2023-24 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

OKC/Nola has been. crazy down the stretch. 

[MU82]

Hauser is the lead in The Athletic article about the game:

BOSTON — When Sam Hauser shot 1-for-18 a few weeks ago, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was excited for him. This was a moment to savor, a failure that was an opportunity for growth.

“I texted him after the 1-for-18 game and said, ‘The ultimate compliment is you got to miss 12 3s in an NBA game, that’s a huge positive. You have to look at it that way,’” Mazzulla said.

It can be easy to crater when you’re a shooter off the bench for a 64-win team. And as the Miami Heat were scoring right through Hauser in Sunday’s Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, he was bricking wide-open 3s. The Celtics were finding ways to work past Miami’s zone defense late in the first quarter, but Hauser was leaving them empty-handed. The Heat, without the injured Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, had nearly erased the early lead Boston carved out with its 14-0 run to open the playoffs.

Then Hauser came back on the floor for the start of the second quarter and buried four consecutive 3-pointers. The Heat never got back to within single digits in the Celtics’ 114-94 win to open the postseason. By the end of the run, Hauser went from scoreless to the game’s high-scorer.

“(Hauser was) extremely important. Sam is a big reason we extended the game in that second quarter,” Jayson Tatum said. “They cut it to three or four. Sam hit three or four 3s. You’re going to need things like that to be successful in the playoffs.”

[4everwarriors]

Hellofaplaya, aina?

[Uncle Rico]

Hauser is the lead in The Athletic article about the game:

BOSTON — When Sam Hauser shot 1-for-18 a few weeks ago, Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was excited for him. This was a moment to savor, a failure that was an opportunity for growth.

“I texted him after the 1-for-18 game and said, ‘The ultimate compliment is you got to miss 12 3s in an NBA game, that’s a huge positive. You have to look at it that way,’” Mazzulla said.

It can be easy to crater when you’re a shooter off the bench for a 64-win team. And as the Miami Heat were scoring right through Hauser in Sunday’s Game 1 of their first-round playoff series, he was bricking wide-open 3s. The Celtics were finding ways to work past Miami’s zone defense late in the first quarter, but Hauser was leaving them empty-handed. The Heat, without the injured Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, had nearly erased the early lead Boston carved out with its 14-0 run to open the playoffs.

Then Hauser came back on the floor for the start of the second quarter and buried four consecutive 3-pointers. The Heat never got back to within single digits in the Celtics’ 114-94 win to open the postseason. By the end of the run, Hauser went from scoreless to the game’s high-scorer.

“(Hauser was) extremely important. Sam is a big reason we extended the game in that second quarter,” Jayson Tatum said. “They cut it to three or four. Sam hit three or four 3s. You’re going to need things like that to be successful in the playoffs.”

1-18?!?!?

Hope someone’s parents got in the coaches ear

[MU82]

Hellofaplaya, aina?

He is often very good at one thing that is extremely valued in his sport, and I'm not at all surprised he has an NBA career. As I said, I think he'll be underpaid next season.

[Hards Alumni]

He is often very good at one thing that is extremely valued in his sport, and I'm not at all surprised he has an NBA career. As I said, I think he'll be underpaid next season.

That's fine, he will get a better contract the year after.

[MU82]

That's fine, he will get a better contract the year after.

Probably true. Either way, he'll have plenty to help support Joey.

[wadesworld]

No player should ever take 4 consecutive three pointers.  Get the ball to Ed Morrow and Theo John and let them go to work with their back to the basket.  Play to win, not to put up stats.  Play the right way.  Distribute shots evenly.

[MU82]

Yeah, can you imagine what the Hausers would have said if Markus jacked up a 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th shot after he already had been 1-for-14?

And what kind of coach actually encourages a shooter to keep shooting?

[WhiteTrash]

Can someone make senses of the Bulls offering 36 y.o. DeRozan 2yrs/$80mil? I know they came withing a hair of winning the NBA Championship, but come on.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Can someone make senses of the Bulls offering 36 y.o. DeRozan 2yrs/$80mil? I know they came withing a hair of winning the NBA Championship, but come on.

He's their leading scorer, good clubhouse guy, $40M in AAV isn't all that much, and they can trade the expiring contract the year after next.

[WhiteTrash]

He's their leading scorer, good clubhouse guy, $40M in AAV isn't all that much, and they can trade the expiring contract the year after next.

I agree with most of that but $40M would make him the 15th highest paid player in the NBA this year. Not many teams can take on that contract even if it is expiring. Also, don't the trades salaries have to match up in the NBA, so they'd have to take back a $40M guy?

[GB Warrior]

I agree with most of that but $40M would make him the 15th highest paid player in the NBA this year. Not many teams can take on that contract even if it is expiring. Also, don't the trades salaries have to match up in the NBA, so they'd have to take back a $40M guy?

Depends on where the other teams are against the tax aprons.

Also the Bulls have his Bird rights and can go over the cap to resign him, which they can't do with an external free agent. Same reason Khris got the contract from the Bucks...it's not about where else I can spend $40M, it's that I can't spend that money on literally anything else.

The NBA cap rules kick ass

[WhiteTrash]

Depends on where the other teams are against the tax aprons.

Also the Bulls have his Bird rights and can go over the cap to resign him, which they can't do with an external free agent. Same reason Khris got the contract from the Bucks...it's not about where else I can spend $40M, it's that I can't spend that money on literally anything else.

The NBA cap rules kick ass

I guess that makes sense. Seems like they could spend the money elsewhere*. I suppose if DeRozan is all about the money and not winning, he should take it. I think I'd resign myself to never winning for $80mil.

* like the 5 year $200mil for Pat Williams

[MuggsyB]

I guess that makes sense. Seems like they could spend the money elsewhere*. I suppose if DeRozan is all about the money and not winning, he should take it. I think I'd resign myself to never winning for $80mil.

* like the 5 year $200mil for Pat Williams

We've discussed this WT.  The Bulls are an unmitigated disaster.   They are nowhere near competing for anything and have made poor decision, after poor decision, after poor decision, after poor decision, etc, etc, etc.  They’ve been a minimum of 3 players away since the Rose injury.   DeRozan could maybe be a #2 on the right roster.   The contract itself doesn't bother me.  But we're dealing with an organization that has no foresight whatsoever, or frankly any idea wth they are doing. 

[MuggsyB]

Epic meltdown from Philly.  Wow. 

[WhiteTrash]

We've discussed this WT.  The Bulls are an unmitigated disaster.   They are nowhere near competing for anything and have made poor decision, after poor decision, after poor decision, after poor decision, etc, etc, etc.  They’ve been a minimum of 3 players away since the Rose injury.   DeRozan could maybe be a #2 on the right roster.   The contract itself doesn't bother me.  But we're dealing with an organization that has no foresight whatsoever, or frankly any idea wth they are doing.

Truth. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Knicks Philly ending was wild.

Lowry the vet missing free throws. And then chaos happens. The bounce on that Brunson shot was very fortunate.

[MuggsyB]

Knicks Philly ending was wild.

Lowry the vet missing free throws. And then chaos happens. The bounce on that Brunson shot was very fortunate.

8-0 run in 35 secs. 

[MU82]

As is the norm for most NBA coaches, Thibs doesn't foul up 3.

[MuggsyB]

Anthony Davis has officially gone medieval. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Damn. Nuggets would not be denied.

[MuggsyB]

Did you see that???  Wow.  Just wow. 

[MuggsyB]

Damn. Nuggets would not be denied.

Bottom line is you can't lose that game if you're the Lakers.  Ham didn't settle them down in tbe 3Q. 

[WhiteTrash]

Bottom line is you can't lose that game if you're the Lakers.  Ham didn't settle them down in tbe 3Q.

If the Lakers play the Nuggets 10 times, the Lakers win .............. zero times.