Around The League 2022-2023 Season

The Nets, without KD for another 3 weeks or so, just lost to OKC.  They are now 3 games back in the loss column and 4 games back in the standings.

By the end of the season what matters, with winning teams, are the losses.  That's because winning is more likely for them, so catching up to the team ahead of you in the standings "by winning out" is less likely to make a difference since the team ahead of you will be winning too.  HOWEVER, this isn't the end of the season and the Nets without KD are quite vulnerable.  

We have played 44 games while the Nets have only played 42.  Those two games they have to play to catch up to our total, that we've already played and won, are more likely to be losses until KD returns. Not certain, of course, but more likely than if KD was playing.

Brooklyn's next two games are:
Brooklyn @ San Antonio (a likely win for the Nets, even without KD. SAS has the 4th worst record and has a shot at Wembanyama)
Brooklyn @ Phoenix (MUCH tougher game for Brooklyn)

If Brooklyn loses either one of those games they'll be down 4 games in the loss column and will need a serious slump by us to catch us.  

Time to start paying attention to Denver and Memphis.  They're only 1 game back in the loss column from us.  If we meet either one of them in the Finals, and facing one of them is likely, I want home court edge.  I definitely don't want to play 4 games in mile-high Denver.


Bob


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Bob

You are pretty amazing.  Traveling all over the world but still fully engaged.

You mentioned Denver and Memphis and I was just getting ready to comment on them.

That Denver team is really deep.  I still have questions about their defense.

Memphis looks really good again.

Those 2 teams may very well separate from the pack.  Both are 11-10 on the road.  Both are 17-8 in games decided by 10 or more points.  I think Denver is the better offensive team but I would give the edge to Memphis on defense.

The 3rd team that could turn things into a 3 way race out West is NOLA.  Their BIG issue...health.

In the East it is Boston and every other team is just trying to hold on.  Boston is off on another extended run winning 6 straight and 8 of 10.

The Celtics are far and away the best team and as their defense continues to improve,  I expect them to stay at the top of the food chain.

Boston is now on a 7-0 run.

Was checking out the Warriors trying to figure why they are a .500 team.

They won yesterday at Washington but overall they have not been a good road team all year.

It is not because of their offense. Their 5-17 road record was mostly impacted by their porous defense.

I have zero concerns about them beating us.

Our loss to them earlier in the season requires an asterisk.

Al and Rob did not play.

I know some of you out there are thinking they have our number. I assure you that they do not.

We know that they will try to bum rush Tatum into ISO situations and they will overplay the passing lanes and try to knock our guys off of their stride.

I guarantee that the Celtics will be wearing their big boy pants come Thursday. They will be ready.

Unfortunately, It looks like Jaylen will be missing again Thursday. I was hoping he might be back for this game, but the Celtics are not only playing for the present, they are playing for the future,so holding him out seems the way this team operates now. Why take a chance unless he is fully healthy. I do not believe Golden State has our number. Thursday night will be a whole different game than the first one. The Celtics are ready for them. I do worry that Brogden will slow down and sit a couple of games. They said the other night that he almost did not play for "personal reasons" but changed his mind at the last minute.

Nets lost to the Spurs. Milwaukee, Philly and Brooklyn all have 16 losses now, while we have 12.


Bob


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It's Durant or bust for BKN. When he's out, we know first hand what kind of "leader" Kyrie is/becomes. Second verse, same as the first. BKN is making the whistling sound...Gotta love it.

db

dbrown4 wrote:It's Durant or bust for BKN.  When he's out, we know first hand what kind of "leader" Kyrie is/becomes.  Second verse, same as the first.  BKN is making the whistling sound...Gotta love it.

db  

dbrown

KI was out due to a sore ankle vs the Spurs and now the Nets have dropped 3 in a row and have fallen into 4th place.

The Celtics are up 4 over the pack in the all important loss column.

Bucks, Sixers and Nets (all with 16 losses)

Keep 'em comin'!

db

Add one tomorrow night, jaylen looks to be coming back, hail, hail the gangs all here???? I hope so

The Celtics are still on track to win 60 games this year. (.739 winning percentage with 36 games remaining)

.739 X 36 = 26.6    

34 + 27 = 61 wins rounded up.

Out West the Kings have jumped NOLA.

I think they are a better team than NOLA based on their record vs .500 or better teams (9-10) NOLA is (6-15)

Denver and Memphis look like the class of the litter out West

Which is the better team? I like Memphis. Memphis is 14 and 8 against the better teams while Denver is 9-8 . Memphis has played 5 more games against the better teams. We will see how Denver does with a tougher schedule.

Defense is always a factor in winning.

The Los Angeles Lakers have agreed to a deal to acquire Washington Wizards forward Rui Hachimura for Kendrick Nunn and three second-round picks, sources told ESPN on Monday.

The Sixers are playing well. 8-2 over past 10 including 5 straight on the road. They are in 2nd place, 4 games back in the loss column. Both the Bucks and Nets are 5 games back.

Middleton who has only played in 7 games all year, is probable tonight @ Detroit.

The Lakers just lost to the Blazers. LeBron didn't play because of left ankle soreness. He's expected back for their next game vs the Pelicans. LeBron has missed 13 of LA's 57 games so far. That's 1/4.

That puts LA 2 full games out of 10th place in the West with 25 games to play.


Bob


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https://kfan.iheart.com/content/2023-02-15-nba-free-agent-bryn-forbes-arrested-on-serious-charge-report/


NBA Free Agent Bryn Forbes Arrested On Serious Charge


By Jason Hall
Feb 16, 2023



NBA free agent guard Bryn Forbes was reportedly arrested in relation to an alleged domestic violence incident in San Antonio early Wednesday (February 15) morning.

Forbes, 29, who was last signed to the Minnesota Timberwolves, is accused of assaulting a woman whom he is in a dating relationship with, the San Antonio Police Department confirmed to KSAT. The guard was taken into custody at the La Cantera Resort & Spa at 5:15 a.m.

A San Antonio Police Department preliminary report states that Forbes and the woman were out when he initially became upset at her. The couple drove home and got involved in an altercation, which became physical, upon arrival.

Forbes is accused of striking the woman several times, which resulted in injuries and the need for medical assistance, according to police. The 29-year-old was taken into custody by responding officers.

Forbes went undrafted in 2016 following a collegiate career that began at Cleveland State (2012-14) and concluded at Michigan State (2014-16), which included being a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2016. The Michigan native signed with the San Antonio Spurs in 2016 and spent his first four seasons with the franchise -- having also played for its G League team, the Austin Spurs, during the 2016-17 season -- before signing with the Milwaukee Bucks ahead of the 2020-21 season, appearing in 70 games during the regular season and 20 in the postseason during the franchise's NBA championship run.

Forbes returned to the Spurs in 2021 before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in January 2022. The guard signed with the Timberwolves in July 2022, but was waived on February 9, 2023.


Bob


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Giannis Antetokounmpo to undergo further testing on injured wrist in New York


Jim Owczarski Milwaukee Journal Sentinel



SALT LAKE CITY – After time expired on the NBA all-star game Sunday night, with his team victorious 184-175 over LeBron James’, Giannis Antetokounmpo and the league’s all-time scoring shared a moment on the Vivint Arena court. Antetokounmpo’s right wrist was taped tightly, but the 28-year-old allowed himself the moment to enjoy a victorious – and full – weekend with his family.

Unfortunately, on Monday, the Journal Sentinel confirmed that the most valuable player candidate wasn’t going to be back in Milwaukee but instead headed to New York to get further testing on his injured wrist. Swelling had not subsided after daily evaluations in Utah, so further testing is needed.

ESPN originally reported the trip to New York.


Bob
MY NOTE:  The latest diagnosis, as of 4 hours ago, is a sprained right wrist.  Bad enough to miss a few games, not bad enough to end his season. Best wishes to a great player, a good human being and role model.  Having gotten that out of my system, it looks like a great opportunity for the Celtics to go on a run and put some distance between us and the Giannis-less Bucks.

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Lonzo Ball has been ruled out for the rest of the season. A meniscus tear in January 22 still is not close to fixed.

Quite a shame he had really developed in to an excellent point guard. Hope he can make a full return next season.

dboss wrote:Bob

You are pretty amazing.  Traveling all over the world but still fully engaged.

You mentioned Denver and Memphis and I was just getting ready to comment on them.

That Denver team is really deep.  I still have questions about their defense.

Memphis looks really good again.

Those 2 teams may very well separate from the pack.  Both are 11-10 on the road.  Both are 17-8 in games decided by 10 or more points.  I think Denver is the better offensive team but I would give the edge to Memphis on defense.

The 3rd team that could turn things into a 3 way race out West is NOLA.  Their BIG issue...health.

In the East it is Boston and every other team is just trying to hold on.  Boston is off on another extended run winning 6 straight and 8 of 10.

The Celtics are far and away the best team and as their defense continues to improve,  I expect them to stay at the top of the food chain.

Denver has stretched their WC lead to 6 games over Memphis. What is up with Memphis?

tonight Heat at Bucks. Giannis ? Go heat!

I'm guessing Mark Cuban erroneously including the ever popular 3rd Grade Tic Tac No Trade Back Clause in the negotiations for, well, you know. Probably wishing now he had thought just a minute more...

db

NBA star Ja Morant was accused of punching a teen and threatening a security guard, police records obtained by The Post show


The Memphis Grizzlies all-star was accused of threatening a security guard during an altercation outside a shoe store last year, according to a police report.

Four days later, another report shows, a 17-year-old boy accused Morant of punching him repeatedly and flashing a gun during a pickup game at Morant’s house. Morant admitted punching the teen, records show, but denies showing the gun. No charges were filed in either incident.


Bob
MY NOTE: Ja admitted he punched a teenager? If it was at a pickup game at Ja's house he had to be admitted in, so then why punch him? He's not a trespasser. If he turned out to be a punk, then kick him out. I have to believe Ja has some kind of human security around.

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Knicks have really turned it around and my friends, I live in Jersey, are ranting about the Josh Hart acquisition. Never heard of him, but he’s a total Marcus Smart clone now that I’ve seen glimpses of him and how he has added so much toughness to that team.

Hart played at Villanova and is a Marcus Smart type player. He does give the knicks toughness. I was at the game Monday and Hart was annoying. Knicks are improved. We have to lock in Sunday on them.

Here's an idea for the All-Star Game revamp.  Vote/Elect, etc. same way it's done now so you wind up with 24 players, 12 on each roster.  I can't claim this idea as it's a spin-off from Red's.  

Then pick 8 teams of 3 each.  Not sure how to go about that part but since AS has been in charge for quite a while, I'm sure he can come up with yet another a whack-a-doodle selection process.  It won't matter.  

Then set it up tournament style, 4 games to 2 games to 1 game.  

Red used to have those halftime 3-3's all the time in the 70's.  This would give a fresh face to the NBA ASG and honor the NBA past as well.

Just a thought. I'd watch that!! 

db

Celtics17 wrote:Hart played at Villanova and is a Marcus Smart type player. He does give the knicks toughness. I was at the game Monday and Hart was annoying. Knicks are improved. We have to lock in Sunday on them.

Hart is a Dollar Tree Marcus at best. Plays a little like him but thats about it.
He’s been around. 4 teams in 5 years. There is a reason for that. He’ll settle into mediocrity once the honeymoon ends and they take a few L’s.