2023 NBA Off-Season: The Season Begins Now (Or As Soon As KD Says It Does)

[M2]

Wood's in an enviable situation, IMO. Were I a relatively nondescript NBA lifer, I'd absolutely look at teams with transcendent PGs who can feed me the ball in a position where I can make hay, while also having the gravitas to keep defenses from keying on me at all.

Who, in the NBA, has that type of (literal) pull?

LeBron
Doncic
Chris Paul (maybe?)
Ja Morant
Harden
Curry

Is that it? Is it even that many?

He's not a PG, but Jokic is cut from that mold.

[Kingspoint]

How exactly how does Seth Curry fit with the current Sixers? First, they wouldn't have Harden. But let's ignore that and say that Curry is still on the squad. Well, there's no way Curry would or should be playing starters minutes with Maxey on board and Harden running the point. And there's the fact that Curry is not a good defensive player, nor is he a capable point guard. He's a bench shooter, that's it. While that's nice for any team to have, it really wouldn't matter that much because right now Rivers isn't giving his bench players any minutes, much less shots.

Rivers entire plan right now is to load up on defensive options and riding the starters hard, hoping that none of them have an off night. He will not deviate from that plan, and hasn't- 0 minutes for the season for Shake Milton and Furkan Korkmaz, combined. And frankly, Rivers has no more excuses for the "ill-fitting-tools" scenario. He has the pieces. But he clearly cannot make them fit.

Curry wouldn't start. He'd be coming off the bench when Embiid sits.

[Bourgeois Zee]

He's not a PG, but Jokic is cut from that mold.

Yeah, if we open it up to other positions, Jokic is clearly there. Giannis too, I think. (His ability and willingness to distribute is his most, IMO, underappreciated genius.)

Can we get to 10, even?

[Kingspoint]

LeBron just missed a shot by five feet.

With 10 on the shot clock he lazily launched it from 40 feet and it was five feet short.

- - - Updated - - -

Does Nurkic get $17M without Dame feeding him pick-and-rolls? They are as good as any tandem in the NBA not named Lebron/Davis (stats bear this out since Dame and Nurk have been together).

[Kingspoint]

Chris Paul is probably the best at feeding the lowpost than anyone in the league.

[Bourgeois Zee]

They are as good as any tandem in the NBA not named Lebron/Davis (stats bear this out since Dame and Nurk have been together).

You'll have to show that work.

[Kingspoint]

Familiar theme....Blazers dominate the end of another game with someone other than Lillard with the winning shot.

This time it's an 11-2 run over the final 1:55 to take out the Lakers in LA. Portland-born Jeremi Grant with the game-winning shot. Dame with another 41 points.

It's official. The Blazers will have one of the playoff spots and they won't settle for anything less than the 6th Seed.

Three in a row to start the season, all in the same fashion with Defense and clutch Offense and Clutch Defense against three good opponents (SAC Home Opener under Mike Brown, in POR vs PHO, and in the Forum on a Sunday afternoon with both LeBron and AD and Westbrook healthy) is not a coincidence.

Dame is on his way to another great season. He's the healthiest he's been since his Rookie season.

[Kingspoint]

It was Dame-Time all day, too. Lillard's step-back with 7.7 seconds was incredible.


The Trailblazers are only going to get better and better and better and better as these guys have never played with each other before. As the communication improves each week, the Defense will get better and should get to Top-Ten in the League. The Offense should also get better and better and finish Top-10 in the NBA by the time the playoffs begin. So far, Drew Eubanks is holding his own as the backup Center. He's been a pleasant surprise. Shaedon Sharpe is by far the most athletic player on the team. He should have a cape on his back because he can fly. His head is literally above the rim on so many efforts. Looking forward to Gary Payton joining this group. He'll fit in perfectly. Winslow has been tremendous (and at $4.6M!). I'm so glad New Jersey called Beverly for "taking a dive" on a call that would have turned the ball back to LA with 21 seconds left and LA leading by one. It was gross misconduct by the ref for calling the foul in the first place.

Josh Hart had 16 Rebounds vs the much taller and heavier Lakers.

It only gets tougher. DEN @ POR tomorrow night (Monday).

[Kingspoint]

You'll have to show that work.

I looked it up, and for the last five seasons, using consistent efficiency (PPP) and volume (3.8 pts/gm or better for a season), there are 10 players better and AD is not one of them, so I was wrong on both counts.

Gobert probably #1, Harrell #2, John Collins #3, w/ Vukevic and Valenciunis (sp?) mixed in with Christian Wood, Adebayo and three others before we talk about Nurkic or AD.

[Assembly Hall]

Zach Kram
@zachkram
·
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Bennedict Mathurin is only the fifth NBA player since 1980 to score at least 72 points in his first three career games—and the first since 1995:

Isiah Thomas
Dominique Wilkins
Michael Jordan
Jerry Stackhouse
Bennedict Mathurin
9:48 PM · Oct 22, 2022

[KoryMac5]

Zach Kram
@zachkram
·
Follow
Bennedict Mathurin is only the fifth NBA player since 1980 to score at least 72 points in his first three career games—and the first since 1995:

Isiah Thomas
Dominique Wilkins
Michael Jordan
Jerry Stackhouse
Bennedict Mathurin
9:48 PM · Oct 22, 2022

Finding him in the draft really resets the Pacers plans for this season...

[Boston Red]

Jazz win again! Blew a 17 point fourth quarter lead but still managed to pull out the win in NOLA.

[Rojo Rijo]

Warriors 89 Kings 71

At the half…..

Had to do a double take on that one


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[dubc47834]

Warriors 89 Kings 71

At the half…..

Had to do a double take on that one


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Those scores used to be final scores back in the 80's/90's.

[M2]

Those scores used to be final scores back in the 80's/90's.

More like '90s/'00s. Even into the early '10s we were seeing it. It's easy to forget how much the Warriors changed the game. Back in the '80s teams lit it up pretty good.

You can see it here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html. Average ppg dropped below 100 in 1995-96 and mostly stayed there until 2013-14. Now it's hovering around 110, which is where it was in the mid-80s.

[Bourgeois Zee]

More like '90s/'00s. Even into the early '10s we were seeing it. It's easy to forget how much the Warriors changed the game. Back in the '80s teams lit it up pretty good.

You can see it here: https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html. Average ppg dropped below 100 in 1995-96 and mostly stayed there until 2013-14. Now it's hovering around 110, which is where it was in the mid-80s.

I love the Doug Moe brand of ball-- but that mid-90s slogfest was nearly unwatchable.

[M2]

I love the Doug Moe brand of ball-- but that mid-90s slogfest was nearly unwatchable.

I literally stopped watching in those years. Greco-Roman basketball was not for me.

Doug Moe was a prophet.

[Revering4Blue]

I love the Doug Moe brand of ball-- but that mid-90s slogfest was nearly unwatchable.

Oddly enough, adding 4 teams in ‘88 and ‘89 seasons didn’t harm the quality of play at all. It was still a relatively stacked league until the additions of two more teams in ‘95 - the beginning of the brickfest era - severely weakened the league. Coincidence? I think not.

Compared with today, the worldwide basketball infrastructure was super weak in the mid ‘90s. Today, the league could - not saying they will - add six additional teams without harming the quality of play/ weakening the league/product at all.


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[Revering4Blue]

I literally stopped watching in those years. Greco-Roman basketball was not for me.

Doug Moe was a prophet.

Gotta give Don Nelson credit here as well with his unconventional lineups dating back to his days in Milwaukee. His Run TMC teams were a blast to watch and would have left a larger impact on the league if the NBA brass hadn’t waited too long to amend the illegal defense rule and outlaw hand-checking. It shouldn’t have taken until 2001 to do so.


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[Revering4Blue]

Hornets and Suns with impressive 17 point road wins against the Hawks and Clippers, respectively.

As others have mentioned, the Hawks need to allocate more minutes to Okongwu and they need to so NOW.

As for the Hornets, last night’s win occurred with both Ball and Rozier sidelined. Granted, the Hawks were missing Bogdanovic. But still an impressive win nonetheless.


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[Bourgeois Zee]

Hornets and Suns with impressive 17 point road wins against the Hawks and Clippers, respectively.

As others have mentioned, the Hawks need to allocate more minutes to Okongwu and they need to so NOW.

As for the Hornets, last night’s win occurred with both Ball and Rozier sidelined. Granted, the Hawks were missing Bogdanovic. But still an impressive win nonetheless.


Hornets got 20/11 from Nick Richards, largely against Okongwu. Until he can stop the Nick Richards of the world, dude doesn't need any more time. Richards ate his lunch. Repeatedly.

Clippers sat Kawhi, IIRC, and probably should have sat Jackson. He scored just as many points as I did in 24 minutes. John Wall will take over at point by December.

[Boston Red]

How bad does it have to get in LA before Lebron requests a trade? Surely he doesn't want to waste another losing season there. He doesn't have many years left.

[Revering4Blue]

Hornets got 20/11 from Nick Richards, largely against Okongwu. Until he can stop the Nick Richards of the world, dude doesn't need any more time. Richards ate his lunch. Repeatedly.

Clippers sat Kawhi, IIRC, and probably should have sat Jackson. He scored just as many points as I did in 24 minutes. John Wall will take over at point by December.

Kawhi actually played last night. Clippers were at full strength. Good points on Wall and Richards. I always believed Richards would be the better NBA player of the two Hornet bigs acquired at the same time - Vernon Carey the other. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s better than Mark Williams when all is said and done.


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[BuckeyeRed27]

How bad does it have to get in LA before Lebron requests a trade? Surely he doesn't want to waste another losing season there. He doesn't have many years left.

I don’t think he can be traded this year with the contract he signed.

[Boston Red]

I don’t think he can be traded this year with the contract he signed.

Even if both he and the Lakers wanted the trade? I did not know that was a thing.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Even if both he and the Lakers wanted the trade? I did not know that was a thing.

Yeah it’s random salary cap rules, but basically the raise from year 1 to year 2 in the contract is over a certain limit, which makes him ineligible to be traded this season.

[goreds2]

The 0-3 76ers are up by 18 at halftime vs Pacers.

[goreds2]

The 0-3 76ers are up by 18 at halftime vs Pacers.

Now 1-3.

[Kingspoint]

While it's been incredible that Portland could dominate their first three opponents 36-6 down the stretch, something even very good teams (who aren't recent Champions like GSW and MIL) don't do three games in a row until January, at the earliest, and certainly not POR, notorious for their slow starts to the season under Dame and Stotts (neither ever had gone 2-0 before), the Trailblazers sill have a whole lot of issues to address....turnovers, continuity on both ends of the floor, identity, Coaching, etc., etc., etc. For POR to get this part of their game polished already like they have is something that teams that get to the Conference Finals accomplish.

POR has also stayed tight with a 9-man rotation that hasn't allowed any others to walk onto the court. Payton will add to that, but tonight Winslow is injured and will miss time. It will be the first appearance of a non-rotation player for the Blazers, I'm guessing Keon Johnson and/or Jabari Walker. Little and Sharpe could also see increased minutes. Against DEN on the 2nd of a back-to-back after a frantic pace yesterday vs the Lakers (running back on turnovers will do that to you) is not a desirable situation. I bet on the Blazers to win outright all three games so far this season, gaining better odds each time instead of taking the points. In fact, I gave points in all of them, 1-1/2 each time, to get even better odds. I was just going to take the points vs DEN, but without Winslow, that's probably not a good bet. Winslow has been as important as any player not named Dame so far this season, averaging 25+ minutes per game, closing out that game against the Suns (and I can't remember if he did vs the Kings, too, but I think he did instead of Nurkic). Having Winslow Defensively against Denver's tall backcourt is something they need. If Payton was available, then Payton would just take that role, but he's to be evaluated in a couple days.

DEN should be favored by about 6-1/2 tonight, but I'm sure the line is probably about 4-1/2. I'll have to go look. Maybe there's a prop I can do.

[Kingspoint]

I didn't know about Embiid's Plantar Fasciitis. That sucks. It's great that he got two months off for it to heal, but it takes six months. Someone with his size, maybe more. His minutes really need to be managed with occasional games missed if he's going to be effective during the playoffs. If they don't give Embiid consistent rest, he's going to end up missing double-digit games in a row. Not a great idea to play him 36 minutes early in the season. That's a great way to reaggravate the PF injury.

[texasdave]

And the winless Houston Rockets knock off the unbeaten Utah Jazz. Jabari Smith, Jalen Green and Kevin Porter all go off for 20+ points.

[Kingspoint]

What a great, complete whipping the Blazers put on the Nuggets tonight.

It's so nice to see.

[Kingspoint]

I knew Simons was going to go off tonight. I figured 4 or 5 "3"'s on 9 or 10 attempts. I couldn't find just that bet, only 4 "3"'s and a Blazers win for +400. I didn't think the Blazers would win, so I passed on that one and took the Nurk Double-Double for +120. I was concerned after Nurk missed his first 6 shots, but he was still a +7 on the court at the time because of the great job of passing the ball and playing Defense against Jokic and the Nuggets, so Chauncey was going to leave him in, especially without Winslow available. At the 8:43 mark of the 3rd Quarter, and Nurk not having a FG, yet, Chauncey took him aside during a DEN timeout and coached him up so he wouldn't get down on himself, as playing well against DEN means everything to him, and you could see his frustration.

I never saw coming Simons' 6-6 3-pt shooting and 22 points in the 3rd Quarter leading to a franchise-tying 44 points in the 3rd for the Blazers. That was incredible.

The eFG% of 67% by the Blazers is the best any team has done so far this season out of 100+ games. That's remarkable when you add that it was the 2nd of a back-to-back with 1000 miles of travel included.

First time the Blazers have scored 80 points in the 2nd Half since 1989.

Nurk led all players with +26 on the night. Jokic flopped big-time twice to get Nurk's 5th foul when Jokic already had 5 fouls believing he wouldn't get called for a 6th. Refs would have none of it and ignored him while he flew himself 15 feet across the floor each time.

Grant with another 20+ point game. Simons with 29 points on 17 shots. Dame 31 points on 16 shots.

Congratulations to your first of the season Western Conference Player-of-the-Week Damian Lillard.

Hart with 11 Rebound tonight after his 16 last night. 27 in two games on back-to-back. Amazing for a guy his size.

[Kingspoint]

The Nurkic-led Blazers held Jokic to single-digit scoring Monday Night (8 points).

The last time that happened to Jokic was August 8th, 2020 in Florida. Who was that against? Oh, yeah....the Nurkic-led Blazers, the Summer after they had knocked DEN out of the playoffs with a Game-7 win in Colorado before falling in the Western Conference Finals.

I weighed way too much on what I saw in the pre-season. I was looking for some kind of life, but I couldn't find it. Chauncey has learned quickly.

[Kingspoint]

It just doesn't get any easier for the Lakers.

After beginning the year against three strong teams (GSW, LAC, POR), they face DEN and MIN on the road. There are no easy games in the Western Conference as UTA, HOU, OKC and SAS have shown so far mid-way through the 2nd Week of the NBA schedule.

As much as Anthony Davis wants to declare the time as "a sense of urgency" ( https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/10/lakers-notes-davis-reaves-westbrook-trade-talks.html ), I don't see where the wins are going to come from nor where help is on it's way. The Lakers are not going to even make the play-in tournament. This is more likely to be a lottery team than any team in the Western Conference. Lakers should be in tank mode, not buy mode. LeBron has messed this franchise up so badly that it's going to take some time to get out of it. Pat Riley said good riddance to LeBron for good reasons when he started making ridiculous demands like he eventually did in Cleveland and LA. Cleveland was brilliant how they navigated out of it. I don't see the management and ownership in LA to do what Cleveland was capable of doing.

The Lakers are a sinking ship. LeBron needs to stop asking others to join him on it, and instead be asking others how can he join them (he'll need to take a huge pay cut to get it done). It was a terrible decision for LeBron to come out West where just making the playoffs each season is a tall task. To actually come out of it as its Western Conference Champion takes a complete team effort (see Warriors and Suns), while teams led by individuals (see OKC and HOU) just don't get it done. Go back East LeBron if you ever want to see a Championship Final again. (yeah, they won a Florida mini-season, but that's worthless...it's not a grinding travel-filled Western Conference schedule with grueling traveling venues in the playoffs where it's difficult to win a 7-game series (mile-high, Portland, Utah, Golden State, 1700-mile travel to MIN and these new Timberwolves, live by the flop Doncic and the gifts he's given by the refs, cross-town LAC and a George/Leonard combo, the dynamic Monty Williams/Chris Paul led Suns, and the rising fast MEM and NOP,...and how far away can SAC, HOU and OKC be...not far at all).

[Kingspoint]

From Anthony Davis:

“You don’t want to dig yourself too big of a hole,” Davis said. “But we’ve got to stay even-keeled. We can’t get rattled or flustered and things like that. Just like if we win 12 in a row. We don’t want to get too high.”

:lol:

They haven't even won 12 games total in the time Davis, James and Westbrook have been on the floor together (11-13) since Westbrook arrived.


Westbrook has been ruled out for their next game (@ DEN) with a hamstring issue. He played through it his first three games, but that's not going to happen now.

[Kingspoint]

From Hoopsrumors:

Clippers star Kawhi Leonard experienced some stiffness in his surgically repaired right knee and was held out of the team’s loss to Oklahoma City on Tuesday, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN, who adds that Leonard has also been ruled out for the rematch between the two teams on Thursday. Head coach Tyronn Lue didn’t classify it as a setback for Leonard. “We want to be cautious, make sure we’re doing the right thing by him, even though he wanted to play,” Lue said. We just thought it wasn’t smart. He can be mad at us if he wants to but just not smart right now.”

[Kingspoint]

This is going to be Fox's breakout season, where he establishes himself as an elite PG.

Here's how he feels about it from hoopsrumors.com :

“For me, it’s like yo, they believe in me,” Fox said, per Ajayi Browne of Slam Online. “But two, it’s like motherf—-r, we just traded somebody who could be a franchise point guard either here or somewhere else. So, you better get on your s–t; you better start winning.”

The Kings received plenty of outside criticism for their decision to trade a rising star like Haliburton in his second NBA season, but Fox is determined to prove that the Kings made the right move by handing him the undisputed reins at point guard.

“Does it add pressure? Yeah, a little bit,” Fox said. “But, at the end of the day, I’ve been trying to get us in the playoffs for years, so it’s a little added pressure. It ain’t hurt anybody.”

[Kingspoint]

7 technicals in the 3rd Quarter (a quarter which the Warriors have always prided in themselves to be their quarter) in case you missed it (I missed it busy rewatching the Blazers' dismantling of the Nuggets and Simons' 6 three's in a 4-minute span of the 3rd Qtr) from hoopsrumors.com

Asked about his impressions of Devin Booker so far this season, head coach Monty Williams described the Suns‘ star guard as “probably the most complete player in the league right now” (Twitter link via Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports). Booker has averaged 32.5 PPG on .530/.480/.882 shooting through four games (38.8 MPG).
Williams’ comments on Booker came after a Suns victory over the Warriors in which sharpshooter Klay Thompson was ejected for the first time in his NBA career. Kendra Andrews of ESPN has the story on the chippy game between two Pacific rivals, Thompson’s first ejection, and Booker’s account of what Klay was saying to him before he left the floor: “They have four rings, repeated over and over.”


https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34879938/klay-thompson-ejected-career-first-jawing-devin-booker-suns

[Kingspoint]

It's going to be interesting tonight. The Heat have the oldest roster in the NBA (followed by PHO, LAC, DAL). POR has the 2nd most fast-break points in the league despite being middle-of-the-league in causing turnovers. Yes. Portland can actually run now for the first time in four decades. Dame still isn't used to it and forgets a lot. Miami is also traveling 3000 miles for the first of a Western Conference road trip that may have them looking ahead tomorrow night at the game in the Bay Area against the Warriors.

I don't know the line, but I would guess that the 4-0 Blazers are favored by 1-1/2.

Speaking of old teams (and teams with fat players out of shape), Doncic, whose entire game is based upon flopping and whining, was gassed from the opening tip last night against the Pelicans. He was literally sweating like a pig all night long. I don't see him making it to the end of the season with any quality play left in him by the time the playoffs get here.

[Kingspoint]

From Hoopsrumors:

October 26th, 2022 at 10:25am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s transaction wire has been relatively quiet since the regular season got underway last Tuesday, but we can still expect one last flurry of moves in October. The deadline for teams to exercise their 2023/24 team options on rookie scale contracts arrives next Monday (October 31), and several of those decisions have yet to be reported or announced.

Unlike player or team options on veteran contracts, third- and fourth-year options on rookie scale contracts for former first-round picks must be exercised a year in advance. For instance, when the Bulls picked up Patrick Williams‘ fourth-year option earlier this month, they were locking in his salary for the 2023/24 season — his ’22/23 salary became guaranteed last October when the team exercised his third-year option.

As our tracker shows, a number of teams still have to pick up or turn down options for players who were first-round picks in 2020 and 2021. Some of those option decisions are no-brainers — the Hornets haven’t yet exercised LaMelo Ball‘s $10.9MM option for 2023/24, but there’s no doubt they’ll do so.

Other decisions are less cut-and-dried. For example, the Hornets also must decide whether they want to pick up James Bouknight‘s $4.57MM third-year option for ’23/24. Given Bouknight’s underwhelming rookie season and his recent legal troubles, it’s far from a given that Charlotte will want to lock in that cap hit.

Here’s the list of option decisions that have yet to be announced or reported:

Boston Celtics

Payton Pritchard (fourth year, $4,037,278)

Charlotte Hornets

LaMelo Ball (fourth year, $10,900,635)
James Bouknight (third year, $4,570,080)
Kai Jones (third year, $3,047,880)

Golden State Warriors

James Wiseman (fourth year, $12,119,440)
Jonathan Kuminga (third year, $6,012,840)
Moses Moody (third year, $3,918,480)

New Orleans Pelicans

Kira Lewis (fourth year, $5,722,116)
Trey Murphy (third year, $3,359,280)

New York Knicks

Immanuel Quickley (fourth year, $4,171,548)
Quentin Grimes (third year, $2,385,720)
[UPDATE: The Knicks’ options have been picked up.]

Orlando Magic

Jalen Suggs (third year, $7,252,080)
Cole Anthony (fourth year, $5,539,771)
Franz Wagner (third year, $5,508,720)
Chuma Okeke (fourth year, $5,266,713)
R.J. Hampton (fourth year, $4,220,057)

Philadelphia 76ers

Tyrese Maxey (fourth year, $4,343,920)
Jaden Springer (third year, $2,226,240)

Utah Jazz

Udoka Azubuike (fourth year, $3,923,484)
Leandro Bolmaro (third year, $2,588,400)

Note: The Rockets haven’t technically exercised their 2023/24 options on Jalen Green ($9,891,480), Alperen Sengun ($3,536,280), Usman Garuba ($2,588,400), and Josh Christopher ($2,485,200) yet, but will reportedly do so.

[Kingspoint]

Still waiting on that Mitchell/Garland combo to get significant time together...

From Hoopsrumors:

October 25th, 2022 at 10:19pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Cavaliers All-Star point guard Darius Garland, still dealing with a left eyelid laceration, is not expected by head coach J.B. Bickerstaff to return to Cleveland’s lineup for its contest against the Magic tomorrow, per Kelsey Russo of The Athletic (Twitter link). “He’s doing stuff on the floor now, breaking a sweat,” Bickerstaff said. “Again, time will tell how far the swelling goes down and how quickly.” Thus far this year, Garland’s only on-court action has come during the Cavaliers’ opener last Wednesday. He was only available for 13 minutes before leaving due to the injury.

There’s more out of Cleveland:

Cavaliers small forward Cedi Osman is fitting into the niche role head coach J.B. Bickerstaff wants him to fulfill this season, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. “I know what J.B. expects of me every night,” Osman told Fedor last Saturday. “Most importantly, he expects energy and defensive effort from me every time I’m on the floor. I’m aware of that. I’m capable of doing it.” Bickerstaff added, “What we have told Cedi is he is not a make-or-miss player,” he said. “He is a two-way impact guy… We will never take him out for missing a shot because he has the ability to be a sparkplug on both ends of the floor.”

[Kingspoint]

Optimism for the Kings (from hoopsrumors.com ):

October 25th, 2022 at 6:55pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Kings head coach Mike Brown has indicated that 6’8″ rookie forward Keegan Murray, the No. 4 pick out of Iowa, could be moved into the team’s starting lineup soon, per Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee.
“Yeah, he started the second half [of the team’s Sunday loss against the Warriors], so there’s a chance he could start going forward,” Brown said. The 0-3 Kings will next have the opportunity to start Murray against the 2-1 Grizzlies on Thursday. As Anderson writes, current starting power forward KZ Okpala seems most likely to be moved to the bench in such a scenario.

- - - Updated - - -

Regarding the "slow start" for the Timberwolves, hoopsrumors.com offers a story:

October 25th, 2022 at 5:39pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The star-studded Timberwolves have stumbled out of the gate to begin the 2022/23 NBA season, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The 2-2 Wolves have now dropped games against the Jazz and Spurs in what had been projected as a fairly easy opening stretch for a team that reshaped its roster by adding former Utah All-Star center Rudy Gobert in a blockbuster deal this summer. Krawczynski observes that, in the Wolves’ third home game of the year against San Antonio, they looked particularly listless defensively, star shooting guard Anthony Edwards appeared disengaged on offense, Gobert struggled to hold onto rebounds, and the club was playing through boos from the Target Center crowd in Minneapolis. Gobert posited after the game that the club needed to improve its communication on the floor. “It doesn’t take much energy to talk,” Gobert offered. “You just gotta want to do it. We’re not there yet. Hopefully, you know, we’re gonna get there soon, and we’re gonna learn.”

There’s more out of the Minnesota:

One big issue for the Timberwolves‘ new jumbo-sized starting lineup has been its transition defense, writes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Starting two nominal centers in the frontcourt, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, could be part of the trouble. Hines notes that the team is permitting opposing clubs to score 21 fast-break points per game, which is the worst such average in the NBA. “We have to understand what our flaws are and how we have to cover them,” head coach Chris Finch acknowledged. “Such as, we may not be the fastest of foot from end line to end line, but we’ve got to make a better effort.”

[Kingspoint]

Myles Turner will make his debut and in the Starting Lineup.

[Kingspoint]

The trade for Mitchell is looking really good for Cleveland so far. Cavs look good in so many ways and it's many, many others besides just Mitchell. A ton of credit has to go to the coaching here.

[Mutaman]

Giannis is so good it hurts.

[Kingspoint]

Incredible Defense by Miami tonight through 3 quarters. Just shutdown Defense the whole game.

Butler stepped on Dame's heal halfway through the 3rd on a 3-pt attempt (no foul and 2 points the other way for Butler). Lillard went straight to the lockerroom and is done for the night. Report of a strained calf, but Butler came from the side on the play with Dame's right foot extended and planted for a 3, when he was trying to step back with it to jump up and launch a 3, but Butler slammed on his heal preventing him from moving his leg and Dame went down instead of up.

- - - Updated - - -

No matter what happens win-loss for the Sixers, they better limit Embiid's minutes game-to-game.

[Kingspoint]

Jabari Walker has played the last 8 minutes of garbage time with his shorts on backwards. Kyle Lowry, not one to miss this opportunity was razzing him pretty good and letting the whole Miami bench in on the fun.

It is hard to win games in this league on a consistent basis if you aren't sharp the entire game.

Just got to hope Dame didn't hurt his Achilles as that's one way it happens...someone stepping on your heal.

Dame is tough and probably wants to play on Friday vs HOU, but I hope they sit him out on this home game. The Blazers then have Sat, Sun, Mon and Tue off before their next game on Wednesday, also at home, so he'd get a whole week of rest while missing only one game, one they can win without him at home.

Turnovers were again an issue tonight after they finally played a whole game controlling their turnovers on Monday against DEN.

They should be able to play one game without Dame. Coming into tonight, their top-22 3-player combinations in minutes all had positive +/-'s on the season. That won't be the case after tonight, but the point is that they have a lot of combinations that work among Nurk/Grant/Hart/Winslow/Sharpe/Simons/Little. Wish Payton was available.

[KoryMac5]

Dennis Smith Jr looks to have new life with Charlotte for the time being...currently he is starting for Charlotte and has put together some nice games for them.

Also Brunson for NY wow, knew he was a good player for Dallas but running the show in NY has really stepped up his game. Luka is so ball dominant I could see why his game took a backseat...he's definitely a great signing.

[Bourgeois Zee]

In short minutes, I really like Bol Bol. Not sure he can play an entire game, but used intelligently and creatively, he's a really nice piece. He's capable of bothering the best big shooters, has active hands defensively, rebounds pretty well, and shoots it well enough to be a problem.

Were I an enterprising team, I'd target him in free agency or perhaps in a trade.

[Rojo Rijo]

Dennis Smith Jr looks to have new life with Charlotte for the time being...currently he is starting for Charlotte and has put together some nice games for them.

Also Brunson for NY wow, knew he was a good player for Dallas but running the show in NY has really stepped up his game. Luka is so ball dominant I could see why his game took a backseat...he's definitely a great signing.

If Smith could consistently hit shots he wouldve been one of the top PGs in the league IMO. The athleticism is off the charts. Really glad to see him having success, for his home team too.
Brunson was my pick for MIP, looking strong so far.

[Rojo Rijo]

In short minutes, I really like Bol Bol. Not sure he can play an entire game, but used intelligently and creatively, he's a really nice piece. He's capable of bothering the best big shooters, has active hands defensively, rebounds pretty well, and shoots it well enough to be a problem.

Were I an enterprising team, I'd target him in free agency or perhaps in a trade.

He's pretty much replaced Bamba in the rotation. I think Orlando moves on from Mo after this season.

[Assembly Hall]

The Lakers suck.





Sorry, all I got. Carry on.

[KoryMac5]

The Lakers suck.





Sorry, all I got. Carry on.

With little chance of improving too...it's not just Westbrick either. No depth outside of Bron and Davis with Davis playing like he is past his prime at 31. Unreal how giving up all their depth in the Davis trade really came back to haunt them.

I don't think their current GM has the stomach for a total fire sale tear down...

[Assembly Hall]

With little chance of improving too...it's not just Westbrick either. No depth outside of Bron and Davis with Davis playing like he is past his prime at 31. Unreal how giving up all their depth in the Davis trade really came back to haunt them.

I don't think their current GM has the stomach for a total fire sale tear down...

They will get no pity from me.

[M2]

The 2019-20 Lakers stick out as perhaps the flukiest champion in NBA history. They weren't good on either side of that season. It seems the break and the bubble saved them from a likely implosion. I agree it looks pretty hopeless for them, tough it is early. So maybe Lonnie Walker busts out.

My take on them is trading AD should be their priority. Russ is gone after this season, but moving AD might bring back something to offset the massive price they paid for him.

[BuckeyeRed27]

The 2019-20 Lakers stick out as perhaps the flukiest champion in NBA history. They weren't good on either side of that season. It seems the break and the bubble saved them from a likely implosion. I agree it looks pretty hopeless for them, tough it is early. So maybe Lonnie Walker busts out.

My take on them is trading AD should be their priority. Russ is gone after this season, but moving AD might bring back something to offset the massive price they paid for him.

Davis has been good so far and is their only trade chip. But I don’t think they’d get a ton for him.

[M2]

Davis has been good so far and is their only trade chip. But I don’t think they’d get a ton for him.

I suppose the question is "What would the Knicks do?"

[Kingspoint]

Two games I'm really interested in tonight...

MEM @ SAC. MEM is favored by something like 3, but the Final score should be close to 124-122, and it won't be because of bad Defense. Both Offenses will be a highlight real from start to finish.

The other game is MIA @ GSW. MIA coming off of a dominating performance against POR where their Defense was in Championship form. Spoelstra and Kerr may be the two best Coaches in the NBA (Monty Williams has something to say about that). Lowry found his 3-pt shot. Strus was unconscious from "3". Herro looked All-World. Miami shot nearly 50% from "3" on a high volume of shots. These are the two best coached teams Defensively in the NBA every season with the exception of BOS, but BOS is going to have a hard time not regressing Defensively thanks to another Head Coach (one not interviewed for and without experience), their 2nd in new one in two season. While GSW and MIA could light it up against most teams, it's likely that the first team to 100 wins this game, with a 108-105 Final the likely score.

Something that would make me throw up and heave all game long to watch? DAL @ BKN. The ugliest basketball every played in the history of the game is Doncic. I cannot stand that child. Every part of his game is predicated on flopping and whining. More time will be spent whining by Durant and Doncic than there will be playing basketball. Doncic needs to get knocked out. Maybe Green will do it when they face the Warriors.

- - - Updated - - -


Davis has been good so far and is their only trade chip. But I don’t think they’d get a ton for him.

Davis was -22 last night. He piles up stats galore, but his play doesn't lead to wins.

[Kingspoint]

The 2019-20 Lakers stick out as perhaps the flukiest champion in NBA history. They weren't good on either side of that season. It seems the break and the bubble saved them from a likely implosion. I agree it looks pretty hopeless for them, tough it is early. So maybe Lonnie Walker busts out.

My take on them is trading AD should be their priority. Russ is gone after this season, but moving AD might bring back something to offset the massive price they paid for him.

It wasn't a real post-season, or a real regular season, divided with a 6-month rest in-between. All games played at Florida made it cushy for old, decrepit types like AD and LeBron. NBA playoffs have always been about finding strength after an exhausting season and rising above the pain and aches of the 82-game schedule and the beaten-down playoff series, especially in the West. Remove that mini-tournament from LeBron's time out West, and he struggles to make the playoffs every season, and after he misses it again this season, it will be one more lesson that not all should go West (and make demands to an Owner to do this and do that (see the wreckage in New Jersey).

- - - Updated - - -


He's pretty much replaced Bamba in the rotation. I think Orlando moves on from Mo after this season.

They're down to one PG, Barrett.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Two games I'm really interested in tonight...

MEM @ SAC. MEM is favored by something like 3, but the Final score should be close to 124-122, and it won't be because of bad Defense. Both Offenses will be a highlight real from start to finish.

The other game is MIA @ GSW. MIA coming off of a dominating performance against POR where their Defense was in Championship form. Spoelstra and Kerr may be the two best Coaches in the NBA (Monty Williams has something to say about that). Lowry found his 3-pt shot. Strus was unconscious from "3". Herro looked All-World. Miami shot nearly 50% from "3" on a high volume of shots. These are the two best coached teams Defensively in the NBA every season with the exception of BOS, but BOS is going to have a hard time not regressing Defensively thanks to another Head Coach (one not interviewed for and without experience), their 2nd in new one in two season. While GSW and MIA could light it up against most teams, it's likely that the first team to 100 wins this game, with a 108-105 Final the likely score.

Something that would make me throw up and heave all game long to watch? DAL @ BKN. The ugliest basketball every played in the history of the game is Doncic. I cannot stand that child. Every part of his game is predicated on flopping and whining. More time will be spent whining by Durant and Doncic than there will be playing basketball. Doncic needs to get knocked out. Maybe Green will do it when they face the Warriors.

- - - Updated - - -



Davis was -22 last night. He piles up stats galore, but his play doesn't lead to wins.

I mean the Lakers suck and Denver is one of the best teams in the west. From a trade standpoint showing he can put up stats and and stay on the court are all that matter.

- - - Updated - - -


I suppose the question is "What would the Knicks do?"

Randle, Fournier, and 2 maybe 3 unprotected picks? I dunno.

[Kingspoint]

...and I am not overlooking HOU on Friday, especially without Dame. Winslow probably moves into the Starting Lineup at the "3", with Hart moving over to the "2". Sharpe and Little will get more minutes. Keon Johnson will get another chance. Keon didn't do well last night in his chance in the 1st Half, so he didn't come back until garbage time. Probably the same scenario Friday for Keon.

Looks like Dame will miss just the one game and get a week off to heal. It was a calf-strain, which he said was tightening before the game. He ended his night voluntarily since it was just the 5th game of the season, his words, and that he would have played had it been a playoff game.

Shaedon Sharpe has earned all of his minutes so far. He's averaging about 15 so far, on pace for 1200 minutes on the season. If he can avoid injury, and his positive play continues (it's likely to only get better and better as he's looking like that potential #1 overall pick that he was projected to be by some a year ago), his minutes could rise to 1500-1600 on the season should injuries offer up more time to him. It's remarkable how well he's played, especially Defensively, considering how little experience he has at any level against quality opponents and individuals.

[Betterread]

Two games I'm really interested in tonight...

MEM @ SAC. MEM is favored by something like 3, but the Final score should be close to 124-122, and it won't be because of bad Defense. Both Offenses will be a highlight real from start to finish.

The other game is MIA @ GSW. MIA coming off of a dominating performance against POR where their Defense was in Championship form. Spoelstra and Kerr may be the two best Coaches in the NBA (Monty Williams has something to say about that). Lowry found his 3-pt shot. Strus was unconscious from "3". Herro looked All-World. Miami shot nearly 50% from "3" on a high volume of shots. These are the two best coached teams Defensively in the NBA every season with the exception of BOS, but BOS is going to have a hard time not regressing Defensively thanks to another Head Coach (one not interviewed for and without experience), their 2nd in new one in two season. While GSW and MIA could light it up against most teams, it's likely that the first team to 100 wins this game, with a 108-105 Final the likely score.

Something that would make me throw up and heave all game long to watch? DAL @ BKN. The ugliest basketball every played in the history of the game is Doncic. I cannot stand that child. Every part of his game is predicated on flopping and whining. More time will be spent whining by Durant and Doncic than there will be playing basketball. Doncic needs to get knocked out. Maybe Green will do it when they face the Warriors.

- - - Updated - - -



Davis was -22 last night. He piles up stats galore, but his play doesn't lead to wins.

Doncic is a wide angle lens player. He has a plan to get to specific spots on the floor on every possession. This is contrasted to Portlands guards Lilliard, McCollum and Simons who are highly detailed players, who use their Basketball brain to create just enough space through skill and tricks to optimize their good shooting skills. But they will shoot from anywhere, as long as there is an opening. No shots are bad shots for them, which is why their efficiency pales compared to Doncic.

But you are absolutely right about Davis. Did you see the clip where he is open for a corner 3 and Nurkic glances over and starts walking to the other end of the floor, knowing Davis will miss, which he did.

[Kingspoint]

I mean the Lakers suck and Denver is one of the best teams in the west. From a trade standpoint showing he can put up stats and and stay on the court are all that matter.





And, a change of scenery can do wonders. He's not the first person not to do well with a move to LA.

[Kingspoint]

Fyi, Caleb Martin came off his suspension last night and was the best player on the floor.

[Betterread]

Incredible Defense by Miami tonight through 3 quarters. Just shutdown Defense the whole game.

Butler stepped on Dame's heal halfway through the 3rd on a 3-pt attempt (no foul and 2 points the other way for Butler). Lillard went straight to the lockerroom and is done for the night. Report of a strained calf, but Butler came from the side on the play with Dame's right foot extended and planted for a 3, when he was trying to step back with it to jump up and launch a 3, but Butler slammed on his heal preventing him from moving his leg and Dame went down instead of up.

- - - Updated - - -

No matter what happens win-loss for the Sixers, they better limit Embiid's minutes game-to-game.

You didn’t say it, but it looked like a dirty play on Butler’s part. Kind of like a trip. Karma comes around. Butler will get hurt sooner or later and he will blame someone else for the injury.

[BuckeyeRed27]

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1585783737786277888?s=61&t=oymNFPFQ7yQZOsDdtjvUNg

Ben Simmons just air balled a lay up…

[15fan]

Ben Simmons is the Jason Heyward of the NBA.

[Betterread]

I’m watching Dallas - Brooklyn and enjoying Luka v Kyrie. With a side of Durant. Ben Simmons is just an extra in this drama.
Kyrie v Luka 1 v 1 - result deep three for the 110-106 lead…and Doncic just cruises past Kyrie on two straight possessions to tie it up.

[M2]

The Kings are now 0-4. Mike Brown needs to figure out how they can play some defense.

The Sixers and Nets are both 1-4. It's probably worth speculating whether Doc Rivers or Steve Nash gets the ax first. Got to imagine both those franchises are getting itchy.

[KoryMac5]

Doncic with the 30th triple double of his career...he's just unbelievable to watch. Not sure this is sustainable though for Dallas their entire offense is Luka dribble for 20 seconds then find a shooter...paid off as they shot 50% from 3 last night but it won't get you back to the WC finals.

It's painful to watch Ben Simmons play...he is so reluctant to shoot anything...

[M2]

It's painful to watch Ben Simmons play...he is so reluctant to shoot anything...

Whatever's going on north of his neck, he definitely hasn't dealt with it.

[Assembly Hall]

Whatever's going on north of his neck, he definitely hasn't dealt with it.

Headworms are tough parasites to overcome.

[KoryMac5]

Whatever's going on north of his neck, he definitely hasn't dealt with it.

It's unreal Kyrie is screaming at him to shoot and he still won't take a shot...The Nets aren't paying him all that $$$ for defense. Ultimately it will end up costing Nash his job.

[Chip R]

The 2019-20 Lakers stick out as perhaps the flukiest champion in NBA history. They weren't good on either side of that season. It seems the break and the bubble saved them from a likely implosion. I agree it looks pretty hopeless for them, tough it is early. So maybe Lonnie Walker busts out.

My take on them is trading AD should be their priority. Russ is gone after this season, but moving AD might bring back something to offset the massive price they paid for him.

The problem with the Lakers is that not only do they need more good players but they need stars on the team. They need players the fans will come out and watch. Trading AD may be a smart basketball move but unless they are getting a big name back, and with AD's injury history I don't see why they would, nobody's going to watch them. The Lakers would rather have a bad team with stars than a good team with no stars.

[M2]

It's unreal Kyrie is screaming at him to shoot and he still won't take a shot...The Nets aren't paying him all that $$$ for defense. Ultimately it will end up costing Nash his job.

I feel bad for the guy. Playing basketball in the public spotlight seems to cause him anguish. I understand he has tens of millions of reasons to force the issue, but he's already rich for a lifetime. It would not shock me if he steps away from the game.

[M2]

The problem with the Lakers is that not only do they need more good players but they need stars on the team. They need players the fans will come out and watch. Trading AD may be a smart basketball move but unless they are getting a big name back, and with AD's injury history I don't see why they would, nobody's going to watch them. The Lakers would rather have a bad team with stars than a good team with no stars.

Normally stars help you to be a good team, but fair point on the Lakers liking the cachet of star power. I remember their pre-Shaq/Kobe version with Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel was a respectable team. Del Harris had a .659 winning % with the Lakers, but they weren't quite flashy enough after Showtime.

The big thing in moving AD would be they'd have the money in a year or two to shop for someone more glittery.

[Assembly Hall]

I feel bad for the guy. Playing basketball in the public spotlight seems to cause him anguish. I understand he has tens of millions of reasons to force the issue, but he's already rich for a lifetime. It would not shock me if he steps away from the game.

It also would not shock me if hung around quite awhile and continued making millions...

[Rojo Rijo]

Ben Simmons it such an interesting tale. From the stories of how he ended up at LSU and his one season there to his character and attitude being questioned pre-draft, then going #1 to Philadelphia where friend of the Simmons family Brett Brown was HC, to somehow landing a 170 million extension from Philadelphia to quitting on the team after 2021 to being traded to Brooklyn to this...

He is a shell of himself but at the end of the day he made a boatload of money and it still blows my mind that the 76ers gave a massive deal to a player who couldnt shoot. 15-20 years ago I couldve understood it but the game was well into a 3pt shooters league by 2019.

[Mutaman]

You didn’t say it, but it looked like a dirty play on Butler’s part. Kind of like a trip. Karma comes around. Butler will get hurt sooner or later and he will blame someone else for the injury.


I have the same reaction I have whenever somebody says Giannis was guilty of a "dirty play"
when Irving was injured two years ago. Which is-Don't be ridiculous.

[Betterread]

I feel sorry for LeBron. He is a joke, just playing for refs calls. He needs to retire. This new rule against take fouls seems to mostly be giving the refs a new tool to fix games.
LBJ got away with three two handed shoves in the back that were not called.
Westbrook is cooked. He is terrible. But the refs bail him out over and over. Watch a raw feed of the last three minutes and see him get calls two time where no one touched him. And the Lakers have no shooters, they play with no skill or craft.

[Kingspoint]

I feel sorry for LeBron. He is a joke, just playing for refs calls. He needs to retire. This new rule against take fouls seems to mostly be giving the refs a new tool to fix games.
LBJ got away with three two handed shoves in the back that were not called.
Westbrook is cooked. He is terrible. But the refs bail him out over and over. Watch a raw feed of the last three minutes and see him get calls two time where no one touched him. And the Lakers have no shooters, they play with no skill or craft.

You got the win and Gobert made a floater.

[Kingspoint]

You didn’t say it, but it looked like a dirty play on Butler’s part. Kind of like a trip. Karma comes around. Butler will get hurt sooner or later and he will blame someone else for the injury.

From the angle I had, I couldn't see intent. I didn't realize that before that play Dame had already strained his calf, and that he came into the game with a strained calf. I think he plays against MEM next WED, as the top two teams in the West go head-to-head.

[Kingspoint]

The Kings are now 0-4. Mike Brown needs to figure out how they can play some defense.



His ability to teach Defense is supposed to be the difference. They need more length and size. Sabonis is easily pushed around in the middle. I'd like to see Holmes start at C w/ Sabonis and Murray as the wings. Heuter and Fox are incredible as a tandem. It's been a tough early schedule, too.

[Assembly Hall]

We had a Myles Turner sighting last night.

[Kingspoint]

We had a Myles Turner sighting last night.

Yeah. I saw that. Was going to make a separate post about it. His on floor/off floor +/- revealed some of what's missing in Indy. Great game in all aspects for Turner. Haven't seen him like that before. He was inspired.

[Assembly Hall]

Yeah. I saw that. Was going to make a separate post about it. His on floor/off floor +/- revealed some of what's missing in Indy. Great game in all aspects for Turner. Haven't seen him like that before. He was inspired.

Perhaps the Pacers catch lightning in a bottle with Turner's return? This team is supposed to be tanking.

[Mutaman]

Giannis is the best player in the world. And its not even close.

[Kingspoint]

https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2022/08/traded-first-round-picks-for-2023-nba-draft.html

August 4th 2022 at 9:40am CST by Luke Adams

The 2023 NBA draft is still over 10 months away, but a number of teams have already traded away their first round picks for ’23, and more clubs may do so before this season’s trade deadline.

We’ll use the space below to keep tabs on each team’s first round pick for 2023, continually updating it as necessary throughout the year.

We’ve listed all 30 teams here, so even if a team hasn’t traded its first round pick, that will be noted. We’ll also provide details on the protections for each traded pick, including what happens to the pick in 2024 if it doesn’t change hands in 2023.

Here’s the full breakdown on the status of each 2023 first round pick:

Note: Teams marked with an asterisk (*) have traded away their 2024 first round pick (either unprotected or with protection) and can’t freely trade away their 2023 first rounder due to the Stepien rule.


Boston Celtics: Traded to Pacers (top-12 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Celtics would send the Spurs a 2023 second round pick.

Brooklyn Nets (*): Traded swap rights to Rockets.
The Nets will have either their own first round pick, the Rockets’ pick, or the Sixers’ pick. They’ll receive the Sixers’ pick if it’s the most favorable of the three; otherwise, they’d get the second-most favorable pick of the three.

New York Knicks: Own pick.

Philadelphia 76ers: Traded to Nets or Jazz.
The Nets will receive the Sixers’ first round pick if it’s the most or second-most favorable of the Sixers’, Nets’, and Rockets’ 2023 first rounders. If it’s the least favorable of the three, the Jazz will receive it.

Toronto Raptors: Own pick.

Chicago Bulls: Traded to Magic (top-4 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Bulls would owe the Magic their 2024 first round pick (top-3 protected).

Cleveland Cavaliers: Traded to Pacers (top-14 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Cavaliers would send the Pacers their 2025 second round pick and the Lakers’ 2026 second round pick.

Detroit Pistons: Traded to Knicks (top-18 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Pistons would owe the Knicks their 2024 first round pick (top-18 protected).

Indiana Pacers: Own pick.

Milwaukee Bucks: Traded to Rockets (unprotected).

Atlanta Hawks: Own pick.

Charlotte Hornets: Traded to Spurs (top-16 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Hornets would owe the Spurs their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).

Miami Heat: Own pick.

Orlando Magic: Own pick.

Washington Wizards: Traded to Knicks (top-14 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Wizards would owe the Knicks their 2024 first-round pick (top-12 protected).

Denver Nuggets: Traded to Hornets (top-14 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Nuggets would owe the Hornets their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).

Minnesota Timberwolves: Traded to Jazz (unprotected).

Oklahoma City Thunder: Own pick.
The Thunder have the ability to swap their pick with the Clippers’ 2023 first rounder.

Portland Trail Blazers: Traded to Bulls (top-14 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Trail Blazers would owe the Bulls their 2024 first round pick (top-14 protected).

Utah Jazz (*): Own pick.

Golden State Warriors (*): Own pick.

Los Angeles Clippers (*): Traded swap rights to Thunder.
The Clippers will have either their own first round pick or the Thunder’s pick, whichever is least favorable.

Los Angeles Lakers (*): Traded swap rights to Pelicans.
The Lakers will have either their own first round pick or the Pelicans’ pick, whichever is least favorable.

Phoenix Suns: Own pick.

Sacramento Kings (*): Own pick.

Dallas Mavericks: Traded to Knicks (top-10 protected).
If this pick lands in its protected range, the Mavericks would owe the Knicks their 2024 first round pick (top-10 protected).

Houston Rockets: Own pick.
The Rockets have the ability to swap their pick with the Nets’ 2023 first rounder.

Memphis Grizzlies: Own pick.

New Orleans Pelicans: Own pick.
The Pelicans have the ability to swap their pick with the Lakers’ 2023 first rounder.

San Antonio Spurs: Own pick.

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Perhaps the Pacers catch lightning in a bottle with Turner's return? This team is supposed to be tanking.

May have inspired the rest of the team as he sat out the 2nd of a back-to-back, but IND played well and won again.

[Kingspoint]

Danny Ainge is going to have to start selling some more parts.

Showcasing is one thing, but winning is another. Their own pick gives them their best shot @ #1 overall.

[Kingspoint]

Kings get on the board with a quality win against the Heat.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Indiana's lineups seem really jacked up.

I get waiting on Myles Turner to get healthy. Having a stand-in at center? Totally defensible.

But why are Isaiah Jackson and Bennedict Mathurin coming off the bench more often than starting?

Haliburton, Mathurin, Duarte, Jackson, and Jalen Smith now. Then when Turner's healthy, slide him into the mix at PF/ C. Bring Hield off the bench (which is where he'll play for a contender anyway).

[Bourgeois Zee]

No one can tell me De'Anthony Melton isn't one of the 15 best shooting guards in the league right now.

Let him eat, Doc.

[M2]

Indiana's lineups seem really jacked up.

I get waiting on Myles Turner to get healthy. Having a stand-in at center? Totally defensible.

But why are Isaiah Jackson and Bennedict Mathurin coming off the bench more often than starting?

Haliburton, Mathurin, Duarte, Jackson, and Jalen Smith now. Then when Turner's healthy, slide him into the mix at PF/ C. Bring Hield off the bench (which is where he'll play for a contender anyway).

Duarte would be the one catching more pine if I was making the call. Hield creates space. At least Mathurin got close to starter's minutes last night. I get they may be trying to go conservative on thrusting him into the spotlight, but at some point they have to stop arguing with reality. He might be the ROY. Give him 35 a night and let him cook.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Duarte would be the one catching more pine if I was making the call. Hield creates space. At least Mathurin got close to starter's minutes last night. I get they may be trying to go conservative on thrusting him into the spotlight, but at some point they have to stop arguing with reality. He might be the ROY. Give him 35 a night and let him cook.

Hield just doesn't play any defense-- nor has he ever been particularly interested in doing so. A time share between Duarte and Hield would seem to work just fine-- both have warts. That said, Hield should become the inveterate gunner he's always hinted at being. That means plugging him into the second unit, and let him absolutely go HAM as a shoot-first, ball-dominant combo guard with McConnell and Nesmith in the backcourt.

Jakson's the one who continually gets screwed over. If the kid gets 30 a night, he's consistently put up interesting numbers. Decent scoring, big-time rebounds, even bigger shot blocking. Solid defense, even as a twig. playing him next to Smith or Turner makes lots of sense, as both bigs have a deep shot and enough girth to take stronger opponents and let Jackson freelance a bit. So why not give him all the minutes he can have?

[M2]

Hield just doesn't play any defense-- nor has he ever been particularly interested in doing so. A time share between Duarte and Hield would seem to work just fine-- both have warts. That said, Hield should become the inveterate gunner he's always hinted at being. That means plugging him into the second unit, and let him absolutely go HAM as a shoot-first, ball-dominant combo guard with McConnell and Nesmith in the backcourt.

Jakson's the one who continually gets screwed over. If the kid gets 30 a night, he's consistently put up interesting numbers. Decent scoring, big-time rebounds, even bigger shot blocking. Solid defense, even as a twig. playing him next to Smith or Turner makes lots of sense, as both bigs have a deep shot and enough girth to take stronger opponents and let Jackson freelance a bit. So why not give him all the minutes he can have?

Part of my rationale for Hield would be to let him collect numbers for an eventual trade. But they have plenty of willing defenders and making sure there's space for others would be my priority.

[Betterread]

No one can tell me De'Anthony Melton isn't one of the 15 best shooting guards in the league right now.
Let him eat, Doc.
He isn’t. There are 15 shooting guards averaging over 20points ppg. Melton averages 8.6 ppg. So he’s not even close to your category. I wouldn’t trade the Twolves 3rd string SG Bryn Forbes for Melton. I know Forbes will make his shots in the playoffs. In the 2022 playoffs, Melton was awful, which is why the Grizzlies let him leave. Melton is playing well right now but his team sucks right now also.

[SteelSD]

He isn’t. There are 15 shooting guards averaging over 20points ppg. Melton averages 8.6 ppg. So he’s not even close to your category. I wouldn’t trade the Twolves 3rd string SG Bryn Forbes for Melton. I know Forbes will make his shots in the playoffs. In the 2022 playoffs, Melton was awful, which is why the Grizzlies let him leave. Melton is playing well right now but his team sucks right now also.

The Grizzlies didn't "let him leave". They dealt Melton for a first round pick.

It is sort of great though watching a fan of a team that's made the postseason twice in the last 19 years attempt to Betterreadsplain the playoffs.

[Bourgeois Zee]

He isn’t. There are 15 shooting guards averaging over 20points ppg. Melton averages 8.6 ppg. So he’s not even close to your category. I wouldn’t trade the Twolves 3rd string SG Bryn Forbes for Melton. I know Forbes will make his shots in the playoffs. In the 2022 playoffs, Melton was awful, which is why the Grizzlies let him leave. Melton is playing well right now but his team sucks right now also.

I'm obviously talking about talent level, man.

And you'd really take Bryn Forbes over Melton?

Really?

That's Kingspoint levels of fandom right there.

[Betterread]

The Grizzlies didn't "let him leave". They dealt Melton for a first round pick.

It is sort of great though watching a fan of a team that's made the postseason twice in the last 19 years attempt to Betterreadsplain the playoffs.

melton makes $7 million for this year. He was traded for Danny Green, who makes $14 million and has a torn ACL and will not play this year, and yes, #1 draft pick who turned into David Roddy. Teams don’t trade valued players for an expiring contract, whether it’s part of a deal or all of a deal.

[M2]

He isn’t. There are 15 shooting guards averaging over 20points ppg. Melton averages 8.6 ppg. So he’s not even close to your category. I wouldn’t trade the Twolves 3rd string SG Bryn Forbes for Melton. I know Forbes will make his shots in the playoffs. In the 2022 playoffs, Melton was awful, which is why the Grizzlies let him leave. Melton is playing well right now but his team sucks right now also.

Thoughts:

- Melton's shot runs a little hot and cold, so I'd keep him out of top shooting guard conversations. I like him better as a combo guard with a lot of grind.

- As Steel noted, the 76ers traded a 1st rounder for Melton. A big part of what Memphis was looking at is setting their cap up to afford Ja and Brandon Clarke's raises next season. Melton was objectively good with Memphis.

- Bryn Forbes? No.

- Philly was a mess coming out of the gate, but Melton was one of the bright spots and he looks like a key piece of them getting into gear.

[Betterread]

I'm obviously talking about talent level, man.

And you'd really take Bryn Forbes over Melton?

Really?

That's Kingspoint levels of fandom right there.
Forbes is what he is - an above average shooter who is terrible on defense. He’s done this for five years and won a CHIP with the Bucks. Melton has not done this much in his career.
I said this before. I liked Melton and Shake Milton coming out in the 2018 draft. And Melton has disappointed me while Milton shows more promise. But the Sixers think differently.
Memphis has two backup SGs better than both them. John Koncar and Zaire Williams are both better. Melton was behind them on the depth chart, so Memphis had no use for him.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Forbes is what he is - an above average shooter who is terrible on defense. He’s done this for five years and won a CHIP with the Bucks. Melton has not done this much in his career.
I said this before. I liked Melton and Shake Milton coming out in the 2018 draft. And Melton has disappointed me while Milton shows more promise. But the Sixers think differently.
Memphis has two backup SGs better than both them. John Koncar and Zaire Williams are both better. Melton was behind them on the depth chart, so Memphis had no use for him.

Well, that is definitely one person's opinion.

[M2]

I'm watching the Celtics and Wizards right now, and Bradley Beal looks awful. He's 1-13 from the floor and plays no defense. DC is paying this guys an average of $50M a year through 2027. Maybe it's an off night, but if the Lakers would do Russ + those 2027/29 draft picks for him, I think the Wiz have to say yes.

[Kingspoint]

Interesting....

Spurs' Keldon Johnson is averaging 3.7 made "3"'s per game. No Spur has finished a season with more than 2.4.

- - - Updated - - -


I'm watching the Celtics and Wizards right now, and Bradley Beal looks awful. He's 1-13 from the floor and plays no defense. DC is paying this guys an average of $50M a year through 2027. Maybe it's an off night, but if the Lakers would do Russ + those 2027/29 draft picks for him, I think the Wiz have to say yes.

Yeah, I noticed the other day that he's washed. The Wizards are much better when he's not on the floor. He makes them much worse than they are.

[SteelSD]

Forbes is what he is - an above average shooter who is terrible on defense. He’s done this for five years and won a CHIP with the Bucks. Melton has not done this much in his career.
I said this before. I liked Melton and Shake Milton coming out in the 2018 draft. And Melton has disappointed me while Milton shows more promise. But the Sixers think differently.
Memphis has two backup SGs better than both them. John Koncar and Zaire Williams are both better. Melton was behind them on the depth chart, so Memphis had no use for him.

John Konchar, who couldn't take minutes from De'Anthony Melton last season, posted a 27.3% FG rate with a 16.7% 3-point rate in 8 games (7.0 min per) last postseason. So that sort of tosses your "I rate players only how they do in limited playoff games" analysis right out the window. He certainly wasn't "ahead" of Melton on any depth charts, particularly given that Konchar is a defensive liability come playoff time. And Williams and Melton were perfectly fine co-existing off Memphis' bench last season. Melton is a significant upgrade over Shake Milton, the latter of whom was a resounding disappointment for Philly last season (or two) and is extremely limited defensively, where Melton excels. It's not even close.

M2 summed up the trade part of it. But let me explain something- the T-Wolves got Rudy Gobert by dealing players on...you guessed it, expiring contacts. Patrick Beverley for example, plus the Jazz hold a club option for next season for Malik Beasley, so they can clear that if they want to. Teams sure do trade "valued" players, in some cases right in front of you, for expiring contracts. How do you not know this?

[Kingspoint]

Kevin Love 8-13 from "3" and 29 pts in a win over the Knicks.

On a nightly basis there's five, six players excelling for the Cavs.

[Revering4Blue]

Indiana's lineups seem really jacked up.

I get waiting on Myles Turner to get healthy. Having a stand-in at center? Totally defensible.

But why are Isaiah Jackson and Bennedict Mathurin coming off the bench more often than starting?

Haliburton, Mathurin, Duarte, Jackson, and Jalen Smith now. Then when Turner's healthy, slide him into the mix at PF/ C. Bring Hield off the bench (which is where he'll play for a contender anyway).

I’m fine with Jackson coming off the bench for now. But, as you pointed out, he absolutely must play around 30 minutes a game whether Turner is healthy or not.

I fear he’ll see fewer minutes once Theis is healthy - the misguided idea that the veteran will help you win games, development be damned - which would be criminal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Revering4Blue]

I'm watching the Celtics and Wizards right now, and Bradley Beal looks awful. He's 1-13 from the floor and plays no defense. DC is paying this guys an average of $50M a year through 2027. Maybe it's an off night, but if the Lakers would do Russ + those 2027/29 draft picks for him, I think the Wiz have to say yes.

Logically it makes sense for Washington. But I just can’t see Ted Leonsis rubber-stamping that move, as they’d rather chase the dreaded 7-8 playoff spots rather than tank, especially after dealing for Porzingis.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[M2]

The Spurs are 5-2. The Warriors are 3-4. We are in the upside down.

[Assembly Hall]

I’m fine with Jackson coming off the bench for now. But, as you pointed out, he absolutely must play around 30 minutes a game whether Turner is healthy or not.

I fear he’ll see fewer minutes once Theis is healthy - the misguided idea that the veteran will help you win games, development be damned - which would be criminal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am fine with whatever they do as long as it produces 50+ wins! lol

[Rojo Rijo]

Logically it makes sense for Washington. But I just can’t see Ted Leonsis rubber-stamping that move, as they’d rather chase the dreaded 7-8 playoff spots rather than tank, especially after dealing for Porzingis.


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I agree. The Washington franchise and Beal seem to very much enjoy each other's company, regardless of the results.

[Betterread]

I’ve seen enough of the Spurs. They beat the twolves two out of three games. They are well coached, move the ball around on offense and work hard of defense. I was really impressed with Keldon Johnson and Darius Vassell. They keep improving year by year and are currently shooting threes at 40-43 %. Johnson outplayed Ant last night. If he stays consistent, he will be an all star this year.
The Twolves look sluggish so far. Offense “takes turns” with isolation plays for Dlo, KAT and Ant. Sometimes, that’s OK but overall It’s not working. On defense, Rudy is clogging the middle which is an improvement but the Twolves perimeter D is allowing too many open threes. Missing PatBev and Vanderbilt in that area. At least GS, Clippers and Nuggets all also look sluggish and mediocre so far. The WC teams that can absorb coaching and adjustments quickest will get an early advantage in the standings.

[M2]

Logically it makes sense for Washington. But I just can’t see Ted Leonsis rubber-stamping that move, as they’d rather chase the dreaded 7-8 playoff spots rather than tank, especially after dealing for Porzingis.

BTW, there's nothing wrong with wanting to hover in 7-8 range and hoping to catch lightning. The Wiz's problem is they've been hovering 11-12 and they're paying Beal to do something he doesn't seem inclined/able to do (be the #1 on a good team). Do they really want to hitch their wagon to this guy for the next five years? I'm landing on no. Despite the dog of a game they had last night, I still think they'll make the play-in. Whether they can get through it and make any noise is the real question.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Despite the dog of a game they had last night, I still think they'll make the play-in.

Interesting. That means they'd have to be better than all of Orlando, Brooklyn, Detroit, and Indiana.

I dunno, man...

[Bourgeois Zee]

Would Indiana be willing to kick in a protected 1st rounder in dealing Buddy Hield and Myles Turner for AD and salary ballast?

[Assembly Hall]

Would Indiana be willing to kick in a protected 1st rounder in dealing Buddy Hield and Myles Turner for AD and salary ballast?

I would be interested in that deal.

[texasdave]

De'Aaron Fox went to the locker with an apparent knee/leg injury, and will not return to the game tonight. No info on how serious it might be.

[goreds2]

76ers move to .500 with a 4-4 record.

[Assembly Hall]

Pacers back in tanking mode.

[dubc47834]

Would Indiana be willing to kick in a protected 1st rounder in dealing Buddy Hield and Myles Turner for AD and salary ballast?

I would think about it for sure, but AD is just hurt way too much.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I didn’t think the Jazz would win 6 games before New Years.

[Boston Red]

I didn’t think the Jazz would win 6 games before New Years.

And they're beating good teams. 5 of their 6 wins are against teams currently in the top 8 in the West (and are teams likely to finish in the top 8 in the West).

[Betterread]

I like the strategy and the results of the “Kornet eclipse”
https://theathletic.com/3749921/2022/11/01/celtics-luke-kornet-contesting-3s/

[M2]

And they're beating good teams. 5 of their 6 wins are against teams currently in the top 8 in the West (and are teams likely to finish in the top 8 in the West).

Looking like Ainge hired the right coach (Will Hardy), but maybe he hired him a year too early.

[Boston Red]

Looking like Ainge hired the right coach (Will Hardy), but maybe he hired him a year too early.

It's a long season. They'll probably still lose 15 in a row at some point. But early returns are certainly encouraging.

[Boston Red]

Steve Nash is out in Brooklyn. Probably a good thing for everyone involved.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Steve Nash is out in Brooklyn. Probably a good thing for everyone involved.

Yeah if I’m Steve Nash I’d like to go sit on my pile of money in my house in Manhattan Beach than have to deal with Kyrie Irving too.

[WVRed]

Looks like the Nets are going hard after Ime Udoka.

[Chip R]

Yeah if I’m Steve Nash I’d like to go sit on my pile of money in my house in Manhattan Beach than have to deal with Kyrie Irving too.

Now watch the Lakers hire him and bring in Kyrie. :lol:

[KoryMac5]

Utah reminds me a lot of Denver from 4-5 years ago...deep team and really efficient with the basketball. Lauri Markkanen has absolutely stepped up his game, really nice trade for both teams.

[Kingspoint]

Well, it seems that when Gary Payton was reevaluated last week (they announced that he would be three weeks ago, but there was no announcement about it last week), that he was told by the doctors that they would reevaluate him in another three weeks. Blazers didn't give any information about this bad news. Chris Haynes pushed it with Gary and he gave him an "earliest date" of the next homestand, which begins Nov. 15th.

Today it was announced that Dame will need more than a week to get his Grade-1 calf-strain healthy, that he would miss Wed's game at home vs MEM. The Blazers then go on a grueling six-game road trip.

Blazers will find out what they're made of over the month of November it's a brutal schedule.

MEM
@PHO
@PHO (2nd of a back-to-back)
@MIA
@CHA
@NOP (2nd of a back-to-back and a travel game)
@DAL
SAS (bascially another travel game as they have to fly 1800 miles to POR)
BKN
UTA
@MIL
@CLE
@NYK
@BKN
LAC (basically another travel game as they have to fly 2600 miles to POR)
@LAL (2nd of a back-to-back and a travel game)
@UTA
IND (2nd of a back-to-back and a travel game)

So, that's 18 games from Nov 2nd to Dec 4th having to travel on a plane 14 times in 11 States touching over the Atlantic Ocean, the Gulf of Mexico, the Great Lakes, Catalina Island, the Rocky Mountains five times with flights of 1000 miles three times, 2500 miles two times, and 1800 miles two times. This team is going to spend an awful lot of time together. While it may be tough, as I've never seen the Blazers ever play 18 games in that short of a span of time over the 50 years I've seen their schedule, and certainly not half that much traveling, this team should bond so close that they'll have each others' backs like family members. Early in the season, that's important. They'll catch up on their sleep during December. Payton will have joined the team during this period, while Dame will have returned to the court after an absence of two or three weeks during this time, too.

If they can be .500 after that Indiana Game on December 4th, that will be a win-win for the team and set them up for a run at playing .667 basketball for the remaining 53 games, which would place them at 47-35 for the season, which should be good for the 6th Seed.

[Kingspoint]

The Houston Rockets have had an incredible difficult schedule, far more difficult than any team in the league.

They play 11 of their first 14 on the Road.

You would think that would be a horrible way to begin a season for a young team, as it's likely to lead to heavy losses, more likely a record of 4-10. But, in a way, to spend the first month of the season together on the road is the best way for a young team to get to know each other and to bond. Bonding is extremely important in the NBA. There are so many examples of teams with a lot of talent, but who can't play well together simply because they don't bond together.

The Rockets have a great group of Head Coaches to get this young team through this and come out of it much stronger for the long haul as a result.

John Lucas, Lionel Hollins, Rick Higgins and the rest of their staff are great compliments to Stephen Silas. When you add in the great leadership of Eric Gordon, the Rockets have the leadership in place to guide this young group to a great team-oriented style of play, which will rocket them towards a playoff appearance sooner than if they were just going to games, going home, going to practice going home. Instead, they'll eat together, hang out together fly a lot together and have breakfast together. They are a fun team to watch and they've been in every game. I've never seen them quit, the opposite, in fact. They keep coming at you on both ends of the floor.

[klw]

nm

[Kingspoint]

Franz Wagner was a +12 during his 37 minutes tonight. Orlando was -20 over the 11 minutes he was on the bench.

- - - Updated - - -

+29 for Gabe Vincent in 31 minutes off the bench in a win over the Warriors in Miami. Every Warrior Starter was +3 to +11 in the 7-pt loss. Every bench player was at least -8 with Poole at -23 (30 minutes) and JaMychal Green -22 (18 Minutes).

[Kingspoint]

Irving -14 and Durant -7 in their 9-pt loss to the Bulls.

That entire franchise led by selfish individuals Irving and Durant (the last three years of his career) is a mental headcase. Poor Ownership created this mess.

- - - Updated - - -

As Chicago's bench goes, so goes the wins and losses for the Bulls this season. It's such a dramatic swing from game to game how the bench (Dragic, Jones, Caruso, Green, Drummond) will perform in Chicago.

[Kingspoint]

I better hurry up and type this before Minnesota loses tonight @ Phoenix. Their Starters are not doing well again.


As of right now there are only two teams in the Atlantic Division with a Winning Record above .500 (BOS & TOR).

As of right now there are two teams in the Central Division with a Winning Record above .500 (MIL & CLE).

As of right now there is only one team in the Southeast Division with a Winning Record above .500 (ATL).

There are as many teams from the Northwest Division as there are in the entire Eastern Conference with a Winning Record above .500 (POR, UTA, DEN, OKC & UTA), which is all of them.

As of right now there is only one team in the Pacific Division with a Winning Record above .500 (PHO).

As of right now there are three teams in the Southwest Division with a Winning Record above .500 (SAS, NOP & MEM).

[M2]

Just caught a few minutes of the Timberwolves and Suns. Minnesota has clawed back an early deficit. Most glaring thing to me in this stretch has been their starting unit has been out there minus D'Angelo Russell.

[Kingspoint]

Just caught a few minutes of the Timberwolves and Suns. Minnesota has clawed back an early deficit. Most glaring thing to me in this stretch has been their starting unit has been out there minus D'Angelo Russell.

...until PHO put their Starters back in the game.

Suns have benefitted (like POR) from a favorable early season schedule, getting most of their games at home. They still have two more after this (back-to-back nights FRI & SAT vs. POR).


Speaking of playing the same team at the same place on back-to-back nights, it's almost impossible to win both games. It's even harder if there's a day in-between (not back-to-back night, but against the same team) and harder, yet, if it's a home-and-home, back-to-back nights or not.

That's what's so remarkable about the JAZZ in this early going. They just beat MEM on back-to-back nights in the same building (Utah's), and Zion played in the first one (don't know about the 2nd, or maybe I have it backwards). UTA has some great wins so far this season besides just those two. Opening Night blowout of DEN, back-to-back OT wins @ NOP and MIN. Their only two losses were an 8-pt loss on a back-to-back travel game to a HOU team glad to have a rare home game, and a DEN team desperate to get themselves going. UTA has had a remarkable season so far, much more impressive than POR's considering the schedule.

[Betterread]

...until PHO put their Starters back in the game.

Correction, Until Cam Johnson cam back in the game. He is playing the inside outside game I wish KAT was providing. The other starters are 6-21 and 0-6 from 3 pt range.

[M2]

...until PHO put their Starters back in the game.

Bridges makes a difference. He's excellent against Ant. Still telling that Minnesota closed that half with Russell on ice.

[Kingspoint]

The other starters are 6-21 and 0-6 from 3 pt range. but, providing sound Defense. Bridges is as good as it gets.

- - - Updated - - -


Bridges makes a difference. He's excellent against Ant. Still telling that Minnesota closed that half with Russell on ice.

Jinx!

[Betterread]

Bridges makes a difference. He's excellent against Ant. Still telling that Minnesota closed that half with Russell on ice.
I see Booker and Ant matched up, but Phoenix switches a lot. I just saw two plays where bridges matched up with ant and he went went by him easily. Second time, he got fouled by a second Sun (didn’t get called) and that slowed him up and when that happened bridges blocked him from behind. Yay bridges, I guess. I’m fine with physical play like that, but then refs hand out fouls for Booker and Paul when they barely get contacted. If it’s called the same way, Ant goes to the line and Bridges never gets credit for a block.
Having said all that, Bridges is a great two way player and has been even better this year than last year.

[M2]

I see Booker and Ant matched up, but Phoenix switches a lot. I just saw two plays where bridges matched up with ant and he went went by him easily. Second time, he got fouled by a second Sun (didn’t get called) and that slowed him up and when that happened bridges blocked him from behind. Yay bridges, I guess. I’m fine with physical play like that, but then refs hand out fouls for Booker and Paul when they barely get contacted. If it’s called the same way, Ant goes to the line and Bridges never gets credit for a block.
Having said all that, Bridges is a great two way player and has been even better this year than last year.

The stretch where Bridges was really catching my eye was the end of the 2nd quarter after Minny made its run. I was wondering why Ant didn't touch the ball for multiple possessions (which seems like a sin to me) and the answer was Bridges. He just sort of took away the other team's best option during a critical stretch. Good point that Phoenix switches a lot (because they can), but it was a little less there as the Wolves got a bit static.

Separate thought on this game: what does it say about the diminishing effect of big men that a team with Kat and Gobert isn't dominating a team with Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale?

[Betterread]

The stretch where Bridges was really catching my eye was the end of the 2nd quarter after Minny made its run. I was wondering why Ant didn't touch the ball for multiple possessions (which seems like a sin to me) and the answer was Bridges. He just sort of took away the other team's best option during a critical stretch. Good point that Phoenix switches a lot (because they can), but it was a little less there as the Wolves got a bit static.

Separate thought on this game: what does it say about the diminishing effect of big men that a team with Kat and Gobert isn't dominating a team with Bismack Biyombo and Jock Landale?

It could be systemic, but what I see is that KAT isn’t playing very well, and The Twolves are not getting used to Gobert yet. They’re not even close to playing dominating ball. I think that if they don’t have a playoff series win this year, they should trade Towns and get a package of draft picks back to replace the set they sent out for Gobert.

[M2]

It could be systemic, but what I see is that KAT isn’t playing very well, and The Twolves are not getting used to Gobert yet. They’re not even close to playing dominating ball. I think that if they don’t have a playoff series win this year, they should trade Towns and get a package of draft picks back to replace the set they sent out for Gobert.

My take is they need a PG who can stitch their various pieces together. Their optimal team is two bigs with two wings and somebody's got to initiate ball movement and hit entry passes. There aren't a lot of compelling options on teams that probably are headed to the lottery. Crazy idea: if they can't find anyone else, try Russ.

[Kingspoint]

The stretch where Bridges was really catching my eye was the end of the 2nd quarter after Minny made its run. I was wondering why Ant didn't touch the ball for multiple possessions (which seems like a sin to me) and the answer was Bridges. He just sort of took away the other team's best option during a critical stretch.

That's what he's good at.

Most teams switch most of the time. But, if the first option happens when there's less than 10 seconds on the clock, that effects the quality of shot. Bridges is great at using up shot-clock time at the point of the ball before a switch is even made. Can't make a switch to the defensive player you want if you can't get the Offensive player the ball to begin with. Bridges will deny him all the way up the court. Dame couldn't do anything about it 11 days ago. Simons is going to have a heck of a time this Friday and Saturday if Dame is out for those games. We did have a season-high 30 Assists in the first game (HOU in POR) without Dame, so there's some hope of ball movement. Our Defense is going to have to win the game for us with stops that lead to transition points off of high-quality shot attempts because Bridges will make life Hell for the Offense off of made baskets. We'll also have to continue the aggressive play on Offense getting to the rim (and quality Defense that has us not fouling) that is getting ourselves to the Free Throw line, currently the largest difference in the NBA between Free Throws Made For and Free Throws Made Against, which is so unusual for a POR team. We added a lot of Chauncey Billups type of players and they are buying in to what he's teaching for this to happen. Lots of holes, though. Lots of holes to work on and fix. Going to take all season.

[Kingspoint]

ATL has had a pretty easy schedule so far. They got to beat up on DET twice, hosted HOU, ORL and CHA (and lost one...you need to win all three of those), then finally played two difficult games @MIL and @TOR and lost both, getting destroyed by 30 in the latter. From here it gets really tough. Of their next 16, they should lose 12 of them, looking at an 8-15 record on December 4th and everyone pointing fingers (when it's just the schedule they've had). But, still...8-15 is pretty ugly, regardless of your schedule.

[Kingspoint]

My take is they need a PG who can stitch their various pieces together. Their optimal team is two bigs with two wings and somebody's got to initiate ball movement and hit entry passes. There aren't a lot of compelling options on teams that probably are headed to the lottery. Crazy idea: if they can't find anyone else, try Russ.

Gobert is a difficult asset to manage because the flow changes so much when he's on the floor and off the floor. It's hard for a team to just flip a switch with styles of play. Teams spend their entire time looking for an identity and to have two identities simultaneously during games is a task I haven't ever seen anyone ever manage. Quinn Snyder was a damn good Coach. He couldn't do it. Jerry Sloan could have. He managed Mark Eaton successfully. Managing a team with Manute Bol was a similar task. It got more difficult in the playoffs, just like the problem the Jazz always had with Gobert.

[Kingspoint]

There has been a lot of over-reaction to the Sixers.

They lost to BOS on Opening Night in the Gahden, some blame falling on Hahden.

Then lost to the Bucks by 2 and what looks to be a pretty good San Antonio team right now by 9.

After a back-to-back with TOR, of which they naturally lost the 1st and won the 2nd, they "righted the ship" with quality wins @ CHI and @ WAS.

Now, they'll play the good part of their schedule with 8 of 9 at Home with a chance at practices the 1st, the 8th and multiple practices during their 4-days off from the 14th to the 17th. So, at least four practices spaced out over two and a half weeks should prepare them well for the rest of the season.

All of these home games should also offer them and Embiid a great opportunity to rest his Plantar Fasciitis (it's not something that ever "heals", just goes dormant), as they have a chance for multiple games with garbage time in their favor, almost no flying for the next three weeks and a lot of days off.

[Rojo Rijo]

Thought Orlando was going to pick up win #2 last night after they were up 11 (104-93) with just over 7 minutes left, then Shai happened. Orlando was outscored 23-4 after that.

SGA the last 7 minutes - 12 points on 3/3 FG, 6/6 FT, 2 assists, 1 steal, 1 block.

[M2]

There has been a lot of over-reaction to the Sixers.

They lost to BOS on Opening Night in the Gahden, some blame falling on Hahden.

Then lost to the Bucks by 2 and what looks to be a pretty good San Antonio team right now by 9.

After a back-to-back with TOR, of which they naturally lost the 1st and won the 2nd, they "righted the ship" with quality wins @ CHI and @ WAS.

Now, they'll play the good part of their schedule with 8 of 9 at Home with a chance at practices the 1st, the 8th and multiple practices during their 4-days off from the 14th to the 17th. So, at least four practices spaced out over two and a half weeks should prepare them well for the rest of the season.

All of these home games should also offer them and Embiid a great opportunity to rest his Plantar Fasciitis (it's not something that ever "heals", just goes dormant), as they have a chance for multiple games with garbage time in their favor, almost no flying for the next three weeks and a lot of days off.

Except the measuring stick for the Sixers is the Celtics and the Bucks. Those are the two teams they've got to climb over to reach the finals. And by the end of the season they can't be trading wins with the Raptors. They need to be solidly better than that team. They've got Phoenix, Atlanta (twice) and the Bucks coming in the stretch you mentioned. How they do against those teams will determine where their bar is set.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Going to the Cavs Celtics game tonight. Sounds like Garland might be back which would be great to see.

[M2]

Quick tier grouping in the East:

Elite - Bucks, Celtics
Tough Outs - Raptors, Hawks
Wild Card (could land in multiple tiers) - Cavs, Sixers, Bulls
Flashing Yellow - Heat
Floaters (somewhere between good and bad) - Knicks, Wizards, Pacers
Flashing Red - Nets
Lottery Locks - Magic, Pistons, Hornets

[BuckeyeRed27]

I still don’t fully trust the Celtics with the coaching stuff, but I’m willing to believe they are still one of the best 2.

I think the Cavs are right below those 2 above the Raptors and Hawks.

The Sixers need to make a trade.

I don’t believe in the Bulls.

[M2]

I still don’t fully trust the Celtics with the coaching stuff, but I’m willing to believe they are still one of the best 2.

I think the Cavs are right below those 2 above the Raptors and Hawks.

The Sixers need to make a trade.

I don’t believe in the Bulls.

All fair takes. I don't think the Bulls have a shot at the top tier, but they could be 2nd tier (top six), 3rd tier (top ten) or out of the money dependent on health, luck and lunar cycles. The Cavs and Sixers seem like they could be pretty fluid through the top 10. The Cavs look better at the start, but they came out surging last season too. I'm trying to keep in mind that it's a long season.

The Celtics are going to have their hands full if they want to stay with the Bucks (6-0 without Middleton).

[15fan]

ATL has had a pretty easy schedule so far. They got to beat up on DET twice, hosted HOU, ORL and CHA (and lost one...you need to win all three of those), then finally played two difficult games @MIL and @TOR and lost both, getting destroyed by 30 in the latter. From here it gets really tough. Of their next 16, they should lose 12 of them, looking at an 8-15 record on December 4th and everyone pointing fingers (when it's just the schedule they've had). But, still...8-15 is pretty ugly, regardless of your schedule.

Not surprised the Hawks lost back-to-back road games at Mil and at Tor (with @ Tor being 3rd road game in 4 days). Most teams in the league go 0-2 in that sequence. Interesting Hawks schedule this year in that by the end of November, they will have played Milwaukee and Philly 6 times, including all 4 road games.

My working theory this season is that the FIBA tourney helps some guys (and their teams) get off to faster starts this year as those guys got a month+ head start on getting into regular season form. Hawks didn't have anyone in that tournament, so that probably puts them at a little slower pace out of the gate. Conversely, it will be interesting to see if guys who played deep into the 2022 post-season, then banged on each other during the 2022 FIBA tournament hold up & have much left in their legs going down the stretch in the 2022-2023 regular season. Hawks could be primed for a better showing the deeper we get into the season.

[M2]

Not surprised the Hawks lost back-to-back road games at Mil and at Tor (with @ Tor being 3rd road game in 4 days). Most teams in the league go 0-2 in that sequence. Interesting Hawks schedule this year in that by the end of November, they will have played Milwaukee and Philly 6 times, including all 4 road games.

My working theory this season is that the FIBA tourney helps some guys (and their teams) get off to faster starts this year as those guys got a month+ head start on getting into regular season form. Hawks didn't have anyone in that tournament, so that probably puts them at a little slower pace out of the gate. Conversely, it will be interesting to see if guys who played deep into the 2022 post-season, then banged on each other during the 2022 FIBA tournament hold up & have much left in their legs going down the stretch in the 2022-2023 regular season. Hawks could be primed for a better showing the deeper we get into the season.

The thing Atlanta needs in order to get to the next level, IMO, is their bottom third defense needs to climb into the top third. They need to stop trading points/wins.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Giannis is the MVP right now, but 2nd place might be SGA.

Okay, 2nd is Luka, but SGA might be 3rd.

Okay, 3rd is Ja.

But 4th is SGA.

[Kingspoint]

Giannis is the MVP right now, but 2nd place might be SGA.

Okay, 2nd is Luka, but SGA might be 3rd.

Okay, 3rd is Ja.

But 4th is SGA.

Dame was Player-of-the-Week, Week 1. SGA was Player-of-the-Week Week 2. Ja and Doncic teams aren't winning.

[Kingspoint]

Knicks showing themselves....blowing a 23-point lead and down 13 with 7:32 to go in the 4th against Atlanta.

Atlanta proving they are better than the Knicks right now...game at Madison Square Garden.


Here come the Rockets. They never go away. 2-pt game with 5 minutes left in the 3rd vs the Clippers. This is the Rockets last of 3 Home games to start the season of their first 14 Total Games.

- - - Updated - - -

Sixers can't lose to the Wizards at Home....and by 10, as it wasn't close.

- - - Updated - - -

Spurs finally showing their talent-level tonight at home vs Toronto, getting blown out by 30 in the 3rd Quarter.

[Kingspoint]

DAL, like everyone else, was not ready for the Wrath of the Jazz!!! Down 12 after the 1st Quarter. Dallas has closed it to even before the half.

- - - Updated - - -

Bucks taking care of business.

Detroit could get the #1 pick again. There's not enough Veteran presence on that team to keep them from getting blown out all the time.

- - - Updated - - -

Bulls can't lose at home to the Hornets, now reeling after a couple of wins early to start the season.

Chicago is holding onto a single-digit lead in the 3rd.

[Kingspoint]

Only the Bucks are better than the Heat in the East.

Like last year, the Heat will get to the Conference Finals again.

The Heat are several levels better than Atlanta, Toronto, Cleveland, Philadelphia and everyone else. They are one level better than the Celtics because of the Coaching which will reveal itself in the playoffs.

Only the Bucks can beat the Heat in the East.


The Nets aren't to be taken seriously.

[M2]

Only the Bucks are better than the Heat in the East.

Like last year, the Heat will get to the Conference Finals again.

The Heat are several levels better than Atlanta, Toronto, Cleveland, Philadelphia and everyone else. They are one level better than the Celtics because of the Coaching which will reveal itself in the playoffs.

Only the Bucks can beat the Heat in the East.

The Nets aren't to be taken seriously.

I do not believe in the Heat. Under-gunned, not elite on defense, aging out. I don't think they're bad, but I don't think they're a threat to come out of the East.

[SteelSD]

I don't understand Rivers. The Wizards clearly had a game plan of pushing into the paint with Embiid out again after they spent all night the game before throwing up poor mid-range shots. That may not have worked as well had Melton been in the mix to cut off drives. But with him out too, Washington got pretty much every shot they wanted- at one point, hitting 11 in a row. Philly hung tough, trading buckets, and even tying the game up in the 2nd half. But eventually something is going to give when you can't get a stop.

Inexplicably, Rivers wouldn't respond with Thybulle (only 16 minutes after starting) or Reed (6 minutes) to counter Beal and Porzingis, even though those two were the only positive +/- players for the night. Other than Reed, Harden was the best defender on Porzingis all night long. 68 points in the paint for Washington, while shooting 71.2% from inside the arc, and no one with a lick of a post game on that team. Just ew. Oh, the Sixers hit 19 threes at a 52.8% clip, but that's not going to do it when you allow the opponent to run free to the basket all night long.

Danuel House Jr. is quickly turning into an empty jersey. And other than a fleeting moment or two, both Harrell and Shake Milton were legit terrible. P.J. Tucker is starting to give me Al Hoford vibes.

[M2]

Way to go Cavs. 2nd OT win over the Celtics in a week. Garland came back with a bang - 29/5/12.

[Kingspoint]

I do not believe in the Heat. Under-gunned, not elite on defense, aging out. I don't think they're bad, but I don't think they're a threat to come out of the East.

I know. You didn't believe in them last year, either, yet they almost reached the NBA Finals.

[M2]

I know. You didn't believe in them last year, either, yet they almost reached the NBA Finals.

And even with Butler playing out of his skull and the Heat stealing multiple games they still lost. That was a classic old fighter vs. young fighter matchup. Old fighter emptied his bag, but the young fighter had too much firepower. The Heat might be a gatekeeper squad for a few seasons. Beat them and you've arrived. Yet, barring a big trade, I think they're showing wear.

[Kingspoint]

Way to go Cavs. 2nd OT win over the Celtics in a week. Garland came back with a bang - 29/5/12.

1 TO for Garland in 42 Minutes.

1 TO for LeVert in 46 Minutes.

0 TO for Mitchell in 44 Minutes.

6 TO's for Tatum in 43 Minutes along with a -16 on the floor and his teammates a +15 in the 10 Minutes he was off the floor.

Tatum doesn't have it like Westbrook...nobody does, but he thinks more of himself than he does his teammates and is almost gauranteed to do some stupid things in the closing minutes of a game to cause them to lose. Tatum was much better last season about this, but without Udoka, he's likely to revert to, not only back to where he was the year before in this area, but to be worse than he's ever been in his NBA career at doing stupid things during the last few minutes of a game...there's always a "right play", and he misses it on purpose a lot trying to be the hero.

[Kingspoint]

And even with Butler playing out of his skull and the Heat stealing multiple games they still lost. That was a classic old fighter vs. young fighter matchup. Old fighter emptied his bag, but the young fighter had too much firepower. The Heat might be a gatekeeper squad for a few seasons. Beat them and you've arrived. Yet, barring a big trade, I think they're showing wear.

And, the Celtics don't have Angelo Dundee in their Corner this season.

Love the analogy though.

[Kingspoint]

I bet Mitchell loves not having to play with Gobert.

[Kingspoint]

What a clutch shot by Bullock against the Jazz tonight!

[Kingspoint]

Nice job, Tyson Daniels. You only need to make one of two free throws to get the win.

Nope. Miss both.

LeBron never would have made that shot. Great shot by Matt Ryan.

"He's Alive!!!!!" (Lakers are alive still)

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In each game Zion Williamson has been in, it seems like it's going to take quite a while before he learns how to play Defense. He has yet to do it in his NBA career. He's got so much help Defensively, yet, he struggles still.

[Kingspoint]

Tyler Herro is better than he was last season.

Clutch game-winning 27-footer.

- - - Updated - - -

Keegan Murray the only Starter for the Kings with a positive +/- @ Miami tonight. He was +7 in 27 minutes.

[Kingspoint]

Lakers inspired by the Home Crowd.

[Kingspoint]

Nurk was great again. +12 in 35 minutes. Blazers were -17 in the 13 mintues he was off the floor, including -13 in the 10 minutes Eubanks was part of it.

It's not likely that Eubanks can get good enough to be a competent backup Center by the time the playoffs get here. Blazers probably need to add that backup C they've needed all off-season that they didn't get.

Summer League MVP Trendon Watford hasn't been healthy enough to play yet this season and he needed seasoning before the Blazers could be OK with Eubanks and Watford and Grant as backup Centers (Watford is a PF). Don't know when Watford is supposed to be ready.

[Kingspoint]

John Konchar has become an integral part of the Memphis Grizzlies rotation this season. His minutes and games increased last season from 13.4M/43G the year before to 17.9M/72G last season.

This year, he's been in 7 of 8 games averaging 26.6 minutes per game. Tonight against the Blazers he had his best game of the year. He was tremendous on both ends of the floor.

[KoryMac5]

Westbrook is turning himself into a nice 6th man...who would have thunk a 33 yr old with diminishing skills would thrive in a role that had him playing 20-25 mins per game.

Nice to see him find some success I think at times he has been overly criticized for a team with many flaws.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Way to go Cavs. 2nd OT win over the Celtics in a week. Garland came back with a bang - 29/5/12.

Super fun game to go to. Cavs played a horrific 2nd quarter otherwise they probably win comfortably. Mobley got into early foul trouble and I think it messed up their rotation for a bit.

Those are both really good basketball teams. I thought the Cavs had it won about 7 times and the Celtics wouldn’t die.

[M2]

Tyler Herro is better than he was last season.

Clutch game-winning 27-footer.

- - - Updated - - -

Keegan Murray the only Starter for the Kings with a positive +/- @ Miami tonight. He was +7 in 27 minutes.

Nice job hitting that shot, but Herro's a -3.4 per game when he's on the court. Other teams hunt him when he's on the court and it's a big reason why the team has gone from 5th to 17th in D rating.

[BuckeyeRed27]

I do not believe in the Heat. Under-gunned, not elite on defense, aging out. I don't think they're bad, but I don't think they're a threat to come out of the East.

Same. They are a playoff team, but they are behind Milwaukee, Boston, Cleveland, Toronto and Philly.

[RedTeamGo!]

Cavs look legit. Just a lethal starting 5.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Cavs look legit. Just a lethal starting 5.

I’m still not totally sold on Lavert as a starter, but he has actually played pretty good defense and is a legit scoring option.

[klw]

1 TO for Garland in 42 Minutes.

1 TO for LeVert in 46 Minutes.

0 TO for Mitchell in 44 Minutes.

6 TO's for Tatum in 43 Minutes along with a -16 on the floor and his teammates a +15 in the 10 Minutes he was off the floor.

Tatum doesn't have it like Westbrook...nobody does, but he thinks more of himself than he does his teammates and is almost gauranteed to do some stupid things in the closing minutes of a game to cause them to lose. Tatum was much better last season about this, but without Udoka, he's likely to revert to, not only back to where he was the year before in this area, but to be worse than he's ever been in his NBA career at doing stupid things during the last few minutes of a game...there's always a "right play", and he misses it on purpose a lot trying to be the hero.

I wish Tatum had never heard the phrase "Mamba Mentality"

[KoryMac5]

Not a good look for the Spurs...

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/accuser-attorney-to-speak-about-allegations-against-former-spurs-guard-josh-primo-san-antonio-texas-basketball-players-investigation-police

[SteelSD]

Kyrie Irving suspended indefinitely (min 5 games):

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/03/sport/kyrie-irving-brooklyn-nets-antisemitism-donation-spt-intl/index.html


The Brooklyn Nets in a statement announced the suspension of Kyrie Irving, saying in a statement, “he is currently unfit to be associated with the Brooklyn Nets...

What a poop fest the Nets are.

[Bourgeois Zee]

What a poop fest the Nets are.

That's pretty much all Kyrie, I think.

[SteelSD]

That's pretty much all Kyrie, I think.

Well, they had Durant wanting a trade before waffling back, have Ben Simmons either not playing or playing truly terrible basketball, just fired their coach, and now have more Kyrie nonsense to deal with.

It's a lot more than just Irving.

[Bourgeois Zee]

It's a lot more than just Irving.

It starts with Kyrie. He was the primary reason why they struggled last season.

That caused both Harden's unhappiness. KD's too. It also resulted in the dismissal of Nash.

Everything wrong with the Nets begins and ends with the dumbbell from Duke.

[KoryMac5]

I don't think there is a single team that wants to take on the headache that is Kyrie...

His trade value has to be a negative at this point.

[757690]

Curiously, why hasn’t the NBA taken any action concerning Irving? They have fined and suspended players and coaches for less before. They are the one league that actually takes diversity seriously.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Curiously, why hasn’t the NBA taken any action concerning Irving? They have fined and suspended players and coaches for less before. They are the one league that actually takes diversity seriously.

Five games suspended was likely a Silver shakedown.

[SteelSD]

It starts with Kyrie. He was the primary reason why they struggled last season.

That caused both Harden's unhappiness. KD's too. It also resulted in the dismissal of Nash.

Everything wrong with the Nets begins and ends with the dumbbell from Duke.

The whole organization is a train wreck. Kyrie might be the most maladjusted player, but that's not a team run by well-adjusted human beings, nor is the roster littered with them. It's not a one-player problem. It's far more systemic than that.

[texasdave]

Nikola Jokic puts up a quadruple double. 15 points. 13 rebounds. 13 assists. 10 turnovers.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Nikola Jokic puts up a quadruple double. 15 points. 13 rebounds. 13 assists. 10 turnovers.

SGA went for 37, on 13-17 shooting. He's at 32.3 ppg so far in the young season.

New level, and he's yet to actually use the three-point line as anything other than a hindrance.

[RiverRat13]

Not a good look for the Spurs...

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/accuser-attorney-to-speak-about-allegations-against-former-spurs-guard-josh-primo-san-antonio-texas-basketball-players-investigation-police

Browns fans will tell you that since Tony Buzbee is representing her that it's probably some conspiracy because the Spurs owner didn't like Josh Primo. Or this accuser actually wanted it to happen and is now out for money.

[BuckeyeRed27]

Browns fans will tell you that since Tony Buzbee is representing her that it's probably some conspiracy because the Spurs owner didn't like Josh Primo. Or this accuser actually wanted it to happen and is now out for money.

Not sure what Browns fans you know, but that wouldn’t be a common thing to hear around here at all.

[Kingspoint]

Nice job hitting that shot, but Herro's a -3.4 per game when he's on the court. Other teams hunt him when he's on the court and it's a big reason why the team has gone from 5th to 17th in D rating.

I saw a much improved level of Defense from him against POR. That was only one game, though. Defense is about doing it every night...same goes for young players (Herro).

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I wish Tatum had never heard the phrase "Mamba Mentality"

I don't know the reference. I'll look it up later.

[Kingspoint]

It starts with Kyrie. He was the primary reason why they struggled last season.

That caused both Harden's unhappiness. KD's too. It also resulted in the dismissal of Nash.

Everything wrong with the Nets begins and ends with the dumbbell from Duke.

There is a lot of truth to that, but if Irving had never been introduced to the Nets, they still would have a number of screwball decisions that would unrail any franchise.

[Kingspoint]

Bengals and Blazers needing a bus for their infirmary list right now.

Simons has been in a ton of pain the last couple of days and was ruled out early today for tonight's game in PHO. It's likely he misses tomorrow night's game in PHO, also. Simons joins Lillard, along with Payton and Watford, three (the team's Top-3 Guards) of four from the main rotation, while Watford was supposed to be in the 9th/10th rotation territory.

With that, DeAndre Ayton returns for both games this weekend, having his season-high earlier in the Suns' lone loss of the season, Game 2 vs Portland. Cam Johnson struggled in that one, and most know what Cam has done lately, especially last night (29 points and 7 "3"'s, I believe).

Portland will be trying to replace 50 points from Dame and Ant, and that's just not going to happen. Consequently, the line has ballooned to 12-1/2. I took 7-1/2 and got +170 out of it as POR will try to lean on their Defense, starting Winslow in place of Simons [and I'm guessing Sharpe to replace Dame, with Keon the first Guard off the bench....the highlight of their last game (close loss to MEM) was the play of Keon Johnson, who closed the game due to his good play]. I would have taken 3-1/2 and greater odds, but they weren't offered. Even with Dame, Ant and Payton available, I wouldn't have expected a win tonight, but I would have tomorrow night. Now, that's going to be tough. Dame is close to returning. He had 41 in the win over the Suns.

[Boston Red]

I'm sure the Jazz will give up the lead and lose, but fun to see them put 75 on the Lakers in the first half.

[Kingspoint]

BLAZERS WIN!!!

BLAZERS WIN!!!

"You know it feels good to be a Blazer!"


They did it with Defense. PHO came into this game #1 in the NBA in Offensive Rating at 118.5. It's not in, yet, but the Blazers probably held them to about 105-106 Offensively.

Fantastic job.

Suns first loss at home. 0-2 vs POR this season.

Do it again in 24 hours.

In the start at Point for the Blazers, Winslow was the only Starter with a positive +/- (+6) . He just missed a Triple Double with a 12/9/9 line along with 2 Steals and only 3 TO's. Grant with 30 including the Game-Winner with no time on the clock.

No Simons, No Lillard, but still 30 Assists. That was from the Defense and the running, but the decision-making was good Offensively, except for Nurk's first 5 shot attempts. Nurk is now 5-5 from "3" in his last two games.

Can't wait until GPII joins this group.

Eubanks played very well tonight, but mostly the first half as PHO turned it up a notch the 2nd Half. Suns started off very hot, hitting 4 of 5 from "3", but Portland withstood that hot start and got back into it.

Little led all players with a +10, coming off the bench for 23 minutes.

Portland is very close to being 6-1. In the "Last Two Minutes" report from the MEM game Friday, there were 3 calls of the final 20 that were wrong...all of them benefitted Memphis. In a 1-possession game with 24 seconds left, that was huge and definitely made a huge difference why Memphis won.


Suns actually ended up with a 112.8 Offensive Rating. Winslow had a 106.3 Def Rat, Little a 104.3 Def Rat, and the Rookie Jabari Walker, in his first rotation minutes in his NBA career during a close contest had an 85.0 Def Rat in 9 minutes. As expected, Shaedon Sharpe had the worst Def Rat for the team of 123.1 in 28.6 minutes. He's played fairly well so far this season Defensively with a Def Rat of 104.4 (20.4 Minutes per game), 2nd best on the team of players (Winslow 104.0 @ 25.6M) with 20+ minutes per game, but he's struggling with correct rotations so far this season, and against a team like the Suns and Chris Paul, he can get exposed quickly. Memphis also exposed him.

Jabari Walker is the real deal, probably the steal of the draft. He actually should have been the Summer League MVP. He's a monster Rebounder with limitless energy and is extremely versatile in all Offensive areas.

I doubt if any team has won back-to-back against the same team this year on the road on back-to-back nights. I doubt if it happens three times all season. Blazers will make the attempt tomorrow, but it's almost impossible for any NBA team to do no matter the opponents.

[Kingspoint]

I'm sure the Jazz will give up the lead and lose, but fun to see them put 75 on the Lakers in the first half.

Jazz win again.

I sure miss he Brian Grant/Karl Malone battles. Nobody has experienced NBA basketball as a Man until they've been on the wrong end of a Karl Malone elbow in the face.

[Kingspoint]

You wouldn't think someone with the last name of Irving would be racist against the Jewish people.

https://www.behindthename.com/name/irving

[texasdave]

Across his last 3 starts, Chris Paul has dished out 38 assists, while turning ball over just one time.

[Kingspoint]

Across his last 3 starts, Chris Paul has dished out 38 assists, while turning ball over just one time.

He's been amazing in Phoenix. He still plays good Defense.

When he came back in the game in the 4th Quarter, Phoenix went on a 22-12 run last night to almost pull out the comeback win.

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Houston has a great chance to get their 2nd win of the season tonight. They're playing Minnesota in the land of 12,000+ lakes.

[15fan]

Hawks, minus Trae Young, hand Milwaukee their first loss of season 117-98.

[Kingspoint]

BLAZERS WIN!!!

BLAZERS WIN!!!

Unfortunately, I didn't win my bet as I took a combination of a Blazer win + Dame scoring 25+. Dame only took 12 shots (for 19 points) as Miami did a great job of denying him the ball and not allowing him to score his layups. That would have paid +375. Shouldn't have gotten greedy and just took the Blazers' Win for whatever good odds it would have been....probably +160 or +170.

Nice to see Dame and Ant return to the lineup. GPII is about four games away.

Josh Hart with the game-winner this time, though Grant his a "3" with under a minute to go.

MIA is always tough against the Blazers. Teams that play their type of Defense do such a great job against Dame.

Wins are tough to get this season. Fortunately, Portland is already about where I expected them to be in late December....around 10th-12th Defensively, and 10th-12th Offensively. They still struggle mightily with Offensive Turnovers, coming into this one 28th in the league, while turning it over 13 times for 20 Miami Points. Their 3 losses this season are their 3 worst turnover percentage games. (their three losses are also their three worst Defensive FG% Against games, so the Offensive Turnovers cause them to lose focus Defensively on the other end). They won the game because they only had 6 turnovers in the 2nd Half leading to only 4 points.

So glad Josh Hart hit that three. He's the only Starter who has struggled with the "3" so far this season.

On our way to CHA/NOP for a back-to-back WED/THU. It will be the first ever meeting of Dame vs. C. J. I expect C. J. to score at least 30. He'll bring his "A" game.

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Hawks, minus Trae Young, hand Milwaukee their first loss of season 117-98.

I was shocked to see them play so well in the 1st Half. Giannis was -6 that first half. That was just a warmup as they made a trophy of the BUCKS and put the rack up in their rafters. ATL has really played well their last three, four games.

[Boston Red]

Russell Westbrook is all of a sudden the best Laker player. Didn't see that coming. Hopefully they keep losing anyway.

[Kingspoint]

Russell Westbrook is all of a sudden the best Laker player. Didn't see that coming. Hopefully they keep losing anyway.

How do you think that makes LeBron feel (not the losing, but that he's not getting the attention for being the best on the floor right now)?

Got to give Russell credit. He made a similar adjustment in Houston with Harden where he adjusted his game and addressed his weaknesses, but then that didn't have time to work itself out.

[Kingspoint]

Monster game for Tatum in a huge win @MEM. 39 points and a +15. He limited his turnovers to only 2. That's huge for Tatum.

- - - Updated - - -

MIN gets blown out by the Knicks at home.

What do the T-Wolves have to do to take advantage of all of this talent that they have?

[Kingspoint]

I'm happy for Cleveland and all of their players. They have so many that other teams gave up on. Kevin Love's career has been completely revitalized. He matters again. New Jersey's trade of Jarret Allen was as stupid as it gets (to acquire a Harden who doesn't give a crap about anyone but himself).

Sure hope Cleveland wins again tonight in LA versus the Clippers.

Sweeter, yet, would be if the Kings beat the Warriors in the Bay Area and the Lakers lose again (to the Jazz tonight in Utah).

SAS's lack of talent is rearing it's ugly head. They are in the bottom-four in the NBA in Net Rating. They've won with smoke-and-mirrors. They play hard every night, of course, but they just lack a ton of talent. They should finish in the bottom-five in the NBA standings when it's all over. They were victims of the Nuggets tonight. Jamal Murray is just going to get better and better and better and better, while Porter will, too. Denver is still going to be the best team in the West by the end of the season, better than the Warriors.

[Kingspoint]

Great win for the Sixers as the Suns played only their 3rd Road game of the season. They've lost two of them.

What a difference Myles Turner makes for the Pacers. Why would they want to trade him? They beat the Defenseless Pelicans tonight. Pelicans might have the worst Defense in the NBA.

[Kingspoint]

Rockets get their First Road win for these young players on their 8th try. Huge, huge win for them. They have two more on the road to finish off this unreal beginning of 10 of 13 on the road to begin the season.

[Kingspoint]

We're one-eigth through with the season,...at the Quarterpole of a Mile-1/16th race as teams hit the first turn.

It's UTAH riding the rail and pacing the field of the Western Conference. (There are two races going on, the Eastern Conference and Western Conference).

Lakers and Warriors are in the rear with only one horse being considered seriously at this point. They may have to shoot the other at the end of the race. Both of these horses are 10 15th lengths behind the field, but we all know that Golden State has the best kick on the planet.

In the other race it's the Bucks on cruise control (they haven't even shot the ball decently, yet, being in the bottom half of the league there), with the surprising Cavs going nose-to-nose with Milwaukee, three lengths ahead of the next two contenders, the Hawks and the Celtics, while they'd also have the same 3-length lead if they were in the other race in the West. Then another three lengths back is the field, except for Orlando, Detroit and Charlotte, who will be jockeying lottery spots for the rest of the season.

[Kingspoint]

Durant misses the 2nd Free Throw. He's fouled on a 3 with a chance to tie the game with five seconds left.

Nets lose to DAL after a furious rally down by 10 with under 3 minutes left.

- - - Updated - - -

C'mon Sacramento! Don't blow this.

[Kingspoint]

Embiid had an MVP-Night. 16-16 from the Free Throw Line. Incredible focus considering he's coming back from the flu.

[Kingspoint]

Great win by the Clippers, coming back from double-digits against the hottest team in the league, Clevelanad, for easily their best win of the season.

[M2]

Big win for the Trae-less Hawks over the Bucks last night. That was Milwaukee's first loss. Dejounte Murray is looking like a stellar pickup.

[Kingspoint]

Good opportunity for the Blazers to rest both Nurkic and Grant tonight as both have played too many minutes so far this season due to the injuries to Trendon Watford all season (came back two games ago) and the injuries to Simons and Lillard. With a back-to-back tonight @CHA and tomorrow @NOP, it's hard to judge who will play tomorrow as everyone wants to face the Pelicans (Hart's former team, while everyone loves C.J. and Nance, who is playing great so far this season...he's been their best frontcourt player all season, better than both Ingram, and especially the big fella....yeah, sure, you betcha). Nurk and Grant are going to need to go a ton of minutes tomorrow night against New Orleans' quality big lineup, so there's another reason to rest them tonight. Nurk has definitely showed fatigue lately, and that's how you get injured. The Defense is going to take a huge hit against Charlotte (Grant held Chris Paul scoreless on 32 possessions in Phoenix when he guarded him).

Billups needs to get Watford ramped up and get him extended minutes. With Payton due back next week, there's going to be fewer minutes for players like Watford and Little, so tonight they get a golden opportunity for progress. Eubanks gets another opportunity to force Portland to not add a backup Center at the trade deadline, while Watford will try to earn those backup Center minutes himself. Keon Johnson should also see playing time tonight that he'll lose when Payton returns.

Portland has by far been the best 4th Quarter team in the NBA this season, especially over the last five minutes. Against the Heat, who have been outstanding in the 4th Quarter so far this season, Portland finished the game hitting 14 of their last 17 shots, and they came from everybody, and again, Portland got stops in the late stages of the game. Portland has a long way to go. If you put their entire game up against the rest of the league, they are sitting between average and good, somewhere in the 10th to 15th ranking. It's been how they've closed games why they have the 7-3 record so far, when they should probably be 5-5 or 6-4. Their biggest issue continues to be turnovers...careless mistakes, not respecting possessions. They do in the 4th Quarter and several 2nd Halves, but overall, they are at the very bottom of the league. That can be corrected, as they have good ball-handlers throughout the lineup in Grant, Winslow, Hart, Nurkic, Simons, Payton, Keon and Dame. Eubanks has actually been the best at not turning it over, but he's not ball-handler, nor a good passer. He's just been careful at not being careless with the ball. He's also finishing pick-and-rolls at a 100% FG%. While Dame is about 25th in the league in Isolation plays per game, he's in a class by himself at points per isolation at about 1.57. 2nd best is 1.32. There may be a lot more of Dame Iso tonight with Grant and Nurkic out, while Eubanks probably gets himself about 6 dunks off pick-and-roll (whether from Hart, Winslow or Dame).

[Kingspoint]

Good opportunity for the Blazers to rest both Nurkic and Grant tonight as both have played too many minutes so far this season due to the injuries to Trendon Watford all season (came back two games ago) and the injuries to Simons and Lillard. With a back-to-back tonight @CHA and tomorrow @NOP, it's hard to judge who will play tomorrow as everyone wants to face the Pelicans (Hart's former team, while everyone loves C.J. and Nance, who is playing great so far this season...he's been their best frontcourt player all season, better than both Ingram, and especially the big fella....yeah, sure, you betcha). Nurk and Grant are going to need to go a ton of minutes tomorrow night against New Orleans' quality big lineup, so there's another reason to rest them tonight. Nurk has definitely showed fatigue lately, and that's how you get injured. The Defense is going to take a huge hit against Charlotte (Grant held Chris Paul scoreless on 32 possessions in Phoenix when he guarded him).

Billups needs to get Watford ramped up and get him extended minutes. With Payton due back next week, there's going to be fewer minutes for players like Watford and Little, so tonight they get a golden opportunity for progress. Eubanks gets another opportunity to force Portland to not add a backup Center at the trade deadline, while Watford will try to earn those backup Center minutes himself. Keon Johnson should also see playing time tonight that he'll lose when Payton returns.

Portland has by far been the best 4th Quarter team in the NBA this season, especially over the last five minutes. Against the Heat, who have been outstanding in the 4th Quarter so far this season, Portland finished the game hitting 14 of their last 17 shots, and they came from everybody, and again, Portland got stops in the late stages of the game. Portland has a long way to go. If you put their entire game up against the rest of the league, they are sitting between average and good, somewhere in the 10th to 15th ranking. It's been how they've closed games why they have the 7-3 record so far, when they should probably be 5-5 or 6-4. Their biggest issue continues to be turnovers...careless mistakes, not respecting possessions. They do in the 4th Quarter and several 2nd Halves, but overall, they are at the very bottom of the league. That can be corrected, as they have good ball-handlers throughout the lineup in Grant, Winslow, Hart, Nurkic, Simons, Payton, Keon and Dame. Eubanks has actually been the best at not turning it over, but he's not ball-handler, nor a good passer. He's just been careful at not being careless with the ball. He's also finishing pick-and-rolls at a 100% FG%. While Dame is about 25th in the league in Isolation plays per game, he's in a class by himself at points per isolation at about 1.57. 2nd best is 1.32. There may be a lot more of Dame Iso tonight with Grant and Nurkic out, while Eubanks probably gets himself about 6 dunks off pick-and-roll (whether from Hart, Winslow or Dame).

I forgot to mention the opportunity for Jabari Walker. He received his first significant rotation minutes of the season and responded very well. He was +22 in 18 minutes. He came into the game in the 3rd Quarter after the Hornets began the 2nd Half on a 19-2 run over the first six minutes. Charlotte had an incredible Offensive Rating of 200 in transition in the game up to that point. Everything changed at that moment. The Blazers stopped turning it over as they brought in Watford and Sharpe, forcing Charlotte into a half-court Offense. The Hornets ended up with a season-low 69 Offensive Rating in half-court sets for the game. Shaedon Sharpe was a +30 over 29 minutes, while Trendon Watford was a +16 over 25 minutes. Watford helped move the ball around getting hockey assists, in addition to 6 regular assists. Sharpe finished 7-10 from the floor being aggressive all night on the Offensive end. The young players won this game tonight.

Simons is still in a ton of pain. I hope he doesn't play tomorrow night. He not only couldn't hit wide-open "3"'s all night. He couldn't hit "2"'s and he couldn't even hit free throws, missing three of them, topped only by Dame's four missed free throws, though Dame was 6-12 from deep. Hart was superb on the boards finishing with 11 Defensive Rebounds,...huge because Charlotte was killing us on the Offensive glass. As expected, Eubanks got his 6 buckets from around the basket in a highly efficient night, going 6 of 7. Portland finished with a 60.7 eFG%, thanks to the bench's 14-20, Eubanks' 6 of 7 and Dame's 6-12 from deep.

Turnovers continued to be a problem and were even worse tonight, but mostly through the Defense presented by Charlotte and their ability to finish in transition. When Ball returns, they are going to become a dangerous team that can run you out of the building. Charlotte converted 18 turnovers into 27 points. That will win most games.

[Kingspoint]

Tough to hear about both Zach Collins (broken fibula) and Cam Johnson (removal of some of his meniscus in a knee). Both players have been rounding into form, moreso Johnson, of course, so it's tough to see.

Collins' contract isn't gauranteed next season, so I imagine he resigns with them under lesser monies for two years (he was due about $7M for one season, but since he'll likely miss an entire season, I would think it would be $7M for two seasons. He should reward the Spurs for taking a chance on him two years ago.

[Kingspoint]

It's so crazy how good UTA is. There's nothing fluky about what they are doing. On both ends of the floor they are getting it done. They are playing the right way at home, the right way on the road and they are doing it against all competition. Atlanta came into this game playing great....really, really good. Murray and Young both had great games tonight, and Utah still won. The veteran leadership of Clarkson, Rudy Gay, Beasley, Horton-Tucker, Conley and Olynyck combined with the talents of Vanderbilt, Kessler and Sexton makes it that they have five guys on the floor at all times who are well-balanced and are usually making the right plays.

Markkanen for the Jazz and Mitchell for Cleveland are the MVP's of each Conference so far this season....well, of course Giannis is right there.

- - - Updated - - -

Jevon Carter? 15-27 from the field, 5-10 from "3" and 12 Assists?

Where did that come from?

[Kingspoint]

Sacramento trying to get that win that's going to get their season going up double-digits on the Cavs halfway through tonight's contest.

- - - Updated - - -

Nets put together a couple of good games over the last week. They definitely have turned a corner. It's not all about Irving not being there. There's much more improvement involved.

[Kingspoint]

T-Wolves blown away again. They are not going to make the playoffs this season. Should never have traded for Gobert or given up Vanderbilt. Vanderbilt is more important to them than Gobert. Towns should have been force to play inside by the organization.

- - - Updated - - -

Houston in another close game,...would not go away @ Toronto, losing only by 7. The effort is there. One more on the road and then they can start trying to get wins at home and build some momentum. It's too bad that Houston's highlights are never show. They lose by 7 to Toronto, but every highlight from Gametime is about Toronto when Houston had just as many highlights.

[Kingspoint]

If not for the foul trouble with Myles Turner (5 in 26 minutes), they would have beaten the Nuggets tonight. Off the bench, Mathurin had 30 points in 25 minutes (+5 +/-). Isaiah Jackson was great....in 18 minutes (+5 +/-) he had 10 Boards (4 Off) & 17 points (6 of 7 FG). In Oshae Brissett's 12 minutes he was +22. DEN's bench has struggled all season long. Jokic continues to carry the team in a 3-pt win tonight @ IND.

- - - Updated - - -

Tatum and Brown with another ho-hum 30 and 30 in an easy win over DET.

[Kingspoint]

Doncic misses 20 shots as DAL falls @ ORL. Love it!

ORL only missed 37 shots by the entire team.

No Banchero (left-ankle sprain).

Two of their other Top-10 picks, Wagner and Carter, Jr., were both excellent.

Two more of their Top-10 picks, Suggs and Ross, were both heavy contributors to this win.

Team is loaded with Top-10 picks.

[Kingspoint]

Sacramento holds on and defeat the team playing the best basketball in the NBA, the Cavaliers. Kings still got dominated in the paint by 30 points and on the boards by 20, but they put up enough points to get it done. I don't think Holmes played in this one, and to me, he seems like the key to improving their interior Defense and Rebounding. Barnes would have to sit more to me. I don't think they need what Barnes gives them.

With 5 of 6 at home, this win should propel them to .500 or better before Thanksgiving, and thus, in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race.

Golden State and Minnesota are the only teams left in the West that haven't gotten it going (there's no hope for the Lakers, and what hope there was, was false hope to begin with). Golden State will figure it out. Their system is the best in the NBA. They set the bar on how the game is supposed to be played on both ends of the floor.

- - - Updated - - -

Going to be fun to watch Houston's growth as they start to play some games at home.

Mavericks will start to fall as they hit the road, where they only have one win in four tries.

[Kingspoint]

The tough thing about the T-Wolves is they haven't even hit the road, yet, having only played three games so far. Things look to get worse for Minnesota. Their one hope is that by hitting the road, they'll get a chance to bond together, clearly their biggest problem on this team. At home for 9 of their games, where they have lost 5, it's go to practice, go home, go to a game, go home. There's no bonding there. Of course, Gobert doesn't seem to bond with anybody, so that's an issue....a major issue where there is no answer to fix it. People are going to start to appreciate how well Quinn Snyder did, getting the most out of the Jazz with Gobert.

[KoryMac5]

Fake account on Twitter saying Irving was released no truth to it yet..

[Kingspoint]

No Nurk,
No Shaedon,
No Dame,
No Payton,
No Keon,

2nd of a back-to-back in different cities on the road, tonight @ NOP......

No Problem.

[Kingspoint]

6-1 on the Road for the Blazers!!! It took about 12 games last season for Billups to get his first Road Win. Chauncey is a damn good Coach.

8 guys with Watford, Eubanks and Little playing big roles, they go into New Orleans and win going away by 11. Simons and Winslow were a combined 8-30, but what won this game was the Blazers' teams Defense combined with their rebounding and taking care of the ball (only 8 TO's for 4 points, tremendous for the team last in the league in turnovers), and againt Josh Hart being Mr. Everything (like Grant and Winslow), and Grant going off Offensively where points were going to be hard to come by (a reason why Winslow shot so much and Ant took more shots than normal that weren't good ones to take).

One more on the road in DAL Saturday Night before flying 1800 miles to play San Antonio in Portland on Monday. Then they can sleep in their own beds for the first time in two weeks.

9-3 looks really good 1/7th through the season.

[Mutaman]

OUT:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Pat Connaughton, Joe Ingles, Khris Middleton

As long as Jevon Carter (and lopez) is healthy-no problem.

[Kingspoint]

OUT:
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Pat Connaughton, Joe Ingles, Khris Middleton

As long as Jevon Carter (and lopez) is healthy-no problem.

Calling them out this early? Are they all actually hurt or is there some rest involved?

[KoryMac5]

Must have been a tough watch for Kingspoint last night...

His favorite NBA player Doncic dismantling the Blazers by dropping a 40 pt triple double.

Dallas with some really nice ball movement in that 4th quarter.

[goreds2]

Embiid 59 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks tonight. It took all of that for Philly to defeat Utah.

[SteelSD]

Embiid 59 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks tonight. It took all of that for Philly to defeat Utah.

101 points over the last two games for Embiid, and tonight he outscored the Utah starters combined point total (59 vs 53). Over the same span, P.J. Tucker has taken one shot and Tobias Harris has missed about 12 layups.

I'd probably have to go back to Iverson to find an example of a player who so single-handedly won a game for Philly.

[M2]

Embiid 59 points, 11 rebounds, 8 assists and 7 blocks tonight. It took all of that for Philly to defeat Utah.

The Jazz started three bigs too. Fat lot of good that did them.

[Mutaman]

Calling them out this early? Are they all actually hurt or is there some rest involved?

All hurt although Bucks are being conservative about their return

[SteelSD]

The Jazz started three bigs too. Fat lot of good that did them.

Embiid outscored every other player (both teams) in the fourth quarter 26 to 21. That's legendary "F-you Jobu!" stuff, which is the upside. The downside is that while you can win a game while your teammates shoot 0-for-9 in the fourth, you're probably not going to win games (plural) doing that.

[texasdave]

Domantas Sabonis worked the scoreboard to the tune of 26 points, 22 boards, and 8 dimes. I witnessed his father, Arvydas, purely dominate the USA wayyyy back in the day at the Cincinnati Gardens, when Sabonis was with the Russian national team. It would have been something to witness him in the NBA when he was in his prime.

What is up with Portland centers and bad knees? Bowie. Walton. Sabonis. Oden.

Washington has strung together four wins in a row against some impressive competition - Mavs, Jazz and Grizz - all with Bradley Beal out.

[15fan]

7:00 left in 2q of Hawks at Bucks.

Milwaukee 13-18 FTs
Atlanta 1-1 FTs.

[15fan]

Hawks win by 15. Next up, vs Bos on Wed.

Milwaukee 1-2 vs Hawks, 9-1 vs rest of league so far this season.

[Kingspoint]

So, the Heat win a 1-pt game in Miami over Phoenix.

Both teams had about the same aggressive attitudes with Miami scoring 44 points in the paint to Phoenix's 42 points in the paint.

Both teams were the same aggessively Defensively, with Miami scoring 22 points off of 14 Turnovers and Phoenix scoring 20 points off of 15 Turnovers.

Miami only missed 3 Free Throws. Phoenix only missed 2 Free Throws in the 1-pt loss.

Miami was 22-25, highly efficient at 88%. Here's the problem. Phoenix only attempted 4 Free Throws. I've never seen a team only attempt 4 Free Throws. I have seen lopsided disparities when both teams appear to be about the same aggessively.

I'm going to have to search You Tube for the press conferences of both teams after this one.

[Kingspoint]

Must have been a tough watch for Kingspoint last night...

His favorite NBA player Doncic dismantling the Blazers by dropping a 40 pt triple double.

Dallas with some really nice ball movement in that 4th quarter.

I did not watch the game at all. I figured we'd lose [6th game of the Road Trip in 9 nights, no Nurkic (same injury as LeBron) and no Winslow, with the 3rd game in 4 nights for Ant and Dame, both coming off of injuries] and it was Saturday Night, Date Night. I taped it in case we won, but I didn't even bet a prop on the game. Super Great road trip going 4-2 beating PHO, MIA and NOP. Still in first place as I type this.

So, today was the newest "reevaluation" day for Gary Payton, as the last one was three weeks ago. No news at all for a timeline. Even after you are ready to play basketball with that core muscle surgery, it takes two more months of playing basketball before you're back to feeling normal. Lillard's surgery was what, nine months ago? Little's was about six months ago and Nassir said last week that he's just starting to feel normal again, while Dame has felt great since the Summer. Payton had his surgery in July, so even when he comes back, he won't be himself until February, which is fine, as by then the team will have given enough minutes to the players he's replacing (whose minutes he'll take when he comes back, I'm guessing, the first week of December).

[Kingspoint]

7:00 left in 2q of Hawks at Bucks.

Milwaukee 13-18 FTs
Atlanta 1-1 FTs.

Atlanta had 30 free throws, 26 more than PHO tonight. Giannis fouled out.

[Kingspoint]

Washington has strung together four wins in a row against some impressive competition - Mavs, Jazz and Grizz - all with Bradley Beal out.

That's what's up.

[Kingspoint]

What is up with Portland centers and bad knees? Bowie. Walton. Sabonis. Oden.



It was the team medical doctor. The same one for all of them. He was an incompetent boob. I've mentioned it a few times over the last 30 years on the core of websites that most older members have followed through the years. The last few years he was here there were actually real doctors, who happened to be fans, who called him out medically about his treatment methods.

Dr. Robert Cook. He wasn't there for Oden as the official team doctor, but he was a consultant that they continued to use. He had way too much clout.

[Rojo Rijo]

Will Dallas/Cuban ever get Luka enough help to compete for NBA titles?

If so it make take a few years. Right now they’re paying a combined $56 million to Spencer Dinwiddie, Tim Hardaway Jr., and David Bertans. It’s crazy they rank 8th in the NBA for total team salary.

[Kingspoint]

153!!!