'25-26 NBA Thread

[Shaka Shart]

The Bulls dealing Ayo for a totally crappy package was idiotic.  The kid has game. 

Vaxxed?

[MuggsyB]

My jinx may have worked on Minny!

[BM1090]

Minnesota has been to the conference finals two years in a row. Not as talented as SAS but if it goes to 7 not sure I'd bet against them.

[MuggsyB]

Minnesota has been to the conference finals two years in a row. Not as talented as SAS but if it goes to 7 not sure I'd bet against them.

Wemby is a real problem for the entire league if he's able to stay healthy.  He just eliminates a lot of things defensively.  You wouldn't think SAS will get over the hump this season, but moving forward it could be an uh-oh situation.  I mean what exactly do you do with this guy?  You can be overly physical, but that's sort of a desperate measure and isn't going to work.  Maybe you let him take threes by backing 5 feet off of him?  You can't teach 7'5 with that skill-set.  It's like me playing nerf hoop vs middle schoolers.  Once he gets the ball near the paint?  It's essentially over.  What happens when he gets significantly stronger?  He may actually open up opportunities for more traditional bigs to be on rosters. 

[BM1090]

Wemby is a real problem for the entire league if he's able to stay healthy.  He just eliminates a lot of things defensively.  You wouldn't think SAS will get over the hump this season, but moving forward it could be an uh-oh situation.  I mean what exactly do you do with this guy?  You can be overly physical, but that's sort of a desperate measure and isn't going to work.  Maybe you let him take threes by backing 5 feet off of him?  You can't teach 7'5 with that skill-set.  It's like me playing nerf hoop vs middle schoolers.  Once he gets the ball near the paint?  It's essentially over.  What happens when he gets significantly stronger?  He may actually open up opportunities for more traditional bigs to be on rosters. 

I think they have a great shot vs. OKC. Underdogs, but a legitimate shot.

[MuggsyB]

I think they have a great shot vs. OKC. Underdogs, but a legitimate shot.

I'm really looking forward to that match-up assuming it happens.  San Antonio is much deeper than I realized.  And they can match OKC's perimeter physicality.  They're capable of beating them but you would think experience will win out.  I feel like OKC has more guys capable of having big scoring games.  But again, those paint attacks don't often exist with Wemby on the floor.  Which team coughs it up more?  That might determine the series. 

[The Sultan]

Wemby is a real problem for the entire league if he's able to stay healthy.  He just eliminates a lot of things defensively.  You wouldn't think SAS will get over the hump this season, but moving forward it could be an uh-oh situation.  I mean what exactly do you do with this guy?  You can be overly physical, but that's sort of a desperate measure and isn't going to work.  Maybe you let him take threes by backing 5 feet off of him?  You can't teach 7'5 with that skill-set.  It's like me playing nerf hoop vs middle schoolers.  Once he gets the ball near the paint?  It's essentially over.  What happens when he gets significantly stronger?  He may actually open up opportunities for more traditional bigs to be on rosters. 

I really think they are just going to have to shut down the league for a few seasons. No use even playing the games.

[StillAWarrior]

Wemby is a real problem for the entire league if he's able to stay healthy.  He just eliminates a lot of things defensively.  You wouldn't think SAS will get over the hump this season, but moving forward it could be an uh-oh situation.  I mean what exactly do you do with this guy?  You can be overly physical, but that's sort of a desperate measure and isn't going to work.  Maybe you let him take threes by backing 5 feet off of him?  You can't teach 7'5 with that skill-set.  It's like me playing nerf hoop vs middle schoolers. Once he gets the ball near the paint?  It's essentially over.  What happens when he gets significantly stronger?  He may actually open up opportunities for more traditional bigs to be on rosters. 

Don't sell yourself short, Muggsy. I know they've got a height advantage, but I'm sure you could be competitive with middle schoolers.

[MU82]

Jason Collins died as well.  Jeesh. 

Was sad to hear about this, although given that he was suffering from brain cancer it was inevitable.

I admire Jason for the incredible courage and grace he showed.

[MuggsyB]

Don't sell yourself short, Muggsy. I know they've got a height advantage, but I'm sure you could be competitive with middle schoolers.

I still have extraordinary nerf hoop skills.  I essentially invented the Speedy Gonzales jam.  It's unblockable vs those in my height range.  Plus, I have mastered diversions against all opponents.  I'm pretty much a 5'4 combination of Shaq and Tony Parker. 

[MuggsyB]

I'm completely lost about what happened to Jalen Duren.  He's been a freaking disaster. 

[MuggsyB]

Give Harden credit.  He's played really well since Scoop torched him. 

[MuggsyB]

Detroit looks like they're in enormous trouble. 

[StillAWarrior]

Detroit looks like they're in enormous trouble. 

I certainly hope so.

[MU82]

Cunningham is a great player who had a very good game. But he also had 6 more turnovers.

And what was he doing on that FT rebound that went right to Harden? I know what he wasn't doing: his effen job.

Also: Jalen "Mr. Invisible" Duren was benched in favor of former DePaul great Paul Reed.

[CreightonWarrior]

Detroit looks like they're in enormous trouble. 

I'm sure the government will bail them out.

[MuggsyB]

Cunningham is a great player who had a very good game. But he also had 6 more turnovers.

And what was he doing on that FT rebound that went right to Harden? I know what he wasn't doing: his effen job.

Also: Jalen "Mr. Invisible" Duren was benched in favor of former DePaul great Paul Reed.

Cade has had a number of wtf turns and lost in space moments.  That said, he needs more help.  Duren has cost himself a max contract. 

[MU82]

Cade has had a number of wtf turns and lost in space moments.  That said, he needs more help.  Duren has cost himself a max contract. 

Duren will have to settle for minimum wage.

[Uncle Rico]

The Wolves embarrassed themselves yet again last night, continuing a proud tradition of Minnesota based teams.

Well, except for the Lynx.  Minnesota is lucky to have one good franchise.

[MuggsyB]

The Wolves embarrassed themselves yet again last night, continuing a proud tradition of Minnesota based teams.

Well, except for the Lynx.  Minnesota is lucky to have one good franchise.

Here's a scary thought:   Wemby (if healthy) at 25, 26, 27, 28....

Uh-Oh.

You can't teach an extremely agile 7'5.  He eliminates things defensively. 

This might be a good time to start the DBL (Diminutive Ballers League).  6 foot and under, 10 sec shot clock, dunks are worth 4 pts. 

[tower912]

Muggsy, when I was at MU in the 80's, there was a <6' intramural basketball division.   Did that still exist when you were at MU and, if so, did you play in it?

I did as a freshman.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy, when I was at MU in the 80's, there was a <6' intramural basketball division.   Did that still exist when you were at MU and, if so, did you play in it?

I did as a freshman.

Nope.  That didn't exist in the early 2000's.  But I did play a year of intramural hoops.  Unfortunately, we really only had two guys over 6 feet that could ball. 

[MU82]

Yikes! Looks like one of our most famous alums let Bucks walk all over him ...

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7282223/2026/05/15/myles-turner-comments-bucks-doc-rivers/?

Milwaukee center Myles Turner said former Bucks coach Doc Rivers did not fine players for their transgressions during the 2025-26 season.

"Doc Rivers, he didn't fine anybody, ever," Turner said. "Guys were late all the time. Guys were showing up to film whenever they wanted to show up. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I've personally ever experienced."

This past season was Turner's first in Milwaukee after spending the first 10 years of his career with the Indiana Pacers, where Nate McMillan, Nate Bjorkgren and Rick Carlisle coached him.

"But any other team I've been on, guys got fined," Turner said. "There was a sense of order and a sense of understanding. You're late to the plane, (you get a) fine. You're late to treatment: fine. You're late to film: fine. But I personally did not experience that last year for the first time in my career."

Turner's comments, which were made on the latest episode of his podcast, "Game Recognize Game," shocked co-host and WNBA superstar forward Breanna Stewart. Stewart said her team's new coach, Chris DeMarco, who was an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors before taking the job, was handing out fines for missed free-throw box outs.

"If the plane took off at 2 o'clock, we weren't leaving until 4:30," Turner said. "I'm being so serious, bro. It was crazy. Guys were an hour late to the plane. It got to the point where I just knew not to show up until an hour after they said the plane was taking off."

Turner said superstar forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was the biggest offender in being late.

"Giannis is gonna show up whenever he wants, really," Turner said. "I think that just came with the territory. And once I kind of saw what was going down, I said, 'Hey, man, more power to you. They ain't gonna fine you. Do what you do.'"

[The Sultan]

Doc was just cashing checks.

[MuggsyB]

Doc was just cashing checks.

Those checks should go directly to MU's NIL.