SilasCoade

Simmons's value to the Sixers is at best nil and at worse significantly negative right now. They should dump him for a can of Pringles at this point.

I was not pumping Smart for the all star game, but black hole is way too harsh.

Smart is a black hole?

Too oft, you say?

nah, fuck yo fireworks

No he wasn't. He was the leading scorer in pool play. He didn't play well in the finals phase but I wouldn't say he was as bad as he's been this year for the Blazers. Edit: just looked up his numbers and they were worse than I remembered. He was basically the worst player in the team statistically over the last six games. I do wonder how much and when that abdominal injury affected him.

Dame played fairly well in the Olympics so I hesitate to believe he's washed. I think it's a combination of the new ball, less rest due to Olympics, and crummy environment with the coaching change and lack of roster upgrade causing frustration. I also suspect he has played fewer games alongside CJ this year than in years past, so there is no other threat to take the focus off him. I can only think of a few teams for whom Dame has real value this season. Most prominently the Lakers, Clippers, Sixers would probably all be better with him on the roster. I'm not sure what they have to offer would interest the Blazers, though. If Portland wanted Simmons that deal could have been done long ago, so I can't imagine that scenario playing out now. Dame could potentially elevate Chicago to real contender status but not sure they want to mess with their chemistry or have the pieces Portland would want. Denver might swing for the fences to avoid wasting a year of Jokic, sending some package of Bol Bol, MPJ, and picks for Dame, but that would probably be short sighted.

DL coach and run game coordinator? I don't think I've heard of defensive coaching staffs being broken up into run and pass game coordinators before. Is that a thing?

I don't think it's fair to compare him to Rudy Gay just yet.

I think 6 years with no notice is implicit approval.

Mobley's floor appears to be Bam Adebayo.

Too bad the Mavs scooped up IT. 😁

that sucks.

Healthy Nets with Kyrie, the Harden of the last few games, and the improbably resurrected LMA have to be the favorites against anybody. Their bench is largely trash. I like Nash a lot but not sure he gives them a coaching edge at this point. After that the Ws are the clear number two suspect. Draymond and Steph having throwback years, excellent buy-in from young guys and bench players, and two potential force-multipliers in Klay and Wiseman still waiting to debut all adds up to a championship-caliber squad. I just don't see anyone overcoming the potential offensive firepower the Nets could bring to bear when healthy and whole. Would be a fun series though. The Suns are a threat. The Bucks are a threat. The Bulls and the Heat could be dark horse candidates, maybe throw in the Jazz. The Nuggets are basically a one man show, and their record is impressive given that, but no way that's sustainable through the playoffs.

Not just tonight. His box scores have been good for two weeks -- 16/30 FG and 5/8 3P over that time in limited minutes. I just don't have the context to really judge how good a job the numbers do of describing his value.

I haven't been watching many games recently. Is Landale really a gem or is it just garbage time stat inflation?

I listed those coaches I thought realistically might have taken VY in the draft that year, albeit the Saints is a stretch having signed Brees. I don't think Baltimore was taking a QB that year but otherwise, definitely agree with you. I agree with the alcohol issue as well, but again I would go back to how much of that was influenced by the situation. Had the coaching staff been supportive and positive would things have been different? I don't know but I think it might have been.

These two are not independent. A petty worthless shithead coach can make an environment in which it is difficult to grow and develop. You ever had a petty manager who looked to undermine you, magnify your weaknesses, minimize your strengths, vilify your failures, and take credit for your successes? Did you get better professionally in that environment? If you did did you improve professionally on the same trajectory that VY did? While VY is not blameless for his professional career flameout, the bulk of the responsibility is on those in power over his career. Had VY played for Sean Payton, Gary Kubiag, or, fuck, even Dennis Green instead of Fisher I think you'd see a vastly different narrative.

Sucks for Playoff P. Really will be interesting if OKC is ever able to get their shit together beyond hoarding assets.

I feel like I missed a lot.

Smfh

Every single time the Pacers were on TV my dad was guaranteed to make a "Dutch boy in the paint!" remark. It's the only thing I can remember about Rik Smits though.

Statistically he's only marginally better than Sam Perkins as a shooter and Sam played in an era where a big man shooting from deep was a true oddity.

Boston would have been fine if Kyrie hadn't torpedoed them. Kyrie + Tatum + Brown + Smart would have been scary over the 2-3 years.