@mariner4life That's the other thing which seems a little knee-jerk to me: the poor (albeit improving) state of the East. Only four teams have a winning record and of those the Knicks (18-17) are surely going to come back to Earth at some stage. So relative to the rest of their conference they're hardly stinking it up like the Pistons are. The play-offs are easily within reach, but their recent 3-7 run must have been the death-knell.
Book dropped a season-high 43 yesterday and tomorrow we have the Lakers on Sky at 4pm. The Lakers have always been a Suns rival although I don't know if Lakers fans care as much and to be fair these games weren't much chop for a few years post the SSOL Suns vs Kobe era. But tomorrow should be a fun watch.
@shark said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Atlanta have fired their coach after their big off-season has resulted in them going 14-20
I saw that headline but I'm not surprised at their immediate record despite their off-season signings so I think this is a little tough on the coach. Rondo, Bogdanovic and Gallinari were good pick-ups, but they're hardly the making of a super team. The roster has high potential though and Rondo is on a two year deal so with near-instant validation required I can see why management have done this. It'd be similar at the Suns if Chris Paul wasn't doing what he was brought in to do: first step is change the coach and then plan B is tinkering with the roster.
They were excellent pickups but with Bogdanovic having not played one game, he was the key man. He would take pressure off Trae and give them 20 ppg as well.
On another topic, the Pelicans had a very good win against the Jazz. It was a bit of a shootout which probably suited NOP more, but the Pelicans held their nerve. The Ball / Zion / Ingram trio is really starting to click.
@shark said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life That's the other thing which seems a little knee-jerk to me: the poor (albeit improving) state of the East. Only four teams have a winning record and of those the Knicks (18-17) are surely going to come back to Earth at some stage. So relative to the rest of their conference they're hardly stinking it up like the Pistons are. The play-offs are easily within reach, but their recent 3-7 run must have been the death-knell.
Don’t be hating on my Knicks and a future all-star RJ Barrett 
I think they’ve surprised and Randle is surpassing most peoples expectations.
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@shark said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Atlanta have fired their coach after their big off-season has resulted in them going 14-20
I saw that headline but I'm not surprised at their immediate record despite their off-season signings so I think this is a little tough on the coach. Rondo, Bogdanovic and Gallinari were good pick-ups, but they're hardly the making of a super team. The roster has high potential though and Rondo is on a two year deal so with near-instant validation required I can see why management have done this. It'd be similar at the Suns if Chris Paul wasn't doing what he was brought in to do: first step is change the coach and then plan B is tinkering with the roster.
They were excellent pickups but with Bogdanovic having not played one game, he was the key man. He would take pressure off Trae and give them 20 ppg as well.
On another topic, the Pelicans had a very good win against the Jazz. It was a bit of a shootout which probably suited NOP more, but the Pelicans held their nerve. The Ball / Zion / Ingram trio is really starting to click.
Up till now Pels have been getting annihilated in shootouts. Their great shooting nights seem to be about par for other teams.
@act-crusader Spurs gave them a touch up today
And the Suns win well against the Lakers who were without AD, Gasol and Kuzma but Booker was ejected with around two quarters to go.
Lebron's All Star team looks like he had all his picks first, then Durant! KD picked Kyrie with his first pick, over Luka, Steph, Kawhi, Joker....come on
@tewaio said in NBA Season 20/21:
Lebron's All Star team looks like he had all his picks first, then Durant! KD picked Kyrie with his first pick, over Luka, Steph, Kawhi, Joker....come on
Team mate politics! In an All-Star type game, Kyrie has that game in him.
LBJ’s starting lineup is something else though. And if there is a time that all three of Curry, Lillard and Luka on, then watch out 30 footers....
Marks makes another move.
Six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a deal to join the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season, his agent, Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Sunday night. The Nets are using one of their veteran-minimum-contract slots to sign Griffin, sources said. Griffin informed Nets general manager Sean Marks of his decision to join Brooklyn's championship chase on Sunday evening, a reunion of sorts with his former Los Angeles Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan.
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
The ASG is stuuuuuuuupid
:money_bag: :money_bag:
USA vs Rest of World would be so much better.
@bovidae said in NBA Season 20/21:
Marks makes another move.
Six-time All-Star forward Blake Griffin has agreed to a deal to join the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the season, his agent, Sam Goldfeder of Excel Sports, told ESPN on Sunday night. The Nets are using one of their veteran-minimum-contract slots to sign Griffin, sources said. Griffin informed Nets general manager Sean Marks of his decision to join Brooklyn's championship chase on Sunday evening, a reunion of sorts with his former Los Angeles Clippers teammate DeAndre Jordan.
Win or lose, Marks has had a GM of the year type season
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Steph Curry is a human cheat code when it comes to shooting the 3
Mike Conley is one of my favourite players but even I was cheering for the Chef in that one.
I’m not a betting man but I told a mate to put money on a Sabonis / Curry double and he turned his $50 into $$$$$$$....
@voodoo it wasn’t as fun as last year, but Greek Freak not missing a basket was still something to watch.
@bovidae said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
The ASG is stuuuuuuuupid
:money_bag: :money_bag:
USA vs Rest of World would be so much better.
Can't see it ever happening too many bonuses from teams and sponsors for becoming an all star that the potential best would miss out in this case.
Watching those guys shoot the three from halfway, should they remove the three at pro level?
@magpie_in_aus said in NBA Season 20/21:
@bovidae said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
The ASG is stuuuuuuuupid
:money_bag: :money_bag:
USA vs Rest of World would be so much better.
Can't see it ever happening too many bonuses from teams and sponsors for becoming an all star that the potential best would miss out in this case.
The “potential best” miss out every year though.
If you look at this years selections on the international team you would have had:
Embiid
Simmons
Antetokounmpo
Jokic
Doncic
Vucevic
Gobert
Sabonis
And although he’s represented USA, give Kyrie an International jersey. So that makes 9.
The other three spots I’d add, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam and Dragic.
They’d go up against a starting lineup of Lebron, Curry, Leonard, Durant, A. Davis
Bench : Beal, Harden, Lillard, George, Zion, Booker, Tatum
@act-crusader I did a quick count too of the ASG rosters before my earlier post. With the increased international talent in the NBA nowadays you could have two evenly matched teams.
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Steph Curry is a human cheat code when it comes to shooting the 3
Mike Conley is one of my favourite players but even I was cheering for the Chef in that one.
I’m not a betting man but I told a mate to put money on a Sabonis / Curry double and he turned his $50 into $$$$$$$....
@voodoo it wasn’t as fun as last year, but Greek Freak not missing a basket was still something to watch.
I didn't watch, but outside of the 3x 3's, were they all dunks???
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Steph Curry is a human cheat code when it comes to shooting the 3
Mike Conley is one of my favourite players but even I was cheering for the Chef in that one.
I’m not a betting man but I told a mate to put money on a Sabonis / Curry double and he turned his $50 into $$$$$$$....
@voodoo it wasn’t as fun as last year, but Greek Freak not missing a basket was still something to watch.
I didn't watch, but outside of the 3x 3's, were they all dunks???
7 dunks. He hit hook shots, floater, finger rolls, and layups.
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
Steph Curry is a human cheat code when it comes to shooting the 3
Mike Conley is one of my favourite players but even I was cheering for the Chef in that one.
I’m not a betting man but I told a mate to put money on a Sabonis / Curry double and he turned his $50 into $$$$$$$....
@voodoo it wasn’t as fun as last year, but Greek Freak not missing a basket was still something to watch.
I didn't watch, but outside of the 3x 3's, were they all dunks???
7 dunks. He hit hook shots, floater, finger rolls, and layups.
Sounds more like Dr J than Giannis!
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
Like the Nets?
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
Like the Nets?
lets hope not, because that means a buy-out and another guy leaving the Spurs for not much
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
Like the Nets?
Lakers could use him.... lots of teams could use him
@canefan said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
Like the Nets?
Lakers could use him.... lots of teams could use him
I reckon the Suns, Knicks or Celtics
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@canefan said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
@mariner4life said in NBA Season 20/21:
I just saw a report that LaMarcus Aldridge is leaving the Spurs. Sounds like pretty much immediately.
He's been really good for San Antonio, and i hope he goes somewhere with a shot at a ring.
Like the Nets?
Lakers could use him.... lots of teams could use him
I reckon the Suns, Knicks or Celtics
Anyone in contention for the title or the playoffs
@act-crusader said in NBA Season 20/21:
@magpie_in_aus said in NBA Season 20/21:
@bovidae said in NBA Season 20/21:
@voodoo said in NBA Season 20/21:
The ASG is stuuuuuuuupid
:money_bag: :money_bag:
USA vs Rest of World would be so much better.
Can't see it ever happening too many bonuses from teams and sponsors for becoming an all star that the potential best would miss out in this case.
The “potential best” miss out every year though.
If you look at this years selections on the international team you would have had:
Embiid
Simmons
Antetokounmpo
Jokic
Doncic
Vucevic
Gobert
SabonisAnd although he’s represented USA, give Kyrie an International jersey. So that makes 9.
The other three spots I’d add, Jamal Murray, Pascal Siakam and Dragic.
They’d go up against a starting lineup of Lebron, Curry, Leonard, Durant, A. Davis
Bench : Beal, Harden, Lillard, George, Zion, Booker, Tatum
Yeah I'm all for it but just cant see players agreeing to potentially miss out on adding another 'all star' selection to their legacy for a lower ranked international....and I know its a popularity comp and All NBA matters more....but also their egos....
and also Merica' we are the greatest in the world and if we had an international team vs us we might lose
LBJ suffered a high ankle sprain against the Hawks, out indefinitely. That will make the race for the top playoff places in the West even more interesting. They need AD back to help hold the fort, either way they will be a dangerous low seed if it takes them that long to get back to full strength
@canefan said in NBA Season 20/21:
LBJ suffered a high ankle sprain against the Hawks, out indefinitely. That will make the race for the top playoff places in the West even more interesting. They need AD back to help hold the fort, either way they will be a dangerous low seed if it takes them that long to get back to full strength
dicey injuries to come back from, even for an athletic freak like ABJ. Being old won't help either.
Still, blessing in disguise. They'll make playoffs. Seeding means less at the moment. And both their best players have had big rests.
Gutted for LBJ....I can relate as I fractured and fully reputured 3 ligaments in my ankle last month after our team was 4/4 to start a new comp we entered and then lost 4 straight (all due to me being out not the fact another guy had to get cartilage removed, another guy in a car accident and another one dislocated his finer....). Putting my physio hat on its a good bet both me and LBJ will be back in crunch time and both our mid 30's bodies will benefit from the rest after all the miles/beers we have put on it.
Man the lakers were bad enough with AD out now with Kuzma, Dennis and Harrell as your key scores its looking dire.
In other shit news Melo Ball out for the season broke his wrist yesterday. Had loved watching him this season and was easily ROY up until now. Was actually really impressed how much effort he was showing on D particularly yesterday...not saying he is a great defender but was going hard.
My picks for ROY race now would include Edwards and Haliburton.
RJ Hampton traded to the Orlando Magic.
The bad news is the Magic are just starting a full rebuild.
The good news is he's going to see a lot more game time.
No really big moves at the trade deadline, or at least nothing that will really impact on the playoffs this season.
Magic blew it up and traded Vucevic to the Bulls and Gordon to the Nuggets. Oladipo went to Miami, but Toronto held onto Kyle Lowry.
Clippers traded Lou Williams to Atlanta for Rondo, so I suppose that might impact on their title hopes.
@barbarian victor and likely aldridge good additions to the heat who will again be a good team in the playoffs now they aren't as struck with injury and covid restrictions.
so the Spurs agree to a buy out for LMA. So nothing coming in for him. It's basically full rebuild
oh, and i watched a bit of the 2nd quarter of the supposedly big game between the Jazz and the Nets yesterday
It. Was. Dogshit.
Firstly, the Nets without all of Durant, Harden and Kyrie are a G-League team.
Both teams knew what the result was going to be before tip off and played at half pace. No defense, just jacked up 3 after jacked up 3. Not even open shots, just whoevers turn it was. It was shit, and i was happy to turn it off.
The NBA regular season really does suck. Especially this year where home court will mean absolutely fuck all.
@mariner4life Yeah I agree. And for some reason Kayo has an obsession with showing the Lakers and Warriors, both of which are unwatchable with key stars injured.
So I bought a league pass which gives me eight games a month, which I use on fun teams that they never play on TV here, such as the Hornets (pre-Lamelo injury), Grizzlies, Pelicans.
But yeah, the regular season sucks hard.
