Around The League - Bill Walton passes from cancer at 71

[machu46]

Khris may be younger than MPJ in age, but in injury terms its about a wash. Spinal surgery.

By your standards Giannis is in the same category too.

Porter missed games the last 6 years (since entering the NBA): 214
Giannis missed games the last 6 years: 84
Khris missed games the last 6 years: 122

He's literally missed more games than those two combined. This isn't even getting into his issues from college and also isn't touching on the fact that Giannis and Middleton are better players (in Giannis' case it obviously isn't remotely close).

[MickeyDavis]

I've added a poll, who do you think will win (not who you want to win).

[Sigra]

I think Mavs and Celtics
I want Wolves and Celtics

[PG Graveyard]

Since Jokic lost I’m ready to find out where he needs to ask out to. Obviously DLo and a protected first are available from the Lakers. Windy thinks it’s a good idea

[emunney]

Since Jokic lost I’m ready to find out where he needs to ask out to. Obviously DLo and a protected first are available from the Lakers. Windy thinks it’s a good idea

Also assuming I've just missed somebody floating that Mike Malone is banned for life from appearing on ESPN.

[emunney]

Are the Knicks trading Brunson and OG for somebody who can be healthy when it counts?

[JimmyTheKid]

Have to admit, last night I looked up what Dallas gave up for Kyrie. Was a hell of a lot less than we gave up for Dame. Yes, I thought what if……

From the leader of the everybody is Anthony Mason 2.0 crew, I could only imagine the things that would be said.

I wouldn’t have touched Kyrie. No one wanted him.

That said, Cuban and Kidd bought low, and it’s paying off bigly. For now. Those are the type of moves that make or break a team.

This is just patently false.

[PG Graveyard]

Since Jokic lost I’m ready to find out where he needs to ask out to. Obviously DLo and a protected first are available from the Lakers. Windy thinks it’s a good idea

Also assuming I've just missed somebody floating that Mike Malone is banned for life from appearing on ESPN.

Good call. I’m guessing he won’t receive the same venom from those entitled clowns.

[BUCKnation]

Mavs might be able to steal 1 or 2 just because of how intense the prior series was for the Wolves, but I'd be surprised if this went to 7. Every time I watched that Thunder/Mavs series they always seemed to be a tier below the Nuggets/Wolves. Wolves also won't let the Mavs do whatever they want in the paint.

[paulpressey25]

Mavs might be able to steal 1 or 2 just because of how intense the prior series was for the Wolves, but I'd be surprised if this went to 7. Every time I watched that Thunder/Mavs series they always seemed to be a tier below the Nuggets/Wolves. Wolves also won't let the Mavs do whatever they want in the paint.

Good point.

The Simmons/Russilo pod was lighting up Presti for failing to get help for his team at the deadline (and also after the 2012 Finals appearance).

You might not like Siakam, and he may not be a fit for OKC, but would have been interesting to see what he’d have done against Dallas had Presti pursued him. Presti sort of waits for the perfect fit (contract, talent, play style) but in the end maybe he’s waiting for Godot.

[tydett]

Mavs might be able to steal 1 or 2 just because of how intense the prior series was for the Wolves, but I'd be surprised if this went to 7. Every time I watched that Thunder/Mavs series they always seemed to be a tier below the Nuggets/Wolves. Wolves also won't let the Mavs do whatever they want in the paint.

Good point.

The Simmons/Russilo pod was lighting up Presti for failing to get help for his team at the deadline (and also after the 2012 Finals appearance).

You might not like Siakam, and he may not be a fit for OKC, but would have been interesting to see what he’d have done against Dallas had Presti pursued him. Presti sort of waits for the perfect fit (contract, talent, play style) but in the end maybe he’s waiting for Godot.

Said they should've gotten Siakam before the season began, really think they fell into the "we're a young team, we're not supposed to win, but we got the next 5 years on lock" trap that they fell into 10 years ago. So much changes so quickly in this league, and they had a relatively lucky health year. May not get another one again.

[Ron Swanson]

Another year, another postseason where Denver with Jokic off the court is equivalent to the #1 RS defense by a landslide (109.1), and a defense outside the Top-10 (113.6) with him on the court. He's actually the kind of defensive liability that people think guys like Dame are.

[Brewhoopfan]

Old man yells at clouds rant: The screenshot below is just prior to Conley missing at the rim and KAT flushing in the put-back. Notice the Washington Generals level of weakside defense from KCP and Murray to inhibit KAT from running to the rim. This isn't a Tuesday night game in January. This is a game 7 on your home floor when you absolutely need a stop. A few possessions earlier, Murray completely ignored Reid, and Naz got a free run to the rim for a follow up dunk. Despite the announcers raving about these being great plays, it's bad basketball.

[ReasonablySober]

Another year, another postseason where Denver with Jokic off the court is equivalent to the #1 RS defense by a landslide (109.1), and a defense outside the Top-10 (113.6) with him on the court. He's actually the kind of defensive liability that people think guys like Dame are.

There's a whole lot of noise in this, to say nothing of the fact that it's a sample size of 12 games, and we have entire seasons worth of data that say Jokic is actually good defensively.

[ShootingtheJ]

It makes me sick, but Kidd is gonna win a title

[Ron Swanson]

Another year, another postseason where Denver with Jokic off the court is equivalent to the #1 RS defense by a landslide (109.1), and a defense outside the Top-10 (113.6) with him on the court. He's actually the kind of defensive liability that people think guys like Dame are.

There's a whole lot of noise in this, to say nothing of the fact that it's a sample size of 12 games, and we have entire seasons worth of data that say Jokic is actually good defensively.

I usually don't take single postseason lineup data that seriously either, but this is a continuous 5-year playoff trend with him now. At some point the stats stop lying (as well as, you know, the eye test).

[PG Graveyard]

Mavs might be able to steal 1 or 2 just because of how intense the prior series was for the Wolves, but I'd be surprised if this went to 7. Every time I watched that Thunder/Mavs series they always seemed to be a tier below the Nuggets/Wolves. Wolves also won't let the Mavs do whatever they want in the paint.

Good point.

The Simmons/Russilo pod was lighting up Presti for failing to get help for his team at the deadline (and also after the 2012 Finals appearance).

You might not like Siakam, and he may not be a fit for OKC, but would have been interesting to see what he’d have done against Dallas had Presti pursued him. Presti sort of waits for the perfect fit (contract, talent, play style) but in the end maybe he’s waiting for Godot.

He’s a genius without any titles. Him and Morey get a lot of credit for hanging onto assets until they burn up.

[DingleJerry]

Old man yells at clouds rant: The screenshot below is just prior to Conley missing at the rim and KAT flushing in the put-back. Notice the Washington Generals level of weakside defense from KCP and Murray to inhibit KAT from running to the rim. This isn't a Tuesday night game in January. This is a game 7 on your home floor when you absolutely need a stop. A few possessions earlier, Murray completely ignored Reid, and Naz got a free run to the rim for a follow up dunk. Despite the announcers raving about these being great plays, it's bad basketball.

Not wrong. But in general that's the norm for how NBA rebounding is these days. Aside from your scrapper Ersan types and guys dedicated to rebounding the other guys stand in a spot and then chase the ball. Finding a guy and checking them is not common for the non hustle/d role player types. Its why I generally rolled my eyes every time someone complained about Dame on something like this. Watch Giannis, he would be doing the exact same thing Murray/KCP are in that pic. He's just 7'0 and crazy athlete so normally it doesn't matter.

[jimmybones]

Whoever comes out of the west please beat whoever comes out of the east.

[LuessiT]

Another year, another postseason where Denver with Jokic off the court is equivalent to the #1 RS defense by a landslide (109.1), and a defense outside the Top-10 (113.6) with him on the court. He's actually the kind of defensive liability that people think guys like Dame are.

It’s as if rim protection especially from the center position is kind of important.