AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

You don't consider their current starting wing Strus (starter on Miami team that went to the finals in 22/23) or his back-up LeVert (regular starter in Indiana before coming to Cleveland) as starting level SF?

Correct. They're playing well without Strus who's made big shots for them. He's out with a high ankle sprain.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

You don't consider their current starting wing Strus (starter on Miami team that went to the finals in 22/23) or his back-up LeVert (regular starter in Indiana before coming to Cleveland) as starting level SF?

Great point.  IMO, both Strus and LeVert are meh, especially compared to Allen/Mobley/Spider/Garland.  Naji wouild be perfect for them, actually.

[Scott41theMavs]

Great point.  IMO, both Strus and LeVert are meh, especially compared to Allen/Mobley/Spider/Garland.  Naji wouild be perfect for them, actually.

They can't have him.

[BigDirk41]

Looks like the Warriors might be legit. They beat the Celtics in Boston tonight to move to 7-1. I didn't see this coming.

[KillerLeft]

Looks like the Warriors might be legit. They beat the Celtics in Boston tonight to move to 7-1. I didn't see this coming.

Don’t worry, there will be at least one Draymond Green implosion at some point soon.

[Chicagojk]

Denver has had a rocky start. They are 5-3 but even some of their wins have not been very impressive. Then you see last night against one of the favorites you see Jokic go for 23, 20 and 16 and it makes it all better. When you have the best player in the league, it can hide a lot of things. We will see if they can find guys off the bench to help out during the long season.

Sixers go to 1-6...albeit without two of their main guys. George played his first game last night. Tied for the worst record in the East with the Bucks. Just how we predicted it. Man, I was hoping for at least one of these teams to be a legit competitor to Boston. Long season, but tough starts for both.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Denver has had a rocky start. They are 5-3 but even some of their wins have not been very impressive.  Then you see last night against one of the favorites you see Jokic go for 23, 20 and 16 and it makes it all better.  When you have the best player in the league, it can hide a lot of things.  We will see if they can find guys off the bench to help out during the long season.

Sixers go to 1-6...albeit without two of their main guys.  George played his first game last night.  Tied for the worst record in the East with the Bucks.  Just how we predicted it.    Man, I was hoping for at least one of these teams to be a legit competitor to Boston.  Long season, but tough starts for both.

Now Philly has lost perhaps their best player for a few weeks in Maxey to a hamstring injury.

[michaeltex]

Hearing AD is suffering from plantar fasciitis. Word is that you can play with it, but compensating puts you at risk for other injuries, like an achilleas problem, hamstring strain or even a knee issue. He's been know to have problems in the past.

[MarkAguirreWrathofGod]

Now Philly has lost perhaps their best player for a few weeks in Maxey to a hamstring injury.

And OKC has their (top-6 protected) pick. OKC also has the right to swap with Houston (top-10 protected) or LAC. Going to be rooting for LAC and Philly more than I expected to this season.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Hearing AD is suffering from plantar fasciitis. Word is that you can play with it, but compensating puts you at risk for other injuries, like an achilleas problem, hamstring strain or even a knee issue. He's been know to have problems in the past.

I've suffered from it my whole life.  Soccer player.  You're spot on.  Yes, limits your mobility, but kills your ankles, Achilles, knees, and hips.  Especially ankles.  As a baseline PF makes you feel like you have sprained ankles.  And this is me, 5'9" 180lbs, not 6'10" 260lbs.

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring strain and is out indefinitely. Williamson will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks, sources tell ESPN.

[KillerLeft]

@ShamsCharania
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring strain and is out indefinitely. Williamson will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks, sources tell ESPN.

Welp, we knew this was coming.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

KD out with a calf strain. Will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Ja Morant week to week with hip.

Zion out. Maxey out.

Luka questionable against Denver with a groin strain.

Im not questioning the validity of the injuries but I feel like the first four months of the NBA season have pretty much become irrelevant. You dont know who is really injured, who is really out of shape, who is really trying. Wake me up at the trade deadline.

[Jym]

KD out with a calf strain.  Will be re-evaluated in two weeks.

Ja Morant week to week with hip.

Zion out. Maxey out.

Luka questionable against Denver with a groin strain.

Im not questioning the validity of the injuries but I feel like the first four months of the NBA season have pretty much become irrelevant.  You dont know who is really injured, who is really out of shape, who is really trying.  Wake me up at the trade deadline.

I wonder if there's any validity to KG talking about how super intense practice was back in the day. 2-a-days and absolutely running the players into the ground in preparation for the season 
now they treat them like celebrities and the most impact their bodies ever get is during games

[michaeltex]

@ShamsCharania
New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson suffered a hamstring strain and is out indefinitely. Williamson will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks, sources tell ESPN.

IIRC, NOP built in some availability clauses into Zion's extension contract. Wonder how this will affect his earnings and their salary cap?

According to sportrac:

• Contract details per The Athletic/Mike Vorkunov (12/21/23)
  
  
  • Guaranteed seasons became non-guaranteed due to games played clause:
    
    
    • 2024-25: 50% guaranteed, fully guaranteed 1/7/25
      
    • 2025-26: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/25
      
    • 2026-27: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/26
      
    • 2027-28: non-guaranteed, fully guaranteed 7/15/27
      
  • Guarantee triggers exist if certain criteria has been met: 
    
    
    • 20% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if passes all six of his weigh-in checkpoints during the 2024-25 season
      
    • 40% of 2025-26 salary becomes guaranteed if plays >= 41 games during 2024-25 season, additional 20% if plays >= 51 games, remaining 20% if plays >= 61 games.
      
      
      • Salaries for 2026-27 and 2027-28 seasons can be re-guaranteed if above metrics are hit the season prior
        
  • Further protections via:
    
    • Weight must be less than 295 lbs; body fat monitored
      
    • Injury sustained to right foot
      

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant – off to an MVP-caliber start to the NBA season – suffered a left calf strain on Friday night and will miss be re-evaluated in two weeks, sources tell ESPN. Durant has led Suns to a first place start in the Western Conference at 8-1.

[Knutsen]

Chet Holmgren out at least 8 to 10 weeks with a fractured hip.

I guess better now with enough time to recover and come back this season than at a later date, but really tough blow for him and the Thunder. That‘s what I fear most with these ultra long and skinny guys like him and Wemby, that it‘s just a matter of time before they get injured…

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Chet Holmgren out at least 8 to 10 weeks with a fractured hip.

I guess better now with enough time to recover and come back this season than at a later date, but really tough blow for him and the Thunder. That‘s what I fear most with these ultra long and skinny guys like him and Wemby, that it‘s just a matter of time before they get injured…

They're going to miss him. He was playing lights out. Looks like the Hartenstein signing was a prudent move. Sucks we won't see them play together anytime soon. The Warriors beat them by making 21 of 43 3 pointers.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4227...oper-flagg


The growing legend of Cooper Flagg

[Chicagojk]

Chet Holmgren out at least 8 to 10 weeks with a fractured hip.

I guess better now with enough time to recover and come back this season than at a later date, but really tough blow for him and the Thunder. That‘s what I fear most with these ultra long and skinny guys like him and Wemby, that it‘s just a matter of time before they get injured…

Tough injury for Chet.  OKC should be ok.  They are really motivated to win these regular season games.  It will be something to monitor with Chet.  He is such a talent potentially but is he the guy who can withstand the physical play inside.  I think he is a tough kid, not sure his body is built for it though.  

golden state did something very few teams will do this year.   Had games at Boston, at Cleveland and then at OKC in a row.  Were able to beat Boston and OKC on the road.  Not too many teams, if any, will do that this year