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TDRock
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Joined: 27 May 2010
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Location: LA to the Bay
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 Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 6:25 pm Post subject: |
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OK that aces/liberty WNBA finals game was a lot of fun. Really good game.
#AloneInMyPrincipals lol
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Hanging from Rafters
Star Player
Joined: 31 Jul 2018
Posts: 4567
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| Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2023 8:41 pm Post subject: |
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Completely different expectations for this season than the 4 straight years of GSW/Cavs. It’s hard to predict how it will shape up.
West contenders:
Lakers
Nuggets
Suns
Warriors
Flippers
Kings
Grizz
Longshots:
Mavs
Pels
Wolves
OKC
Just think, one isn’t even gonna make play in and three won’t make the playoffs.
East is a little easier:
Bucks
Keltics
Philly? (pending)
Longshots:
Cavs
Heat (blackballed after Heatles? Lol, Dame pursuit and wiff on Jrue hurt)
Knicks
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Denny_Russo
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Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 2803
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| Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2023 1:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Hanging from Rafters wrote: | Completely different expectations for this season than the 4 straight years of GSW/Cavs. It’s hard to predict how it will shape up.
West contenders:
Lakers
Nuggets
Suns
Warriors
Flippers
Kings
Grizz
Longshots:
Mavs
Pels
Wolves
OKC
Just think, one isn’t even gonna make play in and three won’t make the playoffs.
East is a little easier:
Bucks
Keltics
Philly? (pending)
Longshots:
Cavs
Heat (blackballed after Heatles? Lol, Dame pursuit and wiff on Jrue hurt)
Knicks |
My early, but not so definitive thoughts on the west-
1) Even though Jokic is god-tier right now, I think Nuggets will have championship fatigue. It will be tough for them to finish the season healthy. Besides, odds are not in their favor to repeat, given how there's been a new champion every year since 2018.
2) Grizzles have always been pretenders to me, although Marcus Smart adds an element of toughness to the team. Ja will be out for the first 2 months, but it doesn't matter since they still win without him. They'll fumble in the playoffs as usual, and I predict Ja will be the subject of most trade rumors.
3) Warriors need their youth to step it up. Dray, Klay and Steph won't have it every night. They need Kuminga to take it to the next level for them to have championship-level success. Not sure if he can reach that level of consistency.
4) Suns will score 130 but give up 120. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
5) Kings are scary to me. I think they have a nice formula with Fox and Sabonis. Their offense will be efficient but they have to be a top 10, if not top 5 defensive team to have playoff success.
6) Wolves are like the Grizz to me. I'm not sold on them. Edwards is good but he's an isolation player. Doesn't bode well for playoff success.
7) Clippers are a joke. I don't need to write anything about them.
West is wide open IMO. I don't think the Suns have the defense. Lakers will beat most teams except maybe nuggets in a 7 game series. Depth and health are the keys to playoff success.
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Hanging from Rafters
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Joined: 31 Jul 2018
Posts: 4567
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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One of the biggest challenges to a successful run at #18 for the Lakers this year may have been on full display for the last preseason game, that’s Ham.
It’s wasn’t entirely his fault with Vin/Fin out as PG options with all the other players capable of running the team being starters in Dlo/AR/LBJ resting. But Cam? Lol!
Sure it’s just preseason but other Players potentially not put in the best situation to succeed…seemingly out of position…could be a prob for the season:
Vin at SG - sure there are a few sub 6’4” SGs in the league but should be avoided if possible.
Prince at SG - maybe he can play it but should he? Known for SF/PF duties.
AR at SF - oh with Ham it likely will be tried for a 3 guard line up, perhaps it works in some situations but overuse or employed ineffectively at the wrong times could be a prob.
Van at PF - height allows it but much more effective guarding wings.
Rui at SF - agility seems more suited for PF work, can he move his feet well enough to guard wings? Hasn’t looked so in the past, has slimmed so maybe.
Wood at PF - dude is a C if that.
LBJ at C - actually worked ok for stretches last year but most effective elsewhere.
AD never at PF - despite his preference the team insists on constructing a roster that has him exclusively at C.
Come on Ham, we’re counting on you man!!! Positionless basketball I get it, but we need you to put players in a position that results in advantages for the Lakers that have positive results!!!
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“When it looks as if it is a realistic possibility, I want to focus on winning a ship like it’s a goal that can’t be denied. I didn’t see that this off season.” |
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mhan00
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Joined: 13 Apr 2001
Posts: 32076
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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| We have a very tough schedule to start the season. If we are at 0.500 after the first ten games, I’d be happy. If we are better than that, I’ll be ecstatic. Hopefully the nagging injuries Vando and Gabe have been suffering from clear up and we have a healthy lineup against the Nuggets and Suns. |
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miggz23
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Joined: 29 Nov 2018
Posts: 7028
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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| mhan00 wrote: | | We have a very tough schedule to start the season. If we are at 0.500 after the first ten games, I’d be happy. If we are better than that, I’ll be ecstatic. Hopefully the nagging injuries Vando and Gabe have been suffering from clear up and we have a healthy lineup against the Nuggets and Suns. |
I can totally see this team losing to the top contenders early in the season like they did to start 2020. Might take them more than 10 games to really gel together. I usually give teams 20-25 games, before you can tell if the team will be a contender or not. |
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slavavov
Star Player
Joined: 03 Oct 2003
Posts: 8451
Location: Santa Monica
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| Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2023 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| miggz23 wrote: | | mhan00 wrote: | | We have a very tough schedule to start the season. If we are at 0.500 after the first ten games, I’d be happy. If we are better than that, I’ll be ecstatic. Hopefully the nagging injuries Vando and Gabe have been suffering from clear up and we have a healthy lineup against the Nuggets and Suns. |
I can totally see this team losing to the top contenders early in the season like they did to start 2020. Might take them more than 10 games to really gel together. I usually give teams 20-25 games, before you can tell if the team will be a contender or not. |
Starting .500 won't cut it for this team. The Lakers have to think about getting home-court advantage and make that a goal. I'd be happy if they're 7-3 after their first 10 games, especially since that would mean at least one or two wins against the good and great teams we'll play in those games.
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Halflife
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Denny_Russo
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Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 2803
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 9:40 am Post subject: |
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| Halflife wrote: | | Bummer wemby is on the SAS. |
If the Spurs don't run the offense through him, they will officially be the dumbest team in the league and/or tanking. It's one thing to take open transition 3s, but Wemby gives them a solid offensive foundation to work with. Either have him run point or give him the ball in the low post. Draw the double and then kick out to the open man. Easiest basketball ever, even though the three ball mafia will say it's "inefficient".
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Starting anew. I'm retiring my main. |
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kikanga
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Joined: 15 Sep 2012
Posts: 29584
Location: La La Land
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:03 am Post subject: |
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| Denny_Russo wrote: | | Halflife wrote: | | Bummer wemby is on the SAS. |
If the Spurs don't run the offense through him, they will officially be the dumbest team in the league and/or tanking. It's one thing to take open transition 3s, but Wemby gives them a solid offensive foundation to work with. Either have him run point or give him the ball in the low post. Draw the double and then kick out to the open man. Easiest basketball ever, even though the three ball mafia will say it's "inefficient". |
It's looking like the only thing that could stop him from having a dominating career is health.
I've seen alot of hyped up longbois. Porzingis, Bol Bol, Chris Boucher. But Wemby looks like the real deal. He's longer than the rest. His defensive IQ is higher than the rest. And his offensive skillset is the closest to KD I've seen.
If I could put $ on him getting ROY. I would.
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LakerSD
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Joined: 10 Nov 2016
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TDRock
Retired Number
Joined: 27 May 2010
Posts: 49631
Location: LA to the Bay
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:48 am Post subject: |
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| LakerSD wrote: | https://x.com/adryanashton/status/1715534318993318328?s=46&t=LZLzjVPmosqPbICOlCZLnQ
Manufactured superstars will never win, but go ahead and keep relying on all those flops and free throws for regular season stats.
Embiid seemed to have learned a lot from Harden lol. |
I tried to watch part of that game and it was just utterly unwatchable.
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drae
Franchise Player
Joined: 13 Nov 2018
Posts: 16145
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 10:54 am Post subject: |
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| Denny_Russo wrote: | | Halflife wrote: | | Bummer wemby is on the SAS. |
If the Spurs don't run the offense through him, they will officially be the dumbest team in the league and/or tanking. It's one thing to take open transition 3s, but Wemby gives them a solid offensive foundation to work with. Either have him run point or give him the ball in the low post. Draw the double and then kick out to the open man. Easiest basketball ever, even though the three ball mafia will say it's "inefficient". |
Wemby and Vassel are working really well together. Don't sleep on Vassel, he'll probably be the Spurs top scorer for at least the first half of the season. I think he was putting up at least 20 points in the pre season and he seems real dangerous from 3 |
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Denny_Russo
Star Player
Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 2803
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 11:34 am Post subject: |
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| LakerSD wrote: | https://x.com/adryanashton/status/1715534318993318328?s=46&t=LZLzjVPmosqPbICOlCZLnQ
Manufactured superstars will never win, but go ahead and keep relying on all those flops and free throws for regular season stats.
Embiid seemed to have learned a lot from Harden lol. |
We rag on Embiid and rightfully so, but Shai takes it to another level. He's the foul merchants of all foul merchants. There's a reason his cousin shut him down in the play-in game. When the refs don't call it like they do in the regular season, the frauds get exposed in the playoffs. But here's the thing: I blame neither of these players. I blame the new rules that overwhelmingly favor offensive players. I blame officials for not allowing defenders to breathe on opponents.
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manlisten
Star Player
Joined: 09 Jul 2004
Posts: 3211
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| Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2023 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| kikanga wrote: |
If I could put $ on him getting ROY. I would. |
This is something you can actually bet on
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pio2u
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LakersRGolden
Star Player
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 7946
Location: Lake Forest
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| Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2023 11:19 am Post subject: |
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Chris Paul is too old to run the GSW motion offense for much more than preseason type minutes, but is fitting the scheme well right now. |
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Megaton
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ocho
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 7:07 am Post subject: |
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And so it begins. Those new player rest rules are off to a great start.
| Quote: | | Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal is unlikely to play tonight in season opener vs. the Golden State Warriors, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns are taking a cautious approach with Beal’s back ailment to begin the new season. |
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Last edited by ocho on Tue Oct 24, 2023 7:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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defense
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Posts: 39683
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 7:11 am Post subject: |
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| Megaton wrote: | Can you imagine if Shaq was a flopper?
Not a single human being would believe his flopping attempts. |
It has worked for Letank a few times so you never know |
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Denny_Russo
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Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 2803
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 8:32 am Post subject: |
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| ocho wrote: | And so it begins. Those new player rest rules are off to a great start.
| Quote: | | Phoenix Suns star Bradley Beal is unlikely to play tonight in season opener vs. the Golden State Warriors, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Suns are taking a cautious approach with Beal’s back ailment to begin the new season. |
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I wonder how they will enforce it. League is soft as hell today.
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Yi Jianlian Fanboy. Respect The Chair.
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Basketball Fan
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Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24796
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 2:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: | NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
Charles Barkley is picking the Boston Celtics to win the NBA title
(🎥
@BenGolliver
) |
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Basketball Fan
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Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 24796
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="Megaton"]Can you imagine if Shaq was a flopper?
Not a single human being would believe his flopping attempts. [/quote
He would cause an earthquake |
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Denny_Russo
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Joined: 27 Jan 2016
Posts: 2803
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:02 pm Post subject: |
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I honestly think Jokic has the MVP locked up if he's healthy. How do you stop such a talent.
Would be his 4th in a row if they got it right.
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Yi Jianlian Fanboy. Respect The Chair.
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pio2u
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Joined: 26 Dec 2012
Posts: 54693
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| Posted: Tue Oct 24, 2023 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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| Basketball Fan wrote: | | Quote: | NBACentral
@TheDunkCentral
Charles Barkley is picking the Boston Celtics to win the NBA title
(🎥
@BenGolliver
) |
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BUCK FOSTON |
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