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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 14:17:52 GMT
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Post by B.E. on Oct 6, 2021 14:17:52 GMT
I’m super excited for the Knicks this year. They actually improved over the offseason. With more offensive options in the starting lineup, look for the Knicks to fair better throughout the season and into the playoffs. As good as they were defensively last yr, they really struggled to score at times, most alarmingly, in the playoffs.
Not that it matters, but they played to win last night (and did) and had nice, balanced scoring.
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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 14:34:43 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 6, 2021 14:34:43 GMT
I’m super excited for the Knicks this year. They actually improved over the offseason. With more offensive options in the starting lineup, look for the Knicks to fair better throughout the season and into the playoffs. As good as they were defensively last yr, they really struggled to score at times, most alarmingly, in the playoffs. Not that it matters, but they played to win last night (and did) and had nice, balanced scoring. I had to laugh when I saw Julius Randle played 30 minutes. First preseason game, and your star plays near-regular season minutes? Oh, Thibs...
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Post by B.E. on Oct 6, 2021 14:57:28 GMT
I’m super excited for the Knicks this year. They actually improved over the offseason. With more offensive options in the starting lineup, look for the Knicks to fair better throughout the season and into the playoffs. As good as they were defensively last yr, they really struggled to score at times, most alarmingly, in the playoffs. Not that it matters, but they played to win last night (and did) and had nice, balanced scoring. I had to laugh when I saw Julius Randle played 30 minutes. First preseason game, and your star plays near-regular season minutes? Oh, Thibs... I hear ya, but, considering there are only 4 preseason games, I kinda like the no-nonsense approach. Also, Noel and Robinson were out. There are two significant starting lineup changes, so I understand prioritizing working on that chemistry.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 6, 2021 15:19:24 GMT
Knox only managed 4 minutes. If he doesn’t crack the rotation, he’ll have to be traded at the deadline. I hope Thibs gives him enough of an opportunity. Also, too bad about Vildoza...
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NBA
Oct 6, 2021 15:22:33 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Oct 6, 2021 15:22:33 GMT
The thing is, they aren't going to get anything in return for Knox if they don't let him get minutes--at least in preseason! I guess you could argue that people know who and what he is (pretty one-dimensional scorer) regardless of his playing time but I think for teams to do a better analysis of what level of scorer he is, and what his potential to do more might be, he has to see the court.
Plus regardless of the optics of a showcase, you're just destroying your chances from leverage perspective. "We dislike him so much that despite having been a bad-to-mediocre team without much talent, we could not stomach putting him on the court. We want a 1st rounder for him!" Good luck...
Personally I suspect he's got a lot more to offer, even if it is as an offense-minded sixth man.
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NBA
Oct 7, 2021 17:18:07 GMT
Post by B.E. on Oct 7, 2021 17:18:07 GMT
Big fraud story breaking involving 18 former players.
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NBA
Oct 7, 2021 17:27:55 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 7, 2021 17:27:55 GMT
Big fraud story breaking involving 18 former players. Yeah, millions in allegedly fraudulent healthcare costs under the NBA's pension plan / healthcare. Not good. One of the guys alleged to be involved is Minneapolis native (and former Michigan St., international, and LAL/BKN/WAS/CHA/TOR wing) Alan Anderson.
Mostly fringe and role-player types: Sebastian Telfair, Ruben Patterson, Terence Williams, Tony Wroten, Chris Douglas-Roberts, etc.
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NBA
Oct 8, 2021 12:09:56 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 8, 2021 12:09:56 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. Obviously it's only preseason, but Niang had a nice night! 16 points on 6-11 FG (4-7 3pt) in 16 minutes, plus 2 reb and 3 ast.
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NBA
Oct 8, 2021 12:12:24 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 8, 2021 12:12:24 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. Obviously it's only preseason, but Niang had a nice night! 16 points on 6-11 FG (4-7 3pt) in 16 minutes, plus 2 reb and 3 ast. Yes, I watched the game, and Doc Rivers gave him a good look. I was focusing on him, too, and he looked pretty much how you described him.
BTW, legendary Sixers' play-by-play broadcaster, Marc Zumoff, retired after 27 years and was replaced by Kate Scott.
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NBA
Oct 8, 2021 19:07:41 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 8, 2021 19:07:41 GMT
Shams Charania reports that while the 76ers hold out hope for Ben Simmons, the disgruntled star has fully emptied his Philadelphia-area home, shipping all of his belongings elsewhere, as he is about to put it up for sale.
For better or worse (from a fans and league perspective), there's really not a lot of leverage for Philly as long as Simmons doesn't care if he's going to lose a lot of money this year.
Personally, I get that he doesn't want to be there. OK. But when you sign a contract that says "I will do X in return for you to pay me Y," or in this case, millions and millions of Ys, then I'm rarely going to side with you. Worst of all, I read a recent article about the NBA indicating that most execs on the personnel side and players' agents all believe that we're going to see more stars overwhelmingly signing max deals, max extensions, and then force trades to go where they want. (This was in the context of likely upcoming free agencies.) I actually find that immoral, even if it is effective.
I do wonder how his behavior will impact his value. Teams that value chemistry can't be all that excited at the prospect of paying $33-40 million a year over the next four seasons for a guy who a) can't shoot well; b) is so obviously spooked by that reality that he won't shoot; and c) decides the problems are all his franchise's fault when the city sours on him for a) and b), even as the franchise bends over backward for him (and signs him to the aforementioned deal). I mean, if you're Minnesota, why the hell would you trade for that player? Because you know within about 15 minutes, he's going to decide he doesn't like it here and repeat the process that worked for him in the past: quitting and forcing a(nother) trade.
Plus, let's remember: this superstar talent was unable to lead his LSU team to the NCAA tournament. That's almost unthinkable in a sport where one player can make such a difference--especially since he wasn't surrounded by scrubs, but by five guys other than himself who had been Top 100 recruits, and by four other guys (one of which wasn't among those five) who made the NBA.
And I've been a HUGE Ben Simmons fan. But meh, I think if I'm realistic, I don't want him on my team, or believe he'd be willing to play here anyway (despite the 33 million reasons this year alone to shut the hell up and play basketball).
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 9, 2021 12:35:49 GMT
I do wonder how his behavior will impact his value. I'm afraid Elton Brand and Daryl Morey are finding that out right now. If the reports are true, Morey is shooting high with his demands, but not getting any takers. Yet. He'll have to settle, but I still think the Sixers can get...a lot...in return. But, yeah, I think it's safe to say that Simmons' value is not what it was when he was rookie or a first and second year player. He's now been exposed in multiple ways.
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NBA
Oct 9, 2021 12:41:18 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 9, 2021 12:41:18 GMT
I do wonder how his behavior will impact his value. I'm afraid Elton Brand and Daryl Morey are finding that out right now. If the reports are true, Morey is shooting high with his demands, but not getting any takers. Yet. He'll have to settle, but I still think the Sixers can get...a lot...in return. But, yeah, I think it's safe to say that Simmons' value is not what it was when he was rookie or a first and second year player. He's now been exposed in multiple ways. I agree. But the player he IS (not should be), is still a very valuable player ... or would be, if a team knew he was going to be present, motivated, and drop the ego a few levels. What he has been "exposed" to be is, he is not a franchise-defining kind of superstar. He's a great defender, a brilliant passer (extra valuable for a guy his size), a strong rebounder. He's an all-star type player.
But he seems to think he's Magic Johnson or some other all-timer, despite having never led a team to real success. He's probably more an elite complementary player than a team-leading superstar. If he'd accept that, he'd be unbelievably good for someone.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 9, 2021 12:58:23 GMT
I'm afraid Elton Brand and Daryl Morey are finding that out right now. If the reports are true, Morey is shooting high with his demands, but not getting any takers. Yet. He'll have to settle, but I still think the Sixers can get...a lot...in return. But, yeah, I think it's safe to say that Simmons' value is not what it was when he was rookie or a first and second year player. He's now been exposed in multiple ways. He's a great defender, a brilliant passer (extra valuable for a guy his size)... There were games last year when Doc Rivers had to take Ben off the other teams' best offensive player/scorer because he got into foul trouble or was getting burned.
This past season especially, I started to question his passing skills, too. Simmons has developed this...habit...of driving the lane, but when met with resistance, picking up his dribble/leaving his feet, and then having to throw it back outside. Teams' defenses have picked up on this and are cutting off the eventual passing lanes, thus leaving Ben literally caught in the air. He has never learned to NOT do this, keeping his dribble and either dribble OUT OF THE LANE or shoot a short jumper in the lane. You know, like a one-trick pony kind of thing.
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NBA
Oct 10, 2021 13:21:39 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Oct 10, 2021 13:21:39 GMT
I’m super excited for the Knicks this year. Kevin Knox got a little run last night, and more exciting for me, (Minneapolis native) Jericho Sims with another nice game. I could easily imagine Thibs as falling for him, and it seems based on his summer league and preseason so far that he really could make it.
Funny fact about Jericho: I was a freshman when his older brother Jason was a junior at the University of Northern Iowa. That was 1994-95. Not his dad, his brother! Another brother, Dominique, was a Gophers football player in the early '00s. Not just a very athletically gifted family, but one that really spanned a long time.
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Post by B.E. on Oct 11, 2021 1:01:36 GMT
I had thought it would be worked out, but apparently not: Steve Nash has stated that "for sure" they're going to have to play home games without Kyrie Irving. What a bizarro world we find ourselves in. Not only the near epitome of selfishness, but self-sabotage (400k a game!). And, for what? Seriously, for what?
I see it in "real life" too. Friends, family, co-workers. People refusing to get vaccinated. People who otherwise aren't known for taking political stances, or extreme stances, or making dangerous decisions (regarding their health, the health of those around them, or risking their careers/livelihood). I really don't get it. It does feel like we've actually entered a post-truth world. I'm all for healthy skepticism, but I'm seeing a lot of unhealthy skepticism and whatever else it is.
Edit: Back to Kyrie...if I'm KD, no way in hell I'm putting up with this. And if Kyrie was never going to change his mind, KD and the Nets organization should have figured that out and traded him before it became what it is. (They could be playing the long game, but I wouldn't have the stomach for it.)
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