Around the NBA: 2020-21 Season

[Ice Man]

Who would have said two years ago that Nets-Hawks would be a marque matchup? It's 68-67 Atlanta at halftime, in a highly entertaining and well played game.

[MrSparkle]

Who would have said two years ago that Nets-Hawks would be a marque matchup? It's 68-67 Atlanta at halftime, in a highly entertaining and well played game.

Yeah.. Their core was improving steady and the offseason was about as big as signing 1 all-star (3 excellent NBA vets). Rondo is a genius, the way he finds guys in their hot spots.

Collins was hurt much of last season too, so besides their rookies coming back improved, he’s coming back strong. And then Capella was a deadline add... and Gallinari, Okongwu haven’t even made a dent yet.

Call me crazy but I can see ATL going to ECFs, depending on their road. I say it also expecting some covid-related anomalies in the summer. Their roster is comically deep. Their bench is an 8th-seed starting 5.

[MGB8]

Lonzo Ball....

[Southpaw]

Read on Twitter

It's a small sample but it's nice to see that they are efficient other than Edwards. It'd be interesting to see how this holds up.

[Nate3carp]

Read on Twitter

It's a small sample but it's nice to see that they are efficient other than Edwards. It'd be interesting to see how this holds up.

And even 33.3% isn’t horrific for Edwards.

[cjbulls]

LaMelo with his first big game of the season. 22pts, 8reb and 5ast on 7/10fg, 4/5 threes.

Oh and btw, on the season he is shooting 53% from 3 (8/15)

[Ice Man]

Read on Twitter

It's a small sample but it's nice to see that they are efficient other than Edwards. It'd be interesting to see how this holds up.

Those are some crazy good numbers. Of course the list only has about half the first-round picks, so maybe the other half have been all bricks. Also, it's a pretty good bet that these guys have been wide open (as Patrick Williams has been). When setting up a team defense, contesting a rookie's 3-point attempt is pretty low on the priority list.

[jmajew]

Who would have said two years ago that Nets-Hawks would be a marque matchup? It's 68-67 Atlanta at halftime, in a highly entertaining and well played game.

That Hawks team is loaded. The fact they have Bogdanovic and Gallinari coming off the bench now that Capela is back makes them downright scary. Their second unit is one of the best in the NBA Rondo, Bogdanovic, Huerter, Gallinari, & Okongwu. Honestly, I think that team can potentially come out of the East. If Reddish, Hunter, & Huerter all develop even a little this year from where they've been this year oh man. Then they can get Okungwu back..that team is down right scary.

[Chi town]

Billy D made it a point that the Bulls get to the FT line... They are doing it.

https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2020/12/31/the-bulls-have-been-one-of-the-best-teams-getting-to-the-line-this-season-can-they-keep-it-up/

[ZOMG]

LaMelo with his first big game of the season. 22pts, 8reb and 5ast on 7/10fg, 4/5 threes.

Oh and btw, on the season he is shooting 53% from 3 (8/15)

The sample size is still very small, but I'd say Melo is shooting better because he's improved his shot selection - by necessity, since he's a rookie who's still on a leash and doesn't start either. No more crazy heaves from near midcourt just because he happens to feel like it.

I've watched all of LaMelo's games, and I have to say I'm pretty shocked by his apparent transformation into a super high motor guy. I mean... this kid used to look extremely lazy and indifferent. Now he's crashing the boards like crazy and never staying still. He even defends, FFS.

We'll see if it lasts - for one thing, I don't believe he's really THAT good a shooter. He'll come back to earth once his volume grows. But overall, LaMelo has been a really positive surprise IMO.

[cjbulls]

LaMelo with his first big game of the season. 22pts, 8reb and 5ast on 7/10fg, 4/5 threes.

Oh and btw, on the season he is shooting 53% from 3 (8/15)

The sample size is still very small, but I'd say Melo is shooting better because he's improved his shot selection - by necessity, since he's a rookie who's still on a leash and doesn't start either. No more crazy heaves from near midcourt just because he happens to feel like it.

I've watched all of LaMelo's games, and I have to say I'm pretty shocked by his apparent transformation into a super high motor guy. I mean... this kid used to look extremely lazy and indifferent. Now he's crashing the boards like crazy and never staying still. He even defends, FFS.

We'll see if it lasts - for one thing, I don't believe he's really THAT good a shooter. He'll come back to earth once his volume grows. But overall, LaMelo has been a really positive surprise IMO.

There were a few of us who said all of these things were problems but were likely to be corrected at the nba level, at least shot selection and defensive effort since an nba coach wouldn’t put up with some of it. That’s why he was worth the risk, his deficiencies were correctable while the instinct and iq were already there.

And no I don’t think he’s a great shooter either. But the comments here were he can’t shoot, period.

It’s a long season, but the sheer volume of collective orgasms that would happen on this board if Patrick Williams put up 22, 8 and 5 in a win over a good team would probably take the site down.

[Axolotl]

Looks like no one wants James Harden.

[ZOMG]

LaMelo with his first big game of the season. 22pts, 8reb and 5ast on 7/10fg, 4/5 threes.

Oh and btw, on the season he is shooting 53% from 3 (8/15)

The sample size is still very small, but I'd say Melo is shooting better because he's improved his shot selection - by necessity, since he's a rookie who's still on a leash and doesn't start either. No more crazy heaves from near midcourt just because he happens to feel like it.

I've watched all of LaMelo's games, and I have to say I'm pretty shocked by his apparent transformation into a super high motor guy. I mean... this kid used to look extremely lazy and indifferent. Now he's crashing the boards like crazy and never staying still. He even defends, FFS.

We'll see if it lasts - for one thing, I don't believe he's really THAT good a shooter. He'll come back to earth once his volume grows. But overall, LaMelo has been a really positive surprise IMO.

There were a few of us who said all of these things were problems but were likely to be corrected at the nba level, at least shot selection and defensive effort since an nba coach wouldn’t put up with some of it. That’s why he was worth the risk, his deficiencies were correctable while the instinct and iq were already there.

And no I don’t think he’s a great shooter either. But the comments here were he can’t shoot, period.

It’s a long season, but the sheer volume of collective orgasms that would happen on this board if Patrick Williams put up 22, 8 and 5 in a win over a good team would probably take the site down.

Anyone can get hot for a while in the NBA. And nothing in LaMelo's past says he's a good shooter. On the contrary.

That said, I'm more than prepared to eat my crow if he keeps this up.

Shooting, defense and things like that are correctable to some extent, but low motor guys almost NEVER turn into high motor guys. That's why the current LaMelo makes me feel like I'm living in bizarro world. I mean... is this really who he is or is he faking it to make a good first impression?

[cjbulls]

The sample size is still very small, but I'd say Melo is shooting better because he's improved his shot selection - by necessity, since he's a rookie who's still on a leash and doesn't start either. No more crazy heaves from near midcourt just because he happens to feel like it.

I've watched all of LaMelo's games, and I have to say I'm pretty shocked by his apparent transformation into a super high motor guy. I mean... this kid used to look extremely lazy and indifferent. Now he's crashing the boards like crazy and never staying still. He even defends, FFS.

We'll see if it lasts - for one thing, I don't believe he's really THAT good a shooter. He'll come back to earth once his volume grows. But overall, LaMelo has been a really positive surprise IMO.

There were a few of us who said all of these things were problems but were likely to be corrected at the nba level, at least shot selection and defensive effort since an nba coach wouldn’t put up with some of it. That’s why he was worth the risk, his deficiencies were correctable while the instinct and iq were already there.

And no I don’t think he’s a great shooter either. But the comments here were he can’t shoot, period.

It’s a long season, but the sheer volume of collective orgasms that would happen on this board if Patrick Williams put up 22, 8 and 5 in a win over a good team would probably take the site down.

Anyone can get hot for a while in the NBA. And nothing in LaMelo's past says he's a good shooter. On the contrary.

That said, I'm more than prepared to eat my crow if he keeps this up.

Shooting, defense and things like that are correctable to some extent, but low motor guys almost NEVER turn into high motor guys. That's why the current LaMelo makes me feel like I'm living in bizarro world. I mean... is this really who he is or is he faking it to make a good first impression?

That’s a really good question. My theory was that he would struggle in the NBA and have to recognize effort was needed to succeed. The speed with which he adapted to that problem would largely determine his fate. The bad news is if he does too well early on, it will delay that response to some indefinite point, if ever. The good news is his success right now is buoyed by that high motor attitude, so maybe he already learned it or is already adapting? We will have to see.

[TheStig]

Looks like no one wants James Harden.

No one wants to trade their entire future for Harden.

[R3AL1TY]

Smh...Ingram got ejected for a normal hard foul. The softer the NBA gets, the viewership goes down while scoring and blowouts go up.

[MisterRoy]

Looks like no one wants James Harden.

No one wants to trade their entire future for Harden.

This. Houstons asking price is out of line. Harden knows it and his latest actions are driving down his value so he actually gets traded.


Sent from somewhere you've never been.

[Ice Man]

Sent from somewhere you've never been.

I've never been to Antarctica, or to Central Mongolia.

[MisterRoy]

Sent from somewhere you've never been.

I've never been to Antarctica, or to Central Mongolia.

The first time anyone has ever said anything about my signature. Love it!


Sent from somewhere you've never been.

[Indomitable]

Dunn is still injuried and just had a another surgery.