Around the League / Regular Season Thread (Upstairs Version)

[exstatic]

They got beaten really badly by Dallas in the playoffs. The overall record didn't really show it, but they were pretty much crushed. They beat a bad and hurt Pelicans team and then got knocked around by a very physical Mavs team. I don't think that means they need to hit the trade button, but they could consider it.

They addressed that, though, with Caruso covering Giddey’s weaknesses and Hartenstein to bolster the boards, where they got murdered by Dallas's front line.

[RC_Drunkford]

The West looks pretty mediocre at the start of the season. OKC, Mavs, Suns, Grizzlies and Wolves should be the top 5. After them you got the washed up Lakers and Warriors, Denver who only got 4 real players and are heavily dependent on Jamal Murray playing at an All-Star level, NOLA, Sacramento with empty stat Kings Sabonis and DeRozan and the Rockets.

I think we got a good chance to make some noise in that range, since none of these teams look scary. The Clippers, Blazers and Jazz should be at the bottom of the standings.

[R. DeMurre]

Wow 7-0 record for the cavs who have two non shooting players in the starting lineup

Are you calling Mobley a non-shooter? I think that was true earlier in his career, but he shot 37% last year from three on limited attempts, and is shooting over 41% on slightly higher volume this season. Still not a high volume shooter, but definitely evolving in a positive sense.

[LeBowen]

They addressed that, though, with Caruso covering Giddey’s weaknesses and Hartenstein to bolster the boards, where they got murdered by Dallas's front line.

Creation was their biggest issue.
Can't hold it against Williams because it was his first playoff run, but SGA had to do everything.
We'll see how it goes this season, but last season they didn't have enough points in them when actual playoff basketball was played.

[exstatic]

Are you calling Mobley a non-shooter? I think that was true earlier in his career, but he shot 37% last year from three on limited attempts, and is shooting over 41% on slightly higher volume this season. Still not a high volume shooter, but definitely evolving in a positive sense.

And people were writing off a high level player and defender who didn’t develop his shot until season three. Sound familiar?

The interesting thing is that he went from a 66-67% FT shooter to an 89% FT shooter, small sample size, this year. Whoever Cleveland’s shooting coach is, we need to hire them, yesterday.

[Dejounte]

Are you calling Mobley a non-shooter? I think that was true earlier in his career, but he shot 37% last year from three on limited attempts, and is shooting over 41% on slightly higher volume this season. Still not a high volume shooter, but definitely evolving in a positive sense.

He’s as much of a shooter as Okoro is (who averages similar numbers) and nobody is saying Okoro is evolving as a shooter in any sense. Any percentage under 2 attempts should be taken with a grain of salt. The Spurs equivalent here is that if Sochan had positive percentages right now on his sub 2 attempts a game, nobody is going to think he’s a shooter. Everybody would still think that he’s a non shooter because most of his other field goals are taken inside. A shooter’s rep starts from a high number of attempts with percentages to back it up. Evan’s not suddenly going to take his game outside as a shooter because that’s not who he is, therefore, he will not be recognized as a shooter — not now or ever.

[Dejounte]

And people were writing off a high level player and defender who didn’t develop his shot until season three. Sound familiar?

The interesting thing is that he went from a 66-67% FT shooter to an 89% FT shooter, small sample size, this year. Whoever Cleveland’s shooting coach is, we need to hire them, yesterday.

Saying something is “small sample size” and then taking it to heart is backwards. Call it what it is and end it there… don’t pretend to derive any logical conclusion behind it. This is how masses are easily misled— we see it in politics, and it’s rampant here too, from basketball stat enthusiasts who get it wrong from time to time. In your case, ex, a lot.

[CGD]

I was trying to think of what package Milwaukee would want.

Sengun requires a certain kind of play. May work better in the EC. He has talent, but maybe a ceiling. And then those future Brooklyn picks.

I'm not sure who I'd really want from their roster. There are some good pieces, but each is flawed.

Jabari Smith Jr is still only 21, but is sort of the same player he was coming in and may be looking for a big payday. It's hard to envision him becoming a centerpiece.

Amen Thompson is a year older but only a second year player. If he can't shoot, and I don't think he will, he needs to be really good at everything else.

Jalen Green is also only 22, but he's trending back toward inefficient both in hitting shots and taking the right ones, and is a poor defender.

Tari Eason is a good energy/bench guy who is physical and defensive, but can he scale up to larger minutes?

Cam Whitmore's minutes have dropped in half and he has not been good at all, a sign of a limited skillset that the league has already figured out.

Reed Sheppard, I fear is too small and slow to be effective, cannot create space with poor handles and so is more of an opportunistic scorer (i.e. teams forget about him).

It's rough, to be honest, and it's great to see. They've been playing great defense generally under Udoka and when things work, it's great, but I feel like there are real chemistry issues here both game- and personality-wise. The next 15-20 games will be really interesting to see. If FVV really is declining and they have to depend on Green to stir the offense when not Sengun, it's hard to know what they are going to do.

It’s pretty much choose your own adventure, but there is enough there to kick start a very good rebuild in MIL. Personally, for balance, I’d insist on Sheppard, Green, and one of Tari/Jabari. Then as many picks as you can get.

I’d want none of Según.

[Mr. Body]

They addressed that, though, with Caruso covering Giddey’s weaknesses and Hartenstein to bolster the boards, where they got murdered by Dallas's front line.

Caruso just replicates what they already have. That's fine. Hartenstein is the only fix they made to where they were getting demolished, on the boards and inside.

[Mr. Body]

Creation was their biggest issue.
Can't hold it against Williams because it was his first playoff run, but SGA had to do everything.
We'll see how it goes this season, but last season they didn't have enough points in them when actual playoff basketball was played.

This was OKC's other issue. Only SGA could get his own shot, plus he wasn't getting the SGA bull calls he normally does. Williams is a really good player but he's not a guy who goes out and gets you points.

[Mr. Body]

It’s pretty much choose your own adventure, but there is enough there to kick start a very good rebuild in MIL. Personally, for balance, I’d insist on Sheppard, Green, and one of Tari/Jabari. Then as many picks as you can get.

I’d want none of Según.

I don't know what I'd do, if Giannis wants to go to Houston. ( believe he has a no-trade clause?)

Tbh I don't see any package here I like. I don't like any of these players much. Jalen Green is a grinning chucker who won't win you games on a consistent, real basis. I don't believe in Sheppard at all, he's filler.

The only player with winning skills is Sengun and he's so problematic. I guess I'd want Sengun and JSJ with Sheppard in there. Then ask for Brooklyn/Houston picks. If I had to make a trade. I wouldn't want Green.

[DAF86]

Damn, we missed the chance to get Cam Johnson last season.

[LeBowen]

Damn, we missed the chance to get Cam Johnson last season.

It's not like he's going anywhere.
It would probably take Collins+2FRPs. No way Spurs pay that price and Nets won't let him go for just one FRP.

[DAF86]

It's not like he's going anywhere.
It would probably take Collins+2FRPs. No way Spurs pay that price and Nets won't let him go for just one FRP.

Not now, they won't. Last season they might have done it. That's why I said we missed the chance.

[LeBowen]

Not now, they won't. Last season they might have done it. That's why I said we missed the chance.

What's the difference between then and now?
I'd argue that they didn't want to make any winning moves in the summer because they weren't sure how the team would fare.
If we're around .500 before the deadline, they might aswell add a piece or two since it will be impossible to tank. Might aswell compete.

[DAF86]

What's the difference between then and now?
I'd argue that they didn't want to make any winning moves in the summer because they weren't sure how the team would fare.
If we're around .500 before the deadline, they might aswell add a piece or two since it will be impossible to tank. Might aswell compete.

The difference is the Nets seem to be competing this season and Cam seems on the verge of transitioning from role player to fringe 3rd option.

[LeBowen]

The difference is the Nets seem to be competing this season and Cam seems on the verge of transitioning from role player to fringe 3rd option.

It's been 6 games.
Right now they're showcasing their best players in hope to generate some more assets.

Cam Johnson, Schroeder, DFS are all available, maybe even Claxton if someone offers enough.
They have no incentive to compete with 2025 draft looking so strong.

[tbdog]

Nets starting 5 are all NBA players. Gravity will win out. They will trade players, injuries happen, and they will be having only 2 or 3 real NBA players on any given night.

[Mr. Body]

Nets are playing above their level and will start stinking. They want to tank anyway.

If anyone offered two FRPs for Cam Johnson they'd push him out the door in a second.

[Strategic]

Spurs don’t tip until 9:30 at the Clips tomorrow night. Gonna have to get a nap tomorrow afternoon. Love retirement

[Dex]

Spurs don’t tip until 9:30 at the Clips tomorrow night. Gonna have to get a nap tomorrow afternoon. Love retirement

I hate 9:30 CT games so much. I used to be able to justify it when the Spurs were winning chips, but lately it's been hard to lose sleep over the games.

Lotta times I'll watch the first half then finish it the next day or whatever. Kills some of the surprise, but I'm old and like my sleep

[exstatic]

I hate 9:30 CT games so much. I used to be able to justify it when the Spurs were winning chips, but lately it's been hard to lose sleep over the games.

Lotta times I'll walk the first half then finish it the next day or whatever. Kills some of the surprise, but I'm old and like my sleep

I don’t even do 8:30 anymore, or maybe just the first half. I’ve set FUBO to record this, and I’ll watch it tomorrow morning.

[Strategic]

I hate 9:30 CT games so much. I used to be able to justify it when the Spurs were winning chips, but lately it's been hard to lose sleep over the games.

Lotta times I'll watch the first half then finish it the next day or whatever. Kills some of the surprise, but I'm old and like my sleep

when I was working I needed to get to bed by 8pm. I couldn’t even finish the early games when the Spurs were relevant.

[LeBowen]

I don’t even do 8:30 anymore, or maybe just the first half. I’ve set FUBO to record this, and I’ll watch it tomorrow morning.

League pass is great if you're not watching like.
1h40min full game with TOs cut out and now they even added a ~30-40min version that's perfect for catching up with stuff around the league. They cut irrelevant possessions, free throws etc.
I always hated watching those 10min highlights on youtube without any misses, can't figure out what actually happened.

[spurraider21]

They got beaten really badly by Dallas in the playoffs. The overall record didn't really show it, but they were pretty much crushed. They beat a bad and hurt Pelicans team and then got knocked around by a very physical Mavs team. I don't think that means they need to hit the trade button, but they could consider it.

the brazenness with which you repeat this after having already been corrected on it

Statistically, the Dallas/OKC series was about as close as you can get without going seven games. They were tied 2-2 after four games, and Dallas won game 6 by one point. If you look at the advanced stats, there's a really rare statistical anomaly: both teams finished the series with an identical Offensive Rating and Defensive Rating of 112.3 ORtg/112.3 DRtg, and both teams averaged an identical 106 ppg.

https://www.basketball-reference.com...s-thunder.html