2023-24 Running NBA thread

Rushing back from a calf injury could be a recipe for a snapped Achilles

 

Regarding the Suns: I usually hate this type of basketball analysis, but I watch them and see a team that just doesn't care. Just once I'd like to see Devin Booker give even a slight indication that he's engaged and cares about the outcome.

I've agreed with most of the moves the team has made in putting this roster together, but the chemistry just seems to be bad.

Also, Mr. ORNG, the doofus superfan who used to paint himself orange for every game but now wears an orange bodysuit? He's traded it in for a new orange outfit. Hell of a night for the Suns.

 

I clawback every bad thought I had about Glen Taylor and the aborted sale to A-Rod/Lore:

Sources: A-Rod, Lore eyed cuts to Wolves payroll

I was under the mistaken thought that the new guys had made decisions that lead to the T-Wolves rising; instead it looks like they were going the way of Jeter/Gordon Gecko just stripping the company down to make profits. I hope Taylor shows those clowns the backhand on the way out. Screw them.

 

I don't really think that's crazy of them. It's pretty common for teams to make a move to get like $500k under the luxury tax threshold, because then it usually resets the timer on it, followed by signing a FA or making a trade that puts them over anyway. And, this reads like it was leaked by Taylor's camp. It's cool that he has kept the Wolves in Minnesota, but he's otherwise been a horrible owner.

 

The Timberwolves are 62 million over the first threshold. They are spending more this season that anyone but the Clippers and Warriors.

There's probably only three or four contracts that would make sense. Dumping Conley's deal would be "cutting payroll" and save something like 20 million

 

Of course the Suns turn around and beat the Clippers in LA the next night.

Suns finish at Sacramento and Minnesota. Both have something to play for, so nothing easy there.
Pels are 1/2 game up on Phoenix for the six seed, still play three games: vs. Lakers, at GS, at SAC. Nothing easy there.
Kings get three home games to finish: Portland, Phoenix, New Orleans.

Probably is going to come down to the last day.

 

Sac is leaking oil so that may be as good of a chance as any to steal a game. If it turns out to be Suns/Pels v Kings and Lakers v Dubs in the playin, I’ll take Suns/Pels and the winner of Lakers-Dubs to advance

The West has been crazy this year but Suns and Kings limping to the finish. There’s a real chance the Kings could drop to the 9/10 game. There is also a real chance the 8 seed could make some noise in the first round provided it isn’t Denver but even then.

 

Suns squeak by with the win even though the Clippers were missing Harden, Leonard, George and Westbrook. That was a rough game.

I'm hoping the Suns can squeeze past New Orleans but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

People who have badmouthed Kevin Harlan on this board should repent.

 

Simple math now for that last playoff spot in the West. Pelicans get it with a win against the Lakers or a Phoenix loss to Minnesota. Phoenix gets it with a win and a Pels' loss. At worst, Phoenix hosts the 7-8 game. Not sure how everything will shake out with the bottom three, but the Lakers are 1-7 combined against the Kings and Warriors so tiebreakers do them no favors.

 

Warriors destined for the 9-10 game after loss to Pelicans on Friday. Expect a lot of load management Sunday.

 

I guess this the first year the NBA has done the baseball-like everybody plays at kinda sorta the same time on the final day?