Around The NBA : 21-22 Edition

[BullChit]

Sobonis likely out due to COVID protocols... Good for out chances but I'm also scared that it's all starting again.

[HomoSapien]

I mean, why would you view that as a red flag? We’re missing 4 of our 5 best defenders, our depth is depleted causing us to lean on guys who aren’t NBA caliber, and we were also missing Zach and JaVonte for the Orlando game. I’ve seen a bunch of people use this stretch as an example of us not being ready or a reason for why we shouldn’t go in on a big trade and frankly I don’t follow the logic. We’re losing because our defensive infrastructure has been essentially removed. That doesn’t indicate any information about this team other than what it would indicate about any other team — if you get hit by tons of injuries, you’ll suffer.

Here’s why we should be optimistic - Brooklyn looks shaky and we project to be fully healthy (including possibly Patrick Williams) by the start of the playoffs.

if the bengals can make the super bowl, the celtics and hawks can make the finals

the east is wide open

Football is one game at a time - much more variability than a series.

Meanwhile, I think folks are setting themselves up for a letdown trying to downplay the issues. What other contending team has their defense fall apart - from very good to bad - based on their 6th man going down?

And the Warriors - who, for purposes of fairness, are the front-runners this season - have only two bad losses - one to contending the Bucks, one to the middling T-Wolves.... where in that Wolves neither Steph Curry nor Draymond played. Their other few losses were close. They also thumped the Bulls by 26 (though Bulls no Vuc)

The Bucks have a bad loss to the pretty good Heat in the 2nd game (early games tend to count less as signals, IMO; also no Jrue), a bad loss to the middling Hawks (no Kris), a bad loss and less-bad loss to the pretty good Cavs (no Giannis, Kris, or Jrue for the bad loss, no explanation for the less-bad one), and a bad loss to the pretty-good-but-terribly-inconsistent Nuggets (no explanation... maybe a slump - that and the Cavs game post Caruso karma?).

But not being thumped by bottom feeders. Some losses, but not being beat down by ~20 or more (Spurs game wasn't that bad, true, akin to the Bucks loss to the Pistons... but they don't have the other thumpins by bad teams like the Magic, Pacers... not to mention the other bad losses [by ~20 or worse] to good-to-great teams like the Cavs, Heat, Warriors).

I'm not saying that the Bulls are a bad team. Obviously they aren't - they are a very good team. And they are out their starting PG and 6th man, and have been without their starting "4" (albeit a middling player at this point in his career), throughout the season, and out a key "4" reserve as well.

But they have their soon-to-be MAX player in Lavine, their "playing-like-a-Max-player-this-year" DeRozan, and their "traded-for-an-all-star-level-offensive-5-who-hasn't-consistently-played-like-that" in Vuc... Normally, a big 3 plus decent role players is enough to at least avoid being blown out by bad teams.

Now, if Zach is still hurting... that would be additional factor explaining middling play that, if resolved, could increase playoff upside. But we don't know that right now.

I guess I’m not really following the point that’s being made here. We were never the favorites, but we were in the conversation as a team that could come out of the East if enough goes right in our favor (good matchups, Nets being banged up, etc.). We also always knew that defense was an issue with our big three so it’s not really surprising that we’d struggle when almost all of our defensive guys are out at the same time.

I think I’d be more worried if we were dealing with season ending injuries, but everyone is going to be back prior to the playoffs and likely with a fair amount of games left in the regular season to get rid of some rust.

[TyrusRose2425]

Am I the only one here that would rather face Milwaukee than Miami or Philadelphia? As long as we can trade for someone to make life a bit more difficult on Giannis, the Bucks don't scare me. Miami on the other hand have been winning all season despite key guys missing significant time. And then they have Spoelstra who is an elite coach. Philadelphia has Embiid and if they end up trading Simmons, they're adding to a team that's already winning.

[kdapiton]

**** you phoenix get it together

[nitric0]

Warriors depth is terrifying. Their bench started today and took out the spurs.

[MGB8]

Rising stars 4 team thing going to be interesting. LaMelo, Ant, Halli, Bane, Mobley, Barnes, Cade, Ayo, etc. a lot of talent out there.

[BullChit]

I wonder if Bucks fans consider Harrell's foul on Giannis to be just a "good hard foul"

[MisterRoy]

I wonder if Bucks fans consider Harrell's foul on Giannis to be just a "good hard foul"

Washington stands behind Harrell. He doesn’t have a history of hard fouls.


Sent from somewhere you've never been.

[FriedRise]

I wonder if Bucks fans consider Harrell's foul on Giannis to be just a "good hard foul"

Washington stands behind Harrell. He doesn’t have a history of hard fouls.


Sent from somewhere you've never been.

Good morning.

*takes a bite out of a donut*

[CROBulls]

Harrell did nothing wrong if anything we want more of it. It was just good old hard foul. You all going just soft this days. I dont see why Bucks fans want 1 game suspension. It's not like Giannis is gonna miss next 3 months minimum. For that kind of punishment Harrell needs to do better job next time.

[Ice Man]

Flagrant 1 is the right call for the Harrell foul. The foul was reckless, but it wasn't very dangerous. Harrell hit GIannis in the shoulder, and he didn't prevent Giannis from landing on his feet. The Grayson foul was very different, in that it was 1) to the head, and 2) it spun Caruso around in the air, so that he couldn't land on his feet.

That said, Trez is a punk, so on the unlikely chance that he does end up getting suspended, I won't shed any tears for the "injustice."

[jc23]

I wonder if Bucks fans consider Harrell's foul on Giannis to be just a "good hard foul"

lucky for them the story didnt end with giannis being out for 6-8 weeks. if that happened they would be a play in team.

[dabig3]

Read on Twitter

I'll say this - they are one of the most dangerous backcourts in the NBA. Their run last year and solid play this year proves it. I'm assuming Suns-Warriors will match up in the playoffs at some point, and that will be a fun series to watch just for the backcourt stars.

[Dresden]

Warriors depth is terrifying. Their bench started today and took out the spurs.

Yeah, that was impressive. They are such a well coached team. When they don't have their scorers in, they can win games with their defense.

[Dresden]

Read on Twitter

I'll say this - they are one of the most dangerous backcourts in the NBA. Their run last year and solid play this year proves it. I'm assuming Suns-Warriors will match up in the playoffs at some point, and that will be a fun series to watch just for the backcourt stars.

Most likely 4 HOF'ers in those two backcourts.

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

[nitric0]

Read on Twitter

bruh...

[FriedRise]

Read on Twitter

Translation:

The Chicago Bulls say that Zach LaVine is probably going to drop 40 on them fools in tomorrow night's game.

[Ice Man]

Read on Twitter

Best backcourt in the league? Them is fighting words for Bulls fans.

[MisterRoy]

Read on Twitter

When he dunked last night. He wasn’t happy after. He felt something.


Sent from somewhere you've never been.