AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Based on the text we get every day during this cycle, it appears no matter the outcome tonight, we are in deep trouble

Either our kids become furries or they'll be hunted down by child predators who will be let loose out of prison.  It's a lose/lose either way.

We're in deep trouble either way. The current situation and administration are unsustainable too. It's why I hate politics. It has divided the country and neither side is willing to correct it.

[cow]

It's crazy, man. No matter how many random numbers I block, more texts keep popping up to tell me some politician is the actual spawn of Satan. I'm not sure this AI thing is going to make our lives better.

I just switched phone numbers and transferred my old number on a Google account.  I don't plan on updating any of my online profiles or 2FA, save for the Google recovery option on the account with the parked number,  and only gave it to friends and family.  Almost everyone online is selling your data so there is no telling where the spam bots are picking up your number. I was getting so much "you are approved for a loan spam" that my old number was unusable and since I switched to the new number two months ago, zero spam calls.  Having the old number transferred to Google and accessible is handy for 2FA and other account verification activities. I should also mention that I bought an "expensive" (`$150) local number because it was easy to remember and I figured that had a higher probability of being without service would remove it from spam/call lists.

AI like most tools will be a net negative because of misuse and that ignores the environmental and economic impacts we have and will see.

[OBX Maverick]

We're in deep trouble either way. The current situation and administration are unsustainable too. It's why I hate politics. It has divided the country and neither side is willing to correct it.

I don’t know about being in trouble either way. Let’s just put the brakes on the nut job residing on Pennsylvania Avenue, and we can start from there. Lots of good people in this country, certainly more than those on the left and right extremes. I am an optimist at heart!

[Chicagojk]

I have not seen Luka play this year besides the highlights. Simmons does have a lakers the bias though

https://x.com/ringer/status/2117777726161793393?a=XwYBdlrCQjcy9yDjisY&s=61

[KillerLeft]

I have not seen Luka play this year besides the highlights.  Simmons does have a lakers the bias though

https://x.com/ringer/status/2117777726161793393?a=XwYBdlrCQjcy9yDjisY&s=61

You don't need an anti-Lakers bias to hate how Luka behaves while playing basketball. He's great and all, but I was so, so sick of his act.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

NBABase: One team had Yaxel Lendeborg ranked 5th on their draft board but opted not to move into the top 10 because they felt his personality "was going to be a tough fit in their locker room," per @BannedMacMahon: "He’s not for everybody, but he’s for the Warriors." (Via The Hoop Collective)

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

Hunter Patterson: The Pistons lead the league in defensive rating (102) and rank sixth in 3pt percentage (38.1). Asked J.B. what’s gone into playing that well on both sides: “It always starts with the guys and what they’re willing to do. … We say Piston's basketball travels and that’s where it starts.” Asked J.B. how he’s seen Cade grow behind the scenes since being here in Detroit: “He’s a brilliant basketball mind. The way he sees the game, the way he’s able to apply the game and apply the things he’s seeing in the moment, not everybody can do that.”

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Knicks are in contract limbo with three key players after tabling all contract extension talks on Oct. 9. Owner James Dolan said this summer that New York wouldn't dip into the punitive second apron to keep the team together. Hart has a team option and says on media day that there had been no discussions about a new deal. Towns are eligible for a four-year, $276 million deal. Before talks were halted, the Knicks' offer was at $200 million, which represents a pay cut from his current salary (four years, $220.4 million). Towns hoped for a contract extension at the start of last season and didn't get it. The disappointment was quiet, but he played through an up-and-down regular season as he and Brown struggled to get on the same page; then it clicked in the postseason.

ESPN

[HoosierDaddyKid]

NBA two-week power rankings.


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5037...ibe-season

[Smitty]

@ShamsCharania
The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Golden State is permitted to move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline even without paying him currently, and will continue exhausting trade avenues as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career.

Absorbing Porzingis' near-expiring deal would allow a rival team to move a salary out and save money and clear a roster spot via a buyout.

[KillerLeft]

@ShamsCharania
The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Golden State is permitted to move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline even without paying him currently, and will continue exhausting trade avenues as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career.

Absorbing Porzingis' near-expiring deal would allow a rival team to move a salary out and save money and clear a roster spot via a buyout.

Interesting…so this almost reads like part of the allure of trading for him is to inherit the privilege of NOT making his payments. We all get the idea that he’s partially guaranteed in year two and therefore almost an expiring for practical purposes, but…the idea of saving $20 million (prorated) THIS YEAR in real life money might look pretty good to the owner of an expensive, underachieving team.

[KillerLeft]

NBA two-week power rankings.


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/5037...ibe-season

So awesome to see Dallas being taken this seriously, even if it is a small sample size.

[Chicagojk]

The Knicks are in contract limbo with three key players after tabling all contract extension talks on Oct. 9. Owner James Dolan said this summer that New York wouldn't dip into the punitive second apron to keep the team together. Hart has a team option and says on media day that there had been no discussions about a new deal. Towns are eligible for a four-year, $276 million deal. Before talks were halted, the Knicks' offer was at $200 million, which represents a pay cut from his current salary (four years, $220.4 million). Towns hoped for a contract extension at the start of last season and didn't get it. The disappointment was quiet, but he played through an up-and-down regular season as he and Brown struggled to get on the same page; then it clicked in the postseason.

ESPN

It is crazy how fast things can change.  I think the Knicks are still good.  Last year, a few months into the season I did not see it with the Knicks.   Oops.  

Regardless, losing Robinson and not having a lot of picks, Towns is in a pretty good bargaining positioning.  If he is hurt or leaves, the Knicks window may be shut.    There are not ways for them to replace what he brings.

[Chicagojk]

@ShamsCharania
The Warriors are not delivering payments to Kristaps Porzingis on his $20 million salary, ruling that he is not rendering services, sources tell me and @anthonyVslater. Golden State is permitted to move his contract at any point before the Feb. 11 deadline even without paying him currently, and will continue exhausting trade avenues as the 31-year-old leans toward ending his NBA career.

Absorbing Porzingis' near-expiring deal would allow a rival team to move a salary out and save money and clear a roster spot via a buyout.

That is weird.   With his illness, wouldn't he just need to show some response to the Warriors?  Keep in touch, maybe stop by the practice facility.   If he does that, his salary is probably safe.

If this is it for Porzingas in the NBA, what a strange career he has had.  I remember when the trade for the Mavs was made.  I remember the exact location where I was and how excited I was about a KP and Luka pairing.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Bobby Marks: Failure to render services is costing Kristaps Porzingis $218,341 (1/91.6 per game). His $20M salary continues to count against the cap/tax/apron.

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[HoosierDaddyKid]

HoopsHype: #SmallSampleBut Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry are scoring more points per minute than Wilt Chamberlain did in the year he averaged 50 freaking PPG. I do think Luka can beat this Wilt record.

bsky.app

[Mavs2021]

That is weird.   With his illness, wouldn't he just need to show some response to the Warriors?  Keep in touch, maybe stop by the practice facility.   If he does that, his salary is probably safe.

Feels like this will go to court, unless Porzingis is so unbothered by money that he has no doctor´s note. Warriors can´t force him to communicate or show up to their practice facility, if he does not want to. If you are sick, you are sick. Well at least in the rest of the world, maybe in Corporate America you can just fire people after six weeks for not working sick. 

Also wouldn´t the Warriors insurance pick up the tab. Feels like they are just trying to bait some dumb team into a trade and have them deal with the fallout on the false pretense that they can just waive/buy him out.

[Dirknows]

Feels like this will go to court, unless Porzingis is so unbothered by money that he has no doctor´s note. Warriors can´t force him to communicate or show up to their practice facility, if he does not want to. If you are sick, you are sick. Well at least in the rest of the world, maybe in Corporate America you can just fire people after six weeks for not working sick. 

Also wouldn´t the Warriors insurance pick up the tab. Feels like they are just trying to bait some dumb team into a trade and have them deal with the fallout on the false pretense that they can just waive/buy him out.

I saw Kristaps isn’t fighting them withholding salary (he’s made over 250 million), the issue for GS is I believe he still counts against the cap for them, so a waste of 20 million. He seems like a guy who just wants to move on from basketball. Another promising career stolen by injuries.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Tom Orsborn: Dylan Harper on Wemby: "He's basically Wilt...His mindset going into every game is dominate, dominate, dominate."

bsky.app

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Josh Dubow: Luka Doncic's 308 points are the most scored by a player in his first 8 games of a season since Wilt Chamberlain 418 in 1962-63

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