2021-22 NBA Thread: Bill Simmons furiously recording 2.5 hour long pod about how Boston is still better than Golden State (1 Viewer)

[Deamon]

Jeezus, this is getting crazy.  Should they just shut down the season at this point??

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Jeezus, this is getting crazy.  Should they just shut down the season at this point??

They should for a week or so, and get everyone boosted. A lot of these guys got the JJ shot ….

 

[Frostillicus]

Wolves! 4 in a row! .500! We comin!

 

[J R]

They should for a week or so, and get everyone boosted. A lot of these guys got the JJ shot ….

What? Really?

 

[Alex P Keaton]

They should for a week or so, and get everyone boosted. A lot of these guys got the JJ shot ….

Yep.  And nobody is talking about it.  No sportswriters.  Nobody in public health.  The topic is completely absent from public discussion. Completely absurd.  This was 100% predictable when most pro athletes chose J&J…….as Delta was arriving.

 

[mr. furley]

Yep.  And nobody is talking about it.  No sportswriters.  Nobody in public health.  The topic is completely absent from public discussion. Completely absurd.  This was 100% predictable when most pro athletes chose J&J…….as Delta was arriving.

do you have a news article supporting this?

 

[Alex P Keaton]

do you have a news article supporting this?

Supporting which part?   That most athletes took J&J?   Or that nobody is writing about it?  

 

[SWC]

that most players took the jandj take that to the bank brohan

 

[mr. furley]

Supporting which part?   That most athletes took J&J?   Or that nobody is writing about it?  

that "most" athletes took the J&J vaccine

if "nobody is writing about it" where did you hear that "most" athletes took the J&J vaccine?

 

[Alex P Keaton]

that "most" athletes took the J&J vaccine

if "nobody is writing about it" where did you hear that "most" athletes took the J&J vaccine?

Yeah, I’m extrapolating from a random assortment of articles over 6 months.  To be more precise, I have no source with data — full disclosure.  Appreciate the clarifying question.  Wish I had data.  I’d be shocked if the majority of US major sport pro athletes got something other than J&J, but again, it’s speculation on my part based on hundreds of articles and micro data points.  Sorry if I gave anyone a different impression.

edit to add:   Nobody is writing anything that speculates why we are seeing mass outbreaks amongst athletes.  IMO the answer is pretty obvious — minimally boosted, highly exposed daily to hundreds/thousands of people, large volume of travel geographically, etc — maybe it just doesn’t sell with consumers.    Anyway, it just surprises me that a story hasn’t been written yet.  But it requires connecting disparate dots, and the media is bad at that.

 

[J R]

It also seems like a fair inference to make from the Nov. memo (which I only read about after seeing Leeroy’s post) and the Dec. outbreak.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Yeah, I’m extrapolating from a random assortment of articles over 6 months.  To be more precise, I have no source with data — full disclosure.  Appreciate the clarifying question.  Wish I had data.  I’d be shocked if the majority of US major sport pro athletes got something other than J&J, but again, it’s speculation on my part based on hundreds of articles and micro data points.  Sorry if I gave anyone a different impression.

edit to add:   Nobody is writing anything that speculates why we are seeing mass outbreaks amongst athletes.  IMO the answer is pretty obvious — minimally boosted, highly exposed daily to hundreds/thousands of people, large volume of travel geographically, etc — maybe it just doesn’t sell with consumers.    Anyway, it just surprises me that a story hasn’t been written yet.  But it requires connecting disparate dots, and the media is bad at that.

I don’t blame the media. For privacy reasons, teams aren’t going to release who has had which shots when. 

I also think this wave is going to motivate a lot of players to get a booster.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Andrew Wiggins, for example, said he got the JJ vaccine.  There were a few other articles where a player referenced getting one shot.  

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Andrew Wiggins, for example, said he got the JJ vaccine.  There were a few other articles where a player referenced getting one shot.  

When the Yankees had an outbreak, it was reported at the time that most players had a single dose of J&J.  I’m too lazy to fact check that.

 

[Deamon]

I feel like at this point they're just waiting to play the Christmas games and then shut it down.

 

[Yo Mama]

I think the reason all these athletes are testing positive is because they are regularly testing. It sounds like Omicron is pretty widespread (but not as serious as Delta, especially for the vaccinated).
 

Curious what the % positive would be if everyone tested right now. Many of those players testing positive were asymptomatic so it’s very possible more people have it now than we suspect (closer to the % we’re seeing in the athletes now). 

 

[Juxtatarot]

I feel like at this point they're just waiting to play the Christmas games and then shut it down.

I don’t think so. Silver said 90% of these recent cases have been Omicron. Let it go through the league this winter and we should be good come spring. 

 

[Deamon]

I don’t think so. Silver said 90% of these recent cases have been Omicron. Let it go through the league this winter and we should be good come spring. 

Interesting. You may be right, just feel like there's going to be a lot of pressure from many outlets. 

 

[Juxtatarot]

Interesting. You may be right, just feel like there's going to be a lot of pressure from many outlets. 

Which outlets?

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I don’t think so. Silver said 90% of these recent cases have been Omicron. Let it go through the league this winter and we should be good come spring. 

I don't think so either.  But they may cancel All-Star Weekend.  They should be pushing booster shots though and incentivize that through less testing or something.

 

[Deamon]

Which outlets?

I dunno, it seems there's pressure to shut everything down. NHL, snl, now restaurants etc going back down on lockdown. I agree with you, It just seems like we are headed backwards here and they might come under fire for still playing. 

 

[Juxtatarot]

I dunno, it seems there's pressure to shut everything down. NHL, snl, now restaurants etc going back down on lockdown. I agree with you, It just seems like we are headed backwards here and they might come under fire for still playing. 

I hope not. Seems like new “lockdowns” have mostly been for the unvaccinated although I haven’t been following this across the country as closely as some here. 

I have tickets for an NBA game next week and am planning to go. Fingers crossed.

By the way, the change in G-League player addition rules is a further sign that the NBA plans to power through.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Good interview with Silver about COVID.  He says that only 65% of players are boosted and most of the players testing positive recently weren’t boosted.

 

[Pipes]

To my eye, those Kentucky and Arizona teams were the closest to playing modern basketball back then.  My son and I watched a ton of classic NCAA tourney games early in Covid.  It was painful to watch mid-80s games with no 3-pt line.   1992 Duke vs Kentucky was fun — the first truly modern game we watched.  1997 Arizona was one of the most memorable and enjoyable teams in tourney history.  (Don’t tell @trader jake I said that though)

The 1989-91 UNLV teams was the first modern team that I remember.  Hunt and Anthony shot a ton of 3s.  Larry Johnson would occasionally shoot them too.

 

[Alex P Keaton]

The 1989-91 UNLV teams was the first modern team that I remember.  Hunt and Anthony shot a ton of 3s.  Larry Johnson would occasionally shoot them too.

Yeah, that’s a good call.  I’m not sure they were actually good shooters — but yeah, very fun team to watch.

 

[Pipes]

Yeah, that’s a good call.  I’m not sure they were actually good shooters — but yeah, very fun team to watch.

Hunt was an excellent shooter, Anthony streaky could hit a 3 but yeah not quite the shooting team like those you mentioned.  

 

[Alex P Keaton]

Hunt was an excellent shooter, Anthony streaky could hit a 3 but yeah not quite the shooting team like those you mentioned.  

Good call!  Hunt and Anthony were both 38% career three point shooters!  Man.   Fun team. Loved Anderson Hunt.   Favorite player on the team.

 

[Instinctive]

Sorry @Frostillicus - just got back from the game and I gotta say it was one of the most fun ones I've been to in quite some time. The extremely low expectations, combined with me telling my friends "No Edwards, don't underestimate Russell's chance to underperform", followed by a super fun Mavs win with a bunch of nobodies was freakin awesome.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

I genuinely feel bad for Isaiah Thomas for the way teams go right at him on the defensive end of the court. They either clear out and make him take on much bigger, faster guys one-on-one or they run him into bone crunching screens.

No mercy whatsoever. 

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

ISO-Joe signing a 10-day with the Celtics and will play immediately.  

 

[gruecd]

Somebody please help me understand WTF would be the point of temporarily shutting down.  This thing isn't going anywhere, and we need to learn to just live with it.  If it isn't Omicron, then it'll be the next variant.  Just a matter of time before this thing is declared an endemic.  What's the actual end game here?  We're talking about a bunch of young, healthy athletes who are extremely unlikely to develop any serious symptoms.  Just stop the stupid testing already.  If you feel well enough to play, play.  If you don't, don't.  As for the fans, if you're immune-compromised or otherwise at risk, or if you have close contact with someone who is, then stay home, just like you would (hopefully) during a serious flu outbreak.  It's not that difficult.

 

[gruecd]

And tengentially related to my last post, when are Giannis, Donte, and Bobby Portis eligible to come back?  Giannis has previously said that he's vaccinated, and he entered the protocols on the 14th.  Can he play on Christmas?

 

[Juxtatarot]

And tengentially related to my last post, when are Giannis, Donte, and Bobby Portis eligible to come back?  Giannis has previously said that he's vaccinated, and he entered the protocols on the 14th.  Can he play on Christmas?

I think he’ll be fine to return since it will be over 10 days. This assumes he’s testing negative now which he should. I’m also assuming he had light or no symptoms. Otherwise he might need more time to feel in game shape.

 

[gruecd]

I think he’ll be fine to return since it will be over 10 days. This assumes he’s testing negative now which he should. I’m also assuming he had light or no symptoms. Otherwise he might need more time to feel in game shape.

The whole thing is a joke.  It's all about optics and public perception as opposed to any legitimate health concerns for the players...because there really shouldn't be any for those who are vaccinated.  And if guys choose not to be, that's their own damn problem.

 

[Juxtatarot]

The whole thing is a joke.  It's all about optics and public perception as opposed to any legitimate health concerns for the players...because there really shouldn't be any for those who are vaccinated.  And if guys choose not to be, that's their own damn problem.

From Adam Silver’s recent comments, I think we’re heading in that direction. It will just take more time.

 

[mr. furley]

The 1989-91 UNLV teams was the first modern team that I remember.  Hunt and Anthony shot a ton of 3s.  Larry Johnson would occasionally shoot them too.

Loyola Marymount

felt like they shot 90 threes a game

 

[gruecd]

Boogie playing like he’s back with the Pels these last couple games. Dude can obviously still play!

 

[Instinctive]

The "no names and signed this week" Mavs gave the Bucks a helluva run. Fun game again, even knowing the whole time it was a house of cards.

 

[Navin Johnson]

Loyola Marymount

felt like they shot 90 threes a game

My buddy played for UCSB at the time.  They had som epic games against the Rebels.

 

[Juxtatarot]

The "no names and signed this week" Mavs gave the Bucks a helluva run. Fun game again, even knowing the whole time it was a house of cards.

One positive thing about replacement players is you know they will play hard.
 

 

[Major]

Loyola Marymount

felt like they shot 90 threes a game

RIP Hank Gathers.  Left handed Kimble FT to start the game. I loved that team.  Great run in the NCAAs. 

 

[The Kansas Comet]

RIP Hank Gathers.  Left handed Kimble FT to start the game. I loved that team.  Great run in the NCAAs. 

Jeff Fryer from way way deep too

 

[SWC]

great and true title crappy take that to the bank bromigo

 

[Juxtatarot]

File this under if it weren’t sad it would be funny:

Atlanta Hawks:

Health and safety protocols (Out): John Collins, Sharife Cooper, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Wes Iwundu, Jalen Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Onyeka Okongwu, Lou Williams, Delon Wright, Trae Young

Solomon Hill (right hamstring tear): Out
De’Andre Hunter (right wrist injury recovery): Out

Yet, they should still play tonight:

Hawks depth chart tonight...
PG: ??
Wings: Bogdanovic, Reddish, Mays, Stephenson*, Barber*, M. Hill*, Ellison*, Brown*
PF: ??
C: Capela, Dieng

*replacement player

 

[nysfl2]

6 of the 9 players who played for the Pistons yesterday were members of the Motor City Cruise (Detroit's G-league team).

Not surprisingly, it did not go well for them.

 

[Frostillicus]

The Timberwolves will be without 7 players (COVID protocols) for Monday against Boston...

Anthony Edwards

Taurean Prince

Naz Reid

D'Angelo Russell

Karl-Anthony Towns

Jarred Vanderbilt

McKinley Wright IV

Pat Beverley and Josh Okogie are questionable. 

Depth chart with those two: 

Ballhandlers: P. Beverley, J. McLaughlin

Wings: J. Okogie, J. McDaniels, M. Beasley, L. Bolmaro, J. Layman

Bigs: C. Silva, G. Monroe, N. Knight

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

File this under if it weren’t sad it would be funny:

Atlanta Hawks:

Health and safety protocols (Out): John Collins, Sharife Cooper, Danilo Gallinari, Kevin Huerter, Wes Iwundu, Jalen Johnson, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Onyeka Okongwu, Lou Williams, Delon Wright, Trae Young

Solomon Hill (right hamstring tear): Out
De’Andre Hunter (right wrist injury recovery): Out

Yet, they should still play tonight:

Hawks depth chart tonight...
PG: ??
Wings: Bogdanovic, Reddish, Mays, Stephenson*, Barber*, M. Hill*, Ellison*, Brown*
PF: ??
Capela, Dieng

*replacement player

Randy Wittman and Tree Rollins signed 10-day contracts. 

 

[AAABatteries]

Randy Wittman and Tree Rollins signed 10-day contracts. 

Nique could still score 20*

*on approximately 80 shots

 

[Frostillicus]

The Timberwolves will be without 7 players (COVID protocols) for Monday against Boston...

Anthony Edwards

Taurean Prince

Naz Reid

D'Angelo Russell

Karl-Anthony Towns

Jarred Vanderbilt

McKinley Wright IV

Pat Beverley and Josh Okogie are questionable. 

Depth chart with those two: 

Ballhandlers: P. Beverley, J. McLaughlin

Wings: J. Okogie, J. McDaniels, M. Beasley, L. Bolmaro, J. Layman

Bigs: C. Silva, G. Monroe, N. Knight

Beverley out, Okogie in. This is going to get weird.

 

[Encyclopedia Brown]

This is going to get weird.

Jake Layman is trending on Twitter because fans were chanting M-V-P when he was at the free throw line.