2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[withoutbias]

Lol apparently Jimmy told Udonis Haslem he's just a cheerleader.  I hope UD walks around with his 3 championship rings on until Jimmy is off the team.

[The Sultan]

First, these were all words said in the Heat of battle.  So don't read too much into them, and my guess is that they have already talked it out or forgotten about it.

Second, Butler's not wrong.  Haslem has played in 11 games this year, pretty much all in mop-up time.

Third, Butler's career VORP=38.2  Haslem's=0.2  Everyone knows who the better player is / has been.

[withoutbias]

First, these were all words said in the Heat of battle.  So don't read too much into them, and my guess is that they have already talked it out or forgotten about it.

Second, Butler's not wrong.  Haslem has played in 11 games this year, pretty much all in mop-up time.

Third, Butler's career VORP=38.2  Haslem's=0.2  Everyone knows who the better player is / has been.

David Thorpe was on a podcast last week and it doesn't seem like he thinks this is something that is just going away.  He's seen way more than the average person has, and he was saying it was about as weird of a situation as you will ever see.  You don't see that happening in the middle of a game, in public, and that it's very weird that a coach had to basically tell a player off saying, "You really think I'm going to just fight you in a huddle during a game?"  Thorpe said everywhere Butler goes he wears people out.

Also, of course Jimmy is a better player.  But UD was a very important player for 3 championship teams and is as "Heat culture" as it gets.  He's been basically universally loved by fans and teammates alike, he's known to be a consummate team player, and a pro's pro.  Some players have more value than what they produce on the court, but that doesn't make them a "cheerleader."  I'm guessing the Heat have been asking UD to come back as a player year after year or UD wouldn't be playing anymore.  Jimmy thinks everyone has to do it his way and be maniacal or else that player is lazy and doesn't care about winning, when the reality is the one run he's made was a Micky Mouse tournament.

[🏀]

First, these were all words said in the Heat of battle.  So don't read too much into them, and my guess is that they have already talked it out or forgotten about it.

Second, Butler's not wrong.  Haslem has played in 11 games this year, pretty much all in mop-up time.

Third, Butler's career VORP=38.2  Haslem's=0.2  Everyone knows who the better player is / has been.

Jimmy doesn't win important games though, Haslem has.

Checkmark: Udonis.

[cheebs09]

Jimmy doesn't win important games though, Haslem has.

Checkmark: Udonis.

In fact, I'd have Haslem on MU's Mount Rushmore.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

So I don't think it's ever been explicitly said by anyone but we all know why Al Horford and Jaylen Brown didn't play in Toronto right?

If that's the 3-6 matchup, wouldn't hate putting some money on the Raptors since two starters won't be available for half that series

[JWags85]

So I don't think it's ever been explicitly said by anyone but we all know why Al Horford and Jaylen Brown didn't play in Toronto right?

If that's the 3-6 matchup, wouldn't hate putting some money on the Raptors since two starters won't be available for half that series

Are you implying they aren't vaccinated and thus can't get into Canada?

[wadesworld]

The difference in how Embiid and Giannis are reffed is absolutely absurd. I'd be embarrassed to flop around like Embiid and Harden do. But they get rewarded for it. Such garbage basketball.

[Uncle Rico]

Giannis the real MVP

[MuggsyB]

I see that Giannis dropped 40, 14, 6, and 3 in Philly?  Perhaps the MVP discussion should begin and end with him?

[wadesworld]

I see that Giannis dropped 40, 14, 6, and 3 in Philly?  Perhaps the MVP discussion should begin and end with him?

Him and Jokic.

[MuggsyB]

Him and Jokic.

I just saw the block.  Please give the young man his 3rd MVP.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

My MVP rankings:

1. Jokic
First in Win Shares, WS/48, Box plus/minus, PER, and VORP

2. Giannis
Second in all of those categories

3. Embiid
5th in WS/48, 3rd in the rest of those categories

[MuggsyB]

My MVP rankings:

1. Jokic
First in Win Shares, WS/48, Box plus/minus, PER, and VORP

2. Giannis
Second in all of those categories

3. Embiid
5th in WS/48, 3rd in the rest of those categories

Nope

Yes

Nope

Just my opinion.

[Jockey]

I see that Giannis dropped 40, 14, 6, and 3 in Philly?  Perhaps the MVP discussion should begin and end with him?

Embiid will be the MVP, Book it.

Giannis will not get it for the same reason that Jordan didn't it more often.

[YaBlueIt]

Embiid will be the MVP, Book it.

Giannis will not get it for the same reason that Jordan didn't it more often.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33617040/nba-mvp-straw-poll-nikola-jokic-joel-embiid-where-race-stands-two-weeks-left-season

Yesterday's straw poll had Jokic well ahead of Embiid and Giannis with 62/100 first place votes. It seems like it's Jokic's to lose at this point, but if Denver falls to a play-in spot and the Bucks secure the first seed, who knows what will happen.

Agree that voter fatigue is the biggest factor holding Giannis back. It's ridiculous to me that someone who has a very real possibility of winning the scoring title and DPOY in the same year is not the favorite for MVP.

[MuggsyB]

Was that block by Giannis better the one on Ayton last year?  I get that Jokic has little help around him but no GM or coach would take him ahead of Giannis.  The same is true of Embiid.  Do the voters realize Giannis can guard 5 positions?

[PGsHeroes32]

Embiid will be the MVP, Book it.

Giannis will not get it for the same reason that Jordan didn't it more often.

If Embiid gets it, would be quite the travesty over the other two.

Not quite on the level of Colon getting Cy Young over Santana years back. But still really bad.

[MuggsyB]

If Embiid gets it, would be quite the travesty over the other two.

Not quite on the level of Colon getting Cy Young over Santana years back. But still really bad.

But the great James Harden said Embiid is the MVP!  Of course this is also the same guy who stated "All Giannis can do is dunk".  That might be the dumbest sentence on record in human history?

[wadesworld]

Was that block by Giannis better the one on Ayton last year?  I get that Jokic has little help around him but no GM or coach would take him ahead of Giannis.  The same is true of Embiid.  Do the voters realize Giannis can guard 5 positions?

The block on Ayton was way better, even if you take the context of the game/situation out of it. The Ayton block he guarded the ball handler at the free throw line and recovered to block the dunk at the rim, with Ayton going full speed for the dunk. That was absolutely absurd. Last night's block was nice in a big win, but Embiid he to rush a shot up with the clock running down and Giannis could sell out for the block knowing that.

[JWags85]

Was that block by Giannis better the one on Ayton last year?  I get that Jokic has little help around him but no GM or coach would take him ahead of Giannis.  The same is true of Embiid.  Do the voters realize Giannis can guard 5 positions?

Last night was huge, but the Ayton one was otherworldly.  He was looking at the ball as it was released.  He turned, found it in the air, jumped and somehow high pointed it without making contact with Ayton.  Last night was an incredible defensive play but fairly straight forward otherwise (which is hilarious cause 90% of players in the league can't make that play).

[MuggsyB]

Last night was huge, but the Ayton one was otherworldly.  He was looking at the ball as it was released.  He turned, found it in the air, jumped and somehow high pointed it without making contact with Ayton.  Last night was an incredible defensive play but fairly straight forward otherwise (which is hilarious cause 90% of players in the league can't make that play).

I just rewatched the Ayton block.  You're correct.  The fact is no one else could have made that play and very few people could have made that swat on Embiid.

[The Sultan]

That Ayton block was so ridiculous that I don't think ESPN realized how ridiculous it was.  They didn't show a replay until the game was over.

[Jockey]

If Embiid gets it, would be quite the travesty over the other two.

Not quite on the level of Colon getting Cy Young over Santana years back. But still really bad.

No. A good case can be made for any of the 3 guys.

They are all so good that no one talks about Booker, Curry, or LeBron - who is having a career year at 37 years old. I think the last time MJ averaged 30 pts. was when he was 32.

[JWags85]

They are all so good that no one talks about Booker, Curry, or LeBron - who is having a career year at 37 years old. I think the last time MJ averaged 30 pts. was when he was 32.

He's shooting a lot more.  He's average his most attempts a game since he was 21, including like 25% more 3P attempts compared to any year prior, and not at any improved percentage.  He's on a bad team and putting up big scoring numbers in losses to mediocre like the Pelicans and the Wizards.

Its not meant to be hating, but I don't think its anywhere near as impressive as what other guys are doing.