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I mean if you asked me to provide a list of NBA players most likely to get professional help from their snake collection care subcontractor, I'd put Dwight at or very near the top of the list, and I suspect you would too.
2203. tshipman
Posted: December 14, 2020 at 03:31 PM (#5994124)
Gotta be JR Smith first.
2204. jmurph
Posted: December 14, 2020 at 03:48 PM (#5994126)
Even though he's been retired for years I'd still have Gilbert Arenas at the head of the pack. Maybe Chris Andersen close behind?
Will Guillory @WillGuillory
Pelicans starters tonight: Lonzo Ball Josh Hart Brandon Ingram Zion Williamson Steven Adams
Tim Reynolds @ByTimReynolds
Heat are favored by 3-1/2 tonight over the Pelicans. Will someone explain to me who in their right mind would bet on a preseason game where - and I mean this sincerely - absolutely nobody knows what lineups these two crazy coaches will use, including these two crazy coaches?
Brad Townsend @townbrad
Rick Carlisle says Mavs had entire hotel to themselves in Milwaukee and "there will be situations like this this season."
John Hollinger @johnhollinger
I'm much more excited about Cleveland's young forwards than I am about Cleveland's young guards, if you can't tell.
Vincent Goodwill @VinceGoodwill
PSA: If you want to do research on vaccines, by all means. But YouTube University and Facebook are not acceptable sources.
Dwight Howard's Snake Handler: Dwight, as your snake handler, I'd be remiss if I didn't bring you contracts that could make you an international basketball star.
Dwight Howard: Of course. Tell me about the team.
Dwight Howard's Snake Handler: It's a basketball team.
I mean if you asked me to provide a list of NBA players most likely to get professional help from their snake collection care subcontractor, I'd put Dwight at or very near the top of the list, and I suspect you would too.
I'd have guessed he'd cheap out and just find a friend to do it; maybe this lawsuit is influencing me too much here.
---
Noah Vonleh tested positve for COVID and so the Bulls released him today - that feels harsh, but he must not have had a guaranteed contract and now he'll miss the rest of preseason. OTOH, he did play in the game Friday against HOU, so that has to be a little concerning from a contact tracing situation but I haven't seen anything.
2214. tshipman
Posted: December 14, 2020 at 07:41 PM (#5994188)
2212 is ####### gold. I have no idea why it's so funny.
2215. smileyy
Posted: December 14, 2020 at 08:01 PM (#5994190)
Dwight Howard might be the funniest player in the NBA in spite of his efforts to be.
Most of the NBA, for all that they live lifestyles far removed for the ones most of us are living, still live in the real world. Dwight Howard seems to live in, I dunno, the Zoolander world maybe?
Most of the NBA, for all that they live lifestyles far removed for the ones most of us are living, still live in the real world. Dwight Howard seems to live in, I dunno, the Zoolander world maybe?
he was homeschooled by christian fundamentalists until he was 18, and then he was immediately given tens of millions of dollars.
i'm just happy he knows how to use a toilet (allegedly).
2218. smileyy
Posted: December 14, 2020 at 09:42 PM (#5994208)
Most of the NBA, for all that they live lifestyles far removed for the ones most of us are living, still live in the real world. Dwight Howard seems to live in, I dunno, the Zoolander world maybe?
In that context, which world does Kyrie live in? Also, somebody get me an orange mocha frappuccino.
I should acknowledge that 2212 is a riff on a Futurama bit, though I will say that having a dialogue between "Dwight Howard" and "Dwight Howard's Snake Handler" is really the stuff of classic drama.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Breaking: Giannis Antetokounmpo says he is signing a contract extension with the Milwaukee Bucks. The two-time MVP will sign a five-year, $228.2 million supermax extension with the franchise, the largest deal in NBA history, sources tell
@TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Great news. We'll see how it works out for the Bucks and Giannis both, but this is way more interesting to me than Giannis's free agency looming over the league like the sword of Damocles.
2230. aberg
Posted: December 15, 2020 at 02:42 PM (#5994336)
Without getting into a whole market-size brouhaha, I just find it fun that Giannis is going against the grain and committing to building a team. No one model is right or inherently better, I just like having some variety.
Also, like FTO said, not having the FA story all year is a big win for everyone.
2231. tshipman
Posted: December 15, 2020 at 03:09 PM (#5994343)
Without getting into a whole market-size brouhaha,
I feel like it would distract from the important Chamberlain vs. Russell conversation we need to have.
2232. asinwreck
Posted: December 15, 2020 at 03:17 PM (#5994345)
The Jrue Holiday trade is now an A+ for Milwaukee.
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Positive update: Florida basketball star Keyontae Johnson, who collapsed on court Saturday, is now in stable condition, breathing on his own and speaking with parents and doctors.
Aaron J. Fentress @AaronJFentress
Enes Kanter just compared the combined talents of the Trail Blazers centers and forwards to the combined talents of the Power Rangers. #ripcity pic.twitter.com/rAlwUKfav0
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
MPJ on putting pressure on himself to be Denver's No. 3: "I'm not going to be great every night. I try not to put too much pressure on myself because no one's perfect and I am young. But if you want to be the best you're definitely going to have high expectations of yourself."
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
With Giannis off the table, these would be the best players in the 2021 free-agent class as of now... PG: Chris Paul (player option) SG: Victor Oladipo SF: Kawhi Leonard (player option) PF: John Collins C: Rudy Gobert Not bad, but not as good as many hoped.
Michael Singer @msinger
Michael Malone said this is a year they’re going to have to “roll with the punches.” Said he had to sit in his car for an hour and a half because the first test he took was invalid. Thought he might be a victim of “Murphy’s law. ... or someone breaking his balls.”
2234. tshipman
Posted: December 15, 2020 at 04:29 PM (#5994355)
Enes Kanter just compared the combined talents of the Trail Blazers centers and forwards to the combined talents of the Power Rangers. #ripcity pic.twitter.com/rAlwUKfav0
Not how I would state it, but I agree that they are robotic and stiff when combined.
Michael Singer @msinger
Michael Malone said this is a year they’re going to have to “roll with the punches.” Said he had to sit in his car for an hour and a half because the first test he took was invalid. Thought he might be a victim of “Murphy’s law. ... or someone breaking his balls.”
6 Bulls players aren't travelling with the team for their next game. It's not clear how many are COVID related, but...
can someone tell glenn rivers to wear his ####### mask?
I'm not sure why coaches are wearing masks anyway, since they are surrounded heavy breathing, maskless atheletes and they push them up and down dozens of time a game.
2245. spivey 2
Posted: December 16, 2020 at 08:56 AM (#5994443)
They're saying that he had a foot on the buffet line.
Is this about Harden? Some of the pictures I saw didn't look great.
Rob Perez @WorldWideWob
please tell me there is somebody else out there watching Bol Bol play point guard like Magic Johnson right now.
Peter Edmiston @peteredmiston
Anything that isn't the main camera on this Memphis/Tulane game looks like it's being shot by a guy on a running shower using a camcorder from 1998
Adam Mares @Adam_Mares
My notes on this Nuggets game: Every player is good.
TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBA
Facu Campazzo getting one last swipe steal in before the buzzer is peak Facu Campazzo.
Duvalier Johnson @DuvalierJohnson
Facu Campazzo see's everything. Literally everything. His passes are incredible.
Katy Winge @katywinge
*OBLIGATORY CAMPAZZO IS SO FUN TO WATCH TWEET*
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
Facu Campazzo is at it again. Two elite level passes in his first couple minutes of action.
TJ McBride @TJMcBrideNBA
Didnt take long for Facu to unload an insane pass. What a swing pass to the wing
538 predictions are up. The order of teams is a bit off to me, but it's also a compressed year and a bunched set of clubs, so a few games could make for a wild shift.
west - lal, lac, den, hou, pho, dal, uta, por, nwo, min, sas, mem, gsw, sac, okc
east - bos, phi, mil, tor, mia, brk, ind, atl, orl, was, chi, cha, nyk, cle, det
they've also dumped the element of their tool that they say was the reason why their playoff predictions were bad on their face.
2265. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 02:57 PM (#5994690)
west - lal, lac, den, hou, pho, dal, uta, por, nwo, min, sas, mem, gsw, sac, okc
I also think the Warriors are going to be terrible. I thought I was going to be somewhat alone on that one, though.
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Monty said Dario Saric is one of his favorite players he's ever coached. Reinforced they need a connector like Saric that can go with both groups with a team-friendly style of play.
Tas Melas @TasMelas
This is how we figure out if making the NBA play-in tournament is making the playoffs: Does Rajon Rondo receive his $750,000 bonus if the Hawks are bounced in the tournament?
Those 538 projections seem ordered oddly to me too. It seems like a particularly optimistic view of Hou and pessimistic about Portland/Utah out west, and optimistic of Boston and Philly and pessimistic about Milwaukee/Toronto/Miami. It seems like they're underrating continuity of roster/coaching (I suspect Boston will get out of the gate slowly, given their various injuries and therefore reliance on rookies who got no summer league, and I imagine the Philly transition to Doc will take a little time.) It kind of looks like where I'd expect the teams to be at the end of the season (well except I don't expect Houston to hold onto Harden past the deadline, or for things to go well if they try to) but I expect more surprises in how the season plays out, and think that continuity and depth will be particularly important for regular season record this year.
2269. tshipman
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 03:35 PM (#5994703)
538 is still projecting the Rockets and the Celtics to meet in the 2020 Finals.
Is there any evidence that 538's projections add any value? I mean, they churn out a lot of stuff that doesn't really pass the smell test. Sure, they can claim they dropped the problem with last year's playoff predictions, but that's not exactly the only time they have fallen on their face, and I don't see what they've ever done to earn any credibility. My prior is that everything coming out of there on the NBA is garbage (and this is coming from someone who thinks their political modeling is excellent -- but it has little in common with forecasting the NBA).
2271. PJ Martinez
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 03:53 PM (#5994708)
My understanding is that 538 is high on the Celtics because their metrics are high on Kemba, which... does not make sense to me.
Partly because of Kemba's injury, I expect the Celtics to finish fourth in the East, behind Milwaukee, Miami, and Philly. Admittedly, I do not have an algorithm to support this prediction.
2272. tshipman
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 03:55 PM (#5994709)
One of the many problems with 538's projection system is that it's essentially completely new every year, so while it was worthless last year, it's a completely new model this year.
They just change the fudge factors every year.
Edit:
Re: Kemba: This is your friendly reminder that 538 projected Kemba as being better in the playoffs than LeBron for the entire playoffs and never budged off that position.
2273. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:01 PM (#5994715)
I've found it to be fun to look at but ultimately meaningless every single year. And it continues to be very poorly organized.
That said, I have absolutely no idea how well they've done in years past vs Pelton et al.
I am a fan of the Wolves, but early signs suggest they will be hot garbage this year. They are young, have no continuity, drafted a really raw #1 pick, and their big star is an emotional wreck who has no interest in playing basketball right now (for good reason, but still).
The wolves needed summer league, an extended pre-season, and tons of work just to get their crap in order, and (again for good reason) we are getting the opposite of that.
I think the long term pieces could be in place for a non-crappy team in the future (if things work out, things like KAT playing defense and Ant-Man not sucking), but it is not happening this year, especially not early. They are going to rack up a ton of losses before they round into shape, assuming they ever do.
2275. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:07 PM (#5994719)
If the Mavs finish 6th this year someone needs to be fired.
2276. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:15 PM (#5994723)
pessimistic about Milwaukee/Toronto/Miami.
Milwaukee is the one in this group I'd expect to completely prioritize the regular season again as usual, so I agree that 3rd seems crazy. But Toronto looks worse to me and Miami, despite the playoff run, was a distant 4th in the east in fancy stats last year, 5th in actual record. So Boston and Toronto take a step back, Philly and, especially, Brooklyn a step forward, and I don't think 5th sounds off to me for Miami. I also wouldn't expect them to go all out for a top 3 seed like Doc and Bud probably will.
2277. PJ Martinez
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:23 PM (#5994728)
Oh right, Brooklyn. They'll probably finish ahead of Boston, too.
I think Miami genuinely became a better team between the regular-regular season and the bubble, thanks to Herro and Robinson and maybe the trades they made. I expect the playoff results to carry over, even if they're not the very best team in the East.
2278. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:31 PM (#5994732)
Speaking of predictions, is someone, meaning of course Moses, going to post a new season thread or will we make our terrible predictions in this one?
2279. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:33 PM (#5994735)
Oh right, Brooklyn. They'll probably finish ahead of Boston, too.
I think Boston could literally finish like 5th or 6th (and then I'll convince myself without admitting it out loud that they're gonna make a run). They have like 3 cromulent wings and Kemba is going to play about 35 games.
Of course, Embiid or Kyrie or Butler could all do the same, so there's that.
2280. tshipman
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:34 PM (#5994737)
Oh right, Brooklyn. They'll probably finish ahead of Boston, too.
I honestly have no idea if Brooklyn where Brooklyn will finish in the east. I could see anywhere from 2nd to 7th.
2281. jmurph
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 04:40 PM (#5994740)
I honestly have no idea if Brooklyn where Brooklyn will finish in the east. I could see anywhere from 2nd to 7th.
Agree. The one thing I'm absolutely certain of is that they will carry themselves like they are 3 time defending champions. They will make last year's Clippers look bashful.
Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
ESPN reporting with @Ramona Shelburne: The Houston Rockets are increasingly expanding trade discussions on James Harden beyond his preferred destinations of Brooklyn and Philadelphia. Full story: es.pn/3h4RGfx
if there's one thing about this kind of scenario i've learned from observing the NFL, it's that james harden is about to be traded to buffalo.
Something a friend and I were talking about: who is on the Dwight Howard All-Stars of players you absolutely don't want to have to root for because they're on your team? Explicitly leaving out people like Lance Stephenson who are actually criminals, but off-court and on-court antics are both fair game. Also shouldn't include guys like Pat Bev or Marcus Smart who you hate when they're on the other team but love when they're on your team. Basically the guys you really hope don't get traded to your team.
These guys come to mind among recent-ish players for me:
Howard
Cousins
Hinrich
Harden
Carmelo
Wiggins
Reggie Jackson for some reason
M. Plumlee
Tyler Hansbrough
Beverley would be on my list.
Bruce Bowen
I actually think Kyrie might be there for me. The guy is electric, but he sure talks a lot of **** for a guy who misses 20-30 games a year.
2286. tshipman
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 08:17 PM (#5994785)
I always liked Cousins and Carmelo--at least on offense.
The guy that always pisses me off the most randomly is Eric Gordon.
2287. PJ Martinez
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 08:33 PM (#5994791)
Speaking from experience: Kyrie Irving and Wally Szczerbiak
rondo
howard
javale mcgee
jr smith
dion waiters
kuzma
shiteside
barnes
tharris
aldridge
horford
tj warren
thj
rose
ish smith
that shitty mfer
austin rivers
redick
grayson allen IV
2289. JJ1986
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 09:02 PM (#5994799)
This is probably one of the most unimportant transactions in the NBA, but I totally missed that DeAndre Bembry had signed with the Raptors for guaranteed money.
Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Christian Wood on his early conversations with Stephen Silas: "He told me he wants to be in a Porzingis role."
Salman Ali @SalmanAliNBA
Christian Wood on playing with James Harden: "It was great. He was actually talking to me and telling me when to roll and when to pop... It could be a scary combination, the both of us."
Drew Hill @DrewHill_DM
Jonas Valanciunas: "It's fun to play that way. Sharing the ball is the key for us. ... Even Dillon Brooks is passing the ball. That's crazy."
Wes Goldberg @wcgoldberg
Steph Curry scores 17 points in the third quarter to expand the Warriors' lead going into the fourth. A strong team effort to wrap up the preseason.
Drew Shiller @DrewShiller
I really, really enjoy watching Kelly Oubre play basketball. 2020 is WILD I tell ya
Alykhan Bijani @Rockets_Insider
Eric Gordon when I asked him who is Christian Wood similar to. He mentions Anthony Davis.
2291. PJ Martinez
Posted: December 17, 2020 at 11:35 PM (#5994815)
I'm not generally a big Harden fan but I think I might actually enjoy it if he just stayed in Houston, had an MVP-caliber season, and they were really good. (Note: I haven't read any of the reporting about the team's culture, etc., so maybe I shouldn't enjoy that? I don't know.)
2292. tshipman
Posted: December 18, 2020 at 12:44 AM (#5994817)
Christian Wood on his early conversations with Stephen Silas: "He told me he wants to be in a Porzingis role."
Seems harsh to tell a player that you're going to #### up their knees.
my understanding is that the 538 regular season model actually performed solidly last year, just that their postseason model (which worked differently) was garbage.
i think most of their individual numbers pass the smell test - though i do have some systemic differences with them. those differences are not unique to 538 - how models/metrics treat certain types of players (like how 538 and hollinger and some others love, say, shaq harrison* and not your bryn forbes types is informative.
* to be fair, i love shaq harrison.
--------------------
guys you don't root for: this has gotten more complicated over time as i've learned more about the nba and how a maybe-obvious-in-retrospect certain type of low ceiling scrub* maintains roster spots because of their locker room presence / good guy-ness and i like niceness.
* to be clear, i mostly root for low ceiling scrubs - but more the oddball variety than people who are just boring.
beyond that:
i've disliked watching kyrie since he was a freshman in college. that said, as much as i don't like some of his off-court nonsense and on-court decision making, he's also capable of brilliant play and has done a lot of things to help the community. still, not a fan on the whole.
For me, the more interesting question is players you love to watch, but don't really want on your team. For me, it is players like Russell Westbrook or back in the day Allen Iverson. White Chocolate is another. Players who are fun to watch, high energy, and with a special skill or athleticism, but don't seem to actually help as much as they cost and are kind of a pain in the rear.
2295. NJ in NJ
Posted: December 18, 2020 at 11:26 AM (#5994861)
For me, the more interesting question is players you love to watch, but don't really want on your team. For me, it is players like Russell Westbrook or back in the day Allen Iverson. White Chocolate is another. Players who are fun to watch, high energy, and with a special skill or athleticism, but don't seem to actually help as much as they cost and are kind of a pain in the rear.
I will fight you. I became a Knicks fan in '93 and was extremely tribal in those early years. He was the first non-Knick that I felt a deep sense of fandom for. My gateway drug into being able to admit that players outside of the Knicks roster weren't all terrible and only able to beat the Knicks because they cheat, with assistance from the referees and at the behest of David Stern.
2296. NJ in NJ
Posted: December 18, 2020 at 11:27 AM (#5994862)
Did anyone score the results from our '20 predictions? I assume I lost my '19 crown, but just want to make sure before '21 predictions get under way.
NJ, watching White Chocolate on the other team was one of my joys in life back in the day. Spectacular passes and decision making was the norm, but spectacular good or spectacular bad? That part seemed random.
For me, the more interesting question is players you love to watch, but don't really want on your team. For me, it is players like Russell Westbrook or back in the day Allen Iverson. White Chocolate is another. Players who are fun to watch, high energy, and with a special skill or athleticism, but don't seem to actually help as much as they cost and are kind of a pain in the rear.
I totally get Westbrook and White Chocolate on your list, but man AI was definitely someone you could root for. I used to hate him, I grew up playing down low, hated little guards that just kept the ball all the time, but he grew on me. He was so willing to bust his ass in games, there was no prima donna #### (on the court at least). And dragging the Sixers to the finals was a legit feat.
2299. NJ in NJ
Posted: December 18, 2020 at 12:04 PM (#5994875)
Lin reportedly signing with the Warriors. This makes me so happy
2300. tshipman
Posted: December 18, 2020 at 12:38 PM (#5994880)
That is both good for Lin and a terrible sign for the Warriors.
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nope! sports management that subcontracts snake collection care.
Dwight Howard: Of course. Tell me about the team.
Dwight Howard's Snake Handler: It's a basketball team.
Dwight Howard: Interesting. Tell me more.
I'd have guessed he'd cheap out and just find a friend to do it; maybe this lawsuit is influencing me too much here.
---
Noah Vonleh tested positve for COVID and so the Bulls released him today - that feels harsh, but he must not have had a guaranteed contract and now he'll miss the rest of preseason. OTOH, he did play in the game Friday against HOU, so that has to be a little concerning from a contact tracing situation but I haven't seen anything.
i'm just happy he knows how to use a toilet (allegedly).
In that context, which world does Kyrie live in? Also, somebody get me an orange mocha frappuccino.
Awesome.
EDIT: Is the source Giannis himself?
EDIT 2: Opt out in 2025 per Shams.
---
Also, like FTO said, not having the FA story all year is a big win for everyone.
I feel like it would distract from the important Chamberlain vs. Russell conversation we need to have.
Not how I would state it, but I agree that they are robotic and stiff when combined.
Edit: also, there's only one black guy.
Michael Malone said this is a year they’re going to have to “roll with the punches.” Said he had to sit in his car for an hour and a half because the first test he took was invalid. Thought he might be a victim of “Murphy’s law. ... or someone breaking his balls.”
6 Bulls players aren't travelling with the team for their next game. It's not clear how many are COVID related, but...
can confirm.
I'm not sure why coaches are wearing masks anyway, since they are surrounded heavy breathing, maskless atheletes and they push them up and down dozens of time a game.
Is this about Harden? Some of the pictures I saw didn't look great.
Trying to make a joke about a common Marv statement and the consensual cannibalism incident. Obviously it didn't work.
[2249] Pretty sure it was Booey, with the chameleonic name meme an elaborate cover-up.
I prefer Glass Human for his name.
Tacko Fall is planning to sue.
Who wants to facu Campazzo?
west - lal, lac, den, hou, pho, dal, uta, por, nwo, min, sas, mem, gsw, sac, okc
east - bos, phi, mil, tor, mia, brk, ind, atl, orl, was, chi, cha, nyk, cle, det
they've also dumped the element of their tool that they say was the reason why their playoff predictions were bad on their face.
I also think the Warriors are going to be terrible. I thought I was going to be somewhat alone on that one, though.
Partly because of Kemba's injury, I expect the Celtics to finish fourth in the East, behind Milwaukee, Miami, and Philly. Admittedly, I do not have an algorithm to support this prediction.
They just change the fudge factors every year.
Edit:
Re: Kemba: This is your friendly reminder that 538 projected Kemba as being better in the playoffs than LeBron for the entire playoffs and never budged off that position.
That said, I have absolutely no idea how well they've done in years past vs Pelton et al.
The wolves needed summer league, an extended pre-season, and tons of work just to get their crap in order, and (again for good reason) we are getting the opposite of that.
I think the long term pieces could be in place for a non-crappy team in the future (if things work out, things like KAT playing defense and Ant-Man not sucking), but it is not happening this year, especially not early. They are going to rack up a ton of losses before they round into shape, assuming they ever do.
Milwaukee is the one in this group I'd expect to completely prioritize the regular season again as usual, so I agree that 3rd seems crazy. But Toronto looks worse to me and Miami, despite the playoff run, was a distant 4th in the east in fancy stats last year, 5th in actual record. So Boston and Toronto take a step back, Philly and, especially, Brooklyn a step forward, and I don't think 5th sounds off to me for Miami. I also wouldn't expect them to go all out for a top 3 seed like Doc and Bud probably will.
I think Miami genuinely became a better team between the regular-regular season and the bubble, thanks to Herro and Robinson and maybe the trades they made. I expect the playoff results to carry over, even if they're not the very best team in the East.
I think Boston could literally finish like 5th or 6th (and then I'll convince myself without admitting it out loud that they're gonna make a run). They have like 3 cromulent wings and Kemba is going to play about 35 games.
Of course, Embiid or Kyrie or Butler could all do the same, so there's that.
I honestly have no idea if Brooklyn where Brooklyn will finish in the east. I could see anywhere from 2nd to 7th.
Agree. The one thing I'm absolutely certain of is that they will carry themselves like they are 3 time defending champions. They will make last year's Clippers look bashful.
if there's one thing about this kind of scenario i've learned from observing the NFL, it's that james harden is about to be traded to buffalo.
Ok, I'll put it up tomorrow morning...
These guys come to mind among recent-ish players for me:
Howard
Cousins
Hinrich
Harden
Carmelo
Wiggins
Reggie Jackson for some reason
M. Plumlee
Beverley would be on my list.
Bruce Bowen
I actually think Kyrie might be there for me. The guy is electric, but he sure talks a lot of **** for a guy who misses 20-30 games a year.
The guy that always pisses me off the most randomly is Eric Gordon.
rondo
howard
javale mcgee
jr smith
dion waiters
kuzma
shiteside
barnes
tharris
aldridge
horford
tj warren
thj
rose
ish smith
that shitty mfer
austin rivers
redick
grayson allen IV
Seems harsh to tell a player that you're going to #### up their knees.
i think most of their individual numbers pass the smell test - though i do have some systemic differences with them. those differences are not unique to 538 - how models/metrics treat certain types of players (like how 538 and hollinger and some others love, say, shaq harrison* and not your bryn forbes types is informative.
* to be fair, i love shaq harrison.
--------------------
guys you don't root for: this has gotten more complicated over time as i've learned more about the nba and how a maybe-obvious-in-retrospect certain type of low ceiling scrub* maintains roster spots because of their locker room presence / good guy-ness and i like niceness.
* to be clear, i mostly root for low ceiling scrubs - but more the oddball variety than people who are just boring.
beyond that:
i've disliked watching kyrie since he was a freshman in college. that said, as much as i don't like some of his off-court nonsense and on-court decision making, he's also capable of brilliant play and has done a lot of things to help the community. still, not a fan on the whole.
I will fight you. I became a Knicks fan in '93 and was extremely tribal in those early years. He was the first non-Knick that I felt a deep sense of fandom for. My gateway drug into being able to admit that players outside of the Knicks roster weren't all terrible and only able to beat the Knicks because they cheat, with assistance from the referees and at the behest of David Stern.
I totally get Westbrook and White Chocolate on your list, but man AI was definitely someone you could root for. I used to hate him, I grew up playing down low, hated little guards that just kept the ball all the time, but he grew on me. He was so willing to bust his ass in games, there was no prima donna #### (on the court at least). And dragging the Sixers to the finals was a legit feat.
Edit: apparently it's a G-League contract.
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