NBA Season 2022-23

[Vermont Green]

The newly acquired Lakers are pretty decent...Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba. Anything is possible in the West. 4 game difference between the 5th seed and 13th seed.

The Lakers are currently behind POR, OKC, UTA, and NOP.  They should be better than all of these teams and maybe MIN too.  After that, it will be a lot tougher to catch DAL or PHO but if LeBron and Davis are healthy, the Lakers will be a tough out in the playoffs.  They are somewhat improved by the trades for sure but the critical factor for them is LeBron and Davis.

[Moranis]

The newly acquired Lakers are pretty decent...Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba. Anything is possible in the West. 4 game difference between the 5th seed and 13th seed.

The Lakers are currently behind POR, OKC, UTA, and NOP.  They should be better than all of these teams and maybe MIN too.  After that, it will be a lot tougher to catch DAL or PHO but if LeBron and Davis are healthy, the Lakers will be a tough out in the playoffs.  They are somewhat improved by the trades for sure but the critical factor for them is LeBron and Davis.

Yeah there was a lot of talk on sports radio about how they were in 13th and that was a lot of teams to jump, but the reality is they don't need to improve that many games.  If they go 15-7 the rest of the way, they have a shot at the 6th seed (that would be 43-39, though I suspect they'd need more like 45 wins to feel good about the 6th seed and I don't think they will get there).  And 15-7 is certainly doable as they have a pretty easy schedule after their next two (at Dallas, at Memphis).  I'd be absolutely stunned if they don't move up to at least 10th and the play in as they should fairly easily pass Portland, OKC, and Utah and New Orleans without Zion isn't very good either.  The longer Curry is out, the easier it will be for them to pass Golden State as well. 

The other thing to note is the Lakers were 2-10, they are 26-22 since, which obviously isn't great, but that win percentage would basically put them on pace with the Clippers (who are 4th), so even before the trade deadline moves, they were playing much better, and I do think they improved at the trade deadline.

[Phantom255x]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

[boscel33]

JD Davison making a bit of an impact in the G-League.  Makes me wonder, what that means for others on the roster like Brogdon, Smart, or White.  Kid was a five-star recruit.  Did Brad find a gem in the second?  I think so!


https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2023/02/17/jd-davison-celtics-guard-g-league-alabama/

[Vermont Green]

JD Davison making a bit of an impact in the G-League.  Makes me wonder, what that means for others on the roster like Brogdon, Smart, or White.  Kid was a five-star recruit.  Did Brad find a gem in the second?  I think so!


https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2023/02/17/jd-davison-celtics-guard-g-league-alabama/

I think Brad did find a gem.  I liked what I saw right from summer league.  But he is not going to be changing anything for the likes of White, Smart, Brogdon.  Maybe Pritchard.  A stretch goal for Davison would be to fill in next season and provide what Pritchard has given us (assuming Pritchard gets traded).

[Moranis]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

What is a good game?  Are these good games?

15/13/7
22/8/5
20/6/3

I mean he had those 3 in a 5 game stretch earlier this year.  The other 2 games in that stretch weren't as good, but weren't terrible at 11/11/3 and 14/6/3.  And he was +33 in those 5 games. 

He mostly hasn't played well, but he does have a positive on/off differential even with the mostly awful stat lines because he can actually defend. 

[Goldstar88]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

What is a good game?  Are these good games?

15/13/7
22/8/5
20/6/3

I mean he had those 3 in a 5 game stretch earlier this year.  The other 2 games in that stretch weren't as good, but weren't terrible at 11/11/3 and 14/6/3.  And he was +33 in those 5 games. 

He mostly hasn't played well, but he does have a positive on/off differential even with the mostly awful stat lines because he can actually defend.

If Simmons just played center going forward, would it matter that he doesn’t have a jump shot?  He definitely has the size to do it at 6’10”/240lbs.

[Phantom255x]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

What is a good game?  Are these good games?

15/13/7
22/8/5
20/6/3

I mean he had those 3 in a 5 game stretch earlier this year.  The other 2 games in that stretch weren't as good, but weren't terrible at 11/11/3 and 14/6/3.  And he was +33 in those 5 games. 

He mostly hasn't played well, but he does have a positive on/off differential even with the mostly awful stat lines because he can actually defend.

Great, so three months ago! And he's played 30 games since, and has basically fallen out of the starting lineup in BKN even with all the trades they made. Point stands.

[Moranis]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

What is a good game?  Are these good games?

15/13/7
22/8/5
20/6/3

I mean he had those 3 in a 5 game stretch earlier this year.  The other 2 games in that stretch weren't as good, but weren't terrible at 11/11/3 and 14/6/3.  And he was +33 in those 5 games. 

He mostly hasn't played well, but he does have a positive on/off differential even with the mostly awful stat lines because he can actually defend.

Great, so three months ago! And he's played 30 games since, and has basically fallen out of the starting lineup in BKN even with all the trades they made. Point stands.

it wasn't 2 years ago and it wasn't 8/6/6.  If you don't want to know the answer to something, don't ask the question.

And that is better games than Grant Williams has had all year and basically about what you'd expect from White or Brogdon. 

Simmon is overpaid.  WAY overpaid, and you can't rely on him for scoring, but those are different arguments.

[Phantom255x]

Ben Simmons may very well be on his last nba contract

https://twitter.com/thenbacentral/status/1628191562474610688?s=46&t=8jreWiu2w9GQDdMkKSC6ow

Why? The guy is making history! 

I'm trying to think back.  I seem to recall some folks on here thinking that Simmons would get his act together with the Nets and the Nets won the trade with the Sixers.

I recall several posters here screaming to pay whatever it took to get Simmons when they heard the Sixers wanted to move him and then again once he was in Brooklyn despite how he's played there.

I can't even remember the last time Simmons actually had a great game? Maybe 2021? And if some poster responds saying "oh he had a nice all-around night with a statline of 8/6/6" then you're basically proving my point lol.

Oh and Simmons is again on the injury report with "soreness". I think he's going to call it quits this season too. Soft player, no heart.

What is a good game?  Are these good games?

15/13/7
22/8/5
20/6/3

I mean he had those 3 in a 5 game stretch earlier this year.  The other 2 games in that stretch weren't as good, but weren't terrible at 11/11/3 and 14/6/3.  And he was +33 in those 5 games. 

He mostly hasn't played well, but he does have a positive on/off differential even with the mostly awful stat lines because he can actually defend.

Great, so three months ago! And he's played 30 games since, and has basically fallen out of the starting lineup in BKN even with all the trades they made. Point stands.

it wasn't 2 years ago and it wasn't 8/6/6.  If you don't want to know the answer to something, don't ask the question.

And that is better games than Grant Williams has had all year and basically about what you'd expect from White or Brogdon. 

Simmon is overpaid.  WAY overpaid, and you can't rely on him for scoring, but those are different arguments.

Lol. A 5-game stretch in a season that's already 60 games through is your entire argument? Yikes dude.

Yeah I'll fully admit I was wrong and exaggerating a bit, Simmons has had a few good games this season, so saying 2021 was jumping the gun. But G-Will has had games of 25/5, 19/10, 20/8, 13/7, and some 14/6 games. I'm not going to pretend to be an expert on +/- but GWill did impact a lot of those games and they won most of them too

If Simmons can play defense, why is he barely playing? Why does the coach literally roll his eyes (not a lie, look it up) and basically bash Simmons in postgame pressers. And also, GWill is like the 8th-9th guy on our team. If he's the comparison point, then wow. And yes, White + Brogdon put up those numbers regularly. Simmons has done it like 4-5 games. Amazing.

Anyways, I'm done arguing this. Everyone knows he sucks anyways and I don't even understand where the defense comes from. Literally the two teams he's been on hate him and so do the coaches/players . He'll be out of the league soon

[Roy H.]

Regarding the above, Simmons producing like Grant Williams (without the spacing) isn’t impressive.  Playing as well as the Celtics 9th best player, at a max salary, is team-killing.

[Vermont Green]

I don't know why people are piling on Simmons.  He is a gifted athlete who has what may be a permanent case of the yips.  Before he acquired the yips, he was not a good shooter, but a good enough shooter that combined with his otherworldly athleticism and court vision, he could play at an all star level in the NBA, 3rd team all NBA in fact.

His physical condition is also a question.  Because he is such a head case, people understandably don't take his "sore back" or "sore knee" as seriously as you might with another player.  But I think he has some real health issues, combined with the yips.  And I think his yips are just a symptom of deeper mental health issues.  So between his mental health and his physical health, he has declined from 3rd team all NBA to barely a bench player.  I find it sad actually.

I am not sure what the debate is.

[celticsclay]

The newly acquired Lakers are pretty decent...Malik Beasley and Mo Bamba. Anything is possible in the West. 4 game difference between the 5th seed and 13th seed.

The Lakers are currently behind POR, OKC, UTA, and NOP.  They should be better than all of these teams and maybe MIN too.  After that, it will be a lot tougher to catch DAL or PHO but if LeBron and Davis are healthy, the Lakers will be a tough out in the playoffs.  They are somewhat improved by the trades for sure but the critical factor for them is LeBron and Davis.

Yeah there was a lot of talk on sports radio about how they were in 13th and that was a lot of teams to jump, but the reality is they don't need to improve that many games.  If they go 15-7 the rest of the way, they have a shot at the 6th seed (that would be 43-39, though I suspect they'd need more like 45 wins to feel good about the 6th seed and I don't think they will get there).  And 15-7 is certainly doable as they have a pretty easy schedule after their next two (at Dallas, at Memphis).  I'd be absolutely stunned if they don't move up to at least 10th and the play in as they should fairly easily pass Portland, OKC, and Utah and New Orleans without Zion isn't very good either.  The longer Curry is out, the easier it will be for them to pass Golden State as well. 

The other thing to note is the Lakers were 2-10, they are 26-22 since, which obviously isn't great, but that win percentage would basically put them on pace with the Clippers (who are 4th), so even before the trade deadline moves, they were playing much better, and I do think they improved at the trade deadline.

Let’s calm down on the Lakers and be realistic not just blind Lebron fans. The warriors were without wiggins or curry last night. Arguably their two best players.

 Barkley and Shaq actually talked about this last night. A lot of the teams above the Lakers got better and made much more significant deadline additions. Irving to Dallas is a much better addition than anything the lakers did. Durant is obviously too. The clippers are finally healthy and also really made some nice additions in Gordon and plumlee. These are teams 4-6. Why are the lakers gonna pass one of these teams when they all made bigger additions than the lakers and are already significantly behind them.

[celticsclay]

Regarding the above, Simmons producing like Grant Williams (without the spacing) isn’t impressive.  Playing as well as the Celtics 9th best player, at a max salary, is team-killing.

Yeah. I mean the person defending him said they would take simmons over jaylen this past summer in a redraft so I wouldn’t take them too seriously on this topic.

[td450]

I don't know why people are piling on Simmons.  He is a gifted athlete who has what may be a permanent case of the yips.  Before he acquired the yips, he was not a good shooter, but a good enough shooter that combined with his otherworldly athleticism and court vision, he could play at an all star level in the NBA, 3rd team all NBA in fact.

His physical condition is also a question.  Because he is such a head case, people understandably don't take his "sore back" or "sore knee" as seriously as you might with another player.  But I think he has some real health issues, combined with the yips.  And I think his yips are just a symptom of deeper mental health issues.  So between his mental health and his physical health, he has declined from 3rd team all NBA to barely a bench player.  I find it sad actually.

I am not sure what the debate is.

Ben Simmons just acts like a shallow person. If he was your nephew and still living with his parents, you wouldn't call this mental illness. It only seems that way because professional sports is usually very effective in selecting for a certain set of psychological characteristics that the average person would find extreme and obsessive.

It is rare, but certainly not unprecedented, for someone to be so immensely talented that they slip through the intense selection process, but it happens occasionally. There is no evidence that Simmons has mental illness, other than the fact that he cannot consistently summon the necessary will to compete at this level. He's just someone who slipped through the system without the intense work ethic and mental toughness most athletes need to get to the very top.