This and that around the League 20-21

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/lebron-james-receives-anti-flopping-233626029.html



LeBron James receives anti-flopping warning from NBA after play on Friday


Erik García Gundersen
Sat, February 13, 2021, 3:36 PM





Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James became the latest profile example of the NBA’s attempts to enforce their anti-flopping policy. Following last night’s 115-105 win over the Memphis Grizzlies, the NBA announced that LeBron James has received a warning from the NBA after violating the NBA’s anti-flopping policy during the second quarter of last night’s win.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Gary Trent Jr. and Houston Rockets guard Mason Jones was warned for flopping in a game earlier this month for his flop on a 3-point attempt against the Charlotte Hornets. However, James is clearly the biggest and most high profile offender of the anti-flopping policy. The last time James was disciplined by the NBA’s anti-flopping policy was in the 2013 playoffs when he was fined $5,000 in a series against the Indiana Pacers.


NBA Official
@NBAOfficial
·
17h
Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James received a warning for violating the league’s anti-flopping rule Feb. 12 vs. Memphis.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1360731398353600512


The last player to receive a fine for violating the NBA’s anti-flopping policy was Boston’s Marcus Smart, who was fined during the 2020 NBA playoffs for flopping.


Bob


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https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ben-simmons-says-hes-the-best-defender-in-the-nba-right-now-210600840.html



Ben Simmons says he's 'the best defender in the NBA'



Chris Cwik

Fri, February 12, 2021, 1:06 PM



Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons has a lot of confidence in his defensive abilities. After limiting Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard on Wednesday, Simmons told reporters he's "the best defender in the NBA."

Lillard still managed to score 30 points, but Simmons made it hard. Lillard went just 6 of 21 from the field. Nearly half of his points came at the free-throw line, where Lillard hit 14 of 15 attempts. Simmons was responsible for only three of the 11 fouls on Lillard.

When asked about going up against the best scorers in the NBA, Simmons said he loves playing that role for the 76ers.

The relevant portion of the video begins at the 2:15 mark:



Simmons' full comment read:

"I take pride in guarding the best player on the floor every night. It's not a one-off thing. If you watch me, I'm typically guarding the best player, and typically the best players are guards or shooting guards, point guards, whatever it is. And I love that. I love the fact that my teammates can look at me and tell me, 'You gotta go out and lock this guy up.'

"There's nights that guys go off. That's going to happen. But most of the time, I feel like I'm doing a good job and making the right plays. I feel like I'm the best defender in the NBA."

Despite Simmons' best efforts, the 76ers lost Wednesday's contest 118-114.


Is Ben Simmons the best defender in the NBA?

At the very least, Simmons is among the best defensive players in the game. By defensive win shares, Simmons currently ranks seventh this season. By defensive rating, he ranks 12th. Simmons has consistently been in the top-20 in both stats throughout his NBA career.

That performance could earn Simmons his second straight appearance on the All-Defensive team. While Simmons made that team for the first time following the 2019-20 NBA season, that honor was overdue. As a rookie, Simmons ranked second in defensive win shares and ninth in defensive rating.

Even if you don't think Simmons is the best defender in the NBA right now, it's tough to argue against his defensive prowess. Simmons will almost certainly deserve another appearance on the All-Defensive team at the end of the 2020-21 NBA season.


Bob
MY NOTE: Locker room bulletin board material for Kawhi and Smart.


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Has Harden ever been warned about flopping? He, to me, is one of the biggest in the league, along with Kyle Lowry

bobheckler wrote:https://www.yahoo.com/sports/ben-simmons-says-hes-the-best-defender-in-the-nba-right-now-210600840.html



Ben Simmons says he's 'the best defender in the NBA'



Chris Cwik

Fri, February 12, 2021, 1:06 PM



Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons has a lot of confidence in his defensive abilities. After limiting Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard on Wednesday, Simmons told reporters he's "the best defender in the NBA."

Lillard still managed to score 30 points, but Simmons made it hard. Lillard went just 6 of 21 from the field. Nearly half of his points came at the free-throw line, where Lillard hit 14 of 15 attempts. Simmons was responsible for only three of the 11 fouls on Lillard.

When asked about going up against the best scorers in the NBA, Simmons said he loves playing that role for the 76ers.

The relevant portion of the video begins at the 2:15 mark:



Simmons' full comment read:

"I take pride in guarding the best player on the floor every night. It's not a one-off thing. If you watch me, I'm typically guarding the best player, and typically the best players are guards or shooting guards, point guards, whatever it is. And I love that. I love the fact that my teammates can look at me and tell me, 'You gotta go out and lock this guy up.'

"There's nights that guys go off. That's going to happen. But most of the time, I feel like I'm doing a good job and making the right plays. I feel like I'm the best defender in the NBA."

Despite Simmons' best efforts, the 76ers lost Wednesday's contest 118-114.


Is Ben Simmons the best defender in the NBA?

At the very least, Simmons is among the best defensive players in the game. By defensive win shares, Simmons currently ranks seventh this season. By defensive rating, he ranks 12th. Simmons has consistently been in the top-20 in both stats throughout his NBA career.

That performance could earn Simmons his second straight appearance on the All-Defensive team. While Simmons made that team for the first time following the 2019-20 NBA season, that honor was overdue. As a rookie, Simmons ranked second in defensive win shares and ninth in defensive rating.

Even if you don't think Simmons is the best defender in the NBA right now, it's tough to argue against his defensive prowess. Simmons will almost certainly deserve another appearance on the All-Defensive team at the end of the 2020-21 NBA season.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Locker room bulletin board material for Kawhi and Smart.


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Jaylen Brown seems to score on him very well

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/nba-warriors-draymond-green-calls-bull-rips-double-standard-treatment-players-trades-153225840.html



Draymond Green calls 'bulls***,' rips NBA's double standard in player trades


Cassandra Negley

Tue, February 16, 2021, 8:32 AM



Draymond Green didn't want to focus on the Golden State Warriors' 30-point demolishing of the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday night. He instead spent almost all of his postgame news conference sounding off on how the NBA treats its players and the double standard.

Green's comments were unprompted by any questions, but were instead lit by the Cavaliers opting to sit center Andre Drummond while they attempt to trade him. The Cavs reportedly have no plans to play him while they search for a trade partner ahead of the March 25 deadline.

Green called the situation "bulls***" and contrasted it to James Harden asking out of the Houston Rockets organization.


Green: Double standard in player treatment by NBA

"To watch Andre Drummond, before the game, sit on the sidelines, then go to the back, and to come out in street clothes because a team is going to trade him, it's bulls***," said Green, who was seen speaking with Drummond for a few minutes before tip-off. "Because when James Harden asks for a trade and essentially dogged it — ... no one is going to fight back that James was dogging it his last days in Houston — but he was castrated for wanting to go to a different team. And everybody destroyed that man.

"And yet a team can come and say, 'Oh, we want to trade a guy.' And then that guy is to go sit. And if he doesn't stay professional, then he's a cancer. And he's not good in someone's locker room, and he's the issue."

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Brian Windhorst reported on Monday that the Cavaliers are keeping Jarrett Allen as their staring center and believe it's unfair to Drummond to limit his minutes. When general manager Koby Altman discussed the move with Drummond and his agent, they decided Drummond would no longer be active.

The Harden situation, as Green noted, is vastly different. Harden requested a trade after years of trying to win a title in Houston. When he wasn't dealt in the offseason, he didn't give his all in training camp or in the first five games of the season. Houston traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal last month.

The veteran was criticized for his demands and viewed as "disrespectful."


Green: Give players same respect, rights as teams


Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green ripped into the NBA for double standards. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)


Green, 30, went on to note a handful of other instances he viewed negatively in player treatment. In February 2017, DeMarcus Cousins found out he was traded during an interview with reporters after the All-Star Game. A PR rep had to whisper the news in his ear.

In February 2019, the Dallas Mavericks pulled Harrison Barnes out of the fourth quarter of a contest because they had just dealt him to the Sacramento Kings. LeBron James held similar sentiments to Green at the time, writing on Instagram, "So let me guess this is cool cause they had to do what was best for the franchise right??? ... I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE."

Green said Monday "we continue to let this happen."

"I got fined for stating my opinion on what should happen with another player, but teams can come out and continue to say, 'Oh we're trading guys; we're not playing you.' And yet we're to stay professional.

"At some point, as players we need to be treated with the same respect and have the same rights as the team can have. Because as a player you're the worst person in the world when you want a different situation. But a team can say, they're trading you and that man is to stay in shape, he is to stay professional, and if not his career is on the line. At some point this league has to protect the players from embarrassment like that."

Green, who has spent his entire nine-year career with the Warriors, called out the double standard in sides saying the want a trade. Teams can do so without any repercussions, like in the case of Drummond. Yet, Anthony Davis says publicly through his agent he's requesting a trade in January 2019 and he gets fined $50,000.


Mental health aspect of NBA trades

The three-time All-Star closed on comments about the mental health aspect of NBA trades and how players are treated when they're open and honest about their head space.

Nets star Kyrie Irving took time away from the team at the beginning of January and told reporters upon his return he was struggling with his mental health at the time. He was criticized for being away.

Green added that being a part of a trade, and one that is made public before it happens, can also be a drain on mental health and should be treated seriously. Just as the league has said in the past it would do for its players. Not being allowed to say certain things is also draining.

"Do you not think that affects someone mentally? As much as we put into this game to be great, to come out here to be in shape, to produce for fans every single night and most importantly to help your team win, do you think that doesn't affect someone mentally? But as players, we're told to, 'Oh you can't say that, you can't say this.' But teams can? It goes along the same lines of when everyone wants to say, 'Oh that young guy can't figure it out,' but no one wants to say, 'The organization can't figure it out.' At some point the players must be respected in this situations and it's ridiculous and I'm sick of seeing it.

"You all have a great night, I'll see you all tomorrow or Wednesday."


Bob



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Has anyone been paying attention to the Knicks and Thibs and Julius Randle? Right now Randle is in the conversation for MIP and may make his first all star team. Thibs has been getting so many compliments for his coaching from his players and the media as Knicks also lead the L in defense. Too late now, but love gruff old school coaches like Thibs, everywhere he went, that team improved and as soon as he left, the team fell apart....wish he was coaching here. Knicks are shockingly 1 game behind us.

cowens/oldschool wrote:Has anyone been paying attention to the Knicks and Thibs and Julius Randle? Right now Randle is in the conversation for MIP and may make his first all star team. Thibs has been getting so many compliments for his coaching from his players and the media as Knicks also lead the L in defense. Too late now, but love gruff old school coaches like Thibs, everywhere he went, that team improved and as soon as he left, the team fell apart....wish he was coaching here. Knicks are shockingly 1 game behind us.

Funny how Thibs has the reputation of being the most disliked coach in the NBA; players say they can't stand him.

Yet he gets results. Maybe spoiled young players can't handle the discipline.

NYCelt wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:Has anyone been paying attention to the Knicks and Thibs and Julius Randle? Right now Randle is in the conversation for MIP and may make his first all star team. Thibs has been getting so many compliments for his coaching from his players and the media as Knicks also lead the L in defense. Too late now, but love gruff old school coaches like Thibs, everywhere he went, that team improved and as soon as he left, the team fell apart....wish he was coaching here. Knicks are shockingly 1 game behind us.

Funny how Thibs has the reputation of being the most disliked coach in the NBA; players say they can't stand him.

Yet he gets results. Maybe spoiled young players can't handle the discipline.

On sports radio the Knicks young players are saying great glowing things about Thibs, can’t remember the name of the player, but he was raving about Thibs attention to detail, how well the team loves his game plans. That 08 team was all about defense and Knicks don’t have any what I would consider lockdown defensive types, yet there they are leading league in D.

So we are not the only team struggling, Bucks just lost 2nd game in a row to Raptors who had a stunning speed advantage at every position according to my eye test. I don’t know what happened to their offense, the Raptors defense was swarming them the whole night and beating them to spots. Speaking of defense the Bucks league leading defense the last 2 years is no where near that this season, they are clearly having chemistry and energy issues too.

That is funny because just a few weeks ago, Mike Gorman made the comment that Thibs was already on the hot seat because he is an old time coach and the players didn’t like it. Looks like they are finally buying into his system. No one deserves it more than him, he is a hard worker

Knicks wanted a tough old school disciplinarian. Brad would be a better assistant coach as an x and o guy.

This is the worse FA signing’s in a long time by Danny. Laundry Shamet, Josh Jackson, Bobby Portis, Nickolas Batum all could have been good cheap under the radar signings that could provide depth and help keep J’s fresh. I understand how difficult it is to land the big time FA, any of these guys would have been an upgrade over our limited inconsistent bench. Better hope/pray Nesmith and Romeo if ever can come around soon because 2 J’s need more help.

The Nets beat the Lakers, in LA, last night. No Davis for LA, but no Durant for Brooklyn. Brooklyn lead by 16 after 3.

Brooklyn is a very legitimate Big 3. So far they’re playing nice in the sand box. Example, Irving recently said Harden gets the point and he’ll create off the ball.

bobheckler wrote:The Nets beat the Lakers, in LA, last night.  No Davis for LA, but no Durant for Brooklyn.  Brooklyn lead by 16 after 3.

The Lakers were also without Dennis Schroeder.

Brooklyn was hitting their 3's and the Lakers were not.
Convincing win for the Nets.
They are going to be a very tough out in the playoffs.

James Harden is playing like Magic Johnson in Paul Pierce’s body.

At this stage, I am going to have to admit that Harden has figured it out.  I thought for sure his big head would completely destroy BKN but he is playing like Magic.  Kudos to him and 30 lashes with a wet noodle for me.  

This does not prevent me from coming back full force if (and when) the wheels start coming off the wagon.  I still have the vision in the playoffs firmly gorunded in my head of the clock running out and BKN has lost it's 4th game pre-NBA Finals.  That would just about do it for him and he and Barkley can commiserate.  

He may get his elusive title and avoid the Barkley Club if they keep playing like this.  Side note:  All of this is occurring sans Durant.  Hmmmmmmm....

In my humble but accurate opinion, they are looking and playing a lot like the 2008 Celtics.

db

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
about 16 hours ago
Remember eight days ago when the Celtics lost in Washington and the world ended? Wizards just beat the Lakers in LA. Their last eight days... W vs. Boston W vs. Houston W vs. Denver W @ Portland W @ L.A. Lakers You can't treat this like a regular NBA season. Because it's not.



Bob



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bobheckler wrote:Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
about 16 hours ago
Remember eight days ago when the Celtics lost in Washington and the world ended? Wizards just beat the Lakers in LA. Their last eight days... W vs. Boston W vs. Houston W vs. Denver W @ Portland W @ L.A. Lakers You can't treat this like a regular NBA season. Because it's not.

Bob

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This season ain't normal. We all should come to terms with that.

Wicked idea heyah: We fogget bout this year, shit can the rest of the games and staht ova come next Octobah? Pissa huh?

Yeah, Pissah.

Luka Doncic basketball card sells for $4.6 million dollars! Just reinforces sports is Big Business!!

https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/3/1/22307068/luka-doncic-basketball-card-sold-record-4-million

worcester wrote:Yeah, Pissah.

Wicked pissah.

Atlanta fired their head coach last night. I don't know if that means "a new broom sweeps clean" or they just think their new head coach, former assistant coach Nate McMillan (who was standing in for Lloyd Pierce when we played them both times) will get more out of the current roster.

We'll start to see which it is over the next 3 weeks or so. The trade deadline is 3/25, 23 days from now. As kdp pointed out in his thread the odds of John Collins getting traded are not insignificant.

Atlanta is 2 games out of 8th place. They are statistically tied with Cleveland and are 1 1/2 games behind Indiana and Chicago for 9th place.


Bob


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bobheckler wrote:Atlanta fired their head coach last night.  I don't know if that means "a new broom sweeps clean" or they just think their new head coach, former assistant coach Nate McMillan (who was standing in for Lloyd Pierce when we played them both times) will get more out of the current roster.

We'll start to see which it is over the next 3 weeks or so.  The trade deadline is 3/25, 23 days from now.  As kdp pointed out in his thread the odds of John Collins getting traded are not insignificant.

Atlanta is 2 games out of 8th place.  They are statistically tied with Cleveland and are 1 1/2 games behind Indiana and Chicago for 9th place.


Bob


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Bob

I really like Collins but think it would take a Marcus Smart to get him. That is a deal breaker for me. The Hawks have quality talent in their front line and at the wings. Nate is a defensive minded coach and would love to have Marcus.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/tj-mc-connell-post-rare-triple-double-with-steals-off-pacers-bench-025311508.html



T.J. McConnell posts rare triple-double with steals — off Pacers bench



Jason Owens

Wed, March 3, 2021, 6:53 PM



T.J. McConnell fell one steal short of the single-game record on Wednesday.

He still walked away with one of the most unique stats lines in basketball history. The Indiana Pacers point guard posted a triple-double with 16 points, 13 rebounds and 10 steals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.


Where McConnell's wild stat line lands

According to NBA.com, that's the first NBA triple-double with points, assists and steals since Mookie Blaylock logged 14 points, 11 assists and 10 steals for the Atlanta Hawks in 1998 — nearly 23 years ago. According to NBA Stats & Info, it was the 11th triple-double of any kind to include steals since the NBA recognized steals as a stat in the 1973-74 season.

He did it all from the bench. And he was perfect from the field, connecting on all eight of his shots. The Pacers walked away with a 114-111 victory. Not a bad day's work for the sixth-year veteran with career averages of 6.4 points, 4.9 assists and 1.2 steals.

Cavaliers'
T.J. McConnell posted one of the most unique stat lines in NBA history on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)


McConnell did break another steals record

McConnell put a scare into the single-game steals record in the first half alone, where he recorded nine of his swipes. That did add up to a record for one half.

But Kendall Gill (New Jersey Nets, 1999) and Larry Kenon (San Antonio Spurs, 1976) remain safe in the record book with 11 steals in a single game.


Bob
MY NOTE:  Payton Pritchard is our TJ McConnell.

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