2024-25 NBA Season

[jncuse]

Every superstar brings a certain flair, uniqueness to their game that makes them very enjoyable to watch - and missed when they are away. Jokic, Doncic, SGA, Lebron, Curry, Kawhi, Wemby (even if he is not there yet)

Well all of them except one. Joel Embiid.
Did anybody miss him when he was away?

 

[cliftonparksufan]

This is exactly what Lakers fans deserve. How can their leadership be serious about about developing talent through the draft.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5920257/2024/11/13/bronny-james-g-league-lakers-home-games/

 

[jncuse]

So is it way too early to start saying the Cavs are legit title contenders? Not the top contender by any means.

About to go 14-0 on the season. I'm not sure if any team in the league has a better "4th" player than the Cavs .. whether its Garland, Allen or Mobley. Certainly teams have better 1-2 combo's, but it's a deep starting unit.

With big questions around the Bucks and Sixers, I think the #2 spot is between them the Knicks in the East.

 

[Knicks411]

So is it way too early to start saying the Cavs are legit title contenders? Not the top contender by any means.

About to go 14-0 on the season. I'm not sure if any team in the league has a better "4th" player than the Cavs .. whether its Garland, Allen or Mobley. Certainly teams have better 1-2 combo's, but it's a deep starting unit.

With big questions around the Bucks and Sixers, I think the #2 spot is between them the Knicks in the East.

No I don’t think so, they seem pretty legit.
I do think they probably need some kind of a trade for a wing. It’s a bit of a weird team; two small guards (who are awesome) and two bigs (who are both good) but but no real legit wings. But they are 14-0 so you kniw

 

[Newhouser]

No I don’t think so, they seem pretty legit.
I do think they probably need some kind of a trade for a wing. It’s a bit of a weird team; two small guards (who are awesome) and two bigs (who are both good) but but no real legit wings. But they are 14-0 so you kniw

Their bigs are going to be under enormous pressure to produce in the post-season.

 

[jncuse]

RJ Barrett is back to being RJ Barrett, after a fairly long stretch of shooting far above what he had ever done last year. When he shot 62% (TS) over 30 games, gave some thought as to whether there was some sort of change.

TS% with Knicks per year - 48%, 54%, 51%, 53%, 54%
Raptors last year (32 games) - 62%
Raptors this year - 50%

 

[kirbivore]

RJ Barrett is back to being RJ Barrett, after a fairly long stretch of shooting far above what he had ever done last year. When he shot 62% (TS) over 30 games, gave some thought as to whether there was some sort of change.

TS% with Knicks per year - 48%, 54%, 51%, 53%, 54%
Raptors last year (32 games) - 62%
Raptors this year - 50%

That big 3 for 2019 Duke has been a dud in the NBA.

 

[Knicks411]

RJ Barrett is back to being RJ Barrett, after a fairly long stretch of shooting far above what he had ever done last year. When he shot 62% (TS) over 30 games, gave some thought as to whether there was some sort of change.

TS% with Knicks per year - 48%, 54%, 51%, 53%, 54%
Raptors last year (32 games) - 62%
Raptors this year - 50%

Nice game for him last night though. The one thing I will say in his favor is his playmaking has really taken a step up.

 

[Red Holzman]

The "New Knicks" showed signs of being ready to start collecting some W's tonight.
Yes, the lowly Nets were the opponent. Regardless, good team basketball and exciting plays made this game much more fun to watch than most so far.
5 starters in double figures again, and 4 of them 20+ points. And improved D tonight also.
The "KAT is soft" thing isn't playing well -been a beast IMO.

 

[Newhouser]

The "New Knicks" showed signs of being ready to start collecting some W's tonight.
Yes, the lowly Nets were the opponent. Regardless, good team basketball and exciting plays made this game much more fun to watch than most so far.
5 starters in double figures again, and 4 of them 20+ points. And improved D tonight also.
The "KAT is soft" thing isn't playing well -been a beast IMO.

KAT has been great. The other guys need to match him.

 

[Day2]

 

[STEVEHOLT]

He’s not in the same stratosphere of an outside shooter.

 

[STEVEHOLT]

Rockets might actually be good. 10-4 and just beat a team by 37 pts on the road. Yeah it was just the Bulls but when you start beating teams not named the Wizards by almost 40 points on the road I take notice.

Eason and Thompson are athletic freak menaces on defense and transition. Sengun is solid. Green is mercurial in both good and bad ways. Brooks and van fleet are solid vets.

Season might come down to how much Shepherd develops this year. He’s been tentative in looking for his own shot until last night . He’s a passable on ball defender right now though With quick hands

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Only thing that separates them are championships.

 

[Newhouser]

Rockets might actually be good. 10-4 and just beat a team by 37 pts on the road. Yeah it was just the Bulls but when you start beating teams not named the Wizards by almost 40 points on the road I take notice.

Eason and Thompson are athletic freak menaces on defense and transition. Sengun is solid. Green is mercurial in both good and bad ways. Brooks and van fleet are solid vets.

Season might come down to how much Shepherd develops this year. He’s been tentative in looking for his own shot until last night . He’s a passable on ball defender right now though With quick hands

They also may have the best coach in the league.

 

[jncuse]

Rockets might actually be good. 10-4 and just beat a team by 37 pts on the road. Yeah it was just the Bulls but when you start beating teams not named the Wizards by almost 40 points on the road I take notice.

Eason and Thompson are athletic freak menaces on defense and transition. Sengun is solid. Green is mercurial in both good and bad ways. Brooks and van fleet are solid vets.

Season might come down to how much Shepherd develops this year. He’s been tentative in looking for his own shot until last night . He’s a passable on ball defender right now though With quick hands

The interesting thing with the Rockets to me, is what are they going to do with Fred Van Vleet before the deadline, if anything.

I can't see them wanting to exercise the club option on his $40m next year -- I don't think it was ever their intent either. It was a well structured contract -- intentional overpay for 2 years, to help in the Rockets youth transition and while they had cap space. They have the full ability to walk away clean in year 3. Its a useful trade chip in year 2 because of the club option.

His most "useful" trade value is probably as big salary filler before this deadline to acquire a star. He is a big expiring (in that his 3rd year can be fully declined), and the Rockets have lots of picks and cheap goodies to add on to him for an elite player.

Of course if nothing is there, nothing is there. Don't want to trade him for a better player on a so/so contract when the Rockets are starting to have their younger players.

 

[OttoinGrotto]

Only thing that separates them are championships.

Mmm, is that really the only thing?

 

[STEVEHOLT]

The interesting thing with the Rockets to me, is what are they going to do with Fred Van Vleet before the deadline, if anything.

I can't see them wanting to exercise the club option on his $40m next year -- I don't think it was ever their intent either. It was a well structured contract -- intentional overpay for 2 years, to help in the Rockets youth transition and while they had cap space. They have the full ability to walk away clean in year 3. Its a useful trade chip in year 2 because of the club option.

His most "useful" trade value is probably as big salary filler before this deadline to acquire a star. He is a big expiring (in that his 3rd year can be fully declined), and the Rockets have lots of picks and cheap goodies to add on to him for an elite player.

Of course if nothing is there, nothing is there. Don't want to trade him for a better player on a so/so contract when the Rockets are starting to have their younger players.

It’s really tricky considering he’s their only true pg. Thompson was drafted in the hopes he might become one but he’s honestly more valuable as an agent of chaos than he is in a more structured role.

Teams with playoff aspirations generally don’t trade for the future although they aren’t a legit championship contender so they still might consider such a move.

 

[jncuse]

It’s really tricky considering he’s their only true pg. Thompson was drafted in the hopes he might become one but he’s honestly more valuable as an agent of chaos than he is in a more structured role.

Teams with playoff aspirations generally don’t trade for the future although they aren’t a legit championship contender so they still might consider such a move.

It would be an upgrade trade though not a futures trade. You are trading FVV (salary filler) + futures (picks, consolidating young players) for a player far better than FVV. Not saying they should trade FVV for futures - if you can't find an upgrade trade, then just keep FVV.

Of course there might not be a trade fit at a deadline You don't assume a long term 40m+ player if it's not a great fit. Looking for something that makes sense - nothing jumps to mind immediately. (not going the Giannis route quite yet, but Rockets are probably as suited as any to put in a competitive offer)

 

[STEVEHOLT]

It would be an upgrade trade though not a futures trade. You are trading FVV (salary filler) + futures (picks, consolidating young players) for a player far better than FVV. Not saying they should trade FVV for futures - if you can't find an upgrade trade, then just keep FVV.

Of course there might not be a trade fit at a deadline You don't assume a long term 40m+ player if it's not a great fit. Looking for something that makes sense - nothing jumps to mind immediately. (not going the Giannis route quite yet, but Rockets are probably as suited as any to put in a competitive offer)

Speaking of Giannis, seconds before the game winning score. Why is the NBA so bad with how they unevenly officiate games ?

 

[Knicks411]

Speaking of Giannis, seconds before the game winning score. Why is the NBA so bad with how they unevenly officiate games ?

Damn I was watching the game and I thought he stepped out but I forgot to go back and check

 

[jncuse]

West-East Head to Head Matchups: 37-18 for the Western Conference.

Not last year, but in the few years prior to that the gap had closed between conferences... West was still better, but it was certainly closer.

This year is as worse as ever. East needs the Sixers and Bucks to turn around.

 

[HyattsCuse]

West-East Head to Head Matchups: 37-18 for the Western Conference.

Not last year, but in the few years prior to that the gap had closed between conferences... West was still better, but it was certainly closer.

This year is as worse as ever. East needs the Sixers and Bucks to turn around.

4 teams in the East at .500 or better versus 11 teams in the West right now.

It’s crazy to me how many years it’s been that the West has been so much better than the East overall.

 

[jncuse]

Nobody likes Embiid.

Hypothetical... Philly deems the season is over at some point and wants to move on. What would somebody realistically offer for Embiid at this point. He has $263/4 left on his contract after this year.

(EDIT - Embiid can't be traded until March 19, after the deadline)

Injury issues, personality issues, playoff issues. I'm not even sure if I offer expirings and a couple protected firsts.

 

[Eric15]

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Malice in the Palace. That Pacer team was probably the best team in the league that year. But losing Artest just derailed their title hopes.