(10-27-2021, 02:16 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/TheSteinLine/status/...6211854341
Wow.The NFL obsession is wild and confusing to me.
Why is it confusing? The NFL has been the king of televised sports since baseball's popularity started to wane. Tonight's matchup of GB winners of 6 straight vs Arizona who's undefeated, is a huge draw.
IF the season ended last night:
The Bulls, Hornets and Wiz would be top five in the east, the Sixers would be a play-in team and the Nets and Celtics wouldn't make the Top 10.
The TWolves and Kings would be top five in the west, the Lakers and Suns would be play-in teams and the Clippers wouldn't make the Top 10.
We aren't the only ones off to a slow start (20th in Net Rating). But despite that, we are 4th in the west right now. The world is upside-down.
(10-28-2021, 06:23 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]IF the season ended last night:
The Bulls, Hornets and Wiz would be top five in the east, the Sixers would be a play-in team and the Nets and Celtics wouldn't make the Top 10.
The TWolves and Kings would be top five in the west, the Lakers and Suns would be play-in teams and the Clippers wouldn't make the Top 10.
We aren't the only ones off to a slow start (20th in Net Rating). But despite that, we are 4th in the west right now. The world is upside-down.
Thank God the season just started. It's too early, after about 2-3 months things should shake out with the favorites. I do know there are a lot of teams you can't sleep on anymore. The East is better with Charlotte, NY, Cleveland, Washington, and Chicago markedly improved IMO. And in the West, The Wolves, GS, and the Kings look to be better. Should be an interesting year.
(10-28-2021, 02:41 AM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]I like that Kings roster a lot. It wouldn't shock me if they are in contention for a playoff spot.
I find myself saying that almost every year about the Kings the last 5 years. Somehow they always underperform.
They beat POR opening night, then lost to them by 30 the next week. They just beat the Suns. Lost to the Warriors by 10. Weird team.
I am sure some of these teams will plateau and fade, but there are not a lot of easy wins right now. In the West, you have OKC (Lakers..cough, cough) and Houston. And Houston can cause some problems on some nights. Besides that, you have to play hard to win.
I think deep rosters are going to play a big factor as we go through this season. Teams that have trouble dealing with injuries are going to lose some ground and feel like they are always playing catchup throughout the season.
(10-28-2021, 06:15 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]Why is it confusing?
I just find the product to be pretty inferior. I am just shocked at how loyal Americans are to the NFL, that's all.
https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/14...9869658119
I have been impressed with several of the rookies who I have had small glimpses of.
I may have been wrong with Harrison Barnes. At the time, I thought moving him would lead to us getting a better player. although even if he didn't, I thought he was a guy who really didn't help winning. He has found a home in Sacramento and looking back he may have been a nice fit here. Not an all star, but a player who can help you on the floor.
(10-28-2021, 07:38 AM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]I just find the product to be pretty inferior. I am just shocked at how loyal Americans are to the NFL, that's all.
You are obviously in the minority. A big part of it is the difference in number of games in a season. An NFL game is rarer (once a week) and significantly more important to that teams success than an NBA game. That makes it more exciting. There is also no such thing as "rest" days for NFL players, especially the stars unless it is the very end of the season and the game has no meaning.
Other reasons you could argue the product is not inferior:
There is virtually no tanking in the NFL. Every team is desperately trying to win every game (until very late in season)
While there are plenty of issues with the refs in the NFL, there is much less talk of elite players getting special treatment. It does happen in the NFL, but not to the same degree.
Free agency is much less important in the NFL, and players tend to move based on contract rather than going to big markets and teaming up with other players. This allows smaller market teams to compete instead of having a significant disadvantage.
The draft is much more important in the NFL and is not nearly as lopsided. Its better to have earlier pick in the NFL, but nowhere to the degree it is in the NBA.
The NFL has a true salary cap, contributing to the overall competitiveness. You don't teams way in luxury tax spending way more than other (smaller market) teams.
I prefer the NFL contract method, which includes a guaranteed bonus, and non guaranteed money. When an NFL player turns into a total asshole, he gets cut relatively soon. He is not in the position to screw his team as much as an NBA player.
Because of the above, an NFL player does not have the power that an NBA player has. He can't hold his team completely hostage. There are many NBA players that are more important than their coach or GM. I think that can be an ugly dynamic.
Just some thoughts. I was NFL fan long before I became an NBA fan, so I am probably biased (as I would guess you are as well).
(10-28-2021, 09:14 AM)mvossman Wrote: [ -> ]Just some thoughts. I was NFL fan long before I became an NBA fan, so I am probably biased (as I would guess you are as well).
Very good points.
I would add that the NFL has ~2 month head start on NBA. So by the time the Mavs open, the NFL is already in mid-season, playoff races are starting to shape up and you have a sense of who is (or isn't) having a good season.
So far the prime time TV schedule hasn't provided many snoozers this year, with GB vs AZ tonight being a prime example. The ability to "flex" games between Sunday afternoon and Sunday Night has increased the quality as well. Plus the use of technology has upped the experience for a lot of people. Digital lines for first down, FG max distance, e.g. Multiple camera angles, Pylon cams, 3D views of plays all enhance the viewing experience and make it more of a "must see" production.
(10-28-2021, 08:29 AM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/NBADraftWass/status/...5071513600
Of all the failures these last couple of years, that draft hurts the most. We could have had Bey instead of Green, and then if we pull the trigger on that Curry trade (which we should never done in the first place) a little sooner, we could use the 36 pick to move up a few spots to get Bane (and keep the Curry trade from being a complete disaster).
(10-27-2021, 10:15 PM)cow Wrote: [ -> ]Sure. Year two of Ant. Can KAT and D'Lo stay healthy?
My question is can KAT and D'Lo bring some competitive fire?? Butler called KAT soft as hell and a loser. Ant in then 2nd game of the year said he has to be the leader of the team because people try to win 1 on 5.
Wolves can only go as far as Towns takes them. I don't think Towns really gives that much of a crap.
(10-28-2021, 10:55 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]My question is can KAT and D'Lo bring some competitive fire?? Butler called KAT soft as hell and a loser. Ant in then 2nd game of the year said he has to be the leader of the team because people try to win 1 on 5.
Wolves can only go as far as Towns takes them. I don't think Towns really gives that much of a crap.
KAT certainly seems like the guy who should have someone else lead (Ant seems like he could be that guy) but I've never understood this narrative about him not caring. One of my favorite guys to watch, just produces every night and always gets slandered. KAT and Luka together would be a championship contender immediately. I got pretty aggressive betting on the Twolves hitting their over on wins (I think it as like 34.5) that team is too talented not to be a problem for people if they stay healthy.
(10-28-2021, 10:59 AM)StrandedOnBeauboisHill Wrote: [ -> ]but I've never understood this narrative about him not caring. One of my favorite guys to watch, just produces every night and always gets slandered.
I think the main reason KAT gets labeled as that guy is because he's been in the league 8 years and has only broken 35 wins 2 times and both of those years were when Jimmy Butler was on the team. Butler himself said KAT doesn't have the work ethic to win a championship and did everything in his power to get himself off the wolves. That is where the narrative of him not caring comes from.
Now Ant kind of reinforces it with a veiled comment that really just chastises D'Lo and KAT about them not being a team player in his 2nd year in the league??
The only way KAT sheds the image of him coasting that Butler painted is if he takes the next step and Minnesota starts to make some noise in the playoffs. Given that they've been a perennial lottery team for nearly 4 years since Butler's left, he's looking more and more correct on his label.
(10-28-2021, 10:55 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]My question is can KAT and D'Lo bring some competitive fire?? Butler called KAT soft as hell and a loser. Ant in then 2nd game of the year said he has to be the leader of the team because people try to win 1 on 5.
Wolves can only go as far as Towns takes them. I don't think Towns really gives that much of a crap.
I'm just saying they are going to get a leap from year two of Ant. I like Butler and all, but KAT is pretty young and has gone through a lot of personal stuff these last few years. I wouldn't consider him a finished product. And maybe just maybe, Ant is a culture shift guy. I really don't know as I don't follow the team, but certainly personalities are infectious and certainly personalities aren't going to work on every team (Butler, for as great as he is).