2025-2026: Around the League

[RookieStar]

Imo I still think they need some re-maneuver of its roster to become a contender. However, I do think they will end up with one of the best records in the Western Conference as long as Wemby is healthy

You saw those plays where Bam just bumped Wemby away going to the basket? Wemby cant stop the drives of the "strong" bigs. He might get tired of ghe pounding he will recieve.

I would expect Wemby will see that every night...it's the only prayer of slowing him down. Every contender will need a "goon" on the roster - just like hockey. He's so good and so agile that all you can hope for is to bump him around and have him thinking about you bumping him around next time down. Probably not super effective - but the hope is just to keep him at mortal numbers.

Doesnt have to be a goon. Just a compact 250lbs strong guy to drive through his chest in the 1st half even if theybget blocked 10 out of 10 times. Wemby would shy from contact in the 2nd half

[Skybox]

You saw those plays where Bam just bumped Wemby away going to the basket? Wemby cant stop the drives of the "strong" bigs. He might get tired of ghe pounding he will recieve.

I would expect Wemby will see that every night...it's the only prayer of slowing him down. Every contender will need a "goon" on the roster - just like hockey. He's so good and so agile that all you can hope for is to bump him around and have him thinking about you bumping him around next time down. Probably not super effective - but the hope is just to keep him at mortal numbers.

Doesnt have to be a goon. Just a compact 250lbs strong guy to drive through his chest in the 1st half even if theybget blocked 10 out of 10 times. Wemby would shy from contact in the 2nd half

Yeah...I certainly didn't mean a guy even pushing the limits or testing the rules...just being physical ALL game, you CAN move him - that's about all you can hope to do to him. He will get 4 blocks most nights, that won't ever change - he's so good, much more than just a physical freak. You just do what you can to tire him, frustrate him, and maybe neutralize him to some degree by relocating his skinny butt to places he doesn't want to be.

[pepe1991]

You saw those plays where Bam just bumped Wemby away going to the basket? Wemby cant stop the drives of the "strong" bigs. He might get tired of ghe pounding he will recieve.

You see him blocking Giannis twice in the Milwaukee game? He is just too tall. But again, the only way I think, agreeing with you, is to show him some power and strength

He can block anybody.. butbseeing Bam who is like 6'9 just send Wemby flying back means a lot of guys can still abuse Wemby even though they might get blocked.

You let those wcj, bam, paolo,zion type tondrive and bump Wemby in the 1st half, wemby would be too tired and sore in the 2nd half to do so anymore

i like your comments but argument you are trying to make is silly.

For start, Spurs 102,5 defensive rating over 5 games would be one of best defensive ratings, relative to league's average in nba history.
Last year his on-off was almost unreal. With him they were ultra elite defense, without him they were Wizards.

Rest of Spurs roster, aside from Castle isn't even good on defense individually. Matter of fact , rest of their roster, talent vise, is silly bad. We talk about Bismack BIyombo still being nba backup. Sochan, Olynyk , Fox are yet to step foot on the court and they are 5-0.

You keep talking about single Bam play and how he bumped him. So can i ask you why Bam didn't do it often? Matter of fact, Bam was so damn scared of attacking paint on set defense vs Vicor that he took 13 threes. Most in his career. Not that he was any hot, only made 4/13.
Why don't you talk about late in 4th play where Adebayo tries to score on him, gets him in air and still gets blocked


I watched Pelicans game. Zion dunked on him. And for rest of first half Zion couldn't evenk think about scoring again on Victor. Victor blocked him on 4 next shots.

Your theory was already tested last year. Jokić tried to bully him. Went poorly.

Jokić took 35 shots in first game, at that point tying his second most FGA in single game for career. Scored 46 points in OT, but stil only at 58% TS, for a guy who was 66,3% TS guy for a season and 64% TS guy for career.

Second game was even worst. He took, to this date, second most FGA in his life, 36, only scored 41, and was held on ugly 51% TS.

Does it get any more stronger, taller, physical and skilled than Jokić? No. And in last 15 years nobody is even close to that level of size, skill and physicality.

Him blocking shots is irrelevant. Him getting pushed in single play is irrelevant.
Fact that guy can by himself make bad defense- one of best ever and on offense guy puts 25+ ppg on silly efficiency with 7 footers looking like kids next to him is flat out crazy. We talk about guy with serious GOAT potential.



Those numbers are flat out out of this world.

[RookieStar]

You see him blocking Giannis twice in the Milwaukee game? He is just too tall. But again, the only way I think, agreeing with you, is to show him some power and strength

He can block anybody.. butbseeing Bam who is like 6'9 just send Wemby flying back means a lot of guys can still abuse Wemby even though they might get blocked.

You let those wcj, bam, paolo,zion type tondrive and bump Wemby in the 1st half, wemby would be too tired and sore in the 2nd half to do so anymore

i like your comments but argument you are trying to make is silly.

For start, Spurs 102,5 defensive rating over 5 games would be one of best defensive ratings, relative to league's average in nba history.
Last year his on-off was almost unreal. With him they were ultra elite defense, without him they were Wizards.

Rest of Spurs roster, aside from Castle isn't even good on defense individually. Matter of fact , rest of their roster, talent vise, is silly bad. We talk about Bismack BIyombo still being nba backup. Sochan, Olynyk , Fox are yet to step foot on the court and they are 5-0.

You keep talking about single Bam play and how he bumped him. So can i ask you why Bam didn't do it often? Matter of fact, Bam was so damn scared of attacking paint on set defense vs Vicor that he took 13 threes. Most in his career. Not that he was any hot, only made 4/13.
Why don't you talk about late in 4th play where Adebayo tries to score on him, gets him in air and still gets blocked


I watched Pelicans game. Zion dunked on him. And for rest of first half Zion couldn't evenk think about scoring again on Victor. Victor blocked him on 4 next shots.

Your theory was already tested last year. Jokić tried to bully him. Went poorly.

Jokić took 35 shots in first game, at that point tying his second most FGA in single game for career. Scored 46 points in OT, but stil only at 58% TS, for a guy who was 66,3% TS guy for a season and 64% TS guy for career.

Second game was even worst. He took, to this date, second most FGA in his life, 36, only scored 41, and was held on ugly 51% TS.

Does it get any more stronger, taller, physical and skilled than Jokić? No. And in last 15 years nobody is even close to that level of size, skill and physicality.

Him blocking shots is irrelevant. Him getting pushed in single play is irrelevant.
Fact that guy can by himself make bad defense- one of best ever and on offense guy puts 25+ ppg on silly efficiency with 7 footers looking like kids next to him is flat out crazy. We talk about guy with serious GOAT potential.



Those numbers are flat out out of this world.

And there you have it. These NBA guys have pride on their minds. They do not want to get blocked. Thus, these "big" guys that are used to do the blocking, do not want to eat the same medicine being served at them. Thus, Bam ( who thinks himself the face of the MIA team ) probably doesn't do that all the time.

What I forgot to mention was that when Bam drove and bumped a waiting Vic in the paint, Wemby was moved 2-3 steps back BUT due to his long arms, we was still able to bother/block bams shot.

However, as I said in the gameplan to limit Victor, any team can get those big guys to drive to his chest a lot in the 1st half despite being blocked 10/10 shots and Vic will get tired. Ask anyone who played basketball amateur/pro/whatever, its the bumping and grinding that gets you sore and tired.

Remember what the Nash-led PHO Suns said about their SSOL offense? They don 't get tired running around, its the bumping during defense that wears them down.

[RookieStar]

Any of you guys watch the young bulls? Vuc Matas Giddey...

Some said Matas projection was a poor mans Franz but he is carving himself up to be his own identity. A more high flying but less fluid/finesse Franz

[RookieStar]

Bulls spanking a full strength NYK.

Maybe our loss to them wasnt as unthinkable as we thought.

Vuc still provin yall wrong!!

[RookieStar]

Giddey a 20-5-5 t the half??? Shooting 3s as well

[SOUL]

Knicks board reads like our board the last week

[Ducklett]

I really wish the Bulls were sucking so we could have traded Isaac and Jett for Vuc.

[RookieStar]

Knicks board reads like our board the last week

The 2 supposed top teams of the East are frauds

[GelbeWand09]

Any of you guys watch the young bulls? Vuc Matas Giddey...

Some said Matas projection was a poor mans Franz but he is carving himself up to be his own identity. A more high flying but less fluid/finesse Franz

Yea the Franz comparison I made last season too. Is one of these guys you watch a few minutes and you see he got the it factor. Probably not superstar level but you have seen he is gonna be a good player.
Happy for all the tortured Bulls fan even if I think this success probably not gonna last long.

My Giddey at 5 and Sengun at 8 doesn't look so bad now with current Giddeys jump.

[zaymon]

Giddey a 20-5-5 t the half??? Shooting 3s as well

He is playing like we wish Paolo would play. We saw the light version against Charlotte. I doubt Banchero has enough playmaking talent to play that way consistently. More importantly he didnt put mental effort to learn how to run offense. Isolating is just much easier you dont have to make a lot of decisions.
We will see how it develops.

[GelbeWand09]

You see him blocking Giannis twice in the Milwaukee game? He is just too tall. But again, the only way I think, agreeing with you, is to show him some power and strength

He can block anybody.. butbseeing Bam who is like 6'9 just send Wemby flying back means a lot of guys can still abuse Wemby even though they might get blocked.

You let those wcj, bam, paolo,zion type tondrive and bump Wemby in the 1st half, wemby would be too tired and sore in the 2nd half to do so anymore

i like your comments but argument you are trying to make is silly.

For start, Spurs 102,5 defensive rating over 5 games would be one of best defensive ratings, relative to league's average in nba history.
Last year his on-off was almost unreal. With him they were ultra elite defense, without him they were Wizards.

Rest of Spurs roster, aside from Castle isn't even good on defense individually. Matter of fact , rest of their roster, talent vise, is silly bad. We talk about Bismack BIyombo still being nba backup. Sochan, Olynyk , Fox are yet to step foot on the court and they are 5-0.

You keep talking about single Bam play and how he bumped him. So can i ask you why Bam didn't do it often? Matter of fact, Bam was so damn scared of attacking paint on set defense vs Vicor that he took 13 threes. Most in his career. Not that he was any hot, only made 4/13.
Why don't you talk about late in 4th play where Adebayo tries to score on him, gets him in air and still gets blocked


I watched Pelicans game. Zion dunked on him. And for rest of first half Zion couldn't evenk think about scoring again on Victor. Victor blocked him on 4 next shots.

Your theory was already tested last year. Jokić tried to bully him. Went poorly.

Jokić took 35 shots in first game, at that point tying his second most FGA in single game for career. Scored 46 points in OT, but stil only at 58% TS, for a guy who was 66,3% TS guy for a season and 64% TS guy for career.

Second game was even worst. He took, to this date, second most FGA in his life, 36, only scored 41, and was held on ugly 51% TS.

Does it get any more stronger, taller, physical and skilled than Jokić? No. And in last 15 years nobody is even close to that level of size, skill and physicality.

Him blocking shots is irrelevant. Him getting pushed in single play is irrelevant.
Fact that guy can by himself make bad defense- one of best ever and on offense guy puts 25+ ppg on silly efficiency with 7 footers looking like kids next to him is flat out crazy. We talk about guy with serious GOAT potential.



Those numbers are flat out out of this world.

That he probably gonna end up as the best defender ever I thought already after the u 19 wc. He just blocked shots no Individuum on earth ever blocked regularly. Guy was beaten by a drive multiple times and still blocked the attacker from behind with ease.
He just scares the **** out of everybody.
I'm more shocked by his offense. He always had the skill but his shot selection always looked horrible at any stage for me. At the u 19 he took fadeaway 3s from the 3point line.
Chets bbiq looked definitely higher than his at the wc but he was 2 years older.
He was always going to be efficient just with the amount of easy baskets he gonna get because of his physical advantage but I thought his shot selection would prevent him from achieving absolute offensive dominance for a few more years.
Now it's probably only injuries or horrible gm'ing (unlikely with the spurs, even if I was never a fan of the Fox trade) who can stop him.

[pepe1991]

Two weeks into a season and my claim East has no true contenders is proving itself.
Knicks are hollow team that are too dependent on Brunson, and Brunson is small dude.

I have zero faith in Hawks, Cavs continue to have so many injuries, Magic still have nothing close to reliable offense... East is crappy that Giannis might take it by himself.

[BadMofoPimp]

Bulls spanking a full strength NYK.

Maybe our loss to them wasnt as unthinkable as we thought.

Vuc still provin yall wrong!!

VOOCH!

[Skybox]

Knicks board reads like our board the last week

The 2 supposed top teams of the East are frauds

Top 3…so far ORL isn’t quite as hoped for either

[Idiosyncratic]

East being so weak is still best argument for Bane trade. He is not a 4 pick and a swap player, but maybe they thought he was the best available and the East looks very weak this year and probably not a ton better next year. Cavs, Knicks, Celtics will all still be there but they don't have a ton of flexibility. Not sure I see the young teams taking a leap next year, but after that who knows what will happen.

Suns pick is a great asset, but reality is the value is mitigated a bit by the fact that Wizards have first swap rights. The Suns also have no reason to tank so they may be trying late in the year when other teams shut it down. Disaster scenario is it landing top 3, but realistically the odds of the Wizards and Suns both being top 3-- which would have to be the case for it to happen, is fairly low. Top 7 or so still would be a really nice asset, but right now the value of a top 3 in this draft would just be off the charts.

Giannis is the only MVP type player in the East so you have to take them seriously, but we'll see if Rollins, Cole and AJ Green can all sustain 50+% shooting. KPJ played one game and shot 60%. They do play the Kings and Pacers next though so may be 6-1.

I like how the Bulls move the ball, but I just can't buy it yet. Teams should figure out how to beat up a defense with Giddey and Vuc in it. They might not be bad though. I like the toughness Tre Jones and Huerter added.

[BadMofoPimp]

Bane Will Provem all wrong!!! If AB can do it, Bane will too!

[yoyojw17]

I freaking love this! I was a fan of the guy and the team before this.. And now definitely for sure I have more respect for him! This will allow them to More comfortably build something special and retain the guys that they want and have invested time in with more ease.

I know some people said that this was not something a superstar would do... But looks as though he's breaking that mold.

With the size of most of the contracts that are now available... It becomes obvious that winning is not the focus... Though it's much easier now to be full while sharing the wealth.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQeyMtjDsRm/?igsh=MTFzN2hwaHBnb3RuOA==

[pepe1991]

Rockets beat living crap out of Celtics