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Topic: 2019 NBA Pre-Season - page 344. (Read 903153 times)

sr. member
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November 15, 2023, 07:43:32 AM
[...]
By the way, don't forget the Timberwolfes. They beat the Nuggets and now the Warriors twice in Chase Center. They are 8:2 as well.
The Timberwolves gamble on Gobert seems to be paying off now as their own big 3 with KAT and ANT are starting to produce results. They also have Conley providing some solid support.

Quote
About the surprises, Houston really is surprising everybody so far getting some solid wins over the Nuggets, Lakers, Kings and so on. With this roster nobody expected them to be ready already.  Grin
Yes the acquisition of VanVleet and Brooks turned out to be very good for this team. Jalen Seems more comfortable now and then they have Alperen Sengun who is having his best season so far. A balance team with 5 players averaging double figures in PPG.

I still have doubts on both teams making it to the playoffs but it's a breath of fresh air seeing them on top.

hero member
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November 15, 2023, 07:41:45 AM
And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.

Which one of the Lakers players would be included in a trade for LaVine? The way I see it, the Lakers don't have many options for that, and they clearly shouldn't give up their big guys. Maybe Austin Reaves? Of course, LaVine looks better than Reaves statistically, but I think such a deal is unlikely and strange since the Lakers only signed a new contract with Reaves in the offseason.

That's what I'm also trying to figure out, if indeed there will be a trade, it could be Austin Reaves, of course anyone, not name Lebron, (maybe AD too), who knows. But so far this is just rumor, the Lakers have build a good team right now, maybe they will have to look at how everything is going on before biting on that trade. D'Lo, Cam Reddish, Hachimura, Prince, Wood, Hayes. Everyone is really contributing for the Lakers, it's just unfortunate that they have to do like chasing in the 4th quarter just to able to win and make a comeback. So it's too early, but we all know that when there's smoke their is fire, so let's see how it goes for Lavine.
legendary
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Hhampuz for Campaign management
November 15, 2023, 07:39:57 AM
Ty Lue doesn't seem to have that and he's willing to give him more authority on the court,

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10097062-lue-james-harden-doing-too-much-to-try-to-fit-in-with-clippers-since-76ers-trade
Quote
"He's doing too much to try to fit in," Lue said, per Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. "We had a meeting yesterday and we said he needs to be James Harden… we have to allow him to be himself… We're going to play through James."

Lue also said that he told the team that "James needs to be James" and that they will increase his time with the ball in his hands, per Mark Medina of Fox Sports.

It looks like Harden will be the system again.

So what would happen to PG being PG, Kawhi being Kawhi, and WB being WB?

If they'll allow James Harden to dictate the team based on his style, that will make his teammates less productive because his style is he'll be the one doing more on the scoring and the ball would be on his hands most of the time. I think the solution here is still sticking with the system they build before James harden but the crucial thing coach Lue has to realizet that he can't play this big 4 altogether.
It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team. Let Harden play off the bench instead.

They almost beat the Nuggets on the road; unfortunately, they still fell short as they lost by 3 points. At least there's already good development, unlike in the past games where they have been losing by huge margins. In this game, PG was the top scorer with 35, followed by Harden with 21, while Kawhi only got 15. But that's okay; at least they are getting closer now. Eventually, they'll start winning games, so let that patience stay a bit.
hero member
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November 15, 2023, 07:07:13 AM
New poll added. Which team has the best start?

Nuggets (9-2)
Wolves (8-2)
Sixers (8-2)
Celtics (8-2)


I would rather make a poll about who has the most surprising start. The best start is easy to see when looking at the standings I think. Also some teams had a lighter and some had a tougher schedule so far.
By the way, don't forget the Timberwolfes. They beat the Nuggets and now the Warriors twice in Chase Center. They are 8:2 as well.

About the surprises, Houston really is surprising everybody so far getting some solid wins over the Nuggets, Lakers, Kings and so on. With this roster nobody expected them to be ready already.  Grin

legendary
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November 15, 2023, 06:27:11 AM
New poll added. Which team has the best start?

Nuggets (9-2)
Wolves (8-2)
Sixers (8-2)
Celtics (8-2)
hero member
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Campaign Management?"Hhampuz" is the Man
November 15, 2023, 05:11:22 AM
^^ If I'm not mistaken, we have been hearing about Zach Lavine being traded or at least the Bulls management is willing to shop him around as he is not happy to what the team has been. He was surrounded with good players, but it seems that they can't get over the hump even if he had Demar DeRozan as his back up with the Bulls. I guess it's the chemistry or the experience, one one from amongst the team has experience going into the finals, maybe for Caruso, but he is known for his defense. So I wouldn't be surprised if before the All Star, Zach will be on a different team. Not sure why Lakers is his destination, but I do agree that it will take some of the Lakers core to be included in the trade just to get Zach Lavine or at least the Bulls management willing to let go of their franchise player.

He's been with the bulls for a long time and there's nothing happen with his leadership, I also think that the chemistry is not working well
as they keep failing to reach anything not even close to a conference final.

I'm seeing some local social media post regarding to the possibility that either him, DeRozan or Caruso will be moving, and Lakers is the rumor place
for each of them.

If there's nothing happening better to let them go, maybe role players and possible future picks might work for the bulls.
donator
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November 15, 2023, 12:10:42 AM
What a night for MMA, I mean the NBA. First you have Klay Thompson getting his jersey ripped, then Draymond Green chokes Rudy Gobert… As if that weren’t enough, the Lakers game has Anthony Davis throwing people to the ground and clearing the benches. It must be something in their air. Everybody is losing their minds tonight.
legendary
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November 14, 2023, 11:52:27 PM
And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.

Which one of the Lakers players would be included in a trade for LaVine? The way I see it, the Lakers don't have many options for that, and they clearly shouldn't give up their big guys. Maybe Austin Reaves? Of course, LaVine looks better than Reaves statistically, but I think such a deal is unlikely and strange since the Lakers only signed a new contract with Reaves in the offseason.
hero member
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November 14, 2023, 11:39:34 PM
^^ If I'm not mistaken, we have been hearing about Zach Lavine being traded or at least the Bulls management is willing to shop him around as he is not happy to what the team has been. He was surrounded with good players, but it seems that they can't get over the hump even if he had Demar DeRozan as his back up with the Bulls. I guess it's the chemistry or the experience, one one from amongst the team has experience going into the finals, maybe for Caruso, but he is known for his defense. So I wouldn't be surprised if before the All Star, Zach will be on a different team. Not sure why Lakers is his destination, but I do agree that it will take some of the Lakers core to be included in the trade just to get Zach Lavine or at least the Bulls management willing to let go of their franchise player.
hero member
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November 14, 2023, 08:27:49 PM
There was a rumor that Zach Lavine might be in the trading block as per Shams,



https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1724506310274642161

The Bulls have been struggling in the last 2-3 years when they rebuild and got DeRozan, Caruso and Vucevic, however, they will start the season good but then lose that steam entering the playoff run and lost in the first round.

And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.
hero member
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November 14, 2023, 08:21:08 PM
It was always obvious that Harden was the issue, since Rockets period as well. I mean in normal cases, like for example with Dame and all, I understand players being upset and wanting out, because he played over a decade there and they did not build a good team around him, and that looks like there was no desire by the team to win anything, they are happy to just spend as little as possible and make the team worth go up thanks to inflation, NBA getting more popular means their team worths more and they are happy owners. However, Rockets was never like that, all those calls about them getting Howard, getting CP3, getting Westbrook, and him still wanting out and not getting anything with that team was obvious. That famous 27 shots missed in a row was the demise of Harden, ever since that day, he never went back to being a star player, he just became a cry baby that wanted things all the time without actually giving anything back for getting what he wants. A player may want to get traded, but if he keeps making teams pay for him, and he doesn't do anything for them, then why would any team want him again?
And this could be the last straw on James Harden, if the Clippers didn't go to the playoffs, or at least relegated to 6th spot in the West and then have to go to a play-in just to make the playoffs, then we know who should be the problem with the Clippers. They are just started to have a season with their big 3 of Kawhi, Paul George and then Westbrook. Unfortunately, the management decided to get James in return and they lost a good defensive player in Nic Batum, who can also shoot 3 in crucial minutes. Just because Harden wanted to go to Clippers that Steve Ballmer gave in to the request and think that Harden is a good addition. Harden has a history already and the teams should learn from it. Now the curse is on the Clippers right now, they've lost a bunch of future picks as well so for now we can definitely say that the risk is not paying off.
I believe that the biggest example of why Harden is not good for teams would be how Sixers are doing right now. It's been very few games so I am not saying those are the ones that matters the most, but they are leading the eastern conference right now, and they are 8-1 and that should show you how Harden is not all that helpful. Imagine you have a "star" player in your squad, and you do better without him than you did with him, would you still consider that player a star player?
And we can say that there are no pressure on the shoulders of the Sixers right now, they are the hottest them and defeating their opponents by 5 points or more. And the biggest winner in the trade? It's Maxey, just score a career high recently and he is showing why he should be considered as their main point guard. It seems that he had matured already and that's why he is showing his best game as a Sixer.

I personally would stop considering that player as a star player. In 2016 or in 2018 this Clippers squad would have been insanely good, everyone was great, but when we are talking about 2023, these are all has been that used to be good but no longer good at all, they are not even remotely good. The squad is also lacking size, they are all "guards" if you think about it, sure PG and Kawhi could be considered wings, but still no Power Forward at all, a pure small ball line up.
Just bad chemistry, they get Kahwi after winning the ring with the Raptors, but after that it went downhill for Leonard as he suffered injuries after injuries as a Clippers. And the same can be said as well to PG, if I'm not mistaken, they only did reach the 2nd round of playoff as his best with the Clippers.
legendary
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November 14, 2023, 07:40:59 PM
Looking at the games that will take place in just under 2 hours, in the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the San Antonio Spurs, I see the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the game with some ease, the San Antonio Spurs are coming off a streak of 5 losses consecutive games, while the Thunder in the last few games have done well, although they lost in the game against the kings. It's funny that the bookmakers are giving very low odds for the Thunder if they win. although I also think they came out as winners, I still see the odds value of 1.20 in favor of Thunder as being very low, they are greatly underestimating San Antonio.
That's true and I don't really like the -10.5 handicap being given just for @1.85 profit. San Antonio may be an underdog because Wemby lacks help but we may be surprised that someone could step up his game and the game will become a close one. I avoided this game because of that.
OKC Thunder sure is strong with SGA, healthy Chat Holmgren, and Josh Giddey but for me -10.5 is still too much of underestimating the Spurs.

Another game that I also don't see with many surprises in the result will be the Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies. even though the Memphis Grizzlies won in the last two games and broke the sequence of many defeats that they had been having, they still don't convince me that the two victories they had in the last 2 games are the beginning of much improvement, the lakers are also not very consistent in the last games, but they have had unpleasant results, in my opinion they seem better than the Memphis Grizzlies. So I see the Lakers coming out with victory in this game
Oh yeah, the Lakers may win this one. The Grizzlies' win against the Clippers is the Clippers fault. They still lack chemistry with James Harden and it's messing up their rotation. Plus, he ain't the same Harden anymore who can dominate the game when he is hot. I have never seen that happen anymore, maybe it's age, or maybe it's because of the recent jumps from one team to another, and the drama in 76ers. Grizzlies is undermanned, Lakers should win this one.
legendary
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November 14, 2023, 06:53:19 PM
Looking at the games that will take place in just under 2 hours, in the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the San Antonio Spurs, I see the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the game with some ease, the San Antonio Spurs are coming off a streak of 5 losses consecutive games, while the Thunder in the last few games have done well, although they lost in the game against the kings. It's funny that the bookmakers are giving very low odds for the Thunder if they win. although I also think they came out as winners, I still see the odds value of 1.20 in favor of Thunder as being very low, they are greatly underestimating San Antonio.

Another game that I also don't see with many surprises in the result will be the Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies. even though the Memphis Grizzlies won in the last two games and broke the sequence of many defeats that they had been having, they still don't convince me that the two victories they had in the last 2 games are the beginning of much improvement, the lakers are also not very consistent in the last games, but they have had unpleasant results, in my opinion they seem better than the Memphis Grizzlies. So I see the Lakers coming out with victory in this game
hero member
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November 14, 2023, 05:53:41 PM
It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team.

But they are figuring it out and still haven't found a solution yet. It has already cost them a 5-game losing streak, which calls for desperate measures.
Probably, Coach Tyronn Lue is just trying this last option. You know, no player would be able to play happily if he is not being himself. That's why he wants James Harden to be himself and see the outcome of his game affecting the team.

Quote
Let Harden play off the bench instead.

Or it could be Westbrook. Either one of them could still play as a PG, so it's a coaching staff prerogative. Whoever is effective should be in the starting lineup.
hero member
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No God or Kings, only BITCOIN.
November 14, 2023, 05:46:08 PM
Ty Lue doesn't seem to have that and he's willing to give him more authority on the court,

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10097062-lue-james-harden-doing-too-much-to-try-to-fit-in-with-clippers-since-76ers-trade
Quote
"He's doing too much to try to fit in," Lue said, per Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. "We had a meeting yesterday and we said he needs to be James Harden… we have to allow him to be himself… We're going to play through James."

Lue also said that he told the team that "James needs to be James" and that they will increase his time with the ball in his hands, per Mark Medina of Fox Sports.

It looks like Harden will be the system again.

So what would happen to PG being PG, Kawhi being Kawhi, and WB being WB?

If they'll allow James Harden to dictate the team based on his style, that will make his teammates less productive because his style is he'll be the one doing more on the scoring and the ball would be on his hands most of the time. I think the solution here is still sticking with the system they build before James harden but the crucial thing coach Lue has to realizet that he can't play this big 4 altogether.
It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team. Let Harden play off the bench instead.
legendary
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November 14, 2023, 05:37:53 PM
Ty Lue doesn't seem to have that and he's willing to give him more authority on the court,

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10097062-lue-james-harden-doing-too-much-to-try-to-fit-in-with-clippers-since-76ers-trade
Quote
"He's doing too much to try to fit in," Lue said, per Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. "We had a meeting yesterday and we said he needs to be James Harden… we have to allow him to be himself… We're going to play through James."

Lue also said that he told the team that "James needs to be James" and that they will increase his time with the ball in his hands, per Mark Medina of Fox Sports.

It looks like Harden will be the system again.

So what would happen to PG being PG, Kawhi being Kawhi, and WB being WB?

If they'll allow James Harden to dictate the team based on his style, that will make his teammates less productive because his style is he'll be the one doing more on the scoring and the ball would be on his hands most of the time. I think the solution here is still sticking with the system they build before James harden but the crucial thing coach Lue has to realizet that he can't play this big 4 altogether.
full member
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November 14, 2023, 04:44:55 PM
Harden definitely deserved all the heat he got, dude has been just jumping from one place to another whenever he wants and he is not happy, there are a ton of players in the league who would rather be somewhere else too, but they have contracts that they are abiding. I am not saying Harden can't get out of a contract, if he agrees to terminate his deal, he is free to leave, but asking for a trade means that he keeps pushing his teams to have worse squad. Sixers are much worse now after the trade, did they deserve that? They traded Ben Simmons for Harden, and all they got was a terrible player who failed at playoffs with an MVP teammate and bunch of picks after he left.

For sure he is controversial right now because he is doing the Kyrie Irving tactics, sure or getting the Kyrie Irving attitude, but can we blame him he must have been eager to win this season and wants to be on a team that could bring him the ring, for sure James Harden is already getting older so he is doing something even though it could surely ruin his career and his principles just to get those ring for him,


I do agree, however, I just read that he says that he need at least 10 days to fully acclimatized himself with the Clippers system and the players. So most likely this is just an excuse for him though, to at least justify that he is not the reason why the Clippers are missing.

But if we have followed NBA for a long time, we know that he has this history of requesting trade if he knows that his current team is not doing good or least himself is not the leader or the Alpha. So same here with the Clippers, Kawhi is the franchise player and not Harden. So maybe sooner or later after a disastrous season for the Clippers we might hear him asking for a trade again.

Actually, I believe him he is in the new team so he would likely need time and his new teammates to get used to each other gameplay performance, or they will likely need to build up chemistry for sure, even though the Los Angeles Clippers consist of pretty much well-known players they are having trouble because I think their coach doesn't really know what to do with such players and I don't know what they kind of doing actually but maybe they will be great in the long run who knows,
legendary
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November 14, 2023, 02:14:19 PM
It was always obvious that Harden was the issue, since Rockets period as well. I mean in normal cases, like for example with Dame and all, I understand players being upset and wanting out, because he played over a decade there and they did not build a good team around him, and that looks like there was no desire by the team to win anything, they are happy to just spend as little as possible and make the team worth go up thanks to inflation, NBA getting more popular means their team worths more and they are happy owners. However, Rockets was never like that, all those calls about them getting Howard, getting CP3, getting Westbrook, and him still wanting out and not getting anything with that team was obvious. That famous 27 shots missed in a row was the demise of Harden, ever since that day, he never went back to being a star player, he just became a cry baby that wanted things all the time without actually giving anything back for getting what he wants. A player may want to get traded, but if he keeps making teams pay for him, and he doesn't do anything for them, then why would any team want him again?
And this could be the last straw on James Harden, if the Clippers didn't go to the playoffs, or at least relegated to 6th spot in the West and then have to go to a play-in just to make the playoffs, then we know who should be the problem with the Clippers. They are just started to have a season with their big 3 of Kawhi, Paul George and then Westbrook. Unfortunately, the management decided to get James in return and they lost a good defensive player in Nic Batum, who can also shoot 3 in crucial minutes. Just because Harden wanted to go to Clippers that Steve Ballmer gave in to the request and think that Harden is a good addition. Harden has a history already and the teams should learn from it. Now the curse is on the Clippers right now, they've lost a bunch of future picks as well so for now we can definitely say that the risk is not paying off.
I believe that the biggest example of why Harden is not good for teams would be how Sixers are doing right now. It's been very few games so I am not saying those are the ones that matters the most, but they are leading the eastern conference right now, and they are 8-1 and that should show you how Harden is not all that helpful. Imagine you have a "star" player in your squad, and you do better without him than you did with him, would you still consider that player a star player?

I personally would stop considering that player as a star player. In 2016 or in 2018 this Clippers squad would have been insanely good, everyone was great, but when we are talking about 2023, these are all has been that used to be good but no longer good at all, they are not even remotely good. The squad is also lacking size, they are all "guards" if you think about it, sure PG and Kawhi could be considered wings, but still no Power Forward at all, a pure small ball line up.
sr. member
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https://shuffle.com?r=nba
November 14, 2023, 11:14:52 AM
....but the Milwaukee Bucks still won that game with 118 to 109 final score for that game,



Yeah, that was due to Giannis's dominant performance. Even though Lillard had returned to the lineup, you could tell he wasn't at 100% as he struggled in that game. It's still a positive for them, though, as long as Lillard is on the court, it inspires the team to play harder, especially when they have their full starting lineup.

Lillard had 12 points but 3-17 shooting?  Embarrassed
Same with Steph, they both like shooting a lot and coaches do allow this to happen because once they get hot it will not be easy to stop them.
I think the Milwaukee Bucks played well considering the Chicago Bulls is a decent team that almost defeated the Suns last time. …......

The Bucks can get better. Dame needs to play off the ball, stop trying to draw fouls that don't get called and mix up his shots instead of just threes. He should show he's as good as Curry and improve his free throw shooting. Imagine a play where Dame screens for Giannis giving him choices to drive or pass to Dame on the outside.
hero member
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The Martian Child
November 14, 2023, 11:07:15 AM
Clippers lost 5 in a row if I am not wrong, that seems like a situaiton that isn't just about Harden, hell Harden wasn't even there when this losing streak started. It's obvious that they are not aware how he plays, they need time to adjust. The team has Westbrook, Harden, Kawhi and PG together, if you ask me which four players would be able to play like this, like have some chaotic presence during the game, I would say these four.

I mean it is a wonder how Kawhi played so many games so far, I would have expected him to sit out the season already, isn't that what he does, like play 5 games a year, and then sit out the year, hope that the team goes to playoffs and he comes back during the playoffs, that's all he is good for. In the end, I am not expecting much from Clippers, not because they do not have the talent, they do have talent, but each player does something seriously wrong, on or off the court, and that could be the reason they may do badly.

It isn’t just on Harden in the sense that he alone on the court isn’t responsible for the losses. However, they had to trade away quite a bit to get him. You can’t just gut your team to add one guy and then expect to hit the ground running. Plus, Harden is old. They had to know him and Westbrook aren’t All Star caliber players anymore. The real loser to all this is Kawhi, who is no longer the highest winning percentage player in NBA history. That severely damages his legacy.

It's still fresh in my memory when someone posted on Facebook asking who will beat the Clippers when Harden is shipped. And here they are, suffering from a 5 losing streak. Later they will face the defending champions at Denver so it'll be another losing game I guess.

But to be fair, all of these 4 stars are past their prime. On the bright side though, the season is still early. The Clippers are also 3-1 at home so that's something to be seen since they were on the road for 4-straight games.

Personally, though, I am not expecting something from this team. I just don't think Kawhi can be healthy for a whole season and the playoffs.
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