Official 2022 NBA Offseason and 2022-2023 NBA Season Thread

[lefty]

Memphis toasted the Suns with Clitter Paul.
125-100 and it was Mem by 20 since the 2nd qtr.

Bookerdashian out.
Booker didn’t play

[MultiTroll]

Bookerdashian out.


Booker didn’t play
I'm a hot news source.

[lefty]

lol

[Dirks_Finale]

Zeke making the lefty argument that rules were changed to help Jordan win :rolleyes

Yeah, stop allowing Jordan to get body slammed 50 times per game is showing favoritism ..


https://www.basketballnetwork.net/old-school/isiah-thomas-claims-the-nba-changed-its-rules-to-help-michael-jordan-succeed

"Y'all want him to win; y'all changed all the rules so he can win. Wait a minute now; these are the facts. I go down the lane; I get my a** beat. You see pictures of Michael Cooper scratching Larry Bird's jersey off, right? You see Kevin McHale slamming Kurt Rambis to the floor. You see, Dr. J, you know, buying on Bird, right? Everybody's getting hit. Oh, but he (Jordan) can't get hit? So we gon' change all the rules so that he can dunk.

[ambchang]

Zeke making the lefty argument that rules were changed to help Jordan win :rolleyes

Yeah, stop allowing Jordan to get body slammed 50 times per game is showing favoritism ..

It’s true though. They didn’t change the rules until jordan proved he couldn’t win with the old rules.

[FrostKing]

5. Kareem
4. Duncan
3. Bird
2. Jordan
1. Magic

Merry Christmas

[lefty]

It’s true though. They didn’t change the rules until jordan proved he couldn’t win with the old rules.
Factos

[Dirks_Finale]

It’s true though. They didn’t change the rules until jordan proved he couldn’t win with the old rules.But MJ was going to win when Pippen and Grant matured enough, regardless of rules. Thomas knows this, he just hates that he got depicted as an azzhole in Jordan's last dance show.

[ambchang]

But MJ was going to win when Pippen and Grant matured enough, regardless of rules. Thomas knows this, he just hates that he got depicted as an azzhole in Jordan's last dance show.

I doubt it. Jordan routinely takes 8+ FTA a game. He’s the only non big in that era to do so and ranks top three in pretty much every year throughout his prime. He continued to get FTs even when he became much more perimeter oriented. All the other players that get that many FTs are bugs like robinson, Malone, kemp and such.

And to your point about Pippen, glad you acknowledge that he was a huge part of the winning. He is not getting the credit he deserves.

[Isitjustme?]

Lefty and ambchangs hate boner for MJ will never cease to amazing :lol

[ambchang]

Not hating. Just stating facts. Feel free to dispute.

[Texas_Ranger]

Doncic needs to demand a trade asap.

[MultiTroll]

Must see TV:

End of regulation Mavs Knicks.

[Pero]

Luka 60-21-10...crazy! And a crazy shot to tie the game for overtime too.

[Texas_Ranger]

One of the greatest performances in history.
Still, the mavs need to get rid of Powell, Hardaway and Bullocks. These guys are complete garbage.

[Isitjustme?]

1607958989949599754

His happy celebration hysterics is awesome :lol

[Pero]

His happy celebration hysterics is awesome :lol

He said he thought that shot won the game. :lol

[Isitjustme?]

They cracked down on carrying the ball for two whole minutes
https://twitter.com/giantsxwarriors/status/1607987937190498304

[Seventyniner]

He said he thought that shot won the game. :lol

Which means he thought the Mavs were down 1 or tied? In which case he should have just made the FT?

[Pero]

Which means he thought the Mavs were down 1 or tied? In which case he should have just made the FT?

No idea, but if he thought they were down 1 making the FT wouldn't have won them the game. I can see him going for the win instead of OT. But I think he was just confused.

Confused after crazy shot (https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luka-doncic-thought-his-crazy-shot-to-tie-knicks-was-actually-a-game-winner-i-didnt-know-what-to-do/)

Doncic was asked if his antics after the basket were a celebration or a call to his teammates to foul, which, whether they were tied or in the lead, would have been a catastrophe.

"Well, it was celebrating," Doncic said, if you can't open the tweet above. "But, honestly, a lot of people asked me about this back in the locker room. I thought we won it. So when I went to the crowd like this, I thought we had won the game. But when I saw the score, I was like, 'Oh.' I didn't know what to do."

[Seventyniner]

No idea, but if he thought they were down 1 making the FT wouldn't have won them the game. I can see him going for the win instead of OT. But I think he was just confused.

Confused after crazy shot (https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/luka-doncic-thought-his-crazy-shot-to-tie-knicks-was-actually-a-game-winner-i-didnt-know-what-to-do/)

Weird. Thanks for the quote.

Choosing to miss the FT on purpose when actually down 1 would be an insane decision, especially at home. But the heat of the moment does strange things to people.

[MultiTroll]

Deej Murray with the costly missed FT in a 108-107 Hawks loss. :depressed

[lefty]

They cracked down on carrying the ball for two whole minutes
https://twitter.com/giantsxwarriors/status/1607987937190498304

They didn’t call those on MJ and Iverson either :lol

[lefty]

:lmao Bucks choke job

[Isitjustme?]

They didn’t call those on MJ and Iverson either :lol

Lefty debunking the accusation he has a hate boner for MJ pretty poorly here

[lefty]

Lefty debunking the accusation he has a hate boner for MJ pretty poorly here

I’m an objective hater tbh

[Isitjustme?]

I’m an objective hater tbh

With a gigantic hate boner

[lefty]

With a gigantic hate bonerdont blame me if you have a tiny boner tbh

[Texas_Ranger]

lol thr Magic had 9 players suspended and that retard Hayes only got 3 games.

[JamStone]

lol thr Magic had 9 players suspended and that retard Hayes only got 3 games.

I believe 8 of those Magic players got suspended for leaving their bench during an altercation, an automatic suspension they put in the NBA rulebook years ago. I’m sure most of them would not have been suspended otherwise.

3 games sounds about right for Hayes. Anything between 2-5 games, I would have had no issue with.

This is not a defense of Hayes, because it was coward bullshit for him to attack Wagner from behind. But this goes to the hypocrisy we have as fans. A lot of NBA fans complain about the pussification of the league since the 80s and 90s. If what Hayes did happened in the 80s or 90s, few fans would make much of a big deal about it. We reminisce and even glorify the Rambis clothesline or a Robert Parrish flagrant, two hand takedown in the lane, every hard foul resulting in guys squaring up to fight but no game ejections. Hayes forearm to the back of the head still might be viewed as a cheap shot, but one that wasn’t so uncommon or surprising or so taboo. But it happens now, and some NBA fans are up in arms over it. We complain about the pussification of the league, but then has that in turn resulted in the pussification of the NBA fans? Just food for thought.

[Isitjustme?]

I believe 8 of those Magic players got suspended for leaving their bench during an altercation, an automatic suspension they put in the NBA rulebook years ago. I’m sure most of them would not have been suspended otherwise.

3 games sounds about right for Hayes. Anything between 2-5 games, I would have had no issue with.

This is not a defense of Hayes, because it was coward bullshit for him to attack Wagner from behind. But this goes to the hypocrisy we have as fans. A lot of NBA fans complain about the pussification of the league since the 80s and 90s. If what Hayes did happened in the 80s or 90s, few fans would make much of a big deal about it. We reminisce and even glorify the Rambis clothesline or a Robert Parrish flagrant, two hand takedown in the lane, every hard foul resulting in guys squaring up to fight but no game ejections. Hayes forearm to the back of the head still might be viewed as a cheap shot, but one that wasn’t so uncommon or surprising or so taboo. But it happens now, and some NBA fans are up in arms over it. We complain about the pussification of the league, but then has that in turn resulted in the pussification of the NBA fans? Just food for thought.

Wagner with his hip check was being a bitch too

[Texas_Ranger]

Mitchell with 71. Nice.

[ambchang]

Booker and Mitchell now getting 70 points. Since wilt had his last 70 point game in 1963, We have three 70 point games in 54 years with them being at least 12 years apart from each other, then we have two in 5 years.

We had one season with a triple double average, then didn’t see one in like 60 years until we had westbrook doing it four times, with harden, jokic and doncic all coming very close to doing it in the last few seasons.

But the narrative is that :lol todays nba players are so much more skilled instead of stats being ridiculously inflated due to rule changes and increased pace.

[Ice009]

That may be, but give Donovan some props as I feel this was a very legit 71pts that he got within the flow of a competitive game (unlike Booker and D-Rob's). I don't remember any of the other 70+ pt games I've seen that weren't stat padding. I won't include Kobe's 81, as he was just dominating the game. Not his fault the other team couldn't stop him. David's, I didn't get to watch as I didn't have access back then and from what I remember, it wasn't televised. Having said that, D-Rob was going for the scoring title, so I can understand him going for it, but it was still stat padding. Donovan really had a great game tonight and it was needed for his team to win. Great performance.

[lefty]

:lol 70s ans 80s had coke addicts
90s had a bunch of unskilled guards that played in the NBA thanks to the expansion era :lol

so yes, we have more incredible stats today because the league is more skilled than ever, just accept it


:lol Amb probably thinks his TV from the 60s is better than modern TVs

Do you force your grandkids to play on your dusty Odyssey? :lol

[ambchang]

:lol sudden explosion in only offensive skills but mysteriously defence stays stagnant.
:lol players like Mitchell, Booker, Westbrook and Harden are the definition of skilfulness when I’m reality they are the definition of empty calories guys.
:lol 00s and large parts of 10s didn’t exist
:lol comparing electronics, which has been around for a few decades, to humans, which had been around for at least 300k years.

Caveat, not knocking Mitchell, or even booker, for these particular games, just like I respect Cheryl miller scoring 105 points back then, but it’s more a product of the opposition than anything else.

[Texas_Ranger]

how the fuck do the refs miss a clear as day lane violation on the Mitchell's free throw?

[lefty]

:lol sudden explosion in only offensive skills but mysteriously defence stays stagnant.
:lol players like Mitchell, Booker, Westbrook and Harden are the definition of skilfulness when I’m reality they are the definition of empty calories guys.
:lol 00s and large parts of 10s didn’t exist
:lol comparing electronics, which has been around for a few decades, to humans, which had been around for at least 300k years.

Caveat, not knocking Mitchell, or even booker, for these particular games, just like I respect Cheryl miller scoring 105 points back then, but it’s more a product of the opposition than anything else.

:lol defenses are actually better today
:lol Today’s best scorers would have feasted on 90s “defenses” , illegal defense rule, no zone era that favors offensive threats and iso ball

:lol haters should actually watch the games instead just looking at box scores and clinging to narratives

[ambchang]

:lol defenses are actually better today
:lol Today’s best scorers would have feasted on 90s “defenses” , illegal defense rule, no zone era that favors offensive threats and iso ball

:lol haters should actually watch the games instead just looking at box scores and clinging to narratives

Defences are better today how? By giving up 113.7ppg? That's a full 3.1 ppg from just last year. What is causing this sudden surge in scoring? That is only a few years after 2018-19, when the scoring suddenly went from 106.3ppg to 111.2ppg, and two years earlier, scoring went from 102.7 ppg to 105.6 ppg, which was only 100ppg the year prior. 5.6ppg jump in scoring per game, league-wide, in two seasons. These sudden jumps in scoring has nothing to do with an overnight, across the board increase in skills in nba players, it has everything to do with changes in rules and interpretations of it.

The last time the league did NOT have an increase in scoring was 2013-14 to 2014-2015, when scoring dropped from 101ppg to 100ppg. The huge inflation in scoring basically steadily took place since then, going up a whopping 13.7ppg in a mere 8 years. To put that in perspective, from 2000-01 to 2010-11, scoring went from 94.8ppg to 99.6ppg, and 1991 was at 106.3ppg. The last time the league was scoring at this pace was in the mid 80s (granted much smaller use of 3 pointers).

Speaking of 3pters, the increase in scoring isn't solely driven by 3 pointers, the 2 pg shooting of teams are at a ridiculous 54.4%, despite 3's staying at around 35% since forever. It is essentially a layup line to the basket due to:
1) the volume and frequency of 3s
2) change in defensive rules to open up the lanes for drives
3) lack of rim protecting bigs as they are being pulled out to the perimeter.

Interesting tidbit, there were 11 players in the history of the NBA who had 10 or more 50+ point games, 4 are active, with Durant sitting at 9 (I am surprised, I thought he'd be there for sure). This reeks of disparity of skills rather than this magical increase in ability.

[140]

Booker and Mitchell now getting 70 points. Since wilt had his last 70 point game in 1963, We have three 70 point games in 54 years with them being at least 12 years apart from each other, then we have two in 5 years.

We had one season with a triple double average, then didn’t see one in like 60 years until we had westbrook doing it four times, with harden, jokic and doncic all coming very close to doing it in the last few seasons.

But the narrative is that :lol todays nba players are so much more skilled instead of stats being ridiculously inflated due to rule changes and increased pace.
a completely washed up klay scoring 50+ on the same night as well :lol

:lmao todays nba
:lmao zero defense

[lefty]

a completely washed up klay scoring 50+ on the same night as well :lol

:lmao todays nba
:lmao zero defense

:lol thinking they played defense in the 90s

:lol Derozan would averge 45 ppg in that shit era

[lefty]

Defences are better today how? By giving up 113.7ppg? That's a full 3.1 ppg from just last year. What is causing this sudden surge in scoring? That is only a few years after 2018-19, when the scoring suddenly went from 106.3ppg to 111.2ppg, and two years earlier, scoring went from 102.7 ppg to 105.6 ppg, which was only 100ppg the year prior. 5.6ppg jump in scoring per game, league-wide, in two seasons. These sudden jumps in scoring has nothing to do with an overnight, across the board increase in skills in nba players, it has everything to do with changes in rules and interpretations of it.

The last time the league did NOT have an increase in scoring was 2013-14 to 2014-2015, when scoring dropped from 101ppg to 100ppg. The huge inflation in scoring basically steadily took place since then, going up a whopping 13.7ppg in a mere 8 years. To put that in perspective, from 2000-01 to 2010-11, scoring went from 94.8ppg to 99.6ppg, and 1991 was at 106.3ppg. The last time the league was scoring at this pace was in the mid 80s (granted much smaller use of 3 pointers).

Speaking of 3pters, the increase in scoring isn't solely driven by 3 pointers, the 2 pg shooting of teams are at a ridiculous 54.4%, despite 3's staying at around 35% since forever. It is essentially a layup line to the basket due to:
1) the volume and frequency of 3s
2) change in defensive rules to open up the lanes for drives
3) lack of rim protecting bigs as they are being pulled out to the perimeter.

Interesting tidbit, there were 11 players in the history of the NBA who had 10 or more 50+ point games, 4 are active, with Durant sitting at 9 (I am surprised, I thought he'd be there for sure). This reeks of disparity of skills rather than this magical increase in ability.
So once again you just look at the number of points scored to determine whether or not it's more defensive

It's terribly flawed and lackig context

Hiher pace, more 3 pt baskets made, more talent from top to bottom, more international players are why there is an uptick in scoring

90s had a slower pace, less 3 pt scoring, one dimensional offenses, less talent, scrub ass journeymen who got into the NBA only because of the massive expansion - Starks grocery bagger was a NBA player ffs

By the way you mentioned Booker, Harden, Russ etc as stat padders.
I guess Michael Adams, Alex English or Dominique Wilkins never existed
Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan were Russell Wetbrook before Russell Westbrook; Big O was a glorified Stat stuffer who didn't win jack & shit until he got to play with Kareem; Jordan only cared about his stats until he got Jackson, he was notorious for checking his stat sheets after every single game

And at least the guys you mentioned are all stars
In the 90s you had scrubs like Willie Burton dropping 53 points :lol
Some plumber named Labradford Smith dropped 37 on Jordan :lol



Feel free to move goal posts

[ambchang]

So once again you just look at the number of points scored to determine whether or not it's more defensive

It's terribly flawed and lackig context

Hiher pace, more 3 pt baskets made, more talent from top to bottom, more international players are why there is an uptick in scoring

90s had a slower pace, less 3 pt scoring, one dimensional offenses, less talent, scrub ass journeymen who got into the NBA only because of the massive expansion - Starks grocery bagger was a NBA player ffs

All valid points, but the dramatic increases in points and other related metrics (assists, rebounds) is directly due to changes in rules that favours a fast pace by minimizing the effectiveness in defences.

The ppg/100 possessions of the median team this year is 113.7, it was 112.8 last year and 112 before that. To compare, it was only 107.7 in 2011 and 103.2 in 2001. It was 106.3 in 1991, which was a couple of years after the expansion of 4 franchises that diluted the talent pool.

Are the players now, with their lifetime of training and multimillion dollar equipment and facilities better equipped than before? Of course! But is it almost 1% increase every single year for the last 20 years or so? Hell no! The game has changed so much due to rule changes that it is barely the same game.

To wit, even with a much larger pool of players training day and night since grade school due to the dramatic increase in player salaries in the 90s, we still have players who were Ubereats drivers and some rando selling fried chicken in Nigeria coming into the league.


By the way you mentioned Booker, Harden, Russ etc as stat padders.
I guess Michael Adams, Alex English or Dominique Wilkins never existed
Oscar Robertson and Michael Jordan were Russell Wetbrook before Russell Westbrook; Big O was a glorified Stat stuffer who didn't win jack & shit until he got to play with Kareem; Jordan only cared about his stats until he got Jackson, he was notorious for checking his stat sheets after every single game

Did i say there were no stat-padders before? No! But those stat padders did score 70 points a game, put up 60point triple doubles or average a triple double in 4 separate years. There were always stat padders and will continue to have stat padders, just that those stat padders cannot put up crazy numbers like Booker, Mitchell, Harden and Westbrook did.

BTW, respectably disagree that the Big O was a stat padders. They were on horrible teams that didn't win anything because there were better teams. The Royals improved year after year with the Big O at the helm, Jordan was a ball hog for sure but didn't stat pad to the extent of Harden and Westbrook.


And at least the guys you mentioned are all stars
In the 90s you had scrubs like Willie Burton dropping 53 points :lol
Some plumber named Labradford Smith dropped 37 on Jordan :lol

Feel free to move goal posts

TOSB Klay Thomson just dropped 50 points. Fred Van Fleet did it. Saddiq Bey did it. TJ Warren did it. Caris LeVert, Kevin Porter Jr, Jamal Murray, Eric Gordon. I have absolutely no issues with rando dropping 50 out of nowhere because any player can get hot in a game, but there are a lot more randos now than before. There was 4 50 point games in 2000, there were 22 in 2019. So far this year, there are already 13! With Pascal Siakim (who is definitely NOT having his best season) and Darius Garland joining the fray.

And what goal posts? The point is that the explosion in scoring (along with assists and rebounds) is due to an increase in pace due to rule changes that favours offence, not BECAUSE of the skill increase. Offensive skills and defensive skills should improve in lock-step, the idea that increase in frequency in video-like game numbers is due mostly to skill increases is illogical, especially when players that has been in the league for a long period of time (such as Lebron James) are putting up these numbers at the frequency of their primes.

Lebron already has 2 40+ point games this season when he didn't have a single season of more than 4 such games since 2010-11. By any logical explanation, he should be getting fewer and fewer of these games, but he has been consistently putting up these numbers year after year. He put up his 2nd highest scoring average in his career last year and on pace for the 5th highest this year.

Similar to Durant, he is getting the 3rd highest scoring average in his career last year, and on pace for 4th highest this year.

Giannis is hard to say as he is really hitting his prime now, but there are player after player who's scoring average is at or near the top of their careers despite being in the league for a prolonged period of time. Same for Kyrie although I find it interesting that a player who is predominantly reliant on his quickness having his four highest scoring seasons in the last four years. I can't see that being their skill suddenly hitting a high in their 10th or 15th year, despite a massive drop off in athletic ability.

[lefty]

Klay isthe 2nd greatest shooter of all time and mad underrated tbh

[ambchang]

Klay isthe 2nd greatest shooter of all time and mad underrated tbh

It’s officially Ray Allen. But point taken. That said, he is, despite being only 32 years old, way past his prime due to injuries. Again, no problem with him dropping 50 in any random game because that’s what shooters can do, it it’s to counter you saying some below superstar/allstar dropping 50 in a game.

I’m actually interested in seeing the average tenure of an nba player. If the skill level is improving at the rate you are implying, the average nba tenure should be noticeably decreasing as newer players should replace old players due to those improvements in skill sets.

[Texas_Ranger]

Zion out for a longer time again.

[MultiTroll]

Thunder pounding the mental miget Celtics by 14 in the 2nd qtr.

Unless this is a gambling set up, Spurs have a chance to gain in the loss standings.

Lot of game to go tho.

[lefty]

It’s officially Ray Allen. But point taken. That said, he is, despite being only 32 years old, way past his prime due to injuries. Again, no problem with him dropping 50 in any random game because that’s what shooters can do, it it’s to counter you saying some below superstar/allstar dropping 50 in a game.

I’m actually interested in seeing the average tenure of an nba player. If the skill level is improving at the rate you are implying, the average nba tenure should be noticeably decreasing as newer players should replace old players due to those improvements in skill sets.

:lmao thinking Ray Allen is a better shooter than Klay

Yes Klay is 32 but you know, sport science and nutrition are much better today vs the 90s

32 year old today like a 25 yo from the 90s tbh

[ambchang]

:lmao thinking Ray Allen is a better shooter than Klay

Yes Klay is 32 but you know, sport science and nutrition are much better today vs the 90s

32 year old today like a 25 yo from the 90s tbh

Allen makes 2.1 3s at 40% being a primary scorer a large chunk of his career when the league shot way less 3s, Klay makes 3 a game on 41.5% with literally single teams every single game. Klay is a “great shooter” because defences were on curry. Without curry he shoots 39.4% making 2.9 3s. The argument can certainly be made. Besides, it’s not his age, it’s that he got severely injured. Look at his shooting splits, they are down across the board.

When Allen was relegated to the klay role of a catch and shoot guy in Boston and Miami, he was shooting low to mid 40s on 2 made 3s a game.

[140]

Another 50 point game tonight

t:loldays nba

[ambchang]

:lol 150 points in regulation by a team of g-leaguers.
:lol players successfully missing free throws, rebound and scores to tie the game at the last second (or not score to preserve a win). Happened three times this week alone, two by the same player (doncic). Players so skilled and yet can’t even box out the free throw shooter. :lol :lmao

[Isitjustme?]

Booker and Mitchell now getting 70 points. Since wilt had his last 70 point game in 1963, We have three 70 point games in 54 years with them being at least 12 years apart from each other, then we have two in 5 years.

We had one season with a triple double average, then didn’t see one in like 60 years until we had westbrook doing it four times, with harden, jokic and doncic all coming very close to doing it in the last few seasons.

But the narrative is that :lol todays nba players are so much more skilled instead of stats being ridiculously inflated due to rule changes and increased pace.

It's a combination of both obviously, but yeah the stats from this era are kind of a joke. Definitely in the past they should have realized how valuable the 3 ball is and taken it more, emphasized it more in training and maybe some of older guys would have even better stats but if many of the old stars were playing today they would be killing it completely stat wise with these rules

[lefty]

Another 50 point game tonight

t:loldays nba
Amazing tbh, today’s NBA is so talented it’s amazing
Best NBA ever

[lefty]

:lol 150 points in regulation by a team of g-leaguers.
:lol players successfully missing free throws, rebound and scores to tie the game at the last second (or not score to preserve a win). Happened three times this week alone, two by the same player (doncic). Players so skilled and yet can’t even box out the free throw shooter. :lol :lmao

:lol the Lakers dropped 141 points on the Celtics





:lol in the NBA Finals

:lol yesterday’s NBA

[JamStone]

I don’t buy an argument suggesting it’s merely rules changes and pace of play that has led to the offensive explosion in recent years. That’s a naively simplistic and incomplete late way of looking at it. Are they part of it? Sure, I could agree to that. But hardly the only reasons.

First, there haven’t been any significant rules changes helping offense in nearly two decades. Defensive three seconds, the change in defensive hand checking, and the restricted half circle for charge calls all were implemented late 90s, early to mid 2000s. It’s not like overall league offensive output suddenly exploded in the mid to late 2000s. In fact, that’s when teams like the Pistons and Spurs had some of the most ridiculous team defensive seasons ever. You want to argue officiating has interpreted defensive rules to the advantage of offense over the past decade, that might be a fair point. But officiating has catered to star and superstar offensive players since Jordan if not before him. And that’s not rules changes anyway. It’s interpretation of the rules.

Pace of play absolutely plays a part in more offense. But we’ve seen offenses of the past play like that, in Phoenix and Denver and Sacramento in the 80s and 90s, even to the detriment of team defense. It’s been done before. It just hasn’t been as league wide before. But sure, it’s a part of it.

The three point shot and small ball line-ups have as much to do with it as pace of play, I’d argue more. 95% of NBA players regardless of position shoots threes now, practices shooting threes. It’s part of the style of play now. And those smallball line-ups to counter a great defensive, shot blocking big man have proliferated across the league as well. Every team in the league employs smallball line-ups. You have smallball line-ups where every player in a unit can shoot the three, you draw out defensive players from the paint and out to the perimeter. That means when the guy with the ball can beat his man defender one on one or in PNR, then more times than not, he’ll have a pretty good scoring opportunity in the paint, at the rim with little or even no shot blocking contest. Why can a guy like Jalen Brunson shoot 54% from two point range when an all time great like Isiah Thomas shot 47% from two point range in his career? It’s not simply “bad defense” in today’s league. It’s not that Brunson is so much more savvy and crafty than Zeke was. It’s fewer shot blocking, interior contests, and the lack of statement, no lay-up, hard fouls now. That’s style of play, not rules changes.

Walt Wesley had a career scoring average under 10 PPG. Never a 20 point scorer. He had a 50 point game in the 70s. Tracy Murray and Toney Delk both dropped 50 burgers late 90s, early 2000s. Not 70 point games, but those are also not Booker or Mitchell all star type players either. Crazy scoring games happen, even by unlikely names. The fact that crazier scoring performances have happen more frequently in recent years is a product of a lot of different things, not just pace of play and rules changes, not just bad defense. A lot of things have changed and evolved even in just the past 5-10 years. The league wide proliferated use of the three point shot and how it’s impacted team defense is chief among them, even more relevant to the scoring explosion than any rules changes or any increased pace of play.

[ambchang]

:lol the Lakers dropped 141 points on the Celtics





:lol in the NBA Finals

:lol yesterday’s NBA
Yup. No defence league then no defence league now.
And :lol comparing one of the greatest teams of all time to the OKC thunder.

[lefty]

Yup. No defence league then no defence league now.
And :lol comparing one of the greatest teams of all time to the OKC thunder.
Dude there is no excuse allowing 147 pts in the Finals . I don't care who you are and who your opponent is :lol

[lefty]

I don’t buy an argument suggesting it’s merely rules changes and pace of play that has led to the offensive explosion in recent years. That’s a naively simplistic and incomplete late way of looking at it. Are they part of it? Sure, I could agree to that. But hardly the only reasons.

First, there haven’t been any significant rules changes helping offense in nearly two decades. Defensive three seconds, the change in defensive hand checking, and the restricted half circle for charge calls all were implemented late 90s, early to mid 2000s. It’s not like overall league offensive output suddenly exploded in the mid to late 2000s. In fact, that’s when teams like the Pistons and Spurs had some of the most ridiculous team defensive seasons ever. You want to argue officiating has interpreted defensive rules to the advantage of offense over the past decade, that might be a fair point. But officiating has catered to star and superstar offensive players since Jordan if not before him. And that’s not rules changes anyway. It’s interpretation of the rules.

Pace of play absolutely plays a part in more offense. But we’ve seen offenses of the past play like that, in Phoenix and Denver and Sacramento in the 80s and 90s, even to the detriment of team defense. It’s been done before. It just hasn’t been as league wide before. But sure, it’s a part of it.

The three point shot and small ball line-ups have as much to do with it as pace of play, I’d argue more. 95% of NBA players regardless of position shoots threes now, practices shooting threes. It’s part of the style of play now. And those smallball line-ups to counter a great defensive, shot blocking big man have proliferated across the league as well. Every team in the league employs smallball line-ups. You have smallball line-ups where every player in a unit can shoot the three, you draw out defensive players from the paint and out to the perimeter. That means when the guy with the ball can beat his man defender one on one or in PNR, then more times than not, he’ll have a pretty good scoring opportunity in the paint, at the rim with little or even no shot blocking contest. Why can a guy like Jalen Brunson shoot 54% from two point range when an all time great like Isiah Thomas shot 47% from two point range in his career? It’s not simply “bad defense” in today’s league. It’s not that Brunson is so much more savvy and crafty than Zeke was. It’s fewer shot blocking, interior contests, and the lack of statement, no lay-up, hard fouls now. That’s style of play, not rules changes.

Walt Wesley had a career scoring average under 10 PPG. Never a 20 point scorer. He had a 50 point game in the 70s. Tracy Murray and Toney Delk both dropped 50 burgers late 90s, early 2000s. Not 70 point games, but those are also not Booker or Mitchell all star type players either. Crazy scoring games happen, even by unlikely names. The fact that crazier scoring performances have happen more frequently in recent years is a product of a lot of different things, not just pace of play and rules changes, not just bad defense. A lot of things have changed and evolved even in just the past 5-10 years. The league wide proliferated use of the three point shot and how it’s impacted team defense is chief among them, even more relevant to the scoring explosion than any rules changes or any increased pace of play.
https://64.media.tumblr.com/42638fc7f1229d5be7dac0760c32481c/tumblr_mwzszinQc61rzik3go1_400.gif

[ambchang]

Dude there is no excuse allowing 147 pts in the Finals . I don't care who you are and who your opponent is :lol

The bulls allowed 59 points vs the jazz. Any better?

[lefty]

The bulls allowed 59 points vs the jazz. Any better?
Just proving 90s teams were less skilled

LOL scoring 57 pts , what is this , the pre-shot clock era? :lol

[ambchang]

Just proving 90s teams were less skilled

LOL scoring 57 pts , what is this , the pre-shot clock era? :lol

So if the teams can’t scored it’s because they were less skilled, but if they scored a lot is because they have no defensive structures. Otoh, if :lol todays nba scored a lot it’s because of skills but if they don’t score enough it’s because of advanced defensive schemes.

To be fair, pedo was probably distracted by some 12 yo on the sideline that game so he couldn’t get his offence going.

[lefty]

You have a solid argument regarding Malone tbh

[FrostKing]

In terms of superior skill. I agree dribbling has improved as well as outside shooting. Not seeing it elsewhere.

[140]

So if the teams can’t scored it’s because they were less skilled, but if they scored a lot is because they have no defensive structures. Otoh, if :lol todays nba scored a lot it’s because of skills but if they don’t score enough it’s because of advanced defensive schemes.

that basically sums up the t:loldays nba crowd tbh

[Texas_Ranger]

How many years of top game has Giannis left? He's horrible to watch and pretty much is this good just cause of athleticism... i dont see him being as good as LeBron after 30. On the other hand Jokic could dominate until hes 40.

[MultiTroll]

Apemond Green instigation yet another skirmish.

His character signature usual cheapshot. Other player not hurt. Rather Donkey did an extended pull of the Pistons jersey in an attempt to get under his skin / was pouting because Pistons just sank a bucket to give them a great chance to win.

[MultiTroll]

:lol I hope the Pistons were tanking.

Otherwise just pathetic giving up a trey when ahead by 3 with 3 seconds left.

Update! Piston catch and turnaround trey jumper for the win at the buzzer!
Must see TV.

[MultiTroll]

Who is this bench coach on the Warriors?
Always looks serious and constipated.
https://heavy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GettyImages-1453895248-e1673117386280.jpg?quality=65&strip=all&w=780

[lefty]

Warriors doing well without Steph tbqh

[Texas_Ranger]

Dallas without Luka would be the worst team in the G league, no joke.

[MultiTroll]

Durbeta out for at least a month. That's gonna change things for the NYets.

I thought Jimmy Butler kind of rolled on him purposely but, Durbeta needs to be aware of his surroundings and keep moving.

[MultiTroll]

OKC with the super obvious thrown loss.
Anyone see that ending from 1 minute on?

[lefty]

If the Suns chokec’ this :lol

[Texas_Ranger]

Mavericks 4th Qtr scoring tonight vs the Clippers
Luka Doncic 20pts
Frank Ntilikina 3pts

good job building a team Cuban. :)

[horseshue]

Mavericks 4th Qtr scoring tonight vs the Clippers
Luka Doncic 20pts
Frank Ntilikina 3pts

good job building a team Cuban. :)

I liked frank when he came into league. Too bad it was 5 or 6 years ago, and he still plays like a rookie. :lol Still, west are so bad that even kangs are in play off. Mavs most likely will make play off and might even get home court advantage.

[MultiTroll]

7 FTs for the Bucks with Greek Freak and 3 minutes left in the game vs Hawks.

Refs have money on the Hawks?

[MultiTroll]

OKC pounds MN! :wow

Could have a team next year if Stretch recovers from injury.

[MultiTroll]

Jokic kicks ass.
Anyone see the Denver - Twolves game.

Refs most def anti Jokic - Denver.
Great stretch run.

[Chris Fall]

Best, most complete offensive big man (center or PF) in league history. He has no weakness at the offensive end. Scores at all 3 levels efficiently, capable facing up, posting up, and backing down, best passing big man ever, handles the ball like a point guard, plays well both in transition and in half court, still also sets screens for other scorers, moves without the ball, offensive rebounds.

Complete offensive player.

[Texas_Ranger]

Nuggets defeating the Clippers and Indiana with zero problems, without Jokic... Perhaps he is the best player in the league, but he for sure is not the most valuable one. Far from it actually, but the voting rules change every year, so i guess the seeding will once again matter this time.

[MultiTroll]

Ja Morant too showboaty in the clutch tonight on the final shot.

Tries to do the super high degree of difficulty off balance hang in air twist shot put shots.

He's so good at drawing the D, needs to learn how to dish off when he in that Cat in The Air frazzle.

[MultiTroll]

Excellent night.

Kywie Irving punks Steffi Curry in the 4th qtr -again.
OKC wins, ends the Nuggets streak! Another game ahead of Granpa and the Spurs.
Suns beat Grizzlys in some punk on punk violence.

[Arcadian]

:lol lakers...faggots

[Arcadian]

I understand not having a starting center on the All-star teams, but there should definitely be at least one actual frontcourt player. The east is five wing players.

[Chris Fall]

East has two 7 foot starters who play mostly PF in today's league. And Freak plays more like a center than he does a wing anyway. Plays mostly in the paint at both ends, scores at the rim, rebounds, blocks shots. Offensively, he does it unconventionally, facing up and attacking off the dribble. But in this era, his game is kind of similar to David Robinson's, with Shaq like unguardable physicality. He just happens to do it while handling the ball a lot in both open court and half court.

Stylistically, the East starters look a lot like line-ups almost all teams in the league put out these days, at least for stretches, if not start. I'd say the line-up lacks a real playmaking, facilitating point guard more than it lacks frontcourt players.

[Arcadian]

Yes you got fouled Lebron, but could you maybe be a little less dramatic about it? You've been getting the favorable calls your whole life. Learn to take a fucking no call every once in a while.

:lol He literally fell to his knees like he got shot.

[MultiTroll]

Brunson on Knicks is ballin.

Westbrick can really be an asset to a team when he is concentrating on assisting and not his usual stupid shot selection.

[LkrFan]

Brunson on Knicks is ballin.

Westbrick can really be an asset to a team when he is concentrating on assisting and not his usual stupid shot selection.

lol at Marc Cuban and Luka

[LkrFan]

Yes you got fouled Lebron, but could you maybe be a little less dramatic about it? You've been getting the favorable calls your whole life. Learn to take a fucking no call every once in a while.

:lol He literally fell to his knees like he got shot.

Lakers have been on the wrong side of shady refereeing the last 4 games. Their record should be 28-23 by my count.

Bron is smart. He's drawing attention to the refs bias against the Lakers.

Bron is the 2nd most physical player behind Giannis. Yet he gets no calls these last few years.

Look at the Boston game. You mean to tell me Tatum and JB can combine for 23 freebies and the Lakers TEAM only get 20?

And the head referee is a Celtics fan (Lakers fan/investigators found Eric's wife Facebook pics). Super fans of teams should not officiate their games for obvious reasons, but here we are.

BTW: Cs are now 28-2 during games he officiated since 2020.

Go figure son. SMH

[MultiTroll]

SMH Grizzleys have joined the plethera of soft phaggots that is
:lol todays NBA

[MultiTroll]

Fake dynasty is done i hope.

Golden Phaggots lose again. OT to Minn.

[spurraider21]

Fake dynasty is done i hope.

Golden Phaggots lose again. OT to Minn.
4 championships in 8 years is a fake dynasty?

[MultiTroll]

4 championships in 8 years is a fake dynasty?
Quality of chips was crap.
Yes, fake.

[horseshue]

Mavs almost gave up 27 pts lead after luka went down. That team is trash.

[TSA]

Lakers have been on the wrong side of shady refereeing the last 4 games. Their record should be 28-23 by my count.

Bron is smart. He's drawing attention to the refs bias against the Lakers.

Bron is the 2nd most physical player behind Giannis. Yet he gets no calls these last few years.

Look at the Boston game. You mean to tell me Tatum and JB can combine for 23 freebies and the Lakers TEAM only get 20?

And the head referee is a Celtics fan (Lakers fan/investigators found Eric's wife Facebook pics). Super fans of teams should not officiate their games for obvious reasons, but here we are.

BTW: Cs are now 28-2 during games he officiated since 2020.

Go figure son. SMHshut the fuck up you whiny cunt.

https://twitter.com/megalutou/status/1620329424335028226

https://twitter.com/brohrbach/status/1620549432591941632

[MultiTroll]

Best, most complete offensive big man (center or PF) in league history. He has no weakness at the offensive end. Scores at all 3 levels efficiently, capable facing up, posting up, and backing down, best passing big man ever, handles the ball like a point guard, plays well both in transition and in half court, still also sets screens for other scorers, moves without the ball, offensive rebounds.

Complete offensive player.
Showing his versatility by shoving it up the Golden Phaggots ass again tonight.

[MultiTroll]

Tatum is often such a soft selfish player.

No one within the Celts org or team willing to set him straight. Coach looks like a scared Yes Man. Ime pussed out too in the Finals.

Sad because when he plays team ball he is really good.

[lefty]

Tatum is often such a soft selfish player.

No one within the Celts org or team willing to set him straight. Coach looks like a scared Yes Man. Ime pussed out too in the Finals.

Sad because when he plays team ball he is really good.

same shit with Kobe
when he played team ball he was better and so was his team

[Texas_Ranger]

Ja Morant and his gang harassing the Pacers is a nice story... Its clear as day this retard would have been dead already, if he wasn't playing basketball.

[Texas_Ranger]

i really have no idea how Embiid, the giant vagina, gets so many ft's. He flops like a midget and gets awarded by the refs all the time. One of the worst players to watch. This guy would be a nobody if there were any real centers left still playing basketball.

[LkrFan]

Reggie the new TOSB
1622270260899454976

:lol

[MultiTroll]

Reggie the new TOSB
:lol
Not excusing Reggie but is he injured?

Did the hands on knees thing about 3Xs in that clip.

[MultiTroll]

Doubt anyone here follows Utah.
If you do or did for a night, WTF was that last night?

[Robz4000]

Suns officially have a new owner.

[Jeremy]

Suns officially have a new owner.

Robert Sarver is no longer affiliated with the Phoenix Suns. It doesn't even seem real.

[Robz4000]

Robert Sarver is no longer affiliated with the Phoenix Suns. It doesn't even seem real.

Congrats :toast

[gambit1990]

does lebron go for 40+ tonight?

[Robz4000]

How do Laker fans feel about Lebron having the record tbh?

[JamStone]

“Fuck, man. Thank you guys.”

The realest thing LeBron has ever said on a microphone. Usually fake as fuck.

[Arcadian]

They should've done this at the end of the 3rd quarter. :lol It was almost over.

[lefty]

That Kareem sky hook on Eaton looks ordinary now lol

[baseline bum]

Congrats to the King

[Robz4000]

:lol Lakers lose again

Lebron got det record doe !!!!

[Donald Sterling.]

Losing to a lottery team in staples after celebrating Lebron's layup fest :lol

Props to the Thunder for sticking it to them and not going along with the clown show.

Former laker great, Mike Muscala, dropping 16 off the bench to shit on Lebron's big night :lol

[ambchang]

Suns officially have a new owner.

Governor.

[Texas_Ranger]

Shit, return of the snitch.:lmao

The Lakers, Jazz and Timberwolves are in discussions on a three-team deal that would send D’Angelo Russell to the Lakers, Russell Westbrook and draft compensation such as a first-round pick to Utah and Mike Conley Jr. to Minnesota.

Ongoing discussions have included Utah's Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt as part of the potential three-team deal to the Lakers, sources said. Sides are working through pick protections and additional draft compensation too, per sources.

Russell Westbrook is expected to be bought out if he’s traded to Utah, per ChrisBHaynes.

[ambchang]

Why would the wolves want Conley for snitch?

[Ice009]

Who is "snitch"?

[horseshue]

Who is "snitch"?
DLo

[Ice009]

DLo

Thanks. Why is he called that? What did he go? I assume he said something about a teammate that he shouldn't have?

[horseshue]

Thanks. Why is he called that? What did he go? I assume he said something about a teammate that he shouldn't have?

There was a beef between him and nick young. Google it. That was the reason he was traded from lakers years ago.

[Chris Fall]

Lol DLo taped Nick Young bragging about fucking groupies when he was engaged to Iggy Azalea. Then the video got "leaked" and obviously got back to Iggy. He did that dude so dirty.

[lefty]

lol

https://twitter.com/shamscharania/status/1624204720620605443

[Robz4000]

:lol Zion out another month after reinjuring his hamstring

[lefty]

:lol Luka not letting Kyrie shoot the game tying 3 smh

[MultiTroll]

:lol Zion out another month after reinjuring his hamstring
Lot of people called his fat ass out.

He don't care. He's gonna burger and shake no matter.

[MultiTroll]

MavFag posters.

Wow, what a sad ending. Between Kyrie and Luka they overshare and don't even get a shot off.

I blame Luka more. Kyrie set him up with that bounce pass. Luka was still guilting about last night and overpassed it back.

[djohn2oo8]

MavFag posters.

Wow, what a sad ending. Between Kyrie and Luka they overshare and don't even get a shot off.

I blame Luka more. Kyrie set him up with that bounce pass. Luka was still guilting about last night and overpassed it back.
Beyond that. Luka still plays no defense.

[Pero]

Beyond that. Luka still plays no defense.

If he's focused and tries he's not too bad actually. He's way better than he was in the first two years. Problem is he often just doesn't even try. Would love to see a stat on how many threes were made by the guy he's supposed to be guarding because he just left him alone. Happened multiple times every single game I watched. Often even just stays close to the baskets and looks. It's pretty infuriating.

[JamStone]

Individual man defense is really hard to play well in today’s game. Not just because you can’t handcheck. With all the three point shooting, help defense in general has really suffered. With very few exceptions, teams don’t just have that big center camping in the lane to block and alter shots anymore. That’s why we don’t really see guys average 4-5 blocks a game like Dikembe or Eaton. A center has to be mobile enough not only to play up on the PNR, but play solid perimeter defense all the way out to the three point line.

When fans criticize certain players for being bad on defense, I take it with a grain of salt. There are very few players in the game that are very good individual man defenders. Very, very few. The game doesn’t reward it. You can play perfect man defense and the shooting has gotten so good, you not only get scored on, but it’s often three points instead of a tough, contested two. And you have to play up on the three point line because of that, and one really good dribble move, pump fake, hesitation, and pretty much you’re cooked, even the best defenders. Sometimes it’s better to just let a guy dribble past you so you can try to poke the ball from behind or try to block the floater or lay-up from behind, which isn’t exactly conventional good defense.

Today, you put the effort in to play defense and you recover to contest the three point shot, and you’ve done your job. Criticizing a defender for getting scored on in the PNR or someone driving right by them after a shot fake, I think it’s gotten to a point of nitpicking man defense. Today, I think it’s more important that a player plays good team defense. Plays his man initially, talks with his teammates and switches aggressively, and recovers to contests the three point line. Everyone shoots threes and you don’t have help defense in the paint anymore.

[lefty]

Handchecking does jack and shit against skilled players

Centers weren’t « camping » in the paint, it was illegal.
Most of their blockshots were against other big men.

[JamStone]

Fair enough on handchecking. But not being able to handcheck at all on the perimeter isn’t easier than being able to. How much it helps is debatable. Not being able to handcheck making it more difficult to guard isn’t.

Camping in the paint is illegal when you’re not guarding anyone. Back then, majority of bigs stuck around the midpost or low block on offense. Their defenders could stay in and around the paint and not be illegally camping. And also had shorter distances to help defend. That’s the difference now. Bigs play offense all the way out to the three point line now. Harder to camp when the guy they’re guarding is out at the three point line. Harder to provide help defense running in from the three point line. That’s the whole point of big men who can shoot the three.

[MultiTroll]

:lmao Budovich doing the tired, lame loser strategy of

:pop:"We don't do that over here."

Ahead by 3, playing D off the inbounds with 5 seconds to go. Did not foul, rather gave up the game tying 3.

[Robz4000]

Derrick White went back to 2019 tonight tbh.

[MultiTroll]

Derrick White went back to 2019 tonight tbh.
Feet look really good. Must be getting some good med care.

Letting himself get pick pocketed at the end tho. :nope

[MultiTroll]

Watching the shit stain Warriors lose will never get old.
Klanus n Kerr whining about fouls they've become so entitled to.

You can say what you want about Nephew, at least he helped put a dent in that farce org.

[MultiTroll]

Clicked on the JokeStar game for a few minutes. :lol

I know the idea is play no d and keep everyone safe, but these Soy Bois are taking it to new levels.

OTOH Jason Tatum giving 100% maximum effort. Faggot, wish someone would floor him.

[baseline bum]

God the All-Star game is such a joke. Taking turns passing alley oops to yourself off the glass, taking turns jacking up 50 footers, no one even moves on defense. This is really sad seeing the All-Star game turned into the Pro Bowl.

[lefty]

God the All-Star game is such a joke. Taking turns passing alley oops to yourself off the glass, taking turns jacking up 50 footers, no one even moves on defense. This is really sad seeing the All-Star game turned into the Pro Bowl.
Never liked ASGs tbh, even the “competitive” ones
ASGs are pointless

[baseline bum]

Never liked ASGs tbh, even the “competitive” ones
ASGs are pointless

Used to love them in the early 2000s to see Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant playing together. They were always good in the 80s and 90s too when they'd actually try to play to win in the fourth quarter.

[ambchang]

:lol Playing starters big minutes to stat pad
:lol A game so lacking in any type of effort the play by play announcers were struggling to find anything positive to say
:lol Some 2-way player with no teeth destroying the slam dunk contest when he literally was just signed up to be a bench warmer
:lol 184-175 so it must mean the league is so great with these ultra skilled players because .... look at the score!
:lol Jacking up a million 3 pters and missing a billion of them
:lol half the field goals are 3 pters, and the players can't even hit them at a decent clip even though they are literally practice level shots
:lol today's NBA

[lefty]

:lol Playing starters big minutes to stat pad
:lol A game so lacking in any type of effort the play by play announcers were struggling to find anything positive to say
:lol Some 2-way player with no teeth destroying the slam dunk contest when he literally was just signed up to be a bench warmer
:lol 184-175 so it must mean the league is so great with these ultra skilled players because .... look at the score!
:lol Jacking up a million 3 pters and missing a billion of them
:lol half the field goals are 3 pters, and the players can't even hit them at a decent clip even though they are literally practice level shots
:lol today's NBA

Can’t blame the players tbh
The ASG is a fucking waste oc time, why would they pur any effort in it?
Beesides this game is for pure entertainment
If anything , yesterday’s NBA players were stupid to compete in that exhibition game

The dunk contest winner was great though, stop hating

[ambchang]

Can’t blame the players tbh
The ASG is a fucking waste oc time, why would they pur any effort in it?
Beesides this game is for pure entertainment
If anything , yesterday’s NBA players were stupid to compete in that exhibition game

The dunk contest winner was great though, stop hating

No drive and pride in :lol todays nba.

All buddy buddies now

Some g leaguer better in the ultimate display of athleticism when :lol todays nba fans main argument is that :lol todays nba is so much better because they are so athletic.

[lefty]

No drive and pride in :lol todays nba.

All buddy buddies now

Some g leaguer better in the ultimate display of athleticism when :lol todays nba fans main argument is that :lol todays nba is so much better because they are so athletic.
They were all buddy buddies back in the days, there was no social media

Demar DeJordan played golf with his opponents in the middle of playoffs/Finals series :lol, Magic would hang out with Zeke, Aguirre, Salley during the Finals.

As for the dunk contest, scrub Dee Brown won one

Also, the last time the All Star Weekend was in Salt Lake City, Harold Miner won the dunk contest

Mmmm… I wonder what happened to him


:lol yesterday’s NBA

[TDfan2007]

Can’t blame the players tbh
The ASG is a fucking waste oc time, why would they pur any effort in it?
Beesides this game is for pure entertainment
If anything , yesterday’s NBA players were stupid to compete in that exhibition game

The dunk contest winner was great though, stop hating

Stop. There’s a difference between dialing it back and just letting guys waltz into the lane. Nobody wants to watch uncontested layups, flush dunks, and terrible 3s. There’s nothing impressive or fun about watching a professional player do any of those things.

Honestly, it’s on the players to bring that competitive edge. This year it was clear that guys were only trying to chuck their way to MVP. Nobody even bothered in the fourth quarter, which was a new low lol

[lefty]

Stop. There’s a difference between dialing it back and just letting guys waltz into the lane. Nobody wants to watch uncontested layups, flush dunks, and terrible 3s. There’s nothing impressive or fun about watching a professional player do any of those things.

Honestly, it’s on the players to bring that competitive edge. This year it was clear that guys were only trying to chuck their way to MVP. Nobody even bothered in the fourth quarter, which was a new low lol


Well, a lot of people are stupid enough to keep watching / buying tickets for this glorified exhibition crap :lol; those particular fan seem to enjoy it tbh

As long as the NBA i making money off of it, nothing is going to change

And who gives a shit about being competitive in a non competitive event lol

[FrostKing]

Used to love them in the early 2000s to see Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant playing together. They were always good in the 80s and 90s too when they'd actually try to play to win in the fourth quarter.
Too much player movement today - from one Conference to the other and back again. In the past there was pride in proving your Conference was superior.

[TDfan2007]

Handchecking does jack and shit against skilled players

Centers weren’t « camping » in the paint, it was illegal.
Most of their blockshots were against other big men.

If you’ve played basketball, you should know that it’s much much harder to score on a guy when he’s riding you with his arms or putting his hands on you vs having to just move their feet perfectly.

To Jam’s point, ball handling and pull-up 3 point shooting are better than ever now. So you combine that with the fact that you can’t touch anyone and throw them off of their rhythm, and this is what you get.

As with most things, the answer for why scouring has increased is somewhere between the bitter old heads and the new NBA apologists.

[TDfan2007]

Well, a lot of people are stupid enough to keep watching / buying tickets for this glorified exhibition crap :lol; those particular fan seem to enjoy it tbh

As long as the NBA i making money off of it, nothing is going to change

And who gives a shit about being competitive in a non competitive event lol

Agreed. Still annoying though as a fan. You almost never get to see this many great players compete against each other, which is part of what made the asg cool in the past, particularly in the early-mid 2000s.

My main issue is that if you won’t compete, at least do something cool lol. These guys are out here doing simple layups, flush dunks, and jacked up 3s -_-

[lefty]

If you’ve played basketball, you should know that it’s much much harder to score on a guy when he’s riding you with his arms or putting his hands on you vs having to just move their feet perfectly.

To Jam’s point, ball handling and pull-up 3 point shooting are better than ever now. So you combine that with the fact that you can’t touch anyone and throw them off of their rhythm, and this is what you get.

As with most things, the answer for why scouring has increased is somewhere between the bitter old heads and the new NBA apologists.

no it’s not harder

Unless you’re unskilled like those scrubs from the 90s


Handchecking doesn’t affect great players


Besides it was illegal, Derek Harper was called for handchecking many times by the refs
And of course anyone who dared handcheck jordan

[ambchang]

They were all buddy buddies back in the days, there was no social media

Demar DeJordan played golf with his opponents in the middle of playoffs/Finals series :lol, Magic would hang out with Zeke, Aguirre, Salley during the Finals.

As for the dunk contest, scrub Dee Brown won one

Also, the last time the All Star Weekend was in Salt Lake City, Harold Miner won the dunk contest

Mmmm… I wonder what happened to him


:lol yesterday’s NBA

Jordan was notorious for faking friendships and then ripping their hearts out

Magic and isiah became bitter enemies.

Dee brown and Harold minor actually played for the league for more than 2 days and further proved the point that athleticism does not equal basketball skills. So thank you very much.

[lefty]

:lol oh yeah sure for them it was « competitive edge, killer instinct »

If Lebron was golfing with Draymond during the Finals you wouldn’t hear the end of it : lol

the reason Magic and Zeke were at odds was because Magic thiught Zeke asked around if he was gay, a rumour that started with Magic’s agent. Agents didn’t like Zeke who was the players association President and they were losing money because of him, it had nothing to do with the Finals, and Magic being the gullible sensitive faggot he is , ran with it

Brown snd Miner were scrubs in a watered down NBA :lol

[Dirks_Finale]

no it’s not harder

Unless you’re unskilled like those scrubs from the 90s


Handchecking doesn’t affect great players


Besides it was illegal, Derek Harper was called for handchecking many times by the refs
And of course anyone who dared handcheck jordan

It's like you didn't even watch any of those Detroit series :lol

They literally beat the hell out of him on a regular basis.

[lefty]

It's like you didn't even watch any of those Detroit series :lol

They literally beat the hell out of him on a regular basis.
But I thought Jordan wax tough and survived the physical era
ckearky he didn’t

[Donald Sterling.]

Competitive all star games died with Kobe. That and when they stopped sorting teams by conference. The sense of pride that comes with your conference being the best.

Flashback to 2013, posters on here labeled Kobe a try hard, for playing full court defense on Lebron and blocking a couple of his shots in the all star game.

At least Kobe tried and made it look competitive.

Now those same posters are mad, because the all star game turned into their local sunday ymca game between divorced dads :lol

[ambchang]

:lol oh yeah sure for them it was « competitive edge, killer instinct »

If Lebron was golfing with Draymond during the Finals you wouldn’t hear the end of it : lol

the reason Magic and Zeke were at odds was because Magic thiught Zeke asked around if he was gay, a rumour that started with Magic’s agent. Agents didn’t like Zeke who was the players association President and they were losing money because of him, it had nothing to do with the Finals, and Magic being the gullible sensitive faggot he is , ran with it

Brown snd Miner were scrubs in a watered down NBA :lol

I don’t care about what they do off the court. It’s their live and they can live however they want. The issue is that buddy buddy system is leaking onto the court, not just in individual cases, but throughout. Lebron can go golf with green all he wants as long as he wants to tear him a new one on the court. We saw that and that’s why the 2015 finals was great.

Durant harden Simmons Irving Et al don’t seem to care anymore. It’s really odd. They have a brand to protect and it’s seeping onto the court.

Minor and brown weren’t good, they were athletic. Which is the point.

Finally, 100% agree magic is a moron with a fragile ego. Still my favourite non spurs player though. So fun to watch him do no look passes past guards half a foot shorter than him.

[ambchang]

Competitive all star games died with Kobe. That and when they stopped sorting teams by conference. The sense of pride that comes with your conference being the best.

Flashback to 2013, posters on here labeled Kobe a try hard, for playing full court defense on Lebron and blocking a couple of his shots in the all star game.

At least Kobe tried and made it look competitive.

Now those same posters are mad, because the all star game turned into their local sunday ymca game between divorced dads :lol

We play better d in the local Y.

[Brazil]

Competitive all star games died with Kobe. That and when they stopped sorting teams by conference. The sense of pride that comes with your conference being the best.

Flashback to 2013, posters on here labeled Kobe a try hard, for playing full court defense on Lebron and blocking a couple of his shots in the all star game.

At least Kobe tried and made it look competitive.

Now those same posters are mad, because the all star game turned into their local sunday ymca game between divorced dads :lol


+1... not sure why they gave up sorting players by conference.. players certainly don't give a shit to see team lebron win, they had at least a bit of competitive spirit playing for their conferences. Dat draft stuff is pathetic.

yesterday's asg > today's asg tbh fwiw...

[TDfan2007]

no it’s not harder

Unless you’re unskilled like those scrubs from the 90s


Handchecking doesn’t affect great players


Besides it was illegal, Derek Harper was called for handchecking many times by the refs
And of course anyone who dared handcheck jordan

Okay now I know you’re trolling lol.

[lefty20]

1628158469915430912

[MultiTroll]

^ Greg Pop told Timmy Duncs the players really run the league.

It's becoming more and more obvious.

[NASpurs]

The Clippers/ Kings game is nuts. Both teams about to score 170+ each.

[Killakobe81]

The Clippers/ Kings game is nuts. Both teams about to score 170+ each.

Kawhi plays 46 mins in a loss and his knee will be sore …

[horseshue]

That game must be some king of scoring record.

[ambchang]

I think det den at 186-184 or something like that is still the record but I think that went 3OT

[lefty]

:wow the 76ers-Celtics game, WTF

[Chris Fall]

Trying to think of a player comparison for Embiid, and Spurs fan might not like it, but I thought of David Robinson. Clearly, a dominant individual player, MVP caliber production, uniquely gifted center. But it may just be reality that he'd be better served as a star complementary player to a better franchise star if he wants ultimate team success. Not a role player, just not the guy the team is built around.

[lefty]

Trying to think of a player comparison for Embiid, and Spurs fan might not like it, but I thought of David Robinson. Clearly, a dominant individual player, MVP caliber production, uniquely gifted center. But it may just be reality that he'd be better served as a star complementary player to a better franchise star if he wants ultimate team success. Not a role player, just not the guy the team is built around.

Robinson’s teams were never good enough to challenge for a title
The best team he had before the Duncan was probably 1990 but Strickland had a terrible turnover at the end of game 7 vs Portland by trying an ill advised no look pass
But ownership was cheap and the team got worse overtime

You don’t win a title with AJ and Del Negro as your starting backcourt

[TD 21]

Trying to think of a player comparison for Embiid, and Spurs fan might not like it, but I thought of David Robinson. Clearly, a dominant individual player, MVP caliber production, uniquely gifted center. But it may just be reality that he'd be better served as a star complementary player to a better franchise star if he wants ultimate team success. Not a role player, just not the guy the team is built around.

Nah, Embiid's superior post game, handle and versatile shot making make him an offensive hub of the highest order (Robinson was clearly a superior defensive anchor though).

I have zero question that Jokic and him can be the go-to guy on a championship team, they just need a legitimate chance and this season is shaping up to be their first.

[MultiTroll]

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA17Wqgf.img?w=534&h=299&m=6&x=660&y=100&s=93&d=93
Out of action Sunday for any of you sports betters.

[lefty]

Nah, Embiid's superior post game, handle and versatile shot making make him an offensive hub of the highest order (Robinson was clearly a superior defensive anchor though).

I have zero question that Jokic and him can be the go-to guy on a championship team, they just need a legitimate chance and this season is shaping up to be their first.

But can Joel trust Harden in the playoffs?

[TD 21]

But can Joel trust Harden in the playoffs?

Or his own durability (lack thereof)?

[MultiTroll]

But can Joel trust Harden in the playoffs?
No.
Zero'd in on Hardens defense in yesterdays choke to the Celtics.

Moar pathetic effort. Too many greasy strip clulb chicken wings n frys.

[Killakobe81]

Nah, Embiid's superior post game, handle and versatile shot making make him an offensive hub of the highest order (Robinson was clearly a superior defensive anchor though).

I have zero question that Jokic and him can be the go-to guy on a championship team, they just need a legitimate chance and this season is shaping up to be their first.

Tough to win a title with a injured Murray or mentally weak porter jr as your #2 and #3
Pre 2011 Dirk is probably closest comp as a situation but I’d rather have that 2011 team around Jokic than this one …
But I could be wrong

[TD 21]

Tough to win a title with a injured Murray or mentally weak porter jr as your #2 and #3
Pre 2011 Dirk is probably closest comp as a situation but I’d rather have that 2011 team around Jokic than this one …
But I could be wrong

Agreed. If/when the Nuggets don't win a championship this season, Jokic will get killed by many of the talking heads and casuals, despite him not having a second star.

[ambchang]

:lol two 70 point games in one season
:lol both by these inefficient chuckers
:lol both by some b grade star
:lol 22 3PA
:lol skillz
:lol advanced defensive schemes
:lol todays nba

[lefty]

:lol two 70 point games in one season
:lol both by these inefficient chuckers
:lol both by some b grade star
:lol 22 3PA
:lol skillz
:lol advanced defensive schemes
:lol todays nba
:lol Mitchell ans Dame would have won multiple MVP awards and scoring titles in the 80s-90s
:lol calling people inefficient when Dame had a very efficient 70 pts
:lol yesterday’s NBA

[Chris Fall]

Robinson’s teams were never good enough to challenge for a title
The best team he had before the Duncan was probably 1990 but Strickland had a terrible turnover at the end of game 7 vs Portland by trying an ill advised no look pass
But ownership was cheap and the team got worse overtime

You don’t win a title with AJ and Del Negro as your starting backcourt

Problem is that with David as the franchise guy, they lost multiple times in the playoffs to lower seeds. Maybe you don't win titles with a Johnson-Del Negro backcourt. But without Timmay, David led the Spurs out of the second round I believe once in six tries. Lost in the first round three times. That's an indictment on him as the franchise star, just like the criticisms of guys like Dominique and T-Mac not getting out of the first round. Similar to criticisms of Jokic now, until he makes multiple deep runs in the post season and wins a title. He's got time to change that criticism




Nah, Embiid's superior post game, handle and versatile shot making make him an offensive hub of the highest order (Robinson was clearly a superior defensive anchor though).

I have zero question that Jokic and him can be the go-to guy on a championship team, they just need a legitimate chance and this season is shaping up to be their first.

I wasn't comparing their actual basketball games and skill sets. It was more of a general comparison of two great, individual centers who put up MVP caliber production but who could not lead their teams to better post season success. And two guys who may best be used as a #2 instead of the #1 guy. And while I'm a Joker fan, you can put him in the same conversation until he proves it as well. It's not a skills or individual production thing. It's a question about whether they are the types who can do all the other things, from leadership to mental toughness and clutchness and other intangibles, to lead their teams to titles.

That was the point of my comparison.

[ambchang]

:lol Mitchell ans Dame would have won multiple MVP awards and scoring titles in the 80s-90s
:lol calling people inefficient when Dame had a very efficient 70 pts
:lol yesterday’s NBA

:lol 44% career FG% shooter "efficient"
:lol inflated true shooting %s because players cannot be guarded anymore
:lol advanced defensive schemes giving up wide open threes and layups over and over again
:lol thinking some schlo leading his team to missing playoffs and 1st round exits would even be a serious consideration as an MVP, let alone win multiples
:lol two 70pt games by two different players in the same season, has not happened, ever.

[ambchang]

Problem is that with David as the franchise guy, they lost multiple times in the playoffs to lower seeds. Maybe you don't win titles with a Johnson-Del Negro backcourt. But without Timmay, David led the Spurs out of the second round I believe once in six tries. Lost in the first round three times. That's an indictment on him as the franchise star, just like the criticisms of guys like Dominique and T-Mac not getting out of the first round. Similar to criticisms of Jokic now, until he makes multiple deep runs in the post season and wins a title. He's got time to change that criticism





I wasn't comparing their actual basketball games and skill sets. It was more of a general comparison of two great, individual centers who put up MVP caliber production but who could not lead their teams to better post season success. And two guys who may best be used as a #2 instead of the #1 guy. And while I'm a Joker fan, you can put him in the same conversation until he proves it as well. It's not a skills or individual production thing. It's a question about whether they are the types who can do all the other things, from leadership to mental toughness and clutchness and other intangibles, to lead their teams to titles.

That was the point of my comparison.

Jokic and Robinson were penalized for overachieving in the regular season. Those teams were horribly flawed and easily exploited in the playoffs.

[Chris Fall]

Jokic and Robinson were penalized for overachieving in the regular season. Those teams were horribly flawed and easily exploited in the playoffs.

Joker and the Nuggz the last three post seasons lost to two eventual NBA champs and the other went to the NBA Finals.

Pre Duncan, Robinson's Spurs lost four times in six years to lower seeds with worse records. Only the Hakeem Rockets out of the four became eventual champs. One other got to the Finals. But I think it does offer some context on the difference between the post season failures.

Look, both can be criticized. I am being more harsh on Robinson because I think it's warranted. Joker deserves criticism too. Won't deny it. I think his playoff failures in totality are more understandable. And his story isn't finished. D-Rob's is.

[ambchang]

Joker and the Nuggz the last three post seasons lost to two eventual NBA champs and the other went to the NBA Finals.

Pre Duncan, Robinson's Spurs lost four times in six years to lower seeds with worse records. Only the Hakeem Rockets out of the four became eventual champs. One other got to the Finals. But I think it does offer some context on the difference between the post season failures.

Look, both can be criticized. I am being more harsh on Robinson because I think it's warranted. Joker deserves criticism too. Won't deny it. I think his playoff failures in totality are more understandable. And his story isn't finished. D-Rob's is.

Fair point. But mine was more about both of them dragging their teams to regular season records they shouldn’t have had to begin with because those were just some badly constructed teams.

Regular season games were much less prepared for as scouting reports often have to get ready for multiple teams over the course of a short period of time whereas in the playoffs you are playing the same team for more than a week with ample prep times in between games.

If there is a weakness to exploit, the other team will blow it wide open. The spurs didn’t have a weakness, they had multiple. The backcourt isn’t starter quality, even for bad teams so forget about a contender. AJ was cut multiple times by multiple teams. Deal Negro had his best seasons on the spurs and his production wasn’t even 8th man level stuff. PF was either an injured Cummings, person with a broken back, jr reid, Antoine Carr or a totally checked out rodman. The spurs were deeply flawed and were lucky to win 45 games a season. Yet they were winning 50 to 55 games every year with robinson leading them in scoring, rebounding, blocks, steals and assists.

Stopping the spurs were simply double and triple teaming robinson and let the other guys beat you. Robinson deserved the blame for never developing a game that would allow him to score consistently over these double and triple teams to a degree but I’d argue that’s an unreasonable request.

Nowitzki had the same problem until 2011.

[MultiTroll]

Problem is that with David as the franchise guy, they lost multiple times in the playoffs to lower seeds. Maybe you don't win titles with a Johnson-Del Negro backcourt. But without Timmay, David led the Spurs out of the second round I believe once in six tries. Lost in the first round three times. That's an indictment on him as the franchise

Fairness to Robinson you had Greg Popplevich forcing Timmy Dunks to play with a starting lineup of Washed Finley, Roger Mason and Pet Matty Bonner. Got ousted in 2009 Round 1 4 games to 1.

[Dirks_Finale]

:lol two 70 point games in one season
:lol both by these inefficient chuckers
:lol both by some b grade star
:lol 22 3PA
:lol skillz
:lol advanced defensive schemes
:lol todays nba

:lol

[lefty]

:lol 44% career FG% shooter "efficient"
:lol inflated true shooting %s because players cannot be guarded anymore
:lol advanced defensive schemes giving up wide open threes and layups over and over again
:lol thinking some schlo leading his team to missing playoffs and 1st round exits would even be a serious consideration as an MVP, let alone win multiples
:lol two 70pt games by two different players in the same season, has not happened, ever.

ok by yout logic big scoring games in the 80s /90s were inflated compared to the previous eras

:lol Michael Jordan, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Michael Adams, Wilkins etc are stat padding chuckers, it’s easier for them to sccore now compared to the 60s

:lol back in the 60s , ypu had to earn your 650 pts….those 80s/90s kids would be lucky to score 30 in the Bill Russell era

:lol rule changes have made it easier for Jordan & Co to score


The game evolves, players get better, the league more talented from top to bottom than it has ever been, but I don’t expect you to understand that :lol

[Hank Scorpio]

:lol two 70 point games in one season
:lol both by these inefficient chuckers
:lol both by some b grade star
:lol 22 3PA
:lol skillz
:lol advanced defensive schemes
:lol todays nba

:lol:lmao

[ambchang]

ok by yout logic big scoring games in the 80s /90s were inflated compared to the previous eras

:lol Michael Jordan, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Michael Adams, Wilkins etc are stat padding chuckers, it’s easier for them to sccore now compared to the 60s

:lol back in the 60s , ypu had to earn your 650 pts….those 80s/90s kids would be lucky to score 30 in the Bill Russell era

:lol rule changes have made it easier for Jordan & Co to score


The game evolves, players get better, the league more talented from top to bottom than it has ever been, but I don’t expect you to understand that :lol

80s stats were no doubt inflated.

60s stats were inefficient chucking.

90s stats were thug ball plus jordan special rules.

70s stats were coked out.

I still say mid late 00s to mid 10s ball was the best.

And grew up watching 80s ball.

[Dirks_Finale]

They are soft today. Load management BS :lol

Other generations were playing in shoes with no support; sometimes playing back-to-back-to-back and even flying coach.:lol These guys today have all these tools available to them that other generations did not, yet they cant play in back to backs and still manage to fall apart physically, regardless.

You cant touch anybody now. Every time someone falls down they have to go look at the replay for 5 minutes.

The game has evolved and players are learning all the tricks from yesteryear, but they are still soft as Charmin and everyone is bombing away from 3. The only time i find this sh1t the least bit entertaining is the postseason be cause there is finally some chippyness and physicality invovled.

But I'm genuinely happy for you that you enjoy watching these scrimmages. :tu



ok by yout logic big scoring games in the 80s /90s were inflated compared to the previous eras

:lol Michael Jordan, Alex English, Adrian Dantley, Michael Adams, Wilkins etc are stat padding chuckers, it’s easier for them to sccore now compared to the 60s

:lol back in the 60s , ypu had to earn your 650 pts….those 80s/90s kids would be lucky to score 30 in the Bill Russell era

:lol rule changes have made it easier for Jordan & Co to score


The game evolves, players get better, the league more talented from top to bottom than it has ever been, but I don’t expect you to understand that :lol

[FrostKing]

^ No surprise why the Euros are so successful in today's NBA. Have they toughed up compared to the earlier generations - to an extent. But even more so the American has weakened. For numerous reasons culturally, socially and financially.

Humans are a byproduct of their surroundings. I don't think it's something genetic. Hard life creates hardened men. Soft life shapes soft men. There are exceptions but for the most part today's player is pampered from a young age.

The average casual fan of the NBA is more likely to click on a game today than watching the physical thuggery of the past and that's the bottomline for the NBA. Also to my earlier point it's easier for International players to make the jump.

[lefty]

80s stats were no doubt inflated.

60s stats were inefficient chucking.

90s stats were thug ball plus jordan special rules.

70s stats were coked out.

I still say mid late 00s to mid 10s ball was the best.

And grew up watching 80s ball.



Yeah late 00’s to 10’s was the best defensive era imo

Also the Western Conference was a bloodbath during that era :wow

In another era Spurs would have 4peated tbh…. Mavs, Grizzlies, Suns, Rockets, Hornets, Lakers, OKC

Holy shit

[TDfan2007]

Yeah late 00’s to 10’s was the best defensive era imo

Also the Western Conference was a bloodbath during that era :wow

In another era Spurs would have 4peated tbh…. Mavs, Grizzlies, Suns, Rockets, Hornets, Lakers, OKC

Holy shit

I’m obviously biased, but yeah that was the best era of basketball imo. So many teams had a chance to win it year in and year out. You had physical defense, dynamic perimeter players, some of the best PFs of all time at their peaks. Man…what a time.

But I will say, if the NBA cleans up defense and continues to clean up the insanely offense-biased officiating, this new era will be amazing too. Talent is better than ever from top to bottom, and there’sa lot of parity on the league right now.

[TD 21]

I wasn't comparing their actual basketball games and skill sets. It was more of a general comparison of two great, individual centers who put up MVP caliber production but who could not lead their teams to better post season success. And two guys who may best be used as a #2 instead of the #1 guy. And while I'm a Joker fan, you can put him in the same conversation until he proves it as well. It's not a skills or individual production thing. It's a question about whether they are the types who can do all the other things, from leadership to mental toughness and clutchness and other intangibles, to lead their teams to titles.

That was the point of my comparison.

I know. I just don't think that's true in Embiid's case because of his more versatile offensive skillset. I don't think they've had a legitimate championship contender yet. The same goes for Jokic.

[lefty20]

Clips now 0-3 to start the Russ era despite the fact that he's been playing reasonably well, by his paltry standards.

It will be interesting to see what happens when he cools off.

[FrostKing]

^ 0-4

Complete free fall in NBA standards

[Killakobe81]

^ 0-4

Complete free fall in NBA standards

Russ isn’t playing horribly but clippers lack guts/fortitude.
For a team with elite wing defense when a good team goes on a run they fold.

[Texas_Ranger]

westbrook last 14 games as a starter 14 loses. :lol

[horseshue]

westbrook last 14 games as a starter 14 loses. :lol

Ultimate tank commander!!! :lol

[MultiTroll]

westbrook last 14 games as a starter 14 loses. :lol


Ultimate tank commander!!! :lol
Wow maybe Spurs should have worked a trade for Bricky.

:lol Gaymond blabbing to the media that the Dubs strategy was to extremely sag off of Brick.

[Monostradamus]

1631767676652765184

[lefty20]

And that's 0-5 for the Clips now in Russ era. And bro is still playing some really solid ball, by his standards.

[ambchang]

Russell, even at this age, still pops out athletically even against other nba players. His burst is just incredible where his defender will give him 10 feet of room and he’d still blow by them. But he’s just incredibly bad at actually playing the game. He really should’ve been a track star.

[Texas_Ranger]

Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant was seen on his own instagram live displaying a gun while at a nightclub early Saturday morning.


Is this guy the dumbest player in the NBA?

[FrostKing]

Read his recent drama yesterday

Guess Ja is a gigantic wannabe ghetto shit

Bullying 9 to 5 kids

[lefty]

The Suns big 3 looked really good vs Chicago yesterday

[Chris Fall]

Read his recent drama yesterday

Guess Ja is a gigantic wannabe ghetto shit

Bullying 9 to 5 kids

If accounts are true, I get the feeling he's not wannabe at all. I think he's true life gangsta. You get pissed off at a teenager over pick-up ball to the point of bringing out your gun and beating him up. You have your "people" threaten a mall security guard over a perceived disrespect to your mom. You livestream yourself at a club waving a gun in your hand. Doing those things like he don't give a fuck that he's rich or famous or has first world responsibilities now. It's not actual murder or assault or robbery, but feels like real gangsta attitude to me, not fake shit.

I think he's living his real gangsta life. I mean it's beyond dumb shit for him to do. And I don't really get it. I just don't think it's wannabe shit.

[Mark Celibate]

If accounts are true, I get the feeling he's not wannabe at all. I think he's true life gangsta. You get pissed off at a teenager over pick-up ball to the point of bringing out your gun and beating him up. You have your "people" threaten a mall security guard over a perceived disrespect to your mom. You livestream yourself at a club waving a gun in your hand. Doing those things like he don't give a fuck that he's rich or famous or has first world responsibilities now. It's not actual murder or assault or robbery, but feels like real gangsta attitude to me, not fake shit.

I think he's living his real gangsta life. I mean it's beyond dumb shit for him to do. And I don't really get it. I just don't think it's wannabe shit.

I don't think he's a true life gangsta, but more he's become friends with leeches who really are from the streets now that he's a premier superstar in the NBA. You didn't hear a whole lot about him "ooga" and "booga"ing his first few years. IMO, it's going to take a "Ray Lewis" type situation where some sh!t really does go down and he gets scared straight

[Chris Fall]

I don't think he's a true life gangsta, but more he's become friends with leeches who really are from the streets now that he's a premier superstar in the NBA. You didn't hear a whole lot about him "ooga" and "booga"ing his first few years. IMO, it's going to take a "Ray Lewis" type situation where some sh!t really does go down and he gets scared straight

I'm not saying he's committed crimes before or rolls deep with gangs. I'm saying I don't think he's faking. There are guys who talk tough but won't do shit. I think Ja waving his gun around or punching out a kid over pickup is who he actually is. Now would he actually shoot someone? That I have no idea. But I don't he's just talking mess out his mouth. I think if someone really try to push him, shit will actually go down. That's why I say I think he's true gangsta. Not because I think he actually has shot people or run drugs on the streets.

[Killakobe81]

I'm not saying he's committed crimes before or rolls deep with gangs. I'm saying I don't think he's faking. There are guys who talk tough but won't do shit. I think Ja waving his gun around or punching out a kid over pickup is who he actually is. Now would he actually shoot someone? That I have no idea. But I don't he's just talking mess out his mouth. I think if someone really try to push him, shit will actually go down. That's why I say I think he's true gangsta. Not because I think he actually has shot people or run drugs on the streets.

I’m with Jam on this one …
I think everyone wants to blame his posse, crew clique or whatever the term folks using nowadays…
But some of this like the IG thing and beating that kid is on him alone and he needs to be accountable for it not his friends.
I love Ja as a player I was one of the few on here that argued to take him over Zion partly due to injuries and I was right so far … but outside of injury Zion been a model citizen and they both played on same AAU team in SC
Sad story maybe this sets him straight but if Jam is right it’s possible nothing will change long term

[baseline bum]

ROFL Durant turning his ankle in warmups tonight and missing the game. :lol

[lefty]

ROFL Durant turning his ankle in warmups tonight and missing the game. :lol
Well, fuck....

Not a fan of the Suns or KD, but I want every top WC team to be fully healthy come playoff time because fuck the Warriors

KD, Booker and CP3 have great chemistry tbh

If Suns meet GSW in the 1st round and KD is missing because he slipped during warmups... :lol :pctoss

[baseline bum]

Well, fuck....

Not a fan of the Suns or KD, but I want every top WC team to be fully healthy come playoff time because fuck the Warriors

KD, Booker and CP3 have great chemistry tbh

If Suns meet GSW in the 1st round and KD is missing because he slipped during warmups... :lol :pctoss

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2023/03/08/kevin-durant-could-miss-remainder-of-regular-season-with-ankle-sprain/69988033007/
Suns forward Kevin Durant could miss the rest of the regular season with ankle sprain
Greg Moore
Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant left Footprint Center in a large walking boot Wednesday night after injuring himself during warmups.

The Suns defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-101 without Durant, but the absence of their newly acquired superstar created a cloud of concern with the playoffs looming.

The Arizona Republic has learned that there is concern within the organization that Durant has a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks.

Phoenix’s regular season finale is April 9, meaning it’s possible Durant could miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the playoffs.

Durant has played only three games with Phoenix since arriving with the team in a trade with Brooklyn on Feb. 9. The Suns are 3-0 with Durant in the lineup. He had been expected to make his home debut on Wednesday.

Durant returned on March 1 from a knee injury suffered in early January that caused him to miss 20 games.

The ankle injury on Wednesday occurred when Durant was driving to the basket in a routine pregame workout. He rolled his left ankle and fell to the floor before getting up and finishing his workout.

[FrostKing]

https://i.ibb.co/HtbNtyP/IMG-20230310-125122.jpg

[lefty]

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/nba/suns/2023/03/08/kevin-durant-could-miss-remainder-of-regular-season-with-ankle-sprain/69988033007/
Suns forward Kevin Durant could miss the rest of the regular season with ankle sprain
Greg Moore
Arizona Republic

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant left Footprint Center in a large walking boot Wednesday night after injuring himself during warmups.

The Suns defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 132-101 without Durant, but the absence of their newly acquired superstar created a cloud of concern with the playoffs looming.

The Arizona Republic has learned that there is concern within the organization that Durant has a grade 2 sprain, which would keep him out for between four and six weeks.

Phoenix’s regular season finale is April 9, meaning it’s possible Durant could miss the remainder of the regular season and potentially the start of the playoffs.

Durant has played only three games with Phoenix since arriving with the team in a trade with Brooklyn on Feb. 9. The Suns are 3-0 with Durant in the lineup. He had been expected to make his home debut on Wednesday.

Durant returned on March 1 from a knee injury suffered in early January that caused him to miss 20 games.

The ankle injury on Wednesday occurred when Durant was driving to the basket in a routine pregame workout. He rolled his left ankle and fell to the floor before getting up and finishing his workout.

oh well

[lefty20]

I hate to blaspheme like this, but the Lakers have been fun to watch since the ASB.

[Killakobe81]

And I wasn’t against Jokic winning mvp year one but last year especially and this year would be BS based on how it’s been done historically. He is not 3 straight mvp player it’s lunacy. Russ was an outlier but generally you got to be a top 3 player in the league on a top 5 team overall. Neither he or Nash should have won back to back and I hope Embiid or Giannis wins it …

As for Jokic and his defensive metrics yes, he is a good team defender …
But no he is not a great individual defender

He is a brilliant offensive player though one of the best skilled bigs I ever seen
Maybe prime Hakeem Duncan have a case but he definitely one of the best I ever seen.
But Kyrie also one of the most skilled PGs ever but he isn’t a mvp. Glad Denver coming back down to earth I don’t trust them in the playoffs

We also know the mvp award been suspect since they started taking them away from MJ

[Killakobe81]

But would love to see them beat the clips again

[lefty]

And I wasn’t against Jokic winning mvp year one but last year especially and this year would be BS based on how it’s been done historically. He is not 3 straight mvp player it’s lunacy. Russ was an outlier but generally you got to be a top 3 player in the league on a top 5 team overall. Neither he or Nash should have won back to back and I hope Embiid or Giannis wins it …

As for Jokic and his defensive metrics yes, he is a good team defender …
But no he is not a great individual defender

He is a brilliant offensive player though one of the best skilled bigs I ever seen
Maybe prime Hakeem Duncan have a case but he definitely one of the best I ever seen.
But Kyrie also one of the most skilled PGs ever but he isn’t a mvp. Glad Denver coming back down to earth I don’t trust them in the playoffs

We also know the mvp award been suspect since they started taking them away from MJ
It became suspect when they gave it to Magic instead of Narkley in 1990

[FrostKing]

I hate to blaspheme like this, but the Lakers have been fun to watch since the ASB.
NBA is king of headscratching trades. How do Lakers simultaneously dump Westbrook AND add Russell? For some meaningless draft picks huh. Seen this movie on repeat for Decades.

[Bill_Brasky]

I hate to blaspheme like this, but the Lakers have been fun to watch since the ASB.

Yep, dangerous team. 8-3 since the trade deadline i believe.

[lefty20]

https://nypost.com/2023/03/11/inside-ja-morants-50k-gun-toting-booty-bender-at-strip-club/

Pics are crazy. That fucking floor is straight up covered wall to wall.

[horseshue]

https://nypost.com/2023/03/11/inside-ja-morants-50k-gun-toting-booty-bender-at-strip-club/

Pics are crazy. That fucking floor is straight up covered wall to wall.

WOW!!! This young blood really loves to rub his dick on expensive shit. Holly shit, pics are amazing. Imagine beeing there, just surreal with all that money around.

[MultiTroll]

Say what you want about Nephew, he always has game vs the Golden Phaggots.

[Arcadian]

:lmao Lakers... faggots

Right in Anthony Davis's stupid face

[MultiTroll]

Doc Rivers and Frauden. :lmao:vomit:

There will be seriously misinformed that will claim Embiid is not good enough for a chip.

News flash: Not even sure Timmy Duncs could overcome Frauden playing full time in clutch games.

[Dirks_Finale]

Has there ever been so many .500 teams in the NBA at one time like this? There's like 10 of them right now :lol

[baseline bum]

Has there ever been so many .500 teams in the NBA at one time like this? There's like 10 of them right now :lol

Just glad it ain't the Spurs for once.

[Killakobe81]

I hate the clippers but can’t root that pG13 is hurt … hope it’s not career threatening

[MultiTroll]

I hate the clippers but can’t root that pG13 is hurt … hope it’s not career threatening
Perhaps not a cheap shot (or perhaps was) by Thunder guard LUGUENTZ DORT, but very careless in banging his knee and not allowing George a place to land.
Also George could have been more aware he was in traffic. No movement at all by George before the rebound, kinda just went up straight, assumed there would be no contact.

Ya George is one of the largest extortionists of $$$ from owners and for Nephew Haters, was a perfect tanker to any would-be championship hopes.
That having been said, agree would not wish injury on George.
Hopefully he uses his 200 million to do some good to fellow humans. Lots of players had a career ending injury before they made squat, some in the summer before their NBA career and pay began. Hope George hooks people like that up but i know that's not how it works 99.99

[baseline bum]

I hate the clippers but can’t root that pG13 is hurt … hope it’s not career threatening

If he dies he dies

[Killakobe81]

If he dies he dies

If he cries he cries …

Lol

[LkrFan]

lol at Air Nephew
/1638408477222797313

This is pathetic tbh :lol

[horseshue]

lol at Air Nephew
/1638408477222797313

This is pathetic tbh :lol

How do you feel knowing that austin reeves is the best player for lolkers? :lol

[JamStone]

if Austin Reeves is their best player and they get healthy with LeBron and Davis the 2nd and 3rd best players on the team, and he’ll D-lo the 4th best player, Lakers fans should be pretty excited tbh. That would make them a crazy tough out against any team, if they make the playoffs. Getting fully healthy will be the thing tho.

[LkrFan]

How do you feel knowing that austin reeves is the best player for lolkers? :lol
I was at the game last night. He's pretty good in a Linsanity kind of way. I need to see more.

Sons have terrible defensive players. I guess they will try to outscore teams when KD gets back?

I especially liked D'Snitch outplaying CP0 :tu

[LkrFan]

if Austin Reeves is their best player and they get healthy with LeBron and Davis the 2nd and 3rd best players on the team, and he’ll D-lo the 4th best player, Lakers fans should be pretty excited tbh. That would make them a crazy tough out against any team, if they make the playoffs. Getting fully healthy will be the thing tho.
Agreed, but I gotta see more. He had a career high 11 dimes last night. That impressed me the most tbh.

Bron, D'Lo and Austin are dependable playmakers. Will be useful if they make the playoffs.

[Killakobe81]

Agreed, but I gotta see more. He had a career high 11 dimes last night. That impressed me the most tbh.

Bron, D'Lo and Austin are dependable playmakers. Will be useful if they make the playoffs.

Needs to work on his catch and shoot game but I love this kid

[baseline bum]

I was at the game last night.

Didn't know the Lakers played a game in Tijuana. Did you take a picture with the zebra after?

[LkrFan]

Didn't know the Lakers played a game in Tijuana. Did you take a picture with the zebra after?

:lol

[MultiTroll]

Apemond Green with more antics.

Per usual he gets off with absolute minimal.

How the F do you give Ingrahm a T for that?

[MultiTroll]

Draymond Green Got Into It With Pelicans Players On Back-To-Back Plays But Avoided Getting Ejected (uproxx.com) (https://uproxx.com/dimemag/draymond-green-got-into-it-pelicans-players-avoided-ejection-video/)

[MultiTroll]

Man the Clips can't close. Nephew no longer the lock down defender when he was MVP 2017.

[Arcadian]

https://youtu.be/ZfGsABlGrAM

[MultiTroll]

Denver resting everyone needing to win one of their final 2 games.

I don't get what's going on the seeding races.

[mystargtr34]

Interesting scenario in the West with the 5-8 spots.

Neither the Warriors or the Clippers want the 5 seed imo they both want the 6 but also want to avoid dropping into the playin.

Warriors can’t afford to tank because if they lose and Clippers and Lakers win they drop to playin.

If the Warriors win and Clippers win them Clips get 5 seed and Warriors 6.

If I’m the clippers I’m tanking tomorrow agains the Suns and hope Minesota beats Pelicans then clippers get the 6 seed. If the Pelicans beat the Wolves in this scenario then the Clippers drop to 7.

Lots of permutations.

[daslicer]

Interesting scenario in the West with the 5-8 spots.

Neither the Warriors or the Clippers want the 5 seed imo they both want the 6 but also want to avoid dropping into the playin.

Warriors can’t afford to tank because if they lose and Clippers and Lakers win they drop to playin.

If the Warriors win and Clippers win them Clips get 5 seed and Warriors 6.

If I’m the clippers I’m tanking tomorrow agains the Suns and hope Minesota beats Pelicans then clippers get the 6 seed. If the Pelicans beat the Wolves in this scenario then the Clippers drop to 7.

Lots of permutations.

Clippers will try to win to avoid risk having to deal with a play in situation. In a perfect world the Warriors would somehow not end up in sixth. I hate the Warriors would like to see them not get awarded an easy first round matchup in the Kings.

[MultiTroll]

Rudy Goober throws a slap punch at Fivehead Kyle Anderson
1645164774186172416

[Arcadian]

It's a shame Suns vs. Clippers is happening in round 1, and Nuggets vs. Suns/Clippers will be in round 2. Those teams all could've gone deep.

On the other hand, that's a hell of a round 1 matchup we get to watch! Durant vs. Kawhi alone is :corn:

[TD 21]

It's a shame Suns vs. Clippers is happening in round 1, and Nuggets vs. Suns/Clippers will be in round 2. Those teams all could've gone deep.

On the other hand, that's a hell of a round 1 matchup we get to watch! Durant vs. Kawhi alone is :corn:

No lose for Scumbag. Win and the media, who will doubtlessly pretend they're massive underdogs no matter George's status, can pretend he's a hero.

As usual, Warriors get lucky. They're in a bracket with the Kings, Grizzlies (no Adams or Clarke) and Lakers (James and Davis aren't 100%), clearing a path to the Conference Finals.

[baseline bum]

Rudy Goober throws a slap punch at Fivehead Kyle Anderson
1645164774186172416

Even funnier was Jaden McDaniels breaking his hand punching a wall a couple minutes later so now Minnesota is out a starter in the play-in.

[daboom1]

Even funnier was Jaden McDaniels breaking his hand punching a wall a couple minutes later so now Minnesota is out a starter in the play-in.

He's their "Bruce Bowen". Huge loss for Grizzlies