You don’t really believe this do you? I would expect tonights tribute at Staples will dwarf all the others.......until the All-Star Game tribute dwarfs tonight’s. And if the Lakers win the Championship that will essentially be a Kobe and Gianna parade with record parade attendance.hopefully no more Kobe tributes (sans la jeu de toutes des etoiles )
I normally would say yes, but I'm not a particularly sentimental person and didn't have a particularly strong feeling about Kobe, and this still hit me in a weird way that celeb deaths don't. It's hard to analyze the reasons, but something was just different here, and I'm not shocked a guy in the league from that generation is taking it particularly hard, especially as his career draws to a close....
I believe everyone deserves the right to grieve in their own way. I wouldn’t criticize Kyrie for missing a game this week for this reason .......but really Carmelo, sitting out tonight’s game 5 days later? Am I being insensitive or does this seem like a bit much?
*Le jeu des étoiles. Game is masculine — ask Marcus Morris. ;-Phopefully no more Kobe tributes (sans la jeu de toutes des etoiles )
It is REALLY unique to those out in LA who have been close to him for two decades. Tonight is going to be special. It’s currently 6 hours to game time and every single lower bowl seat at Staples has a Kobe #8 jersey draped over it.I normally would say yes, but I'm not a particularly sentimental person and didn't have a particularly strong feeling about Kobe, and this still hit me in a weird way that celeb deaths don't. It's hard to analyze the reasons, but something was just different here, and I'm not shocked a guy in the league from that generation is taking it particularly hard, especially as his career draws to a close.
Maybe, but that's January, and Ale is talking FebruaryYou don’t really believe this do you? I would expect tonights tribute at Staples will dwarf all the others.......until the All-Star Game tribute dwarfs tonight’s. And if the Lakers win the Championship that will essentially be a Kobe and Gianna parade with record parade attendance.
I believe everyone deserves the right to grieve in their own way. I wouldn’t criticize Kyrie for missing a game this week for this reason .......but really Carmelo, sitting out tonight’s game 5 days later? Am I being insensitive or does this seem like a bit much?
I don't hate him - it didn't work in Boston. That happens. 19-23 from the field tonight is insane. And five assists.I hate Kyrie as much as the rest of you, but he put on a show tonight.
Where do you suggest?Zion playing well and beating Memphis for us.
View: https://mobile.twitter.com/maxacarlin/status/1223422240307515403
Please move the Pelicans. He doesn't deserve to play in empty arenas for 8 years.
I don’t know what the pecking order is. It was always assumed to be Seattle but it wouldn’t surprise me if LasVegas hasn’t pushed past them as the next franchise destination.Where do you suggest?
Seattle?
Raleigh?
Vegas?
Tampa?
San Diego?
Dame with 34/7/7 with 4:00 left in the thirdLillard is doing it again. Dude has been on a tear this week and would be in the MVP conversation if his team wasn't out of the playoffs. He has Curry like gravity right now. Teams are literally sending two guys at him or blitzing him hard with help. And he is still getting buckets, often times through contact.
Vancouver weeps slow bitter tears. It's a pity that the west coast Canada-US border generates so much friction, but Vancouver and Seattle basketball fans will never attend the same games.Seattle would be my first choice (Reign Man 2.0). Vegas would be the only other city that could support an NBA team.
Thankfully the Fakers lost on “LA has officially jumped the shark” day.Dame: 48 points on 17-30 shooting, 10 assists and nine boards. Whiteside chipped in with 30 points on 13-14 shooting and 12 boards. Blazers 127, Lakers 119. What an impressive win for Portland given the circumstances.
Not to nitpick but Portland is 2 games out of the playoffs with 4 more home games than Memphis who is currently the 8-seed. I don’t know the exact math to calculate this but its probably a coin flip for them make the playoffs right now.Lillard is doing it again. Dude has been on a tear this week and would be in the MVP conversation if his team wasn't out of the playoffs. He has Curry like gravity right now. Teams are literally sending two guys at him or blitzing him hard with help. And he is still getting buckets, often times through contact.
I was just qualifying for the well-actually responses (which would be technically correct) around my MVP statement. I think Portland will make it as they get healthy.Not to nitpick but Portland is 2 games out of the playoffs with 4 more home games than Memphis who is currently the 8-seed. I don’t know the exact math to calculate this but its probably a coin flip for them make the playoffs right now.
It'd never happen but Lillard to Denver would be great.Lillard is doing it again. Dude has been on a tear this week and would be in the MVP conversation if his team wasn't out of the playoffs. He has Curry like gravity right now. Teams are literally sending two guys at him or blitzing him hard with help. And he is still getting buckets, often times through contact.
It feels like a 4 horse race for WC 8-seedNot to nitpick but Portland is 2 games out of the playoffs with 4 more home games than Memphis who is currently the 8-seed. I don’t know the exact math to calculate this but its probably a coin flip for them make the playoffs right now.
New Orleans vs LAL is what everyone needs--that could be a legitimately competitive series if Zion and Favors are healthy.It feels like a 4 horse race for WC 8-seed
1. Portland, the favorite due to Dame
2. Memphis in the lead, have caught a lot of NBA teams asleep with their energy/effort
3. Spurs, Pop + vets
4. New Orleans, cause Zion vs Bron "passing of the torch" is exactly what the NBA needs in round 1
the Suns are out, as soon as they replaced Baynes with Ayton it was over
Jrue, Zion, Favors, JJ Redick have the talent to match up... and oh yea their All-Star Brandon IngramNew Orleans vs LAL is what everyone needs--that could be a legitimately competitive series if Zion and Favors are healthy.
You beat me to it.Jrue, Zion, Favors, JJ Redick have the talent to match up... and oh yea their All-Star Brandon Ingram
Throw in Lonzo, Hart, Jaxson Hayes, Moore they really have the rotational depth to compete/make it interesting. Unfortunately, Alvin Gentry is also lurking during a late/tight game.
Griffith needs to replace Gentry at seasons end. They should spend big on coaching and get the best with that roster/future picksYou beat me to it.
I think this lakers team is incredibly untalented and has tremendously outperformed. The issue in a series with new orleans is Gentry is good for giving away at least 1 game. So they'd basically have to win 5 to get 4 wins for the series.
I find it hard to call a team incredibly untalented when they have 2 of the top 5 players in the leagueI think this lakers team is incredibly untalented and has tremendously outperformed.
No one is arguing the greatness of LeBron and AD, but I think his point was more that outside those 2, the Lakers are very meh. They're -0.2/100 against top-10 point differential teams, so this isn't crazy at all to say. I'm becoming pretty skeptical of their ability to get through 4 rounds with the current roster, although obviously deadline or buyout moves could change that.I find it hard to call a team incredibly untalented when they have 2 of the top 5 players in the league
It's weird. On any one given night you can't really rely on anyone other than AD and LeBron, but they have enough guys that they can expect one or two of them to have a good game. Just a matter of finding which ones.No one is arguing the greatness of LeBron and AD, but I think his point was more that outside those 2, the Lakers are very meh. They're -0.2/100 against top-10 point differential teams, so this isn't crazy at all to say. I'm becoming pretty skeptical of their ability to get through 4 rounds with the current roster, although obviously deadline or buyout moves could change that.
I don't either but the NBA is stacked. It would be really hard to make a top 10 list. Even harder to make a top 20.I don't see a strong case for AD as a top 5 player, but I wouldn't call the Lakers' roster "incredibly untalented," either. (Fwiw, El Uno didn't add an "after LeBron and AD" caveat). It's not stacked, but KCP, Green, Dwight, and "Hi I'm Alex" Caruso have all played well this season. Throw in Bradley, JaVale, and whatever they can get for Kuzma, and I think they have enough to win it all, given decent health and luck.
We'll see what happens with the Kuz chip, but for now I'm sticking with 25% LAL / 25% LAC / 25% MIL / 25% field, give or take. And call me crazy, but I'd happily watch Apathetic A-Hole Damian Lillard take on the Incredibly Untalented Lakers in the first round.
Who would you take from the field? Nuggets/Houston? Nuggets seem to be really coming around, beating the Jazz and then the Bucks back to back was impressive.I don't see a strong case for AD as a top 5 player, but I wouldn't call the Lakers' roster "incredibly untalented," either. (Fwiw, El Uno didn't add an "after LeBron and AD" caveat). It's not stacked, but it has a top 5 guy and a top 10 guy, plus KCP, Green, Dwight, and "Hi I'm Alex" Caruso, who have all played well this season. Throw in Bradley, JaVale, and whatever they can get for Kuzma, and I think they have enough to win it all, given decent health and luck.
We'll see what happens with the Kuz chip, but for now I'm sticking with 25% LAL / 25% LAC / 25% MIL / 25% field, give or take. And call me crazy, but I'd happily watch Apathetic A-Hole Damian Lillard take on the Incredibly Untalented Lakers in the first round.
Hmm. Hard to pick one since they're all flawed after the top 3, but I'd think Boston, Philly, Miami, Toronto, Indiana, Utah, Denver, Houston and Dallas probably add up to 25% or so.Who would you take from the field? Nuggets/Houston? Nuggets seem to be really coming around, beating the Jazz and then the Bucks back to back was impressive.
Compiling the list makes me sad cos of the injuries to KD and Steph. If not for the stupid Achilles I think Durant is the pretty clear #1, possibly now more than ever in this era where defenses sell out defending the three and basically concede mid-rangers all day. And he had abused both LeBron and Kawhi the last few times they had matched up head to head.I don't either but the NBA is stacked. It would be really hard to make a top 10 list. Even harder to make a top 20.
While I don’t necessary disagree I wonder what the reaction is from a copycat league if we have a Lakers/Sixers Finals with both teams playing two 5’s together much of the time.Houston went 6'6" and below the entire game last night.
yikes, classic bigs are going to see a massive pay cut this summer
AD and Embiid are special, it would be tricky to copy that.While I don’t necessary disagree I wonder what the reaction is from a copycat league if we have a Lakers/Sixers Finals with both teams playing two 5’s together much of the time.
I’m still waiting for the Lakers to bust out the LeBron-Davis-Cousins-Howard-McGee lineup.While I don’t necessary disagree I wonder what the reaction is from a copycat league if we have a Lakers/Sixers Finals with both teams playing two 5’s together much of the time.
As far as making the finals you have Eastern Conference odds of Bucks -110, 76ers +450, Celtics +800, Heat +900, Raptors +900.Just curious, what is Vegas saying about teams making the NBA finals these days? How high are the Sixers? Lakers or Bucks the favorites?
Thanks.As far as making the finals you have Eastern Conference odds of Bucks -110, 76ers +450, Celtics +800, Heat +900, Raptors +900.
Western Conference Lakers +140, Clippers +250, Rockets +700, Mavs/Nuggets/Jazz +900
76ers are 4th highest odds to win the title which is interesting to me. I'd probably put any of the Rockets/Nuggets/Jazz ahead of them, although I guess you have to factor in the WC playoffs will likely be tougher.
Correct on that last part. It isn’t about the talent of the teams as much as it is the path to The Finals.As far as making the finals you have Eastern Conference odds of Bucks -110, 76ers +450, Celtics +800, Heat +900, Raptors +900.
Western Conference Lakers +140, Clippers +250, Rockets +700, Mavs/Nuggets/Jazz +900
76ers are 4th highest odds to win the title which is interesting to me. I'd probably put any of the Rockets/Nuggets/Jazz ahead of them, although I guess you have to factor in the WC playoffs will likely be tougher.