25-26 NBA Regular Season thread.

[NickyCards]

Probably the only Nets fan on here, I just want a top three pick. 1st overall would be nice. Loved Noah Clowney scoring 31 tonight with 7 threes. Hoping we can flip MPJ at the deadline.

[codered]

Originally Posted by blackvodka

Does anyone actually believe in the Raptors? I just don't think I can.

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I’d love to say i do. I knew this was going to be a much much better team once Ingram was healthy. It’s a super deep roster with a good handful of 1b type players but it’s damn near impossible to win a championship in the league without a 1a/all-nba player. Last team to win a championship with at least one all nba player was the 88-89 pistons and they at least had two all defensive players.

I could see this raptors team two rounds, maybe even make a finals run haha but the west is loaded and in all likelihood the nba champ will come from out west

[blackvodka]

Originally Posted by codered

I knew this was going to be a much much better team once Ingram was healthy. It’s a super deep roster with a good handful of 1b type players but it’s damn near impossible to win a championship in the league without a 1a/all-nba player.

Ingram being healthy is a major factor. Personally I didn't expect him to be healthy and it's nice to see that he is healthy. I think the same thing though. They just don't have that one guy. I just don't believe it's Barrett or Barnes either.

Their roster is deeper than most in the east but when you have 6 or 7 1b type players you get the 2014 Hawks. Toronto is the one team I was wrong about though. Them being 13-5 is a surprise and they're on a 12-1 run right now.

Hopefully they don't lay an egg against the Pacers.


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[blackvodka]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

What do you think of the new offense? The story with Memphis was they could beat the bad teams but not the good ones. But that’s kind of what Memphis was. Do you think it’s a ceiling raiser?

It will take a few more games to see how the Heats offense really gels overall. They play the Bucks Wednesday. Herro should make their offense better, but that's also contingent on Powell, Jokic and Wiggins play with Herro. Mitchell only feels like a so-so PG and I think that his ceiling has been reached.

Ja Morant has never been a player I have trusted. His ceiling is fairly high but he's always felt like an all flash and no substance guy. I think the Heat can beat more than just the bottom dwellers, but how they play together will be the difference.

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[oldgoldy97]

If the Wolves don’t try to get some backcourt help, they are a first or second round knockout.

[ninjacookies]

Keegan Murray needs to enter MVP discussions.

Comes back and Sac suddenly becomes competitive and compiles a win streak.


If the Hawnks get dropped by Kispert & The Chipmunks tn, there must be an imposed gag order on all future EC Champ discussions.

[blackvodka]

CJ going off tonight

The 76ers getting smoked

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[Chryghst]

Saw a clip of Reggie Miller predicting Kon Knueppel will break Steph Curry’s 3-point record and I still don’t know how my device didn’t immediately catch on fire.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by Chryghst

Saw a clip of Reggie Miller predicting Kon Knueppel will break Steph Curry’s 3-point record and I still don’t know how my device didn’t immediately catch on fire.

63 through 17. Just needs 104 more the remaining 65. Minutes seem blowout proof.

Reggie conceding to basic mathematical projection hypotheses. As a real one should.

Knipple is himmy. The general populace will catch on some day.

[ninjacookies]

It's wild we've become so desensitized to Lulu 30 point first halves.

Because we know he'll eventually end with 40-45.

[drobfan8]

Damn,
LAC stink
Luka is this years MVP

[al3xmac10]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

It's wild we've become so desensitized to Lulu 30 point first halves.

Because we know he'll eventually end with 40-45.

maybe a 50pt trip-dub today?

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by al3xmac10

maybe a 50pt trip-dub today?

Ever so slightly possible only due to Cup point differential considerations. But he almost always ends up around 45.

[ninjacookies]

Hayes caught a flashback and started giving Dunn that ex-gf work.

[RKH916]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

63 through 17. Just needs 104 more the remaining 65. Minutes seem blowout proof.

Reggie conceding to basic mathematical projection hypotheses. As a real one should.

Knipple is himmy. The general populace will catch on some day.

Steph doesn't have the rookie 3pt record though? Not even close, actually.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by RKH916

Steph doesn't have the rookie 3pt record though? Not even close, actually.

You're right. Looks like it's Keegan with 206. For some reason I always think that guy's been in the league forever.


Kon's still way ahead of pace. And I think he'll get there quite easily based on the fact that:

- I don't trust either Melo or Miller's chances at maintaining healthy stretches
- he still gets his even when they're both healthy
- still plays 4ths with the B squad even during blowouts (aka pretty much every game)
- he's a deceptively good dribble driver so defenses have to keep honest and respect his spacing

He can have some cold stretches and still get there. Just can't suffer an extended injury.

[RKH916]

I think the confusion is that Reggie alluded to Steph's 3 point record, which lead Chryghst to think he was talking about Steph's all time 3PM record.

Kon has a solid chance at setting the rookie record, for sure.

[ninjacookies]

Yeah Reggie's off that bolivian marching powder with that one.

I don't think Kon can even come close to approaching Steph's sheer volume that year. Over 12 attempts a game is something only greenlighted for established legacy players.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by RKH916

I think the confusion is that Reggie alluded to Steph's 3 point record, which lead Chryghst to think he was talking about Steph's all time 3PM record.

Kon has a solid chance at setting the rookie record, for sure.

Please double check but I think Reggie was talking about Steph’s all time 3PM record because he said something about Steph getting nervous in 15 years.

Found the clip at 16:45 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVkVOjfc1Z4

Didn’t see this bit before but apparently Steph averaged 2.1 3PM/game first 3 seasons and Kon is at 3.7 per game.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Yeah Reggie's off that bolivian marching powder with that one.

I don't think Kon can even come close to approaching Steph's sheer volume that year. Over 12 attempts a game is something only greenlighted for established legacy players.

You can’t let Reggie out-hot-take you Ninja. Unacceptable.

[OKC Thunder fan]

OKC pulls it out 113-105 over Minnesota

Minnesota dominated almost all of the 2nd half except for the final 1 minute when they made critical mistakes. Very unclutch. Ant Edwards was on fire and couldnt miss on 3s even against good defense.

SGA was good as usual. I dont think he has any chance to win MVP though unless Luka and Jokic get hurt. He has to overcome some of the "SGA fatigue" out there so unless he goes on fire for the rest of the season I dont see him winning it. He could really get to the next level if he could work on his passing more, he's going to see a lot of double teams in the playoffs and far too often he doesnt make the right read on passing out of it.

Chet was bad for most of the game, he got completely bullied by multiple Twolves.

Ajay Mitchell needs to get more minutes.

JW should have been back by now. I get the impression that he's cleared to return but they are holding him out because they have been playing so well even without him.

[rhigh2390]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

OKC pulls it out 113-105 over Minnesota

Minnesota dominated almost all of the 2nd half except for the final 1 minute when they made critical mistakes. Very unclutch. Ant Edwards was on fire and couldnt miss on 3s even against good defense.

SGA was good as usual. I dont think he has any chance to win MVP though unless Luka and Jokic get hurt. He has to overcome some of the "SGA fatigue" out there so unless he goes on fire for the rest of the season I dont see him winning it. He could really get to the next level if he could work on his passing more, he's going to see a lot of double teams in the playoffs and far too often he doesnt make the right read on passing out of it.

Chet was bad for most of the game, he got completely bullied by multiple Twolves.

Ajay Mitchell needs to get more minutes.

JW should have been back by now. I get the impression that he's cleared to return but they are holding him out because they have been playing so well even without him.

Dort is so horrendous offensively. I hope it doesn't end up costing them in the playoffs this year. SGA is definitely in the running for MVP. His team is 18-1 without their #2 and he only has 1 MVP so I don't think voter fatigue is at play yet.

[ninjacookies]

T'hell ya'll do to my precious Areola?



Still Himfredo. Those IST lights (and court) became a bit too bright.


Cute effort by Minny. Real cute.

More OKC casual cruising.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by kipgen

Happy to see you back, Nomad

This makes me laugh every single time. Thanks kipgen.

[Chryghst]

Originally Posted by OKC Thunder fan

OKC pulls it out 113-105 over Minnesota

Minnesota dominated almost all of the 2nd half except for the final 1 minute when they made critical mistakes. Very unclutch. Ant Edwards was on fire and couldnt miss on 3s even against good defense.

SGA was good as usual. I dont think he has any chance to win MVP though unless Luka and Jokic get hurt. He has to overcome some of the "SGA fatigue" out there so unless he goes on fire for the rest of the season I dont see him winning it. He could really get to the next level if he could work on his passing more, he's going to see a lot of double teams in the playoffs and far too often he doesnt make the right read on passing out of it.

Chet was bad for most of the game, he got completely bullied by multiple Twolves.

Ajay Mitchell needs to get more minutes.

JW should have been back by now. I get the impression that he's cleared to return but they are holding him out because they have been playing so well even without him.

Ajay has been awesome this year. Have posted this before on a different thread:

Previous 14 MVPs and their win shares per 48.
.309 24/25 - Shai
.299 23/24 - Jokic
.259 22/23 - Embiid (.308 22/23 - Jokic)
.296 21/22 - Jokic
.301 20/21 - Jokic
.279 19/20 - Giannis
.292 18/19 - Giannis
.289 17/18 - Harden
.224 16/17 - Westbrook (.278 16/17 - Durant)
.318 15/16 - Curry
.288 14/15 - Curry
.295 13/14 - Durant
.322 12/13 - Lebron
.298 11/12 - Lebron
Average: .295

For all the talk that MVP is a narrative-based award, it’s been given to the league leader in ws/48 a convincing 86% of the past 14 years. Only 14% of that period did the narrative win out in Russ and Embiid. I don’t think voter fatigue is really a thing tbh.

Looking at the early leaders in ws/48 this season:
.412 Jokic - ridiculous
.387 Shai - ridiculous
.272 Jalen Duren
.270 Giannis
.263 Jimmy Butler
.253 Hartenstein
.236 Luka Doncic

It’s early, but there are 2 candidates for MVP this year that exceed the .295 mark. If the season ended today, it would be Jokic or Shai. Luka isn’t on the same level as those two.