Candace Parker is good in the studio, she has an easy-going charisma and obviously knows the game. Her cohost on this TNT broadcast is a stiff though. He’s not doing her any favors.
Capela has always put up good numbers, thought he was good in Houston but he didn't fit into how they wanted to play.Clint Capela is putting up good numbers for ATL, whose lottery-pick big man, Onyeka Okongwu, has barely played since returning from a foot injury.
https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=401267365
Sounds like Jaren Jackson Jr. is close to returning as well.I’m glad I can root for Memphis now that there’s no picks in play. Ja is a blast and they have a bunch of young dudes that I like in Tillman, Clarke, Bane, Melton, and SloMo. Not even Grayson Allen can cancel that out.
Your Grizzlies are now my Timberwolves, haha. I've always kinda liked the Wolves; and from lurking on Canis Hoopus I find them one of the smartest and most passionate fanbases around. They deserve to root for a legit contender one of these years. And lord knows KAT deserves some joy in his life after his awful year from hell. Just let the Wolves' blossoming begin after our pick conveys.I’m glad I can root for Memphis now that there’s no picks in play. Ja is a blast and they have a bunch of young dudes that I like in Tillman, Clarke, Bane, Melton, and SloMo. Not even Grayson Allen can cancel that out.
He seems to be showing more on defense than I thought was there. Good for him.Whatever else you say about Andrew Wiggins: the dude mans up Kawhi and LeBron every game and shuts them down. The King had nothing for him tonight.
Trash Brothers: extremely not trash tonight. Great win.
I'm certainly hoping that this is the natural process of what happens when you change two-thirds of your roster in one offseason, and not a sign that after a 4-1 start Trae has forgotten how to play basketball. (Which is on the list of possibilities right now.)That Minnesota vs Atlanta game was terrible, a zillion turnovers, Trae in foul trouble. Ugly, ugly basketball.
Endless hype for Lebron vs. Steph and neither was very good. Stars!Whatever else you say about Andrew Wiggins: the dude mans up Kawhi and LeBron every game and shuts them down. The King had nothing for him tonight.
Trash Brothers: extremely not trash tonight. Great win.
I posted somewhere about Wiggins defense last week too. Kid is flat out balling and could be the poster child for why throwing together a bunch of 20-year olds without a veteran presence is a terrible way for a young player to develop.Whatever else you say about Andrew Wiggins: the dude mans up Kawhi and LeBron every game and shuts them down. The King had nothing for him tonight.
Trash Brothers: extremely not trash tonight. Great win.
Embiid not on injury report.Anybody know if Philly will have a full complement of players tonite? If the Sixers put out an injury report, I haven't been able to find it.
Damn. I was hoping we'd miss Embiid for at least one of these games.Embiid not on injury report.
Mike Scott out.
Seth Curry and Korkmaz available to play.
Yeah, and the Philly Warriors brand was decidedly insensitive...Just curious SRN. Is there any pressure on Golden State to consider changing "Warriors"?
There are dozens of more indigenous/appropriate names from that area (wasn't it brought from Philly?).
I think it would be different if Golden State traded on/exploited Native American imagery. I know the Philly version used a headdress as part of its logo. I do not when Golden State dropped it, but it has been a least 3 decades (since that's when I started following the NBA).Just curious SRN. Is there any pressure on Golden State to consider changing "Warriors"?
There are dozens of more indigenous/appropriate names from that area (wasn't it brought from Philly?).
I believe Golden State used a headdress at one point, along with some sort of modern Warrior holding a lightning bolt. I don't think they are being insensitive, just curious if there were groups protesting outside the arena over the last few years (pre-COVID)?I think it would be different if Golden State traded on/exploited Native American imagery. I know the Philly version used a headdress as part of its logo. I do not when Golden State dropped it, but it has been a least 3 decades (since that's when I started following the NBA).
Can't see anyone getting riled up about the generic "warriors" name, given they got rid of any Native associated branding way back in the 1960s. There just isn't any real association there, and unlike something like "Braves" the name alone doesn't really tie into Native Americans without any associated logos or branding.I believe Golden State used a headdress at one point, along with some sort of modern Warrior holding a lightning bolt. I don't think they are being insensitive, just curious if there were groups protesting outside the arena over the last few years (pre-COVID)?
I'm a SoCal lib and just a hair surprised San Fran doesn't make a pre-emptive move. There are a dozen other names that would be more fitting for the San Francisco area IMO
(+ an increase in jersey sales to pay for Oubre)
15 points in the second OT, and 42 overall for SextonAfter a salty Sixer game, watching Colin Sexton light up Kyrie has made my night
Still wonder what would have happened if the Cavs had decided to trade Kyrie elsewhere and the Cs had taken Sexton. Oh well.15 points in the second OT, and 42 overall for Sexton
Wolves also had a 10-point lead with 2:45 left. Ouch.Wolves up 2 with one FT to go with 4.6 seconds left and no timeouts for the Magic. A long rebound goes to Cole Anthony, who takes four dribbles and raises up in front of the Magic bench for a three. Game time.
I just went back and checked and the refs just overturned the call.I looked but couldn't find the official explanation for Kyrie's forearm to Sexton's chin being ruled not to be an offensive foul on the review, was there any given?
Trae still seems to be struggling, but 27-26-5 is one hell of a stat line - Capela might be the Hawks' best true rim protector since Dikembe Mutombo.Capela 27 points, 26 rebounds, 5 blocks. 12 offensive rebounds as the Hawks overcome a 17 point Pistons lead and win
The reach in part is interesting. I had thought they weren't allowed to take into account other fouls they should/could have called on the play during the review, but looking up the review rules, apparently they are allowed to review for "Whether a different foul proximate to the called foul should have been called." That's good to know going forward that they can notice another missed call on the play and negate the challenged call for that reason (and now I'll know I can complain vociferously in Celtics game thread when they don't invoke that rule on any of Brad's challenges).I just went back and checked and the refs just overturned the call.
The announcers (and twitter) suggested that Sexton was reaching in and lead with his face and that might have been the reason for overturning.
If the refs hadn't called the elbow (even with overturning it), the Cavs probably lose the game as Sexton is called for a reach in and I assume KI goes to the line with like 1.5 seconds (or less) left.
Famous expiring contract Theo Ratliff would like a word!Trae still seems to be struggling, but 27-26-5 is one hell of a stat line - Capela might be the Hawks' best true rim protector since Dikembe Mutombo.
Q: does the stellar play of Capela make you question the Onyeka Okongwu pick at all? Okongwu has a rep as a highly switchable defender, so could theoretically slide over to 4 occasionally, but I’m not sure he has the offensive skill level for that (yet?) In the meantime, he seems like a pure 10-15 mpg backup 5. I get the desire to shore up the overall team D, but is there any regret you didn’t nab a more versatile player like Haliburton, Vassell, Avdija, or Bey?Trae still seems to be struggling, but 27-26-5 is one hell of a stat line - Capela might be the Hawks' best true rim protector since Dikembe Mutombo.
It's a good question. For the moment, I'm happy the Hawks have a system which will allow Okongwu to develop at his own pace - and drafting another wing would have just increased the logjam for minutes. I'm sure Schlenk would have played the free agent game differently if he'd picked someone else, of course, but interior defense (and defense more generally) was the Hawks' biggest weakness coming into the season, and there were no guarantees that Capela would flourish in what of course are his first games in a Hawks uniform, having missed all of the post-trade and pre-bubble games through injury.Q: does the stellar play of Capela make you question the Onyeka Okongwu pick at all? Okongwu has a rep as a highly switchable defender, so could theoretically slide over to 4 occasionally, but I’m not sure he has the offensive skill level for that (yet?) In the meantime, he seems like a pure 10-15 mpg backup 5. I get the desire to shore up the overall team D, but is there any regret you didn’t nab a more versatile player like Haliburton, Vassell, Avdija, or Bey?
I don't know if the foul mattered on this call as much as mitigating the elbow since Sexton may have lead with his head. Irving's arm wasn't over his shoulder either; I wonder if that had anything to do with it.The reach in part is interesting. I had thought they weren't allowed to take into account other fouls they should/could have called on the play during the review, but looking up the review rules, apparently they are allowed to review for "Whether a different foul proximate to the called foul should have been called." That's good to know going forward that they can notice another missed call on the play and negate the challenged call for that reason (and now I'll know I can complain vociferously in Celtics game thread when they don't invoke that rule on any of Brad's challenges).
Q: Athletic wrote about 2 weeks ago that there was some trouble in the locker room, particularly between John Collins and Trae Young. Do you see any of that on court or heard anything more about locker room issues?It's a good question. For the moment, I'm happy the Hawks have a system which will allow Okongwu to develop at his own pace - and drafting another wing would have just increased the logjam for minutes. I'm sure Schlenk would have played the free agent game differently if he'd picked someone else, of course, but interior defense (and defense more generally) was the Hawks' biggest weakness coming into the season, and there were no guarantees that Capela would flourish in what of course are his first games in a Hawks uniform, having missed all of the post-trade and pre-bubble games through injury.
tl;dr - I'm still willing to TITS.
Yeah, I've heard those rumors elsewhere as well. I'm worried about Trae's leadership (or lack thereof), but if it comes down to Trae vs. Collins, Collins will get traded before this year's deadline. Which might be the correct decision for the franchise in the longer term, depending on what asset(s) Schlenk could get back in return, as Collins is going to want a max contract and I don't think the Hawks would be first in line to give him one. We'll see...Q: Athletic wrote about 2 weeks ago that there was some trouble in the locker room, particularly between John Collins and Trae Young. Do you see any of that on court or heard anything more about locker room issues?
Article is here if you haven't seen it: https://theathletic.com/2307304/2021/01/08/atlanta-hawks-john-collins-trae-young/
By the time Okongwu is ready for starters minutes Capela will be long gone.Q: does the stellar play of Capela make you question the Onyeka Okongwu pick at all? Okongwu has a rep as a highly switchable defender, so could theoretically slide over to 4 occasionally, but I’m not sure he has the offensive skill level for that (yet?) In the meantime, he seems like a pure 10-15 mpg backup 5. I get the desire to shore up the overall team D, but is there any regret you didn’t nab a more versatile player like Haliburton, Vassell, Avdija, or Bey?
My read is Collins is going to get dealt. I suspect it will be for what looks like less than great value, but as you note there may be a choice to be made here and he's the guy you have to jettison in that scenario.Yeah, I've heard those rumors elsewhere as well. I'm worried about Trae's leadership (or lack thereof), but if it comes down to Trae vs. Collins, Collins will get traded before this year's deadline. Which might be the correct decision for the franchise in the longer term, depending on what asset(s) Schlenk could get back in return, as Collins is going to want a max contract and I don't think the Hawks would be first in line to give him one. We'll see...
Thinking out loud:My read is Collins is going to get dealt. I suspect it will be for what looks like less than great value, but as you note there may be a choice to be made here and he's the guy you have to jettison in that scenario.