The Official NBA 2022-23 Season Thread

[flere-imsaho]

Top-drawer stuff, SirFozzie!

[miami_fan]

Yeah I can't say that I had the Heat in the ECF again this year. Julius Randle and RJ Barrett....woof.

[JPhillips]

Other than Brunson, the whole team was awful shooting the ball.

[Ksyrup]

Ja Moron-t.

[JPhillips]

I still don't understand how this is a problem when open carry is a thing all over the country.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

Ja Moron-t.

Yeah. This poor bastard couldn't get a clue if he bought all the vowels.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I still don't understand how this is a problem when open carry is a thing all over the country.

I was wondering the same thing. Where's the NRA when you need them?

[miami_fan]

Umm, I left our Mother's Day meal at halftime of the Celtics vs Sixers game.

Wha' happened?

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Jas_lov

After tonight I don't think you can give Tatum the max deal. Maybe they win despite him but pretty bad performance in a must win.

Freezing Cold Takes

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I still don't understand how this is a problem when open carry is a thing all over the country.

Wait a minute. 🤔

I mean that does seem to be a pretty popular and successful defense strategy nowadays.

[SirFozzie]

So tempted to go running amok in the Celtics reddit forum, everyone who said Tatum was "mentally weak" and "garbage", even after his key stretch in Game 6, and then well.. all of game 7, would be getting a receipt.



I will stand by my comparison of Embiid to Wilt Chamberlain. MVP calibre year in and year out. Someone that if you don't have top players playing out of their mind on defense, he will put up big numbers against you. And categorically unable to beat the Boston Celtics in the playoffs.

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

So tempted to go running amok in the Celtics reddit forum, everyone who said Tatum was "mentally weak" and "garbage", even after his key stretch in Game 6, and then well.. all of game 7, would be getting a receipt.



I will stand by my comparison of Embiid to Wilt Chamberlain. MVP calibre year in and year out. Someone that if you don't have top players playing out of their mind on defense, he will put up big numbers against you. And categorically unable to beat the Boston Celtics in the playoffs.

Tatum really brought it today. He was everywhere. He played great defense, rebounded passed, got the crowd going etc. This series by the end makes me think JB and JT have figured who is #1 and who is #2. I feel a little bad for Doc and Joel Embid. They are good guys and don’t deserve selfish guys like Harden.

[SirFozzie]

Originally Posted by Galaril

He really brought. He was everywhere. He played great defense, rebounds , passes, getting the crowd going etc. This series by the end makes me think JB and JT have figured who is #1 and who is #2. I feel. Ad for Doc and Joel Embid. They are good guys and don’t deserve selfish guys like Harden.

Harden was one of the reasons they GOT to game 7, he basically won two for them

[Galaril]

Originally Posted by SirFozzie

Harden was one of the reasons they GOT to game 7, he basically won two for them

He also lost them the other 4 games. He is trash.

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I still don't understand how this is a problem when open carry is a thing all over the country.

I mean, if they're fine for Christmas cards and political ads, they're fine for social media posts, right? Unless there's some other objection. But I can't imagine what it could be.

[miami_fan]

Fair or unfair this one falls on Embiid for me. I lean slightly to it being fair. Especially given all the MVP talk from this year. He is not the only player to promote himself for MVP and he deserved to get it this year IMO. But if you are going to be that guy, you can't be the dude going 5-for-18 in game 7. You can't be the guy who once again seems to fade late in big playoff games. I know he was hurt but well that is a problem as well. Embiid with 8 for 19 in the 4th quarter and overtime in this series. 6 games, 8 made on 19 shots. While I am inclined to give the big man the benefit of the doubt because the little guys have to give him the ball, Embiid fancies himself to be an threat at the three point line as well. Today was even worse. In the decisive 3rd quarter, Embiid took four shots. Two three point misses and two twelve footer that Al Horford blocked. Harden is clearly diminished from his MVP years and Maxey was not ready to make the step up. However, Embiid still has not shown he has enough to carry his team in the playoffs in the way we have seen from others do.

[molson]

And that's not even mentioning his defense. He was the weak spot exploited by the Celtics with Tatum.

[Young Drachma]

Morant will get half a season. All these owners ditching coaches who won them titles, isn't surprising but also funny. 76ers seemed a bit doomed. Nothing seems to work, but also why did they hire Doc Rivers?

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Young Drachma

76ers seemed a bit doomed. Nothing seems to work, but also why did they hire Doc Rivers?

Because they realized that picking Brett Brown and Tobias Harris over no Brett Brown and Jimmy Butler was a dumb move.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Wait a minute. 🤔

I mean that does seem to be a pretty popular and successful defense strategy nowadays.

Your Honor, we offer exhibit X into evidence at this time.

Will Cain: ‘Does Ja Morant not have 2A rights?’

“Explain to me something,” Cain said on Twitter. “Does Ja Morant not have 2A rights? Can he not do what he wants outside of his work environment if it’s still legal? It may be stupid, but I don’t know what he’s done to be suspended.”

Cain said his disagreeing with the suspension was not an endorsement of Morant’s lack of responsibility, but added, “Employment has become too big of a mechanism for behavior control.”

[Lathum]

I agree somewhat with Cain. Assuming the firearm was legally owned whats the issue here other than one of perception.

IMO the league shouldn't be able to suspend him. Memphis suspending him is a little trickier. Obviously that isn't what they want as the face of their franchise, and maybe there is a personal conduct policy, but I am sure the players association would get involved if they suspend him for a perfectly legal, all be it, stupid actively.

Would Joey Bosa be suspended if he put himself on instagram target shooting? I doubt it.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Lathum

I agree somewhat with Cain. Assuming the firearm was legally owned whats the issue here other than one of perception.

IMO the league shouldn't be able to suspend him. Memphis suspending him is a little trickier. Obviously that isn't what they want as the face of their franchise, and maybe there is a personal conduct policy, but I am sure the players association would get involved if they suspend him for a perfectly legal, all be it, stupid actively.

Would Joey Bosa be suspended if he put himself on instagram target shooting? I doubt it.

I just listened to a podcast that described the issue better than me typing out a long post.

Ja Morant is driving around in the passenger seat of a vehicle. He is waving a gun during the drive. They pull up to a traffic light. A police car or quite honestly anyone driving around Memphis with a gun in the car pulls up next to the car while Ja is waving a gun around. Choose your own adventure for the end of that story. How many of those end well for Ja?

I hear your example about Bosa. I am 99% sure that someone in Ja's life has told him he can't do what his little friends can do for reason that are obvious to see.

[JPhillips]

The Memphis PD describes TN law as:

On July 1, 2021, Tennessee law will permit a large majority of citizens to carry a loaded handgun on their person, openly or concealed, without having to possess a permit. This new law does NOT affect the carrying of rifles or shotguns, ONLY handguns.

Again, what did Morant do wrong? This is the current gun culture.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

I am 99% sure that someone in Ja's life has told him he can't do what his little friends can do for reason that are obvious to see.

And I'm 99.9% sure Morant is too fucking stupid to embrace that concept.

[stevew]

I think Portland is going to win the lottery tonight.

[miami_fan]

As expected. the Sixers fired Doc. They are going to bring in D'Antoni, aren't they?

[Lathum]

The term "once in a generation" is used way too much. They were saying the same about Zion a couple years ago.

[stevew]

Booking on the league is way too predictable

[bob]

So so tough being a Detroit sports fan

[JPhillips]

Spurs winning the lottery sure smells rigged.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

Spurs winning the lottery sure smells rigged.

I approve. I don't want to just allow that sort of talent to go to any ole team. Only the Spurs and the Lakers know how to win championships with their overall #1 picks.* They got their guys to the HOF to boot. Now we just gotta make sure Pop and RC Buford hang out through his first contract to help him build his foundation. In Pop I Trust.

*Yes, the Cavs won with Lebron and Kyrie but then they did that whole Anthony Bennett/ Andrew Wiggins back to back. The lose the benefit of the doubt after that.

[Ksyrup]

31-19-12 has been done once in playoff history: Oscar Robertson in 1963.

Nikola Jokic just did it in three quarters. pic.twitter.com/MTu5FmbDDZ

— Evan Abrams (@EvanHAbrams) May 17, 2023

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by bob

So so tough being a Detroit sports fan

It's true

[stevew]

Kyle Lowry is just straight pain to watch.

[stevew]

Denver really does some dumb shit with clock management.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I still don't understand how this is a problem when open carry is a thing all over the country.

There's a difference between what's ok to do as an average person and what's going to cause problems for you when huge amounts of money rest on you representing a business with a specific image. It's the same as whole 'free speech doesn't mean you can't get fired for speech which embarasses your employer' thing.

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

There's a difference between what's ok to do as an average person and what's going to cause problems for you when huge amounts of money rest on you representing a business with a specific image. It's the same as whole 'free speech doesn't mean you can't get fired for speech which embarasses your employer' thing.

I can't imagine GOP judges would be okay with a rule that says you can't be seen with a gun in your off hours.

[miami_fan]

I appreciate the Heat being up 2-0 with both wins coming on the road and I really do hope they win the series. However Joe Mazzulla's in game management is offensive to me. Even if I was not a fan of the Heat, I would be rooting for them to get this guy out of the playoffs. He may be a good head coach at some point but that is not right now.

[Ghost Econ]

Wondering how much Adam Silver gets in the refs ears the next 2 weeks. Denver-Miami has to be a ratings nightmare for the NBA.

[Sweed]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

Wondering how much Adam Silver gets in the refs ears the next 2 weeks. Denver-Miami has to be a ratings nightmare for the NBA.

Lakers are already getting to the line. Probably be time better spent if he told Lebron to stop shooting 3's.

[stevew]

Jimmy Butler has to rate pretty high on the all-time free agent signing pyramid. I think LeBron has the top 3 spots on that list. Shaq in LA. Don’t know if Durant counts really since they’d win a title. Ben Wallace in DET maybe.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I can't imagine GOP judges would be okay with a rule that says you can't be seen with a gun in your off hours.

I'm sure they wouldn't, but it also really seems to me like you're missing the point. This isn't about what's legal.

[stevew]

The refs need to get control of this game. They’re pretty bad.

[stevew]

Celts are going to fire this coach before game 4?

[JPhillips]

Originally Posted by Brian Swartz

I'm sure they wouldn't, but it also really seems to me like you're missing the point. This isn't about what's legal.

But it is given the current state of U.S. gun laws. I am absolutely sure SCOTUS would not let any business take away gun rights after working hours and not on company property.

I mean we live in a world where the TN GOP members send out Christmas cards with their families adorned with military-grade weaponry. I still think this is an opportunity for the NRA, but for some reason (wink wink) hey won't get involved.

[bronconick]

Eh, SCOTUS likes ruling in favor of corporations more than in favor of guns.

[Brian Swartz]

Originally Posted by Phillips

But it is given the current state of U.S. gun laws. I am absolutely sure SCOTUS would not let any business take away gun rights after working hours and not on company property.

Nothing SCOTUS has ruled that I'm aware of comes even remotely close to this claim. The current state of gun laws is irrelevant. At this point I don't understand what point you are trying to make. By definition a business can't take away gun rights, or grant them, or do anything else to them. All manner of people are fired, fined, and have many other things consequences from their employers as a result of their behavior. If people can be 'deplatformed' as a result of them spreading opinions we don't like - and they can be and are - and many other similar consequences, then I see no reason to see the Morant situation as anything other than that.

Originally Posted by JPhillips

I mean we live in a world where the TN GOP members send out Christmas cards with their families adorned with military-grade weaponry.

And ... ? Those politicians are only answerable to their constituents. They aren't answerable to a large corporation that can fine/suspend/etc. and which needs to protect it's image with the general public, advertisers, and so on. It's not a remotely comparable situation.

[albionmoonlight]

When the conference finals started, I thought to myself that there was no way in heck the NBA was going to miss out on a Lakers-Celtics finals featuring LeBron.

We are two games away from what may be the most shocking NBA conspiracy theory in my lifetime – that the games are actually fairly officiated and not controlled by the front office.

[Ksyrup]

The league can't raise LeBron's 8.3% 3 point shooting in the 4th quarter by itself.

[stevew]

Exceptional defense by Murray there at the end.