NBA Regular Season thread: Tank for Cooper Flagg Initiated

[volodya]

100%, its why I think baseball is fascinating as a sport. You can be a fat slob like Bartolo Colon who has no reason to be a great athlete and has zero ability to follow a ball. He does have whatever mash up of traits necessary to pitch at the highest level possible. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani and Joe Mauer were elite prospects in multiple sports. Both are big, strong, and fast period. They're super athletes, that just happen to play baseball.

Reminds me of this kid I see at the Y. He probably aint more than 14 and I'd like to point out i could body him of only because he is small and I'm 30 yrs older...but i see him to lots of dribbling drills with 2 balls, and he is getting very good; he is learning to be coordinated. It ain't ball, but learned something similar learning tp play Bach on the 88. Practice works though, and its forever fun to see these fat slobs clown the "best" athletes in the world.

 

[Unknown Pleasures]

Grew up around plenty of Croatians / Serbs and some Slovenians.

Some balkan guys are built like Jokic and Doncic, but plenty of them are jacked with low body fat and pretty explosive / athletic (eg. Cro Dop dudes). There are a few different archetypes. Jokic and Doncic aren't exceptional in athleticism for eastern european athletes, they are just big dudes who are really, really talented with high IQ.

I hear ya, and maybe they aren't exceptional for elite athletes, but they are exceptional nonetheless. I watch Doncic and Jokic play a mad amount of times; Jokic is up and down the court constantly and is probably faster than people give him credit for, it just looks awkward to see a "point center" lead the rush and fast breaks. I would never question his cardio, even if he looks kinda soft and pudgy. I think him losing weight to focus on aesthetics as opposed to having the weight to dominate in the post would be a big mistake. And honestly, I am far from convinced slimmer players have better endurance than him. I feel largely the same about Luka. I guess the difference is Jokic is more injury proof since he doesn't go vertical or sharply change left and right directions as much.

 

[MusterX]

Yeah I mean even from a business perspective getting rid of Luka makes zero sense.

Dallas has been basketball crazy especially since the series with the Suns and the last run to the finals. Luka would put butts in seats for the next 6 years and guarantee that it would be a fire show nearly every home game. He was a cash cow, think about how many damn lakers jerseys hes gonna sell.

Even if they win something short term, it still wouldn't be a good business decision.

It's either the this / the vegas conspiracy, or maybe the owners just didn't like him / wanna pay him that much at this stage.

It isn't about money man. Miriam Adelson has a net worth of 32 billion, she also continues to make money on her casinos. She's mega-rich compared to Mark Cuban. Ten times what Cuban was worth while also making more. She wants casinos in Dallas and if she doesn't get her way Dallas is not going to have a team. It would end up being one of the most tragic stories in sports because Dallas would have gone from having a young talented team with a generational player that just went to the Finals, to not even having a basketball team. Everything lost over a political dispute concerning gambling in the state of Texas.

 

[wlu.29]

It isn't about money man. Miriam Adelson has a net worth of 32 billion, she also continues to make money on her casinos. She's mega-rich compared to Mark Cuban. Ten times what Cuban was worth while also making more. She wants casinos in Dallas and if she doesn't get her way Dallas is not going to have a team. It would end up being one of the most tragic stories in sports because Dallas would have gone from having a young talented team with a generational player that just went to the Finals, to not even having a basketball team. Everything lost over a political dispute concerning gambling in the state of Texas.

Nba can veto a move, no?

 

[wlu.29]

I would not be surprised if Wiggins is better in Miami than butler performs in GS

 

[MusterX]

Nba can veto a move, no?

Yea but Adam Silver has been silent through this entire thing as far as I know. The Commissioner can veto the trade, which he didn't, and can also veto a team move. So how do you move a team that is 4th largest market in the league with the highest per game attendance in the league? Well, you give away your super star generational player for starters, which enrages people and dries up support for the team and ticket sales.

The Mavs are already giving refunds to season ticket holders over this so its working. This entire thing is so inexplicable that the only thing that makes sense is Texas allows gambling or the Adelson's move the team. And they couldn't trade Luka for what he was worth because the Mavs would have got a massive package of picks and players in return so they traded him for AD and one first to make fans extra angry. To put that in perspective, Mikail Bridges was traded for FIVE 1st round picks and he isn't near Luka's caliber of player. Not only did the Mavs give Luka away but they did it for a 32 year old injury prone player.

This is the assassination of a franchise in full view of everyone.

 

[wlu.29]

Yea but Adam Silver has been silent through this entire thing as far as I know. The Commissioner can veto the trade, which he didn't, and can also veto a team move. So how do you move a team that is 4th largest market in the league with the highest per game attendance in the league? Well, you give away your super star generational player for starters, which enrages people and dries up support for the team and ticket sales.

The Mavs are already giving refunds to season ticket holders over this so its working. This entire thing is so inexplicable that the only thing that makes sense is Texas allows gambling or the Adelson's move the team. And they couldn't trade Luka for what he was worth because the Mavs would have got a massive package of picks and players in return so they traded him for AD and one first to make fans extra angry. To put that in perspective, Mikail Bridges was traded for FIVE 1st round picks and he isn't near Luka's caliber of player. Not only did the Mavs give Luka away but they did it for a 32 year old injury prone player.

This is the assassination of a franchise in full view of everyone.

I don't think silver would veto the trade but he would veto move to Vegas

 

[Revolver]

Goat.

 

[MusterX]

I don't think silver would veto the trade but he would veto move to Vegas

He won't veto the move of the team if nobody is going to the games anymore. It has come out now that Miriam Adelson hired an army of lobbyists in Texas and donated over 14 million dollars to Texas politicians in an effort to get gambling legalized. The next vote on it is in 2027, which incidently is also the timetable set for Vegas to get a basketball team. If Kyrie leaves at the end of this season over this Luka trade, and Klay ages out, and AD either is too injury prone or wants out, then Nico can trade the rest of the team away next year and by the end of next year the stands will be empty, move approved.

 

[wlu.29]

He won't veto the move of the team if nobody is going to the games anymore. It has come out now that Miriam Adelson hired an army of lobbyists in Texas and donated over 14 million dollars to Texas politicians in an effort to get gambling legalized. The next vote on it is in 2027, which incidently is also the timetable set for Vegas to get a basketball team. If Kyrie leaves at the end of this season over this Luka trade, and Klay ages out, and AD either is too injury prone or wants out, then Nico can trade the rest of the team away next year and by the end of next year the stands will be empty, move approved.

If when she moves the team to Vegas, it would have been better to move with 5 x 1st rounders instead of 1 x 1st rounders

 

[MusterX]

If when she moves the team to Vegas, it would have been better to move with 5 x 1st rounders instead of 1 x 1st rounders

They can't move the team, Silver will veto the move unless fan support for the Mavs in Dallas dries up man. They have to get people to stop going to the games. She doesn't give a shit about basketball, she cares about building casinos in Dallas. So no, it makes sense they would give Luka away and will probably makes more moves to that same effect next year. They need fans to be so angry that she can get the team moved, but what she really wants is to build casinos.

 

[MacGregor]

 

[Jonathan Utah]

They can't move the team, Silver will veto the move unless fan support for the Mavs in Dallas dries up man. They have to get people to stop going to the games. She doesn't give a shit about basketball, she cares about building casinos in Dallas. So no, it makes sense they would give Luka away and will probably makes more moves to that same effect next year. They need fans to be so angry that she can get the team moved, but what she really wants is to build casinos.

You think she would have Kyrie traded?

 

[MusterX]

You think she would have Kyrie traded?

I think Kyrie's contract is up next year? I forget but Kyrie came to Dallas to play with Luka specifically, so did Klay Thompson. I would not be surpised if both want out now but even if they don't they could get traded. Nothing is below this bitch, she just traded Luka Doncic, in his prime, for 32 year old AD and a bag of chips. Her entire intent is to try to force gambling into Texas. She has spend millions on lobbyists for the task alone. Its impossible for me to assume that Miriam Adelson and Nico Harrison both had no idea that this would enrage the city, and that they also refused to shop Luka around and get a fair deal. This will end up being the murdering of a franchise, and its no accident.

 

[Revolver]

I think Kyrie's contract is up next year? I forget but Kyrie came to Dallas to play with Luka specifically, so did Klay Thompson. I would not be surpised if both want out now but even if they don't they could get traded. Nothing is below this bitch, she just traded Luka Doncic, in his prime, for 32 year old AD and a bag of chips. Her entire intent is to try to force gambling into Texas. She has spend millions on lobbyists for the task alone. Its impossible for me to assume that Miriam Adelson and Nico Harrison both had no idea that this would enrage the city, and that they also refused to shop Luka around and get a fair deal. This will end up being the murdering of a franchise, and its no accident.

Don’t forget about max Christie fam.

 

[HomeCheese]

Doubling down on being a retard isn't the best idea.

1 on 1 defense isn't really the metric of a good defender unless they get brutalized repeatedly (IE Steph Curry whos a shit defender but NET positive because of his scoring), even the best defenders in the league get beat, and get beat often. The entire point of the current NBA offenses, is to get ISO and create an efficient shot. Not spread the middle of the floor and watch guys drive and throw up bricks.

LeBron is a better defender, he's still one of the best in the league. Luka also does very well against PG's due to his size, and if they have Luka, LeBron, and Vanderbilt on the floor the only thing that can't defend is the post against an elite center.

You see, basketball is a 5 on 5 game. It's a team sport. Not some shit tier 1 on 1 league.

Maybe I should start a "State of the league" blog for you and other dorks to learn something. Although we know it won't happen. The league has changed so much since 2014, its changed a ton since 2020, but you never learn and continue with the 1990s ESPN analysis.

You know you remind me of a kid that used to post here, vlog I think they went by. I remember they had a huge hard on for Minnesota after they traded to Gobert. Said something about Minnesota was going to win it all.

I remember pointing out there was too much cross over between Gobert and KAT and that I had a hard time picturing them playing at the same time and being successful.

As with that trade, there are some indications Luka on the Lakers may not work great. Even a you must realize both James and Luka are best with the ball in their hands, When you take the decision making from either you take away their strength. Yes Bron has had some great players to run with but he has not had another floor general to take directions from.

 

[MusterX]

Don’t forget about max Christie fam.

I knew that was coming. I will admit he's better that I thought. I was not familiar with his game.

 

[Michaelangelo]

 

[Revolver]

LeGoat is probably the highest IQ player to ever play basketball but he won't be able to figure out how to play with Luca. lmao

 

[Croaker]

You know you remind me of a kid that used to post here, vlog I think they went by. I remember they had a huge hard on for Minnesota after they traded to Gobert. Said something about Minnesota was going to win it all.

I remember pointing out there was too much cross over between Gobert and KAT and that I had a hard time picturing them playing at the same time and being successful.

As with that trade, there are some indications Luka on the Lakers may not work great. Even a you must realize both James and Luka are best with the ball in their hands, When you take the decision making from either you take away their strength. Yes Bron has had some great players to run with but he has not had another floor general to take directions from.

The Wolves beat the Nuggets and lost to the best player in the league on a hot streak in Luka and the Mavs in the Western Conference Finals.