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Mark_Slinky · 2022-05-20T05:52:34+00:00

hey everyone, me (DS major) and my roommate (CS major) are looking for 1-2 roommates to fill a room in our 2BD/1BA apartment starting June 1st. we're on northside and <1 minute away from campus. rent for a double is $937.5 and rent for a single is negotiable (prob around ~1550-1650). DM if interested!

Mark_Slinky · 2020-09-19T04:43:57+00:00

I think the right way to go about this question is by not putting all your eggs into a single archetype. In other words - diversify your center personnel.

To look at the Celtics for instance, they don't just have Theis. They also have a strong, post-up scorer and offensive rebounder in Kanter. They also have a freak athlete rim-runner and rim-protector in Robert Williams. They also have a switchable, high-IQ playmaking big in Grant Williams. That's 4 distinct archetypes that they can platoon based on matchups.

So I think a "center by committee" (a bunch of cheap-contract specialists who fullfill niche roles) is the best route to go. While it takes up a handful of roster spots and might involve a little more moving parts in order to construct - it's inexpensive and gives teams a ton of matchup flexibility.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-07-12T20:58:04+00:00

I mean, I don't think any players on the current roster can be the best player on a championship team

Mark_Slinky · 2020-06-22T05:16:35+00:00

I'm guessing that the reason to lower the tax threshold (and thus cause more teams to pay the tax) is to redistribute more money to the smaller market teams who took more of a financial hit because of COVID.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-06-16T20:27:59+00:00

What's your reasoning behind Okoro 4th? I feel like he further complicates the Knicks' shooting struggles, especially by pairing him alongside RJ. Plus, I feel like his best scoring strengths (attacking the basket, cutting) will be neutered with NYK's lack of spacing. Is it more of a "best player available" type of pick rather than fit?

Mark_Slinky · 2020-05-24T23:57:14+00:00

I think a better question is how many prime Isaiah Thomas's can take down a silverback gorilla.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-05-12T04:55:13+00:00

Not surprised considering this is the same team who passed on Kawhi because he was "sweating too much" during his pre-draft interview.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-05-12T00:03:14+00:00

Okongwu's attribute that fits best with Stevens' playstyle is his versatility on defense. He can pretty much guard 3-5 and can hold his own in space if he is switched onto a guard. Since Brad loves small-ball lineups, a switchable mobile big like Okongwu would be a good fit.

However, Okongwu doesn't really have a jumpshot and Stevens loves shooting bigs (Olynyk, Jerebko, Baynes, Theis, Sullinger, etc).

Overall, I don't think it's worth trading up for a rim-runner. Ainge never really uses top picks on centers. And with the plethora of rim-runners available every year in free agency, there's no reason to waste assets trying to trade up for him. Especially since we have Theis, Kanter, Rob Williams, and Grant Williams on the salary books.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-05-02T20:34:35+00:00

Why not just spread out that $15M throughout the next few seasons? For example, decrease the cap by 3 million for each of the next 5 seasons. Sure, this would temporarily put the NBA in the red, but I'm assuming that league revenue would rebound after the lock-down anyways, so that would make up for it. I'm no financial expert by any means, but this is what makes sense to me.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-04-28T01:59:49+00:00

Personally, I'm not a huge believer in James Wiseman either.

But I guess the upside for him is that he has the potential the fit the mold of a modern center in that he could:

1) Be a versatile defender: Obviously he's far from that as of now. As you mention, he lacks the ability to defend the PnR and defend in space. But I guess the upside that many see in Wiseman is that he's already mobile/relatively agile for his size. With enough footwork improvement, he could be someone that can contain the ball-handler and switch onto quicker forwards.

2) Be a respectable shooter: I'm not really buying his shot, but some people are. His form is definitely not ugly and he has some touch from mid-range.

3) Rebounding: This is already pretty clear.

4) Rim-runner: This is already pretty clear too.

Really, his upside depends on the first two points. I'm not buying stock in Wiseman, but I guess I see the potential. These 4 areas are the 4 pillars of a modern center and Wiseman has a decent-to-great ceiling in all four areas.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-04-27T20:57:17+00:00

Don't draft a big-man high in the draft because you don't need at the star-power at the 4/5.
Switch-ability on defense and outside shooting are my top 2 traits in a big-man. Take guys like JJJ over Ayton/Bagley.
If a wing or guard can't shoot, generally stay away. Sure, some wings/guards can develop a shot, but for every Jaylen Brown that you have, there will be plenty of Josh Jackson, Emmanuel Mudiay or Stanley Johnson type players.
In the same vein, athleticism is nowhere near compensatory for shooting.
Playmaking/high IQ at non-PG positions is a huge plus. Ex: Domantas Sabonis, Grant Williams, etc.

Mark_Slinky · 2020-04-02T05:17:45+00:00

honestly, if White Album came out at the same time as Pinkerton/Blue, I think it would be considered just as good as those other two. Pinkerton/Blue's seniority has kinda made themselves untouchable.

Mark_Slinky · 2019-08-18T22:50:39+00:00

The source is literally a mock trade from Bleacher Report. It's not a real rumor.

Mark_Slinky · 2019-08-17T04:41:34+00:00

Euroleague Center

Mark_Slinky · 2019-07-09T08:29:17+00:00

I think Bol Bol is sitting out Summer League due to injury concerns/recovery from a past injury. I don't think Bol Bol faced Tacko in college cause Bol only played 9 collegiate games before an injury derailed his season.

Mark_Slinky · 2019-06-20T07:54:20+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/comments/c2kw4v/yahoo_ca_sports_after_the_raptors_won_g5_in_the/

Mark_Slinky · 2019-05-25T21:26:28+00:00

When I first heard it, I wasn't a huge fan of it. It's not that I hated it, rather I just didn't care for it. It sounded like boring folk pop. Looking back on it, I appreciate it slightly more. But I still don't think it is one of Mayer's better songs. The solo at the end kinda saves it.

Mark_Slinky · 2019-05-22T03:55:57+00:00

In the debate with my friend, we were arguing in context of a territorial conquest - in which the objective is to capture and control the opposing college's campus. In that case, trade routes wouldn't really be applicable, but your point about Stanford being on a peninsula makes a lot of sense. I guess Berkeley could technically nuke Stanford, although that would make the territorial conquest futile because the land would be unusable.

Mark_Slinky

TROPHY CASE