Around the NBA (and other Sports), 2024-25, con't

[djFan71]

Hoping Udoka gets his revenge against the Warriors in this first round.

Nah, screw that. May he never win a series again.
I do like the terror twins quite a bit though.

[ConstableGeneva]

Didn't know til now that Steph's missed SIX postseasons in his career. JT hasn't missed one yet.

[phincsfan]

Cut it out.
You're bordering on Attacking the whole fan base.

Don't call comments, "dumb".

~ Parl

I guarantee some of these people would never speak to a stranger in the real world like they do through a computer.

A stranger, a good friend, family member. It doesn't matter. I live in a world where you have a right to have an opinion. And disagree with others. In the real world, are you going to beat me up? Because I do not like your opinion??

Opinions and disagreements are a dime a dozen, but as a grown man I can have both without disrespecting someone especially through a computer.

My point flew well over your head. The internet has allowed people to say things they would never say to strangers in real life.

Next time you’re out in public and you hear someone say a “dumb” comment, call them out and say their comment was dumb. You have every right to that opinion and to say it out loud.

But maybe that person won’t give two F’s about your opinion or your right to it.

It’s called self-awareness with a sprinkle of respect.

[playa-hater]

I guarantee some of these people would never speak to a stranger in the real world like they do through a computer.

A stranger, a good friend, family member. It doesn't matter. I live in a world where you have a right to have an opinion. And disagree with others. In the real world, are you going to beat me up? Because I do not like your opinion??

Opinions and disagreements are a dime a dozen, but as a grown man I can have both without disrespecting someone especially through a computer.

My point flew well over your head. The internet has allowed people to say things they would never say to strangers in real life.

Next time you’re out in public and you hear someone say a “dumb” comment, call them out and say their comment was dumb. You have every right to that opinion and to say it out loud.

But maybe that person won’t give two F’s about your opinion or your right to it.

It’s called self-awareness with a sprinkle of respect.

Thanks for that sermon. I always appreciate it when people who know only a fraction of the whole story yet feeling entitled enough to make judgments. I guess you can do you and I can do me.

Let's do that bolded part then instead of letting the back and forth here get out of hand - Shackles

[Smart2Nesmith43]

Imagine having a team. With not just the best talent in the world. But such a great fit together thanks to brad stevens, and making a comparison to the Phoenix Suns with the type of team That was never meant to fit together. And then wonder why some players are happy and others are upset.

Imagine blaming the coach for a player like Bradley beal. Who I don't believe ever played defense, on a team that didn't have defense and wondering why everyone is unhappy??

God forbid a coach who was desperate, tried playing a rookie who was drafted because he was a defensive specialist on a horrible team with no defense??

Yeah it's the coach's fault ??

I thank God every day That Boston has one of the best front offices and POBO in Brad Stevens. He is the reason everyone is happy. It's called building a great Roster full of talent that fits extremely well together vs versus a roster that anybody above a casual fan would have noticed was a horrible fit from day one.

But hey let's keep pushing narratives..
Maybe one of them will stick eventually.

It's always fascinating seeing the hoops you'll jump through to avoid giving Mazzulla any type of credit. Just to be clear, at work if you have a team of ~15 people that work well together with basically zero drama do you say: it's all down to the person in HR that handles recruiting or do you think that the manager that deals with all those employees on a daily basis has some influence on that group dynamic ?

I remember not long before Mazzulla got the job, when Celtics players (with a ton of overlap with the roster that Mazzulla inherited and that supposedly fits together on its own) would hold players only meetings and call each other out in the media for not wanting to pass the ball. I remember when Pritchard asked for a trade and instead of it derailing the season of the player/franchise like it's usually the case it was handled internally with minimal fuss and he keeps getting better and better. Those aren't narratives, those are real things that happened.

[playa-hater]

Imagine having a team. With not just the best talent in the world. But such a great fit together thanks to brad stevens, and making a comparison to the Phoenix Suns with the type of team That was never meant to fit together. And then wonder why some players are happy and others are upset.

Imagine blaming the coach for a player like Bradley beal. Who I don't believe ever played defense, on a team that didn't have defense and wondering why everyone is unhappy??

God forbid a coach who was desperate, tried playing a rookie who was drafted because he was a defensive specialist on a horrible team with no defense??

Yeah it's the coach's fault ??

I thank God every day That Boston has one of the best front offices and POBO in Brad Stevens. He is the reason everyone is happy. It's called building a great Roster full of talent that fits extremely well together vs versus a roster that anybody above a casual fan would have noticed was a horrible fit from day one.

But hey let's keep pushing narratives..
Maybe one of them will stick eventually.

It's always fascinating seeing the hoops you'll jump through to avoid giving Mazzulla any type of credit. Just to be clear, at work if you have a team of ~15 people that work well together with basically zero drama do you say: it's all down to the person in HR that handles recruiting or do you think that the manager that deals with all those employees on a daily basis has some influence on that group dynamic ?

I remember not long before Mazzulla got the job, when Celtics players (with a ton of overlap with the roster that Mazzulla inherited and that supposedly fits together on its own) would hold players only meetings and call each other out in the media for not wanting to pass the ball. I remember when Pritchard asked for a trade and instead of it derailing the season of the player/franchise like it's usually the case it was handled internally with minimal fuss and he keeps getting better and better. Those aren't narratives, those are real things that happened.

Debating whether I should reply or not because it will only lead to a circular or redundant argument.

But I also consider brad stevens, an excellent coach, but using some of the logic brought on this debate. I guess since there was a lot of infighting during the kyrie irving gordon haywood years as well as horrible chemistry in the locker room and a very depressing finish to a team that may have more talent than any in recent memory, would you now classify Stevens as a bad coach? Because players in the locker room were technically piss poor??

And even after getting rid of toxic kyrie, irving, it really wasn't too much better. Hence brad stevens relieving himself of coaching duties the following season or two.

[Fierce1]

Jimmy Butler had his highest scoring game as a Warrior with 38 points against Memphis.

Memphis coach was questioned why let a rookie be the primary defender for Jimmy Butler.

It would've been a tie game if the undrafted player didn't miss a FT with seconds remaining.

The always reliable Jrue Holiday would have made those two FT's.

There's a reason why some players get 30m per year and some go undrafted.

[Fierce1]

So Steve Kerr and the Warriors correctly predicted that the Grizzlies would plant their starting center, the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, on Butler, instructing Edey to sag way off of Butler on the perimeter. “He just told me: ‘I don’t care who guards me. Just give me space. Give me the ball. I’ll make something happen,’” Kerr said. “And that’s the beauty of Jimmy.” 7 hours ago – via New York Times

Butler went 19-of-68 on 3s in his 30 games with the Warriors — a hesitant 27.9 percent on a low volume. It’s part of what inspired the Grizzlies to have Edey linger 10 feet away in the paint when Butler had the ball up top to open the game. “I can shoot,” Butler said. “I just choose not to shoot 3s.” 7 hours ago – via New York Times
https://hoopshype.com/team/golden-state-warriors/

I wonder why Memphis coach didn't change strategy when Edey on Jimmy was clearly not working.

[ConstableGeneva]

Bulls getting run out of their own gym by the Heat, who I hope gives the Cavs some trouble in the first round.

[Fierce1]

All 60-win teams, OKC, Cleveland, and Boston, don't have a rookie as a starter.

Play-in tournament yesterday and today have rookies starting.

Just an observation.

[playa-hater]

All 60-win teams, OKC, Cleveland, and Boston, don't have a rookie as a starter.

Play-in tournament yesterday and today have rookies starting.

Just an observation.

You are continuing pressing the issue and trying to push my buttons..

Did you ever think that the 3 60 win teams just so happen to have arguably the best talent in the league??? I guess that didn't come to your conclusion.

And then you bring up some rookie player missing a free throw yeah like no other players have a done that including All stars and MVPs ??

And then you blame the coach for trying to play with an undrafted player and a rookie center and yet somehow despite taking Over a Team in full demise manages to lose to a 4 time Champion by Only a couple of points.

But Hey blame the coach and the rookie because that's all you know how to do..

Meanwhile Steve Kerr who not only coached the Olympic team also managed to win 4 titles, Which also includes a championship over us. But you don't mention giving him any credit for playing a late second round rookie center, who nobody even thought about, in Post, over a more experienced top lottery pick.. I guess according to your theories coach Kerr doesn't know how to coach either??

[ConstableGeneva]

I want the Mavs and Heat to win vs. Grizz and Hawks then both make the conference finals lol.

[Tatumfor2]

So Steve Kerr and the Warriors correctly predicted that the Grizzlies would plant their starting center, the 7-foot-4 Zach Edey, on Butler, instructing Edey to sag way off of Butler on the perimeter. “He just told me: ‘I don’t care who guards me. Just give me space. Give me the ball. I’ll make something happen,’” Kerr said. “And that’s the beauty of Jimmy.” 7 hours ago – via New York Times

Butler went 19-of-68 on 3s in his 30 games with the Warriors — a hesitant 27.9 percent on a low volume. It’s part of what inspired the Grizzlies to have Edey linger 10 feet away in the paint when Butler had the ball up top to open the game. “I can shoot,” Butler said. “I just choose not to shoot 3s.” 7 hours ago – via New York Times
https://hoopshype.com/team/golden-state-warriors/

I wonder why Memphis coach didn't change strategy when Edey on Jimmy was clearly not working.

He shot 18 free throws. Everyone else just fouled him I guess.

[Jellybeans]

Kings went after Lavine/DDR just so they can play like Sacramento Bulls and lose

[ConstableGeneva]

Kings GM rightfully fired for building Bulls West after seeing the year-to-year consistency of Chicago making the play-in. Light the Beam!

[phincsfan]

I don’t get the retread fascination in professional sports whether it be coaches or GM’s.

Why would the Kings be interested in Calvin Booth for their GM job? Because the Nuggets have been a winning team? He wasn’t even with them when they drafted Jokic. There’s a reason why he was fired along with Malone right before the playoffs.

Let Ai fill in as the GM for a season.

[threrf23]

Am thinking the Heat can knock off the Cavs? Bam & Ware can kind of neutralize the advantages that Mobley & Allen typically give them in the front court. The two teams are neck & neck defensively, offense is where the Cavs have an edge but they are somewhat reliant on Donovan Mitchell, who was nearly their least efficient scorer this season & shot 21% from 3 during the month of March. Herro is healthy & looked good last night.

Don't get me wrong, Cavs are well balanced & kind of stacked, but assuming the Heat knock off the Hawks, I think it'll be a better series than people expect.

[165bows]

Am thinking the Heat can knock off the Cavs? Bam & Ware can kind of neutralize the advantages that Mobley & Allen typically give them in the front court. The two teams are neck & neck defensively, offense is where the Cavs have an edge but they are somewhat reliant on Donovan Mitchell, who was nearly their least efficient scorer this season & shot 21% from 3 during the month of March. Herro is healthy & looked good last night.

Don't get me wrong, Cavs are well balanced & kind of stacked, but assuming the Heat knock off the Hawks, I think it'll be a better series than people expect.

I think they'll want to look good to get to the front of the Durant line, those two are a match made in heaven right now. Plus with Miami likely owing their first rounder to Okc next year I can't say I'm rooting for the Heat but I'm not rooting against them either.

[phincsfan]

Am thinking the Heat can knock off the Cavs? Bam & Ware can kind of neutralize the advantages that Mobley & Allen typically give them in the front court. The two teams are neck & neck defensively, offense is where the Cavs have an edge but they are somewhat reliant on Donovan Mitchell, who was nearly their least efficient scorer this season & shot 21% from 3 during the month of March. Herro is healthy & looked good last night.

Don't get me wrong, Cavs are well balanced & kind of stacked, but assuming the Heat knock off the Hawks, I think it'll be a better series than people expect.

This is the healthiest the Heat have been all year. Herro is playing unreal and from someone who listens to Miami sports radio, they are surprisingly happy with him.

They're also very big right now. It's not just Bam as the main big man. That starting line-up they had in the play in isn't too shabby for a playoff run. Regular season records mean nada righ now. It's all about the now and who's playing well at the right time.

They still have to beat the Hawks, but I don't think it's crazy to think that starting line-up can beat the Cavs, especially if Spoelstra can muck it up a bit.

[phincsfan]

Is there an NBA GM and owner that will take a chance on Zion?