The Official NBA Regular Season Thread—-20/21 Edition

[PKIPP]

Originally Posted by SDcardguy24

How did Conley look? I thought he was going to be a great addition for them last season but he never really got going.

He was solid last night. I can't recall his stats off the top of my head, 16-18 points maybe, but he just looked more comfortable not needing to have the ball too much. Seems he's buying into his role and prepared well for it. It's only been one game, but the signs were there in the bubble and preseason too.

[solt0131]

Originally Posted by tjforce

So what do we know for sure after 1 game from each team this year:

-LeBron, Giannis, and Luka are all out of the MVP race
-Jokic will average a triple double, but it won't matter as his team loses every game this year
-The Durant/Kyrie experiment 100% worked and there are no issues, no will there ever be
-The Hawnks probably won't lose this season

-Coby White and Lamelo Ball are busts.
-MPJ is a MVP candidate.
-2019-20 Draft Class is the best ever.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Yep...That's exactly what I'm saying...

I used to be very critical of Giannis, and my reasoning for that was that he tended to disappear in the 4th quarter. This was maybe 3 years ago, right before his MVP season.

That sure didn't happen tonight. He imposed his will and did everything right.

He just is not a good free throw shooter.

no doubt, he dominated most of the fourth and was the leading charge to the bucks comeback. but in the last 3 minutes of a tied game against a major conference rival he went 0-2 (missed 3 and missed layup) and was gifted a chance to tie it through free throws and missed horribly on the last free throw. until he proves his self in situations like this and in the playoffs consistently, i cant put clutch on his name.

[brothertona]

Trae with a defensive highlight

https://twitter.com/hawksonfsse/stat...305030145?s=21


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[brothertona]

I just think Giannis needs another wrinkle to his game outside of just bull in a china shop. Yes he's big and fast but he needs some finesse.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by brothertona

I just think Giannis needs another wrinkle to his game outside of just bull in a china shop. Yes he's big and fast but he needs some finesse.

He shot 3-8 from 3. He's doing exactly what he needs to do to evolve his game.

I'm not sure exactly what people are expecting? He missed a FT at the end of the game but other than that dominated the entire 4th Q and singlehandedly brought the Bucks back from what, 17 down?

I feel like this board has wildly unrealistic expectations of Giannis at this point

[Dnic]

Originally Posted by tjforce

So what do we know for sure after 1 game from each team this year:

-LeBron, Giannis, and Luka are all out of the MVP race
-Jokic will average a triple double, but it won't matter as his team loses every game this year
-The Durant/Kyrie experiment 100% worked and there are no issues, no will there ever be
-The Hawnks probably won't lose this season

It's one game relax lol, also the Hawks played one of the worst teams in the league....

[kobebeast2020]

Originally Posted by solt0131

-Coby White and Lamelo Ball are busts.
-MPJ is a MVP candidate.
-2019-20 Draft Class is the best ever.

The Jordan and Kobe class might have something to say about that (:

I get pleasure watching the ball family suck

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by Dnic

It's one game relax lol, also the Hawks played one of the worst teams in the league....

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by jcardstore

He shot 3-8 from 3. He's doing exactly what he needs to do to evolve his game.

I'm not sure exactly what people are expecting? He missed a FT at the end of the game but other than that dominated the entire 4th Q and singlehandedly brought the Bucks back from what, 17 down?

I feel like this board has wildly unrealistic expectations of Giannis at this point

oh yeah, he was playing well inside and out. that post up fade away jumper looked great and the walk down pull up 3 was sweet. im not knocking giannis saying hes a bad player, its just he has things to prove. but providing basically nothing for a fourth of the fourth quarter (last 3 minutes is probably the most important when tied) isnt dominating the whole quarter. it may seem unrealistic but giannis is in year 8 with back to back mvps. we often see people discredit lebrons clutch abilities and thats after multiple championships, being at or near the top in fourth quarter scoring often, game winners, clutch playoff games, huge game 7's, etc.

[pingbling23]

Originally Posted by brothertona

I just think Giannis needs another wrinkle to his game outside of just bull in a china shop. Yes he's big and fast but he needs some finesse.

if he gets even better with that post up fadeaway jumper, that would be unstoppable at his size and length.

[jcardstore]

Originally Posted by pingbling23

oh yeah, he was playing well inside and out. that post up fade away jumper looked great and the walk down pull up 3 was sweet. im not knocking giannis saying hes a bad player, its just he has things to prove. but providing basically nothing for a fourth of the fourth quarter (last 3 minutes is probably the most important when tied) isnt dominating the whole quarter. it may seem unrealistic but giannis is in year 8 with back to back mvps. we often see people discredit lebrons clutch abilities and thats after multiple championships, being at or near the top in fourth quarter scoring often, game winners, clutch playoff games, huge game 7's, etc.

If LeBron is the bar nobody is ever gonna be happy lol.

Giannis is one of the best players in the NBA but he's never going to have the legacy of LeBron, not even close.

Giannis may win a couple rings, he may not. He's one of the most physically dominant players of all time and has evolved his game quite a bit over the last few years.

Just by the way people are posting in here it seems like they're expecting him to be Steph Curry out there shooting 3s and looking like LeBron.

I think it's all rooted to "investors" who bought high and the only way for his cards to keep going up is with multiple titles which I don't see anytime soon.

[Vinny1984]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Yep...That's exactly what I'm saying...

I used to be very critical of Giannis, and my reasoning for that was that he tended to disappear in the 4th quarter. This was maybe 3 years ago, right before his MVP season.

That sure didn't happen tonight. He imposed his will and did everything right.

He just is not a good free throw shooter.

The thing is he WAS a decent free throw shooter until last year. Also the same year where was 3PM/3PA went up significantly and even hitting at a serviceable clip. It’s just....weird.

[ronaldkosh]

I know he's a big man on a team that's always bad, so he doesn't get much hobby buzz, but I'm rooting for Karl Anthony Towns to succeed. Might have to pick up a few of his cards.

The guy lost 7 family members to COVID per the New York Post.

[Dame]

Giannis has parallels of David Robsinon's career pre TD. Mind blowing numbers, season MVP and DPOY who couldn't meet expectations in the postseason.


I don't expect things to change for the Bucks, teams already have a blueprint on how to contain him. They need an elite, take over closer when Gianni's stagnates on offense, a picture we've all accustomed to see in the playoffs- Jrue and Middleton aren't it, even if you combine both, IMO.


One can only dream but from a basketball fan perspective, it would be amazing if Lillard and Giannis somehow finds a way to teamup.

[ronaldkosh]

Originally Posted by Dame

Giannis has parallels of David Robsinon's career pre TD. Mind blowing numbers, season MVP and DPOY who couldn't meet expectations in the postseason.


I don't expect things to change for the Bucks, teams already have a blueprint on how to contain him. They need an elite, take over closer when Gianni's stagnates on offense, a picture we've all accustomed to see in the playoffs- Jrue and Middleton aren't it, even if you combine both, IMO.


One can only dream but from a basketball fan perspective, it would be amazing if Lillard and Giannis somehow finds a way to teamup.

That's a good comparison. Looking back, the 1994-95 Spurs really blew it. They were 62-20 facing a 47-35 Rockets team in the Western Conference Finals. I have to think they'd have also beaten the Magic in the Finals (Rockets swept them).

Then the following year, the 1995-96 Spurs were 59-23 and got the 2 seed, but lost in the 2nd round.

[volblorx8634]

Originally Posted by ronaldkosh

I know he's a big man on a team that's always bad, so he doesn't get much hobby buzz, but I'm rooting for Karl Anthony Towns to succeed. Might have to pick up a few of his cards.

The guy lost 7 family members to COVID per the New York Post.

I'm also rooting for him. Seems like a great dude and he's so incredibly skilled. He just doesn't have that influence on the game that leads to wins. Obviously really hard for a big man to have that these days. Just completed a rainbow of his sans-1/1 that is locked away in a pc. Will post pics when I have em

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[volblorx8634]

A lot of things happened to go the Kings' way to get the win, but there was a lot to like about the Kings performance. This is the way they were supposed to play last year.

Thoughts from Kings-Nuggets:

I'm in awe of Jokic every time I watch him play. Obviously there's the passing but he just controls the game effortlessly and brilliantly. He's Luka in a bigger, slower body.

Nuggets need to rebound better. They got destroyed on the offensive glass.

Nuggets guards won't be this bad all year but it's a bad sign if Jokic and Murray have to have incredible games to win.

As for the Kings, obviously thrilled with their performance. Woulda been happy even if they lost. Buddy was engaged, Fox had an awful first half but adjusted beautifully. Barnes and Joseph provided the vet stuff that they needed for the win. Holmes was steady as always.

Statline may not reflect it but Bagley really impressed me. Played great individual defense guarding Jokic most of his time on the floor. Gonna have to bulk up though if he is gonna be doing that. Perimeter defense needs work, but he has the tools and agility to do it. Needs to learn how to double team and set screens. Way too many half assed double team attempts by Bagley resulted in putting the defense at a disadvantage. And his shot is not good. Hopefully just rust or what not but he needs to be able to consistently make a mid to long 2, if not stretch to a 3 every so often. The airball from straightaway 3 was painful to watch.

Haliburton was very impressive. Clearly he has won the favor of the coaching staff as he was on the floor and got the last shot for the win at end of regulation. Incredible defense instincts. He may be the best defender on the team already. Good feel and he orchestrates the offense better than Fox imo. No, he isn't a better player, but Fox will just zoom past his defender and shoot or kick out. That's because he is lightning quick. Haliburton just knows how to create passing lanes and make those passes. He still needs to work on his timing but it'll come.



Other biggest takeaway: Ja is really good.

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[volblorx8634]

Originally Posted by Akphillips86

Gobert is a massive piece to the Jazz equation. His deal drew some criticism, but he’s worth it for Utah.


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Gobert is so underappreciated just because 1) he's a big man 2) he's in Utah 3) he isn't a scorer. He's just as important to Utah as Mitchell is

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[spurs50fan]

Ja...

Ja Wohl —> https://twitter.com/spurs/status/134...627896320?s=20

[rifleman69]

Originally Posted by ronaldkosh

That's a good comparison. Looking back, the 1994-95 Spurs really blew it. They were 62-20 facing a 47-35 Rockets team in the Western Conference Finals. I have to think they'd have also beaten the Magic in the Finals (Rockets swept them).

Then the following year, the 1995-96 Spurs were 59-23 and got the 2 seed, but lost in the 2nd round.

That's because the Dream was in the zone that playoff year...no one could stop him.

[lietuvalabas]

Originally Posted by volblorx8634

A lot of things happened to go the Kings' way to get the win, but there was a lot to like about the Kings performance. This is the way they were supposed to play last year.

Thoughts from Kings-Nuggets:

I'm in awe of Jokic every time I watch him play. Obviously there's the passing but he just controls the game effortlessly and brilliantly. He's Luka in a bigger, slower body.

Nuggets need to rebound better. They got destroyed on the offensive glass.

Nuggets guards won't be this bad all year but it's a bad sign if Jokic and Murray have to have incredible games to win.

As for the Kings, obviously thrilled with their performance. Woulda been happy even if they lost. Buddy was engaged, Fox had an awful first half but adjusted beautifully. Barnes and Joseph provided the vet stuff that they needed for the win. Holmes was steady as always.

Statline may not reflect it but Bagley really impressed me. Played great individual defense guarding Jokic most of his time on the floor. Gonna have to bulk up though if he is gonna be doing that. Perimeter defense needs work, but he has the tools and agility to do it. Needs to learn how to double team and set screens. Way too many half assed double team attempts by Bagley resulted in putting the defense at a disadvantage. And his shot is not good. Hopefully just rust or what not but he needs to be able to consistently make a mid to long 2, if not stretch to a 3 every so often. The airball from straightaway 3 was painful to watch.

Haliburton was very impressive. Clearly he has won the favor of the coaching staff as he was on the floor and got the last shot for the win at end of regulation. Incredible defense instincts. He may be the best defender on the team already. Good feel and he orchestrates the offense better than Fox imo. No, he isn't a better player, but Fox will just zoom past his defender and shoot or kick out. That's because he is lightning quick. Haliburton just knows how to create passing lanes and make those passes. He still needs to work on his timing but it'll come.



Other biggest takeaway: Ja is really good.

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haha i was just going to come in here and say i realize its only one game but the kings really looked like they put up a fight....said noone since 2006 haha. i only watched the end really, didn't get to see what bagley did, his statline wasn't super impressive, but a near double double, and most importantly he isnt on the injured list haha. The fouling out wasn't super encouraging though. But yes love Jokic, that man is insanely talented.

[jcardstore]

I should create the Haliburton thread now because the dudes going to be an incredible NBA player

[spurs50fan]

Originally Posted by rifleman69

That's because the Dream was in the zone that playoff year...no one could stop him.

And the Spurs number 1 player had to expend energy on both ends against this massive talent to have a chance. That’s unheard of today. Defense is played in spurts while teams put up 120+ in between efforts lol. Our number 2 was Sean Elliott, theirs was Clyde Drexler... The records didn’t matter tbh bc those were battles

[daeve]

I was impressed with Haliburton, he does seem very poised already. Surprising from a rookie with a very short pre-season too. Bagley is the opposite to me, lol. He's not big enough to be a 5, and he doesn't have an outside shot, it looked really bad to me. He's like a bargain bin John Collins, but without the skill.