NBA Season 2026-27

[snively]

What's interesting about Philly is, their starting lineup is monstrous. The bench/depth though is iffy even with Simons/KCP. It'll depend how they manage the starters and if they have some injury luck. No question if they can stay healthy and build chemistry they are a force, but it's a long season and I think that'll be what decides it for them, particularly Embiid's health too

They also have Dean Wade so their top 8 is pretty solid. Just need some real size behind Embiid. Bona is very limited.

Not sure if any worthwhile bigs will hit the buyout market this year. Maybe Nurkic?

[Vermont Green]

PHI's depth is fine for guard and wings.  They are really short on depth for bigs.  Wade isn't really a big and Hukporti is out for the season.  It is their soft spot for sure.

I see rebounding as the issue for them.  Past Embiid, who do they have that will own space under the basket and make sure they don't give up ORebs?  That is not really LeBron's game, nor Brown's.  It will have to be a total team effort for them, which can work, but requires a lot of buy in.

[Who]

Klay Thompson looks weird in Jaquez' #11 jersey for Miami. I had no idea I associated that number so strongly with Jaquez until I saw someone different in it.

I am surprised Klay is starting for Miami ahead of Tim Hardaway Jr. I thought Timmy has outperformed Klay for the past 2 seasons. I expected Tim to start and for Klay to be the reserve.

https://www.sports-reference.com/stathead/basketball/versus-finder.cgi?request=1&seasons_type=perchoice&player_id1=thompkl01&p1yrfrom=2025&p1yrto=2026&player_id2=hardati02&p2yrfrom=2025&p2yrto=2026

I had a look at the numbers to see what they said. Almost identical stats in terms of production. Minutes similar slightly higher for Timmy. Timmy much more efficient though at 59.8% TS to 54.7% for Klay.

[Goldstar88]

Good game between Houston and San Antonio.

[Who]

Wow, a 47 point thumping for Charlotte by Atlanta.

That is brutal. Charlotte had 25 turnovers and shot 34% FG 22% 3PT. Looks like nothing went right for them offensively. 

[Who]

Ant shot 5-23 FGA
LaMelo was 4-13 FGA

And Minny still 20 pieced Orlando.

Looks like Minny trashed them on the boards. 61 to 43.

[Phantom255x]

Giannis needs help 

I was iffy about it working in Miami and so far it's looking like it. Their defense is bad and they don't have enough shooting around Giannis/Bam either. Klay is washed too and doesn't offer much defensively on top of it. About to be 2 straight games they give up 130+ and lose by 20+ probably

[Who]

Kuminga looks funny on the Wolves. Those retro blue jerseys. #24 jersey number. He a bunch of sleeves and stuff to protect his shoulder areas.

I didn't recognize him at first. I thought he was a SG. I was wondering who is that starting. Are they playing 3 guards and McDaniels?

Kuminga looked small. Clunky. Not moving too well. Then he got a chance to attack the rim and he had those old Kuminga hops. Oh yeah, there he is. But he is not looking great physically otherwise. I wonder if he is playing through some injuries or something.

Minny's 4 guys around Gobert are all about the same size. LaMelo 6-6/6-7. Ant a thick 6-6. Kuminga 6-7. McDaniels 6-7 long and skinny. They blend into one another. Lot of switchability defensively between those 4 guys. Then Ayo Dosunmu came in as the first sub and he is a big 6-5 guard. Maintains that 4 man switchability.

Edit: Terrence Shannon as a 6-7 slender backup forward gives them another sub and maintain that switchability. It will be interesting to see how consistent of a 3 point shooter he can be for Minnesota.

[Who]

I am not impressed by the T'Wolves.

I am not convinced by that frontcourt of Kuminga, McDaniels, Gobert. That they have enough shooting ability or passing. Kuminga and McDaniels both streaky scorers / shooters and Gobert is a paint-only big man.

The LaMelo and Ant partnership is still in its early stages. More to come down the road but right now it looks so-so.

* LaMelo sharing the ball with Ant far more than he had to with anyone in Charlotte. Not as actively controlling the offense as much as he used and not creating as many for others as result.

* Ant still hasn't improved his passing enough to improve his teammates offensively. LaMelo is the only guy on the Wolves who can do that. Then there is the frontcourt. LaMelo works great with shooters. Kuminga and McDaniels are low volume streaky outside shooters. Not ideal. It will be interesting to see how well LaMelo works with them or not.

It feels like LaMelo needs to force his imprint on this team more so than he is currently doing. He is being subservient to Ant -- too much so. LaMelo is the guy that can get them going. Get everyone running, get easy transition opportunities, make everyone play team ball. When it is Ant it is slower ugly halfcourt ball where he doesn't create enough to help his teammates be successful.

When LaMelo was in Charlotte last year with all those shooters, it felt like there was space everywhere from him to attack. He was terrifying. Watching Minnesota the court is clogged. There isn't space for him. That may be why he is less assertive. Or may just be a bedding in period for both him and his teammates as they get used to each other. Too early to tell for sure. But early signs are not great.

So much one-on-one play by Ant. Ball sticking too much. Not moving around like it did in Charlotte last year when LaMelo ran the show.

Edit: I didn't see Ayo and LaMelo share the court much. It was mostly one or the other. What I really want to see is LaMelo, Ayo, and Ant together as a three man pairing. The twin shooting threats of Ayo and Ant off ball with LaMelo creating would terrifying to defend against. I do not understand why the coach is not using it at all.

[Goldstar88]

Heat lose by 17 to the Pistons. I love it. 

Aaron Nesmith knocked Cooper Flagg out of the game with a hard foul. Hate to see that.  Nesmith is a reckless player.