In-season NBA news thread

[Sam Ray Not]

Not long enough to kill off their season unfortunately.

Seems like roughly the same amount of time off (give or take) he needed to recover from the foot sprain he incurred when Smart dove on him late last season. Which ultimately allowed the rest of the team to coalesce and build confidence, and Steph to enter the playoffs with energy and fresh legs that he ultimately used to destroy Smart in the Finals.

Here’s hoping for a replay of that scenario — though I think it’ll be significantly tougher this year since the team has already dug themselves a decent-sized hole.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

besides the Celtic game, they weren't setting the world on fire with an All-Time great Steph.

Golden St is tied for the leagues best home record with Cleveland at 12-2 where they were setting the world on fire. They have been pushovers on the road however at 2-13 with only Orlando beneath them here. Tale of two teams.

 

[benhogan]

Seems like roughly the same amount of time off (give or take) he needed to recover from the foot sprain he incurred when Smart dove on him late last season. Which ultimately allowed the rest of the team to coalesce and build confidence, and Steph to enter the playoffs with energy and fresh legs that he ultimately used to destroy Smart in the Finals.

Here’s hoping for a replay of that scenario — though I think it’ll be significantly tougher this year since the team has already dug themselves a decent-sized hole.

GS gets every team's best shot. The Pacers never played so hard. Everyone wants to knock off the reigning champs.

To a smaller degree, Boston gets that. GS rested their key players, Bron/AD logged 100 minutes & Ty Lue unwrapped Kawhi/PG.

 

[Euclis20]

Seems like roughly the same amount of time off (give or take) he needed to recover from the foot sprain he incurred when Smart dove on him late last season. Which ultimately allowed the rest of the team to coalesce and build confidence, and Steph to enter the playoffs with energy and fresh legs that he ultimately used to destroy Smart in the Finals.

Here’s hoping for a replay of that scenario — though I think it’ll be significantly tougher this year since the team has already dug themselves a decent-sized hole.

Not to say that this didn't happen, but GS was 47-22 and had spent literally the entire season as the #1 or #2 seed in the West before that game against the Celtics, I think they were already pretty confident. The Warriors just need to make the playoffs (really they need the 6 seed to avoid the unpredictability of the play in games) to be the favorite to win the West, assuming Steph doesn't miss 20+ games this shouldn't be too difficult of a task.

 

[ElUno20]

Lakers spent the week floating stupid pie in the sky trades but now it looks like they're officially dead
View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1604527949075451904?s=20&t=ApKqM3-8dhBzkCIQhaifuQ

 

[Euclis20]

Good thing the Lakers banked all those regular season wins while Davis was healthy and playing at an MVP level.

OH WAIT

 

[E5 Yaz]

Every time he's injured, I remember the frustration/sadness that followed his not coming to the Celtics

 

[Sox Puppet]

Honestly, any time Davis puts together five or six dominant games in a row, the Lakers should immediately be looking to sell high. He is first team on the "great player who's perpetually injured" list, alongside Kawhi and Gordon Hayward.

 

[NYCSox]

And yet somehow he survived the bubble playoffs. Sigh.

 

[Euclis20]

Honestly, any time Davis puts together five or six dominant games in a row, the Lakers should immediately be looking to sell high. He is first team on the "great player who's perpetually injured" list, alongside Kawhi and Gordon Hayward.

I get the sentiment, but Hayward (1x all star) on there with Davis (4x all nba and 1 title) and Kawhi (5x all nba and 2 finals MVPs) is crying out for the three-headed dragon meme.

 

[johnmd20]

I get the sentiment, but Hayward (1x all star) on there with Davis (4x all nba and 1 title) and Kawhi (5x all nba and 2 finals MVPs) is crying out for the three-headed dragon meme.

Kawhi is the one who is completely overrated as a NBA player. Nobody really talks about Davis being the best at anything but potential but many people talk about Kawhi like he's a half serving of Michael Jordan and a half serving of Leborn James.(he was ranked 32nd all time for the last 50 years, which is really kind of funny in retrospect) Instead, he's a guy who had some very high peaks, all of them years ago. In between those peaks, he quit on a team, quit on a season, was often injured, and has basically played about 20% of his team's games over the past three seasons. He did make a lot of money, at least.

Kawhi now looks washed, too. Or it just might be disinterest. His numbers are down quite a bit across the board and he can't shoot anymore either. .233 from three. It is perfectly Clippers that they mortgaged so much for Kawhi and got very little.

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Its still early to look too hard at NBA stats but especially Kawhi's production. He's been in only 11 games thus far as he works his way back. His production doesn't show it but he looks pretty good playing - if history holds his numbers should fall more into line with career norms.

The Clippers, who have seemingly every veteran wing in the league, will likely be one of the top teams in the West unless the reports of Leonard's demise turn out accurate.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Kawhi is the one who is completely overrated as a NBA player. Nobody really talks about Davis being the best at anything but potential but many people talk about Kawhi like he's a half serving of Michael Jordan and a half serving of Leborn James.(he was ranked 32nd all time for the last 50 years, which is really kind of funny in retrospect) Instead, he's a guy who had some very high peaks, all of them years ago. In between those peaks, he quit on a team, quit on a season, was often injured, and has basically played about 20% of his team's games over the past three seasons. He did make a lot of money, at least.

Kawhi now looks washed, too. Or it just might be disinterest. His numbers are down quite a bit across the board and he can't shoot anymore either. .233 from three. It is perfectly Clippers that they mortgaged so much for Kawhi and got very little.

Davis has always been a talented piece of glass. I get why some wouldn’t be fans of Kawhi (I guess) but when all three were at their peak Kawhi was one of the best players in the game nearly singlehandedly carrying his team to a title……Hayward was the last player selected for one All-Star game. They aren’t in the same conversation.

 

[NWsoxophile]

Damian Lillard just stepped to the free throw line and became the all-time leading scorer in Blazers franchise history.

 

[Euclis20]

Kawhi is the one who is completely overrated as a NBA player. Nobody really talks about Davis being the best at anything but potential but many people talk about Kawhi like he's a half serving of Michael Jordan and a half serving of Leborn James.(he was ranked 32nd all time for the last 50 years, which is really kind of funny in retrospect) Instead, he's a guy who had some very high peaks, all of them years ago. In between those peaks, he quit on a team, quit on a season, was often injured, and has basically played about 20% of his team's games over the past three seasons. He did make a lot of money, at least.

Kawhi now looks washed, too. Or it just might be disinterest. His numbers are down quite a bit across the board and he can't shoot anymore either. .233 from three. It is perfectly Clippers that they mortgaged so much for Kawhi and got very little.

Davis made the NBA 75 team, that's not just potential. It's true that his regular season resume dwarfs Kawhi, but you could say the reverse of their postseason performance. 2 finals MVPs puts Kawhi in an incredibly small group, and I believe it's just him and Kareem with finals MVPs on different teams (bonus points for ending, or pausing, two different dynasties). Anthony Davis is in year 11 and has only made the playoffs 4 times. He's made it to the 2nd round just twice, and one of those was an absolute beating at the hands of the Warriors. The one year he wasn't irrelevant to the grand scheme of the NBA playoffs comes with the biggest of asterisks (the bubble) and playing next to a still in his prime version of Lebron. Kawhi is 13th among active players in playoff games played (which does feel low given his reputation), but Anthony Davis is literally not even on the map (39 career playoff games, not even in the top 100 among active players).

If you want to put both guys down you're probably right that Davis is wasted potential while Kawhi is completely overrated (it wasn't that long ago that he was in the same conversation as Lebron and Durant), but I don't see that one description is better or worse than the other. Injuries have taken a lot away from both guys.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Its still early to look too hard at NBA stats but especially Kawhi's production. He's been in only 11 games thus far as he works his way back. His production doesn't show it but he looks pretty good playing - if history holds his numbers should fall more into line with career norms.

The Clippers, who have seemingly every veteran wing in the league, will likely be one of the top teams in the West unless the reports of Leonard's demise turn out accurate.

Agreed on Kawhi. Teams are rounding into ideal game shape while he’s in his preseason after missing an entire season. Despite this he looked pretty awesome against Boston and along with Tatum was the best player on the floor. Not sure how that equates with being washed.

 

[ifmanis5]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1605259517901606914

ESPN Sources: Ishbia's purchase price is in the neighborhood of $4 billion.
BREAKING: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal, expected to be completed in the near future, would end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver.

 

[BigSoxFan]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1605259517901606914

ESPN Sources: Ishbia's purchase price is in the neighborhood of $4 billion.
BREAKING: Billionaire mortgage lender Mat Ishbia is finalizing a purchase of the Phoenix Suns, sources tell ESPN. The deal, expected to be completed in the near future, would end the tumultuous tenure of owner Robert Sarver.

Forbes recently had them at $2.7B. These guys are all printing money at this point.

 

[ifmanis5]

Forbes recently had them at $2.7B. These guys are all printing money at this point.

Yup. And credit to Simmons, he guessed it would sell for mid-$4 billion and he wasn't as far off as some other estimates.

 

[TrapperAB]

If you had $4 billion dollars, would you spend it on:

A) The Phoenix Suns
B) The Star Wars Franchise
C) Hookers and Blow

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

Not a bad return for Sarver on his initial $400 million investment.

 

[ifmanis5]

If you had $4 billion dollars, would you spend it on:

A) The Phoenix Suns
B) The Star Wars Franchise
C) Hookers and Blow

4 Mona Lisas, please.

 

[nighthob]

Kawhi is the one who is completely overrated as a NBA player. Nobody really talks about Davis being the best at anything but potential but many people talk about Kawhi like he's a half serving of Michael Jordan and a half serving of Leborn James.(he was ranked 32nd all time for the last 50 years, which is really kind of funny in retrospect) Instead, he's a guy who had some very high peaks, all of them years ago. In between those peaks, he quit on a team, quit on a season, was often injured, and has basically played about 20% of his team's games over the past three seasons. He did make a lot of money, at least.

Leonard’s career was effectively ended by an incredibly dirty play by the NBA’s version of Dave Schultz. Playing for the biggest moral preening prat in the NBA. Pre-injury Kawhi was an all time great. But after suffering the quad injury he’s increasingly been a shell of himself.

 

[nighthob]

If you had $4 billion dollars, would you spend it on:

A) The Phoenix Suns
B) The Star Wars Franchise
C) Hookers and Blow

C, at least I’d have something to show for the money.

 

[the moops]

Leonard’s career was effectively ended by an incredibly dirty play by the NBA’s version of Dave Schultz. Playing for the biggest moral preening prat in the NBA. Pre-injury Kawhi was an all time great. But after suffering the quad injury he’s increasingly been a shell of himself.

His 18/19 season with Toronto and 19/20 with LA were nearly as good as any pre-injury season. A few less games, but he was a top 5 player in each of those seasons

 

[Pablo's TB Lover]

C, at least I’d have something to show for the money.

Well, the STDs wouldn't be seen by the public but most would probably notice your powdered nose.

In other news, an absolutely crushing tampering punishment for the Knicks as they lose a 2025 second round pick. I don't know how they will recover from this hammer of justice. Other franchises are going to take note and absolutely not court a star player in advance of free agency.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35299743/knicks-lose-2025-second-round-pick-jalen-brunson-signing

In all seriousness, I think the NBA is saying 'We know all our teams are scheming for LeBron, KD, Harden, etc. years in advance, but Brunson? Let's keep our tampering limited to the top 10-20 guys in the league, please.'

 

[nighthob]

His 18/19 season with Toronto and 19/20 with LA were nearly as good as any pre-injury season. A few less games, but he was a top 5 player in each of those seasons

His defense never did survive the calcified muscle. He went from all time great two way player in his prime to the 35 year old LeBron phase of his career overnight.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Leonard’s career was effectively ended by an incredibly dirty play by the NBA’s version of Dave Schultz. Playing for the biggest moral preening prat in the NBA. Pre-injury Kawhi was an all time great. But after suffering the quad injury he’s increasingly been a shell of himself.

My God! Someone (else) who remembers Dave Schultz.

 

[The Social Chair]

Roger Goodell just snatched the NBA's marquee day from them. They'll have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1608161468230340609

 

[RorschachsMask]

View: https://twitter.com/TheAthleticNBA/status/1608183562381201410?s=20&t=OaC-pfEoqDSkGA2ZcbLD3A

 

[Kliq]

Roger Goodell just snatched the NBA's marquee day from them. They'll have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1608161468230340609

People keep saying this, but it's no surprise that more people watch the NFL than the NBA, it's a way more popular sport. Running head-to-head I'm not too sure the NBA is bothered by the NFL doing huge ratings for largely crappy games.

 

[the moops]

People keep saying this, but it's no surprise that more people watch the NFL than the NBA, it's a way more popular sport. Running head-to-head I'm not too sure the NBA is bothered by the NFL doing huge ratings for largely crappy games.

Christmas day football games aren't a new thing anyway.

 

[The Social Chair]

The NBA does care about head to head ratings. It's why they killed the TNT Thursday night games during Football season.

The NBA is trying to land a huge TV contract, and Disney and WarnerDiscovery are pushing back on what they'll pay. Losing Christmas will hurt.

Christmas day football games aren't a new thing anyway.

2022 was when the NFL kicked off annual Christmas games no matter the day of the week. It used to just be if the holiday fell on a Sunday.

 

[kenneycb]

Do you think the NFL is going to change a bunch of Sunday games to Monday next year to align with Xmas? What about in 2 years when it’s on Wednesday? I don’t and think this is a one time thing that can be planned for every year. The Thursday night example you cite is a weekly thing that isn’t analogous.

That Tweet’s also useless without comps. Are those numbers good or bad compared to the last few years?

 

[BaseballJones]

Roger Goodell just snatched the NBA's marquee day from them. They'll have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1608161468230340609

It just shows how dominant the NFL is. The absolutely crappy Rams-Broncos matchup alone got more viewers (22.57m) than all five NBA games combined (21.59m).

 

[HomeRunBaker]

2022 was when the NFL kicked off annual Christmas games no matter the day of the week. It used to just be if the holiday fell on a Sunday.

Did they announce this? How would we know if they are doing this no matter the day of the week starting in 2022 when 2022 fell on a Sunday? This makes me curious.

 

[luckiestman]

Roger Goodell just snatched the NBA's marquee day from them. They'll have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1608161468230340609

Numbers seem low. The NFL is so good, more people should be watching than not which would be like 200M.

 

[Euclis20]

It just shows how dominant the NFL is. The absolutely crappy Rams-Broncos matchup alone got more viewers (22.57m) than all five NBA games combined (21.59m).

And even that 21.59M is assuming that each NBA game had a unique set of viewers, which obviously isn't the case.

 

[snowmanny]

Did they announce this? How would we know if they are doing this no matter the day of the week starting in 2022 when 2022 fell on a Sunday? This makes me curious.

I guess we will know in 2024 when Christmas is Wednesday.

 

[The Social Chair]

Did they announce this? How would we know if they are doing this no matter the day of the week starting in 2022 when 2022 fell on a Sunday? This makes me curious.

Under the NFL's next round of television deals reached in March 2021, which will begin in 2023 and run through 2033, Fox acquired the rights to air special Christmas Day games as the schedule permits. These special Christmas games are in addition to standard primetime games on Christmas (such as Sunday Night Football and Monday Night Football in years in which Christmas lands on those days).

 

[luckiestman]

Should be easy enough to use the bye to slot Christmas games

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Should be easy enough to use the bye to slot Christmas games

Byes in Week 17?

 

[luckiestman]

Byes in Week 17?

Wouldn’t it be week 15 off and they play their week 16 game on Christmas and then have 11 days until week 17. I could be looking at it wrong.

 

[InstaFace]

Roger Goodell just snatched the NBA's marquee day from them. They'll have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights.

View: https://mobile.twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1608161468230340609

What nonsense. The NBA can play any weekday, just about equally well. You think the NFL is suddenly going to rejigger their entire weekly cadence in order to play more games on Christmas Day?

2023: 12/25 falls on a Monday
2024: 12/25 falls on a Wednesday
2025: 12/25 falls on a Thursday

Good luck to them trying to shoehorn that in. Sure, this year the 25th was a Sunday, the NFL played 3 national single-game-per-timeslot games and got good ratings for them. Great. Last year, 12/25 was a Saturday, the NFL put two games on that day, one of which was the league's #3 game of the year by viewers (GNB-CLE, 28.6M), and it changed the NBA's plans not at all.

None of this is new. The NFL has played on 12/25 plenty of times, usually when it happens to fall on a weekend. Chart:

Averaging the 5 games' viewers from the tweet above would yield 4.318M per game, a 5.7% increase over 2021.

 

[The Social Chair]

Not sure your argument here. The NBA's ratings continue to go down when competing with the NFL since 2010. The NFL also keeps adding games... going from 1 to 3.

4.318 is still not good vs the overall 5 year trend. It was up YoY because Disney simulcast the games on ESPN & ABC for the first time to goose ratings.

At the end of the day none of this matters for the NBA. They'll still get a huge TV contract and mid tier franchises are selling for $4B.

 

[InstaFace]

The NBA will not "have to retreat like they did on Thursday nights", which was your assertion. Primarily because the NFL will not change their schedule to emphasize games on Christmas Day, except when it happens to fall on a weekend. None of the NFL's reasons for potentially doing so have changed in the last two decades, and you can see they didn't do so then. And it will remain a marquee date on the NBA calendar annually.

I will gladly put money on that if we can craft it in a reasonable way.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1610421641367982080?s=12&t=NoCToxB_p_AiAGLMnrBKRA

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Maddening. The dude has some really elite skills but availability isn't one of them.

 

[BigSoxFan]

Maddening. The dude has some really elite skills but availability isn't one of them.

Can’t beat the Dubs from the tub…

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/NickFriedell/status/1612490500052815881