***Official 2021-2022 NBA Thread***

[Pitt Gorilla]

Season tips off tonight! LET'S GOOOOO!!!!

[Gary Cooper]

The Lakers won a title during the bubble. That's already a big accomplishment. They were never winning more with aging Lebron and brokedick Davis. Especially in a tougher Western Conference.

Plus, unlike other bottom-feeders, they'll be fine. Because they're in Los Angeles, free agents will be drawn to that organization. Heck, even the Clippers are drawing free agents and that was always considered Siberia despite being in Los Angeles. Other markets aren't so lucky.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

LeBron's phone probably ran out of battery or something.

Vogel is a fine coach. Not a great one, but he's adequate. Most of the complaints centered around his rotations, etc... are the same thing you hear tossed out there for EVERY coach that is losing game and have little novelty or basis in reality.

Bottom line is that LeBron insisted on a squad that simply was not going to win games regardless of who coached it. He cut Vogel's throat.

But whatever - he's pretty fungible. They'll find someone mediocre or better to replace him. I won't cry over spilt re-treads.

But this team is in a world of hurt for the next several years.

It still blows my mind that anyone thought Russell Westbrook was a good idea. This is why you don't let players be the GM - they're kinda stupid.

Hield made so much sense for that team. I still don't get it.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

https://theathletic.com/3243084/2022...shared_article

Nurse, who led the Raptors to a championship in 2019, signed a multiyear contract extension in 2020 and has two years left on his deal. It’s unclear whether he will be attainable or whether he would have interest, but the Lakers are hoping the former Coach of the Year is an option with the allure of coaching James and Davis and the appeal of the Los Angeles market. To acquire Nurse, the Lakers would need to receive permission from the Raptors and likely engage them on a prospective trade. Over the next several weeks, expect several other candidates to emerge, including University of Michigan coach Juwan Howard, who interviewed for the opening in 2019.

What Nurse (UNI Alum) is doing THIS year in Toronto is amazing. "Wait, most of our good players are power forwards?!? Seriously, in this day and age? Ok, we'll make it work."

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

Yeah the bottom end of the west playoffs looks rough. Amazing the Lakers can't beat that.

I know they'll do the trade every time because championship but it's amazing that NO, the ****fest they've been since Chris Paul, beat out the Lakers for the 10 seed.

Wolves, somehow again, get hosed when they actually make the playoffs. ****ing 7 seed.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

Wolves, somehow again, get hosed when they actually make the playoffs. ****ing 7 seed.

One game separating Wolves from the 6 seed.

Like ****ing 10 games or something separating them from the 8 seed.

8 teams was already too much. The NBA is seriously cool with like a 25-win team getting lucky and going to the playoffs?

The play in is ****ing stupid

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Hong Kong LeBron should go play in China.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by RealSNR

One game separating Wolves from the 6 seed.

Like ****ing 10 games or something separating them from the 8 seed.

8 teams was already too much. The NBA is seriously cool with like a 25-win team getting lucky and going to the playoffs?

The play in is ****ing stupid

Eh. Isn't it something like only 10 times a 7 or 8 even advanced past the first round since they expanded? It's kind of amusing to watch these bumpkin teams fight for the right to get their shit pushed in by the top seeds.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Miles

The finger pointing this summer should be entertaining. How long until Lebron and Klutch try to throw management under the bus and distance themselves from getting Westbrook in the first place?

It's already started. I listened to the Bill Simmons Podcast that was released on Sunday, and Simmons said (I think it was) Klutch put out a statement that said Westbrook misled () LeBron about the way he would play.

Of course Simmons and Russillo roasted LeBron - like Westbrook is EVER going to change anything about the way he plays.

But yeah. About 10 minutes after the last game.

[POND_OF_RED]

Originally Posted by Carr4MVP

Hong Kong LeBron should go play in China.

It is crazy to think about how long he’s been in the league now. Especially when you realize he played his first NBA game the same year the Raiders won their last playoff game. Are you blaming him for the Raiders complete ineptitude or something?

[MarkDavis'Haircut]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

It is crazy to think about how long he’s been in the league now. Especially when you realize he played his first NBA game the same year the Raiders won their last playoff game. Are you blaming him for the Raiders complete ineptitude or something?

I blame everyone and everything.

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

It's already started. I listened to the Bill Simmons Podcast that was released on Sunday, and Simmons said (I think it was) Klutch put out a statement that said Westbrook misled () LeBron about the way he would play.

Of course Simmons and Russillo roasted LeBron - like Westbrook is EVER going to change anything about the way he plays.

But yeah. About 10 minutes after the last game.

It isn't even about the way Westbrook plays (although that doesn't help). Westbrook was absolutely terrible last year and was showing signs of steep decline in his game when they traded for him.

It was a ridiculous trade.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by Buehler445

It's already started. I listened to the Bill Simmons Podcast that was released on Sunday, and Simmons said (I think it was) Klutch put out a statement that said Westbrook misled () LeBron about the way he would play.

Of course Simmons and Russillo roasted LeBron - like Westbrook is EVER going to change anything about the way he plays.

But yeah. About 10 minutes after the last game.

Didn’t realize it had already started.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

It isn't even about the way Westbrook plays (although that doesn't help). Westbrook was absolutely terrible last year and was showing signs of steep decline in his game when they traded for him.

It was a ridiculous trade.

Even if he was in his prime, it was still a terrible trade, just by the way he played. They needed about 8 3 and D guys to go with LeBron and whatever the **** happened to Davis.

What they got was a guy teams were daring to shoot 3's and is every bit as ball dominant as Hardin.

And all that is before he's been in massive decline since what - 2017?

That might be in the discussion for worst trade of all time.

[Buehler445]

Originally Posted by Miles

Didn’t realize it had already started.

If they let a news vacuum develop, a narrative might form. And we can't have that.

[Miles]

Originally Posted by KC_Connection

It isn't even about the way Westbrook plays (although that doesn't help). Westbrook was absolutely terrible last year and was showing signs of steep decline in his game when they traded for him.

It was a ridiculous trade.

Yep. I’m not sure there is really much left if he were to finally change how he plays. To no surprise to anyone his athleticism hid a lot.