> Taking care of the basketball is one, rebounding the basketball is two, and transition defense, that's three [...] We take care of those three things, the wins will pile up. But you know we gotta do those things consistently for 48 minutes, not 28 and not 32. It's the same message just so you know what it is, so next time just tell PG those three things.
This led me to browse r/LAClippers and 213hoops, and wow I didn't realize how negative the fan base viewed him. I know it's social media but it's overwhelmingly "good riddance".
Paul George did not have a bad year this past season. His stats and BPM were all good. Perhaps there were some personal issues between Lue and PG or PG and some of his teammates. The games I saw, it looked as if the chemistry of the Clipps was missing.
True but beside my point. I'm just saying he's still playing well. That team was good last season when they were all healthy, and PG was mostly healthy. Kawhi is another story.
“Late in the first quarter, there was a possession where Team USA made eight passes and all five players touched the ball before Alyssa Thomas kicked it out to a wide-open Jewell Loyd for a 3-pointer. If there was a model possession for how the sport should be played, that was it. The announcer called it "picture perfect" basketball.” CBS Sports
I watched the US-German game replay last night. We may have won that game but the Germans looked like the better team. We had so many turnovers and shot the three so poorly, led by Steph who was 1-7. Except for the Serbia game, Steph has played so-so in these exhibition games. Hope he does a lot better. Kerr continues to play three (small) guards with Embid and Lebron as the starting unit. I have watched all five games and Kerr should not play Embid as a starter and should keep his minutes to a minimum. He barely rebounds, can’t keep up with whoever he is defending, and just seems out of shape overall. I think I’ve only seen him block the ball once. This doesn’t look like the invincible team that they were initially touted to be. Maybe, Durant will make them a lot better but he didn’t play one exhibition game, so I don’t know how he’s going to blend in. These guys are all great players in their own right but they just haven’t played long enough as a team to convince me that they are the team to beat. Getting out of the first round is not be a guarantee with South Sudan and Serbia waiting in the wings.
The being 'out-teamed' thing is kind of what I thought when I saw the S. Sudan game. S. Sudan played hard and together.
I haven't seen the Germany game yet ... but I wouldn't be shocked if the US lost somewhere in the Olympic scrum. I'm sure the US will play better than they have (and Kerr will stop experimenting after the group stage), but other teams are going to get better, too. We don't have so big an edge that a crappy couple of quarters couldn't knock us out.
Looking and hearing about Durant rehabbing so he will be ready to play reminds me of 2019. Unpleasant flashback. Personally, I wish they would replace him with a ‘glue guy’. A non-superstar, non-super shooter, who helps make everything work together on a team.
Someone like Aaron Gordon or Draymond replacing Haliburton on Team USA would have been for the best. Haliburton is a good player but I don't think they NEED him
IMO, her day will come. But not this summer., probably.
The team is discombobulated, but should benefit from the summer practice games to get their act together. I believe that the WNBA **stars**are more likely to subsume their games to the team, than some of the NBA Olympic **stars.**
Chelsea Gray didn’t play much in the all-star game. Do we think she’s on any kind of minutes restriction? Your point about playmaking is maybe true, but it’s a lot more true if she isn’t out there playing big minutes.
Edit: Playing through Alyssa Thomas is maybe another option, but Reeve has seemed a little reluctant to lean into that. She’s a weird player because she’s probably top-5 in the W, but it also feels like it only works if she's just doing everything.
Thanks so much for reminding us about upcoming women’s Olympic basketball. Many of the streaming services, networks, and reporters seem to forget that there is women’s basketball. Or any other women’s sport at the Olympics. With the possible exception of women’s gymnastics.
"Veteran guard Reggie Jackson — who agreed on a contract buyout with the Charlotte Hornets — plans to join the Philadelphia 76ers upon clearing waivers."
Ok, here's a better one: thinking all the teams that have traded away a mass of picks/players for a superstar, has it been worth it (not an objective criteria, I realize)?
In the context of the LM trade, that kinda suggests what everyone has been saying. If it's not a player as good as AD, it's not worth it. Even the Clips getting PG13 to team up with Kawhi didn't get much out of it.
Yeah I think fit-wise and talent-wise he is the right sort of level of piece similar to a Porzingis/Gordon/Wiggins/Holiday acquisition. But the price appears to be an AD-level haul (or higher) which seems ridiculous
I'd take Jrue Holiday over LM all day every day in terms of impact on winning. Yes, I know, different position. But I don't think LM is in Jrue's class as a player.
I don’t know what other significant move they can make though in time to give them a realistic shot so if they can keep one of Kuminga or Podz and not have to give up control of the next 5-7 drafts I can understand if they do make the move. Which feels like where this has got to now?
true but not really what I meant. I mean like 3-5 1st round picks + a couple players (like what Utah is asking us and Nets paid for Harden, Suns for Durant, etc.)
The Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers comes to mind too. It's hard to recoup the value a player provides to a team when they're at a certain talent level
The Gobert trade to MN is usually considered a massive overpay (I think so too) but they got to the WCF for the first time in many years. So was that worth it? My guess is the Wolves think so. Whether their fans do or not I don't know.
They might regret it soon. Mike Conley isn't getting any younger, Gobert is on the wrong side of 30 and KAT is right at 30. On the other hand, they will at least be competitive for a few years which is a step up for the T-Wolves
Exactly. They've sucked for so long that getting to the WCF was an especially big deal. It's a big deal anyway, wish we had gotten there in the West, but for them it's a dramatic improvement.
Hey, I got a funny question: Warriors are about 700k under the 1st apron and they are hard capped under the first apron (due to signing Melton with the full MLE). When they win the 2025 Larry, Looney will be due an extra Mil bonus (per his contract). Team will be over the 1st apron when including that bonus, but only in hindsight, so to speak. Is a bonus that unlikely just not calculated as part of the cap/apron math or what happens?
That $1M may or may not make it into Loon's bank account but it definitely affects the team's ability to pay another player... I wonder how common these types of bonuses are.
That's a good point -- especially the completely silly incentives that were put in just to make the reporting of the contract sound good for the agent. For example Poole I think has incentives for winning DPOY. "Unlikely incentive" does not begin to describe the chances of that. Maybe at the time seemed like no harm no foul, but now it's just another negative aspect of that contract when it comes to aprons/etc.
Unless it enables a team to sign a player for a smaller guarantee in return for the incentive deal. I could see that especially with players who had down years and need to prove they can still contribute.
I guess. I don't see how that helps the team because - like with Loon's contract - they are dinged for the whole thing when computing the Apron. I guess a bad, well below the 1st apron team might do that to sell tickets. I still don't see it being done much.
Embiid is looking like more liability than asset in the highlights and a couple breakdowns that I saw. Speaking of breaking down: I don't know if he's hurt or out of shape or disinterested or what, but the guy seems to have no energy. Sure these are warmup games, but he doesn't hustle, isn't grabbing rebounds, doesn't get back on D, etc. Meanwhile Anthony Davis looks like a world beater as the big guy, and Bam has been about the best Bam he could be. Wouldn't surprise me if Kerr noticed the same things as me. In fact, if you think about it, he's standing a lot closer than I am during the games. Really, actually, a LOT closer. So he should be able to see this.
My question is: if Embiid is actually injured or drops out at this stage, can he drop out and still get a replacement? At this late stage in the game, would it have to be Kamala Harris?
The order must come from up top that Embiid has to be in the starting lineup to get him to agree to play for the US. Everyone can see AD would be better starting at center.
Or, Kerr is just using these tune-up games to figure out how to use Embiid best, so he's on the court more than his production would indicate. That's what these are for ... to sort out the details that can make the difference between winning and losing.
I have no doubt that if the results of group play are in doubt, Kerr will shorten the rotation and just go with his best combinations.
Just drove back to Paris from Normandy. Spain v Uzbekistan soccer tomorrow, first event of the Olympics (even before the opening ceremony). Pretty psyched up about that. Tickets to take my younger kids to the Catacombs where thousands of Parisians are buried deep under the city. SKULLS & BONES! Rad! Was geeking out last night on footage of Bruno Caboclo, Center Brasil. 7'7" wingspan, 28 yrs old, we could do worse at center and I'm starting a new campaign: "Gui needs a friend!"
Speaking of Olympic b-ball, "I got a baaaaad feeling" (Tropic Thunder style) about Team USA. If Curry wins gold, he'll probably have Lebron to thank for it. Otherwise, this team has bust written all over it. It's like having 4 different meats for dinner and no starch or veggies. You only got 2 glue guys and a coach who gets high on glue. When I hear things like, "LeBron is playing the Draymond role ...", I think, "WHY?" There just seems to be a big canyon between Kerr's style and the truck load of Alphas he's got on this team.
BTW, who is the Moses Moody of Team USA?
Alrighty, time for an espresso with a vodka chaser. Peace out!
I visited france and normandy two summers ago with family and for someone hugely interested World War Two , it is both beautiful and sad to see the various D-day beaches, bunkers and the American cemetery near Omaha Beach. Also as a huge fan of “Band of Brothers” seeing major Winters statue on the road leading to one of the beaches and the town of Sainte-Mère-Église was just incredible.
Ty Lue:
> Taking care of the basketball is one, rebounding the basketball is two, and transition defense, that's three [...] We take care of those three things, the wins will pile up. But you know we gotta do those things consistently for 48 minutes, not 28 and not 32. It's the same message just so you know what it is, so next time just tell PG those three things.
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/swbG0JV62A
So did we miss out on PG or did we dodge a bullet? If he can't give consistent focus and effort in a contract year, then...?
This led me to browse r/LAClippers and 213hoops, and wow I didn't realize how negative the fan base viewed him. I know it's social media but it's overwhelmingly "good riddance".
PG called the Clippers the LA B team. Clips fans are not going to have nice things to say about him right now.
Historically and culturally speaking, PG was right about that.
That was pretty recent right? I was looking through some of the older posts around when the PHI signing was announced.
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10129295-video-paul-george-says-playing-for-clippers-felt-like-b-team-compared-to-lakers
Last couple days. I'll look for a link.
Paul George did not have a bad year this past season. His stats and BPM were all good. Perhaps there were some personal issues between Lue and PG or PG and some of his teammates. The games I saw, it looked as if the chemistry of the Clipps was missing.
More than just “not bad” — fabulous. He was the #8 rated player in the league by EPM, after Embiid, SGA, Luka, Giannis, Jokic, Brunson, and LeBron.
He was an All Star and played the most games he's played in 5 years, too. I'd ride with PG if we could have made a reasonable deal.
True but beside my point. I'm just saying he's still playing well. That team was good last season when they were all healthy, and PG was mostly healthy. Kawhi is another story.
Dodged a bullet.
I wish this wasn't the case. Oh wait are we still talking about PG?
😅
US women: 84-57 over Germany.
“Late in the first quarter, there was a possession where Team USA made eight passes and all five players touched the ball before Alyssa Thomas kicked it out to a wide-open Jewell Loyd for a 3-pointer. If there was a model possession for how the sport should be played, that was it. The announcer called it "picture perfect" basketball.” CBS Sports
Sound familiar?
Big reason why the women’s game has really taken with me. Also, so much joy too from the floor up to the rafters seemingly every game and venue.
Sounds just like how USA men will lose, except all those passes finish with turnovers.
I watched the US-German game replay last night. We may have won that game but the Germans looked like the better team. We had so many turnovers and shot the three so poorly, led by Steph who was 1-7. Except for the Serbia game, Steph has played so-so in these exhibition games. Hope he does a lot better. Kerr continues to play three (small) guards with Embid and Lebron as the starting unit. I have watched all five games and Kerr should not play Embid as a starter and should keep his minutes to a minimum. He barely rebounds, can’t keep up with whoever he is defending, and just seems out of shape overall. I think I’ve only seen him block the ball once. This doesn’t look like the invincible team that they were initially touted to be. Maybe, Durant will make them a lot better but he didn’t play one exhibition game, so I don’t know how he’s going to blend in. These guys are all great players in their own right but they just haven’t played long enough as a team to convince me that they are the team to beat. Getting out of the first round is not be a guarantee with South Sudan and Serbia waiting in the wings.
The being 'out-teamed' thing is kind of what I thought when I saw the S. Sudan game. S. Sudan played hard and together.
I haven't seen the Germany game yet ... but I wouldn't be shocked if the US lost somewhere in the Olympic scrum. I'm sure the US will play better than they have (and Kerr will stop experimenting after the group stage), but other teams are going to get better, too. We don't have so big an edge that a crappy couple of quarters couldn't knock us out.
Looking and hearing about Durant rehabbing so he will be ready to play reminds me of 2019. Unpleasant flashback. Personally, I wish they would replace him with a ‘glue guy’. A non-superstar, non-super shooter, who helps make everything work together on a team.
Draymond!
FYI I just contacted Steve and Grant. You should hear shortly.
Go for it!
Someone like Aaron Gordon or Draymond replacing Haliburton on Team USA would have been for the best. Haliburton is a good player but I don't think they NEED him
Dray is definitely definitely needed. Too bad he keeps shooting himself in the foot.
...and he doesn't miss those shots.
:)
I do think they might have made a mistake leaving off CC. They could use her playmaking for sure.
IMO, her day will come. But not this summer., probably.
The team is discombobulated, but should benefit from the summer practice games to get their act together. I believe that the WNBA **stars**are more likely to subsume their games to the team, than some of the NBA Olympic **stars.**
Chelsea Gray didn’t play much in the all-star game. Do we think she’s on any kind of minutes restriction? Your point about playmaking is maybe true, but it’s a lot more true if she isn’t out there playing big minutes.
Edit: Playing through Alyssa Thomas is maybe another option, but Reeve has seemed a little reluctant to lean into that. She’s a weird player because she’s probably top-5 in the W, but it also feels like it only works if she's just doing everything.
Thanks so much for reminding us about upcoming women’s Olympic basketball. Many of the streaming services, networks, and reporters seem to forget that there is women’s basketball. Or any other women’s sport at the Olympics. With the possible exception of women’s gymnastics.
Spouses too. Mine didn't set it up to record. 🫣
Somebody's taking on extra chores or sleeping on the couch tonight. 😏
"Veteran guard Reggie Jackson — who agreed on a contract buyout with the Charlotte Hornets — plans to join the Philadelphia 76ers upon clearing waivers."
https://x.com/wojespn/status/1815756373281378643
76ers roster after the signing: ($178,266,765 on 13 players)
Tyrese Maxey, Kelly Oubre Jr., Caleb Martin, Paul George, Joel Embiid
Kyle Lowry, Reggie Jackson, Eric Gordon, Kenyon Martin Jr., Andre Drummond
Jared McCain, Ricky Council IV, Adam Bona
That's a lot of little guards on their bench
Ok, here's a better one: thinking all the teams that have traded away a mass of picks/players for a superstar, has it been worth it (not an objective criteria, I realize)?
This is a very interesting question put like this. Recent champs have all made a trade to put them over the top but not many like that:
2024 Boston acquired Holiday and Porzingis, and previously Derrick White in what look like absolute fleecing as now
2023 Denver acquired Aaron Gordon (bit of a delay due to Murray’s injury but the missing piece of their starting lineup)
2022 Wiggins trade
2021 Jrue Holiday (again)
2020 - only one that really qualifies in AD
2019 Kawhi but he was a cheap rental
2017, 2018 signed prime KD free agent - unrepeatable realistically
2016 Love
2015 arguably Bogut and Iguodala a couple of years before
2014 Kawhi in a draft day trade
Derrick White going from a ~34% 3pt shooter to a 38+% 3pt shooter has been so impactful for him...
Yeah, that is a much better way to look at it.
In the context of the LM trade, that kinda suggests what everyone has been saying. If it's not a player as good as AD, it's not worth it. Even the Clips getting PG13 to team up with Kawhi didn't get much out of it.
Yeah I think fit-wise and talent-wise he is the right sort of level of piece similar to a Porzingis/Gordon/Wiggins/Holiday acquisition. But the price appears to be an AD-level haul (or higher) which seems ridiculous
I'd take Jrue Holiday over LM all day every day in terms of impact on winning. Yes, I know, different position. But I don't think LM is in Jrue's class as a player.
I don’t know what other significant move they can make though in time to give them a realistic shot so if they can keep one of Kuminga or Podz and not have to give up control of the next 5-7 drafts I can understand if they do make the move. Which feels like where this has got to now?
Yeah but Ainge is no where near the ballpark of one of Kuminga Podz + 2 picks. Thats way different than both plus 4 picks.
Better to do no deal than a bad deal.
The Warriors trading Bogut and HB to clear cap space for KD comes to mind.
true but not really what I meant. I mean like 3-5 1st round picks + a couple players (like what Utah is asking us and Nets paid for Harden, Suns for Durant, etc.)
The Anthony Davis trade to the Lakers comes to mind too. It's hard to recoup the value a player provides to a team when they're at a certain talent level
Ooo this might be the exception. Ingram, Hart, Ball + 3 1st round picks and they got a championship. Yeah, Lakers won that trade. Good one.
The Gobert trade to MN is usually considered a massive overpay (I think so too) but they got to the WCF for the first time in many years. So was that worth it? My guess is the Wolves think so. Whether their fans do or not I don't know.
They might regret it soon. Mike Conley isn't getting any younger, Gobert is on the wrong side of 30 and KAT is right at 30. On the other hand, they will at least be competitive for a few years which is a step up for the T-Wolves
Exactly. They've sucked for so long that getting to the WCF was an especially big deal. It's a big deal anyway, wish we had gotten there in the West, but for them it's a dramatic improvement.
Hey, I got a funny question: Warriors are about 700k under the 1st apron and they are hard capped under the first apron (due to signing Melton with the full MLE). When they win the 2025 Larry, Looney will be due an extra Mil bonus (per his contract). Team will be over the 1st apron when including that bonus, but only in hindsight, so to speak. Is a bonus that unlikely just not calculated as part of the cap/apron math or what happens?
This doesn't affect your question but per Spotrac the Warriors are $533,659 below the 1st apron.
Thanks (I was doing it from memory)
According to this, Loon has $9M in salary counted against the apron, which means the $1M bonus is already factored in.
https://www.spotrac.com/nba/golden-state-warriors/overview/_/year/2024
Oh. Well that was boring. But thanks.
That $1M may or may not make it into Loon's bank account but it definitely affects the team's ability to pay another player... I wonder how common these types of bonuses are.
Good question. However common or uncommon it is, I bet it becomes much less common with the new CBA in effect.
That's a good point -- especially the completely silly incentives that were put in just to make the reporting of the contract sound good for the agent. For example Poole I think has incentives for winning DPOY. "Unlikely incentive" does not begin to describe the chances of that. Maybe at the time seemed like no harm no foul, but now it's just another negative aspect of that contract when it comes to aprons/etc.
Unless it enables a team to sign a player for a smaller guarantee in return for the incentive deal. I could see that especially with players who had down years and need to prove they can still contribute.
I guess. I don't see how that helps the team because - like with Loon's contract - they are dinged for the whole thing when computing the Apron. I guess a bad, well below the 1st apron team might do that to sell tickets. I still don't see it being done much.
Embiid is looking like more liability than asset in the highlights and a couple breakdowns that I saw. Speaking of breaking down: I don't know if he's hurt or out of shape or disinterested or what, but the guy seems to have no energy. Sure these are warmup games, but he doesn't hustle, isn't grabbing rebounds, doesn't get back on D, etc. Meanwhile Anthony Davis looks like a world beater as the big guy, and Bam has been about the best Bam he could be. Wouldn't surprise me if Kerr noticed the same things as me. In fact, if you think about it, he's standing a lot closer than I am during the games. Really, actually, a LOT closer. So he should be able to see this.
My question is: if Embiid is actually injured or drops out at this stage, can he drop out and still get a replacement? At this late stage in the game, would it have to be Kamala Harris?
The order must come from up top that Embiid has to be in the starting lineup to get him to agree to play for the US. Everyone can see AD would be better starting at center.
Or, Kerr is just using these tune-up games to figure out how to use Embiid best, so he's on the court more than his production would indicate. That's what these are for ... to sort out the details that can make the difference between winning and losing.
I have no doubt that if the results of group play are in doubt, Kerr will shorten the rotation and just go with his best combinations.
Just drove back to Paris from Normandy. Spain v Uzbekistan soccer tomorrow, first event of the Olympics (even before the opening ceremony). Pretty psyched up about that. Tickets to take my younger kids to the Catacombs where thousands of Parisians are buried deep under the city. SKULLS & BONES! Rad! Was geeking out last night on footage of Bruno Caboclo, Center Brasil. 7'7" wingspan, 28 yrs old, we could do worse at center and I'm starting a new campaign: "Gui needs a friend!"
Speaking of Olympic b-ball, "I got a baaaaad feeling" (Tropic Thunder style) about Team USA. If Curry wins gold, he'll probably have Lebron to thank for it. Otherwise, this team has bust written all over it. It's like having 4 different meats for dinner and no starch or veggies. You only got 2 glue guys and a coach who gets high on glue. When I hear things like, "LeBron is playing the Draymond role ...", I think, "WHY?" There just seems to be a big canyon between Kerr's style and the truck load of Alphas he's got on this team.
BTW, who is the Moses Moody of Team USA?
Alrighty, time for an espresso with a vodka chaser. Peace out!
Derrick White
White has played too much to be MM ;)
I visited france and normandy two summers ago with family and for someone hugely interested World War Two , it is both beautiful and sad to see the various D-day beaches, bunkers and the American cemetery near Omaha Beach. Also as a huge fan of “Band of Brothers” seeing major Winters statue on the road leading to one of the beaches and the town of Sainte-Mère-Église was just incredible.
Bruno Caboclo, famously "two years away from being two years away." That was 2014, time flies!
At least he's famous for something! lol
Ten years away from being two years away?
ooh, I love the shiny table!