2024-25 NBA Thread: for the second time, somebody in Dallas hits low percentage shot that leads to a generation of conspiracy theories (124 Viewers)

[General Malaise]

Clingan +3000 for ROY? I'll take some of that.

He would be higher but the Blazers are going to want to showcase the other two centers to hopefully get something of value for Williams (which means threading a pretty needle of playing him enough to show him off but not so much that he gets hurt again) and to dump Ayton for expirings or something.

I'm excited for the twin towers defensive alignments that are bound to be coming with Williams and Clingan. The offense will be laughable, but the defense will be fun.

Yeah, I know he has major headwinds to sustained minutes and the team wants to showcase trade assets but....

What happened last night was what fans have been starving for since Dame was playing meaningful games. I know teams don't bend at the knee for fans but the biggest enemy of any franchise is apathy. It's a disease that spreads and becomes incurable. Want to sell season tickets? Increase TV viewership? Sell ads? Be relevant? The path forward for all of that is now clear and obvious.

Portland hasn't had a DOG like this in a long time. In one night, Sharpe, Scoot and Clingan gave something this town hasn't had in a long long time: HOPE.

+3000 is a lottery ticket. I'll update these odds periodically.

Love your enthuisiasm but don't forget he did that against a garbage franchise.

Look, I'm sorry, okay Woz?

 

[Frostillicus]

Clingan +3000 for ROY? I'll take some of that.

He would be higher but the Blazers are going to want to showcase the other two centers to hopefully get something of value for Williams (which means threading a pretty needle of playing him enough to show him off but not so much that he gets hurt again) and to dump Ayton for expirings or something.

I'm excited for the twin towers defensive alignments that are bound to be coming with Williams and Clingan. The offense will be laughable, but the defense will be fun.

Yeah, I know he has major headwinds to sustained minutes and the team wants to showcase trade assets but....

What happened last night was what fans have been starving for since Dame was playing meaningful games. I know teams don't bend at the knee for fans but the biggest enemy of any franchise is apathy. It's a disease that spreads and becomes incurable. Want to sell season tickets? Increase TV viewership? Sell ads? Be relevant? The path forward for all of that is now clear and obvious.

Portland hasn't had a DOG like this in a long time. In one night, Sharpe, Scoot and Clingan gave something this town hasn't had in a long long time: HOPE.

+3000 is a lottery ticket. I'll update these odds periodically.

Love your enthuisiasm but don't forget he did that against a garbage franchise.

Look, I'm sorry, okay Woz?

Why? It has been a garbage franchise. It's just our garbage franchise!

 

[Desert_Power]

I'm not at a panic level yet, but the Wolves are not a good team right now.

A big problem is Finch playing a Thibs like rotation. Ant is playing huge minutes and you can already see it wearing him down as he's played absolutely like *** in the second game of both back-to-backs. McDaniels defense has slipped, DDV cant'do anything, and Conley seems old all of a sudden. Randle has been good, but inconsistent. Naz Reid is awesome offensively, but terrible on defense. Rudy is still awesome on defense, but his offense seems even worse.

I loved KAT but understood the financial need to make the trade and talked myself into it, but it is glarlngly obvious how much they miss him now.

Felt like Conley hit the wall in the playoffs a bit offensively.

 

[General Malaise]

Clingan +3000 for ROY? I'll take some of that.

He would be higher but the Blazers are going to want to showcase the other two centers to hopefully get something of value for Williams (which means threading a pretty needle of playing him enough to show him off but not so much that he gets hurt again) and to dump Ayton for expirings or something.

I'm excited for the twin towers defensive alignments that are bound to be coming with Williams and Clingan. The offense will be laughable, but the defense will be fun.

Yeah, I know he has major headwinds to sustained minutes and the team wants to showcase trade assets but....

What happened last night was what fans have been starving for since Dame was playing meaningful games. I know teams don't bend at the knee for fans but the biggest enemy of any franchise is apathy. It's a disease that spreads and becomes incurable. Want to sell season tickets? Increase TV viewership? Sell ads? Be relevant? The path forward for all of that is now clear and obvious.

Portland hasn't had a DOG like this in a long time. In one night, Sharpe, Scoot and Clingan gave something this town hasn't had in a long long time: HOPE.

+3000 is a lottery ticket. I'll update these odds periodically.

Love your enthuisiasm but don't forget he did that against a garbage franchise.

Look, I'm sorry, okay Woz?

Why? It has been a garbage franchise. It's just our garbage franchise!

It's not like I'm cheering on the Showtime Lakers in Rose City, GB. Outside of some thrilling moments with Dame, a nice few seasons with BRoy and the Pippen lead Portland team from 2000ish, it's been futility, heartbreak and a lot of embarrassment waking up to read the news of the latest Jail Blazer mishap.

 

[Major]

Clingan also has one of the better nicknames in the NBA. Lol at Cling Kong

 

[General Malaise]

Clingan also has one of the better nicknames in the NBA. Lol at Cling Kong

He's already the most popular Blazer in the city. That didn't take long. The Blazers gave away custom glasses with his image on there and gave them away on the night he had 8 blocks. Folks are going nuts for them now and are offering to pay $$$ for them on social media.

This city, man.....just be big, white and hustle and they'll love you. The Vanilla Gorilla Joel Przybilla was a god here.

 

[Mister CIA]

Is AD playing with pink eye?

 

[Yo Mama]

Is AD playing with pink eye?

He got poked in the eye pretty bad a game or two ago.

 

[GOB]

Magic NBA Cup tough

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

14-0

 

[TripItUp]

great road win for the Lake Show...my Suns are struggling down several players.

 

[Yo Mama]

Surprised the NBA had the Lakers ring night on the road to start their defense of the Cup, but I’ll take the win.

 

[GOB]

Jared McCain is fantastic. His release is super quick and he understands how to get his shots up.

Rest of Sixers is cheeks. It's a good thing Embiid is so durable because they have no depth

 

[Yo Mama]

14-0

7-0 (Lakers in the NBA Cup all time)

 

[Desert_Power]

The amount of whining and attempts to injure other players from Draymond is just too damn high

 

[Frostillicus]

A hallmark of the Wolves before last year, at least in the KAT/Ant era, was beating good teams and losing to bad teams. They managed to shed the losing to bad teams last season, thus the success. Unfortunately we seem to be back at it. Great win at the Kings tonight (despite Fox scoring 60), following up the back to back losses to Portland.

I'm betting the next two go a win over Phoenix followed by a loss to Toronto.

 

[General Malaise]

Jared McCain is fantastic. His release is super quick and he understands how to get his shots up.

Rest of Sixers is cheeks. It's a good thing Embiid is so durable because they have no depth

Odds on favorite to win ROY right now. Great pick at 16.

Some of us fantasy basketball expurts have been in here touting him.

 

[Ghost Rider]

x.com

x.com

For a guy who is hurt so much, you would think Embiid wouldn't flop and throw himself to the ground like that. He might be the most unlikable NBA player ever, which is saying something considering it's a league that has had BIll Laimbeer and Draymond Green.

 

[Instinctive]

The amount of whining and attempts to injure other players from Draymond is just too damn high

"What are things you could say any year for the last 10 years and still be right, for $600, Ken?"

 

[CletiusMaximus]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

 

[bushdocda]

Sixers panic button
Embiid looks weak and uncoordinated. Team looks surprised to be on a basketball court playing a gam.

McCain is getting good player, bad team volume now so probably not a real ROY contender when Maxey returns.
Castle in SA looks like the guy there but no idea if his odds are worth it.

 

[Capella]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

 

[Moe.]

@scoobus Buddy Boeheim had 39 pts in the G League last night

 

[Ghost Rider]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Some will scoff at this, but I think there are enough MVP voters, like Screaming A., who are too dug in with their "MJ is the GOAT" stance and aren't about to vote for LeBron and give him a better chance at getting a 5th MVP and having as many as Jordan. The fact that James didn't get a single regular season MVP after returning to Cleveland, when he was clearly the best and most valuable player in the league, just reinforces that belief.

 

[Instinctive]

If Grayson Allen did half the **** Draymond Green did, he'd be out of the league and banned already.

 

[Capella]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Some will scoff at this, but I think there are enough MVP voters, like Screaming A., who are too dug in with their "MJ is the GOAT" stance and aren't about to vote for LeBron and give him a better chance at getting a 5th MVP and having as many as Jordan. The fact that James didn't get a single regular season MVP after returning to Cleveland, when he was clearly the best and most valuable player in the league, just reinforces that belief.

No I actually buy that. It comes down to legacy now.

 

[Yo Mama]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Some will scoff at this, but I think there are enough MVP voters, like Screaming A., who are too dug in with their "MJ is the GOAT" stance and aren't about to vote for LeBron and give him a better chance at getting a 5th MVP and having as many as Jordan. The fact that James didn't get a single regular season MVP after returning to Cleveland, when he was clearly the best and most valuable player in the league, just reinforces that belief.

No I actually buy that. It comes down to legacy now.

He was too good last year so this would never happen, but a Most Improved title would be pretty funny at age 40.

 

[Major]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Some will scoff at this, but I think there are enough MVP voters, like Screaming A., who are too dug in with their "MJ is the GOAT" stance and aren't about to vote for LeBron and give him a better chance at getting a 5th MVP and having as many as Jordan. The fact that James didn't get a single regular season MVP after returning to Cleveland, when he was clearly the best and most valuable player in the league, just reinforces that belief.

No I actually buy that. It comes down to legacy now.

And his game has been so consistently awesome even in his old age that people just take it for granted

 

[Major]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

 

[NewlyRetired]

’Inside The NBA’ Will Move To ESPN In 2025 In Licensing Deal With TNT

Chuck, Shaq, Kenny, and Ernie will continue covering NBA games in 2025, as ESPN will license the show from TNT starting next year.

uproxx.com

 

[GOB]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

 

[Kev4029]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

Anfernee Simons would be a much better trade for them. Lavine is the slightly better player but Simons is on a better contract now, fits the rest of the Magic's timeline, and has more traditional PG skills to fit their roster better. It would probably take a first rounder and for the trade to be made a three way with KCP going to a third team and the resulting minor assets to the Blazers (Lakers for like a couple seconds and Russell? Bucks for some draft equity and some of their trash? Sixers if they could make the money work?).

 

[Yo Mama]

I posted the details in the IST / NBA Cup thread, but if we use the current standings, the knockout rounds of the best tournament in sports would be a FFA NBA fever dream.

Portland @ Golden State
OKC @ Houston

New York @ Orlando
Detroit @ Atlanta

 

[Capella]

’Inside The NBA’ Will Move To ESPN In 2025 In Licensing Deal With TNT

Chuck, Shaq, Kenny, and Ernie will continue covering NBA games in 2025, as ESPN will license the show from TNT starting next year.

uproxx.com

Best sports related news in a long time

 

[Capella]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

Anfernee Simons would be a much better trade for them. Lavine is the slightly better player but Simons is on a better contract now, fits the rest of the Magic's timeline, and has more traditional PG skills to fit their roster better. It would probably take a first rounder and for the trade to be made a three way with KCP going to a third team and the resulting minor assets to the Blazers (Lakers for like a couple seconds and Russell? Bucks for some draft equity and some of their trash? Sixers if they could make the money work?).

They’re not trading for either. Both terrible defensive players.

 

[Kev4029]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

Anfernee Simons would be a much better trade for them. Lavine is the slightly better player but Simons is on a better contract now, fits the rest of the Magic's timeline, and has more traditional PG skills to fit their roster better. It would probably take a first rounder and for the trade to be made a three way with KCP going to a third team and the resulting minor assets to the Blazers (Lakers for like a couple seconds and Russell? Bucks for some draft equity and some of their trash? Sixers if they could make the money work?).

They’re not trading for either. Both terrible defensive players.

They sure are. But where are they going to find a two way guard that can actually be responsible for driving some good offense and shoot the ball from deep? How many of those players are there in the NBA? How many have there been in the last 20 years?

At some point between now and next season, they'll end up trading for a guard that is a long term solution next to Suggs. I through out the list of legit SGs a couple pages ago when I was making my point about Braun. The list of good PGs is deeper, but the list of two way PGs basically starts and ends with SGA - so if they went PG over SG, there are no choices that wouldn't hurt their defense.

 

[Capella]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

Anfernee Simons would be a much better trade for them. Lavine is the slightly better player but Simons is on a better contract now, fits the rest of the Magic's timeline, and has more traditional PG skills to fit their roster better. It would probably take a first rounder and for the trade to be made a three way with KCP going to a third team and the resulting minor assets to the Blazers (Lakers for like a couple seconds and Russell? Bucks for some draft equity and some of their trash? Sixers if they could make the money work?).

They’re not trading for either. Both terrible defensive players.

They sure are. But where are they going to find a two way guard that can actually be responsible for driving some good offense and shoot the ball from deep? How many of those players are there in the NBA? How many have there been in the last 20 years?

At some point between now and next season, they'll end up trading for a guard that is a long term solution next to Suggs. I through out the list of legit SGs a couple pages ago when I was making my point about Braun. The list of good PGs is deeper, but the list of two way PGs basically starts and ends with SGA - so if they went PG over SG, there are no choices that wouldn't hurt their defense.

Anthony Black is going to be that long term player next to Suggs.

 

[Beef Ravioli Part 2]

15-0

 

[Kev4029]

For the Blazer and Magic fans in here. The Ringer giving them some love:

- YouTube

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

www.youtube.com

Magic defense is a headache but they simply can't keep shooting worst in the league and expect to win when it matters.

I hadn't heard the rumor about Lavine to Orlando. I'm not totally on board with that but I also have no say in the matter.

Anfernee Simons would be a much better trade for them. Lavine is the slightly better player but Simons is on a better contract now, fits the rest of the Magic's timeline, and has more traditional PG skills to fit their roster better. It would probably take a first rounder and for the trade to be made a three way with KCP going to a third team and the resulting minor assets to the Blazers (Lakers for like a couple seconds and Russell? Bucks for some draft equity and some of their trash? Sixers if they could make the money work?).

They’re not trading for either. Both terrible defensive players.

They sure are. But where are they going to find a two way guard that can actually be responsible for driving some good offense and shoot the ball from deep? How many of those players are there in the NBA? How many have there been in the last 20 years?

At some point between now and next season, they'll end up trading for a guard that is a long term solution next to Suggs. I through out the list of legit SGs a couple pages ago when I was making my point about Braun. The list of good PGs is deeper, but the list of two way PGs basically starts and ends with SGA - so if they went PG over SG, there are no choices that wouldn't hurt their defense.

Anthony Black is going to be that long term player next to Suggs.

I don't watch much Magic basketball, but is he really a long term solution on a team that is more or less set at the other 4 positions and desperately needs some shooting and creation from the 2?

 

[Jayrod]

15-0

It's getting very impressive at this point.

 

[Jayrod]

Imagine that.

Green being a clown and Kerr both enables him and then goes after the officials.

Guy has flat out assaulted multiple people on the court (and off) and everyone acts like it is business as usual.

He needs a real long suspension. Like months at this point. I don't care if he just sneezes at another player. All benefit of the doubt gone.

 

[the moops]

Imagine that.

Green being a clown and Kerr both enables him and then goes after the officials.

Guy has flat out assaulted multiple people on the court (and off) and everyone acts like it is business as usual.

He needs a real long suspension. Like months at this point. I don't care if he just sneezes at another player. All benefit of the doubt gone.

A coach standing up for his player!!?? What the hell

 

[NewlyRetired]

15-0

It's getting very impressive at this point.

From Opta

Kenny Atkinson of the @cavs is the second head coach/manager in MLB/NBA/NFL/NHL history to win his first 15 games in charge of a team.

The other was Ted Sullivan, who won his first 20 games as manager of the St. Louis Maroons of the Union Association (MLB) in 1884

 

[Major]

15-0

It's getting very impressive at this point.

Yep, even in the East. In the West, Cavs would probably be battling the Rockets for 3rd place at 10-4.

 

[Jayrod]

Imagine that.

Green being a clown and Kerr both enables him and then goes after the officials.

Guy has flat out assaulted multiple people on the court (and off) and everyone acts like it is business as usual.

He needs a real long suspension. Like months at this point. I don't care if he just sneezes at another player. All benefit of the doubt gone.

A coach standing up for his player!!?? What the hell

I've always hated that statement about coaches and refs because it has the underlying assumption that the refs are against the players.

 

[Harry Frogfish]

THE LAND.

Uh, okay?


I wish Beavis and Butthead were still around to interpret that one.

 

[Navin Johnson]

Imagine that.

Green being a clown and Kerr both enables him and then goes after the officials.

Guy has flat out assaulted multiple people on the court (and off) and everyone acts like it is business as usual.

He needs a real long suspension. Like months at this point. I don't care if he just sneezes at another player. All benefit of the doubt gone.

A coach standing up for his player!!?? What the hell

I've always hated that statement about coaches and refs because it has the underlying assumption that the refs are against the players.

So referees are correct 100% of the time and should not be questioned?

 

[Jayrod]

Imagine that.

Green being a clown and Kerr both enables him and then goes after the officials.

Guy has flat out assaulted multiple people on the court (and off) and everyone acts like it is business as usual.

He needs a real long suspension. Like months at this point. I don't care if he just sneezes at another player. All benefit of the doubt gone.

A coach standing up for his player!!?? What the hell

I've always hated that statement about coaches and refs because it has the underlying assumption that the refs are against the players.

So referees are correct 100% of the time and should not be questioned?

So referees are biased and intentionally help teams win or lose?

 

[Zow]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Bill Simmons doesn’t even have him in his top ten.

I watch a decent enough basketball (including most of the Olympic Games over the summer) and I don’t get it. He still seems like one of the league’s best on any given night.

 

[Jayrod]

LeBron has a triple-double in 4 consecutive games - a career first for him in his 22nd season.

I looked up his mvp odds last night. He’s +10000…a 10 dollar bet pays over a grand. Not saying he’s the favorite but that shocked me.

Bill Simmons doesn’t even have him in his top ten.

I watch a decent enough basketball (including most of the Olympic Games over the summer) and I don’t get it. He still seems like one of the league’s best on any given night.

I think the issue is he isn't as consistent any more and doesn't have the season long numbers that the top contenders will have. It's a regular season award and he just won't have the same impact for 82 games that Jokic, Giannis, SGA, Doncic, etc. will.