2021-2022 NBA Game Thread!

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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This Bulls team isn't just good. They are kind of a complete squad. They can match up well with a bunch of different styles of opponent, especially when White gets back.
 

HomeRunBaker

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This Bulls team isn't just good. They are kind of a complete squad. They can match up well with a bunch of different styles of opponent, especially when White gets back.
They are a perfect example of what I preach about chemistry. You either have it naturally, as the Bulls do, or you struggle with a lack of it. Lonzo, DeRozan, and LaVine play off each other so naturally.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Since we're looking at small sample size stats, his DRating (per NBA.com) is the worst of any of the regulars (excepting Siakam who's only played 3 games). So maybe he's still not a good defender.
It's a small sample size but he already has just as many blocks and steals as last year.

edit: His Portland totals anyway. 529 minutes vs 1262. 37 blocks, 6 steals.
 

osori

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GSW just demolishing the Nets is bringing me immense joy.

GSW has a really stacked roster with good role players they developed and a platoon of recent 1st rounders.
 

chilidawg

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GSW just demolishing the Nets is bringing me immense joy.

GSW has a really stacked roster with good role players they developed and a platoon of recent 1st rounders.
Yeah that's a really interesting roster, you've got a core of 4 guys who've been through it all together, a couple new vets, Wiggins and Poole, and that platoon of high upside guys on the bench. That's not a mix you see often.
 

Kliq

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Giannis just destroyed Anthony Davis tonight. Just unstoppable, the Brow had no chance.
 

Kliq

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It's extremely hard to start your own agency from the ground up...unless your best friend and first client is the best, most powerful player in the NBA.
 

Cesar Crespo

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This is a complete puff piece but it discusses Gary Trent, as I asked a question about him a few days ago. https://raptorsrapture.com/2021/11/17/raptors-gary-trent-jr-considered-strong-contender-dpoy/

I also understand SSS, but the chances of Trent's steal % and deflections returning to his previous rates are about nil, even if he doesn't end up leading the league in both. I'm sure there will be some regression, but there's a real change in the way he's playing. He would have to go 23 straight games without a steal to be down to last year's rate. He's only played 15.

I'm not claiming he's a great defender as I haven't watched enough, just that I really doubt the difference in steals/deflections can be attributed to SSS.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Warriors enter the 4th Q down 81-68 ... put up a 36-8 quarter to win 104-89.

Steph scores 20 of his 40 points in the 4th, ends up with (ho hum) nine threes for the the 38th time in his career.
 

128

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The Spurs are a train wreck. Popp is getting paid a boatload of money to oversee a team in serious decline.

Where have you gone, Tim Duncan?
 

benhogan

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Warriors enter the 4th Q down 81-68 ... put up a 36-8 quarter to win 104-89.

Steph scores 20 of his 40 points in the 4th, ends up with (ho hum) nine threes for the the 38th time in his career.
Curry's shot chart is so freaking insanely efficient

Tatum should watch and learn
 

ElUno20

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Only thing stopping the dubs this season is Steph's health/durability. Can he do this for another 6 months.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Only thing stopping the dubs this season is Steph's health/durability. Can he do this for another 6 months.
Yeah … as fun as last night’s comeback was, the downside was it forced Steph to play an extra 5-10 minutes in the 4th quarter that he wouldn’t have had to if they had not played with their food for three quarters against a badly-depleted Cavs team (no Mobley, Allen, Markkanen, or Sexton). He came into the game questionable with a hip contusion from a collision with Harden, too.

He’s stronger and more rugged now than back in the day, but yeah, it’s gonna be a challenge to limit his minutes enough to keep him healthy and fresh for the playoffs. They’re slightly less pathetic with him off the floor than they were last year, but he’s still always the straw that stirs the drink.

Edit: “on pace for” is a bit silly since he isn’t gonna play 82 games even if he stays mostly healthy (he may even sit out tonight’s segababa in Detroit), but: he’s currently on pace to hit **465 threes.**
 
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Kliq

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The thing with the Warriors being great right now is it opens up a lot of possibilities with Wiseman/Kuminga as the centerpiece in a trade for another star player, depending on who becomes available (KAT??) and when you already have Klay coming back, they have terrifying potential to get even better as the season rolls along.
 

benhogan

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I'll say it... the Lakers miss Caruso. LA's defense is a hot mess. It's not that they don't try very hard on that end, it's just old, very slow and bad

and wouldn't be shocked if the Bulls take calls on Coby White at the trade deadline/this summer
 

cheech13

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I'll say it... the Lakers miss Caruso. LA's defense is a hot mess. It's not that they don't try very hard on that end, it's just old, very slow and bad

and wouldn't be shocked if the Bulls take calls on Coby White at the trade deadline/this summer
It’s absolutely confounding that they let Caruso walk, especially when he gave them every opportunity to match his Chicago offer. I know they had salary cap issues, but he’s the perfect rotational guard for a Lebron team.
 

benhogan

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It’s absolutely confounding that they let Caruso walk, especially when he gave them every opportunity to match his Chicago offer. I know they had salary cap issues, but he’s the perfect rotational guard for a Lebron team.
Agreed

a classic example of analyzing NBA talent in a VACUUM vs FIT

Nothing happens in La La Land without Bron's sign-off, very surprised he'd let a willing minion waltz off
 

Tony C

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Yep. I've always thought LBJ was a great player/lousy GM, but bringing in AD to L.A. took the shine off of that hot take. On the flip, doesn't take a genius to know AD would be a great 2nd. And, frankly, his belief in Westbrook over the other 2 guys the Lakers could have had -- Hield (in a trade that would have let the Lakers keep KCP and their 1st rounder) or DeRozan -- is just confounding and returns me to the notion that even great players don't quite get what constitutes a winning team. Aside from Westbrook being an inferior player, a terrible fit, his $42 million salary is what ultimately led to them dumping Caruso for tax saving reasons.

With LBJ and AD the Lakers start the season on 2nd base. Takes very bad GM-ing to have screwed up the supporting cast as bad as they did this off-season. Hard to know from the outside how much is Pelinka and how much LBJ, but they clearly both deserve the criticism.
 

chilidawg

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Agreed

a classic example of analyzing NBA talent in a VACUUM vs FIT

Nothing happens in La La Land without Bron's sign-off, very surprised he'd let a willing minion waltz off
Wasn't Caruso the one introducing himself to Lebron as they walked off the court after a blowout, back when Caruso was just a balding guy nobody had heard of? Maybe LBJ never forgave that little dig.
 

benhogan

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Wasn't Caruso the one introducing himself to Lebron as they walked off the court after a blowout, back when Caruso was just a balding guy nobody had heard of? Maybe LBJ never forgave that little dig.
maybe Caruso was just a daily reminder of his own male pattern baldness?
 

HomeRunBaker

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Next time someone complains about the starters being left in during a blow out remember this game tonight.

Bucks up 24 at home with 6:40 left against the Magic. Now there is 1:40 remaining and it’s a 2-possession game.
 

jmcc5400

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Wasn't Caruso the one introducing himself to Lebron as they walked off the court after a blowout, back when Caruso was just a balding guy nobody had heard of? Maybe LBJ never forgave that little dig.
That was a Ringer (I think) gag and it was plausible enough to make it hilarious.
 

Kliq

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Superstar NBA players typically have a tremendous amount of respect for fellow star players, and that respect strengthens as they both age out of their primes. Remember how other older stars were speaking out on how they couldn't believe Carmelo wasn't on an NBA team? These guys will almost always overrate the skills of their contemporaries, and it's unsurprising that LeBron would see former MVP Russell Westbrook as a superior option over Buddy Hield, or Caruso + other needed role players.
 

Cellar-Door

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How is the KANGZ season going?
They spent a bunch of money and are well over the cap (just below the tax) because they thought they could be a playoff team...
they're 6-11
The fans chant for Walton to be fired every game
Their recent 2nd overall pick wants to be traded, they refuse to trade him.... but also refuse to play him, likely to prevent him from reaching the minutes threshold for the higher qualifying offer.

Oh and they had a 30 minute delay in tonight's game because a fan puked on the court.
 
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HomeRunBaker

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Superstar NBA players typically have a tremendous amount of respect for fellow star players, and that respect strengthens as they both age out of their primes. Remember how other older stars were speaking out on how they couldn't believe Carmelo wasn't on an NBA team? These guys will almost always overrate the skills of their contemporaries, and it's unsurprising that LeBron would see former MVP Russell Westbrook as a superior option over Buddy Hield, or Caruso + other needed role players.
Well it was kinda ridiculous that Melo was out of the league for so long so that’s a bad example. Westbrook was pretty good last year so it wasn’t the talent for me but rather the fit in a walk it up offense with LeBron and AD that it made no sense.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Cade's last 6: 33.3 mpg, .442/.348/.875, 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.8 blocks. His overall numbers are still terrible but he had a rough first 4 games.


Is anyone emerging as a steal in this draft outside the lottery? I know it's early but there's usually someone showing signs of life. Only guys getting any real minutes to date went in the lottery or soon after outside of Herb Jones and Robinson Earl.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Cade's last 6: 33.3 mpg, .442/.348/.875, 16.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.8 steals, 0.8 blocks. His overall numbers are still terrible but he had a rough first 4 games.


Is anyone emerging as a steal in this draft outside the lottery? I know it's early but there's usually someone showing signs of life. Only guys getting any real minutes to date went in the lottery or soon after outside of Herb Jones and Robinson Earl.
Bones Hyland and Ayo Dosunmu both look real good out of the gate. Cade’s first few games can be thrown out…..those were his training camp days. He looks real good…..just a super all-around player with high IQ. Once he figures out the speed of the game and how to best utilize his ability to create angles he’ll be a great building block for the Pistons.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Detroit just dropped 42 on the Lakers in the 2nd quarter, at home. They were up 47-40, then down 56-53 with 2:49 left. They finished the quarter on a 15-5 run. They scored 15 points in under 3 minutes. 2:48 to be exact. The Lakers were saved with a 3 pointer by Dwight Howard with 2 seconds left.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Detroit just dropped 42 on the Lakers in the 2nd quarter, at home. They were up 47-40, then down 56-53 with 2:49 left. They finished the quarter on a 15-5 run. They scored 15 points in under 3 minutes. 2:48 to be exact. The Lakers were saved with a 3 pointer by Dwight Howard with 2 seconds left.
I watched this 1H. Every player on the Lakers we’re watching the Piston runs circles around them either with the ball or with the pass. You would think Luke Walton was coaching this team and would be fired in the morning if you didn’t know any better.
 

Cesar Crespo

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I know others have said it but the Lakers are not a good team. They may end up winning this game because Detroit is one of the worst teams in the league but I don't see where their improvement is going to come from unless they have big hopes for THT and Monk. They have a lot of scorers and no defenders.

What's the deal with re-signing Monk? If it weren't the Lakers, A RL or AN for Monk deal would make sense on some level if the C's could retain Monk. Others will disagree.