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Thursday, September 26, 2019

OT - NBA thread (pre-season)

I estimate only 10-12 Primates care about baseball, and this thread is the only thing keeping this site alive.

Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: September 26, 2019 at 09:56 AM | 762 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: basketball, nba, off-topic

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301. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: October 10, 2019 at 09:36 AM (#5888764)

Lowe put Luke Kennard in one of his six players to watch column this year, so maybe he took that into account when writing his column.

I really admire Lowe's talent for writing "this guy sucks and needs to vastly improve at something to be an NBA caliber player" while being amazingly inoffensive about it.

302. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 09:42 AM (#5888766)

You're the first person all year I've seen suggest Portland is anywhere near a lock. Hollinger has them out of the playoffs, Lowe has them just barely in.

I don't think Golden State is a lock, either.

So I actually share some doubts about both teams, but Portland always make the playoffs and won 53 games last year, and I don't see any reason to think they'll be appreciably worse (barring injury, which is the same caveat for most other teams). They've got some guard depth issues, I guess, but Stotts is presumably smart enough to stagger minutes so that one of Lillard/McCollum is nearly always out there. I think they're better than San Antonio, and a lot better than the next level, Dallas and New Orleans.

I'm also very curious to see how Golden State does. Teams are going to be able to focus on Curry more than ever before, and it will be fun to see how they respond.

303. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: October 10, 2019 at 09:43 AM (#5888767)

I also laughed at the tidbit Hollinger casually dropped into his last column about Dwight Howard intentionally whiffing on screens if Plan B was a Howard post-up.

Like, of COURSE that's what Dwight Howard will do with that plan! How could the coach not realize this??

Portland always make the playoffs and won 53 games last year, and I don't see any reason to think they'll be appreciably worse (barring injury, which is the same caveat for most other teams).

In their case you can't even bar injury, because they had Nurkic for most of last year and probably won't have him at all this year. They brought in Hassan Whiteside to replace him, which is..... interesting.

One of my favorite NBA factoids is that Portland has the highest payroll in the league.

304. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 10, 2019 at 09:57 AM (#5888775)

Zion's shot chart is a work of art.

It's nuts. There were times it still looked like he was going up against kids last night. Except the kids were actual NBA players.

Any chance of the Bulls being not awful defensively depends on Carter taking a step forward this year; he hasn't played yet this preseason.

OTOH, their offense could actually be entertaining again:

Jeff Mangurten @JeffGurt

Bulls have 34 assists with 1:30 left in the 3rd quarter, more than they had in any game last season.

305. Crosseyed and Painless Posted: October 10, 2019 at 10:01 AM (#5888777)

I was going to defend Kennard by saying he was 52nd in SG on RPM last year. Because that counts as good for a Pistons wing player. Then I realized that's still not good.

Ok, that's more Pistons talk than any of you wanted. Sorry.

306. I am going to be Frank Posted: October 10, 2019 at 10:04 AM (#5888779)

The Shanghai Arena (Mercedes-Benz is the named sponsor) seems mostly full, if not full. Kyrie started, then got hit in the face so exited and didn't come back. Caris Levert got poked in the eye and also didn't return.

307. NJ in NJ Posted: October 10, 2019 at 10:05 AM (#5888780)

I don't know how anyone can predict the WC standings this year. A result of the talent spreading around is that so many teams are one injury away from a drastically different finish.

308. Der-K's enjoying the new boygenius album. Posted: October 10, 2019 at 11:18 AM (#5888828)

I think 538's Carmelo replacement comes out today (RAPTOR).
--
I had a dream where I called Alex Caruso the next Delon Wright. There are some relevant differences (Caruso has a higher ceiling as an outside shooter, Wright is a better penetrator and finisher) but I think that's not bad.
--
I can't call the Warriors a lock. The possibility of bad health makes their floor surprisingly low.

309. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 11:26 AM (#5888832)

I regret that my word choice is distracting from what should rightfully be a discussion of the newfound likability of OKC.

310. TFTIO was writing C programs in the '90s Posted: October 10, 2019 at 11:48 AM (#5888846)

I dispute that Chris Paul can ever be within a billion miles of anything “likeable”.

311. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 10, 2019 at 11:53 AM (#5888850)

I regret that my word choice is distracting from what should rightfully be a discussion of the newfound likability of OKC.

OTOH:

John Schuhmann @johnschuhmann

Random observation that counters intuition - In the 2 preseason games they played without Russell Westbrook, the Rockets averaged 32 fast break points. In the 2 games they've played with him, they've averaged 12.5 FBP.

Also, time to de-mambafy your posting style.

312. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 11:54 AM (#5888851)

It's certainly possible that Houston will be even less watchable, yes. I mean, at least Chris Paul can shoot.

313. It's Spelled With a CFBF, But Not Where You Think Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:01 PM (#5888859)

I really admire Lowe's talent for writing "this guy sucks and needs to vastly improve at something to be an NBA caliber player" while being amazingly inoffensive about it.

He is good at this, though I think one of my precious few criticisms of Lowe is that he'll write these long, loving, highly detailed pieces about individual players or teams that go deep into the weeds on how they can improve, and then the stories end with the shruggie emoji and "They probably just suck, though."

314. The Good Face Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:14 PM (#5888879)

I can't call the Warriors a lock. The possibility of bad health makes their floor surprisingly low.

If Steph misses significant time they're in a lot of trouble. On the other hand, if they stay healthy, their rookies develop and Klay comes back good as new by the playoffs, that's a very dangerous team.

315. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:18 PM (#5888889)

If Steph plays 70+ games, they're a lock. He mostly answered the durability questions from early in his career, but he only played 51 and 69 the last 2 years; some of those were undoubtedly "maintenance" games, which he probably can't take as many this year and the that may increase injury likelihood.

If Steph plays under 70, they're on the bubble.

316. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:21 PM (#5888894)

He is good at this, though I think one of my precious few criticisms of Lowe is that he'll write these long, loving, highly detailed pieces about individual players or teams that go deep into the weeds on how they can improve, and then the stories end with the shruggie emoji and "They probably just suck, though."

That's exactly his genius, though, his ability to write "this guy sucks" in a way that doesn't lose him access to sources forever. It's voodoo, and a LOT harder to pull off than Lowe makes it look. Lowe actually writes "negative" things about players and personnel far more often than any other well-connected sportswriter (i.e. writer who actually can get quotes from sources) I know of, because he's able to phrase "this guy sucks" in such a silky way.

I don't know, but I strongly suspect, that a lot of the kind of column you're talking about is the price Lowe pays to maintain those relationships. That he can write the kind of puff piece that is regularly required to assuage sources' egos and still be readable is impressive.

317. TFTIO was writing C programs in the '90s Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:22 PM (#5888896)

I mean, Lowe is a deeply humane writer, and it shows.

318. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:28 PM (#5888904)

My main Golden State issue isn't even health so much as the fairly significant number of bad players they have to give serious minutes to.

I'm a believer in Steph and Draymond and Kerr, though, so in some ways I'm more excited to watch them than I am a better team like the Clippers.

319. Booey Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:37 PM (#5888916)

I wonder if Booey will report tonight's Jazz score like he did after their first preseason game. Ha.

Huh? The Jazz didn't play last night. I don't know what you're talking about. ;-)

Seriously though, I've never given any relevance to pre-season games. Stars sitting, end of bench and G-league guys getting the same minutes as starters; it's just apples to oranges compared to regular season games. Last nights blowout loss didn't get me worried any more than the blowout win against the Aussie Sixers got me optimistic. Neither changed my expectations of the team one iota.

320. Athletic Supporter's aunt's sorry like Aziz Posted: October 10, 2019 at 12:47 PM (#5888927)

Ok, I think it's time for the... Third Annual BTF NBA Wacky Predictions contest! Can Booey defend his title? Can 2018 co-champs stevegamer or jmurph get back on top? A bit of a different format this year: seven free response questions worth 10 each and six pick 'ems worth 5 each.

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play?
2. Who will be the first coach fired?
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have?
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+?
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time?
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points?
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have?

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard?
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed?
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving?
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors?
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers?
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Fine print: only events that happen after a team has played game 1 and before game 82 count (so if a coach gets fired right after their team plays game 82, that doesn't count). I eliminated the top 25 contract traded question this year because of the seeming likelihood of Chris Paul getting a new address.

Scoring for the free form questions:

1. 10 pts minus 1 for every game of difference
2. 5 pts if your pick is fired and an additional 5 points if they're first
3. 10 pts, minus 1 for every 5 stocks of difference. This is total, not per game.
4. 10 pts for right category, 5 pts for adjacent category
5. 5 pts each
6. 10 pts, minus 2 for every one you're off
7. 10 pts, minus 2 for every one you're off

321. Booey Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:00 PM (#5888936)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 65
2. Who will be the first coach fired? James Borrego (from the Horcats. I had to look up his name)
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 195
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19 (low end of that range)
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Rudy Gobert, Pascal Siakam
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 16
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 8

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Dwight Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? No, Beard and Russ will take too many shots from each other. Plus Andrew Wiggins is still a thing.
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Kyrie
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Warriors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Ru-dy! Ru-dy!

322. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:13 PM (#5888948)

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen

Harden and Westbrook were asked if they still feel free to speak out on political and social issues. A spokesperson off stage said they would only answer basketball questions.

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen

D'Antoni asked a few questions about the situation in China, defers to Adam Silver's comments: "I coach basketball. I'm not a diplomat."

323. aberg Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:21 PM (#5888954)

I dispute that Chris Paul can ever be within a billion miles of anything “likeable”.

Same for the Thunder. Remember when their co-owner committed suicide rather than face trial for price-fixing? That's not the biggest problem with the franchise.

324. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:21 PM (#5888955)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 41
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Fizdale (this seems especially hard this year- most teams seem to know who they are)
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 162
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Gobert, Tatum
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 11
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 11

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes (Harden)
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Kemba
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Warriors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Gobert

325. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:32 PM (#5888960)

On the China/Hong Kong/NBA thing Bill Simmons was totally and completely pathetic discussing in his podcast repeating over and over 'this is really complex' when it totally isn't. What is complex about people not wanting to have an authoritarian govt and someone speaking out in support?? The trigger for this protest is now irrelevant. The whole thing could not be more simple. Simmons thinks he's doing himself a good by never reviewing his replies on Instagram or Twitter but I think creating this bubble means he never gets challenged on his dumb stuff because everyone around him owes him. Which is a total Tech bro thing to do so I guess he has learned that.

Kind of sad though. Guy used to not be a dumbass

326. Fourth True Outcome Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:37 PM (#5888963)

Kind of sad though. Guy used to not be a dumbass

[citation needed]

Simmons used to be a decent read for non-analytical takes on the NBA, but since Grantland has pretty clearly watched much less, and his takes have consequently suffered. For anything beyond on-the-court/field issues, though, IMO he has always been a pretty blinkered dumbass, he just didn't have a podcast to explore new, exciting areas of his ignorance with other low-info/high-opinion friends like Chuck Klosterman and Malcolm Gladwell.

327. Athletic Supporter's aunt's sorry like Aziz Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:39 PM (#5888965)

[326] I don't think you are qualified to say that until you listen to 10,000 hours of the podcast.

328. Fourth True Outcome Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:40 PM (#5888966)

I'd rather go on Road Rules in costume as a bit character from 90210.

329. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:40 PM (#5888967)

326/327--ouch. But funny!

330. TFTIO was writing C programs in the '90s Posted: October 10, 2019 at 01:59 PM (#5888979)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play?

62

2. Who will be the first coach fired?

Vogel

3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have?

262

4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+?

1-4

5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time?

LaVert, Gobert

6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points?

12

7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have?

6

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard?

Howard

P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed?

Westbrook

P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving?

Kyrie

P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors?

Toronto

P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers?

LAL

P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo?

Giannis

331. The Good Face Posted: October 10, 2019 at 02:03 PM (#5888980)

Jonathan Feigen @Jonathan_Feigen

Harden and Westbrook were asked if they still feel free to speak out on political and social issues. A spokesperson off stage said they would only answer basketball questions.

Shut up and let us dribble!

332. KronicFatigue Posted: October 10, 2019 at 02:11 PM (#5888984)

'this is really complex' when it totally isn't.

This is about as simple an issue as possible. The NBA wants China's money. The NBA does not "need" China's money.

Everything else is noise. The NBA would want us to believe this is a much more complicated issue, but it's really not. Someone employed by the NBA should be allowed to have opinions. Whether they are political or involving dinosaurs and humans working together in a buddy cop fashion.

Should China be able to impose their will and stifle the free speech of an American? Well, the NBA wants China's money. But they don't need it.

333. jmurph Posted: October 10, 2019 at 02:23 PM (#5888989)

The league just apologized publicly, and to the reporter, saying that shouldn't have happened.

Might need to eventually consider getting on the same page on this one.

334. KronicFatigue Posted: October 10, 2019 at 02:37 PM (#5888996)

If Steph Curry went all-in on offensive usage, and the baseline for GS's offense was him taking kinda bad, kinda contested 3's, how bad would their offense be?

Follow up question, depending on the answer to that....Could you build a championship team with that offensive limitation and the rest of the roster fleshed out with defensive/rebounders types? Offensively adequate enough to set picks, space the floor and not let the other team completely cheat on Curry.

335. Tom and Shivs couples counselor Posted: October 10, 2019 at 02:45 PM (#5889000)

332--completely correct

336. Booey Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:07 PM (#5889013)

Someone employed by the NBA should be allowed to have opinions. Whether they are political or involving dinosaurs and humans working together in a buddy cop fashion.

Finally! Someone else who saw that awful 1990's Whoopi Goldberg movie, Theodore Rex!

337. tell me when i'm telling 57i66135 Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:12 PM (#5889020)

Finally! Someone else who saw that awful 1990's Whoopi Goldberg movie, Theodore Rex!

are you sure it's not a reference to jurassic park?

338. tell me when i'm telling 57i66135 Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:18 PM (#5889025)

DSPN:

Despite the easy answers to those questions, a fog of uncertainty and hesitation has been thrown over so many discussions of the NBA’s relationship with China. It seems to me that everyone took their cues from Nets owner Joe Tsai
...
Plenty were eager to follow Tsai’s lead. Sports writers rushed to Twitter and television to let everyone know that the wisest course of action is to just steer clear of this complicated issue.
...
Perhaps nobody was more snowed in than The Ringer’s Bill Simmons...(he also brought up the fact that Steve Kerr’s father was murdered by an Islamic Jihadist as a good reason for Kerr not to comment on the NBA-China situation, the implication being, I suppose, that Kerr could have put himself in danger of being killed by a Chinese nationalist?)
...
The only reason this particular instance rose to the level of an international crisis is because Morey crossed an authoritarian regime that decided to respond by throwing an extended tantrum, and they were assisted by American media members all too eager to muddy up the particulars of the story while striking a pose of removed sophistication

339. Der-K's enjoying the new boygenius album. Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:28 PM (#5889034)

That was a team, not league spokesperson, fwiw.

340. RJ in TO Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:30 PM (#5889036)

Finally! Someone else who saw that awful 1990's Whoopi Goldberg movie, Theodore Rex!

What the hell? This is actually a real thing!

341. KronicFatigue Posted: October 10, 2019 at 03:45 PM (#5889043)

What the hell? This is actually a real thing!

Even after your post, I STILL didn't believe it until I googled.

342. Booey Posted: October 10, 2019 at 04:16 PM (#5889061)

What the hell? This is actually a real thing!

Even after your post, I STILL didn't believe it until I googled.

Oh yes. My Mom rented it one night cuz she was a big Whoopi fan. Apparently Goldberg tried to back out of her contract before it filmed and was taken to court by the production company. She's made several statements since saying it was the only movie she's ever regretted doing.

343. JJ1986 Posted: October 10, 2019 at 04:40 PM (#5889075)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 68
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Scott Brooks
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 158
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Rudy Gobert and Fred VanVleet
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 14 (The Bucks had quite a few 19-point victories last year.)
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 13

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? No
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Warriors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Rudy

344. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: October 10, 2019 at 04:44 PM (#5889077)

low-info/high-opinion friends like Chuck Klosterman and Malcolm Gladwell.

I think Klosterman is great.

Gladwell has had his moments, but has gone way off the reservation in recent years. If anyone missed his Nigerian basketball team they are missing a gold mine of comedy.

345. It's regretful that PASTE was able to get out Posted: October 10, 2019 at 05:36 PM (#5889091)

Bill Simmons is a rolling disappointment for a mess of reasons, but in this specific case he is probably following orders from above. Simmons may “own” The Ringer, but as far as I know it’s still mostly HBO that pays the bills. If not them, some other major advertiser(s).

346. Fancy Pants Handle struck out swinging Posted: October 10, 2019 at 06:09 PM (#5889109)

Nah, Simmons can roll out some awful takes, but I give him more credit for integrity than that. He basically talked his way out of ESPN, because he wouldn't bow down to their sacred cow, and went hard after the NFL and Goodell, over them being morally awful. I don't think he is about to let anyone else tell him who he can criticise and who he can't. If somebody tried to put pressure on him, it would probably make him dig in harder, and go after the target harder in response.

He just has a massive reflexive contrarian streak to him, and he always fancies himself as being smarter than everyone else. If an issue is too one sided, and there are too many people being "woke," then he will always try and at least nitpick at it, or find someway to go "yeah, but."

347. NJ in NJ Posted: October 10, 2019 at 06:12 PM (#5889110)

[346] Agreed.

348. aberg Posted: October 10, 2019 at 06:26 PM (#5889116)

I think Klosterman is great.

Klosterman was writing in the "local" section of my hometown paper (Fargo Forum) about chicken McNuggets when I was a kid. It has been fun to watch him grow and succeed. He is primarily a music writer. He spitballs about other stuff, but I doubt even he'd recommend taking any of his other ideas seriously. I enjoy him.

349. Athletic Supporter's aunt's sorry like Aziz Posted: October 11, 2019 at 03:08 AM (#5889200)

The other thing with Simmons is that it feels like he "should" be an analytics guy, since (1) he became popular when analytics did, (2) he was one of the first "internet guys" to make it big, and (3) Grantland brought us Lowe, Goldsberry, etc..

He is really himself in no way an analytics guy, though, so when you read or listen to his stuff with that imagine in your mind of course it's going to be disappointingly not-basketball-for-the-thinking-fan.

350. Crosseyed and Painless Posted: October 11, 2019 at 08:27 AM (#5889205)

I still enjoy Simmons on basketball because I do think he just watches/cares about it enough and there's plenty to basketball that isn't "in the numbers". Not that I agree with him all the time, but still listen.

On football, or heaven forbid Real World Issues, it's an easy Marcus Camby from me.

351. Willard Baseball Posted: October 11, 2019 at 08:28 AM (#5889206)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 62
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Scott Brooks
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 105
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Pascal Siakim and John Collins
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 11
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 8

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Toronto
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Lakers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

352. Fridas Boss Posted: October 11, 2019 at 08:28 AM (#5889207)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 66
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Scott Brooks
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 275
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Gobert, Siakim
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 5
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 30

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Harden
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Warriors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

353. Crosseyed and Painless Posted: October 11, 2019 at 08:53 AM (#5889210)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 64
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Fizdale
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 230
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Doncic, Mitchell
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 7
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 7

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Gobert

354. Mr. Hotfoot Jackson (gef, talking mongoose) Posted: October 11, 2019 at 09:26 AM (#5889216)

Just dropping by here to see if y'all are part of the conspiracy to ignore the WNBA. Looks like the answer is "yes."

355. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 09:42 AM (#5889223)

Thanks for the contribution gef!

356. Mellow Mouse, Benevolent Space Tyrant Posted: October 11, 2019 at 09:45 AM (#5889225)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 59
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Scott Brooks
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 92
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 20-81
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Siakim; Doncic
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 10
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 10

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Toronto
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Lakers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Gobert

357. Kurt Posted: October 11, 2019 at 09:57 AM (#5889231)

I would be very surprised if Scott Brooks is fired during the season. The team has been perfectly content with subpar coaching for many years; I don't see why that would change now, when the team has zero expectations for him to fail to reach.

358. JC in DC Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:05 AM (#5889237)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 27
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Vogel
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 112
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 20-81(low end of the range)
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Doncic and M. Robinson
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 7
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 14

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Walker
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? GSW
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Gobert

359. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:16 AM (#5889242)

I would be very surprised if Scott Brooks is fired during the season. The team has been perfectly content with subpar coaching for many years; I don't see why that would change now, when the team has zero expectations for him to fail to reach.

Isn't he also owed like $8 million in 20-21? I don't see why they would do that, either.

360. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:26 AM (#5889248)

Saturday's game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets is still scheduled to be played to conclude the 2019 China Games. However, the teams involved won't be talking about it.

The Nets' 114-111 victory over the Lakers in Shanghai on Thursday was able to happen only with a stipulation by the Chinese government, mandating that no media availability of any kind be held at the game and that NBA commissioner Adam Silver cancel his pregame news conference.

The league is adopting the same temporary policy for Saturday's game in Shenzhen.

"We have decided not to hold media availability for our teams for the remainder of our trip in China," the NBA announced in a statement Friday. "They have been placed into a complicated and unprecedented situation while abroad and we believe it would be unfair to ask them to address these matters in real time."

The league is making this decision independent of Chinese authorities, sources told ESPN.

I call bullshit on that last line.

Nets and Lakers players are free to comment on the circumstances without NBA retribution, according to a league spokesman. However, this media policy was already discussed with players and representatives from the players' association, according to a league source, so the motivation to operate outside of the league's guidelines is negligible.

SMDH

361. Der-K's enjoying the new boygenius album. Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:27 AM (#5889250)

354/gef - I haven't gotten to watch game 5 yet - my understanding is that it was great.
i get way too intensive with my sports watching and have tried to reduce the number of things i pay attention to (like i completely dropped football a few years ago), otherwise i'd add wnba next.

362. Kurt Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:30 AM (#5889251)

Isn't he also owed like $8 million in 20-21?

He's got two years left on a 5/$35; not sure how the year-to-year money breaks down.

363. Spivey Posted: October 11, 2019 at 10:54 AM (#5889262)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 55
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Nate McMillan
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 210
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Pascal Siakam and Mike Conley
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 7
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 9

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Toronto
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

364. My name is Votto, and I love to get Moppo Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:07 AM (#5889266)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 63
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Fizdale
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 130
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Siakam, Jayson Tatum
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 15
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 7

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? no
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Kyrie
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Lakers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

365. Mellow Mouse, Benevolent Space Tyrant Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:19 AM (#5889269)

I would be very surprised if Scott Brooks is fired during the season. The team has been perfectly content with subpar coaching for many years; I don't see why that would change now, when the team has zero expectations for him to fail to reach.

I went and looked at the list of NBA coaches and excluded all those who were very new, very good or legends. Looking at the rest Brooks looked most likely to have outworn his welcome. I admit I didn't look at contract status at all.

366. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:21 AM (#5889270)

Hollinger's Southwest division preview is up. He's high on New Orleans, putting them at 44-38, 7th in the West.

367. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:25 AM (#5889272)

Also in case anyone missed it, the first half of Lowe's league pass ranking is up.

368. Fourth True Outcome Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:25 AM (#5889273)

354/gef - I don't follow the WNBA, as neither Portland nor Boston has a team and I haven't otherwise gotten hooked, but as a long-time NWSL fan, I completely agree that the ways professional women's sports don't get media coverage sucks. They get caught in a feedback loop where the viewership numbers aren't great, or projected to be, so they don't get any meaningful media coverage, which hampers anyone who isn't already a fan from watching/finding out about it. Even when the games are broadcast on national channels, there is zero cross-promotion. (The way ESPN didn't mention the NWSL a single time during the WWC, even though ESPN had recently agreed to air some NWSL games was infuriating.) The counterargument is that the networks are just serving the broadest fan interest, but until the asymmetry between how much coverage and advertising men and women have gotten closes a bit I won't find that at all convincing.

369. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:27 AM (#5889275)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 64 - I think he'll get more rest than be out for injury
2. Who will be the first coach fired? There's no one obvious here, so I'm gonna draw a name out of hat for a decent team with a long tenured coach - D'Antoni it is (other names in the hat were Snyder, Stevens, Brown, and Rivers)
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 240
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Siakam, Zion
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 13
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 11

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

370. NJ in NJ Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:32 AM (#5889276)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 65
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Fizdale
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 170
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 5-19
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Doncic, Gobert
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 8
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 7

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Fultz
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? no
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Kyrie
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Clippers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis

371. Fourth True Outcome Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:37 AM (#5889278)

One other note on the WNBA finals: apparently Elena Della Donne won finals MVP playing with three herniated disks in her back. That is wild, and in a better sports media world ESPN et al would be leading with that story today, because holy smokes.

372. Mellow Mouse, Benevolent Space Tyrant Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:37 AM (#5889279)

I like the WNBA game, but I don't watch much in the way of sporting events except as a social exercise. I still follow sports though.

373. NJ in NJ Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:48 AM (#5889282)

Caught the 4th quarter of the WNBA game. EDD's ability to play through injury blows my mind.

374. DCA Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:51 AM (#5889284)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 9
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Atkinson
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 45
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Gobert, McCollum
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 4
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 4

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? Yes
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Irving
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Lakers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Gobert

375. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:52 AM (#5889285)

I don't follow the WNBA but saw a lot of the Finals.

I also find it annoying when people who don't participate in the thread jump in to criticize those that do!

376. Booey Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:54 AM (#5889287)

7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 30

Fridas Boss - Curious about this one; did you mis-read the question as TOTAL losses? (a 52-30 record sounds reasonable). Or do you really think Denver is going to be one of the worst teams in the league? (an 11-30 HOME record probably means fewer than 20 wins overall). If the latter, how come?

377. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:55 AM (#5889288)

I am also part of the conspiracy to ignore the WNBA, college baseball, the National Hockey League, the National Lacrosse League, NASCAR, etc.

378. Booey Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:57 AM (#5889290)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 27

Ouch.

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 9

Double ouch. Avert your eyes, Stiggles...

379. JJ1986 Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:06 PM (#5889292)

I don't watch much WNBA, but I'm mostly down to watching 2 sports plus some international soccer. I like the game and would watch more if I watched more of anything.

380. tell me when i'm telling 57i66135 Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:15 PM (#5889298)

851. my email address is hashtag 57i66135 Posted: July 09, 2015 at 03:38 AM (#4995613)
embiid is either gonna be a star, or i'll keep talking about how he'll be a star until his foot gets amputated.

703. theboyqueen Posted: July 08, 2015 at 04:19 AM (#4994654)
Speaking of which, I really love watching Kyle Anderson play. He moves like a deep sea creature. Kinda looks like one too.

755. my email address is hashtag 57i66135 Posted: July 08, 2015 at 03:06 PM (#4995088)

Fegan is an opportunistic shark who has done quite enough to try and destabilize franchises to line his pockets. If this exposes him as such, so be it. He has managed to be involved in some of the most bizarre player-team drama imaginable. But I have no reason to believe this is anything other than Jordan changing his mind.
you're not kidding. look at this client list:
Demarcus Cousins
Ricky Rubio [4]
John Wall [5]
Yi Jianlian [1]
Dwight Howard
Kris Humphries
DeAndre Jordan [6]
Chandler Parsons
Monta Ellis
Larry Sanders[7]

after thinking about these two things more than a minute, i've come to the conclusion that kyle anderson is a dragonair, okafor is a snorlax, embiid is a charizard, noel is a gyrados, charlie villanueva is a exeggcute and kurt heinrich is a magikarp.

381. JC in DC Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:22 PM (#5889303)

I don't get the Fizdale predictions. So far, he's done everything asked of him and been good soldier. Even if they suck (when they suck), it'd be awfully unclear how that bears on him at all. Then again, Knicks =/= rational.

382. DCA Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:28 PM (#5889309)

Knicks =/= rational.

That's the reason, I think.

I was tempted to pick Monty Williams, because Suns =/= rational, but I think he gets fired the day after the season ends. That's the way the Suns do it.

383. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:32 PM (#5889312)

There's no obvious candidates to me this year- the bad teams seem to know they're bad, and the teams that might underachieve relative to expectations still like their coach (I could see Dallas, Boston, Miami, for example, being in that category), or just hired their coach (the Kings, Suns, Wolves). I do like the D'Antoni pick, though, that makes a lot of sense.

So yeah, the Knicks are nuts and look to have an abysmal roster. What if they start like 3-14 or something? Who knows.

384. JJ1986 Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:36 PM (#5889317)

Most of the teams that I think are going to disappoint have newish coaches (MIN, ORL, DET) or legends (DAL, SAS) or guys who won't get fired because of one down season (POR). Maybe I should have considered Alvin Gentry, but he seems safe there and I think they want to create a stable culture. Maybe Billy Donovan goes just because he's not going to make it that long anyway and they might as well dump him now.

385. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:41 PM (#5889322)

1. How many games will Joel Embiid play? 55
2. Who will be the first coach fired? Donovan
3. How many total blocks plus steals will Zion Williamson have? 130
4. How many 3-pointers will Ben Simmons make: 0, 1-4, 5-19, 20-81, or 82+? 1-4
5. Who are two players who will make the All-Star Game for the first time? Gobert, Zion
6. How many games will the Milwaukee Bucks win by 20+ points? 10
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 2

P1. Who will have more free throws made minus free throws missed: Markelle Fultz or Dwight Howard? Howard
P2. Will a Rocket lead the league in field goals missed? No
P3. Who will average more points per game: new Celtics PG Kemba Walker or old Celtics PG Kyrie Irving? Kemba
P4. Which NBA Finalist will win more games: the Toronto Raptors or Golden State Warriors? Raptors
P5. Which LA team will win more games: the Clippers or Lakers? Lakers
P6. Who will have more dunks: Rudy Gobert or Giannis Antetokounmpo? Giannis.

386. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:49 PM (#5889329)

There's no obvious candidates to me this year- the bad teams seem to know they're bad, and the teams that might underachieve relative to expectations still like their coach (I could see Dallas, Boston, Miami, for example, being in that category), or just hired their coach (the Kings, Suns, Wolves). I do like the D'Antoni pick, though, that makes a lot of sense.

So yeah, the Knicks are nuts and look to have an abysmal roster. What if they start like 3-14 or something? Who knows.

I think there are a lot of guys who could get fired first, and it's hard to tell now.

D'Antoni is a good pick, but that would probably happen after the playoffs.
Atkinson might go because they might start the year pretty bad.
Fizdale might go just because lolKnicks.
Nate McMillen is really vulnerable if the Pacers start badly without Oladipo.
Scott Brooks is in charge of a tire fire, so maybe that's the safe bet.
Vogel could go quickly if LeBron gets antsy.
Luke Walton could be out if the Kings start slow.
Terry Stotts is my stealth firing candidate.
Bulls and Cavs coaches are so expendable I can't even remember their names.

Basically the only guys who are safe are: Pop, Nurse, and Kerr.
I would be shocked, but could see it happen: Spo, Doc, Stevens.
Everyone else: you have no job security.

387. Spivey Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:53 PM (#5889333)

I think Clifford is also a decent candidate. I see both Orlando and Indy as wanting to make a step this year. I think Orlando is going to improve a bit, whereas Indy's offense could/will just look like #### without Oladipo, Bogdan, and Thad. In fact, just saying that out loud, I don't know where they're going to get points from until Dipo comes back. And it's worth noting the team/fanbase is probably expecting or at least wanting top 10 player in the NBA 'Dipo from 2 years ago, when I'm not sure he ever reaches that level again.

388. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:54 PM (#5889334)

Bulls and Cavs coaches are so expendable I can't even remember their names.

John Beilein, weirdly enough! I also keep forgetting this. Though they presumably paid him a lot to lure him out of the NCAA, so I assume he's safe for a while.

389. It's Spelled With a CFBF, But Not Where You Think Posted: October 11, 2019 at 12:59 PM (#5889341)

Lowe's League Pass Rankings.

Also:

By the way: Did you know Butler works hard, showed up to one practice at 3:30 a.m., and wants to win really badly? I'm not sure if he has mentioned that anywhere. Also: Arriving to practice at 3:30 a.m. is stupid.

Ouch.

390. Fridas Boss Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:00 PM (#5889342)

376. Booey Posted: October 11, 2019 at 11:54 AM (#5889287)
7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 30

Fridas Boss - Curious about this one; did you mis-read the question as TOTAL losses? (a 52-30 record sounds reasonable). Or do you really think Denver is going to be one of the worst teams in the league? (an 11-30 HOME record probably means fewer than 20 wins overall). If the latter, how come?

Thanks for the catch, Booey, I misread it.

If I may ammed:

7. How many home losses will the Denver Nuggets have? 7

391. JJ1986 Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:01 PM (#5889343)

I can remember Beilein, but I have no idea who Memphis's coach is.

392. NJ in NJ Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:04 PM (#5889344)

I think Fiz is a good candidate because every projection system I've seen has the Knicks as either the worst or second worst team and the Knicks brass very clearly believes they've constructed a team that will be competitive.

393. Crispix Attacksel Rios Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:04 PM (#5889345)

I know all about John Beilein, but had no idea he was now coaching an NBA team. The Bulls coach of course is Jim Boylen, the bald drill sergeant guy.

The Grizzlies new coach appears to be one "Taylor Jenkins", age 35. Nobody knows anything about him except that he's a Mike Budenholzer protege.

394. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:08 PM (#5889355)

From Lowe's league pass rankings.

How weird is coach Tim Duncan going to be? Does he own suits? Do they fit? Will he get extra leg room scrunching into the second row? Will he react to disputed calls with patented bug-eyed shock?

Heh.

The rare moments when Jabari Parker tries on defense bring to mind the physical incongruity of an adult squeezing onto a child's bicycle: You recognize the act he is trying to accomplish, but he is somehow fundamentally unfit for it. He doesn't really know what to do, so he bounds around and waves his arms.

Actual LOL.

395. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:11 PM (#5889357)

So 538 updated their projections using their new RAPTOR player ratings, and it LOVES the Rockets.

396. Moses Taylor loves a good maim Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:12 PM (#5889358)

The Bulls coach of course is Jim Boylen, the bald drill sergeant guy.

I actually think Boylen is completely safe this season, even if Paxson is publicly talking about playoffs. While I really never believe Reinsdorf will actually fire Paxson (he'll just promote him higher and out of sight, a la Kenny Williams), there's enough public pressure on Pax now and Pax has absolutely married himself to Boylen. Boylen gave Pax a TON of chances last year to bail, instead they doubled down, extended him (another reason Boylen won't get fired; they're still on the hook for Hoiberg money), and have basically talked him up non-stop.

397. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:16 PM (#5889362)

So 538 updated their projections using their new RAPTOR player ratings, and it LOVES the Rockets.

As always with 538, good luck finding anything else. Is there a list of their player projections for the coming season, sorted best to worst? Impossible to say, but probably somewhere, unlabeled, in the middle of another article about a related topic.

398. JJ1986 Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:26 PM (#5889366)

As always with 538, good luck finding anything else. Is there a list of their player projections for the coming season, sorted best to worst? Impossible to say, but probably somewhere, unlabeled, in the middle of another article about a related topic.

Nate Silver tweeted "And here are our RAPTOR-powered player forecasts for ~700 current NBA players and rookies. Luka Doncic (no surprise) gets a really nice one!" with no link.

399. tshipman (The Viscount of Variance)

Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:31 PM (#5889371)

So 538 updated their projections using their new RAPTOR player ratings, and it LOVES the Rockets.

I get that it's a projection, but how do you project the Rockets to significantly improve their point differential with Westbrook for Paul and no other major changes?

All their guys besides Capela are old and getting older. Who is going to improve on that team?

400. jmurph Posted: October 11, 2019 at 01:32 PM (#5889372)

Nate Silver tweeted "And here are our RAPTOR-powered player forecasts for ~700 current NBA players and rookies. Luka Doncic (no surprise) gets a really nice one!" with no link.

I can barely figure out how to post a picture on instagram, don't get me wrong, but I'm constantly baffled by how poorly laid out their #### is. It's very difficult to find stuff there.

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