22-23 NBA Season Thread

[FiddySicks]

I’m never happy to see the Lakers move on because they’re the Lakers, but if this causes Memphis to finally, and mercifully shut up, I’ll take it. 

[FiddySicks]

11 hours ago, Cujo said:

 

You were probably too young for the '98 Eastern Conference Finals.. 

 

The Pacers should hang a banner for taking a dynasty Bulls team to 7 games. They might've been the only one.

Oh no, I remember that series pretty vividly. I was at an Embassy Suites watching with my dad and was pretty pissed when the Pacers lost (I was tired of the Bulls). 

 

But the thing is, Butler has kinda been that guy several times. Like, I personally think you’re overlooking how often he’s carried his teams in a similar manner. Several times when his squad had absolutely no business winning outside of what he was doing. This year is kind of another time like that. 
 

I know it’s really easy to glorify those old 90s Jordan days, but it’s frustrating to see those same fans discredit this era just because it wasn’t the 90s. If you gave me the choice between Reggie Miller or Jimmy Butler in the playoffs, I’m probably going with Jimmy Butler. 

[tBBP]

2 hours ago, FiddySicks said:

I know it’s really easy to glorify those old 90s Jordan days, but it’s frustrating to see those same fans discredit this era just because it wasn’t the 90s. If you gave me the choice between Reggie Miller or Jimmy Butler in the playoffs, I’m probably going with Jimmy Butler. 

 

Ooh...now that's an interesting thought to think about! I don't think one would go wrong one way or the other picking Miller Time or Jimmy Buckets. That said, had that last shot actually fell through the rim last season, yeah...dude's star would've been near-meteoric. As it is, he's probably one of the most underrated stars in the league right now, but one thing is for sure: come playoff time, dude's gonna bring all he's got. 

 

3 hours ago, FiddySicks said:

I’m never happy to see the Lakers move on because they’re the Lakers, but if this causes Memphis Dillon Brooks to finally, and mercifully shut up, I’ll take it. 

 

What you (and the rest of sports media) meant to say. For the record, I agree with you...dude chirps too much—and too disproportionately—relative to the amount of team success. I can appreciate the fact that he's embraced being "Dillon the Villain", but at the same time, it's gotta be backed up on the court. And as an individual player, his play has yet to match his mouth.

 

That said, the grizz is done. I called Lakers in 6, I'm sticking with it.

[DG_ThenNowForever]

Ja isn't right and Memphis got the greatest performance of Desmond Bane's career last night to push to OT. That and AD had one of those games where he decided he wasn't into it.

 

The Grizzlies aren't healthy and the Lakers are at mostly full strength. The greatest asset you can have in the playoffs is health.

[gosioux76]

20 hours ago, FiddySicks said:

I know it’s really easy to glorify those old 90s Jordan days, but it’s frustrating to see those same fans discredit this era just because it wasn’t the 90s. If you gave me the choice between Reggie Miller or Jimmy Butler in the playoffs, I’m probably going with Jimmy Butler. 

 

I grew up adoring the late '80s-'90s NBA, and used to be a super harsh critic of the current era. But it wasn't "just because it wasn't the 90s," as you say. I can't speak for others, but for me the issue was the current era's emphasis on the three-point shot at the expense of low-post play. 

 

There's no denying the modern big man is a more talented athlete than the big men of the prior era, but it's really hard to imagine how players like Chamberlain, Kareem, Hakeem, Patrick Ewing and Shaq could exist in an era like the current one. 

 

That said, Reggie Miller isn't someone who falls into this category. If anything, he's one of the rare talents whose skills would translate into any era of the sport. Same with Jimmy Butler, for that matter. Not sure why anybody would consider one inferior to the other based upon eras of the game. 

 

[FiddySicks]

2 hours ago, gosioux76 said:

 

That said, Reggie Miller isn't someone who falls into this category. If anything, he's one of the rare talents whose skills would translate into any era of the sport. Same with Jimmy Butler, for that matter. Not sure why anybody would consider one inferior to the other based upon eras of the game. 

 

It’s not really an inferiority thing, and it’s certainly not a knock on Miller. It’s actually more of a compliment. He was straight up lethal come playoff time, and is one of the most clutch players there ever was. I’m simply stating that I think that Butler isn’t only on that level, but is actually underrated in that sense. It’s obviously not a perfect comparison because their games were very different, but their overall relentless will to win in the crunch is what I find to be so comparable. He’s basically the closest thing I’ve seen since Reggie Miller, and I think is a touch more talented. It’s splitting hairs though, because they were both excellent. 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

I'd take Jimmy Butler over Reggie Miller, all day every day.

 

 

The BALLS on Trae Young. Jesus Christ. That was nuts.

[Digby]

It would be the most Celtics thing to let this one go seven. How big was the lead that they blew just by getting sleepy in the 4th? Painfully sloppy.

[Gary]

Devin Booker carrying the Suns since game 2. 25 in the third quarter and looking at a 50 plus game. He is incredible to watch

[DG_ThenNowForever]

30 minutes ago, Gary said:

Devin Booker carrying the Suns since game 2. 25 in the third quarter and looking at a 50 plus game. He is incredible to watch

 

It's a real problem the Suns struggled this much against Russell Westbrook and whatever else is left on the Clippers.

 

Denver is going to smoke the Suns.

[Gary]

Just now, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

It's a real problem the Suns struggled this much against Russell Westbrook and whatever else is left on the Clippers.

 

Denver is going to smoke the Suns.

problem is they don’t use their bench. For such a great starting 5, the bench sucks and I agree if they don’t use that bench it’s going to be Denver all the way

[who do you think]

Did the Celtics forget to take care of business again? DidtheCelticsforgettotakecareofbusinessagain? Whosagoodboywhosagoodboywhosagoodboy

[FiddySicks]

2 hours ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

 

It's a real problem the Suns struggled this much against Russell Westbrook and whatever else is left on the Clippers.

 

Denver is going to smoke the Suns.

It kinda feels like Denver’s year. The west is down, and they’re finally fully healthy (hopefully Jokic’s wrist issue isn’t a big thing). I don’t see any of the teams left in the west taking them down. Sixers Nuggets Finals would be great. 

[TrueYankee26]

10 hours ago, who do you think said:

Did the Celtics forget to take care of business again? DidtheCelticsforgettotakecareofbusinessagain? Whosagoodboywhosagoodboywhosagoodboy

That was a damn good, gutsy shot by Trae. Major onions

[Cujo]

T-Wolves player struck two women with a chair

 

 

[JerseyJimmy]

so this is what having hope feels like, huh? I still feel like it's too early in the Knicks' window, but Boston looks pretty mortal right now. we'll see.

[The_Admiral]

1 hour ago, Cujo said:

T-Wolves player struck two women with a chair

 

 

[DG_ThenNowForever]

1 hour ago, JerseyJimmy said:

so this is what having hope feels like, huh? I still feel like it's too early in the Knicks' window, but Boston looks pretty mortal right now. we'll see.

 

 

Knicks are looking awesome right now and should absolutely be considered a favorite in the east.

 

I ate dinner on a boat tonight, luckily without any TVs nearby. Better than watching the Lakers get stomped.

[who do you think]

Jeez, Cavs. Guess I'm buying into the Knicks now!

 

If Miami actually finishes off the Bucks this whole half of the bracket is officially on the fly. The Celtics are still refusing to finish games and may not even win their current series, Embiid is hurt and allegedly so is Harden, the Knicks are a 5 seed with no established stars (on the Tatum/Embiid/Harden/Butler level anyway) that was league average on both ends, the Heat are an 8 seed on a down year.

[tBBP]

54 minutes ago, DG_ThenNowForever said:

I ate dinner on a boat tonight, luckily without any TVs nearby. Better than watching the Lakers get stomped.

 

Wasn't as much of a stomping as the final score may have made it seem. The game really didn't break open till about halfway through the third period, and then Memphis went off...only to of course, again, nearly lose it in the fourth. Both teams looked absolutely gassed by about five minutes to go in the game. Oh and Ja may have hurt himself...again. As did Luke Kennard...and AD at one point. 

 

I still think this is over in six...but we'll see what happens.