NBA (2020-2021)

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Flack
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NBA (2020-2021)

Post by Flack »

I meant to launch this thread before the season started, but the wind has been knocked out of my sails. The 2019-2020 finals concluded on October 11, with the Lakers besting the Miami Heat in six games. Exactly two months later on December 11, preseason games for the 2020-2021 season began, with the season opening less than two weeks after that. A single month between seasons was not enough to whet my appetite and make me miss the sport.

If there's a way to complain about athletes protesting without sounding like a privileged white jerk, I haven't found it yet. Look, if they want to put Black Lives Matter right on the court (which they did) I don't care, and when everybody takes a knee in the middle of the game, fine, whatever. But when players like Kyrie Irving refuse to talk to the media during media week (he said "I don't talk to pawns," that's a problem -- not just because he's not doing his job (he's literally being paid to talk to the media), but because it makes him unlikeable. (Irving changed his tune after being fined $25,000.)

But it's not just Irving. Irving and his pal/teammate Kevin Durant said that they are so good that they don't need a coach, which came as a surprise to Steve Nash, their coach. Now they've recruited James Harden, who is a mess in his own right. Last season Harden demanded that the Rockets recruit his former OKC pal Russel Westbrook, and after a failed season he demanded that either he or Westbrook had to go. After Westbrook was traded, Harden showed up late to preseason practice because he said he was sick (videos of him at strip clubs showed up online seconds later), and after spending 10 days in quarantine, finally walked on court 20 pounds heavier with an impressive dad bod. He has gotten everything he has demanded, and then said earlier this week said his team was "just not good enough", which forced the Rockets to finally trade him. Now we've got Durant, Irving, and Harden all on the same team -- three unlikeable guys who aren't unlikeable in a good way. They're not enforcers or tough guys like the Mailman or Barkley or Rodman, they just come off as rich spoiled assholes.

The Thunder traded Chris Paul in the off season and fan favorite Steven Adams, the heart and soul of the team. When we were 20 points down and everyone else had given up, Steven Adams would run his ass off, stand under the basket grabbing rebounds, and acting like every point, rebound, and block counted. Trading Adams was a blow to every OKC Thunder fan. I know that players come and go, but to turn on a game and literally not recognize a single player is a bit of a shock.

Additionally, the NBA seems to have suffered more from COVID procedures than other professional sports. The NFL is allowing a percentage of fans to attend their games and has managed to walk a line that's enjoyable. NBA games still look, sound, and feel like scrimmages. I don't know what the solution is, but it's just not fun to watch at the moment.
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Ice Cream Jonsey
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

Post by Ice Cream Jonsey »

Well, thankfully there are former players like Charles Barkley who we can all look to for like-ability.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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Kyrie Irving fined $50K and will forfeit over $800K in salary after attending an indoor party
The NBA fined the Nets star $50,000 for violating the league's health and safety protocols after he attended a private indoor party last week. Irving can return to the Nets on Sunday if he tests negative for COVID-19, but will forfeit salary for any games he misses due to his five-day quarantine period.
Unlikeable.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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So Chuck suggested that NBA players move to the front of the line for vaccinations because they pay so much in taxes. Even if that is your belief and you don't understand how stupid it is why say it? Aside from the fact that the 18K in taxes someone making 40K hurts them more than whatever taxes someone making 35 million makes, it's obvious many athletes do not give a shit about Covid. Hey, that's their right. But if they don't care then maybe shut up about vaccinating them, Charles.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/19/us/kyrie ... index.html

"NBA star Kyrie Irving bought George Floyd's family a house"

Well, aren't I an asshole.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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When the family called to thank him he said "I don't talk to pawns" and hung up.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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On Wednesday, Kyrie Irving (finally) decided to join his teammates Kevin Durant and James Harden on the court. End result? The Nets lost 147-135 in double overtime... to Cleveland. Like I (and everyone who follows basketball) predicted, the Nets have put together an incredible group of small ball shooters (they scored 96 between the three), none of whom are interested in playing defense.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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LeBron telling that soccer (?) player through the media how wrong he (the guy who I think is a soccer player) is to not "be political" and how LeBron does his homework after the whole Hong Kong thing is the moment when I knew all of it was fake. All of it. Sorry, NBA. You almost had me. Ha ha. Ha haaaa. Ha. Hahaha.

NICE TRY DON
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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I think the story was that the soccer player told LeBron not to be so political after he himself (the soccer player) had also said political things. And LeBron said that no, he would keep being political. Then Charles Barkley said he didn't understand what the beef was about but heard there were 2:1 odds on LeBron so he put $500 down on him in the fifth to win place or show.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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Flack wrote: Sun Feb 28, 2021 4:19 pm I think the story was that the soccer player told LeBron not to be so political after he himself (the soccer player) had also said political things. And LeBron said that no, he would keep being political. Then Charles Barkley said he didn't understand what the beef was about but heard there were 2:1 odds on LeBron so he put $500 down on him in the fifth to win place or show.
In LeBron's defense, he couldn't tell if a murderous, organ-harvesting dictatorship that he gleefully supports without reservation was actively taking an organ from the soccer player on the pitch or if the soccer player was just flopping.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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The NBA has kicked off it's "Play In" tournament. (It's not the Play Offs, it's the Play Ins. Get it?)

Historically, the top 8 teams from each conference (east and west) went to the playoffs. This year, the NBA is holding a pre-playoff tournament called the play ins. Instead of the top 8 teams going to the play offs, only the top 6 were selected. In each conference, the 7th-10th seeds will have to play for a spot in the playoffs. The play ins are a double elimination tournament. 7/8 seeds play and 9/10 seeds play. The winner of the 7/8 game goes to the playoffs as 7th. The loser of the 9/10 game is out. The winner of the 9/10 game plays the loser of the 7/8 game. The winner of that is the 8th seed and the loser is out.

I don't understand this at all. The entire season is how you get the rankings. In the east, the Hornets (10th in the east w/33-39 this season) could theoretically win their two games and beat out the Celtics who are .500 at 36/36.

The only thing remotely interesting about this is that in the west, the 7th ranked LA Lakers will be playing the 8th ranked Golden State Warriors, which in years past sounds like the western conference finals but this year is a battle to remain in the playoffs.

When asked about the Play Ins, LeBron James said it best: "Whoever came up with that shit needs to be fired."
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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Also, this is not an issue for YOUR OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER, who finished 15th out of 16 teams in the west with a record of 22-50. In retrospect it seems like trading away every player anyone had ever heard of was not a good strategy. It's a year for RETOOLING.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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I kind of like that they are mixing things up a bit?

LeBron complaining about it is amazing. The guy creates his superteam, inspires everyone else to shack up for superteams and leaves a top-heavy league. That's fine, whatever, but then don't complain when the league tries to do something to make things more exciting than the 1-8 blowout matchups.

Oh, someone also asked what his thoughts were on a completely free Taiwan and he said:
"Whoever came up with that shit needs to be fired."
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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What the hell is going on in the NBA? Tonight during the Washington/Philly game, a spectator tried to run onto the court, only to be immediately tackled by security.

Sunday, someone threw a water bottle at Kyrie Irving on the floor. (The player has been charged with felony assault.) Last week, someone spit at Trae Young. The day before that, a fan dumped his popcorn out onto Russell Westbrook's head has he hobbled off the court after hurting his ankle.

I know we've all been locked down for over a year, but did everybody lose their goddamn minds?





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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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I feel like Metta Sandiford-Artest should change his name back to Ron Artest and start providing security for players during the playoffs. It turns out the game needs him now more than ever. The league has never had more punchable fans. Permanent lockdown is starting to sound better and better. We shouldn't need to have a pandemic to stay away from these idiots.

Are you supporting any team in particular during the playoffs, Flack? I mostly just want the Lakers and Nets to lose, but I'd be happy to see the Bucks, 76ers, or Suns end up taking the title. The Suns-Lakers series has been hell to watch if you're a Chris Paul fan. I just hope he stays healthy enough to see Phoenix through. Just one more game to go.

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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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It happened! I'm really proud of the Suns. I had some doubt that Devin Booker would be able to keep up his stellar play as things got more tense, but he totally proved me wrong by hitting incredible 3 after incredible 3 last night. Phoenix plays sloppier and less creatively without Chris Paul running the floor, but they kept hitting their 3s so it didn't really matter that Chris spent a significant amount of time on the bench. In the 4th, Chris utterly squashed a Lakers' comeback attempt with a couple of clutch baskets and several brilliant passes to set up even more open 3s. It made for compelling viewing, especially since the two teams don't seem to like each other much...lots of physical play from the Lakers, lots of back talk from the Suns, and technicals for everyone!

The Suns along with the Mavs are a team I always expect to have great three point shooting. Seeing what Booker, Crowder, and Cam Johnson were able to do last night reminded me of past Suns rosters like when Steve Nash, Shawn Marion, Joe Johnson, Jim Jackson, and Leandro Barbosa were all on the same squad. You were in for a bad time if those guys were hitting their shots.

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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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And at least Lebron played till the end! What a performance, what fortitude to never give up! Hmm? Ah.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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I was at a casino yesterday, walked past a TV, and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the Suns up by 20+. Woo hoo! There's a great internet meme going around that says Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant spent their careers playing hurt and trying to convince people they weren't, while LeBron James spends his entire career trying to convince people he's hurt when he isn't. Being the GOAT is more than just being the best player, and that's where James fails in my eyes. It will be interesting to see where and how hard LeBron lays blame. Chris Paul, on the other hand, improves every team he's on. It was such a thrill when he got drafted in 2005 and spent two years playing in Oklahoma City, where we watched him run a team.

Boy, those play-ins were a great idea. All four teams that made it to the playoffs through the play-in tournament (Memphis, Lakers, Washington, and Celtics) went out in the first round, three of the four in five games.

It'll be interesting to see how Paul's shoulder holds up and how they stand up to Denver. I don't think either Dallas or the Clippers can beat Utah this year. Utah and Phoenix in the Western conference finals?

I really don't want the Nets to make it to the finals on general principle but we'll see. The Bucks have been hot but can they stand up to Kyrie, Durant and Harden? We'll see.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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I would like to add that I caught a game last night and it was glorious to see and hear fans in the stands again. It really brings life to the game.
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Re: NBA (2020-2021)

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While on vacation I've been able to catch a lot of basketball, although those late night games are rough when you're on the east coast! I caught Suns/Nuggets game three in a pizza pub, and Suns/Nuggets game four here at the town house. That hard foul from Jokic was a bad look for the league's MVP. Right now we're watching the 76ers slap around the Hawks.
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