Post All-Star, what are the biggest NBA stories you're looking for?

[murksiderock]

There is literally no team I see them beating in the first round. The only possible case would be Minnesota because they don't have multiple scoring options anymore.

1st round sweep, fire the coach.
New coach leads team to playoffs, 1st round exit.
Break up the team, in a few years make the playoffs!!!! early round exit.


And one note on the they are "too good to slide." They are only good against bad teams, they only play maybe 4 games against teams that aren't going to be trying to win the rest of the year. So it's about to get real embarrassing in a few weeks.

Memphis is currently 7-11 (.389) vs the other 11 Top 6 seeds. They've only got 11 of their last 28 games vs current Top 6 seeds. If their current pace holds, they'll still finish around ~54 wins or so, and likely in that 3 seed...

Long term, their ceiling will remain low if Morant and Jaren can't take that Russ/KD kinda leap...

After they play the Hornets right out of the break, they have a tough schedule the rest of the way. The ‘23 team had a tough stretch of games right after the all star break where they looked really good, and that stretch was what really made me believe that they were gonna win it all.

I’m excited to see how this year’s team looks.

The Nuggets are 5-10 (.333) vs Top 6 seeds. Yall got 14 of your final 27 games vs current Top 6 seeds...

I’m tired of the bulls being more ass than Meg

The Bulls really have a pretty pathetic history outside the Jordan era and Rose's first 3-4 years. shyt is sad ...

 

[Redguard]

This is when I generally start watching. Football season is over, and the quality of games generally improves as we ramp towards the playoffs...

Everybody has played roughly ⅔ of their schedule, give or take. So this final third of the seasons the race and jockeying for seeding. This year, everyone has between 26 and 30 games left on the schedule. When the calendar hits March, I love this time of year...

A few things I'm looking towards:

•can the Kings stay afloat and make the play-in?

•can the Sixers, Suns, or Spurs make the play-in?

•I wanna see where Milwaukee, Dallas, and the Lakers finish. Lakers have been better than expected but have a center problem. Bucks will get Giannis back but it's been an inconsistent season, and I gotta see if they can compete with the Top 3 in The East. The Mavs will probably stay afloat within the play-in, and if they have a fully healthy AD could be a real threat come playoff time...

•the Nuggets probably won't catch OKC but they are gonna shrink the margins, they are the most dangerous team in The West...

•I don't know if I believe in Memphis or Houston against any team in the playoffs. Great seasons for them both, though!

Spurs will get in the play in. Suns and Sixers are not getting in.

 

[murksiderock]

Spurs will get in the play in. Suns and Sixers are not getting in.

Spurs got a long way to climb, g. They are 3½ spots out of the 10-seed. They gotta get to ~41 wins to make the play-in, realistically. That would mean they win 18 of their last 30 games, just to get to 41. Seems improbable...

 

[Unbothered]

The Mavs and Lakers will be the biggest topic because everybody is going to want to see who “won” the trade by season end, even tho it's obvious LA won but in terms of standings, playoff picture, and which team goes the distance post-trade will be an intriguing discussion.

A lot of people believed that the Mavs were going to rise in the standings due to AD's elite defensive presence, while the Lakers were supposed to drop due to a lack of sufficient defense in the paint and around the rim. So far, the Mavs are hanging on to dear life just to stay in Play-In contention, while the Lakers, who've been very hot offensively, could arguably finish in the 3-5 range depending on how Memphis, Denver, and Houston finish this second half.

 

[bigde09]

LeBron and Luca running things. They winning it all.
No reason not to

 

[Redguard]

Spurs got a long way to climb, g. They are 3½ spots out of the 10-seed. They gotta get to ~41 wins to make the play-in, realistically. That would mean they win 18 of their last 30 games, just to get to 41. Seems improbable...

I'm a Suns fan and I don't see them even getting the 10 seed. Spurs can beat the Suns.

Mainly due to KD and Booker being the only threats on the team and the center rotation being awful.

I think the Suns have the toughest or near the toughest schedule after All star break.

 

[Diondon]

Shai probly wins MVP
going into the playoffs no excuses for CL and OKC
they gotta show and prove.
who will bytch up in the seeding to avoid certain teams

 

[Redguard]

@murksiderock

 

[CHICAGO]

A lot of people believed that the Mavs were going to rise in the standings due to AD's elite defensive presence, while the Lakers were supposed to drop due to a lack of sufficient defense in the paint and around the rim. So far, the Mavs are hanging on to dear life just to stay in Play-In contention, while the Lakers, who've been very hot offensively, could arguably finish in the 3-5 range depending on how Memphis, Denver, and Houston finish this second half.

WHAT ARE YOU EVEN SAYING?

AD HAS ONLY PLAYED ONE GAME
AND THE MAVS ARE 4-1 IN THEIR
LAST 5.

LUKA HAS ONLY PLAYED
2 GAMES AGAINST THE JAZZ
AND THE LAKERS ARE 1-1


​

 

[jdubnyce]

Lakers Mavs in the playoffs must happen
For the sake of the league

 

[010101]

..........*

 

[Conan]

If their pace holds, they'll finish with ~55 wins, which is where they were 3 years ago. It's a progression in the sense that it's been 3 years since they were this good...

But I agree, it's not enough of a progression. I don't think the pace will hold, they'll lose ground to Denver. The question is how far do they slide. They're too good to fall to a play-in spot, but they're also only 3 games ahead of the 5-seed Lakers. So I think they finish between the 3 and 5 seed...

If they draw Houston or the Clippers in Rd1, I like Memphis, but I'll be honest. It's hard to take them over anyone else. I can't envision Memphis winning a series vs the Lakers, Wolves, Mavs, or Nuggets. Seems like the second round is their ceiling, same with Houston...

Memphis has no shot to land said Hall Of Famer unless Jackson or Durant develop into that. Those two could be new era Durant and Westbrook, but something is missing. They don't give off the "feel" or fear Durant and Westbrook did...

All that said, I love new blood and seeing new, young teams succeed. So I'd love to see Memphis make a real run------>I just don't envision it!

For who?

Keep in mind, this is a team many didn't project to make the playoffs this season. Now being second so far isn't a great season or enough of a progression from last year?

Last season with all the injuries was a blessing in disguise in multiple ways:

1. Getting Zach Edey. Still very raw but high potential at center

2. Getting valuable minutes under the bench's legs. Wells, GG Jackson, Vince are legitimate gems now. Aldama, Pippen, Kennard, Huff and Clarke are dependable players who can hold their own.

3. JJJ had to shoulder the offense last season and it's because of that he's an all star and potential All-NBA candidate. Bane to a lesser extent is a solid 3rd option.

There have been some hiccups this season with Ja's durability (and the team being cautious with his health), and us running new plays that are not as reliant on the PnR. But again coming into the season, no one had the Grizzlies finishing 2nd in the West. If (and a big if) that happens, then it is retarded to not call this season a progression.

Long term?

Ja needs to make the step up the same way JJJ has. This season is a bit too soon for that, let's see what happens next season. He needs to work on his jumper primarily and add some muscle to endure the long season.

If Edey continues progressing then it's going to be spooky. He has an outside shot, and he's good at offensive rebounds. He just needs to be able to bang with more experienced centers, and the team needs to utilize him more in half court sets.

If that happens and Wells/Jackson/Vince can hold their end then Memphis is set for long post season runs. Even if our front office can't convince a disgruntled star to head to Memphis in exchange for picks and bench players.

 

[FukkaPaidEmail]

For who?

Keep in mind, this is a team many didn't project to make the playoffs this season. Now being second so far isn't a great season or enough of a progression from last year?

Last season with all the injuries was a blessing in disguise in multiple ways:

1. Getting Zach Edey. Still very raw but high potential at center

2. Getting valuable minutes under the bench's legs. Wells, GG Jackson, Vince are legitimate gems now. Aldama, Pippen, Kennard, Huff and Clarke are dependable players who can hold their own.

3. JJJ had to shoulder the offense last season and it's because of that he's an all star and potential All-NBA candidate. Bane to a lesser extent is a solid 3rd option.

There have been some hiccups this season with Ja's durability (and the team being cautious with his health), and us running new plays that are not as reliant on the PnR. But again coming into the season, no one had the Grizzlies finishing 2nd in the West. If (and a big if) that happens, then it is retarded to not call this season a progression.

Long term?

Ja needs to make the step up the same way JJJ has. This season is a bit too soon for that, let's see what happens next season. He needs to work on his jumper primarily and add some muscle to endure the long season.

If Edey continues progressing then it's going to be spooky. He has an outside shot, and he's good at offensive rebounds. He just needs to be able to bang with more experienced centers, and the team needs to utilize him more in half court sets.

If that happens and Wells/Jackson/Vince can hold their end then Memphis is set for long post season runs. Even if our front office can't convince a disgruntled star to head to Memphis in exchange for picks and bench players.

Yeah that wasn’t a good post


If Ja can get back to Ja from a couple years back the grizzlies are scary .

They’ll have Ja,a souped up version of 22-23 JJJ,Bane and bunch of young guys that will continue to as the year goes on

Next couple of years is exciting for em….its on Ja though

 

[DropTopDoc]

Memphis is currently 7-11 (.389) vs the other 11 Top 6 seeds. They've only got 11 of their last 28 games vs current Top 6 seeds. If their current pace holds, they'll still finish around ~54 wins or so, and likely in that 3 seed...

Long term, their ceiling will remain low if Morant and Jaren can't take that Russ/KD kinda leap...

The Nuggets are 5-10 (.333) vs Top 6 seeds. Yall got 14 of your final 27 games vs current Top 6 seeds...

The Bulls really have a pretty pathetic history outside the Jordan era and Rose's first 3-4 years. shyt is sad ...

You don’t have to rub it in

 

[Dorian Breh]

Spurs will get in the play in. Suns and Sixers are not getting in.

Sixers are getting Cooper Flagg