|
Post by scully19 on Jan 31, 2024 8:53:42 GMT -5
Speaking of Nurse and Philly, looks like Embiid is trying to hold on to being eligible for the MVP this year and in turn might have knocked himself out of it. He had 4 missed games remaining i believe for the year before he becomes ineligible, so he plays last night but seems hobbled throughout with his knee that he missed the last 2 games for...and then has Kuminga fall on that knee.
|
|
|
Post by sandman on Jan 31, 2024 16:32:24 GMT -5
I really think they zoned in that "positionless" game of play and tried to make that the new NBA. Sorta like the Warriors created the 3-point, fast paced game of play.
It.. just didn't work out.
|
|
|
Post by zugzwang on Jan 31, 2024 21:13:47 GMT -5
Totally! I liked the experiment and admit I got excited about it. Rather than chase the existing trend, they tried to be at the forefront of the next one. OG, Scotty, Precious, Siakam, just a swarming defence that could not be switched on.
I guess the Raps can be faulted as an organization for riding it too long, but you don't know until you try.
Pops and the Spurs briefly flirted with reviving the long-2, on the theory that--just maybe--nobody really knew how to defend it properly anymore. Nope. They had to scrap that too.
My biggest issue is after the Rap's experiment failed, so many of its most vocal original supporters in cyberspace became revisionists and acted like it was totally obvious it would fail and they were never behind it in the first place.
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Jan 31, 2024 22:03:14 GMT -5
I really think they zoned in that "positionless" game of play and tried to make that the new NBA. Sorta like the Warriors created the 3-point, fast paced game of play. It.. just didn't work out. if those guys could shoot it would have worked to be honest, they just needed an evolution not a revolution. 3 point shooting plus positionless would have been pretty hard to stop. I really think they thought under Nurse and his know how for training shooting that they'll get there with shooting and it's not as big a problem as it turned out to be.
|
|
|
Post by Pseudonym on Feb 1, 2024 10:30:47 GMT -5
I really think they zoned in that "positionless" game of play and tried to make that the new NBA. Sorta like the Warriors created the 3-point, fast paced game of play. It.. just didn't work out. if those guys could shoot it would have worked to be honest, they just needed an evolution not a revolution. 3 point shooting plus positionless would have been pretty hard to stop. I really think they thought under Nurse and his know how for training shooting that they'll get there with shooting and it's not as big a problem as it turned out to be. They also brought in the same type of longboi: athletic af, but cannot shoot and also needs to develop their feel for the game. OKC is the successful version of it, literally inverting traditional roles in ball screen actions to break defenses. You'd also still need an actual center, and likely a bigger PG than FVV....so not going for the ultimate longboi in Wemby was just confusing at last year's deadline.
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Feb 1, 2024 10:33:45 GMT -5
20 years from now I'll still be saying not tanking the year of Wemby draft was stupid. I will never get over it. It will never make sense.
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Feb 1, 2024 19:48:17 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Pseudonym on Feb 2, 2024 12:39:20 GMT -5
20 years from now I'll still be saying not tanking the year of Wemby draft was stupid. I will never get over it. It will never make sense. Just absurd we didn't even try it. Imagine him and Barnes with his improved jumper. Even if there was a 20% chance they should've gone for it.
|
|
|
Post by freewheel on Feb 8, 2024 19:26:19 GMT -5
What the hell happened to Joe Harris? He shot over 40% on threes for 6 straight seasons with the Nets and is now just released by the Pistons. Barely played at all. Is he cooked? I'd have loved to have him on the Raps. Maybe the end comes fast.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 2, 2024 21:51:42 GMT -5
Grizzlies-Blazers and Hawks-Nets on the same day? So confusing for the play-in and the tank. Real Kobayashi Maru stuff. No matter what, I’m happy and sad.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 4, 2024 10:43:59 GMT -5
Only three rookies ever in the NBA have had games of 30+ points, 10+ rebounds, 5+ assists and 5+ blocks in a game. David Robinson, Tim Duncan, and Victor Wembanyama. … Effin’ Spurs.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 7, 2024 22:39:37 GMT -5
Incredible block by Anthony Edwards. He. Hit. His. Head. On. The. Backboard!
(Little-known fact: That's the same injury that led to the end of my playground hooping).
(Okay, not a fact at all).
|
|
|
Post by freewheel on Mar 7, 2024 22:58:54 GMT -5
He hit his shoulder on the backboard. That's way up there.
|
|
|
Post by sandman on Mar 8, 2024 0:14:36 GMT -5
(Little-known fact: That's the same injury that led to the end of my playground hooping). (Okay, not a fact at all). Concussion?
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 8, 2024 0:38:24 GMT -5
(Little-known fact: That's the same injury that led to the end of my playground hooping). (Okay, not a fact at all). Concussion?Only a level 3 concussion could make me think I could jump 1/10th as high as that. I'm envious of Jokic's hops.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 12, 2024 20:35:12 GMT -5
When did Malachi Flynn get traded to Detroit? I totally missed that. Revenge game coming tomorrow!
|
|
|
Post by freewheel on Mar 15, 2024 19:18:22 GMT -5
Bill Simmons worst contracts in the league draft is pretty entertaining. Siakam gets a mention as does Bruce Brown at the end. Its not nasty, mostly done for fun and jokes. I enjoyed it.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Mar 27, 2024 21:11:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Mar 27, 2024 21:25:44 GMT -5
It still confused me why the FO went on a rant about not developing guys like Delano before not even giving him the minimum to stay here and develop under the new coach. He's a fast long guard, he should have gotten more chance for sure.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Apr 3, 2024 20:41:44 GMT -5
Holy crap ... Malachi Flynn with a 50 point game. FIFTY! www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401585732 Nice of him to get the L, though ... to keep us on track for the 31st pick. Would hate to fall to 32 and miss our guy.
|
|
|
Post by zugzwang on Apr 4, 2024 12:55:33 GMT -5
On high efficiency too, I understand.
Banton also showing some great games for Portland. Precious has been showing value for New York as well.
It's a lot of salt for Raptors fans, but not so much that I'm doubled over in regret. It was still 50 points in a loss and moves had to be made. I'm happy for them all.
Really though, rough year. Almost can't wait for the off-season where we are inundated with positive press and we come screaming back with unrealistic optimism for the future. Or at least I do. . .
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Apr 4, 2024 18:53:01 GMT -5
Terrance Ross topped 50 and his career never amounted to much. But still, good for him! That’s a big number regardless.
|
|
|
Post by sandman on Apr 4, 2024 20:06:17 GMT -5
That has to be the most random 50 point game ever.
Even 30 would've been crazy to think.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Apr 4, 2024 22:57:04 GMT -5
One thing I find fascinating about NBA-level talent and competition is how little the difference can be between stardom and mediocrity. Like that Acie Earl 40-point game. Give a lot of scrubs just a little bit more room than the usual NBA defense, and they can totally go off.
Otoh, ratchet up the intensity to playoff level, and even excellent players can evaporate (a la Trae Young).
|
|
|
Post by zugzwang on Apr 17, 2024 6:38:38 GMT -5
Bulls vs the Hawks for the play-in tonight.
Main question before I make my bets: will the Bulls be putting Diar DeRozan in the lineup?
Still say we shoulda signed her. I blame Masai.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Apr 17, 2024 20:40:39 GMT -5
Happy to see Embiid and the 76ers advance through the playin to the actual playoffs. And to see Nick Nurse out-coaching Spoelstra. Play-in games really are fun.
|
|
|
Post by freewheel on Apr 17, 2024 20:51:13 GMT -5
I just liked Lowry sticking it to the Heat while the guy they traded for doesn't even play. Honestly though. Embiid looked pretty bad for most of the game. Slow walking almost every possession. Sure didn't look like a guy ready for multiple tough playoff series.
|
|
|
Post by haisan on Apr 18, 2024 0:09:13 GMT -5
Lowry, playing good for an old man, wins his play-in game.
DeRozan, playing well, wins his play-in game.
Jonas ... not playing so well, loses his play-in game. But at least he's still playing.
Delon Wright, still going strong, 23 minutes in his play-in.
It's like the 2016 Raptors, spread all over the play-in games.
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Apr 18, 2024 8:15:17 GMT -5
Hawks have got to be done at this point. If they don't trade 1 of Young or Murray I'll be shocked. Sounds like they tried to trade Murray but there wasn't enough value there mid-season, so baring some teams upping their offer I expect Young to be the one on the move. Upping the offer isn't out of the question though since there will be more teams interested and more teams who think they should be better next year that can convince themselves he would fit well.
|
|
|
Post by scully19 on Apr 29, 2024 8:44:31 GMT -5
Phoenix gets swept out of the playoffs, a team many were betting would actually win this series never stood a chance. Durant is already throwing everything under the bus, mainly the coach right now. Trading for an unplayable center i think was their biggest mistake even if Ayton chemistry wasn't great they were much better off keeping a C who stood a chance at being impactful. Beal is also massively overrated IMO but he also was pretty cheap get so probably fine from that front but also easily the worst contract in the league the next 3 years that you really don't know how they are supposed to recover. Playing without a PG is another big flaw with their team setup. Really this team has great top end talent but they don't compliment each other and are so bereft of talent behind them they don't have any hope of getting up to contender level.
It's so bad it's already being floated they might have to trade the one guy they should want to keep above all else, Booker, in order to round out the team and get more competitive. I'm sure first step this off season is firing Vogul but then i imagine they take zero chances on up and coming coaches and just choose another one on the carousel of existing bland average coaches.
|
|