Around the League / Regular Season Thread (Upstairs Version)

[scott]

Wait... does Jimmy own a coffee shop?

Butler to Spurs confirmed.

[dn0774]

As I said this summer, OKC is a perfect regular season machinery for grinding out regular season wins, but it still feels like they lack another creator for the playoffs.
Williams has made great progress, but he wasn't good enough of a second option last year. We'll see how it goes in these playoffs.
Opposition strategy will still be to shut down SGA and let others beat them, we'll see how it goes.

OKC is a juggernaut with an SRS of nearly 12, most of that missing Chet. They just reeled off 15 straight and finally drop a game on the road to another elite team and immediately get questioned. I'll take a bet on Jalen Williams being that guy for them this go around. He knows what the playoffs are like and will make the adjustments. Seeing Luka limping/scootering around the other day doesn't bode well for Dallas, OKC might be getting essentially a free pass to the finals this year at this rate. I can't imagine any team besides a healthy Dallas giving OKC any resistance in the west. The talent gap is just too large and I wouldn't be surprised if Presti taps into his draft pick war chest to bolster any possible weaknesses this season (ie Cam Johnson).

[scott]

Zion now suspended a game for being late to multiple practices and the team flight to PHI

[LeBowen]

Zion now suspended a game for being late to multiple practices and the team flight to PHI

They'll cut his ass in the summer, but there will still be a franchise dumb enough to offer him like 20 million a year.

[ace3g]

[ace3g]

[ace3g]

[Kevin]

I like the Zion news. His price keeps dropping. He needs a change of scenery and a wake up call. Tempting but low candidate with generational natural talent. Two expiring’s (Barnes and Zollins) and two unprotected firsts might get you him this summer.

[LeBowen]

I like the Zion news. His price keeps dropping. He needs a change of scenery and a wake up call. Tempting but low candidate with generational natural talent. Two expiring’s (Barnes and Zollins) and two unprotected firsts might get you him this summer.

Are you ok? Unprotected firsts?
They have the option to cut him if he misses target weight and doesn't play enough games.

[Kevin]

Are you ok? Unprotected firsts?
They have the option to cut him if he misses target weight and doesn't play enough games.

Zion has the natural talent of a top 5 player and he's very productive when on the floor. Career shooting at 58% almost two hundred games into his career. LeBrons best season of shooting stands at 56%. It's risky for sure but good god the talent is unreal and he'll never realize that talent in NOLA.

[LeBowen]

Zion has the natural talent of a top 5 player and he's very productive when on the floor. Career shooting at 58% almost two hundred games into his career. LeBrons best season of shooting stands at 56%. It's risky for sure but good god the talent is unreal and he'll never realize that talent in NOLA.

He's a lazy fatass who doesn't care about basketball. Ben Simmons had more potential and look at him.
Zion is a non-shooter and an awful defender even when healthy...and he's never healthy.
The only people who think he has value are casuals who just watch highlights.

I wouldn't give him more than a 1 year minimum deal to prove himself.

[Kevin]

He's a lazy fatass who doesn't care about basketball. Ben Simmons had more potential and look at him.
Zion is a non-shooter and an awful defender even when healthy...and he's never healthy.
The only people who think he has value are casuals who just watch highlights.

I wouldn't give him more than a 1 year minimum deal to prove himself.

When you can get to the hoop like Zion jump shooting doesn't matter much kinda like Lebron. Again he's a 58% career shooter.

I get the feeling you've totally given up on Zion even though he's still only 24 years old and has very good production when he plays.

[scott]

He's a lazy fatass who doesn't care about basketball. Ben Simmons had more potential and look at him.
Zion is a non-shooter and an awful defender even when healthy...and he's never healthy.
The only people who think he has value are casuals who just watch highlights.

I wouldn't give him more than a 1 year minimum deal to prove himself.

I think it was Vecenie, but it might have been someone else who reported it, that there are GMs who would be willing to give up a pretty substantial package for Zion. I have 0.0% interest, but apparently there are actual NBA executives who are willing to pay for the opportunity to embarrass themselves.

[Kevin]

I think it was Vecenie, but it might have been someone else who reported it, that there are GMs who would be willing to give up a pretty substantial package for Zion. I have 0.0% interest, but apparently there are actual NBA executives who are willing to pay for the opportunity to embarrass themselves.

But can you blame them? HOF level natural talent with production, only 24 years old and wont cost a zillion picks because of flaws.

[scott]

But can you blame them? HOF level natural talent with production, only 24 years old and wont cost a zillion picks because of flaws.

I don't blame people who play the lottery, even though the EV is negative and it's a largely a losing proposition. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

[exstatic]

But can you blame them? HOF level natural talent with production, only 24 years old and wont cost a zillion picks because of flaws.

The most important ability is availability. He missed most of this season with hamstring issues, played one game, and he’s out with…hamstring issues

You can’t ever be great if you don’t put in the work, and he never has. Talent alone, even massive amounts, won’t carry you in a league where everyone has it, and some have more than Zion does.

[Kevin]

I don't blame people who play the lottery, even though the EV is negative and it's a largely a losing proposition. But that doesn't mean it's a good idea.

Given his production Zion is better than a lotto ticket. He's more like a spin on a roulette wheel which pays 36 to 1 but then you're odds of winning are also 36 to 1.

[mudyez]

Not sure how, but Zion feels a lot like Clippers or Rockets material...maybe Sactown.

I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole.

[onechance87]

im gonna lose my mind if devin carter becomes a good player.Wright should be fired for being such a dumbass

[skin27]

Out of the play in race now. Fck the king are playing good now

[scott]

Out of the play in race now. Fck the king are playing good now

On the brightside, it's been without Fox... maybe they'll get a sense of confidence that they're better without him...

[Pauleta14]

Spurs fans seriously considering players like Beal or Zion shows how much PATFO ruined this fanbase with this roster devoided of talent.

[skin27]

Tomorrow’s game vs lakers is mow postponed.

[spursistan]

Tomorrow’s game vs lakers is mow postponed.

Makes sense, but the Monday game should go ahead according to league sources.. We got to steal that one; otherwise the hope to get back to .500 and stay in the play-in picture will begin to fade given the schedule ahead.

[heyheymymy]

Huge unexpected break when most recent game Wemby was playing kinda passive. Maybe he is just physically worn down and this down time will be just what he needed to mend up. 3-4 days rest is quite the boon for an athlete that's been playing since July 2024.