2023-2024 NBA Thread

[xskarma]

Celtics won. Needed a 50 burger from Tatum, season best nights from Smart and Tristan Thompson and a career game from Langford off the bench, but they got a game back.

And as someone on twitter noted, even with 2 former MVPs on the Nets going bonkers, the best player on the floor was Jayson Tatum.

If the Celtics make significant changes in the offseason, I like Tatum chances for MVP next season. He's had some impressive games lately and if he can translate that to a full, not weird covid season, he can definitely be in that conversation.

That requires the Celtics to be better next season then they were this season though. 7th place in the East doesn't get you any MVP votes these days.

[ProphetFlume]

Whoever wins the east will have rested a lot more than the west winner.

[xmirrors]

Yeesh, hack-a-Ben is a thing now. It's time to stop making excuses for him. He needs to develop a jump shot, and learn to make free throws, or he will always be a liability down the stretch.

[downnola]

Yeesh, hack-a-Ben is a thing now. It's time to stop making excuses for him. He needs to develop a jump shot, and learn to make free throws, or he will always be a liability down the stretch.

He certainly needs to make his free throws but his lack of a jump shot isn't really an issue. People make a bigger deal out of it then it really is. Would he be better if he had one? Hell yeah, he'd be the next LeBron James, but I don't think he's a liability without it.

It's kinda sad how much of a scapegoat he is. Tobias Harris played like absolute shit and he's getting a free pass because Ben is the easy target.

At least Tyrese Maxey is getting playoff minutes. That young fella impresses me every time he plays. He reminds me a little of Iverson in that they'd both put their bodies through a wood chipper just to make a play.

[Logwyn]

Whoever wins the east will have rested a lot more than the west winner.

As long as LeBron is not in the final its will be a win! Is that a bad thing to say?

[StillMcfuu]

Dame goes for 55 in a 2 OT loss. He's deserved the W, but no one else on the team wanted it.

Jokic has 38, to add to his already ridiculous 34, 38, and 36 in the series already.

Suns with a pyrrhic victory as Paul went down again. I don't want to say James is gassed, but he seems emotionally tired. I think Suns should try to win the next with Paul sitting out.
Unfortunately this year's Lakers are incredibly flawed vs last year. I also think Schroder has hurt his value, probably kicking himself for not signing that extension.

Nets vs Bucks next round... with the way both teams are playing, this might be the finals right here; or like the western conference they may eat each other and there won't be anything left after the series.

[downnola]

The funny part about the Sixers is that it took Daryl Morey about 5 minutes to fix that roster. Trade Horford for Danny Green and Seth Curry, boom, Simmons isn't as big of a problem anymore. It was blindingly obvious that Al Horford didn't fit on that team, and mystifying why they signed him.

I was convinced that the Sixers were going to end up trading Embiid (per his request) after the Celtics swept them in the first round last year. The Horford contract was awful and I didn't see any team taking that on willingly. Morey was a godsend and clearly wants to win a championship now. He'll be a Philadelphia legend if he can pull it off and I think he can. This year? Maybe not, the Nets are pretty damn good. But he certainly can make it happen in the next 2-3 years.

[xskarma]

So, wasn't able to react earlier due to hearthstone stuff, but...

Celtics GM Danny Ainge retired and got replaced by Head Coach Brad Stevens?!

It was a shock at first, cause Brad was a great head coach and why would he go into front office if he's such a good coach?

But, when you then think about Brad Stevens the person, and his "growth mindset" and how he always looks at the bigger picture over any current here and now hiccups, then you start to think that maybe this is actually a move that works out great for both sides.

Brad can now concentrate more on leading the organization, setting the tone, chasing that growth mindset and being a people person. And a new head coach can come in and handle the day to day stuff and really inspire the team and be more of a right-here-and-now coach, that can leave the big picture to Brad while still getting all the support from a guy who knows exactly how hard it is to caoch in this league.

So, all in all, I'm okay with this move, but MUCH depends on who we hire as HC. That's Brad's first big move and will make everything coming after it make sense.

If anything, I bet they get a LOT of input from Tatum and Brown on the coach hire too.


One small thing that one of the people close to the team mentioned: Danny Ainge loved young guys and development. Brad, as a coach, loved experienced guys. That might mean that some of the MANY young guys we have on the roster are on the move.

Brad's to do list is probably siomething like:

1) Find a great HC that fits with what he wants to do and gets support from Tatum and Brown
2) Move Kemba
3) Secure a Point Guard to replace Kemba, OR sign Marcus Smart to an extension and get someone to back him up
4) Concentrate on 2 or 3 young players among the ones you have, that you feel have the best chance to help this team in the long run, and move the rest.

For point 4, guys like Tacko Fall, it's nice, they are popular, but they are a big fat zero in any competitive game right now. Move on from them and get some 5-6 year vets that know how to play their role and are reliable and are happy to be on the end of the bench and get the occasional call up when there's injuries or available play time while costing basically the same as Tacko in effect.

It will be interesting what moves Brad makes and how the rest of the front offices will treat him. It's important that he gets things done, and doesn't get stalled out.

[ProphetFlume]

So, wasn't able to react earlier due to hearthstone stuff

OT but what kind of hs stuff? I quit wow forever ago but still play hs regularly.

[StillMcfuu]

Brad Stevens

I've heard people say the big driving factor is Brad Stevens is big on family and the last 3 seasons have been really trying for him, Kyrie's last season, the covid season and then the lock in to end the season, and then losing Christmas and a long season. Hes burnt out and the Celtics don't want to lose him. Also being mentioned is he could be taking a few years off in the manager box, he can come back down to coach again.

[StillMcfuu]

Memphis had been scrappy, but UTA decided it was time to show why they are number 1 and they are a few points from triple digits and its still the 3rd quarter.

[xmirrors]

There was no coming back from that game but the Grizzlies really showed some ferocity. Started to cut that lead down real fast in the end there. They'll be fun to watch in the coming years if they keep up that kind of mentality.

[StillMcfuu]

There was no coming back from that game but the Grizzlies really showed some ferocity. Started to cut that lead down real fast in the end there. They'll be fun to watch in the coming years if they keep up that kind of mentality.

I had some doubts about Morant, but the guy is bonafide. He kept the pace and scoring up even against a tough defensive team, he never got down and always fought. Brooks is a beast as well. It would have been a crime if GSW managed to get into the playoffs (even though without the play-in they earned it) because we would have missed out on a fun Grizzles team who fought hard.

I was unfortunately driving home from work for the Dallas game, but God damn 42pts from Luka.
DJMeech said it best "You avoided the Lakers only to lose to Luka."

Want to create a superteam... Trade KP and some bench for Dame.

[ProphetFlume]

You think this season was the last straw for dame in Portland? He’s always been adamant about sticking with one team instead of going to make a super.

[xskarma]

OT but what kind of hs stuff? I quit wow forever ago but still play hs regularly.

I run content on HearthPwn, the MMO-C sister site.

I've heard people say the big driving factor is Brad Stevens is big on family and the last 3 seasons have been really trying for him, Kyrie's last season, the covid season and then the lock in to end the season, and then losing Christmas and a long season. Hes burnt out and the Celtics don't want to lose him. Also being mentioned is he could be taking a few years off in the manager box, he can come back down to coach again.

Yeah I'm not really buying him being burnt out in general. Maybe on burnt out on coaching. He's had some rough circumstances in that regard, where it;s been expected of him to make a roster full of young guys not only better but to take them deep into the post season. Maybe it just got to the point where he felt that coaching wasn;t as fun as it used to be.

Still, he's never seemed or sounded anything close to burnt out.

There was no coming back from that game but the Grizzlies really showed some ferocity. Started to cut that lead down real fast in the end there. They'll be fun to watch in the coming years if they keep up that kind of mentality.

Morant also seems like the kind of guy that wants to make it work in Memphis and will stay for the long haul. He's been fun. He never did manage to dunk on Gobert, but he still kept trying. xD

[StillMcfuu]

You think this season was the last straw for dame in Portland? He’s always been adamant about sticking with one team instead of going to make a super.

I dont think it's the last straw for Dame, but I think he needs the trade for his own good.
Dame seems like the kind of guy who is too professional to really open up about his organization and feelings. But I bet if the Trailblazers put some trade packages together and went to him with them and said "we think these would be best for you", he'd be open to them. The guy has been the heart and soul of that team for years, I think they should throw him a bone.

[xmirrors]

Morant also seems like the kind of guy that wants to make it work in Memphis and will stay for the long haul. He's been fun. He never did manage to dunk on Gobert, but he still kept trying. xD

He's definitely got some fire in him. I'm sure he'll get his poster eventually...


Regarding Dame the last time I remember him being asked about being traded he was pretty humble about it. Saying he'd prefer to stay in one place or be part of a small market. I don't know if he'd want to go somewhere too flashy.

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What even is this Lakers game? I was about to head to bed since it's basically over but now it's just getting weird. Bizarre flagrant/tech fouls

[StillMcfuu]

Got to keep the Lakers in it at home, pretty sure book is going to have more to say about it though.

First round exit is basically the GM fault for Lakers this year. Last year they had a great roster (probably a happy accident) but this year they tried to replace vets with a lot left in the tank and a lot to prove with... over the hill vets and guys who are a few inches north of not being in the nba. Last years team wouldn't have been hurt as much by AD going down. Not that I think it mattered Ayton was having his way with him anyway.

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Dame has made some noise, some people are seeing it as putting the team on notice. I kind of wonder what else the Blazers can do for him.

On paper they don't have an awful roster. McCollum is a chronic underperformer, especially in the playoffs it seems. Nurkic has been hurt the past couple of playoffs and this series he played relatively well (he's going against Jokic, he isn't going to stop him at all, no one can). They would do well to refocus or just drop Kanter and maybe get another big man so they can field a big line up.

I mean look down their roster, the team is underperforming or they are mismanaged, their roster doesn't look too bad.

[ProphetFlume]

Final score in bucks-nets is pretty misleading. I joined in the last 4 min I think when it was 96-115, and the rest was lots of penalties on the nets and much time killing. Bucks scored the last 11 and still lost by 8. I wonder how psyched NY is to get a championship. Never even realized they had both teams in the top 4.

[StillMcfuu]

Unfortunately mavs dropped to clips. Doncic putting up 46, ... fite me he is the best player in the league right now. What he does night in and night out is only matched by other players when they have their best games, its too bad outside of Hardaway Jr everyone else is borderline g-league.

Regardless either of them would have lost to UTA in round 2 anyway.