2018 NBA Game Thread

DJnVa

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I don't know if this is sarcasm, but I'm sure the Knicks would gladly get rid of DSJ if it means Kyrie. There would be plenty of takers.
Sure, but if there all you’re getting for Kristaps why take it? Get something valuable
 

Cellar-Door

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So it isn't as bad as I originally thought, but I still hate this deal.
The picks are.... middling, and DSJ isn't a guy I love (though maybe some do).
The rest... well yeah they cleared out bad deals for cap space, in a year when a ton of teams will have cap space. Of note, those bad deals.... yep, the product of the last time they cleared cap space for stars who didn't want to play with scrubs, so instead the wasted it on bad contracts, the Knicks' circle of life.
 

jon abbey

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They will still need a 3rd guy in addition to the hypothetical FA signings if they want to actually win and not just put a competent team on the floor for once. They have some pieces to trade for one, if they are able to match/absorb salary on draft night without jeopardizing the two max slots they created. But it’s a tight dance with a lot of other strong suitors out there for the players they will be targeting.
I think the hope is that the 3rd guy will be from their high pick in June, but since it’s the Knicks, they’re going to end up with Boogie, Kemba and Cam Reddish, plus Smith/Knox/Nkitilina. Yay?
 

benhogan

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Celtics move into a tie for 4th place with Pacers.

Kind of hope Kyrie takes the Knick game off and avoids the media circus. Let's go with minutes hungry Rozier, play solid D and take care of the Knicks
 

lovegtm

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Bucks up 65-49 on the Raps in Toronto.

I wouldn't be shocked if the Celtics caught the Raptors in the standings, and I definitely would not be afraid to play in Toronto in the playoffs. Raptors have slipped to 5th in net rating, with a D that's 2.5pts/100 worse than the Celtics. Kyrie would be the best offensive player on the floor, and the overall Celtics defense with him is better than the Raps', even if Kawhi is a slightly better overall player.

The Bucks, on the other hand, really scare me.
 

lovegtm

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Bucks are challenging everything at the rim, and the Raptors are completely unable to deal with the length.
 

lovegtm

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If the Warriors beat the 76ers tonight, Celtics can move into a tie for 3rd with a win against the Knicks tomorrow.
And they'd be 3 back of the Raps in the loss column (if tonight's score holds). 31 more games is a long time...
 

lovegtm

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The Bucks aren't playing a single big atm, and Lopez was the only one earlier. They got the memo, and the memo is working.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Celtics move into a tie for 4th place with Pacers.

Kind of hope Kyrie takes the Knick game off and avoids the media circus. Let's go with minutes hungry Rozier, play solid D and take care of the Knicks
The Pacers are on track to have a horrific back 30+ games. I know it sounds crazy but they really may fall out of the playoff hunt. Their schedule is not easy the rest of the way.
 

lovegtm

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The Pacers are on track to have a horrific back 30+ games. I know it sounds crazy but they really may fall out of the playoff hunt. Their schedule is not easy the rest of the way.
I feel bad--obviously I want the Celtics to pass them, but they're a really well-run organization with good fans that has maneuvered into a good team without tanking.
 

lovegtm

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Giannis just picked up his 5th, things getting interesting again.

I always love the atmosphere in Toronto.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Not myself and maybe not even Danny Darwinism, this boards two primary Siakam fans coming out of college, could envision what this player has become. I'm trying to determine what would prevent him from becoming an All-Star next year and I'm drawing blanks.
 

lovegtm

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Not myself and maybe not even Danny Darwinism, this boards two primary Siakam fans coming out of college, could envision what this player has become. I'm trying to determine what would prevent him from becoming an All-Star next year and I'm drawing blanks.
I'd be mildly surprised if he's not an All-Star next year.
 

lovegtm

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Probably the one thing preventing him would be Kawhi remaining in Toronto to take away some touches.
Yup, but they're using him as a 6th man/staggering his minutes now, so even that is unlikely. He's gonna be huge in this role.
 

benhogan

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The Bucks aren't playing a single big atm, and Lopez was the only one earlier. They got the memo, and the memo is working.
picking nits here, but with Wilson and Giannis on the floor that's not playing small...if they stuck 4 guards/wings with Wilson or Giannis that would be playing small
 

HomeRunBaker

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DJ Wilson is getting some serious run and is playing great. Another shrewd move by the Bucks.
There are a ton of 2nd and 3rd year players who are quietly making huge leaps and are going to be factors in this league moving forward. Nobody talks about Wilson, nobody talks about Malik Beasley in Denver, some guard in Chicago that I can't think of, and there are several others flying under the radar too.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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There are a ton of 2nd and 3rd year players who are quietly making huge leaps and are going to be factors in this league moving forward. Nobody talks about Wilson, nobody talks about Malik Beasley in Denver, some guard in Chicago that I can't think of, and there are several others flying under the radar too.
Haha. Beasley and Morris are on the radar because they have helped Denver climb to the top of the West. And the only reason Dunn isn't getting more love is because the Bulls are a tire fire in a dumpster full of kerosene.
 

shawnrbu

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The Land of Fist Pumps
"Embiid don't eat grapes before the game with Cousins on the other side. He only does that when it's Baynes."

-Barkley

Lakers opened as 6 point underdogs against the Clippers. They close as 2 point favorites.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Lakers opened as 6 point underdogs against the Clippers. They close as 2 point favorites.
SportsInsights still shows 53% of wagers on the Clippers. The line wasn't moved by money it was moved to Pk when it was announced that LeBron would play. Looks like late money did come in on the Lakers after it went to a Pk.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Curry plays a different game than the rest of the world
Yep. His catch and shoot isn't even a catch and shoot. It's just an "and shoot." I swear the ball never actually stops in his hands.

Embiid has been pretty terrible from start to finish in this one, and yet, Philly has a 6 point lead late in the 3rd. Golden State is a different team without Klay. He's such a huge force on defense for them. Since he joined the team, they just said he's missed like 21 games, and they are 9-12 in games in which he doesn't play. They aren't even that bad when Curry misses games.
 

lovegtm

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Yep. His catch and shoot isn't even a catch and shoot. It's just an "and shoot." I swear the ball never actually stops in his hands.

Embiid has been pretty terrible from start to finish in this one, and yet, Philly has a 6 point lead late in the 3rd. Golden State is a different team without Klay. He's such a huge force on defense for them. Since he joined the team, they just said he's missed like 21 games, and they are 9-12 in games in which he doesn't play. They aren't even that bad when Curry misses games.
Yeah, their defense without Klay looks really meh.
 

lovegtm

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Simmons also matches up really well against Durant. Not going to take away too much from this game, and it's far from over, but Philly is causing real problems.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Dubs are way, way too small to play Embiid.
Not when Boogie is out there. Until the last couple minutes, Embiid had been getting owned. He's now 7/19 from the floor, after making his last 3 shots, but he also has 7 turnovers through 3 quarters.
 

lovegtm

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Not when Boogie is out there. Until the last couple minutes, Embiid had been getting owned. He's now 7/19 from the floor, after making his last 3 shots, but he also has 7 turnovers through 3 quarters.
Yeah, I missed the Boogie part and just caught the 3rd. Interesting that Boogie was able to bottle him up like that.
 

Deathofthebambino

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Simmons also matches up really well against Durant. Not going to take away too much from this game, and it's far from over, but Philly is causing real problems.
Bottom line in this one is that Curry is 8/12 from 3, and the rest of the Warriors are 0/15. With Klay on the floor, that doesn't happen. Durant has had a dreadful shooting night thus far too. He's 9/18, but 0/5 from deep and I think the rest of his misses are all jumpers too.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Dubs are way, way too small to play Embiid.
Looney is a good two way big but he simply cannot defend Embiid when he gets deep. Embiid is much better than this time last year when he was clearly out of shape. He is way more physically dominant now.

And we need to stop with the narrative that Simmons is a liability on offense. He is good enough and so strong that he can get deep in the paint or throw a brilliant pass to a teammate. He is almost tougher to defend than Embiid.
 

lovegtm

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Looney is a good two way big but he simply cannot defend Embiid when he gets deep. Embiid is much better than this time last year when he was clearly in shape. He is way more physically dominant now.

And we need to stop with the narrative that Simmons is a liability on offense. He is good enough and so strong that he can get deep in the paint or throw a brilliant pass to a teammate. He is almost tougher to defend than Embiid.
The narrative has never been that he's a liability: it's that certain teams, with specific gameplans, can take away a lot of what he does well. The Celtics are Exhibit A in this regard.
 

Deathofthebambino

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I think that's what Kerr should do too. Embiid just went to the bench a minute into the 4th with 4 fouls. Kerr should pull Boogie out now, and save him for later in the quarter when Embiid comes back. Kerr has been playing Boogie the first 6 minutes of each quarter in every game. No reason to have him out there right now when Embiid isn't on the floor.
 

Deathofthebambino

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The narrative has never been that he's a liability: it's that certain teams, with specific gameplans, can take away a lot of what he does well. The Celtics are Exhibit A in this regard.
Exactly, I don't know why anyone gets within 5 feet of him before he reaches the foul line. He ain't shooting. Slack off as much as possible, and fill the lane.

Where he's been getting a lot of his points tonight though has been off offensive rebounds, when a teammate drives and he's left open underneath when his defender goes to help (like a big man would normally get a dish from a penetrating guard) or when a play breaks down and the ball finds him and he's able to finish. His length is crazy. He plays even bigger than 6'10
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The narrative has never been that he's a liability: it's that certain teams, with specific gameplans, can take away a lot of what he does well. The Celtics are Exhibit A in this regard.
Oh I agree that was the case. I wonder if it will be the case going forward, especially if Philly gets more shooting via trades or buyouts
 

Deathofthebambino

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Oh I agree that was the case. I wonder if it will be the case going forward, especially if Philly gets more shooting via trades or buyouts
Landry Shamet. That kid can shoot. He's shooting .404 from 3 now on the season, and .464 over his last 11 games on 5.1 attempts per game. No idea if he can play defense, but he scares me as a shooter for them.