2024-25 NBA Thread

[MUfan12]

Turns out 5'9" guards who don't even pretend to be interested in defense don't really help you win titles.  And 35 footers are fun to see go in, but when you shoot them regularly they're not really efficient shots.

It's not just that. He's actually been better than I expected this season on defense. For the whole thing to work at its best, Giannis needed to be a much better screener/roll man than he has been. Since that hasn't been effective, it's a lot of "my turn, your turn" and the offense grinds.

[Uncle Rico]

It's not just that. He's actually been better than I expected this season on defense. For the whole thing to work at its best, Giannis needed to be a much better screener/roll man than he has been. Since that hasn't been effective, it's a lot of "my turn, your turn" and the offense grinds.

Sounds like some rec leaguers I know except the my turn, your turn part

[JWags85]

Turns out 5'9" guards who don't even pretend to be interested in defense don't really help you win titles.  And 35 footers are fun to see go in, but when you shoot them regularly they're not really efficient shots.

Why are you quoting a post about Dame and commenting about Trae Young?

[StillAWarrior]

Game is Wednesday (ESPN, 7 ET). Your Cavs are damn good, too!

Well, that was fun. Cavs take round one by seven. Great game. Seven Cavs in double figures. Both big men with double-doubles. Mitchell has one of his worst games of the season, but Cavs win anyway.

Let Em Know.

[MU82]

Muggsy's idol - Muggsy Bogues - turned 60 today.

[wadesworld]

Brunson with 7 free throws 8 minutes into the game. He's peak Harden.

[tower912]

Dammit, Thibs.

[Uncle Rico]

Bradley power sawing Indiana State.

Wardle's boys know how to play defense and play anti-rectal ball

[tower912]

Bradley power sawing Indiana State.

Wardle's boys know how to play defense and play anti-rectal ball

Getting soft.

[cheebs09]

Bradley power sawing Indiana State.

Wardle's boys know how to play defense and play anti-rectal ball

Wardle to the Bulls?

[Uncle Rico]

Getting soft.

Hmmmm, thought this was in the NCAA Thread.  Hard to end up here

[StillAWarrior]

Well, that was fun. Cavs take round one by seven. Great game.

Well, that was less fun. Thunder dominate Cavs by 20 to take round two (and it wasn't nearly that close). Horrible game.

[MU82]

Well, that was less fun. Thunder dominate Cavs by 20 to take round two (and it wasn't nearly that close). Horrible game.

OKC was down two bigs, too, making their win all the more impressive against a Cleveland team with talented tall guys.

But I'm not sure mid-January NBA games tell us much of anything. (Nor did you suggest they do.)

[WhiteTrash]

If I'm not mistaken, we are a week out (or so) from the trade deadline in the NBA; who do the Bulls move? LaVine and Vucevic have been on the trade bock since the summer, but I'm not sure if any team wants them.

Ball is interesting option to move. They would be smart to get something for him before he gets injured again. 

[GB Warrior]

If I'm not mistaken, we are a week out (or so) from the trade deadline in the NBA; who do the Bulls move? LaVine and Vucevic have been on the trade bock since the summer, but I'm not sure if any team wants them.

Ball is interesting option to move. They would be smart to get something for him before he gets injured again. 

Lavine has played well enough where he's not a complete anchor in a trade. But the Bulls have not been able to pick a lane

[WhiteTrash]

Lavine has played well enough where he's not a complete anchor in a trade. But the Bulls have not been able to pick a lane

The Bulls have not accepted reality of the FMV of its players.  If they do end up as sellers, they have players who could move the needle for playoff teams. LaVine would be a terrific 3rd option for a good team.

The Bull's FO is a mess like the Bears. After signing Pat Williams for $90M a few months ago, apparently he is io the trading block also.

I think(?) JR will fire people if the Bulls lose their 1st round pick to SA if they end up outside the top 10 of the draft.

[wadesworld]

Hopefully Beal bails Horst out and does not waive his no trade clause in any deal to Milwaukee. No idea why the Bucks are so enamored with Beal, especially once they got Dame.

[cheebs09]

Hopefully Beal bails Horst out and does not waive his no trade clause in any deal to Milwaukee. No idea why the Bucks are so enamored with Beal, especially once they got Dame.

That contract would be awful. Only way it makes sense is getting a boatload of picks with it.

[wadesworld]

That contract would be awful. Only way it makes sense is getting a boatload of picks with it.

And then you'd DEFINITELY have to fire Horst, because him making all the picks you'd get...yuck.

But don't think we'd be getting anything.

[Jockey]

Hopefully Beal bails Horst out and does not waive his no trade clause in any deal to Milwaukee. No idea why the Bucks are so enamored with Beal, especially once they got Dame.

Regarding a Butler trade to Phoexix:
It doesn't add up — for now, at least — but the league-wide speculation about what might come next was in full effect because of the Suns' latest efforts. As several rival executives indicated, Milwaukee is a team worth monitoring as the Suns continue to look for third-team partners in a Butler deal. Per league sources, the Bucks' motives would be two-fold: Cut enough salary from their payroll to get under the second apron — the only way the Bucks can legally complete a trade while aggregating contracts — and also add a talented, highly paid player to play next to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, the NBA's top scoring duo. Whether that would be Beal, or perhaps a star like Chicago's Zach LaVine, in other potential scenarios remains to be seen.

[GB Warrior]

That contract would be awful. Only way it makes sense is getting a boatload of picks with it.

I could tolerate Lavine as the 3rd option but Beal would make for an absolutely atrocious backcourt defensively - one that has been playing relatively well of late. Horst has been enamored with Beal for sometime, but as others have said, doesn't make sense on a team with Dame on it.

I can talk myself into Beal being better than this version of Khris but it's not much. The Bucks have played well of late as he rounds himself into shape. I don't get blowing that up right now.

[MU82]

Last night, Jokic had 35 points, 22 rebounds and 17 assists - surpassing the totals I amassed in 4 years of Marquette intramural basketball.

I sent that to one of my MU teammates, who responded: "Yeah, and he surpassed it by 34 points, 21 rebounds and 16 assists."

[Hards Alumni]

Last night, Jokic had 35 points, 22 rebounds and 17 assists - surpassing the totals I amassed in 4 years of Marquette intramural basketball.

I sent that to one of my MU teammates, who responded: "Yeah, and he surpassed it by 34 points, 21 rebounds and 16 assists."

lol

[JWags85]

This was a couple days ago when the Bucks had a bit of travel issues, but just awesome stuff from Giannis

https://x.com/redapples/status/1882806420040814608?s=46

Amazing that despite being insanely successful, insanely wealthy, and having some deserved NBA diva characteristics pop up from here and there, that background from nothing still plays strong in who he is

[GB Warrior]

This was a couple days ago when the Bucks had a bit of travel issues, but just awesome stuff from Giannis

https://x.com/redapples/status/1882806420040814608?s=46

Amazing that despite being insanely successful, insanely wealthy, and having some deserved NBA diva characteristics pop up from here and there, that background from nothing still plays strong in who he is

I don't know what his future holds or if he finishes in Milwaukee, but what a joy he is.