Around The NBA : 2023-24 Season #3

[dice]

I'm here too.

i don't care about celtics history nearly as much as i don't want kyrie (and by extension cuban) to get another ring

celts in 4 hopefully

In 6-7 competitive games preferably, but same result. Kyrie has acted the part well this year but he’s a trash human being. I can’t root for him regardless of how amazing it is watch him play.

well, diddy he ain't, but i agree w/ the general sentiment

[GrowingHorns]

Training season. Load those discs, my friend!

It's too bad that he didn't work out here in Chicago, but that's the past...

I wonder if he'll stay in Utah...? If I'm Markkanen I'm not sure if I want to spend the next few years on a team that's lottery bound.

It seems pretty certain he'll re-negotiate and extend in the end of summer,Jazz hopes to get lucky in the 25 draft, or if getting lucky to trade for a #1 option in next 2-3 years. If not, then IDK what's the point for neither the team or Lauri to spend also the second half of his prime in a team that's having no shot. He has told he'd want to grow into team and culture but also wants to win. If things don't change clearly, I'm surprised if he'll end his next contract with Jazz.

[Dan Z]

Training season. Load those discs, my friend!

It's too bad that he didn't work out here in Chicago, but that's the past...

I wonder if he'll stay in Utah...? If I'm Markkanen I'm not sure if I want to spend the next few years on a team that's lottery bound.

It seems pretty certain he'll re-negotiate and extend in the end of summer,Jazz hopes to get lucky in the 25 draft, or if getting lucky to trade for a #1 option in next 2-3 years. If not, then IDK what's the point for neither the team or Lauri to spend also the second half of his prime in a team that's having no shot. He has told he'd want to grow into team and culture but also wants to win. If things don't change clearly, I'm surprised if he'll end his next contract with Jazz.

I'm not sure how true this is, but I read that the vets in Utah were upset during the last trade deadline because they didn't want to tank. If that happens again next year I imagine that has to wear on players such as Markkanen and Sexton.

The other issue is even if Utah gets a good player in the 2025 draft how long will it take until that player is playing at a high level? Two years? Three? More?

[GrowingHorns]

It's too bad that he didn't work out here in Chicago, but that's the past...

I wonder if he'll stay in Utah...? If I'm Markkanen I'm not sure if I want to spend the next few years on a team that's lottery bound.

It seems pretty certain he'll re-negotiate and extend in the end of summer,Jazz hopes to get lucky in the 25 draft, or if getting lucky to trade for a #1 option in next 2-3 years. If not, then IDK what's the point for neither the team or Lauri to spend also the second half of his prime in a team that's having no shot. He has told he'd want to grow into team and culture but also wants to win. If things don't change clearly, I'm surprised if he'll end his next contract with Jazz.

I'm not sure how true this is, but I read that the vets in Utah were upset during the last trade deadline because they didn't want to tank. If that happens again next year I imagine that has to wear on players such as Markkanen and Sexton.

The other issue is even if Utah gets a good player in the 2025 draft how long will it take until that player is playing at a high level? Two years? Three? More?

Yeah, Danny and boys kinda did lead them think other things they ended up to do. Jazz had a run of twentyish games they won like 3/4 games, then few losses in tight schedule, then the half assed tank move. Vets seemed to be pretty disappointed.

I guess Jazz has to get high pick next season, then be buyers to become playoffs team bc IF people like Lauri will be with them, he needs first some post-season burn before he Might help them to contend in his later stage prime. Jazz timeline with Lauri seems a wee bit tight, but they have so many picks it might be in the realm of possibility to become really good in five, and nit sell him. They love how he likes Salt Lake City, bc it's hard to lure all star talent there.

They needed higher picks, just like Bulls needed few seasons ago. Of course, now the odds are changed, so it's a bit more understandable to not hard tank.

[samwana]

Why does it take so long for the finals to start? Isn't there normally just a two or three day gap between conference finals and finals?

[dumbell78]

Conference finals wrapped up early so we have to wait. The NBA Finals dates are pre-set and they have to factor in the possibility of game 7's in the conference finals. Yeah it's annoying.

[2weekswithpay]

Why does it take so long for the finals to start? Isn't there normally just a two or three day gap between conference finals and finals?

The finals start at a set date and both teams finished their series quickly. Last year the finals began on June 1st and the Nuggets had over a week off since they swept the Lakers. The Heat only got 2 days off since that series went 7.

[jc23]

They should have content ready to go to fill in the gap. Maybe every year have a previous finals MVP that you spotlight.

[drosestruts]

Fun fact - the last NBA Rookie to win an end of season award that wasn't obviously Rookie of the Year was Ben Gordon's rookie season win for 6MOY.

Gordon came in 2nd for Rookie of the Year voting that season losing to a future hall of fame center..... just kidding he lost to Emeka Okafor. Dwight Howard was 3rd in rookie of the year voting.

[kodo]

Ben, Lu, and Duhon in one draft and signed Noc from overseas. One of our more fun summers.

[Chi town]

Vuc gets an F as a FA signing…

https://youtu.be/s4cmhhDoHLE?si=74xbUFtlaU3Tj23P

[Dresden]

Will the Mavs be able to give Boston a fight? Or will it be over in 4-5? I'm rooting for Dallas- I usually like the underdog. And Boston just wins too much. But Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, Derick White- that's a tough lineup. Plus guys like Horford.

[Dan Z]

Vuc gets an F as a FA signing…

https://youtu.be/s4cmhhDoHLE?si=74xbUFtlaU3Tj23P

One reason why they resigned him is because they didn't have any other options at the center position. Of course that's also a position that AK put himself in.

I wonder if AK could've negotiated the contract a bit better and asked for a team option in year three. Vucevic may not have liked that, but where else would he go?

[Muzbar]

Will the Mavs be able to give Boston a fight? Or will it be over in 4-5? I'm rooting for Dallas- I usually like the underdog. And Boston just wins too much. But Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, Derick White- that's a tough lineup. Plus guys like Horford.

I think Dallas could definitely win this series. Kyrie has championship experience. Luka and Kyrie will cook Porzingas on a switch and then he's gotta chase Gafford around. Then they've got PJ and DJJ that know their roles.

I think it's going to be a good series.

[Charlesareed]

Will the Mavs be able to give Boston a fight? Or will it be over in 4-5? I'm rooting for Dallas- I usually like the underdog. And Boston just wins too much. But Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, Derick White- that's a tough lineup. Plus guys like Horford.

I think Dallas could definitely win this series. Kyrie has championship experience. Luka and Kyrie will cook Porzingas on a switch and then he's gotta chase Gafford around. Then they've got PJ and DJJ that know their roles.

I think it's going to be a good series.

The key to Dallas winning will be thj stepping up he’s the X factor for Dallas if he can give them between 14-25 oh in at least 3-4 games they’ll have a chance Boston are so good but are very beatable

[dumbell78]

Eve of the NBA Finals and ESPN is all in on the Lakers and Dan Hurley as their target head coach. Never change ESPN.

[sco]

Eve of the NBA Finals and ESPN is all in on the Lakers and Dan Hurley as their target head coach. Never change ESPN.

Gotta give the Lakers PR machine credit.

[Jcool0]

I remember finding out about Dan Hurely years ago when I saw an article on his brother Bobby Hurley. He was able to win at every level and had just turned around Rhode Island from 8-21 to in 2 years 23-10, eventually making back to back NCAA tournaments. I thought he would be great at Illinois, but I don't think he was ever on there radar and might have wanted to stay on the east coast. Not sure how he would fare in the NBA. He would be giving up so much control and coaching LeBron rarely goes well for anyone. Probably better of waiting for a team with young talent who can win a title and needs the right coach to take the next step.

[kodo]

Will the Mavs be able to give Boston a fight? Or will it be over in 4-5? I'm rooting for Dallas- I usually like the underdog. And Boston just wins too much. But Tatum, Brown, Porzingis, Holiday, Derick White- that's a tough lineup. Plus guys like Horford.

I think Dallas could definitely win this series. Kyrie has championship experience. Luka and Kyrie will cook Porzingas on a switch and then he's gotta chase Gafford around. Then they've got PJ and DJJ that know their roles.

I think it's going to be a good series.

I'm 50/50, and so is ESPN.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40279206/2024-nba-finals-predictions-celtics-mavericks-series-mvp
9 picked DAL to win, 8 picked BOS.

I do think how DAL finished the season was under reported. In the final stretch of 15 games, the best D in the league wasn't Minnesota, it was Dallas. DAL also had the best W-L in the final stretch. This isn't 3 series of lucky breaks for Dallas, they actually were the best team in the league in the final stretch.

I wouldn't bet either way, won't be surprised by either outcome.

[Dresden]

I just hope it's not a cakewalk for Boston. Luka really rose to the occasion in the last series. He's really got that rare ability to come up big when its needed. Not all stars have that (i.e. Jason Tatum).