NBA Thread 2019-20

[The Sultan]

Jimmy Butler is taking advantage of a captive marketplace...

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2020/8/17/21371898/jimmy-butler-coffee-nba-bubble?fbclid=IwAR2PaF1fuOst4Z0lnF8P3EIPU3EphX0afX2X4Mg-s-tu88yvvm-X1A-2-B0

[Jockey]

Donovan Mitchell is really, really fun to watch.

Similar game to DWade, but better 3 point shooter. Maybe my fave non-Buck in the NBA.

[wadesworld]

Donovan Mitchell is really, really fun to watch.

Similar game to DWade, but better 3 point shooter. Maybe my fave non-Buck in the NBA.

He is not anywhere close to the player that Wade was.

[Jockey]

He is not anywhere close to the player that Wade was.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2851826-donovan-mitchell-vs-dwyane-wade-is-jazz-guard-really-the-next-flash

Mitchell's one of six players in the NBA's three-point era to make the playoffs and average at least 20 points in each of his first two seasons. Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, David Robinson, Tim Duncan and Carmelo Anthony are the other five.

Also, Mitchell is often mentioned in the same breath as one of the greatest shooting guards of all time.


"I would compare Donovan Mitchell to Dwyane Wade..." ESPN's Chiney Ogwumike said. "Because he is athletic at the point guard position. He can also play the 2-guard position. Now, D-Wade is obviously probably a better defender. But Donovan Mitchell could be a better three-point shooter. So, I see a D-Wade comparison."

And she's not the only one.

"I had sent some under-the-radar feelers for like, 'Hey, who knocked everybody's socks off this week?' And Mitchell was the guy," The Ringer's Bill Simmons said of Mitchell's time with Team USA. "... I don't know what he did this summer, but they just were like, 'He's so strong, so explosive.' It's starting to feel like there's some 2006 Dwyane Wade potential with his next season was what I gathered."


Check out the comps for Wade and Mitchell's 1st two years - almost identical. You're right that Wade is/was the better player - but to say it is not anywhere close based on their first couple years in the NBA is just uninformed.

[Galway Eagle]

With the computerized fans and occasional behind the back inbounds camera angle it feels like I'm watching someone play 2K more than watch live basketball.

Also they should've had a massive zoom crowd on those screens with people cheering from their living rooms.

[BM1090]

With the computerized fans and occasional behind the back inbounds camera angle it feels like I'm watching someone play 2K more than watch live basketball.

Also they should've had a massive zoom crowd on those screens with people cheering from their living rooms.

Isn't that exactly what the screen behind the benches displays?

[MU82]

Donovan Mitchell is really, really fun to watch.

Hornets chose Malik Monk over him. Ugh.

As to whether he's the next Wade ... we'll see what he actually accomplishes, but yes, he's a talented player.

[Galway Eagle]

Isn't that exactly what the screen behind the benches displays?

Is it? I thought it was just a computerized crowd

[reinko]

Is it? I thought it was just a computerized crowd

It's live fans, family members, celebrities...

[Galway Eagle]

It's live fans, family members, celebrities...

Neat. that's better than what I thought then

[Dish]

Bucks are getting curb stomped in this first half against the Magic.

[The Sultan]

Bucks are getting curb stomped in this first half against the Magic.

Their defense is terrible and has been since getting into the bubble.  Honestly they look like a team that isn't focused.

[Dish]

Their defense is terrible and has been since getting into the bubble.  Honestly they look like a team that isn't focused.

I think since I posted, the Bucks are on a 7-0 run, so you're welcome Bucks fans 

[CreightonWarrior]

I'll be surprised if the bucks advance out of the first round. This is a really sad display.

[jficke13]

The bucks are bad again. The fundamental element most broken with the universe has been put to rights. We can start to heal.

[Johnny B]

shoulda paid middleton more. idk seems like in todays nba u need at least 2 superstars to really have a chance

[BM1090]

I'll be surprised if the bucks advance out of the first round. This is a really sad display.

I wouldn't go this far> But given the defensive efforts combined with Budenholzer's tendency to not make many adjustments, I'm certainly worried that they cannot compete with a title as is.

[GooooMarquette]

Yep, the Bucks seem to have lost their way. I feared this would happen. Before COVID, they were nearly unstoppable and appeared primed for a title. The absolute last thing they needed was a delay.

Fortunately, 'home court advantage' has no real meaning in the bubble, so all they really lost today was one game. Still time to turn it around, but they clearly have work to do....

[Jockey]

This reads like Scoop after an MU loss.

Bucks played terrible on offense; defense was unbelievably brutal.

But they will win this series.

[wadesworld]

R-E-L-A-X

[Uncle Rico]

R-E-L-A-X

P-A-N-I-C

[4everwarriors]

shoulda paid middleton more. idk seems like in todays nba u need at least 2 superstars to really have a chance

Wee wur told dey had dat, though, hey?

[MU82]

Overly aggressive white cop assaults a black Raptors official and then lies about the altercation. In other words ... dog bites man. Again.

https://theathletic.com/2006894/2020/08/18/raptors-masai-ujiri-countersues-sheriffs-deputy-video-shows-unjustified-violence/?source=dailyemail

Toronto Raptors president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri moved to counter sue an Alameda County sheriff's deputy who worked security during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals in Oakland and who claims in a lawsuit Ujiri assaulted him trying to gain access to the court celebration.

In over a hundred pages of court papers filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Oakland, California, plus attached videos, Ujiri said newly uncovered footage from a body camera the officer, Alan Strickland, wore that night disproves Strickland's claim and shows it was Ujiri who was twice assaulted and cursed at.

"Sadly, Mr. Strickland's dishonest account of the encounter is a narrative that has become somewhat familiar: a law enforcement officer using their position, engages in unjustified violence against a peaceful individual, then lies about the encounter by characterizing the victim as the aggressor," the court filing said. "To be sure, the great majority of law enforcement officers do not conduct themselves in this way. Mr. Strickland, however, has chosen dishonesty over integrity. Motivated by greed (and perhaps revenge), Mr. Strickland continues to lie about his encounter with Mr. Ujiri in an attempt to support his frivolous lawsuit."

The body camera footage Ujiri attached to the fillings appears to support his contention that Strickland, who was not working for the sheriff's department that night but as a security guard, struck Ujiri twice during the 11-second altercation. Strickland in his filings claimed Ujiri attacked him and did not display his credentials, but the footage shows the Raptors executive beginning to take out his credential before being shoved back.

"In his discovery responses, Mr. Strickland admits he knows of no previous or subsequent occasions where Mr. Ujiri has been violent with anyone," the court filings said. "Despite this, Mr. Strickland nonetheless contends he perceived Mr. Ujiri as a threat the moment he saw him.

"Mr. Strickland's perception is extremely problematic and can only be explained as the product of a personal bias he maintains that led him to stereotype Mr. Ujiri as a threatening and inherently violent individual. Acting on this bias, Mr. Strickland unjustifiably resorted to the use of violence and vitriol toward Mr. Ujiri rather than civility and respect."

[GooooMarquette]

Interestingly, the Lakers also lost their first game. First time since 2003 both #1 seeds lost their openers.

That season, #1 in the West (San Antonio) bounced back to win the title, while #1 in the East (Detroit) made it to the conference finals.

[MUfan12]

The bubble is really messing with a lot of guys. Some weird sh*t is gonna happen in these playoffs.