2021-22 NBA Thread: The Bucks are Reigning Champs

[MuggsyB]

I've never been a fan of the "combo stat," as in ... "He's only the 8th player in NBA history to score 30 points on 60% shooting, with 8 rebounds and 8 assists in 4 straight games." I actually chuckle when the ESPNers (or other talking heads) call that a "record."



DeMar DeRozan became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points while shooting 50 percent or better from the floor in seven straight games.

I mean, think about all the great scorers these last 75 years -- including 7-footers whose average shooting distance was 2 feet from the basket. It's a little surprising that neither Wilt nor Shaq nor Kareem ever did that.

DeRozan lives 15-20 feet from the hoop. Damn, what a season he's had.

They guy has been ridiculously good all year long.  I would probably slot him 3rd for MVP.  What I love about him is he really hasn't changed his game at all.  This idea that you have to shoot threes or lay-ups in this era to be great is patently false.  It's more that guys don't have the mid-range gane like DeRozen or Wade.  It doesn't seem like Pop had any interest in building around him.  Just a tremendous pick-up for the Bulls.  He has had his playoff struggles but he just looks so comfortable out there shredding dudes.

[GB Warrior]

Take a look at Giannis' stat line tonight when you get a chance.

With all due respect to the other guys, the only world (which so happens to be the world we frequent) in which Giannis is not the MVP is the one where voters are just bored with the fact that Giannis repeatedly does all-time sh!t and one ups himself.

[MuggsyB]

With all due respect to the other guys, the only world (which so happens to be the world we frequent) in which Giannis is not the MVP is the one where voters are just bored with the fact that Giannis repeatedly does all-time sh!t and one ups himself.

I agree with you GB.  Truthfully I don't think he's gotten the help this year and Lopez is a big loss.  It's pretty simple:  Giannis' A game is vastly superior to every other player.  He just does things and moves at his height and weight that we will very likely never see again. 

[MuggsyB]

Very poor execution and coaching from the Bucks under 4 mins.

[wadesworld]

Listening to Zach Lowe's podcast with Van Gundy as the guest yesterday and Van Gundy listed his top 3 MVP candidates.  He says Jokic 1 (totally fine), Embiid 2 (fair enough)...DeRozan 3.  I've seen people who have had a list of the top 5 and don't include Giannis, but do include people like Chris Paul.

Just speaking on DeRozan (who should be named as a candidate, but realistically the only 3 that should have any real chance are Jokic, Embiid, Giannis), he's averaging 28.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 0.3 blocks, 0.9 steals, 2.3 turnovers with an eFG% of 53.3% while playing 35.6 minutes and taking 19.9 shots per game.

Compare that to Giannis who is averaging 29.4 points (2nd in the league by tenths of a point to Embiid), 11.2 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 blocks, 1.0 steals, 3.3 turnovers with an eFG% of 57.9% while playing 32.7 minutes and taking 18.5 shots per game.

Giannis is widely thought of as one of the top two players in the world right now, and is still criminally underrated.  I'm not even trying to drag DeRozan down, he's had an awesome season.  But it's absolutely absurd to have Giannis (or Embiid and Jokic, but they are in basically everyone's top 3, especially Embiid) anywhere other than the top 3 of the MVP race right now.

[Its DJOver]

It’s almost as if there’s value in saying something that’s no so controversial that people immediately dismiss you, but controversial enough to have people continue the discussion and come back to your podcast/show. It’s no different that what Stephen A Smith has been doing for decades.

[MU82]

Fair or not ... the Bucks are the defending champs and were expected to excel again, while the Bulls were bad last season and weren't expected to contend for much if anything this season. So you have the good ol' "expectations factor" working strongly in DeRozan's favor.

Throw in a little "Giannis fatigue," and you get DeRozan receiving more love than Giannis from some.

I'm thinking MVP is Embiid's to lose. If the Sixers do a good job incorporating Harden and finish strong, Embiid will win it. Who finishes after that only matters for contract clauses, gamblers and interwebs discussions like this one!

[withoutbias]

Has anyone watched much of Bronny James?  Is he that good of a prospect that it's a sure thing he gets drafted in 2024 like LBJ seems to think?  Or is it just that GM LeBron always gets his way and will get his way again in 2024?

He's a highly ranked prospect, but he's like 25-50 in most places, not top 5.  (It also begs the question that if he wasn't the son of LeBron James, would he be a top 50 prosepct?)  Top 50 guys of course can be one and dones, but they're far from guaranteed to be that.

No pressure, kid.

[forgetful]

Has anyone watched much of Bronny James?  Is he that good of a prospect that it's a sure thing he gets drafted in 2024 like LBJ seems to think?  Or is it just that GM LeBron always gets his way and will get his way again in 2024?

He's a highly ranked prospect, but he's like 25-50 in most places, not top 5.  (It also begs the question that if he wasn't the son of LeBron James, would he be a top 50 prosepct?)  Top 50 guys of course can be one and dones, but they're far from guaranteed to be that.

No pressure, kid.

My guess is he gets drafted because Lebron wants him to. He's a good player, but his stock has been dropping each year. Used to be a 5-star, now faded to 4-star.

[Billy Hoyle]

Has anyone watched much of Bronny James?  Is he that good of a prospect that it's a sure thing he gets drafted in 2024 like LBJ seems to think?  Or is it just that GM LeBron always gets his way and will get his way again in 2024?

He's a highly ranked prospect, but he's like 25-50 in most places, not top 5.  (It also begs the question that if he wasn't the son of LeBron James, would he be a top 50 prosepct?)  Top 50 guys of course can be one and dones, but they're far from guaranteed to be that.

No pressure, kid.

It will be like Wade’s kid who got signed by the Jazz G League team because dad owns the team. Bronny will be signed by whatever super team LeBron has moved on to at the time.

[JWags85]

It will be like Wade’s kid who got signed by the Jazz G League team because dad owns the team. Bronny will be signed by whatever super team LeBron has moved on to at the time.

He’s better than Zaire Wade, but he’s a fringe top 50 guy, certainly not some slam dunk draft pick.  Lebron is an incredible basketball player but we know he’s not a great talent evaluator

[MuggsyB]

Naming that young man "Bronny" was another poor decision.

[forgetful]

Naming that young man "Bronny" was another poor decision.

He is Lebron jr...."Bronny" is just a nickname.

[MuggsyB]

He is Lebron jr...."Bronny" is just a nickname.

Oh.  I'm not sure that was a great decision either.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Oh.  I'm not sure that was a great decision either.

Was George Bush naming his kid George Jr not a great decision?

[Spotcheck Billy]

Then there's George Foreman, all 6 of them.

[MuggsyB]

Wow.  I just saw that Bucks game ending.  Maybe that wakes them up?

[wadesworld]

Sentence Derrick Jones Jr. to death.

Grayson could’ve died and might die of CTE.

PS. Very dumb thing to do in a tie game in the 4th quarter.

[wadesworld]

Fun game. Big responses both ways. Have to think Jrue will get the DeRozan assignment earlier if they meet in the Playoffs. Wes was no match. Jrue’s defense in the 4th shut him down. And then he balled out offensively down the stretch too.

[forgetful]

Sentence Derrick Jones Jr. to death.

Grayson could’ve died and might die of CTE.

PS. Very dumb thing to do in a tie game in the 4th quarter.

Can you imagine if that was reversed? The uproar would be insane.

[wadesworld]

Tristan Thompson -25 in 20 minutes. At least he talks a big game!

[Hards Alumni]

Sentence Derrick Jones Jr. to death.

Grayson could’ve died and might die of CTE.

PS. Very dumb thing to do in a tie game in the 4th quarter.

And Grayson got up like nothing even happened.

[Uncle Rico]

And Grayson got up like nothing even happened.

The Bulls have a bright future in front of them of losing over and over in the Eastern Conference semi-finals if they’re lucky

[GB Warrior]

All jokes aside, Bulls-Bucks could be a fun series if all players are healthy. There's a chance that the Bulls are boat-raced with a healthy Lopez - there's no one at the 4 or 5 that can deal with Giannis.

[MuggsyB]

I see that the Lakers are 9 games under .500.