Around the NBA

[winforlose]

I think OKC is good enough to go .500 or better in those handful of games. The Clippers don't have an amazing track record against good teams so they are beatable OKC is still one of the hottest teams in the NBA. They also smacked us last game so of course, they are fully capable of taking us down too. If they drop 3/4 I will be a little surprised.

I hear you. I still think the Cippers have the edge over the Thunder on a road/road b2b. The Jazz is a toss up, and I favor us over them at TC.

[Klomp]

It's kind of interesting looking at the back-to-backs we have this season
at Warriors/at Suns: first schedule loss of season
at 76ers/vs. Lakers: no LeBron James
at Magic/at Celtics: schedule loss
at Pistons/vs. Grizzlies
at Wizards/at Nets
at Clippers/at Blazers
vs. Bucks/vs. Nets
vs. Spurs/vs. Grizzlies
vs. Clippers/vs. Blazers
at Pacers/at Cavaliers
at Jazz/vs. Nuggets
vs. Rockets/vs. Raptors
vs. Wizards/at Nuggets

We've gotten pretty lucky that most of the remaining B2Bs have an "easy" game, really only a couple of hard back-to-backs

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[shrink]

Guess the team with the best win-loss record over the last ten games?

Spoiler:

Your Utah Jazz! 9-1. In fact, in the doldrums of the season, only one team is 8-2 (LAC)

The Jazz have also won 6 straight and are at 22-20, ninth seed in the West.

[Klomp]

Guess the team with the best win-loss record over the last ten games?

Spoiler:

Your Utah Jazz! 9-1. In fact, in the doldrums of the season, only one team is 8-2 (LAC)

The Jazz have also won 6 straight and are at 22-20, ninth seed in the West.

Only two of those wins are against teams with losing records too.

[shrink]

Read on Twitter

I agree with all of this. In fact, as bigs entering the NBA come in with more and more ball skills, I think you might see few places left in the NBA for the 6-2 and under player. It’s easier to find a big that can replicate most of their PG skills rather than accept his defensive liability against big teams.

Play hard now Tyus! 3-5 years from now, you might be out of the league.

[TimberKat]

Guess the team with the best win-loss record over the last ten games?

Spoiler:

Your Utah Jazz! 9-1. In fact, in the doldrums of the season, only one team is 8-2 (LAC)

The Jazz have also won 6 straight and are at 22-20, ninth seed in the West.

Only two of those wins are against teams with losing records too.

So what's UTA going to do now? Continue to tear it down or build on the current core? Make a play for Zack or Siakam? By the way, Kessler only play backup role in the current win streak.

[Klomp]

Guess the team with the best win-loss record over the last ten games?

Spoiler:

Your Utah Jazz! 9-1. In fact, in the doldrums of the season, only one team is 8-2 (LAC)

The Jazz have also won 6 straight and are at 22-20, ninth seed in the West.

Only two of those wins are against teams with losing records too.

So what's UTA going to do now? Continue to tear it down or build on the current core? Make a play for Zack or Siakam? By the way, Kessler only play backup role in the current win streak.

I wonder if they might have one more deadline like last year? Trade Lauri (big reason for their success), trade Clarkson, etc.

[Calinks]

Yea the Lakers are going back and forth with Utah for playoff positioning. I said it earlier but it is absolutely a nightmare to be a team around .500 in the west from here on. Its going to be a major grind just to get in the playoffs, a terrible place to be for a team with expectations. That said you will be battle tested for sure.

[Klomp]

Yea the Lakers are going back and forth with Utah for playoff positioning. I said it earlier but it is absolutely a nightmare to be a team around .500 in the west from here on. Its going to be a major grind just to get in the playoffs, a terrible place to be for a team with expectations. That said you will be battle tested for sure.

I wonder if we'll see similar major shakeups at the trade deadline this year, as teams decide to posture either for the playoffs/play-in or the lottery

[winforlose]

Yea the Lakers are going back and forth with Utah for playoff positioning. I said it earlier but it is absolutely a nightmare to be a team around .500 in the west from here on. Its going to be a major grind just to get in the playoffs, a terrible place to be for a team with expectations. That said you will be battle tested for sure.

I wonder if we'll see similar major shakeups at the trade deadline this year, as teams decide to posture either for the playoffs/play-in or the lottery

Warriors on the Curry window, Lakers on the Lebron window, Hawks coming into the 3 dead years (25 and 27 owed unprotected to Spurs, plus unprotected swap in 2026.) sounds like a lot of motivation to me.

[KGdaBom]

Denver vs Philly 78-78 at the half. Lots of defense being played I'm sure.

[shrink]

Denver vs Philly 78-78 at the half. Lots of defense being played I'm sure.

Yeah, January basketball at its finest. These are two top NBA Champion contenders?

I know I should want DEN to lose. Every game now makes it less likely they get the top seed and that mile high home court advantage. But, dang it, I just can’t force myself to root for Embiid!

[KGdaBom]

Denver vs Philly 78-78 at the half. Lots of defense being played I'm sure.

Yeah, January basketball at its finest. These are two top NBA Champion contenders?

I know I should want DEN to lose. Every game now makes it less likely they get the top seed and that mile high home court advantage. But, dang it, I just can’t force myself to root for Embiid!

I understand, but you don't have to root for Embiid. Just some mild injuries.

[Klomp]

Sounds like a Siakam trade is happening...to Indiana. Good, keep him in the East!

[KGdaBom]

Sounds like a Siakam trade is happening...to Indiana. Good, keep him in the East!

I'm not sure I like that. I just traded for Miles Turner in my ESPN Roto League. I also have Siakam in several money leagues.

One good thing for me is the Pacers pace. Bruce Brown some other salary filler and 3 first round picks is the proposal. Seems like Jalen Smith or Isaiah Jackson should be part of it, but neither player mentioned.

[KGdaBom]

Zubac out at least 4 weeks is a big blow to the Clippers Home court aspirations.

IVICA ZUBAC
1/16/2024 3:19:08 PM
The Clippers announced Tuesday that Zubac has been diagnosed with a right calf strain and will be re-evaluated in four weeks, Justin Russo of the ‘Clip & Roll’ podcast reports. Zubac has already been ruled out for Tuesday's matchup with the Thunder and is now set to miss an extended period due to a right calf strain. Daniel Theis and Mason Plumlee are candidates to receive extended minutes in his absence. Zubac will likely aim to return to action in mid-February.

[winforlose]

Denver loses. Wolves gain separation.

[KGdaBom]

Denver loses. Wolves gain separation.

And OKC is playing the Clippers in a very tight game at the moment.

[TimberKat]

Denver loses. Wolves gain separation.

And OKC is playing the Clippers in a very tight game at the moment.

One shoe already dropped. The other one will follow. Just not sure which color . I am betting (not really betting) it's OKC.