2021 NBA regular season thread

[Sparhawk]

Ben Simmons is a very frustrating player to root for, especially in the halfcourt on offense. But man, he can be a defensive beast when he dials in. Did you all see him clamp Luka last night?

Luka was locked up in the Benitentiary last night......

 

[dtgold88]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy. Not only did he need the Warriors to win by 3, he also needed that game's total to be under 225 points, and he needed 5 doubles like that. I wouldn't have much fun watching that game. You're like, "Curry, yes, you made a 3," and "Curry, no, don't score too much" all at the same time.

So hard to watch any game when you have the under in the game.

 

[dtgold88]

When i first got into real betting last year, this is the type of bet i used to do. Incredibly hard to hit because total points in the NBA is so unpredictable and like any other sport picking games ATS is hard as well

Yep. Haven't bet real money on an NBA game in years (point spread or O/U). So many meaningless things can happen in last few minutes (or last 10-15 seconds) after game is decided.

 

[dtgold88]

I don't get why more people in the media didn't talk about this. Every loss was like "Oh, AD is out. Now they're struggling". Yeah, that's part of it. But Schroder is also out! And he's really good. We've been missing 2 starters. Lots of teams are gonna struggle missing 2 of their top 3 players

That's the media

Hell, they are ripping the FO (and/or coach) of a rebuilding team like the Cavs because they had a long losing streak without 3 of their best defenders and 4 of their top FC players. They love their drama.

 

[dtgold88]

Once again the media knows nothing about basketball. Talk out of their ass all the time. Talking to the casual fans instead of real fans. I heard Kellerman say one reason the Heat are playing better (winning 8 of 11) was because Butler and DRAGIC are back healthy. The game on Wednesday was the first game Dragic played in 10 games. Missed the previous 9 due to injury

Very good point about talking to the casual fan....or the fans who like to complain/have drama (or all 3)

 

[flyerhawk]

Luka was locked up in the Benitentiary last night......

It is so much fun watching Ben lock up so many elite players. Nothing will beat Dame looking at Ben with this incredulous "How are you able to do this?" look on his face when Ben was in his face at half court.

 

[tlance]

It seemed like every show I watched yesterday, there was some "should Lakers fans be worried" type segment where they never mentioned AD and Schroder being out or it was "I know they're missing AD and Schroder but...."

I'm thinking, if this happens when they are at full strength...then Lakers fans need to worry. Until then, no. lol

Yes and no.

I wouldn’t worry about getting blown out by Utah, or losing a couple other tough games.

Getting beat at home by the Wizards (who are playing better) is reason for some concern.

Not concern of what the team can eventually be, but concern that you could get buried in the standings of AD takes a bit longer than expected.

If they were to fall too far, the road to the Finals gets really hard.

 

[shopson67]

The Lakers have lost 4 in a row to the Nets, Heat, Wizards and Jazz without their 2nd and 3rd best players. With them, they likely finish 2-2 at worst and probably 3-1.

All we learn from this is that without AD, they're not winning a title...which we already knew. lol

Right, but the deeper roster question remains for me, even if that's nitpicking. If you can't trust the end of your bench to contribute, why carry them? Giannis signed long term, why is Kostas still on the roster? Cacok isn't NBA level either. I realize they're 2 way contracts, but it would make more sense to sign someone to those deals that has more of a chance to contribute at the NBA level. It's difficult to watch the end of the bench on the court playing poorly without at least flashes of some future upside out of them. Their only player like that currently is THT and he has been pressed into starting (and playing with the end of the bench in garbage time the last game, oddly enough).

They cut loose Cook instead of guaranteeing the balance of his contract, which unfortunately was poor timing given that they were already short at PG and can't make a move to add a vet min salary until next week I believe without crossing the luxury tax threshold.

 

[shopson67]

ill update on my nephew's rec league bball team too. pretty close to as relevant.

Bronny is famous and ranked 30th in his class.

 

[dtgold88]

It is so much fun watching Ben lock up so many elite players. Nothing will beat Dame looking at Ben with this incredulous "How are you able to do this?" look on his face when Ben was in his face at half court.

Didn't watch the game so is there maybe something to what Luka said after the game? That he doesn't care who guards him. Think also made mention of sometimes guys are on, sometimes off.

Noticed Embiid had a poor shooting night and doubt he was in the Bobantentiary.

 

[flyerhawk]

Didn't watch the game so is there maybe something to what Luka said after the game? That he doesn't care who guards him. Think also made mention of sometimes guys are on, sometimes off.

Noticed Embiid had a poor shooting night and doubt he was in the Bobantentiary.

Well Luka was 3-4 when non-Ben players guarded him and 3 of 9 when Ben guarded him. Luka 7 turnovers also suggest that the defender matters.


Luka is able to get to his spot because he is usually taller or faster than whoever guards him or can muscle through the defender. None of those things are true with Ben.

Obviously, it's basketball and sometimes players hit everything no matter what the defense does and sometimes they are bricking wide open looks. Great defense is about increasing the misses.

 

[thunderc]

So hard to watch any game when you have the under in the game.

I don’t find it nearly as frustrating as having the over and watch both teams go on 5 minute stupidity stretches lol

 

[thunderc]

Yes and no.

I wouldn’t worry about getting blown out by Utah, or losing a couple other tough games.

Getting beat at home by the Wizards (who are playing better) is reason for some concern.

Not concern of what the team can eventually be, but concern that you could get buried in the standings of AD takes a bit longer than expected.

If they were to fall too far, the road to the Finals gets really hard.

How about getting taken to overtime at home 2 straight by the Thunder when they had Schroeder? I think the thunder threw at least one of those games.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

It seemed like every show I watched yesterday, there was some "should Lakers fans be worried" type segment where they never mentioned AD and Schroder being out or it was "I know they're missing AD and Schroder but...."

I'm thinking, if this happens when they are at full strength...then Lakers fans need to worry. Until then, no. lol

Nothing to worry about. It sucks, but it's still all good.

Unless things really take a turn for the worse, they'll still end up a top 4 seed.

Hell, they just lost five of the last six and still have the 2nd least amount of losses in the league.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

How about getting taken to overtime at home 2 straight by the Thunder when they had Schroeder? I think the thunder threw at least one of those games.

Did the Lakers lose the game?

 

[Iggloo]

It is so much fun watching Ben lock up so many elite players. Nothing will beat Dame looking at Ben with this incredulous "How are you able to do this?" look on his face when Ben was in his face at half court.

 

[trojanfan12]

Right, but the deeper roster question remains for me, even if that's nitpicking. If you can't trust the end of your bench to contribute, why carry them?

There's a difference between contributing and replacing 2 of the top 3 players on your roster. The depth is more for replacing guys like Kuz, Harrell and KCP. Not Lebron, AD or Schroder and especially not 2 of them.

 

[tlance]

How about getting taken to overtime at home 2 straight by the Thunder when they had Schroeder? I think the thunder threw at least one of those games.

Yeah, still think bubble hangover is a real thing that is impacting them now.

Just not sure how long it will last. They may need to rest LeBron at some point just to ensure everyone is fresh for the playoffs.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Murray on Twitter trying to defend settling for 3 down 2 with a 4 on 1 fastbreak in the final seconds. It wasn't just on him. All 4 players is to blame but don't go on Twitter trying to defend it

How do they not break for the hoop

Jesus

 

[thunderc]

The bottom half maybe. That doesn’t make him a perennial all star.

To be a perennial all star in the West you have to be a superstar caliber player.

SGA does not project to ever get to that level. Very nice player. You all definitely got a great deal from the Clippers. But slow down a bit and just enjoy what he is.

A little more info to support the case for the development of SGA. Only 4 other players in their 3rd season have ever averaged 20, 5 and 5 and shot 50 %. The names are Oscar Robertson, Walt Frazier, Larry Bird and Chris Weber. He leads the league in drives per game at the moment, just watch his assists skyrocket as the Thunder add players. I stand by my prediction.