2025 NBA Preseason Multi-Game Thread! (October 2-17)

[mademan]

That first half is concerning for the Mavs' regular season prospects. The Lakers have their best guys out and roasted their defense anyway. Mavs lost to Charlotte playing their main guys too, they'd better hope this isn't a precursor for the regular season

Kidd's experimenting with no pg. They actually look good when they play a normal lineup (with Dlo at pg). This Flagg/PJ at pg lineup is garbage though

[Chuck Everett]

I dont know if the Clips look great, or the Kings are straight ass. Someone help me out here.

A little from column A, a little from column B.

[MrGoat]

Mavs still playing their starters in the 4th quarter. They've been playing them pretty heavily throughout preseason, not much chance for the other guys to get burn. Nico must really want to get this W without Luka because it might be a while before the Mavs beat the Lakers again. Outscored them 37-8 in the 4th to mask what a turd of a game they played

[pepe1991]

I dont know if the Clips look great, or the Kings are straight ass. Someone help me out here.

A little from column A, a little from column B.

Clippers are stacked with proven talent but old. They will need to do s*** loud of load management to stay healthy & in good shape for playoffs.
But talent they have is undeniable. They go to bench and pull CP3 & Brook, than you have Batum and Bogdan, they added Beal, Zubac is in his prime, Kawhi looks fine etc.

They aren't top tear contender ( imo only OKC, Denver & Houston are), but they are right there,tear below them, with solid chance at being dark horse.

But age and how injury prone their best player(s) are is major issue.

[levon]

This Flagg as PG thing is so cringe. Just start Russell. You need shot creation and 3pt shooting.

[pepe1991]

First look of Raptors starting 5 reforged all my fears about their season and how awkward looking that team is.

Barrett off ball won't do much if it's not strict catch & shoot, with solid probability he will just dribble open look into contested jumper for 2 FGA. Or dribble for ages regardless of what defense offers him.
Ingram off ball can shoot, but like Barrett, prefers to dribble too much. Several times last night he had open look for 3 but dribbled right into traffic.

Barnes off ball offers nothing if he is not in full force rolling to rim, but he does it like once a game. Even his positioning off ball is very questionable.

Quickley isn't point guard but combo guard, if not pure shooting guard. His whole efficiency is relying on high volume of 3 point shots. Last year he was mind-blowing-bad around rim.


There simply isn't any logical reason why would you pair Barnes with Ingram. Ingram is pretty much just (way) more polished version of Barnes anyway. Neither player is as impactful as their counting stats would suggest, and both players prefer doing very similar things on the court.

Most baffling aspect about Barnes is that people still think he is great player. Put him on top 30 lists. Pick him over Daniels, Zubac, OG, Franz, Derrick White etc.

[OkcSinceSGA]

lol Clips bench. Looks like the 2012 and 2013 Lob City teams where many nights the bench will blow teams out of the building and the starters won’t even play the second half.

Having Collins with 24/6, CP3 8 points and 10 assists, Lopez 16 points including 4-5 from deep in 18 minutes? Just dumb.

[SlimShady83]

Got a feeling the Hornets might be a really good team this year, hope they have no injuries, well that with every team.

[MrGoat]

This Flagg as PG thing is so cringe. Just start Russell. You need shot creation and 3pt shooting.

Kidd tried the same thing with Giannis near the beginning of his career, and it didn't work. Just because a power forward has above average passing chops doesn't mean you should run him as your point guard.

[Mavrelous]

lol Clips bench. Looks like the 2012 and 2013 Lob City teams where many nights the bench will blow teams out of the building and the starters won’t even play the second half.

Having Collins with 24/6, CP3 8 points and 10 assists, Lopez 16 points including 4-5 from deep in 18 minutes? Just dumb.

People are sleeping on the Clippers IMO, CP3 for 20 mins off the bench is still great, and with Collins and BroLo they have a lot of firepower, their bench is the best in the league IMO.

[NO-KG-AI]

First look of Raptors starting 5 reforged all my fears about their season and how awkward looking that team is.

Barrett off ball won't do much if it's not strict catch & shoot, with solid probability he will just dribble open look into contested jumper for 2 FGA. Or dribble for ages regardless of what defense offers him.
Ingram off ball can shoot, but like Barrett, prefers to dribble too much. Several times last night he had open look for 3 but dribbled right into traffic.

Barnes off ball offers nothing if he is not in full force rolling to rim, but he does it like once a game. Even his positioning off ball is very questionable.

Quickley isn't point guard but combo guard, if not pure shooting guard. His whole efficiency is relying on high volume of 3 point shots. Last year he was mind-blowing-bad around rim.


There simply isn't any logical reason why would you pair Barnes with Ingram. Ingram is pretty much just (way) more polished version of Barnes anyway. Neither player is as impactful as their counting stats would suggest, and both players prefer doing very similar things on the court.

Most baffling aspect about Barnes is that people still think he is great player. Put him on top 30 lists. Pick him over Daniels, Zubac, OG, Franz, Derrick White etc.

Brandon Ingram will acknowledge every season that he knows that taking a high volume of 3’s with his shooting ability will take his game to another level, and still proceeds to do exactly what you stated like 95% of the time. As a person who thinks a lot of guys force to many 3’s, watching a good shooter pass up clean looks to get heavily contested
, fading 2 pointers is absolutely maddening.

[SlimShady83]

Watching Lakers/Dallas game a little late, but Gabe has been balling during preseason

Who wants Gabe? haha. Heat still keen on Gabe?

[OkcSinceSGA]

lol Clips bench. Looks like the 2012 and 2013 Lob City teams where many nights the bench will blow teams out of the building and the starters won’t even play the second half.

Having Collins with 24/6, CP3 8 points and 10 assists, Lopez 16 points including 4-5 from deep in 18 minutes? Just dumb.

People are sleeping on the Clippers IMO, CP3 for 20 mins off the bench is still great, and with Collins and BroLo they have a lot of firepower, their bench is the best in the league IMO.

Agreed. CP3/Dunn/Batum/Collins/Lopez is not fair for opponents. If they were a starting 5 based on last year they would probably win 30 something games.

And then you have Bogi on the bench when Beal returns. They are literally 11 deep.

Harden/CP3
Beal/Dunn
Kawhi/Bogdanovic
Derrick Jones/ Collins/ Batum
Zubac/Lopez

[MMyhre]

Got a feeling the Hornets might be a really good team this year, hope they have no injuries, well that with every team.

Really good is pushing it, but they can outshoot anyone if they get hot, and maybe if LaMelo and Miller both take their games to the next level and stay healthy. A lot of what if's.

I don't see them defending or being consistent enough to be really good, maybe if Diabate starts and they all lock in defensively, because his defensive potential is higher than Kalkbrenners.

I just don't see LaMelo Ball locking in defensively and hounding guards for 82 games, they seem to play around, laugh and play offensive ball. Maybe I am wrong..