2023-2024 General NBA Season Thread

[InstaFace]

Here's the problem with the whole double-technicals thing.

View: https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=39059967


It's a cop-out for "there was a minor altercation, there's blame on all sides, let's apportion it equally". So then we get Luka Doncic literally not doing anything other than smiling and backing away, Sexton poking his finger into Luka's face and probably saying some threatening shit, and he gets a T for it.

You'd think he was from Latvia or something.

 

[Cellar-Door]

Here's the problem with the whole double-technicals thing.

View: https://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=39059967


It's a cop-out for "there was a minor altercation, there's blame on all sides, let's apportion it equally". So then we get Luka Doncic literally not doing anything other than smiling and backing away, Sexton poking his finger into Luka's face and probably saying some threatening shit, and he gets a T for it.

You'd think he was from Latvia or something.

Dunn you mean. Luka got it for what he said at the start, and without knowing what that was hard to say if it is a bad call. Dunn should have been tossed for tapping him on the nose probably.

 

[benhogan]

What the heck are the Pistons going to do, 18 losses in a row now well along in a supposed rebuild and year 1 of giving Monty Williams 80 million.

Good thing they also locked up Isaiah Stewart before he hit RFA

6'8" backup Centers are NBA gold

 

[InstaFace]

Dunn you mean. Luka got it for what he said at the start, and without knowing what that was hard to say if it is a bad call. Dunn should have been tossed for tapping him on the nose probably.

Seemed to me like Dunn (thank you) was just pissed Luka had beaten him a bunch, and in this case, probably pushed off a bit sending him crashing into the post. There was no time for him to say anything nasty or have a back-and-forth. I'll concede that if he taunted Dunn, he deserved a T, but man that just seems like a remote possibility from the angles they gave us.

 

[Euclis20]

That did look like a rough tech, and it's the sort of thing that may end up mattering. He's been near the top of the league in techs every season (17 last year, 18 in 2022 and 17 in 2021), and it seems unlikely that the Mavs will be in a safe enough spot in the standings that him getting suspended won't hurt.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Seemed to me like Dunn (thank you) was just pissed Luka had beaten him a bunch, and in this case, probably pushed off a bit sending him crashing into the post. There was no time for him to say anything nasty or have a back-and-forth. I'll concede that if he taunted Dunn, he deserved a T, but man that just seems like a remote possibility from the angles they gave us.

There may have been other stuff from prior possessions as well but it seems like Dunn was reacting to the backhand to the side of the head from Doncic. It's probably not the first time which is what triggered him.

 

[RorschachsMask]

View: https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1733222650242334833

 

[Euclis20]

View: https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1733225396437450805?s=20


I like the sentiment, but coming from a guy that has never been to the playoffs,(and is in year 8) this is pretty funny.

 

[benhogan]

I guess the return of Bojan isn't going to change a thing for the Detroit Pistons

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I guess the return of Bojan isn't going to change a thing for the Detroit Pistons

Silver should have the Pistons and Jazz play in the early game tomorrow in Vegas.

 

[benhogan]

Silver should have the Pistons and Jazz play in the early game tomorrow in Vegas.

a celebration of Covid Disney all over again...echo echo echo

I think they were giving away tickets for $20 the other night

 

[Auger34]

I guess the return of Bojan isn't going to change a thing for the Detroit Pistons

They are terrible and Monty has been an embarrassment as the coach. He’s managed to yank around the minutes of two of their building blocks (Thompson and Ivey) for reasons no one can understand.

He should give half of that completely unearned salary to Detroit charities (and maybe a quarter to Booker and Paul for propping him up as a coach because hes clearly not worth that contract)

 

[HomeRunBaker]

They are terrible and Monty has been an embarrassment as the coach. He’s managed to yank around the minutes of two of their building blocks (Thompson and Ivey) for reasons no one can understand.

He should give half of that completely unearned salary to Detroit charities (and maybe a quarter to Booker and Paul for propping him up as a coach because hes clearly not worth that contract)

I've heard that Ivey is having a hard time picking up the mental part of the NBA game. He kinda looks out of place on an NBA floor from a BBIQ perspective.

 

[benhogan]

They are terrible and Monty has been an embarrassment as the coach. He’s managed to yank around the minutes of two of their building blocks (Thompson and Ivey) for reasons no one can understand.

He should give half of that completely unearned salary to Detroit charities (and maybe a quarter to Booker and Paul for propping him up as a coach because hes clearly not worth that contract)

Troy Weaver must have some Arn Tellem pix

 

[Auger34]

I've heard that Ivey is having a hard time picking up the mental part of the NBA game. He kinda looks out of place on an NBA floor from a BBIQ perspective.

But here’s the thing…they’re 2-20. They are an absolute train wreck. There’s no reason to not play your top draft picks.
It’s an ego trip from Monty. No more, no less.

A young team needs consistency. Monty has been jerking around every player on that teams minutes (save Cunningham) for no rhyme or reason.

I saw Sam Vecenie tweet out that he’s been the worst coach in the NBA this season and multiple people agreed with him.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

But here’s the thing…they’re 2-20. They are an absolute train wreck. There’s no reason to not play your top draft picks.
It’s an ego trip from Monty. No more, no less.

A young team needs consistency. Monty has been jerking around every player on that teams minutes (save Cunningham) for no rhyme or reason.

I saw Sam Vecenie tweet out that he’s been the worst coach in the NBA this season and multiple people agreed with him.

I know nothing about how Monty coaches this team but I have no problem with a coach not playing guys who don't deserve to be playing. That isn't jerking their minutes around that's making them earn their minutes. If Ivey can't earn minites on a 2-20 team that is on one person.

 

[ifmanis5]

Still got it.
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1733326894442147874

 

[JCizzle]

Still got it.
View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1733326894442147874

Steph is still fucking awesome. Is the rest of the group still as good? Klay, Draymond, etc. For the league's sake, thankfully they didn't go LaMelo or Franz.

 

[AMS25]

Steph is still fucking awesome. Is the rest of the group still as good? Klay, Draymond, etc. For the league's sake, thankfully they didn't go LaMelo or Franz.

Yup, but the Warriors lose in OT. Draymond fouled out, of course.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Steph is still fucking awesome. Is the rest of the group still as good? Klay, Draymond, etc. For the league's sake, thankfully they didn't go LaMelo or Franz.

Klay has taken a big step back and I'm being generous. Draymond is still the glue to this team and so impactful. It's a different team that takes the floor when he is playing and not in street clothes.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

28 turnovers to OKC's 9, and lost by 2. Welp.

 

[benhogan]

Klay has taken a big step back and I'm being generous. Draymond is still the glue to this team and so impactful. It's a different team that takes the floor when he is playing and not in street clothes.

Brad has been turning over the C's roster, around the JAYs, with late Firsts

while GS took the development route with Wiseman, Moody, and Kuminga

Steph has a good 5yrs left, they need to make some hard decisions (Klay )

 

[RorschachsMask]

View: https://twitter.com/HarrisonWind/status/1733307100137193839

 

[Euclis20]

Klay has taken a big step back and I'm being generous. Draymond is still the glue to this team and so impactful. It's a different team that takes the floor when he is playing and not in street clothes.

Assuming you mean they are a much better team when he plays? I haven't seen enough of GS to comment, but his on/off numbers are pretty bad this year. They are outscored by 4.8 per 100 when he plays, and his net on/off is -8.2/100 (among their rotation guys, only Wiggins is worse at a ghastly -15.5/100). It's the first time his net on/off has been negative since 2014.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Assuming you mean they are a much better team when he plays? I haven't seen enough of GS to comment, but his on/off numbers are pretty bad this year. They are outscored by 4.8 per 100 when he plays, and his net on/off is -8.2/100 (among their rotation guys, only Wiggins is worse at a ghastly -15.5/100). It's the first time his net on/off has been negative since 2014.

I mean that the lineup balance and edge the team has is different when he's in street clothes. They are 6-17 in games that Draymond hasn't played over the last two years which passes the eye test of this teams change of approach in the games he's not there.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Jokic putting up consecutive games of 9-32 and 9-26 fg almost doesn't seem mathematically possible.

 

[Five Cent Head]

View: https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1733222650242334833

I hope he doesn't have too many bricks in tomorrow's game.

 

[lars10]

View: https://twitter.com/JakeLFischer/status/1733222650242334833

Lego doesn’t have a pluralized version.. it’s just Lego, Mr Turner.

 

[128]

Miami scuffling for the second straight regular season.

 

[tims4wins]

I mean that the lineup balance and edge the team has is different when he's in street clothes. They are 6-17 in games that Draymond hasn't played over the last two years which passes the eye test of this teams change of approach in the games he's not there.

Is this due to basketball reasons, or Draymond shenanigans?

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Is this due to basketball reasons, or Draymond shenanigans?

Calm eyes

 

[benhogan]

Is this due to basketball reasons, or Draymond shenanigans?

Rudy & Poole have the answer to 6-17

#Backpack Culture

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/brickmuse/status/1733347288616235239

 

[jon abbey]

The Knicks entire defense breaks down when facing a 5 who can shoot 3s, they’re 0-6 so far against BOS (Porzingis), MIL (Lopez) and MIN (Towns), 13-3 against everyone else.

And now Mitchell Robinson is out for the next two months, NY’s big man rotation is even thinner than before now. They also have a brutal schedule coming up, 8 of 10 on the road and the only two home games consecutively against MIL.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

View: https://twitter.com/brickmuse/status/1733347288616235239

Make it 1-51.

 

[The Raccoon]

Make it 1-51.

On February 10th 2023 the Pistons won a double OT game against the Spurs.
After that, they finished the rest of the 22/23 season with a 2-23 record and now they're at 2-21 with two early season wins against the world-beaters from Chicago and Charlotte.
4-43 record in the last 10 month, that is impressively bad!

 

[HomeRunBaker]

On February 10th 2023 the Pistons won a double OT game against the Spurs.
After that, they finished the rest of the 22/23 season with a 2-23 record and now they're at 2-21 with to early season wins against the world-beaters from Chicago and Charlotte.
4-43 record in the last 10 month, that is impressively bad!

Now that Duren is out for a month it doesn't figure to improve much during that time. Pistons and Wizards are doing some historical things out on the basketball court this year. The Spurs are remotely close to their level as they have been competitive in most of their games.

 

[Everetts Dinosaurs]

On February 10th 2023 the Pistons won a double OT game against the Spurs.
After that, they finished the rest of the 22/23 season with a 2-23 record and now they're at 2-21 with two early season wins against the world-beaters from Chicago and Charlotte.
4-43 record in the last 10 month, that is impressively bad!

Wow. To think I was kind of optimistic about Detroit. I really thought they were putting together some good talent and I thought Monty was a great pickup. Everything I've seen about his coaching this year is that it has been inexcusably bad.

 

[SteveF]

Detroit's roster construction is an issue. The lack of shooting makes it hard to evaluate their young players, especially Cunningham. The two point shooting in college was always the red flag on him, and it may turn out he needs to play off the ball. He's at around 37% on catch and shoot 3s, so that plays off ball, and he has the size. His role on a good team might be secondary scoring/ball handling. It's still early, of course, and we know the history with point guards. There was a time I was wondering -- not too long ago -- whether De'Aaron Fox was positive value on his contract. Uhh... yeah.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I don't really think Pistons will keep Bojan, but I agree with SteveF.....the reason they possibly could consider it is the importance of shooting to that roster (and lack of it right now).

They are in a tough spot - been bad for a while, not obviously improving, and have to imagine leadership is getting nervous

 

[benhogan]

Detroit's roster construction is an issue. The lack of shooting makes it hard to evaluate their young players, especially Cunningham. The two point shooting in college was always the red flag on him, and it may turn out he needs to play off the ball. He's at around 37% on catch and shoot 3s, so that plays off ball, and he has the size. His role on a good team might be secondary scoring/ball handling. It's still early, of course, and we know the history with point guards. There was a time I was wondering -- not too long ago -- whether De'Aaron Fox was positive value on his contract. Uhh... yeah.

Yes. Detroit's roster construction and deal-making have been terrible. Troy Weaver's 3.5 years of fingerprints are all over this mess at every turn.

Maybe the Pistons should have kept Saddiq Bey and sold high on Bojan last year when he was averaging 22ppg.

Then again Bojan had to be kept to provide that veteran leadership to those young Pistons...laughable

 

[Euclis20]

Excluding games they've played against each other, the Pistons/Spurs/Wizards have lost a combined 52 straight. The Pistons have been bad for a long, long time now but at least they have a few interesting prospects, and Wemby is enough to keep the Spurs relevant. The Wizards decision to wait until the year after the Wemby draft to tank was just an A+ decision.

Not that playing him more will turn things around for Washington, but how is Jordan Poole playing fewer minutes per game now than in the last two years with the Warriors? Is it that they keep getting blown out, so he's rarely on the court in the 4th quarter?

*edit - some additional fun: The Spurs and Wizards are on pace for 11 wins, the Pistons are on pace for 7. All three have point differentials of -10.1 per game or worse. Only one team in the last 8 years can boast a worse rating over a full year (OKC was -10.6 in 2021, but still managed to win 22 games).

Now that Duren is out for a month it doesn't figure to improve much during that time. Pistons and Wizards are doing some historical things out on the basketball court this year. The Spurs are remotely close to their level as they have been competitive in most of their games.

Maybe I'm misreading it or just not seeing things correctly, but the Spurs having been "competitive in most of their games" has resulted in a point differential of -12.0. The 2017 Sixers that won 10 games had a point differential of -10.2. You have to go back to the 7-59 Bobcats in 2012 to find a worse point differential (-13.9).

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Maybe I'm misreading it or just not seeing things correctly, but the Spurs having been "competitive in most of their games" has resulted in a point differential of -12.0. The 2017 Sixers that won 10 games had a point differential of -10.2. You have to go back to the 7-59 Bobcats in 2012 to find a worse point differential (-13.9).

After their decent start the Spurs went through a stretch of bad losses however over the past month or so they were in winnable positions in I believe all but one game. I have the work at home but think it was 9 of last 10 were decided by fewer than 4 possessions or something like that.

I discuss this more in Gambling thread but teams go through stretches when they are dialed in so picking up on this early is crucial. Ex: Orlando last year just after they were 5-15 and getting healthy, Clippers while they were losing their 5th and 6th straight after the Harden trade (9-3 since?), and the Spurs while still losing are competing hard for Pop. Far, far different than Detroit and Washington currently.

 

[Euclis20]

After their decent start the Spurs went through a stretch of bad losses however over the past month or so they were in winnable positions in I believe all but one game. I have the work at home but think it was 9 of last 10 were decided by fewer than 4 possessions or something like that.

I discuss this more in Gambling thread but teams go through stretches when they are dialed in so picking up on this early is crucial. Ex: Orlando last year just after they were 5-15 and getting healthy, Clippers while they were losing their 5th and 6th straight after the Harden trade (9-3 since?), and the Spurs while still losing are competing hard for Pop. Far, far different than Detroit and Washington currently.

Correct, it's 9 of their last 11 losses (dating back to 11/17) were by 4 possessions or fewer, which I suppose indicates competitive play, or at least more than we're seeing out of Detroit or Washington. They're all a mess, but for more than one reason, the Spurs can be optimistic about the future.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1734717454742364350

 

[The Social Chair]

This situation is getting out of control. The refs tossed Tre Young yesterday. People pay to see the stars, not the refs egos.

View: https://twitter.com/WorldWideWob/status/1734757817977016713

 

[HomeRunBaker]

This situation is getting out of control. The refs tossed Tre Young yesterday. People pay to see the stars, not the refs egos.

Yeah I'm doubling and tripling down on all this not being an on the floor ref this by being a hush-hush directive from the top. These cannot all be coincidences. Doesn't pass the logic test.

 

[gammoseditor]

KOC retweeted someone that said Chicago is home to the largest Serbian population outside of Serbia and Jokic only plays there once a year. Lots of pissed off fans because a ref had an ego trip. GJGE NBA.

 

[Kliq]

Dante Exum had been waiting for this game for ten years.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Dante Exum had been waiting for this game for ten years.

What a week he's had since Kyrie went down.