2024/25 nba season

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[Andrew]

No surprise it got heated with Braun getting in Gobert's face like that. Ultimately unnecessary, but I love that dunk!

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I feel sorry for Sixers fans and that's coming from a knicks faithful like myself, I think I hate Embiid's game just as much as I did Hardens when he was with the Rockets, the flopping, complaining, grabbing Mitchell Robinson's ankle from the ground was dirty enough but disrespecting the Sixers fans for calling him out and now pushing a reporter too!

Also why as a knicks fan are we not allowed to just enjoy the team that we have when there looking good, now we are going to stuck in rumours for The Greek which will take over the season then if we trade for him that's half our roster gone just like when we traded for Melo

[Andrew]

I'm sure it gets tiring dealing with fans and media alike, and the age of social media has undoubtedly made it worse than ever before. Apparently Embiid is also dealing with some family tragedy, so I'm all for grace being offered there. Still, I don't think he's done himself many favours with some of his remarks and decisions, and as you noted, certain things he's done on the court despite definitely having talent. Never say never, but I don't think he's a true franchise player; if for no other reason, that there are too many questions about his availability and durability.

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I was unaware of the family issues he may be going through I do feel for him there. That being said I also don't think he's a franchise player, I think what doesn't do him any favours is that he's been such a troll on the Internet for so long that he puts a target on his back and especially now when he's sitting out games and saying he's not going to play back to back, its not like the franchise can say ok we just won't pay you for the games you choose not to play in for rest.

On another note iam so disappointed with the knicks so far this season, I don't think the trade was a mistake however KAT should be the 2nd option on offence and he's not even getting touches down the stretch this along with the fact that we have no bench at all, Cam Payne and 3 rookies who barely play and of course Mitch is always injured too, the bench is a huge letdown this season but I wasn't expecting Thibs to really play rookies anyway but Payne is ok while Sims is trash.

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I've been watching alot of games this season and iam shocked to how many injuries to star players there has been in less than a month of action so far and personally I think it's resulting in all the empty seats your seeing in the arenas with fans knowing that so players are either sitting our resting or missing games due to little nagging injuries you would expect to see in March not November. As a long time fan I've and even living in a different country when me and mates when to Orlando in the 06/07 season and after watching the Magic vs Celtics game (1st out of 4 games live) we decided to upgrade our seats for the Miami Heat game (Shaq and Wade) so we upgraded from $70 tickets to $120 only to find out on the day of the game that Riley announced that he was giving both Wade and Shaq the night off resulting in neither players even being on the bench.

[Andrew]

That's the thing. When someone constantly trolls, or is grouchy or petulant or whatever, they're not going to inspire a lot of trust and sympathy in general. All the best to him in his personal life, but he's got to get it together on the court if he's going to shake that reputation and be a leader. Once again though, I doubt that he truly is a franchise player at this point.

The injuries are something else for sure. KidKash tagged me in a Tweet noting that teams are on pace to have their stars miss over 1000 games combined this season. Evolution, I guess.

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Yeah I was reading something on X that stated injuries are up 35% from this time last year, its crazy to think there paid so much money compared to even 10 years ago but less willing to play nowadays

[Andrew]

I don't think AAU ball is doing the last couple of generations of players many favours. Kids are being run into the ground before they're grown and heading to the pros.

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I don't think il ever like any of theses nba cup courts, there a huge colour overkill but I am coming around to the idea of the cup in a way that the first 2 cup games coaches seem more willing to play rookies more minutes and rest stars in the earlier rounds which is a bit like what we have in English football in cup games which I do like the idea of and iam ok if if teams decide to suit stars but only play them minutes like a preseason game.

In England being a lifelong Liverpool resident and supporter me and my mates would go to cup games because the tickets were a half the price than a premier league game in the early stages because you knew a team would play there younger players more so if the nba adopted that approach I think it would be more appealing to fans but I'd also like to see them drag the cup out longer so it ends more like Feb or March which could draw more of a crowd like March madness

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Looks like the Wizards and the Raptors are battling it out for Cooper Flag in the draft, personally I don't think the Wizards can be trusted with a high draft pick, Alex Sarr needs alot of time to develop and looking like a modern day Kwame Brown

[Andrew]

I'll admit that I stubbornly can't get behind the idea of a December regular season game being given the significance of a cup and MVP trophy - and it really feels like they're trying to push it as an achievement that's a step below the Larry O'Brien trophy, which definitely rubs me the wrong way - but there are clearly benefits to it, so I don't want to bang the curmudgeonly drum too much!

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Yeah I just feel there rushing the cup games through instead of dragging it out more, also sounds lime Adam "if it's broke, break it some more" Silver is now coming up with another all-star game gimmick...SMH

Also in other news I saw Maxey, MAXEY!!! the Sixers young star has had to call out the former Sixers MVP Joel Embiid, not for skipping games but for being LATE FOR TEAM MEETINGS and other behind the scenes things, it's bad that the youngest star on that team has to call there "Star" out and it's not even a veteran like Paul George who Joel clearly wanted in Philly but then bails on the team when he gets his wish

[Andrew]

Indeed. As I said, he's talented, but he's not a leader, or a franchise player.

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I saw the nba once again is looking into the knicks for tampering with Rick Brunson getting a promotion to lead assistant on the knicks bench the same offseason that Jalen signed an extension meanwhile the league doesn't bat an eyelid at Bronny getting a 3 year guaranteed deal as a late 2nd round pick and LeBron saying he wants to play with his son or how about Embiids side eye laugh to Paul George on national TV that the Sixers hopefully will add some talent this off season while him and Paul George are there together covering the nba playoffs.

I know this is the old man in me talking but I'm not a fan of theses replay centers taking points away during games or adding them when no team challenged them, or the league coming out after the game saying game winning shots should not of counted like it changes a damm thing makes no sense at all and just highlights how poor the refs Calling the actual game in the moment really are

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I'm glad to see Elfrid Payton back in the nba I've always thought he was a solid pg in this league and didn't deserve the hate he got from knicks fans during his time in NY but seeing that starting lineup the Pelicans put out last night and seeing how many injuries they have 1 month into the season is ridiculous! It's either really really bad luck or the worst display of tanking I've seen since the 2015-2018 Sixers

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The Sixers have become such a mess this season and after the team meeting details were leaked apparently Joel is not happy and called out the person who leaked the details saying "there a piece of sh*t for doing that"

This is an example of leadership from Embiid saying things should stay private and I do agree with that however when your the franchise player and a younger player is calling you out for being late to everyone Sixers related iam not sure you can make this statement about someone being a bad teammate for leaking what was said in the meeting.

Also in other Sixers news Paul George just days after saying he sees what's going on and needs to switch on "Bully mode" lasted half a game before hyperextension of the same knee he injured in preseason and did not return.

[Andrew]

It's certainly getting messy. I can understand being miffed that it was leaked, of course. Ideally you want to keep these matters in-house and deal with them behind closed doors. It's kind of like the leak with Draymond Green punching Jordan Poole though, and Steve Kerr making a bigger deal out of that "betrayal" than, you know, one of the leaders of the team having a violent outburst.

[Jeffx]

Wow, could Donte DiVincenzo be on the trading block already?

https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minn ... de-target/

[Jeffx]

Shannon Sharpe nailed it. Zion Williamson is a grown a$$ man - time to stop babying him. The way he's going, he'll become an NBA "What If?"

...and to think, I was mad the Knicks weren't able to draft him. We dodged a bullet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-00zyQCFhY

Besides Cleveland, the biggest surprises for me are Houston, and Orlando still winning despite Banchero being out indefinitely.

[Andrew]

The Lakers won't defend their 2023 NBA Cup following their loss to the Thunder. I'm interested to see how hard ESPN et al push it now.

[Leander]

DiVincenzo should go back to New York...he was happier there...his FG% for the Timberwolves is really low.

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I can't remember who's take it was I saw on X that said Zion was set up to fail being drafted number 1 and going to the Pelicans.

Honestly why can't the media just say it as it is and that he has a lazy work ethics, weight problems which has lead to injuries and had zero heart like when he sat out in the playoffs "because he didn't feel like Zion"

I know he's a very talented player but at times he's a glorified Anthony Bennett

[Andrew]

They might lose their access if they don't treat him with kid gloves. Easier for the talking heads to blame the small market team.

[Jeffx]

I can't remember who's take it was I saw on X that said Zion was set up to fail being drafted number 1 and going to the Pelicans.

It was Boogie Cousins who posted that nonsense. Shannon shot that BS down.

I just saw legendary St. John's coach Lou Carnesecca passed away at age 99. R.I.P. to "The Sweater".

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-baske ... ca-dies-99