In-season NBA news thread

worm0082

Penbis
SoSH Member
Sep 19, 2002
4,492
I don’t think he works for the Celtics directly but a trainer to a bunch of the NBA biggest stars including Curry Westbrook & Durant was arrested on date rape drugging charges . He’s also mentioned in a lot of articles when Mazzula got the job. He was his HS coach and friend. As recently as a few weeks ago there’s pics on his Instagram out on the court for a Celtics shoot around hanging with the players. https://www.wcvb.com/article/rob-mcclanaghan-drugging-rape-arrest-boston/42013482

https://instagram.com/the_rob_mac?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
 
Last edited:

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,189
I feel like I'm regularly the low person around here on Embiid and Zion, and it is for the same pair of not wholly unrelated reasons: if you can't get into top-tier shape and you get injured regularly you simply cannot be expected to be a 38-40 minute a game impact playoff guy. And neither of those guys has shown they can relied on for that.

Is the foot unrelated to Embiid not being in shape, or his past injuries? Dunno. I grant the broken face(s) are bad luck - but the "not really in top shape" is 0% luck
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
I feel like I'm regularly the low person around here on Embiid and Zion, and it is for the same pair of not wholly unrelated reasons: if you can't get into top-tier shape and you get injured regularly you simply cannot be expected to be a 38-40 minute a game impact playoff guy. And neither of those guys has shown they can relied on for that.

Is the foot unrelated to Embiid not being in shape, or his past injuries? Dunno. I grant the broken face(s) are bad luck - but the "not really in top shape" is 0% luck
Can't fault you for assuming that on Zion, but 7-footers often have a lot of foot stuff. That one in particular.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
The Embiid being “out of shape” is so overblown imo. You don’t drop 59 on the back end of a 40 min B2B when you dropped 42/10 if your so woefully out of shape. Bigs generally tend to play their way into game condition more than guards/wings as well. Embiid’s been arguably the most productive player in the league over the last couple weeks.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,189
The Embiid being “out of shape” is so overblown imo. You don’t drop 59 on the back end of a 40 min B2B when you dropped 42/10 if your so woefully out of shape. Bigs generally tend to play their way into game condition more than guards/wings as well. Embiid’s been arguably the most productive player in the league over the last couple weeks.
He played a lot of minutes in last year's playoffs---and his producitivty fell off a cliff. Lots of explanations are possible (the team around him certainly is a part of it) but watching the games I continued to see a guy who wasn't in the shape you want a star to be, acknowledging that at his size he can't do what wings can do either.

I agree he was great in last week or two, and the place he's typically struggled is in April, not in November. So we'll see. He's a fun, and very impactful, guy to watch and I still wonder if part of unlocking the last bit is conditioning-related.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
He played a lot of minutes in last year's playoffs---and his producitivty fell off a cliff. Lots of explanations are possible (the team around him certainly is a part of it) but watching the games I continued to see a guy who wasn't in the shape you want a star to be, acknowledging that at his size he can't do what wings can do either.

I agree he was great in last week or two, and the place he's typically struggled is in April, not in November. So we'll see. He's a fun, and very impactful, guy to watch and I still wonder if part of unlocking the last bit is conditioning-related.
I don’t know how much of that is conditioning as it is being a large human who can’t slow the game down as well when the intensity/energy of the opponent picks up. This isn’t much different than Jokic imo.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,189
I don’t know how much of that is conditioning as it is being a large human who can’t slow the game down as well when the intensity/energy of the opponent picks up. This isn’t much different than Jokic imo.
The big difference, which highlights my point, is that Jokic's numbers don't go down in the playoffs most years while Embiid's do.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
I feel like I'm regularly the low person around here on Embiid and Zion, and it is for the same pair of not wholly unrelated reasons: if you can't get into top-tier shape and you get injured regularly you simply cannot be expected to be a 38-40 minute a game impact playoff guy. And neither of those guys has shown they can relied on for that.

Is the foot unrelated to Embiid not being in shape, or his past injuries? Dunno. I grant the broken face(s) are bad luck - but the "not really in top shape" is 0% luck
have you changed your stance on Embiid? (which is fine)

last April you would have started a roster with Embiid over Tatum

I think Embiid will help a generic roster more than Tatum. Last year/first half of this year's philly team to me makes this point, as does this year's Denver team.

But if you're already a good team---you have some other pieces---a great wing provides versatility and impact that makes you tougher in the playoffs against other good teams. That, to me, is the big thing the Warriors showed and changed in the way NBA teams think about this. But they also have a hugely unique world-class defensive big. You and others have said 5s are fungible and you can get one for vet minimum....I believe (and Euclis is making same point, though even more strongly than i am) that is not so.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
Not to speak for PKB, but one can think that a healthy Embiid is as good of a player as anyone on earth and still think that Reality Embiid isn't that guy because he's never healthy for long enough.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,189
have you changed your stance on Embiid?

last April you would have started a roster with Embiid over Tatum
That's not what I said - I still think a great big will impact a generic roster better than a great wing over the course of a regular season because they have SO much impact on getting from 'meh' to 'good' But said then, and still feel, that a great wing elevates a good team to great in a way that is hard for a big to do in part becuase of the typical constraints on how much a big can play (Embiid demonstrating this quite well) and the relative inflexibilty of a big scheme-wise especially relative to a versatile wing.

To illustrate the point the last center-led team to win a title was what, the 2005 Spurs? 2004 Lakers? It's hard to get there riding a big. But (and I think this was the specific context for that exchange) that does not mean 5s are totally fungible----which a number of people around here were arguing. You need to have some quality there most years, but the ceiling on the contribution of a 5 in the playoffs is, imo, lower than a wing.

And to jimbodandy's comment, in the specific case of Embiid, dude is out A TON. I think in that same thread we went through games played and that is very much the problem with Embiid as a player (not just as an archetype of an impactful big)
 

djbayko

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
25,894
Los Angeles, CA
Not to speak for PKB, but one can think that a healthy Embiid is as good of a player as anyone on earth and still think that Reality Embiid isn't that guy because he's never healthy for long enough.
This is probably why he was trying to talk his way into the MVP at the end of last season. It was amazing that he actually got through a whole year, and it may have been his best shot.
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
8,014
Imaginationland
This is probably why he was trying to talk his way into the MVP at the end of last season. It was amazing that he actually got through a whole year, and it may have been his best shot.
+1. Even in his healthy year, he missed 14 games and was just 46th in minutes played. He's missed 1/3 of the season already (after sitting out the next two games). Without assigning any blame, he just can't be trusted to stay healthy all year.
 

worm0082

Penbis
SoSH Member
Sep 19, 2002
4,492
All these different Nike Alternate uniforms are hideous. Most of the time when I tune in I can’t even tell what team is playing. I thought Phoenix was either the Hornets or OKC.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
Man, letting Brunson go really set the Mavs back if it's come to this. Good for Kemba though.

View: https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/1597197977877102592?s=20&t=NWThvsaZVunr2kIgoDgCSA
They may be able to hide Kemba's D against 2nd units.

Kemba's great attitude and veteran presence from the bench could help. I could see him being a fan favorite, add some energy when Luka takes a blow.

Dallas cheaping out on Brunson + signing McGee when they already had added Wood + Powell/Maxi were head-scratchers
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,678
They may be able to hide Kemba's D against 2nd units.

Kemba's great attitude and veteran presence from the bench could help. I could see him being a fan favorite, add some energy when Luka takes a blow.

Dallas cheaping out on Brunson + signing McGee when they already had added Wood + Powell/Maxi were head-scratchers
Hey, credit to the Mavs. They realized that opponents hunting Luka on D was a problem, so they took care of it.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,289
At the end of yesterday’s Hitler-loving meltdown, Kanye randomly claimed he caught Chris Paul sleeping with Kim. So far this is my favorite response:


This is why NBA Twitter must be saved at all costs.
 

The Social Chair

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 17, 2010
6,082
At the end of yesterday’s Hitler-loving meltdown, Kanye randomly claimed he caught Chris Paul sleeping with Kim. So far this is my favorite response:


This is why NBA Twitter must be saved at all costs.
For the love of God, nobody ask Jaylen Brown if he also thinks the Nazis had some good ideas about cars and urban planning.
 

Swedgin

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 27, 2013
701
This kind of water carrying for owners bothers me (probably more than it should). Ryan was not waived to create flexibility. His guarantee date, January 10, 2023 is a ways off. Unless Ryan has a team ready to sign him now and the Lakers wanted to do him/his agent a favor - the only logical explanation for this move is that Jeanie wanted to save some money. Can't remember who reported, but I recall the figure at 61K a day given the Laker's luxury tax level.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,205
This kind of water carrying for owners bothers me (probably more than it should). Ryan was not waived to create flexibility. His guarantee date, January 10, 2023 is a ways off. Unless Ryan has a team ready to sign him now and the Lakers wanted to do him/his agent a favor - the only logical explanation for this move is that Jeanie wanted to save some money. Can't remember who reported, but I recall the figure at 61K a day given the Laker's luxury tax level.
Thank you for adding this color, especially since it was easy to take at face value.

Ryan isn't likely to return to the Cs given their current roster/rotation but should get a look from one of the other teams that will dream on him as the next bargain basement sharpshooter. Hauser doing well can't hurt his chances.
 

Jimbodandy

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 31, 2006
11,403
around the way
Thank you for adding this color, especially since it was easy to take at face value.

Ryan isn't likely to return to the Cs given their current roster/rotation but should get a look from one of the other teams that will dream on him as the next bargain basement sharpshooter. Hauser doing well can't hurt his chances.
If he's a legit 6'7", that helps too. Hauser going off a bit early this year very well could help. Teams must like the idea of paying peanuts for shooting vs. paying big money for shooting like Robinson.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
This kind of water carrying for owners bothers me (probably more than it should). Ryan was not waived to create flexibility. His guarantee date, January 10, 2023 is a ways off. Unless Ryan has a team ready to sign him now and the Lakers wanted to do him/his agent a favor - the only logical explanation for this move is that Jeanie wanted to save some money. Can't remember who reported, but I recall the figure at 61K a day given the Laker's luxury tax level.
They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. The Lakers are surely going to look to add pieces and could need the roster spot. Once they decide it’s Ryan you both save money and do him the service of being able to latch on somewhere sooner rather than later.
 

Euclis20

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2004
8,014
Imaginationland
If he's a legit 6'7", that helps too. Hauser going off a bit early this year very well could help. Teams must like the idea of paying peanuts for shooting vs. paying big money for shooting like Robinson.
Maybe, though Hauser has always been a solidly better shooter than Ryan. In college, Ryan shot .363 from 3 on 631 attempts, compared to Hauser who shot .439 from 3 in 704 attempts. In the G league last year, Ryan shot .407 while Hauser shot .417, and so far in the NBA, it's .350 on 40 attempts for Ryan vs .464 on 140 attempts for Hauser. Ryan is a good shooter, but I don't see much to indicate that he's an exceptional shooter like Robinson and Hauser, good enough to overlook the rest of his game.

Smart money says Ryan already has his career highlight with that game winner earlier this year.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Maybe, though Hauser has always been a solidly better shooter than Ryan. In college, Ryan shot .363 from 3 on 631 attempts, compared to Hauser who shot .439 from 3 in 704 attempts. In the G league last year, Ryan shot .407 while Hauser shot .417, and so far in the NBA, it's .350 on 40 attempts for Ryan vs .464 on 140 attempts for Hauser. Ryan is a good shooter, but I don't see much to indicate that he's an exceptional shooter like Robinson and Hauser, good enough to overlook the rest of his game.

Smart money says Ryan already has his career highlight with that game winner earlier this year.
Not only is Hauser a better shooter but a better ballhandler, rebounder, passer and defender. Ryan wasn’t even much of a productive college player until his 5th year when he transferred to the Southern Conference.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
27,957
Saskatoon Canada
Sorry this isn't NBA but I am so proud of my high school team. Last year we had a 17 game winning streak broken by the team we played Saturday.(shot chart from that game) My best player went to prep in Ontario, but my guys were ready for some revenge. Sadly we lost the tournament final a few hours later to a hated rival. They zone-trapped us and we have a freshman point guard who is incredible but had trouble. But this shooting chart deserves to be shared.

58457
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,096
Sorry this isn't NBA but I am so proud of my high school team. Last year we had a 17 game winning streak broken by the team we played Saturday.(shot chart from that game) My best player went to prep in Ontario, but my guys were ready for some revenge. Sadly we lost the tournament final a few hours later to a hated rival. They zone-trapped us and we have a freshman point guard who is incredible but had trouble. But this shooting chart deserves to be shared.

View attachment 58457
If you didn’t gas out your starters maybe they would have had something left in the tank! (Sorry couldn’t resist :) )

This is some awesome stuff! Congrats!
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,491
RIck Fox has developed a new building material which he claims is both hurricane resistant and fights climate change by using recycled steel slag and brine (and not using concrete). There are a few fluff stories put there, here's one: https://www.yahoo.com/video/former-nba-champ-transforming-11-000000838.html. He's doing a test run of 1000 units in partnership with the Bahamian government.

Good for him if his claims about the new material are true.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,112
Santa Monica
Not long enough to kill off their season unfortunately.
besides the Celtic game, they weren't setting the world on fire with an All-Time great Steph.

Age, Championship hangover, internal squabbles, a questionable bench, & development of youngsters produced mediocrity a third into the season.

They play ~ 15 games over the next month, interested in seeing how much fight they have in them