I mean this sincerely - how much time off is too much? I thought some of their recent games were dumb, but at least they were getting in NBA cardio.
They’ve been so good for so long that basically every pundit has been looking for any excuse to doubt or disparage them.. they’ve been basically one of the best teams of all time and the narrative is that they’re a really good regular season team but what will they do in the playoffs? They’ve had nothing to play for for basically a month.. people just aren’t used to that reality because it just never happens.
Would you rather be in a situation like almost all of the rest of the NBA where every game is going to matter? The next month or two is going to be stressful.. a few days off must be a pretty nice luxury
Tatum is almost universally acknowledged to be the 5th guy in the all-NBA voting (after Jokic/Giannis/Luka/SGA), and because he's 5th everyone talks about how there's a chance that one of the other guys could pass him. Haliburton/Durant/Kawhi/Brunson have been the names mentioned throughout the year as potentially passing Tatum on the list, but speaking of late season drop offs, Haliburton/Kawhi have really stumbled, and the Suns likely staying in the play in is brutal for Durant's chances. Brunson has the momentum (both with his own play and the Knicks potential rise all the way up to 2nd without Randle), but when the dust clears, people will acknowledge that Tatum/Boston are miles ahead of Brunson/New York, and the former will be an overwhelming choice for 1st team. Jokic/Giannis/Tatum/SGA/Luka is 100% going to be the group, all well deserving.
It's not just POINTZ though. The guy averages more rebounds, assists, and steals than Tatum. The offensive difference between the two is not trivial
Leaving the offensive stuff aside, if we're talking about the rebounds and steals totals, do you think that Luka is a better rebounder and defensive player than Tatum?
That won't ever happen, because "muh points on high efficiency!", but imo Giannis is low-key in decline, and the Bucks' upcoming 1st round elimination while he's hurt will overshadow that story.
I thought Giannis was in decline last year, but he's bounced back nicely this season in almost every way (while also playing 10 more games, although he may be paying for it now). I think he's still inarguably a top 3 player, the Bucks problem is that Lillard no longer looks like a top 20 guy and everyone else on their roster (other than Portis) is just an aging role player at this point.
If Indiana beats them they need to consider blowing it up. And firing Doc, who they regressed under.
If Giannis doesn't play, there's just no way they can fire Doc. I don't know if they can even if he does play - they're already going to be paying three coaches next year (and two coaches for another three seasons after that), I can't see them possibly go for #4. The only way they blow it up is if Giannis comes back and suffers a major injury (achilles) that would keep him out all next season. At that point, it's burn everything down that isn't Giannis.
I'm sure they've already considered it but so long as Giannis wants to play for them, they are going to try to put a championship contender around him.
I hope they play all home games at night. Seems like road teams outperform expectations during day games. I think HRB has commented on this before in the gambling thread.
The top-5 favorites for MVP have had a gap to #6 for awhile and Tatum has been the 4th favorite since around the ASB. He’s making 1st Team or I’ll eat a log of Boban Marjanovic’s shit.
Correct. Unfortunately my memories of the 2023 Bruins are tainted. And the same might eventually come to pass of the 2024 Celtics. But they were awesome.
Amen. To that end, one of the many ways the team succeeded was in starter rest. Final update in that department, per my spreadsheet:
| Month | Avg absences | Porzingis Out % |
| Oct / Nov | 0.61 | 17% |
| Dec | 0.93 | 43% |
| Jan | 0.81 | 31% |
| Feb | 0.50 | 10% |
| Mar | 1.50 | 44% |
| Apr | 2.25 | 38% |
| Full Season | 1.02 | 30% |
This analysis holds true if you look at total minutes instead of games (as one would expect) and also if you look at minutes per game (which wouldn't directly flow from games played).
I assume this is not a metric about their Dad jokes, but what exactly is considered a "Rim Shot Creation" and why is it divided by 75?
It’s just how often they self create looks at the rim, and it’s per 75 possessions.
That stat about them going 8-0 with three or more of the big 6 out…I think he is as deserving of Coach of The Year as anyone.
to add to this, the 75 is because a typical full game has about 100 possessions so 75 is like a pace adjusted version of “per 36 minutes”, or what a typical full game would give for a starter.
Tatum and White are locks, as is Brad I think.
I actually would vote for Mosley. Over/Under for Orlando was 37.5, they won 47. They were thought to be a borderline play-in team, and instead came a game away from hosting a first round playoff matchup.
Orlando has been a great story, and I think that's a reasonable opinion.
Yeah Jaylen isn't mentioned on every 3rd team ballot, but it's not like it's between him and one other guy. There quite a few guys on the bubble, so even if Jaylen is only on half of the ballots, he might still get voted in. I think here are the all-NBA locks:
JJ is also unique in the media that he understands basketball, not just narratives.
