The Official NBA Regular Season Thread—-20/21 Edition

[Donkaylove]

Originally Posted by rhigh2390

I remember when Jordan Clarkson was considered one of the worst players in the league when in Cleveland.... Dude has been crushing it in Utah!

word, didnt see game, but i will take 40 from the bench all day

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by brothertona

Their 4th quarter execution is absolutely lacking. They've fallen apart all year in the 4th. I think it's a Pierce issue and a young team that just isn't ready.


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That's it.

And it doesn't mean they won't be, but it's just not a team of battle hardened men yet. Floating around .500 is probably decent progress for them.

Even looking through the East... they don't have:
-A physically gifted combo like Embiid and Simmons
-Anyone who could touch the all around game of Giannis with a 10 foot pole
-Durant/Kyrie/Harden... no need to say more
-The at this point veteran play of the Celtics
-Or even the experience of Toronto

It makes sense they are in that next tier.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

I love how Simmons just crushes against Utah and mitchell every time.

40-7-8 so far, wow.

Originally Posted by Justin7

BEN SIMMONS
42 pts leggoo

Originally Posted by Jopeal

Looking E-leet

I still think the Jazz will hold em off though.

Every once in a while we get to see glimpses of what Ben Simmons can be if he decided that he wanted to take over the game every night.

42-9-12-1 and 1, shooting 58% from the field, and spending much of the time guarding D Mitchell, who was held to 38%.

Last year, during the month of Jan, he averaged 22, 9, and 8 on 63% shooting. His offensive rating was a ridiculous 127 for the month.

Then his back issue started up. Then Brown pissed away his bubble by moving him to PF. Would love to see him put it all together.

[rustywest]

Shout out Mo 'buckets' Wagner

[rustywest]

Originally Posted by bigjbasketball

Every year there is a bad contract that everyone says is impossible to move, and almost every year one of them gets moved. I’m not saying any team would want to take on Blake’s contract, but stranger things have happened and anything is possible. It really is a bummer how quickly he fell off the cliff though...I was just listening to Bill Simmons’ podcast and he said something crazy that I would have never believed - it’s been over a year since Blake dunked the ball in a game. How is that possible?

Bingo

Originally Posted by brothertona

I'd like to see a buyout honestly. I'd love to see him either join the Clippers and retire, or join the Suns and CP3 and hopefully get healthy enough to play with Chris Paul one more time.

LoL - There is Zero chance Blake wants to retire on Chris Paul's team. 0
If a buyout occurs somewhere in California for sure.

Originally Posted by MIRRABB

It's possible because unfortunately his surgeries have taken a huge toll on his knees. He can't really move at all anymore, it looks like he is walking in quicksand. Honestly he should retire, though maybe he's not quite ready for that yet.

But also his passion for the game is lost, he is much more interested in that LA showbiz and comedian career. Who knows, he may regain passion if he lands on the right team...

[SDcardguy24]

Another former Thunder player, Andre Roberson headed to Brooklyn. No idea how he will look after being out all of 2018, 2019, and most of 2020 but I remember his rep was awful shooter but lockdown defender. Think they still have one more spot to fill.

[Spurplerain10]

I really hope Julius Randle can make the All-Star team. He has been absolutely balling this year. My Knicks are watchable now, and with hope for the future.

[brothertona]

Draymond is so good for this league in how he has absolutely zero filter
https://twitter.com/jdumasreports/st...007355393?s=21


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[KhalDrogo]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Floating around .500 is probably decent progress for them.

Not for the people here who proclaimed them to be a top team in the East.

[lietuvalabas]

Originally Posted by brothertona

Draymond is so good for this league in how he has absolutely zero filter
https://twitter.com/jdumasreports/st...007355393?s=21


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He's right on a lot of points though, and though he's yelling, he talks professionally, no slang or anything that doesn't make him look intelligent, he's correct there is a double standard in that sense. Kinda lost me on the kyrie thing, dude just left the team pretty much gave them the middle finger and went on silly zoom calls when he should have been playing basketball..im all for mental health awareness but you need to be respectful enough and professional enough to let your employer know. Otherwise well done draymond.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by lietuvalabas

He's right on a lot of points though, and though he's yelling, he talks professionally, no slang or anything that doesn't make him look intelligent, he's correct there is a double standard in that sense. Kinda lost me on the kyrie thing, dude just left the team pretty much gave them the middle finger and went on silly zoom calls when he should have been playing basketball..im all for mental health awareness but you need to be respectful enough and professional enough to let your employer know. Otherwise well done draymond.

I completely agree on the double standard, it seems like a lot of times media and fans (not all but some) give more leeway to owners and FOs.

But the whole sitting players thing is kinda BS. The reason teams do that is because they don't want to risk injury; and it's almost never done unilaterally, the agent and the player agrees with it. Let's be honest, how many people won't be OK with taking a small 1 or 2 week paid vacation while waiting to move to what is likely a better job?

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by lietuvalabas

He's right on a lot of points though, and though he's yelling, he talks professionally, no slang or anything that doesn't make him look intelligent, he's correct there is a double standard in that sense. Kinda lost me on the kyrie thing, dude just left the team pretty much gave them the middle finger and went on silly zoom calls when he should have been playing basketball..im all for mental health awareness but you need to be respectful enough and professional enough to let your employer know. Otherwise well done draymond.

I thought he was campaigning for social justice or whatever. If he was having a mental breakdown, that's one thing, but I didn't think that was the case. I never got the memo that I could just take weeks off at a time to focus on my political beliefs and then walk back in like nothing happened. I thought that's where the work-life balance came into play.

[lietuvalabas]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

I completely agree on the double standard, it seems like a lot of times media and fans (not all but some) give more leeway to owners and FOs.

But the whole sitting players thing is kinda BS. The reason teams do that is because they don't want to risk injury; and it's almost never done unilaterally, the agent and the player agrees with it. Let's be honest, how many people won't be OK with taking a small 1 or 2 week paid vacation while waiting to move to what is likely a better job?

Well im for the equality of the situation..but its starting to be a "players league" and thats not okay either. it should be equal part owners and players say, but adam the doormat silver seems to let just about everything fly and is way too player friendly. There needs to be order etc etc.

To your second point, i've never even thought of that angle..thats right they are still getting paid, and yeah who would be complaining about that haha? I think he's moreso referring to a player that was currently playing in a game and told to go get dressed back in normal clothes, thats annoying. Your adrenaline is already pumping and they pull you? wtf? and the cousins thing where he was told in an interview that he was traded...thats disgraceful, have the balls to tell your guy, dont let him find out via 3rd party, completely bush league.

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

I thought he was campaigning for social justice or whatever. If he was having a mental breakdown, that's one thing, but I didn't think that was the case. I never got the memo that I could just take weeks off at a time to focus on my political beliefs and then walk back in like nothing happened. I thought that's where the work-life balance came into play.

Yeah agree wholeheartedly with your entire post, like x1000. And if it was for a mental breakdown, my heart goes out to him, truly, thats rough. But still how hard is it to send a text or a call to your front office and tell them thats the reason why? I'm sure noone would call him a biatch or anything of the sort, just be respectful and i'm sure they would have understood.

That zoom call though...real hard to back peddle for that.

[MrMasterpiece]

I swear Julius Randle still isn’t getting the praise he should. He’s balling!

[Dame]

Originally Posted by MrMasterpiece

I swear Julius Randle still isn’t getting the praise he should. He’s balling!

As a longtime Laker fan, never in a million years did I think he'll actually reach his potential. He was making the same mistakes as of last season and then something finally clicked on him.


Happy for him, Clarkson and Ingram. They were all ridiculed as busts or net negative players at one point of their careers. Here's hoping Lonzo finds his groove.

[tjforce]

Interesting note about Ben Simmons...


After yesterday's game, he is shooting 67% from the free thrown line.

The knock on him from the bleachers was always that he didn't work to improve his game, didn't practice shooting, etc. Yet, his free throw % has improved each year in the league:

2017- 56%
2018- 60%
2019- 62%
2020- 67%

Nobody will mistake him for Steph Curry at the line, but he's creeping towards a make rate that is somewhat respectable.

Couple that with leading the league in Defense Box +/- and DPS, and being top 5 in steals per game, all for the East's leading team, he's put together a decent start to the season.

I'm interested to see where he goes from here. For the month of Feb, he's averaging 21.3/8.5/8.5 on 62% shooting. His offensive rating is 129.

Does he keep this up, or start to take his foot off the gas like we've seen before?

[brothertona]

I'm impressed, I always thought he'd be held back by his lack of shooting but he's grown leaps and bounds under Doc as has Tobias and is an absolute beast this year.

[ballhawkdawk]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Interesting note about Ben Simmons...


After yesterday's game, he is shooting 67% from the free thrown line.

The knock on him from the bleachers was always that he didn't work to improve his game, didn't practice shooting, etc. Yet, his free throw % has improved each year in the league:

2017- 56%
2018- 60%
2019- 62%
2020- 67%

Nobody will mistake him for Steph Curry at the line, but he's creeping towards a make rate that is somewhat respectable.

Couple that with leading the league in Defense Box +/- and DPS, and being top 5 in steals per game, all for the East's leading team, he's put together a decent start to the season.

I'm interested to see where he goes from here. For the month of Feb, he's averaging 21.3/8.5/8.5 on 62% shooting. His offensive rating is 129.

Does he keep this up, or start to take his foot off the gas like we've seen before?

His FT form is what is most reassuring. He still has his nights where he goes 1/3 or 2/4, but his form overall is much cleaner and he looks more confident at the line. Those nights where he has double digit attempts and hits 80% of them should be more common moving forward. I expect Lebron level FT reliability and he'll probably top out around there, but that's plenty good enough for his style of play.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by ballhawkdawk

His FT form is what is most reassuring. He still has his nights where he goes 1/3 or 2/4, but his form overall is much cleaner and he looks more confident at the line. Those nights where he has double digit attempts and hits 80% of them should be more common moving forward. I expect Lebron level FT reliability and he'll probably top out around there, but that's plenty good enough for his style of play.

His shot is actually decently smooth these days. It's not always accurate, but I've noticed it's a lot less flat than even a year ago.

[daeve]

Nuggets have 20 pts, Jokic has 15 of those [6-6 FG]

[spurs50fan]

Spurs recently went through the site of the 20-21 All Star Game right...smh

[brothertona]

I saw this on a rumor site. I'd do this deal in a heartbeat. I'd likely ask for Nesmith instead of Langford. It would actually give the Hawks a secondary ballhandler so that Trae could play more off-ball, then when Bogdan came back he'd take over at SF.
C. Capela
PF. Danilo/Williams
SF. Reddish/Huerter
SG. Smart/Nesmith
PG. Trae

Boston Celtics Receive: F John Collins, G Tony Snell, C Bruno Fernando

Atlanta Hawks Receive: G Marcus Smart, G/F Romeo Langford, C Robert Williams III, BOS 2021 1st Round Pick, BOS 2022 2nd Round Pick, BOS 2023 1st Round Pick

[brothertona]

It seems our two-way Skylar Mays was the only one who seemingly showed up for that game.

Originally Posted by spurs50fan

Spurs recently went through the site of the 20-21 All Star Game right...smh

[Erikthredd]

Originally Posted by brothertona

I saw this on a rumor site. I'd do this deal in a heartbeat. I'd likely ask for Nesmith instead of Langford. It would actually give the Hawks a secondary ballhandler so that Trae could play more off-ball, then when Bogdan came back he'd take over at SF.
C. Capela
PF. Danilo/Williams
SF. Reddish/Huerter
SG. Smart/Nesmith
PG. Trae

Boston Celtics Receive: F John Collins, G Tony Snell, C Bruno Fernando

Atlanta Hawks Receive: G Marcus Smart, G/F Romeo Langford, C Robert Williams III, BOS 2021 1st Round Pick, BOS 2022 2nd Round Pick, BOS 2023 1st Round Pick

That one would be tough just for the fact that this would be assuming that Collins agrees to sign long term but at what cost? If they could get him to go 4/100 I think they might be able to make it work with two 30+ max deals and two 25+ max deals. Losing Smart would really hurt though he’s my favorite C’s player.

side note:Nesmith might finally be playing his best game in green, hit two threes w/7pts & +14 in the first half.

[spurs50fan]

Originally Posted by brothertona

It seems our two-way Skylar Mays was the only one who seemingly showed up for that game.

LSU product? Almost single handily brought them back from 42 down

Anyone test positive? Spurs have been playing well then hit a positive result