NBA Thread 2020-21

[MU82]

3 things of note in tonight's Lakers-Spurs game:

1. Pop gets ejected, so Becky Hammond becomes the first woman to coach an NBA team (or any team from big 4 men's sports).

2. LeBron becomes only player in NBA history to score in double digits in 1,000 consecutive games.

3. Wes Matthews, who had yet to make a 3 this season, went 6-for-6 from downtown.

Good stuff!

[MU82]

NBA viewers watched 81.5 hours of live games on ESPN, TNT and ABC in the opening week of the season, up 95% from opening week last season.

While that is encouraging for the league and its network partners, it needs to be noted that this year's opening week included Xmas, traditionally a strong day for NBA viewership.

[Galway Eagle]

NBA viewers watched 81.5 hours of live games on ESPN, TNT and ABC in the opening week of the season, up 95% from opening week last season.

While that is encouraging for the league and its network partners, it needs to be noted that this year's opening week included Xmas, traditionally a strong day for NBA viewership.

Could this also have to do with the shortened season? I mean suddenly games meaning more than usual could be a factor in viewership.

[The Sultan]

I doubt it.  I think its completely an apples to oranges comparison due to when the first weeks of the season are being held.  The NBA is getting great mileage out of a completely useless comparison.

[MU82]

Anyhoo ... how 'bout that Becky Hammon?

For me, it's a lot more significant than Vanderbilt's kicker ... and I thought that was cool, too.

[JWags85]

Anyhoo ... how 'bout that Becky Hammon?

For me, it's a lot more significant than Vanderbilt's kicker ... and I thought that was cool, too.

No disrespect to Fuller, but this is a monumentally larger deal. We've been over the fluke nature of that situation, but Hammond has been on the bench with Pop for 6-7 seasons. There are a number of female assistant coaches in the NBA now, but Hammon blazed the path for all of them. Most were women's coaches who got the gig in some fashion, Hammon literally jumped right in during her last season playing. She's an incredible role model and is very likely gonna be an NBA head coach in the next few years which is remarkable.

[The Sultan]

Hammon interviewed for the Bucks gig when Bud got the job.

[GooooMarquette]

Anyhoo ... how 'bout that Becky Hammon?

For me, it's a lot more significant than Vanderbilt's kicker ... and I thought that was cool, too.

Awesome milestone! Hopefully she gets her chance for a full-time HC gig soon.

[Marquette Fan]

Anyhoo ... how 'bout that Becky Hammon?

For me, it's a lot more significant than Vanderbilt's kicker ... and I thought that was cool, too.

I think it's pretty cool and look forward to seeing her as an NBA Head Coach in the future.

Speaking of Fuller, Marquette Women's Basketball played at Belmont the day after a Vandy football game and had a view of the field from their hotel room - fun tweet from Chloe Marotta - https://twitter.com/ChloeMarotta/status/1337904500980506624

[cheebs09]

Awesome milestone! Hopefully she gets her chance for a full-time HC gig soon.

I feel she's being her time for the Spurs job.

[wadesworld]

Bucks declined Ersan's option, who is still a free agent now, and now have Thenasis playing meaningful minutes every night.

[wadesworld]

Also, does Bud realize he can stagger starters and backups? Wednesday night he lets 4 backups and Donte give up an 11-0 run to end the first quarter. Tonight he lets 4 backups and Middleton give up a 7-0 run late in the first.

[JWags85]

Bucks declined Ersan's option, who is still a free agent now, and now have Thenasis playing meaningful minutes every night.

Literally just came here to say "Giannis already re-signed...so why is TA playing double digit minutes, he is awful." Like he looks like the bad version of Rookie Giannis except he's 28, not 18, and he has no flashes of greatness. I like when he gets near the rim and kind of chucks a brick off the backboard cause he has no feel or touch at all

Also, does Bud realize he can stagger starters and backups? Wednesday night he lets 4 backups and Donte give up an 11-0 run to end the first quarter. Tonight he lets 4 backups and Middleton give up a 7-0 run late in the first.

Oh you didn't enjoy scoring 2 points in the last 4 min against a Bulls team that is allergic to defense with a lineup of Portis, Augustin, TA and a passive Middleton?

[wadesworld]

Literally just came here to say "Giannis already re-signed...so why is TA playing double digit minutes, he is awful." Like he looks like the bad version of Rookie Giannis except he's 28, not 18, and he has no flashes of greatness. I like when he gets near the rim and kind of chucks a brick off the backboard cause he has no feel or touch at all

Oh you didn't enjoy scoring 2 points in the last 4 min against a Bulls team that is allergic to defense with a lineup of Portis, Augustin, TA and a passive Middleton?

Honestly Jamil Wilson is SIGNIFICANTLY better than Thenasis. Heck, Henry is much better than him.

[wadesworld]

By the way, Donte is averaging 14 points, 3.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 1.8 steals while shooting 54% from the field and 62% from 3, and Bud is only playing him 24 minutes per game. Meanwhile Pat C is playing 18 minutes per game.

[wadesworld]

I'd be interested to see how covid spreads around the NBA. Bulls down 4 players due to the covid protocol, not necessarily all positive but at least in close contact with someone who was positive. But the rest of the team is out there playing. Would be interested to see if any of the players on the court tonight test positive in the next couple of days. And then if the Bucks suddenly have cases coming up. I'm sure these things are all being studied.

[4everwarriors]

Y duzant #34 just stuff his free throws from da line, hey?

[JWags85]

We've talked a decent amount about the fairly poor level of basketball in the NBA this season, specifically with regard to blowouts, and the likelihood that no training camps/short off seasons played a role.  Well on that same note, it's a bit empirical, but 4th quarters have been HORRIFIC.  Ugly, sloppy basketball. And not just with backups.  I've watched a half dozen games over the last few days where teams were scoring on a pretty good 55ish PPQ clip...and then throw up like 30, 35 in the 4th.  It's bizarre and awful to watch. And it's not teams tightening up D down the stretch, cause it's happening pretty early on.  Warriors Blazers tonight, for example, has been really fun. 98-80 after 3...they've combined for 12 points halfway through the 4th.  It's an over bettor wasteland

[The Sultan]

I think we are going to be in for a lot of bad NBA basketball this year.  The off season was too short, no training camp, lack of fans, etc. It will limp along for most of the season before a ho-hum playoffs IMO.

Contrast this to the NFL which I think has had a pretty good season quality wise.  No offseason program.  Limited training camp.  No preseason games.  So I know its silly to compare the two, but maybe its a function of time off.

[MU82]

Y duzant #34 just stuff his free throws from da line, hey?

You are old enough to remember they used to ask the same question about Wilt.

He was a 51% FT shooter, so the most amazing thing about his 100-point game was that he went 28-of-32 from the line.

[The Big East]

You are old enough to remember they used to ask the same question about Wilt.

He was a 51% FT shooter, so the most amazing thing about his 100-point game was that he went 28-of-32 from the line.

Second most amazing thing about the game was there is absolutely no film of the game.

[tower912]

Conspiracy!

[MU82]

Back then, the NBA was about as followed as the G-League is today. So it actually would have been surprising had there been television cameras in Hershey, PA that day.

That, or it was staged by the Capricorn One people!

[Billy Hoyle]

I think we are going to be in for a lot of bad NBA basketball this year.  The off season was too short, no training camp, lack of fans, etc. It will limp along for most of the season before a ho-hum playoffs IMO.

Contrast this to the NFL which I think has had a pretty good season quality wise.  No offseason program.  Limited training camp.  No preseason games.  So I know its silly to compare the two, but maybe its a function of time off.

The NFL will never go back to OTF's or four preseason games after this year. The NFLPA is going to get what they wanted thanks to COVID.

[MU82]

The NFL will never go back to OTF's or four preseason games after this year. The NFLPA is going to get what they wanted thanks to COVID.

Good. There is NOTHING worse than NFL exhibition games. If you get season tickets, they make you pay full price for those 2 effen home games that are worse than getting stabbed in the eye with an ice pick.