NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[Atzar]

Duren?s disappearance has been fatal for the Pistons.  Went from a nightly 20/10 guy to a liability.  I had chalked R1 up to an Orlando opponent that could match his physicality but instead it just looks like he?s not ready to pull weight in the playoffs.

[Who]

Duren?s disappearance has been fatal for the Pistons.  Went from a nightly 20/10 guy to a liability.  I had chalked R1 up to an Orlando opponent that could match his physicality but instead it just looks like he?s not ready to pull weight in the playoffs.

I thought Wendell Carter disrupted his game by pulling Duren out onto the perimeter and away from the paint. Reducing his impact as a defender & defensive rebounder.

No excuse for Duren's offensive difficulties against Orlando though.

[Who]

I was watching a Nick Wright video on Durant from 10+ days ago. I did not realize that Durant actually showed up to that Game 3 and at his usual. The Rockets even posted him arriving to the game. Then Durant didn't appear on the bench to cheer on his team so the Rockets social media people took down their earlier post of him being at the game. Strange.

It sure looks like something happened in between Durant arriving at the arena and no-showing on the bench. Something that ticked him off and he refused to show up.

The video was titled "everywhere Durant goes turns toxic ...". Nick Wright is expecting either (a) Durant to be traded in the offseason, or, (b) the young guys traded in the off-season. He doesn't think that team will be back as is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyWchnQWg_Y

[Donoghus]

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
?
10m
The Chicago Bulls are finalizing a deal to hire Orlando Magic assistant GM Stephen Mervis as Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations under new EVP Bryson Graham, sources tell ESPN. Bulls will also hire Brooklyn Nets executive Acie Law as Vice President of Player Personnel.

Acie Law? Man, that's a name that's a blast from the past.

[Goldstar88]

AJ Dybantsa is the top prospect in the draft, according to ESPN?s Jeremy Woo. The Jazz have reached out to the Washington Wizards, who have the No. 1 pick, about potentially trading up to land the former BYU standout, a source said.
Andscape

[Roy H.]

Bucks center Myles Turner detailed a lack of discipline under Doc Rivers, saying the former Milwaukee coach "didn't fine anybody ever." Turner also singled out Giannis Antetokounmpo for taking advantage of the situation, noting that the franchise star would "show up whenever he wants."

"Guys were late all the time," Turner told New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart on their "Game Recognize Game" podcast. "Guys were showing up to film whenever they wanted to show up. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I personally ever experienced."

[Donoghus]

Bucks center Myles Turner detailed a lack of discipline under Doc Rivers, saying the former Milwaukee coach "didn't fine anybody ever." Turner also singled out Giannis Antetokounmpo for taking advantage of the situation, noting that the franchise star would "show up whenever he wants."

"Guys were late all the time," Turner told New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart on their "Game Recognize Game" podcast. "Guys were showing up to film whenever they wanted to show up. Guys were missing meetings. It was one of the craziest things I personally ever experienced."

Have to imagine Doc is donezo in this league now.