I'm not even sure he'd be all that great with Miami and Butler from the looks of it. Duncan Robinson was kinda sorta in position, this just looks horrendous.
2023-2024 General NBA Season Thread
- Thread starter BigSoxFan
- Start date
These are mental and effort problems. Would he get away with that in Miami? Giannis isn't Butler, and Griffin certainly isn't Spoelstra.
I remember Snow as a big guard, but that was apparently only relative because he was 6’3”.
First NBA Champion (1947): Warriors
First NBA Summer League Champion (2013): Warriors
First NBA IST Champion…?
I hope not the Warriors, cos I don’t want a gratuitous extra game’s worth of wear and tear on their aging core. But if they do stumble into the IST Final, they might as well win.
First NBA Summer League Champion (2013): Warriors
First NBA IST Champion…?
I hope not the Warriors, cos I don’t want a gratuitous extra game’s worth of wear and tear on their aging core. But if they do stumble into the IST Final, they might as well win.
wow, I love the roasting. I feel like I'm watching friends watch a game in a good way.
I have to admit that on other occasions it felt like they had some beef. However this game I thought they were just busting each other.
Looks like Milwaukee has solved all their issues.
The solution was there in front of them the whole time: shoot 51% from 3 when your opponent shoots 26% (on the same volume), and you can maybe squeeze out a win in the last minute. It's so simple!
In all seriousness, the only two things that could really jumpstart them imo:
- Dame starts to go off all the time, and they figure out how to maximize his P&R with Giannis
- Middleton's body starts working again
Both are possible, but I need to see it before I believe.
The solution was there in front of them the whole time: shoot 51% from 3 when your opponent shoots 26% (on the same volume), and you can maybe squeeze out a win in the last minute. It's so simple!
In all seriousness, the only two things that could really jumpstart them imo:
- Dame starts to go off all the time, and they figure out how to maximize his P&R with Giannis
- Middleton's body starts working again
Both are possible, but I need to see it before I believe.
One of the "funnest" parts of the early NBA season for me is to watch for the breakouts, the 2nd and 3rd year players who are making a leap...which shouldn't be confused with those whose aren't real. There are others who fly under the radar due to not being "stars" but develop their games to be effective role players. I want to speak of the former today.
Jalen Duren (REAL) - Kid is still 19 but you don't have to tell him how to work. The most impressive thing about him last year was his motor which along with his size/strength made him a guy who pretty much can't miss in this league. Not a guy you need to run plays for so you can put scorers around him. Old school type of junkyard dog who competes
Cam Thomas (not real) - Have not seen a Nets game this year but I'm very familiar with this player. He can "score the ball" in the NBA with anyone but I am NOT buying him as a star. Cam is an elite iso-scorer and also well below average in most else including the mental/competing aspect of the game on a consistent basis.
Shaedon Sharpe (REAL) - Still super young as I believe he reclassified prior to signing with UK and hasn't had a ton of high level experience. One of the best young shot blocking wings in the game (regulation ending block of a 3-ball last night) and guy who can score at all 3 levels. I've heard his comp to be JR Smith when he entered the league but I see a lot more Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards in him. High energy and elite hops so he has plenty of room to grown into his physicals. If he can get his halfcourt fundamentals down oh boy Watch Out!
Others who we have known were really good but maybe didn't realize just how good they are and off to great starts. Tyrese Maxey, Tyler Herro, DeAaron Fox, Devin Vassell, LeBron James.
Jalen Duren (REAL) - Kid is still 19 but you don't have to tell him how to work. The most impressive thing about him last year was his motor which along with his size/strength made him a guy who pretty much can't miss in this league. Not a guy you need to run plays for so you can put scorers around him. Old school type of junkyard dog who competes
Cam Thomas (not real) - Have not seen a Nets game this year but I'm very familiar with this player. He can "score the ball" in the NBA with anyone but I am NOT buying him as a star. Cam is an elite iso-scorer and also well below average in most else including the mental/competing aspect of the game on a consistent basis.
Shaedon Sharpe (REAL) - Still super young as I believe he reclassified prior to signing with UK and hasn't had a ton of high level experience. One of the best young shot blocking wings in the game (regulation ending block of a 3-ball last night) and guy who can score at all 3 levels. I've heard his comp to be JR Smith when he entered the league but I see a lot more Jaylen Brown and Anthony Edwards in him. High energy and elite hops so he has plenty of room to grown into his physicals. If he can get his halfcourt fundamentals down oh boy Watch Out!
Others who we have known were really good but maybe didn't realize just how good they are and off to great starts. Tyrese Maxey, Tyler Herro, DeAaron Fox, Devin Vassell, LeBron James.
Wait a minute, the guy was referencing "these scoring-sensation point guards who can't guard a lick". Are you saying that AI couldn't play defense? Sure AI had his challenges because he was so small but my recollection was that AI was so quick and so strong, people hated being guarded by him.
And he definitely tried. Ai was not Trae Young or Dame on the defensive end.
StatMuse has Dame's DRtg at 112.8: https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/damian-lillard-defensive-rating-career
Here's AI: https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/allen-iverson-defensive-rating
AI was had several seasons where he was among the league leaders in steals per game and was 4 times in the top 20 in defensive Win Shares according to BRef.
He received all defensive team votes in 8 different years. Never made a first or second team, but he received votes.
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/iversal01.html#all_leaderboard
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/i/iversal01.html#all_leaderboard
A shameless Laker fan but Timpf takes a deep dive into the Bucks
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkzCUoJZ50
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elkzCUoJZ50
I got the sense AI was decent enough (esp in his prime), better than the Trae/Dame type guys for sure.
But All-defense votes back in the day were probably less reliable than currently. Today, I think at least most are paying a cursory look at some of the higher level defensive stats and don't care as much if someone has a couple steals a game.
Agree, I just think AI tried a lot more than say Trae or Dame. But I may be wrong.
I think so too.
He also played a ton of minutes on some very good Sixer defensive teams, that should count for something. Of course he wasn't the main reason why, but doesn't seem like he was some massive liability.
Harder to imagine Trae or Dame being on an elite team D.
No you aren't wrong. Iverson never loafed on the floor and but helped a ton by those great defensive teams the Sixers had so he could easily be hidden.
Agree on this. Chet is more Kevin Durant than Jaylen Duran. He is a guy who is likely to be a 20+ ppg guy who is a multi level scorer, and passer,etc. plus shotblocker than a old school center. It is why i actually wanted the Thunder to take JD in 2022 instead of Dieng (and I think Dieng will be a good player). And maybe JD is the wrong fit, but I think OK will need to get someone who is more of a true PF
I am not sure matching a 7'1 210 pound center with a 6'5 PF (JDub), and 6'3 SF (Dort) is a real recipe for success, even if they are both built like OLB's.
In terms of the Bucks’ defense, have been thinking Griffin was committing a classic Mike D’Antoni coaching hubris error of imposing his system on a team made up of players not suited for him that system. So impressed to read
Not sure if that’ll be enough, but definitely more suited to their personnel.
I think Griffin looks smart now because the Knicks are bricklayers from 3. All the perimeter issues in the Bucks D are still there.
Sure, but if you have Dame and Lopez on your team you should play almost all drop because Dame's going to get roasted either way and Lopez in the paint will stop some of the dunks, and Lopez is a great drop defender but not that great at the level.
Agreed. Placing Brook on the perimeter for D is sub-optimal for multiple reasons
Oh, it's definitely a better scheme for their personnel. I'm just getting strong "the Lakers solved Jokic with Rui Hachimura!" vibes, where a team with serious challenges is trying to convince itself that it's one tweak away.
Honestly, the Celtics going back to 2-big against Philly last year felt similar too. "Joe finally listened to the players! They got back to their identity!"....
....and then they were right back out of it against Miami, because Rob isn't that guy anymore, and it wasn't a real solution to the deeper issues.
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must be in Edit, he'll be leaving a lot of tape on the floor
in the meantime here is some Laker porn
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDSFauLC66w
I need a carton of cigarettes after that.
exasperated dude has added a number of noises to his repertoire
Lakers think they'll be getting Brogdon:
https://lakeshowlife.com/2023/11/03/star-player-confirms-lakers-trade-season/
https://lakeshowlife.com/2023/11/03/star-player-confirms-lakers-trade-season/
Brogdon would be a great addition to the Lakers.
They should definitely be looking to add veteran 3pt+ shooting around Bron/AD
BUT expect PDX to get more than DLo and flotsam
They had a 1st rounder every year (Pelicans own swap the next two from AD trade) so unless someone offers more than a 1st in say the 20-24 range he would seem to be a Laker for the taking.
They owe a 1-4 protected 1st to Utah in 2027, and they owe the 2024 or 2025 first to NO (NO gets to choose after this season).
So the only 1sts they are allowed to deal are the 2029 or the 2030 pick (but not both). One of those would certainly get the deal done; the trick would be protections, since I don't think LAL would trade an unprotected 1st for Brogdon.
I thought those NO picks were swap options and not the Lakers sending them picks? Or maybe that was last years pick that was part of the trade.
Yes but until the year is known, both picks are "encumbered" and thus can't be traded because the receiving team can't be sure they're getting what they're bargaining for.
It's a non-standard setup: the Pelicans get to see the results of the 2024 lottery, and then inform the Lakers whether they will take the 2024 pick, or wait and take the 2025 pick instead.
The effect is to lock the Lakers into only having '29 or '30 to deal.
The '27 pick is 1-4 protected and turns into a 2nd if it doesn't convey, so no further restrictions past 2027.
There will be sequences where that HC stuff, right there on the court, will illicit some great trash talk. We need all home Heat tournament games mic'd up.
This is some Stuart Smalley level shit right here. Heat Culture is having 3 HOF'ers in their primes, including perhaps the best player of all time. The end.
Speaking of coaches, did anyone else think that Jacques Vaughn was going to attack the female official in Q4? He was running at her full speed. I‘m hoping he gets fined for attempted intimidation.
He probably runs after prime Charles Oakley if he was the ref who missed such a blatant call right in front of him.
OK, I rewatched the play a couple times and I see where the defender raised his hands and Tatum ran through him. Being as Lebron, Embid, Shaq and the Mailman all did that same thing multiple times per game during their careers I really didn’t see the problem. The defender should have taken the charge if Vaughn wanted a foul.
The Play
Not relevant to your original point of Vaughn but running through a defender is fine when you've gained an angle and the defender isn't set. That part was fine. What Tatum did upon gather is extens his arm into contact with the defender and pushed off to gain separation That's never not a foul regardless of player.
I watched the play. Tatum pushed off. The refs didn’t call it and you are right they often don’t call it. Vaughn overreacted as he was probably upset that the game was slipping away. He deserved the T.
View: https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/1721290120333025611?s=20
Basketball forever: BREAKING: CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
CJ McCollum: This is an insane pic to post with the news
Basketball forever: BREAKING: CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
CJ McCollum: This is an insane pic to post with the news
Spurs/Raptors game is bonkers. Spurs have hit two last second shots up against the 24 second clock and Scottie Barnes can’t miss.
Especially since he’s clutching his left chest.View: https://twitter.com/CJMcCollum/status/1721290120333025611?s=20
Basketball forever: BREAKING: CJ McCollum has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung.
CJ McCollum: This is an insane pic to post with the news
Lol, I switched off at the half figuring it an SA blowout. No lead etc etc.