AROUND the NBA:

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Klay Thompson on scoring 30 points with 8 three-pointers: “I enjoy having big nights, but I don't go into games thinking I have to prove myself. I know what I'm capable of, and as long as I stay in great shape, I'll have plenty of nights like this throughout the season. That's why I'm so attracted to Miami. The culture is real. They really get the most out of you, especially at this stage of my career.” Klay Thompson on facing the Warriors in SF tomorrow: “Hopefully I can continue the same flow because I made a lot of buckets in that building. And it’s fun to beat up on old friends.” (h/t @MrBuckBuckNBA)

x.com

[Chicagojk]

I saw Kristaps isn’t fighting them withholding salary (he’s made over 250 million), the issue for GS is I believe he still counts against the cap for them, so a waste of 20 million. He seems like a guy who just wants to move on from basketball. Another promising career stolen by injuries.

Obviously getting healthy is key.  I hope he can live a normal healthy life.  

When I saw the 250 million total for his career, I thought surely this is wrong.  Nope.   Over 250 million.    31 years old.   While his career didn't go as planned, that pretty remarkable career earnings.  Won a ring too.   Although, health takes precedence over everything else.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Ty Jerome on Isaiah Stewart's leadership by example: "He's huge, man. You got a leader like by example. It's like that kind of piece everyone needs. I mean, for Golden State, it's that Draymond thing that you talked about. He's every bit of that, where, like, you're not going to get punked. And that's half of basketball. I think we took our first loss last night because we finally lost the rebounding battle. But until then, we hadn't lost that in 7 games; we lost it one night. So, I give credit to him, credit to like what he's instilled on this team. The confidence, like, you know, he's behind you every night. It frees you up to talk shit and, you know, I mean, be really free out there."

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

With his game in a 116-103 win over the Kings, Luka Dončić passed the combined career 40-point games of Dwyane Wade (34) and Hakeem Olajuwon (32). He has 67. Doncic finished with 40 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists, and he overcame a slow shooting start to finish with 11 made baskets on 23 field-goal attempts. There is no slowing down the Lakers star right now, and Kings guard Zach LaVine gave him all the praise he could muster for yet another excellent performance. “Luka's one of the most talented players of all time. I don't think people actually give him enough credit for how good he really is. He's one of the best scorers of all time,” LaVine said in his postgame presser, via Oh No He Didn't on X. “The shot-making ability is insane. You really can't contest him. He gets calls. But he plays at his own pace; he creates contact. The dude's averaging 40 right now.”



HoopsMatic


Luka is on a serious roll.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kendrick Perkins to Domantas Sabonis: "It is not on Darius Acuff to adjust to you, bro. This is Darius Acuff's vehicle. This is his franchise. They have officially handed him the keys. He is the face. You are not anymore. I get it, you are not used to playing with a guy like Darius Acuff. It took a lot of people to be able to adjust to playing with Steph Curry off the top. It took Steph Curry to have to adjust and say, you know what, I have to let Steph be Steph. And there is Darius Acuff; he showed us who he was in college, and he is showing us who he is right now."

YouTube

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Those concerns have faded somewhat in the past week, but league insiders remain highly skeptical of the Adebayo-Antetokounmpo pairing. “I never thought those two were going to fit together,” said the second exec. “I just don’t know how you run an offense with two power forwards. Neither one of them can shoot and operate in the same space.” The Heat badly need more playmaking, shooting, and depth, and they—having sent all of their best role players to Milwaukee—have very little of value to trade … other than Bam himself.

The Ringer

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Steve Kerr on the explanation he has been given for why Kristaps Porzingis isn't around the team: "I haven't been given one, nor am I asking for one." Al Horford says he's been able to text Kristaps Porzingis, but that he has to "respect what's going on and wait for him to say what he has to say."

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Kevin Durant had high praise for Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels. "That's why I love playing with Minnesota. Jaden McDaniels stands up on his own and guards, doesn't ask for help, don't say nothing. He just plays, and I really respect him."

x.com

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Brian Windhorst: "I was at the Detroit airport yesterday when this news came out. In the report, Shams Charania is like, they're not paying him, Porzingis is not fighting it, and they're still trying to trade him. I was listening to these two guys sitting behind me and they were like, what do you mean? This is the NBA. What do you mean they're trying to trade him? So wait a minute, he's not playing, we're not paying him, but we're trying to trade him?" Tim Bontemps: "It actually increases his value in the trade market because now, not only is it a quasi-expiring contract, but you're going to get a discount because he'll take a buyout." Brian Windhorst: "Why would you take a buyout to pay him at all? A buyout means you got to pay him some of the salary." Vince Goodwill: "A buyout means he got to show up. If he out here getting new teeth, then he ain't, I don't think he's showing up for nobody's physical."

YouTube

[Chicagojk]

The Warriors have been one of the better stories of the first two weeks of the year.    I am not sure if it has staying power, but boy it is sure fun when they are firing on all cylinders.

[dirkfansince1998]

Another 50+ game from Luka. Now averaging 40+ for the season. Have seen many insane stretches from him in a Mavs jersey but this is on another level. He makes it look so easy. Probably shoots a better percentage from half court than most Mavs from the corner.

[KillerLeft]

Another 50+ game from Luka. Now averaging 40+ for the season. Have seen many insane stretches from him in a Mavs jersey but this is on another level. He makes it look so easy. Probably shoots a better percentage from half court than most Mavs from the corner.

He's awesome, no doubt. He might be the most offensively gifted player in league history, when all is said and done. He'll have to significantly improve his work eithic (even more) to achieve the necessary longevity for something like that, but it's definitely possible. 

However, what I've already learned that year is that liking the players on the team is even more important to me than I suspected it might be during his last couple of seasons here. I do not pine over Luka after he's gone the way I did for TY, Nash or even Barea, if I'm being honest. My interest in Luka from a far is closer to how it was when Josh Green was traded (for different reasons, obviously). I'd definitely feel differently if the Mavs were completely hopeless - lucking into Flagg and getting the new front office are absolutely contributing factors here, but...I find that I don't care enough to check to see how he's done. I might also feel differently if/when the Mavs ever face the Lakers in the playoffs over the next few years, not sure.

[ballsrchr]

He's awesome, no doubt. He might be the most offensively gifted player in league history, when all is said and done. He'll have to significantly improve his work eithic (even more) to achieve the necessary longevity for something like that, but it's definitely possible. 

However, what I've already learned that year is that liking the players on the team is even more important to me than I suspected it might be during his last couple of seasons here. I do not pine over Luka after he's gone the way I did for TY, Nash or even Barea, if I'm being honest. My interest in Luka from a far is closer to how it was when Josh Green was traded (for different reasons, obviously). I'd definitely feel differently if the Mavs were completely hopeless - lucking into Flagg and getting the new front office are absolutely contributing factors here, but...I find that I don't care enough to check to see how he's done. I might also feel differently if/when the Mavs ever face the Lakers in the playoffs over the next few years, not sure.

ahhh...cold, man--cold.  But--basically correct...

[DanSchwartzgan]

He's awesome, no doubt. He might be the most offensively gifted player in league history, when all is said and done. He'll have to significantly improve his work eithic (even more) to achieve the necessary longevity for something like that, but it's definitely possible. 

However, what I've already learned that year is that liking the players on the team is even more important to me than I suspected it might be during his last couple of seasons here. I do not pine over Luka after he's gone the way I did for TY, Nash or even Barea, if I'm being honest. My interest in Luka from a far is closer to how it was when Josh Green was traded (for different reasons, obviously). I'd definitely feel differently if the Mavs were completely hopeless - lucking into Flagg and getting the new front office are absolutely contributing factors here, but...I find that I don't care enough to check to see how he's done. I might also feel differently if/when the Mavs ever face the Lakers in the playoffs over the next few years, not sure.

You've had good language around this from the very beginning when you talked about the possibility they didn't want to be "in the Luka business" any more.  I feel similarly.  Don't love how it went down and for what, but I'm not upset at what it led too (even if pure luck).

The point I wanted to make is some are still so emotionally tied to Luka that your very reasonable take (really how you feel more than a take) will still be labled by some as "hate".  Part of that is the fact that nowadays everything that doesn't match our own position has to be labeled and can't just be an honest disagreement with more degrees and nuance than labels allow.  It is a shame this is where we live today.

[david75090]

Like most, the Luka trade incident really bummed me out. Day by day I appear to be getting over it. Now I'm wondering at what point I un-segregate my Mavs Ts from the rest in my closet, and put 'em back in rotation. Still not quite ready, but close. My feelings are still hurt. I admire Luka's talent but never cared much for the one man team. Much prefer a team that shares the ball.

[ballsrchr]

Like most, the Luka trade incident really bummed me out. Day by day I appear to be getting over it. Now I'm wondering at what point I un-segregate my Mavs Ts from the rest in my closet, and put 'em back in rotation. Still not quite ready, but close. My feelings are still hurt. I admire Luka's talent but never cared much for the one man team. Much prefer a team that shares the ball.

I feel pretty much the same.  I didn't like the one man team--but kept hoping that Luka would learn how to use "all" of the team.  I think he will be a "real" superstar if/when he learns that.  Maybe when he's older.  In the meantime...I root for the Mavs.

[CooPerFan]

Looks like luka will finally lead a team to 55+win. He will win MVP if he continue what he’s doing on offense.

[Mavs2021]

You've had good language around this from the very beginning when you talked about the possibility they didn't want to be "in the Luka business" any more.  I feel similarly.  Don't love how it went down and for what, but I'm not upset at what it led too (even if pure luck).

The point I wanted to make is some are still so emotionally tied to Luka that your very reasonable take (really how you feel more than a take) will still be labled by some as "hate".  Part of that is the fact that nowadays everything that doesn't match our own position has to be labeled and can't just be an honest disagreement with more degrees and nuance than labels allow.  It is a shame this is where we live today.

Of course it´s "hate". Killer is trying to win some Luka is selfish, lazy and egocentric argument he created in his head. Oh right Luka was selfish. He should have passed it more to Powell to Bullock to DFS to Derrick Jones Jr. to Josh Green and Porzingis and all these awesome offensive creators that were held back by Luka being oh so selfish. The only reason the Mavs don´t have a 2nd title by now is Nico Harrison trading this selfish player and the moron, who appointed him, dropping Jalen Brunson. The only reason the Mavs are not a 25 win team without that selfish player is that Adam Silver fixed the Mavs won the lottery for a generational talent on 1.7% odds.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Looks like luka will finally lead a team to 55+win. He will win MVP if he continue what he’s doing on offense.

He sure will. He's playing out of his mind. That shot from 3\4 court before the half was bonkers.

[windjc]

I do not think Luka can sustain his current pace. I do not think his body can hold to his usage. I am happy to be wrong. But I don't really miss his game. Perhaps he has evolved his game and if so great. But the fact that he has to average 40 points a game to get a team to win 55 games, just seems like its so unproductive towards a Championship.