NBA (and Raptors) 2024 Season

[Kasi]

At 30-13 Bucks just fired their coach. I’m guessing players just didn’t want to play for him anymore. I mean sure their defence had some issues, but you traded Jrue for Lillard that was expected.

[Strange Brew]

Bucks aren’t messing around.

[bluejays]

When he was a Raptors assistant he was apparently a bit of a sleaze (can’t remember the story). I imagine there’s some immaturity there.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by bluejays

When he was a Raptors assistant he was apparently a bit of a sleaze (can’t remember the story). I imagine there’s some immaturity there.

There were some domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife, but his children contradicted those accounts quite strongly and made the wife out to be purely vindictive.

But yeah, this is a weird one. It is strange to hire a rookie HC unless you are prepared to be patient through the season, especially if the wins are still there. I didn't think it was ridiculous, for example, that they tried out the Giannis + Lillard P&R, found it to be very effective, and then went away from it because he apparently didn't want to overuse it and have teams adapt. That was a classic Nurse thing too... not overusing the most effective schemes in the regular season (especially on defense).

As much as Doc Rivers is mocked for his frequent playoff collapses and near-collapses, he knows how to manage strong player personalities, get buy-in, be tough with guys when he needs to. In the short-term, he'll be great for smoothing out whatever is going on in that lockerroom, and then they can hope that the high skill level can carry the team over the top against better-coached playoff teams. And yeah, like in Philly he'd maybe throw players under the bus to save his own skin if it gets to that point as well, but at this point, this has to be the guy they're going to go with to ride out the last years of this particular core (not including Giannis who is young enough still that you could retool the rest of the core around him in a few years, although they'll have a hard time with the assets they have).

[Senator Clay Davis]

Two guys (Luka and Embiid) at 70+ and two guys (Booker and KAT) at 60+ in five days. Defense in 2024 NBA, not so much.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Imagine being KAT and Booker and scoring 60+ and losing.

[Hockey_Ninja]

73 for Luka. It wasn’t even a stat padding situation either. The Mavs needed those 73 points to pull out the win. Crazy

[Senator Clay Davis]

Hawks are cowards though, he had 66 with 10 minutes left and they started triple teaming him. Take the 85 spot he was gonna drop on you like a man.

[bluejays]

I didn't watch the Luka game but to do it against competition is ridiculous. I remember watching the Bryant 81 against the Raps and it was a farce. The Raps may as well have passed him the ball they were that enamored with letting their idol score each time just so they could have a story to tell. That was a bizarre game where any defence was thrown out the window. This appeared to be the opposite which makes it super impressive.

[Strange Brew]

I would love to see one of these 70+ point games in person (as long as it wasn't against my team).

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

Defense in 2024 NBA, not so much.

Domantis Sabonis averages 20.0 points per game this season and ranks 49th in the league. Feels like only a few years ago, there were maybe 20 players in the league averaging 20 ... just absurd.

[bluejays]

Originally Posted by devo22

Domantis Sabonis averages 20.0 points per game this season and ranks 49th in the league. Feels like only a few years ago, there were maybe 20 players in the league averaging 20 ... just absurd.

Yeah. That goes hand in hand with reffing and the league is hellbent on storylines through reffing. It’s swung completely the other way from the 90s. Time to get rid of the petty foul calls and play more rough.

[dammage79]

Honest question. Is Jokic just the best player and he's getting fat while doing so? I swear he's slapped on a few whoppers worth of spare tire this year.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1755615780115267771

[Wastedyouth]

I mean, I guess?

[Cheese]

Should I be excited about that? Isnt Kelly ready to retire? Is Ochai worth a first and Porter?

[Senator Clay Davis]

On the surface a pretty bizarre trade, but I guess they must really like Agbaji and/or hate this draft.

[bluejays]

Yeah. Colour me perplexed on this one. Masai f’ed up royally by trying to go further last year. Does this mean they’re trying to trade Poeltl? Just seems so random that Olynuk gets acquired when they’re trying to get younger.

[The Big Chill]

Olynyk is an expiring contract, and fills a need for now. So really just a late first for the other guy who I know nothing about.

[mile]

IIRC Olynyk has always wanted to play for the Raptors so I can see him staying here past his contract. He would be a good backup big behind Poeltl, which I don't mind especially since Koloko's health and playing future is uncertain right now.

This team is going to be bad, so adding another vet who wants to be here and can teach the kids how to be professional is a plus.

It's the worst 2024 1st out of the OKC/Clippers/Rockets/Jazz picks that are being moved, which I like. Sounds like Jazz fans are going to miss Agbaji - a very good defender who is still developing his offensive game. The defensive effort has been horrid recently so hopefully he can help out there and relieve some pressure off Scottie.