New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season

[jadis]

Fabulous read.......Number 1 should bring a smile to Phil's face and number 2 a grimace to mine

10 things we’ve learned as season enters fourth quarter​

With roughly 3/4 of the 2023-24 season complete, here's what to watch for as the season heads for the stretch run.

What we’ve learned about the Celtics, Bucks, Knicks and West playoff race

With roughly 3/4 of the 2023-24 season complete, here's what to watch for as the season heads for the stretch run.

www.nba.com

I am worried about the closer of the Celtics. Tatum can be anything but Mr Clutch.

 

[Steve Williams]

I am worried about the closer of the Celtics. Tatum can be anything but Mr Clutch.

I agree Phil ad that's why I have said that as great as Tatum is he is not yet ready for MVP status and may never be

 

[jadis]

I agree Phil ad that's why I have said that as great as Tatum is he is not yet ready for MVP status and may never be

Absolutely agree, Steve.

 

[Steve Williams]

Gotta love that Adam Silver as he yet finds another way to rake in the $$$. These tickets will likely sell for $100K per seat. In Dubai the police drive green Lamborghinis

Celtics, Nuggets to play 2 preseason games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024​

The venue information for the pair of Boston vs. Denver games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 will be announced at a later date.

Celtics, Nuggets to play 2 preseason games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 | NBA.com

The venue information for the pair of Boston vs. Denver games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 will be announced at a later date.

www.nba.com

 

[jadis]

Gotta love that Adam Silver as he yet finds another way to rake in the $$$. These tickets will likely sell for $100K per seat. In Dubai the police drive green Lamborghinis

Celtics, Nuggets to play 2 preseason games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024​

The venue information for the pair of Boston vs. Denver games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 will be announced at a later date.

Celtics, Nuggets to play 2 preseason games in NBA Abu Dhabi Games 2024 | NBA.com

The venue information for the pair of Boston vs. Denver games on Oct. 4 and Oct. 6 will be announced at a later date.

www.nba.com

Maybe Silver's salary proportionally goes up as the league rakes in more money. How bout patting his own back with some 'oil money' ?

 

[jadis]

In thinking about the end game sequence of last night's Celtics-Cavs game, what surprised me about the 'review' rule is that upon a reversal of the call, a jump ball ensues. What happened was Tatum missed a shot with a second left but Porzingis tipped in the shot, in time for a buzzer beater. But the refs called a foul on a Cav who apparently hit the leg of Tatum. Upon review, the refs said there was 'no foul' on the Cav player. But on a 'no foul' during live play, the ensuing play was Porzingis' tip in. So if there was no foul, the tip should have been counted. So one could say that the error of the ref caused the C's to lose by 1 point. Aside from Tatum missing the money shot.

 

[jadis]

This article echoes my thoughts on Tatum. Coach Joe should tell Tatum, there is such a thing as ASSISTS. But then again, he never called timeout (he had 2 ) with 19 seconds left in the game. The title hangs on these 2 points. They have to fix it. Calling Jeff van Gundy upstairs....

Breaking down Celtics' last-second shots reveals one clear issue

John Tomase identifies a key problem for the Celtics in their last-second shot attempts.

us.yahoo.com

 

[Steve Williams]

No worries Phil. I’m still betting Celtics

 

[Steve Williams]

I feel worse today for the Sixer than the Lakers who both lost again last night. Sixers without Embiid is half a team whereas the Lakers are just yawners. Too many great teams in WC to even consider the Lakers anything but spoilers. They might win a few but at the end of the day they need to be sent fishing early.

 

[Steve Williams]

I continue to believe that the Warriors are the silent unknown as theyvsoubdky beat the surging Bucks last night. I still feel of all the bottom tier teams in the WC the GSW are going to do the most damage. Steph is on a roll and I would never bet against Steph. Klay as the 6 th man in adds a whole new dimension and knowing the Lakers are going nowhere, as always the GSW are my go to team

I still believe there will be surprises as the playoffs begin. I continue to like Denver, Wolves and OKC with Clipps perhaps. As much as I like Denver to repeat I believe OKC and Wolves cannot be discounted. If I were to make a wish should Denver fail I do hope OKC will rise to the top

 

[jadis]

Celtics visit Denver. An acid test for the C's. Denver beat them at the Garden previously.

 

[jadis]

Terrible news for the Nets, not that it's been good at all since they traded for Simmons. He will still be paid $38m for this season, and $41m next season. Some writer said this has got to be the worst contract since Chandler Parsons.

Nets Rule Out Ben Simmons For Rest Of Season

Simmons will be shut down as he considers treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back.

www.hoopsrumors.com

 

[Steve Williams]

Simmons is a fraud. He reminds me of what Steve Nash did with the Lakers. He refused to retire even though he had a chronic back issue. He refused to retire until his contract ran out but he could always be seen on the sidelines doing his back stretching

There’s no place in the NBA for a poseur like Simons

take the money and run

 

[Steve Williams]

Simmons is a fraud. He reminds me of what Steve Nash did with the Lakers. He refused to retire even though he had a chronic back issue. He refused to retire until his contract can out but he could always be seen on the sidelines doing his back stretching

There’s no place in the NBA for a poseur like Simons

take the money and run

 

[jadis]

Nuggets certainly looks more 'jelled' than the Celtics. Their plays are very cohesive and they've got 2 big stars who are virtually unstoppable. Celtics have some patches to fix prior to the playoffs.

 

[jadis]

I honestly cannot see the Celtics beating Denver in a 7 game series IF that is that matchup in the Finals. And this game shows exactly why a team like Miami beat the C's last year. Inconsistent plays and to add some more points.

1. Porzingis cannot stop Jokic, at all. Meaning, nobody else in the C's roster can either.
2. Clutch points. Nuggets pass the ball inside a lot for easy alley oop dunks and layups. High percentage shots, the old fashioned way, not iso ball. The game is not about 1 'great' player.
3. Despite having 2 of the best D guards in the league, C's cannot stop Murray who is like a modern mamba. He's been a favorite player of mine for like 5 years ago, when his sidekick was still Gary Harris.
4. Unicorn was utilized at his best in his NY days, operating a lot inside. Now he is waiting at the 3 point line a lot, and has at least a 3 ball attempt each game as his staple shot. Contrast that to Joker who shoots 3s only when the time clock is running out or a really open shot at the 3 line. Where Joker is deadliest is when he is operating from inside the 3 line, passing and rebounding for put backs. His passing reminds me of the Blazers days of Bill Walton, eyes at the back of his head.
5. Tatum is about to be supermax man next season, following Jaylen Brown. I have always frowned on supermax figures as it tends to make players complacent and just run through the motions. I really do not know anymore these days if the supermax has a more deserving player, after all, the game is a 5 man thing. Tatum had a horrible shooting game, and missed yet again a 3 ball that would have given the C's a 1 point lead, with under a minute left. Jokic then assisted Gordon for the easy dunk to put the game away.
6, Unless the coaching staff of Boston makes some radical and inspirational talks to these players, to make them play as 1 engine and not 5 man shooting spree type of game, the playoffs will be a hard climb and expose the weakness of the C's, the do not have an inside game, which is to me, still the money ball - the high percentage shot.
7. I really felt that Ainge should have made a trade for Aaron Gordon when he had the chance. He is now my most admired power forward. Boston does not have a power forward in this roster.

 

[christoph]

I honestly cannot see the Celtics beating Denver in a 7 game series IF that is that matchup in the Finals. And this game shows exactly why a team like Miami beat the C's last year. Inconsistent plays and to add some more points.

1. Porzingis cannot stop Jokic, at all. Meaning, nobody else in the C's roster can either.
2. Clutch points. Nuggets pass the ball inside a lot for easy alley oop dunks and layups. High percentage shots, the old fashioned way, not iso ball. The game is not about 1 'great' players.
3. Despite have 2 of the best D guards in the league, C's cannot stop Murray who is like a modern mamba. He's been a favorite player of mine for like 5 years ago, when his sidekick was still Gary Harris.
4. Unicorn was utilized at his best in his NY days, operating a lot inside. Now he is waiting at the 3 point line a lot, and has at least a 3 ball attempt each game as his staple shot. Contrast that to Joker who shoots 3s only when the time clock is running out or a really open shot at the 3 line. Where Joker is deadliest is when he is operating from inside the 3 line, passing and rebounding for put backs. He passing reminds me of the Blazers days of Bill Walton, eyes at the back of his head.
5. Tatum is about to be supermax man next season, following Jaylen Brown. I have always frowned on supermax figures as it tends to make players complacent and just run through the motions. I really do not know anymore these days in the supermax has a more deserving player, after all, the game is a 5 man thing. Tatum had a horrible shooting game, and missed yet again a 3 ball that would have given the C's a 1 point lead, with under a minute left. Jokic then assisted Gordon for the easy dunk to put the game away.
6, Unless the coaching staff of Boston makes some radical and inspirational talks to these players, to make them play as 1 engine and not 5 man shooting spree type of game, the playoffs will be a hard climb and expose the weakness of the C's, the do not have an inside game, which is to me, still the money ball - the high percentage shot.
7. I really felt that Ainge should have made a trade for Aaron Gordon when he had the chance. He is now my most admired power forward. Boston does not have a power forward in this roster.

I fear I have to fully agree with you

 

[Steve Williams]

I didn't see the game yesterday as we were In a plane coming home from the East Coast. There is now an obvious run to the finish. lie by the Nuggs as they have been a power house lately. And yes a 7 game series does separate the men from the boys.

To me Jokic is the perennial MVP and he is an amazing player to watch. I marvel at his buzzer beater 3 point high arcing shots that start with both hands way above his head which is indefensible by ay player in the league. It seems that the ball is always a rainbow shot which reaches the height of the upper deck only to fall straight through the net without touching iron. I have always felt that it would be between the Nuggets and the Celtics. I hope coach Joe learned some things from this game but remember this was an away game for the Celts. They are almost perfect at home and if they continue to play the way they are they should certainly be the #1 seed which gives them the extra game should it go 7 games. Only problem is Denver can win anywhere. In spite of all of this, a pesky team like OKC and sometimes the Wolves can run circles around Denver, But if Jokic, Murray and Porter Jr are on their game they are in fact unbeatable

 

[Steve Williams]

Luka is also warming upmwith his 5th triple double in a row. As good as he is, he's a ball hog and like LeBron, all plays go through Luka who almost always takes the shot. It's a team sport and this is why I feel Mavs are not quite ready for prime time. There is talk f Luka as MVP but he too is not there yet and I don't see an MVP emerge from a team that sits in the 8th spot.

 

[Steve Williams]

Warriors and Lakers are tied at 10.5 games behind but Warriors have 2 games in hand. Lakers are destined for an early exit but the Warriors are playing better but losing at home to Chicago leaves me with concern.

The Wolves for me remain the unknown. I realized how god they were getting 3 seasons ago when every time they played the Lakers the beat them handily. Last night they win by 2 points over the Pacers who I feel will be in the playoffs but still need another season before they can be considered contenders. Pacers and Knicks are good from far, but far from good when it comes down to key must win games. Both will be in the mix in the coming years. The league just keeps getting better so not ing is a given as Jadis posted earlier