Germany really surprised me in this tournament. Their sum is greater than their parts. The USA was the opposite. They will have a very tough fight with Serbia. I look forward to that match.
USA was fine, we brought a team made up of good but not overwhelmingly great players, the outcome is hardly surprising and it isn't an indictment of the USA team in the slightest. Single-elimination tournaments are hard and you really need an overwhelming advantage to pick any single team over the field.
I interpreted Abaddon's comment as suggesting we, i.e. the US, did not have a collection of players better than other teams out there? I dont think that is the case.
I think you completely misinterpreted Abaddon's comment. From my perspective, he's clearly stating that due to the nature of single elimination tournaments, you need an overwhelming advantage in player pool for losing to be surprising.
Stating that you don't believe the US has an overwhelming advantage when it comes to player pool is entirely different from stating that another team has a better collection of players.
For the first time in my life as a basketball fan, I am now forced to root for a team coached by Steve Kerr to lose. It's a weird feeling, but it is what it is.
Short summary, they spent the morning at an elementary school near the Oakland Coliseum that their foundation had helped refurbish. One of the kindergartners asked Steph if he played basketball.
So great to have this guy as the face of the franchise I root for.
I'm shocked I tell you shocked that Luka got ejected at the World Cup for complaining and Dillon Brooks got ejected for being an asshole. I have to rethink my whole worldview.
I've always reckoned myself to be a Kobe-hater, but recently I've noticed myself seeing him in a better light.
I think at least some of it must be the sheer number of current players who consider him an idol. I guess before I'd just see Kobe fans and it was easy to discount their fanaticism as Lakers fools. Now that a lot of Kobe fans are now playing in the NBA, it becomes a bit harder to rationalize "sure, you as a master of your craft consider him a god, but *I* <pulling up spreadsheets> don't think he's very good because xyz".
In all honesty I think both sides do have some merit, but I guess for me personally there's been more of a thought recently like, "wait.. maybe Kobe was good?"
Why does the fact that there are a lot of Kobe fans in the NBA change your perspective?
You'd expect for lots of players to be his fans given he is one of the best players of all time AND he did it in an aesthetically pleasing way (scoring on insanely difficult shots) while winning five championships.
Like Steph, Kobe could take over a game offensively, relentlessly scoring and deflating the opposition. Unlike Steph, Kobe could do this defensively, too. He's had an 81 point game, 70 point game, 6 games 60+, 25games 50 points+. Steph. 12 games 50points+, 1 game 60+ points. Not in the same conversation..........I love watching Steph and his unique game, but greatest ever? No way.
He was good. Just not as good as all those people think. Drawing all that attention and still making the tough shots. He was the ultimate “hot streak” guy (Steph/Klay better now)… he had charisma on and off the court (rape charge notwithstanding)…
Yes, Steph is richly represented there. As a single example, he's 9th in points per game in the playoffs (min 50 games), ahead of Kobe-who-scored-lots-of-points.
Steph is one of the greats, easily, so no idea what you're smoking, but I don't want any of what you're having :)
[EDIT] "Perhaps" 3 point shooting and accuracy? No, that's just factual, no perhaps needed. If you can't even admit that, there's nothing to discuss.
Found myself a little disappointed. Usually his analysis is better, but he completely hand-waved efficiency aside and just asserted with no justification that Kobe would have been super-efficient if he had played in this era. Think his blinders growing up a fan of Kobe as a kid might have kicked in here a bit.
(Not to say the efficiency conversation can't be overplayed - it can - but to completely discard it and then just make up an imposible-to-prove counterfactual was disappointing).
Ummm... welcome to the Kobe argument, a place where you can somehow spin "missed shots" as an assist because his teammates all know he's not gonna pass the damn ball, so they don't even bother trying to find a window to receive a pass, and just start fighting for rebounding position...
Only Jim Barnett (#25) days until training camp! Apologies to the LQ fans out there. As with Baze, Jim is probably better known for his contributions from the sideline than on the court, though he was a solid rotation player. I'm not as down on KA as some others, but I do still miss having the pro's pro calling the games.
Kelenna Azubuike is an excellent broadcaster for my needs. I love his player-level remarks like "Whaaaaat?" in astonishment. I also love Bob Fitzgerald's work. I know that this puts me in some kind of minority apparently but I love it when he calls a game. I have minor quibbles but he tells me what's happening, he does his research, and he's the right amount of homer yet respects the other team. Barnett bored me.
I loved Barnett's firsthand knowledge both as a player and from an era where information is fairly scarce, in addition to being a long-suffering Dubs man who finally got to see them rise to glory. Fitz has an unrelenting company-man nature to his homerism that I find really offputting. He's basically there to say whatever narratives the ownership (past and present) wants him to push
Kelenna seems like a very nice and very boring person, objectively if you ignore any interaction effects Fitz is less tolerable, but I think the real villain here is their chemistry -- I never minded Fitz next to Barnett, but for some reason Kelenna brings out the worst in him.
As for how bad they are together, I found myself enjoying the JVG/Mark Jackson duo in the playoffs more than the regular season broadcasts, so.... they're bad (imo).
There both bad but I would like to see Buike with someone else (anyone really) to see just how much his real personality is being dragged into the gutter.
Haven't heard of this guy before, but despite the hyperbolic title, this is a really quality analysis of the Warriors/Kings 1st round series from last year. Well worth a watch.
Also, I'm reminded: fuck Sabonis. Guy was grabbing Draymond on the ground even in Game 1 so clearly that was a strategy from the beginning.
He's far from perfect, but should the Warriors have kicked the tires on Christian Wood? He's kind of a Dario Saric type. I know, he doesn't play defense. But he can shoot... let's see what the Lakers get from this.
I don't think his skillset or what he lacks on the basketball court is a major problem. The glaring red flag is him consistently being a one and done during his physical prime years. Gotta be something about him non basketball related that's turning teams off.
With as much talent as he has, he doesn't seem to be able to stick with any one team very long - he's turning 28 soon and the Lakers will be his EIGHTH team. The only place he lasted more than a year was in Houston, where he played two years.
Plus the Lakers committed to two years with the second year being a player option. If the Dubs were going to kick his tires (and I, like you, am skeptical), I suspect it would at most be a one-year deal and maybe a team option for a second year.
I fear the good feelings are irrational tho he has a clear role on this team if he can perform it. It’s a test of Dunleavy, especially because his brother was the agent.
I'm pretty sure that some base level of trust between the brothers influenced the situation, but rather than thinking that the agent pressured his brother the GM to take an undue risk to his own and his client's benefit, it reads like the GM was able to assure the agent that his client had a guaranteed contract, to all parties' mutual benefit. Nothing shady about it.
Is this the same basic contract that Ryan Reynolds or Henry Rollins, or whatever his name was, got last year, with the same level of longer-term team control? I thought the one last year was only 2 years? Fuzzy on the difference ...
Rollins was 2 guaranteed years plus team option for 3rd year. TJD has 2 guaranteed years plus consecutive team options for 3rd & 4th years, so this one is slightly more advantageous to the Warriors... I'm not sure why it's different, but maybe there's something new in the CBA that allows an extra year here where it wasn't allowed last year?
If I remember right the Warriors gave Rollins a contract using the mid-level exception, rather than a standard rookie contract? I’m assuming that made the structure a little different, think the double team options in year 3/4 is the norm.
Before the new CBA, for a team to sign a 2nd rounder to more than 2 years they needed to use MLE money. Now in the new CBA they can do a deal up to 4 years without using any MLE money.
Allow me: 🇩🇪🇩🇪🇩🇪
Congratulations!
Germany really surprised me in this tournament. Their sum is greater than their parts. The USA was the opposite. They will have a very tough fight with Serbia. I look forward to that match.
USA was fine, we brought a team made up of good but not overwhelmingly great players, the outcome is hardly surprising and it isn't an indictment of the USA team in the slightest. Single-elimination tournaments are hard and you really need an overwhelming advantage to pick any single team over the field.
So what other team had a better collection of players?
What does this have to do with anything?
I interpreted Abaddon's comment as suggesting we, i.e. the US, did not have a collection of players better than other teams out there? I dont think that is the case.
I think you completely misinterpreted Abaddon's comment. From my perspective, he's clearly stating that due to the nature of single elimination tournaments, you need an overwhelming advantage in player pool for losing to be surprising.
Stating that you don't believe the US has an overwhelming advantage when it comes to player pool is entirely different from stating that another team has a better collection of players.
'SCHLAAAAAAAAAAAAND!
😂😂😂
This is what happens when you bring a knife to a gun fight.
You didn't look in their luggage.
I thought Ja sat this one out?
Keep fouling the three…
wtf was Reaves thinking??
Rugby?
not been impressed by Banchero's play this game (and goes to show how thin this Team USA is at the center spot)
Thank Grant Hill & Cie. Is it true that without Steph, Kerr is middling? lol
i had exactly the same thought!
After the first half I say screw this discussion about the 14th spot, buy out Andreas Obst.
If only to be able to say Obstkorb when he scores
In the case we pull off the upset, I am already preparing my variation of "vitamin shock" puns
For the first time in my life as a basketball fan, I am now forced to root for a team coached by Steve Kerr to lose. It's a weird feeling, but it is what it is.
Gotta love the Wagner Group! If they get past Germany, I don't see them beating the Serbs.
Same here😂
Lakers signed Christian Wood? Lol. Good luck with him. He's not gonna get a lot of playing time, I presume.
Cheap AD health insurance
Steph and Ayesha still helping out in Oakland ($)
https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/warriors-moved-stephen-ayesha-curry-maintain-18352906.php
Short summary, they spent the morning at an elementary school near the Oakland Coliseum that their foundation had helped refurbish. One of the kindergartners asked Steph if he played basketball.
So great to have this guy as the face of the franchise I root for.
Tax the rich
I'm shocked I tell you shocked that Luka got ejected at the World Cup for complaining and Dillon Brooks got ejected for being an asshole. I have to rethink my whole worldview.
And here it is...
Top 25 Players of Last 25 Years: Why Kobe Bryant is the most gifted shotmaker ever | Hoops Tonight: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1cQ6IID7Ws
I've always reckoned myself to be a Kobe-hater, but recently I've noticed myself seeing him in a better light.
I think at least some of it must be the sheer number of current players who consider him an idol. I guess before I'd just see Kobe fans and it was easy to discount their fanaticism as Lakers fools. Now that a lot of Kobe fans are now playing in the NBA, it becomes a bit harder to rationalize "sure, you as a master of your craft consider him a god, but *I* <pulling up spreadsheets> don't think he's very good because xyz".
In all honesty I think both sides do have some merit, but I guess for me personally there's been more of a thought recently like, "wait.. maybe Kobe was good?"
Why does the fact that there are a lot of Kobe fans in the NBA change your perspective?
You'd expect for lots of players to be his fans given he is one of the best players of all time AND he did it in an aesthetically pleasing way (scoring on insanely difficult shots) while winning five championships.
With that being said, KD > Kobe imho.
Like Steph, Kobe could take over a game offensively, relentlessly scoring and deflating the opposition. Unlike Steph, Kobe could do this defensively, too. He's had an 81 point game, 70 point game, 6 games 60+, 25games 50 points+. Steph. 12 games 50points+, 1 game 60+ points. Not in the same conversation..........I love watching Steph and his unique game, but greatest ever? No way.
He was good. Just not as good as all those people think. Drawing all that attention and still making the tough shots. He was the ultimate “hot streak” guy (Steph/Klay better now)… he had charisma on and off the court (rape charge notwithstanding)…
Better than what all those people think!! Steph/Klay not close.
Haha, Steph is the greatest shooter basketball has ever seen.
Perhaps 3 point shooting and accuracy. Take a look at the record books to see the greats.
Yes, Steph is richly represented there. As a single example, he's 9th in points per game in the playoffs (min 50 games), ahead of Kobe-who-scored-lots-of-points.
Steph is one of the greats, easily, so no idea what you're smoking, but I don't want any of what you're having :)
[EDIT] "Perhaps" 3 point shooting and accuracy? No, that's just factual, no perhaps needed. If you can't even admit that, there's nothing to discuss.
Well at least he correctly ranked Duncan ahead of Kobe. Seen a lot of people screw that one up.
Found myself a little disappointed. Usually his analysis is better, but he completely hand-waved efficiency aside and just asserted with no justification that Kobe would have been super-efficient if he had played in this era. Think his blinders growing up a fan of Kobe as a kid might have kicked in here a bit.
(Not to say the efficiency conversation can't be overplayed - it can - but to completely discard it and then just make up an imposible-to-prove counterfactual was disappointing).
Ummm... welcome to the Kobe argument, a place where you can somehow spin "missed shots" as an assist because his teammates all know he's not gonna pass the damn ball, so they don't even bother trying to find a window to receive a pass, and just start fighting for rebounding position...
5 rings as Klay likes to flash his. 4.
Only Jim Barnett (#25) days until training camp! Apologies to the LQ fans out there. As with Baze, Jim is probably better known for his contributions from the sideline than on the court, though he was a solid rotation player. I'm not as down on KA as some others, but I do still miss having the pro's pro calling the games.
Kelenna Azubuike is an excellent broadcaster for my needs. I love his player-level remarks like "Whaaaaat?" in astonishment. I also love Bob Fitzgerald's work. I know that this puts me in some kind of minority apparently but I love it when he calls a game. I have minor quibbles but he tells me what's happening, he does his research, and he's the right amount of homer yet respects the other team. Barnett bored me.
This is blasphemy of the highest order
Why what church do you go to?
The church of good basketball
I loved Barnett's firsthand knowledge both as a player and from an era where information is fairly scarce, in addition to being a long-suffering Dubs man who finally got to see them rise to glory. Fitz has an unrelenting company-man nature to his homerism that I find really offputting. He's basically there to say whatever narratives the ownership (past and present) wants him to push
Buike is fine, we allllll know who the worst part of the broadcast is/has been
Kelenna seems like a very nice and very boring person, objectively if you ignore any interaction effects Fitz is less tolerable, but I think the real villain here is their chemistry -- I never minded Fitz next to Barnett, but for some reason Kelenna brings out the worst in him.
As for how bad they are together, I found myself enjoying the JVG/Mark Jackson duo in the playoffs more than the regular season broadcasts, so.... they're bad (imo).
There both bad but I would like to see Buike with someone else (anyone really) to see just how much his real personality is being dragged into the gutter.
The Greatest Chess Match In NBA History | Daniel Li: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvNxZmApJvo
Haven't heard of this guy before, but despite the hyperbolic title, this is a really quality analysis of the Warriors/Kings 1st round series from last year. Well worth a watch.
Also, I'm reminded: fuck Sabonis. Guy was grabbing Draymond on the ground even in Game 1 so clearly that was a strategy from the beginning.
This reads like the script to a heist movie, but it remains to be seen whether we got away with a sack of diamonds or a sack of cubic zirconium.
Ocean’s 57
will take that many movies to recover from 13
He's far from perfect, but should the Warriors have kicked the tires on Christian Wood? He's kind of a Dario Saric type. I know, he doesn't play defense. But he can shoot... let's see what the Lakers get from this.
I don't think his skillset or what he lacks on the basketball court is a major problem. The glaring red flag is him consistently being a one and done during his physical prime years. Gotta be something about him non basketball related that's turning teams off.
Maybe. Had Kelly Oubre not happened.
> He's kind of a Dario Saric type?
Um. What? How?
Offense-first stretch 4 who can play center and pass a little bit? How is he not a Dario Saric type?
Plays basketball?
I’d guess they kicked the tires internally and got a PSI reading of “too much of a knucklehead to be worth it.”
Is that above 100, or below 3?
With as much talent as he has, he doesn't seem to be able to stick with any one team very long - he's turning 28 soon and the Lakers will be his EIGHTH team. The only place he lasted more than a year was in Houston, where he played two years.
Plus the Lakers committed to two years with the second year being a player option. If the Dubs were going to kick his tires (and I, like you, am skeptical), I suspect it would at most be a one-year deal and maybe a team option for a second year.
And Houston was actively aggressively tanking… they would have jumped at a guy to put up empty calorie numbers.
I fear the good feelings are irrational tho he has a clear role on this team if he can perform it. It’s a test of Dunleavy, especially because his brother was the agent.
The good feelings ARE irrational, we'll see how it goes.
As for the test of Dunleavy, I don't think there's any need to infer something between the brothers influenced the situation.
I'm pretty sure that some base level of trust between the brothers influenced the situation, but rather than thinking that the agent pressured his brother the GM to take an undue risk to his own and his client's benefit, it reads like the GM was able to assure the agent that his client had a guaranteed contract, to all parties' mutual benefit. Nothing shady about it.
Is this the same basic contract that Ryan Reynolds or Henry Rollins, or whatever his name was, got last year, with the same level of longer-term team control? I thought the one last year was only 2 years? Fuzzy on the difference ...
Rollins was 2 guaranteed years plus team option for 3rd year. TJD has 2 guaranteed years plus consecutive team options for 3rd & 4th years, so this one is slightly more advantageous to the Warriors... I'm not sure why it's different, but maybe there's something new in the CBA that allows an extra year here where it wasn't allowed last year?
If I remember right the Warriors gave Rollins a contract using the mid-level exception, rather than a standard rookie contract? I’m assuming that made the structure a little different, think the double team options in year 3/4 is the norm.
Before the new CBA, for a team to sign a 2nd rounder to more than 2 years they needed to use MLE money. Now in the new CBA they can do a deal up to 4 years without using any MLE money.
You are awesome. That's a detail I had not heard before.