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2024-25 NBA Thread: ESPN ready to debate if Warriors blowing 3-1 lead to meager Rockets diminishes LeBron’s legacy (18 Viewers)

After that 2-7 stretch, which included losses to Toronto and Portland x2, that had everyone asking if the Wolves were ok, they've gone 6-1 in their last seven. They've also held their opponent under 93 points in all six of those wins. Maybe they've rediscovered their identity as a defensive team. They're now #4 in defense rating at 106.8, which is actually better than their number last year which led the league (108.4).

So wolves back.
 
Frostillicus said:
After that 2-7 stretch, which included losses to Toronto and Portland x2, that had everyone asking if the Wolves were ok, they've gone 6-1 in their last seven. They've also held their opponent under 93 points in all six of those wins. Maybe they've rediscovered their identity as a defensive team. They're now #4 in defense rating at 106.8, which is actually better than their number last year which led the league (108.4).

So wolves back.
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How has Mike Conley looked? Him seeming to be completely cooked to start the season was the thing that I thought was most worrying for their season.
 
Kev4029 said:
Frostillicus said:
After that 2-7 stretch, which included losses to Toronto and Portland x2, that had everyone asking if the Wolves were ok, they've gone 6-1 in their last seven. They've also held their opponent under 93 points in all six of those wins. Maybe they've rediscovered their identity as a defensive team. They're now #4 in defense rating at 106.8, which is actually better than their number last year which led the league (108.4).

So wolves back.
Click to expand...
How has Mike Conley looked? Him seeming to be completely cooked to start the season was the thing that I thought was most worrying for their season.
Click to expand...
Much better. And he's a big key for sure. Same with Dillingham starting to come around. Although they have plenty of secondary ball handlers who are capable the offense functions much better with an actual point guard.
 
Nuggets rose-colored glasses post of the day - I was curious how slow Murray started the last few seasons as I know he is a notorious slow starter so I took a look at this season vs the last three (the trend held mostly true in 19-20 as well but 18-19 and 17-18 were even more apparent).

20-21 Season: First 18 - 19.1 PPG/4.4 APG/4.0 RPG on .456/.352/.783 (.557 TS%)

Full Season – 21.2 PPG/4.8 APG/4.0 RPG on .477/.408/.869 (.592 TS%)

22-23 Season: First 18 - 17.9 PPG/4.9 APG/3.7 RPG on .448/.380/.784 (.538 TS%)

Full Season – 20.0 PPG/6.2 APG/4.0 RPG on .454/.398/.833 (.571 TS%)

23-24 Season: First 18 – 19.8 PPG/5.7 APG/4.0 RPG on .470/.449/.906 (.587 TS%)

Full Season – 20.0 PPG/6.5 APG/4.1 RPG on .481/.425/.853 (.586 TS%)

24-25 Season: First 18 – 17.9 PPG/6.1 APG/4.1 RPG on .425/.337/.809 (.531 TS%)

Literally every year of his career other than last season he has has a slow start and worked himself into form by mid-to-late season. If the trend continues (and he builds of of the last game vs LAC), I think we could see something closer to borderline All-Star level Murray which may get the Nuggets back into title contention, especially if they can make a trade to give them a little bump as well.
 
Long Ball Larry said:
TLEF316 said:
Embiid just cracks me up. Dude takes an incidental hand to the side of the face and he's done for the night. I take a harder hit in my Sunday morning men's league and keep playing at least once a month. And I'm 41 years old.

Dude is absolutely stealing money out there.

Edit: apparently he has a "sinus fracture".
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True, why can’t the guy just play with a broken face?
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Remember that time Westbrook played with a dent in his face? Like a car or something. Can’t believe people don’t like Russ.
 
Didn't see any posts about the physical beating Luka took while whooping the Warriors so thought I'd make sure we all saw thats what happened.
 
Major said:
Yo Mama said:
That last minute of Nuggets-Kings was insane. Can’t believe DeMarr fumbled that last pass, he had a wide open dunk to win it.
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Yep. Nice shot by Murray to let us know he hasn't completely lost it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUvoNKGYKwQ
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He reveled after the previous game's post game presser than he has been battling some planter fasciitis... the last couple games he has looked a little more spry. It wasn't necessarily an efficient night for him but just the fact that he could get up 26 shots and still have the legs for that lost shot bodes well for where he is at right now.
 
Frostillicus said:
After that 2-7 stretch, which included losses to Toronto and Portland x2, that had everyone asking if the Wolves were ok, they've gone 6-1 in their last seven. They've also held their opponent under 93 points in all six of those wins. Maybe they've rediscovered their identity as a defensive team. They're now #4 in defense rating at 106.8, which is actually better than their number last year which led the league (108.4).

So wolves back.
Click to expand...
Yep. Worry has subsided a lot. They look good, too, in their wins. Little Woz now fully back in their corner after getting skeptical when they were losing (kids are so fickle).

Still not entirely certain Randle is the right fit but the team looks way more cohesive. Gobert playing well.
 
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OKC is a 5.5 favorite in the cup final tonight. A rare opportunity for me to see my home town team play since I don't subscribe to Bally Sports.
 
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Juxtatarot said:
thecatch said:
I think the Kings are 1-5 in 1 possession games this year. :kicksrock:
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I’m curious what you think of DeRozan so far. Seems like his stats are similar but, as usual, he struggles to get his team wins.
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He's been fine. He doesn't seem to be playing off of Fox and Sabonis as well as I'd hoped, but perhaps that will improve as they get more playing time together. He's definitely an upgrade on Harrison Barnes and I don't have any second thoughts about that transaction. The Kings struggles have really been as a result of their bench, Keegan Murray forgetting to shoot, and the general refusal to start Keon Ellis.
 
@Kev4029 The Athletic is reporting the Nuggets have a “significant” focus on trading for Zach LaVine. Trade would be something like LaVine and Torrey Craig for Michael Porter, Jr. and Nnaji.

Thoughts?
 
Juxtatarot said:
@Kev4029 The Athletic is reporting the Nuggets have a “significant” focus on trading for Zach LaVine. Trade would be something like LaVine and Torrey Craig for Michael Porter, Jr. and Nnaji.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm a little torn. I think that LaVine is better player and probably a better defender (no complement to LaVine) and the Nuggets haven't had a real secondary PnR threat they could start with Murray since Gary Harris got hurt back in like 2018 and lost it as a player. I think there is a lot of benefit to that making the offense a little more dynamic. That said, this is trapping the Nuggets in a corner if it doesn't work out and when they did when the title, part of the reason was because MPJ was playing decent defense and him being so big the driver. If they don't have to include their '31 first, I'm probably in. If somehow they can get Jalen Smith out of the deal, that would be even better as he could suck up most of the center minutes behind Jokic and play a little 4 along side him as well.
 
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Kev4029 said:
Juxtatarot said:
@Kev4029 The Athletic is reporting the Nuggets have a “significant” focus on trading for Zach LaVine. Trade would be something like LaVine and Torrey Craig for Michael Porter, Jr. and Nnaji.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm a little torn. I think that LaVine is better player and probably a better defender (no complement to LaVine) and the Nuggets haven't had a real secondary PnR threat they could start with Murray since Gary Harris got hurt back in like 2018 and lost it as a player. I think there is a lot of benefit to that making the offense a little more dynamic. That said, this is trapping the Nuggets in a corner if it doesn't work out and when they did when the title, part of the reason was because MPJ was playing decent defense and him being so big was part of the reason. If they don't have to include their '31 first, I'm probably in. If somehow they can get Jalen Smith out of the deal, that would be even better as he could suck up most of the center minutes behind Jokic and play a little 4 along side him as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Bulls only have Vucevic (who is on the trading block and having an excellent season on offense), Jalen Smith and a two-way player who can play the 5. I think Smith would be hard to get for a fair price.
 
Juxtatarot said:
Kev4029 said:
Juxtatarot said:
@Kev4029 The Athletic is reporting the Nuggets have a “significant” focus on trading for Zach LaVine. Trade would be something like LaVine and Torrey Craig for Michael Porter, Jr. and Nnaji.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I'm a little torn. I think that LaVine is better player and probably a better defender (no complement to LaVine) and the Nuggets haven't had a real secondary PnR threat they could start with Murray since Gary Harris got hurt back in like 2018 and lost it as a player. I think there is a lot of benefit to that making the offense a little more dynamic. That said, this is trapping the Nuggets in a corner if it doesn't work out and when they did when the title, part of the reason was because MPJ was playing decent defense and him being so big was part of the reason. If they don't have to include their '31 first, I'm probably in. If somehow they can get Jalen Smith out of the deal, that would be even better as he could suck up most of the center minutes behind Jokic and play a little 4 along side him as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Bulls only have Vucevic (who is on the trading block and having an excellent season on offense), Jalen Smith and a two-way player who can play the 5. I think Smith would be hard to get for a fair price.
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I think that would be a feature, not a bug of the trade from Chicago's end but it would probably take an additional asset from Denver's side that I wouldn't want to give up so I doubt he would be included. The Bulls need to start losing some more games to keep their protected pick. If I were them, I don't think I would make this trade. I would instead be looking to trade LaVine for dead salary (to get long term assets) or young guys. Not sure who that would be though. The Lakers could make it work but it would be a 4 for 1 trade. The Bucks could make it work if they throw Middleton in it, but that would be them admitting that Middleton is toast and that would be a lot of dead salary. Memphis? They have some useful, if overpaid, players that could make it work and maybe drag in a third team to take somebody like a Marcus Smart and throw a worse player and a pick at Chicago.

For the Nuggets, I would rather see a MPJ for two rotation players that can kind of shoot. Maybe the Nets - Cam Johnson + DFS + Sharpe for Watson and MPJ. Detroit has Fontecchio and Stewart who would be good bench fits but Harris or Hardaway would be needed to make it work and they both suck. Jokic's dream would be Atlanta for Bogdanovic - A Hunter/Bogdanovic/Nance for MPJ/Watson or Strawther/Nnaji (and maybe their '31 first lightly protected) seems like it might be a good trade for both teams.
 
thecatch said:
Does MPJ have value? I assumed that only worked for Chicago because that was an exchange of crippling contracts.
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I'm not sure as it depends on how teams feel about his back. If they are comfortable with how his back has healed, I think he is a good player with an uncommon skill set (impossible to block shot that he has consistently hit at a high % that would be better utilized by a different team and he rebounds like a PF) that is a bit overpaid. Like a lesser KAT. That's a skill set that is exceedingly rare. If teams can put him in a favorable situation defensively, like the Nuggets have mostly done with a good defender at 2 and 4, leaving MPJ to guard the worst player on the court, he's very valuable.

The issue is his back - I'm guessing that will be what keeps a deal from getting done. He is still wearing a brace for his drop foot and even though he has been pretty bulletproof the last two years (partially because outside of jump shots, he doesn't leave the ground often and he rarely falls or dives onto the court), the risk of another back injury always present.
 
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