NBA Playoffs - Joker's Wild

[DireWolfSpirit]

I agree that 82 games is also part of the problem. Players lower bodies are abused with that kind of dehabilitating grind.

Id like to see maybe a 50 game season max but theres the money factor that has to squeeze every bit of available revenue so id be shocked if a shorter schedule was ever achieved.

And still say that 3pt play has become too easy for these guys. Be interesting to see about 20 exhibition games where all FG's were worth only 2pts.

Id just like to see the difference in the games.

I might even enjoy calendar date even days like 2nd, 4th, 6th, etc count as days where FG's are strictly 2pts. Calendar odd days 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc the rules revert to 3pt plays available. You might see some very interesting and different roster construction. I could see more players having roles that dont seem to have a place in rotations anymore.

Anywho change it up, try some exhibition games of stuff like that.

Edited September 12 by DireWolfSpirit

[Proudfeet]

Speaking of rest, just saw that the NBA is making it harder for teams to rest players. The gleam is wearing off Silver as time goes on. Would like to see teams carry on as usual and challenge the NBA to fine them. Perhaps with Ballmer and the Clippers taking the lead.

[Rhom]

3 hours ago, Proudfeet said:

Speaking of rest, just saw that the NBA is making it harder for teams to rest players. The gleam is wearing off Silver as time goes on. Would like to see teams carry on as usual and challenge the NBA to fine them. Perhaps with Ballmer and the Clippers taking the lead.

I mean... you do realize that Adam Silver literally works for the owners?  Right???

[Tywin et al.]

On 9/12/2023 at 2:04 PM, DireWolfSpirit said:

I agree that 82 games is also part of the problem. Players lower bodies are abused with that kind of dehabilitating grind.

Id like to see maybe a 50 game season max but theres the money factor that has to squeeze every bit of available revenue so id be shocked if a shorter schedule was ever achieved.

I still think the best solution is adding a team in Seattle and LV and then making it a 62 game season where each team plays each twice. 

Quote

And still say that 3pt play has become too easy for these guys. Be interesting to see about 20 exhibition games where all FG's were worth only 2pts.

Nah, they just need to widen the court. The corner three is a hack. 

[Proudfeet]

6 hours ago, Rhom said:

I mean... you do realize that Adam Silver literally works for the owners?  Right???

That's not the point. 

Players taking games off is a problem. Fine. Its his job to come up with a solution. Adopting the Nike slogan and telling players to Just do it isn't much of a solution. It's addressing the symptom not the cause. Maybe they are at their limits with easing the scheduling, but this is the equivalent of giving up.

Anyway, what I suspect will happen is that teams will just come up with more colourful injury reports. We'll see how effective it is.

[Maithanet]

I suspect it will result in fewer complete throwaway games where one team is resting 3+ starters.  That's probably a good thing.  Instead, you will probably see players encouraged not to rush back after minor tweaks.  I could easily see Lebron or Embiid taking a full week off in January for "hamstring tightness", when normally he'd just rest one night and be fine. 

[Proudfeet]

The scheduling that leads to a team resting 3+ starters is probably a throwaway game even with the starters. Might as well roll the dice with the bench.

[Maithanet]

4 hours ago, Proudfeet said:

The scheduling that leads to a team resting 3+ starters is probably a throwaway game even with the starters. Might as well roll the dice with the bench.

Not necessarily.  I have definitely seen teams playing tough road games (particularly outside the conference) where a playoff team will just wave the white flag and rest a bunch of guys.  If a team like the Clippers or Lakers lose a road game to the Bucks it's hardly the end of the world for them, although any Bucks fans who bought tickets to the game would obviously be pissed. 

[Rhom]

26 minutes ago, Maithanet said:

Not necessarily.  I have definitely seen teams playing tough road games (particularly outside the conference) where a playoff team will just wave the white flag and rest a bunch of guys.  If a team like the Clippers or Lakers lose a road game to the Bucks it's hardly the end of the world for them, although any Bucks fans who bought tickets to the game would obviously be pissed. 

I want to take my son to Toronto.  Thought it would be fun to see Niagara Falls and catch a Raptors game.  Spring Break would be best chance.  Raps have a home game on Tuesday.  Perfect.

Its against the Lakers... lower arena tickets start at $1000.

And there's no possible way LeBron or AD play that game.

Scratch the trip.

[Proudfeet]

15 hours ago, Maithanet said:

Not necessarily.  I have definitely seen teams playing tough road games (particularly outside the conference) where a playoff team will just wave the white flag and rest a bunch of guys.  If a team like the Clippers or Lakers lose a road game to the Bucks it's hardly the end of the world for them, although any Bucks fans who bought tickets to the game would obviously be pissed. 

Just to be sure we're on the same page, I'm referring to situations like three games in four nights, or late game to early game with travel on back to backs. Not that teams don't factor in strength of schedule when deciding which games they want to punt on their schedule, but that comes after these situations arise.

If you're referring to teams randomly resting guys then no disagreements there. Rest them in home games if they really need to.

[BigFatCoward]

What is a 33 year old with one year left on his contract (that is going to be prohibitive by the end of it) actually worth?  I wouldn't give up much for Lillard. 

On the one hand Miami know they are in a strong position as he only wants to go there, on the other hand their title window is very very nearly over with the ages of most of their stars (and Lillard).  If he goes they realistically have 1 or maybe 2 shots at it, its not worth mortgaging your next 6 or 7 years for that.

[Tywin et al.]

3 hours ago, BigFatCoward said:

What is a 33 year old with one year left on his contract (that is going to be prohibitive by the end of it) actually worth?  I wouldn't give up much for Lillard. 

On the one hand Miami know they are in a strong position as he only wants to go there, on the other hand their title window is very very nearly over with the ages of most of their stars (and Lillard).  If he goes they realistically have 1 or maybe 2 shots at it, its not worth mortgaging your next 6 or 7 years for that.

It really is though. When your team is so close it's worth pushing all the chips in, especially when the other top teams in the East are having their own issues. 

Miami's problem is Lowry. They need to move him to make this work and Portland doesn't want him. They need a third team to take on the salary dump and that makes it harder for Miami to offer a good deal because it will cost a first to move him. 

Regarding Dame's value, unless the market resets it's Herro and three firsts as a starting point. They'll probably want another good young player too. 

[BigFatCoward]

Its a lot to risk on about a 20% chance of a title. 

[Relic]

Dame to the Bucks in a three team deal. I dont get this trade???

[Arakasi]

Gives Bucks more offensive power but losing Jrue will hurt their defence. The picks are long enough out to not matter much. Jrue I guess has also been injured a bunch.

Suns look like they made out well though getting rid of Ayton for a more spread out group so they’re not so top heavy.

[Tywin et al.]

This is a weird trade. Idk if the Suns or Bucks actually got better and Jrue to Portland is strange because they needed to shed guards (so I expect them to trade him when he's eligible). 

Denver won this trade. 

[Arakasi]

I do think the suns improved. Their problem was they were too thin and I don’t think Ayton to Jurkic is that big a drop. Waiting to see what Timpf from the volume says on this.

[Tywin et al.]

It is a drop though and the depth they got is marginal. Plus Team Glass Cannon just got even more glassy. This seems more of a money move than anything. They'd have been better off getting Jrue, keeping Ayton and never gone after Beal. 

[Arakasi]

Well I don’t think Ayton was going to work there too many bridges burned. Health and age being disregarded I do agree I’d rather have Jrue than Beal.

[Maithanet]

The Bucks are definitely better, I don't know how you can even argue that.  Holiday and Dame are the same age, and Lillard is more likely to age gracefully than Holiday.  Plus Lillard is and always has been better than Holiday.  I have always liked Jrue's game, but let's not get crazy, Lillard is a great player. 

The Bucks are a team with actual balance.  Their floor spacing and playmaking is way stronger with Lillard.  Their defense will regress, but not to some ridiculous degree.  Basically every year except 2021 the Bucks have been eliminated because thier late game execution fell apart against playoff defense.  It is almost impossible to imagine that being a problem now, with Lillard suddenly having more space than he ever has and Giannis having another deadly shooter to kick out to. 

The Suns are different, I think its marginal whether they are better or worse.  They needed to ship Ayton out though, so that is one item off the to do list.