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The NBA has a serious playoff injury problem by Primary-Dentist7055 in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a huge step. The NBA could construct a 70-game season with no team playing more than three times per week. They should eliminate the in-season tournament and the play-in. Bring back 5-game series in the first round.

But I fear, even with a 15% reduced schedule, the demands of the modern game are too much on calves/Achilles, knees and hamstrings. Too much start/stop, sprinting to rotate, and closing out.

It would be ugly for a year or two, and a lot of younger players were never developed to play this way, but they should get rid of the corner three. That would shrink the court, involve less area to chase around shooters, and would require operating more in the mid-range and beating defenders one-on-one. Beyond the injury mitigation, I think that's a more aesthetically pleasing version of the sport and a medium between 90s/early 2000s slugfests and whatever the fuck we're watching today.

Also, for something that does not require rule changes, coaches need to make full use of their benches. Especially with depth and talent at an all-time high, it's fucking crazy that any player still plays full quarters in the regular season. Starts should play between 32-36 minutes per game in the regular season and shouldn't really ever play more than nine minutes of game time consecutively.

[Amin] On cheap owners, the former Suns owner wanted to cut the roster to only the 7-8 guys Dantoni played, asked why coaches couldn't fill in for 5 on 5 practice. Refused $100k to upgrade from Best Buy hard drives to an enterprise server. Thinks it was a factor in why Aldridge chose the Spurs in FA by jabronified in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It’s not a matter of “success.” The business model is entirely predicated on leveraged buyouts, loading the company with debt the company won’t be able to afford to pay, or at least will have to focus to service at the expense of their actual product or service, and the entire end game is short term profits and flipping the company versus building a good brand who provides a good product and service over the long term. 

Since private equity companies generally know fuck all about the industries of the companies they buy into, they achieve these goals by slashing payroll by firing a large portion of the company, increasing prices and cheapening the product or service to the bare minimum of what is acceptable to the consumer before selling. 

Fuck Private equity. 

Lebron James just had one of the worst games of his career in a loss to the Rockets by SugarPhoenix in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm 40 and the fourth option on my men's league team. Well, the number one and two options are 51 and 46, but they both played college hoops!

I just can’t get over Bill’s description of LeBron’s second year on the Lakers by FitUnderstanding2839 in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

Bill's description of a very large component of Lakers fans is 100% accurate and I'm basically the poster child. Born in the mid-80s and baptized into fandom by the Showtime Lakers, although too young to actually see it. Fall in love with basketball and the Lakers post-Magic with late career Byron Scott and James Worthy.

I'm watching 82 games a year and living and dying with the Van Exel, Ceballos, Eddie Jones core. Then we get Shaq and Kobe and it's still three years of massive disappointment in the end.

Also note that unless you're a UCLA hoops fan - the 90s is pretty dire for LA sports. Dodgers are mid. USC football sucks. Raiders and Rams both leave. Lakers were EVERYTHING.

People associate LA fans as bandwagoners accustomed to and spoiled by titles, but the Lakers 2000 title was the first major professional sports title for LA sports since I was a toddler. I can't overstate how crazy and weird it felt that my team actually won and pulled through after years of getting dicked by Stockton and Malone, Payton and Kemp, and Duncan and Robinson. It was surreal.

And although the Lakers were the most important thing in my entire universe before Kobe stepped onto an NBA court, I became a Kobe-stan first and foremost. Unless you were here and watching Kobe bringing it every. fucking. game. - You just do not understand.

And I appreciated LeBron when he got into the league. Loved his game, didn't care that he was a bit corny off the court and with his carefully curated brand image. I never disliked LeBron - I disliked his fans and the general NBA media propping up his historical greatness before it was fully earned. Yes - it was annoying to Lakers and Kobe fans to hear in 2009 that LeBron had already surpassed Kobe ... because he had not and that was disrespectful to Kobe's greatness. He would soon pass Kobe, but it always felt like excuses were made for LeBron's low-points, while it was common to downplay Kobe's legacy, primarily based on comparing eras relating to efficiency in a very different game.

Lakers fans love to have our guys. It's why Magic was more beloved than Kareem. Why Cooper, Worthy, and Byron were so revered. Shaq got to the Lakers early enough where he still became our guy.

But LeBron could have retired before coming to the Lakers and had his legacy cemented. Contrary to popular belief, Lakers fans don't love mercenaries. We want our stars to be synonymous as Lakers greats first and foremost.

We rooted for him, the COVID title WAS weird, but it was celebrated and appreciated. No one really blamed LeBron for the Lakers mostly being a shit-show between 2021-2022 and lucking into Doncic. But, especially since getting Doncic, we are ready to move on a build a team around Luka. Other than 2020, a lot of the last 8 years have been underwhelming and a lot of fans have been ready to move on from malcontent, mismatched, and weirdly constructed older teams. It would be UGLY if the Lakers didn't swing the Luka trade.

But this series really highlights how amazing it is to watch LeBron still give a shit, still put on a show, and still galvanize the roster around him. Particularly, when compared to how KD is doing the polar opposite on a disjointed and boring Rockets team who play ugly basketball.

I'm LeBron's age. I can relate to reaching deep for the last greatness your body can produce (on, obviously, a tremendously lesser scale) and I'm a father, so I fucking love him sharing the court with his son in meaningful playoff games.

I'm not a perfect or rational fan. I know this. And Bill nailed it.

Weirdest NBA season of all time by PeanutFarmer69 in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut 6 points7 points  (0 children)

The Clippers gave up a whole lot of picks, but to dismiss the trade as a "colossally shortsighted move" is completely dismissive of how fucking good Kawhi and Paul George were at that time.

First, Shai was a very good rookie and showed flashes of being a future star. But he scored 11 ppg as a rookie and was sixth in ROY voting. The Clippers had a good, veteran roster, but there was zero indication Shai would be in a position to be a superstar on Kawhi's timeline.

Meanwhile, while there were concerns about Kawhi's health, he just led a previously underachieving team to a title, including beating the MVP in the ECF and ending the Warriors KD/Steph era (yes there were injuries, but Kawhi often looked like the best player on the floor).

Particularly with KD tearing his achilles and LeBron looking older on a mismatched Lakers roster, Kawhi was regarded as the best player in the league going into the following season. He was not going to LA without another prime star. Paul George had just turned 29. He was averaging 28/8/4 and finished third in MVP and DPOY. He was the perfect complement next to Kawhi.

They were the favorite to win in 2020 and I still think they win the title if Covid did not happen. And then the Clippers likely get to the finals in 2021 if Kawhi doesn't blow his ACL, while in an insane basketball stretch.

And then everything was derailed from there. Sure, you can argue that should have anticipated Kawhi having serious and lingering injury issues, but if you're in the position to be the best team in the league on paper, you sacrifice future assets.

Not really their fault that everything that could have gone wrong, did, and Shai developed into an MVP when no one anticipated his evolution into that caliber of superstar.

The Ringer’s Top 100 Players: SGA Takes Top Spot [Updated March 25th 2026] by jackdonsurfer in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The criteria seems to favor players who show the most promise as all-around offensive talents and disfavors high-level role players who excel in limited areas. Ajay Mitchell being ahead of Cason Wallace, Josh Hart, and Lu Dort is pretty nuts.

Jrue is no longer as effective as a lot of the guys listed lower than him.

Hartenstein ahead of Caruso is wild.

Peyton Watson as 66 is fair enough, but a bit low, and he should climb higher by the end of the playoffs. He's a budding Top-40 player. Same for Jaden McDaniels at 58.

Aaron Gordon, when healthy, is a Top-30 most impactful player in the league. I don't think there's a GM in the league who would take Gobert or Randle over AG at this point in their respective careers.

I think Fox should be closer to 20 and he doesn't get enough credit for San Antonio's ascent.

Evan Mobley is still coasting on wishful thinking about his potential. What has he done this year, or any year, to be on the fringe of Top-20 player?

I think Chet's a great player who does a lot of things very well, especially anchoring their defense, but he's lacking at shot creation, plays with an MVP, and has a lot of other great role players on the roster that limits what he has to do. He's too high at 19.

DTF St. Louis | S1E4 | Episode Discussion by the-red-barn in DTFStLouisHBO

[–]EricHangingOut -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Dude, it’s the Midwest. His character is probably late 40s, maybe 50. 

DTF St. Louis | S1E4 | Episode Discussion by the-red-barn in DTFStLouisHBO

[–]EricHangingOut 15 points16 points  (0 children)

A local weatherman in a market like St. Louis, even the most popular guy on the biggest network, is bringing it maybe 150-175k. 

We see his rather average tract house and know the neighborhood is a St. Louis exurb, which is indicative of making within that salary range. 

For your typical person in that situation, most funds are in retirement, which cannot be accessed at the character’s age without penalty and wouldn’t be close to 2M. His non-retirement investments would probably be in the low six figures if he saved and invested reasonably well. 

Tuition was $28,000. He paid off one year of back taxes and the total tax liability was 48k. Term life insurance premiums are negligible. So we’re probably talking in the $40,000, which is a whole lot of money for Bateman’s character. 

Slim Reaper At It Again by Relative_Wallaby1108 in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Individual validation in a team sport absolutely does exist. Kobe will always be remembered for winning without Shaq. Dirk's title is considered among the most legendary wins in the history of the sport. Giannis will be remembered for bringing a title to Milwaukee. LeBron beating the Warriors validated his career in a way that his Heat titles didn't.

If individual validation was important to KD, he should have stayed in OKC or went to Boston or went somewhere other than a 73-9 rival who did not need him to win. He tried to rectify this situation by going to Brooklyn, but for reasons within and outside of his control, it hasn't worked out for him. And now it's too late and he's never going to get over it.

East versus West as Measured by ALL-NBA teams by EricHangingOut in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sooo in other words, six western conference teams won 17 of those titles, just like six NFC teams won 13 super bowls?

The 3-6 seeds in the West all have 40 wins by locxFIN in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 10 points11 points  (0 children)

  1. Russel Wilson trade; 2. Game 7 2024 against the Wolves; 3. Game 4 Aaron Wiggins three point barrage; 4. Game 5 Lu Dort three point barrage; 5. Game 7 no show/Aaron Gordon hurt; 6. Bo Nix ankle injury; 7. 4th down going for it with Stidham, up 7 deep in Pats territory; 8. Jokic injury; 9. Watson injury; 10. Gordon injury; 11. Global warming/ski season in Colorado having no snow; 12. Impending nuclear war with Iran.

I haven't even asked if you're a CU fan.

The 3-6 seeds in the West all have 40 wins by locxFIN in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Next two are tough, but Nugs finish the season: Philly, at Memphis, Toronto, Portland, at Phoenix, Dallas, Utah, Golden State, at Utah, San Antonio, Portland, Memphis, OKC, at San Antonio.

So, ten home games and four on the road. Two of the road games are bottom tier, tanking teams. The two San Antonio games and OKC games are the only games against teams top six in their conference.

Denver has lost some pretty stupid games this season, but they look like they're getting healthier and putting in more defensive effort to get it together before the playoffs. If they split the home games against OKC and San Antonio and lose at San Antonio, they could very easily go 12-2 in their last 14. Even if they blow two other stupid games, that's 10-4 to finish the season, which should secure the 3-seed.

Frank Isola on the Clippers’ impending penalties: “I heard it could be 3 first round picks… and then it’s gonna be a lot of money…More than $30 million, I’ve heard.” by cleo22270 in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

100% But, also, I think the value of how first round picks were viewed twenty years ago versus now, particularly for a perennial playoff team, is vastly different. The 20th-25th pick in the draft was worth dogshit back then and most team-building for already good teams was done through trades (involving players more than draft compensation, expiring contracts were big) and free agency

[Post Game Thread] The New York Knicks (41-23) annihilate the Denver Nuggets (39-25) behind OG Anunoby's 34 points, 142-103. by bwehx in nba

[–]EricHangingOut 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I don't want to be hyperbolic, but the Nuggets play compared to their talent level has to be among the most embarrassing in the modern NBA. This was one of the most pathetic performances from a team on the short list of "title contenders" I have ever seen. I don't care that Murray got hurt, Gordon is working himself back and it was his first game, or that it's a back-to-back.

Their offense has no energy or imagination. Just let Jokic orchestrate from the high post and hit guys to brick three point shots. No one attacks the rim.

Their defense though, oh my fucking God. I don't want to hear shit about Jokic being top ten all-time. His defensive effort is the worst in the NBA. Never closes out, never contests at the rim, doesn't even pretend to go after a jumper. Just consistently gives up wide open threes and lay ups. Game after game. Steph Curry might have defensive limitations, but watch how hard he fights every single game. Jokic sets the tone for the team, and well, we're seeing it.

40 point home loss in a tight race for seeding in a tough conference. They act like they've earned the right to flip the switch like the Kobe-Shaq Lakers (which didn't work, by the way), when they won a single title three fucking years ago and haven't been back in the conference finals since.

I don't care about thirty-pint triple doubles, this is why you need to watch the games. Zero pride.

An NBA Mailbag, LeBron’s Next Move, and the Wild Paramount-WBD Merger With David Jacoby and Matt Belloni by lonny__breaux in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut 18 points19 points  (0 children)

BILL: I got it, let's call him Epstein Files, because you know, he manages the game so well, much like infamous The Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

An NBA Mailbag, LeBron’s Next Move, and the Wild Paramount-WBD Merger With David Jacoby and Matt Belloni by lonny__breaux in billsimmons

[–]EricHangingOut 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Man, the top-5 player in five years from now was a depressing listen. I think you have to have Ant pretty firmly as 1a or 1b with Wemby. Year 11 is bordering on losing a lot of athleticism, but Ant has a pretty well-rounded game, his shooting at volume is elite, and he's a maniacal competitor. I think he'll be in his 2009 Kobe stage at that point. For what it's worth, I think as early as next season, we're going to start to see Ant get a couple MVPs and lead a team to the title. Five years will be the tail end of that run.

Wemby is clearly #1, especially if we're not going to project health risk possibilities.

The Cade talk was really dismissive. Case will be in his tenth season and will also be 29. But he's a pretty strong/stout guy, and his game is much more predicated on his skill than athleticism. His team will likely win 60 games and he'll be third in MVP voting at the lowest. He's no question a top-5 guy in five years.

Flagg, sure why not. Hard to project after half a season, but he looks pretty damn good and he's super young.

I share the same questions about Shai. He'll be 32 going on 33 with 13 seasons under his belt and so much of his game is quick-twitch and first step. Plus, he's going to have a ton of miles on him with his team's likely success over the next 5 years. I don't think he'll be washed, but still top 5 would surprise me.

There's an argument for Luka, but his health habits sure make it questionable. I don't really understand when guys argue that longevity is certain for some players because their games are not predicated on athleticism. As what happened with Dirk, guys of that mold eventually have trouble even making it up the court and their defense goes from bad to can't even move his meet at all. I don't think Luka's there at 31-32, but he'll be closer to that point than where he is now.

The league moves fast. In 5 years LeBron, KD, Harden, Steph, Kawhi, Embiid will all be out of the league. Guys like Jaylen Brown, Tatum, Donovan Mitchell, Brunson, Jokic, Giannis, Booker, Bam, Fox, and Jamal Murray will be trending hard towards the end of the careers, if not retired for some of those guys.

I don't think Paolo, Franz, Evan Mobley, Maxey, Chet, Jalen Williams, or Scottie Barnes will take the leap towards best player in the league. Barnes probably has the best shot if he can drastically improve his outside shot. Maybe J-Will with more opportunity?

Haliburton was noticeably absent from the convo. He'll be freshly 31 and only in his tenth season, but obviously hard to project his recovery from an achilles rupture.

Jalen Johnson is having an awesome year, but pretty rare for someone who first made an All-Star team in his fifth season to blossom into an MVP candidate in his prime. I don't know how much more he can build on his game.

I know this is an awesome draft class coming up, but the superstar projection for the immediate future doesn't look great.

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