Official NBA General Discussion 2023-24 V2.0

[MiamiSPX]

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[WaltFrazier]

Just realized Bucks lost to Wizards.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nba/embarrassing-loss-raises-questions-about-milwaukee-s-playoff-chances/ar-BB1l0pkb?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=07e0ee1be8cc47ed8c65f1160da6a335&ei=37

When the Bucks fired head coach Adrian Griffin, they were 30-13. Under Rivers, they've gone 15-14. That's not the record of a title contender. It's more like the record of a first-round loser.

Firing Griffin never made any sense. Again, the writing was always on the wall for the Bucks. Dame is such a weak link on D that it’s hard to be a powerhouse team with him on it. When we mollywhopped the Bucks early on in the season it was mostly just attacking Dame all game. That’s the formula. Combine that with an aging Lopez who has lost a step (and he’s not a guy who can afford to lose a step) and Middleton struggling with injuries for a lot of the year, it was weird that Griffin was getting blamed for the Bucks not being a dominant team. The writing was always on the wall.

And when they have had better stretches under Doc a lot of it was because Middleton got healthy and played well. And Griff didn't have that

[HiJiNX]

Just realized Bucks lost to Wizards.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/sports/nba/embarrassing-loss-raises-questions-about-milwaukee-s-playoff-chances/ar-BB1l0pkb?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=07e0ee1be8cc47ed8c65f1160da6a335&ei=37

Firing Griffin never made any sense. Again, the writing was always on the wall for the Bucks. Dame is such a weak link on D that it’s hard to be a powerhouse team with him on it. When we mollywhopped the Bucks early on in the season it was mostly just attacking Dame all game. That’s the formula. Combine that with an aging Lopez who has lost a step (and he’s not a guy who can afford to lose a step) and Middleton struggling with injuries for a lot of the year, it was weird that Griffin was getting blamed for the Bucks not being a dominant team. The writing was always on the wall.

And when they have had better stretches under Doc a lot of it was because Middleton got healthy and played well. And Griff didn't have that

Absolutely. Bucks **** up.

[sbsat]

Jalen green mean reverting hard

[positivetension]

Flynn 0-10 after dropping 50. Ouch

[JShuttlesworth]

There can still be a lot of movement in the East, it'll be an interesting finish

2. Bucks 47-30 (vs NYK, vs BOS, vs ORL, @ OKC, @ ORL)
3. Cavs 46-31 (@ LAL, @ LAC, vs MEM, vs IND, vs CHA)
4. Magic 45-32 (vs CHI, @ HOU, @ MIL, @ PHI, vs MIL)
5. Knicks 45-32 (@ MIL, @ CHI, @ BOS, vs BKN, vs CHI)
6. Pacers 44-34 (vs MIA, @ TOR, @ CLE, vs ATL)
------------------
7. Heat 43-34 (@ IND, @ ATL, vs DAL, vs TOR, vs TOR)
8. Sixers 42-35 (@ MEM, @ SAS, vs DET, vs ORL, vs BKN)

Some random thoughts:

- The Bucks look suspect out there and have a tough schedule to close out the season...it could get ugly
- With losses to the Knicks / Magic the Bucks could lose home court
- The Pacers could easily still drop into the play-in, 6th is still up for grabs
- MIA / IND tomorrow night is a super important game with 6th seed implications
- Don't count out the Sixers, they could finish off 5-0 here 47-35

[WaltFrazier]

There can still be a lot of movement in the East, it'll be an interesting finish

2. Bucks 47-30 (vs NYK, vs BOS, vs ORL, @ OKC, @ ORL)
3. Cavs 46-31 (@ LAL, @ LAC, vs MEM, vs IND, vs CHA)
4. Magic 45-32 (vs CHI, @ HOU, @ MIL, @ PHI, vs MIL)
5. Knicks 45-32 (@ MIL, @ CHI, @ BOS, vs BKN, vs CHI)
6. Pacers 44-34 (vs MIA, @ TOR, @ CLE, vs ATL)
------------------
7. Heat 43-34 (@ IND, @ ATL, vs DAL, vs TOR, vs TOR)
8. Sixers 42-35 (@ MEM, @ SAS, vs DET, vs ORL, vs BKN)

Some random thoughts:

- The Bucks look suspect out there and have a tough schedule to close out the season...it could get ugly
- With losses to the Knicks / Magic the Bucks could lose home court
- The Pacers could easily still drop into the play-in, 6th is still up for grabs
- MIA / IND tomorrow night is a super important game with 6th seed implications
- Don't count out the Sixers, they could finish off 5-0 here 47-35

I like having a team in this race. I like looking forward to the playoffs. More fun than hoping for lottery balls and tracking Pacers pick.

[NinjaBro]

Can heat still take 6th? Pacers have this breaker yeah?

We need to trade Siakam for AJ Griffen before it's too late! - PhilBlackson

[DreamTeam09]

JDub or J Williams from OKC is 23yrs old? That's crazy, he's the same age as RJ, & RJs r better, but if you ask the world, JDub is a future star potential superstar

[DaGawd]

JDub or J Williams from OKC is 23yrs old? That's crazy, he's the same age as RJ, & RJs r better, but if you ask the world, JDub is a future star potential superstar

no way you just said rj is better than jalen williams…..

[DreamTeam09]

JDub or J Williams from OKC is 23yrs old? That's crazy, he's the same age as RJ, & RJs r better, but if you ask the world, JDub is a future star potential superstar

no way you just said rj is better than jalen williams…..

I forgot to put the word stats. RJs stats r better than JDub. I'm more shocked they're the same age.

[DaGawd]

JDub or J Williams from OKC is 23yrs old? That's crazy, he's the same age as RJ, & RJs r better, but if you ask the world, JDub is a future star potential superstar

no way you just said rj is better than jalen williams…..

I forgot to put the word stats. RJs stats r better than JDub. I'm more shocked they're the same age.

oh ok… yeah rj’s raw stats are better but williams does it more efficiently although maybe a full season of rj in the raptors system might have his efficiency looking somewhat similarly.

[OakleyDokely]

RJ's numbers as a Raptor have been insane. It will be interesting to see if can continue this over a full season like he has over 31 games so far.

RJ Barrett (TOR): 33.5 MIN, 21.3 PPG, 6.2 REB, 4.1 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.4 BLK, .546 FG, .397 3PT, .618 FT, .609 TS, 25.7 USG
J Williams (OKC): 31.8 MIN, 19.4 PPG, 4.0 REB, 4.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.6 BLK, .539 FG, .432 3PT, .813 FT, .622 TS, 24.0 USG

[MiamiSPX]

RJ's numbers as a Raptor have been insane. It will be interesting to see if can continue this over a full season like he has over 31 games so far.

RJ Barrett (TOR): 33.5 MIN, 21.3 PPG, 6.2 REB, 4.1 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.4 BLK, .546 FG, .397 3PT, .618 FT, .609 TS, 25.7 USG
J Williams (OKC): 31.8 MIN, 19.4 PPG, 4.0 REB, 4.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.6 BLK, .539 FG, .432 3PT, .813 FT, .622 TS, 24.0 USG

Another comparison, which I'm sure everyone saw since it was on last night's broadcast, is RJ's numbers as a Raptor and Siakam's numbers as a Pacer. They are nearly identical.

[JB7]

RJ's numbers as a Raptor have been insane. It will be interesting to see if can continue this over a full season like he has over 31 games so far.

RJ Barrett (TOR): 33.5 MIN, 21.3 PPG, 6.2 REB, 4.1 AST, 0.6 STL, 0.4 BLK, .546 FG, .397 3PT, .618 FT, .609 TS, 25.7 USG
J Williams (OKC): 31.8 MIN, 19.4 PPG, 4.0 REB, 4.6 AST, 1.1 STL, 0.6 BLK, .539 FG, .432 3PT, .813 FT, .622 TS, 24.0 USG

RJ is actually a year older (10 months to be exact) than J-Dub. J-Dub is turning 23 on April 14th, while RJ will turn 24 on June 14th.

What is interesting though is the perception of both. Since RJ started at age 19, and this is now his 5th season, he is looked at very differently than J-Dub who has only been in the league 2 years.

[JB7]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/275283/Marc-Lore-Alex-Rodriguez-Reportedly-Planned-To-Reduce-Wolves-Payroll-Below-Luxury-Tax

The public fight between the TWolves owners is getting interesting. Would Taylor actually try and retain players, and pay the tax?

Looks like Lore & A-Rod were prepared to jettison Towns.

[WuTang_OG]

Frank vogel getting fired

[MiamiSPX]

Jokic put the finishing touches on his 3rd MVP last night.

[MiamiSPX]

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[JB7]

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Jrue just got paid. Celtics roster is going to cost $150M+ just for 4 of the starters (Brown, Tatum, KP & Jrue). And they still need to pay White.