NBA Season 2021-22

[Briantir]

How do the Raptors defend Embiid?

They have no big men.

So they double team him and give Harden the ball against a scrambling out of position team defense? I don't see that plan winning a playoff series.

They swarm Joel with 6'9 lengthy wingspan guys and force the ball out of his hands... I don't trust Harden to be consistent and Toronto honestly has a better overall team in my opinion.

Nurse is also far superior with in game adjustments game planning then Doc Rivers.

[JSD]

What the Bucks did here was really surprising. It makes sense to do geographically and to get a weaker team, but how often have we seen something like this from an NBA champion?

Has any team that tanked multiple games for a matchup ever gone on to win a title? Really hope the Celtics makes them pay with home court advantage if we can somehow get to the 2nd round. The Nets with a healthy KD, the best player in the league, are going to be tough without TL.

[SparzWizard]

Lakers fired Frank Vogel.

Wow Black Monday came early lol

[SparzWizard]

Luka Doncic suffered left calf strain and left the game. Not something you want to see right before the playoffs 

[JSD]

Lakers fired Frank Vogel.

Wow Black Monday came early lol

They didn't even tell him yet, Woj told him.

[gouki88]

Lakers fired Frank Vogel.

Wow Black Monday came early lol

I hope they somehow lure Doc Rivers over there. He'd be perfect

[bdm860]

Schedule for next weekends games:

https://twitter.com/thesteinline/status/1513369851666051078?s=21&t=zK1bwt9M7de0gr25e2tH3Q



TV partners are probably waiting to see where Brooklyn ends up before committing to Sunday's schedule.  Should they survive the play-in, Brooklyn vs Boston or Brooklyn vs Miami probably gets the prime TV slot.

[Birdman]

Lakers fired Frank Vogel.

Wow Black Monday came early lol

Cant blame LeBron so Vogel takes the fall

[Birdman]

Rather had 4th seed than 2..Nets, then Bucks ouch

[jambr380]

What the Bucks did here was really surprising. It makes sense to do geographically and to get a weaker team, but how often have we seen something like this from an NBA champion?

Has any team that tanked multiple games for a matchup ever gone on to win a title? Really hope the Celtics makes them pay with home court advantage if we can somehow get to the 2nd round. The Nets with a healthy KD, the best player in the league, are going to be tough without TL.

We as fans can hope for a certain match-up, but it is really surprising to me to see an actual team so blatantly tank in order to get that match-up. It could almost be somewhat forgivable if there the play-in tournament didn't exist and the playoffs instead started Wednesday; but giving up HCA for an entire round of the playoffs just because you don't want to face a certain team should be getting that team lambasted across the media. It is totally weak.

[Moranis]

What the Bucks did here was really surprising. It makes sense to do geographically and to get a weaker team, but how often have we seen something like this from an NBA champion?

Has any team that tanked multiple games for a matchup ever gone on to win a title? Really hope the Celtics makes them pay with home court advantage if we can somehow get to the 2nd round. The Nets with a healthy KD, the best player in the league, are going to be tough without TL.

We as fans can hope for a certain match-up, but it is really surprising to me to see an actual team so blatantly tank in order to get that match-up. It could almost be somewhat forgivable if there the play-in tournament didn't exist and the playoffs instead started Wednesday; but giving up HCA for an entire round of the playoffs just because you don't want to face a certain team should be getting that team lambasted across the media. It is totally weak.

The Clippers had a far more blatant tank last year to try to avoid the Lakers. 

Lots of teams rest players the last regular season game, even when seeding could change.  Giving Giannis a full week off makes a great deal of sense if it gets him refreshed for the playoffs, especially when he had just played both games of a back to back with only 1 day off before the last game.  And then you see the report that Luka tweaked something and you think well maybe more teams should have taken the rest approach.

[dannyboy35]

What the Bucks did here was really surprising. It makes sense to do geographically and to get a weaker team, but how often have we seen something like this from an NBA champion?

Has any team that tanked multiple games for a matchup ever gone on to win a title? Really hope the Celtics makes them pay with home court advantage if we can somehow get to the 2nd round. The Nets with a healthy KD, the best player in the league, are going to be tough without TL.

   
   I wish it worked out where we didn’t have to face the Nets. I don’t know whether to be surprised or not by the Bucks. Chicago and Cleveland I feel are much easier to beat. I think there’s a good chance we’ll see Ben Simmons in the first round even if he can only do one game before his back goes again.

[Who]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

[kraidstar]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

Al Horford is still considered a bad contract. Would you trade him and another $13M in players for Westbrook?

Gonna guess the answer is a resounding "no."

The only way the Lakers can dump that contract is if they attach their two future firsts AND take on toxic contracts in return. Teams aren't going to give up useful players for trash. Just getting to the $40M in salary to match for Westbrook will be a major impediment to getting any trade done. Again, would you trade Horford and White for Westbrook and 2 firsts? I don't think I would.

Their best bet is probably a tanking team that needs picks and won't mind gutting their roster. Or maybe Philly with Tobias Harris, or Porzingis or Kevin Love.

Then they resign Monk and use their taxpayer MLE.

roster is:

AD
LeBroid
Harris/Porzingis/Love
Monk
MLE guy
Horton-Tucker
useless trade filler guy(s)
Minimum Salary guys

IMO that's the sort of team they would have after committing their first round picks all the way through 2028. Still likely hideous defense and loads of scrubs. It's glorious. Maybe they can sell their fanbase on another big name. You know if they trade for Porzingis a dozen articles will pop up on ESPN predicting his return to dominance.

[Moranis]

Hmmm ... so Westbrook is going to be in the last 12 months of his contract next season. That contract may be tradeable for a bad long term deal. LAL might be able to find something somewhere that works better for them heading into next season.

That could make a big difference into putting LA back into the playoff mix next season along with of course better health from Anthony Davis. Some alterations to the supporting cast. Spend the MLE. Not impossible.

Westbrook, Reaves for Hardway, Bertans, Kleber (Dallas just tells Russ to stay home - trade is about clearing future cap to re-sign Brunson)

Westbrook, Reaves for Fournier, Randle, Burks (NY clears the deck and tries again with cap space)

Westbrook for Hayward, Oubre (CHA realizes Hayward can't stay healthy and clears him out)

Westbrook, Reaves, 27 1st for Brogdon, Hield (IND clears the deck and truly rebuilds)

I'm sure there are other variations out there and other minor pieces could be added