Jokes aside, the data posted upthread shows that while the 8pm (GSW / LAL) slot had the biggest jump, that does not account for most of the gains: 10:30pm (Nuggets-Suns, neither one a huge draw) was up 200%, and Noon (Knicks-Wemby) was up 70%. It was pretty well distributed. Just very encouraging for the league.They should start a senior league so they can keep putting Lebron and Curry against each other in prime time.
Those 3 games were not going up against the NFL, and they broadcast every game on ABC /Disney+ this year.Jokes aside, the data posted upthread shows that while the 8pm (GSW / LAL) slot had the biggest jump, that does not account for most of the gains: 10:30pm (Nuggets-Suns, neither one a huge draw) was up 200%, and Noon (Knicks-Wemby) was up 70%. It was pretty well distributed. Just very encouraging for the league.
Anyone seriously concerned about NBA ratings should just look at the kajillion dollar TV deal the league signed, where every major broadcasting entity was bidding for it.
the only team with cap space this summer to sign Butler is BRK. So everyone thinks MIA is not going to lose Butler for nothing.What do we make of the Butler thing at this point? A few comments...
1) Riley I think knew what he was doing when he called Butler out in May. not playing enough, wanting a huge extension, Riley was greasing the wheels, imo. At time I thought that was most likely for a summer move, when Butler had a year left. That may or may not have been their intent but isn't how it played out.
2) Butler is angling for a big extension and Heat aren't going to give it - so that is likely why he's pushing now...his FA market is going to be limited, isn't it?
3) The player option Butler has cretaes some mess here for Heat---they are effectively trading a FA to be, but one who is encumbered by a big player option. I know Butler is saying he'll decline, but bet that doesn't end up in writing.
4) Regardless of what Riley says I suspect Jimmy is done in Miami by deadline. He wants a different situation and likely better positioning for an extension; Miami has a pretty strong incentive to get more out of him than they would this summer (zero, or maybe a S&T?)
5) Even though market is limited- teams need the right contracts, some picks or young players, and be a win-now situation---I think there's some possibilities out there
This keeps getting repeated and is flat out wrong. I don’t know if it comes from the lower bowl of the arena being mostly empty in the 1Q or what but the Heat’s fanbase have been ranked as one of the leagues best based off jersey sales and social media following. Miami has been in the Top-5 for Home attendance every year since 2019 and hadn’t been outside the Top-8 since 2010.Miami has a fan base?
Note to self: no more throwaway lines about Heat fans in the Port Cellar.This keeps getting repeated and is flat out wrong. I don’t know if it comes from the lower bowl of the arena being mostly empty in the 1Q or what but the Heat’s fanbase have been ranked as one of the leagues best based off jersey sales and social media following. Miami has been in the Top-5 for Home attendance every year since 2019 and hadn’t been outside the Top-8 since 2010.
If you live north of Fort Lauderdale where the majority of fans reside you cannot get off work at 5pm and make it to your seat by 7 between traffic and the location of the arena. I haven’t gone to Celtics games here because it’s absolute hell to get to a game. The two games I’ve been the arena didn’t fill up until the 2Q….I mean they have a steak of over 600+ sold out games. They aren’t late arriving by choice they are late arriving because they don’t have a choice.
If they got either Sheppard or Thompson I would be shocked. If traded I don't think they get a top prospect like either of those guysThat is quite the pupu platter though, would Miami really settle for that? Not that I disagree, but the Heat will need SOMETHING to show for losing their franchise player. For example, this won't happen, but an oft-injured high end player like Zion could at least be sold to the fanbase.
Yeah, when it comes time to actually decide to trade for a 35 year-old or not, teams tend to err on the side of keeping their top prospects.If they got either Sheppard or Thompson I would be shocked. If traded I don't think they get a top prospect like either of those guys
Yes, but Suns recently gave up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, 4 first round picks and a pick swap for a 34.5 year-old Durant. Obviously, Durant is better than Butler and was signed for longer but it wouldn’t shock me to see a guy like Reed Sheppard going over to Miami if Houston were serious about Butler. They’d obviously prefer to hold onto Thompson but Riley isn’t going to hand Butler to another team for salary filler and a garbage 1st…I don’t think so at least.Yeah, when it comes time to actually decide to trade for a 35 year-old or not, teams tend to err on the side of keeping their top prospects.
Totally different from trading for a 26-32 year-old.
Durant is such an outlier in terms of talent that I'm not sure how applicable he is.Yes, but Suns recently gave up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, 4 first round picks and a pick swap for a 34.5 year-old Durant. Obviously, Durant is better than Butler and was signed for longer but it wouldn’t shock me to see a guy like Reed Sheppard going over to Miami if Houston were serious about Butler. They’d obviously prefer to hold onto Thompson but Riley isn’t going to hand Butler to another team for salary filler and a garbage 1st…I don’t think so at least.
He went for far more than a Reed Sheppard type so I think he’s a valid example that can be used with the appropriate discount rate.Durant is such an outlier in terms of talent that I'm not sure how applicable he is.
Fox is an interesting case. Would be a nice addition for the Spurs as Wemby’s sidekick. Castle, filler, and future picks?It feels like the new CBA is going to limit these markets. I expect the Heat to ask for Thompson and in seasons past that would likely be the cost. But Butler is fully priced and doesn't have a lot of landing spots - GS feels like the other fit here - so I bet that Houston can get him for less.
The deal I want to see is what, if anything, pries Fox loose from Sacto.
I don't know how a deal looks but if I am Sacramento I am asking for multiple young bodies plus picks. Fox feels like a great fit, especially for where both he and Wemby are in their careers. The Kings will know this of course and likely ask for a lot. If this rumored deal is even being discussed...Fox is an interesting case. Would be a nice addition for the Spurs as Wemby’s sidekick. Castle, filler, and future picks?
'Fox is an interesting case. Would be a nice addition for the Spurs as Wemby’s sidekick. Castle, filler, and future picks?
Yup. I’d also ask for Vassell as well. Sochan doesn’t feel like a great fit with Sabonis. This just feels like a situation where Klutch is trying to steer their guy away from a team. Windhorst also mentioned Houston as a possibility, which makes sense since they have a ton of young players to deal.I don't know how a deal looks but if I am Sacramento I am asking for multiple young bodies plus picks. Fox feels like a great fit, especially for where both he and Wemby are in their careers. The Kings will know this of course and likely ask for a lot. If this rumored deal is even being discussed...
Yeah, I don’t think that gets it done but if you add Vassell, perhaps they listen. The Spurs also control the 2025-2027 Hawks drafts, which has the potential to be quite lucrative. They also own Minny’s 2030-2031 drafts.'
Seems well shot of what Kings would want, though they are tough to figure.
Agreed, the real question is would Houston be willing to give up their desire to get Durant, which I am sure they still have, to settle for Butler instead.He went for far more than a Reed Sheppard type so I think he’s a valid example that can be used with the appropriate discount rate.
Jimmy Butler is in the last year of his deal, has proven to be oft-injured, and causes a stink everywhere he has been. I just don't know if looking at super duper stars like Durant offers any sort of comparison. Maybe better to look at almost all-stars that have been traded and go upwards from what they were traded forHe went for far more than a Reed Sheppard type so I think he’s a valid example that can be used with the appropriate discount rate.
There aren’t too many samples to pull from here so just pulling the most recent example and then applying a heavy discount rate on the return for the variables you’ve mentioned. Not really disagreeing with you both on this. All really depends on how motivated Houston is. If they’re lukewarm, this doesn’t likely happen. If they want Butler in a semi GFIN type move, I could see Sheppard being pried loose. I’m also very bearish on his prospects, perhaps more than others here. Thompson is likely a pipe dream for Miami but I never say never with Pat Riley.Jimmy Butler is in the last year of his deal, has proven to be oft-injured, and causes a stink everywhere he has been. I just don't know if looking at super duper stars like Durant offers any sort of comparison. Maybe better to look at almost all-stars that have been traded and go upwards from what they were traded for
....while I agree Durant is clearly worth more, amusing to note that "oft-injured, and causes a stink everywhere he has been" is also true of Durant! Though the stink is usually near the end/after the fact and less...stinky.Jimmy Butler is in the last year of his deal, has proven to be oft-injured, and causes a stink everywhere he has been. I just don't know if looking at super duper stars like Durant offers any sort of comparison. Maybe better to look at almost all-stars that have been traded and go upwards from what they were traded for
Why doesn't one of the targets of his intent to injure just say the obvious out loud: "Its quite sad when a once-great player's skills erode due to age and he must resort to playing dirty without regard to injuring anyone." And add, just for grins, "I really hope the last couple of years of his antics don't cost him Hall of Fame votes."
Where's the fun in that?Note to self: no more throwaway lines about Heat fans in the Port Cellar.
Gotta figure that’s about it for Mike Brown as a head coach. 3rd time being fired, even with a career winning % of .599, that’s tough to come back from without an NBA title on your resume. The NBA dream for Fox is the Spurs, right? That’s an interesting group right now if you pair him with Wemby, not for title contention but I’m dying to see Wemby with an all-star level teammate whose game fits.Looks like mike brown got the axe. Where does fox end up?
2023 Coach of the Year.
Yeah, and he had some not-so-veiled criticisms of Fox after the game. Wonder if this move was in the name of star appeasement.In case anyone missed it, here were the final seconds of Mike Brown's career in Sac. Can’t blame Fox’s dumb play on Brown, but the decision not to foul up 3….well, yeah:
View: https://twitter.com/nba/status/1872516228708958228?s=46&t=ewYMSuiVooy3RaQTShVJiA
Certainly a possibility (especially with Fox a real threat to leave at some point in the near future), but since finally climbing out of the lottery in 2023, it’s been a steep fall back to mediocrity. 2nd in the west in 2023, 9th last year, and 12th so far this year (and on pace for about 11 fewer wins than last year). Considering they’ve got mostly the same group of players (and their two best guys are still playing like all-stars), it’s understandably unacceptable.Yeah, and he had some not-so-veiled criticisms of Fox after the game. Wonder if this move was in the name of star appeasement.
It’s still strange to extend him and then fire him 31 games later, good job KingsTown.Certainly a possibility (especially with Fox a real threat to leave at some point in the near future), but since finally climbing out of the lottery in 2023, it’s been a steep fall back to mediocrity. 2nd in the west in 2023, 9th last year, and 12th so far this year (and on pace for about 11 fewer wins than last year). Considering they’ve got mostly the same group of players (and their two best guys are still playing like all-stars), it’s understandably unacceptable.
Yeah your coach would need to be spending games in a drunken stupor on the sideline, like an actual embarrassment, to go from "coach of the year a year ago" and "3-year extension a few months ago" to "gotta fire him, has to be done" in that span of time.It’s still strange to extend him and then fire him 31 games later, good job KingsTown.
This is how we rank fanbases?the Heat’s fanbase have been ranked as one of the leagues best based off jersey sales and social media following.
Lighting the Beam was fun while it lasted.Yeah your coach would need to be spending games in a drunken stupor on the sideline, like an actual embarrassment, to go from "coach of the year a year ago" and "3-year extension a few months ago" to "gotta fire him, has to be done" in that span of time.
They're 13-18, obviously a disappointment relative to expectations, but still plenty of time to turn it around. Instead... what are they possibly going to get out of the season now?
Engagement? I mean…yeah? Sellouts? Yeah. Shitting on a fanbase like Charlotte who once cared so much then cared so little that they voted for a new publicly funded arena without even knowing that they voted for it until the next morning would make more sense.This is how we rank fanbases?
Lonzo?Random thought from the Indy game last night: does anyone else play as small as Halliburton? He's 6-5 but plays like he's 5-11. Guys just go right through him consistently, like he's not even there. Pritchard took him right under the hoop with ease. Never is able to contest--may as well not have arms. It's definitely a strength issue, but there are plenty of guys with similar body types who don't play THAT small.
I recall Lonzo as a decent to good defender before the endless injuries. Halliburton plays defense like IT4, but with useless long noodle arms attached.Lonzo?
Lonzo was a good defender pre knee stuff. But maybe Lamelo? He’s terribleLonzo?
I have been on the Halburton is the worst defensive guard in the league train for some time. Like worse than Trae Young. He offers such little resistance of any kind it is kind of shocking at timesRandom thought from the Indy game last night: does anyone else play as small as Halliburton? He's 6-5 but plays like he's 5-11. Guys just go right through him consistently, like he's not even there. Pritchard took him right under the hoop with ease. Never is able to contest--may as well not have arms. It's definitely a strength issue, but there are plenty of guys with similar body types who don't play THAT small.
Yup. Trae gets into guys sometimes when he tries, and can provide some resistance. Halliburton clearly just doesn't care about building the strength he needs to compete defensively -- this is probably just who he is, barring some huge come to Jesus moment.I have been on the Halburton is the worst defensive guard in the league train for some time. Like worse than Trae Young. He offers such little resistance of any kind it is kind of shocking at times
He capitulates at the first bit of contact. He never digs in defensively (I'll probably eat these words tomorrow)Random thought from the Indy game last night: does anyone else play as small as Halliburton? He's 6-5 but plays like he's 5-11. Guys just go right through him consistently, like he's not even there. Pritchard took him right under the hoop with ease. Never is able to contest--may as well not have arms. It's definitely a strength issue, but there are plenty of guys with similar body types who don't play THAT small.