Around the NBA - 2024-25 Season Continued

[TheGreenArrow]

Read on Twitter

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Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Wildcat]

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Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's social media. When a player is so accessibility, there's less "mystic" about them.

[WargamesX]

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Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's social media. When a player is so accessibility, there's less "mystic" about them.

Also these kids seem more "normal" Ant has charisma but he also is standoffish, some people call him a jerk, I just think that is his competitive edge and Shai seems like a well adjusted guy, which doesn't create a mystique at all.

Meanwhile Shaq was telling people he was superman and Kobe was building up a reputation that led to him being nicknamed the mamba. I just don't think these kids are built the same personality wise though they are amazing NBA players.

[spree2kawhi]

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?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's social media. When a player is so accessibility, there's less "mystic" about them.

Also these kids seem more "normal" Ant has charisma but he also is standoffish, some people call him a jerk, I just think that is his competitive edge and Shai seems like a well adjusted guy, which doesn't create a mystique at all.

Meanwhile Shaq was telling people he was superman and Kobe was building up a reputation that led to him being nicknamed the mamba. I just don't think these kids are built the same personality wise though they are amazing NBA players.

I think these guys simply aren’t on that level.

[Capn'O]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's social media. When a player is so accessibility, there's less "mystic" about them.

Also these kids seem more "normal" Ant has charisma but he also is standoffish, some people call him a jerk, I just think that is his competitive edge and Shai seems like a well adjusted guy, which doesn't create a mystique at all.

Meanwhile Shaq was telling people he was superman and Kobe was building up a reputation that led to him being nicknamed the mamba. I just don't think these kids are built the same personality wise though they are amazing NBA players.

Shai is like a slightly more egotistical Tim Duncan and he's on OKC.

Nothing to do with his game.

Ant hasn't been consistently good enough.

[MrDollarBills]

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Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't help that the league spent years pushing Lakers/Warriors instead of showcasing everyone else.

[ctorres]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't help that the league spent years pushing Lakers/Warriors instead of showcasing everyone else.

Aren't ratings down across the board for all forms of entertainment on TV? I just think people don't got the attention span to watch a full game anymore, let alone do it for 82 games and however many else in the playoffs? I don't think it's a lack of showcasing new stars

Most of what I watch now are 15-30 second facebook reels, instagram stories/posts, re-posted/shared tiktok videos, and clips from podcasts/shows/games/wrestling matches

Sitting down and watching one thing for 3 hours with my full attention? Yeah that's not happening

[DOT]

It doesn't help that the league spent years pushing Lakers/Warriors instead of showcasing everyone else.

Aren't ratings down across the board for all forms of entertainment on TV? I just think people don't got the attention span to watch a full game anymore, let alone do it for 82 games and however many else in the playoffs? I don't think it's a lack of showcasing new stars

Most of what I watch now are 15-30 second facebook reels, instagram stories/posts, re-posted/shared tiktok videos, and clips from podcasts/shows/games/wrestling matches

Sitting down and watching one thing for 3 hours with my full attention? Yeah that's not happening

Ratings are down because people don't buy cable anymore.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

The NBA doesn't know who to push to the front, they should have made Jokic the face of the league but didn't because he's foreign and use the excuse that he doesn't want it, yet I see him in commercials so he clearly doesn't mind endorsements.

I don't want to hear about how it needs to be an American, because the UFC has guys that don't even speak English that are more well known than American boxers. Alex Pereira had his UFC debut in 2021, he doesn't speak English, and he's probably a bigger name than any American boxer today.

[Enzo954]

Demarcus Cousins is disrespecting us.

Former NBA All-Star center deems New York an ‘average’ team

“We’ve been bamboozled,” Cousins said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “We sat here and allowed the Knicks to put together a championship college team, and try to run it back in the NBA. When they initially did it, we thought it was a good idea. Now we look at it, and they look like an average team. I hate to be rude, upfront, or blunt about it, but that’s literally what it is.”

[spree2kawhi]

Demarcus Cousins is disrespecting us.

Former NBA All-Star center deems New York an ‘average’ team

“We’ve been bamboozled,” Cousins said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “We sat here and allowed the Knicks to put together a championship college team, and try to run it back in the NBA. When they initially did it, we thought it was a good idea. Now we look at it, and they look like an average team. I hate to be rude, upfront, or blunt about it, but that’s literally what it is.”

Good. He’s usually wrong.

[Guano]

It doesn't help that the league spent years pushing Lakers/Warriors instead of showcasing everyone else.

Aren't ratings down across the board for all forms of entertainment on TV? I just think people don't got the attention span to watch a full game anymore, let alone do it for 82 games and however many else in the playoffs? I don't think it's a lack of showcasing new stars

Most of what I watch now are 15-30 second facebook reels, instagram stories/posts, re-posted/shared tiktok videos, and clips from podcasts/shows/games/wrestling matches

Sitting down and watching one thing for 3 hours with my full attention? Yeah that's not happening

Ratings are down because people don't buy cable anymore.

It's multifaceted. Legal access is "hard"(expensive)annoying, plus it's readily available to steal. Also there is a game on every day of the week. It's flooded. So I take this "ratings down" as kinda bullcht. People still love hoops.

And with that said the game isn't worse. People just love to bįtch and complain. no one hates hoops like basketball fans. Back in my day bullcht or shtting on new stars to gas up the glory days. It's noise.

[nykballa2k4]

Those of you that said
Embiid > kat
Pg13 > mikal
Maxy > Brunson
Have some explaining to do

Read on Twitter

It pains me that I didn't bookmark that thread cause some of you deserve the public shame for those takes.

And Nick Nurse > Thibs

Man turned into Fizdale without prime Kawhi

Honestly, I love how he is coaching. He is showing great flexibility and willingness to bench stars for the hot hand. That team was top heavy and aside from Maxey, everyone was broken. Embiid looks like Celtics Shaq. Paul George looks like Knicks Glen Rice. Maybe Knicks T-Mac. They found that big man off a scrap heap and have been developing him at C at the expense of Drummond. They realized EG was toast and didn't shy from moving him down the depth chart.

[Chanel Bomber]

The NBA doesn't know who to push to the front, they should have made Jokic the face of the league but didn't because he's foreign and use the excuse that he doesn't want it, yet I see him in commercials so he clearly doesn't mind endorsements.

I don't want to hear about how it needs to be an American, because the UFC has guys that don't even speak English that are more well known than American boxers. Alex Pereira had his UFC debut in 2021, he doesn't speak English, and he's probably a bigger name than any American boxer today.

The NBA is an older institution that has been weaponized as a propaganda and soft power tool for decades. I think it would take a fundamental shift for the NBA to promote a player from the Balkans as the face of the league. It is used to telling a story about America - Jokic doesn't. It's why Adam Silver has identified improving domestic talent development at the youth levels as a priority for the NBA. I suspect he views the lack of young American superstars as an existential threat.

As I understand, the UFC doesn't play the anthem before fights, which is a stark contrast to the martial legacy of playing the anthem in other sports leagues like the NBA. Of course, it's not a coincidence this tradition held up in light of the country's foreign policy after the two world wars.

Jokic is a generational player - I think his current peak has reached a level that only 10 basketball players or so ever managed to hit. If he were American, the NBA, ESPN etc. wouldn't stop discussing his "greatness" through his successes and failures as an extension of a more patriotic discourse on exceptionalism. But he doesn't serve the broader agenda.

Of course, it's all ridiculous and you wish the sport would truly just embrace the best talents.

[Gravy]

Those of you that said
Embiid > kat
Pg13 > mikal
Maxy > Brunson
Have some explaining to do

Read on Twitter

It pains me that I didn't bookmark that thread cause some of you deserve the public shame for those takes.

And Nick Nurse > Thibs

Man turned into Fizdale without prime Kawhi

Honestly, I love how he is coaching. He is showing great flexibility and willingness to bench stars for the hot hand. That team was top heavy and aside from Maxey, everyone was broken. Embiid looks like Celtics Shaq. Paul George looks like Knicks Glen Rice. Maybe Knicks T-Mac. They found that big man off a scrap heap and have been developing him at C at the expense of Drummond. They realized EG was toast and didn't shy from moving him down the depth chart.

I have not been watching them closely but their record is bad and they have a fire Nurse thread on the Sixers board.

he's done a worse job than Doc FFS from a pure coaching stand point. Doc has his issues and I hated him lol BUT he also did his best coaching during the periods of missing Biid and players. IDK how but he did. So the injury stuff is not an excuse IMO. Nurse has been rigid and uncreative which were the whole reasons we allegedly hired him. I don't care if its the player dictating things or not, whatever we are currently doing is not working...offensively or defensively. THAT is on the coach to fix. Injuries or not, our approach is just baffling IMO. On defense it feels like we allow offenses to dictate everything, we are always chasing on screens and allowing the corner three...which is what every modern offense wants. Its easier said than done but last night, instead of the **** ass zone he loves, he should have forced the Js to just make tough shots .they can and have but its damn sure better than the easy one read to wide open shooters because we doubled tatum every time. YES a hampered Biid def hurts this as he cannot move on the perimeter I get that but this is the same **** that happens when he's not there too imo.

The offensive approach which is also mostly on Biid's shoulders in terms of blame TBF is also terrible. He cannot move. I don't give a **** if he wants it a certain way...**** him lol Use him as a pick and pop, use him on the short roll. DO NOT attempt to use a gimpy ass Biid as the offensive hub when he cannot make the same moves anymore. Stop wasting 10 secs attempting to get him the ball in the post in the most obvious ways that the double can just walk over to double and then there isn't enough time left for an actual good shot.

But just in general I want to see the mad scientist nutjob we were promised. Try new weird ****.

I have never played organized ball and I generally admit my BBall X and Os aren't the greatest but if my dumbass can see some simple changes I don't understand how dudes getting paid for this **** can't see it lol.

-not creative
-gives up open threes
-no offense
-bad X and Os
their fans also complain he only started using the young players because the starters were injured and he was forced to

[nykballa2k4]

And Nick Nurse > Thibs

Man turned into Fizdale without prime Kawhi

Honestly, I love how he is coaching. He is showing great flexibility and willingness to bench stars for the hot hand. That team was top heavy and aside from Maxey, everyone was broken. Embiid looks like Celtics Shaq. Paul George looks like Knicks Glen Rice. Maybe Knicks T-Mac. They found that big man off a scrap heap and have been developing him at C at the expense of Drummond. They realized EG was toast and didn't shy from moving him down the depth chart.

I have not been watching them closely but their record is bad and they have a fire Nurse thread on the Sixers board.

he's done a worse job than Doc FFS from a pure coaching stand point. Doc has his issues and I hated him lol BUT he also did his best coaching during the periods of missing Biid and players. IDK how but he did. So the injury stuff is not an excuse IMO. Nurse has been rigid and uncreative which were the whole reasons we allegedly hired him. I don't care if its the player dictating things or not, whatever we are currently doing is not working...offensively or defensively. THAT is on the coach to fix. Injuries or not, our approach is just baffling IMO. On defense it feels like we allow offenses to dictate everything, we are always chasing on screens and allowing the corner three...which is what every modern offense wants. Its easier said than done but last night, instead of the **** ass zone he loves, he should have forced the Js to just make tough shots .they can and have but its damn sure better than the easy one read to wide open shooters because we doubled tatum every time. YES a hampered Biid def hurts this as he cannot move on the perimeter I get that but this is the same **** that happens when he's not there too imo.

The offensive approach which is also mostly on Biid's shoulders in terms of blame TBF is also terrible. He cannot move. I don't give a **** if he wants it a certain way...**** him lol Use him as a pick and pop, use him on the short roll. DO NOT attempt to use a gimpy ass Biid as the offensive hub when he cannot make the same moves anymore. Stop wasting 10 secs attempting to get him the ball in the post in the most obvious ways that the double can just walk over to double and then there isn't enough time left for an actual good shot.

But just in general I want to see the mad scientist nutjob we were promised. Try new weird ****.

I have never played organized ball and I generally admit my BBall X and Os aren't the greatest but if my dumbass can see some simple changes I don't understand how dudes getting paid for this **** can't see it lol.

-not creative
-gives up open threes
-no offense
-bad X and Os
their fans also complain he only started using the young players because the starters were injured and he was forced to

Well at least I can see he is trying a friggen zone.

Also, we have seen what happens when Thibs coaches short handed -- he just uses less players. If he only likes 6 available players -- there is your rotation. He may have 5 guys on the bench between Kolek, Toppin, Ryan, Huk early on, etc, but nope... he is going to play Josh Hart 42 minutes because a more fresh Hart (32 mins) and 10 minutes of any of the 10-15 guys on the lineup card is blasphemy.

[nykballa2k4]

Demarcus Cousins is disrespecting us.

Former NBA All-Star center deems New York an ‘average’ team

“We’ve been bamboozled,” Cousins said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “We sat here and allowed the Knicks to put together a championship college team, and try to run it back in the NBA. When they initially did it, we thought it was a good idea. Now we look at it, and they look like an average team. I hate to be rude, upfront, or blunt about it, but that’s literally what it is.”

Every team is average until they aren't. OKC could lose in the first round and then the whole story changes. The probably won't, but they could.

[MrDollarBills]

Read on Twitter

?s=46&t=W09F6FrMDfp5_y1gKYgF1g

Yep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It doesn't help that the league spent years pushing Lakers/Warriors instead of showcasing everyone else.

Aren't ratings down across the board for all forms of entertainment on TV? I just think people don't got the attention span to watch a full game anymore, let alone do it for 82 games and however many else in the playoffs? I don't think it's a lack of showcasing new stars

Most of what I watch now are 15-30 second facebook reels, instagram stories/posts, re-posted/shared tiktok videos, and clips from podcasts/shows/games/wrestling matches

Sitting down and watching one thing for 3 hours with my full attention? Yeah that's not happening

I don't think you're wrong at all.

[MrDollarBills]

Demarcus Cousins is disrespecting us.

Former NBA All-Star center deems New York an ‘average’ team

“We’ve been bamboozled,” Cousins said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “We sat here and allowed the Knicks to put together a championship college team, and try to run it back in the NBA. When they initially did it, we thought it was a good idea. Now we look at it, and they look like an average team. I hate to be rude, upfront, or blunt about it, but that’s literally what it is.”

An average team?

Yeah the Knicks have played like ass versus Boston, Cleveland and OKC but that doesn't mean the team is average. This team has a ton of talent and frankly it wins despite anything that we get from the coach, who i clearly overrated throughout the years because Tom is not it at all.

This team needs modern leadership on the bench. That's the biggest issue.

[nykballa2k4]

Aren't ratings down across the board for all forms of entertainment on TV? I just think people don't got the attention span to watch a full game anymore, let alone do it for 82 games and however many else in the playoffs? I don't think it's a lack of showcasing new stars

Most of what I watch now are 15-30 second facebook reels, instagram stories/posts, re-posted/shared tiktok videos, and clips from podcasts/shows/games/wrestling matches

Sitting down and watching one thing for 3 hours with my full attention? Yeah that's not happening

Ratings are down because people don't buy cable anymore.

It's multifaceted. Legal access is "hard"(expensive)annoying, plus it's readily available to steal. Also there is a game on every day of the week. It's flooded. So I take this "ratings down" as kinda bullcht. People still love hoops.

And with that said the game isn't worse. People just love to bįtch and complain. no one hates hoops like basketball fans. Back in my day bullcht or shtting on new stars to gas up the glory days. It's noise.

NBA has an officiating problem.
NBA has players that are/would be elite in any era. Brunson and Towns vs Jackson and Ewing is a real argument.
Ant is a real superstar. He should not have complained about double teams. But he is probably the best wing not named LeBron or Luka since Kobe and certainly the best go-to scorer since Kobe.

There is NO reason that Tatum and Freak shouldn't be on the same level as Duncan and KG.

NBA has the star power to rival any era.

Back to my complaint -- it's the damn refs.

Moving screens are the norm (popularized by Boston KG). No one sets a real screen. This means that there are open shots (not exciting).

Offensive players are all using the off arm to ward defenders. This is 100% illegal. LeBron's signature move is the stiff arm drive to the basket. This is boring basketball particularly when non-LeBrons do it so the can initiate contact and flop and stop play and get free throws.

NBA needs to make refs more consistent. Make the right calls and make them consistent. If contact on the drive between moving offensive player and defender is not a foul on one play, then it's not a foul the next play.

Last point - Margin of victory:
https://www.actionnetwork.com/nba/nba-blowouts-january-margin-of-victory-increase
I am having trouble finding better information, but it does appears that the trend-line supports my eye test. More teams are getting blown out, likely due to the more offense driven rules and players/teams being more streaky because of it.

also a factor for this -- teams taking mental nights off. Celtics don't try every game, most great teams don't. 2000's and Popovic started the trend of devaluing the regular season. Really only the Knicks, Nuggets and Heat (Riley tree coaches) have teams that care.

for thoughts -- if the NBA was more physical meaning more allowed contact, lower scores etc -- would that be more fun to watch?