The NBA 2023-2024 thread - and Guns and Rose

[T-ski]

Doc Rivers has been the coach of the Bucks for a week and will be the East All-Star coach. LOL.

I thought it was just his staff, not him.

Nope, it’s him and the staff. He did say he’d give former coach Adrian Griffin a nice piece of the check though.

[Samsara]

Wow, that's some BS right there. Doc is 1-3. LOL.

[Lonk]

The NBA should open up the coaching spot for the All Star game to votes.

The LED court looks cool, wonder why they won't use it for the actual game as well.

[Samsara]

The NBA should open up the coaching spot for the All Star game to votes.

Fans already get most of it wrong with the players. I have zero faith they'd get it right with coaches. Most fans don't even know who the coaches are.

The LED court looks cool, wonder why they won't use it for the actual game as well.

They may at some point. I think with glass, they are concerned with injury risk and how it will impact the game. I'm actually a little concerned for the players participating in the dunk contest. Glass doesn't have much give -- not nearly as much as wood does.

My issue is, the glass LED courts are meant for one thing, and one thing only -- revenue through advertising. The NBA will couch it other ways, but that's all this is for. And I'm sure they'll eventually adopt it. I am annoyed enough going to NBA games where there isn't a quiet moment in the building. It's loud, bright, and full tilt the entire time. But when I go to G-League games, you can actually hear the players talk and coaches talking too. It feels more like basketball, as opposed to a spectacle. This court will take that spectacle thing even higher, sadly.

[Lonk]

I actually really like the idea of using the All-Star weekend to have crossover events between the NBA and WNBA. Hope they bring it back next year with more stuff.

[hefdaddy42]

Not a hardcore NBA fan anymore, but can someone explain why they even bother with the All-Star Game anymore?

[Indiscipline]

Not a hardcore NBA fan anymore, but can someone explain why they even bother with the All-Star Game anymore?

Yeah, basketball without competition is really boring and pointless.

I would put homecourt advantage in the finals up for grabs, in order to re-introduce some stakes in the whole exercise.

[Lonk]

Not a hardcore NBA fan anymore, but can someone explain why they even bother with the All-Star Game anymore?

Yeah, basketball without competition is really boring and pointless.

I would put homecourt advantage in the finals up for grabs, in order to re-introduce some stakes in the whole exercise.

Yeah, besides the 3 point contest, the all star weekend has become very...boring. Even the dunk contest is lackluster for the most part.

[Azyiu]

Just a thought. How about each player still gets 2 dunk attempts in each round, but the first dunk is chosen from a list of classic dunks in the past at random on the spot? The scores of the first dunk accounted for 75% of the total. They can be creative in the final dunk. No matter what kind of gimmick they pull, that final dunk is only good for 25% of the total.

[Nekov]

Just a thought. How about each player still gets 2 dunk attempts in each round, but the first dunk is chosen from a list of classic dunks in the past at random on the spot? The scores of the first dunk accounted for 75% of the total. They can be creative in the final dunk. No matter what kind of gimmick they pull, that final dunk is only good for 25% of the total.

This has been tried before and it was a mess. At this point I don't think the dunk contest can be fixed. A lot of it relies on creativity and there is only so much new stuff that can be done. One in a while we'll be lucky to get a lavine vs Gordon type of situation, but for the most part it will be boring.

Not a hardcore NBA fan anymore, but can someone explain why they even bother with the All-Star Game anymore?

It somehow still makes money. Otherwise they would have canned it already.

[Indiscipline]

The only way for me at this point to be interested in the dunk contest would be raising the rim every round, olympics high jump style.

[TAC]

The only way for me at this point to be interested in the dunk contest would be raising the rim every round, olympics high jump style.

I like that idea!

[Samsara]

Here is how you fix the All Star Game - incentivize it.

1. Increase the rosters to 15 per side.
2. Raise $30 million in advertising revenue through the use of the new LED glass court during the game, and other pots of money during the season.
3. Keep the East vs. West format. It is a $15 million, winner-take-all pot. Whoever wins the game, those players get the $15 million ($1 million per player). The other team gets nothing.
4. The other $15 million is made to charities. $500k goes to each of the total 30 players' charities of choice.

If you do this, the players will commit to defense to win the bag. They won't try and hurt anyone. But they certainly will attempt to play defense when each of those guys knows if they win, they get a cool million. Particularly the younger guys. If they play defense, then you have a better game. I used $30 million as an example, but that amount can go higher. Hell, if you raise $60 million, then charity gets $30 million, and each player on the winning side takes home $2 million. It's a big deal. Money talks, even for millionaires.

I strongly believe if you do this, the All Star game will be competitive again. The major issue these days, is that these guys don't hate one another any longer. Back in the day, they had good contracts for the time, but there wasn't this "fraternity of brothers" you hear about so often now. There was, but back then some teams HATED one another. Think about the 80s. The Celtics and Lakers hated each other. Detroit and Chicago. New York and Miami. But once guys started REALLY getting paid, a lot of that now is gone. Not all, but a lot of it. And the All Star Game is a reflection of that. None of those guys want to get hurt, because they want to keep making money. So give them money, A one-day, one-game, winner take all pot. Trust me, guys won't be horse collaring each other, but they ABSOLUTELY will play defense and make it very competitive. It's all about the bag.

That new LED court is really key. I hate it, but the revenue possibilities make this really possible.

[TAC]

Sam, I like that, as every player has some sort of charity or foundation, which I understand is some sort of financial benefit or shelter for them.

I'm not really a "athletes make so much money" guy, but the money being thrown around this league at players makes so many things inconsequential.

[Samsara]

Sam, I like that, as every player has some sort of charity or foundation, which I understand is some sort of financial benefit or shelter for them.

I'm not really a "athletes make so much money" guy, but the money being thrown around this league at players makes so many things inconsequential.

Thanks. I really think it's a doable idea, and would make the game so much more competitive.

[King Postwhore]

Celtics absolutely destroying the Warriors right now at halftime.

[Samsara]

Celtics absolutely destroying the Warriors right now at halftime.

Celtics, to me, are simply the best team in the NBA. And they are still winning without Porzingis. Battle tested and primed for a chip. I'd be really surprised if they didn't win it all this year.

My Timberwolves are going through something that every winning team does -- slump a little. I see fans moaning about the struggle following the ASG. I laugh. Wolves fans aren't used to having a winning team. This shit happens. It'll be fixed and they'll be fine. LOL. Christ, ever loss seems like it's the end of the world. So ridiculous.

[T-ski]

The Bucks have turned it around. Completely different team since Doc took over.

[Samsara]

The Bucks have turned it around. Completely different team since Doc took over.

Told ya Doc would be fine. The guy is a winner. They made the right move. I still think Boston is the team to beat in the Eastern Conference, but the Bucks are right there. I don't see anyone else in the East challenging. Not with the state of injuries right now. I thought Philly and the Knicks had an outside shot, but not anymore.

[SoundscapeMN]

Towns Torn Meniscus in his knee. Likely out until the Playoffs at least.

Naz Reid can step up, however come playoff time, if KAT is gone..I'm not expecting much. We'll see how valuable he really is.

[Samsara]

Wolves will be fine. I think Finch is making a mistake with starting Kyle. He is an offensive liability. No one respects his shot, and they all sag off him, because they know he's not confident and will look to pass. he needs to start Naz, and then encourage guys like NAW to look for their shot more off the bench.

I watched that whole game last night. Man, Anthony Edwards. The kid is a superstar. What a huge game. his fire and intensity were...Jordan-like. The kid has a bright future. I think we'll be fine until Towns gets back. It's a good thing we have depth. We'll see how they respond on a second night of a back to back in Cleveland tonight.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

A lot of teams are in that "young team on the rise" category right now. Thunder, Wolves, Cavs, Knicks, etc. Those are always my favorite teams to watch. I think the league is making a real mistake by focusing their marketing more on older guys like Curry, Durant, James, etc. There's so much great young talent, and I'd love to see the NBA lean into that more.

[Azyiu]

A lot of teams are in that "young team on the rise" category right now. Thunder, Wolves, Cavs, Knicks, etc. Those are always my favorite teams to watch. I think the league is making a real mistake by focusing their marketing more on older guys like Curry, Durant, James, etc. There's so much great young talent, and I'd love to see the NBA lean into that more.

No worries, guys we know ain't getting any younger and some even started to decline (Klay, Harden etc.), I think the league will have to start showcasing more of those young guys sooner rather than later. Plus, if Denver goes far or even repeats this year, they will HAVE to give the Nuggets more respect by showing them more next season.

[Azyiu]

Beast mode AD + Little monster mode Reaves 

[TheOutlawXanadu]

I saw somewhere that this time last year, if the Lakers had their current record, they would be the four seed out West. The conference is just really strong this year. The playoffs should be interesting. I think the Lakers could (not will, but could) challenge anyone except the Nuggets.

[T-ski]

The Bucks have turned it around. Completely different team since Doc took over.

Never mind.

Three straight losses to…..

Washington (2nd worst record in the league)
Memphis (basically playing with a G-League team due to injuries)
Toronto (had lost 15 in a row)

Team looks disinterested in every possible way.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

Not surprising that Doc wasn't the spark they were looking for. He certainly deserves some criticism, but I also struggle not to blame the players themselves for not caring when they're getting paid like Russian oligarchs.

[SoundscapeMN]

The Suns..blech. I don't get why the Wolves have such a problem with them, but whatever. The media and fan base are basically giving it to the Suns after they just beat them and swept all 3 games badly.

So typical for Minnesota sports..

[Azyiu]

I hate to see Giannis injured and could miss more than 1 game in the first round. I hate it more when Doc Rivers could have a perfect excuse for blame if the Bucks lose in the first round.

[Azyiu]

I am glad we beat the Pels. At times during the game, it felt like the Lakers were still wondering if they should win and face the Nuggets or not. I still don’t think we can get out of the first round, but hopefully it won’t be another sweep. 

[Lonk]

It's sad how little I care about the playoffs/NBA in general the last couple of seasons. I barely kept up with the standings and was shocked to see where OKC ended the season. With that said, I hope the knicks have a deep run and make it at least to the conference finals.

Yeah, I don't see a way the Lakers come out of round 1, but hey, you never know.

[TheOutlawXanadu]

The Lakers looked so bad in the 4th quarter, and I wonder if they would have won had Zion not been injured. I didn't see the Warriors game but it sucks to see what's happened to Klay. Father Time is truly undefeated.

[Azyiu]

The Lakers looked so bad in the 4th quarter, and I wonder if they would have won had Zion not been injured.

We played like we were second-guessing whether beating the Pels and grabbing the #7 seed was a good idea or not. Regardless, if our goal is winning it all, we probably will have to face the Nuggets sooner or later.

[Samsara]

With the Lakers, the key thing to me is DLo. How long will he stay on one of his hot streaks? He's been playing really well, which means he's due for a really cold spell. That's just life with DLo. On paper, the Lakers should be one of the best in the league. But...

As for me, hoping my Wolves got in the lab and figured out how they were guarding Edwards (shell concept that really baffled him) and how to get him freed up. Can't wait for Saturday!

[Azyiu]

I have been an NBA LP user for several years and have never had trouble with them until these playoffs! I am very disappointed that the Suns @ T-Wolves game is blacked out in the UK! WTF?! I thought I paid all that money for every game, especially in the Playoffs, but now this? Luckily I also have a VPN and am using a Japanese server to watch the game... but I shouldn't have to!