Vucevic single-handedly destroying the Raptors 30pts. 20 rebs. 8 assists.
He did a pretty good number (24/12) on the Celtics earlier this season.
He did a pretty good number (24/12) on the Celtics earlier this season.
This I maybe understand but how does ORL hold TOR to87 points with KL (even w/o Lowey)?
rebounds? 60-41 in favor of Orlando
Orlando held the Celtics to 90pts earlier this season at TD.
Orlando had 60 rebounds because Toronto missed 67 shots. They were 16/61 from 2! I'm just looking at the box score, hard to tell if that's just terrible offense or really good interior defense from Orlando.
Toronto: 26pts in the paint.
Orlando: 52pts in the paint
The dreaded mid-range contested 2pt jumper.
Somebody around here recently said ~40% of NBA players were up for contract this off-season?
I guess that means a lot of players are due for monster games
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Amazing night in the NBA but the Mavs @ Pels was the highlight. Future Celtic-not-Laker Anthony Davis went 20-32 for 48 points and grabbed 17 boards. Meanwhile, Doncic went 10-16 including 7-13 from deep for a career high 34 points.
The big deal in the game wasn't Brow's or Luka's big nights. Nor was it Dennis Smith Jr. posterizing Julius Randle.
Instead, it was Smith Jr. trying to take and missing the final shot at the rim, down two with 3.8 seconds left while Luka hung out behind the arc. As Smith turned toward the lane after taking the inbound, Luka can be seen turning toward Rick Carlisle in what appeared to be exasperation as if he expected the ball. Carlisle took responsibility for the play but this situation bears watching.
Pels 114 Mavs 112.
The big deal in the game wasn't Brow's or Luka's big nights. Nor was it Dennis Smith Jr. posterizing Julius Randle.
Instead, it was Smith Jr. trying to take and missing the final shot at the rim, down two with 3.8 seconds left while Luka hung out behind the arc. As Smith turned toward the lane after taking the inbound, Luka can be seen turning toward Rick Carlisle in what appeared to be exasperation as if he expected the ball. Carlisle took responsibility for the play but this situation bears watching.
Pels 114 Mavs 112.
Yeah, but he’s already at least 19 years old. He’ll never be a star in this league. /HomeRunBaker
did DSJ even miss the shot? It looked like he pounded the ball, juked around for 4 seconds and then fired up a shot after the horn sounded.
His contributions were most welcome as the Thunder were playing without Alex Abrines and Paul George (contusion), OKC's most consistent scorer. Westbrook commended Nader's performance, saying that he was "the reason we won the game."
Wiggins with another lack of focus and preparation moment in forgetting to put his jersey on under his warmup prior to the game. This kinda sums up the start of his career. Who was the other young player that recently did this over the past year or two?
DSJ has to be moved by the deadline or at the latest by draft night, no? The question teams would have is what to do with him as his star is quickly fading.
Doncic won’t get any votes for Most Improved Player from the media as he wasn’t in the league last year but he’s got my vote. He’s gone from being unable to create separation on his jumper as he clanged them against Juan Carlos Navarro and Phil Pressey to developing a lethal step back 3 able to create separation against NBA length.
Malik Monk.
Bing tells Jonathan Isaac forgot to do it too: https://www.bing.com/search?q=nba+player+forgot+jersey&FORM=AWRE
Good that you are seeing things differently. While Doncic doesn't have an elite first step, what he does have is elite braking/change of speeds - like Harden.
This article talks about it more in depth (with breakdowns!). Also from that article: 6 of top 10 forwards by RPM (plus Harden and Draymond) has "athleticism" concerns in pre-draft scouting reports. They are: Robert Covington; Otto Porter Jr.;Joe Ingles; Khris Middleton; Kyle Anderson; and Tobias Harris.
These may seem like little things to some but to me it is very telling of the person/players mindset. Focus and attention to detail is critical to ones success and each of these young players listed have a ways to go in this area. It isn’t surprising they each is underachieving.....there is a correlation between success and preparation.
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I’m not really seeing anything differently I’m only trusting my evaluation of what I saw at the time. No process is perfect. It also seems like he grew a couple inches as well which really helps him.
The only players on this list that I recall with athleticism concerns are Porter, Ingles, and Slo-Mo. What I loved about Middleton at the combine was his ability to use his first step to get to spots on the floor and get into the paint to finish.
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This article talks about it more in depth (with breakdowns!). Also from that article: 6 of top 10 forwards by RPM (plus Harden and Draymond) has "athleticism" concerns in pre-draft scouting reports. They are: Robert Covington; Otto Porter Jr.;Joe Ingles; Khris Middleton; Kyle Anderson; and Tobias Harris.[/QUOTE]
Great article WBCD, thanks for sharing.
Doncic getting labeled with "lacks elite athleticism w/high BBIQ", what a shocker. NBA scouting has plastered that tag on 95% of white players since Rex Chapman. That's just part of basketball scoutings long list of tropes.
Great article WBCD, thanks for sharing.
Doncic getting labeled with "lacks elite athleticism w/high BBIQ", what a shocker. NBA scouting has plastered that tag on 95% of white players since Rex Chapman. That's just part of basketball scoutings long list of tropes.
that's pretty funny. I thought Devin wasn't thrilled with ball-handling duties? I guess Devin would be less than thrilled if the ball handler decided not to hand him the ball.
Huh, I hadn't heard that. It surprises me given how much improvement he's made as a distributor, and how that primary initiator role is the key to unlocking his superstar potential.
It's an interesting proposal though. Generally, I'd be against moving a potential two-way wing for a low-efficiency gunner PG with poor decision-making abilities, but the Suns do have a bunch of young wings.
I wasn't particularly high on DSJ coming into the draft, and he hasn't really done much to change my opinion. There's a lot of good young point guards in the league right now, so turning the keys over to one with poor feel and inconsistent focus seems like striving for mediocrity. Though with his athleticism, if he could develop a good jumper he wouldn't need to be a basketball genius to thrive with moderate growth in other areas.
But basically this comes down to my assessment of what's between DSJ's ears, so if I'm off on that, he's got a much higher ceiling than I give him credit for. There were reasons to believe his disengagement at NC State was the product of shitty circumstances, but he hasn't really shown a ton of growth in the NBA in terms of decision-making and consistency. I think the conversation you guys are having with respect to Luka and the other guys with "athletic concerns" is at play here. Bridges is a heady basketball player who stays consistently engaged on the court, while, at least so far, DSJ isn't.
Plus, I'm a big believer in De'Anthony Melton, and (to a lesser extent) Jawun Evans. If I ran the Suns, I'd rather develop them than give up a guy who doesn't need the ball in his hands to provide value as a versatile 3&D player alongside Booker and Ayton. I’m probably in the minority here.
Was at this game. Seemed like Smith forgot how much time was left. Strange ending.
The story I linked to cited another story that had the actual pre-draft analysis quotes. Here is that other story for convenience: https://www.sactownroyalty.com/2018/6/14/17462948/for-those-with-concerns-about-lukas-athleticism?_ga=2.214216276.2140352408.1546093652-1771201134.1519010160
Luka displaying his Beard-like brakes from last night's game:
As a side note, not one of Anthony Davis 48 points last night was from three (he took two 3PA all game). That is probably one of the most amazing lines you will see from this season.
I’m reminded of Coach Wooden teaching his players the correct way to lace up their sneakers.
The way it looked on the replays and piecing together Luka's obvious confusion as well as Carlisle "owning" the play call when asked about it post-game is that Smith Jr. simply decided to take the last shot himself. I would guess he knew the time but still doesn't understand how long it would take for him to get the ball to the basket. Who knows though?
As a side note, I am not sold that you trade DSJ if you are Dallas. I think he and Luka can work well together over time and Smith Jr's return from injury certainly didn't hurt Doncic's overall performance last night. I am guessing Cuban/Nelson/Carlisle won't do anything rash and will give these guys a season, at least, to see how they can work together. Smith Jr. literally just turned 21 a month ago...
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Wall is done for the year.
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn 23m23 minutes ago
Wizards star John Wall is planning to undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel, league sources tell @WindhorstESPN and me. Doctors have recommended that he undergo the surgery soon.
Full story: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25639878/wizards-john-wall-surgery-heel-season
Adrian WojnarowskiVerified account @wojespn 23m23 minutes ago
Wizards star John Wall is planning to undergo season-ending surgery on his left heel, league sources tell @WindhorstESPN and me. Doctors have recommended that he undergo the surgery soon.
Full story: http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/25639878/wizards-john-wall-surgery-heel-season
Is it bad if my first thought is "good, he's a massive tool"?
I don't root for players to get work, and I'm not in this case, but I really dislike something about Wall.
Wall may be the basis for Worst Contract Ever.
Next year - $37.8m
2020-21 - $40.8m
2021-22 - $43.8m
2022-23 - $46.9m
Oh and he has a 15% trade kicker. I’d say Rich Paul and Klutch earned their commission check on this one.
Yeah, I was thinking the same---it was a bad contract for a good (but not great) player but now that you're going to eat a year of it and have an increased risk he doesn't get all his physical tools back that one mighty scary contract.
It's so immovable, and his personality is similar, you really wonder if it will cost them Beal as well
It's so immovable, and his personality is similar, you really wonder if it will cost them Beal as well
Can you even imagine trading for Wall and agreeing to pay him $51m and $54m for those final two season beginning in 3 years when he may resemble John “Hot Plate” Williams?
I usually chuckle when I hear someone call a contract untradeable but this one actually really is.
If a team trades someone and the former team agrees to pay a portion of their contract, does that count against the cap for the team that receives the player, or the team that is paying him?
For example, let's say the Wizards found a team willing to take Wall, and the Wizards agreed to pay, I don't know, 40million per year (excuse me, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) and the other team only pays the remaining 11-14million (excuse me again, HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH), does the cap hit go against each team based on what they are spending, or does the entire 50million plus go against the new team's cap hit.
For example, let's say the Wizards found a team willing to take Wall, and the Wizards agreed to pay, I don't know, 40million per year (excuse me, HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) and the other team only pays the remaining 11-14million (excuse me again, HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAH), does the cap hit go against each team based on what they are spending, or does the entire 50million plus go against the new team's cap hit.
I don’t think they can split the cap hit in the nba like you can in baseball—all you can do is take back a bad deal.
His is so big and so long-term there aren’t many contracts to take back that put a dent in the cap hit though.
His is so big and so long-term there aren’t many contracts to take back that put a dent in the cap hit though.
The CBA doesn’t allow for this type of transaction. You can include a limited amount of cash in a trade.....it was $3m in the last CBA I don’t know if that was adjusted at all in the new one but i do know it is still minimal.
Currently a hair over 5 mil, but it isn't per trade, it's per season. So if you put 4 mil in one trade you can only do 1 mil in other trades in the same year.
You are on a very small island here my friend. MBPC is decidedly anti-Harden. I get it - his style of play isn't for everyone but the guy is undeniably great right now from my perspective. Its still really too early to discuss MVP but he is definitely in the conversation with LeBron, Antetokounmpo, Davis, Durant, Curry and Leonard.
Celtics MVP for sure. That said, I don't think he is putting up the statistics that the MVP voters look at regardless if its basic counting type data or advanced numbers. Style of play has an impact too - Irving is averaging ~32.5 MPG whereas some of the other guys mentioned are averaging more like 34-36 MPG. Given that each of these players is their team's lead dog, those extra one to two minutes mean a few more looks/chances to bump up their numbers.
The problem with MVP is its really so subjective. As HRB is always quick to point out, if you want to vote for the largest win delta generator in the NBA, the award would go to LeBron every season. I would argue that Irving is pretty important to this year's Celtics club but I can see voters citing last spring's playoff run without him as a counterpoint.
I don't disagree, but I guess my counterpoint is that the Pels are 16-21. I don't care how great Davis is, there is no way he can be a serious MVP contender on a team that shitty.
He’s averaging 39/8/6 with a TS of 64% over his last 10 games. This is the best I’ve ever seen him. He’s also averaging a career high in steals. Dude is ballin’ right now. Personally it’s between him and Giannis so far.