'25-26 NBA Thread

[Uncle Rico]

When did you state this and where is the criticism?

He did state it when he signed the deal but no one criticized him, just pointed out that he was an RFA and that limited what he could get, like Kuminga this off-season

[WhiteTrash]

Absolutely.  Load management is one of those things that I actually totally get both sides.  I fully support players taking care of themselves, their bodies, prolonging their careers (and maybe also benefiting themselves physically for the far life stage which is post-playing). 

But at the same time, I get some of why fans get frustrated.  Not the meathead "YOU'RE HERE TO ENTERTAIN ME.  HOW DARE YOU REST" but I remember going to a Bulls game against the Warriors in 2013/14 ish cause Curry was starting to emerge and I loved watching him and Klay.  He had picked up a ding the day before and didn't play.  I was truly bummed.  And that was a legit injury to a guy in his early 20s, not a superstar that is essentially taking a game off.

And hell, if I was a former player in the "non-load management era" and I have a body that is banged up with terrible knees that might be less so if I played today, I might subconsciously have some resentment that shows when talking about it.  Especially if they are making the equivalent of one of my contracts early 2000s contracts in a single season with the ever ballooning TV money salary caps.

I also see the logic behind load management. The fans and the league are not happy with the healthy scratches, but that is the game now and nobody is forced to buy a ticket or watch on TV. And as much as some people say that people pay to watch the players, it appears people also pay to watch their team.

[The Lens]

The things with load management is tat guys are still getting hurt.

We lost Dame, Tatum and Haliburton in last year's playoffs alone.

I don't think load management has really solved anything.

(I also think those guys getting hurt is the effect of playing the same sport 12 months a year for most of your life)

[JWags85]

Is there a better "team's third best player" than Austin Reaves right now?

Aaron Gordon in Denver.  Its a small sample size, but he's averaging 21/6/2 while shooting 53% from 3.  And thats with both of Denver's stars playing all 4 games, unlike Reaves who has been the main guy without Luka or Bron.

Do I think Gordon keeps shooting 50%+ from 3 on the year?  Probably not.  But he shot 44% on 3.5 3PA/G last year, so he clearly figured something out with his shot.  Also crazy that he's only 30.

Also, if you want to get real aggressive, I would say what Edgecombe has shown in Philly as the 3rd option already is more impressive than Reaves.

[tower912]

The things with load management is tat guys are still getting hurt.

Now we are blaming body art?

[The Sultan]

The things with load management is tat guys are still getting hurt.

We lost Dame, Tatum and Haliburton in last year's playoffs alone.

I don't think load management has really solved anything.

(I also think those guys getting hurt is the effect of playing the same sport 12 months a year for most of your life)

I don't think load management is simply about not getting hurt. It's also about staying fresh for the post-season.

[wadesworld]

Better through 5 games in which he's been the #1 option for the Lakers in 3 of?  No.  But I think there will be plenty of guys who you can at least make a case for when we get to more than 6% of the way through the season.

Chet is an obvious one.  Aaron Gordon is a good answer.  Whoever you think is the third best player on the Heat between Powell/Bam/Herro (or even Jaquez so far), Garland could be once he's healthy, Jrue Holiday is showing he was completely undervalued by being the 5th option in Boston, KAT/Bridges, Franz Wagner or Bane, Amen Thompson, maybe Cooper Flagg by the end of the year.

[WhiteTrash]

Better through 5 games in which he's been the #1 option for the Lakers in 3 of?  No.  But I think there will be plenty of guys who you can at least make a case for when we get to more than 6% of the way through the season.

Chet is an obvious one.  Aaron Gordon is a good answer.  Whoever you think is the third best player on the Heat between Powell/Bam/Herro (or even Jaquez so far), Garland could be once he's healthy, Jrue Holiday is showing he was completely undervalued by being the 5th option in Boston, KAT/Bridges, Franz Wagner or Bane, Amen Thompson, maybe Cooper Flagg by the end of the year.

Excuse me???? Pat Williams of the 4-0 Bulls? 

[MU82]

Better through 5 games in which he's been the #1 option for the Lakers in 3 of?  No.  But I think there will be plenty of guys who you can at least make a case for when we get to more than 6% of the way through the season.

Chet is an obvious one.  Aaron Gordon is a good answer.  Whoever you think is the third best player on the Heat between Powell/Bam/Herro (or even Jaquez so far), Garland could be once he's healthy, Jrue Holiday is showing he was completely undervalued by being the 5th option in Boston, KAT/Bridges, Franz Wagner or Bane, Amen Thompson, maybe Cooper Flagg by the end of the year.

Totally reasonable. And yes, I did say "right now" in my comment.

[GB Warrior]

Excuse me???? Pat Williams of the 4-0 Bulls? 

You mean MVPat

[MU82]

Aaron Gordon in Denver.  Its a small sample size, but he's averaging 21/6/2 while shooting 53% from 3.  And thats with both of Denver's stars playing all 4 games, unlike Reaves who has been the main guy without Luka or Bron.

Do I think Gordon keeps shooting 50%+ from 3 on the year?  Probably not.  But he shot 44% on 3.5 3PA/G last year, so he clearly figured something out with his shot.  Also crazy that he's only 30.

Also, if you want to get real aggressive, I would say what Edgecombe has shown in Philly as the 3rd option already is more impressive than Reaves.

Reasonable.

Reaves is averaging 34.2 points, 10.0 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He is shooting .482 overall, including .370 from 3. His last 3 games: 51 points; 41 points; 28 points, including the buzzer-beating winner. He is .897 from the line and leads the NBA in both FTM and FTA. He was doing superbly before Doncic hot hurt but has become the focus of opposing defenses with Doncic (and James) out.

Yes, a guy like Gordon has the "burden" of sharing the court with Jokic and Murray, but that also means that he has an elite playmaker getting him the ball in optimal scoring positions and that he is never the focus of the opposing defense. He's certainly is having a fine year, as is Edgecomb. Objectively, I'll still take Reaves' production at this early juncture.

It'll be fun to watch all this going forward.

[BM1090]

Depends how you rank certain guys, but I'd take Chet, Gordon, Mobley, Fox/Harper, and Siakam/Nembhard over Reaves. Probably Draymond too.

[wadesworld]

Depends how you rank certain guys, but I'd take Chet, Gordon, Mobley, Fox/Harper, and Siakam/Nembhard over Reaves. Probably Draymond too.

Hot take, but Siakam > Haliburton, in my opinion.

No way in hell I would take Nembhard over Reaves, though.  I'd take Nesmith and probably Mathurin over Nembhard, but neither of them over Reaves.

[WhiteTrash]

You mean MVPat

Right? That guy is sooo damn consistent, when healthy, at 9 ppg, 4 rpg. Easily worth $4M a year more than Reaves.

[wadesworld]

Eastern Conference teams crossing their fingers for Embiid and Herro to find health this season (or at least I am and have been, as a Bucks fan).

[MuggsyB]

Why is Giannis out???  WTF??? 

[wadesworld]

Why is Giannis out???  WTF??? 

So Draymond Green can't injure in in the 5th game of the season.

[MuggsyB]

When did you state this and where is the criticism?

I'm sure you can go back and find it in the past NBA threads.  In fact, if  memory serves, you were the one who scoffed at my comment about Reaves. 

[MuggsyB]

So Draymond Green can't injure in in the 5th game of the season.

I'm lost.  What are you talking about?  Ty. 

[The Sultan]

I'm sure you can go back and find it in the past NBA threads.  In fact, if  memory serves, you were the one who scoffed at my comment about Reaves. 

Did a search. Didn't find anything.

[MuggsyB]

Did a search. Didn't find anything.

I'm not hallucinating.  I definitely stated this soon after his contract was announced. 

[Uncle Rico]

Did a search. Didn't find anything.

Likewise.

[The Sultan]

I'm not hallucinating.  I definitely stated this soon after his contract was announced. 

I guess. As I said, did a search with your name and didn't see anything.

[MuggsyB]

I guess. As I said, did a search with your name and didn't see anything.

It wasn't you.  My apologies.  But you can find it in the 22-23 NBA thread. 

[Uncle Rico]

It wasn't you.  My apologies.  But you can find it in the 22-23 NBA thread. 

And you'd also see that no one criticized you