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Post by hayesboy on Mar 16, 2022 12:27:02 GMT
Its not important Sam. Don't worry about it.
With regards to my WB username if I wanted to carry on using that I would have done so. So lets not worry about that either.
Let's chat NBA.
What about Ben Simmons. Still not playing for the Nets? How is he injured having not played for such a long time? Lacking match sharpness and match fitness I can understand but injured?? It would be incredibly ironic if the key asset in this trade for the Nets ended up being Seth Curry......
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Post by SamH on Mar 17, 2022 9:29:46 GMT
I think the Nets need Simmons for his defence in the playoffs. If he can get 8-10 games under his belt before that, then I like their chances assuming he can fit in and has chemistry with Durant and Irving.
Irving was very impressive with his 60 points the other evening, but as they said on PTI - his next game isn't til next Thursday as they aren't on the road again until then. Must be so frustrating for his team mates that he can have games like that but then isn't available for the next few games. I do think the law is a stupid one, that he can sit in the stands but can't play, and un-vaccinated visiting players can play. Really stupid, in fact.
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sm11
Bench Warmer
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Post by sm11 on Mar 17, 2022 10:38:47 GMT
Heres a discussion...
When was the first NBA game you stayed up to watch on TV beyond mid night to watch live...
Mine was the NBA All star game in 2002/03. Jordans last. Yao Mings first. I was 14, and it was so hard for me at the time, i drifted off at some point in the second half, when i came back round it was over time all of a sudden lol.
I later stayed up for games 1-4 of the Finals that year between the Spurs and the New Jersey Nets, i was more practiced by then and didnt drift off at any point lol. I cant remember why i missed games 5 and 6. I also stayed up for every finals games between 2006/07 and 2011/12. Proud of the effort back then lol.
Just interested to hear back from anyone elses experiences as it will be a good insight into how far 'live coverage' (not just coverage in generak) in this country goes back.
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Post by SamH on Mar 17, 2022 10:55:59 GMT
Good question! Probably around the time channel 4 started showing live games. It might have been game 6 of the '98 finals, I definitely remember that because it was one of those moments where everyone who saw it would remember where they were at the time. I was watching it in the kitchen and when MJ stole the ball from Malone I was out of my chair - like everyone else, I knew what was coming and it was just so exciting. You knew he was going to score but it was still really tense. What was meant to be his final game and it was going to end with him scoring to win the championship. Just perfect! So I'm standing there going nuts at about 3.00 in the morning as the shot goes in.
As a student I stayed up a lot to watch games but of course it wasn't so easy back then, we relied on occasional games being on TV. For a while when Channel 5 had the rights, we only got 1 live game a week! Now we have league pass and it's not so easy to stay up all night, typical!
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faz
Bench Warmer
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Post by faz on Mar 19, 2022 1:00:43 GMT
Heres a discussion... When was the first NBA game you stayed up to watch on TV beyond mid night to watch live... Mine was the NBA All star game in 2002/03. Jordans last. Yao Mings first. I was 14, and it was so hard for me at the time, i drifted off at some point in the second half, when i came back round it was over time all of a sudden lol. I later stayed up for games 1-4 of the Finals that year between the Spurs and the New Jersey Nets, i was more practiced by then and didnt drift off at any point lol. I cant remember why i missed games 5 and 6. I also stayed up for every finals games between 2006/07 and 2011/12. Proud of the effort back then lol. Just interested to hear back from anyone elses experiences as it will be a good insight into how far 'live coverage' (not just coverage in generak) in this country goes back. I do regularly. I’m now divorced! |
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Post by SamH on Mar 19, 2022 20:30:28 GMT
LeBron is likely to pass Malone for 2nd on the all time scoring list tonight, needing 20 to do it. ESPN have analysed the situation and predict of he plays 70% of games going forward, it'll be about another year for him to pass Kareem. It's looking increasingly likely that he will get there isn't it? Be a remarkable achievement and something I'd like to see.
ESPN also reckon there's no one else that will catch him. Possibly Doncic but in my mind he's not going to have the longevity LeBron has enjoyed. He doesn't have the fitness or the mindset to stay at his current level for 20 years. So this could be truly historic if/when it happens.
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sm11
Bench Warmer
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Post by sm11 on Mar 19, 2022 20:52:59 GMT
great news about lebron, i think when he breaks the record next season (or pos the following if a major injury occurs) then i think that will cement him as at least number 2 all time, im aware a lot will already consider him number 2 or some even number 1, but that will cement that minimum position for sure.
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sm11
Bench Warmer
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Post by sm11 on Mar 19, 2022 20:59:05 GMT
Thats awesome that you stayed up for that famous game 6 Sam. A lot consider that the greatest basketball game of all time. I used to have the DVD of it somewhere and even watchng it years later was incredible. I myself consider the 72 Olympic final the greatest purely for its significance to the sport world wide. The game until the end was a bit run of the mill but who knows where the sport would be if that one hadnt happened.
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 19, 2022 22:12:59 GMT
Lebron is an amazing player. His longevity is a testament to the work he puts in off the court.
Definitely a worthy candidate for number 2 all time. If you think he’s number one though you need to go and have a stern word with yourself.
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Post by SamH on Mar 19, 2022 22:31:15 GMT
I am willing to put LeBron ahead of Kareem and Magic now but yeah, still 2nd place. He doesn't have the drive and determination MJ had. Kobe had that, but he fell short in the skills department.
What's interesting is how you have some greats who packed it all in to a 12, 13 year career, and others who have used their longevity to help cement their place. No way LeBron, Duncan, Dirk or Kareem are as high on the list if they only played 11-13 meaningful seasons like Bird, Magic and MJ did.
As for the '98 finals, I was lucky as I'd finished my GCSEs and just started a very long summer holiday so was able to stay up!
Another of those moments where you remember where you were was the 2000 slam dunk contest. I was up watching that too, leaping around the room like a lunatic! VC took dunking to a new stratosphere that night.
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Post by SamH on Mar 21, 2022 16:55:46 GMT
So who believes the 76ers are tanking to avoid the Nets in round 1? Nets look play-in bound, so when they come through that they're playing either the 1 or 2 seed. After the hot start from Philly after Harden came in, they suddenly seem a bit...average, don't they? Going for that 3rd seed and the Cavs perhaps?
What's interesting about the Nets is that as a lower seed, they look like that being advantageous in terms of Kyrie's availability. Assuming the rules don't change, the Nets would rather play more road games with Kyrie, especially game 7s! So they really want to be the 8th seed if they can, so their play in game is on the road. You don't think they wax Toronto, Atlanta or Charlotte in the play-in round with Kyrie? Then they go 7th anyway.
Failing that they'd be better off finishing 10th so again, to play on the road at the 9th seed, then they'd have to go again vs the loser of the 7/8 match but it too would be on the road.
Maybe the first time ever where it's actually better to not have home court advantage?!
Edit - it just occurred to me that Kyrie can't play in Toronto either, so they probably want to avoid matching up with them altogether!
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 21, 2022 17:18:19 GMT
Well I hope they end up playing Toronto!
I don't think teams tank to try and influence their playoff/play in opponent. I just think there are too many variables and most sports people are quite superstitious and would not want to tempt fate....even at that elite level.
I wonder if what we are seeing in Philly is that the initial bounce Harden gave them has evaporated and they are experiencing some of the issues many pundits predicted when the trade happened.
I personally think the trade will help them in the playoffs. You cannot really foul either of them and they can isolate you to death or hit you with the pick and roll (even if it is just to force switches for more iso).
It is hilarious that Ben Simmons still not back. Really cannot understand how he turned up with an injury having not played any competitive ball since last season? Is there more too it?
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 21, 2022 17:24:33 GMT
What about the West then?
I don't see the Lakers slipping further than 10th. I think they would beat the Pels or the Clips (less certain about Clips) but I think they would not beat the Nugs. I am hoping the Nugs can avoid the Play in but the T-Wolves are surging.
The play in certainly makes things more interesting!
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Post by SamH on Mar 21, 2022 17:58:48 GMT
The thing is, for the first time in over 20 years, the West is actually lagging behind record-wise. The play in teams in the East are at least around the .500 mark - respectable enough. The Lakers and Pels are both 31-40, which is pretty dreadful really and not a record they have any business getting into the playoffs with. Perhaps the play-in should have a minimum win rate of 38 games or something and if you don't achieve it, then you don't get to play!
As for Simmons, don't players have to pass a medical before being traded? If they're injured then they fail it and the trade gets voided? Perhaps the trading team has the right to waive that concern, I dont know. This back injury does seem a bit odd as it was never mentioned until he landed in Brooklyn. It doesn't sound like he's going to get the 8-10 games I thought might benefit them, in fact it doesn't sound like he will be back at all in the regular season and if that's the case, I'd be minded not to put him on the playoff roster, as it will be too risky to do that when he's never played with this group before.
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 22, 2022 10:08:18 GMT
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 24, 2022 10:40:05 GMT
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Post by SamH on Mar 24, 2022 11:35:17 GMT
It should be fun seeing the Nets as the 7th seed (through winning the play in) as they have a legit chance of going to the finals with Kyrie fully available. Not often you see a low seed do that! Who knows, they might even be able to get up into the top 6 and avoid the play-in now? Not impossible. I'd say keep Simmons on the sidelines though, if he can't come back pretty much this week - just too disruptive to introduce him so late on otherwise and he'll be rusty as anything too. Probably out of shape as well.
What's up with the Warriors? Lose to Orlando then rest everyone and beat Miami! Such a streaky team - hard to see them making the finals even with everyone healthy, but who knows. Phoenix just look far and away the best team in the West.
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 28, 2022 13:02:56 GMT
Could it happen to Lebron again? Another Play-off miss?
they are 3-7 in last 10 games having lost the last 2 in a row. Meanwhile the Spurs are 6-4 having won their last 3.
It seems unthinkable that a team with Lebron, Westbrook and AD could mess it up this badly. Just demonstrates that real life is not a video game and just assembling good/great players is not enough. You need to ensure they fit together!!
The Nets will be dangerous now. That decision came just in the nick of time. Like SamH says I would not risk trying to integrate Simmons now.
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Post by SamH on Mar 28, 2022 13:16:29 GMT
I would love to see the Spurs sneak in, be it at the expense of either LA or the Pelicans. Just Pop having to do a play-in game, I bet he thinks they are garbage and a waste of time.  I still kind of look at the top 8 anyway - I know it can change around, but I feel like if you don't make top 8 then you're not a playoff team but good luck stealing one from someone else to get in. So under the old format, Lakers are already done! It is shocking - I never thought Westbrook and a load of old guys would be as good as some thought, but I still thought they'd be top 5 in the West. PTI made a good point about the Nets - they're actually not that good with Kyrie in the lineup, record wise. But I do think having him there consistently can only be a good thing and they'll improve as they get used to having him every night. |
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Post by hayesboy on Mar 28, 2022 15:21:49 GMT
Defensively they are weak.
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I still kind of look at the top 8 anyway - I know it can change around, but I feel like if you don't make top 8 then you're not a playoff team but good luck stealing one from someone else to get in. So under the old format, Lakers are already done! It is shocking - I never thought Westbrook and a load of old guys would be as good as some thought, but I still thought they'd be top 5 in the West.