112 Comments

That Lakers bogus time out ending was so ridiculous. Unbelievable.

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If anyone needs a quick basketball fix: Pop draining a buzzer beater

https://youtube.com/shorts/eh_Z608tqso?si=wO3WQz1cf1U2PMxI

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Wow. Even r/NBA was upset about the refs giving the Lakers a free timeout.

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Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 6, 2023

Let me know when they get free slide tackles at the end of games and Lebron writes letters to the league office after losing a game begging them to suspend an opponent's star player in a championship-deciding-game for an action that wasn't even called a common foul the day of the game, and which the fouled player said in the post game press conference "I couldn't even feel it and didn't know it had happened." And, you know... the player writing the letter isn't laughed out of the room.

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So excited for an actual Warriors game tomorrow. Hope they destroy the Blazers to wipe the stupid taste of blowing 20 point leads out of their mouths...

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Lakers beat the Suns 106-103

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Wow what a BS ending with that fake timeout.

Luckily I don’t care that much as long as both teams lose eventually

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I believe after this game, Suns are now 12-9 while the Lakers are now 13-9. So they just swapped in the standings. But it also means that the Lakers are now 1st place in the Pacific division.

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Does the division even matter anymore? I can't think of what difference it makes.

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Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 6, 2023

I don't like being in the bottom of the division or in the bottom 5 of the conference.

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Sure, nobody likes to be last unless they're tanking but all that really matters are the conference standings and W-L record. Divisions might as well not exist nowadays.

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They’re also two losses back of the #4 seed with 62 to play. And per Dunks and Threes, the top team in the Pacific Division when you adjust for net rating and SOS.

Let’s see how the next couple segments of the season play out.

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Lakers size making it very difficult for suns to finish near the rim - same story they plagued the dubs in the playoffs - not sure how we will deal with it this time around if we meet

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54-44 points in paint; Lakers-Suns

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And it looks like lebron really wants this IST trophy - sigh 😡

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And the f***~>%# reeves just hit a 3 pointer to put lakers up by 4 with 15 seconds lift - sigh sigh 😡

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That was such a bad shot by him too lol. Up 1 with 29 secs and be shoots a 3 off the dribble with 16 secs left?!?! That’s something Klay would’ve done but missed badly heh

*ducks and covers*

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Then you’re not going to like the complete BS phantom timeout LAL got after Reeves lost the ball to a open layup

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I switched off after that reeves three 😩

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I don’t get how officials don’t review that. If they’re not allowed, then that’s a stupid rule.

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Lakers up 83-82 after 3 quarters. Suns shot the ball better in the 3rd Q while Lakers were worse on offense.

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Suns are shooting better than the Lakers, but the Lakers have 8 more off. rebounds and 9 less turnovers.

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Lakers seem to match up well against the Suns.

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Lakers look actually good on both sides of the ball. Phoenix looks like KD, Booker and random big guys getting offensive rebounds for buckets.

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Phoenix without all three of Durant/Booker/Beal is not a world beater.

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I’m not sure how much of a plus Beal really is for them. But I guess he does improve their depth (when available).

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Similar to the Nets story, KD's teammates can't stay healthy enough to provide evidence of whether they're good or bad together, lol... but without Beal, they're definitely not a world beater.

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I can kinda squint and see them winning the whole thing without Beal. At lot would have to swing right for them, tho.

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Knicks/Bucks pretty entertaining

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There are few teams less appealing to watch than the Lakers, Bucks, Knicks, and Suns so yeah my wife was surprised when i Gladly got in the car to go and watch my daughter play in her 7th Grade Band Concert this evening.

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Odds of me watching a Bucks v. Knicks game in December before the advent of the IST: 0.1%

Mission accomplished, NBA 🫡

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Still not watching it

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Me too.

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No defense being played between Bucks and knicks - 75-72 bucks lead at halftime

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Typical Thibs game

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And this even though with the Bulls he was known as a defense-oriented coach.

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Dec 5, 2023Liked by Eric Apricot

This write up is so hilarious I can’t stop laughing. I thought I was the only one annoyed by Devin Booker. Husband’s annoyance level with the thought of Lakers v Suns he won’t even watch the game.

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Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 6, 2023

Why would you watch that game... better to skip that trash basketball game and get some quality time with that guy

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Warriors currently seem to be tied with Philly for the 5th best odds to win the championship (Denver, Boston, Milwaukee, and Phoenix ahead of them). Is that just "too many Warriors fans"?

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Dec 5, 2023·edited Dec 5, 2023

It's probably too many Warriors fans. However, I think SRS has the warriors playing like the 4th or so best team in the West. I can get to those odds if I also assume the Wolves are a mirage/ paper tigerish, OKC and SAC are too young. I'd go higher if I think the W's can punch above their RS weight

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"if I also assume the Wolves are a mirage/ paper tigerish, OKC and SAC are too young" One of those three could be so, maybe two, but all three is asking a lot of the bball gods.

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Yeah I agree, that's why I think the primary answer is "it's too many Warriors fans". Although it's not too crazy a stretch, I think you need to assume a bit to bet that the Warriors are more likely to make/ win the final than those other three.

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Unless we can get a Zaza or Bogut type big I don't see how.

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Have we even won a championship since Zaza or Bogut was on the team?

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I think so, but it was back when Loon was 26 and in his prime. He’s now 27.

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Something isn't adding up... I'm pretty sure he was 35 his rookie year.

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Dec 6, 2023·edited Dec 6, 2023

Hmmm... does RAPTOR project his performance will continue to decline?

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But seriously, looking at those Bogut/Zaza seasons, Looney is playing too much. I hope Kerr starts trusting Moody & Kuminga to play more. Looney to play 6 minutes at the beginning of first & 3rd quarters, and play another 3 minute stint in the middle of the 2nd and 4th quarters, finish all halves in small ball attack mode.

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