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NBA 23/24:season

  • 11-10-2023 3:49pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Can the Nuggets repeat? Will Jokic get the MVP this year? What team will fail to live up to expectations?

    Many, many questions to be answered.




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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,155 ✭✭✭✭Osmosis Jones


    Miles Bridges arrested again, this time for a warrant that's been out on him since January, Hornets saying they weren't aware of this warrant.

    This came literally one hour after they waived Kai Jones, who (speculation) seems to be going through some sort of mental episode these past couple weeks.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    Feel really bad for Kai Jones. Obviously a lot of promise but the fact he may not have access to care / guidance / healthcare without the franchise pushing him into it makes me worried. Out on his own, god knows how he will end up.

    Miles Bridges of course can go f*ck himself



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    Dallas lose to Luka’s firmer Euroleague team Real Madrid. I know it’s a friendly, but still…they look like they’re going to have a really bad year and the season hasn’t even started.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,856 ✭✭✭irishguitarlad


    I'd pay no attention to that friendly to be honest, both teams used about 17 players and it had the intensity of an all star game.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    You’re forgetting the fact of pride and not wanting to lose to a non-NBA team, how Dallas finished last season, the clock ticking on Luka etc.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    It's very hard to gauge how they'll do. They've two rookies with potential and if they got goung straight out of the blocks they could be a very serious outfit. They've made a few good depth signings too, Grant Williams being one of them.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    My own feelings on Dallas (and I say this as a huge Luka fab) is they're incredibly ill-balanced and top heavy. Given how strong the West is I see their best hope is to make the Play In positions 6-10, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they don't even do that. I know from listening to my usual podcasts a lot of people are very down on them this year after sh*tting the bed last year. I know they tanked towards the end of the season but going from a WCF to not making the Play Offs is a very bad sign.

    If they don't start showing Luka they can win we know how the story goes.......



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    Bill Simmons really pushing OKC to finish 4th in the West. Think that's crazy to be honest, despite their obvious potential.

    And that's before a possible Harden to Clippers trade.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,155 ✭✭✭✭Osmosis Jones


    Yeah I'd have OKC as a low seed playoff/play-in team, somewhere in the 6-9 range. The league is just so loaded with talent right now.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I'm not disagreeing with you. I'm just saying that if their two first round picks work out and hit the ground running it'll make a huge difference to them. A center and a small/power forward tweener is where they need help.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    Yep, I mean your obvious ones being - Denver, Phoenix, Golden State, Sacremento, Lakers, Clippers and if Zion is fit (LOL) New Orleans. That's a lot of talent swipe away unless the arse falls out of someone (Phoenix and/or Lakers, Clippers)



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 140 ✭✭johnnyk29


    My top 8 in order in the east and west would be

    1.Celtics

    2 Bucks

    3.Cleveland

    4.Sixers

    5.Toronto

    6. Miami

    7.Atlanta

    8. Brooklyn


    West

    1. Lakers

    2.Kings

    3.Nuggets

    4.Phoenix

    5. Warriors

    6. Clippers

    7. New Orleans

    8 Rockets


    I think the Nuggets need to add at least 2 bench rotation players. Bench looks very light. Suns and Warriors will need to time to figure out how to use Beal and Paul.

    Rockets will be my surprise team of the year I think they might win 38 /40 games this year with their new coach and roster additions



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    Big move from Boston adding Jeff Van Gundy to the coaching roster. It seems it’s a more overarching role than a game day bench role, but it’s a good move nonetheless.

    A good start to the week. Now if the Lakers hire Mark Jackson it would become a great week!



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    I think Phoenix are going to absolutely blow everyone out of the park in the regular season before being beaten in the second round of the play offs by a semi competent locked in team.

    So I think they will battle it out for the top spot with Denver



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    They could in theory but I’d imagine between injury, injury prevention, rest (even with the new protocols), and being in a very tough conference they’ll be Top 4 in the West, but not 1. What they’re more likely to do IMO is put the hurt on some teams some nights when the top 3 are clicking and absolutely blow them out of the water. Wouldn’t rule out nights with 3 players scoring 30+ each either (it’s happened before but is a rare enough thing).



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Do you think Joe Mazzulla will be happy with that?

    I look at that move as hiring a ready made replacement in house if things aren't working out for Joe in the early going.

    And things could be rough early on, it's like a completely different team with only Tatum, Brown, 37 year old Horford and Derrick White left from the players who got big minutes last year.

    I can see this falling apart, I'm not saying it will but I don't like it.

    They had a championship calibre roster, now it's into the big unknown again.

    I'm honestly not looking forward to the season.

    I'm expecting to see our former players enhance their new teams. The Trailblazers have Brogdon and Rob Williams. Nobody is even talking about them as playoff contenders. They have the two mentioned, above, drafted Scoot, and Kris Murray, to go with Ayton, Simons, Grant and a potential big improver this year in Sharp.

    Then you've got the one that really hurt me. He took over as my favourite player once Paul Pierce retired. His name gives him away, he's a really smart player, yes Marcus. Why do you trade away a fan favourite who'd been here for the whole nine years of his professional career?

    There's a little part of me that wants these changes to fail.

    Watch Smart improve the Grizzlies.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    I think he will yes, because the alternative is to lose your job.

    I don't blame him for last year as much as others do. He was catapulted into a head coach job less than a week before the start of the season after the whole sh*t show with Udoka so I think he needs to be cut a lot of slack. If they were going to fire him, they'd have done it in the pre-season and given a new coach the pre-season to work with. I am absolutely not a fan of changing coaches mid-season. And I don't think SVG wants a full time coaching job. If they wanted to replace Mazzulla, then Stevens would be the ideal candidate. You'd hope all parties view it as a "brains trust collective" type arrangement, rather than a "my way or the highway" one.

    As for the players who left looking better - of course they will! They'll all be getting more time than they did in Boston so naturally will look better and put up better stats. It happens with a lot of players who are traded.

    Smart? Yes, it hurts, no question - I was a big fan - was since his Rookie Season (I even picked him for Rookie of the Year before the season started on here!). I'm still a little surprised they went there with him, but, looking at it from a cold business perspective, Holiday is an upgrade. And all that said, there's obviously no hard feelings on Smart's side as Grosbeck, Mazzulla, Stevens, Tatum etc. were all at his wedding. He also wasn't the first choice in. that trade, it would have been Brogdon if he hadn't failed/had questions asked in the medical.

    That aside, not sure how Holiday would fir with Smart.

    I wouldn't rule out Smart coming back to Boston at some stage either.

    And Porzingis is looking very good in pre-season.

    I genuinely think they'll be better.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    The starting 5 is better definitely but depth has really took a hit and Horford being a likely starter isn't great, they'll need Gabriel, Mykhailuk, Banton et al to really make a big jump forward.

    And letting Grant Williams walk looks terrible in hindsight. If they were always open to letting Rob Williams leave they shoulda kept Grant.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    Mutual salary dump trade OKC offload Robinson-Earl and Oladipo to take and waive Kevin Porter (plus obligatory picks) from the Rockets.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    OKC now have 37 picks in the next 7 years.

    37.



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Porzingis is at best inconsistent.

    Jrue is a very good player but if anything he's overrated by many. Exact opposite of Smart whose underestimated by a whole bunch of people.

    I'd have Marcus over Jrue anyday. They are not the same type of player but your whole team is better organised when you have Marcus Smart.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    That's insane. Over a period of three years they could draft a championship winning team with no salary cap issues.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    Grant Williams played SFA last year, esp. in the playoffs. He was clearly out of favour there.

    As for the bench, that will likely change mid way through the season. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens. 🤷‍♂️



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    KP had his best year last year, and has started well. Is he consistent? For sure he can be, but that’s not a guarantee he will continue to be. Guys play differently playing for contenders than they do for teams with no chance. It’s wait and see.

    Look I love Smart, but Holiday is a better player than him - at least right now. Marcus may be a better long term bet given the age difference but Boston are in win-now mode. If they win a title this year all is forgiven, and that’s really the bottom line. If they don’t, then sure, there’ll be criticism. But you’re never more than an injury away from losing it all, regardless of whatever roster you assemble.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Williams played a bunch against the Heat. His usage was in and out before then, I don't know why that was, maybe there was fitness issues or something. He played decent enough minutes in a couple of the games against the sixers but hardly played, if at all, in some other games.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    He was also going to be too expensive with the contract. I understand it.

    One thing he does have is size. He’s as wide as he is tall. With Horford aging like he is it might have be a loss but I’m sure they’re banking on replacing him at a cheaper cost.

    There were allegedly lots of issues with him on and off court though (by off court I mean practice etc) as he apparently always wanted to have his say and had something to say across multiple coaches now. I understand why he’s gone.

    Not sure if you saw that clip of him goofing around before of the pre season games and it cuts to Kyrie who’s giving it the roll eyes/wtf look? So it seems like he’s annoyed Kyrie already in Dallas….



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    I wasn't too bothered about Williams going. I was just responding to what you were saying about him not being involved in the playoffs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    Embiid leaves Under Armor to sign with Skechers.

    Cool.

    🤣



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    So Harden isn't turning up to scrimmages etc. Personal reasons :)

    Bill Simmons made me laugh this morning saying Harden should go full anti-Philly. Criticise Rocky, cheesesteaks, Always Sunny...



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    That was mildly amusing. Whilst Rick Barry got away with that in Virginia many years ago, I wouldn’t be advising Harden to criticize a fan base like Philly’s……



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    Grizzlies reaching impressive levels of incompetence just before season starts.

    Steven Adams knee injury which ended their post season last year now, 2 days before the new season starts, requires full surgery. Adams will now miss the entire 23/24 season.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,155 ✭✭✭✭Osmosis Jones




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 53,028 ✭✭✭✭ButtersSuki


    An absolute hammer blow. Between this and the other injuries (Clarke), and Ja's suspension..........they could be in real danger of missing the Play Offs in a very tough West.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,751 ✭✭✭✭For Forks Sake


    Have they checked the nearest strip club, that's where he's usually to be found.


    Ludicrous trade rumour doing the rounds today involing Embiid for most of the Knicks roster



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    That'd definitely improve the Knicks. 😁

    If it was just him playing against five they'd be better. 🤣



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,155 ✭✭✭✭Osmosis Jones


    We're finally back to NBA basketball tonight.

    Just hoping to see all the stars actually play in the opener, Beal already ruled out of Suns vs GS.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 39,461 ✭✭✭✭eagle eye


    Just a triple double to start the season for Nikola.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,856 ✭✭✭irishguitarlad


    Regular season is fairly shite though, I'll keep up with it but I don't think I'll watch any full match until the playoffs.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    I'll watch the Sunday games which you can usually get at decent times. Spent a few years waking up for the Lakers regular season and play-off games and it has absolutely knocked years off my life span



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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,540 ✭✭✭✭2smiggy


    watched the Celtics game last night. Tatum and Porzingis were both very good. They could not pull away from the knicks and really should have lost it at the end. Glad to have it back but the late nights are a disaster



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    I'd fúckin love a NBA Match of the Day-esque highlight show so much.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    I hate the NBA highlights. Its literally just scoring. I know there are so many plays that you can't give a run up on everything but we don't need to see every bucket, just give me good plays whether it be offense or defense.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,625 ✭✭✭✭pjohnson


    Exactly. Maybe my use of highlight was a poor choice but. A nice 10-15 segment on the big games of the day including analysis from an ex-pro/coach type of clever plays/movements or the oft ignored defensive stalwart moves with maybe a briefer look at the smaller games that night.

    Like highlight how the Nets changed their plays with Thomas on/off the court rather than just show he sank 30+ points.

    I feel the NBA is really missing a trick not producing a programme like that.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,710 ✭✭✭Corvo


    And there is definitely an appetite for that, its why YouTube channels / podcasts such as Thinking Basketball are so popular.

    Now whether it is as popular as social media TikTok clips that just show dunks or ESPN segments just shouting nonsense is another thing altogether...



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,434 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    The 10 min highlight packages aren’t enough tbh, you get no context around the game



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,751 ✭✭✭✭For Forks Sake




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,971 ✭✭✭✭Zero-Cool


    Hhhmmm so team, we made no major changes this offseason, why are we playing the exact same as last year??? Zach chucking up bricks thinking he's him while not playing defense? Whole team going 28% from 3?? Jesus, long season indeed.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,856 ✭✭✭irishguitarlad


    If you like thinking basketball there's also a good channel called Basket Head, it's not nba but I think you might be interested as he breaks down plays in Europe.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,856 ✭✭✭irishguitarlad


    Only positive was the Drummond dunk on Chet, he might have done him with a cross over as well lol, if my memory serves me right.



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