I think it’s more of the Bronny Effect.Lakers are looking really, really good. Maybe coaching was the problem.
I think it’s more of the Bronny Effect.Lakers are looking really, really good. Maybe coaching was the problem.
It may seem like borderline heresy, but I agree with this. His last year, it was clear to everyone here he had lost a step and was struggling to stay in front of quick guards. Watching him slowly bring up the ball could be maddening: they'd be six, eight seconds into the shot clock before he got into position to run the offense. Anytime he started the game by making a couple of threes, the heat checks invariably followed. For every dazzling pass he made, there would be some lazy, no-look attempt that would get picked off.Old friend Marcus Smart currently 0-11 from the field including 0-8 from three. I don’t miss Marcus Smart.
Huff just played his way into a standard 4-year contract. Good for him. https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/42058052/grizzlies-two-way-center-jay-huff-earns-four-year-nba-dealGrizz vs Magic is chippy. Fun game
Maybe Edey can pump up his numbers again during garbage time.
2-way Center Jay Huff outplaying him
There's no doubt we sold high on him.They have plenty of toughness without him. You need your guards to be able to put the ball in the basket in 2024. He is a liability out there and beginning to lose some foot speed/quickness. I’m very confident that his best days are behind him.
They play different positions. Jordan Walsh is a 6'7" forward currently understudying for Sam Hauser.By 2026-2027 it is entirely possible that we'd prefer Jordan Walsh in that role.
Are we talking about end of bench, or backup PG? Those are very different roles. PP is playing a lot. There is no world where I want Marcus playing 25 minutes for the Celtics.They play different positions. Jordan Walsh is a 6'7" forward currently understudying for Sam Hauser.
We would probably bring in a Smart because we had traded Pritchard for tax reasons.
Right, and Mr. "We already have a big three" is unlikely to enjoy getting spot minutesAre we talking about end of bench, or backup PG? Those are very different roles. PP is playing a lot. There is no world where I want Marcus playing 25 minutes for the Celtics.
I'm positing that he is accepting that his days as a starter in the league will be over by that point, he'll have gotten very small offers for backup roles, and a vet min deal in Boston to do that will be relatively appealing.Right, and Mr. "We already have a big three" is unlikely to enjoy getting spot minutes
PP, at $7mm a year, they'd need to get #5 draft pick value (rookie deal) in a trade (starts a hair under 7mm). Which would never happen. If it's last year of the deal and need to break the band up (e.g injuries, not making playoffs), then sure trade him. But it looks like a beauty of a deal.If PP keeps playing well offensively, he's nearly untouchable at his salary number. You trade KP or Jrue well before that.
Pritchard isn’t getting traded unless it’s that of a last resort. Moving a value contract who is a fan favorite has to be far down on the list of viable options down the road.If PP keeps playing well offensively, he's nearly untouchable at his salary number. You trade KP or Jrue well before that.
video:Luka limping off straight to the locker room.
And 0 in the 2nd quarter. Ant seems to have unlocked the secret to scoring more points: Take twice as many 3PAs (13.3 per game) as last year (6.7) while slightly increasing your %. Curious how this opens up the rest of his game as his assists, 2p% and ft% are all solidly down (in a miniscule sample).video:
https://x.com/GrantAfseth/status/1851421624916197839?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^tweet
Also Edwards went for 24 in first quarter.
He injured his ankle in the 1Q. He hasn’t looked right since.And 0 in the 2nd quarter.
Yup just 13 points on 4-9 shooting the rest of the game. I didn't notice him moving slower, but I wasn't paying super close attention to it.He injured his ankle in the 1Q. He hasn’t looked right since.
I'm not one to make too much of results themselves early season, but Denver looks like it might have a talent issue. It all depends on whether Playoff Murray is going to walk through that door again, I suppose.Denver should have lost that game last night. Gave up a wiiiiiide open corner three to Finney Smith for the win with time expiring. He bricked it though
The Nuggets are approaching games as if they are still in the preseason. Their 1H numbers are terrible and I believe last night to begin the 4Q was the first time that they had a positive point differential with Jokic on the bench. However down the stretch of the last two nights games they executed by going through Jokic which is the out that they will always have providing he remains healthy. Yes, they lack talent.....they lacked it last year too, but the biggest noticeable difference is their lack of athleticism and explosiveness which is why they brought over Westbrook. He will be a key for them to perform as he has since moving to a bench role and he isn't giving them that yet. The Nuggets floor will always be high with Jokic especially with Murray in the lineup even if he's lost a step....but their ceiling is also capped without prime Murrray, Bruce Brown or KCP around any longer.I'm not one to make too much of results themselves early season, but Denver looks like it might have a talent issue. It all depends on whether Playoff Murray is going to walk through that door again, I suppose.
If only...Philly gives Detroit it's first win. George and Embiid returning any day now...
Going to be pushing this back not enough hours, or focus, in the day. Btw, Dyson Daniels leads the league w 29 Deflections w Cason Wallace, another on my 10-player list, the only other player at 20+.some suggestions:
GG
Cam Thomas (25ppg potential)
TJD
Dyson Daniels
Podz
Nembhard
Duren
Grady Dick
Anthony Black
Jaquez Jr
Cason is strong, OKC has him guarding up.Going to be pushing this back not enough hours, or focus, in the day. Btw, Dyson Daniels leads the league w 29 Deflections w Cason Wallace, another on my 10-player list, the only other player at 20+.
Nice find. I’ll share my Bulls preview from the preseason…So another team taking on the mathematics of the NBA is CHI. From this article: How The Chicago Bulls Became Surprisingly Fun In 2024-25
Last season, they attempted midrange shots at the fourth-highest frequency and 3-pointers at the fifth-lowest rate (per Cleaning the Glass). Their 2022-23 numbers were even more archaic (29th in 3-point rate).During the summer, the Bulls shed the venerable, yet midrange-happy DeMar DeRozan (career 29.6 percent 3-point shooter). This allowed more minutes for more accurate perimeter marksmen, such as Coby White (36.8 percent) and Ayo Dosunmu (36.4 percent). Patrick Williams (40.7 percent), Zach LaVine (38.3 percent), and Lonzo Ball (36.4 percent) have all also returned from injuries that caused them to miss most/all of last season. Chicago replaced classical backup center Andre Drummond (12.3 percent) with a true stretch five in Jalen Smith (34.2 percent) as well.**It also helps that the team’s starting center, Nikola Vucevic, has gone from hitting 29.4 percent of his threes in 2023-24 to 52.4 percent this season – a mark that will surely simmer down as the season progresses.Now, the Bulls are 29th in midrange frequency and fifth in 3-pointers. Plus, since they can field good shooters, they are actually converting those attempts (seventh in 3-point percentage).
More at the link about CHI's improved pace and ball movement. Might have to start paying closer attention to this team.
Spot on analysis! I hope you have some decent coin on the over.Nice find. I’ll share my Bulls preview from the preseason…
Chicago Bulls, Win Total 28.5 (Win Projection: 41)
The Bulls offense will look much different this year with DeRozan's iso game in Sacramento, the return of LaVine, and the limited offense/shot creation of Caruso being replaced by the elite passing and ball movement of Giddey and Lonzo Ball. The inclusion of these two PG's allow Coby White and LaVine to combine for one of the leagues best wing scoring duos. Patrick Williams is looking to make a leap in his age 23 season while hoping for a healthy campaign after playing 71, 17, 82 and 43 games in his first four seasons. Vucevic returns in the middle and should be a beneficiary of Giddey and Ball's return while upgrading the passing at the 2 with White there. Behind him is some shuffling of the deck with Drummond out and 23 yr old Jalen Smith in from the Pacers while giving them a potential long term replacement for the big Belgian.
Defensively this team has identity issues last season. DeRozan had lost a step on that end while Williams was on the shelf much of the year. Even with Caruso this team was not very switchable and with their slower pace they struggled getting stops in the halfcourt. That should change this season with the length and switchability of Giddey which allows him to defend 1-4, Williams every position in the frontcourt as well as LaVine's versatility from 1-4. When Ball is in the game he adds that dimension to the second unit along with Dosonmu in the backcourt. This is going to be one of the more fun teams to watch develop but make no mistake that Billy Donovan is going to be on the hot seat quickly if they do not come out of the gates hot. I thnk they do and will be one of the more surprising teams in the league.
I actually didn’t play any Win Totals this year since they are around even money and I’d be flying up funds for 6 months. The only long term futures I have are….Spot on analysis! I hope you have some decent coin on the over.
You cannot stop Scottie Pippen Jr…..you can only hope to contain him.Bucks down 16 to Memphis after 1. Their defense is god awful.
Right up Donovan's alley. Billy was draining 3s at PC for Slick RickSo another team taking on the mathematics of the NBA is CHI. From this article: How The Chicago Bulls Became Surprisingly Fun In 2024-25
Last season, they attempted midrange shots at the fourth-highest frequency and 3-pointers at the fifth-lowest rate (per Cleaning the Glass). Their 2022-23 numbers were even more archaic (29th in 3-point rate).During the summer, the Bulls shed the venerable, yet midrange-happy DeMar DeRozan (career 29.6 percent 3-point shooter). This allowed more minutes for more accurate perimeter marksmen, such as Coby White (36.8 percent) and Ayo Dosunmu (36.4 percent). Patrick Williams (40.7 percent), Zach LaVine (38.3 percent), and Lonzo Ball (36.4 percent) have all also returned from injuries that caused them to miss most/all of last season. Chicago replaced classical backup center Andre Drummond (12.3 percent) with a true stretch five in Jalen Smith (34.2 percent) as well.**It also helps that the team’s starting center, Nikola Vucevic, has gone from hitting 29.4 percent of his threes in 2023-24 to 52.4 percent this season – a mark that will surely simmer down as the season progresses.Now, the Bulls are 29th in midrange frequency and fifth in 3-pointers. Plus, since they can field good shooters, they are actually converting those attempts (seventh in 3-point percentage).
More at the link about CHI's improved pace and ball movement. Might have to start paying closer attention to this team.
Bucks going to have a 4th coach on the payroll?what are the odds Doc will be back in the booth for ABC by mid-season?
The NBA will have to institute a salary cap on paying coaches.Bucks going to have a 4th coach on the payroll?
Do they get some/all of Bud's back because Phoenix is paying him?The NBA will have to institute a salary cap on paying coaches.
MIL up to $22M this year.
Yeah, you're probably correct that there is offset language in the contract so I guess MIL is only atDo they get some/all of Bud's back because Phoenix is paying him?
As a Celtics fan--I'm worried OKC cashes in its assets for Giannis this year.Giannis 37 points on 17/22 shooting, 11 boards, 4 assists 1TO, but they lose by 23. Got nothing from the other 4 starters.
I actually hope they do, because Giannis doesn't feel like the sort who'd play well in a system not centered around his specific skill-set (Lately, it feels he's just enacting the Charge of the Light Brigade over and over)As a Celtics fan--I'm worried OKC cashes in its assets for Giannis this year.
Yeah. He'd obviously be good/dangerous somewhere like Miami (although the package they'd need to put together to get him, as detailed in trade mechanics discussion in the General NBA thread, would leave them VERY shallow, with lots of injury risk at the top), but OKC is the real fear for the rest of the NBA.As a Celtics fan--I'm worried OKC cashes in its assets for Giannis this year.
I guess that looks like Hartenstein + filler + tons of picks?As a Celtics fan--I'm worried OKC cashes in its assets for Giannis this year.
You definitely don't want the best team in the west to get a top 5 player to pair with the rest of that crew. A Chet, Giannis, Dort, JW, SGA starting lineup would be fucking bonkers and so ridiculously goodI actually hope they do, because Giannis doesn't feel like the sort who'd play well in a system not centered around his specific skill-set (Lately, it feels he's just enacting the Charge of the Light Brigade over and over)
I actually think he'd fit well there, they'd have a ton of spacing around him, pairing him with Chet and all of OKC's perimeter athletes on D is terrifying to opposing offenses (maybe not the ideal matchup for Jokic, but the mobility and rim protection would be outrageous).I actually hope they do, because Giannis doesn't feel like the sort who'd play well in a system not centered around his specific skill-set (Lately, it feels he's just enacting the Charge of the Light Brigade over and over)