AROUND the NBA:

[Mavs2021]

I was told Grimes was only racking up numbers playing in meaningless games to end the season.

He might be better than any guard on the Mavs roster.

Are you saying he´s better than Kyrie? Cause Grimes is certainly better than D-Lo, Christie or Klay.

[Chicagojk]

So Luka MVP, Grimes 6th MOY, and Jalen as first team NBA would be quite a gut punch.

[Chicagojk]

I could definately see NO doing something like this.   I guess Kings too, but Kings really don't have much to offer.

https://x.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/1985679026229559526

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHbZFVA9Edo


Ja Morant speaks after serving his one-game suspension.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Lakers are 6-2. JJ Redick is really good at grinding out regular season wins.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Lakers are 6-2.  JJ Redick is really good at grinding out regular season wins.

And LeBron hasn't even played yet.

[omahen]

Lakers are 6-2.  JJ Redick is really good at grinding out regular season wins.

Just for comparison. Lakers offensive rating without Luka is 112.8 this season (with him its 124.3). Their offensive rating without AR, Luka and LeBron against Portland, one of better defenses in the league, was 121.8. Their offensive rating in the three games Luka missed in October was 116.5. Mavs offensive rating is 104, dead last in the league, which is also worse than worst offensive rating from all teams from last season. A tanking team like BKN employing a bunch of rookie PG has almost 10 points higher offensive rating.

Sure, it is early in the season and things might change, but I think Mavs problems go way beyond just roster construction (even though it is not great) and the excuses of Kyrie being injured. At what point will the coaching staff need to start answering questions?

[omahen]

And LeBron hasn't even played yet.

I am actually a little bit worried, how his return will impact their dynamics. 

1. Reaves role will likely be reduced and he is not an ideal third option due to his defensive limitations. The solution would be if LeBron commits to being in that third guy role - spending most of energy on defense while being a third option offensively. Are Lakers and LeBron ready for that?
2. I guess Rui will go to bench when LeBron returns, as Mavs need a point of attack defender. Rui is close to ideal running mate for Luka. He is solid defensively and deadly accurate offensively. He is shooting 45 % from three and is especially lethal when receiving an open look his teammates generate. His TS so far is at 70 %. LeBron is not great off-ball and from catch and shoot situations. I am also not sure if he is much better defensively. Of course he does bring other things on the table like creation, driving to the rim, defensive rebounding and fast breaks.
3. If Lakers keep Rui in the starting unit, the one going to the bench will be their point of attack defender. Smart has been awesome in that role so far and their defense, which is already not great, would take a big hit.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

Just for comparison. Lakers offensive rating without Luka is 112.8 this season (with him its 124.3). Their offensive rating without AR, Luka and LeBron against Portland, one of better defenses in the league, was 121.8. Their offensive rating in the three games Luka missed in October was 116.5. Mavs offensive rating is 104, dead last in the league, which is also worse than worst offensive rating from all teams from last season. A tanking team like BKN employing a bunch of rookie PG has almost 10 points higher offensive rating.

Sure, it is early in the season and things might change, but I think Mavs problems go way beyond just roster construction (even though it is not great) and the excuses of Kyrie being injured. At what point will the coaching staff need to start answering questions?

Mavs are a dumpster fire bro.  I have no idea what the front office or the coaching staff are doing.  The only thing that makes sense is that they're tanking this year since they have next year's pick and trying to develop Flagg.

I agree adding Kyrie to this team doesn't make them a contender.

[Chicagojk]

All this talk about the Mavs slow start and how they can build a contender, only to see OKC be 8-0 and blowing teams out without their second best player and other players out different games is sort of depressing.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4685...st-leaders


Something is different about this Bulls team. Giddey is playing out of his mind
since he signed that extension. And they're winning without Coby White.

[Jym]

All this talk about the Mavs slow start and how they can build a contender, only to see OKC be 8-0 and blowing teams out without their second best player and other players out different games is sort of depressing.

He gets the awards but it still feels like SGA should be getting more attention and hype from fans for how great he is
Like there was a stretch last year where they were hit by injuries and he was tallest person in the starting lineup for a couple weeks. No matter who us out there with him, they just keep winning

[KillerLeft]

He gets the awards but it still feels like SGA should be getting more attention and hype from fans for how great he is

1) Oklahoma (the epicenter of "who cares," even when the team is good)

2) He is currently the biggest and most successful "foul grifter" in the sport, which rubs a lot of people the wrong way, I think. 

But I agree - he's great to the point of being taken for granted...for whatever reason. Those are just the reasons that popped into my head when I read your post.

[Jym]

1) Oklahoma (the epicenter of "who cares," even when the team is good)

2) He is currently the biggest and most successful "foul grifter" in the sport, which rubs a lot of people the wrong way, I think. 

But I agree - he's great to the point of being taken for granted...for whatever reason. Those are just the reasons that popped into my head when I read your post.

By the way people talk you'd think he was averaging 11 or 12 free throw attempts a game 
8.7 and 8.6 per game the past 2 seasons 
Seems like the people on Twitter who only watch highlights pick a narrative and stick with it

[KillerLeft]

By the way people talk you'd think he was averaging 11 or 12 free throw attempts a game 
8.7 and 8.6 per game the past 2 seasons 
Seems like the people on Twitter who only watch highlights pick a narrative and stick with it

I don't watch him every night, but I feel that way when I do watch him. It's not the amount of free throws, it's the WAY he gets the whistle. I'm probably being unfair, but it just seems so cheap to me.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

I don't watch him every night, but I feel that way when I do watch him. It's not the amount of free throws, it's the WAY he gets the whistle. I'm probably being unfair, but it just seems so cheap to me.

James Harden was the same way during his run as the best scorer in the game. Now he doesn't go to the line nearly as much.

[Smitty]

@ChrisBHaynes
BREAKING: Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery, league sources tell me.

[RoyTarpleysGhost]

YIKES

So many injuries already this season

[omahen]

Bad luck for him in his contract year. Ainge as usual overplayed his hand as there is no way he can get a good package for him now. Might sign him to a lower deal though, depending on market interest. There will be teams with cap space and some could still take a shot, despite this injury.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/4686...-kings-win


Russell Westbrook surpasses Jason Kidd with the most rebounds for a guard ever, and his 204th
triple-double.