The 2023-2024 NBA Season

[eaglesnut]

Exactly, load management is much better now.

Not even close.

 

[fightinfunbags]

tough luck if so.


Sometimes that's sports man. Some guys just can't catch break.

That’s why this season is over for me. I fell asleep last night with no plan of watching the game. Woke up to hear about Maxey’s 51. But they needed all of that just to beat the Jazz by 3.

 

[thunderc]

Why was it a problem to begin with? We are still catching sad sack articles like the one you posted about a sad 8 year old boy. Just last night LeBron and AD missed the only trip to Boston this year. These things still happen as they have with more load management.

I think you know the kid article was a joke, on my part anyway. We all know the reason for the rules, some things were out of hand. No reason for the rules to cause anyone to get hurt. If a guy didn’t think he could play before he should still feel the same way now. I don’t expect you to look at this rationally for a bit, let the expletives flow.

 

[tlance]

Is it? The Cavs and Knicks have been on fire. Because it’s Joel Embiid no one considers that the Sixers are already down Maxey, Melton, and Harris and maybe this guy was getting on the court to try and fight through pain to give his team a chance to stop a losing streak.

When he was already compromised and wasn’t on the floor.

He shouldn’t have been on the floor

Ok…

But you are blaming the NBA out of one side of your mouth, then saying the 6ers are trying to stop a losing streak out of the other.

Which is it?

Because guys have always played hurt to stop losing streaks. The rule has nothing to do with that.

 

[fightinfunbags]

I think you know the kid article was a joke, on my part anyway. We all know the reason for the rules, some things were out of hand. No reason for the rules to cause anyone to get hurt. If a guy didn’t think he could play before he should still feel the same way now. I don’t expect you to look at this rationally for a bit, let the expletives flow.

The inception of new rules is hardly perfect. They often create unintended circumstances that are worse than the condition they’re designed to address. I think you’re being naive when you say things like “no reason for the rules to cause anyone to get hurt”. You can’t just make this declaration. There are guys absolutely putting themselves on the court in a compromised position because of the 65 game rule.

I am looking at this rationally but I’ll own the fact that my focus on this has a ton to do with the fact that Embiid is my guy who plays for my team. Rationally speaking, there was not this epic load management issue to begin with. I’ve said that numerous times here. That’s long been my position on this so I’m not knee jerking (pun intended) to a circumstance now. @tlance brought up for Embiid it’s not a money thing because he’s already bringing his MVP with him to his next extension negotiation. But it is a money thing for Tyrese Halliburton. Hamstrings are a fickle beast. If a player comes back too early they increase the likelihood that they’ll pop it again.

From where I sit, they took steps to address a problem that wasn’t really a problem but was rather fueled by media with the public meant to believe it was a problem because a handful of times in a 6 month season when they went to watch around a dozen games on TV a handful of stars weren’t available. The unintended consequences however seem to be greater than the issue they were trying to address in the first place.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Ok…

But you are blaming the NBA out of one side of your mouth, then saying the 6ers are trying to stop a losing streak out of the other.

Didn’t I state that there are multiple layers to this when assessing blame? I brought up the possibility that Embiid is getting on the floor for his team because nobody else does when it comes to Joel Embiid. My comment was pseudo related but its intent was me yet again pointing out that the narrative about Joel Embiid is incredibly broken and unfair.

Which is it?

It’s a lot of things as I’ve maintained. I’ll list them now.
Embiid himself - no one knows his body better than he does
Sixers medical staff - players want to play. It’s their job to protect the player despite that.
Sixers organization - allowing Embiid to dictate to them not being included on injury report for Saturday in Denver
NBA media - they’ve created a narrative that holds this guy as some sort of fraud who ducks players (players he habitually outplays head to head)
NBA rule change - the 65 game rule is putting players in a position where they take the floor with compromised health

Because guys have always played hurt to stop losing streaks. The rule has nothing to do with that.

 

[thunderc]

The inception of new rules is hardly perfect. They often create unintended circumstances that are worse than the condition they’re designed to address. I think you’re being naive when you say things like “no reason for the rules to cause anyone to get hurt”. You can’t just make this declaration. There are guys absolutely putting themselves on the court in a compromised position because of the 65 game rule.

I am looking at this rationally but I’ll own the fact that my focus on this has a ton to do with the fact that Embiid is my guy who plays for my team. Rationally speaking, there was not this epic load management issue to begin with. I’ve said that numerous times here. That’s long been my position on this so I’m not knee jerking (pun intended) to a circumstance now. @tlance brought up for Embiid it’s not a money thing because he’s already bringing his MVP with him to his next extension negotiation. But it is a money thing for Tyrese Halliburton. Hamstrings are a fickle beast. If a player comes back too early they increase the likelihood that they’ll pop it again.

From where I sit, they took steps to address a problem that wasn’t really a problem but was rather fueled by media with the public meant to believe it was a problem because a handful of times in a 6 month season when they went to watch around a dozen games on TV a handful of stars weren’t available. The unintended consequences however seem to be greater than the issue they were trying to address in the first place.

Sorry but I’m not going to respect a guy that will put themselves on the court now if they wouldn’t before, I agree it’s not many guys that would do that but it is what it is. Perception caused this, and quite honestly I think something had to be done. It will never be perfect in a world where so much money is at stake. The players signed off on it.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Sorry but I’m not going to respect a guy that will put themselves on the court now if they wouldn’t before, I agree it’s not many guys that would do that but it is what it is. Perception caused this, and quite honestly I think something had to be done. It will never be perfect in a world where so much money is at stake. The players signed off on it.

it is interesting that Kawhi is the healthiest he's ever been lol

 

[thunderc]

it is interesting that Kawhi is the healthiest he's ever been lol

Pretty ironic

 

[fightinfunbags]

Sorry but I’m not going to respect a guy that will put themselves on the court now if they wouldn’t before, I agree it’s not many guys that would do that but it is what it is.

Then we will have to agree to disagree. I understand that we live in a capitalist country where we assume every human being wants to maximize their worth and value as seen in their salary. I think that condition is exacerbated in this unique dynamic where a player has only an 8-10 year window to make income for the rest of their life.

Perception caused this, and quite honestly I think something had to be done. It will never be perfect in a world where so much money is at stake. The players signed off on it.

We agree here that nothing will ever be perfect. We also agree that this has been driven by perception and not really hard data in even assessing if this condition was a “problem”. Where we disagree is in assessing the lay of the land now. In my opinion, they’ve taken a step to address a non-problem in such a way where they’ve actually created a real problem.

 

[fightinfunbags]

it is interesting that Kawhi is the healthiest he's ever been lol

That’s one guy. Who else has this rule impacted in a positive way in changing regular season behaviors when it comes to games played?

 

[fightinfunbags]

Man, things change quickly in sports. Just last week I’m looking at the standings and I’m saying, the Sixers are in the mix for the one seed sitting only 3.5 games back of the Celtics and absolutely in play for the two seed with the Bucks on shaky ground.

Now?

Embiid’s presence is now up in the air with a likely minimum of 3-4 weeks he’s out and they sit as the 5th seed with the Cavs and Knicks on fire right now looking like world beaters.

 

[thunderc]

Then we will have to agree to disagree. I understand that we live in a capitalist country where we assume every human being wants to maximize their worth and value as seen in their salary. I think that condition is exacerbated in this unique dynamic where a player has only an 8-10 year window to make income for the rest of their life.

We agree here that nothing will ever be perfect. We also agree that this has been driven by perception and not really hard data in even assessing if this condition was a “problem”. Where we disagree is in assessing the lay of the land now. In my opinion, they’ve taken a step to address a non-problem in such a way where they’ve actually created a real problem.

I understand your points. This is a league of guaranteed contracts and a lot of guys have played hurt for team goals over the years. I would bet the retired veterans have no issue with this at all. In fact I hear Stephen A was on in the last few days saying the retired guys are very tired of the entitlement. That’s not just a league deal though, that’s a generational deal. But the NBA has done a lot to foster that mentality.

 

[thunderc]

That’s one guy. Who else has this rule impacted in a positive way in changing regular season behaviors when it comes to games played?

No way we can know who else would have joined the Khawi club. The league cut it off and the players agreed to it.

 

[fightinfunbags]

My biggest fear through all of this is Morey. This son of a bitch is on shaky ground with his job status coming into this year. He’s gotta be tempted to go do something silly to make up for the Embiid loss. “Crazy” would be a move like signing up for 4 more years of Zack Lavine for $40 million a year to help them win games during Embiid’s absence.

Darryl needs to look long term with these expirings. Pre-Embiid uncertainty, I wanted to hold on to Tobias Harris. Now I’ve done a 180. You don’t officially punt on a season but this team isn’t winning a championship with a compromised Embiid who will be playing at 75/80% this post season. If you can package Harris with picks I want to see them take on pieces with an eye on next year. As @The Q has pointed out, the FA class this summer isn’t exactly impressive. Use the expirings now to bring in pieces around Embiid/Maxey.

 

[thunderc]

My biggest fear through all of this is Morey. This son of a bitch is on shaky ground with his job status coming into this year. He’s gotta be tempted to go do something silly to make up for the Embiid loss. “Crazy” would be a move like signing up for 4 more years of Zack Lavine for $40 million a year to help them win games during Embiid’s absence.

Darryl needs to look long term with these expirings. Pre-Embiid uncertainty, I wanted to hold on to Tobias Harris. Now I’ve done a 180. You don’t officially punt on a season but this team isn’t winning a championship with a compromised Embiid who will be playing at 75/80% this post season. If you can package Harris with picks I want to see them take on pieces with an eye on next year. As @The Q has pointed out, the FA class this summer isn’t exactly impressive. Use the expirings now to bring in pieces around Embiid/Maxey.

I could absolutely see him doing that

 

[DJ Fieri]

it is interesting that Kawhi is the healthiest he's ever been lol

No doubt....LOL.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

That’s one guy. Who else has this rule impacted in a positive way in changing regular season behaviors when it comes to games played?

it's impossible to say honestly.

I agree with you for the most part...I think Lebron always being questionable is bullshit. He's too big of a draw for that shit. And I defend Lebron on most everything..

Obviously holding Embiid out for Denver would have been the right thing they just called it too late. That's probably a one off with Joel being stubborn and wanting to play.

When he fell against Indiana that fall looked worse than the Kuminga play i thought.

 

[fightinfunbags]

No way we can know who else would have joined the Khawi club. The league cut it off and the players agreed to it.

The players did not agree to it. Their representatives were barreled over. I have yet to see an article or comment where a player has praised this new rule.

 

[thunderc]

The players did not agree to it. Their representatives were barreled over. I have yet to see an article or comment where a player has praised this new rule.

The players association had to approve it, I don’t know what else to say.