NBA Week 3 Thread

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Fair enough, although I do like his suggestion about the Wolves starting Naz Reid instead of KAT (although he wasn't really critical of Anthony-Towns at all)

If the Wolves can keep up their current defensive efficiency for most of the season (currently number 1 according to Bill) you will be in final fettle, but you are right in its too early to tell.

I get the idea, but our bench really needs Naz's firepower. He's killing it for us as the 6th man. It just kind of shifts the problem.

Bottom line is that we need KAT to fire. His defence has actually been pretty good, but it has seemingly come at the expense of everything else. His shot isn't falling and his decision making has been garbage. We need him to be a leader and instead he's chucking deep 3s, ignoring open shooters and throwing (attempted) hero passes. That's not a Gobert coexistence issue, that's a KAT issue.

If KAT doesn't fire by mid-season he'll be on the market for sure.

 

[hotchilli]

Where's Wembanyama? The top 25 NBA players under 25, ranked

Our NBA insiders are ranking the top 25 young stars by future potential, including an impressive debut for Victor Wembanyama and the finale of an unprecedented reign.

www.espn.com.au

Sengun always getting underrated.

 

[Son of Skeletor]

Where's Wembanyama? The top 25 NBA players under 25, ranked

Our NBA insiders are ranking the top 25 young stars by future potential, including an impressive debut for Victor Wembanyama and the finale of an unprecedented reign.

www.espn.com.au

Sengun always getting underrated.

Almost always happens with Euros.

Will start getting noticed if you keep winning, especially now Porter's not dribbling the air out of the ball.

 

[hotchilli]

Almost always happens with Euros.

Will start getting noticed if you keep winning, especially now Porter's not dribbling the air out of the ball.

It's silly, he's shown more on both ends of the floor then Green who they've slotted in higher.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Where's Wembanyama? The top 25 NBA players under 25, ranked

Our NBA insiders are ranking the top 25 young stars by future potential, including an impressive debut for Victor Wembanyama and the finale of an unprecedented reign.

www.espn.com.au

Sengun always getting underrated.

Bill Simmons thinks he is a potential all star on his latest podcast (if that means anything)

 

[hotchilli]

Bill Simmons thinks he is a potential all star on his latest podcast (if that means anything)

It feels like he’s got a higher ceiling then Sabonis.

 

[peternorth]

Sources: Refs' treatment of LeBron miffs Lakers

The Lakers contacted the NBA about what they view as numerous missed calls involving LeBron James in Monday's loss to the Heat, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com.au

Meanwhile the Lakers have barely lost a free throw count since January.

''Sleepless nights''.

So many fouls. So many missed calls

 

[Judd2Sewell]

Sources: Refs' treatment of LeBron miffs Lakers

The Lakers contacted the NBA about what they view as numerous missed calls involving LeBron James in Monday's loss to the Heat, sources told ESPN.

www.espn.com.au

Meanwhile the Lakers have barely lost a free throw count since January.

''Sleepless nights''.

The Nuggets should file a grievence.

We are dead last in FT's, despite being 3rd for points in the paint as a team AND we have the best scorer in the paint in the league.

 

[Son of Skeletor]

The Nuggets should file a grievence.

We are dead last in FT's, despite being 3rd for points in the paint as a team AND we have the best scorer in the paint in the league.

We're middle of the road as a team, but I'll give you some numbers.

The article states that LeBron's FTA per game would represent a career low if currently maintained. It kinda neglects to mention that LeBron's Ftr is actually the highest it's been since 2019, it's just his usage is significantly down.

LeBron's free throw rate as a percentage of two point field goals attempted since 2018 is as follows:

2018-19 - 0.55 (ie, 11 free throws for every 20 two point field goals attempted)
2019-20 - 0.43
2020-21 - 0.47
2021-22 - 0.39
2022-23 - 0.48

For his career he's at a rate of 0.51. You'd expect a little bit of fluctuation from year to year, and you'd also expect the free throw rate for a player to decrease the longer they play and older they get, especially for perimeter players.

I'm not seeing anything in those numbers that suggest LeBron is suffering any kind of statistical anomaly. In fact as I mentioned, his rate is the highest it's been since 2019.


Now, that article bemoans the fact that LeBron only shot four free throws yesterday. Now do you know who else played yesterday? Zion, against your Nuggets, no less. Zion shot - and I use the term 'shot' loosely - the ball 22 times inside the arc, probably almost all from the paint yesterday, and shot a grand total of ONE free throw. This is not a complaint about that, the Nuggets are clearly a superior team to us, and have been for a while. But why are ESPN running articles based on LeBron's perceived injustice, while Zion shoots one free throw and there's not a peep?

LeBron's free throw rate as a percentage of two point field goals this season is 0.48, as per above. Zion? He's running at 0.36, even though technically he shoots more free throws per game that Lebron (6.3 FTA vs LeBron's 5.7)

But there's more. About 54% of LeBron's field goal attempts this season have come from within 10 feet, where logic dictates you are much more likely to draw a foul. Zion meanwhile attempts a whopping 95% of his shots from within 10 feet.

So a guy who shoots a much higher number of shots outside the paint has national media doing PR articles for him about his alleged lack of calls, while a guy who would have to nearly lead the league in points in the paint - and if you know Zion they are almost all on drives, no fadeaways at all - has a far inferior free throw rate by that metric, and you'll never hear anything.

And they wonder why the league has a credibility problem when it comes to media coverage and officiating impartiality.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Let's settle a bit, we have been pulling out excellent 3-7 game stretches for a decade. We need to be sustaining the level for the better part of the season before we deserve any extra expectations whatsoever.

Totally agree they need to prove it but as someone who has not bought in to them for years i rate them this year. It feels different, now i wouldn't be surprised if they flopped and made me look silly but i think they are a chance to be a top 4 seed and a tough out.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Totally agree they need to prove it but as someone who has not bought in to them for years i rate them this year. It feels different, now i wouldn't be surprised if they flopped and made me look silly but i think they are a chance to be a top 4 seed and a tough out.

I think we are certainly capable of it and feel the widespread writing off of us has been premature. Just haven't seen enough yet to offset so many seasons where we screw the pooch.

 

[fidstar]

Fair enough, although I do like his suggestion about the Wolves starting Naz Reid instead of KAT (although he wasn't really critical of Anthony-Towns at all)

If the Wolves can keep up their current defensive efficiency for most of the season (currently number 1 according to Bill) you will be in final fettle, but you are right in its too early to tell.

Hasn't Reid been delisted yet?

 

[Gigantic]

Good to have the basketball back after a one day break

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

My Celtics City Edition Jersey just arrived

It actually looks a lot better than what I thought it on the screen shots.

Good time to wear it as we kick our bunny's ass again (Philly)

 

[peternorth]

The Nuggets should file a grievence.

We are dead last in FT's, despite being 3rd for points in the paint as a team AND we have the best scorer in the paint in the league.

Thing about your team is that the ball moves so crisply and quickly that defences are unable to even foul the shooting nugget. Ergo no free throws.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Some really good games on today

Celtics @ Sixers

Pels @ Wolves

Dubs @ Nugz

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

For all this talk about refs favouring LeBron and the Lakers, Scale just brought up an interesting note with Coach Mazz pre game that Joel Embiid averages more trips to the free throw line than any other player on NBA History

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Stop milking it Embiid you sook

 

[DT_35]

Spurs/Knicks on ESPN over Clippers/Nets LOL. They are having a ‘mare this year

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Spurs/Knicks on ESPN over Clippers/Nets LOL. They are having a ‘mare this year

Is that actually that bad? Think I’d rather watch the spurs/Knicks to be honest. Nets are pretty boring.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Is that actually that bad? Think I’d rather watch the spurs/Knicks to be honest. Nets are pretty boring.

Knicks have been one of the most boring/unwatchable teams to watch.

Anyhow the Game after that one on Kayo/ESPN will be a cracker (Warriors at Denver

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Derrick White makes such a difference to the Celts. Arguably our 3rd most important player (possibly 2nd, knowing how flakey Jaylen can be)

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Knicks have been one of the most boring/unwatchable teams to watch.

Anyhow the Game after that one on Kayo/ESPN will be a cracker (Warriors at Denver

The Nets are just as bad, I’ll take Wemby and the Spurs over the Clippers

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

Trolling my Knicks supporting mate by texting Wemby already is better than any player in New York history

I mean it's not true (yet) but it's somewhat disappointing for an original and historic and so called storied franchise (one of only 2 original teams playing in their original city along with Boston) that they have not got/produced a top 25 in their NBA history.

This is why I don't understand why MSG is regarded as the Mecca of Basketball. It's a myth.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

The Nets are just as bad, I’ll take Wemby and the Spurs over the Clippers

Oh yeah fair enough, although I think it's conditional with Vassel playing though.

Nick Nurse definitely has made your Sixers a lot more enjoyable to watch, so I definitely think coaching matters. Thibs and Vaughn (Nets coach) don't coach in a very appealing way and Griffin has made the Bucks so far turgid to watch even with Dame