2023-24 NBA Thread

[Hards Alumni]

It sucks the Knicks are kind of likable

Wait until you meet their fans!

[Uncle Rico]

Wait until you meet their fans!

If I can handle Marquette fans, I’m sure I could handle Knicks fans

[MU82]

54 years ago today, Willis Reed limped onto the MSG court and inspired the Knicks to a Game 7 Finals victory over Wilt, West, Elgin and the Lakers.

A couple of things about that:

++ Reed made the first two baskets of the game to thunderous ovations but didn't score another point. It actually was Walt Frazier who carried the Knicks - 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds.

++ Yes, the NBA Finals wrapped up on May 8. This season, the second round of the NBA playoffs have just started.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

They have only added one additional round to the playoffs since then.  The major differences are that they used to start the season earlier, and the season was more "compact." (Less off days.)

I mean, look how many back to back games the Knicks had that year.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/NYK/1973_games.html

This year, NBA teams averaged 14 back to back games. I counted 14 on that Knicks schedule by the end of 1972.

[MU82]

Yeah, once upon a time I think they played back-to-back-to-backs.

They moved through the season, and the playoffs. They didn't have to accommodate TV.

Not saying it was "better," just different.

It does make me appreciate even more that Wilt had seasons in which he played every minute - including at least 1 in which he averaged more than 48 minutes (due to OT games).

[MuggsyB]

What happened to Brunson?

[DegenerateDish]

“Right sore fight” for Brunson is hilarious from the Knicks.

He clearly hurt his wrist.

[MuggsyB]

Indiana is self destructimg. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Josh Hart rebound watch might be my new favorite hobby

[MuggsyB]

McConnell has a lot of game and plays his ass off. 

[MuggsyB]

ESPN rated Brunson the 15th best player in the playoffs.  LOL. 

[MuggsyB]

The Knicks have a tremendous amount of grit.  They honestly have no business winning this game or G1.  Especially with their injuries.  This amplifies how much of a disaster the Bucks were. 

[PGsHeroes32]

ummmm it wasnt a double dribble

But how do you just erase a call???

[MuggsyB]

Crazy that Carlile sat McConnell from the 7:30 mark when it was a 2pt game.  They probably still lose but that was seriously dumb. 

[MuggsyB]

ummmm it wasnt a double dribble

But how do you just erase a call???

No idea. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40111250/pacers-file-complaint-78-calls-nba-source-says

So the Pacers think there were 49 questionable calls during a 48 minute basketball game, and are now implying that part of the reason is that they are a "small market" team.

Maybe Coach Rick should spend more time coaching defense.

[Uncle Rico]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40111250/pacers-file-complaint-78-calls-nba-source-says

So the Pacers think there were 49 questionable calls during a 48 minute basketball game, and are now implying that part of the reason is that they are a "small market" team.

Maybe Coach Rick should spend more time coaching defense.

Yeah, pulling for the Knicks

[PGsHeroes32]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40111250/pacers-file-complaint-78-calls-nba-source-says

So the Pacers think there were 49 questionable calls during a 48 minute basketball game, and are now implying that part of the reason is that they are a "small market" team.

Maybe Coach Rick should spend more time coaching defense.

Or just leave TJ McConnell in the game when he’s clearly controlling the game

[4everwarriors]

So, Charles Lee, former neighbor in The Quon, named Hornets HC. Good on him, hey?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I really hope that TNT is able to hold onto the NBA contract because stuff like this will never, ever be re-created.

https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1788403467536441568

[JWags85]

I really hope that TNT is able to hold onto the NBA contract because stuff like this will never, ever be re-created.

https://twitter.com/awfulannouncing/status/1788403467536441568

His vendetta and rants against Galveston last week were Emmy worthy.  Early Sportscenter is certainly up there, but in terms of consistent humor and entertainment, Inside the NBA is, for me, the best sports studio show of all time.  It was great for a decade already and then, when Shaq joined, it went into the stratosphere.

[MU82]

So, Charles Lee, former neighbor in The Quon, named Hornets HC. Good on him, hey?

Hope he's an improvement. Hard not to be, but you still need players. Here's a little from The Athletic:

Lee, 39, spent this season on the Celtics’ coaching staff after a decade on Mike Budenholzer’s staffs with the Milwaukee Bucks and Atlanta Hawks.

The hire is the latest in an organization-wide transformation over the last year. The franchise got new owners last summer when Rick Schnall and Gabe Plotkin bought the team from Michael Jordan. The Hornets hired Jeff Peterson to head basketball operations in February, and he has slowly filled out his front office.

Lee marks Peterson’s biggest decision yet. The two were together in the Hawks organization roughly a decade ago, where Lee was an assistant on Budenholzer’s staff, Peterson was a rising executive, and Schnall was a minority owner.

Lee is a Budenholzer disciple but spent this season on the bench in Boston as the Celtics ran up the best record in the NBA.

Lee spent five seasons in Milwaukee before his move to Boston, winning a championship with the Bucks in 2021. ... Lee, who has always been great at connecting with players because of his engaging personality, will need to find a way to do the same thing with Ball, the Hornets’ star.

On top of what he learned in Milwaukee, Lee surely picked up some new skills for empowering players as the Celtics have one of the league’s most talented roster. ... Lee has been instrumental in Boston this season as coach Joe Mazzulla’s top assistant. He is the primary consultant throughout the game on strategic decisions and is generally the other coach you will see on his feet working the sideline. He has been Jrue Holiday’s assigned coach, working with the Celtics’ big summer acquisition to find how he fits in with the system on both ends.

[rocket surgeon]

suns fire Vogel looking at budenholzer

[MuggsyB]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40111250/pacers-file-complaint-78-calls-nba-source-says

So the Pacers think there were 49 questionable calls during a 48 minute basketball game, and are now implying that part of the reason is that they are a "small market" team.

Maybe Coach Rick should spend more time coaching defense.

What an asinine take from Carlisle.  79 calls in his conplaint to the NBA?  Maybe we can have 5 hr games and unlimited coach challenges?   That would be a blast.  I understand this is about getting a better whistle for G3 but this was just a horrible take. 

[wadesworld]

Bases chucked and no outs and the Cards don’t even try to bunt a run in. Serves them right to not put one run across the plate there.