The OFFICIAL 2023 NBA Season Thread

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by daeve

He's definitely trying this year... he looks way better than in the past on 1v1 sequences like this https://twitter.com/joelrushnba/stat...nyGFcIW5Rtv0fg

thing is, his footwork has always been good - the knock was his hips looking stiff / not rotating and making him look slow. Not sure what he changed with offseason conditioning [maybe it was just having more time to work on it with his injury last year], but he is definitely more engaged and able so far this year.

and re: investorbois - his hype thread has only 1 post in all of 2022, so it's basically been nonexistant for the past year.

I will give you, that clip looks awesome. Really great footwork defensively.

The investors all got blown up on his stuff. Comparing these guys to all time greats from day 1 is a disservice to everyone.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by Dame

@Tjforce

Hahah.

I'd probably have to spend some time crafting a defense if Garland hadn't just dropped 51 the other day.

I get it though, the hobby loves one dimensional shooting guards for a while, until they don't.

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Hahah.

I'd probably have to spend some time crafting a defense if Garland hadn't just dropped 51 the other day.

I get it though, the hobby loves one dimensional shooting guards for a while, until they don't.

51 points AND the loss.

Reminds me of Kobe without Shaq/Gasol.

[Dame]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Hahah.

I'd probably have to spend some time crafting a defense if Garland hadn't just dropped 51 the other day.

I get it though, the hobby loves one dimensional shooting guards for a while, until they don't.

Poole over Garland is just crazy to me lol.

People still sleeping on Garland in 2022 can’t be serious.

[daeve]

Scottie's scoring is a bit down so far this year, but his distributor skills have been impressing me - not many 6'9 guys that make passes like this

https://streamable.com/wfpvyr

[gomiamigo]

Originally Posted by oshmeehan

... PJ and Thybulle that hardly ever take any shots. So not a huge surprise he put up those numbers.

If you don't think FIFTY-NINE points on only 28 shots is a huge surprise, just....wow, man, we all know Giannis is truly great, but give the true credit where it's due.

Greek's alltime high is 51 on 26 shots.

Embiid scored 9 more points on only 2 more shots.

Embiid also had one more assist. And 6 more blocks.

[and would have had 2 more pts plus an 'and one,' had the ref not incorrectly called a Q1 charge on Joel when the defender's foot was clearly in the circle - it's obvious on the tape but Doc doesn't challenge in Q1, so]

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

51 points AND the loss.

Reminds me of Kobe without Shaq/Gasol.

You just compared Garland to Kobe.

Thank You.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by Dame

Poole over Garland is just crazy to me lol.

People still sleeping on Garland in 2022 can’t be serious.

Golden State fans, what can I say.

But hey, if Garland can't compare to Poole, at least he compares to Kobe, apparently????

[eastbayak]

Originally Posted by tjforce

You just compared Garland to Kobe.

Thank You.

Kobe without Shaq/Gasol wasn't a winner though.

I get it, some members prefer high-scoring performances over game-winning performances.

Cavs would've likely won had Spida (team alpha) played.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by eastbayak

Kobe without Shaq/Gasol wasn't a winner though.

I get it, some members prefer high-scoring performances over game-winning performances.

Cavs would've likely won had Spida (team alpha) played.

I very much prefer wins over stats...

which is why i enjoyed the Cavs as the biggest turnaround team last season.

And yes, I hope that Mitchell would have made a 4 point impact on Sunday's game.

Also, it sucks that Curry wasn't a winner without Klay.

[KhalDrogo]

Tuned into Zion vs Ja and Zion is out with a foot bruise? Brutal.

[imbluestreak23]

Originally Posted by KhalDrogo

Tuned into Zion vs Ja and Zion is out with a foot bruise? Brutal.

This league...

Where they delight in paying players not to play

[JohnnyHatesJazz]

Jaaaa Moraaaaaaaant

[Kingofkings1281]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHatesJazz

Jaaaa Moraaaaaaaant

Shaq saying he’d take Ja over anyone else in the league in 3 years is pretty high praise.

[bigjbasketball]

Grizzlies apparently forgot how to play defense and can’t stop Nance from dunking all over them.

[Kingofkings1281]

Originally Posted by bigjbasketball

Grizzlies apparently forgot how to play defense and can’t stop Nance from dunking all over them.

One of the all around worst defensive efforts I’ve seen from them in a while.

[ninjacookies]

Pels now 7-4 h2h in their last 11 vs. Mem.

Yeah. I'm feeling pretty good if they ever meet up in the playoffs. Let Ja get his...it won't matter.

[hairyangryfella]

Wow, Sabonis and Huerter both at least +40 against the Nets!

[indyguy]

Originally Posted by gomiamigo

If you don't think FIFTY-NINE points on only 28 shots is a huge surprise, just....wow, man, we all know Giannis is truly great, but give the true credit where it's due.

Greek's alltime high is 51 on 26 shots.

Embiid scored 9 more points on only 2 more shots.

Embiid also had one more assist. And 6 more blocks.

[and would have had 2 more pts plus an 'and one,' had the ref not incorrectly called a Q1 charge on Joel when the defender's foot was clearly in the circle - it's obvious on the tape but Doc doesn't challenge in Q1, so]

HE ONLY TOOK 28 SHOTS BECAUSE HE SHOT 24 FREE THROWS!!

Stop talking about how few shots he took in that game, because had he not lived at the free throw line he certainly has way more shots, ruining the stupid narrative that he did something supremely historic.

20 of his 59 points were free throws!

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by indyguy

HE ONLY TOOK 28 SHOTS BECAUSE HE SHOT 24 FREE THROWS!!

Stop talking about how few shots he took in that game, because had he not lived at the free throw line he certainly has way more shots, ruining the stupid narrative that he did something supremely historic.

20 of his 59 points were free throws!

Look at MJ's and Kobe's 60 point game stats. I think what embiid did is impressive and it’s common during high scoring games to shoot a lot of free throws. https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/mic...in-nba-history https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/kob...int-game-stats

[daeve]

Originally Posted by hairyangryfella

Wow, Sabonis and Huerter both at least +40 against the Nets!

Raise your hand if you thought the Kings would be the best team in California on November 16th - don't forget they also had essentially 2 wins taken away that were confirmed by the L2M.

https://imgur.com/dtdqtde

[brothertona]

Still upset about the Huerter trade

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by daeve

Raise your hand if you thought the Kings would be the best team in California on November 16th - don't forget they also had essentially 2 wins taken away that were confirmed by the L2M.

https://imgur.com/dtdqtde

Scary part is that they might end up being the best team in California by the end of the season. Not too crazy to think they might end up with 45ish wins and edge out Dubs and Clippers.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by brothertona

Still upset about the Huerter trade

Happy for him though - being Trae's defensive handicap was holding him back offensively. He's shooting 52.6% from 3 right now, an absolute flamethrower, and doing it on career high 7.3 Attempts per.

Murray is better-suited to taking on the toughest assignment nightly - especially since 3P shooting is much less a part of his game - he can afford to expend more energy defensively.

[daeve]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

Scary part is that they might end up being the best team in California by the end of the season. Not too crazy to think they might end up with 45ish wins and edge out Dubs and Clippers.

Dubs are going to make some moves and won't look like this in the 2nd half of the year I don't think. But the Kings' growth looks real and they may continue to surprise. They fit well and seem to enjoy playing together, and they're buying in.