2024 NBA Season and Playoffs

[ChillyWilly]

It's not a debate that the NBA will always want superduperstar players. They are in competition with all the other pro sports for eyeballs. Having a generational player who does things no previous player can do generates interest and publicity for the league, regardless of their nationality.

What IS a debate is whether having such a dominant player is good from a competition perspective. The league has enjoyed the relative parity that has existed since the Warriors and LeBron have gotten older. If Wembanyama is as good as he already appears to be, it shouldn't be difficult for the Spurs to craft a very good team around him and be contenders sooner rather than later. It's not that people don't appreciate greatness or dynasties, but I don't think anybody wants a championship to feel too easy or a foregone conclusion before the season even starts.

I’m not sure that’s necessarily true.  The Jordan Bulls monopolarity was very popular.

As were the Celtics/Lakers run

[Goldstar88]

So all the games tonight are “Group play” for the in-season tournament. Couple of good matchups on ESPN. Bucks vs Knicks followed by Nuggets/Mavs.

[tazzmaniac]

Man, Wemby is going to be a problem. Dominating this game down the stretch with 33, 9, 2 and 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Granted - it's Phoenix with literally zero interior D playing KD at Center, but still.

EDIT: Now at 38 and 10 two possessions later after nailing a top of the key three off the curl and a quick pull midrange at the free throw line. Unbelievable.

If it were LAL, NY, or Boston that landed Admiral, Duncan, and Wemby there’d be no doubt that the fix was in.  Shows that sometimes strange things happen without foul play.  I’m glad he’s in the West, but eventually teams will need a Wemby stopper to have a chance.

Victor going to the Spurs was the best thing for the league. They need Webanyama to be a star. Billions of dollars are on the line. Having him go to a stable organization like the Spurs where you have Pop and then Duncan/Robinson as mentors gives him the best chance to succeed. SA already had a young, talented core with Vassell, Johnson, and Sochan, which takes some pressure off of him. I’m glad Victor went to the Spurs, but I’m not convinced that it was luck of the draw.

Why does the NBA need Wemby to be a star?  What billions of dollars are on the line?  Wemby could be a complete flop or a great success and it wouldn't make much difference to the NBA or its bottom line.  There are already lots of foreign players in the league.  4 of the top 10 players are foreign (Giannis, Embiid, Jokic and Luka).  Now if Wemby were Chinese or Indian that would be a big deal. 

Who is the best white American NBA player now?  Who was the last white American NBA player in the top 10?  The big difference maker would be if Chet Holmgren or Cooper Flagg become a star.  If either of them becomes a top 10 player that could be worth billions.

Simple, Webanyama is the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. He’s already generating a ton of intrigue. Look at all the Spurs games that are nationally televised this year.

Wembanyama's debut was the most-watched opening night game in 11 years, according to the NBA, with 2.99 million viewers.

You don’t think that makes a difference to the NBA’s bottom line? 

I'm confused.  First when I hear the NBA referring to opening night I think of the 1st night of NBA games.  The Spurs didn't play until the 2nd night of NBA games albeit it was their opening night.  Second last season the NBA posted that the opening night games (Sixers at Celts and Lakers at Warriors) averaged 3.3 million viewers the most in 5 years.  So what funky mathematics are they using to say 2.99 million is more that 3.3 million?   
https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-averages-3-3-million-viewers-and-148-million-social-media-views-becomes-most-watched-opening-night-in-5-years/

[jpotter33]

Another night of Lillard giving up big numbers to an opposing guard. Brunson with 38 halfway through the 4th.

[JSD]

Dame you clearly hit it lol

[SparzWizard]

Let's go Knicks!! Beat the Bucks!

[Donoghus]

Man, Wemby is going to be a problem. Dominating this game down the stretch with 33, 9, 2 and 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Granted - it's Phoenix with literally zero interior D playing KD at Center, but still.

EDIT: Now at 38 and 10 two possessions later after nailing a top of the key three off the curl and a quick pull midrange at the free throw line. Unbelievable.

If it were LAL, NY, or Boston that landed Admiral, Duncan, and Wemby there’d be no doubt that the fix was in.  Shows that sometimes strange things happen without foul play.  I’m glad he’s in the West, but eventually teams will need a Wemby stopper to have a chance.

Victor going to the Spurs was the best thing for the league. They need Webanyama to be a star. Billions of dollars are on the line. Having him go to a stable organization like the Spurs where you have Pop and then Duncan/Robinson as mentors gives him the best chance to succeed. SA already had a young, talented core with Vassell, Johnson, and Sochan, which takes some pressure off of him. I’m glad Victor went to the Spurs, but I’m not convinced that it was luck of the draw.

Why does the NBA need Wemby to be a star?  What billions of dollars are on the line?  Wemby could be a complete flop or a great success and it wouldn't make much difference to the NBA or its bottom line.  There are already lots of foreign players in the league.  4 of the top 10 players are foreign (Giannis, Embiid, Jokic and Luka).  Now if Wemby were Chinese or Indian that would be a big deal. 

Who is the best white American NBA player now?  Who was the last white American NBA player in the top 10?  The big difference maker would be if Chet Holmgren or Cooper Flagg become a star.  If either of them becomes a top 10 player that could be worth billions.

Simple, Webanyama is the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. He’s already generating a ton of intrigue. Look at all the Spurs games that are nationally televised this year.

Wembanyama's debut was the most-watched opening night game in 11 years, according to the NBA, with 2.99 million viewers.

You don’t think that makes a difference to the NBA’s bottom line? 

I'm confused.  First when I hear the NBA referring to opening night I think of the 1st night of NBA games.  The Spurs didn't play until the 2nd night of NBA games albeit it was their opening night.  Second last season the NBA posted that the opening night games (Sixers at Celts and Lakers at Warriors) averaged 3.3 million viewers the most in 5 years.  So what funky mathematics are they using to say 2.99 million is more that 3.3 million?   
https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-averages-3-3-million-viewers-and-148-million-social-media-views-becomes-most-watched-opening-night-in-5-years/

It’s by network. It was ESPN’s opening night. 

TNT was the night before and they were down.

[jpotter33]

And again - Lillard loses Brunson on the help defense over focus and he hits the three to put them up 2. 45 for Brunson. Comical how bad their perimeter D is. 

[Goldstar88]

Man, Wemby is going to be a problem. Dominating this game down the stretch with 33, 9, 2 and 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Granted - it's Phoenix with literally zero interior D playing KD at Center, but still.

EDIT: Now at 38 and 10 two possessions later after nailing a top of the key three off the curl and a quick pull midrange at the free throw line. Unbelievable.

If it were LAL, NY, or Boston that landed Admiral, Duncan, and Wemby there’d be no doubt that the fix was in.  Shows that sometimes strange things happen without foul play.  I’m glad he’s in the West, but eventually teams will need a Wemby stopper to have a chance.

Victor going to the Spurs was the best thing for the league. They need Webanyama to be a star. Billions of dollars are on the line. Having him go to a stable organization like the Spurs where you have Pop and then Duncan/Robinson as mentors gives him the best chance to succeed. SA already had a young, talented core with Vassell, Johnson, and Sochan, which takes some pressure off of him. I’m glad Victor went to the Spurs, but I’m not convinced that it was luck of the draw.

Why does the NBA need Wemby to be a star?  What billions of dollars are on the line?  Wemby could be a complete flop or a great success and it wouldn't make much difference to the NBA or its bottom line.  There are already lots of foreign players in the league.  4 of the top 10 players are foreign (Giannis, Embiid, Jokic and Luka).  Now if Wemby were Chinese or Indian that would be a big deal. 

Who is the best white American NBA player now?  Who was the last white American NBA player in the top 10?  The big difference maker would be if Chet Holmgren or Cooper Flagg become a star.  If either of them becomes a top 10 player that could be worth billions.

Simple, Webanyama is the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. He’s already generating a ton of intrigue. Look at all the Spurs games that are nationally televised this year.

Wembanyama's debut was the most-watched opening night game in 11 years, according to the NBA, with 2.99 million viewers.

You don’t think that makes a difference to the NBA’s bottom line? 

I'm confused.  First when I hear the NBA referring to opening night I think of the 1st night of NBA games.  The Spurs didn't play until the 2nd night of NBA games albeit it was their opening night.  Second last season the NBA posted that the opening night games (Sixers at Celts and Lakers at Warriors) averaged 3.3 million viewers the most in 5 years.  So what funky mathematics are they using to say 2.99 million is more that 3.3 million?   
https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-averages-3-3-million-viewers-and-148-million-social-media-views-becomes-most-watched-opening-night-in-5-years/

According to ESPN, the game between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks averaged 2.989 million viewers for the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick's NBA debut, with a peak of 3.903 million viewers at 10 p.m. ET.

Per Sports Media Watch, the viewership for Wembanyama's first NBA game was not far off from LeBron James' debut in 2003, which drew 3.03 million viewers and was also on ESPN.

[JSD]

Knicks fell apart after that Dame 3

[Atzar]

Randle has sucked to start this season but I don't think this Knicks offensive system does a single thing to help get him going either.  He never gets the ball in good position to score.  Only to create a shot from scratch, usually from the perimeter to boot, and sometimes it's hard for a struggling player to start the engine that way. 

[scaryjerry]

Is Dame one of the more overrated players of all time?
I know the bucks are gonna win tonight and all but I truly feared them more with Jrue, and the fact that he is now on our team is so ridiculously sweet

[angryguy77]

Man, Wemby is going to be a problem. Dominating this game down the stretch with 33, 9, 2 and 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Granted - it's Phoenix with literally zero interior D playing KD at Center, but still.

EDIT: Now at 38 and 10 two possessions later after nailing a top of the key three off the curl and a quick pull midrange at the free throw line. Unbelievable.

If it were LAL, NY, or Boston that landed Admiral, Duncan, and Wemby there’d be no doubt that the fix was in.  Shows that sometimes strange things happen without foul play.  I’m glad he’s in the West, but eventually teams will need a Wemby stopper to have a chance.

Victor going to the Spurs was the best thing for the league. They need Webanyama to be a star. Billions of dollars are on the line. Having him go to a stable organization like the Spurs where you have Pop and then Duncan/Robinson as mentors gives him the best chance to succeed. SA already had a young, talented core with Vassell, Johnson, and Sochan, which takes some pressure off of him. I’m glad Victor went to the Spurs, but I’m not convinced that it was luck of the draw.

Why does the NBA need Wemby to be a star?  What billions of dollars are on the line?  Wemby could be a complete flop or a great success and it wouldn't make much difference to the NBA or its bottom line.  There are already lots of foreign players in the league.  4 of the top 10 players are foreign (Giannis, Embiid, Jokic and Luka).  Now if Wemby were Chinese or Indian that would be a big deal. 

Who is the best white American NBA player now?  Who was the last white American NBA player in the top 10?  The big difference maker would be if Chet Holmgren or Cooper Flagg become a star.  If either of them becomes a top 10 player that could be worth billions.

Simple, Webanyama is the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. He’s already generating a ton of intrigue. Look at all the Spurs games that are nationally televised this year.

Wembanyama's debut was the most-watched opening night game in 11 years, according to the NBA, with 2.99 million viewers.

You don’t think that makes a difference to the NBA’s bottom line? 

I'm confused.  First when I hear the NBA referring to opening night I think of the 1st night of NBA games.  The Spurs didn't play until the 2nd night of NBA games albeit it was their opening night.  Second last season the NBA posted that the opening night games (Sixers at Celts and Lakers at Warriors) averaged 3.3 million viewers the most in 5 years.  So what funky mathematics are they using to say 2.99 million is more that 3.3 million?   
https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-averages-3-3-million-viewers-and-148-million-social-media-views-becomes-most-watched-opening-night-in-5-years/

According to ESPN, the game between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks averaged 2.989 million viewers for the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick's NBA debut, with a peak of 3.903 million viewers at 10 p.m. ET.

Per Sports Media Watch, the viewership for Wembanyama's first NBA game was not far off from LeBron James' debut in 2003, which drew 3.03 million viewers and was also on ESPN.

Webby will get better star treatment than tatum by the ASB.

I'm bracing myself for the league to put him over WWE style.

[SparzWizard]

Man, Wemby is going to be a problem. Dominating this game down the stretch with 33, 9, 2 and 2 blocks and 1 steal.

Granted - it's Phoenix with literally zero interior D playing KD at Center, but still.

EDIT: Now at 38 and 10 two possessions later after nailing a top of the key three off the curl and a quick pull midrange at the free throw line. Unbelievable.

If it were LAL, NY, or Boston that landed Admiral, Duncan, and Wemby there’d be no doubt that the fix was in.  Shows that sometimes strange things happen without foul play.  I’m glad he’s in the West, but eventually teams will need a Wemby stopper to have a chance.

Victor going to the Spurs was the best thing for the league. They need Webanyama to be a star. Billions of dollars are on the line. Having him go to a stable organization like the Spurs where you have Pop and then Duncan/Robinson as mentors gives him the best chance to succeed. SA already had a young, talented core with Vassell, Johnson, and Sochan, which takes some pressure off of him. I’m glad Victor went to the Spurs, but I’m not convinced that it was luck of the draw.

Why does the NBA need Wemby to be a star?  What billions of dollars are on the line?  Wemby could be a complete flop or a great success and it wouldn't make much difference to the NBA or its bottom line.  There are already lots of foreign players in the league.  4 of the top 10 players are foreign (Giannis, Embiid, Jokic and Luka).  Now if Wemby were Chinese or Indian that would be a big deal. 

Who is the best white American NBA player now?  Who was the last white American NBA player in the top 10?  The big difference maker would be if Chet Holmgren or Cooper Flagg become a star.  If either of them becomes a top 10 player that could be worth billions.

Simple, Webanyama is the most hyped prospect since Lebron James. He’s already generating a ton of intrigue. Look at all the Spurs games that are nationally televised this year.

Wembanyama's debut was the most-watched opening night game in 11 years, according to the NBA, with 2.99 million viewers.

You don’t think that makes a difference to the NBA’s bottom line? 

I'm confused.  First when I hear the NBA referring to opening night I think of the 1st night of NBA games.  The Spurs didn't play until the 2nd night of NBA games albeit it was their opening night.  Second last season the NBA posted that the opening night games (Sixers at Celts and Lakers at Warriors) averaged 3.3 million viewers the most in 5 years.  So what funky mathematics are they using to say 2.99 million is more that 3.3 million?   
https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-averages-3-3-million-viewers-and-148-million-social-media-views-becomes-most-watched-opening-night-in-5-years/

According to ESPN, the game between the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks averaged 2.989 million viewers for the 2023 No. 1 overall draft pick's NBA debut, with a peak of 3.903 million viewers at 10 p.m. ET.

Per Sports Media Watch, the viewership for Wembanyama's first NBA game was not far off from LeBron James' debut in 2003, which drew 3.03 million viewers and was also on ESPN.

Webby will get better star treatment than tatum by the ASB.

I'm bracing myself for the league to put him over WWE style.

Spurs/Celtics games will be tough. If you breathe on Wemby, you get a foul.

[Atzar]

Good lord this blue-and-yellow court is putrid.  Whose idea was this garbage?  I feel like I'm watching a Boise State football game.