NBA Bubble

James Harden is my favorite player - ice in his veins in spite of his cute little tummy. He's blowing up the bubble. Clippers looking dangerous. Lakers on top, but people finding faults with them. Pelicans and my hometown hero Zion (who sat out as much time at Duke as I can remember!), yeesh, not so much. Lots of dangerous teams, though. I like JH and the Rockets', but the West is tough, at least I still really think it looks that way. They say it used to be the West vs. LeBron. When the Rockets handled Milwaukee the other night, I thought "there's still something to it."

Basketball is awesome; the players are doing us a solid by holing up. Etc. Discuss.

My new thought watching a game the other day is that I should analyse before and after FT% - it's got to be higher now without the distraction of thousands of people waving behind the basket. I've seen a few guys saying that generally shooting is easier too. Makes a lot of sense.

Apparently, there is lots of great wine in the bubble...

Inside the NBA bubble's unofficial wine club

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Originally Posted by zambenini

James Harden is my favorite player -

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Ugh....such a frustrating player to watch.

Glad to be able to talk live sports again. #gosixers

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Originally Posted by kdawg

My new thought watching a game the other day is that I should analyse before and after FT% - it's got to be higher now without the distraction of thousands of people waving behind the basket. I've seen a few guys saying that generally shooting is easier too. Makes a lot of sense.

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They have been draining them.

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Originally Posted by Will Neide

Ugh....such a frustrating player to watch.

Glad to be able to talk live sports again. #gosixers

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Tell me your frustrations. The doctor is in. $0.05.

Last night, we saw that the Rockets minus Westbrook could handily handle the Lakers minus Lebron ... not sure if that clarifies the West that much. Anthony Davis looked tough to guard at points. Who's gonna make more of a difference on those Squads, Lebron or Russel, well, probably Lebron, but RW is an x factor for Houston.

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Originally Posted by zambenini

Tell me your frustrations. The doctor is in. $0.05.

Last night, we saw that the Rockets minus Westbrook could handily handle the Lakers minus Lebron ... not sure if that clarifies the West that much. Anthony Davis looked tough to guard at points. Who's gonna make more of a difference on those Squads, Lebron or Russel, well, probably Lebron, but RW is an x factor for Houston.

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It'll be interesting to see how the season progresses without jet lag, travel, etc to wear down the players. I think it favors an aging Lebron and Russell. I think those two teams also lack the chemistry to win it all. Certainly have the talent.

I don't know much about basketball, but I think Steve Kerr is awesome.

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Originally Posted by bcm119

I don't know much about basketball, but I think Steve Kerr is awesome.

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Great player, great coach, though I don't see how the Warriors managed to spiral all the way to last place from such great heights. They might get the first draft pick?? It's almost like they took a page out of @willneide 's 76ers' playbook. :cool:

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Originally Posted by zambenini

Great player, great coach, though I don't see how the Warriors managed to spiral all the way to last place from such great heights. They might get the first draft pick?? It's almost like they took a page out of @willneide 's 76ers' playbook. :cool:

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What a track record they have. Simmons.....the worst shooting guard in history. Fultz.....yips. Okafor.....where'd ya go? I enjoyed the Cinderella story of seeing Mikal Bridges drafted by the Sixers...and then promptly traded. What heartbreak. I still #trusttheprocess though.

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Originally Posted by Will Neide

What a track record they have. Simmons.....the worst shooting guard in history. Fultz.....yips. Okafor.....where'd ya go? I enjoyed the Cinderella story of seeing Mikal Bridges drafted by the Sixers...and then promptly traded. What heartbreak. I still #trusttheprocess though.

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Fun fact, I literally bumped elbows with Okafor at Duke's Last Day of Classes celebration the year they won the championship. Man that was an awesome team. My grad school mates and I, yes, we were too old to be there, lol, but it was a fun night. We started going to the party in previous years because one year there was a rumor Springsteen was going to be the surprise musical guest because his daughter was graduating from Duke and he was playing Raleigh the next night, yadda yadda yadda. Fake news.

I think it wound up being T-Pain or somebody the championship year.

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Originally Posted by zambenini

Great player, great coach, though I don't see how the Warriors managed to spiral all the way to last place from such great heights. They might get the first draft pick?? It's almost like they took a page out of @willneide 's 76ers' playbook. :cool:

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Most of their main players have been injured - and they’ve sort of done the Spurs thing where they haven’t rushed anyone back so they get a lottery pick. Not quite tanking but pretty close.

Steve Kerr has a remarkable personal back story as well. Same with Gregg Popovich. There are some smart, thoughtful, worldly folks in the NBA.

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Originally Posted by Saab2000

Steve Kerr has a remarkable personal back story as well. Same with Gregg Popovich. There are some smart, thoughtful, worldly folks in the NBA.

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Yes, that's right, though I don't know Popp's. There are some really kind and decent people too - David Robinson comes to mind. Been glad to see his son at Duke.

Which reminds me, we've been watching the MJ doc which is unbelievable and a lot of childhood feels there for sure. Rodman has really invoked some pathos for me, but I was laughing thinking about him and David Robinson, Mr. Bright and Shiny Navy guy, playing together.

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Originally Posted by zambenini

Yes, that's right, though I don't know Popp's. There are some really kind and decent people too - David Robinson comes to mind. Been glad to see his son at Duke.

Which reminds me, we've been watching the MJ doc which is unbelievable and a lot of childhood feels there for sure. Rodman has really invoked some pathos for me, but I was laughing thinking about him and David Robinson, Mr. Bright and Shiny Navy guy, playing together.

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Popp is a US Air Force Academy graduate and worked in military intelligence for several years. Coach K from Duke is a West Point graduate. These institutions are difficult to get into and are academically top notch. These are bright guys.

As a Cavs fan I have no skin in the game but have been enjoying watching random games - last nights Nuggets and Jazz was a cracker.

They should both change to those uniforms permanently too - the Jazz ones are fantastic and I like those Mile High ones too.

I can’t stand Harden though! As a left handed 2 guard I feel a bit guilty but I just don’t like his game. Feels cheap to me - although I always appreciate a good free throw shooter.

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Originally Posted by kdawg

I can’t stand Harden though! As a left handed 2 guard I feel a bit guilty but I just don’t like his game. Feels cheap to me - although I always appreciate a good free throw shooter.

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We can hang. :::beer:::

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Originally Posted by zambenini

Yes, that's right, though I don't know Popp's. There are some really kind and decent people too - David Robinson comes to mind. Been glad to see his son at Duke.

Which reminds me, we've been watching the MJ doc which is unbelievable and a lot of childhood feels there for sure. Rodman has really invoked some pathos for me, but I was laughing thinking about him and David Robinson, Mr. Bright and Shiny Navy guy, playing together.

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Rodman is Negative-Jordan. He spent his whole career studying where the ball goes when the shooter misses. Jordan spent his whole career studying not missing. To have them on the same team was a stroke of genius. And I think Jordan was the person who wanted him on the team if I’m not mistaken(?)

Yeah, you’re mistaken - management thought it might work and took the idea to him and Scottie due to their history - I suppose he “approved” it, but it wasn’t idea.

His time at the Wizards probably demonstrated his player management prowess!