Around the NBA - 2024-25 Season Continued

[MrDollarBills]

If AD demands out and DAL asks for KAT for AD... would you consider it?

More injury prone, slightly older, slightly higher salary... but 2-way player and more championship experience...

The only player I'm trading Karl for is Giannis.

AD is damaged goods and I wouldn't trade anything of value for him. That's why I literally said Dallas traded Luka for absolutely nothing of remotely comparable value

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=bxju2fhKRgs9w-vljlsvkg

Damn, and he is 32...

Those mavs fans that were trying to believe the lie that they had a chance with their currently constructed team have to be real sick today.

That Luka trade Shams tweet was one of the best surreal experiences I've ever had... it's historic, you remember where you were and what you were doing that day

Just can't fathom it... even if he was out of shape, he still just led your team to the Finals... and you traded him for an older walking glass LOLLL

If you're a Mavs fan, basketball is NOT your escape, it's your HELL for the next DECADES.

Yep.

The Mavs are now in the worst position in the sport.

They're going to gift multiple teams top 5 picks at the end of the decade.

There is no escape here. They are cooked.

[MrDollarBills]

For Vegas, baby!

Yeah Kyrie getting hurt aside, trading Luka and then jacking up ticket prices is the behavior of an ownership group that wants fans to abandon the team.

So the NBA has to let them move to Vegas, because their fans don't support them. Or maybe Texas will authorize sports betting so the Adelsons can stay in Dallas. Either way...

What they have done is so brand damaging that if I'm Adam Silver I'm launching an investigation into the circumstances of that trade. I absolutely think they're trying to move a team in one of the largest markets in the country to Vegas for gambling reasons.

Didn't the former Oakland A's pull a similar stunt in MLB?

[MrDollarBills]

I still believe in my boy deuce

Deuce is an excellent defender but Luka and Bron are out of his tax bracket, they're too big to put a 6'2" guy on.

I was just talking to a hooper friend who has seen Luka play in person. Said the guy is a monster in a way you don't catch on TV. More imposing than you'd imagine with massive shoulders.

Both LeBron and Luka can put opposing wings in a post-up blender. Boston's wings aren't as powerful but they can at least resist. We only have OG, unless we put KAT on one of them (which presents its own set of challenges of course).

TV makes guys seem smaller than they are. The first time I ever saw Carmelo Anthony play up close and personal I was floored at how much a unit he was. Like he made guys guarding him look like children. Haven't had the pleasure of seeing Luka live, which i do want to at some point, but i can imagine he's similar.

[mpharris36]

Read on Twitter

The crazy thing is that some fans will use this as justification for Thibs to play guys more minutes. Same with the Embiid injury. It’s crazy as hell.

Honestly all hostility towards Kyrie and Mavs aside, this is again, basketball malpractice.

Kyrie is not some iron man. He's prone to injury and playing him that many minutes was basically asking for this guy to get hurt.

The way his knee buckled was sickening. I don't like Kyrie obviously but i didn't want that to happen to him.

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

[MrDollarBills]

The crazy thing is that some fans will use this as justification for Thibs to play guys more minutes. Same with the Embiid injury. It’s crazy as hell.

Honestly all hostility towards Kyrie and Mavs aside, this is again, basketball malpractice.

Kyrie is not some iron man. He's prone to injury and playing him that many minutes was basically asking for this guy to get hurt.

The way his knee buckled was sickening. I don't like Kyrie obviously but i didn't want that to happen to him.

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

[GONYK]

Honestly all hostility towards Kyrie and Mavs aside, this is again, basketball malpractice.

Kyrie is not some iron man. He's prone to injury and playing him that many minutes was basically asking for this guy to get hurt.

The way his knee buckled was sickening. I don't like Kyrie obviously but i didn't want that to happen to him.

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

[HopelessKnick]

Honestly all hostility towards Kyrie and Mavs aside, this is again, basketball malpractice.

Kyrie is not some iron man. He's prone to injury and playing him that many minutes was basically asking for this guy to get hurt.

The way his knee buckled was sickening. I don't like Kyrie obviously but i didn't want that to happen to him.

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

I think if there is any major injury which may be stress related to any of our core guys, Thibs won't be able to keep his position. You have a major part of the fanbase questioning him, you have ex-NBA players questioning him and you now have ex-knick players questioning him. I think the re-insertion of Towns against the Celtics was the moment many remaining supporters soured on Thibs.

Barring a miraculous ECF or finals run this season or the next, Thibs is done. There is no way he is going to survive that scrutiny and criticism already directed at his person for more than one more season.

[mpharris36]

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

Brunson (34-36) / Payne (12-14)
Mikal (24) / McBride (24)
Hart (36) / Mikal (12)
OG (34) / KAT (8) ??? (6)
KAT (28) / Mitch (20)

So there is basically 6 minutes or so to manage at the PF spot. Precious should be able to handle some spot minutes. Obviously its a close or tight game you can bump OG up to 36. But Precious shouldn't go from a key rotation player to now being completely out of rotation with mitch back forcing OG to avg 40 mins now.

[KnicksGadfly]

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

KAT can play some PF, which frees up OG a little. We could use another wing though.

[HopelessKnick]

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

I think with our current top 9 players you could easily have a rotation where you can limit and load manage players:

JB 35min./Payne 13min.
Bridges 24min./Deuce 24min.
OG 14min./Bridges 4min./Hart 30min.
KAT 10min./Precious 18min./OG 16min.
Mitch 28min./Kat 20min.

JB 35min.
OG 30min.
KAT 30min.
Hart 30min.
Bridges 28min.
Mitch 28min.
Deuce 24min.
Precious 18min.
Payne 13min.

I think this is a legit 9man rotation and nothing about this minutes distribution is crazy----of course at this point Thibs is going to welcome back Mitch, bench Precious and go back to a 7 man rotation and have all starters play 35+ minutes.

[GONYK]

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

I think with our current top 9 players you could easily have a rotation where you can limit and load manage players:

JB 35min./Payne 13min.
Bridges 24min./Deuce 24min.
OG 14min./Bridges 4min./Hart 30min.
KAT 10min./Precious 18min./OG 16min.
Mitch 28min./Kat 20min.

JB 35min.
OG 30min.
KAT 30min.
Hart 30min.
Bridges 28min.
Mitch 28min.
Deuce 24min.
Precious 18min.
Payne 13min.

I think this is a legit 9man rotation and nothing about this minutes distribution is crazy----of course at this point Thibs is going to welcome back Mitch, bench Precious and go back to a 7 man rotation and have all starters play 35+ minutes.

I don't believe Mitch will get up to ~30MPG or that KAT will ever not start at the 5.

[HopelessKnick]

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

I think with our current top 9 players you could easily have a rotation where you can limit and load manage players:

JB 35min./Payne 13min.
Bridges 24min./Deuce 24min.
OG 14min./Bridges 4min./Hart 30min.
KAT 10min./Precious 18min./OG 16min.
Mitch 28min./Kat 20min.

JB 35min.
OG 30min.
KAT 30min.
Hart 30min.
Bridges 28min.
Mitch 28min.
Deuce 24min.
Precious 18min.
Payne 13min.

I think this is a legit 9man rotation and nothing about this minutes distribution is crazy----of course at this point Thibs is going to welcome back Mitch, bench Precious and go back to a 7 man rotation and have all starters play 35+ minutes.

I don't believe Mitch will get up to ~30MPG or that KAT will ever not start at the 5.

You may very well be right with both and if both cases come true we are doomed anyways. With the make-up of our team and the fact that we gave up all our picks for Mikal we would be limited to a second round and out team really.

This team is not going to beat any elite team with KAT at the 5. The defense will just not be good enough. If Mitch does not start and can play 28ish minutes than this roster won't be Boston, OKC or Cleveland IMO. A healthy Mitch may make the gap narrow enough for us to tweak our way into contention next season. IF---gigantic IF---Mitch can remain healthy, we still need a playmaking guard or forward that can handle 20-25minutes and play both ends to be really competitive...but I guess it could be done with a bit of luck....if Mitch can't get to 30minutes a night we essentially would need a strong Center and said wing player...I simply don't see us having the assets to pull it off.

[MrDollarBills]

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

Hmm. You made me think of something:

Hart really needs to move to the bench tbh. I'd like Mitch to eventually start.

So

Mitch
Karl
OG
Mikal
Brunson

Hart, Deuce, Precious, Shamet and Payne as unit 2. But knowing Tom, 9 guys is the most he will go. So:

Until Huk comes back, Precious backs up both 4 and 5. Karl will still have to play at 5 when Precious comes in for Mitch. OG will play 4 when Karl is off the floor to ensure that we have at least one player at 5/4 that can space at all times.

Hart will back up OG at SF. Undersized yeah, but we'll have to manage. Maybe incorporate some zone into the defense?

I'm spitballing but here's how I would break it down in BaF terms :

C: Mitch (18) / Karl (15) / Precious (15)

PF: Karl (20) / OG (17) / Precious (11)

SF: OG (17) / Hart (20) / Mikal (11)

SG: Mikal (24) / Deuce (24)

PG: Brunson (32) / Payne ( 16)

Obviously a lot depends on Mitch being able to handle 18 mpg, and Precious, Deuce, and Payne getting around a 2 to 3 more mpg than they average now. Hart would see the most dramatic cut but he honestly could use some rest as we head into April. KAT is the only one who stays at 35mpg where he currently is, but I would like to find a way to shave 3 mins off of that if possible.

[Fat Kat]

Read on Twitter

[Polk377]

Read on Twitter

With all the complaining about Thibs minutes, it doesn't seem to be hurting the Knicks.....hmmm

[nykballa2k4]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Leonnnnnnnn letssss goooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get it Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He is going to be fun in Brooklyn with Zion and Flagg

WTF hell noooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be better nykballa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BE BETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah man. Ball and Zion are going to look good in their suits on the bench.

[WaltFrazier]

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

With Mitch back there is zero reason why anyone should be over 35 mins from now til playoffs.

I'm not gonna rehash my thoughts on Tom. But he needs to watch it. If we lose any of the core group, that's the end.

Mitch plays exactly 1 position for about 10-15 mins.

I don't see why he would alleviate Hart/OG/Mikal's mins. We need another playable wing.

I do think Precious could take say 4 minutes from OG per half, and you still get good D on the opposing PF, and switchability. As long as he's on with KAT not Mitch, for spacing. Also Precious could be on those five man defensive units in late game situations like the last two games. Thibs needs to be flexible enough to try things like that.

But a playable wing would be good also. But there's playable, and then there's what Thibs considers playable

[nykballa2k4]

The crazy thing is that some fans will use this as justification for Thibs to play guys more minutes. Same with the Embiid injury. It’s crazy as hell.

Honestly all hostility towards Kyrie and Mavs aside, this is again, basketball malpractice.

Kyrie is not some iron man. He's prone to injury and playing him that many minutes was basically asking for this guy to get hurt.

The way his knee buckled was sickening. I don't like Kyrie obviously but i didn't want that to happen to him.

this is what concerns me about OG...he's avg over 40 mins in last 3 games (yes I know one OT game) but he has always had injuries and he is such a swing factor for us. If you get the OG vs Memphis and Miami we have a chance to beat anyone.

As much as I dislike Kyrie the person (anti-semestism) you never want to see a player get hurt like that. Also Mavs fans really are being robbed here since the team pivoted, it seems like Final Destination where whoever was wearing Dallas laundry was going to be riddled with injuries.

Thibs should take note and limit his guys to like 34mpg max, drop guys like OG to 30 mpg. Won't happen. But it should.

[Chanel Bomber]

Deuce is an excellent defender but Luka and Bron are out of his tax bracket, they're too big to put a 6'2" guy on.

I was just talking to a hooper friend who has seen Luka play in person. Said the guy is a monster in a way you don't catch on TV. More imposing than you'd imagine with massive shoulders.

Both LeBron and Luka can put opposing wings in a post-up blender. Boston's wings aren't as powerful but they can at least resist. We only have OG, unless we put KAT on one of them (which presents its own set of challenges of course).

TV makes guys seem smaller than they are. The first time I ever saw Carmelo Anthony play up close and personal I was floored at how much a unit he was. Like he made guys guarding him look like children. Haven't had the pleasure of seeing Luka live, which i do want to at some point, but i can imagine he's similar.

Interesting. Funny you mention Melo. Their games are very different but athletically/physically they give off a similar impression (I didn't see either play in person). Melo was a unit as you said. I grew up with a guy who wasn't as tall as those guys but tall relative to the average and he was similarly just built different. Guys like Doncic and Melo remind me of him a bit. Bron is like that except he had hops which is entirely unfair when you add the basketball intelligence