January 2020 General NBA Game Thread

[Kliq]

Seems kind of hypocritical for this forum to chastise someone for making fun of Delonte West, and then have multiple posters make similar mean-spirited jokes at the expense of Parsons, who appears to have suffered extremely serious injuries after getting hit by a drunk driver.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Aside from Bird, Magic, LeBron and maybe Curry I am not sure I can recall a second year player who is as crafty/clever as Luka Doncic. The guy just sees the court differently than most other players, including seasoned veterans who have significant NBA experience.

His shooting and efficiency need to improve but when they do (and its when not if imo), the guy is going to be even more lethal.

Wow: Just saw that Dwight Powell injury for Dallas - that is ugly and kind of a tough loss for them. He isn't spectacular but he is very solid. It also makes Dallas another buyer for big on the trade or buyout market.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Chandler Parsons career may be over after being hit by a drunk driver.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28523841/law-firm-says-hawks-chandler-parsons-injured-drunk-driver
interesting he is using Morgan and Morgan as his attornies

Oh, his career was definitely over before he was hit by the drunk driver.

 

[Apisith]

Luka is just so special. Given his relative lack of athleticism, I think he's the most special basketball player I've ever seen at his age.

 

[the moops]

Luka is just so special. Given his relative lack of athleticism, I think he's the most special basketball player I've ever seen at his age.

And not even 21 years old. He is a joy to watch, and makes so many plays where all I can say is "damn"

 

[The Social Chair]

Zion time.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

This may be the most hyped sporting event of 2020 not involving a championship

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

So who is this Zion guy they're talking about?

 

[The Social Chair]

Hoping Aldridge doesn't break Zion. He's secretly dirty.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Probably gonna be rough while he gets in game shape but man he looks pretty lumbering moving up and down the floor.

Great look for Ingram there though.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Hoping Aldridge doesn't break Zion. He's secretly dirty.

How do you break Zion? The dude is a massive human and is even bigger than last year. He is carrying a lot of weight.

 

[Ale Xander]

So who is this Zion guy they're talking about?

He has nice arches on his shots.

 

[Ale Xander]

How do you break Zion? The dude is a massive human and is even bigger than last year. He is carrying a lot of weight.

Defective footwear?

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

Mark Jackson essentially calling Zion fat 4 minutes into the game.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Okay, I’m done watching this poor man’s Eric Paschall. Onto the real deal.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

View: https://twitter.com/AdamHimmelsbach/status/1220180019256922112?s=20

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Okay, I’m done watching this poor man’s Eric Paschall. Onto the real deal.

You mean poor, chubby PaschAnimal, right?

 

[TripleOT]

Bad news for Chandler Parsons, but I don't see how the amount of insurance the typical driver carries is going to compensate Parsons if the accident costs him future earnings. Most policies couldn't cover the $300k he gets to (not) play in each of the 82 games.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

Nice offensive board and putback for by Zion for his first career points.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Zion is forcing me to watch this awful Pelicans team. That’s the trade off.

 

[RetractableRoof]

Aside from Bird, Magic, LeBron and maybe Curry I am not sure I can recall a second year player who is as crafty/clever as Luka Doncic. The guy just sees the court differently than most other players, including seasoned veterans who have significant NBA experience.

His shooting and efficiency need to improve but when they do (and its when not if imo), the guy is going to be even more lethal.

Wow: Just saw that Dwight Powell injury for Dallas - that is ugly and kind of a tough loss for them. He isn't spectacular but he is very solid. It also makes Dallas another buyer for big on the trade or buyout market.

Since we've been talking about them today, Parker comes to mind as well. But I agree, Doncic does seem to have a court awareness atypical of his NBA experience.

 

[The Social Chair]

Ingram will be Zion's Monta Ellis.

 

[Gash Prex]

I’d be super nervous as a Pelicans fan about Zion’s long term health. He walks like an old man and is clearly not in great shape - and he plays so big. The load he places on his knees is going to be tremendous, especially given his gait/knee issues.

 

[Euclis20]

It's hard to take much away from today, the game is clearly way too fast for him right now(which is mostly rust). He dribbled the ball directly into a Spurs' hands twice in about 90 seconds, along with bobbling a couple of passes.

 

[Gash Prex]

Will Zion have more TO than minutes played? Just had his 5th turnover

 

[GoDa]

Zion does not look to be in great shape. Yikes.

 

[GoDa]

I guess he showed me.

 

[The Social Chair]

Take Zion out and we riot.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

That was fun.

 

[The Social Chair]

Ingram coming in and bricking a shot is hilarious.

 

[ElUno20]

If he ever gets in shape, look out

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

I mean, the dude just dominated a 10 minute stretch of his first NBA game. In the fourth quarter. Against, one of the best coached teams in sports.

 

[benhogan]

Every time I watch a tight Pels game it seems like Gentry has no clue how to use timeouts or coach the last minute

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Since we've been talking about them today, Parker comes to mind as well. But I agree, Doncic does seem to have a court awareness atypical of his NBA experience.

Parker is another great pull and an oversight in my post. I forgot how polished the guy was in his first few years in the league.

 

[the moops]

I mean, the dude just dominated a 10 minute stretch of his first NBA game. In the fourth quarter. Against, one of the best coached teams in sports.

Seriously. That was fun. His jumper looks kinda broken, but that was fun as hell to see him score 13 straight or whatever it was

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

If he is able to clear space like your standard elite big butt player with the athleticism and leaping ability he has, that’s a serious load to handle.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Zion is forcing me to watch this awful Pelicans team. That’s the trade off.

Pels are far from awful. They had won 10 of their last 14 games beating Houston, Denver and Utah in that stretch.

 

[ElUno20]

Pels are far from awful. They had won 10 of their last 14 games beating Houston, Denver and Utah in that stretch.

Yup. And if zion is going to contribute, they'll squeak into the playoffs.

I know the weight, gait, size, etc all dont add up in people's analysis. But sometimes there are just stars that dont make any kinda fn sense. He might be in that category.

 

[Euclis20]

Yup. And if zion is going to contribute, they'll squeak into the playoffs.

I know the weight, gait, size, etc all dont add up in people's analysis. But sometimes there are just stars that dont make any kinda fn sense. He might be in that category.

I think he'll be an MVP candidate at his peak IF he stays healthy. He's like a bigger charles barkley, and the only player I've ever seen move like him at close to his size is Lebron. The problem is that he's a 19 year old who is 30+ pounds bigger than Lebron, he's already had knee surgery and made a shoe explode on the court. I'm just not sure he's long for the league.

 

[lovegtm]

I mean, the dude just dominated a 10 minute stretch of his first NBA game. In the fourth quarter. Against, one of the best coached teams in sports.

All I saw was a guy looking awful when driving, then being left open from 3 and getting hot.

(Zion looked amazing in preseason when healthy, and I think that's more representative of what he is, but this game was basically shit.)

 

[Euclis20]

He's a 19 year old who scored 22 points on 11 shots (along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists) in 18 minutes in his NBA debut. He was clearly rusty and out of sync (hence the turnovers almost every time he drove into the paint, plus he looked lost on defense) but if you can't look at the raw numbers and be impressed you're missing the forest for the trees.

 

[lovegtm]

He's a 19 year old who scored 22 points on 11 shots (along with 7 rebounds and 3 assists) in 18 minutes in his NBA debut. He was clearly rusty and out of sync (hence the turnovers almost every time he drove into the paint, plus he looked lost on defense) but if you can't look at the raw numbers and be impressed you're missing the forest for the trees.

1. Looked lost on defense
2. Terrible on nearly every drive
3. Turned it over a lot
...
4. Hit some 3s because the other team didn’t respect his shot.

AMAZING!!!

Again, I think Zion (barring injury) is really really good, but that performance was crap. I’ll leave being impressed by raw numbers to Bill Simmons.

 

[azsoxpatsfan]

1. Looked lost on defense
2. Terrible on nearly every drive
3. Turned it over a lot
...
4. Hit some 3s because the other team didn’t respect his shot.

AMAZING!!!

Again, I think Zion (barring injury) is really really good, but that performance was crap. I’ll leave being impressed by raw numbers to Bill Simmons.

It’s his nba debut. To say it was crap is simply wrong even if he wasn’t great

 

[lovegtm]

It’s his nba debut. To say it was crap is simply wrong even if he wasn’t great

I mean...most debuts are crap. Most rookies are crap. You're making a clear category error: confusing performance with potential.

As far as potential, I've now said 3 times in 3 posts that I THINK ZION WILL BE GOOD.

Honestly, I was sort of bummed. I woke up, saw everyone on Twitter creaming their screens over Zion's 4th quarter, and really thought/hoped I'd go watch and see him having flashed those drives and other parts of his game. Instead I saw a fat athletic guy turn it over a lot and then hit some 3s when the other team dared him to.

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

I mean...most debuts are crap. Most rookies are crap. You're making a clear category error: confusing performance with potential.

As far as potential, I've now said 3 times in 3 posts that I THINK ZION WILL BE GOOD.

Honestly, I was sort of bummed. I woke up, saw everyone on Twitter creaming their screens over Zion's 4th quarter, and really thought/hoped I'd go watch and see him having flashed those drives and other parts of his game. Instead I saw a fat athletic guy turn it over a lot and then hit some 3s when the other team dared him to.

But hey, just taking those 3s puts him ahead of the curve in at least one way:
View: https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/1220214633442746369




SportsNation

@SportsNation
https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/1220214633442746369
Zion Williamson: 1 career game, 4 three-pointers
Ben Simmons: 203 career games, 2 three-pointers

 

[lovegtm]

But hey, just taking those 3s puts him ahead of the curve in at least one way:
View: https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/1220214633442746369




SportsNation
@SportsNation
View: https://twitter.com/SportsNation/status/1220214633442746369

Zion Williamson: 1 career game, 4 three-pointers
Ben Simmons: 203 career games, 2 three-pointers

Yes, his spirit is Powerful and he is not a Coward like bensimmon.

 

[The Social Chair]

17 straight points in a 3 minute stretch of a competitive NBA game is impressive.

 

[benhogan]

17 straight points in a 3 minute stretch of a competitive NBA game is impressive.

it's such an outlier it begs the question:

How many times has that happened (17 straight pts, 3mins, close/late game) in the history of the NBA?

I thought we'd see the first 3quarters of a rusty Zion after not playing a competitive game for 3 months. What an amazing feat, hopefully, he can stay healthy and give Pelican fans something after the disrespect they received from AD/Klutch last season.

Not trying to "fat shame" Zion but if I was the Pelicans I'd spend Bron type money ($1.5MM/yr) for a personal chef and fitness expert to work directly with him 24/7/365.

 

[lovegtm]

It's weird that people didn't get super-excited about Mikal Bridges' future when he hit 6 of 8 open 3s against Boston last week. And he had even more pointz! 26! Raw numbers!

Zion has a promising future if healthy (although coming back fat is very concerning in that regard.) But his little 4th quarter hot shooting streak yesterday is a complete non-indicator in either direction, and I feel like I'm taking crazy pills with how everyone is slobbering over it.

 

[The Social Chair]

Bridges wasn't a number 1 pick. He didn't score those points in 3 minute stretch during the 4th QT to bring his team back into the game. They also weren't running the offense through him.