NBA Season 2026-27

[ozgod]

Devastating injury for Jalen Williams towards the end of the OKC game. Looking like Hayward all over again. Really tough to watch and hope he can make it all the way back

Yes the images are very similar and gruesome. Here is a pic, but I will provide the link so people don't have to click on if it they don't want to.

https://i.imgur.com/JXwFbZr.png

[snively]

Pretty weak competition but Ty Jerome is having a monster opening for Memphis.  Averaging a point per minute as the focal point of the offense.  Putting teams away down the stretch.  True three level scoring too.

[Goldstar88]

Pretty weak competition but Ty Jerome is having a monster opening for Memphis.  Averaging a point per minute as the focal point of the offense.  Putting teams away down the stretch.  True three level scoring too.

Yeah, Memphis is 3-0 now. I did not have that on my Bingo card.

[No Nickname]

Pretty weak competition but Ty Jerome is having a monster opening for Memphis.  Averaging a point per minute as the focal point of the offense.  Putting teams away down the stretch.  True three level scoring too.

I was touting Jerome the past several years.  The kid played at Rucker as a teenager and held his own.  He's got no fear.

The Cavs are ruing the day they let him go over a relatively small salary difference.

[Who]

Luka Doncic = 52pts 17-30 FGA 10-11 FTA
Austin Reaves = 29pts 7-12 FGA 11-13 FTA

That is 81pts on 53 possessions. That is 1.53 points per possession. That type of production from your 2 main stars + only 10 turnovers as a team and you only win by 9 points??

9pts win against a Utah team that is expected to be what a .500 team or worse.

That would worry me if I were LAL.

[Who]

Cam Boozer feast or famine shooting wise first 3 games

Gm 1 = 2-15 FGA 3-4 FTA 7pts  13% FG
Gm 2 = 6-13 FGA 9-9 FTA 25pts
Gm 3 = 6-21 FGA 2-2 FTA 16pts 28% FG

His rebounding and passing have been steady. 11, 13, 11 rebounds in his 3 games. 5, 6, 4 assists. 11.7rpg and 5.0apg.

[Vermont Green]

Luka Doncic = 52pts 17-30 FGA 10-11 FTA
Austin Reaves = 29pts 7-12 FGA 11-13 FTA

That is 81pts on 53 possessions. That is 1.53 points per possession. That type of production from your 2 main stars + only 10 turnovers as a team and you only win by 9 points??

9pts win against a Utah team that is expected to be what a .500 team or worse.

That would worry me if I were LAL.

It was 103-100 at the end of the 3rd.  UTA put up 47 pts in the 1st, LAL got 45 in the 2nd. Didn't see the game of course, but a lot of points were put up overall.  I agree that this game is nothing that LAL should be proud of.

[snively]

Cam Boozer feast or famine shooting wise first 3 games

Gm 1 = 2-15 FGA 3-4 FTA 7pts  13% FG
Gm 2 = 6-13 FGA 9-9 FTA 25pts
Gm 3 = 6-21 FGA 2-2 FTA 16pts 28% FG

His rebounding and passing have been steady. 11, 13, 11 rebounds in his 3 games. 5, 6, 4 assists. 11.7rpg and 5.0apg.

They desperately need another player who can make plays on the perimeter. They've been asking Boozer to create like Tatum and I don't think that's his game.  Excellent passer, really strong and a very smooth player though.

I like Jaylen Wells too. Very good on ball defender,  good spot up shooter,  and he doesn't try to do too much.  He has the makings of a very good role player. Coward is a little more adventurous for better or worse - nice rebounder tho.

[Donoghus]

Not good if you're an OKC fan.  Williams' injury might be one of those where the guy is never going to be the same. 

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams has a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula; Cason Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both will undergo surgery and be sidelined for several months -- most, if not the entire season.

[Vermont Green]

Not good if you're an OKC fan.  Williams' injury might be one of those where the guy is never going to be the same. 

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams has a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula; Cason Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both will undergo surgery and be sidelined for several months -- most, if not the entire season.

Wow.  Two brutal injuries.  How quickly things can change. 

[Who]

Not good if you're an OKC fan.  Williams' injury might be one of those where the guy is never going to be the same. 

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
BREAKING: Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams has a dislocated left ankle and fractured fibula; Cason Wallace has a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Both will undergo surgery and be sidelined for several months -- most, if not the entire season.

No Lu Dort on the team anymore. He could slide up and play SF when J-Dub was out injured. I am not sure who will get the assignment to do that now.

They have a bunch of guards. Guard depth is strong. Then they have bigs. Not much in terms of small forwards.

-------------

Trying to figure it out ....

G: SGA, Ajay Mitchell, N Topic
G: Jared McCain, A Caruso
F: (starter), (reserve)
F: Chet Holmgren, Kenrich Williams
C: I Hartenstein, Jaylin Williams, A Mara, T Sorber

They also have the rookie B Stirz at SG.

Edit: Oh, Jared McCain. I forgot him. He can start at guard.

I am sure they would love to keep Caruso as a 6th man. I think he remains in the bench role and can play backup SF minutes as well. It looks like Kenrich Williams may be the best option to start at SF although I am not sure how reliable that outside shot is.

I expect Ajay Mitchell and SGA will kept apart since they are both on-ball driving players. Not off-ball shooters. So I like Ajay Mitchell and Caruso to remain bench pieces.

When Cason Wallace returns, I expect SGA will play SF defensively. Cason and McCain to start in the backcourt. Move Kenrich Williams back to the bench. Caruso and Ajay Mitchell soak up the bench perimeter minutes. The big man rotation still rock solid.

[Who]

Sucks that AJ Dybantsa hasn't played yet.

I keep checking in on Wizards games to see if he is out there. Then tuning off once I realize he isn't.

I want to see the #1 pick!

[Who]

As talented as Ant is, his game can be really ugly at times. Tunnel vision. Too much dribbling. Too much one-on-one play. Too little passing.

[Who]

Cleveland's offense letting them down.

E Mobley and J Harden still too undependable. I am not sure Harden can be relied on as a main offensive player anymore. He has slowed down too much. McDaniels was causing him a lot of issues. As for Mobley, he still has no way of reliably creating offense. He is just an opportunistic slasher & cutter with the odd post-up. His jumper is too erratic.

[Who]

Meleek Thomas getting his debut for the Cavs tonight. He came off the bench and is leading CLE with 10pts at halftime. Gunner. Dynamic scoring combo guard.

Sam Merrill is another guy off the bench for CLE. His shooting threat immediately changes the spacing.

I can't help but feel both of these guys caused more of a threat out there than James Harden did. Meleek Thomas is a threat with his speed and shot making. Merrill with his elite shooting. Everything Harden does is so slow. He did give the team a focal point / playmaker while D Mitchell was out. However, I liked both of the bench guards over Harden next to D Mitchell.

I wonder if it is time for Harden to return to a bench role. Maybe a 20-25mpg bench role rather than a 6th man 27-30mpg guy.