2018 -- NBA Games Thread

[Jamaaliver]

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It's small, unheralded matchups like these that make me a fan of the NBA. A couple of friends and underrated 3&D guys relishing a good matchup and some fun competition.

Love it!!!

[Jamaaliver]

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Ben Simmons looks like the real deal.

One chink in the armor, though:

Ben Simmons sets NBA free-throw record after Wizards go full 'Hack-a-Shaq'

The main (and perhaps only) knock on Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons is his shooting.

With his rare combination of size, speed and handles, he can get to the rim with relative ease, but outside of 10-or-so feet, he has his struggles shooting the ball. That extends to the free-throw line, too.

When the dust settled, Simmons attempted an NBA-record 24 free throws in the fourth, making just 12 of them. While Simmons scuffled, Washington cut into the lead. The Wizards trimmed the deficit down to three on three occasions in the final 3:35 of regulation, but the Sixers emerged with a 118-113 victory.

Yahoo Sports

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[Jamaaliver]

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[Jamaaliver]

Some solid matchups for a Thursday night in the NBA:

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[macd-gm]

Sixers are a matchup nightmare for the Celtics. Embiid and Simmons should have a field day in that one.

[Jamaaliver]

Sixers are a matchup nightmare for the Celtics. Embiid and Simmons should have a field day in that one.

Indeed.

Legit question, which young team rules the East 5 years from now: Philly or Boston?

Both teams are loaded with lottery talent. But in half a decade, the veteran advantage that Horford, Irving (and G Hayward) provide will be largely negated.

As good as Tatum and Brown have looked early, I'm not ready to declare them in the same plane of excellence as Embiid and Simmons.

NOTE: Don't sleep on Yabusele for Boston.

[jayu70]

I'd take the twosome of Embiid/Simmons over Tatum/Brown, but as always Embiid staying healthy is always a question mark.

[macd-gm]

I'd take the twosome of Embiid/Simmons over Tatum/Brown, but as always Embiid staying healthy is always a question mark.

And Simmons can't shoot.

[kg01]

At what point are we gonna stop overrating MIL, btw? All that talent yet consistently hovering around a .500 team. You gotta be Kidding me.

Ya ... ya see what I did there?

[macd-gm]

Do the bucks have that much talent? Hensen and Snell? Just a cursory check and you see they are 29th in the league in 3 point attempts. I think Kidd is coaching for a different era.

[Jamaaliver]

At what point are we gonna stop overrating MIL, btw? All that talent yet consistently hovering around a .500 team. You gotta be Kidding me.

Ya ... ya see what I did there?

Do the bucks have that much talent? Hensen and Snell? Just a cursory check and you see they are 29th in the league in 3 point attempts. I think Kidd is coaching for a different era.

At some point, you are what your record says you are. But they do seem to have talent. Especially with the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe.

This feels like a coaching concern. Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe and Brogdon should be a really good squad. They are clearly better more talented than a .500 team.

[Jamaaliver]

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[kg01]

At what point are we gonna stop overrating MIL, btw? All that talent yet consistently hovering around a .500 team. You gotta be Kidding me.

Ya ... ya see what I did there?

Do the bucks have that much talent? Hensen and Snell? Just a cursory check and you see they are 29th in the league in 3 point attempts. I think Kidd is coaching for a different era.

At some point, you are what your record says you are. But they do seem to have talent. Especially with the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe.

This feels like a coaching concern. Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe and Brogdon should be a really good squad. They are clearly better more talented than a .500 team.

I absolutely hate this narrative. It's something coaches made up to excuse the bad job they're doing.

[Jamaaliver]

At what point are we gonna stop overrating MIL, btw? All that talent yet consistently hovering around a .500 team. You gotta be Kidding me.

Ya ... ya see what I did there?

Do the bucks have that much talent? Hensen and Snell? Just a cursory check and you see they are 29th in the league in 3 point attempts. I think Kidd is coaching for a different era.

At some point, you are what your record says you are. But they do seem to have talent. Especially with the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe.

This feels like a coaching concern. Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe and Brogdon should be a really good squad. They are clearly better more talented than a .500 team.

I absolutely hate this narrative. It's something coaches made up to excuse the bad job they're doing.

I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND. I meant it as an indictment against the coach. They have the talent of a top team but are clearly underachieving. I squarely place Kidd as the reason.

[kg01]

At some point, you are what your record says you are. But they do seem to have talent. Especially with the acquisition of Eric Bledsoe.

This feels like a coaching concern. Giannis, Middleton, Bledsoe and Brogdon should be a really good squad. They are clearly better more talented than a .500 team.

I absolutely hate this narrative. It's something coaches made up to excuse the bad job they're doing.

I DON'T FULLY UNDERSTAND. I meant it as an indictment against the coach. They have the talent of a top team but are clearly underachieving. I squarely place Kidd as the reason.

When a team underachieves, the coach will say STTE: "Well we are what our record says we are." Which IMHO is a cop-out as he's trying to suggest he did all he could do but no one could've coached the team to be better than they ended up being.

You went on to explain that MIL has talent and should be better which is something we agree on. I don't think your comments match the 'they are what their record is' narrative.

[macd-gm]

I think it's both. Kidd isn't that great of a coach and their talent isn't that great either. At least before Bledsoe. With Bledsoe they should at least be an above .500 team but I don't see that they should be competing for a top seed. Ok starting lineup. Not great depth.

[Jamaaliver]

When a team underachieves, the coach will say STTE: "Well we are what our record says we are." Which IMHO is a cop-out as he's trying to suggest he did all he could do but no one could've coached the team to be better than they ended up being.

You went on to explain that MIL has talent and should be better which is something we agree on. I don't think your comments match the 'they are what their record is' narrative.

Heh.

Noted.

[kg01]

When a team underachieves, the coach will say STTE: "Well we are what our record says we are." Which IMHO is a cop-out as he's trying to suggest he did all he could do but no one could've coached the team to be better than they ended up being.

You went on to explain that MIL has talent and should be better which is something we agree on. I don't think your comments match the 'they are what their record is' narrative.

Heh.

Noted.

That baby is plagiarizing my moovs.

@macd, MIL has excellent raw talent. I think it's being misused and underdeveloped.

[jayu70]

When a team underachieves, the coach will say STTE: "Well we are what our record says we are." Which IMHO is a cop-out as he's trying to suggest he did all he could do but no one could've coached the team to be better than they ended up being.

You went on to explain that MIL has talent and should be better which is something we agree on. I don't think your comments match the 'they are what their record is' narrative.

Heh.

Noted.

That baby is plagiarizing my moovs.

@macd, MIL has excellent raw talent. I think it's being misused and underdeveloped.

^This. Kidd is just rolling the ball out and saying 'here Giannis, do your thing.' No system to maximize his talents and the 'defensive system' or lack thereof is a major problem.

[Jamaaliver]

...I bet Mike Budenholzer is thinking the same thing.