Around The NBA : 2025-26

[Avery W]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

It was very weird seeing him benched for the whole 4th quarter. Can't imagine the vibes in SAC are too fun these days.

[Ice Man]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

Not really the opposite of Jimmy, because your argument is that Zach can be a winner if he finds the right slot, whereas Jimmy wouldn't be a loser in any slot. After all, Butler went straight to one of these teams that allegedly made Zach a loser and the moment that Jimmy showed up, that team became a winner. There was no bad fit for Prime Jimmy.

But I do agree that Zach could have been a winner if the dice had rolled differently for him. Have him drafted by the Bucks, and he would be viewed as a super sidekick for Giannis -- a more talented version of Middleton. In that case, the collective impression of Zach would be very different.

[Andi Obst]

Zach Lavine, the 24ppg scorer @ 66%TS, is yet again -18 nrtg, 2nd worst in the Kings who as a team are -11 nrtg

He needs more help!!

It's ridiculous when you look at his individual effieciency vs his on/off-numbers this season. Makes you think he's getting his points on an empty court next to the arena while his team is playing 4-on-5 in the actual game. And sure, it's small sample size. But it means more when you've been a net-negative player for your entire career.

The LaVine trade is extremely underrated. That was a great trade by AKME.

[sco]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

Not really the opposite of Jimmy, because your argument is that Zach can be a winner if he finds the right slot, whereas Jimmy wouldn't be a loser in any slot. After all, Butler went straight to one of these teams that allegedly made Zach a loser and the moment that Jimmy showed up, that team became a winner. There was no bad fit for Prime Jimmy.

But I do agree that Zach could have been a winner if the dice had rolled differently for him. Have him drafted by the Bucks, and he would be viewed as a super sidekick for Giannis -- a more talented version of Middleton. In that case, the collective impression of Zach would be very different.

Yeah, Zach on MIL, or on DET would have a ton more success. He's a very good #2 option, and never had a good #1 option to play off. The insult to injury is for him to have to play next to Demar on 2 consecutive teams.

[kodo]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

Not really the opposite of Jimmy, because your argument is that Zach can be a winner if he finds the right slot, whereas Jimmy wouldn't be a loser in any slot. After all, Butler went straight to one of these teams that allegedly made Zach a loser and the moment that Jimmy showed up, that team became a winner. There was no bad fit for Prime Jimmy.

But I do agree that Zach could have been a winner if the dice had rolled differently for him. Have him drafted by the Bucks, and he would be viewed as a super sidekick for Giannis -- a more talented version of Middleton. In that case, the collective impression of Zach would be very different.

Yeah, Zach on MIL, or on DET would have a ton more success. He's a very good #2 option, and never had a good #1 option to play off. The insult to injury is for him to have to play next to Demar on 2 consecutive teams.

Agreed. +/- is more about if the lineup you're mainly used on is playing together coherently. Lavine has been in the middle of two teams that had a ton of scoring, especially hero ball scorers, and no defense. The fact that he Lavine wouldn't be a big +/- guy on the SAC version of the Bulls is the least surprising thing that's happened in the NBA last 2 years. Sabonis has an even worse +/- than Lavine and he's SAC's biggest star, both point to the fact that SAC needs defense. Their highest +/- guys are scrappy guys that play some D (Carter, Clifford, Eubanks).

2nd worst opponent PPG in the league, the only team worse is actively tanking (WAS).

He never gets this comparison due to athletic profiles, but he's similar to Klay Thompson. If a lottery team had Klay Thompson as their #1 who had to create everything off the dribble with no system or PG to give him wide open clean shots, he'd look as bad he does in Dallas. It's no surprise Zach's best stretches were next to healthy Zo or Giddey.

[sco]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/took-body-fat-friday-bro-075900494.html

I didn't the know the Heat did this, but it does make sense. I bet most vets hate it.

[DASMACKDOWN]

Zach should try and find the right team to go to when he is a free agent. He has this year and a PO next year. I can see him on the Clippers at some point or Lakers.

[step]

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/article/took-body-fat-friday-bro-075900494.html

I didn't the know the Heat did this, but it does make sense. I bet most vets hate it.

Interesting.

Since Norm plays at the two guard position, his body fat limit is 6 percent, which, as he mentioned in the interview, is acceptable to him since his college body fat was 5 percent.

Their figures are way off. NBA players... closet competition ready bodybuilders, yeah OK.

Powell also shared that he weighed just 195 pounds when he first arrived in Miami. He began this season at 215 pounds — all added muscle

[DASMACKDOWN]

Read on Twitter

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Does anyone think we are being too cautious with calf strains?

I can't believe that we just figured out that a calf strain can be a prelude to any future lower extremity injury. I think we automoatically go to worst case scenario because of last season.

It just feels like now if you say you have a calf injury, They are going to automatically sit you 2-4 weeks.

[MrSparkle]

I dunno, but since Lillard, Tatum and Haliburton all had that injury in the time span of a month, and it seems like there’s a record amount of calf injuries this month… I’m certain it’s a combination of some newer workout trend, the newer pace/systems teams are running, and consequentially more carefulness and awareness of the relationship between tight calves and other injuries.

[kodo]

Read on Twitter

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Does anyone think we are being too cautious with calf strains?

I can't believe that we just figured out that a calf strain can be a prelude to any future lower extremity injury. I think we automoatically go to worst case scenario because of last season.

It just feels like now if you say you have a calf injury, They are going to automatically sit you 2-4 weeks.

No. The calf is directly connected to the achilles tendon, and achilles is a real career changer. I think back in older eras where Wemby would be jogging in a straight line, posting up, waiting for a guard to feed him, then mainly using his height and arm length to shoot a hook over his man ignoring a calf injury is probably fine.

But Wemby plays more or less like a guard, live dribble face-up going iso with crossovers, side-stepping into jumpers, euro-step, etc..

[kodo]

Strangely it's usually a Bulls player making the millionth NBA point scored.

[MisterRoy]

We have several examples of coming back from a calf strain too soon and rupturing an Achilles. Dude needs to take as much time as he wants.

[ImSlower]

OKC up 49-25 after the first. My goodness.

[Ice Man]

Boy, the injuries are mounting. AD has been out for a while now, of course. Ja with the calf string, Wemby with the calf strain, Giannis with a groin injury. That's 4 current or former All Stars right there.

[Dan Z]

Zach Lavine, the 24ppg scorer @ 66%TS, is yet again -18 nrtg, 2nd worst in the Kings who as a team are -11 nrtg

He needs more help!!

It's ridiculous when you look at his individual effieciency vs his on/off-numbers this season. Makes you think he's getting his points on an empty court next to the arena while his team is playing 4-on-5 in the actual game. And sure, it's small sample size. But it means more when you've been a net-negative player for your entire career.

The LaVine trade is extremely underrated. That was a great trade by AKME.

It might be his second best move.

I've said it before, but it's crazy that Sacramento saw what DDR/Zach did in Chicago and thought it was a good idea to pair them together again. If they just kept the Bulls pick, and did the New Orleans deal, it'd put them in a better position going forward.

[drosestruts]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

It was very weird seeing him benched for the whole 4th quarter. Can't imagine the vibes in SAC are too fun these days.

Zach LaVine is the Matthew Stafford of the NBA

[DuckIII]

I kinda feel sorry for Zach. He is easily the best player in the league that can't seem to play on a successful team. Zach undoubtedly has the talent. It just seems like in his career, the mix around him just doesn't seem to pan out.

He is complete opposite of say Jimmy, who on 5 different teams has found success and team success.

It was very weird seeing him benched for the whole 4th quarter. Can't imagine the vibes in SAC are too fun these days.

Zach LaVine is the Matthew Stafford of the NBA

Eh. Stafford was a rare franchise QB who was constantly on awful teams. Then he went to a team capable of contending and he LED them.

Lavine needs to not be the leader. It’s what he’s always needed. If some smart team ever figure that out they are going to have a hell of a complimentary, contending quality shooting guard.

[Red Larrivee]

Zach LaVine is the Matthew Stafford of the NBA

Maybe Brandon Marshall without the locker room concerns? A football 1:1 is tough because of how less individualized it is than basketball.

Zach's next contract will be his best opportunity to be a net positive for a winning team. It's just not feasible right now while he's making 40+.

[drosestruts]

Duck and Red you're probably both right. Probably more comparible to a great, but overpaid wide receiver who's always on a bad team.

Lonzo Ball is the best point guard Zach has ever played with, and they played together for about 3 months max.

Every team needs players who can score, and Zach can score with the best of them. The inability to ever build something worthwhile around that has frankly just been sad more than anything else.