The Official 2018-19 NBA Season Thread

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I saw a story (same one?) mention that Drew wasn't really interested in an interim title, that he wanted a multi-year deal up front or might not take the job. So he could potentially be a VERY short-term (unofficial) interim.

I mean, SOMEbody has to be technically in charge, right?

Yes it is the same story and it is not that big a deal really. I just find it silly that the Cavs are letting Larry Flipping Drew make demands of your organization to take over for what should be a short term appointment as HC of a 25 win team.

[stevew]

They should just ask George Hill if he wants to be head coach. I feel like he's going to be a good coach some day.

[stevew]

Bulls gave up 87+ first half points.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by stevew

Bulls gave up 87+ first half points.

92 with Klay having 36 points.

Crazy

[Vince, Pt. II]

Klay with 52 in 26 minutes and 14 threes. He was 5/36 on the season going into tonight.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

I saw a story (same one?) mention that Drew wasn't really interested in an interim title, that he wanted a multi-year deal up front or might not take the job. So he could potentially be a VERY short-term (unofficial) interim.

I mean, SOMEbody has to be technically in charge, right?

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Yes it is the same story and it is not that big a deal really. I just find it silly that the Cavs are letting Larry Flipping Drew make demands of your organization to take over for what should be a short term appointment as HC of a 25 win team.

Larry Drew coached 3 .500+ Hawks teams & wasn't asked back, then got fired after 1 season as coach of a rebuilding Bucks team. I don't think he would actually be in consideration for a future NBA HC job, but if he takes over the Cavs dumpster fire and they continue being a dumpster fire it'd probably kill his chances, so with his bank account I don't blame him for asking them to give him a bigger guarantee/buyout.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

We now must enact a ban of all tribute videos. The Clippers have ruined it for everybody!

The day they traded this fucker, I coulda done back flips of joy down the entire stretch of a football field and back. Glad I wasn't there. I mighta walked out in protest.

Austin Rivers is a shitty basketball player. I'm stunned we even got a aerviceable.player for him, even Marcin Gortat.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Has there ever been a player - maybe in ANY sport - who has benefitted from style/scheme/teammates than Klay Thompson?

[miami_fan]

*checks Klay's stat line*

ZERO ASSISTS!

HE'S A SELFISH PLAYER!

[korme]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Has there ever been a player - maybe in ANY sport - who has benefitted from style/scheme/teammates than Klay Thompson?

I think this is way off base. Klay could get his shot on any team, he's efficient moving without the ball in his cuts and reads, and needs only a split second to get his shot off. In fact, he'd probably score 25-30 a night on most any other roster.

[Vince, Pt. II]

Originally Posted by korme

I think this is way off base. Klay could get his shot on any team, he's efficient moving without the ball in his cuts and reads, and needs only a split second to get his shot off. In fact, he'd probably score 25-30 a night on most any other roster.

Oh, I'm as big a fan as they come and the question is mostly tongue-in-cheek. His defense is great, and his release is insane fast (I think fivethirtyeight did an article on it maybe last year as being by far the fastest in the NBA). The last few years he has developed a lot more offensively than just the off-ball movement and catch-and-release shot as well, especially with Curry sidelined for stretches.

That being said, you take away the insane star power around him and you have to wonder how much that would affect him offensively. The dude dribbles the ball like 3 times per game.

[GoldenCrest Games]

Jimmy Butler + Andrew Wiggings for Klay.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

Oh, I'm as big a fan as they come and the question is mostly tongue-in-cheek. His defense is great, and his release is insane fast (I think fivethirtyeight did an article on it maybe last year as being by far the fastest in the NBA). The last few years he has developed a lot more offensively than just the off-ball movement and catch-and-release shot as well, especially with Curry sidelined for stretches.

That being said, you take away the insane star power around him and you have to wonder how much that would affect him offensively. The dude dribbles the ball like 3 times per game.

I think he'd still be Clippers JJ Redick or Hawks Kyle Korver, except really really good defensively... so usually an All-Star and on the 3rd team All-NBA bubble like he is now. I don't think his scoring average would go up drastically on a different team because that style of player can be schemed against, but I do think he would open up space and increase his teammates efficiency significantly if teams focused on defending him as the primary threat.

[BishopMVP]

PS break up the Kings.

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

PS break up the Kings.

No shit

I have a bet under 25.5 wins, should light that ticket on fire.

[miami_fan]

Jimmy Butler is taking next step in six-week-long process aimed at getting the All-Star out of Minnesota by sitting tonight against Utah, and could lead to extended absence for Butler, league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2018

Butler started contemplating not playing tonight on Tuesday, and the final decision was made Wednesday morning, sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski. Timberwolves termed it "general soreness and precautionary rest,” but Butler informed Tom Thibodeau of his decision.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2018

This was Jimmy Butler's decision and league sources tell me and @JonKrawczynski the plan is to travel to the west coast for Friday's game against the Warriors and then re-evaluate on game-by-game basis. https://t.co/6EWZnIZ5f5

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 31, 2018

equals

[Groundhog]

Treading down that Kawhi path.

[BishopMVP]

Who needs him? Not Derrick Rose.

[Scoobz0202]

2018-10-31_22-34-47 - Streamable


Emotional end of the game for Derrick Rose as he puts up a career high 50 points. Unreal.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Scoobz0202

2018-10-31_22-34-47 - Streamable


Emotional end of the game for Derrick Rose as he puts up a career high 50 points. Unreal.

Wait 'til Jimmy gets a hold of this video.

[BishopMVP]

The Wizards are now 1-7, have the worst point differential in the East (-12.1), and the most points against in the league (123.9, though pace adjusted I think they're still ahead of the Cavs & maybe the Bulls). Apparently keeping Scotty Brooks and adding Dwight Howard and Austin Rivers to a team with chemistry issues doesn't solve them.

[Chief Rum]

Fun fact I saw on ESPN.

Rose, Blake Griffin, Steph and Klay all had 50 point games in a stretch of nine days.

Last time that happened? 2007, when Kobe did it. All four times.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

The Wizards are now 1-7, have the worst point differential in the East (-12.1), and the most points against in the league (123.9, though pace adjusted I think they're still ahead of the Cavs & maybe the Bulls). Apparently keeping Scotty Brooks and adding Dwight Howard and Austin Rivers to a team with chemistry issues doesn't solve them.

Better job?

Wizards or Cavs?

Only 45% joking

[Izulde]

Kinda makes me want to take the Wizards in DDS19.

[BishopMVP]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Better job?

Wizards or Cavs?

Only 45% joking

Wizards for job security alone haha. I don't know what a coach or GM needs to do to get fired there, meanwhile on the other hand... Dan Gilbert.

[Lathum]

Westbrook just went down in a heap and it looked pretty bad.

[miami_fan]

I grabbed my ankle when I saw the replay.

[miami_fan]

Jimmy Butler to the Sixers?

[miami_fan]

Minnesota Timberwolves trading Jimmy Butler to Philadelphia 76ers

[Eaglesfan27]

Wow. Excited about that nucleus for Philly!

[Groundhog]

Risky move for Philly, IMO, but they are officially all-in now, I guess.

[stevew]

Not that the Cavs can win anyways, but I'm all in on tank for Zion

[stevew]

What's up with the CBA? Jimmer scores 75 and loses cause Pierre Jackson scored 63 and hit a walk off 3.

It would be fun to see Melo go over there.

[Groundhog]

The CBA is... not very good.

[miami_fan]

So who is the Bosh/Love/Klay of the Sixers' Big Three? Simmons?

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

Risky move for Philly, IMO, but they are officially all-in now, I guess.

I'm not sure how "all in" this move is. Covington makes $36 mil over the next 3 years and is an average SF. Bayless was an expiring who didn't play and the 2022 2nd round pick isn't very valuable. Saric is a nice player, but he's not an All-Star. He's a 12-6 guy who's an RFA after next season (and will want to get paid). I think it's a slam dunk for Philly. They kept Fultz, all their 1sts and their top 3 players. They basically went from Covington and Saric to Butler and more minutes for Wilson Chandler without giving up any of their future assets or young players on long term contracts.

[Groundhog]

It's all in because they are taking a risk that Butler works out for them, and meshes with the Simmons/Embiid core and they compete for championships within the next couple of years. Pre-Minny days I'd have thought no problem, but who knows. I might be a rarity but I don't think Butler was necessarily in the wrong in Minny and KAT/Wiggins don't "want it" enough - do Simmons and Embiid? Maybe, maybe not. There's a risk this entire thing derails the Sixers, IMO.

[Lathum]

Butler- Embiid has the potential for epic blow ups.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

It's all in because they are taking a risk that Butler works out for them, and meshes with the Simmons/Embiid core and they compete for championships within the next couple of years. Pre-Minny days I'd have thought no problem, but who knows. I might be a rarity but I don't think Butler was necessarily in the wrong in Minny and KAT/Wiggins don't "want it" enough - do Simmons and Embiid? Maybe, maybe not. There's a risk this entire thing derails the Sixers, IMO.

I agree with Butler not being the problem in Minny. Thibodeau and the shit-show of a roster they've built is the underlying issue there.

Definitely some risk here for Philly, but the difference is there are clear effort issues with Wiggins and KAT. Wiggins still hasn't improved since reaching the NBA and KAT is one of the lowest effort bigs defensively in the league. Towns should be as good as Anthony Davis, Jokic, or Embiid, but he doesn't want it. I still think the Wolves would have been better off keeping Lavine and trading Wiggins.

Simmons and Embiid both have good reps for putting in work and neither have effort issues. The bright side for Philly is even if this blows up they still have Embiid and Simmons to build around.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

It's all in because they are taking a risk that Butler works out for them, and meshes with the Simmons/Embiid core and they compete for championships within the next couple of years. Pre-Minny days I'd have thought no problem, but who knows. I might be a rarity but I don't think Butler was necessarily in the wrong in Minny and KAT/Wiggins don't "want it" enough - do Simmons and Embiid? Maybe, maybe not. There's a risk this entire thing derails the Sixers, IMO.

I guess I can see if it goes so bad that they are worse this season, but this team wasn't beating Boston, Toronto and Golden State as is. With Butler, they could be the favorite to make the Finals and have a puncher's chance against Golden State.

But let's say they lose to Boston in the Eastern Finals and Butler was a complete disaster. They will go into the offseason with about $60 mil in cap space without Jimmy and only lost two years of Covington on a bad deal, a 2nd round pick and the right to make Saric an RFA offer the following year. I just don't see the long term cost even if Butler is a rental and leaves. But if he stays, they will have a core of Embiid, Butler, Simmons, Zhaire Smith and potentially Fultz (if he clicks) - plus about $30 mil in cap space this offseason. This could be the start of a dominant team in the East if it works. And if it doesn't, you have $60 mil in cap space to pivot. Just getting off the Covington deal was enough to make this a push no matter how Butler plays.

[Lathum]

Caris LeVert just took a nasty fall that will in all likelihood end his season, if not career. Horrible as there was only 3 seconds left in the half. Looked similar to what happened to the kid at Louisville a few years back.

It is a real shame as he had really taken over as the go to guy on this team.

Players on both sides visibly shaken and upset. Tons of props to the TWolves fans who gave him a massive ovation when he was carted off.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

Caris LeVert just took a nasty fall that will in all likelihood end his season, if not career. Horrible as there was only 3 seconds left in the half. Looked similar to what happened to the kid at Louisville a few years back.

It is a real shame as he had really taken over as the go to guy on this team.

Players on both sides visibly shaken and upset. Tons of props to the TWolves fans who gave him a massive ovation when he was carted off.

If you did not see it, I suggest you keep it that way.

[Groundhog]

Oh god. Compound fracture of the leg? I have no intention of googling it, but at least if that's what it was there's a good chance he comes back 100% after 12 or so months.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

If you did not see it, I suggest you keep it that way.

Ain't gotta tell me twice.

[bhlloy]

The Nets are completely cursed at this point

[Chief Rum]

Shit, I was totally on board LeVert and his start this year; tried to acquire him in all of my fantasy leagues. Terrible news.

In other "cursed" news, the Clippers ALMOST managed to blow an opportunity to beat the Warriors (without Curry) at home, inexplicably letting a nine point lead evaporate in three minutes. I would imagine the only people more frustrated than me wondering how the hell Klay Thompson is allowed to get free for threes would be Warriors fans wondering how the hell LouWill is allowed to take the ball to the hoop so easily. Whatever. I'll take the win.

[Atocep]

Dislocated foot. No surgery needed.

That's absolutely incredible after seeing the video.

[bhlloy]

While I’m putting on my shocked face that it didn’t work out, if Melo can’t thrive in the Rockets scheme, is his career over?

EDIT - I guess thrive isn’t the right word because I don’t think that ever had a chance of happening in 2018, but at least be a reasonably productive bench player.

[miami_fan]

I would say that his career is over. I can't see what role Melo can play for a team. Defense, passing and rebounding are not even worthy of discussion at this point. He is only getting about 14% of his two point attempts at the rim, so no layups. If he can't catch and shoot at a high level, I am not sure why you would have him on the team. That being said, I am patiently waiting for the Heat to sign him.

[miami_fan]

Markelle Fultz of Philadelphia 76ers to see shoulder specialist