2022-23 NBA Game Thread

Kliq

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21/29 shooting from Dame, 9/15 from three. I was worried he was going to be down a level coming off his injuries from last season; very happy to be wrong.
 

Kliq

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There are so many gifted, incredible scorers in the NBA right now, but nobody detonates quite like Dame. He stands out in a league with Steph, Luka, Durant, Tatum, LeBron, etc.
 

Kliq

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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.
 

benhogan

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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).
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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That cut to the basket by Poole was nifty.

On a related note the Grizzlies feel a scorer short of being a monster right now. Maybe its Danny Green who is supposed to be returning soon but if they can add another impact player via the trade market you think they have to do it at this point.
 

Kliq

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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).
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.
 

Sam Ray Not

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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 26-23
LAC 26-24
DAL 25-24
PHO 25-24
MIN 25-25
GSW 24-24
UTA 25-26
OKC 23-25
POR 23-25
LAL 23-26

#13 Lakers are three games back of the #4 seed.
 

benhogan

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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.
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.

Minnesota is its own unique tire fire. They are the present-day Nets, post-Danny Ainge drive-by.

There are some of those 10 (GS, Clips, Suns, Dallas, even the Lakers) that could knock off a Denver or Memphis in the first round of the playoffs.
 

InstaFace

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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.
 

Jimbodandy

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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.
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.
 

benhogan

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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.
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
 

Jimbodandy

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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
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.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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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.
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.
 

Kliq

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Philly is full of playoff chokers and also matches up horribly with the Celtics. That backcourt can't guard anybody in the playoffs; I'm not sure who is going to guard Jaylen Brown, let alone Tatum. Maybe DeAnthony Melton? Thybulle can't shoot well enough to play a lot in the playoffs.
 

HomeRunBaker

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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.
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.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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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 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 it
 

InstaFace

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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.
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.
 

Ale Xander

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I'd prefer Ja to Zion but 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.
 

Ale Xander

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Also the NBA marketing/graphics peope messed up by not putting Jokic and Giannis in the middle of the graphic.
 

mauf

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All-Star voting takes place over a period of weeks, right?

The West is tightly packed now, but for most of the voting period, the Pelicans had a much better record than the Lakers. In a sport like basketball where one player can have a huge impact on team success, I can definitely get behind Zion over AD. Neither has been among the top five players in the West, but there really isn’t a worthy third frontcourt player after Jokic and LBJ.

Based on YTD stats, SGA is the biggest snub, but imo it’s appropriate for career accomplishments to carry some weight. I can’t get worked up about Curry getting the nod.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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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.
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.

Give me the midseason tourney which is better than a bum ass AS game or the crappy January/February slate where everyone is banged up, tired and fatigued. At least give me Ja or SGA versus Zion who has lots of ability except availability.
 

Smokey Joe

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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.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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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.
 

ElUno20

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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.
So you're mad the fans voted him in?

You also allude to some crowning by pundits as if his game is garbage....have you not seen him play basketball? He's worthy of all the praise.
 

Jimbodandy

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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.
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.

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 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.
 

HomeRunBaker

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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?
 
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HomeRunBaker

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An 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.
 

Jimbodandy

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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?
They have the same bicep guy, but one can shoot the lights out.
 

BaseballJones

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What do you all think about the new All-Star team picking process? It's going to be the world's greatest pickup game. I can't wait to see who gets selected in what order.

Poll: Who do you guys think are the last two guys picked, and which one of them doesn't get picked (and thus has to be on his team by default)?
 

HomeRunBaker

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They have the same bicep guy, but one can shoot the lights out.
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.
 

Jimbodandy

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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.
Yeah I know. They're both bulldogs too, which doesn't help.

I'm kinda depressed that Danny didn't have the foresight to grab Bane and surprised that nobody saw Bane coming. In a redraft, he probably goes 4th or 5th overall.
 

ElUno20

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An 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.
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 TJ
 

ElUno20

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The media voted a Embiid as a starter lol.
Why is Daryl Morey doing press conferences? Did someone get injured?

Lombardi this week brought up something he learned a long time ago, GMs should not be in the forefront of anything with the media. Stay your ass behind the scenes