2020-2021 NBA Game Thread

ElUno20

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Is the consensus that drummond was not a great pickup for the lakers? Ive only seen him a handful of times with him but he doesnt seem to fit at all with them
 

HomeRunBaker

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Is the consensus that drummond was not a great pickup for the lakers? Ive only seen him a handful of times with him but he doesnt seem to fit at all with them
The entire team is a cluster so it’s hard to tell if it’s Drummond or not but he’s taking spots on the floor where AD would be dominant. For that reason alone I’d probably agree with you.
 

terrynever

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Philly beats Chicago tonight. It’s going to be pretty hard for them to blow the No. 1 seed. Milwaukee chasing Brooklyn for No. 2 is the real fun. They play again Tuesday night in Milwaukee. When is Harden returning? I shall look that up.

Update: Steve Nash seems to think Harden will return for the playoffs, says the hamstring recovery “has a ways to go.”
 

radsoxfan

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Campazzo/Austin Rivers crunch time backcourt for the Nuggets is pretty sad. Jokic deserves better.
 

jon abbey

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Is the consensus that drummond was not a great pickup for the lakers? Ive only seen him a handful of times with him but he doesnt seem to fit at all with them
My impression was they mainly got him for the games before AD came back when they were desperate, but yeah now with AD back, he is a bad fit.
 

Kliq

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Assists can sometimes be overrated and are somewhat like RBIs, but 24 assists when you are playing with (outside of Beal) Rui Hachimura, Alex Len, Raul Neto, Daniel Gafford and Chandler Hutchinson is pretty crazy. Washington's strategy was just to let Westbrook get the rebound, then have him launch a fast break with his speed and then get one of their marginal players an easy bucket.
 

azsoxpatsfan

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I feel like Westbrook’s passing ability is way underrated. Looking at his highlights tonight, his passing ability is filthy. It’s wild because, of his teams won, where would he rank all time? Top 10? I really don’t think he gets the respect he deserves. He’s 3 triple doubles away from tying the all time record
 

Kliq

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Giannis is playing at an insane level right now. I don't know how Harden is going to change Brooklyn, but over the last two games it does look like Milwaukee has enough firepower with Giannis/Middleton/Holiday to beat Brooklyn. Kyrie went off tonight too.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Giannis is playing at an insane level right now. I don't know how Harden is going to change Brooklyn, but over the last two games it does look like Milwaukee has enough firepower with Giannis/Middleton/Holiday to beat Brooklyn. Kyrie went off tonight too.
That little midrange wrinkle shot, with the wall retreating, is pretty nasty. If he can hit that enough, he gets even more ungaurdable.
 

Kliq

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That little midrange wrinkle shot, with the wall retreating, is pretty nasty. If he can hit that enough, he gets even more ungaurdable.
Brooklyn came out with an extreme defense where they basically let Giannis pull-up and take his time from three like he was shooting a free throw. The result was over the two games he shot 8/20 from three, which to me is a huge win for Milwaukee. It gets him comfortable from the perimeter in that kind of matchup. What I appreciate about Giannis is that he has always been willing to take the shots when defenses dare him to expose his weakness. Plenty of star players would hesitate in that scenario, fearful that they'd shoot an airball (which he occasionally does) but Giannis remains brave in the attempt. He is up to 31% from three on the season, which isn't great, but if you accept that its the worst part of what is an otherwise incredibly well-rounded game, it isn't that bad.

Brooklyn is going to have to find another way to defend him. I mean look at this defense! And to think, even with them slacking this far off him, he still hit them for a 85 points in back-to-back games.

View: https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1389730501544398848?s=20
 

Euclis20

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Jokic is a strong betting favorite for MVP and Giannis is distant third (tied with Curry, behind Embiid) but if he hadn't won back to back MVPs I think he'd be neck and neck with Jokic. Milwaukee has been just as good as Denver and Giannis' all around game is equal to Jokic's offensive brilliance, I think. Maybe the missed games would swing it back to Jokic (11 missed games for Giannis, 0 for Jokic) but Giannis isn't even being mentioned, and that is 100% voter fatigue.
 

Tony C

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Jokic is a strong betting favorite for MVP and Giannis is distant third (tied with Curry, behind Embiid) but if he hadn't won back to back MVPs I think he'd be neck and neck with Jokic. Milwaukee has been just as good as Denver and Giannis' all around game is equal to Jokic's offensive brilliance, I think. Maybe the missed games would swing it back to Jokic (11 missed games for Giannis, 0 for Jokic) but Giannis isn't even being mentioned, and that is 100% voter fatigue.
I think it also reflects the playoff failures. Yes, I know it's a regular season award, but a lot of the early season support for LeBron (he was the frontrunner pre-injury), not sure why someone denied that) is that voters had been embarrassed by LBJ showing himself the clearly superior player during the playoffs. It's not the official criteria, but from the commentary lots were aware of it. If Giannis/the Bucks have a better playoff run this year I'll bet that next season he'll be back in the MVP conversation.
 

HomeRunBaker

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The Knicks are finally having their crash and burn game. They have 7 points with two minutes to go in the 1Q @ Denver.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Anthony Edwards with a 42/7/6 on 17-22 shooting including 8-9 from three. This kid hasn’t been consistent but on nights he brings it man does he bring it! This is what “slowing the game down” looks like as Edwards is already becoming elite at changing speeds with his dribble to gain angles prior to exploding. Look out for these Wolves next year with Towns and Russell for the entire season if they can add a couple reliable pieces.
 
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radsoxfan

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Anthony Edwards with a 42/7/6 on 17-22 shooting including 8-9 from three. This kid hasn’t been consistent but on nights he brings it man does he bring it! This is what “slowing the game down” looks like as Edwards is already becoming elite at changing speeds with his dribble to gain angles prior to exploding. Look out for these Wolves next year with Towns and Russell for the entire season if they can add a couple reliable pieces.
I like Towns well enough, and have been impressed with Edwards in a few games I have seen.

But Russell is not very good, so glad the Celtics didn't get involved when he was a FA.
 

Euclis20

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I like Towns well enough, and have been impressed with Edwards in a few games I have seen.

But Russell is not very good, so glad the Celtics didn't get involved when he was a FA.
Yup. He's a 25 year old on his 4th team, despite putting up decent counting stats since day 1. Maybe he's the next Billups, but I don't see it. (Although Billups was also a 25 year old Minnesota guard playing for his 4th team...fun)
 

HomeRunBaker

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I like Towns well enough, and have been impressed with Edwards in a few games I have seen.

But Russell is not very good, so glad the Celtics didn't get involved when he was a FA.
I wasn’t a fan of his coming out of Ohio St but think Russell’s best days are ahead of him. He’s a very good scorer/shot creator at his position and has elite speed/quickness that the mental aspect of the game can grow into.
 

djbayko

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You think Curry will get that many votes with his team hovering around .500?
Not first place votes (well, maybe a couple stupid ones), but he’ll get a healthy dose of second and third probably.

Jokic will be near unanimous. Bet it at any odds if you have the funds to spare. Can still get -1000 to -1500 in a few places.
 
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ifmanis5

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Anthony Edwards with a 42/7/6 on 17-22 shooting including 8-9 from three. This kid hasn’t been consistent but on nights he brings it man does he bring it! This is what “slowing the game down” looks like as Edwards is already becoming elite at changing speeds with his dribble to gain angles prior to exploding. Look out for these Wolves next year with Towns and Russell for the entire season if they can add a couple reliable pieces.
The highlights are impressive. Memphis can play defense and he torched them.
View: https://twitter.com/Mike_Schmitz/status/1390156454305406979

Anthony Edwards continued to look like an absolute star in the making tonight against Memphis: 42 PTS on only 22 shots, 8-of-9 from 3, 6 REB & 7 AST. Step-back is becoming unguardable. Slow to fast burst is elite. Catch & shoot looks even cleaner. Playmaking coming alive.
 

Sam Ray Not

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The highlights are impressive. Memphis can play defense and he torched them.
View: https://twitter.com/Mike_Schmitz/status/1390156454305406979

Anthony Edwards continued to look like an absolute star in the making tonight against Memphis: 42 PTS on only 22 shots, 8-of-9 from 3, 6 REB & 7 AST. Step-back is becoming unguardable. Slow to fast burst is elite. Catch & shoot looks even cleaner. Playmaking coming alive.
And still 19 (not 20 till August).

Picking up the boards and assists on top of the scoring efficiency, too. Exact trajectory you want to see in a player that young.

23.7 ppg on .557 ts / 5.4 rpg / 3.2 apg since the all-star break.
 

terrynever

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Nets going down in Dallas. Fourth straight loss. Heading to the No. 3 seed soon.

Kyrie had 45 but Durant was awful tonight. Harden looked good sitting on the bench.
 

Kliq

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TNT guys ripped Davis at half time, said he needs to tough it out to make sure the Lakers aren't in the play-in game.

In AD'S defense, it looked like a pretty nasty twisted ankle.
 

Sam Ray Not

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LeBron v. Steph in the #7-8 play-in is looking increasingly plausible after tonight's results (DAL wins; GS wins; MEM loses, LAL loses and loses AD in the process, which means they're likely to get blasted tomorrow in Portland).

If the Ws somehow win that game, you'd then have Ja, Zion/Lonzo, or Popovich going for the Lakers killshot. :)
 
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ElUno20

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It feels like the Lakers are settling/resigned for the play in spot for some reason. This is a little dangerous
 

Kliq

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Pretty sure the reason is that they're a bad team without LeBron and AD?
No LeBron/AD/Schroeder is a ghastly combination and the Lakers are probably the worst team in the league without those guys. I mean, Kuzma and KCP are their main creators. Maybe instead of getting a 4th Center in Drummond, they should have went in on someone that could create their own shot.
 

HomeRunBaker

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No LeBron/AD/Schroeder is a ghastly combination and the Lakers are probably the worst team in the league without those guys. I mean, Kuzma and KCP are their main creators. Maybe instead of getting a 4th Center in Drummond, they should have went in on someone that could create their own shot.
What’s the goal though? For the Lakers to repeat they don’t need another shot creator with LeBron, AD and Schroeder, the latter who was acquired to be just the guy you are looking for as the 3rd wheel. If those guys aren’t healthy it isn’t going to matter

Drummond is a massive upgrade in specific playoff matchups over Gasol, Howard, JaVale or whoever else they had.

Personally, I think they are in danger of being an early out but that is from losing the edge and hunger of last year in being the hunter. Not from their personnel.
 

Kliq

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What’s the goal though? For the Lakers to repeat they don’t need another shot creator with LeBron, AD and Schroeder, the latter who was acquired to be just the guy you are looking for as the 3rd wheel. If those guys aren’t healthy it isn’t going to matter

Drummond is a massive upgrade in specific playoff matchups over Gasol, Howard, JaVale or whoever else they had.

Personally, I think they are in danger of being an early out but that is from losing the edge and hunger of last year in being the hunter. Not from their personnel.
I don't think Drummond is a massive upgrade, especially when AD is going to play a lot of minutes at the 5, plus you will have Harrell logging significant minutes in certain matchups. The acquisition of Drummond felt pretty superfluous to me, given the strength of LA's frontcourt already.

IIRC, Drummond was acquired when both AD and LeBron were hurt. To me, I would be thinking about the health of my roster right now and realizing we needed another creator to get by in the times our two best players are injured. And the Lakers have kind of been unlucky with AD and LeBron both being out longer than expected, but it also shouldn't be that shocking given the nature of high-ankle sprains and Davis' injury history. IDK if there was a better option out there on the buyout market, but I think the Lakers might really miss what they got out of Rondo last year. Schroeder (if he is healthy) is a more dynamic player but also is much less consistent than Playoff Rondo.
 

ElUno20

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Pretty sure the reason is that they're a bad team without LeBron and AD?
Well yeah but AD essentially sat out the clipps game when the ass kicking writing was on the wall. I'm shocked he's playing tonight. They seem to not care about wins or losses.

There was a report earlier today that lebron's absence isnt even injury related.
 

Tony C

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A report where? On a Q Anon message board?
I don't think Drummond is a massive upgrade, especially when AD is going to play a lot of minutes at the 5, plus you will have Harrell logging significant minutes in certain matchups. The acquisition of Drummond felt pretty superfluous to me, given the strength of LA's frontcourt already.

IIRC, Drummond was acquired when both AD and LeBron were hurt. To me, I would be thinking about the health of my roster right now and realizing we needed another creator to get by in the times our two best players are injured. And the Lakers have kind of been unlucky with AD and LeBron both being out longer than expected, but it also shouldn't be that shocking given the nature of high-ankle sprains and Davis' injury history. IDK if there was a better option out there on the buyout market, but I think the Lakers might really miss what they got out of Rondo last year. Schroeder (if he is healthy) is a more dynamic player but also is much less consistent than Playoff Rondo.
This is pretty right on. Drummond was truly a weird choice to pursue by the Lakers. During the playoffs AD plays the 5, so at best Drummond will be a bit player. In the interim while they slide/have slid into the play-in, he still doesn't provide much except in certain match-ups. Gasol and Trez (again, depending on match ups) are generally more productive except against teams with a real hole at the 5 like, say, the Nets. Not trading for Lowry was their real mistake -- he would have helped a ton both during the playoffs and during this non-LBJ/non-AD period of their season. The price was Schroder, Caldwell-Pope, and Talen-Horton -- supposedly they didn't want to trade Talen-Horton given his potential. Maybe they're right about his long-term upside, but sure seems they need to maximize their chances now while LBJ is around. But instead of Lowry they have Drummond, a center whose game is suited for NBA 1990s-style.
 

Tony C

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I guess I'd take "absence" to mean absent from playing, specifically when referencing the team caring about "wins and losses." Does any one care if he's absent from the bench or not for whatever reason? Injured players are sometimes there/sometimes not -- not sure I've ever heard that has an impact on wins/losses.