2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

Booker going off!!

DJ said:

Cry me a river....they covered by 1.5.

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Couple quick thoughts on Opening Night Part 2:

Houston is going 0-82

DeAndre Ayton is gonna be a problem. Dude is a beast. Or Dallas just sucks. Probably both

Jarrett Allen has NO FEAR

Big night from LaMarcus. 21 points and 19 boards. DeRozan had an alright night himself, sealing the game for the Spurs. In fact, quite a few big games from around the associating tonight. 41 for Kemba, 25/18 from Giannis, Davis/Mirotic/Randle showing out....much more. Good full first night.

I thought Booker was going to miss some of the season

Booker shines in opener, scores 19 in 4th qtr

Love was 5 of 18 from the field.

Why didn't Faried play for the Nets?

The Bucks have a nice starting 5.

Kemba played like he has something to prove....

The Derski said:

Booker going off!!

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Booker is the real deal.

The Suns are just loaded with young talent- its taken them a while- but as far as young duo's in the West go- obviously Booker and Ayton are up there, Gobert and Mitchell, Towns and Wiggins, maybe even Jokic and Harris now---- not on that level, but a step down are guys like Fox and Bagley, Doncic and DSJ, Ball and Ingram.

Though Doncic looks like he might be an absolute star at some point.

There is a lot of good young talent in the West.

If you could pick one duo who would it be out of Booker and Ayton, Gobert and Mitchell, and Towns and Wiggins?-

I think id PROBABLY have to take Mitchell and Gobert #1, but its CLOSE with Booker and Ayton.

bksballer89 said:

I thought Booker was going to miss some of the season

Booker shines in opener, scores 19 in 4th qtr

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Booker honestly reminds me a lil of Klay Thompson- i mean- there are some slight differences- I think Klay has a much better set shot obviously, and Klay plays better D, and Booker puts the ball on the floor better- but they do have some nice similarities too. Both can just get absolutely RED HOT at times.

Booker is on his way to be being one of the better players in the league at some point down the road.

ManuForever said:

Big night from LaMarcus. 21 points and 19 boards. DeRozan had an alright night himself, sealing the game for the Spurs. In fact, quite a few big games from around the associating tonight. 41 for Kemba, 25/18 from Giannis, Davis/Mirotic/Randle showing out....much more. Good full first night.

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that front court combo of Davis, Mirotic and Randle is just devastating. Holliday is a very solid PG too

this team just needs 1-2 wings that can shoot the 3 and play some D and they will be right there with that 2nd tier in the West.

DJ said:

Love was 5 of 18 from the field.

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Cedi had 17 and 10 on 50% shooting.

Obviously the Cavs are in a different mode right now than they have been- but considering the success of the last 4 years I definitely did not expect them to have as many potential solid/decent players as they have at the end of a run where they really went for it just about every season.

Last time when LeBron left the cupboard was BEYOND BARE. This team it shouldnt take them 3 years of tanking to get back on a decent track.

This year is gonna be rough at times- and they need to turn over the roster and part ways with guys like Hill, JR, Korver etc. at some point- but at least its not going to be 20 game losing streaks and just hopelessness like it was last time.

Bolts said:

Kings lose I'm stunned

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Another blown 1st quarter lead.

Know it was the 1st game but stunned Indy beat down Memphis like that.



The Grizzlies had Gasol and Conley.

Seriously, Indy could be a team to watch out for. They have done a good job making over that team after PG got dealt.

DJ said:

Seriously, Indy could be a team to watch out for. They have done a good job making over that team after PG got dealt.

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Thad Young is a very underated player.

He is good defensively- can switch and play in big or small lineups, can shoot and score the ball.

The Pacers are a good team-

1. Oladipo
2. Turner
3. Young
4. Evans
5. Collison
6. Jospeh
7. Sabonis
8. McDermott
9. Bogdon
10. Leaf

that is a deep and talented roster with a legit all star, and some guys with toughness and upside.

They arent as talented as Boston or Philly or probably even Toronto- but the way they play, their continuity and their toughness could make them a dark horse to come out of the East.

This is basically the type of roster that Miami was TRYING to put together- a lot of solid but no totally top level elite talent.

They also have salary cap flexibility and could make a major move or two in the offseason or maybe even before that.

CEDI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cedi Osman passes first test
New starting small forward Cedi Osman smiled when approached pregame by cleveland.com about his upcoming matchup with Kawhi Leonard and then another with Jimmy Butler on Friday night.

Lue has placed Osman in the “defensive stopper role,” asking the second-year ball of energy to battle the opponent’s best perimeter scorer.

On Wednesday night, that meant Leonard -- an MVP candidate and one of Osman’s summer workout partners.

“It’s a big challenge,” Osman said before the game. “I was doing that last year so nothing new with that. I always like taking those challenges. It’s fun trying to stop him.”

Osman knew Leonard was going to score. “Kawhi is one of the best small forwards in the world,” he said. That's why the primary goal was to make Leonard take bad shots from outside the paint. If he was going to score 20 points or more, Osman’s goal was to make it a hard 20, an inefficient scoring night.

“If they make tough shots, you live with it,” Osman said.

Mission accomplished.

Leonard was good in his Raptors debut. He scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Rowdy Toronto fans cheered each time he touched the ball in the opening minutes. But he was just 9-of-22 from the field and had as many turnovers (two) as assists.

When Leonard tried to get past Osman, the youngster moved his feet well and stayed in front. When the burly Raptor tried backing down Osman in the post, Osman held his ground.

“I thought Cedi was great tonight,” Kevin Love said. “He was our, I don’t want to say silver lining, but he was our star tonight."

Osman asked me after the game if I knew how many times Leonard scored against him. I admittedly didn’t keep track but guessed two.

Technically, that was right.

On one possession, Leonard veered from the baseline to the elbow, using a screen to create space before knocking down a jumper over Osman. Another time, with Toronto pushing the ball up the floor, Osman stepped in front of Pascal Siakam, leaving Leonard open in the left corner. Leonard buried the 3-pointer, with Osman not quick enough to recover.

Other than that, Leonard did most of his damage against other defenders.

He hit jumpers over Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson following switches. Leonard thundered a dunk after a steal. He had a put-back, getting inside position against Hood. He drove against George Hill and earned free throws.

The Cavs are a switch-heavy defense nowadays. That means Osman won’t be matched up with elite wings on every possession. But when he is, the plan won't change, trying to force opponents into tough shots while not getting discouraged if they go in.

WiggyRuss said:

CEDI!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cedi Osman passes first test
New starting small forward Cedi Osman smiled when approached pregame by cleveland.com about his upcoming matchup with Kawhi Leonard and then another with Jimmy Butler on Friday night.

Lue has placed Osman in the “defensive stopper role,” asking the second-year ball of energy to battle the opponent’s best perimeter scorer.

On Wednesday night, that meant Leonard -- an MVP candidate and one of Osman’s summer workout partners.

“It’s a big challenge,” Osman said before the game. “I was doing that last year so nothing new with that. I always like taking those challenges. It’s fun trying to stop him.”

Osman knew Leonard was going to score. “Kawhi is one of the best small forwards in the world,” he said. That's why the primary goal was to make Leonard take bad shots from outside the paint. If he was going to score 20 points or more, Osman’s goal was to make it a hard 20, an inefficient scoring night.

“If they make tough shots, you live with it,” Osman said.

Mission accomplished.

Leonard was good in his Raptors debut. He scored 24 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Rowdy Toronto fans cheered each time he touched the ball in the opening minutes. But he was just 9-of-22 from the field and had as many turnovers (two) as assists.

When Leonard tried to get past Osman, the youngster moved his feet well and stayed in front. When the burly Raptor tried backing down Osman in the post, Osman held his ground.

“I thought Cedi was great tonight,” Kevin Love said. “He was our, I don’t want to say silver lining, but he was our star tonight."

Osman asked me after the game if I knew how many times Leonard scored against him. I admittedly didn’t keep track but guessed two.

Technically, that was right.

On one possession, Leonard veered from the baseline to the elbow, using a screen to create space before knocking down a jumper over Osman. Another time, with Toronto pushing the ball up the floor, Osman stepped in front of Pascal Siakam, leaving Leonard open in the left corner. Leonard buried the 3-pointer, with Osman not quick enough to recover.

Other than that, Leonard did most of his damage against other defenders.

He hit jumpers over Rodney Hood and Tristan Thompson following switches. Leonard thundered a dunk after a steal. He had a put-back, getting inside position against Hood. He drove against George Hill and earned free throws.

The Cavs are a switch-heavy defense nowadays. That means Osman won’t be matched up with elite wings on every possession. But when he is, the plan won't change, trying to force opponents into tough shots while not getting discouraged if they go in.

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