NBA 2019-20: Fresh Champs, Fresh Faces, Fresh Places!

[stringertom]

The Big LeBronskis are having a tough time fuqing with The Giannis...down 24-43 with 5 minutes gone in the second. Five Bucks have made treys.

Unibrow is struggling...5 points on 1/6.

 

[Ronaldo]

The Big LeBronskis are having a tough time fuqing with The Giannis...down 24-43 with 5 minutes gone in the second. Five Bucks have made treys.

Unibrow is struggling...5 points on 1/6.

Resistance Is Futile

 

[Federer and Del Potro]

I worry about the Lakers versus good teams. Past Lebron and Davis who are incredible there’s just not much there .

Definitely feeling the pain of all the pieces they had to give up for AD. Obviously it was the right move but that doesn’t mean it isn’t felt with the lack of depth and support. Could be a big problem in the playoffs which is a war of attrition.

 

[stringertom]

The LeBronskis have whittled that big lead down to single digits as the fourth quarter starts, 89-81. Giannis and Middleton picked up their fourth PFs early in the third. Unibrow found his game but he’s on high usage (32 minutes already) with a sore ankle.

 

[stringertom]

Tenacious D to close out the 7-point win, 111-104.

LAL got no closer than 5 points. LBJ got a trip dub with 21/12/11 but a key TO on a strip by Wesley Matthews killed their momentum with a couple of minutes left. AD played 43 minutes to earn his 36/10/5 line. Danny Green used 7/13 (7/12 treys) shooting for 21.

The Bucks have a new sharpshooter from the arc...Giannis was 5/8 on treys for 15 of his 34/11/7 night. George Hill was big off the bench with 21.

 

[stringertom]

LAC is owning visiting Houston at the half, 69-54. Their Tenacious D has held The Beard to 7 points (2/7, 1/5 treys and only 2/2 from the FT line. Only Westbrook is in double figures with 15.
LAC is led by PG13 (18), Load Manager (17) and unsung sub Montrezl Harrell (13 on 6/7).

Clippers are so deep. Wait until Shamet heals fully from his high ankle sprain. He’s playing again after missing 17 games but has some rust. Tonight is just his third game back.

 

[stringertom]

Houston wiped that 15-point lead totally out and enter the fourth with a 3-point advantage. Team effort with The Beard getting 9 of the 36. LAC was ice cold at 25% from the field.

 

[donquijote]

Le Baron is the only starter (both teams) with a deficit in +/-.
Not the 34 yo alien we all thought of.

 

[stringertom]

Crazy fourth quarter with technicals/ejection for Sweet Lou on a phantom PF that helped Houston go up by 11. LAC answered and took the lead before another burst by the Rockets and they now lead by 9 with 2 minutes left.

 

[stringertom]

The Rockets close out another big comeback victory. Total collapse defensively in the second half by LAC.

Playoffs hunger must be developed if they are to succeed.

 

[travlerajm]

Bucks bench out scored LA’s bench 34 to 4, led by ex-Cav’s GHill and KKorver.

 

[stringertom]

Bucks bench out scored LA’s bench 34 to 4, led by ex-Cav’s GHill and KKorver.

Inexpensive Cadavers were more efficient than high-priced Cadaver-in-Chief.

 

[Ronaldo]

Inexpensive Cadavers were more efficient than high-priced Cadaver-in-Chief.

Hope and Treys Spring Eternal!

 

[stringertom]

IIRC there was a lot of Unicorn doubt around here a while back but he has really stepped up in Luka’s absence!

Tonight he went 22/18/2 with 3 erasures and one swipe in a duel with Embiid as the Mavs handed the 76ers their second home loss in a row, 117-98.

 

[stringertom]

Ja got hops!!!

If this had gone in it was POY:

Big Love tweeted afterwards, “He almost ended my professional career.”

 

[Ronaldo]

Ja got hops!!!

If this had gone in it was POY:

Big Love tweeted afterwards, “He almost ended my professional career.”

An audition for the Dunk Contest. One of the few close games last night

 

[stringertom]

Giannis goes 22/11/10 in 26 minutes at MSG in a Bucks win over NYK, 123-102. Seven Bucks in double figures and a dunk by little bro (but older) Thanasis Antetokuonmpo in his sixth appearance this year.

 

[Ronaldo]

Giannis goes 22/11/10 in 26 minutes at MSG in a Bucks win over NYK, 123-102. Seven Bucks in double figures and a dunk by little bro (but older) Thanasis Antetokuonmpo in his sixth appearance this year.

Another game in which the Bucks led from start to finish

 

[travlerajm]

Another game in which the Bucks led from start to finish

They are going to be tough to beat in the finals.

 

[Ronaldo]

They are going to be tough to beat in the finals.

Youth B served!

 

[travlerajm]

Uh oh. LBJ starting to break down. Suffered a “thoracic strain” against Indy, tried to play thru it against Bucks, now doubtful tonight against Nuggs.

 

[stringertom]

Uh oh. LBJ starting to break down. Suffered a “thoracic strain” against Indy, tried to play thru it against Bucks, now doubtful tonight against Nuggs.

Don’t want the Christmas Day package to get damaged!

 

[stringertom]

Trivia question that I have no answer for...are the Bucks the first team to sport two pair of brothers on their roster???

 

[travlerajm]

Trivia question that I have no answer for...are the Bucks the first team to sport two pair of brothers on their roster???

Did the Lopez twins or Collins twins ever play together?

 

[stringertom]

Did the Lopez twins or Collins twins ever play together?

Don’t think so and certainly not all four together to match Lopez/Lopez alongside Antetokuonmpo squared.

 

[stringertom]

We could have a Holiday or Plumlee hookup of triplets if some trades are made.

 

[Ronaldo]

We could have a Holiday or Plumlee hookup of triplets if some trades are made.

Need Kostas!

 

[stringertom]

Need Kostas!

Bucks grab him from LAL and sport a lineup of the Three Greeks and Two Standford trees from Fresno. Giannis plays PG.

 

[donquijote]

Raptors come back from 30 point down in the last 14 minutes to beat the Luka-less Mavs! Raps were missing two starters too. Kyle Lowry was the hero of the night scoring 23 points in 40-10 run.

 

[stringertom]

18/19/9/2/2 in 30 minutes for Greek god Giannis in a romp over visiting Indiana. This may drop him just below his one point per minute played ratio but that’s a scary stat line!

 

[travlerajm]

LeBron continues to lead the league in Real Plus-Minus by a wide margin, revealing the Lakers’ double-edged sword: they are good at full strength, but are the worst team in the league when LeBron sits, even with AD on the court.

 

[stringertom]

Upset of the year! GSW beat The Hardenbrooks, 116-104. All 5 starters had double digits with Damion Lee and Draymond recording 20-point dub dubs.

 

[stringertom]

Two minutes in and LeBron gets kneed in the groin while he blocks Beverley on a drive. He’s up and OK but it was exactly one year ago today that he went down for a while with a groin issue.

 

[travlerajm]

Two minutes in and LeBron gets kneed in the groin while he blocks Beverley on a drive. He’s up and OK but it was exactly one year ago today that he went down for a while with a groin issue.

A groin issue of a different kind.

 

[stringertom]

High scoring first quarter, 33-31 LeBronskis but it’s Kuzma that brought them back after The King sat. The dude is on fire, 5/7 for 15 in five minutes. George/Leonard got 19. Davis/James got 8.

 

[stringertom]

The LeBronskis blow it open in the last minute of the half, 63-51. Lots of rejections (8) and thefts (6) leading to easy buckets. Bench scoring, 35-12 LAL with Kuzma outdoing them singlehandedly 19-12.

 

[stringertom]

All square at 86 at the end of the third! LAC stopped making mistakes and LAL got sloppy in their place. Doc had Beverley and 4 bench players on the floor as they closed and had adjusted their starting lineup by using Harkless in place of Patterson to start the comeback early in the quarter.

 

[travlerajm]

Dwight with 9 boards in only 11 minutes.

 

[stringertom]

A Christmas treat as the Battle of LA lived up to the hype. Clippers 111-106, thanks to tenacious D by Beverley on LeBron.

If the WCF can match this intensity we are in for some series!

 

[stringertom]

Either JVG or Mark Jackson commented the lineup Doc used to close the game is ideal...Harrell and Sweet Lou off the bench to go with Kawhi, PG13 and Beverley. It’s small but they neutralized LBJ, Unibrow, Kuzma, KCP and Rondo, a much bigger lineup. That’s no one taller than 6’8” (George) but Harrell and Leonard can muscle with the best because they’re so active and smart with their positioning.

Doc has a wealth of talent, energy and hard workers but picking up a mobile big would make them virtually unstoppable. If they can extract Aaron Gordon from the Magic without getting fleeced, I’m all in!!!

 

[stringertom]

A groin issue of a different kind.

Postgame comments by LBJ indicate differently. Expect load management 2.0, which might not be a bad thing. After all, he turns 35 on Monday AND the the LeBronless Lakers need to up their efficiencies. The current 4-game skid won’t offer the best momentum going in to rest mode (at Rip City, vs Dallas on a back-to-back this weekend) but it gets to a softer landing zone with four more at home vs Suns, NOP, Pistons and NYK. Due partly to Load Manager 1.0, LAL still has a 2-game lead over LAC and 2.5 vs Denver so there is some slack on the leash.

 

[stringertom]

Collective 2-19 shooting from the arc on Christmas Day for the leading MVP candidates LeGiannis. Harden also had an off night, not from the arc (6/10) but from not getting to his favorite spot...only 0/1 FTs in his 24-point night. Has Steve Kerr designed the blueprint to shave The Beard???

 

[travlerajm]

After all, he turns 35 on Monday and the LeBronless Lakers need to up their efficiencies.

This is underscored by this morning’s updated Real Plus-Minus ratings. The huge gap in RPM between #1 LeBron and #2 Giannis has widened and now exceeds the difference between #2 and #10.

 

[stringertom]

Momentum busting loss by visiting Philly to The Tragic, 98-97. Nothing like beating up on the Bucks and then dropping an easy one two nights later.

Milwaukee rested Giannis but cruised vs Atlanta by 26.

 

[stringertom]

Nice win in Beantown for still depleted Toronto, slapping the Celtics 113-97.

The holidays are made for records and the Holiday Brothers set a record in Indianapolis as Pelican Jrue beat his two Pacer brothers Justin and Aaron in a visit to New Orleans, 120-98. It was the first NBA game to feature three brothers in action at the same time.

Giannis missed another game but Milwaukee still managed a win vs the visiting Tragic, 111-100.

Sore groin and all, the Big LeBronski played and helped defeat PTB in Rip City,128-120. LBJ played 36 minutes to build this impressive scoreline: 21/7/16/2/1.

Best game of the night went to OT in Miami as the Heat edged Philadelphia 117-116. The Butler did it with 25/9/9 as the hosts came back from deficits in regulation and in the OT.

 

[Ronaldo]

Nice win in Beantown for still depleted Toronto, slapping the Celtics 113-97.

The holidays are made for records and the Holiday Brothers set a record in Indianapolis as Pelican Jrue beat his two Pacer brothers Justin and Aaron in a visit to New Orleans, 120-98. It was the first NBA game to feature three brothers in action at the same time.

Giannis missed another game but Milwaukee still managed a win vs the visiting Tragic, 111-100.

Sore groin and all, the Big LeBronski played and helped defeat PTB in Rip City,128-120. LBJ played 36 minutes to build this impressive scoreline: 21/7/16/2/1.

Best game of the night went to OT in Miami as the Heat edged Philadelphia 117-116. The Butler did it with 25/9/9 as the hosts came back from deficits in regulation and in the OT.

blob:https://www.nba.com/896a4903-4593-4930-9b2e-5aadbe4825b7

 

[stringertom]

blob:https://www.nba.com/896a4903-4593-4930-9b2e-5aadbe4825b7

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[Ronaldo]

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[DSH]

Postgame comments by LBJ indicate differently. Expect load management 2.0, which might not be a bad thing. After all, he turns 35 on Monday AND the the LeBronless Lakers need to up their efficiencies. The current 4-game skid won’t offer the best momentum going in to rest mode (at Rip City, vs Dallas on a back-to-back this weekend) but it gets to a softer landing zone with four more at home vs Suns, NOP, Pistons and NYK. Due partly to Load Manager 1.0, LAL still has a 2-game lead over LAC and 2.5 vs Denver so there is some slack on the leash.

Provoked Thoughts, Black American History Enhanced ~ The Black Blogger

Just The Facts: MJPrognosticate: LJ#joesmokeblackthoughtsMichael Jordan vs. LeBron James Age 35 Season Michael Jordan during the season he turned 35 (1997-98) won the league's Most Valuable Player's award. MJ's Chicago Bulls team was on the backend of the 3-peat NBA Championship roll. MJ also...

www.joesmokethoughts.com

 

[T1000]

Provoked Thoughts, Black American History Enhanced ~ The Black Blogger

Just The Facts: MJPrognosticate: LJ#joesmokeblackthoughtsMichael Jordan vs. LeBron James Age 35 Season Michael Jordan during the season he turned 35 (1997-98) won the league's Most Valuable Player's award. MJ's Chicago Bulls team was on the backend of the 3-peat NBA Championship roll. MJ also...

www.joesmokethoughts.com

jordan played like half the pro seasons Lebron played at age 35. Lmao at comparing the two