NBA Season 2021-22

[celticsclay]

https://twitter.com/FTFonFS1/status/1496832564966793218?t=_7OwnF9wurUS16p2Klo8Mw&s=19

Anybody who quotes Nick Wright immediately loses credibility, sorry.  CelticsStrong rule.

Management did screw up, but that was with a giant assist from Lebron.  Why was he pushing for Westbrook?  Why not go all-in on DeRozan?  There may have been a world where, instead of Westbrook, the Lakers acquired both DeRozan and Hield while also keeping Schroeder, Caruso, Drummond, etc.  I haven't done the math, but the money isn't wildly different for Westbrook vs. DeRozan / Hield, particularly where it's likely DeRozan would have played for a slightly lower salary than in Chicago.

Roy it is because if you view it that way it puts more blame on Lebron and some people don't want Lebron to have any blame (including himself).

Also it sounds just like the Lakers (Lebron) preferred Westbrook to Demar, and that is what happened.

The talks between the Lakers and Spurs tapered off. Reading the tea leaves, Goodwin pivoted his client in the direction of the Chicago Bulls.

From Chris Haynes:

"DeRozan, 32, believed everyone was on the same page, but the Lakers silently began exploring another route once Russell Westbrook was made available in Washington.
There was minimal debate internally among the Lakers' brass on which player would be the right fit, but there weren't enough key backers of DeRozan. Westbrook was acquired on the day of the 2021 NBA draft."

I am kind of surprised we are even having this debate in the second debate of Lebron hand picking his roster. Sure there are some different moves around the margins that Lebron may have wanted including bringing back Caruso (that is actually the only clear money tied move). If you are Lebron its seems silly to get upset the Lakers don't want to make a risky trade that probably doesn't move the needle to get out of the Westbrook deal after you forced them to get westbrook in the first place. Lebron's fingerprints are currently all over their disaster of a roster. Lets just be honest about that and stop the mental gymnastics.

[liam]

The Blazers are just playing as loose as a goose. Nothing to lose...

[nickagneta]

Lol at the attention Steph got for his All-Star performance.

97% of his shots were with no one within 8 feet of the guy and no one actually trying to play defense or close out on him.

If the best shooter All-Time can't drain almost every shot he takes given those conditions, he doesn't deserve the title of best shooter ever.

[Goldstar88]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

[PAOBoston]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

Watching their games is going to be a problem too. Free throw fest.

[Celtics2021]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

[jpotter33]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

And once you add White and Brown as secondary and third defenders, on top of the post fortress of Timelord and Al, there's a lot of resistance for Harden.

[tazzmaniac]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

And once you add White and Brown as secondary and third defenders, on top of the post fortress of Timelord and Al, there's a lot of resistance for Harden.

But you've got to deal with Embiid, Harris and Maxey too. 

[Celtics2021]

Officials have not had a good last 10 minutes of real time or 10 seconds of game time in the lakers-clippers game.

[celticsclay]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

And once you add White and Brown as secondary and third defenders, on top of the post fortress of Timelord and Al, there's a lot of resistance for Harden.

But you've got to deal with Embiid, Harris and Maxey too.

Deal with Harris? Oh the horrors.

[celticsclay]

Exhibit 386 of this year: Lebron losing to a team playing Reggie Jackson, luke kennard, Zubac, Morris, Amir Coffey and Terrance mann, HarteNstein. I don’t care who is he with with, and Howard, Anthony and Westbrook are ok role players, that doesn’t happen like it has happened all year if you are a top 5 player.

[tazzmaniac]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

And once you add White and Brown as secondary and third defenders, on top of the post fortress of Timelord and Al, there's a lot of resistance for Harden.

But you've got to deal with Embiid, Harris and Maxey too.

Deal with Harris? Oh the horrors.

Yes, Harris as the 4th option.  Whoever is guarding Harden is going to get much help.  Whoever is guarding Embiid isn't going to get much help. 

[Celtics2021]

Exhibit 386 of this year: Lebron losing to a team playing Reggie Jackson, luke kennard, Zubac, Morris, Amir Coffey and Terrance mann, HarteNstein. I don’t care who is with, and Howard, Anthony and Westbrook are ok role players, that doesn’t happen like it has happened all year if you are a top 5 player.

Also, the Lakers have the toughest remaining schedule in the West by winning percentage.  This a) is not good for them as they try to avoid the 10th seed or worse, and b) means that they’ve had one of the easiest schedules to day and are still 5 games under .500.

[Celtics2021]

Yeah... the 76ers are going to be a problem.

If Marcus Smart is healthy, James Harden doesn’t scare me too much.  That matchup has gone very well for the Celtics over the years.

And once you add White and Brown as secondary and third defenders, on top of the post fortress of Timelord and Al, there's a lot of resistance for Harden.

But you've got to deal with Embiid, Harris and Maxey too.

Deal with Harris? Oh the horrors.

Yes, Harris as the 4th option.  Whoever is guarding Harden is going to get much help.  Whoever is guarding Embiid isn't going to get much help.

The C’s will put Williams on Thybulle and let him help wherever necessary.  My point is that it won’t be necessary often with Smart guarding Harden, because Smart has a long history of making Harden have bad nights.

[tazzmaniac]

Exhibit 386 of this year: Lebron losing to a team playing Reggie Jackson, luke kennard, Zubac, Morris, Amir Coffey and Terrance mann, HarteNstein. I don’t care who is with, and Howard, Anthony and Westbrook are ok role players, that doesn’t happen like it has happened all year if you are a top 5 player.

Also, the Lakers have the toughest remaining schedule in the West by winning percentage.  This a) is not good for them as they try to avoid the 10th seed or worse, and b) means that they’ve had one of the easiest schedules to day and are still 5 games under .500.

Only 3.5 games ahead of 11th.  It would be something if the Lakers didn't even make the play-in games.