2022/3 season thread

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118805964#Comment_118805964

They’re 2-16 against teams with better records than them for the season and 0-8 against the top 4 in the East, but to be fair they’ve had a lot of injuries all year. By play off time they will have Ball back and may have Williams, so it’s a different proposition then. But if they’re not careful Toronto could catch them and then they’d be in the Play In.

Let’s not forget though they seriously outperformed expectations at the start of the year so you’re probably seeing a degree of natural regression at this stage.

Zero-Cool

So hard to watch the Bulls since the all star break. AC is such an important player but this while thing of "we'll be fine once AC and Ball are back is ridiculous. Derozan gets shut down and Lavine isn't the 3pt shooter he thinks he is. That along with Vuc being highly inconsistent is a killer, especially against teams with star Bigs. Gonna be a rough end to the season, would be happy if they make it the 2nd round of the playoffs.

Corvo

The Celtics look really really good on both ends, I wonder how far they can go. I don't think anyone in the East will want them.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118812878#Comment_118812878

Defensively they’re excellent, esp since Christmas after early season struggles. Offensively however it still looks very stagnant at times and too often they just rely on Tatum to try and create something out of nothing. I’m a Celtics fan but can’t see them coming out of the East unless the draw is very favourable and other teams take each other out. So much still to play for seeding wise and I think there will be lots of jockeying for position as teams seek to avoid each other and esp. Brooklyn.

ButtersSuki

Lakers now 10th, lol.

Some interesting commentary on LeBron’s stat chasing across the media in the last few weeks, good to see people calling it out for what it is.

LuckyLloyd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118812978#Comment_118812978

Let the hate flow through you I suppose, always and forever. There is also a lot of commentary across the basketball media of people being simply wowed by the longevity on display. The level he is playing at as a 37-year-old has no historical precedent in the sport. He was phenomenal against the Cavs the other night. I have to really suspect at this point whether you love the sport if you can't enjoy this tbh.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118822696#Comment_118822696

Windhorst - who has been covering LeBron longer than anyone and is a huge LeBron fan - has called him out on it and said it’s “shameless”. Does he not love the game either? Once again any criticism of LeBron is deemed irrational. 🙄

They're bowering between 9th and 10th in their conference and he’s chasing stats. And he’s celebrating himself and his accomplishments more than even you are. Speaks volumes really.

ButtersSuki

Simmons, Tim McMahon, Zach Lowe, Kevin Arnovitz, Kevin Peltin, Ryen Russillo, Tim Legler, Kevin O’Connor, Jalen Rose, David Jacoby, Mike Wilbon, and many more have criticized him for stat chasing in the last month. Do they all hate the game too?

LuckyLloyd

https://youtube.com/shorts/zEDCQrTEdt0?feature=share

Yeah lot’s of empty stat chasing there. Sure thing.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118824709#Comment_118824709

You're better than that. You know what stat chasing is.

ButtersSuki

Not since 1997 - 25 years ago - has a team with a less than .500 (42 wins) in the West made the play offs. There have been 3 teams in that time period that have won 48 games and NOT made the Play Offs, as have a number of teams with 47 wins. This is the weakest the West has been in 25 years and the man who thinks he's the GOAT can't get his team into the Top 8 in his conference.

The Lakers are currently 9th in the West at 31-42 and have the following remaining schedule:

@ NOP

@ Dallas

@ Utah

Home: NOP

Home: Denver

@ Phoenix

@ Golden State

Home OKC

@ Denver

They play the Pelicans - who are 1 game behind them - twice. SA who are 2 games behind them play the tanking Portland 3 times in their last 9 games.

The self-proclaimed GOAT may not even make the Play In. LOL.

@Phoenix3

Corvo

Just backed Boston at 11/1 in Paddy Power (12/1 in Bet365 if anyone is interested).

Going with the defence wins championships trope :)

ButtersSuki

San Antonio now one game behind the Lakers (with 2 games against Portland left). NO have same number of wins. Will be a fun last 2 weeks.

Edit: I typed 3, when they have 2 left after the game last week.

ButtersSuki

San Antonio play the Rockets tonight, win that and the Lakers are 11th and out of the Play In for the moment.

They then play the Grizzlies on Thursday followed by 2 games v Portland again (who they beat by 35+ last week).......it's going to get very interesting.

ButtersSuki

San Antonio won but still 11th as they have one more loss than LA. They do however have the same number of wins now and San An play Portland twice in their remaining games. This is going to get very interesting..............

ButtersSuki

Time Lord down a torn meniscus, there goes the Celtics’ season. :(

ButtersSuki

Lakers 11th in the West. Lol.

ButtersSuki

Both SA and NO have the tie breaker over LA so LA are pretty much done considering the remaining schedule.

Wonder will The King 🙄 sit the remainder of the season rather than play to try and secure a stat-chasing scoring title……..hmmmm….

ButtersSuki

Tough 1 point loss for San Antonio last night, NO win to put therm2 clear of the Lakers. It's still likely San Antonio take the 10th spot though.

In other news, GS lose a close one to Phoenix and Dallas leapfrog them into 3rd.

ButtersSuki

Meant to discuss this last week when it happened but the Heat fight last week was insane the more I think about it. Clearly there’s lots going on behind the doors there. Spoelstra is likely the coolest and calmest coach in the NBA, for him to react like that points to a breaking point. It wasn’t about whatever happened in the huddle, clearly there’s stuff that has happened there that wasn’t made public.

Player power era is one thing but if Butler thinks the Heat would choose him over Spo, he’s mistaken.

2smiggy

https://twitter.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1510126666751696901

Realt Dearg Sec

Fun few days as the bulls play the top three teams in the conference in four days. They're already almost certain to avoid the play in, but why win against top opponents would be a huge boost as they simply haven't been able to beat any top team in either division (best the Celtics earlier in the season but they weren't any good then). Hard to see them doing much of anything in the playoffs but it's cool they're looking to be there. The win against the clippers the other night showed they can dig it out when they put their minds to it.

Zero-Cool

It's tough watching the Bulls the last few weeks. They're doing brilliant compared to last multiple years but want them to be doing better so bad. Happy out they'll make the playoffs and looking forward to them building on next year. Ball might not make the playoffs and Zach is dodgy, you can tell the knee isn't right. Vuc is so hot and cold, very hard to rely on. Next trades will be very interesting.

ButtersSuki

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118869075#Comment_118869075

Wait, why are you criticizing the Lakers and LeBron - don't you know that's not allowed?! ;)

🤣

ButtersSuki

Doncic gave a masterclass last night in controlling the game, particularly from a pace perspective. Great game for a neutral.

ButtersSuki

As I predicted a few weeks ago, Lakers now officially out of contention for the Play In.

Fun fact: since Portland (who are tanking btw) lost Lillard for the season they have a better record than the Lakers.

Can't wait to hear the LeBron Fan Club defend this.............

ButtersSuki

Kareen - who is an amazing speaker and more cerebral in his thinking than most if not all basketball commentators - said this over the weekend:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33664003/los-angeles-lakers-legend-kareem-abdul-jabbar-criticizes-some-lebron-james-actions

I suppose Kareem hates basketball too?

ButtersSuki

Also great to see Magic "doing a Magic" and not only trying to insert himself into the storyline, but then blaming others and ignoring things he has said himself. Lol.

https://twitter.com/GetUpESPN/status/1511036892887891979?s=20&t=a6v9gVyFLKTxrTNMkmA70g

Even though it was virtually impossible for them to sign DeRozan given them money involved and their cap etc.

And he posted this:

https://twitter.com/MagicJohnson/status/1420909078939770883?s=20&t=oGC2Hf6mu936__QhDZOULQ

https://twitter.com/WadexFlash/status/1511567473421680640/photo/1

https://twitter.com/ajshapi1/status/1511567201433645059?s=20&t=oGC2Hf6mu936__QhDZOULQ

ButtersSuki

Even Stephen A. calling out LeBron for stat chasing, lol. I never thought I’d see that day!

ButtersSuki

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cb8TOBklDrm/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=