AROUND the NBA: ATL Jumps from #10 to #1 in Lotto| Pistons Mull Firing GM

[Winter]

Butler is not going to change his colors. He's this way all the time. Every team... same thing. It doesn't take long for teams to chew all the flavor out of that gum.

What I find interesting - because I'm an idiot - is that I kind of assumed there was a little bit of Butler hiding in Kyrie. An a-hole who couldn't keep his mouth shut (or his tweets to himself). Instead, suit-and-tie Kyrie shows up, plays with his adorable kid, says all the right things at press conferences, and plays like an all-star. Half-way through the season Luka looks he's ready to propose to him.

WTF do I know.

[KillerLeft]

Maybe.  Or maybe just a public rebuke for behavior that doesn't reflect the team's values.

Oh, sure, that’s exactly what it is. But every time Butler gets sideways with a team like this, he moves on. There’s a long pattern.

And, unless I missed one, the last time Pat Riley spoke out publicly like this against one of his own players his when he knew ahead of time that LeBron was leaving to go back to Cleveland. 

There have actually been stories for a couple of weeks that heat officials have been trashing Butler behind the scenes.

[Chicagojk]

I really like TJ McConnell. Hate playing against him though. I would love to find an undrafted guy or a guy who has bounced around the league for a few years. like him to develop. Ideally he would be bigger 6’4 to 6’6., but I want a fighter.

[BoredAssistant]

JKidd showed the blueprint for stopping JB was sticking Josh Green on him. Not sure why the rest of the league hasn't caught up.

[dirkfansince1998]

I really like TJ McConnell.  Hate playing against him though.  I would love to find an undrafted guy or a guy who has bounced around the league for a few years.  like him to develop.  Ideally he would be bigger 6’4 to 6’6., but I want a fighter.

JJB with better defense. Perfect fit on a RC lead team.

[SleepingHero]

I really like TJ McConnell.  Hate playing against him though.  I would love to find an undrafted guy or a guy who has bounced around the league for a few years.  like him to develop.  Ideally he would be bigger 6’4 to 6’6., but I want a fighter.

The comeback guy you're describing is Lonzo Ball. He picked up his 20+mil player option and isn't scheduled to return until next season around January. 

What a comeback career for Lonzo to redefine himself as a 6MOY under Kidd, the same guy who he was compared to during his draft/rookie year.

[DallasMaverick]

Thibs hates his bench. Only 20 minutes so far, compared with Rick’s 60.

[Chicagojk]

Thibs hates his bench. Only 20 minutes so far, compared with Rick’s 60.

The heavy minutes didn’t hurt the Knicks against the sixers but you wonder if this fast pace with these athletic pacers will wear the Knicks down as the series goes along.

McConnell playing great. Josh hart is such a warrior.

Got to admire the confidence of Obi to do a between the legs dunk in a close playoff game in the third quarter.  Rick may have murdered him at half court if he missed.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Ok, so Butler will be on a new team next year. That seems clear.

He's due a extension, so we'll see. Riley says he's not trading him, but will weigh his injury history vs extending him. Butler is on the wrong side of 30.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The heavy minutes didn’t hurt the Knicks against the sixers but you wonder if this fast pace with these athletic pacers will wear the Knicks down as the series goes along.

McConnell playing great. Josh hart is such a warrior.

Got to admire the confidence of Obi to do a between the legs dunk in a close playoff game in the third quarter.  Rick may have murdered him at half court if he missed.

Pacers have a better bench. Toppin wants to show up his old team. McConnell has been fantastic. Siakam vs OG his old teammate.This should be another dogfight of a series. Brunson has to be great every game which he's been doing it seems, but Josh Hart and DiVencenzo have been amazing as well.

[MaxiThreeba]

The more you watch the Knicks in the playoffs the more obvious it is Brunson would NEVER have become this in Dallas:

1- He couldn’t dominate every possession in Dallas
2- He would never get this NY whistle if he was still on the Mavs

I love JB. But for all the people that want to compare Luka to Harden, it’s JB that has mastered the prime Harden flop skill.

And more BS whistles for NY. Nesmith with a clear as day clean steal on Brunson and they call a phantom kick ball…which can’t be challenged. Leads to a Divencenzo 3 and Knick lead. NBA refs suck.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The Villanova Three are something else.

[dirkfansince1998]

Tough choice but I think the Pacers should have closed the game with McConnell/Toppin.

[Chicagojk]

So a kicked ball cannot be challenge but the Knicks can challenge a ball off a pacers leg? Seems fair.

Fun game. Pacers may kick themselves if they don’t pull this out. Jalen has been fantastic. Big shot after big shot. Winner!

[MaxiThreeba]

And yet another screw job in the Knicks favor. A moving screen that never gets called is called with 12 seconds left. Turner was moving a bit but another Knicks flop by Divencenzo and refs take the opportunity to take ball away from Pacers.

The refs ruining another great game

[Chicagojk]

That one ref has had a really bad stretch here. He was at the last Mavs game right?

[dirkfansince1998]

The line was +1.5 for the Knicks. I put all my money on it. Therefor the call stands.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

The more you watch the Knicks in the playoffs the more obvious it is Brunson would NEVER have become this in Dallas:

1- He couldn’t dominate every possession in Dallas
2- He would never get this NY whistle if he was still on the Mavs

I love JB.  But for all the people that want to compare Luka to Harden, it’s JB that has mastered the prime Harden flop skill.

And more BS whistles for NY.  Nesmith with a clear as day clean steal on Brunson and they call a phantom kick ball…which can’t be challenged.  Leads to a Divencenzo 3 and Knick lead.  NBA refs suck.

He wouldn't dominate the ball with Luka here anyway. Say what you will, but Brunson has made himself into a great player that wouldn't have had that opportunity in Dallas. He's the lead dog in NY.

[Chicagojk]

Haliburtan very quiet and actually quite bad.

[ThisIStheYear]

Damn. Brunson is good. He’s emerged as a top 4 player and easily the top performer in the playoffs. How is he doing this? It’s incredible.