2024-25 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

Steph Curry will be sorely missed when he retires.  The man is absolutely ridiculous.  That said GS has serious issues. 

[Hards Alumni]

Nah, no one wants to watch 2 teams running up and down the court tossing up a bunch of threes after maybe 1 pass and hitting 33% of these shots. Too many meaningless games and the stars people pay big money to watch, may or may not play that night. Time outs are like a 3 ring circus where you don't know what to look at first. Oh, and the concessions suck, aina?

I actually agree with some of this to a degree.  Watching three point shooting competitions is pretty boring.  I understand that we have drawn all of the efficiency out of the game that we can with the current rule set.

Maybe the solution is to change the rules again.  Move the 3 line out further, make a shooting foul be the points plus two shot.  That'd incentivize more interior work, and disincentivize the three ball, plus there would be less fouls on drives to take away the easy buckets.

I dunno, just spitballin here.

[MuggsyB]

I actually agree with some of this to a degree.  Watching three point shooting competitions is pretty boring.  I understand that we have drawn all of the efficiency out of the game that we can with the current rule set.

Maybe the solution is to change the rules again.  Move the 3 line out further, make a shooting foul be the points plus two shot.  That'd incentivize more interior work, and disincentivize the three ball, plus there would be less fouls on drives to take away the easy buckets.

I dunno, just spitballin here.

They're not moving the line back.  These guys take them regularly from 25 feet regardless.  They could consider eliminating the corner three?  Many have talked about getting rid of defensive 3 secs and extending the lane like international ball.  I'm not sure how much impact that would have.  My take is they should bring back hand-checking.  There's a lot of contact away from the ball but not on the ball.  Some may say no one wants low scoring basketball but these guys are much quicker and more skilled.  I don't think hand checking would lead to scores in the 80's or low 90's. 

[wadesworld]

I love watching the NBA. I don't know why some people prefer watching people who are worse at making baskets (the point of basketball) than those that are better at it. Would much rather watch a random Thunder vs. Spurs game than a random Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game.

[MuggsyB]

I love watching the NBA. I don't know why some people prefer watching people who are worse at making baskets (the point of basketball) than those that are better at it. Would much rather watch a random Thunder vs. Spurs game than a random Wisconsin vs. Ohio State game.

I think people want to see more than a 3pt contest which can happen.   No one rational wants to see Wisconsin basketball.  This is an immutable truth.

[MUfan12]

The volume of threes doesn't bother me a ton. It does irk me when guys pass up a layup to kick out to the arc, but that's not terribly common.

The foul grifting and inconsistent officiating are what make me change the channel most nights.

[wadesworld]

The volume of threes doesn't bother me a ton. It does irk me when guys pass up a layup to kick out to the arc, but that's not terribly common.

The foul grifting and inconsistent officiating are what make me change the channel most nights.

Yeah, there are players (Embiid especially, Harden, Trae Young, Brunson) who annoy me for sure. When your goal is not to make a shot but to foul bait I agree, that's hard to watch.

[cheebs09]

I'm interested to see how this Jimmy Butler trade situation plays out. Not sure if Riley is trying to drive up the price or really means that they won't trade him.

[MuggsyB]

The volume of threes doesn't bother me a ton. It does irk me when guys pass up a layup to kick out to the arc, but that's not terribly common.

The foul grifting and inconsistent officiating are what make me change the channel most nights.

Fair points.  I don't care for "foul grifters". 

[JWags85]

I'm interested to see how this Jimmy Butler trade situation plays out. Not sure if Riley is trying to drive up the price or really means that they won't trade him.

It's interesting.  For as polarizing as Jimmy can be, the initial social media reaction is pretty "I can understand where he's coming from, he doesn't play around with his money or his career". Riley doesn't want to give him the extension, Jimmy thinks he deserves it, so it's time to play hardball.

[Uncle Rico]

Kings fire Mike Brown months after giving him an extension.

[MUBurrow]

Kings fire Mike Brown months after giving him an extension.

A lot of coaches around the league pretty public in support of Brown. No doubt he's a good guy, but I think the real subtext to that support is the implicit (and in some cases explicit) lack of respect for Randadive.

[The Sultan]

A lot of coaches around the league pretty public in support of Brown. No doubt he's a good guy, but I think the real subtext to that support is the implicit (and in some cases explicit) lack of respect for Randadive.

Well, when he leads the Kings to their first two winning seasons in 20 years, wins coach of the year and makes the playoffs in year one...

...and they fire him by phone after he runs a morning practice, that's a really bad look.

[WhiteTrash]

As a Bulls fan I'd take Brown in a heat beat. The problem is that Brown is a winner and that runs counter to JR's mission for the Bulls. We are stuck with Donovan who has to be woken up on the bench for timeouts.

[4everwarriors]

Bucks suck ass, hey?

[MU82]

The best team in the NBA just held the defending champions to 27 second-half points. The Thunder forced more turnovers in the second half (10) than they allowed made shots (8).

And OKC has won 15 straight games, all without one of its best players.

The Celtics, starting with their home loss to the Bulls on Dec. 19, have lost 5 of their last 10 games.

[tower912]

Pistons have won 7 of 8.  Truly bizarro world in Motown right now.  Throw in what the Tigers did last fall...

[StillAWarrior]

The best team in the NBA just held the defending champions to 27 second-half points. The Thunder forced more turnovers in the second half (10) than they allowed made shots (8).

And OKC has won 15 straight games, all without one of its best players.

The Celtics, starting with their home loss to the Bulls on Dec. 19, have lost 5 of their last 10 games.

I'm looking forward to the coming games between the Cavs and the Thunder in the next week or so. As a Cavs fan, maybe I shouldn't be.

[MU82]

I'm looking forward to the coming games between the Cavs and the Thunder in the next week or so. As a Cavs fan, maybe I shouldn't be.

Game is Wednesday (ESPN, 7 ET). Your Cavs are damn good, too!

[StillAWarrior]

Game is Wednesday (ESPN, 7 ET).

Yes, and again on the 16th.

[Billy Hoyle]

Pistons have won 7 of 8.  Truly bizarro world in Motown right now.  Throw in what the Tigers did last fall...

Cade Cunningham is developing into a legit star and franchise cornerstone. The Ivey injury sucks though, he was really coming into form.

[cheebs09]

Bucks showing interest in Jimmy. Bring him home. #onlyhalfserious

[wadesworld]

Bucks showing interest in Jimmy. Bring him home. #onlyhalfserious

Pass.  Although Dame's the only contract that works, so fine, I guess.

[MUfan12]

Pass.  Although Dame's the only contract that works, so fine, I guess.

I loved Dame when he was in Portland. It sucks that it hasn't worked, and it's not entirely his fault.

[wadesworld]

I loved Dame when he was in Portland. It sucks that it hasn't worked, and it's not entirely his fault.

Turns out 5'9" guards who don't even pretend to be interested in defense don't really help you win titles.  And 35 footers are fun to see go in, but when you shoot them regularly they're not really efficient shots.