'25-26 NBA Thread

[MuggsyB]

It's good that some form of hoops is back.   Houston is freaking gargantuan without VV. 

[MuggsyB]

Strong start for Chet.  I was completely wrong about him. 

[Shaka Shart]

I was completely right about Chet

[Uncle Rico]

Strong start for Chet.  I was completely wrong about him. 

I'm boycotting the NBA

[wadesworld]

Chet is good, but also an example of what is wrong with the max contract, especially now with more restrictive cap rules. Paying a good player that amount of your cap comes back to haunt you eventually. It should be for guys like Giannis, Shai, etc. But if the team doesn't give him the max, someone will.

[MuggsyB]

If Amen Thompson develops a consistent J?  Look out. 

[MuggsyB]

I noticed the OKC fans cheered Steven Adams but booed Durant. 

[Uncle Rico]

Chet is good, but also an example of what is wrong with the max contract, especially now with more restrictive cap rules. Paying a good player that amount of your cap comes back to haunt you eventually. It should be for guys like Giannis, Shai, etc. But if the team doesn't give him the max, someone will.

Join me in boycotting the NBA

[GB Warrior]

I was completely right about Chet

His cultural misappropriation was distasteful, but now he's extending it to being good at basketball too?

[MuggsyB]

Luka looks great.  The rest of the Lakers do not.

[Jay Bee]

If Amen Thompson develops a consistent J?  Look out. 

Amen!

[WhiteTrash]

Luka looks great.  The rest of the Lakers do not.

I see why Ayton was available as a free agent.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

If Amen Thompson develops a consistent J?  Look out. 

Year 3 and he still can't shoot a lick. At this point, I don't know how anyone can realistically expect it to change.

Very good player but it's a huge hole in his game.

[JWags85]

Rockets-Thunder was an awful rock fight of a game...that got great under 5 min and turned into a fantastic game.  I turned it off multiple times in the first half and 3rd quarter.

Luka looks great.  The rest of the Lakers do not.

Lakers are absolutely toast if Luka or LeBron misses significant time. Unless Knecht makes some huge jump, 25-30 min each of Gabe Vincent and mid 30s Marcus Smart is a prescription for a play in game. Vanderbilt looked awful. Laravia and a washed Kleiber aren't moving the needle.

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/DrGuru_/status/1980839867686019174

Smart doing what won him a DPOY on the offensive end is genius.  Might win an MVP doing this.

He's the Brad Davison of the NBA.

[MU82]

KD blamed himself:

"I missed the free throws, and I fouled somebody at the end. I think those two plays are the reason we lost."

KD could have really been the Webber-ish goat had the refs seen him ask for a time-out late in regulation. The Rockets didn't have any TOs left, so that would have been a technical foul, and the Thunder would have gotten the ball.

"None of the three game officials saw Kevin signal that timeout. That's why it wasn't granted before the expiration of time," crew chief Zach Zarba said.

[JWags85]

https://x.com/DrGuru_/status/1980839867686019174

Smart doing what won him a DPOY on the offensive end is genius.  Might win an MVP doing this.

He's the Brad Davison of the NBA.

He also fouled Jimmy by stepping into and standing underneath him on a jumper, then collapsed to the ground when Jimmy collided with him on his way down to try and draw a flagrant or something.

[wadesworld]

He also fouled Jimmy by stepping into and standing underneath him on a jumper, then collapsed to the ground when Jimmy collided with him on his way down to try and draw a flagrant or something.

And tried to pull Steph's arm off of his body.  I now understand why some people are so high on the Lakers as a contender.  I know I don't want Giannis playing on the same court as Marcus Smart.  Lose a game to keep Giannis healthy.

https://x.com/Rate_the_Refs/status/1980834783749181468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1980834783749181468%7Ctwgr%5E8cababa3a14125425c30451ab0c704db935e8251%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnba%2Fmarcus-smart-foul-steph-curry-video

[WhiteTrash]

And tried to pull Steph's arm off of his body.  I now understand why some people are so high on the Lakers as a contender.  I know I don't want Giannis playing on the same court as Marcus Smart.  Lose a game to keep Giannis healthy.

https://x.com/Rate_the_Refs/status/1980834783749181468?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1980834783749181468%7Ctwgr%5E8cababa3a14125425c30451ab0c704db935e8251%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnba%2Fmarcus-smart-foul-steph-curry-video

First, I 100% agree with this foul call on Smart.

But it is interesting that this type of stuff happened all the time in the 80's and if the refs did anything, it would be to talk to the players and ask them to "cool it".

[JWags85]

First, I 100% agree with this foul call on Smart.

But it is interesting that this type of stuff happened all the time in the 80's and if the refs did anything, it would be to talk to the players and ask them to "cool it".

1) the players are a lot bigger and stronger than in the 80s.  For every Charles Oakley or big enforcer of the 80s, there are numerous guards and small forwards in todays NBA that are freakishly strong in comparison to their 80s counterparts.  Its not a disapragement of talent back then, just a realistic comparison of how nutrition, training, and changing of the makeup of NBA athletes turned out a much bigger and stronger average player.

2) Sports science and medicine has come a long ways as well, so we know a lot more about what actions and events can cause serious and lasting injury and harm and thus need to be watched out for.

Both those things lead to a very different monitoring and policing of the game.

[Jockey]

Year 3 and he still can't shoot a lick. At this point, I don't know how anyone can realistically expect it to change.

Very good player but it's a huge hole in his game.

Paul Pressey on steroids.

Also, Sengun will be breakout player of the year. Already very good, but will be top 10 guy in the league this year.

[JWags85]

Paul Presley on steroids.

Also, Sengun will be breakout player of the year. Already very good, but will be top 10 guy in the league this year.

I'm fully on board with Sengun being one of the most underrated players in the league, he's fantastic.  But I don't know how a guy that averaged 20/10/4.5 the last 2 years and was an All Star will be a breakout player, unless he averages 30 and 15, which I don't think he will.

And I could buy a top 10 player ceiling, he's only 23 after all, but he's a few years away.  He's got that methodical below the rim game like Jokic, but he's not a good enough shooter.  Part of what makes Jokic lethal is he's close to a 40% outside shooter, which lets him space the floor and pass when people are forced close out on him.  Sengun shoots under 30% from deep.  He can develop it, look at Brook Lopez, but he's not there.

[MU82]

I'm fully on board with Sengun being one of the most underrated players in the league, he's fantastic.  But I don't know how a guy that averaged 20/10/4.5 the last 2 years and was an All Star will be a breakout player, unless he averages 30 and 15, which I don't think he will.

And I could buy a top 10 player ceiling, he's only 23 after all, but he's a few years away.  He's got that methodical below the rim game like Jokic, but he's not a good enough shooter.  Part of what makes Jokic lethal is he's close to a 40% outside shooter, which lets him space the floor and pass when people are forced close out on him.  Sengun shoots under 30% from deep.  He can develop it, look at Brook Lopez, but he's not there.

I've seen a couple of killer dunks by Sengun, so I'm thinking he's more athletic than some give him credit for.

[JWags85]

I've seen a couple of killer dunks by Sengun, so I'm thinking he's more athletic than some give him credit for.

I don't think he's entirely unathletic, but he's also 6'10 so he can have an 18" vertical and still throw down.  I mean I've seen Jokic catch an alley oop and dunk over people. I just mean he's 23, as young and spry as he'll ever be, and his game is not explosive or quick, even though he plays inside out.

[MuggsyB]

Wemby vs Flagg right now.