NBA Season 2022-23

[Birdman]

Lakers won in OT at home against a depleted T team lol..Memphis hopefully sweep them

[gouki88]

I will say, this is terrible basketball, but I love the play-in. This gives you the single elimination feel like March Madness, which certainly ups the pressure and emotion.

Yeah, I love the drama of single elimination.

I do believe there should be a limit to how far back a 9/10 seed team can be though

[Who]

What were the Timberwolves thinking when they traded for Gobert?

Can they find anyone to take that contract now?

John Collins & DeAndre Hunter for Rudy Gobert.


Minnesota put KAT back to the C position and get two forwards to put alongside Jaden McDaniels.

G: Conley
G: A Edwards
F: J McDaniels, D Hunter
F: J Collins
C: KAT

Collins would be a fun fit next to KAT. Both guys can go inside outside and major scoring threats. Anthony Edwards in the PnR with two highly skilled bigs would be devastating. Conley creating the team ball movement at PG. The SF doing the dirty work.

Meanwhile, Atlanta gets a major difference maker at C. They would need to do a follow up trade to move Clint Capela for a forward (SF or PF) which is do-able. I'd also love to see them trade Trae or D Murray for a legit wing player.

G: Trae
G: (star trade for Murray)
F: (starter trade for Capela)
F:
C: Rudy

Good step in the right direction to building a team that can actually function alongside one another instead of a bunch of misaligned pieces.

[RMO]

Lakers won in OT at home against a depleted T team lol..Memphis hopefully sweep them

Other than the fact that several of the western conference teams are flawed in some way I don't understand the excitement for the lakers. 

[Who]

If this is what the Lakers have to do to beat a depleted Minnesota team at home then maybe Memphis can actually beat them in the first round.

I just hate that they get to barely squeak by teams. Would really hate it if they managed to squeak their way to the WCF.

Like those 1995 Rockets. Squeeking by teams into the playoffs, first round and second round, improving all the time and then blowing up in the WCF and Finals.

[Moranis]

Lakers won in OT at home against a depleted T team lol..Memphis hopefully sweep them

Other than the fact that several of the western conference teams are flawed in some way I don't understand the excitement for the lakers.

They have 2 top 10 players when healthy.  That almost always does well in the playoffs.

[Phantom255x]

I think for the Grizz, taking the first two at home will be vital. If it's 1-1 though after the 2, that's a big advantage for the Lakers. But if MEM went up 2-0, I think it's likely they win that series. A good start in the series is critical for them.

[PAOBoston]

I think for the Grizz, taking the first two at home will be vital. If it's 1-1 though after the 2, that's a big advantage for the Lakers. But if MEM went up 2-0, I think it's likely they win that series. A good start in the series is critical for them.

I don’t trust Memphis. They have this smug attitude for a team that hasn’t accomplished anything. If healthy, Lebron and AD are going to take them to the brink in that first round imo.

[Moranis]

I think for the Grizz, taking the first two at home will be vital. If it's 1-1 though after the 2, that's a big advantage for the Lakers. But if MEM went up 2-0, I think it's likely they win that series. A good start in the series is critical for them.

I don’t trust Memphis. They have this smug attitude for a team that hasn’t accomplished anything. If healthy, Lebron and AD are going to take them to the brink in that first round imo.

I think the Lakers win and win easily.  I just don't trust the Grizzlies at all and without Adams and Clarke, they don't have the size to really slow down the Lakers (let alone not having anyone that can even attempt to guard Lebron). 

[Phantom255x]

I think for the Grizz, taking the first two at home will be vital. If it's 1-1 though after the 2, that's a big advantage for the Lakers. But if MEM went up 2-0, I think it's likely they win that series. A good start in the series is critical for them.

I don’t trust Memphis. They have this smug attitude for a team that hasn’t accomplished anything. If healthy, Lebron and AD are going to take them to the brink in that first round imo.

I predict Lakers in 6. But I was just saying if MEM wants to win this series, I feel they HAVE to go up 2-0 in the series. I don't see them winning it if they split the first two.

[Donoghus]

I'm not sure what to expect with LAL/MEM.  It wasn't exactly like the Lakers were gangbusters last night.  Minnesota's ineptness more than anything handed that game to LA.  Lakers do have Lebron & AD but you see a very flawed team.  I'm not sure how that will translate over a 7 game series but, like others have mentioned, I don't really trust MEM either.

[Phantom255x]

https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1645941981971972096

Wow this guy already sounds like Ben Simmons. It's a shame, I'm rooting for him but I don't think it's gonna happen. Injury prone, can't stay in shape regularly, but it also feels like he isn't "battling" to get back out there either. Just feels like a bust.

And the Pels gave him a 5/194M extension.....

[Who]

I think for the Grizz, taking the first two at home will be vital. If it's 1-1 though after the 2, that's a big advantage for the Lakers. But if MEM went up 2-0, I think it's likely they win that series. A good start in the series is critical for them.

I don’t trust Memphis. They have this smug attitude for a team that hasn’t accomplished anything. If healthy, Lebron and AD are going to take them to the brink in that first round imo.

I think the Lakers win and win easily.  I just don't trust the Grizzlies at all and without Adams and Clarke, they don't have the size to really slow down the Lakers (let alone not having anyone that can even attempt to guard Lebron).

Can Dillon Brooks not defend LeBron?

[Goldstar88]

https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1645941981971972096

Wow this guy already sounds like Ben Simmons. It's a shame, I'm rooting for him but I don't think it's gonna happen. Injury prone, can't stay in shape regularly, but it also feels like he isn't "battling" to get back out there either. Just feels like a bust.

And the Pels gave him a 5/194M extension.....

I don’t think Zion sounds like Simmons. I’m not sure Ben even likes playing basketball anymore.

"It's tough. I can't lie," Williamson said. "From my perspective, I just want to play basketball. I want to hoop, I want to play the game I love. But the reality of it is whether I check my phone, whether I'm just watching TV, no matter what it is, I can't really escape what the world thinks, what people's opinions are. So, it's frustrating."

"I mean, this s--- sucks," Williamson said. "I don't know how else to say it. It just sucks. I love this game. I say it over and over. For those people that think that I just want to sit on the sideline just to sit over there, I don't know why people think that, but nah, it sucks. I want to be playing basketball for real."

[Vermont Green]

What were the Timberwolves thinking when they traded for Gobert?

Can they find anyone to take that contract now?

John Collins & DeAndre Hunter for Rudy Gobert.


Minnesota put KAT back to the C position and get two forwards to put alongside Jaden McDaniels.

G: Conley
G: A Edwards
F: J McDaniels, D Hunter
F: J Collins
C: KAT

Collins would be a fun fit next to KAT. Both guys can go inside outside and major scoring threats. Anthony Edwards in the PnR with two highly skilled bigs would be devastating. Conley creating the team ball movement at PG. The SF doing the dirty work.

Meanwhile, Atlanta gets a major difference maker at C. They would need to do a follow up trade to move Clint Capela for a forward (SF or PF) which is do-able. I'd also love to see them trade Trae or D Murray for a legit wing player.

G: Trae
G: (star trade for Murray)
F: (starter trade for Capela)
F:
C: Rudy

Good step in the right direction to building a team that can actually function alongside one another instead of a bunch of misaligned pieces.

So how about Smart for Capela and then they can trade Murray (or Trae) for the forward they will need.

After what MIN gave up for Gobert, I would be surprised if they traded him.  They will convince themselves that they need to give it another season.

Just to refresh people's memory on the trade:

Timberwolves receive:
• Rudy Gobert

Jazz receive:
• Malik Beasley
• Patrick Beverley
• Leandro Bolmaro
• Walker Kessler (No. 22 pick in 2022 Draft)
• Jarred Vanderbilt
• 2023 first-round pick
• 2025 first-round pick
• 2026 pick swap
• 2027 first-round pick
• 2029 first-round pick

Or maybe make the trade even simpler, Trae for Gobert straight and then Capela for Smart straight:

Murray
Smart
Hunter
Collins
Gobert

Quin Snyder and Gobert reunited.