The Blazers TV stat guy said it was the most efficient game in history.A 60 burger on 29 shots!
He should have just punched him in the face.Curry ejected with 90 seconds left up two. Threw his mouth guard in apparent disgust with an ill advised Jordan Poole shot. Tied with Memphis now with 50 seconds left.
I kind of think the West is pretty bad. The only teams I'm confident in being legitimately good are Denver, Memphis and Golden State, and GS has a mediocre record at the moment. I'm not a full-fledged believer in the Kings, New Orleans, Phoenix and the Clippers are inconsistent and full of injury risks, the Jazz and OKC might be headed for regression, Dallas and Portland lack real depth and Minnesota has been a train wreck.Great finish by the Warriors tonight.
The WC is so much fun now, 10 teams fighting for 5 spots (I don't count the play-ins as the playoffs).
NOP 26-23Great finish by the Warriors tonight.
The WC is so much fun now, 10 teams fighting for 5 spots (I don't count the play-ins as the playoffs).
The it's only Jan/Feb regular season NBA meme is going out the window with that much parity. I'm here for the NBA's version of Hunger Games. I was originally a play-in game critic, but man was I wrong. Mission accomplished Adam Silver, credit where credit is due. We really only have 4 live tankers well past the halfway point. That means 26 fan bases can get excited after a week or two of winning basketball. That also means 4 tankers can get optimum value for players they trade and accelerate their re-builds.I kind of think the West is pretty bad. The only teams I'm confident in being legitimately good are Denver, Memphis and Golden State, and GS has a mediocre record at the moment. I'm not a full-fledged believer in the Kings, New Orleans, Phoenix and the Clippers are inconsistent and full of injury risks, the Jazz and OKC might be headed for regression, Dallas and Portland lack real depth and Minnesota has been a train wreck.
Amazing that Philly might actually win the Harden-Simmons trade, even with Seth Curry being a starter for Brooklyn and two 1st-round picks headed to Philly are as-yet-unknown. Harden's PER is up over last year (albeit still nowhere near his 2014-2020 peak), and DARKO rates his defense as having gone back up (after years of negative) to be a net positive. I'm not sold on Maxey, but Tobias Harris has also shown some growth.
Word. I've been saying all along that they worry me more than anyone. Harden and Embiid seem to have clicked. Both are legit alphas on their own, know how to get the star treatment from refs. The Philly rotation and role players complement them well. Harris seems to have finally put the pieces together into the above average player that everyone thought that he could be. They have random samplings of defensive guys, shooters, and a free shot creator in Maxey. It's a really well put-together team and frightens me a bit as a Celtics fan.Amazing that Philly might actually win the Harden-Simmons trade, even with Seth Curry being a starter for Brooklyn and two 1st-round picks headed to Philly are as-yet-unknown. Harden's PER is up over last year (albeit still nowhere near his 2014-2020 peak), and DARKO rates his defense as having gone back up (after years of negative) to be a net positive. I'm not sold on Maxey, but Tobias Harris has also shown some growth.
Their 2-seed standings right now are probably for real. We have 3 head-to-heads remaining: Feb 8th in Boston, Feb 25th in Philly, and Apr 4th in Philly. Can't wait.
They've looked great recently and count me in as a Maxey fan. BUT Embiid/Harden conditioning issues seem to always crop up in the playoffs.Word. I've been saying all along that they worry me more than anyone. Harden and Embiid seem to have clicked. Both are legit alphas on their own, know how to get the star treatment from refs. The Philly rotation and role players complement them well. Harris seems to have finally put the pieces together into the above average player that everyone thought that he could be. They have random samplings of defensive guys, shooters, and a free shot creator in Maxey. It's a really well put-together team and frightens me a bit as a Celtics fan.
Embiid will run out of gas to an extent, sure. And Harden has a track record of strip club chicken and beer, agreed. But Harden looks great to me.They've looked great recently and count me in as a Maxey fan. BUT Embiid/Harden conditioning issues seem to always crop up in the playoffs.
Clearly, I'm overconfident, since the only thing that frightens me is Tatum's wrist and TimeLord's knee
I think your take on Philly is spot on. They are a tough squad right now and if you tell me they are who makes it out of the ECF, I would absolutely buy it. Harden's evolution is the linchpin for me. Dude is really good and way more efficient than in seasons past.Embiid will run out of gas to an extent, sure. And Harden has a track record of strip club chicken and beer, agreed. But Harden looks great to me.
I am not a betting man, but they way that they look right now is that of an EC finalist. I'm kinda hoping that we're 1-2, so that we don't have to play these guys before the EC finals.
This is a much different Sixers team than in years past. The addition of Melton and Curry along with the evolution of Maxey makes this team offensively lethal at any moment. Embiid/Harden aren’t getting as worn down as they have in the past as Harden has embraced a pure PG role and has been very good at it on both ends of the floor. I do think Embiid is a better regular season player as he tends to get swarmed by playoff level defense…..but he’s never been in the playoffs with this much shooting/scoring around him.I think your take on Philly is spot on. They are a tough squad right now and if you tell me they are who makes it out of the ECF, I would absolutely buy it. Harden's evolution is the linchpin for me. Dude is really good and way more efficient than in seasons past.
I also get those who don't buy Philly for all the reasons cited above but their metrics align with their results. They are legitimate on both ends if the floor. Maybe they fall apart in the playoffs but I would not bet on itThis is a much different Sixers team than in years past. The addition of Melton and Curry along with the evolution of Maxey makes this team offensively lethal at any moment. Embiid/Harden aren’t getting as worn down as they have in the past as Harden has embraced a pure PG role and has been very good at it on both ends of the floor. I do think Embiid is a better regular season player as he tends to get swarmed by playoff level defense…..but he’s never been in the playoffs with this much shooting/scoring around him.
Seth Curry went to Brooklyn in the Harden trade.This is a much different Sixers team than in years past. The addition of Melton and Curry along with the evolution of Maxey makes this team offensively lethal at any moment. Embiid/Harden aren’t getting as worn down as they have in the past as Harden has embraced a pure PG role and has been very good at it on both ends of the floor. I do think Embiid is a better regular season player as he tends to get swarmed by playoff level defense…..but he’s never been in the playoffs with this much shooting/scoring around him.
Pretty good choices. Zion seems the one over reach, based mainly on how much time he's missed.
Unfortunately the rules stipulate 3 frontcourt selections, but I agree in principle. Well actually, SGA should go over Morant. Based on PER and only 3 fewer games, AD should be the one taking Zion's place. Zion has a higher PER than Lebron or Curry or Tatum.I'd prefer Ja to Zion but whatever.
The rules are stupid but you are spot on. The All Star game is very important to the players and the hosting city and maybe a few fans. Otherwise, whatever.Unfortunately the rules stipulate 3 frontcourt selections, but I agree in principle. Well actually, SGA should go over Morant. Based on PER and only 3 fewer games, AD should be the one taking Zion's place. Zion has a higher PER than Lebron or Curry or Tatum.
I would also choose Halliburton over Irving. That's probably the biggest quibble.
Ugh brain fart.Seth Curry went to Brooklyn in the Harden trade.
A healthy Brooklyn is its own level of threat, but we at least know how to attack them pretty well, and they don't have an Embiid.
Ridiculous that Morant isn’t there over Zion imo.Cannot argue against any of those selections.
So you're mad the fans voted him in?Zion drives me crazy. He gets gushed over by the pundits, but i’m not sure that he has even actually played enough games to qualify for a NBAPA pension in 3 1/2 years in the league! And this is a guy who everybody has been saying that he should make his mark early while he’s young and healthy. So now he’s an all star “starter” even though he's injured and 2 weeks away from being 2 weeks away.
I am looking forward to his eventual trade to the the NBA home for superannuated part-time ex-stars ( I mean the Clippers). I am so glad that he is not on the Celtics.
ps. Apparently, you do not have to actually play any games to qualify for a NBAPA pension, you just have to be on a roster. So Zion does qualify.
Well he is better than Michael Jordan so the game itself is probably beneath himRidiculous that Morant isn’t there over Zion imo.
Luka with an ankle injury last night, and he might miss some time, so...I dont see why the WC frontcourt can't be Luka, Jokic and LeBron and the guards Steph and Ja.
This is the perfect storm. Embiid has never really had an alpha with him, because Butler deferred. And Harden has had Durant as a kid in OKC and in Brooklyn with Nash during a fat year. Now Harden is serious and seems to respect himself, Embiid, and Doc. Unless something goes off the rails, the alphas are in full alpha mode and the supporting cast plays their parts.This is a much different Sixers team than in years past. The addition of Melton and Curry along with the evolution of Maxey makes this team offensively lethal at any moment. Embiid/Harden aren’t getting as worn down as they have in the past as Harden has embraced a pure PG role and has been very good at it on both ends of the floor. I do think Embiid is a better regular season player as he tends to get swarmed by playoff level defense…..but he’s never been in the playoffs with this much shooting/scoring around him.
They should be building a "best 5" with these things, since it's 2023 and the age of positionless basketball (not just the Celtics) and, more importantly, because the CBA ties maxes to awards. Sure, making this team or starting doesn't change your max per se, but optics are optics. Making this team and/or starting affects the perception of you with all-NBA voters. It matters. Not sure that this is on Silver's to do list, but I wish that it were.I dont see why the WC frontcourt can't be Luka, Jokic and LeBron and the guards Steph and Ja. This is 2023 and positions aren't what they once were. Again, its meaningless but it would be nice if they tried to reward Morant for his season.
They have the same bicep guy, but one can shoot the lights out.It will be interesting to see how the Grizzlies respond to a couple of losses while not having Adams for a month. He’s played as at All-Star level this year and they have been a different team on both ends of the court when he’s off the floor. The whole identity of this team is now different.
Edit: Dyslexia always kicks in when Bane and Dort are involved. Has anyone ever seen them together in the same place?
Yeah I was referring to their physical similarities along with their one-syllable four-letter name. Not the first time I’ve seen one name and thought the other. Bane is one of several Grizz who have made significant leaps this year.They have the same bicep guy, but one can shoot the lights out.
Yeah I know. They're both bulldogs too, which doesn't help.Yeah I was referring to their physical similarities along with their one-syllable four-letter name. Not the first time I’ve seen one name and thought the other. Bane is one of several Grizz who have made significant leaps this year.
The media voted a Embiid as a starter lol.
A friend from Philly sent me that link. I need those 115 seconds of my life back.The media voted a Embiid as a starter lol.
Stats dont do it justice. When you watch Indiana with him, it's almost immeasurable how much he does for everyone on their team. It's damn near doing their laundry and driving them to the game levels. Massive drop off in pace and approach from hom to TJAn old friend in Indiana has shot 2-22 for 9 pts, 2 asst, and 14 personal fouls over his last 3 games. That team has fallen off a cliff since Tyrese went down.
Why is Daryl Morey doing press conferences? Did someone get injured?The media voted a Embiid as a starter lol.