AROUND the NBA: MIN Sweeps PHX!

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

Julius Randle out for the rest of the season plus playoffs for a shoulder surgery

This is interesting.  Precious has been balling since the trade (I was screaming for him for the last couple years).  With Hartenstein, OG, Precious, Robinson, and Hart filling in for Randle minutes, the defense should improve.  Question is where is the offense going to come from?  Can Bojan, Hart, and Donte pick up the offense?

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Knicks aren't going far in the playoffs without Randle and Anunoby, even though Brunson is doing his best to will them there. They just got Robinson back. Anunoby is still out as well. If they were whole, I believe they would give Boston a tussle in the East final if they were to meet.

[Chicagojk]

Huge win by the Clippers against Denver last night. Clippers are probably pretty solid at 4 now.

The loss by Denver gives Manny the number 1 seed currently up .5 games. Got to give them credit, they have hung in there with the injury to KAT. Pretty impressive. I just think they have bad mojo for the playoffs with everything going on off the court. It will be interesting to see who they match up against.

[Chicagojk]

Warriors have a lot of work to even make the playoffs and may come up short, but if they get in they are scary. You know they are probably going to win one road game. They have been through the battles too, so a less experienced playoff team could feel the pressure.

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
The Warriors are 15-3 in their last 18 road games and pretty much guaranteed a Western Conference Play-In berth with tonight's win at Houston ... after going 11-30 on the road last season.

[Chicagojk]

Huge win by the Clippers against Denver last night.  Clippers are probably pretty solid at 4 now.

The loss by Denver gives Manny the number 1 seed currently up .5 games.  Got to give them credit, they have hung in there with the injury to KAT.  Pretty impressive.  I just think they have bad mojo for the playoffs with everything going on off the court.  It will be interesting to see who they match up against.

just looking at the remaining games, it appears Minny is going to have trouble hanging onto the 1 seed.  They have some real tough games.  Denver has a much easier schedule.

[omahen]

Warriors have a lot of work to even make the playoffs and may come up short, but if they get in they are scary.  You know they are probably going to win one road game.    They have been through the battles too, so a less experienced playoff team could feel the pressure.

Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine)
The Warriors are 15-3 in their last 18 road games and pretty much guaranteed a Western Conference Play-In berth with tonight's win at Houston ... after going 11-30 on the road last season.

First rounds of the past were usually pretty clear walk-overs by the higher seeds, other than perhaps 4-5 match-ups and some surprises here and there. But league is so full of talent now, no one can feel really safe. Aging stars and super teams (Suns, LA, GSW, Miami,...) are battling through regular season, but are totally capable of showing teeth against every opponent, especially early in the play-offs. 

It will be very interesting to see what all-in teams like Suns or Clippers will do if they fail badly. Teams like Lakers and Miami have flexibility and assets to do something in the summer. Even GSW has it. But Suns and Clippers have extremely little flexibility to build around their core. 

Btw. What are the odds on Draymond ending in Dallas? Cuban and him seem to be huge buddies on his podcast.

[SleepingHero]

@wojespn

BREAKING: After two months of rehabilitation to attempt a return to the New York Knicks, All-NBA forward Julius Randle will undergo season-ending right shoulder surgery, sources tell ESPN.



Not sure this was posted but sheesh

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://twitter.com/MarkG_Medina/status/...9306296721


Sixers fined 100K for violating team injury report on Embiid.

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https://theathletic.com/5392665/2024/04/...mbination/



The Trayce-Jackson-Davis-Draymond Green pairing has changed the Warriors.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://theathletic.com/5393160/2024/04/...s-pistons/


The NBA's bottom-tier teams are bad and how can they fix it?

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Just realized the Raptors have lost 15 in a row.

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Ok they owe a top 6 protected pick to San Antonio

[Chicagojk]

Mavs and bucks have the same record, but their fanbases feel completely different about their teams currently.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://twitter.com/jkubatko/status/1776584975145394659


Bucks have lost 3 str8 games vs teams with 50 or more losses.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://nypost.com/2024/04/06/sports/don...he-f-k-up/


DiVincenzo responds to a Bulls fan.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_...st-rockets



Zach Lowe's nine things.

[Chicagojk]

Has there ever been a time when a conference’s 2 and 3 seed are limping this bad to the finish of the season as what is happening in the East this year?

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

Has there ever been a time when a conference’s 2 and 3 seed are limping this bad to the finish of the season as what is happening in the East this year?

Most are limping due to injuries to key players.  Teams are holding them out until the playoffs begin, which is understandable.

[HoosierDaddyKidd]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3989...ndings-win


Confident Lakers on the rise.

[MFFL]

Weakest class EVER for the Hall of Fame. Sometimes I wish the NBA did it like the MLB and would choose to NOT select anyone rather than a class like this. Only Vince Carter deserves it.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3988...fame-class

[SkenfromLMF]

Weakest class EVER for the Hall of Fame. Sometimes I wish the NBA did it like the MLB and would choose to NOT select anyone rather than a class like this. Only Vince Carter deserves it.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3988...fame-class

Remember this is NOT an NBA Hall of Fame, but rather a Basketball Hall of Fame. This means players who were HoF worthy in College/FIBA also make the lists.

Sometimes, players get credit for an amalgamation of different league performances, though it is pretty rare.

[Ghost of Podkolzin]

https://nypost.com/2024/04/06/sports/don...he-f-k-up/


DiVincenzo responds to a Bulls fan.

I love him.  Wish we could have grabbed him in FA.

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Weakest class EVER for the Hall of Fame. Sometimes I wish the NBA did it like the MLB and would choose to NOT select anyone rather than a class like this. Only Vince Carter deserves it.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/3988...fame-class

Was going to argue, but can't.  Ya, Billups isn't HOF.