NBA 20/21 season thread

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Interesting article on the UT-PHI game here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-vs-jazz-takeaways-rudy-gobert-struggles-with-joel-embiid-philadelphias-late-game-offense-looks-sharp/. Points out that the Jazz have trouble in the 4Q on the defensive end, which is not surprising given their wings.

It also has this quote:

But a disturbing trend is emerging whenever Gobert plays against elite offensive big men. Nikola Jokic is averaging 41 points per game against him in two matchups this season. Embiid just hung 40 on him. Anthony Davis averaged just a tick below 30 points per game on Gobert across three matchups last season with 52%/40%/87% shooting percentages. The Jazz are 1-5 in those games. ​

​

The simple explanation here would be that these are the rare star big men that can score at an elite level both inside and out. Yes, Gobert is more comfortable away from the basket, but, well, Embiid and Jokic have still managed to punk him in the post. ​

​

There are multiple issues at play here. Gobert is a good post-defender, but hardly an elite one given his skinnier frame. He hasn't finished in the 80th percentile in points per possession allowed in the post since the 2016-17 season. The fact that Gobert has to account for the perimeter with these superstars compromises him further, especially in pick-and-roll, but more importantly, it takes Utah out of its preferred defensive alignment. ​

​

The best version of Gobert is the one dedicated entirely to rim-protection. Forcing him to defend players like Embiid, Jokic and Davis makes that significantly more difficult because they need to be accounted for at all times. That, in turn, makes it easier for the players Gobert isn't defending to get to the rim. The 76ers scored 131 points on only eight 3's Wednesday. They did that by scoring 64 points in the paint. That's nearly impossible to do against Gobert when he can protect the rim exclusively, but when he's occupied by an MVP candidate? Suddenly things get a lot easier for everybody else, and that's a problem Utah is going to have to solve in the playoffs with possible matchups against Davis, Jokic and Embiid looming.​

 

[benhogan]

He's back and looking for that truck.

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2021/02/26/nba-boston-celtics-it-on-si-team-usa-americup-fiba/?taid=604014ffa6b68d00016e18bb

 

[HomeRunBaker]

It's hard to judge in a vacuum, without seeing how they called similar contact the other way; as others have said, I'm always dubious of how Emiid is officiated, but would need to see more clips. The offensive foul on Mitchell is probably the most eye catching if you're looking for a bad active call rather than swallowing a whistle, the call would have been for hooking Simmon's arm as he made the spin move, but even on a slowed down clip, it's hard to say that was an intentional move and not just what happens when two long-armed players are engaged like that.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXw8H6tYxTM

The way I always approach this is that if you have to take a replay, slow it down, then decide what the correct call would be......how in the name of Mendy Rudolph could we expect an official, in motion, at game speed, to get the call correct. There are so many bang-bang plays over the course of a game that could go either way it isn’t fair to anyone to slow these down to analyze.

Some of the criticism simply isn’t fair. You cannot blame the official, who was out of bounds, for the loose ball hitting him then declaring it a dead ball......when that is the rule. I’ve read this one all morning (not here) and my position is that anyone complaining about THAT call should have their credibility removed for any other call they complain about.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Interesting article on the UT-PHI game here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-vs-jazz-takeaways-rudy-gobert-struggles-with-joel-embiid-philadelphias-late-game-offense-looks-sharp/. Points out that the Jazz have trouble in the 4Q on the defensive end, which is not surprising given their wings.

It also has this quote:

But a disturbing trend is emerging whenever Gobert plays against elite offensive big men. Nikola Jokic is averaging 41 points per game against him in two matchups this season. Embiid just hung 40 on him. Anthony Davis averaged just a tick below 30 points per game on Gobert across three matchups last season with 52%/40%/87% shooting percentages. The Jazz are 1-5 in those games. ​

​

The simple explanation here would be that these are the rare star big men that can score at an elite level both inside and out. Yes, Gobert is more comfortable away from the basket, but, well, Embiid and Jokic have still managed to punk him in the post. ​

​

There are multiple issues at play here. Gobert is a good post-defender, but hardly an elite one given his skinnier frame. He hasn't finished in the 80th percentile in points per possession allowed in the post since the 2016-17 season. The fact that Gobert has to account for the perimeter with these superstars compromises him further, especially in pick-and-roll, but more importantly, it takes Utah out of its preferred defensive alignment. ​

​

The best version of Gobert is the one dedicated entirely to rim-protection. Forcing him to defend players like Embiid, Jokic and Davis makes that significantly more difficult because they need to be accounted for at all times. That, in turn, makes it easier for the players Gobert isn't defending to get to the rim. The 76ers scored 131 points on only eight 3's Wednesday. They did that by scoring 64 points in the paint. That's nearly impossible to do against Gobert when he can protect the rim exclusively, but when he's occupied by an MVP candidate? Suddenly things get a lot easier for everybody else, and that's a problem Utah is going to have to solve in the playoffs with possible matchups against Davis, Jokic and Embiid looming.​

This piece plays right into the convo from yesterday about TL’s skill set. Gobert has never been a great low post one-on-one defender due to his frame. He’s been decent/good but people confuse this skillet with his overall rim protection against penetration. Like TL, Gobert is at his best when he’s in movement.

 

[Kliq]

The most egregious calls I saw from that thread were the Tobias Harris travel, but lol at traveling being called. The real bad one was the Curry grab on O'Neale, which was the typical "guy beat me off the dribble, better grab him before he gets too far" tactical foul that was right in front of the ref.

 

[terrynever]

Interesting article on the UT-PHI game here: https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/76ers-vs-jazz-takeaways-rudy-gobert-struggles-with-joel-embiid-philadelphias-late-game-offense-looks-sharp/. Points out that the Jazz have trouble in the 4Q on the defensive end, which is not surprising given their wings.

.​

Gobert had his hands full with Embiid but the real Utah weakness was Bogdanovic. Philly went at him on every possession in OT. Tobias Harris backed him down, turned and shot layups and leaners for the first 11 of Philly’s 13 points in OT.

As for Mitchell, he works the officials whenever he can. Early in OT, tied at 118 , he went up for a 3 from the left corner and leaned into Seth Curry, drawing the foul but missing the shot.That’s a trick players use on officials all over the league. It’s almost as bad as flopping. But it’s okay to fake the officials while sacrificing your form to lean in. Maybe he makes the shot if he goes straight up. Utah was shooting 50 percent on its first 42 threes.

If Jazz can’t beat Philly when they make 21 3s, they’re not going to beat elite teams in the playoffs.

 

[TripleOT]

He's back and looking for that truck.

https://celticswire.usatoday.com/2021/02/26/nba-boston-celtics-it-on-si-team-usa-americup-fiba/?taid=604014ffa6b68d00016e18bb

If IT is healthy again, I can’t believe he wouldn’t be an upgrade off the Celtics bench for a playoff run, even if he could play 8-10 decent minutes

 

[lovegtm]

If IT is healthy again, I can’t believe he wouldn’t be an upgrade off the Celtics bench for a playoff run, even if he could play 8-10 decent minutes

I can believe it. He plays their position of least need, has lost a ton of pop even if healthy, and makes Kemba look like prime Kawhi Leonard on D.

 

[JCizzle]

Mitchell’s displeasure continued after the game, blaming the refs for the loss and saying the league should do something about it:

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/PaoloUggetti/status/1367307796895559687

Paolo Uggetti
@PaoloUggetti
Donovan Mitchell just went off on the officials. “We won this game in my opinion … It’s getting fucking ridiculous.” Says the Jazz "continually get screwed” and that the league needs to “do something about this.”

Edit: Here's more of the quote:

"First off, you know, give the 76ers credit. They played a hard game. Joel [Embiid] did what he does, and at the end of the day, they're a good team. We competed. But it's tough. It's tough to go out there and see how we fight and compete, and to have a game like that taken from us," Mitchell said following Wednesday night's contest.

"Now, I'm never ever one to blame a ref, to blame an official -- I can say I could have done more -- but this is getting out of hand. There have been games like this that we've won; there have been games like this that we've lost. But this whole refereeing stuff. ... We're nice, we don't complain, like, we don't get frustrated, we fight through things, and the fact that we continually get ... screwed, in a way, by this. You know?"

"We won this game, in my personal opinion. You know?" Mitchell continued. "But like I said, I'm going to give them credit. They won. Whatever. Cool. But it's been a consistent thing, and the question is, 'Can we do it? Can we sustain it? Are we for real No. 1? And, yeah, the hell we are. And it's getting f---ing ridiculous that this is what is happening."

Good. NBA officiating is awful. The league needs to fix this shit.

 

[Cesar Crespo]

Good. NBA officiating is awful. The league needs to fix this shit.

It's an impossible sport to officiate. How would you fix it?

 

[JCizzle]

It's an impossible sport to officiate. How would you fix it?

Pay me $10M a year to be the commissioner and I'll get you a well thought out and researched answer

For starters though, how about finding a way to ditch known problems like Scott Foster?

 

[BigSoxFan]

It's an impossible sport to officiate. How would you fix it?

Step 1: Call fewer fouls on Theis and more fouls on people guarding Tatum

Step 2: ???

Step 3: Profit!

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Pay me $10M a year to be the commissioner and I'll get you a well thought out and researched answer

For starters though, how about finding a way to ditch known problems like Scott Foster?

Yet year after year Foster is graded among the best officials in the league. Why is that?

 

[JCizzle]

Yet year after year Foster is graded among the best officials in the league. Why is that?

He probably picked up a lot of good advice during the 100+ calls he had with Donaghy back in the day

 

[HowBoutDemSox]

The most egregious calls I saw from that thread were the Tobias Harris travel, but lol at traveling being called. The real bad one was the Curry grab on O'Neale, which was the typical "guy beat me off the dribble, better grab him before he gets too far" tactical foul that was right in front of the ref.

Harris travel one of six bad non-calls from the last two minute report, three for each team.
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/KyleNeubeck/status/1367616762167066628

 

[DJnVa]

Blake Griffin has been bought out.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

It's an impossible sport to officiate. How would you fix it?

They have set such a low bar with replay that I would be thrilled just to see that canned. Would feel better than if it never existed in the first place.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Blake Griffin has been bought out.

Rumors Brooklyn is in the lead. I get why anyone would want to go there, and I guess he can still play a bit (ground-bound as he is) but that is a bit of an odd fit in my mind...

 

[benhogan]

Rumors Brooklyn is in the lead. I get why anyone would want to go there, and I guess he can still play a bit (ground-bound as he is) but that is a bit of an odd fit in my mind...

maybe he's still buddies with DJ?

I wouldn't be surprised to see him in SoCal, Blake just reeks of Lake Show/ringchaser

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1378746850816188420


Wasn't sure where to put this, and this seemed as good a place as anyway.

I like Holiday, but holy shit that's a lot of money.

 

[BigSoxFan]

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1378746850816188420


Wasn't sure where to put this, and this seemed as good a place as anyway.

I like Holiday, but holy shit that's a lot of money.

Wow. For his age 31-34 seasons no less. He should give 25% of that to Giannis.

 

[Cellar-Door]

I like Jrue, and the contract was basically inevitable given what they traded for him (like Tunsil in the NFL, when you spend huge to trade for a guy with 1 year left he's gonna soak you), but man that's a lot of money.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I like Jrue, and the contract was basically inevitable given what they traded for him (like Tunsil in the NFL, when you spend huge to trade for a guy with 1 year left he's gonna soak you), but man that's a lot of money.

Yeah, the Bucks knew when he was acquired that they would be paying him but let’s not forget that with the dramatic projected increase in the salary cap coming up those last couple years really shouldn’t be a big deal so long as he’s producing.

 

[ElUno20]

Bucks signing a guard to a massive deal before the playoff run and true test. I've seen this before

 

[jon abbey]

Aaron Gordon is a great fit on Denver, good luck trying to match up with Jokic and Porter and Gordon all at once. They are 4-0 since he got there, the previous two over the Sixers and Clippers. Tonight was Orlando, who went up 65-47 at halftime only to see Denver fly by then with a 72-44 second half. Jokic only took 2 shots in the second half, 16 assists for the game.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Don't think Celtics will be interested in either, but a couple cuts today:
Gary Clark
View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1380170301359677443


Ignas Brazdeikis
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1380169508476874753

 

[Kliq]

Phoenix beat Utah last night, have won 7 straight, and are only a game behind Utah for the #1 seed. I think a lot of people expected them to be improved from last year, but to be this good? I'm pretty shocked. They rank 7th in offense and 5th in defense, and they have improved without any real noticeable jump by Ayton, who would be their X factor. CP3 and Booker have been great; they have gotten a great season out of Bridges, and they have good depth on the wings with a lot of 3 and D guys with Crowder, Cam Johnson, Torrey Craig, Bridges, and even Abdel Nader, who is playing real minutes and making 42% of his threes.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Phoenix beat Utah last night, have won 7 straight, and are only a game behind Utah for the #1 seed. I think a lot of people expected them to be improved from last year, but to be this good? I'm pretty shocked. They rank 7th in offense and 5th in defense, and they have improved without any real noticeable jump by Ayton, who would be their X factor. CP3 and Booker have been great; they have gotten a great season out of Bridges, and they have good depth on the wings with a lot of 3 and D guys with Crowder, Cam Johnson, Torrey Craig, Bridges, and even Abdel Nader, who is playing real minutes and making 42% of his threes.

People keep forgetting that Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA still.

 

[Kliq]

People keep forgetting that Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA still.

It's hard to argue with his pattern of basically going to a new team each year and making them significantly better. What is interesting is that on Phoenix, it isn't like there was a noticeable uptick in performance from their other players outside of Bridges. Booker has great numbers but he had great numbers last season. Ayton hasn't gone up a level. They have added a few role players that have helped. But its clear the difference on both ends of the floor has been the addition of CP3, who has taken largely the same cast from missing the playoffs to perhaps the #1 seed. He has got to be considered a strong candidate for MVP.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

People keep forgetting that Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA still.

I’ve been beating his drum forever since the first day I saw him play at Wake. The great players control the game and he does so on both ends at sub-6 feet. He’s also fun as shit in a punk ass way.....

View: https://youtu.be/ZUlzSgjiQBs

 

[cheech13]

People keep forgetting that Chris Paul is one of the best players in the NBA still.

It’s beating a dead horse at this point but I still can’t believe that Houston traded him for Westbrook AND had to throw in draft picks. In what world is Westbrook more valuable than Paul? I know the contract was perceived as bad but RW’s was arguably worse even at the time.

 

[wade boggs chicken dinner]

Aaron Gordon is a great fit on Denver, good luck trying to match up with Jokic and Porter and Gordon all at once. They are 4-0 since he got there, the previous two over the Sixers and Clippers. Tonight was Orlando, who went up 65-47 at halftime only to see Denver fly by then with a 72-44 second half. Jokic only took 2 shots in the second half, 16 assists for the game.

Here's what teams are going to have to figure out how to defend. Jokic in high post; Murray setting pick and then setting up for a 3P shot, and Gordon racing to the basket. In this video below, ORL gives up four baskets without doing much really wrong.

View: https://streamable.com/pj4qi5


Ringer article describes Gordon's impact: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/6/22369360/aaron-gordon-trade-denver-nuggets-nikola-jokic. One scary stat:

Denver is thriving on the strength of a new starting lineup that has absolutely incinerated the opposition: The unit of Jokic, Gordon, Murray, Porter Jr., and Barton is a plus-61 in 90 minutes, by far the best mark of any lineup in the NBA since the deadline. The Nuggets are now devastating on both ends, scoring a blistering 135.1 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions while allowing a minuscule 102.3 points per 100, according to Cleaning the Glass—both absolute top-of-the-pops-level elite marks. ​

​

* * * *​

Gordon already has stepped into the “big wing defender” role ticketed for him in Denver; in his first three games as a Nugget, he lined up primarily against John Collins, Ben Simmons, and Kawhi Leonard, according to NBA.com’s matchup data. That didn’t necessarily mean that Porter Jr. got the night off—he still had to deal with tough covers like Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris Sr.—but slotting him in on a less central role can help mitigate his defensive growing pains. So far, so good: Denver has conceded 107 points per 100 in Gordon-MPJ minutes, not far off the Lakers’ league-leading defensive rating. ​

 

[jon abbey]

Yeah, I don't have League Pass, but I have seen a lot of them since they traded for Gordon, and they seem like a legit title contender if they can play enough D.

 

[benhogan]

Here's what teams are going to have to figure out how to defend. Jokic in high post; Murray setting pick and then setting up for a 3P shot, and Gordon racing to the basket. In this video below, ORL gives up four baskets without doing much really wrong.

View: https://streamable.com/pj4qi5


Ringer article describes Gordon's impact: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2021/4/6/22369360/aaron-gordon-trade-denver-nuggets-nikola-jokic. One scary stat:

Denver is thriving on the strength of a new starting lineup that has absolutely incinerated the opposition: The unit of Jokic, Gordon, Murray, Porter Jr., and Barton is a plus-61 in 90 minutes, by far the best mark of any lineup in the NBA since the deadline. The Nuggets are now devastating on both ends, scoring a blistering 135.1 points per 100 non-garbage-time possessions while allowing a minuscule 102.3 points per 100, according to Cleaning the Glass—both absolute top-of-the-pops-level elite marks. ​

​

* * * *​

Gordon already has stepped into the “big wing defender” role ticketed for him in Denver; in his first three games as a Nugget, he lined up primarily against John Collins, Ben Simmons, and Kawhi Leonard, according to NBA.com’s matchup data. That didn’t necessarily mean that Porter Jr. got the night off—he still had to deal with tough covers like Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris Sr.—but slotting him in on a less central role can help mitigate his defensive growing pains. So far, so good: Denver has conceded 107 points per 100 in Gordon-MPJ minutes, not far off the Lakers’ league-leading defensive rating. ​

good knock-on effect from adding an athletic/+ defense player. More offensively inclined players don't have to play defense, some rotation players go to the deep bench, etc

Celtics would be getting a nice lift if EF was available for more than a handful of games. EF was a good get but Danny should have added one more defensively inclined wing/pg

 

[Jimbodandy]

Lot of bad basketball in Heat/Lakers tonight.

Recent pickups for both teams, mostly uninspiring.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Lot of bad basketball in Heat/Lakers tonight.

Recent pickups for both teams, mostly uninspiring.

Miami keeps getting into the bonus early at the start of each half. I’m going to guess that they learned from their 1Q mistakes to have a double digit lead by end of 3Q and that Spoel made this a halftime priority.

 

[Jimbodandy]

Miami keeps getting into the bonus early at the start of each half. I’m going to guess that they learned from their 1Q mistakes to have a double digit lead by end of 3Q and that Spoel made this a halftime priority.

I haven't been able to figure out how much was increased Miami effort and how much was Vogel trying to manage what appears to be a 19-man rotation.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I haven't been able to figure out how much was increased Miami effort and how much was Vogel trying to manage what appears to be a 19-man rotation.

What has been abnormal about the Lakers rotation? Seems like standard 9-man.

 

[Jimbodandy]

What has been abnormal about the Lakers rotation? Seems like standard 9-man.

Just has seemed haphazard, but it's probably because I haven't seen this particular collection of guys. They seem to not know some of the actions too, which makes sense (Ben and Drummond in particular).

Neither team seems ready to stomp out the other.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Just has seemed haphazard, but it's probably because I haven't seen this particular collection of guys. They seem to not know some of the actions too, which makes sense (Ben and Drummond in particular).

Neither team seems ready to stomp out the other.

Yes totally agree. There are 5 new players getting regular minutes in this game and none of them are certain what to do or where to be on the floor. It goes back to what I always preach, the game is reactionary and instinctual so when you are out there “thinking” you are a step behind everyone else. This game is like everyone is behind the next guy lol.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Both teams live-grenading their way through this game.

Dipo hurts his knee on a wide open dunk.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Heat can call this a “workmanlike” victory. That was a painful grind for them.

 

[Ale Xander]

Cross-posting

Dwyane Wade buys minority stake in the . . . Utah Jazz

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/dwyane-wade-buys-ownership-stake-in-jazz-for-me-this-is-an-opportunity-to-grow/

 

[Cellar-Door]

Lol Kerr:
View: https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1383188019310587905


Why would you give this quote (except I guess to pressure the GM to trade your young guy for a vet because you don't want to chance getting fired)

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Lol Kerr:
View: https://twitter.com/957thegame/status/1383188019310587905


Why would you give this quote (except I guess to pressure the GM to trade your young guy for a vet because you don't want to chance getting fired)

They should look to see what they can get for Wiseman. Their window is 2-3 years and you should be able to trade for a better player/veteran fit during this window. It isn’t like Wiseman is the second coming of LeBron, his upside is that of a very good player but that won’t happen until their window is closed.

 

[JCizzle]

Rondo is such an amazing passer.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Rondo is such an amazing passer.

Simmons with the awful hi-lo attempt to Embiid resulting in a steal then caught sleeping as MaMo back doors him. These Sixers struggle closing out games sometimes.

 

[JCizzle]

Simmons with the awful hi-lo attempt to Embiid resulting in a steal then caught sleeping as MaMo back doors him. These Sixers struggle closing out games sometimes.

The clippers just left him WIDE open under the basket in an attempt to get him the ball for a foul. Such disrespect!

 

[128]

Three straight losses for Miami, the latest coming tonite against Minnesota.

 

[TripleOT]

Three straight losses for Miami, the latest coming tonite against Minnesota.

Fivd straight wins for the Knicks, including beating Dallas in Dallas last night. I was hoping the Mavs could hang a W on them.