2021-2022 NBA Season

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

A legit argument can be made for both on that.
Same for other stars from different eras in their particular sport.

 

[wildturkey]

Any time someone says shit like this, I always think of what Ryen Russillo says about on his show; go back and watch those games from the 80s and see how "hard" they're playing defense. Like really pay attention. Most of the time, they're barely moving. This belief that everything was so hardnosed is just a myth combined with nostalgia

 

[WiggyRuss]

who on the Hawks can actually defend?

hell of an offensive roster- but they dont have one guy beside Hunter who plays D. Maybe Capela I guess but he is more ofa rebounder than a quality defender.

Monk has been kicking ass. You put a shooter around LeBron you are gonna get good results.

Lakers can get away with these small lineups against some teams- and against some teams they really work. I wonder what they do when they play a team with quality bigs.

good win for them though. Very efficient. Domianted offensively.

 

[bksballer89]

I wonder what they do when they play a team with quality bigs.

A) Start Dwight Howard

B) This is just a temporary fix. AD will be the Center with Bron at the 4 when AD returns

 

[WiggyRuss]

glad Cavs won. Would not have been a good one to lose against Blazers sans Lillard/McCollum.

On the other hand- shows where the Cavs have come from- where they were assumed to be a bottom 5 team- where they "should" win any game.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Heat's Markieff Morris blames '300 pound sloppy fat boy,' a.k.a. Nikola Jokic, for spine injury

Morris has missed 30 games since Jokic hit him with a cheap shot.

www.yahoo.com

@HurricaneDij39 your boy Kief!!!

 

[WiggyRuss]

crazy thing about Monk is- he is playing himself right outta LA. Gonna be a 1 year thing it looks like.

you dont get Bird Rights in his situation. I dont know how they could even resign him. Especially if they are hard capped. Not that it matters a whole lot right now. Just saying---- hes gonna make himself some money this offseason and it almost assuredly cannot be for LAL. Weird way it works out.

 

[WiggyRuss]

first game reviews on Rondo were positive....did not shoot well....but Cleveland media saying he played well. Drew fouls, moved the ball.......should be interesting to see.

for what they gave up- he was a good guy to get to plug in considering Rubio and Sexton are done for the year. Nice move by the Cavs, not giving up anything- and getting a guy that makes sure the Cavs have veteran leadership and someone to settle the ship when things start moving too fast for the young guys.

btw- Garland is just outstanding. He is not as talented as Kyrie- basically no one is- but hes going to be just a tier below with so much better intangibles and leadership.

 

[tlance]

team, and coaching, concepts, etc. obviously mean a great deal

but if you compare the heat and the bucks

1. Giannis vs. Butler - Giannis by a mile
2. Holliday vs. Bam- close- could argue either way
3. Middleton vs. Lowry- def. Middleton
4. Portis vs. Tucker- Portis

Heat do have some good offensive weapons in Herro and Robinson- but the Bucks have guys they can throw at them.

If the Heat were going to win a series like that Bam would have to put his big boy pants on and get a little bit more of an edge and really push Giannis on the offensive end of the floor.

Divencenzo and Connighton- are not amazing players by any means- but both have potential and are young and could be decent wings in a playoff series.

Bucks have a lot of depth if they can bring those 2 guys a long. Divencenzo was becoming a real asset before his injury. He has a long way to go but he could be an interesting piece.

Problem is, that is not how it works.

You can’t just match up individual defenders to show which team has the better defense. Lots of variables in play.

I don’t think looking at the advanced stats means a ton right now because both teams have had lots of lost time due to injury/COVID. But team defense ratings for each are identical at the moment.

While Miami does have a couple guys who are liabilities, I don’t think you give enough credit for the physical toll that competing against bulldogs like PJ Tucker and Kyle Lowry takes on opposing players.

I don’t know which team is better defensively, but they are both top 5ish caliber defensive teams when healthy. Probably pretty similar.

 

[tlance]

When did Middleton ever become some elite defender? There's a reason the Bucks put Tucker on KD all series last season.

Size and muscle are the reasons.

 

[DJ Fieri]

James had his usual great game......32 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.

Monk had an amazing 29 points on 11 of 20 shooting, including 7 of 12 on treys.

Bradley scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds.

THT has 21 points and 5 assists with 2 steals.

Melo scored 17 points, grabbed 7 boards and swiped 2 steals.

RW dished out 13 assists (just 3 TO's) and had 11 rebounds.

 

[thunderc]

James had his usual great game......32 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 3 blocks.

Monk had an amazing 29 points on 11 of 20 shooting, including 7 of 12 on treys.

Bradley scored 21 points and had 6 rebounds.

THT has 21 points and 5 assists with 2 steals.

Melo scored 17 points, grabbed 7 boards and swiped 2 steals.

RW dished out 13 assists (just 3 TO's) and had 11 rebounds.

Yeah Russ didn’t shoot a 3, that’s a good strategy.

 

[bksballer89]

Size and muscle are the reasons.

Still isn't elite

 

[tlance]

Still isn't elite

Neither are elite.

But they are both very good.

And the reason it was Tucker guarding the 7 foot Durant is because he can push Durant around physically. It isn’t about who is the “better defender”, it is about who is going to make KD work harder.

The answer is Tucker because of his strength. KD can easily shoot over either.

 

[Retroram52]

Lakers are continuing with Lakers Small-Ball which features James at Center surrounded by 3-4 guards or 3 guards and maybe a forward. Here is the most consistent starting five the Lakers have been using the month of December and into January.

• Russell Westbrook
• Malik Monk
• Avery Bradley
• Stanley Johnson
• LeBron James

THT also rotates into the starting five as well. First guy off the bench is usually Anthony, then Reaves, and sometimes Howard. These are the 8 guys that have been playing the most minutes in the last month or so. Ariza is back. He comes in once in awhile. Nunn will join them when he is fully ready to go. Jordon doesn't play anymore and neither does Bazemore or Ellington. Huff and Jones just sit.

 

[bksballer89]

If Jimmy is a go tonight, this would be the first time Butler, Herro, and Lowry are on the court together since November 24th

 

[dtgold88]

prob. dont know which way to go.

If they had Rubio and Sexton- id be in it- and making moves.

Right now its tough. A lot of solid teams in the East. With the injuries im not sure if the Cavs are better than a whole handful of teams.

hopefully Osman and Okoro will be back, and Rondo will prove at least somewhat useful.

If last night is any indication my guess is Rondo is somewhat useful but cannot see him playing down the stretch like Rubio did as he just can't shoot. Think we'll see Osman more down stretch of games

 

[dtgold88]

That was something you don’t see often.

Know the Jazz were missing Rudy and Mitch but that was a strong win. Outworked the hell out of them. Raps sitting pretty in 7th with games in hand on Cleveland and Philly ahead of them and Charlotte & the Wiz behind them.

what does "games in hand on Cleveland" mean?

 

[bksballer89]

Only 2 road games left vs the west. It is January 8th

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

what does "games in hand on Cleveland" mean?

Cavs have played 3 more games than Toronto.