NBA 2023

[lakefront]

What with all the trades and movement last couple days, thought the NBA should have its own thread.
Some top teams improved, Some got worse, some stood pat. Second round draft picks became like pennies on the floor, tossed around everywhere.

[Jhanksm3]

Crazy free agency for sure

[ny325]

I can’t watch the NBA. I try really hard, and can’t do it. No defense, 3 pointer, after 3 pointer.

[lakefront]

Milwaukee Bucks win 15th straight to take over best record in the league. Have won every game since Kris Middleton came back.....not a coincidence.
I think 1st time this year they had a full team available.

[GERMAN M3]

And my Mavericks continue to find a way to NOT play any defense. As I stated in my Luka Doncic thread, I wasn’t to excited about bringing Irving aboard. The better option would have been to bring in some key role players to help the Mavs defensively. I don’t see the Mavs getting out of the first round this year.

[lakefront]

Originally Posted by GERMAN M3

And my Mavericks continue to find a way to NOT play any defense. As I stated in my Luka Doncic thread, I wasn’t to excited about bringing Irving aboard. The better option would have been to bring in some key role players to help the Mavs defensively. I don’t see the Mavs getting out of the first round this year.

Was gonna say that's a little exteme that Dallas wouldn't get past 1st round, but the West is really deep this year. Luka and Kyrie have to figure it out so y'all don't wind up playing Denver or Memphis first.

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by lakefront

Was gonna say that's a little exteme that Dallas wouldn't get past 1st round, but the West is really deep this year. Luka and Kyrie have to figure it out so y'all don't wind up playing Denver or Memphis first.

And it may be somewhat extreme, but as you stated lakefront , the West is pretty deep. Unless the Mavericks step up there defensive game, every game will literally be a shootout. Has me worried.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by GERMAN M3

And it may be somewhat extreme, but as you stated lakefront , the West is pretty deep. Unless the Mavericks step up there defensive game, every game will literally be a shootout. Has me worried.

Everyone knew the Mavs had no defense after they made that trade. This was totally predictable. They are going to be an easy out unless both Luka and Irving go for 40 a game....

This is also why the Suns aren't winning anything of note this year.

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by ny325

I can’t watch the NBA. I try really hard, and can’t do it. No defense, 3 pointer, after 3 pointer.

100% agreed, and now this 3 point cancer has infected the NCAA. I tried to watch some of the tournament this year, and it's horrible. If I wanted to watch this nonstop 3 point bullshit I'd go to the local YMCA and watch a bunch of old timers just chuck 'em up. All I hear from this generation is how much more athletic they are, more gifted, etc. Then all I see is 100 shitty 3 pointers per game, zero defense, and not a single person on the court who can take 5 steps without carrying, walking, double dribble, etc. I think the last traveling violation I’ve ever seen called was when Westbrook essentially walked the ball to half court. I don’t fault him at all for thinking he’d get away with it. I don't think there's a point guard in the NBA now who is capable of not constantly palming the ball. I get the refs don't want to slow down the action and I agree, but what are the point of rules?

Horrible.

Zion Williamson is the one exception, that kid is unbelievably exciting. Rarely shoots threes, drives to the rim constantly, has incredible moves, basically has it all. Unfortunately, he cannot seem to keep his face out of the Big Macs and nobody has told him a 280 pound person jumping 40 inches in the air might not exactly set a record for longevity. I hope he can somehow stay healthy in the years ahead, but it ain't looking good.

[F30lolz]

Kyrie/Donk combo isn’t working out as expected. He’ll run to LeBronics in FA and leave the Mavs in turmoil for several years as they should have kept Brunson.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by NickyC

100% agreed, and now this 3 point cancer has infected the NCAA. I tried to watch some of the tournament this year, and it's horrible. If I wanted to watch this nonstop 3 point bullshit I'd go to the local YMCA and watch a bunch of old timers just chuck 'em up. All I hear from this generation is how much more athletic they are, more gifted, etc. Then all I see is 100 shitty 3 pointers per game, zero defense, and not a single person on the court who can take 5 steps without carrying, walking, double dribble, etc. I think the last traveling violation I’ve ever seen called was when Westbrook essentially walked the ball to half court. I don’t fault him at all for thinking he’d get away with it. I don't think there's a point guard in the NBA now who is capable of not constantly palming the ball. I get the refs don't want to slow down the action and I agree, but what are the point of rules?

Horrible.

Zion Williamson is the one exception, that kid is unbelievably exciting. Rarely shoots threes, drives to the rim constantly, has incredible moves, basically has it all. Unfortunately, he cannot seem to keep his face out of the Big Macs and nobody has told him a 280 pound person jumping 40 inches in the air might not exactly set a record for longevity. I hope he can somehow stay healthy in the years ahead, but it ain't looking good.

Man I agree with your statements entirely... and the good teams in the NBA are always predictable.

I do not agree with the Zion comments... i think while he is athletic he will be a fail in the NBA.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Kyrie/Donk combo isn’t working out as expected. He’ll run to LeBronics in FA and leave the Mavs in turmoil for several years as they should have kept Brunson.

is there a Kyrie combo that has worked out lol?

maybe the bron / kyrie 2 or so years

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by ASAP

Man I agree with your statements entirely... and the good teams in the NBA are always predictable.

I do not agree with the Zion comments... i think while he is athletic he will be a fail in the NBA.

I unfortunately agree as well. The guy is amazing to watch, but he's hurt all the time. It's only going to get worse with age. He's built to be a tight end, he could probably be one of the best ever if he'd focused on football. These is simply no way he's going to have a long NBA career if he stays this overweight. His entire game is explosive athleticism and getting to the ring, if those gifts are taken away he basically has nothing.

Hope he stays healthy for the sake of the league!

[pikkagtr]

Luka Oncic another game of zero Defense
He can't use the D in his name till he learns to play Defense
talk about overated and overhype
just another Chucker and dribble dribble dribble
shoot a 3
slightly more efficient poor man's James Harden

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

Luka Oncic another game of zero Defense
He can't use the D in his name till he learns to play Defense
talk about overated and overhype
just another Chucker and dribble dribble dribble
shoot a 3
slightly more efficient poor man's James Harden

Mavericks just look absolutely lost out there. They have 0 defense to speak of!!!

[lakefront]

How much of this is coaching? Never been a fan of Jason Kidd.....

[pikkagtr]

Originally Posted by lakefront

How much of this is coaching? Never been a fan of Jason Kidd.....

You can't coach a guy into playing great defense
The player must have a desire to do so, or else you get matador defense like 75% of the time

[lakefront]

Originally Posted by pikkagtr

You can't coach a guy into playing great defense
The player must have a desire to do so, or else you get matador defense like 75% of the time

Actually meant the team as a whole, not just Luka.

[pikkagtr]

Well they traded away a lot of players who WERE defensive minded and got Kyrie
Who is in his own world , but I digress
I mean the defense is just bad, they're not even trying
I understand if you don't have the gifts and or the skills, but you can still show effort
And work on your game to become a better defender

I'll use Curry for example, he isn't physically gifted
But at least he tries, and has become an acceptable defensive player

[lakefront]

I see Luka avoided suspension AGAIN when NBA recinded another technical. What a joke.....can we at least pretend that players are treated equally?

[GERMAN M3]

Mavericks are just a mess at the current moment. I wasn’t to thrilled with bringing Kyrie aboard. In the midst of all that, our defense ran out the door. Doesn’t even look like we will make the playoffs. And at the end of it all Kyrie is just going to run to L.A. to play with LeBron and A.D. wish we would have just stuck with what we had. At least the chemistry was much better than the current state of affairs.

[mjr24]

Originally Posted by lakefront

I see Luka avoided suspension AGAIN when NBA recinded another technical. What a joke.....can we at least pretend that players are treated equally?

Quite honestly, it won't matter because they are going home in a week anyways.

However, they shouldn't suspend players with a week left in the season when they are in the playoff hunt.....it's petty and arbitrary....most techs given are.