This and that around the League 20-21

Well, Rosalie, if BKN makes the mistake of making him 3rd Option, he will blame "No Coaching Experience" Steve Nash!

db

+1

The entire NBA could see that Rosalie.

https://sports.yahoo.com/paul-pierce-doesn-t-believe-191510947.html



Paul Pierce doesn’t believe Sixers star Ben Simmons has gotten any better





Ky Carlin
Fri, January 22, 2021, 11:15 AM·2 min read



When it comes to the chances of the Philadelphia 76ers, it will come down to their star duo of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid to lead the way. Sure, the team added some better pieces around them to help the team succeed, but ultimately, it will come down to the stars in the playoffs.

Embiid has shouldered his load as he has built up an early case for MVP and he has carried the Sixers to wins. As for Simmons, he continues to be an all-around triple-double threat as well as being one of the elite defenders in the game, but there seems to be something missing in his game, most notably on the offensive end.

He still has not yet shown a want to shoot the ball outside the paint and there are still too many instances of him driving only to do jump, spring around, and pass back out to the perimeter. Philadelphia is winning games so this could be viewed as nitpicking, but with his skill and size, Simmons could be scoring at a more efficient level.

As the team took on the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, former NBA Finals MVP Paul Pierce was asked if the Sixers could close the gap on the Celtics in the Eastern Conference. He doesn’t think they can and it’s due to Simmons and his offensive game.

Pierce said:

I don’t think so and the main reason I feel that way is because I don’t feel like Ben Simmons has gotten any better. If you’re gonna elevate to the next level and be championship contenders it has to come from your stars. Yes, Embiid looks better, they’ve added coaching staff but they can’t they’re not going to be on the court with you. They added Seth Curry, but until Ben Simmons makes that next jump, I just don’t think so. I mean, we’ve seen (Jayson) Tatum get better we’ve seen (Jaylen) Brown get better, Kemba’s (Walker) going to come back healthy, and so I really don’t see the gap closing right there.


The Sixers did end up winning Wednesday’s game as they received a huge night from Embiid and Simmons was terrific on the defensive end of the floor, but Philadelphia could use more scoring from Simmons on offense. On the flip side, as long as the Sixers are winning games, this could be a nitpicking point.


Bob


.

The Pacers just chocked mightily against the Raptors in the final seconds of the game. Not afraid of either team, despite the loss at Indiana. Sabonis and Brogdon are great players, but lack of experience in tight situations really shows for both of them.

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/stephen-curry-passes-reggie-miller-for-second-most-3-pointers-in-nba-history-with-2561/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab&utm_content=algorithm



Stephen Curry passes Reggie Miller for second-most 3-pointers in NBA history with 2,561



By Sam Quinn
Jan 23, 2021 at 10:30 pm ET
1 min read



Stephen Curry is the greatest 3-point shooter in NBA history. We knew that well before he started breaking records and winning championships, but now that he's in his 30s, he's accumulated enough volume to rewrite the history books. The Golden State Warriors superstar just did so in a major way by hitting his 2,561st 3-point shot in a game against the Utah Jazz, passing Reggie Miller for the second-most in NBA history.

Here's a look at the shot that put Curry in second place:  


NBA
@NBA
Stephen Curry drives, kicks and relocates for his 2,561st career made 3-pointer, passing Reggie Miller for 2nd all-time!
https://twitter.com/i/status/1353182818441027585


To put Curry's dominance into perspective, he is only 32 years old. Miller retired at 39, but still couldn't rack up enough 3's to hold off Curry. Miller never averaged more than 6.6 3-point attempts per game in a single season. Curry is currently in the process of topping that for the ninth consecutive season. He made 98 3-pointers in the 2014-15 playoffs alone, exactly as many as Miller made in his entire second NBA season. Curry might be playing in an era more conducive to his gifts, but his numbers are still off of the charts.

Next in line for Curry is the NBA's all-time leader in 3-point shots, Ray Allen. In his Hall of Fame career, Allen made 2,973 3-pointers, putting him more than 400 3's ahead of Curry. At his career pace of 3.6 made 3's per game, Curry should expect to pass him at some point next season. At that point, he will be only 33 or 34 and will still likely have several years left in his career to pad that lead.


If he plays long enough, that record may never be broken no matter how many 3's future players take. Curry may have had an era advantage over Miller, but he passed him so quickly because he is the greatest shooter in NBA history. We may never see another quite like Curry, and when it's all said and done, the record books will reflect that.


Bob


.

Bob, this article pays no tribute to GWill's vastly improved 3 point shooting, clearly a threat to Steph.

worcester wrote:Bob, this article pays no tribute to GWill's vastly improved 3 point shooting, clearly a threat to Steph.

Worcester,

Grant's 3pt fg% so far this year is 39.3%, but comparing anybody to Steph is sure to get a laugh.


Bob


.

Houston just beat the Wizards.  The Wiz are now 3-10.  Great idea, demanding a trade, Russ.  You went from the fire straight into the crucible.


Bob


.

Clearly James Harden knows how to do a trade correctly. Poor Russ. Heading for mediocrity and a slow, painful death in the Land of Misfit Toys.

db

Bob. I was joking.

worcester wrote:Bob. I was joking.

Worcester,

So was I. Two dive ships, passing in the night...


Bob


.

I am surprised by Grant's 39.3%. On 28 attempts that is not a bad sample size. Sure beats going 0-25 to start last year.

https://sports.yahoo.com/jae-crowder-says-hes-been-receiving-overwhelming-number-of-death-threats-215129628.html




Jae Crowder says he's been receiving 'overwhelming number of death threats'



Jason Owens
Wed, January 27, 2021, 1:51 PM·2 min read



Jae Crowder doesn't know the motivation behind the death threats. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli)



Jae Crowder opened up on Tuesday about what he describes as an “overwhelming number of death threats” in his online correspondence.

The Phoenix Suns forward was compelled to post about the threats on his Instagram page before telling “The Arizona Republic” that he receives them regularly.

“I get death threats all the time, and just felt like the other day woke up and it was just like an overwhelming number of death threats in my messages and mails,” Crowder said.

Crowder posted messages on an Instagram story earlier this week vowing to not let people threatening him take him away from his daughter.


Instagram


Instagram


Where are the threats coming from?

Crowder clarified with the Republic that the messages didn’t target his six-year-old daughter Jada.

“It was nothing like harmful to my daughter,” Crowder said. “It's just me saying no one is going to take me away from me being a father to my daughter is what I was trying to say.”

So what’s the motivation behind the threats? Crowder says he’s not sure. He also doesn’t have any idea who’s behind them.

“I don't know where this is coming from,” Crowder said. "I don't know who's behind it. I don't know what fan base is behind it. I don't know anything about it. I'm just trying to take precautions and what I need to do to protect myself and my family. That's what I'm doing.”

Crowder, 30, is playing in his ninth NBA season and his first with the Suns, where he’s averaging 10.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game as a part-time starter. He’s also played with the Miami Heat, Memphis Grizzlies, Utah Jazz, Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks.


Bob
MY NOTE:  This is flip* sick.



.

Dirty LeBron at at again. I always have believed that LeBron intentionally tag teamed with Crowder on the Gordon Hayward play that led to his grotesque ankle injury. Did they intend to injure? I'm not a mind reader but their actions suggest, yes; - one went high (LeBron) and one went low (Crowder cut Hayward on the way down so he couldn't land right). [By the way this has nothing to do with the sickening threats to Crowder referred to above; this comment is about LeBron James being a dirty player.] Flash forward to last night and big Joel Embid in the air at the rim and Gasol gives him the little shove in thet back and LeBron finishes it with a cut of Embids legs/trip onto his lower back and .... it looked that potentially something much worse could have happened than what happened with Gordon --- a devastating back injury for Embid.  Fortunately, Embid got up and wasn't seriously injured. Doc Rivers defended LeBron saying he's not a dirty player but I don't think that's what's up Doc. To me LeBron is dirty and willing to tag team and injure opponents. The critical distinction in both of these incidents is the player was in the air well above the rim and they literally have no control of their body until they land back on the ground; but opposing players can change their body position and landing position leading to potentially devastating injuries. All NBA and even back yard b-ball players know a player is completely vulnerable when they're in the air.

https://www.axios.com/nba-private-equity-funding-dyal-8eab8c64-a1f0-4731-a5f8-6f640eab748e.html





NBA signals further interest in private equity funding


Dan Primack, author of Pro Rata



Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios


The National Basketball Association is opening the door a little wider for private equity funds, which to date have been largely excluded from investing in its franchises.

Driving the news: The league's board of governors has approved a framework whereby a PE fund could own up to 20% in a single franchise, and stakes in up to five franchises, as first reported by Sportico and confirmed by Axios.

Background: In 2019, the NBA began thinking about creating an investment fund that would buy small equity stakes in a portfolio of teams. Part of the goal was to provide liquidity options for minority owners, while part was to help finance new team purchases (as skyrocketing prices had limited the buyer universe).

Then it changed course, essentially giving exclusive purchasing power to Dyal Capital Partners, which set out to raise a $2 billion fund specifically focused on NBA franchise stakes.

Dyal hasn't yet held a fund close, although a source says it plans to do so at the end of Q1.

Now the NBA is expanding the universe of potential buyers beyond just Dyal. But there are some caveats. The most significant is that participating funds must be long-dated, or have at least 10 years of investment cycle runway in from of them.

That knocks out most active PE funds, but there are several that would qualify. And, of course, new ones could get raised with this in mind.

An NBA spokesman declined to comment on this story.

The bottom line: The rules of the game are changing.


Bob


.

https://sports.yahoo.com/wnba-liberty-asia-durr-covid-19-long-hauler-struggles-career-concerns-165903739.html


Liberty's Asia Durr details struggles, career concerns as COVID-19 'long hauler'




Cassandra Negley·Writer
Wed, January 27, 2021, 8:59 AM·5 min read



When New York Liberty guard Asia Durr announced in July she would not play in the 2020 WNBA season, she cited a “complicated and arduous” battle against COVID-19.

Nearly eight months after she first tested positive for the virus on June 8, a “great day” for Durr is being able to go to the store and clean the house. She hasn’t been able to shoot a free throw, let alone train.

Durr, the No. 2 overall pick out of Louisville in the 2019 WNBA draft, is considered a COVID-19 “long hauler.” In theory she has recovered from the worst parts of the virus, but she still experiences debilitating symptoms weeks and months later.

She shared her experience on the season premiere of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” as part of a segment on “long haul” athletes.


Durr describes COVID-19 ‘long haul’

Durr, 23, told “Real Sports” correspondent Mary Carillo her life has “completely changed” since her positive test.

Nick Coffey
@TheCardConnect
Louisville legend Asia Durr is still in a major fight with Covid after being diagnosed in June. She’s lost 32 lbs and hasn’t played basketball in 6 months. She’s unsure if she’ll ever play again. Very sad. : @wncaudill

8:03 PM · Jan 26, 2021
https://twitter.com/i/status/1354278851094917121


She said she had “lung pain that was so severe it felt like somebody took a long knife and was just stabbing you in your lungs each second. I woke up 2 o’clock in the morning vomiting, going back and forth to the bathroom. I couldn’t keep anything down.”

She said she’s lost 32 pounds — 21 percent of the 5-foot-10 guard’s listed body weight with the Liberty. While she’s doing better now than she was in June, her days look very different.

“There’s days where I feel great where I can go out and go to the store or I can clean up,” Durr said. “And then there’s days where I’m like, I just have to stay in the bed. You just feel like you get hit by a bus.”


Will Durr be able to play basketball again?


New York Liberty's Asia Durr has experienced COVID-19 symptoms for eight months. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)


Durr opted out of the 2020 WNBA season as a “medical high risk player” and was unable to join her team in France when the Liberty season ended.

She told Carillo the question of if she’d ever be able to play basketball again has crossed her mind. Carillo asked the last time Durr picked up a ball after COVID.

“I haven’t been able to [pick up a ball],” Durr said. “It’s really challenging for me. But I’ve talked to doctors and they’ve told me I’m not cleared yet. I’m not cleared to be able to do anything physically, which could cause flare-ups [is] what they call it. And that’s what’s really hard for me because in life whenever something was hard I would go and play. I can’t even do that now. I can’t even shoot a free throw.”

She thanked supporters on Twitter after the episode and said she is working to come back despite the difficulties.


Asia Durr
@A_Hooper25
·
Jan 26, 2021
Thanks again everyone for the support. My hope is that in sharing my struggle, it will help others. PLEASE take COVID seriously folks. It’s very real. Wear a mask! Protect each other. Young people, athletes, you too. We are not invincible.
Asia Durr
@A_Hooper25
Also, to be clear: I am working every day to be back for this WNBA season! My progress is slow and incremental, but I’m striving to gain momentum. Thankful for @NYLiberty for their patience & resources. This entire struggle has been a powerful reminder of all my blessings too.
9:21 PM · Jan 26, 2021


Durr left Louisville ranked second in career points (2,485) and made 3-pointers (374). She was named the Dawn Staley Award Winner for best guard and Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Winner for best shooting guard ahead of being drafted.

Her rookie season was marred by a hip injury and a struggling Liberty team that ended up with the No. 1 draft pick in 2020 used on Oregon sensation Sabrina Ionescu. The tandem was an enticing one, but Durr opted out and Ionescu injured her ankle. The Liberty again have the No. 1 pick and will be an exciting team to watch in the coming years. But Durr’s health, and deeper research about the impact of COVID-19 over time, is most important.


Athletes aren’t exempt from COVID-19 impacts

The episode checked in with Natalie Hakala, a 22-year-old track and field athlete for Concordia University who a year ago was “the picture of physical health.” Her running journal turned into a detailed symptom journal dating back to July 5.

Real Sports
@RealSportsHBO
Real Sports checks in with athletes ailing from COVID’s harsh symptoms months after contracting the virus, as they wonder if they’ll ever be able to compete again. Tune into #RealSports tomorrow on @HBOMax.

11:30 AM · Jan 25, 2021
https://twitter.com/i/status/1353787223242498048

The piece included University of St. Thomas hockey player Nicole Knudson and an interview with Dr. Emily Brigham, a pulmonologist researching long-term effects of COVID-19. Researchers believe about 10 percent of people who test positive for COVID-19 will become long haulers.

Athletes and overall healthy individuals are not exempt from the worst symptoms of COVID-19 and the number of deaths is not the only thing to consider when attempting to stop the spread of the virus. It can lead to negative impacts over one’s lifetime that potentially alter dreams and career pathways.


Bob


.

For those of you who don't know, Dame had a helluva game last night.

Insane, really.  It's amazing to watch when he gets into this zone.




Bob


.

He really does not get the respect he should. All we hear about is kyrie and Steph, before his struggles, kemba, but this guy is unbelievable to watch, especially when he is “on”. It is too bad he is stuck out there.

I watched the final QTR of the Washington/Crooklyn game where any defense was prohibited.

The final score of 149-146 with the Wizards winning highlights the Nets inability to defend. The Nets have more offensive fire power than any team in the NBA.

Ben Simmons, Doc Rivers discuss minutes at the 5 for Sixers going forward



By Ky Carlin | 2:30 pm



On Sunday night, the Philadelphia 76ers were missing Joel Embiid and they had to get creative with the center position. They went with Tony Bradley to start the game and Dwight Howard as the backup, but coach Doc Rivers decided to use another option at the 5 as well.

He went with Ben Simmons at the spot for a stretch in the second quarter and the results weren’t terrible. Normally, the Sixers don’t do well in those minutes where he has to play the 5, but they found a way to get it done and they stayed afloat in those minutes.

“It’s mainly just concepts and communication for me,” said Simmons. “Making sure on defense I’m able to help my guys if my man is setting the pick or whatever the situation is just being that big presence and trying to get every rebound I can even if guys are bigger than me down there. Just try to fill that spot until we get a big back in there.”


That is the uniqueness of Simmons and what he offers this team. He is a guy who can play multiple positions and he can also play them effectively. He continues to show why he is so important to whatever chances Philadelphia has to chase a title.

Philadelphia now has two days off before they get set to take on the Charlotte Hornets and during that time, Rivers wants to work on even more packages with Simmons at the 5. He liked what he saw on Sunday.

“I loved it, but we just aren’t organized, honestly,” said Rivers. “Dave Joerger, we’re literally going bonkers on the things we saw that we couldn’t literally do with him at the 5 and it’s too bad. We just haven’t had practice time. We get two days and in the fourth quarter, Dave grabbed me and he says ‘I don’t care what are we do in these two days of practice, we’re going with Ben and the 5 for at least 10 minutes’.”


Bob


.

https://sports.yahoo.com/kelly-oubres-struggles-steph-curry-004029243.html



Kelly Oubre's struggles with Steph Curry epitomized by stunning stat



Marcus White

Wed, February 3, 2021, 4:40 PM·2 min read


Oubre's struggles with Steph epitomized by stunnng stat originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea


Kelly Oubre Jr. hasn't clicked with the Warriors in his first 21 games for Golden State, and he especially hasn't clicked with Steph Curry.

Golden State has been much better with Curry on the court sans Oubre than when both are in the lineup, as this staggering statistic discovered by CBS Sports' Brad Botkin demonstrates.

"Entering Tuesday, when Curry has shared the court with Oubre, the Warriors have been outscored by seven points per 100 possessions," Botkin wrote Wednesday, citing Cleaning The Glass earlier in his piece. "Take Oubre out -- which is to say leave Curry on the floor with any other four players -- and Golden State is winning those minutes by 16.2 per 100 with an offensive rating of 128.7, which would by far rank as the best mark in the league."

To put the Warriors' net rating with Curry and Oubre in perspective, only two NBA teams (as of Wednesday) have been outscored by more than seven points per 100 possessions this season: The Minnesota Timberwolves (minus-9.06, per Basketball-Reference) and Oklahoma City Thunder (minus-8.26). When Curry and Oubre share the court, Golden State plays just below the level of two lottery-bound teams.

Oubre's overall net rating (minus-16.9) is third-worst on the Warriors, behind only Nico Mannion (minus-19.4) and Draymond Green (minus-17.6). Among players that have played at least 2,000 possessions this season, Oubre's net rating is fifth-worst, according to Stats Perform.

The 25-year-old has started every game for the Warriors this season despite his struggles, and coach Steve Kerr has preached patience about Oubre's acclimation into the team. Oubre joined Golden State amid highly unusual circumstances, considering the still-ongoing coronavirus pandemic the NBA is playing through and the expectations that Oubre would help replace the injured Klay Thompson.

There's still time for Oubre to find his footing on the Warriors with 51 games remaining this season, and he has shown his ability in flashes. But with Oubre set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, and Golden State desperate to gain separation among a crowded pack of aspiring playoff teams in the Western Conference, both he and the Warriors will need to see a turnaround sooner rather than later.

Improving in his minutes alongside Curry, the star around which the Warriors' offense orbits, is a good place to start.


Bob
MY NOTE: For those who are wondering Oubre is in the final year of his contract and will be UFA next year. He's currently making $14.38M this year. His numbers aren't good this year.


.

Portland, without Dame,CJ and Nurkic just mopped the floor up in Philly.  The final score was 121-105 but it wasn't even that close.

Apparently winning on the road against a good team despite being brutally depleted is possible.  Who knew?


Bob



.

https://sports.yahoo.com/malik-beasley-sentenced-to-120-days-in-corrections-facility-after-rifle-incident-172150584.html



Report: Malik Beasley sentenced to 120 days in corrections facility after rifle incident



Chris Cwik
Tue, February 9, 2021, 9:21 AM·2 min read



Minnesota Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley will reportedly serve 120 days in an adult corrections facility once the season is over, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Beasley was sentenced to 120 days at Hennepin County Workhouse on Tuesday as a result of his arrest in October. Beasley was arrested after he reportedly pointed a rifle at a family that approached his home during a parade of homes. Beasley was charged with felony threats of violence after telling the family to "get the f*** off" his property while pointing a gun at them. He was also charged with fifth-degree drug possession after police found nearly two pounds of marijuana on Beasley's property.

Beasley pleaded guilty to the threats of violence charge in December. The drug charge was dismissed at that time. Once Beasley completes his probation, the violence charged will be dropped from a felony to a misdemeanor, according to Charania.


Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
·
Feb 9
Beasley’s threat of violence charge will be reduced to misdemeanor after completion of probation. The felony drug charged was dismissed.

Beasley is in midst of a breakout NBA season, averaging 20.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Shams Charania
@ShamsCharania
Timberwolves guard Malik Beasley was sentenced today to 120 days in the Hennepin County Workhouse with work release and home confinement option — to be served at end of the season, stemming from charges via October arrest, per his attorney Steve Haney.


A trade to the Timberwolves seemed to unlock Beasley's potential. With the Denver Nuggets, Beasley averaged just 7.4 points per game over four seasons. Upon being traded to the Timberwolves last February, Beasley has averaged 20.6 points per game.

Despite Beasley's breakout, the T-wolves sit at 6-18 — the worst record in the Western Conference.


Bob



.

Gee, I wonder if everyone gets to pick when they have to serve their sentence when in court for ANY violation. Unreal. Let this millionaire brat play his games AND THEN he will serve his 120 days.Only in America. and we wonder why we are in the mess we are in