Just saw the 10:00 News in Houston. Russell Westbrook informed the news media he had tested positive for Covid 19. He reported he feels fine. Coach Dantoni was interviewed and told reporters "we will be fine because we have to be". OK coach. Nice coach speak I suppose but I have really come to hate listening to anything that coach says...and that was when he was in Phoenix.
James Harden has also been "missing" to reporters and did not fly with the team to Orlando. They were on TV a week or two ago working out together at the Rockets facility.
I would never wish significant illness on anyone. This is a very important shoe dropping on the NBA season.
(07-14-2020, 12:52 PM)Hypermav Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/redra...dre-ayton/
Luka goes number one here. Brunson at 21.
I like that JJJ is ahead of Trae.
Mavs pick Ayton.
Wow, how lucky we are as Mavs fans. No Duncic probably would have meant no Porzingis. The Mavs starting unit could haver looked like this this year? And no restart for Mavs fans.
Ayton
Kleber
FinneySmith
Reddish (but I think we would of drafted much higher then 10th)? Maybe Culver at 6th?
Wright (wonder if we still make the trade to replace Smith)?
(07-14-2020, 02:20 PM)chaparral Wrote: [ -> ] (07-14-2020, 12:52 PM)Hypermav Wrote: [ -> ]https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/redra...dre-ayton/
Luka goes number one here. Brunson at 21.
I like that JJJ is ahead of Trae.
Mavs pick Ayton.
Wow, how lucky we are as Mavs fans. No Duncic probably would have meant no Porzingis. The Mavs starting unit could haver looked like this this year? And no restart for Mavs fans.
Ayton
Kleber
FinneySmith
Reddish (but I think we would of drafted much higher then 10th)? Maybe Culver at 6th?
Wright (wonder if we still make the trade to replace Smith)?
Current PHX team has more than that Mavs group and the are pretty meh even with Booker. Long road back for sure (as Luka would say). Would have lots of dry powder...?
(07-16-2020, 07:41 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t remember any reports of him getting there and starting the 8 day quarantine? Is Westbrook there as well?
Why 8 days? I guess 48 hours is needed, as others were obliged too.
(07-17-2020, 12:17 AM)omahen Wrote: [ -> ] (07-16-2020, 07:41 PM)ItsGoTime Wrote: [ -> ]I don’t remember any reports of him getting there and starting the 8 day quarantine? Is Westbrook there as well?
Why 8 days? I guess 48 hours is needed, as others were obliged too.
My bad, was thinking of the 10 rule if you leave the bubble. Even still, did anyone see or report the news that he arrived?
Kind of an Artis Gilmore vibe...
![[Image: c022d9f570b4afd13a94cd37a23dd59f42f83c75_00.jpg]](https://pm1.narvii.com/6399/c022d9f570b4afd13a94cd37a23dd59f42f83c75_00.jpg)
I've always thought that look was really cool looking. I esp. like it with the headband.
Let's have a little overview about the status of us and our 8 opponents in the seeding games.
Mavs: Despite missing MKG for most of the time and Burke not in the bubble yet, Mavs core is active and in a good status so far. Let's hope it stays that way. I wonder what the approach players will show. Summer league type "we came to have some fun because we are such great buddies and not real contenders anyway" or will we see real hunger in their eyes, which will result in max effort on both sides of the court. I would really like to avoid Clippers in round 1. Everyone else we can be on par with, imho.
Houston: Both stars arrived late and team practice before first match will be very limited. I wonder how lack of practice will affect them. Will they go full energy with all guns firing in the first match and then slowly fade through the duration of the season or choose a more careful approach saving strength and avoiding injuries for play-offs even if it means dropping in regular season standings.
Phoenix lost Oubre due to injury, but doesn't seem to have any other problems. Due to problems of some other teams they might see their chance and come very motivated to prove themselves. First two games will be crucial for Mavs, especially since level of effort of some teams might decrease once situation becomes clear for them. Win both and we can realistically expect them to climb the standings. Lose both and 7th place is reserved for us.
Sacramento is decimated by Corona infections and injuries. I wonder how much sense it makes for them risking further injuries. Roster will be depleted with some players missing (Bagley for sure, Fox?) and they will have very little team practice.
Important role players are missing for the Clippers. Shamet has virus, Harrell and Beverly left the bubble for family emergency while Zubac hasn't arrived yet. They might be quite safe in the second place, so I wonder what the effort level will be.
Milwaukee is also missing important role players in Bledsoe and Connaughton. They are safe in the first place, so I can imagine their focus will be on play-offs.
Utah is missing a key player in Bogdanovic and has that Gobert-Mitchell shadow above them. If they start well, everything will be forgotten. If not, who knows. Conley might be the key - if he doesn't step up, they will have a problem to cover for Bogdanovic production on offense.
Portland appear to be fully healthy. Of course it has been over a year for Nurkic since he last played basketball, but still this team might be a bit different than the one we faced before Covid. Being prime candidates for that 8th spot play-in, match with them might be very intensive, at least on their side.
(07-21-2020, 11:16 PM)Kammrath Wrote: [ -> ]https://twitter.com/MarcJSpears/status/1...3942834180
Man... A few injuries are one thing, but there's definitely a pattern developing with Bagley. I really hope he manages to figure something out to stay on the court.
(And I'm thanking my lucky stars for Luka.)
https://theathletic.com/1945928/2020/07/...d-all-nba/
Bottom line is Hollinger leaves Luka out of the top 5 for MVP. Makes him second in most improved player. He has him as a forward on the 2nd team All NBA. He replaces him with KL for both major categories imo. Reputation beyond stats I guess...
Taylor L.
14m ago
1 like
![[Image: like-icon@2x.png]](https://theathletic.com/app/themes/athletic/assets/img/like-icon@2x.png)
1
![[Image: reply-icon@2x.png]](https://theathletic.com/app/themes/athletic/assets/img/reply-icon@2x.png)
So, according to ESPN Hollinger player stats Lebron is a SF and Luka is a SG. I dont understand why Lebron would be voted 1st team as a guard and luka 2nd team as a forward. Luka also spends most of his time running PG. It seems like there is a pretty serious history bias going on here.
![[Image: JH_Pic.jpg]](https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2019/09/27193448/JH_Pic.jpg)
John Hollinger
STAFF
6m ago
@Taylor L. Well I haven't worked at ESPN in eight years so I can't really control that part. I could have just easily listed Luka as a guard but he still would have ended up 2nd team.
I don't understand how Ingram would be considered as more improved player than Doncic. His stats increased but in smaller absolute values than Luka's. For example, Ingram has 6 ppg higher average than last year while Luka has almost 8 ppg. It is of course much more difficult to go from 21 ppg to 29 ppg than from 18 to 24. Imho at least. Both players improved other categories by similar margins. Ingram is on a much worse team and it could be even argued if he is really the most important player on his team. I just don't understand the metric used behind this decision. I would have much less problems accepting someone like Graham or Wood (from zero relevance to very good player) in front of Luka.