Basketball Jones

Been a Sixers fan since George McGinnis was a sixer. Was in attendance for Billy Cunningham's injury, I heard the scream.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-12-12-9912120114-story.html

Embiid, Harris, Thybulle and Joe in the covid health and safety protocol. Apparently Embiid and Harris have symptomatic cases. Be stunned if they win tonight. 

Lookout for the Heat. 

Great first quarter 

My 3rd year following the team, but did get a parade 10 years later............

Coming off a 30–52 record in the previous season, the 76ers lost their first 15 games of the season and a few months later, went on a then-record 20 game losing streak in a single season.Their record following the 20 game losing streak was 4–58, and the team at that point had just lost 34 of 35 games. The 76ers finished the season with a 9–73 record, earning the nickname from the skeptical Philadelphia media of the "Nine and 73-ers." The 76ers finished an NBA-record 59 games behind the Atlantic Division champion Boston Celtics. Only six seasons earlier, the 76ers had set the NBA record for most wins in a season and the highest winning percentage.

..

When I was doing community radio and working the Jazz games as a radio engineer in 1985, Jazz Coach Frank Layden did a promo for me and I used "Basketball Jones" in it. Used the line "I need someone to set a pick for me on the free throw line of life." Frank's so great.  

Not much into the NBA anymore.

Speaking of the 76'ers... https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/4k-footage-of-wilt-chamberlain-gets-co...

When I was a young kid my dad took me and my brother to the Cow Palace to see the Warriors, and I thought Nate Thurmond was from another planet. Since then, while I've not always been a big fan following the NBA in general I've always been a fan of the Warriors.

It's been fun so far this season to see them playing well again. They're an interesting team this year, with a mix of quality (and star quality) veterans, reclamation projects, a couple of kids and a few nobodies playing well, all surrounding a superstar who's just a blast to watch play, with another coming back soon after missing two years because of devastating injuries.

If they can stay healthy they should be right in the mix in the West.

Like all sports, and maybe for me more than any other sport, seeing basketball played live is SO MUCH BETTER than on TV, and I went to my first game at Chase Center last week. The place is vast so it lacks the cramped intimacy of the Oakland Coliseum, but it was still damn fun.

Just as it was in Oakland, it's expensive as fuck to go to a game, but if they keep playing entertaining basketball (and keep winning) I'll definitely be going to a few more.

Go Dubs!

The Washington Wizards have gotten off to a strong start under new head coach Wes Unseld, Jr.  Trading Russell Westbrook to the Lakers for starters Kyle Kuzma and Katavious Caldwell-Pope and key bench player Montrezl Harrell has paid big dividends.  Bradley Beal is taking less shots, they're playing tough defense, and buying into the team concept.  When Rui Hachimura gets back on the court, they will be even deeper.

 The Cleveland Cavaliers are another young team that has gotten off to a good start.  Losing guard Collin Sexton is a tough blow, but their rookie center, Evan Mobley, looks like he is going to be a special player.  They will be getting forwards Lauri Markannen and Kevin Love back from the COVID-protocols soon, and there are rumors that Love will be traded to the Lakers.

Of course, the Warriors are off to a great start, and will soon get Klay Thompson back, and the Clippers are starting to get on a good and will eventually get Kawhi Leonard back in the mix. 

Don't waste your time Jill.  "the process" is broken.

>>>> it's expensive as fuck to go to a game

That's why I love cable TV. Plus, Hockey! Hockey! Hockey! 

No NHL or NFL in Utah, just the Jazz. I do like them better than a lot of teams. They play team ball with chemistry and I like Donovan Mitchell. But I don't spend too much time watching. My wife says "just watch the last 2 minutes", but I disagree. 

What a cluster fuck of a process, shot them selves in the dick with how they ruined their chances at getting something comparable for Simmons. 
 

Fitz, belly aching about the process?

Must be upset with OKC these days.

Sixers played a good game, tough to win the second of a back to back,  with  your top 3 scorers are missing.  

>What a cluster fuck of a process, shot them selves in the dick with how they ruined their chances at getting something comparable for Simmons<

Something comparable? Simmons blew that up when he passed on an open dunk. Simmons is to blame. He has refused to communicate, failed to report, and uses his mental health as an excuse...  just so he keeps getting his check. The Sixers are just trying to get him to fulfill his contractual obligations.  (Four years remaining)

I believe the other team owners will back the Sixers in whatever they do concerning Simmons. They don't want a guy with a four year contract dictating the terms of his exit. 

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

The Original

Players getting multiple high-fives for making (and, eventually, even missing) a free throw was the beginning of the end for me.

Now get off my lawn.

Forever a Portland Trail Blazers fan! 

toney,irving,malone, cheeks

wow

saw them play an exhibition game vs the cavs in mn 

world b free

^I remember when he was Lloyd Free.

>toney,irving,malone, cheeks<

No love for Iavaroni or Jones?

Since this was started as a mostly Philadelphia thread, I'll go ahead and keep the Warriors up in the mix, since they originated in Philadelphia, and also drafted the all-time great Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain onto their team in Philadelphia.

So now, many, many, many years later, the Warriors win again tonight.

Got pushed by the not-so-good but on the rise Timberwolves, but still swept them away when it mattered.

It's very early in the WAY-too-long NBA season, and they're not playing all the best teams at the moment, but the W's are winning the games they should, and winning them well.

Far out.

GO WARRIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I saw some championship games at the cow Palace I have many memories of eight dollar tickets at Oakland Arena and I was going to Berkeley it was easy to get down in the lower sections

 >Wilt the Stilt Chamberlain<

Chamberlain did not care for that nickname, he preferred "The Big Dipper"

My Pop used to go see him play in high school.

If this is a Philly basketball thread, how about the big 5, the palestra, John Chaney, Sonny Hill. 

I attended many Big 5 double headers at the Palestra. Great old building. 

https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/palestra/

Sonny Hill

http://www.phillyhall.org/inductee_profile.asp?ind=103

^^^ "Jellybean" Joe Bryant, Corky Calhoun, Howard Porter(RIP) ^^^

1971 Tournament: Penn & Nova both in the Elite Eight, 2nd year following the Big 5.

Some drama with Philly native Markieff Morris and Nikola Jokić. Jokić's brothers have allegedly purchased tickets for the next Nugget/Heat game. 

https://heatnation.com/rumors/report-nikola-jokics-brothers-bought-ticke...

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nikola-jokic-suspended-one-game-marki...

why didn't we pay caruso?

i don't get it.

^Too young 

Between Embiid's fragility, and Simmons' hurt feelers, the Sixers don't seem built to last.  Too much young blood coming in the East; the Bulls, Hawks and Wizards are all right there, and the Bucks, Nets, and Heat are all top shelf contenders.  Don't think the Sixers will meet that bar of competition this year.  Most likely they'll be fighting it out with the Knicks, Celtics and Hornets for home court in the play-in games.

What? Can't be a Sixers thread without mentioning Hal Greer.

^indeed. 

Say what you will about Iverson, but he was one of tge most exciting players I've ever had the privilege to see play live. Made Philly basketball fun.

Dave, the sixers will go as far as Embiid can take them.

Ah, Kevin Durant.

Such a freakishly talented, amazing all-time player.

But he's always searching, which is why he left the Bay Area, to be THE MAN again.

Well, after a couple of years in the darkness Steph & the Warriors are back, playing really well with some of the old guys and quite a few new ones, and they just stuffed Durant in his home court.

All he could do after the game was praise Curry's greatness & the Warriors quality overall.

The Warriors are on the rise again, while Durant continues to search for his legacy.

Durant is a truly great & very unique player, and he seems like a decent person, but I'm glad he's gone. The Dubs are more fun without a ringer.

And in keeping with the underlying theme of this thread, Philly is in San Fran next Wednesday. That should be a good one.

GW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sixers' recent NBA performance vs. Sixer's recent Zone performance:

at least Six isn't stinking up the joint

Play with Steph

play with Kyrie

survey says - LOSER

Dave, the sixers are missing Embiid, without him they will continue to lose. Not only does Embiid score, rebound, and play excellent defense, he creates open looks for his teammates. The Sixers shooting poorly since Embiid illness is not coincidental. 

The sixes are always missing Embid 

Oops

I love Baker Mayfield but at the end of the day he is a .500 win QB, get rid of him

the process has not worked out well, give up the ship while Embid has trade value 

^Embiid would have to ask for a trade for that to happen.

Of course not having Embiid on the floor is hampering the Sixers.  Don't overlook the impact of Thybulle being out either.  Their defense has gone in the shitter.  However, the real albatross weighing them down is the malaise resulting from letting the Simmons situation fester.  They need to trade him, cut him, or give him a one-way ticket to Australia and exile his punk ass.  

>>>>and key bench player Montrezl Harrell has paid big dividends

Foshizzle Montrezl -  Lakers failed to utilize this guy and I'm glad he's found a home.   No one brings the energy and the monster dunks like this guy.   I like seeing what the Bullets...er The Wiz are doing this season.  It's played out well early and could impact how long Beal stays there. 

>>>>>the process has not worked out well, give up the ship while Embid has trade value 

The process worked out pretty well and then the wheels came off.  In fact, many teams of multiple sports are trying this same approach.   People say it didn't work because they never won a championship but it got them to a top level for multiple years.   Getting to the next level involves some nuanced elements - coaching, chemistry, Iverson, and some luck.  

I don't see where trading Embid makes sense unless he is truly broken.  They need to trade Simmons, even for lesser value and get support and move on.  

>>>>>.But he's always searching, which is why he left the Bay Area, to be THE MAN again.

He left because the dubs fucked up with the Green situation.  He said so in an interview.   The problem with the Nets at full force is Kyrie wants to be the man but is really the third best option.   Sixers need to trade Simmons for Kyrie - will never happen - but everyone wins in that scenario pending Kyrie actually shows up.      

>However, the real albatross weighing them down is the malaise resulting from letting the Simmons situation fester.  <

Disagree. Simmons is not exactly popular in the locker room. Sure they miss Thybulle, but Embiid is the missing ingredient in their defense.  Love Thybulle's defense but he's  17 minute a game guy.

31,63,64, 51, 51

those are Embid's games played per year, that is why you trade him, he is unavailable for 20-30 games per year. You cannot even get to Nuance time with someone that is your superstar and not available to play in a quarter or more of your regular season games 

^i understand your pov, but it will not happen. Sixers are second in home attendance this year, the man sells tickets. So unless he asks out, they're not trading him.

The crowd in Brooklyn chanting MVP for Steph must of made Durant feel good. The whole Durant GSW era turned me off to them and in some small way tarnished the legacy that team. Glad to see them back without Durant and they haven't even gotten Klay back yet. They are the team to watch in the west right now. Meanwhile I moved on to basketball hell. If anyone wants an update on the Luke Walton drama with the Kangz let me know and we would be happy to give Philly Bagley for Simmons just say the word. 

Simmons trade value is shit after the playoffs, and even worse now that team members have bashed him. Management should of taken the hit before the players started bad mouthing him, in fact it is also managements fault that the players had the chance to bad mouth the guy. They should of pulled the team in for a meeting and told everyone they are going to trade him but want to get the best value for him, so keep your lips zipped. Now he is not just a guy that choked in the playoffs and has no jumper, and now a terrible teammate. The players fucked up, never fuck with a man's money and that is what they did. 

it's too bad Embid has the issues he does, just like Walton they both could of been right behind Russel and Jabbar. Walton's years in Portland when healthy was something to watch. He did it all, rebound, outlet pass, fill the lane, dribble, pass, shoot, defend, and he was as agile as a cat. He dominated in an era of Jabbar, and even out dueled him head to head. 

they have eliminated the position of center.

the jack-a-3 is the way...

3 second paint rule...trash.

unwatchable.

ja mornat is a baller tho.

nba gives up th night to the nfl for nothing? 

inside the nba is better than the nba itself.

>and even worse now that team members have bashed him<

They didn't bad mouth him until he showed up at practice just to collect a check, only to be kicked out for not participating. Then his agent stated that being on a winning team, with Embiid, has hindered Simmons' development.  Embiid responded that the Sixers have caterered to Simmons his entire career.  Offensive schemes and player personnel  decisions were made to make Simmons happy.

He also said that the current team chemistry is better  than it has ever been in his career with the Sixers. 

Can't lay this on his teammates. 

Simmons asked for the trade, refused to communicate all summer, refused to meet with his teammates, refused to meet with coaches or management, refused to report, but still wants to get paid. Finally shows up, after losing over a million dollars in salary, and acts like a petulant child. 

Rich Paul and Ben Simmons destroyed Simmons' trade value.

Adele's Rich Paul? She said he's smart. Maybe not. Hmmmmm.......

^No, he's Lebron's Rich Paul 

>it's too bad Embid has the issues he does, just like Walton they both could of been right behind Russel and Jabbar<

You know he hasn't retired yet, eh?

Lumber the history of his injuries, and the history with of big men with repeat  injuries are not good. knee, back, and ankle issues on a 300lb. Frame  in a running game.He may make the Hall but he is outside of a top ten of all time imo. 
 

again availability goes a long way, almost as far as multiple championships - 0 

DATE DESCRIPTION

11/08/2021Health And Safety Protocols

11/01/2021Rest

10/29/2021Right Knee

10/27/2021Knee

10/25/2021Right Knee

10/23/2021Knee

10/21/2021Right Knee

06/19/2021Knee

06/17/2021Knee

06/15/2021Knee

06/13/2021Knee

06/10/2021Knee

06/07/2021Knee

05/31/2021Knee

05/15/2021Illness

05/10/2021Illness

05/08/2021Injury Recovery

04/24/2021Shoulder

04/23/2021Shoulder

04/04/2021Rest

03/12/2021Knee

03/09/2021Health And Safety Protocols

02/28/2021Ankle

02/15/2021Back

02/14/2021Back

02/05/2021Knee

01/30/2021Back

01/28/2021Back

01/24/2021Back

01/15/2021Knee

01/13/2021Back

01/09/2021Back

01/08/2021Health Protocols

12/30/2020Back

12/27/2020Back

08/12/2020Wrist

08/09/2020Ankle

02/26/2020Shoulder

02/07/2020Neck

01/08/2020Hand

12/31/2019Knee

12/15/2019Illness

12/06/2019Hip

10/25/2019Ankle/Lip

05/07/2019Upper Respiratory Infection

04/22/2019Knee

04/18/2019Knee

04/14/2019Knee

04/08/2019Knee

04/05/2019Left Knee Soreness

04/02/2019Load Management - Knee

03/29/2019Rest

03/18/2019Rest

02/20/2019Left Knee Soreness

02/09/2019Illness

01/25/2019Rest

01/20/2019Back

01/18/2019Back

01/11/2019Ankle

12/29/2018Left Knee Soreness

12/09/2018Migraine

10/26/2018Ankle

03/28/2018Facial Contusion

02/14/2018Sore Ankle

12/31/2017Sore Hand

12/17/2017Sore Back

12/11/2017Back Tighness

11/20/2017Sore Knee

09/25/2017Left Knee Surgery

^I don't necessarily disagree, but I'm not writing him off yet

And load management is here to stay. 

You know he has only missed 6 games this year.  5 have been because he has covid. Looks like you posted the injury report.  

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/e/embiijo01/gamelog/2022

I love Embiid's game, but he does seem an iffy proposition to be your cornerstone player.

Picking up Andre Drummond to help cover the post was a smart move.

Gonna build an Embiid palace.. 

yeah, superstars that play that infrequent...you'll never win that way.

ps F kawahi too.

^Toronto disagrees

Give KY his credit, he won the ship with a team that was not that loaded with Talent. 

Simmons update...

“A source with knowledge of the list said there are approximately 30 players who would satisfy the Sixers in a Simmons swap,” Amick reported, “and there’s an internal belief that a fair amount of them — let’s say five to 10 — could become available in the next year or two

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/sixers/ben-simmons-sixers-trade-n...

Trade him to the Magic and bring him back home, we have a pile of garbage they can pick from, other than Cole Anthony and Scruggs 

I was talking about Simmons 

>^Toronto disagrees<

the last year before now taking every other game off in his prime....

^he missed 22 regular season games the year Toronto won the championship. 

KY put the team on his back in Toronto
 

https://youtu.be/Pmcq6lviyr0

^He did. He also missed 27% of Toronto's regular season games

And the Warriors keep winning.

It's a loooooong season, and then a loooooooog post-season.

But teams with depth and a few superstars?

They win games through it all.

GO W'S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

>

^He did. He also missed 27% of Toronto's regular season games
 

true, but he delivered the ship

last year Giannis small market team, not a ton of talent around him, he delivered

Embid has not delivered

>Embid has not delivered<

^I don't disagree, and neither does Embiid. He is his toughest critic. 

My point is regarding  "availability" 

Stars missing a significant number of regular season games is not unusual in today's NBA

^or did Denver play poorly?

The team needs Embiid. This is why Morey is looking for an all star in the Simmons trade.

Fare thee well Luke Walton:

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/32682460/sources-sacramento-kings-fi...

Today's NBA baahhhhhh

More like NDA - No Defense Association

Case in point, my Celtics have scored 130 or more 3 times already this year, more than any other team in the league, and they suck. Beat the Lakers the other nite after giving up 108.  Bill Russell's spinning in his grave and he ain't even dead yet.

>More like NDA - No Defense Association<

Most of the past great defenders would quickly foul out in today's NBA.

I have to disagree. After 2 fouls by legends like McGinnis or Malone, mofo's would be so bruised, they'd be thinkin twice about going anywhere's near the hole. 

That's an ignorant statement. Shows a lack of knowledge of today's game.

Did you know that you're not allowed to hand check anymore?

And those hard fouls are a flagrant 2 and come with an ejection. 

Also, subtract one point for every three pointer made, make it all worth 2, and see how many points are shaved from the average. 

If I'm not mistaken, hand checking is out on the perimeter, the guys I mentioned play in the paint.

But since you mentioned it, forget hand checking, nobody plays in your shirt defense on the perimeter anymore, period.

Every hard foul is a flagrent ? Riiiiiiight.

Anyway thanks for defending my statement that today's game is baahhhhhhh

Unwatchable if you're old school

Packers + Vikings are playing one hell of a game right now 31-31

teams are shooting almost half of their shots as 3's.

>Every hard foul is a flagrent ? Riiiiiiight<

No, but the types of fouls you refer to are.

>obody plays in your shirt defense on the perimeter anymore, period<

You obviously don't watch much basketball 

>>>teams are shooting almost half of their shots as 3's<<<

That got me to look at some stats, and a couple of things were interesting...

First, is 35% "almost half"? Second, when I looked back 20 & 25 years ago, the league percentage of 3-point shots was almost exactly the same as now, right around 35%. You have to go back almost 30 years to find a league average significantly lower than today's game.

As for total points, teams definitely score more than 25 years ago, averaging 10 - 15 more points a game now, but I'd suggest that it's the much faster pace & overall speed of the modern game, which creates more total possessions, that leads to the higher scoring average and why more total 3-point shots are taken, and not so much a general lack of defense or an obsession on 3-point shots.

Because the winning teams still play defense, it just requires a different skill-set than in the past, and maybe an even stronger willingness to commit to it because of the pace of the modern game.

It seems to me that defense in basketball has always come mostly from a willingness to expend lots of energy on that side, and now with the game played so much faster & with more possessions it requires even more commitment to that effort, along with more need of quickness, length & anticipation over bulk to play good defense.

Because of the massive money these guys make now it's probably harder than ever to get star players to commit to that level of defensive effort, since it's draining and it cuts into their offensive game, but the teams that are successful at getting players who have the proper skills and are able to get them to commit to busting their butts on defense are the winning teams.

The modern NBA is a different game than it used to be, but defense still wins championships.

Same as always.

I spot checked a couple games last week old lance pal. 
 

good job on the deep analysis 

Back in detroit, there is blood

"deep analysis"?

A couple of clicks and a few moments of reading.

The internet is an amazing thing, sometimes.

I'm just trying to learn, as I don't really follow or understand basketball as closely or as well (as I think I do) as other sports.

And since the only NBA team I really ever watch or pay much attention to is the Warriors, I do see lots of 3's from them, but I also see LOTS of passing in a team-oriented game, and also very good to excellent defense played by them. That was their MO throughout their five-year Finals period, and is again so far this season.

And they're winning again this season.

And they're #1 in defense this season.

It seems to me that some teams still play defense in the NBA, and when they do they win.

And teams still play basketball in the NBA. It's just different than it was.

But it's still elite.

>Back in detroit, there is blood<

 Suspensions Coming.

Hell, Embiid pick up a Flagrant 1 for swinging his fist in frustration and almost accidentally punching Lonzo Ball. Grazed his hair... Flagrant 1

In today's  NBA,  a guy like Laimbeer would be suspended for a good part of the season. 

>>>teams still play basketball in the NBA. It's just different than it was.

But it's still elite<<<

They are better athletes in today's NBA. 

Draymond Green is a dirty POS. At the 7:14 mark of the third quarter, he set a screen on Thybulle and hit him in the nuts. 

Oh common'. You're grasping.

Just for you, I went back and watched that play again.

He was setting a screen. He didn't shove his way into the guy or throw his knee, he just set himself for a fast, hard, NBA screen. The Philly guy just ran into it.

That play wasn't "dirty" at all. Not close. Not even worthy of mentioning.

Sad.

Philly took it to the Warriors in the 1st half.

Then the Warriors took care of business in the 2nd half and ran away with it.

I'm not quite sure what it is that folks are always crying about... "The game isn't played TOUGH like it used to be/Oh Green is a dirty player because he plays the game so tough".

You don't get to have it both ways.

Either way, they didn't call a foul on that one....

Because it wasn't a foul, not even close, even in the foul-happy modern game.

As much as so many seem to desperately want him to be (because he's so damn good at the game of basketball) Draymond Green is NOT a dirty player. He's a hard-nosed, tough, intuitive player.

Isn't that what all you old-schoolers want?

And you never hear other players or teams complain about Green.

Because he's NOT a dirty player. He's tough, hard-nosed, fearless and great.

And if he played on the team you root for you'd know that and say the same thing.

Another nice win Dubs.

Carry on.

LOL Homer.
 

"I've just kind of found that love again," Green said following the 119-104 victory. "Kind of go through a lot of s--- and the love kind of wanes a little bit. But I've just found that love and joy for the game and I'm just enjoying playing basketball and controlling what I can control. A point of emphasis for myself this year was simply to control what I could control. That means on the court, that means with the referees, that means off the floor -- that's just a step in my life and I think it shows on the basketball court."

Ain't that a kick in the nuts.

Then again, after watching it again a few times in slow motion, it looks like Green MAY have lead with a fist as he turned in the very fast motion of the play. It's hard to see from my video takes. Maybe the Philly broadcast had a different view.

Either way, it's a fast game. Even now it's still a tough game. And while I may back off a bit on this particular play, I'll refer again to how so many pine for the "good old days" when the game was really tough inside, and I'll also mention again that there are no players or teams that have issues with the way Draymond Green plays the game.

So, do you want it tough like the old days, or light contact and crystal clean?

Personally, I don't like dirty players. I have watched just about every game Draymond Green has played in his career and I do not believe that he is a dirty player. I have in fact come to love him as a player and a fierce competitor. If I thought he was "dirty" I wouldn't like him at all.

If you don't believe that, refer to my takes on Barry Bonds for how I feel about players on teams I follow.

I think Green is a ferocious, aggressive player who takes it right to the edge, and while the difference is a fine line and at times he will go over it, I do not think he makes dirty plays on purpose as part of his game.

Haters may disagree.

But they would be wrong.

Homer?

"...refer to my takes on Barry Bonds for how I feel about players on teams I follow."

Hard play and "dirty" play are different things.

Especially in the big leagues.

Even in the modern NBA.

Again...

NICE win Warriors.

Keep on chooglin' boys.

>Green MAY have lead with a fist <

He did. And it just happened to occur after Thybulle hit a three, and then stole the inbound pass, leading to another bucket. It was a dirty play and he is POS. 

But you can continue to be an apologist for that asshole, if you like. 

 > I'll refer again to how so many pine for the "good old days" when the game was really tough inside<

Hard fouls are different than hitting a guy in the nuts. You should understand the difference, although I'm not sure that you do.

I get it though, you've defended this behavior in the past, so I assume you approve of such things... just as long as he is a warrior. Regardless of the the uniform, Green has repeatedly shown himself to be a dirty player. 

 Maybe you think a shot to the nuts is just part his hard-nosed style?

>And if he played on the team you root for you'd know that and say the same thing<

I wouldn't. But I guessing you need to believe such things to rationalize rooting for that asshole. 

>lead with fist<

Interesting symantics there. Green punched Thybulle is another way to state it. 

Zion is 330 lbs? 

Larry Bird on Kevin McHale’s clothesline foul on Kurt Rambis: ‘I don’t think Kevin hit him that hard’

Lol ---  I miss the good old days

Damn good game last night. It's nice to see Thybulle get some recognition on national television. Plays the type of defense that Ras claims nobody plays anymore. He's a guy to that you don't need to tie yourself into semantic knots to defend, nor rationalize rooting for.

Some backstory...

https://www.inquirer.com/sixers/matisse-thybulle-sixers-rookie-seattle-w...

(Long Warriors chatter post warning)

That WAS a good NBA game last night, between two very good teams.

Despite their record, the Warriors are not a juggernaut, and last night exposed the two issues that can leave them vulnerable, especially in the post-season.

The first being that while every team rightfully swarms Curry constantly, which helps open up the team's offensive style of everyone moving, passing & working for the open shot, last night the Warriors bricked an inordinate amount of those open shots.

And when they play a team with an athletic, physical rim protector like Embiid they can't do what they often do, which is NOT take the open jumper but make one more pass to a guy cutting to the basket and getting a layup, a dunk and/or a foul. But Embiid and that other guy (Drummond?) shut that down last night, as a few other teams can, which means on those nights the W's have to make those open jumpers or they're in trouble. 

(I also think that stupid record Curry is about to break has been a distraction to not only him but the entire offense the past two games. I'll be very happy when he gets past that and they can get back to focusing on what they do)

Still, that in itself is not that concerning, as the guys missing those shots are all generally good to very good shooters, and with the imminent return of Klay Thompson, which should happen sometime in the next week or two, that should make things work better than they have been so far, which as their record indicates has generally been very good.

As long as Thompson doesn't break down, and after two years that's a real question, by the playoffs or sooner he should return to close to what he was, at least as an offensive player, and that's a very good thing for them because he's not a very good shooter, he's a great shooter. His return will also deepen their bench, which is more important now that they sit Curry more than they used to.

The second issue exposed last night is more of a problem for them though. They don't have a real true center who can deal with talented, athletic centers like Embiid, Antetokounmpo and that guy Ayton with Phoenix who's really good. 

The only true center the Warriors have at the moment is Looney, who's a good, tough, intuitive player, but he's limited and is only 6-9 so he gets pushed around by the better taller players, which at the moment forces them to play Green at center WAY more than they want to.

Even though he's only 6-6 Green does an excellent job defensively against most any player in the league (after getting scorched by the 7-footer Ayton last week they had Green guard him most of the next game and he completely shut him down) but playing center that much beats him down and can get him into early foul trouble, which forces him off the court and hurts them in other ways, as it did last night.

The Warriors are at their best when they only play Green at center at the end of games, where he can quarterback the defense and shut down everything under the basket, but that's tougher when he's doing it throughout the game, and it will be a much bigger issue in the playoffs, when things tend to slow down and defense is played tougher all over the court.

Their hope about that issue is that James Wiseman, their 7-0 top pick a year ago will come back in early 2022 from his own injury and take some of those minutes, working with Looney and keeping Green away from center until the end of games, which then allows him to shut down whoever else he covers.

The problem with that is Wiseman is only 20 and hasn't played much basketball. His ceiling for the future is a mile high, he's got great talent, but how much he can help the W's trying to go deep this season is a big question.

There has been talk of trading him along with some other assets now to get a veteran big man, which would help them in a big way this year, but they also want to hang onto Wiseman because with his future upside, along with the ascending Jordan Poole and the two guys they drafted this year, especially Kuminga, who's looking like he could be a future star, he fits big-time into their plans for after Curry, Green & Thompson are fading away.

How that situation plays out, along with general health, is going to define how far the Warriors can go this season.

Overall, the best part of this season is that unlike so many NBA seasons, there doesn't seem to be a super team or two that are obviously going to go to the finals, and one who will likely win.

So far at least, there are a lot of good teams but no unbeatable ones, which should make for an interesting 2nd half and post-season.

GW!

Wiseman is a stick figure of a man and no one wants him, including the Warriors, no help for you

if they play Christmas Day then I predict that is the day Klay returns, and centerless basketball returns.

Curry is King

pretty amazing feat.

did it in roughly 1/2 the games. which shows 2 things; 1. how insanely good of a shooter he is, and how many 3's he takes...As Kenny said, "he's changed the game. in some ways good, in some ways not so much"...

^^
better than Kobe 

NO

One dimensional player. Scores a lot from half court mostly behind screens, oh boy. Has he ever driven to the hole ?  

He couldn't hold Earl The Pearl's jockstrap. Or Clyde's

The Sixers (with Embiid) just got housed by the Heat (with Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro sidelined).  They are going nowhere fast.

The Wizards have hit a rough patch after their fast start.  Time to get Rui Hachimura back on the court.

Cleveland is still clicking after losing Collin Sexton for the year.  The Two Towers of Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley are formidable, Darius Garland is playing like an All-Star, and Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio are giving high quality contributions off the bench night after night. 

Watch the games kids

the guy is a scorer

plays defense

makes passes

sets screens

even rebounds 

Maybe then you will catch on have a grip and see reality

defense? lol...

he is NOT one dimensional and is an all around terrific player lltd. however i stand by my points.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/nba-3-point-revolution-11611190418

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/3/10/22323023/nba-three-point-shooting...

 No team attempted 40% of its shots as threes. 

Then it happened in 2017. It happened again in 2018—but with two teams above the 40% threshold. That number would balloon to five in 2019 and nine in 2020. 

But what’s happening this season is a rapid acceleration of a trend that has reshaped the game. There are currently 15 teams with 3-point rates above 40%. Half the league is now doing something that until recently no team in the history of the league had ever done.

He couldn't hold Dave Bing's sweat towel.

Todays NBA Yaaaaawwwwwwwnnnnnnnn

Dave Bing vs. Curry can't hold his jock

get that garbage out of here, and what, is Phil Chenier next? 

I have never seen no one in the NBA as good as Curry in getting himself in position to shoot those shots. He can play chess with a defender like no one else ever has, and although he can use a pick very well, he is no JJ Red-dick or Steve Alford where that is his whole game besides the wide open shots. I have watched this game since it was only broadcast on CBS on Saturday afternoons, there is no player to compare him to. Just like the NFL the players of yesterday are not more talented as these guys, not as athletic, and not as physically big. The fact that the hard foul, and hockey style goons were taken from the game should not be used against how gifted todays player is. Look at all the stiffs that were in the league in the 70s and 80s

>Look at all the stiffs that were in the league in the 70s and 80s<

The NBA’s Greatest Big White Stiffs

https://thedunkyard.com/2017/06/07/the-nbas-greatest-big-white-stiffs/

https://i80sportsblog.com/top-five-old-school-nba-stiffs/?amp

Curry: first ballot HOF, best shooter ever, candidate for MVP this year and what appears to be a good guy. 
 

but let's not compare him to Kobe.  Come on now...  maybe Dave Bing, lol. 

Nice win tonight Warriors.

Without SEVEN of their best players and FIVE of their 2021 regular minute players forced to sit out, they still beat the second-best team in the league, with them at full strength, in their house, in an important nationally televised Christmas Day game.

Of course, the Dubs still had two all-time great players playing tonight, but even with one of them not at his best, the other one was brilliant as usual, others rose up and overall it was again as usual the TEAM that won tonight, which is what that team is based on.

And that's good stuff.

And all those missing players will be be back.

Far out.

Nice to see Kyle Guy step up with a great restart to his NBA career tonight with the Miami Heat.  He's been filling it up all year for the Cleveland Charge, the Cleveland Cavaliers G-League affiliate.  Kind of a head scratcher that the Cavaliers didn't sign him to an NBA deal given their losing first Collin Sexton and now Ricky Rubio for the season to injuries.  Instead, they are trading assets to the Lakers for Rajon Rondo, who seems to be on the downside of his career, instead of going with the fresh legs. 

If you don't remember Kyle Guy, he played an instrumental part as the leading scorer on the University of Virginia's NCAA title team, and has spent the last couple of years buried on the Sacramento Kings bench by Luke Walton, who lost his job for that and other poor decisions.  Guy played 24 minutes in his debut for the Heat tonight, shooting 6-8 from the field (4-6 from three point range) with 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals, numbers the Heat will gladly take.   He's just on a 10-day contract for now, but look for him to stick around.