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NBA
Oct 26, 2021 12:01:08 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 26, 2021 12:01:08 GMT
Wolves, undefeated no more. 2-1, with a (somewhat embarrassing) home loss to NOP.
After three games, the most unsettling trend is the play of D'Angelo Russell. His 14.3 ppg wouldn't be so awful (despite his 17+ ppg career average) except he's shooting just 31.8% FG and 30.4% 3pt. He's also getting just 4 apg, which is the same number of turnovers per game he's committing. His PER through three games is 9.72 (with the league average by definition at 15).
It doesn't help that Malik Beasley, the shooting guard being used as a sixth man, is getting just 6.7 ppg (and shooting an abysmal 16.7 3pt%). In his 50-some games with the Wolves over the past two seasons, he has been a 20 ppg scorer and 40% 3-point shooter.
Second-year star-in-the-making Anthony Edwards called out himself and fellow "Big Three" teammates Karl Anthony Towns and Russell after last night's loss, saying they are playing selfishly and need to integrate teammates.
We got to be willing to pass the ball. There's no 'I' in team. We can't beat five people with three people. We beat five people with five people. We got to be willing to play with our teammates. Trust our teammates and ... share the ball. ... I don't really talk too much as far as on the court. I let my game lead," Edwards said. "But now I see that I'm gonna start talking more as far as, 'You need to lock in, bruh. Pass the ball. Four people on you, pass the ball,' know what I'm saying?' I'm finna start talking a lot more. It'll be better coming from me?"
It's a little sad that a guy who just turned 20 and is in the early moments of his second season sees the light sooner than guys five, six years older than him.
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NBA
Oct 26, 2021 12:47:37 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 26, 2021 12:47:37 GMT
Just remember, however much you may disagree with the NBA's Top 75 list, there is always a worse list out there. Iverson 8th? Marbury 28th!? Steve Kerr 57th!?!? Robert Horry, Spudd Webb, Derek Fisher, oh my!
/photo/1
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NBA
Oct 27, 2021 11:50:12 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Oct 27, 2021 11:50:12 GMT
Well, B.E., I have to say that I was very impressed by the Knicks performance last night (defeating the 76ers 112-99, but it wasn't that close). Thibs has 'em playing hard and they look like a well-rounded team. Also, The Garden was electric! Should be a fun year for Knicks' fans.
The 76ers are not a very good team right now. They are not playing well defensively, and they are relying to much on Embiid and the 3-point shot. I also think they need help inside around the basket. Other than Embiid, they don't have much inside presence.
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NBA
Oct 27, 2021 12:02:50 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 27, 2021 12:02:50 GMT
They are not playing well defensively, and they are relying to much on Embiid and the 3-point shot. I also think they need help inside around the basket. Other than Embiid, they don't have much inside presence. That is the trend in the NBA overall, isn't it? I mean, not the relying on Embiid part--there's only one of him--but one post and four 3-point shooters. Thing is, if that's the case and you have Embiid, you'd expect he'd get 20+ shots a game. I see last night he had only seven, though he did have eleven FT attempts.
With Andre Drummond as a backup, they certainly seem solid at that position. You'd prefer them to go to a more traditional setup with a post-oriented (or at least capable) power forward?
As for the Knicks, I just second what you said. Good for them. I actually enjoy the resurgence of that long-suffering franchise ... even if it means watching Thibs do there what he was unable to do here.
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NBA
Oct 28, 2021 12:07:19 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Oct 28, 2021 12:07:19 GMT
The Wolves beat Milwaukee in Milwaukee last night ... luckily. After a hot start, they actually were outscored by 10 in the 4th quarter, but hung on.
One funny aside, after their disappointing loss to NOP last game, Anthony Edwards called out the stars and said they needed to be better at sharing the offensive load with teammates. The three had combined for 69 of the team's 98 points, 70% of the offense, in that game. So against Milwaukee, how did the Big Three share? Well, they combined for 79 of the team's 113 points, for 69.9%. So I guess they improved in that regard ... by 0.1%.
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NBA
Nov 1, 2021 20:09:34 GMT
B.E. likes this
Post by Kapitan on Nov 1, 2021 20:09:34 GMT
I read today in ESPN's new power rankings that Trae Young reached 5,000 points quicker than any previous Hawk (208 games). That's quicker than Bob Pettit (212), Pete Maravich (218), Joe Johnson (227), and Dominique Wilkins (230). Not bad!
As for placement of the main thread contributors' teams?
7. New York 8. Philadelphia 21. Minnesota
Of the bunch, sad to say, Minnesota's position might be the biggest positive surprise! But really, New York fans must be thrilled, and in Philly, considering no Ben Simmons (and all that drama) plus a banged-up Embiid, 8 isn't bad.
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Post by B.E. on Nov 1, 2021 22:36:30 GMT
That was a great win for the Wolves in MIL!
Edit: Oh, and I caught some analysts ripping a recent Sports Illustrated power rankings for having the Lakers too low (I think they were 1-2 and at #9), stating it would make them look silly in December. Umm, I'm not sure they understand what power rankings are...
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NBA
Nov 1, 2021 23:25:38 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 1, 2021 23:25:38 GMT
I just turned on the 76ers' game. Ben Simmons is not active due to mental health issues. Tobias Harris is not playing due to COVID-19. And, Joel Embiid is sitting out tonight's game due to load management; it's his scheduled day off. Oh, how I love today's sports.
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NBA
Nov 1, 2021 23:30:49 GMT
Post by B.E. on Nov 1, 2021 23:30:49 GMT
I just turned on the 76ers' game. Ben Simmons is not active due to mental health issues. Tobias Harris is not playing due to COVID-19. And, Joel Embiid is sitting out tonight's game due to load management; it's his scheduled day off. Oh, how I love today's sports. Scheduled day off? Might they pick a day where there's not a game? Hey, Knicks are on NBA TV. They're all suiting up!
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NBA
Nov 2, 2021 1:29:03 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 2, 2021 1:29:03 GMT
I just turned on the 76ers' game. Ben Simmons is not active due to mental health issues. Tobias Harris is not playing due to COVID-19. And, Joel Embiid is sitting out tonight's game due to load management; it's his scheduled day off. Oh, how I love today's sports. You got the win anyway!
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NBA
Nov 2, 2021 11:52:19 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 2, 2021 11:52:19 GMT
OK, #21 might have been too high for the Wolves. An 18-point home loss to Orlando!? You'd think second-year guard Cole Anthony was an All-Star the way we let him play.
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NBA
Nov 9, 2021 12:48:35 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 9, 2021 12:48:35 GMT
The Wolves are at least saving us the drama by not hanging on to any shreds of success. Sure, they had that 3-1 start. But now they've dropped five straight, including blowing a 14-point 4th quarter lead last night to lose to Memphis.
Such a garbage team.
I recognize this would a) be wildly unpopular, and b) not guarantee better things to come, but I would honestly try to move on from both KAT and D'Angelo Russell. Despite their statistical success, when you watch them play, it's clear: they aren't winning basketball players in the NBA. And at a certain point, you can't blame youth. They are both 25 and have over half a dozen seasons under their belts.
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NBA
Nov 10, 2021 19:46:10 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 10, 2021 19:46:10 GMT
Sheriff John Stone, I was checking out the box from last night's 76ers game: no Simmons, of course; no Tobias Harris, due to COVID; no Embiid, due to COVID; and no Seth Curry, due to a foot injury. So Andre Drummond, OK. Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton...OK, I guess, though you'd rather not be starting both. Paul Reed? Oof. I saw him a few times when he was at DePaul and figured he had NBA potential, but you really don't want him starting, especially at this early point of his career.
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NBA
Nov 11, 2021 0:28:40 GMT
Post by Sheriff John Stone on Nov 11, 2021 0:28:40 GMT
Sheriff John Stone , I was checking out the box from last night's 76ers game: no Simmons, of course; no Tobias Harris, due to COVID; no Embiid, due to COVID; and no Seth Curry, due to a foot injury. So Andre Drummond, OK. Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton...OK, I guess, though you'd rather not be starting both. Paul Reed? Oof. I saw him a few times when he was at DePaul and figured he had NBA potential, but you really don't want him starting, especially at this early point of his career. The most positive aspect of the season so far has been the production of the bench. They definitely upgraded over last year. Drummond has played very well. Korkmaz has provided much needed outside shooting and scoring off the bench. Milton got a late start due to injury but he's looking pretty good, too. Paul reed has been only OK.
Tyrese Maxey has been playing very well; they better not trade him. Seth Curry has had some very hot shooting games. And, Georges Niang has been a pleasant surprise; the team seems to play better when Doc inserts him in the game.
Right now, as constituted, the 76ers are not a championship team. For them to go far in the playoffs, two things need to happen. Embiid needs to stay healthy (and be in playoff grind shape, something he has yet to be), and they need to get a "difference maker" in the trade for Ben Simmons.
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NBA
Nov 11, 2021 13:20:42 GMT
Post by Kapitan on Nov 11, 2021 13:20:42 GMT
The Wolves--with everyone healthy--lost again last night, making that six losses in a row. Anthony Edwards had 48, which is great. But irrelevant in the end.
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