Curry survived the entire 4th quarter + OT with five fouls and scored the last seven points for his team to close out the game. Celtics once again without KP. Still dealing with a calf injury.
Phoenix lost to Portand.
A very thin and untalented bench doesn't help. This top heavy roster is ugly.
(12-20-2023, 03:47 AM)dirkfansince1998 Wrote: [ -> ]Curry survived the entire 4th quarter + OT with five fouls and scored the last seven points for his team to close out the game. Celtics once again without KP. Still dealing with a calf injury.
KP is the big ? mark for them. If he is healthy, I think he puts them on a tier by themselves...maybe with a healthy Denver team. Without him, they still may be the best team in the East, but they are their for the taking if KP is injured.
I mentioned a few weeks ago, that backup C is not something I would invest assets in. I think those guys can be found. GS drafted Jackson-Davis at the end of the second round (bought a pick). He supposedly is looking real good as an undersized front court guy. There are several guys who may be second rounders in this draft who I think are backup centers. Buy a pick for one of those and sign a short term solution and you are fine there. I opinion could be changed though depending on that player.
(12-20-2023, 07:03 AM)Winter Wrote: [ -> ]Phoenix lost to Portand.
A very thin and untalented bench doesn't help. This top heavy roster is ugly.
It's shocking that Phoenix even made it a close game against them. That game Ayton appeared to have tried throughout, despite only shooting 38% from the floor.
I don't know what Phoenix can do to fix their depth problem. It's not like Durant and Booker had bad games, they just got outpaced.
(12-20-2023, 03:21 PM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]It's shocking that Phoenix even made it a close game against them. That game Ayton appeared to have tried throughout, despite only shooting 38% from the floor.
I don't know what Phoenix can do to fix their depth problem. It's not like Durant and Booker had bad games, they just got outpaced.
Maybe the “big three” isn’t a great blueprint for championship-building anymore.
Maybe it’s a “big two” with complementary pieces and depth.
Is it just me, or does Dennis Schroder have a little bit of the Rajon Rondo vibe?
(12-20-2023, 04:29 PM)DallasMaverick Wrote: [ -> ]Maybe the “big three” isn’t a great blueprint for championship-building anymore.
Maybe it’s a “big two” with complementary pieces and depth.
I think it's now a matter of salary structure with the new CBA. It's not feasible to have 3 max contracts anymore. Better to have two great players deserving the max and then some good roles players. Great defensive players are also a good deal as they make less than scorers. The real trick though is finding a great player in the draft because they play at a discount for four years. I think we should consider using our draft picks to draft more players. Our new regime seems to be better at drafting.
Joel Embiid is on a tear. Had 51 pts and 12 rbs and Maxey chipped in 35 pts as Philly cooled off the T-Wolves, 127-113. It's the 12th straight game Embiid has at least 30 pts and 10 boards tying him with Wilt and Kareem as the only ones to accomplish it.
(12-20-2023, 11:12 PM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]Joel Embiid is on a tear. Had 51 pts and 12 rbs and Maxey chipped in 35 pts as Philly cooled off the T-Wolves, 127-113. It's the 12th straight game Embiid has at least 30 pts and 10 boards tying him with Wilt and Kareem as the only ones to accomplish it.
Are you the same poster who disagreed with my Embiid fraud assessment last year before his absolute stinker elimination game?
I know the Mavs lost tonight, but basically everyone else did in the West as well.
Wolves, Jazz, Houston, Lakers, and Kings all got rocked. Nuggets and Clips emerged. Mavs almost winning without 2 key rotation guys and 2 other bench guys gives me hope.
(12-20-2023, 11:41 PM)IamDougieFresh Wrote: [ -> ]Are you the same poster who disagreed with my Embiid fraud assessment last year before his absolute stinker elimination ?
I don't think it was me, but him and Harden absolutely put up stinkers in the playoffs last year because they both didn't like Doc Rivers as their coach. That's been documented. You still can't dispell what he's doing however regular season or not. Maybe this year will be different under Nurse and Harden gone. Who knows? The fact is, he's dominant.
(12-21-2023, 08:04 AM)HoosierDaddyKid Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think it was me, but him and Harden absolutely put up stinkers in the playoffs last year because they both didn't like Doc Rivers as their coach. That's been documented. You still can't dispell what he's doing however regular season or not. Maybe this year will be different under Nurse and Harden gone. Who knows? The fact is, he's dominant.
My lizard brain gets you mixed up with someone else, but I can't remember who it is until I see their username somewhere lol.
For me, you can score 50ppg in the regular season and I don't give a flying fook. I maintain that Embiid, Booker, Harden and some dudes I can't think of right now are FRAUDS until proven otherwise. When the season for non losers starts (the playoffs) we will see this soft ass flopping fish's true colors... again.
PS Jokic was the real MVP last year
NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral)
The final three years of Zion Williamson's deal are no longer guaranteed after he played in only 29 games last year, per @MikeVorkunov
(Via @TheAthletic )
Pistons lost #25 in a row tonight losing to Utah at home. Utah had 8 players sidelined for the game.
Things are brutal in Detroit.
I think the Grizzlies will end up winning the division if Morant stays healthy.
(12-21-2023, 09:44 PM)Chicagojk Wrote: [ -> ]Pistons lost #25 in a row tonight losing to Utah at home. Utah had 8 players sidelined for the game.
Things are brutal in Detroit.
This will be a huge hit for Monty reputation, if he doesn't quickly turn it around. Detroit was looking to take a step forward, Cade returned from injury while not playing last season, yet their results are even worse than last year.
(12-21-2023, 10:45 PM)BigDirk41 Wrote: [ -> ]I think the Grizzlies will end up winning the division if Morant stays healthy.
West is brutal. Luckily Mavs built some cushion over 500, but they were not in a that much different position similar time last season. Need to get healthy soon or Luka will be burnt out till all star break.
In the East, Chicago is playing much better with LaVine out. Won 7 of their last 10. If it continues this way, total rebuild might come into question, if they manage to get any decent players for LaVine.
(12-22-2023, 03:34 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]West is brutal. Luckily Mavs built some cushion over 500, but they were not in a that much different position similar time last season. Need to get healthy soon or Luka will be burnt out till all star break.
In the East, Chicago is playing much better with LaVine out. Won 7 of their last 10. If it continues this way, total rebuild might come into question, if they manage to get any decent players for LaVine.
The overplaying of Luka really bothers me. He should be treated with extreme caution....especially in Nov/Dec/Jan regular season minutes.
I expect a rough stint for the Mavs in the upcoming week or so. Injuries can really derail a season...especially in the west. With that being said, even if their record may be similar to last year at this stage, I have a much better feeling with this years team. Last years team was DOA for me and it was pulling teeth to watch. I can see the vision with this team. It may not be true contender but they appear to be on the right track. My big thing is can they make it just a little harder for teams to score? Can they get to league average? If they can, they are going to be tough to play in a playoff series.