Around the League - '23-24 Season

[Monster]

This a real clip of Malik Beasley playing defense

https://x.com/feellikedrew/status/17228 ... hHGOWH-s5w

Lol plus he almost trips on himself at the end.

Just not sure what Milwaukee was thinking here. I get trying to land Dame, but then you just have to have a backcourt mate that can defend.

Milwaukee #26 in defensive rating this season so far.

They got Beasley for a vet min deal. Maybe they should have gone for another player but regardless of Beasley’s flaws that should be a good value. He is taking and making 3’s over 40%. I kinda doubt he is gonna end up being their starting SG at the end of the season. Meanwhile in terms of defense they went from their backup PG type guy from Jevon Carter to Cam Payne. Thats probably a pretty big dropoff on that end. Payne at the vet min is another good value but subtracting really good defenders for ones are are at best average is gonna matter. I’m not sure who they could have gotten at those spots instead.

[Lipoli390]

There were some other nice results tonight in addition to the Wolves win over the Warriors:

1. The Clippers lose to Memphis. I’m always happy to see an NBA team of mercenaries like the Clippers lose. I take even great pleasure knowing that one of those mercenaries is James Harden. The Clippers have now lost every game they’ve played since Harden’s arrival.

2. The Wizards lost. Why would I care about the Wizards you might ask. Here’s why. The Wolves will receive the less favorable of the Wizards or Grizzlies 2nd round pick next June. So far so good as the Wizards look like a bottom dweller as expected while the Grizzlies continue to struggle. Of course tonight I was rooting for the Grizzlies because they were playing James Harden and the Clippers. But it would be great to see the Wizards and Grizzlies finish in the bottom 5 of the standings. A top 5 second-round pick should be enough for the genius of TC to land a really good prospect. Then perhaps the Wolves could trade their 2024 first in exchange for a first-round pick in 2027, which is the only year the Wolves have no draft picks.

3. The Rockets beat the Nuggets. I’m not sure whether I like this or not. It’s good for the Wolves to keep the Nuggets from pulling ahead of the pack, but the Rockets look like they’re for real and that means another team the Wolves will have to contend with for playoff position.

[KG4Ever]

Are you seriously worried about the Rockets? Wolves should destroy them in the playoffs, so Rocket wins are a good thing. The two teams to worry about the most are both in the East: Boston and Philly. Luckily the Wolves are in the weak West.

[Q-is-here]

There were some other nice results tonight in addition to the Wolves win over the Warriors:

1. The Clippers lose to Memphis. I’m always happy to see an NBA team of mercenaries like the Clippers lose. I take even great pleasure knowing that one of those mercenaries is James Harden. The Clippers have now lost every game they’ve played since Harden’s arrival.

2. The Wizards lost. Why would I care about the Wizards you might ask. Here’s why. The Wolves will receive the less favorable of the Wizards or Grizzlies 2nd round pick next June. So far so good as the Wizards look like a bottom dweller as expected while the Grizzlies continue to struggle. Of course tonight I was rooting for the Grizzlies because they were playing James Harden and the Clippers. But it would be great to see the Wizards and Grizzlies finish in the bottom 5 of the standings. A top 5 second-round pick should be enough for the genius of TC to land a really good prospect. Then perhaps the Wolves could trade their 2024 first in exchange for a first-round pick in 2027, which is the only year the Wolves have no draft picks.

3. The Rockets beat the Nuggets. I’m not sure whether I like this or not. It’s good for the Wolves to keep the Nuggets from pulling ahead of the pack, but the Rockets look like they’re for real and that means another team the Wolves will have to contend with for playoff position.

I agree Lip, watching the Clippers struggle is a pleasure. Why on earth did they feel Harden was necessary when they already have plenty of guys that can play with the ball in their hands!? So stupid. I was hoping they would just let Harden languish for the season rather than indulging him and the Sixers in his trade demand.

[AbeVigodaLive]

There were some other nice results tonight in addition to the Wolves win over the Warriors:

1. The Clippers lose to Memphis. I’m always happy to see an NBA team of mercenaries like the Clippers lose. I take even great pleasure knowing that one of those mercenaries is James Harden. The Clippers have now lost every game they’ve played since Harden’s arrival.

2. The Wizards lost. Why would I care about the Wizards you might ask. Here’s why. The Wolves will receive the less favorable of the Wizards or Grizzlies 2nd round pick next June. So far so good as the Wizards look like a bottom dweller as expected while the Grizzlies continue to struggle. Of course tonight I was rooting for the Grizzlies because they were playing James Harden and the Clippers. But it would be great to see the Wizards and Grizzlies finish in the bottom 5 of the standings. A top 5 second-round pick should be enough for the genius of TC to land a really good prospect. Then perhaps the Wolves could trade their 2024 first in exchange for a first-round pick in 2027, which is the only year the Wolves have no draft picks.

3. The Rockets beat the Nuggets. I’m not sure whether I like this or not. It’s good for the Wolves to keep the Nuggets from pulling ahead of the pack, but the Rockets look like they’re for real and that means another team the Wolves will have to contend with for playoff position.

I agree Lip, watching the Clippers struggle is a pleasure. Why on earth did they feel Harden was necessary when they already have plenty of guys that can play with the ball in their hands!? So stupid. I was hoping they would just let Harden languish for the season rather than indulging him and the Sixers in his trade demand.

Yep. I'm just waiting for everybody to turn on Westbrook again because he's the most expendable.

Here's a guy who took Amir Coffey money and accepted a third fiddle role, played with intensity and started to rebuild his reputation... only to see the team chase a lazy, selfish malcontent who is going to make him even more irrelevant and the scapegoat because Westbrook simply doesn't have the off-the-ball skills to remain effective.

The 2019 Clippers went 48 - 34 somehow... with energy and teamwork and commitment. Then, they decide "nah, we don't like that route. Let's start ring chasing."

Fast forward five years... and here we are. And the future looks even worse.

[KG4Ever]

Incredible game between Warriors and OKC. Wiggins is on fire tonight with 31 points so far and hit what appeared to be game winning triple with 1.6 seconds left, but Holmgren tied it with a triple of his own at buzzer. Overtime.

[KG4Ever]

OKC beat the Warriors in OT. OKC looks really good and I can't wait to see how we fare against them. Shai is an MVP candidate and Holmgren looks awesome.
Chicago got a much needed win against Miami. They were down like 1-20 to begin the game and staged a very nice comeback.
Spurs got a huge lead against Memphis and blew it. Spurs can blow leads faster than any team I have seen as their shot selection is putrid. Wemby had a horrible shooting night and kept chucking long 2s. He is actually a better three point shooter than long 2 and so he should focus on perimeter and paint shots. Pops supposedly isn't doing much in game tutoring for Wemby and I hate Pops for that and starting Sochan over Tre Jones!
Milwaukee is having a hard time integrating Lillard and Giannis. They each seem to play better when they don't have to share the ball. Both were negative for the night, but they came back and beat Dallas.

[Q-is-here]

Well, Haliburton came back down to earth....at least in the first half of their game against Orlando where they are currently getting crushed 78-44 at the half. Wow. Tyrese is 0-7 from the field with 3 turnovers and a -26. Ant's had a few bad stretches of late, but not THAT bad. We'll see if he bounces back in the 2nd half....

[Lipoli390]

A real defensive battle tonight in Atlanta with the Pacers defeating the Hawks 157-152. No, that’s not a typo. And no, it wasn’t an overtime game. That’s 309 points in four quarters. Halliburton had 37 points and 16 assists. He also had 6 turnovers, but the Pacers certainly overcame Halliburton’s carelessness.

[FNG]

A real defensive battle tonight in Atlanta with the Pacers defeating the Hawks 157-152. No, that’s not a typo. And no, it wasn’t an overtime game. That’s 309 points in four quarters. Halliburton had 37 points and 16 assists. He also had 6 turnovers, but the Pacers certainly overcame Halliburton’s carelessness.

We haven't talked much here about the in-season tournament, but it certainly has produced some intensity that has led to some really interesting games...this was one of them. By the way, I think Tyrese scored all of his 37 points in the first three quarters!