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Friday, October 15, 2021

NBA 2021-2022 Season Thread

I estimate there are maybe 10-12 Primates left on this site, and none of us want to post this thread.

Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 15, 2021 at 11:39 AM | 4178 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: get me out of philly, nba, off top

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3901. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 06, 2022 at 12:53 PM (#6070548)

i think this is one of my 10 favorite posts from the last 5 years:

2093. we all water; we all 57i66135 Posted: June 28, 2018 at 07:37 PM (#5701883)

"San Antonio Spurs star Kawhi Leonard has reached out to LeBron James, informing the 33-year-old superstar that he wants to play alongside him, a source told Yahoo Sports."
am i reading this wrong, or does that leak really imply that kawhi would be amenable to linking up with lebron in philly?

3902. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 06, 2022 at 02:33 PM (#6070572)

so, this happened:

I can’t in good conscience recommend listening to Snyder’s entire spiel, but it really is one of the funniest things to come out of this entire NBA season.

Here, for example, is part of what Snyder had to say about his team’s poor performances in the fourth quarter:
Regarding squandered fourth-quarter leads, I think we can all agree that a 10-point lead in the first quarter is different than a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. Um, so out of 10 games, right, and you guys correct me if I’m wrong, seven times we’ve lost—I’m sorry, 10 times we’ve lost the lead, right? Double-digit leads. Help me out Derek [someone, presumably Derek, says something away from the mic]. Seven times. Is that correct, in the fourth quarter? OK, you guys can look at this if you want, but we’re 3-4 in those games. That’s 43 percent, right? Is that correct? Boston is 2-3. They’ve just done it five times and we’ve done it seven. And they’re 2-3, so they’re at a 40-percent mark, so I guess what I’m trying to say is you could also look at this and say, we lost the lead, right, and we got it back. Three times out of seven, which maybe that means we’re a resilient team.
....
“The inference there is that [Mitchell] doesn’t pass to [Gobert], and there’s a problem between the two of them—those aren’t illogical jumps, come on. So, I haven’t seen that. I haven’t seen that at all. They sit at the same table when they eat sometimes.”

3903. Mike A Posted: April 06, 2022 at 02:48 PM (#6070575)

I wonder what happens when Gobert asks Mitchell to pass him the ketchup.

3904. asinwreck Posted: April 06, 2022 at 02:56 PM (#6070576)

Has anyone investigated whether their feud started with an argument over ketchup vs. mayo?

3905. If on a winter's night a father of a newborn baby Posted: April 06, 2022 at 03:10 PM (#6070578)

Has anyone investigated whether their feud started with an argument over ketchup vs. mayo?

This is a deceptively plausible theory. Nothing I have ever done gave me as much cred with my French in-laws as the first time I whipped up a batch of my-oh-nez from scratch (I'm not a wizard; I did it the easy way, with an immersion blender).

3906. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 06, 2022 at 03:33 PM (#6070583)

The inference there is that [Mitchell] doesn’t pass to [Gobert], and there’s a problem between the two of them—those aren’t illogical jumps, come on.

In addition to how silly the following quote is, isn't Snyder basically agreeing that there's a problem here unless he's being misquoted?

3907. smileyy Posted: April 06, 2022 at 03:43 PM (#6070586)

Hard to parse whether he meant that double-negative or not.

3908. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 06, 2022 at 04:14 PM (#6070594)

In addition to how silly the following quote is, isn't Snyder basically agreeing that there's a problem here unless he's being misquoted?

seems more like an error in transcription:

The inference there is that [Mitchell] doesn’t pass to [Gobert], and there’s a problem between the two of them—those aren’t illogical jumps? come on.

3909. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 06, 2022 at 04:24 PM (#6070602)

Hard to parse whether he meant that double-negative or not.

seems more like an error in transcription:

Yes, but it's funnier if we treat it as a Freudian slip.

3910. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 06, 2022 at 04:50 PM (#6070605)

Yes, but it's funnier if we treat it as a Freudian slip.

truth.

3911. Paul D(uda) Posted: April 06, 2022 at 07:33 PM (#6070618)

Looks like Matisse Thybulle can't play in Toronto. That would be an interesting playoff wrinkle

3912. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 06, 2022 at 08:03 PM (#6070622)

Amusing? note on seeding:

Bulls hold the tiebreaker over Toronto.

If Philly wins, 76ers get closer to 3rd seed and puts Toronto closer to 6th seed.

If Philly loses, 76ers get closer to 4th seed and Toronto closer to 5th seed.

3913. Cagerfan Posted: April 06, 2022 at 08:05 PM (#6070623)

Looks like Toronto is going to benefit enormously from the knucklehead factor in the playoffs.

3914. SteveF Posted: April 06, 2022 at 08:11 PM (#6070624)

My guess is tonight is the last night Boston plays their guys big minutes, provided they win. I think they'll punt the Milwaukee game and try and get the 4 seed to get into Miami's side of the bracket away from Milwaukee, Brooklyn and Philly.

3915. asinwreck Posted: April 06, 2022 at 08:20 PM (#6070626)

The Knicks just reeled off 19 straight points to take a 10-point lead over the Nets in the 2nd quarter.

3916. Cagerfan Posted: April 06, 2022 at 09:14 PM (#6070636)

I'm watching the Nets/Knicks game too. The Nets do NOT look like they can win a championship, and I think KD knows it.

3917. Cagerfan Posted: April 06, 2022 at 09:17 PM (#6070637)

This Sims, the center for the Knicks. I think they have something there.

3918. asinwreck Posted: April 06, 2022 at 09:42 PM (#6070638)

*Rewinds to February*...and the Knicks, up by double-digits at the half, have coughed up the lead vs. the Nets at MSG.

3919. spivey Posted: April 06, 2022 at 09:50 PM (#6070639)

I don't know if this is a controversial take, but I'd rather have Obi Toppin than RJ Barrett. Barrett reminds me of that The Office joke where David Brent said they sold paper at a loss, and the key was volume.

3920. SteveF Posted: April 06, 2022 at 09:58 PM (#6070640)

That is pretty controversial. I mean, it probably doesn't matter much as neither player is moving the needle, but Barrett is at least a competent 3 point shooter and can space the floor. I thought Toppin would be better than he has been, but I was just very, very wrong.

Maybe you see a way Toppin could be used better than he is being used in NY?

3921. Cagerfan Posted: April 06, 2022 at 10:02 PM (#6070641)

Toppin is a superior athlete but needs to develop refined skills if he is going to have a career.

3922. asinwreck Posted: April 06, 2022 at 10:04 PM (#6070642)

OK, definitely watching the Thibs postgame comments after this one.

3923. spivey Posted: April 06, 2022 at 10:11 PM (#6070643)

Barrett moves like a center with a back problem. Like, seriously, he looks less agile than a bunch of bigs in the league. His shot looks broken to me, and even as is he's shooting 35.9% on a 78 3PAr+. He's below average at 3 point shooting for his position. A very bad initiator and creator for others if he's going to be a primary or secondary ball handler. His assist percentage for a guy with a usage that high and efficiency that low is terrible. I don't see him as a good defender.

Toppin is limited, but I at least see a better path to helping teams. He's much more explosive. Way better +/-. At least when Toppin shoots, you could argue it's ok for your team. Literally any time Barrett shoots or starts an offensive action, your team is bleeding points.

3924. . . . . . . Posted: April 07, 2022 at 08:25 AM (#6070659)

<Japanese Groundskeeper> they’re both shitty!
<Other Japanese Groundskeeper> yes

3925. PJ Martinez Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:40 AM (#6070669)

If you believe that selling contact is a skill and an art, as I do, then Embiid may have legitimately moved past Harden as the best at it.

3926. If on a winter's night a father of a newborn baby Posted: April 07, 2022 at 01:25 PM (#6070702)

I don't know if anything outside of my personal life has improved my quality of life this year more than replacing Tristan Thompson's minutes with Al Horford.

3927. PJ Martinez Posted: April 07, 2022 at 02:14 PM (#6070711)

Tatum and Horford are sitting out tonight's game against Milwaukee.

3928. If on a winter's night a father of a newborn baby Posted: April 07, 2022 at 02:31 PM (#6070718)

I wondered if they would do something like that; Brooklyn regaining the 8th seed makes a fall to 3rd a rather safer position. Sensible, yes, but a lot less interesting: a motivated Bucks-Celtics matchup duking it out for home court in the second round would have been a potentially useful data point on how well the Horford/Theis/G. Williams frontcourt can stand up to top-tier athleticism without Timelord bringing (to use a Hinkie's term) violence at the rim, and of the Bucks' guard defense and Lopez's current mobility vs a ball-movement-heavy Celtics offense.

In other news, I am getting increasingly impatient for the playoffs to just start, already.

3929. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 07, 2022 at 02:43 PM (#6070720)

If you believe that selling contact is a skill and an art, as I do, then Embiid may have legitimately moved past Harden as the best at it.

except, the linked video isn't an example of embiid "selling contact"; it's an example of embiid being out of control and falling to the ground. that wasn't even the type of play the NBA tried to crack down on earlier this season; it's just simply a non-call that one ref happened to botch.

if that play happened at a random playground in south philly, embiid would still have fallen down in the exact same way, because that's just what he does (the reason he "falls down" so much has been reported on, at length, before, and it has nothing -- well, maybe not exactly nothing -- to do with gaming the refs).

the element of "control" is woefully underappreciated by the NBA's rulemakers and officials, and blown calls like that one highlight it.

3930. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 07, 2022 at 02:49 PM (#6070723)

the reason he "falls down" so much has been reported on, at length

i'll just quote the relevant part here:

To review all 28 of Embiid's collegiate games is to find that he fell to the floor a total of 38 times in 647 minutes, or about once every 17 minutes of playing time. That means NBA Embiid falls nearly twice as frequently as NCAA Embiid.

Why is that, given all the additional muscle he has put on, all the extraordinary value he carries as a franchise player and all the injury concerns that surround him?

We did what any reasonable person would do -- indeed, what any reasonable person could have done from the very start -- and asked The Fall Guy himself: Why do you play like a gigantic, wobbly toddler?

At the team's practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, just seconds before he vanishes from sight to take a post-workout shower, Embiid smiles when asked about his frequent falls. "It was something I learned during my rehab when I was going through the foot injury, when I was trying to find ways to limit the impact on my body in 2014," he says. "I was told that every time I feel like I'm in a situation where it's going to be some type of extreme [weight] on my leg, I've got to dive or just roll onto the floor. So that's why I do it."
...
"I know there are fans that are always thinking, 'No!' each time I fall, but that's why I do it," Embiid says with a brief grin before heading for the showers. "The specialists for my foot told me to do it."

3931. Dandy Little Glove Man Posted: April 07, 2022 at 03:07 PM (#6070725)

Crazy that with 4 calendar days left in the season, all 10 spots in the East are still undecided. According to the Playoff Probabilities Report, the Bucks could still finish anywhere from 1st to 5th, and each of the 4 play-in teams could still end up anywhere from 7th to 10th.

3932. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: April 07, 2022 at 03:49 PM (#6070733)

Hypothesis: the current version of the Bulls will be the worst team to play a play-in/playoff game this year. They've managed to get to a negative point differential on the season with this godawful second half.

3933. SteveF Posted: April 07, 2022 at 04:47 PM (#6070756)

The Bulls point differential wasn't particularly impressive when things were going well early in the season. From the start of the season until Jan 21 (just prior to Caruso going down), they were at +2.0 net -- which is roughly a 47 win team over 82 games -- not too far off from where they are going to end up on the year.

3934. Cagerfan Posted: April 07, 2022 at 05:21 PM (#6070766)

Brooklyn regaining the 8th seed makes a fall to 3rd a rather safer position.

I don't get why people are afraid of Brooklyn. They're soft as tissue paper on defense. Kyrie basically doesn't really play any, besides making a half-hearted effort to stay in front of his man. He doesn't help defend, he doesn't try to fight through picks, his attempts to get back in the play consist of trying to poke the ball away from behind after his man drives past him, and he seems to expend most of his energy scolding his teammates for not picking up his man in time after he has lost contact with him.

On offense, he only plays when he has the ball, and most of his actions are isos.

3935. If on a winter's night a father of a newborn baby Posted: April 07, 2022 at 06:41 PM (#6070777)

I don't get why people are afraid of Brooklyn.

I am not particularly afraid of Brooklyn: but I am even less afraid of Chicago, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Toronto.

3936. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 07, 2022 at 06:58 PM (#6070782)

Hypothesis: the current version of the Bulls will be the worst team to play a play-in/playoff game this year. They've managed to get to a negative point differential on the season with this godawful second half.

Discourse on the Bulls has been weird this year.

Before the season, outside observers (myself included here) thought they would be mediocre at best.
Then, they had the amazing pre-season, which raised expectations.
Then the start to the season was fantastic, and a bunch of guys looked like they had maybe hit a new level
Slowly, over the course of the season and several injuries, they have just looked less and less impressive
Now, they look like the team that we thought they were at the beginning of the season, but everyone has been wrong/felt wrong about them at different points.

3937. SteveF Posted: April 07, 2022 at 07:51 PM (#6070788)

Toronto's half court offense without VanVleet is breathtakingly bad.

They will need about 25 offensive rebounds to win this game.

3938. asinwreck Posted: April 07, 2022 at 07:55 PM (#6070789)

Health issues for the Bulls have been interesting. Given the initial makeup of the roster, Patrick Williams's broken wrist seemed like it would derail the season from the outset. The team played considerably better than that, but Caruso's broken wrist coincided with the decline of the defense, and the knee injuries to Ball and LaVine have rendered the team dependent on DeRozan's superhuman feats. That worked well until DeRozan returned to sub-Wilt mortal territory.

Going forward, LaVine seems like a good bet to have a full rebound after offseason surgery. Ball's bone bruise is more troubling, giving him problems three months after it took him off the court. His readiness for the start of next season is one of the big questions facing this team.

3939. SteveF Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:23 PM (#6070794)

This performance by the Bucks defense is completely ####### pathetic.

The Bucks will still win this game by 10, but allowing a Tatumless Celtics team to score like this is nuts.

3940. Cagerfan Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:42 PM (#6070795)

Nah, Celtics are good. Pritchard, Hauser and Williams all shoot >.400 from 3. Bucks will probably win but this is who the Celts are now. Pritchard just needed a chance to show what he could do.

3941. spivey Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:53 PM (#6070797)

Milwaukee's defense has been weak this year, and they've played a ton of track meets in the second half, but after tonight I think their opponents 3pt% in post-ASB is 40%. It was 39.6 coming into the game.

3942. spivey Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:54 PM (#6070798)

I hope this trend of Giannis not giving the ball to Middleton in late foul situations changes in the playoffs.

3943. Cagerfan Posted: April 07, 2022 at 09:59 PM (#6070799)

This game also highlights why Brown can't be the go-to guy. He doesn't see open shooters and dribbles with his head down. His handle is also to loosy-goosy, resulting in silly and costly turnovers. He should pass more and dribble less. If Tatum played instead of Brown, Boston wins this game.

3944. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 07, 2022 at 10:50 PM (#6070805)

They will need about 25 offensive rebounds to win this game.

...or maybe just some rando putting up 35 12 and 12.

3945. Russlan is not Russian Posted: April 08, 2022 at 12:40 AM (#6070813)

THT scored 40 points today against the Warriors with LeBron, AD, and Westbrook all note playing. He was pretty efficient according to the boxscore.

He had scored 46 points in the last 11 Laker games, including 4 games where he did not play at all.

He had a disastrous season this year but he is not without talent. That said, he is a guy who needs the ball in his hands and that was never going to happen all that much this year. He didn't play well but this was not the best situation for him.

I wonder if he'll be on the Lakers next year. Either way, they need value from him, either from a trade or him playing better.

3946. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 08:53 AM (#6070825)

I didn't like the trade, so I'll admit New Orleans is playing really well after the McCollum trade (+7.5 MOV post-ASB). They've got some pretty fun rookies as well with Herb Jones and Alvarado.

It's just... if they had Lonzo Ball and a MLE level big instead of Jonas and Graham, they'd be way better off. Those guys are tied up for another couple of years, too.

3947. PJ Martinez Posted: April 08, 2022 at 09:19 AM (#6070828)

if they had Lonzo Ball

3948. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: April 08, 2022 at 10:44 AM (#6070833)

3949. PJ Martinez Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:08 AM (#6070840)

I think Boston only needs to beat Memphis (who won't be playing for anything) to avoid the 4th seed, right? They should be able to win that game. (Knocks on wood.)

I don't think Milwaukee should be afraid of anybody, and my understanding is that they decided as much last season that that was how they were going to approach things — no jockeying for seeds, just bring it on. Before the Robert Williams injury, I had just about convinced myself that Boston should feel the same way. But he's going to miss at least the first round (the latest reporting is that he might be back by Round 2), so that changes things.

Milwaukee could still fall to no. 3, I believe, if they punt these last couple of games and Boston beats Memphis. Tonight's a back to back and Detroit's playing well but losing to Indiana might prove more challenging.

3950. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:17 AM (#6070841)

I don't know why MIL played everyone last night. There's a HUGE difference between facing BKN as the 2 (I see no reason to think CLE can beat them and the Cavs aren't healthy anyway) and CHI as the 3. Maybe just cause Lopez was out so much they wanted their starters to get minutes together?

Finishing 3rd is the sweet spot, but that's difficult to do. I expect Milwaukee may lose tonight as I think they may/should rest guys against Detroit on a road b2b, and their games where they've just bench mobbed it generally have led to them getting blown out - they're not a deep team, and I think that could sink them this year.

Philly still has 2 games at home against Detroit and Indiana, so could easily win those and move out of the 4 seed. It'll be interesting to see how these games play out. Detroit has been a bit frisky - they're not playing like a team that's tryin to tank, really. Anyways, I could easily see Milwaukee losing the next couple of games. Cleveland may be trying in game 82 in case they face Milwaukee in the playoffs, and also to stay the 7 seed - they're in danger of dropping to the 8 seed.

Cleveland would still have like a 40% chance of beating Brooklyn in a 1 game playoff, and Brooklyn is still very open to being in the 9-10 game (tied with Atlanta for 8th). Basically, I think everything is such a cluster, I kind of like as a fan Milwaukee isn't over focusing on this. And I don't think the other teams are either. Philly played all their starters over 36 minutes last night. Boston sat a couple guys, but it was a b2b and the other guys were playing hard.

It reminds me of that year the Spurs/Clippers played in the 4-5 game. Everything is so fluid, it makes it really hard to pick your seed. And that year, the Spurs had it all lined up and lost to a team with nothing to play for in the final game of the season.

3951. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:32 AM (#6070845)

Well, if they had Lonzo Ball they'd probably be down a guard, right? Unless you think his torn meniscus is Chicago-specific. Maybe if he stays in New Orleans he doesn't get hurt, but his history suggests otherwise, as recently noted in this thread.

I meant more for the future, since they're just in a holding pattern until Zion is healthy anyways. Being down a guard like Graham probably isn't a big deal, anyways. I'm not sure he's better than Alvarado, though he's a different player.

3952. PJ Martinez Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:42 AM (#6070846)

Yeah, in terms of the future I agree — I really like Ball, and think he fits most places.

3953. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: April 08, 2022 at 12:01 PM (#6070850)

Would not surprise me that like with Miami last season the Bucks 'want' Nets this playoffs. I think that would be kind of nuts. But sharing now so 'if' teams meet and 'if' Bucks win and Holiday or whomever says yeah we wanted the Nets to show we won and not because of Durant's shoe size I can pull a Windhorst and say I called it.

3954. Mellow Mouse, Benevolent Space Tyrant Posted: April 08, 2022 at 01:14 PM (#6070860)

Ant Edwards seems determined to quiet skeptics regarding his being picked #1.

In case there was any doubt about his playoff readiness, Anthony Edwards sent it into the ether with a career-high 49 points in dominant fashion.

He just keeps getting better on offense and defense. He still needs to work on efficiency and consistency, but the tools and drive to improve seem to be there.

3955. TFTIO was writing C programs in the '90s Posted: April 08, 2022 at 01:16 PM (#6070861)

The end of the game was pretty clown shoes, though.

3956. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 08, 2022 at 01:46 PM (#6070865)

One thing I've been tracking lately is Klay sort of rounding in to form. He's only played 31 games this year.

First ten games:
23.4 MPG, 15.6 ppg, 33% 3p%, 3.3 rebounds/2.7 assists and 5.4+/-

Next ten games:
28.8 MPG, 17.8 ppg, 39% 3p%, 4.6 rebounds/3.1 assists and 1.0 +/-

Last 11 games:
35.2 MPG, 25.2 ppg, 40% 3p%, 3.9 rebounds/2.5 assists and -2.1 +/-

The defense probably will not really ever come back, but the shooting seems to have in a big way. He's also changed as a player. Klay was never a huge at the rim guy, but he now barely ever gets to the cup--just 6.1% of his attempts there. He goes to the floater more, and takes more shots from 3 (over half his shots this year, which he's actually never done before).

3957. Russlan is not Russian Posted: April 08, 2022 at 01:47 PM (#6070866)

Something that will please or annoy you depending on whether you are a Laker fan or Celtic fan.

Both of those teams were 24-24 after 48 games played this year.

3958. Tom Cervo, backup catcher Posted: April 08, 2022 at 03:44 PM (#6070886)

The Jazz playing drop defense while Draymond just set screens for Klay to get open 3 after open 3 was hilarious. Think he had nearly 40 points that night.

3959. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 08:33 PM (#6070918)

Cade Cunningham a -42 through 2.5 quarters tonight.

3960. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 09:09 PM (#6070919)

Chicago is just embarrassing themselves out there. Let's say they get beaten pretty emphatically in the playoffs in the first round - does Lavine just leave?

Looks like a huge 4th quarter coming up for Brooklyn vs. Cleveland.

3961. SteveF Posted: April 08, 2022 at 09:25 PM (#6070921)

I can't see how the Nets could win even two series. Durant is going to be completely gassed even if they somehow manage to win that first series against Miami or Milwaukee.

3962. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:21 PM (#6070935)

The play ins are mostly set now, and it looks to be:

West
7. Minnesota
8. LAC
9. NOP
10. SAS

East
7. CLE
8. BRK
9. ATL (could flip with Brooklyn still, but somewhat unlikely given today's games)
10. CLT

Both 10 seeds look like easy outs, although Charlotte can beat/lost to anyone. Brooklyn, if they hold on to 8, get a big advantage in playing Cleveland to get the 7 seed. I think I like Brooklyn and Atlanta to get through.

Clippers, New Orleans and Wolves are tough to pick ... the Clippers maybe look to have the best shot to get through? If Minnesota loses the first game, their matchup against the Pelicans is not great actually. Any combination of Minnesota, New Orleans and Clippers could get in. I don't know if I'd give any team greater than 50% odds.

3963. spivey Posted: April 08, 2022 at 11:51 PM (#6070937)

Utah doesn't have a 4th quarter problem. This is fine.

3964. Athletic Supporter's restaurant with Ted Danson Posted: April 09, 2022 at 01:23 AM (#6070944)

I don't know if I'd give any team greater than 50% odds.

With 50% of the teams making it, this is a bold statement.

3965. Paul D(uda) Posted: April 09, 2022 at 07:23 AM (#6070947)

If I'm reading things right, if the 76ers lose their remaining two games and the Raptors win on Sunday, they'd be tied for 4th,with the tie breaker going to Toronto. Unlikely, but that would be a pretty powerful advantage for Toronto

3966. Mike A Posted: April 09, 2022 at 11:51 AM (#6070955)

Hawks can get the 8th seed with a win at Houston and a Cleveland loss to Milwaukee (Cavs would drop to 9th). I don't think the Brooklyn game matters to Atl b/c the Nets have the tiebreaker.

Looks like it will depend on if the Bucks care about staying at the #2 seed. Hoping Coach Bud plays his starters, but not optimistic. As noted above, the #3 seed might be the better option.

Though it would be perfectly Atlanta-like if the Bucks beat the Cavs and the Hawks lost to Houston.

3967. PJ Martinez Posted: April 09, 2022 at 07:35 PM (#6071002)

Looks like it will depend on if the Bucks care about staying at the #2 seed. Hoping Coach Bud plays his starters, but not optimistic.

Apparently, Giannis, Lopez, Middleton, and Portis are all listed as "doubtful" for tomorrow. So your hunch seems correct.

3968. Cagerfan Posted: April 09, 2022 at 08:33 PM (#6071006)

Russell Westbrook's Personality Fit 'Even Worse' than 'Basketball Fit'

As Westbrook continued to struggle through the season, he needed support both in public and private, but there was little provided. The Lakers tried to hire Scott Brooks as an assistant coach in the offseason, but that spot evaporated when they had to offer Mike Penberthy a promotion and raise to keep him from the Dallas Mavericks.

"I think the problem with Russ has been Russ's response to all of it," a team source said. "He doesn't leave a window for people to have empathy for him."

While the coaching staff was direct with Westbrook in film sessions and private discussions, his teammates weren't always the same way.

"The reality of the season was that Russ has been in a dark corner, and he doesn't know who to trust or who to believe," a team source said. "Then, if something doesn't go well for him, he backs up a little more.

"There's also guys in the locker room who were so disgruntled about their position that every time something goes bad for Russ, they just find a way to feed the beast.

"Telling him the coaches hate you or the front office is trying to get rid of you. Anything to fuel that monster, and give him an enemy."

3969. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 09, 2022 at 08:57 PM (#6071007)

"I think the problem with Russ has been Russ's response to all of it," a team source said. "He doesn't leave a window for people to have empathy for him."

when did the lakers put dr ####### oz on the payroll?

3970. smileyy Posted: April 09, 2022 at 09:43 PM (#6071015)

Tell me Russell Westbrook is an ####### without telling me he's an #######.

3971. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 09, 2022 at 10:11 PM (#6071017)

These are transparently leaks from Vogel's side, if not Vogel himself. He's about to be fired, and he would very much like people to know this was not his fault.

Which, I mean, is probably fair. Vogel was a great coach for a very specific set of personnel, but didn't have a ton of flexibility with different team constructs and failed to make a chicken sandwich.

Vogel is something like the 10th to 15th best coach in the NBA, maybe. Slightly above average, great in a very particular context, not incredibly flexible.

3972. Mike A Posted: April 09, 2022 at 10:32 PM (#6071019)

Apparently, Giannis, Lopez, Middleton, and Portis are all listed as "doubtful" for tomorrow. So your hunch seems correct.

Yeah. It's hard to blame the Bucks for doing it, but it's certainly frustrating as a fan. Hawks had their chances to get the 7th/8th spot, but couldn't quite pull off wins in Toronto and Miami (who did not rest their starters).

Can't help but think back to those ridiculous G-league COVID games, though. Kinda figured they'd come back to bite.

3973. Cagerfan Posted: April 09, 2022 at 11:48 PM (#6071021)

OTOH, it sounds like it could be coming from upper management, perhaps even ownership, so to poison the well so much, Westbrook has no choice but to agree to a buyout.

3974. nick swisher hygiene Posted: April 10, 2022 at 10:54 AM (#6071027)

So looking up Westbrook I was reminded that his father was Russell Westbrook Jr, which seems like a great setup for the kind of joke an 8-yr old would find hilarious about why his nickname isn’t “Trey”…

3975. Cagerfan Posted: April 10, 2022 at 12:31 PM (#6071035)

Evidence the Laker front office isn't up on their player analytics. Westbrook's WS/48 since 2016:

2016- .245
2017- .224
2018- .166
2019- .124
2020- .098
2021- .075

2022- .030

So really, Westbrook has played basically as well (around replacement level) his age/production arc was predicting it would be. Somebody in the Laker front office needs to be shown how to use a slide rule.

3976. Crosseyed and Painless Posted: April 10, 2022 at 01:38 PM (#6071047)

Pretty fun last day of the season when most teams playing are trying to lose. So stupid but, hey, playoffs are finally here.

3977. SteveF Posted: April 10, 2022 at 03:58 PM (#6071076)

In case anyone looks at the box score and freaks out, Jrue Holiday started and took a foul 8 seconds into the game and subbed out to hit an incentive he had.

3978. Cagerfan Posted: April 10, 2022 at 05:04 PM (#6071085)

Kevin Love has played 12:08 minutes against the Bucks and has scored 32 points.

3979. spivey Posted: April 10, 2022 at 05:19 PM (#6071086)

I like Jevon Carter, but he's been getting his minutes squeezed and today probably wasn't the kind of performance to convince Bud to play him over Matthews (though he is better than Matthews).

3980. spivey Posted: April 10, 2022 at 05:21 PM (#6071087)

One team not trying to lose is the Nets, but they may anyways! Big 4th quarter.

3981. asinwreck Posted: April 10, 2022 at 05:35 PM (#6071091)

Brooklyn just opened up a nine-point lead after coughing up a much bigger one. The one word summary of their season? Erratic.

3982. SteveF Posted: April 10, 2022 at 07:14 PM (#6071095)

No Embiid or Harden, but Philly has a decent chance to beat Detroit anyway.

3983. Cagerfan Posted: April 10, 2022 at 07:38 PM (#6071097)

Detroit isn’t playing their starters either.

3984. /muteself 57i66135 Posted: April 10, 2022 at 07:50 PM (#6071098)

luke garza is an aaron gray looking mfer.

3985. asinwreck Posted: April 10, 2022 at 08:54 PM (#6071102)

"He can play!"

-Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Breen describing Ryan Arcidiacono

3986. spivey Posted: April 10, 2022 at 09:26 PM (#6071111)

Looks like Boston will be the 2 seed, and Milwaukee will play Chicago.

This is good because it sets up a Brooklyn/Boston series where people will be able to say "See, I knew they weren't a contender" about one of these two teams. Which team? It doesn't matter!

3987. SteveF Posted: April 10, 2022 at 09:35 PM (#6071112)

It's theoretically possible for Cleveland to beat Brooklyn.

I'm sure Bulls fans are looking forward to their 4 consecutive 30 point losses.

3988. PJ Martinez Posted: April 10, 2022 at 09:54 PM (#6071114)

Toronto-Philly could be interesting. Rivers apparently confirmed no Thybulle in Toronto.

Edit: I don't mean to imply that the series will be interesting *because* Thybulle is out in Toronto, though it's a semi-interesting wrinkle. I'm thinking more of the fact that the Raptors won the season series, have a comparable (though lower) net rating, and seem to have closed out the season in stronger fashion (though I haven't looked at the numbers).

3989. asinwreck Posted: April 10, 2022 at 10:14 PM (#6071116)

I for one am confident the Bulls will advance to the second round. I mean...

Rob Schaefer @rob_schaef
The Bulls have...

Lost 16 of their last 17 matchups with the Bucks dating back to January 2018. The only win was the final game of the 2020-21 regular season

Giannis has personally won 13 straight against the Bulls. Last loss was Dec. 26, 2017

3990. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: April 10, 2022 at 11:07 PM (#6071122)

Seeding couldn't have set up better for the Bucks, I think. They get the Bulls in round 1, then Celtics/Nets instead of the Heat/Philly bracket.

Getting the Bulls is the biggest win, where it may be 50/50 if the Bulls even win one game.

3991. PJ Martinez Posted: April 10, 2022 at 11:24 PM (#6071123)

Eastern Conference finished the season 226-224 against the West. First winning season for the East since '08-'09, and just the second in the past 23 years, according to John Schuhmann.

3992. rr: over-entitled starf@ck3r Posted: April 11, 2022 at 02:17 AM (#6071130)

Vogel is something like the 10th to 15th best coach in the NBA, maybe. Slightly above average, great in a very particular context, not incredibly flexible.

I don't know about the ranking thing per se, but, yes to most of the rest. I think Vogel is a pretty typical NBA coach in that he can succeed in the right circumstances. Fans (not guys here) fall into smart/dumb stuff about coaches way too much IMO. Incidentally, Austin Reaves became the first undrafted rookie in NBA history to post a 30-point triple-double in tonight's South Bay Lakers/Grand Rapids Nuggets game.

3993. Cagerfan Posted: April 11, 2022 at 07:21 AM (#6071132)

Three different advanced analytics systems- BB-ref, Darko and 538- have the Celtics as the top rated team in the entire league so not understanding why the Bucks would want to play them instead of Miami or Philly. It appears RWIII might be back before the second round starts. He’s begun 2-a-day workouts.

3994. Cagerfan Posted: April 11, 2022 at 08:41 AM (#6071136)

Vogel out, apparently.

3995. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: April 11, 2022 at 09:53 AM (#6071139)

Getting the Bulls is the biggest win, where it may be 50/50 if the Bulls even win one game.

Wow, you're way too optimistic on the Bulls chances. I think it'll be a win if the Bulls can lose at least 1 game by only single digits.

Eastern Conference finished the season 226-224 against the West. First winning season for the East since '08-'09, and just the second in the past 23 years, according to John Schuhmann.

Bulls/Wolves was the last game, so this is the Bulls championship for the season. There's not much to take away from games like that, but Patrick Williams just looked like such a different player knowing that he was the main offensive option. He is just so passive and deferential all the time, it's shocking to see him basically have the entire offense run through him and to see him actually look competent creating shots from himself and others. He didn't even do that his one year in college, so I guess I could see how a GM could fall in love with and dream on that potential. If nothing else, it makes me feel better that the Bulls didn't use him as bait for a moderate improvement to this year's dead end bunch.

3996. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: April 11, 2022 at 10:06 AM (#6071140)

Vogel wasn't the problem, but the relationship with his stars didn't seem fixable. I agree with the posters saying that the Lakers' only real hope for next season is that AD comes back healthy (by his standards: 60+ GP and ready for the playoffs) and All-Star level productive. In particular, his 3p% has been terrible for the past two years (76 games), and his FT% is well below his career, too.

3997. PJ Martinez Posted: April 11, 2022 at 10:25 AM (#6071142)

A total of 79 games were decided by 30 or more points this season, 20 more such games than any other season in NBA history.

As a percentage, that's 6.42% of all games, the highest such figure in NBA history. The previous high was 6.17% in 1971-72.

3998. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: April 11, 2022 at 10:29 AM (#6071143)

I wonder how much heat Kidd will take if Luka misses significant time getting hurt in yesterday's meaningless game.

3999. steve099s Posted: April 11, 2022 at 11:43 AM (#6071151)

saw Luka play a lot on a back to back recently too. shame cos the shoulder didnt heal last season so this could roll into the playoffs. glad i didnt bet this year but normally do cos think Doncic could beat anyone and dallas seem better than ever. Think Brunson and Dinwiddie can carry them through 1st round if necessary.

4000. Fourth True Outcome Posted: April 11, 2022 at 02:11 PM (#6071165)

It looks like Pelinka will address the media today to officially announce Vogel's firing. Lots of twitter smoke about Nick Nurse being at the top of the Lakers wishlist, which at least at first blush seems to make as much sense for the Lakers as it doesn't make for Nurse. (I checked out of curiosity and he's an Iowa boy who worked in England, the midwest, and Toronto, so I don't see the appeal for him unless he's secretly always dreamed of LA or something.)

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