The Official NBA Regular Season Thread—-21/22 Edition

[ninjacookies]

Lol why would Phoenix be fearful of anyone.

The reigning WC champs and have dominated every team throughout the regular season, even with their stars sidelined.

Super balanced with infinite ways to beat you, a stronk bench, and play great team defense.

They're pretty much their own roadblock to the Finals.

[drobfan8]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Lol why would Phoenix be fearful of anyone.

The reigning WC champs and have dominated every team throughout the regular season, even with their stars sidelined.

Super balanced with infinite ways to beat you, a stronk bench, and play great team defense.

They're pretty much their own roadblock to the Finals.

Yeah if they're worried about a Kawhi-less Clippers than they're not contenders.

Team has a point to prove, in that last season wasn't a fluke. They're well balanced, well coached and have players on the up, bar a couple of savvy vets.

I hope they win the title.

[bkcardcollector]

yeah i dunno, i still envision a cp3 injury or ayton cowering, maybe they learn from last year...

[KhalDrogo]

Philly against teams with winning records since Harden was activated.

6-6

[daeve]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Lol why would Phoenix be fearful of anyone.

The reigning WC champs and have dominated every team throughout the regular season, even with their stars sidelined.

Super balanced with infinite ways to beat you, a stronk bench, and play great team defense.

They're pretty much their own roadblock to the Finals.

Oh I was under the impression there's still a non-zero chance Kawhi returns once the play-in is over... even if Phx is the undisputed #1, you can't tell me they wouldn't be at least a little irked about a decent team getting back two Top ~15ish players right before the series.

[RogerGodahell]

I wouldn't count a fresh legs Kawhi and PG out of any series before it's been played. I went to bed last night with the Clippers getting blown out and i wake up today to see they came back and beat the Jazz in PG first game back.

Some think there's a zero chance Kawhi returns. The probability is probably not high though i would never say zero chance. Only Kawhi will make that decision and no one else. We know that from past experience he's all about maximizing his longevity and career income.

But then there's also this.


“I wanted to secure some money and I wanted to be able to come back if I was able to this year,” Leonard said. “If I would have took the one and one, I probably would have not played just to be cautious and opted out and took a five-year (deal).”

No one is saying the Suns wouldn't defeat them in a series. They're saying it wouldn't be the cupcake matchup it would be facing the Clippers without Kawhi, PG, Powell. Literally their 3 best players vs not having them play.

[Nomad]

pretty good news...

"After undergoing surgery for a torn meniscus in his left knee this morning, Boston Celtics C Robert Williams is expected to return within 4-to-6 weeks – a timetable that could land him back in the lineup as soon as the second-round of Eastern Conference playoffs."

If that happens, Williams will also have had a good long rest. Watch out...

[KhalDrogo]

When you have two of the best players in the world, anything goes in a seven game series. This isn’t the Lakers where even healthy LeBron and AD can’t get past the absolute garbage that surrounds them. Clippers with Kawhi, PG, and Powell back would have depth, a great coach, and fresh legs.

[Zedlaw]

Originally Posted by ninjacookies

Lol why would Phoenix be fearful of anyone.

The reigning WC champs and have dominated every team throughout the regular season, even with their stars sidelined.

Super balanced with infinite ways to beat you, a stronk bench, and play great team defense.

They're pretty much their own roadblock to the Finals.

Yeah, I'm sure the players feel great. As a Suns fan? A fan of a team who haven't won anything, a fan of a team where breaks consistently go against them, a fan of a team that was in the basement for a decade before Paul, Paul a player who hasn't showed the ability to be healthy for a long playoff runs, last year included? As a fan I'm terrified of everything.

[yiguiri2002]

If numbers and standings stay the same, Barnes has to be the ROY over Mobley, right? Right?

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by yiguiri2002

If numbers and standings stay the same, Barnes has to be the ROY over Mobley, right? Right?

Nope. But these are the top 2 guys.

[Zedlaw]

It's so close. I think Barnes is pulling ahead

[bigjbasketball]

Mobley was so far ahead of the pack for so long that I didn’t think anyone would catch him, but Barnes will definitely make this one interesting. Cade has improved more recently, but I think it’s a 2-man race right now.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by Zedlaw

It's so close. I think Barnes is pulling ahead

Current Odds for Mobley:
MGM:-400
FanDuel: -330
Draft Kings: -450
Ceasars: -300
Bovada: -500

The injury to Mobley could be something to watch, but right now it doesn't seem all that close.

[gomiamigo]

Suns are the clear favorite until further notice.

Same for Mobley.

[Zedlaw]

I'll rephrase, Barnes is pulling ahead based on who I would vote for. But it's super close. Seems like style preference and storylines will be the tiebreaker.

[yiguiri2002]

Originally Posted by tjforce

Nope. But these are the top 2 guys.

Originally Posted by tjforce

Current Odds for Mobley:
MGM:-400
FanDuel: -330
Draft Kings: -450
Ceasars: -300
Bovada: -500

The injury to Mobley could be something to watch, but right now it doesn't seem all that close.

Party pooper.

But it's crazy how despite having better advanced numbers, more games, more minutes and (probably) a better record, he's still far behind.

[cardbored]

Not that my opinion matters, but I'd put Mobley over any other rookie based on his impact on offense and (especially) defense for the entirety of the year. We're pretty fortunate that we've had such a good draft class this year.

[asujbl]

The only way Barnes closes is if Mobley misses the rest of the year (he is out tonight) with his ankle

And even then it’s probably not enough. Mobley has been too good for too long. He can withstand this push

[asujbl]

Cleveland's Evan Mobley will be out the next three games rehabbing his sprained left ankle, Cavs say.

[tjforce]

Originally Posted by asujbl

Cleveland's Evan Mobley will be out the next three games rehabbing his sprained left ankle, Cavs say.

My hopes are that it's only three.

Those games will go by quick: Cavs have back to back back to backs coming up.

[Zedlaw]

That Orlando flight doesn't seem great (game five upcoming). If they have him playing there I'd consider him 100%. Home Philly game 4 then at Brooklyn game 6 seems reasonable.

I'm still shocked how close everything is out east. From Phoenix it's about 6 hours to LA or Vegas, which are basically all your options for a long weekend spent in a city. That same drive can be as diverse as Chicago, New York, Nashville, DC or Toronto from Cleveland. Maybe why a lot of my short trips are camping. The west is beautiful but very spaced out

[daeve]

Jokic 12-7-5-2-1 on 6-6 FG, good for a +22 vs the G-league Pacers so far tonight.


edit - we're in the 1st Q folks.

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by drobfan8

Yeah if they're worried about a Kawhi-less Clippers than they're not contenders.

Team has a point to prove, in that last season wasn't a fluke. They're well balanced, well coached and have players on the up, bar a couple of savvy vets.

I hope they win the title.

I do too. I'm a lot more confident in them maneuvering through the WC than I do the Finals, though. Strictly because the East still contains the 2 best players in the league (backed by hardware).

Originally Posted by daeve

Oh I was under the impression there's still a non-zero chance Kawhi returns once the play-in is over... even if Phx is the undisputed #1, you can't tell me they wouldn't be at least a little irked about a decent team getting back two Top ~15ish players right before the series.

Top 15ish? Since when? It's odd seeing some of kneejerk takes after an otherwise meaningless regular season win vs a team both BO and the media at large have completely disregarded as a contender (Utah).

And seeing some of the Mavs fans suddenly tout the Clips as a scary proposition is odd. The same team they were denigrating the past 2 years as they struggled to maneuver past a team of basically one in the first round. The entire world watched as George Playoff Pee'd himself into one of the most laughable postseason performers of recent memory. Even IF Kawhi comes back, does anyone honestly expect him to be anywhere near even 80%, as he'll be almost a year removed from competitive activities?

Phoenix crushed this squad last year, and they seem to be even stronger this time around. Clips might present a challenge for any of the other WC squads, but the Suns have proven themselves in a different echelon until proven otherwise.

Legit only squad I think they'd feel some mental anguish over are the Warriors. But unless they flip a magical switch, both Curry and Klay aren't quite right, Green's availability continues being a floating questionmark, and their star center is done for the year.

I WANT to see Memphis push their buttons, but they're entirely too young, and the playoffs are a completely different beast.

Originally Posted by Zedlaw

Yeah, I'm sure the players feel great. As a Suns fan? A fan of a team who haven't won anything, a fan of a team where breaks consistently go against them, a fan of a team that was in the basement for a decade before Paul, Paul a player who hasn't showed the ability to be healthy for a long playoff runs, last year included? As a fan I'm terrified of everything.

You have a right to. I'm speaking more about the Western Conference, though. Health will be their ultimate roadblock to the Finals. Otherwise, they really have no holes in their game. Top 2 in both defensive and offensive net rating. And that's with CP3 and Book missing stretches.

[drobfan8]

I 100% agree about PHO in the West. I've bet them hard to win the conference. But the Finals will be tough.