January 2020 General NBA Game Thread
- Thread starter Ale Xander
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60-70 minutes of George and Beverley will help in that regard, as will playoff-level effort from Kawhi and co.
It may be mildly problematic that one of their four best offensive players (LouWill) is a pretty big defensive liability, but I think come playoff time Doc will have no problem giving Sweet Lou’s minutes to Shamet, Harkless, Green and co. as defensive need arises.
I don’t think they need to make a move, personally, but if they do, what do you suggest? Iguodala? Jehovah Collison? Another big to match up with the Lakeshow in the event they run out.a LeBron-AD-Cousins-Howard-McGee unit?
It may be mildly problematic that one of their four best offensive players (LouWill) is a pretty big defensive liability, but I think come playoff time Doc will have no problem giving Sweet Lou’s minutes to Shamet, Harkless, Green and co. as defensive need arises.
I don’t think they need to make a move, personally, but if they do, what do you suggest? Iguodala? Jehovah Collison? Another big to match up with the Lakeshow in the event they run out.a LeBron-AD-Cousins-Howard-McGee unit?
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Between games like this and the Nuggets losing at home to the Pelicans two weeks ago, it's going to be damn near impossible for the LeTamperers to not get the top seed.
The Clippers are 5th in the league in DefRat. Today they replaced George and Bev with Shamet and Derrick Walton Jr in an afternoon game against Memphis. Not exactly the recipe for an intensity filled NBA game.
I wonder how much they will take out on the Knicks tomorrow. What's up with all these early afternoon starts in LA?
Brandon Ingram is having an All-Star level season putting up a 25/7/5 line...…..but tonight the Kings were up 4 with 5 seconds to go and he fouled Bjelica on a 3 to complete a 4-point play.
Edit: Redick just bailed him out with the win at the buzzer.
Edit: Redick just bailed him out with the win at the buzzer.
I was trying to figure out how the Pelicans closed an 8-point deficit with less than 4 seconds left, but I think I got you (it was the Pels who were up 4).
Poor Kings...
The win was even more impressive for the Hawks, because they did it without Collins, who's still out after landing hard against the C's the other night.
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/kirkgoldsberry/status/1213894590916448256
Kirk Goldsberry
@kirkgoldsberry
https://twitter.com/kirkgoldsberry/status/1213894590916448256
Least Efficient Jump Shooters 2019-20*
1. Russell Westbrook ... 36.4 eFG%
2. Nikola Jokic ............. 42.2
3. Collin Sexton ........... 42.4
4. Anthony Davis ......... 43.1
5. Andrew Wiggins ...... 43.1
*min. 200 attempts
Kirk Goldsberry
@kirkgoldsberryhttps://twitter.com/kirkgoldsberry/status/1213894590916448256
Least Efficient Jump Shooters 2019-20*
1. Russell Westbrook ... 36.4 eFG%
2. Nikola Jokic ............. 42.2
3. Collin Sexton ........... 42.4
4. Anthony Davis ......... 43.1
5. Andrew Wiggins ...... 43.1
*min. 200 attempts
Thanks in part to this absurd and-1:
View: https://twitter.com/ParlonsNBA/status/1213944979845980161
Lakers currently sleepwalking down 4 in the 4th quarter of a trap game at home vs Detroit. The Pistons are on second leg of a B2B and started Christian Wood, Sekou Doumbouya, Tim Frazier, and Tony Snell around Drummond.
Everyone looks awful in a game like this but Kuzma seems like he's ready to go home to pack on his way to a new city via trade.
Edit: And just like that.....Caruso and Howard go nuts to start the 4th leading the Lakers on a 15-0 run.
Everyone looks awful in a game like this but Kuzma seems like he's ready to go home to pack on his way to a new city via trade.
Edit: And just like that.....Caruso and Howard go nuts to start the 4th leading the Lakers on a 15-0 run.
I really hope Detroit looks to move Derrick Rose before the deadline - I want him on a playoff team. He cannot defend but the guy can still get buckets. At ~ $7.3mm/year, he isn't that expensive though his price point is a bit higher than some of the other rumored guys on the block. The problem for anyone acquiring him is that he really doesn't help with floor spacing given his subpar three point shooting but he can still create shots on a second unit.
LeBron was a +23 in last night's 106-99 Lakers win, where AD was a -11. That seems hard to do, given how often they share the floor.
The rate LeBron's going, he's gonna break the RPM machine. His current +9.71 is 2.5 points better than any other player (Harden is #2 at +7.25, Giannis #3 at +7.08), and the second-best mark since ESPN started calculating it in 2013-14, after ... himself in 2015-16 at +9.79. (Curry 2014-15 is #3 at +9.34).
Edit: in other fun RPM news, the top-rated PG in the NBA by far is ... Dennis Schroder at +4.17. Landing CP3 with all those draft picks for Russ was a shrewd move by Sam Presti, but snagging Dennis in the Carmelo deal may have been — wait for it — shrewder.
The rate LeBron's going, he's gonna break the RPM machine. His current +9.71 is 2.5 points better than any other player (Harden is #2 at +7.25, Giannis #3 at +7.08), and the second-best mark since ESPN started calculating it in 2013-14, after ... himself in 2015-16 at +9.79. (Curry 2014-15 is #3 at +9.34).
Edit: in other fun RPM news, the top-rated PG in the NBA by far is ... Dennis Schroder at +4.17. Landing CP3 with all those draft picks for Russ was a shrewd move by Sam Presti, but snagging Dennis in the Carmelo deal may have been — wait for it — shrewder.
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Zach LaVine said that he would "be more likely" to do the dunk contest if he is in the ASG, which is a fantastic way to leverage fan voting to get you in the ASG. LaVine is currently fifth in voting for guards.
I love the dunk contest. LaVine is the best pure leaper I think I have ever seen at the NBA level, along with Gerald Green. Derrick Jones Jr. isn't far behind, as well as the short guys like Nate and Spud. I think my dream four for this year's contest would be LaVine, DJJ, Ja Morant and Aaron Gordon. Zion obviously isn't going to do it. Alex Caruso might be fun to throw in there as well. Javonte Green would be awesome but he is probably too low-profile.
I love the dunk contest. LaVine is the best pure leaper I think I have ever seen at the NBA level, along with Gerald Green. Derrick Jones Jr. isn't far behind, as well as the short guys like Nate and Spud. I think my dream four for this year's contest would be LaVine, DJJ, Ja Morant and Aaron Gordon. Zion obviously isn't going to do it. Alex Caruso might be fun to throw in there as well. Javonte Green would be awesome but he is probably too low-profile.
You must be too young to remember David Thompson, who at 6-4 could reach the top of the backboard.
Well I also understand hyperbole.
That isn't to say Thompson isn't one of history's great leapers. He grew up playing on dirt courts which he always attributed to developing his vertical, same as Jordan later did. The thing about a lot of these guys are that they don't necessarily have crazy developed calves or quad muscles; guys like LaVine and Green have skinny, twig legs, but they just had a god given gift to fly off the floor.
I have a hard time believing their r is any science to back up their claims. I grew up playing on a (hard) dirt court in my backyard and in my prime could barely touch halfway up to the net. Genetics and training......not buying the DCT (dirt court theory) at all. Most of the thick legged players I've seen played closer to the ground (myself included) so I'm guessing that genetically that would be a hindrance to a great verticle compared to a long and lean muscle.
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76ers back home finally. Shot 50 percent from field while beating OKC, 120-113. Embiid dislocated his left ring finger twice in the first quarter. It was ugly. But he got taped up and returned. Steven Adams got the best of him but the 76ers got something from everyone tonight, even Horford, and pulled away late.
Simmons with 17 points and 15 rebounds on a night when Adams dominated the boards.
Philly off until Thursday when Boston visits after playing on Wednesday night. Second straight time this has happened to Celts against Philly this season.
Simmons with 17 points and 15 rebounds on a night when Adams dominated the boards.
Philly off until Thursday when Boston visits after playing on Wednesday night. Second straight time this has happened to Celts against Philly this season.
Markelle Fultz just got interviewed after dropping 25 points on the Nets. Named Player of the Game.
Alvin Gentry's post game presser comments are Gold!! Complaining that Ingram got fouled at the buzzer on a hard drive to the basket...…"We did what we were supposed to do. We took it hard to the basket." Uh, no you dumbass that is exactly what you are NOT supposed to do because we know that officials swallow their whistles on these plays. What you are supposed to do on a final possession when you have a long athlete who can get off his jumper off the dribble against anyone is what Paul Pierce made a career of doing......not "taking it hard to the basket."
I mean, you can clearly see Gentry and Ball try calling for timeout when Ingram gets the rebound and get ignored. Gentry says in the same presser he didn't get an explanation for that.
You guys wanna see a dead finger?
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1214347218016071680?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/ESPNAusNZ/status/1214347218016071680?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Ice Trae is a catastrophically bad defender, but he plays with so much style:
View: https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1214376032288985088?s=20
Young is averaging 29-8 on 44-36-85. The 44 percent from the field doesn't look that impressive, but for a ground-bound 6'1" point guard that shoots a ton of threes, it is actually pretty good. The Hawks are really bad but I like a lot of their pieces, Trae, Collins, Huerter, Hunter.
View: https://twitter.com/TheHoopCentral/status/1214376032288985088?s=20
Young is averaging 29-8 on 44-36-85. The 44 percent from the field doesn't look that impressive, but for a ground-bound 6'1" point guard that shoots a ton of threes, it is actually pretty good. The Hawks are really bad but I like a lot of their pieces, Trae, Collins, Huerter, Hunter.
If I could wager on who would post this, I would finally have enough to upgrade from my flip-phone.
"Embiid's finger" is trending. And clearly in the wrong direction.
Who was it talking up the value of the Warriors junk bench players about a month ago? I don’t have the desire to search but for those wondering how many draft picks Marquese Chriss will fetch......he was waived tonight before he was even done with his post-game spread.
Trae is insane. Even if he fails to improve his efficiency - and its way too soon to judge him in that regard- given his bag of tricks, he feels like a must-watch player. I like that he is cultivating a bit of a persona too. I can't prove it of course but I think it gives certain athletes an edge.
Then, there is this kid. With these two and the other great young players around the league Silver has himself another wave of superstars to sell.
View: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1214385816019099648?s=19
Then, there is this kid. With these two and the other great young players around the league Silver has himself another wave of superstars to sell.
View: https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/1214385816019099648?s=19
That would be me, naturally, but that's cos I kinda know what I'm talking about where GS is concerned (at least relatively speaking, haha). The Warriors from top to bottom loved Quese, who at age 22 was having a really good season:
(Per 36)
14.9 points on .561 TS
11.0 rebounds
3.8 assists
1.2 steals
1.8 blocks
Other players this season averaging 14-11-3 per 36 in over 600 minutes played: Giannis, Towns, Embiid, Jokic, Sabonis, Vucevic, Adebayo, Adams, Love, Plumlee. That's the complete list.
Literally nobody wanted to waive him (and apparently there was much internal debate in the FO about his waiving); but as I noted, there was an impending roster crunch with the pro days on Lee's and Bowman's two-way contracts coming to an end, the hard cap tying their hands, and Chriss the only player on the team without a guaranteed contract. There were plenty of other guys who had been much less good than Chriss, but they were all on guaranteed deals that would have required trading.
In any case, it's a straw man that I thought the Ws could get draft picks for him. Just the opposite: I saw the writing on the wall with his contract status and brought him up as a potentially great, cheap C option on the Celtics if/when he had to be cut loose. I still think he's that — pretty comparable to Daniel Theis in that he's a bit undersized for a C, but a really skilled overall player (decent-to-good shooter, passer, rebounder, shotblocker, and solidly switchable). With more athleticism and upside than Theis. Go get him!
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darn, that probably takes Looney and WCS off the POI list for the C's center depth/injury insurance fetish I have going...
maybe Chriss is the answer to all my prayers? I guess its never too late to find religion
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Yeah, earlier in the season WCS was the guy I was hoping they'd move instead of Chriss, but he's been playing much better of late — looking much less clueless on both ends as he acclimates to Kerr-ball, and even consistently blocking shots for the first time in his NBA career (which is weird, cos he killed it as a shotblocker at Kentucky). He's also the team's only seven-foot "true C," while they're pretty stocked with skilled PF-types in Green, Paschall, Spellman, Looney, and young Smailagic. And he has a cheap $2.3M player option for next season, which you wouldn't think he'll pick up as a 26 y.o. athletic seven-footer, but given the fallow market for true centers these days, you never know.
As far as Chriss, it was apparently an amicable breakup in which they made it clear to him that they loved him but that their hands were tied financially by the hard cap; so I'm hoping they can swoop in and re-acquire him next season with the hard cap lifted. On the other hand, I suspect the roster will change substantially between now and then (possibly including trades of DLo and the pick), so we'll see.
I don't mean to give you a hard time, but you brought him up saying he'd "hard to pry":
Alternatively, you guys would love Marquese Chriss, who at age 22 is fully blossoming and is good at pretty much everything (passing, shooting, FT shooting, screening, rolling, finishing, rebounding, switching, shotblocking, e.g.) with surprising toughness and high hoops IQ to boot. He has basically stopped trying to be a finesse KD 2.0 guy, and is embracing his role as a rugged, switchable modern-day big man. But I'd guess Myers and Co. see what they have in him, too, so he might be harder to pry.
Isn't it a head-scratcher? Once Baynes broke Steph, the Warriors season has turned into one big tryout/tank for a top pick. You'd figure with those stats Chriss would have earned his way on, unless WCS is in their plans for future seasons? SRN was pretty concerned about this roster crunch happening and wanted WCS sent elsewhere weeks ago.I don't mean to give you a hard time, but you brought him up saying he'd "hard to pry":
Alternatively, you guys would love Marquese Chriss, who at age 22 is fully blossoming and is good at pretty much everything (passing, shooting, FT shooting, screening, rolling, finishing, rebounding, switching, shotblocking, e.g.) with surprising toughness and high hoops IQ to boot. He has basically stopped trying to be a finesse KD 2.0 guy, and is embracing his role as a rugged, switchable modern-day big man. But I'd guess Myers and Co. see what they have in him, too, so he might be harder to pry.
Every year SRN talks about how great some fringe Warrior players are. In the past it was Patrick McCaw, or Quinn Cook or Damian Jones or Ian Clark or Ognjen Kuzmic. This year he has a lot more options.
This isn't any different than Celtic fans being high on Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters, Javonte Green, etc.
This isn't any different than Celtic fans being high on Carsen Edwards, Tremont Waters, Javonte Green, etc.
D'oh, you got me; I should have checked my actual wording. Of course at that point, I thought WCS was a mildly negative asset who the Ws were looking to move, so "might be harder to pry" was relative. I wasn't looking to receive any kind of a real asset for either of them. But all the praise I heaped on Chriss still applies!I don't mean to give you a hard time, but you brought him up saying he'd "hard to pry":
Alternatively, you guys would love Marquese Chriss, who at age 22 is fully blossoming and is good at pretty much everything (passing, shooting, FT shooting, screening, rolling, finishing, rebounding, switching, shotblocking, e.g.) with surprising toughness and high hoops IQ to boot. He has basically stopped trying to be a finesse KD 2.0 guy, and is embracing his role as a rugged, switchable modern-day big man. But I'd guess Myers and Co. see what they have in him, too, so he might be harder to pry.
Chriss is an UFA, and the Warriors don't have bird rights on him. There's very little value to developing an asset like that (similar to like, Hezonja and the Knicks last year).
WCS is a quality player now meanwhile. I know he carries downsides, but I can see a team giving up a 2nd for him to help down the stretch, or to help with an injury. Given neither guy is under contract, I'd rather keep the guy who has potential trade value this year.
Guess it shows just how slow the trade market is and lack of demand there is for back-up 5s.
Wouldn't be shocked to see Atlanta or Memphis pick Chriss up and get a move on some of their buyout candidates.
Good god, Chris Paul is so freakin good at playing this game of basketball. Singlehandedly leading an OKC comeback down the stretch with 16 in the 4th, getting anything he wants offensively and using his savvy awareness to draw silly fouls.
Between Melo and Paul it was a big night for the alumni of the 2002 Under-17 AAU National Champion Greensboro Gaters! I'm sure Reyshawn Terry and Justin Gray had big nights in their YMCA games tonight as well.
Till he lost the ball with the chance to win at the end of regulation. But yeah, he is beasting. He is putting on a spectacular show tonight.