UTDD

Not to equate these two comparisons necessarily, but I pretty much tune out any left-wing source involving the word "Nazi" and any right-wing source involving the word "socialism" right now. If they can't write a compelling narrative/argument without those terms in play, they probably aren't a good enough writer to persuade me. Of course, there is the small chance something involving these things truly would impact me, but given the realities of how I value my own time (especially to spend with family and friends) (and time I have always even when poor considered more valuable than money above the basic ability of money to not be homeless and be fed ok), you have to make decisions that attempt to make your time as efficient as possible.

I hadn't heard this at all. Wow. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/yearinoffbeatgoodnews/university-of-texas-at-austin-promises-free-tuition-to-in-state-students-whose-families-make-less-than-dollar65k-a-year/ar-AAEbXGH?ocid=spartanntp

Holy shit, I barely know her at all except from a Beautiful Mind and Requiem for a Dream and Alita. Nice.

True, but he just needs one of those four listed criteria to occur and the playoffs or 43 wins are fairly rated to me as likely to occur.

Probably just from yesterday's commitment, I think he's all reactive and never proactive.

I would barely lean AD-LeBron a slightly better duo overall but I think the Clippers are stronger top to bottom because the Lakers have so many question marks in terms of health, fit, and rotations. First, I think Rondo and LeBron should barely be on the floor together so that starting 5 to me is not ideal at all. I'd start LeBron at PG, two best small defenders with him (maybe Green and KCP, possibly Cook or Caruso to defend PGs), AD at 4, and McGee at 5. For a closing lineup against the Clippers in the playoffs, maybe Bradley/KCP/Cook, Green, Kuzma, LBJ, Davis at 5. Rondo and Cousins should lead the second unit. Against say the Sixers if they get that far, I might switch a closing lineup to KCP/Green/LBJ/AD/Cousins to match up perhaps with Horford/Embiid. Way too early to know anything though I have no clue how good Bradley is anymore, how well Cook or Caruso can play, etc. If Bradley still can play as an elite defender on 1s and 2s, I think he will play quite a bit. Cook/Caruso/Green all on paper extremely elite catch and shoot guys (very elite actually but volume issue) but sample size isn't huge enough to count on with a few of them. If Cousins is actually closer to the player he was two years ago, maybe at that point you actually tweak things as you can't count on that at all. I like the Clippers depth much better, but their frontline is not ideal and you will see some PG13 at the 4. You are also counting on Shamet a lot and he is quite young and you never know with youth deep in the playoffs when pressure/intensity is way up. Zubac too who I like but very young and can you count on him when it's high stakes pressure as the key big man off the bench. I think the Clippers are correctly the favorite because I think their defense will be suffocating, and I'd peg the Lakers, Sixers, Bucks, Rockets as all pretty good contenders if things break right for them.

Really excited for this season. We've had basically very little parity for a number of seasons now, and Kawhi's move make the Clippers a formidable team and the early favorite, but by no means do I feel they are a near lock like the Warriors the past few years. The Clippers probably need another defensive big man, and they are going to rely heavily on Shamet and Zubac who are both quite young and you never know deep in the playoffs how they will respond to the increased pressure and intensity by savvy veterans taking them on night after night. (I love these two players by the way long-term) The Sixers and Lakers have possibly two very strong frontcourt players each, so there might be some matchup problems there without another good big. Still, I love their team. But I think a few others can play with them and have a chance.

I agree on Gretzky, and also the other poster with Shaq. Those three are up there. Durant is more magnified because he created fake profiles which is really bad optics and of course social media in general greatly exposes you publicly compared to years ago. At least with Durant it doesn't appear his actual play has been impacted on the court. I imagine other athletes are also quite sensitive but are intelligent enough to not let it show to the public at all. They just don't engage and return fire but I bet quite a few feel similar things.

If Miami is enticed, they could perhaps throw together some assets to pair Westbrook with Butler. That's not really a great team, but not sure who else might actually consider the move given the assets on hand/rosters.

Definitely rather have Morris than KCP and I think both are Klutch clients too? I think they probably felt that with Rondo and Cook as two guards (and then Green with his age and injury), that KCP was an insurance policy.

Me too, but I think their lack of playoff success together is probably what soured it the most, they probably thought they were true contenders when it started. (especially PG I would imagine)

Yeah, they had to do it and he's the perfect SG for LeBron/AD on the floor, but it might have been possible to sign him for 13 and KCP for 7 vs 8 and then maybe they have a shot at Marcus Morris at 9M. That probably would have been the perfect scenario given what players were floating out there after whiffing on Kawhi. I really like Cook signing at such a cheap price, I think he is very underrated at that value and he shot over 47% on open catch and shoot 3s and is career overall 42% 3 point shooter. He will get those looks this year more often so whether that volume keeps that efficiency close (anything over 40% is great) remains to be seen. Clippers clear favorite because their other pieces allow great defensive versatility although they might have to worry about AD/Cousins and Embiid/Horford in possible playoff matchups with their current bigs. I think they are a favorite with the Sixers, Bucks, Lakers, and Houston pretty good contenders if healthy.

No, it doesn't matter to me even if a President is doing something I want by executive action, in the long term I don't like a President having broad executive power. This applies to both parties and all future Presidents.

I like Lakers signing Cousins, very good value at that price. I like Green (a little overpay perhaps), Cook (great open/catch shooter from 3), Cousins, and KCP signings. All of them will benefit with AD/LeBron on the floor. Not a huge fan of Dudley signing because of defense, but not terrible at that priced obviously. Rondo is good value but not a good fit with LeBron from everything we saw last year, although it might be a little better with more shooting now. He might be really solid when it counts in the playoffs. Some volatile personalities, things with health and chemistry could definitely go wrong, but with low value contracts, that's what you have to risk. I'd consider starting either Cook or KCP instead of Rondo to start games, and let Rondo dominate the second unit minutes.

Well other than the Clippers yeah I think so.

OKC probably could have gotten Shamet thrown in there as they had some leverage given time pressure on the Clippers. You can't blame the Clippers too much, they have been an irrelevant little brother franchise to the Lakers for so long. Donald Sterling. Losing and losing. The botched CP3/Blake era. They had to go for it just for the value of their franchise alone increasing if I am Ballmer. LA Christmas game seems like a guarantee.

WOW. What an offseason. Next year truly is going to be an interesting season with some clearly strong teams at the top, but I don't think it's completely parity shattering like the past few years with the Warriors. I can't wait to see next year, I also hope they do the LA game for Christmas, that's almost a must I would think.

I think the field might whittle down by the third debates for a more manageable situation for voters to really focus. Candidates will need to be polling at least 2% in four distinct polls after June 28th to I think August 28, 130k donors, and at least 400 donors in 20 states. I think both the polling and number of donors might shut out a decent number of people by late August if their traction does not change.

If somehow down the road Durant spoke out against the organization too in similar ways, that might actually be almost as big a note on their dynasty as their winning ways.

He's a career 40.0% three point shooter, but he's also a career 40.2% overall shooter, so he is really a one trick pony that can't do anything else much. You'd rather he never take a two point shot unless he is at the rim perhaps.

Woah...heh...I'd really have to have coffee with her one time just for the unique experience of it all.

Fair question.

If Trump can win, Biden can win. I will never be deterred by my own common sense again versus the possibilities of American voters when it really counts on Election Day.

Well are you rich or not? I'm not sure what rich means for specific candidates though...

I think Biden is a weak candidate in a lot of ways and he may get clipped before the nomination anyway, but against Trump one on one, I think his weaknesses are less important than his comfort level for certain types of voters in certain age ranges and geographic regions. I think a few other candidates would be good too, but I think certain candidates that are better suited to battle for the nomination now are not necessarily the best for the general. This is considering everything from money to specific state strategies for the electoral college.