2022-2023 NBA Season Thread

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

No team in history has ever gone this deep into the luxury tax. Thru 2022, the Warriors have run up nearly $338M in luxury taxes over 5 seasons. The Lakers have $172M over the last 11 years. Lakers highest payment was $45M, Warriors paid $170M+ last season (more than triple the tax of any champion in the luxury tax era). The Warriors never paid the tax until 2015, but they have more than made up for lost time lol. If they stay the course and accrue a $500M bill for next season, they're kinda making a farce out of the league.

Then again, what team has bottomed out deep in the lottery amidst a long finals run? To add lottery players mid-run is beyond rare with your own picks. Poole was just great scouting, but followed by a #2 and #7 overall is bizarre, given the injuries needed to drive them that low. Opportunistic and shrewd with the picks (provided Wiseman works out; imagine if they got #1 and Edwards?).

Poaching has such a negative connotation. Free agency is open to everyone with cap space. The Lakers paid HEAVILY for AD, if not overpaid.

No team has ever paid that much because salaries have increased exponentially and the taxes had never been more punitive.

Drafting well and paying to keep your core is not a negative.

If other teams aren't willing to suffer the consequence of handing out multiple bags, that's not the Dubs problem.

Don't own a team if the financial ramifications are a hardship....

.....also, don't count another teams money.

As for the Lakers, how exactly can you overpay for Davis when you won a chip?

 

[thunderc]

A bold prediction now would be that the Nets don’t make the playoffs. Don’t know how bold it would be. Something going to blow up there.

 

[fightinfunbags]

His not doing back to backs would be my biggest issue with him as a teammate..

He hasn't played more than 60 games since he was 26.

Regular season though. I think much of the Kawhi stuff comes from him just being an anti/social kind of curmudgeon with no personality. I know this. There are few players in the league I covet more playing for my team. If the Sixers had Kawhi instead of Harden to pair with Maxey and Embiid that team wins 3 championships in 5 years if all parties stay healthy. Dude is just an assassin when the big lights come on.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Maybe I’m making too much of one game but fuck you Doc Rivers and fuck you Montrzell Harrell. I have no idea why this fucker is even here. He is why BBall Paul was a DNP the other night. Harrell has no place in a playoff rotation. Tonight they catch Giannis. BBall Paul is suited to give them minutes trying to guard him along with Tucker. If BBall Paul doesn’t get run tonight. If he runs that no talent fluke trash ass clown Harrell out I’m gonna lose my shit.

 

[msgkings322]

No team in history has ever gone this deep into the luxury tax. Thru 2022, the Warriors have run up nearly $338M in luxury taxes over 5 seasons. The Lakers have $172M over the last 11 years. Lakers highest payment was $45M, Warriors paid $170M+ last season (more than triple the tax of any champion in the luxury tax era). The Warriors never paid the tax until 2015, but they have more than made up for lost time lol. If they stay the course and accrue a $500M bill for next season, they're kinda making a farce out of the league.

Then again, what team has bottomed out deep in the lottery amidst a long finals run? To add lottery players mid-run is beyond rare with your own picks. Poole was just great scouting, but followed by a #2 and #7 overall is bizarre, given the injuries needed to drive them that low. Opportunistic and shrewd with the picks (provided Wiseman works out; imagine if they got #1 and Edwards?).

Poaching has such a negative connotation. Free agency is open to everyone with cap space. The Lakers paid HEAVILY for AD, if not overpaid.

Welcome to being a MLB fan in the 1990s watching the Yankees do their thing. Suck it, broke asses!

 

[ChrisperJ10]

Kawhi is like a mercenary.

My favorite quote.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Regular season though. I think much of the Kawhi stuff comes from him just being an anti/social kind of curmudgeon with no personality. I know this. There are few players in the league I covet more playing for my team. If the Sixers had Kawhi instead of Harden to pair with Maxey and Embiid that team wins 3 championships in 5 years if all parties stay healthy. Dude is just an assassin when the big lights come on.

It's almost like he's on the spectrum.

A mild case of Aspergers would be my guess.

 

[ChrisperJ10]

It's almost like he's on the spectrum.

A mild case of Aspergers would be my guess.

 

[Robotech]

No team has ever paid that much because salaries have increased exponentially and the taxes had never been more punitive.

Drafting well and paying to keep your core is not a negative.

If other teams aren't willing to suffer the consequence of handing out multiple bags, that's not the Dubs problem.

Don't own a team if the financial ramifications are a hardship....

.....also, don't count another teams money.

As for the Lakers, how exactly can you overpay for Davis when you won a chip?

Yup, the Warriors have been built 100% the right way, and they did it through the toughest path possible in drafting and developing their own players. They had one superstar come over from a different team (Durant), and they've won twice without him and are hoping to do it for a third time this season.

The Warriors are nothing like the Lakers acquiring Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Gasol, and Anthony Davis. 4 of 5 of those were trades, but the Lakers had a big competitive edge in trading for these players. There is a reason why it's difficult to remember a big superstar that the Kings or Pacers (or just about any other team besides the Lakers or Celtics) landed in a trade. It pretty much never happens!

 

[Robotech]

His not doing back to backs would be my biggest issue with him as a teammate..

He hasn't played more than 60 games since he was 26.

I read somewhere that this is a team decision, and that Kawhi wants to play back to backs. Who knows, though? This is just something that a fan stated on another message board site.

 

[Robotech]

I don’t care that he didn’t watch a specific game.

And maybe his quote is out of context, but the way he said it made it seem like basketball is “just a job” to him.

And a lot of his actions can be interpreted that way too.

So I am pushing back on why I don’t think that is “the perfect response”.

I was really more focused on that exact moment that he was asked that question. But I know that he also said that he doesn't watch games on TV like that. I think that makes sense, though. He's a pro and is focused on what he needs to do to prepare for games. He said that he watches film. I don't blame him if he feels like there are other things he wants or needs to do other than watching the TV broadcast of that particular day's biggest game. And biggest game is more of a fan perspective than a player's perspective.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I read somewhere that this is a team decision, and that Kawhi wants to play back to backs. Who knows, though? This is just something that a fan stated on another message board site.

It is the team's FINAL decision.

I posted it earlier.

But, in fairness.....

It hasn't always been that way.

There have been times, like in San Antonio, were he could have played but chose not to.

There have also been times with the Clippers where he set himself apart from the rest of the roster.

Flying in from San Diego, arriving late, holding everyone else up.

Being a healthy scratch, other Guys grinding for wins, just to be sent back to the bench if he decides he wants to play that day?

That rubbed a few guys wrong.





Kawhi Leonard has been cleared to participate fully in training camp next week but the LA Clippers will proceed with “step-by-step” caution. Lawrence Frank, Clippers president of basketball operations, said Leonard’s first 5-on-5 participation will take place in camp, which starts next Tuesday in Las Vegas. “He feels great,” Frank said at the team’s practice facility. “His plan is, look, he wants to participate in everything. And I think organizationally, we’re going to be cautious. So it will be a step-by-step approach.” Frank later added: “He is cleared. For him, he’ll say, look, I want to do everything. Again, we’ll be very cautious in the approach.”

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

So, who gets ejected first?

Morris or Beverley?

Wall is also an option because he loves to chirp and Bev will take the bait.

 

[thunderc]

So, who gets ejected first?

Morris or Beverley?

Wall is also an option because he loves to chirp and Bev will take the bait.

I’m surprised it didn’t happen game 1. Then you got Russ ready to go off on someone like he never has. Something has to make the Lakers watchable.

 

[Kawhi_2_Murray]

The myth that Kawhi doesn't play that much or "load manages" more then other stars is exactly that, a MYTH. I don't know if it's because Lebron fans just hating or their is a deeper racist undertone to it.

2020-21 - kawhi totals for 1773 minutes. 2nd in mvp voting embiid plays just 1585 minutes


2019-20 - kawhi totals for 1848 minutes. The MVP winner Giannis plays 1917 minutes. About a two game difference i guess?

2018-19 - kawhi plays 2000 minutes in regular season and 939 minutes in the playoffs. Totaling for over 2900 minutes.

His minutes are fine. Media likes to prop up other guys who are playing damn near the same minutes.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

I read somewhere that this is a team decision, and that Kawhi wants to play back to backs. Who knows, though? This is just something that a fan stated on another message board site.

Moo

 

[CitySushi]

How can you not love this guy. He gets asked about the Draymond produced story on TNT and he responds with a movie review. LMAO.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Good luck, @Mecca.....

 

[Robotech]

How can you not love this guy. He gets asked about the Draymond produced story on TNT and he responds with a movie review. LMAO.

I missed the Draymond produced story on TNT. Was it good?

 

[Kawhi_2_Murray]

Bringing Kawhi off the bench. Ty Lue is a moron for that. Don't want his boy lebron to get exposed i guess. I'm not sure if he's the right guy to lead this team to the title unless Kawhi carries him like he carried Nurse