AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1r...es_leaked/


Houston has slipped since the "alleged" KD files leaked.

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

@ShamsCharania
Just in: Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham has been diagnosed with a collapsed lung and is expected to miss an extended period of time, sources tell ESPN.

Damn, that's going to be tough for Detroit to hold on to the 1 seed. Cade does everything for them. Boston is only 3/1/2 games back.

[Scott41theMavs]

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/1r...es_leaked/


Houston has slipped since the "alleged" KD files leaked.

Duh. That locker room has to be Chernobyled.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Luka and the Lakers are killing it recently.

KD about to destroy another team.

[myconsumerclub]

Damn Luka got 60 points might have to watch the games even if he is now with the evil ones.

https://www.nba.com/game/lal-vs-mia-0022.../box-score

[Mavs03]

In other news, former Dallas Maverick Luka Doncic has scored 100 points in his last 2 games. Thanks Nico. Fortune favors the bold.

[Chicagojk]

Luka and the Lakers are killing it recently. 

KD about to destroy another team.

Yeah they are.  When Luka is healthy, he typically finishes the season on a bang.   Plays like the best player in the world and makes a late MVP run.   Not sure if he can do enough to win it, but he likes finishing the season hot and going into the playoffs with no one wanting to play him.   

Maybe Omahan can pop on and say who he thinks the best matchup in round 1 is for LAL.   Rockets looked to be sagging, Denver has had some problems and Minnesota has been up and down.    Still though a playoff series is different.  I would guess Denver is probably the team you would least like to see.    Maybe Houston with LAL with homecourt would be the preferable matchup?

[omahen]

Yeah they are.  When Luka is healthy, he typically finishes the season on a bang.   Plays like the best player in the world and makes a late MVP run.   Not sure if he can do enough to win it, but he likes finishing the season hot and going into the playoffs with no one wanting to play him.   

Maybe Omahan can pop on and say who he thinks the best matchup in round 1 is for LAL.   Rockets looked to be sagging, Denver has had some problems and Minnesota has been up and down.    Still though a playoff series is different.  I would guess Denver is probably the team you would least like to see.    Maybe Houston with LAL with homecourt would be the preferable matchup?

West has OKC and SAS that look a bit on a level on their own. Next four teams in Denver, LAL, Houston and Minny are more or less on same level, imho, when they are at their best. The question is, who will be at their best in the playoffs. 

LAL really flipped a switch a dozen or so games ago and they have become very fun to watch. Their effort is a couple of levels higher than before which shows on both ends of the floor. Kennard proved to be a sneaky good TDL trade, as he really contributed a lot to their offensively anemic bench (despite his last two games were not good). I was a huge sceptic of LeBron-Luka-AR combo, they have also flipped the switch here. LeBron started to play completely off ball and he is one of the players who increased his effort the most. While it is great to see them playing much better as we get closer to playoffs, I am scared that they peaked too soon. Hopefully I am wrong.

Houston, Denver and Minny are all in a bit of a slump lately, compared to how they played in other parts of the season. So it gets to the point who will be able to lift his game when they get to playoffs. I think Denver is strongest. Minny is proven and reliably and playing together for a long time. LAL beat them 3 times this season, but I think it was similar in the last one. 

Houston started to show huge problems in half court offense as they almost literally don't have a PG and they are not so convincing on offensive rebounds anymore after Adams injury. Another huge change from first half of the season for them - their 3pt % plummeted and they (now) feature three non shooters in the starting unit (Sengun, Thompson and Eason). Eason shot 46 % from three pre-all star and is at 13 % after it. 3 out of 35 in last 10 games. No idea what happened to him. If they play as they play currently, they would definitely be my pick. But if they can improve their half court offense again and Eason returns to his pre-all star shooting, they can be very good again. They still are extremely athletic and play a very tough defense.

[myconsumerclub]

if Luka wins it in LA that would be a thumb in the eye of the bumbling idiots that traded him

[HoosierDaddyKid]

if Luka wins it in LA that would be a thumb in the eye of the bumbling idiots that traded him

I don't think they'll even get to the WCF, but they are playing better than expected.

[rocky164]

I don’t think Lakers get to the finals either, but never count out playoff Luka especially if he’s healthy. But in my mind it’ll be just as big a “thumb in the eye” if Luka wins MVP which is gaining traction.

[Chicagojk]

https://x.com/ringer/status/2036095631928733928?s=61


LOL…although it does look like one of Nico’s daughters got a track scholarship to USC.

[Smitty]

@ShamCharania
The NBA has informed teams that the league is projecting a $165 million salary cap for 2026-27 -- $1M lower than previous outlooks due to a reduction in local media revenue, sources tell ESPN. Minimum salary $149M, tax level $201M, first apron $209M, second apron $222M also $1M lower each.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Cam Thomas waived by the Bucks. Maybe he can help our tank.

[Mavs2021]

I wonder how much money Carlisle is generating in betting revenue. The Pacers (even without Haliburton) are clearly not the worst team in the league and whenever they magically get healthy, tighten up the rotation and compete, they can get easily run up the score and get a win or two. Boston loses Tatum and are still the #2 seed, but Indiana loses Haliburton and goes from EC to worst in the league. Also Memphis means business. Mavs realistically cannot afford to win another game, cause Memphis will probably lose out from here.

[cow]

Cam Thomas waived by the Bucks.  Maybe he can help our tank.

Kind of crazy from afar.  24 years old and multiple 20+ ppg seasons.

[RasheedsBigWhiteSpot]

I wonder how much money Carlisle is generating in betting revenue. The Pacers (even without Haliburton) are clearly not the worst team in the league and whenever they magically get healthy, tighten up the rotation and compete, they can get easily run up the score and get a win or two. Boston loses Tatum and are still the #2 seed, but Indiana loses Haliburton and goes from EC to worst in the league. Also Memphis means business. Mavs realistically cannot afford to win another game, cause Memphis will probably lose out from here.

Also lost Turner.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I wonder how much money Carlisle is generating in betting revenue. The Pacers (even without Haliburton) are clearly not the worst team in the league and whenever they magically get healthy, tighten up the rotation and compete, they can get easily run up the score and get a win or two. Boston loses Tatum and are still the #2 seed, but Indiana loses Haliburton and goes from EC to worst in the league. Also Memphis means business. Mavs realistically cannot afford to win another game, cause Memphis will probably lose out from here.

The race to the bottom couldn't be more aptly put.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com.sg/nba/story/_/id/4...-mvp-award

This guy has staked his claim, and justifiably so.