The 2023-2024 NBA Season

[msgkings322]

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After a weird start to the season in the East the standings now have pretty much gravitated to what most we’re anticipating

Only 70 more games to jostle around and end up right about where it is now.

They really should shorten the season but they won't

 

[bksballer89]

It’s happening. GM LeBron is gonna want the name guy to replace DLo. Lakers are already seeing Vincent as a mistake.

Think Gabe deserves more than 4 games before that is declared

 

[trojanfan12]

Think Gabe deserves more than 4 games before that is declared

Plus, he's been fine defensively. Shots been off though.

 

[bksballer89]

Was reading Lowe 10 things he like/don't like and he posted about Dunc. Going to copy & paste some stuff from that article since its behind a paywall.

Until last season's playoffs, every Robinson 2-point attempt was an event. Between 80% and 90% of his shots were 3s. Seeing Robinson bob and weave for a 2 within the half court was like spotting a bald eagle in your backyard.

But in the Miami Heat's improbable run to the NBA Finals last season, almost 30% of Robinson's shots were 2s. He was more confident slicing inside when defenses ran him off the arc -- the improvement Robinson needed to maintain a role on good teams.

That has accelerated this season. One-third of his shots have been 2s, and he's hitting 61.4% of them.

Robinson is averaging nine drives per 100 possessions -- easily a career high, and up from 3.5 two seasons ago, per Second Spectrum. If helpers converge, Robinson can make the next pass; he's dishing a career-high 3.0 dimes per 36 minutes.

 

[bksballer89]

3. The Chicago Bulls experience (on offense)​

The Bulls are minus-77 in 242 minutes with Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan on the floor. They were minus-13 in 1,642 such minutes last season, and minus-7 in 1,206 minutes in 2021-22 -- the trio's first full season together after Chicago paid a heavy price concocting an experiment that was doomed to fail.

All three are offense-first players, but the defining trend of their union is an offense both antiquated and bad. The Bulls rank 25th in points per possession after finishing 24th and 13th in the prior two seasons. They hoist a number of long 2s that is untenable in 2023. They have been unable to duplicate whatever witchcraft lifted them to No. 5 in defensive efficiency last season. No team has allowed more 3-point attempts. Only three teams have allowed more shots at the rim. The Bulls are a two-way math disaster.

The three All-Stars diminish each other. Perhaps it's that all are score-first types -- that both DeRozan and LaVine envision themselves as lead ball handlers. Perhaps it's a collective deficit in passing -- LaVine has averaged 3.9 assists and 2.6 turnovers for his career -- exacerbated by the absence of a true point guard.

 

[bksballer89]

6. Luka Doncic, leaning into the right things​

The Mavs could have a top-five offense with Luka Doncic walking the ball up every possession, and running endless pick-and-roll with shooters around him. Doncic is that good, and in Dereck Lively II, he finally has a lob-catcher with touch. But that would sap Doncic's energy, render Kyrie Irving a distant second banana and marginalize everyone else -- the same guys the Mavs count on to defend hard.

Doncic is still playing slow-down chessmaster a lot. That's his comfort zone. But in snippets, he's giving himself over to a faster, more flowing style:

The Mavs were 28th in pace last season. Only one team averaged more time between grabbing a defensive rebound on one end and shooting on the other, per Inpredictable.

The Mavs are now fifth in pace and 11th fastest shooting after snaring defensive boards. They are operating at around league-average pace even in Doncic's solo time. (They are absolutely flying in Irving's solo time.)

 

[bksballer89]

 

[thunderc]

That’s ok

 

[bksballer89]

That’s ok

You sure?

 

[thunderc]

You sure?

Yeah win or lose I’m sure, can’t get better playing a team semi led by a washed Klay.

 

[thunderc]

Speaking of Klay maybe he can make a shot tonight with some pressure off. Dort had him questioning life in general the whole game Thursday.

 

[msgkings322]

Some good NBA trivia I just saw....who was the last NBA player to lead the league in points and assists in the same season?

Also, how old was Dennis Rodman his rookie year?

 

[thunderc]

Some good NBA trivia I just saw....who was the last NBA player to lead the league in points and assists in the same season?

Also, how old was Dennis Rodman his rookie year?

I know the first part, I’ll see if anyone can get it. I know Rodman was a little older so I’ll guess 24

 

[Pastafazul]

How bout them Knicks beating up the bottom dwellers. .

 

[Pastafazul]

Some good NBA trivia I just saw....who was the last NBA player to lead the league in points and assists in the same season?

Also, how old was Dennis Rodman his rookie year?

Magic Johnson

Hold on for the Rodman answer, I’m not gettin through the DMZ

 

[thunderc]

Magic Johnson

Hold on for the Rodman answer, I’m not gettin through the DMZ

I don’t think Magic ever led the league in scoring

 

[msgkings322]

Ready to report the answers if there are no other guesses

 

[thunderc]

Ready to report the answers if there are no other guesses

He has a tiny name

 

[bksballer89]

He has a tiny name

Archibald?

 

[bksballer89]

Fun one in new orleans