BurdineBandit

I agree with all of that, but my gut just tells me this is the most likely outcome. I am satisfied with Boxing this year for putting this together, Haney vs. Lomachenko, and hopefully putting together Crawford/Spence.

What round we got Tank finishing this fight in? I'm an unabashed Mexican fight fan, and as a Mexican-American, been waiting for the next Golden Boy to come through for a while now, but I'm not convinced Ryan is that guy. Watching the Showtime All-Access and I just feel more and more like Ryan is a big kid looking up to the lights hoping to be part of the show. Tank laughs at the guys he's knocked out, he has that instinct about him. Ryan gives me "If I try my hardest and do my best I just know I can do it" vibes.

This was year 4 of not making the playoffs. 5 years ago we lost in the first round with a team led by DeMar DeRozan and a 33 year old LaMarcus Aldridge. I think Pop did fine with what the GM gave him to work with that year. 4 years without playoffs is about right for the talent we have. We got stuck for a few years in no-man's land, with mid-to-low 1st-round picks and no real star to build around. This year the franchise was 100% in on the tank from top to bottom. So really Pop can (possibly) be put to blame for 3 years of playoff-less basketball....... but if you want to make the argument that he's at fault for the performance of this young team without A-level talent, go for it. But be sure to name someone who can take a team without a Giannis, Tatum/Brown, Ja Morant, Jokic, Embiid/Harden, Booker/Durant, etc. to a Top 4 seed. Only the Kings have come close, but they also have 3 top-10 picks on their roster. We need that type of talent first. TLDR: Pop don't need to go anywhere. Blaming him is silly.

Any Natalia fans? I completely missed that she released an album at the end of 2022. I honestly don't speak as much spanish as I'd like to understand every song without having to translate a lot of it, but damn she makes beautiful music. Makes me feel like I'm listening to art and poetry at the same time.

"His leg is compromised!" is typical Rogan BS. Something he has to say every time he sees a few leg kicks in a fight. We were laughing about it during the main event, because apparently it makes the fight sound more interesting from his perspective, but 95% of the time, those leg kicks are nullified by a much more dangerous thing that fighters do in the ring (KTFO, submission, etc.). But the quote would definitely have a spot on the Rogan drinking bingo card game, aside "He's HURT!" or "Bing!"

I had fun at the game Saturday until we went down by 25+ and I split. Honestly I didn't realize it was already the 2nd to last game of the season, I usually just check the box scores, see who did well and how the young guys are doing. It hit me pretty quick that the game meant less than nothing as I watched Pop just stand there with his hands in his pockets as the Wolves scored 80 in the first half. Moody was fun though.

Excited for the card tonight, it's pretty damn stacked. Yanez from Houston taking a strong step up. Masvidal either proves he's still in the mix or gets retired. I like Burns, he does a bit of everything well. If I had to bet, I think Izzy wins it this time around, but that's just based on odds that he can stay away from a big shot.

Sold overnight, hook em

Live close enough to walk to the stadium, I'm good.

SOLD The new game time (2:30 pm) messed up our plans to catch an early game before the Spurs at 3. Can't make it. Section 103, Row 1, Seats 5 and 6. Paid $44 for them, just trying to get my money back. They're on StubHub but I'll take this post down if they sell. Sec 103, Row 1, Seats 5/6.

Offseason truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Kitan Crawford is trending yet again, all is right in the world. In the past it's been because he's an athletic freak. This time it's because he talks on the field. It's like having another headset on the field. Not necessarily a coach, just that you can hear him on the field a lot. He's loud and says words! Wake me up when he supplants Thompson/Catalon or Watts, Brooks, Holmes or Barron.

Agreed that the portal can make a difference, but after this year's crop of 5-stars, imo, didn't really move the needle on this year's team much, I'm not expecting next years' batch to be much more. Morris and Mitchell were definitely players, but they weren't difference-makers really at any point of the season. Maybe these new guys are way more polished and will be ready to contribute heavy minutes in Big 12 play in December/January..... but I'm not expecting it. I'm just hoping. Maybe my expectations for the portal are too low as well, but it doesn't seem likely to bring in guys every year like Disu, Rice and Hunter. Guys who won conference superlatives and weren't just brought in to contribute, but to contribute tons of minutes. If our NIL is really that strong that we can bring in some all-conference type guys, guys who led a conference in rebounding, etc, every single year, then maybe we will literally never have a reloading year. But I'll have to see it first.

Seems like we got the guy who makes the most sense, and it just so happens that he also has a good story that we can feel good about as CDC signs the contract. I'm skeptical, but realize he'll need two years to really be judged. Not expecting much next year. I do temper my optimism when people mention how much the team rallied "around" him after Beard got canned. The team was full of seniors and guys that had played a LOT of basketball. They knew this was their best shot after years of D1 experience to actually make a run. They rallied around each other just as much as they did him. I remember watching the interviews after Beard's arrest and hearing Carr and Allen talk about being leaders and just keeping the momentum going. . I enjoyed seeing their experience shine through in games like Penn State, where they saw some adversity and just kept pounding the rock until it broke.... that's veteran ball, and imo had as much to do with experience and having been in many of these situations before, as much as it had to do with Terry. Time will tell whether he can coach a team that has a bigger mix of experience vs inexperience. I hope he can.

Just finished the season last night. Very intriguing ride! Gave it a solid 7.5/10. I'll be waiting for Season 2, but something about how they ended the season has me worried about a Westworld-style path forward. We got a few answers and moved the story forward, but Lumon's work is still so shady, it makes me wonder what we really know about what they've already accomplished, what we really know about the chip, about the outside world and what technology has already advanced, etc. Here's to hoping they don't lose me after season 2 like Westworld did.

Yep this argument that "even the Miami player thought he fouled out" is nothing. He thought he fouled out because he was looking directly at the ref who called it on him originally, not because he thought he committed a foul.

If I'm being real about the 2nd half performance, I gotta acknowledge that they seemed to purposefully slow the offense down when we went up double digits. Then the whistles started, then any semblance of a flow that we had on offense faded away. We didn't have the legs to push. Then Carr got hurt and he had no explosion. During their run they had at least 3 fast breaks that they didn't get all first half because we were hustling on defense. All of a sudden they started getting 4 on 3 fast breaks because our guys blinked first. We played like dawgs............. Til we didn't. Frustrating as shit. As talented a team as we've had in a long time, and it's not like we need a reminder how often we get a Top 2 seed and a shot at the final four.

The fouls and free throws are the story of the game. 27/30 at the line. Why are the announcers acting like this isn't the story. We were in control then the whistles started and the game became a completely different affair.

It seemed very close to getting there a few minutes of game time ago. There's been a few stops in action since then, but they were huffing and puffing out there. Thought we might have them on the ropes. Credit to them, they're good. But I love how this team fights to win the end of the first half every game. We turn tf up under 2 minutes.

That ref said there will be none of that MALARKEY on his watch!!

Impressive from Benavidez. He really seemed too strong and big for Plant. Much worse beat down than what Canelo gave Plant, can't believe he survived without a knockdown. Benavidez obviously the #2 guy in the division now, but as a Canelo fan I'd be nervous to see Canelo face David. He's too big and strong, he really should be fighting Bivol. I assume the only reason he makes 168 is because he's only 26.

Oh, and coming back to this thread to say F that bulldog face lookin ass dude that Disu was eating up all night. Hit a couple threes and the camera wouldn't stop showing his bulldog-face lookin ass dad. Why were they on him so much? I didn't have audio last night so idk if he was an ex NBA player or somethin, but that dude wasn't even the star of the team and I kept having to see his dad talkin shit in the stands. Really wish they would've shown him more when Disu was eating his son's lazy ass post defense up.

I'm ok with it too. Rice, Disu, Carr all had wide open looks at 3 that missed last night. Brock had an open look. They just weren't falling. We can bet that wide open shots won't be missing like they were last night for long.

Heading to Empire Control Room for some Latin-tinged music this afternoon (psychedlic "Divino Nino" at 2:30 then I'll check out whoever is after), then try to walk over and catch The Osees at Volstead/Vegas at 6. A bit worried about lines for both shows though. We'll see. Staying after for the Cumbia showcase at Hotel Vegas. I'm usually in the latin acts or general rock acts shows. I will say The Stacks sound pretty good. Might have to drive down to Sagebrush tomorrow and catch their last show.

anybody got a good stream site? nothing to be found so far.

Nope, was wearing my Astros today