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NBA
Sept 13, 2021 17:25:48 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Sept 13, 2021 17:25:48 GMT
I saw this morning that NBA training camps are scheduled to open two weeks from tomorrow, Sept. 28. It shouldn't be surprising, but I have to admit it snuck up on me. (Actually I felt the same about football season's kickoff, both college and NFL.)
Every season begins with hope, or at least curiosity. This time around, the Wolves are still likely on the outside of the playoffs looking in. But we do have some real talent that, if healthy and committed to trying this fancy, newfangled technique called "defense," could surprise.
Maybe more interesting, they are widely considered the most likely landing spot for Ben Simmons, who has reportedly said he won't report to training camp in Philly.
Meanwhile we're still waiting to see whether we'll sign 2020 first-round wing Leandro Bolmaro, the Argentinian point forward playing in Spain.
Anyone else gearing up for basketball, or is the start of the football season still too fresh to change focus?
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NBA
Sept 22, 2021 19:42:07 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Sept 22, 2021 19:42:07 GMT
Well, didn't see that coming: Wolves fired Gersson Rosas, the VP of Basketball Ops (or whatever fancy title really just means GM these days), after 2.5 years (and three drafts) in charge. He had been hired in May 2019.
Star Karl-Anthony Towns tweeted "WTF." Maybe I'll get lucky and we'll trade him.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 22, 2021 23:25:57 GMT
Well, didn't see that coming: Wolves fired Gersson Rosas, the VP of Basketball Ops (or whatever fancy title really just means GM these days), after 2.5 years (and three drafts) in charge. He had been hired in May 2019. Maybe the new guy will pull the trigger on a Ben Simmons' trade. Wishful thinking here.
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NBA
Sept 23, 2021 0:28:23 GMT
Post by B.E. on Sept 23, 2021 0:28:23 GMT
A lot's been happening, but I haven't really had a chance to catch up. JJ Redick retired. That surprised me a little. I'll miss him. I love sharpshooters, and he could still have an impact. The Simmons situation is glorious (sorry, SJS). What a clusterfuck! I hope they don't pay him. I heard his next salary installment is in early October. Would he really forgo his salary? This year, and the next, and the next, and the next? I'd call his bluff! And I sure as hell wouldn't acquire him, not with that contract.
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NBA
Sept 23, 2021 1:47:24 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Sept 23, 2021 1:47:24 GMT
The Simmons situation is glorious (sorry, SJS). What a clusterfuck! I hope they don't pay him. I heard his next salary installment is in early October. Would he really forgo his salary? $227,000 per day.
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NBA
Sept 23, 2021 11:29:51 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Sept 23, 2021 11:29:51 GMT
OK, a little hint as to the issue with Gersson Rosas slips through:
"Throughout the past few months there has been growing discord and strained relationships among Rosas, the front office and the rest of the organization, sources said. Sources also said Rosas' recent actions involving a female employee of the team played a role in the decision and the timing of it. The woman is no longer with the team as of Wednesday."
Obviously the basketball wasn't the real issue: it's too early to tell anything on that front. You'd have to say he has had interesting, but mixed and inconclusive results so far. There was talk about culture ... OK, but it has to be pretty awful to warrant firing right now. But if he's harassing (or screwing) somebody? That's going to be an issue. (That he was nauseating about the "family environment" is just an ironic twist.)
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NBA
Sept 23, 2021 12:08:11 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Sept 23, 2021 12:08:11 GMT
My god, beyond an extramarital relationship with an employer, apparently ( per ESPN) Gersson Rosas had a falling out with his eventual replacement and banned him from team facilities.
He yapped nonstop about a "family environment." What kind of dysfunctional family was he trying to build?
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NBA
Sept 28, 2021 13:29:40 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Sept 28, 2021 13:29:40 GMT
With the NBA training camps opening, the Wolves had their kickoff press conference with the new co-owners-in-waiting, Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez. One of the themes that came out of it: seems they're going to want a new stadium.
Ugh.
Target Center isn't a great arena, I'll grant that. But it was only built in the 90s, and it was refurbished in 2017 partly at taxpayers' expense--and there are a few years left on the payments for it.
Beyond that, in the past 20 years, Minnesota metro area taxpayers have funded in part or in full the construction of separate, new stadiums for the Wild, the Gophers football team, the Twins, the Vikings, the Loons (soccer), the Saints (minor league baseball)...I feel like I'm forgetting some, but that's most of them. It is absurd already. I'd be shocked if a new NBA stadium would be built for less than $300 million, based on costs of new arenas in general.
If Mssrs. Lore and Rodriguez think it's essential to have a new stadium, I recommend they build one on their own dime. Lore is worth an estimated $4 billion; Rodriguez is a relative pauper at a mere $400 million. Still, that's more than enough. Wolves fans can chip in by buying tickets, merchandise, and such. It's the rare industry that makes you pay for the product up-front, then pay for it again when you want to use it.
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NBA
Oct 5, 2021 12:00:57 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 5, 2021 12:00:57 GMT
We're officially underway ... with preseason, anyway. The Wolves are 1-0, so I recommend we cancel the remainder of the season and crown them champs before things inevitably go south.
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NBA
Oct 5, 2021 14:50:14 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 5, 2021 14:50:14 GMT
The 76ers played their first preseason game last night. I tuned in to watch the game but the Flyers' game was on. I guess regular season trumps preseason. Anyway, the Sixers got killed by Toronto. Joel Embiid didn't play; he was (cough) rested. Ben Simmons rested, too, in his mansion in California. Dontcha just love pro sports in 2021...
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NBA
Oct 5, 2021 14:57:52 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 5, 2021 14:57:52 GMT
We're about to enter the second season in which, barring some big major development on the business side, I won't be able to watch Wolves games. The network that covers them, now absurdly named the Bally Sports Network (a casino brand?), has very limited distribution. In short, without getting one of very few old-school cable packages, I'm out of luck.
I guess considering the time-suck NBA can be and how awful the Wolves always are, I should be thankful. But instead I look at it as a failure of capitalism. How can you be unable to make the home team's games readily available for purchase in your own local market?
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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 13:47:54 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 6, 2021 13:47:54 GMT
For the Sheriff, here's Zach Lowe of ESPN with his little preview of Philly (from the tier-rankings of teams story he wrote):
"We don't know when or how the Ben Simmons situation will resolve itself. (Joel Embiid told zero lies in his soliloquy about how the Sixers remade their roster over and over -- including in their watershed decision to sign and trade Jimmy Butler -- to convenience Simmons.)
"The Sixers have a solid track record when Embiid plays without his discontented co-star; they walloped opponents by 12 points per 100 possessions in such minutes two seasons ago, but that margin fell to 1.5 points in 2020-21, per Cleaning The Glass, mostly due to rickety defense.
"Several rising perimeter guys might keep non-Simmons lineups afloat: Tyrese Maxey, Shake Milton, Matisse Thybulle, Furkan Korkmaz, Jaden Springer. Embiid by himself makes Philly formidable. Georges Niang can play power forward around Embiid, and maybe even alongside both Embiid and Tobias Harris, if need be.
"But playing full time without Simmons strains Philly's roster, and shrinks its margin for error -- and for Embiid missing time. The defensive burden on Embiid becomes enormous.
"The Sixers (mostly Embiid) deserve the benefit of the doubt, but they will feel unstable until the Simmons end game."
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 6, 2021 14:05:53 GMT
I agree with Zach's preview. One thing, well, actually two things I'm looking forward to are seeing Georges Liang and Jaden Springer's skills/abilities. I've never seen either of them play, and I'm curious how much of a role they'll play this season.
Ben Simmons' no show fines are already accumulating and he and his agent are bitching and protesting. However, the NBA Players Association told them...sorry!
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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 14:11:11 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 6, 2021 14:11:11 GMT
I think Niang is fully capable of being productive in reserve minutes. He's not the most athletic guy in the world (by a long shot), but he is smart and skilled, and he has developed into a pretty dang good 3-pt shooter. He is best suited for a modern stretch 4 kind of spot, but could play a little SF or smallball C. Depending on lineups and injuries, I would not be surprised to see him in the rotation, even if near the bottom of it.
Springer is just so young. I would expect him to be playing mostly D-League ball. Super talented though.
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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 14:12:14 GMT
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Kapitan likes this
Post by B.E. on Oct 6, 2021 14:12:14 GMT
Ben Simmons' no show fines are already accumulating and he and his agent are bitching and protesting. However, the NBA Players Association told them...sorry! Which I am thrilled about. Even the Players Assoc. recognizes there has to be some accountability.
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