Around the NBA III

[esqtvd]

sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeit

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[MartinToVaught]

I had to do a double take to make sure this wasn't Centel:

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This might be the single most pathetic quote in sports history.

[LamarWho]

Doc gets another get out of jail free card

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[esqtvd]

Doc gets another get out of jail free card

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LOL, true. But he's going to the HOF. And as a players' coach, it's only fair to blame his players for his failures. Doc Rivers died for their sins.

[MartinToVaught]

Wow:

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Meanwhile Lue is still employed after three horrible seasons in a row + Shaw coaching this year's team better than him. Make it make sense.

[esqtvd]

Disgusting. I'm still a Sixers fan [though Clippers are now my #1]. They fielded a 12-man team I recognized 2 names. They didn't even bring up fan favorite Matt McClung.

NBA dunk contest champ Mac McClung caps off impressive season by leading Delaware Blue Coats to G League title

How low can they go? The Sixers are giving a masterclass in tanking.
It has become obvious what the 76ers are doing. It’s no secret that the organization is determined to keep its pick in June’s NBA draft, which is top-six protected. They’ve been playing without an average of eight of their normal rotation players while strutting out makeshift, NBA G-League caliber lineups designed to lose. It’s been a tanking masterclass.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba-dunk-contest-champ-mac-mcclung-caps-off-impressive-season-by-leading-delaware-blue-coats-to-g-league-title-134439468.html

Anybody who says the Clippers should have done ANYTHING like this is nuts. And Nosferatu should strip them of their pick.

[Captain Ballmer]

Denver fired coach malone just now. A freaking week away from the playoffs.

First Jenkins, now Malone. Being good is just not enough in this wild west, you gotta be excellent i guess.

[MartinToVaught]

Denver fired coach malone just now. A freaking week away from the playoffs.

First Jenkins, now Malone. Being good is just not enough in this wild west, you gotta be excellent i guess.

I just don't get it. Better coaches than Lue get fired out of nowhere for no reason, but we rewarded Lue with a huge contract extension after three straight unwatchable seasons.

I know we're all feeling the positive vibes right now because the team's been playing better lately, but if we don't at least make the second round, we've still got to move on from Lue and Frank.

[esqtvd]

The toast of the NBA 2 years ago, they said.
Play the kids, they said.
You're fired, they said.

It’s Time for the Nuggets’ Young Players to Step Up in the Playoffs

Yet, Christian Braun's increased offensive role has come at a cost. The added workload has diminished his defensive energy, making him less of a lockdown presence than before.

Peyton Watson possesses all the tools to be a game-changing defender. The problem? Physical gifts alone aren’t enough.

While not known for his defense, Strawther has shown a willingness to compete on that end of the floor. However, his slight frame makes him an easy target for stronger players. Additionally, his shooting has been inconsistent, which limits his ability to solidify a regular rotation spot.

https://lastwordonsports.com/basketball/2025/04/07/nuggets-young-players-playoffs/

[MartinToVaught]

Pretty odd victory lap to be taking. Malone won a ring for the Nuggets. What have Lue and Frank done for the Clippers?

Other teams fire their coaches for accomplishing more than our franchise ever has and we're supposed to be laughing at them?

[esqtvd]

Pretty odd victory lap to be taking. Malone won a ring for the Nuggets. What have Lue and Frank done for the Clippers?

Other teams fire their coaches for accomplishing more than our franchise ever has and we're supposed to be laughing at them?

I'm not laughing. But it was the GM's decision to go young [I guess] and they're ass. The know-it-alls laughed at Jeff Green but they won a title with him in the playoff rotation.

Mr. Clemenza says there's been tension between Malone and the org but I dunno what that's about.

As for Ty, he's done a helluva job with a 35-yr-old Beard and Kawhi for less than 40 games, many of them on a minutes restriction. And L-Frank dumped a half-dozen kids who were ass and brought in Dunn, DJJ, Bogi, brought Batum back and might yet get a bonus out of Simmons. Malone would have given his eyeteeth for these guys. He'd still have a job.

[clipperlover]

Guessing the final straw for Malone was this from yesterday:

"Jamal’s hurt," Malone said, per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. "It’s not careful. He’s hurt. So there’s a big difference. Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart. We’re not in a situation to do that. There are six (playoff) teams vying for four spots. So if Jamal Murray is not out there, it’s not careful. It’s because he literally just is not able to play at the moment."

Not going to help Denver sell post season tickets if fans think he will be out for the playoffs. Why spend the money to watch them lose in an early round.

[esqtvd]

Guessing the final straw for Malone was this from yesterday:

"Jamal’s hurt," Malone said, per Bennett Durando of the Denver Post. "It’s not careful. He’s hurt. So there’s a big difference. Careful is if a guy can play and you want to be smart. We’re not in a situation to do that. There are six (playoff) teams vying for four spots. So if Jamal Murray is not out there, it’s not careful. It’s because he literally just is not able to play at the moment."

Not going to help Denver sell post season tickets if fans think he will be out for the playoffs. Why spend the money to watch them lose in an early round.

Wow. Jamal Murray IS their present and at 28, still their future. You know what? NBA owners are INSANE. Seems like just about every championship coach or Coach of the Year is fired within 2 or 3 years. I let GROK 3 do the work:

Coach Achievement Achievement Date Firing Date Time Difference


Dwane Casey COTY May 9, 2018 May 11, 2018 2 days
George Karl COTY May 8, 2013 June 6, 2013 29 days
Monty Williams COTY May 3, 2022 May 13, 2023 ~1 year (375 days)
Nick Nurse COTY November 4, 2020 April 21, 2023 ~2.5 years (912 days)
Tyronn Lue Championship June 19, 2016 October 28, 2018 ~2.4 years (862 days)
Frank Vogel Championship October 11, 2020 April 11, 2022 ~1.5 years (547 days)
Mike Budenholzer Championship July 20, 2021 May 4, 2023 ~1.8 years (653 days)
Michael Malone Championship June 12, 2023 April 8, 2025 ~1.8 years (665 days)

Hired to be fired, except a precious few. Longest tenured NBA coaches:

Gregg Popovich - 28 years - San Antonio Spurs
Erik Spoelstra - 17 years - Miami Heat
Steve Kerr - 11 years - Golden State Warriors
Taylor Jenkins - 6 years - Memphis Grizzlies
Tyronn Lue - 5 years - Los Angeles Clippers
Mark Daigneault - 5 years - Oklahoma City Thunder
Rick Carlisle - 4 years - Indiana Pacers (second stint)
Jamahl Mosley - 4 years - Orlando Magic
Willie Green - 4 years - New Orleans Pelicans
Nick Nurse - 2 years - Philadelphia 76ers

2 years, and Nick Nurse makes the Top 10.

Unexpected Detail

***An unexpected detail is the rapid firing of Dwane Casey just 2 days after winning COTY, which is unusually swift and highlights the extreme volatility in NBA coaching.***


They're INSANE.

[esqtvd]

Repeat: INSANE

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[og15]

The tension was with Malone and Booth, hence why they both got fired. They were antagonistic towards each other.

Malone didn't want to play "Booth guys", Booth had no desire to keep "Malone" guys. You can dislike this or that person, but having an organization where your coach and GM are on the same page (doesn't mean they agree on everything) is extremely important and valuable.

They sunk their own ship.

[Roscoe Sheed]

Minnesota somehow scored 52 points in the 3rd quarter vs Memphis

[esqtvd]

cruel but fair

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[Ballings7]

I think one of them (Demar/Lavine) gets traded this summer. Kings need to get more balanced to get past R1/play-in.

Could see maybe a deal to the Pelicans or Orlando who need availability and offense.

[esqtvd]

I think one of them (Demar/Lavine) gets traded this summer. Kings need to get more balanced to get past R1/play-in.

Could see maybe a deal to the Pelicans or Orlando who need availability and offense.

I don't watch them that closely, but I thought they had someh6ing there building around DeAaron Fox, who was a trade untouchable until they traded him.

But they got a haul:

Sacramento Kings Receive:

Players:
Zach LaVine (from Chicago Bulls)
Sidy Cissoko (from San Antonio Spurs)
Draft Picks:
Three First-Round Picks:
2025 Charlotte 1st-round pick (lottery-protected; converts to 2026 and 2027 second-round picks if not conveyed)
2027 San Antonio 1st-round pick
2031 Minnesota 1st-round pick (via San Antonio)
Three Second-Round Picks:
2025 Chicago 2nd-round pick
2028 Denver 2nd-round pick (top-33 protected, via San Antonio)
2028 Sacramento 2nd-round pick (returned from Chicago)

The Bulls moved off LaVine’s large contract ($46M in 2025-26, $49M player option in 2026-27), aiding their rebuild, but received modest assets in return.

[Ballings7]

I thought they should of got a bit more for Fox in terms of another young player from the Spurs, but yeah still got a lot of draft capital after the Sabonis era.