MavsBoard

Looking around the league at missed opportunities, we find Trayce Jackson-Davis.  I generally love the draft and he was one of my favorite prospects in the late first/early second rounds.   He was one of the best players in college basketball and had good size and athleticism.  He had 2 big downfalls-  he can't shoot 3s and he wasn't 19.  I expected he'd go in the top 5 picks of the 2nd round.   

Inexplicably, he fell to the 57th pick in the draft.  A smart organization, the Warriors, then paid cash to buy that pick and selected Jackson-Davis.

He has recently become their starting center over Kevon Looney.  He rebounds, plays defense and scores with high efficiency.

As far as I can tell, he's one of only four rookies with a positive EPM.  The others are Chet, Wemby and Lively.   He is also signed to a four-year deal so the Warriors have a rotation player signed at a huge discount.  

We could have had him for cash.  

Now that we no longer have the NBA's cheapest majority owner, I hope we make similar moves in the future.

Justin Russo
@FlyByKnite
At shootaround today, LA Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said that Mason Plumlee approached him recently to tell Lue that he doesn’t want to “mess up” the “good thing” the Clippers have going as the team has won 17 out of their last 22 games, and will gladly sit behind Daniel Theis.

D’Angelo Russell out for the second game in a row. I read on Reddit that it is due to a bruised tradebone

First time in NBA history, five teams scored at least 140 pts on the same night. Just missed having six as the Kings beat the Magic 138-135. Crazy.

The Thunder are a Problem! (Excerpted from The Athletic)


Two months in, the Thunder may be the best team in the NBA, even with last night’s loss in Atlanta. They’re 23-10, one game back of the West-leading Wolves, with no signs of fluke in their DNA. Tuesday’s win over 26-7 Boston was as impressive as an early-season result can be. As Zach Harper wrote in the Bounce yesterday, Oklahoma City is officially a problem.  
Andrew: The Thunder are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They have no playoff experience. They will likely keep the team as-is, while maybe making a move around the margin. I’d be floored if they made a big move, even though they have 15 first-round picks stockpiled over the next 7 years.

https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/17429...44452?s=20

"A growing disconnect" between Darvin Ham and Lakers players over disjointed rotations.

AKA...Christian Wood and his agent are bitching because he's not playing.

(01-04-2024, 11:42 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/17429...44452?s=20

"A growing disconnect" between Darvin Ham and Lakers players over disjointed rotations.

AKA...Christian Wood and his agent are bitching because he's not playing.

I don't think this has much (even anything?) to do about Wood.

(01-04-2024, 11:43 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ]I don't think this has much (even anything?) to do about Wood.

Really? What's your read? 

My thinking is that we know firsthand that Wood's agent enjoys calling media members and making bold claims. It makes total sense to me, because everyone else who matters is playing. A lot.

EDIT: Then again, you might've read the whole story, in which case PLEASE, fill in some context.

(01-04-2024, 11:46 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Really? What's your read? 

My thinking is that we know firsthand that Wood's agent enjoys calling media members and making bold claims. It makes total sense to me, because everyone else who matters is playing. A lot.

I don't think a media outlet like The Atlhletic with Shams would reduce themselves to be Woods mouthpiece in the first place. They specifically mention 6 different sources talked to them.

Article specifically mentiones the moment (December 23rd) when Ham decided to move Russell to the bench and start playing without a PG in the starting line-up. And then talks about struggles while experimenting with line-ups. The disconnect is what players and coach think is the reason for bad results. Ham is "blaiming" injuries to a couple of role players, while players said in the post game conference that players being out should not be an excuse.

Rubio's statement on retiring.

---

(01-04-2024, 11:42 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]https://x.com/ShamsCharania/status/17429...44452?s=20

"A growing disconnect" between Darvin Ham and Lakers players over disjointed rotations.

AKA...Christian Wood and his agent are bitching because he's not playing.

https://archive.is/U0W6o

(01-04-2024, 08:07 AM)DanSchwartzgan Wrote: [ -> ]The Thunder are a Problem! (Excerpted from The Athletic)


Two months in, the Thunder may be the best team in the NBA, even with last night’s loss in Atlanta. They’re 23-10, one game back of the West-leading Wolves, with no signs of fluke in their DNA. Tuesday’s win over 26-7 Boston was as impressive as an early-season result can be. As Zach Harper wrote in the Bounce yesterday, Oklahoma City is officially a problem.  

 

To figure out this team, I talked with The Athletic’s Andrew Schlecht: 

 

This team was supposed to be fun and plucky this year. Now they’re fun and really, really good. Why?

Andrew: They are the best shooting team in basketball. In fact, they currently have the highest team free throw percentage in NBA history at 85 percent. They also have the best 3-point percentage in the league this season at 39.3%. They generate such quality looks because they are first in the league in drives at the rim. Pair the stellar shooting with the third-best defense in the league, and they are way ahead of schedule.

 

We knew Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was a superstar. What’s the most surprising aspect otherwise about these guys?

Andrew: Chet Holmgren, just 21, is an instant star. Like former All-Star Blake Griffin, the slim 7-footer got to learn from the sidelines last season due to a Lisfranc injury. He is currently averaging 17 points, seven rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.7 blocks per game, affecting the game at both ends and from a position of need. It might be as soon as this season that the Thunder have two All-Stars.

 

The trade deadline looms, and OKC has assets galore. Will they take a big swing?

Andrew: The Thunder are still one of the youngest teams in the NBA. They have no playoff experience. They will likely keep the team as-is, while maybe making a move around the margin. I’d be floored if they made a big move, even though they have 15 first-round picks stockpiled over the next 7 years.

I missed the first game we played against OKC when we had the big comeback.  I am really interested to see how we match up with them at full strength.  They have been really impressive.   Last nights loss was impressive as well.   After beating Boston, they had a back to back in Atlanta.   Atlanta is not good but that felt like a game where OKC relaxes and loses big on a back to back.  They almost won that game.

https://twitter.com/3swohlman/status/174...74676?s=12&t=XYvAhCUJXI37ME8EkCJ5rQ


Antman on Zion Williamson whose Pelicans gave the Wolves their second loss at home.

(01-04-2024, 11:46 AM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Really? What's your read? 

My thinking is that we know firsthand that Wood's agent enjoys calling media members and making bold claims. It makes total sense to me, because everyone else who matters is playing. A lot.

EDIT: Then again, you might've read the whole story, in which case PLEASE, fill in some context.

Christian Wood doesn’t have the pull to get Shams or Woj to comment. 

LeGM wants another new coach. This is coming from Klutch, who also represents Shams.

(01-04-2024, 04:48 PM)RoyTarpleysGhost Wrote: [ -> ]Christian Wood doesn’t have the pull to get Shams or Woj to comment. 

Good point.

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Warriors guard Chris Paul has a fractured left hand and will undergo surgery.

(01-06-2024, 04:06 AM)SleepingHero Wrote: [ -> ]Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Warriors guard Chris Paul has a fractured left hand and will undergo surgery.

Wow...kind of feels like GS is missing the playoffs, with all that's going on there.

(01-06-2024, 01:56 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Wow...kind of feels like GS is missing the playoffs, with all that's going on there.

Ya think?

(01-06-2024, 01:56 PM)KillerLeft Wrote: [ -> ]Wow...kind of feels like GS is missing the playoffs, with all that's going on there.

If it was any other team without Steph Curry I'd say the same, but it's hard to bet against the dude. 

Plus all the Warriors need to do is hover between 7-10 and fall back on trying to make a team beat them twice in a row.

Draymond has been reinstated.