NBA Thread 2020-21

[4everwarriors]

Adios Bud, hey?

[The Sultan]

Adios Bud, hey?

Yeah I think that's the move that needs to be made.

[wadesworld]

68 first half points given up to the Pels and the Hornets on back to back nights.

Can we just trade Wojo and Bud for the hell of it? See what happens.

[JWags85]

Bucks tie it at 110, seem like they have things back in control finally....then they give up a 16-4 run and get blown off the court to end the game. My god this team couldnt guard Cardinal Stritch.  Team also looked completely gassed down the stretch. Couldn't possibly be because Bud has the dumbest rotations imaginable

[MU82]

Whatcha all think of LaMelo?

He's been spectacular some nights and invisible some others. But hey, he's 19 years old, and though his shot obviously needs a little tweaking, he has incredible basketball instincts. I'm gonna enjoy watching him in Charlotte until somebody steals him away.

[4everwarriors]

Bedda dan his bro. Bedda shot, bedda passer. Kant stand his old man, hey?

[JWags85]

Whatcha all think of LaMelo?

He's been spectacular some nights and invisible some others. But hey, he's 19 years old, and though his shot obviously needs a little tweaking, he has incredible basketball instincts. I'm gonna enjoy watching him in Charlotte until somebody steals him away.

He's gonna be a super star. I think his floor is peak Celtics years of Rajon Rondo. He's a 6'8 PG with incredible vision and incredible instincts. That tip dunk the other night was a prime example, he just has a 6th sense and nose for the ball.

The "worst" part of his game is shooting/scoring, yet he's managed to average 12 a game while usually not starting and not being an offensive focal point behind Hayward, Rozier, and Graham. Hell he's shooting 43/30/76. Not great, but if that's his "issue" it could be way worse. He'll only get better

[MU82]

He's gonna be a super star. I think his floor is peak Celtics years of Rajon Rondo. He's a 6'8 PG with incredible vision and incredible instincts. That tip dunk the other night was a prime example, he just has a 6th sense and nose for the ball.

The "worst" part of his game is shooting/scoring, yet he's managed to average 12 a game while usually not starting and not being an offensive focal point behind Hayward, Rozier, and Graham. Hell he's shooting 43/30/76. Not great, but if that's his "issue" it could be way worse. He'll only get better

Agree on all. And with Rozier (2nd leading scorer at 18/game) getting hurt, he'll now move into the starting lineup and will be asked to score more.

He's a kid, and he's got a great future.

Kant stand his old man, hey?

This ain't HS or college. His old man is a non-factor.

[JWags85]

This ain't HS or college. His old man is a non-factor.

His dad raised 2 sons with incredible basketball IQ, skills, and great work ethics.  He's honestly been a non-issue since Lonzo left LA.  Occasional sound bites, but a complete non factor when assessing Melo as a character or NBA player

[The Sultan]

His father was annoying, and I thought things would have fallen apart for them when they ran off to Latvia, but they've stuck together as a family and all made the NBA.  Father and mother must have done something right.

[MU82]

His dad raised 2 sons with incredible basketball IQ, skills, and great work ethics.  He's honestly been a non-issue since Lonzo left LA.  Occasional sound bites, but a complete non factor when assessing Melo as a character or NBA player

Yep. Now that I've seen LaMelo and Lonzo play, the latter for a couple years now, my only criticism of the way Pops prepared them is that neither had very good shooting form. Otherwise, both have been solid citizens and very good team players so far. That kind of thing usually (not always, but usually) comes from the parents.

[MU82]

Entertaining OT game between Heat and Hornets last night.

Jimmy played well, as usual, and did a lot of trash-talking, as usual, but he celebrated too soon as Miami blew a 10-point lead in the final 3 minutes of regulation. He missed an open 3 at the regulation buzzer and then did little in OT.

Malik Monk, a former No. 1 pick who had become an afterthought in Charlotte, came off the bench to score 36 points, including the tying 3.

Max Strus, the former DePaul star who had been in the G-League, has increasingly become part of Miami's rotation. He had 19 points in 20 minutes.

LaMelo Ball made his first career start (in place of injured Terry Rozier) and was all over the box score despite foul trouble.

And Tyler Herro, part of the infamous Hauser Hate Triangle, had only 11 points on 3-10 shooting and was victimized repeatedly by Monk, Devonte Graham and Gordon Hayward. Whichever Hornet was being "defended" by Herro immediately became the focal point of that offensive possession. Monk/Graham/Hayward shot over Herro and/or drove past him all night.

[wadesworld]

Entertaining OT game between Heat and Hornets last night.

Jimmy played well, as usual, and did a lot of trash-talking, as usual, but he celebrated too soon as Miami blew a 10-point lead in the final 3 minutes of regulation. He missed an open 3 at the regulation buzzer and then did little in OT.

Malik Monk, a former No. 1 pick who had become an afterthought in Charlotte, came off the bench to score 36 points, including the tying 3.

Max Strus, the former DePaul star who had been in the G-League, has increasingly become part of Miami's rotation. He had 19 points in 20 minutes.

LaMelo Ball made his first career start (in place of injured Terry Rozier) and was all over the box score despite foul trouble.

And Tyler Herro, part of the infamous Hauser Hate Triangle, had only 11 points on 3-10 shooting and was victimized repeatedly by Monk, Devonte Graham and Gordon Hayward. Whichever Hornet was being "defended" by Herro immediately became the focal point of that offensive possession. Monk/Graham/Hayward shot over Herro and/or drove past him all night.

According to Tyler himself, him and Duncan are targeted on defense because they're "white boys."  It couldn't be because when you have to choose between attacking Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebyo, Andre Iguodala, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro down the stretch of games there are three guys who are incredible defenders and two guys who aren't good defenders.  Nope.  Just their skin color.

[4everwarriors]

C'mon man, everywon nos "white boys=non-athletic," aina?

[JWags85]

According to Tyler himself, him and Duncan are targeted on defense because they're "white boys."  It couldn't be because when you have to choose between attacking Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebyo, Andre Iguodala, Duncan Robinson, and Tyler Herro down the stretch of games there are three guys who are incredible defenders and two guys who aren't good defenders.  Nope.  Just their skin color.

Did you listen to the interview? Reddick specifically asked him if you think you get targeted cause you're "white with short arms" related to his own experiences. And Herro responded while chuckling the entire time. It was a joking reference to league perception while neither of them believe themselves to be superior defenders.  Don't make it to be anything deep cause it wasn't

[MU82]

Yeah, NBA players joke about that stuff all the time. It's a favorite subject in the LR, whether the guys are Black or white. They're pretty funny about it, and they give it to each other (and themselves) pretty good. Can't get away with that stuff in "proper society," obviously, but that's their own little world and just about anything goes (as long as it's good-natured).

Notably, one of the guys doing the attacking every time Herro was on him was the very white Hayward. But he's pretty good attacking anybody. I was one who thought the Hornets gave him too much $$$$, but when he's healthy he's really really good. The Celtics had relegated him to 4th or 5th option; he's loving his role in Charlotte.

[Skatastrophy]

Did you listen to the interview? Reddick specifically asked him if you think you get targeted cause you're "white with short arms" related to his own experiences. And Herro responded while chuckling the entire time. It was a joking reference to league perception while neither of them believe themselves to be superior defenders.  Don't make it to be anything deep cause it wasn't

+1

Old Man and the Three is a great podcast

[wadesworld]

The Bucks' defensive effort on Monday against Portland was the best I had seen all season.  I was looking forward to see if that was turning a corner or just a one time thing in a game they needed to win to snap a losing streak.  Their defense looked great again last night, and in both games they were able to sit the starters the entire fourth quarter with 30 point leads going into the quarter.  The Blazers were without CJ and Nurkic on Monday so that made things easier, but doing what they did to a tough Pacers team last night was encouraging.

And my man crush on Jrue is just continuing to grow.  His defense is so, so good.  And he's so smooth offensively and really has all the weapons you need.  He's a big time difference maker.

[4everwarriors]

Pretty accurate Fo, but they still need another scorer. Replace #0 with that player and I'm good, hey?

[MUfan12]

Pretty accurate Fo, but they still need another scorer. Replace #0 with that player and I'm good, hey?

With ya, Doc. Donte is a perfect 6th man and would elevate that second unit. But they need someone more reliable on the wing.

[4everwarriors]

In fact, insert Portis into the lineup and moving Middleton to the backcourt is a better starting 5, hey?

[The Sultan]

In fact, insert Portis into the lineup and moving Middleton to the backcourt is a better starting 5, hey?

It may be a better starting five, but I like Portis coming off the bench.

I think you can see why the Bucks really wanted Bogdan.

[MUfan12]

It may be a better starting five, but I like Portis coming off the bench.

They'd have some defensive issues swapping Portis for Donte.

The bench is an area I'm worried about. Augustin hasn't been good, Forbes' utility is limited. Pat is what he is, good every few games. The hard cap is gonna make it difficult to improve the roster all that much,

[wadesworld]

KD was out due to contract tracing to start the game, then was cleared after tip, played 19 minutes, and then pulled back to the locker room because of contact tracing. Seems well handled.

[JWags85]

KD was out due to contract tracing to start the game, then was cleared after tip, played 19 minutes, and then pulled back to the locker room because of contact tracing. Seems well handled.

Not even at halftime. Midway through the 3rd, in a tie game.  Absurdly handled all around