Around the NBA (and other Sports) 2021-22, Part 3

[Fencer reregistered]

Some military experts have been surprised that despite having superior firepower, the Russian army has been slowed by aging equipment, poor motivation and inept leadership. So basically they’re the Lakers.

-- SNL Weekend Update

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/06/arts/television/snl-oscar-isaac-tucker-carlson-laura-ingraham.html

[Ill News]

I'd really appreciate it if the Bucks lost today. Come on, Suns.

[1st banana]

Suns battling bridges showing some skill off the bounce. Crowder of course still haunting me by never ever missing since he left us.

[Fierce1]

Suns battling bridges showing some skill off the bounce. Crowder of course still haunting me by never ever missing since he left us.

There was really no room for Crowder as the Celts had Tatum, Brown, and Hayward at that time.

[1st banana]

Suns battling bridges showing some skill off the bounce. Crowder of course still haunting me by never ever missing since he left us.

There was really no room for Crowder as the Celts had Tatum, Brown, and Hayward at that time.

Not like he’s a max player they could’ve retained him, but you’re right that at the time it seemed like he’d be redundant.

[1st banana]

Jesus Kobe Middleton what’s he think he playing the Celtics Jesus Christ.

[Fierce1]

Suns battling bridges showing some skill off the bounce. Crowder of course still haunting me by never ever missing since he left us.

There was really no room for Crowder as the Celts had Tatum, Brown, and Hayward at that time.

Not like he’s a max player they could’ve retained him, but you’re right that at the time it seemed like he’d be redundant.

Celts really had no choice as Kyrie, Hayward, and Horford were getting max money at that time.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[zoyathedestroya]

Tatum and Jokic on the same day playing like the best player in the world. Jokic is unreal. Anyone witnessing this??

46-12-11-3-4. I think he has 30+ in 4th and OT. Key block and key steal to force OT.

Huge difference playing against KD and playing against Willy Hernangomez though haha.

[steefP2]

Tatum and Jokic on the same day playing like the best player in the world. Jokic is unreal. Anyone witnessing this??

46-12-11-3-4. I think he has 30+ in 4th and OT. Key block and key steal to force OT.

Huge difference playing against KD and playing against Willy Hernangomez though haha.

Bunch of great games yday. Gonna need to watch that Jokic performance in its entirety I think. The league is in a great place. LETS GOOOO

[LewisnotMiller]

With Allen breaking a finger, the Cavs playoff position just got that much harder to hold on to.
Been a tough year for them injury-wise, for all that their future looks brighter now.

[bisme37]

I don't really know how the Nets are going to get it together in time for the playoffs. Durant and Kyrie have only played 4 games together this season and it's not like Simmons is a guy you can just plug in without changing your schemes to account for his flaws. I don't expect them to use him as a primary ball handler like in Philly but it's still going to take time for that group to build chemistry and become a real team. And they don't have enough time.

[bisme37]

Does anyone have thoughts on why the Raps have fallen off a cliff? I haven't watched them much lately but they are losing a ton of games.

They had low expectations coming in to the year but played really well and looked like a formidable team. Now they suddenly look like the Orlando Magic. What happened, specifically?

[zoyathedestroya]

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[SuperDeluxe]

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I feel sorry for the unconscionable hate this family is receiving but mostly for the sad and empty lives that those haters must be living.

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Does anyone have thoughts on why the Raps have fallen off a cliff? I haven't watched them much lately but they are losing a ton of games.

They had low expectations coming in to the year but played really well and looked like a formidable team. Now they suddenly look like the Orlando Magic. What happened, specifically?

They have zero depth which is part of the reason Nurse was playing his startesr an insane amount of minutes (the other part is that he always like to play his best players a lot because he likes good basketball players and it's hard to blame him for that). That didn't show up during the stretch were everybody was healthy but if even one guy is out, it's a lot of minutes for bad NBA players.

Now while Anuonoby, VanVleet and Flynn are out, they are starting Barnes at point guard and he's going to be really good but he's also a rookie, with an outside shot that's under construction, and is more of a forward so yeah the half court offense is ugly. Especially starting Boucher, Siakam and Birch next to him there's not a lot of room to work with.

[LewisnotMiller]

I don't really know how the Nets are going to get it together in time for the playoffs. Durant and Kyrie have only played 4 games together this season and it's not like Simmons is a guy you can just plug in without changing your schemes to account for his flaws. I don't expect them to use him as a primary ball handler like in Philly but it's still going to take time for that group to build chemistry and become a real team. And they don't have enough time.

Mostly agree. On Simmons specifically, I think they'd just plug him into the current Brown role, in the short term. That doesn't maximize him, and doesn't deal with how situationally they play Brown (assuming they want more consistent and larger role for Simmons) but I think that would be the initial schematic approach.

[LewisnotMiller]

Does anyone have thoughts on why the Raps have fallen off a cliff? I haven't watched them much lately but they are losing a ton of games.

They had low expectations coming in to the year but played really well and looked like a formidable team. Now they suddenly look like the Orlando Magic. What happened, specifically?

Not sure if they're tired, but they have no functional depth. Nurse has spent all year playing the guys who can execute, which means either they just don't have guys ready on the bench or the ones that could become rotation-ready aren't getting the minutes to develop.

I kinda think the former, mostly. Nurse seems like a guy who wants people to show they can execute in practise before granting them regular minutes.

[Shak_Celts]

how can the lakers be so bad and still in the playoff hunt in the west? we had to damn near win every game just to get to 5th! I hate it here!! He already skated in the east for years after cheating to get around us, won in a fluke bubble, now the west is slowing down. gonna trade RW for good players (no stars but better fit) and bam, contender again. he has luck and magic up his bum!!

yeah yeah extremely hard worker and great talent and all that, but boooooooooooooo!!!

[LewisnotMiller]

Does anyone have thoughts on why the Raps have fallen off a cliff? I haven't watched them much lately but they are losing a ton of games.

They had low expectations coming in to the year but played really well and looked like a formidable team. Now they suddenly look like the Orlando Magic. What happened, specifically?

Had a flick on the Raps board, and apart from lack of depth (which seems the biggest issue), they were talking about their transition D and how they send two to the glass, as well as how much switching they do.

Seems a consensus that their style is pretty demanding on the players being mistake free, else they give up open threes and transition scores.

Offence it seems more just they have no redundancy. If a shooter is out, they lack shooting. Ball handler out, they lack ball handling.

True of every team to an extent, they're just a more extreme example.