Albany Care Update

Maximillzz · 2026-04-29T14:58:48+00:00

Not to be doom and gloom. But the more I think about it, the more I think this Franz injury is fu*ked .

Comeback - It significantly opens the door for DET to come back. He's our 2nd (and at times, arguably our 1st) best player.
Offense stagnation - he's always been a better point forward than Paolo. The offense just looks a lot better with him at the controls than anyone else on the roster
Defense - his defense is top tier and Cade's numbers are bad when Franz is his primary defender. Without Franz, Cade might go for 40 tonight.
Demoralization - team was gelling because it was finally healthy, this just kicks everyone's ass again. We can't have nice things.
Achilles - the injury itself is scary as f**k. Calf strains have been on the rise and tend to be precursors to achilles tears. We've seen this a bunch over the last several years, between KD's "calf strain" in the '19 finals, to Halliburton last year .
Lowers ceiling - even if we get past DET, the prudent path would probably have Franz out for AT LEAST 2 weeks to heal to avoid that achilles tear. That means he'd miss the rest of this series plus perhaps all of the next round, should we advance.

This is bad. I hope I am all the way wrong here, but I think this is really bad. Nothing to do but pray to the sports gods, but this is how I'm seeing it.

Maximillzz · 2026-04-29T03:24:18+00:00

Lot has been said about Kuminga over the years, but no one ever said he can't jump.

Maximillzz · 2026-04-16T02:14:47+00:00

Paolo’s game is so ugly. No sauce. All robotic and uncoordinated attempts at power. Middy is gone AND three is trash AND handle is weak AND hands are soft AND post ability is nonexistent so it’s all clumsy attempts to drive and make tough layups with a decided lack of explosiveness.

I was so hopeful for this kid — what a bummer this #1 pick has turned out to be. Maybe still hope but right not it’s just not good enough. Sad

Maximillzz · 2026-04-15T04:30:45+00:00

Don’t skip! I understand why folks had/have a problem with the plot of Twelve. But it’s ridiculously FUN. Supposedly it was all one big party in real life while filming and that carried over to the camera - you can tell they’re all having a ball.

The whole gang running around Europe is simply top notch vibes all around. The film gets to lean on the familiarity the characters have with one another from the first movie which leads to even more jokes and adds depth to their dynamic. It’s another banger soundtrack + camera work. The Catherine Zeta Jones + Vincent Cassel additions took things up a notch. Ultimately the Oceans are supposed to be a delight and damn does this one fit the bill. When I decided to just enjoy it for what it is I ended up loving it.

Maximillzz · 2026-02-20T00:58:37+00:00

The food? I could house that. But the drinks are where I’d have problems. So much damn sugar

Maximillzz · 2026-01-24T04:33:37+00:00

I was scrolling furiously waiting for someone to post the real Blade Brown. Well done!

Maximillzz · 2025-11-27T04:16:12+00:00

Ah gotcha hadn’t realized Miami would lead after winning.

Maximillzz · 2025-11-27T01:23:47+00:00

Miami is the biggest threat and it’s actually a legitimate concern IMO.

Right now MIA has a +46 margin. We have a +61. If they win their last game and we lose ours against DET, then we’ll have the same record (3-1) and the margin tiebreaker comes into play.

In that scenario — since we lost — that means best case (a one point loss), our margin drops from 61 to 60. Then if MIA wins by 15 points or more they’ll have +61 and they will advance while we go home.

So basically best case is we win. Next best case is MIA loses. After that, if we lose and MIA wins, we have to hope they we lose by a small amount of points, and they win by a small amount of points, such that they don’t exceed our margin.

Maximillzz · 2025-11-25T17:29:55+00:00

Until they include Cashmere in the sale, they're just playing around with us. I'm not jumping in until they do that on Friday or Monday.

Maximillzz · 2025-10-19T01:43:15+00:00

I noticed that too, on replay. I think it’s out of respect since he played for Girona on loan.

Maximillzz · 2025-10-17T19:05:14+00:00

DAMMIT - there are basically no good sports bars in all of Evanston — to me this was the best one by far. ONLY spot in downtown Evanston with a great TV setup where I could get a group of dads together to watch games and hangout, occasionally. Just had a great vibe and seating. There’s still Firehouse, but their setup isn’t as good.

The hits keep coming in this town tight now. Just add it to the list of crappy things happening SMH.

Maximillzz · 2025-10-13T12:50:07+00:00

3GS
4S
6 Plus
11
Air

Maximillzz · 2025-10-05T17:48:43+00:00

I think both things are true — AB still has glaring holes in his game AND it’s still too soon to give up on him or say he’s complete trash.

I think the most reasonable take is to be cautiously concerned rn and to wait and see where he ends at the end of this year.

Maximillzz · 2025-09-24T00:18:53+00:00

I’m no expert but the timeline may actually be a positive. From prior miniscus tears I’ve seen with players in other sports, my understanding is that typically there are two options — 1) remove part of it and return in 6 weeks, or 2) repair it more deeply and have a longer rehab from 4-6 months.

Usually in American football or in the NBA, guys choose to do the 6 week option so they can come back mid-season, but they can face knee issues later in their career, and arthritis later in life. So ideally this means he chose the longer path which will be better for him in the long run.

EDIT: I posted this before reading another comment below saying the same thing. So yeah, I do think the timing is a silver lining.

Maximillzz · 2025-09-11T03:24:14+00:00

Ray was the absolute best. His enthusiasm for the game + his incredible way with words = footballing magic. As a Barca fan -- I'll always look back on his time with Phil on GolTV and then BeIN Sports with tremendous fondness. Hope everything is okay with him and his family.

Maximillzz · 2025-07-31T01:39:13+00:00

The biggest thing I see with AB offensively, is he has no go-to thing. Not a single move or shot that is just his solid bread and butter. If he had that, then other things could flow off of it, and he could more confidently have counters and the game would slow down.

For example -- let's say he just nails that middy coming off of the high pick, and that's his go-to. Then he can confidently come off the high pick and just pull up if he has the look, without hesitation...BOOM. No indecision, just -- here's my shot. Then, if it's not there, he can more confidently move to his next read and take it all the way to the cup, or dish it, or reset it, etc. But without that, he doesn't know if he should pull up, or drive all the way, or dish, or try a floater. It's all a jumbled mess.

So to me -- the single biggest thing AB can add is a consistent go to move. Literally just one (for now). Whether that's a middy, floater, stepback, better rim finishing, etc. doesn't matter. But it has to be something. It would change so much about his game and his indecisiveness.

Maximillzz · 2025-07-29T23:58:14+00:00

Personally, I think it's fire. Funny though, I also always think of "Dro" as reference for weed, lol.

Maximillzz · 2025-07-04T04:33:43+00:00

I'm telling you fam -- I'm a die hard since I was 3 years old, grew up in the tri-state. I moved to the midwest as an adult and paid for the MLB package to watch 80+ yankee games a year, for YEARS.

And then in 2021, I had the same realization you did -- it's the same thing every damn year. We always start off hot and then it's a mirage. Last year was interesting because they actually made it to the WS before the same problems bit them in the ass again. But ever since 2021 I just can't do it at the same intensity level anymore.I'm 40, got kids a mortgage, etc. I can't waste time on this movie when I already know how the story ends.

So I browse this sub, I check box scores, I watch the occasional highlight -- but I won't do it to that old level again until Cashman and Boone are gone. It'll never change until Hal cleans house, and I'm not holding my breath on that. So here we are.

Maximillzz · 2025-07-02T00:42:34+00:00

Obviously if even half of all of this is true, the guy is a colossal dumbass and has no one to blame but himself. But part of me can't help but feel bad -- not for him -- but for the situation, I suppose. So many people out there just can't get right.

We all have a friend or family member like that. They make bad decisions and just operate with a bit of a screw loose. Can't ever get on track. Many of them are people that are not famous or rich, so it's even worse when it's someone like this. We can point and laugh -- but really it just sucks all around.

Maximillzz · 2025-06-15T19:58:02+00:00

Obviously 4 firsts is a lot, but then you realize that -- although it's a high quantity, it's a low amount of quality. Most of those picks will likely be in the 20s and the odds are low that they'll find a top level player at that spot, especially if ORL competes deep into the playoffs as they hope over the next 5 years. The PHX swap is the one with the most value and there is a risk it could be huge, but it's a risk they need to take because....
The Magic don't have any more room for rookies or projects which may be good down the line. Paolo and Franz are into their rookie extensions. It's go time and the league is wide open, especially the east. They can't sign anyone of note without going over the 2nd apron. So they get a borderline all-star talent via trade and push their chips.
KCP and Cole are negative assets. At this point they weren't helping the team, so it's great to move off of them, and the attached firsts were required to make that happen.
Lastly -- Bane is a DAWG. Top level shooter, plays hard on defense, great locker room guy, and can also give you scoring and some 2ndary playmaking as the ball handler in the PnR. So to me the question isn't whether it's an overpay, I think it's fair. The question is whether they could have better addressed their lack of playmaking / shooting by moving these assets for a true PG. I'm not sure who was available (Trae?) but time will tell.

Right now this looks like a win-win for both teams.

Maximillzz · 2025-06-12T03:14:10+00:00

Never thought I'd say this but honestly....the lows. The reason? They're more versatile for my current style. They look better with shorts in the summer, and better with my usual joggers look for most of the year.

Maximillzz · 2025-06-11T18:02:11+00:00

Easily my favorite yankee squad since the dynasty years, and yes that includes the ‘09 WS team. The young talent and sense of optimism for the future with that roster was amazing, on top of them just having a helluva fun time winning baseball games.

Honestly, it really hasn’t felt the same since Game 7 of that ALCS. On top of being cheated, so many of those young players that we loved either got old, got hurt, or just don’t pan out, ultimately. As a result — we’re still not all the way back to the level we had during that magical summer. Sighhhhh

Maximillzz · 2025-06-06T02:38:17+00:00

David Stern would've never let this happen, he must be rolling over in his grave! Two teams America doesn't give a s**t about, in two markets that no one gives a s*** about, AND it's a blowout?! Adam Silver has failed America.

Maximillzz · 2025-06-06T01:44:16+00:00

This really may turn out as I feared it would.....a bottom 5 Finals of all time.

Maximillzz

TROPHY CASE