2022-23 NBA Game Thread

HomeRunBaker

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As if watching Bagley and Wiseman going after an offensive rebound together isn’t enough…..seeing them running back on D together in perfect symmetry has exceeded my wildest basketball viewing imagination.
 

128

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LeBron has been Superman for all these years, but Father Time is unbeaten.
 

Euclis20

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Tony C

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Those injuries make me sad, since both are so fun to watch. That said, the Hornets were on a 5 game winning streak and looking kind of decent (er..decent-er). In re staying in the Wemb sweepstakes, maybe a silver lining?
 

Euclis20

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Those injuries make me sad, since both are so fun to watch. That said, the Hornets were on a 5 game winning streak and looking kind of decent (er..decent-er). In re staying in the Wemb sweepstakes, maybe a silver lining?
I don't think this moves the needle for them regarding Wemby, even taking into account their winning streak. They're currently in line for the 4th pick, with no great chance of moving in either direction (they're 6.5 games behind Orlando for the 5th pick and they are 4.5 games ahead of Detroit for the 3rd pick). Even if they somehow finish behind one of the bottom 3 teams, it wouldn't move their odds too much to get #1 (4th place gives you 12.5% chance to get #1, while 1st 2nd and 3rd all have a 14% chance at the 1st pick).

I like that the league flattened out these odds a few years ago. Before 2019, 1st/2nd/3rd would have had a 25%, 19.9% and 13.8% chance at 1st overall, and 4th place would be 13.7%. Not that any of these teams will be trying to win games down the stretch, but because the last 3 teams all have the same shot, we don't see quite the same desperate race to the bottom in the final weeks of the year.
 

Imbricus

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Miles Turner continues to be on a tear: 10 for 13 last night, for 24 points, with 4 blocks. His last three games he's had 40, 24 and 24 points, along with a total of 10 blocks. He's also 11 for 16 from three, based mainly on that 8 for 10 performance against the Celtics.

I remember when there was a lot of chatter in the forum about whether the Celtics should trade for him, a few years ago.
 

Euclis20

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I heard a stat on Undisputed today (this stuff rots your brain, but occasionally some tasty bits) so amazing that I had to double check the box scores. In the 5 games that Kyrie and Luka have played together, Kyrie has taken 41 shots in the 4th quarter and OT. In those same 4th quarters and OT, Luka has taken just 13 shots. There's some noise in there, but that's a monstrous disparity. How the hell is that happening?
 

the moops

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I heard a stat on Undisputed today (this stuff rots your brain, but occasionally some tasty bits) so amazing that I had to double check the box scores. In the 5 games that Kyrie and Luka have played together, Kyrie has taken 41 shots in the 4th quarter and OT. In those same 4th quarters and OT, Luka has taken just 13 shots. There's some noise in there, but that's a monstrous disparity. How the hell is that happening?
Luka didn't play in one of those 4th quarters, FYI.

But you are right, it is a crazy stat, although one of those 4th Kyrie went off and went 11/12 from the field in the quarter
 

Tony C

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You expected him to put his head down because Kyrie won a moral victory by getting a decent look? They won the game!

(and was pretty decent defense, too, pushing him pretty deep, not that it wasn't a make-able shot).
 

the moops

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You expected him to put his head down because Kyrie won a moral victory by getting a decent look? They won the game!

(and was pretty decent defense, too, pushing him pretty deep, not that it wasn't a make-able shot).
No I didn't expect him to put his head down. I just found it funny. Geez.
 

Just a bit outside

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You expected him to put his head down because Kyrie won a moral victory by getting a decent look? They won the game!

(and was pretty decent defense, too, pushing him pretty deep, not that it wasn't a make-able shot).
I thought he played decent defense as well.

It is an interesting question whether McConnell should have tried to keep Kyrie from taking a three or not. A three wins the game for Dallas vs a two that sends it to overtime. I thought the distance, defense, and time of game probably gives Kyrie about a 33% chance of making it and winning the game. Obviously that means the Pacers win 67% of the time with that defense.

The other side is McConnell playing tighter on Kyrie and it being more likely for Kyrie to drive and either take or two or draw the defense and kick to someone else. Kyrie is an excellent shooter in the lane so maybe the probability of him making the shot goes up to 50% so there is a better chance for overtime.

I'm think McConnell probably made the right choice but I could certainly see an argument for not letting the Mavs take a three and risking a higher chance at overtime.
 

Buster Olney the Lonely

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The Lakers played ten tonight in the win over the Thunder. None of the starters were on the team last season. In fact, only two players donned the purple and gold in 2021-22--Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel.
 

BigMike

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OKC might be shutting down SGA for the season again. That shit is such a scrouge on the league.
OKC is not shutting down SGA, and they are not tanking. The guy has an ankle injury, abdomen injury, and COVID. No idea when he will return, but unless the abdomen thing really lingers, they are not shutting him down at this point.

That said, they have done a really good job of balancing developing the youngest team in the league, and staying competitive all year, but this loss may be the low point of the season
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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C's fans should probably tune into the 76ers @ Dallas game. Dallas started the fourth up by 19. Their lead is currently four with 9:20 left in the fourth.

Cheesedickery is a league-wide phenomenon.
 

128

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C's fans should probably tune into the 76ers @ Dallas game. Dallas started the fourth up by 19. Their lead is currently four with 9:20 left in the fourth.

Cheesedickery is a league-wide phenomenon.
The Mavs then built their lead back to 16, and now it's down to five, with 22.3 seconds left. (Dallas ball.)
 

ElUno20

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This clippers team again embarrassing themselves. I doubt they make the play in.
 

Sam Ray Not

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I will never understand the Clippers signing Westbrook. The strangest move since the Gobert deal.
It is a head-scratcher. Although the Wolves are never getting back those five unprotected first rounders, Kessler, Beasley, and Vanderbilt, whereas the Clips can always just bench Westbrook.

Meanwhile: the Warriors 145-75 combined in their last two second halves. Without Steph and Wiggs.
 

ElUno20

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Not going to lie - I love the fact that you are being forced to root for your binky, Westbrook
His play isnt the issue. His presense that takes up 25-30 minutes is the issue.

And 150% of clippers fans were begging not to sign him and ruin the rotations that were finally set. But they listened to Paul George and now they wont make the playoffs.
 

jon abbey

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As of now, 4/5 in the West would be PHX/GS, Curry vs Durant in the first round.
 

TripleOT

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Hard to play half-court offense like this.

Russ needs to drive to the rim when “guarded“ like this. Force the refs to make calls, and if the defenders are able to take charges, so be it. It is impossible to run good offense if the defense is allowed to stuff all five defenders across the court within eight feet of the baseline.
 

Humphrey

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Russ needs to drive to the rim when “guarded“ like this. Force the refs to make calls, and if the defenders are able to take charges, so be it. It is impossible to run good offense if the defense is allowed to stuff all five defenders across the court within eight feet of the baseline.
The other thing is, when you sag that much, if you set the right pick for someone else, the "sagging guy" makes it a double pick.
 

Sam Ray Not

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Draymond has a lot of first-hand experience.
Indeed. And Russ/Lue should probably watch tape of him, cos you rarely see Dray standing in space like that trying to figure out what to do. Defenses typically can’t get away with giving Dray that much space, cos he’s a great screener who, at the most basic level, will just DHO and screen for an open Steph, Klay, or JP three, with no one to switch onto them.

There are other Dray-type actions that I think could be also effective for Russ — getting downhill on short rolls off the P&R, getting in the post against smaller guys and bullying them to the rim or finding teammates off split-cut actions, etc. — most of which I think involve him becoming a better and/or more willing screener.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Indeed. And Russ/Lue should probably watch tape of him, cos you rarely see Dray standing in space like that trying to figure out what to do. Defenses typically can’t get away with giving Dray that much space, cos he’s a great screener who, at the most basic level, will just DHO and screen for an open Steph, Klay, or JP three, with no one to switch onto them.

There are other Dray-type actions that I think could be also effective for Russ — getting downhill on short rolls off the P&R, getting in the post against smaller guys and bullying them to the rim or finding teammates off split-cut actions, etc. — most of which I think involve him becoming a better and/or more willing screener.
The tape to watch is that of Simmons in Philly who was brilliant in taking advantage of this type of defense with his dribble. I’m not sure I’ve seen an All-Star level player regress to these depths in his mid-20’s without injury before.
 

Tony C

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Is it really that strange when your backcourt rotation would otherwise be Gordon/Mann/Hyland/Coffee?
I've semi-defended Russ some, as he was better off the bench for the Lakers than as a starter and it did seem that, if were to make it anywhere, it'd be with the Clippers who really seem to have the outside shooting that fits his drive and dish style. But even semi-defending him, I think putting him in the starting line-up in place of Mann is an odd decision. Partly I'm just fond of Mann for pulling out his Rajon Rondo card from his wallet when they acquired Rondo, which was about as cute as can be. But I also think, even bending over backward to give Russ the benefit of the doubt, that Mann is just a better player. Much better defensively. Can argue the offense, but I'd rather Mann be on the court at key moments offensively, too.