AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

ALL of this!

Plus, I'll never forgive the way he shanghaied DAJ to prevent Cuban signing him away.

Unfortunately, he'll probably be in the HOF at some point.

So you think he doesn't deserve it? He's a 1st ballot HOFAMER despite his snarkiness and entitled attitude. He would probably be looked at in a different light if he was able to win a title.

[Smitty]

@UnderdogNBA
Noa Essengue to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

[omahen]

Luka becoming father for the second time, is my guess. His fiance posted a photo of her hospital bag a couple of weeks ago (not sure what is it called in English - a bag pregnant ladies prepare in advance to go to hospital when time comes)

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2531...s-revealed

[cow]

Did Giannis tear is achiies?

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is expected to be sidelined for approximately 2 to 4 weeks with a right calf strain, sources tell ESPN.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Mitchell Robinson is 3 for 17 on free throws this year.

[FireNicoHarrison]

Mitchell Robinson is 3 for 17 on free throws this year.

Definition of unplayable in PO.

[Chicagojk]

Lebron's streak of scoring in double digits ends at 1,297 last night.  I guess they don't count playoffs/finals though

He did assist on the game winning shot though.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Definition of unplayable in PO.

I disagree. He and Steven Adams are the best offensive rebounding 5's in the league.  You just have to live with his poor FT%

[Chicagojk]

I disagree. He and Steven Adams are the best offensive rebounding 5's in the league.  You just have to live with his poor FT%

I have not seen him much lately, but I tend to agree.   It may be an issue at the end of games.  At his best, you definitely feel him on the boards and protecting the rim.  Although, I don't have much of an insight of the new coached Knicks and how he is fitting it or how he looks this year either.

[omahen]

Lebron's streak of scoring in double digits ends at 1,297 last night.  I guess they don't count playoffs/finals though

He did assist on the game winning shot though.

LeBron has been a shadow of himself physically this season. Either it is his age or he is still recovering from injury and is not adequately prepared (or combination of everything). He is unable to beat anyone off the dribble (was already evident to an extent last season). With Luka and Reaves that is not a problem, really, as they can generate him that half of step advantage towards his defender he needs and where he is still effective. Problem is on defense. He has been really bad last two games. Extremely slow to get back, for example. When he does get back, he can hold his own, but is not a defensive disruptor a team build around Luka and Reaves would need. 

He can pass (move the ball) though. This part of his game is very good. His decision to pass to Rui for that final shot was absolutely correct, as Rui is one of the most reliable catch and shoot players in the league.

[Chicagojk]

Need to be a disappointing start for the Blazers who were hoping to grow from some positive play at the end of last season.  Instead, their coach was caught up in a gambling ring and have gone 5 and 11 the last 16 games.  They made a push for veteran leadership by trading for Jrue Holiday and his bloated contract.  He has missed some games but he is playing again.    That contract is rough....even for a still solid older player.    They gained some goodwill signing Dame, who is out for the year.   They shocked everyone by drafting Yang Hansen.  I think he is an interesting long term project, but who knows.   The issue is the pick they traded for him is now one of the leading rookie of year candidates.   Heck, even the player they waived (Ayton) has shown signs of being what they had hoped he would be.  

Portland just seems stuck in no mans land.  So good players.  Some good young players, but it just seems there is no way for them to escape 9 or 10 in the west in the foreseeable future.

[SleepingHero]

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania)
Orlando Magic star Franz Wagner has sustained a high left ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN. Typically an injury like this has a timeframe of 2 to 4 weeks. Overall, tremendous results after MRI today showed no structural damage on his left leg.

[Chicagojk]

Derik Queen had an amazing game last night and almost put the Pelicans on his back to win.  He had a 30 point triple double.   One of the few guys who has had a 30 point triple double under 21.   Luka is one of the other ones who did it several times.   Queen is really fun.

What is pretty incredible is he turns 21 later this month.  So he is 2 years older than Flagg.  That is pretty incredible being in the same draft class.

[DanSchwartzgan]

Derik Queen had an amazing game last night and almost put the Pelicans on his back to win.  He had a 30 point triple double.   One of the few guys who has had a 30 point triple double under 21.   Luka is one of the other ones who did it several times.   Queen is really fun.

What is pretty incredible is he turns 21 later this month.  So he is 2 years older than Flagg.  That is pretty incredible being in the same draft class.

I went to the Mav's/Pelican's game a couple weeks ago.  He's the real deal.

[omahen]

I went to the Mav's/Pelican's game a couple weeks ago.  He's the real deal.

Of course he is still very young and can improve a lot, but I was not so impressed. He is definitely gifted offensively, but he can't shoot threes (11% on less than 1 attempt per game) and is undersized for a center (plays PF). He is also a bad defender, I think both at C (not big enough) and PF (not quick enough) position. 

NO has several "issues" with him now. On a positive side. He is very similar profile as Zion - scoring PF who can't/doesn't shoot and is iffy on defense. While Zion is better offensively, he is also constantly injured. Quinn enables them to close the Zion chapter. Based on the assets they paid for him, it makes little sense to play him behind Zion. 

On the downside, thinking about building a contender with Quinn as one of the pieces. While he is gifted offensively, I doubt he can be so good to be a franchise offensive cornerstone (for a contender). Can he be a beta? I think this is a minimum for teams to accept his iffy defense. Otherwise, he is sixth man or less, imho. Thinking of him, he gives me a lot of John Collins vibes (he also couln't shoot in his rookie season). He can put up great numbers on bad teams, but can't really be a part of a contender level team. These kind of players (basically undersized non-shooting centers) are so difficult to build around, imho. You would need to find him a rim protecting big on defense, who shoots threes on offense.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Derik Queen had an amazing game last night and almost put the Pelicans on his back to win.  He had a 30 point triple double.   One of the few guys who has had a 30 point triple double under 21.   Luka is one of the other ones who did it several times.   Queen is really fun.

What is pretty incredible is he turns 21 later this month.  So he is 2 years older than Flagg.  That is pretty incredible being in the same draft class.

https://x.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1998244512666386875


 Maybe Joe Dumars wasn't crazy giving up that 1st for him.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6859085...-coaching/


Houston's best offense is a missed shot.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://clutchpoints.com/nba/indiana-pac...s-beatdown


Rick Carlisle is one win away from a historic milestone.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4724...-east-race


Five wild-card players who could impact the East race.