at the ref.

To come in after and throw punches from behind. Real weak.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Gotta think Ingram's rep is gonna take a hit from this. Starting the whole fracas after a routine contact w/ Harden was bad enough, but continuing it in the refs face and then coming and later taking a full swing at CP3 after it had been mostly been broken up was a terrible look.

CP3 v. Rondo seemed like pretty equal blame. Kinda surprised they haven't gone after each other before (that I can recall...)
 

JCizzle

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So CP3 legit tried to poke Rondo in the eye, yeah? That was his go to move?
 

Sam Ray Not

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You know who should have been the Lakers' second-best player this season? Julius Randle. A smallball 4-5 of him and LeBron would have been really fun to watch.

As it is, I'd still lean towards Ball as #2 guy over Ingram, especially after Ingram exposed his inner punk tonight (Ball by contrast always seems like a pretty cool dude). Ball looked like the better three-point shooter tonight, too.
 

HomeRunBaker

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So CP3 legit tried to poke Rondo in the eye, yeah? That was his go to move?
That was in response to Rondo (allegedly) spitting in Paul's face. I don't know what go-to move the President of the Players Association is supposed to have though in an altercation.

Edit: D'Antoni confirms in presser that he saw Rondo spit.
 
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