There is realistically barely any dogging it in the NFL due to the high risk of injury, lack of guaranteed contracts and relatively small average length of contract. Not to mention the limited schedule in comparison to the NFL. The NBA is full of guys dogging it. There's a reason "load management" has become an accepted term. Teams with one or two superstars don't really give a shit where they're seeded as long as they've invited to the dance. It's also pretty easy to sit Kawhi Leonard against the Magic and know you'll get the win because of the unequal distribution of talent in the league.
Lol damn. It has to be the easiest sport to dictate outcomes at the end too and at times it wouldn't even really affect who won or loss. Ticky tack fouls in a 8 point game with 22 seconds left can be the difference between covering a 5-7 point spread. What a dickhead.
Yup. Been saying it since the Harden trade happened. They should've did everything they could to keep Jarrett Allen. Shootouts are all fun and what not in the regular season. But they won't have these scoring outputs against a healthy Bucks or Heat squad. They have no way to guard the paint. Westbrook has been awful this year and absolutely carved them up.
I haven't looked deep into it, but Middleton is having a down year and I don't consider them a lock for top 3 in the East.
Watching the Celtics on this West Coast trip, it's infuriating the lack of depth and roster that Ainge has the team running out there every night. Every team on this trip is far superior to the celtics in terms of supporting cast and bench. The trade with the Nets can't protect him forever. Yes, the 2 stars they have is from that trade... but he's failed time and time again to sign solid supporting cast type of guys. His 2 signings this year... Teague has been so bad Karsten Edwards, who sucks, is playing more than him... and Thompson has been very meh. Even the Suns and Kings have a better roster than the celtics sans their 2 best players.
Trying to give the regular season a bit more of a chance. The flopping and at times lazy defense will always bother me but it's still an entertaining game for the most part when it's two good teams. Caught some of that Celtics game yesterday. They badly miss Marcus Smart right now. Even if he's not a true point guard in a drive and create fashion he can still handle an offense with a second unit. Kenna is meh too even though he's been out. Very streaky. Would you move assets for Kyle Lowry?
I disagree big time. Every NFL game when the lead is big, there is dogging it on both sides in the 2nd half. Also, even in close games if you watch the all-22, if the play goes to the opposite side both the receivers and defenders just dog it, they know the balls not coming their way so they take the play off.
I guess. I mean the backside receiver/corner are really the only two players that can dog it without getting hurt. Anyone in the box all the way to the backside safety can't really go at half speed without potentially tearing an ACL.
Contenders looking like: Lakers Jazz Clippers 6ers Nets Maybe Bucks Ainge ruined the celtics as of now. He played hardball for 3 years and now the celtics have arguably one of the worst rosters in NBA and minimal assets to get anyone without trading a big piece.
It's amazing how the Nets made one of the worst trades of all time with the Celtics, and the Nets might end up getting a championship before the Celtics do.
the Knicks have inspired me to like them/watch them again. They bust their asses on D. You gotta like Randle's lunchpail approach to the game and Quickley is a fun young PG to watch
Kyrie/Harden convo: Kyrie - "you're the point guard" Harden in head - "yea, no shit sherlock. Everyone knows that" Harden out loud - "OK, definitely" Kyrie - "we're all co head coaches so this is locked in. Let's go inform the team." Harden rolls eyes after kyrie turns around, thus preserving his feelings for another day.
It just makes the most sense to split them up and work one off the bench. Harden and Harris off the bench or Kyrie and Harris. I think Kyrie would honestly make the most sense since he's probably slightly better as a pure one on one scorer from the standpoint of getting and making two point jump shots. But Kyrie's ego would never allow that. I don't see them winning a championship though. They won't be able to win playoff games with Jeff Green and old man Jordan guarding the rim. EDIT: watching them now - they are also absolutely atrocious around the rim whether it's offensive or defensive rebounding. Even with Durant out right now, that's going to kill them in the playoffs versus guys like Bam (if they get in), Giannis, Embiid, Sabonis, Handle, etc.
That whole story is classic narcissist Kyrie. Thinking he needs to tell someone whos miles away a better PG that he's the full time PG... and then he tells the media nonchalantly like he's this big team player. The fucking sage, skipping 2 weeks for his dad/sisters bday then saying he needed a pause, kyrie is a man of opportunity.
Idunno how Nash can operate with him at all given his whole collaborative effort everyone's a coach bullshit.
