Around The Horn 2021-2022 Season

LeBron has more basketball let in him, it is just, does he want to retire in LA or go somewhere else to play with his son Brony!! That poor kid to have to follow in his father's footsteps instead of paving his own way. As for LeBron, I could not care less if he ends up on in last place out of the playoffs. His act has grown weary

LeBron has more basketball let in him, it is just, does he want to retire in LA or go somewhere else to play with his son Brony!! That poor kid to have to follow in his father's footsteps instead of paving his own way. As for LeBron, I could not care less if he ends up on in last place out of the playoffs. His act has grown weary

https://www.yahoo.com/news/owners-coming-them-stephen-smith-012700217.html



‘The Owners Are Coming for Them’: Stephen A. Smith Thinks Players Are Slacking on the Job While Taking Advantage of Collective Bargaining


TSL Contributor
Thu, February 10, 2022, 5:27 PM



The trade deadline has come and gone without the Lakers trading Russell Westbrook.

We all know the Lakers have struggled, but now it’s getting to the point where talking heads are basically accusing the team of packing it in, which has led to a wider debate on the state of the league, its star players, the culture being set by those players and how the owners don’t like this age of empowerment one bit.


(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)


Brian Windhorst, Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins appeared on “First Take” to discuss the matter. Before Thursday’s James Harden for Ben Simmons trade, what happens to Russ was the main attraction as far as trade deadline news is concerned.

While trades were being discussed, Windhorst suggested that the Lakers need to make a move to get the team “reinvigorated.”


Earvin Magic Johnson
@MagicJohnson
After the @Lakers loss to Portland tonight, I'm speechless. No words can describe how I'm feeling.
9:21 PM · Feb 9, 2022

Stephen A. Smith took the conversation off its original course and alluded to the upcoming collective bargaining agreement, while taking a shot at NBA players and vouching for the owners.

Stephen A. Smith:

“The Los Angeles Lakers are an unmitigated disaster. They are a mess. They are going to cost people their livelihoods and in the midst of all of that, players who are getting paid don’t deserve to get paid, but they’ll get their money anyway. That’s why the next round of collective bargaining negotiations between the owners and players … is going to be must-see TV in terms of us talking about it, because these owners are coming for them.”

SAS didn’t stop there. He explained why the owners should be coming for the players who should be more committed to doing their jobs, in his opinion.

“The fact that you got guys taking time off. The fact that you have guys who don’t want to follow rules and regulations, the fact that you got guys who are being lackadaisical at their discretion. Picking when they want to play and how they want to play instead of being committed to doing their job. The owners are coming for them, and I call it down the middle, the way that I see it. Some of these dudes … if the players end up getting the short end of the stick, they would have deserved it, because some of the shenanigans simply can’t be tolerated. It’s bad for the game.”

Smith went on to blast the Lakers for losing to a Portland Trail Blazers team that just traded away CJ McCollum and was missing franchise star Damian Lillard and some other key pieces.


Not sure how these Lakers losses tie into players taking too many liberties with their power and not putting the best product on the floor for the fans, because LeBron James and Anthony Davis played on Wednesday night. And Russ Westbrook didn’t play, but from all accounts, nobody in the hoops world thinks he should even be on the floor, so that’s a win-win.

Then Stephen A. went after LeBron for his postgame interview where a frustrated King James said after the 107-105 loss to Portland on Wednesday night, that “I’m literally tired as hell right now. I just want to get some wine, get into bed and wake up tomorrow.”


Bob


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Stephen A. Hate him, love him, he does motivate strong reactions.

As for King James; “I’m literally tired as hell right now. I just want to get some wine, get into bed and wake up tomorrow.”

Can't criticize him for that particular statement. Something we've all said and felt. I'd just say make mine a scotch instead. A nice single malt. I'm okay with his statement of frustration otherwise.

what is the old saying ??? "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW"??????? rRussell Westbrook did not get traded to this team without the "approval" from James. Same thing with Davis. Why didn't they make a move? Because no one wants Westbrook's contract or his personality. He has yet to realize he is not the superstar he thinks he is. Yet he is getting paid as one. I will admit, I am not a Westbrook fan. from the time he was in OKC, setting the records fro triple/doubles, he just was one selfish player. I watched him one night, shoot his team right out of the playoffs by refusing to give the ball up. If I could see this why couldn't professionals see it

As great as James is, it proves the saying "it takes a village" He and Davis were not going to do this without a good surrounding cast. After I wipe the tears from my eyes for them, I will have a good laugh

RosalieTCeltics wrote:what is the old saying ??? "YOU REAP WHAT YOU SEW"???????   rRussell Westbrook did not get traded to this team without the "approval" from James. Same thing with Davis.  Why didn't they make a move?  Because no one wants Westbrook's contract or his personality.  He has yet to realize he is not the superstar he thinks he is. Yet he is getting paid as one.  I will admit, I am not a Westbrook fan. from the time he was in OKC, setting the records fro triple/doubles, he just was one selfish player.  I watched him one night, shoot his team right out of the playoffs by refusing to give the ball up.  If I could see this why couldn't professionals see it

As great as James is, it proves the saying "it takes a village"  He and Davis were not going to do this without a good surrounding cast. After I wipe the tears from my eyes for them, I will have a good laugh

"After I wipe the tears from my eyes for them, I will have a good laugh"

Weep those crocodile tears.  You are too funny, Rosalie.


Bob

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Anthony Davis sprained his ankle last night so badly he had to be helped to the locker room without being able to put any weight on his foot at all.  X-rays taken on site last night were negative, so no broken bones.

The team is saying he'll miss at least 2 weeks but that sounds like crap to me.  

1.  Unless you are a complete wuss, and Davis might be one, you do not come back from an ankle sprain so bad you cannot let it touch the ground (unless you're Paul Pierce being carried off on a stretcher and coming back later that game).

2.  They won't have an MRI on the ankle until today, so how do they know how extensive any soft tissue damage might be?

The timing, just like with Smart's ankle and RWill's calf and Jaylen's ankle, is good for LA.  We have the All-Star break to heal.  There's 1 week of rest and rehab right there with no games missed.




Bob

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CHICAGO (AP) — DeMar DeRozan's spectacular run is now one for the NBA record book.

DeRozan scored 38 points in breaking a mark set by Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain, and the Chicago Bulls beat the Sacramento Kings 125-118 on Wednesday night.

DeRozan, who made 16 of 27 field goals, became the first player in NBA history to score 35 or more points and shoot 50% or better in seven consecutive games. Chamberlain did it in six straight twice — during the 1960-61 and 1962-63 seasons.

It was also DeRozan’s eighth game in a row with 30 or more points. It’s the longest such streak by a Bulls player since Michael Jordan did it in eight straight in January 1996.

DeRozan had difficulty describing just how locked in he is. And when it came to the record, he was “speechless.”

“As a kid, as a fan of the history of the game, being in the league as long as I've been in this league — things like that continue to make me even more humble,” he said. “Being an NBA player and being able to have the privilege to be able to play this long and have these opportunities, man, it's something I never take for granted. And the crazy thing is I felt like I missed eight easy shots I normally would have made.”


Bob


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bobheckler wrote:Anthony Davis sprained his ankle last night so badly he had to be helped to the locker room without being able to put any weight on his foot at all.  X-rays taken on site last night were negative, so no broken bones.

The team is saying he'll miss at least 2 weeks but that sounds like crap to me.  

1.  Unless you are a complete wuss, and Davis might be one, you do not come back from an ankle sprain so bad you cannot let it touch the ground (unless you're Paul Pierce being carried off on a stretcher and coming back later that game).

2.  They won't have an MRI on the ankle until today, so how do they know how extensive any soft tissue damage might be?

The timing, just like with Smart's ankle and RWill's calf and Jaylen's ankle, is good for LA.  We have the All-Star break to heal.  There's 1 week of rest and rehab right there with no games missed.




Bob

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Sorry but I hope he’s on crutches till he’s old and gray.

Stephen  A(sshole) Smith is probably the #2 Knick fan after Spike Lee.   Listen to him go off.  100% on point too.


 


Bob


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https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-affirms-plan-play-225354419.html




LeBron James affirms plan to play final NBA season with Bronny


Cody Taylor
Sat, February 19, 2022, 2:53 PM·2 min read



Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on Saturday reaffirmed his plan to play his final season in the NBA with his oldest son, Bronny, on a team that he ultimately lands with.

LeBron has said numerous times that a long-term goal of his is to play with Bronny in the NBA. He is in his 19th season in the NBA and signed with the Lakers through the 2022-23 season when Bronny is scheduled to graduate high school.


Based on the current rules by the NBA, Bronny wouldn’t be eligible for the draft until 2024. However, the league could eventually allow players to declare for the draft straight out of high school, which would be next year when LeBron can be a free agent.

Whenever Bronny can enter the NBA, LeBron will be playing with him.

“My last year will be played with my son,” James said in an interview with Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”


Bronny James will turn 18 years old in October. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Bronny is a junior this year at Sierra Canyon High School in California. He is considered to be a four-star prospect by 247Sports and the 34th-ranked recruit in the class of 2023. He has been linked to several college programs, including Duke and Kentucky among others.

Of course, Bronny could also opt to turn pro out of high school if the NBA’s draft rules haven’t changed by then. There are several professional options available, including the NBA G League Ignite, Overtime Elite and the NBL in Australia.

In any case, the potential pairing of LeBron and Bronny in the NBA very much looks to be in the cards. With LeBron set on playing with Bronny, teams around the NBA should be on high alert to potentially land the father-son duo.


Bob
MY NOTE:  The NBA cannot draft right out of High School.  You can play in G-League, sign a two-way contract, play overseas or go to college but you cannot go straight into the NBA on the regular roster.  That means that LeBron will either play out his string in LA, maybe play one more year there or elsewhere until Bronny has finished his freshman year, and then one more year with Bronny OR he will play in the G-League or overseas with Bronny.  Can you imagine LeBron playing in the G-League?  I'd give Bronny a two-way contract if LeBron agreed to take the other two-way.  That way we could call both of them up to play in Boston.  Sprinkling some 4X Finals MVP knowledge around our locker room is definitely worth it.


.

Is the kid even that good to warrant an NBA contract? Just because he is LeBron's son???'  Naybe LeBron will buy a team in order for this to take place.  

Are there people other there still harboring anger over not trading for 3Davis?  This guy is soft, period. Zion, are you watching? 300 pounds and now possibly needing another surgery?  

I will take our disfunction at the beginning of the season before I will watch these ....... on other teams.  Al may be beginning  to show his age, but at least he in on the floor everynight playing decent, if not terrific, defense.  His shot has been terrific lately too.  So keep these supposed superstars.  I will take our chances with Rob, Al and Daniel

Rosalie,

I'm with you, if Queen James ever plays for the Celtics, I'll have to (temporarily) become a Charlotte Hornets fan. Oh, the humanity!!!

So now teams will draft "The Prince" way earlier in the draft than his talent deserves, just to get a chance at having his dad on their team. What a friggin' circus that will be!!

Hard to really know if Bronny has NBA level talent.  He has a long way to go.

He is ranked top 50 of all HS ballers.  Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, Kansas and NC may be in the recruiting mix.

Children of significant professional sports figures are under a microscope.

bobheckler wrote:https://sports.yahoo.com/lebron-james-affirms-plan-play-225354419.html




LeBron James affirms plan to play final NBA season with Bronny


Cody Taylor
Sat, February 19, 2022, 2:53 PM·2 min read



Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James on Saturday reaffirmed his plan to play his final season in the NBA with his oldest son, Bronny, on a team that he ultimately lands with.

LeBron has said numerous times that a long-term goal of his is to play with Bronny in the NBA. He is in his 19th season in the NBA and signed with the Lakers through the 2022-23 season when Bronny is scheduled to graduate high school.


Based on the current rules by the NBA, Bronny wouldn’t be eligible for the draft until 2024. However, the league could eventually allow players to declare for the draft straight out of high school, which would be next year when LeBron can be a free agent.

Whenever Bronny can enter the NBA, LeBron will be playing with him.

“My last year will be played with my son,” James said in an interview with Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It’s not about the money at that point.”


Bronny James will turn 18 years old in October. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Bronny is a junior this year at Sierra Canyon High School in California. He is considered to be a four-star prospect by 247Sports and the 34th-ranked recruit in the class of 2023. He has been linked to several college programs, including Duke and Kentucky among others.

Of course, Bronny could also opt to turn pro out of high school if the NBA’s draft rules haven’t changed by then. There are several professional options available, including the NBA G League Ignite, Overtime Elite and the NBL in Australia.

In any case, the potential pairing of LeBron and Bronny in the NBA very much looks to be in the cards. With LeBron set on playing with Bronny, teams around the NBA should be on high alert to potentially land the father-son duo.


Bob
MY NOTE:  The NBA cannot draft right out of High School.  You can play in G-League, sign a two-way contract, play overseas or go to college but you cannot go straight into the NBA on the regular roster.  That means that LeBron will either play out his string in LA, maybe play one more year there or elsewhere until Bronny has finished his freshman year, and then one more year with Bronny OR he will play in the G-League or overseas with Bronny.  Can you imagine LeBron playing in the G-League?  I'd give Bronny a two-way contract if LeBron agreed to take the other two-way.  That way we could call both of them up to play in Boston.  Sprinkling some 4X Finals MVP knowledge around our locker room is definitely worth it.  


.

Truth be told lil Bronny ain’t that good. if he does somehow slip through the cracks and ends up in the league it’ll be because of his Pappy. His Pappy however cannot shoot and dribble for him so Bronny better get good with a quickness.

https://lakersdaily.com/report-several-executives-believe-bronny-james-currently-projects-to-be-a-2nd-round-pick/



Report: Several executives believe Bronny James currently projects to be a 2nd-round pick


By Brad Sullivan


Some unnamed NBA executives believe that Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, currently projects to be a second-round draft pick.

“Having polled several executives, Bronny James probably projects to be a second-round pick at this point, though it’s too early to say with any certainty,” wrote Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. “A team could reach for the son to lure the father.”

The younger James doesn’t graduate from high school until next year. Under current NBA rules, he wouldn’t be eligible to be selected by any team until the 2024 NBA Draft.

This weekend, the elder James indicated that he plans to close out his storied NBA career by playing alongside his son.

There’s no guarantee that the younger James will be drafted as soon as he’s eligible. However, the elder James’ plans of joining his son wherever he lands make it almost a certainty that some team will scoop up the youngster.

For many teams, the idea of drafting the younger James and also getting one of the NBA’s greatest players ever is likely pretty enticing. This could help the younger James move up in the draft.

Of course, the younger James still has time to polish his own talents. Perhaps he could even turn into a legitimate first-round choice and silence the inevitable critics who will claim that his father is the reason he’s an NBA prospect.

For now, the elder James is simply trying to focus on getting the Lakers back on track as they get closer to the postseason. L.A. currently holds a poor 27-31 record.


Bob


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I'm really starting to enjoy JJ Redick's show.  LOL.

Smart is SUCH a clever defender.  Critical to good man-to-man defense is effort.  Energy.  Ganas.  You have to want it.  You have to want to take the shoulder to the sternum just to get the charge call.  You have to want to take the elbow to the chops because you're right up on your man smothering him so he can't easily bring the ball up to shooting position.  Smart, though, adds a whole additional layer to it.





Bob


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Can someone define "flopping" per the league? I'm going to guess if you are not flopping, you are bracing yourself for the hit so that when you are hit it's literally like going through a brick wall, i.e. there is some resistance.

And if you are flopping, it involves just standing there with no bracing so instead of a brick wall, you are like a piece of paper and upon being hit, you add flailing and some additional muscle movement/theatrics to ensure you get the call?

That sound about right?

db

Ah, strategic flopping. Creating a situation early in the game that makes the other team use their challenge, then they don't have it later in the game when it may count.

Genius.

And some folks want to trade Marcus Smart away to get the fictitious 3rd star?

Ridiculous.

I see Chris Paul will be out 6-8 weeks with a bad thumb injury.

Thank you!!

db

JJ Redick is asked what his favorite NBA memories of Boston are.





Bob


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Ima break a rule.

Would JJ consider signing a 10 day contract? Asking for a friend.

bobheckler wrote:I'm really starting to enjoy JJ Redick's show.  LOL.

Smart is SUCH a clever defender.  Critical to good man-to-man defense is effort.  Energy.  Ganas.  You have to want it.  You have to want to take the shoulder to the sternum just to get the charge call.  You have to want to take the elbow to the chops because you're right up on your man smothering him so he can't easily bring the ball up to shooting position.  Smart, though, adds a whole additional layer to it.





Bob


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I love the show. JJ has been the recipient of some high level schooling. He has nothing but top of the line guests and has them on numerous times (Tatum 3). It’s smart and JJ is an excellent host. I used to despise him as a player because I didnt know him. He said that he was supposed to sign with the C’s on a number of occasions but it never came to fruition. He told Chris Paul that there were times when he played with him he wanted to punch him in his Fn’ face. It’s great honest fun. Check out his one on one with Draymond. (Draymond said Danny almost had him after his first contract was getting ready to come to an end!