Around The Horn 2021-2022 Season

So. With all laker (I refuse to capitalize the L) problems who goes first after the season and they get blown out in the play in game? I know Westbrook wants out, but I am beginning to think they will get rid of Davis in post season. PLEASE BRAD……..do not listen to any phone calls from them. Let him rot in LA, he thought he was the second coming, let him rip them off for all his money and stay with his buddy LeBron.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/33566608/brooklyn-nets-star-ben-simmons-herniated-disk-back-line-return-unclear?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab



Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons has herniated disk in back; timeline for return still unclear


Nick Friedell
ESPN Staff Writer



NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons has a herniated disk in his back, coach Steve Nash said prior to Monday night's 114-106 win against the Utah Jazz.

Nash remains optimistic that Simmons will play at some point this season, but with just 11 regular-season games left, the organization is running out of time for the former All-Star to make his season debut. Simmons had an epidural last week to alleviate some pressure in his back.

"He's had this a couple years ago, so he's had [herniated disks] throughout his career at some points," Nash said. "And I guess there was a flare-up. I'm not sure when they recognized it was beyond a back flare-up and a herniated disk or what not, but somewhere along the line there, that was the reason for the epidural."

Nash said at this point the possibility of surgery has not been discussed, but Simmons has yet to be cleared for practice since he was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers just before the trade deadline last month. Simmons, who has not played this year -- as he waited for a trade from the Sixers -- initially started feeling some back soreness during the last week of February, according to Nash.

"From what I know, he trained pretty hard for five, six months," Nash said. "He was in a great place. Unfortunately, I think there was a little flare-up at some point in there and it's just never quite turned the corner since. I think he had months of five, six days a week on court and was doing very well, so just unfortunate, but we stay the course. And hopefully a good resolution to this in the near future."

Nash said last week that Simmons had an MRI on his back so that the organization could figure out what was causing the discomfort.

"I've had the same issues," Nash said. "But they're all really unique and different, so it's really hard for me to kind of share my experiences with it because my back was totally different. You just never know. You never know how it responds. You feel great and turn a corner and the next week or so or it could be a longer-term thing, so we just have to be patient and see how he goes."

Simmons' new teammates say that the 25-year-old remains in good spirits as he tries to work his way back to the floor.


"I don't have any advice for him," Kevin Durant said after Monday's shootaround. "He understands what he needs to do -- he's a pro. I think he just needs to know we support him, and we want him to get healthy. We don't want him to rush, even though we want to play with him badly. We don't want him to rush. No, I don't have any advice outside of 'Take your time and get right.'"

Nash said the Nets would "incorporate him at any point," whenever Simmons is ready to play again.

"I don't think it changes the outcome necessarily," Nash said of the recent revelation about Simmons' status. "We still have high hopes that he can come back. He's had moments during his rehab where he's on the court doing some things and it looks like he's about to turn a corner, and then there's a little setback. So I still feel optimistic that he can play for us."

Also Monday, the Nets said guard Joe Harris had left ankle ligament reconstruction surgery and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp ahead of the 2022-23 season. Dr. Robert Anderson performed the surgery at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Harris appeared in just 14 games this season, averaging 11.3 points and 4 rebounds a game.


Bob


.

was this known when they made the trade? seems both teams were in a hurry to get rid of "certain" players. this should have show in his pre trade physical. they must not have cared

https://nypost.com/2022/03/24/video-inside-wild-jimmy-butler-eric-spoelstra-heat-scuffle/



Inside wild Heat sideline spat with Jimmy Butler and Erik Spoelstra: ‘I’ll whoop your ass’


By Jenna Lemoncelli
March 24, 2022 10:59am  Updated


The Heat lived up to their name when a sideline spat broke out between Jimmy Butler and head coach Erik Spoelstra during Wednesday’s 118-104 loss to the Warriors at FTX Arena.

Miami’s bench cleared in the third quarter when Butler and Spoelstra’s war of words spilled onto the court, with Heat players having to separate the All-Star guard and their coach.

Viral videos show Heat veteran Udonis Haslem offering to throw fists after Spoelstra looked at Butler in the huddle and said, “What? What do you want me to do, fight you?”

Haslem took aim at Butler and said, “I’ll whoop your ass,” a few times over while being held back by teammates.


Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob
“are you f**king crazy?”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1506806985747939332


Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob
A+ clipboard smash
https://twitter.com/i/status/1506808045166202882


Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob
“what? do you want me to f**king fight you?”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1506811121474306048


At one point, Spoelstra smashed his clipboard to the floor while walking in circles, continuing to exchange words with Butler.

Spoelstra addressed the scuffle after the Wednesday loss and chalked it up to his team’s competitive nature.

“We have a very competitive, gnarly group and we were getting our asses kicked,” he said. “Every single person in that huddle was pretty animated about our disappointment in how we were playing.”

Spoelstra joked that the spat was over when “everyone wondering where the dinner plans were after the game.”


Head coach Erik Spoelstra of the Miami Heat yells at Jimmy Butler
Getty Images


Miami’s loss snapped Golden State’s three-game losing streak as the Warriors continue to navigate a lineup without Steph Curry, who’s been sidelined with a sprained left foot.

The Heat are heading to New York for back-to-back games against the Knicks on Friday and the Nets Saturday — and Miami can’t afford chemistry issues right now.


Bob
MY NOTE:  The videos that come with the tweets are amazing.  What a perfect time for a Heat blow up.


.

Don't look now, but the Lakers are in 11th place, out of even the Play-In tournament.  They are in a statistical tie with San Antonio, but SAS owns the tiebreaker.

What a Tale of Two Cities!  Early in the season the Lakers were looking very dominant and the Celtics were looking iffy, at best.  Now we're competing for the EC lead, in 3rd place and can regain 1st place with a win tonight, while LA is continuing their swan dive into their Lake(ers) of overpaid arrogance and hubris.

7 games left for both the Spurs and Lakers. Go Pop!!!


Bob


.

MY NOTE:  TIME TO BLOW EVERYBODY'S HEADS UP.  YOU'RE WELCOME.


https://www.celticslife.com/2022/04/lebron-james-and-his-son-bronny-angling.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook


LeBron James and his son Bronny angling to join Boston Celtics


LeBron James has said when his son Bronny joins the NBA, they will be teammates. Add in the fact that the current Lakers are a dumpster fire aboard a sinking ship (and the ocean waves won't even diminish the flames) and there would be no shock in NBA circles if LeBron didn't finish out his career in L.A.

I mean LeBron left Cleveland, and then Miami, and then Cleveland again, so it's not like he has a loyalty to the Lakers. And today comes the news that LeBron's son Bronny's two favorite NBA players are Jayson Tatum and Payton Pritchard and the young prospect hopes to play for the Celtics. Piggybacking that report is the text leak where LeBron says he'll join the Celtics first to expedite the family reunion.

LeBron is already part owner of the Boston Red Sox due him buying into the Fenway Group and he has spoken affectionately about Boston fans on many occasions. According to James' inner circle he likes the idea of finishing his career by playing for the two winningest franchises in NBA history.

And if you need even more smoke or sources, just check the calendar.


Bob
MY NOTE:  I have NO idea what he's talking about with the calendar.


.

April Fools Day?

bobc33 wrote:April Fools Day?

I think you are correct.

https://www.masslive.com/celtics/2022/04/former-celtics-guard-carsen-edwards-joining-pistons-on-two-year-deal-report.html



Former Celtics guard Carsen Edwards joining Pistons on two-year deal (report)


Published: Apr. 03, 2022, 12:19 p.m.


By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com



Former Celtic Carsen Edwards will be making his return to the NBA for the final week of the regular season. According to Shams Charania of the Athletic, Edwards has agreed to a two-year deal with the Detroit Pistons.

Edwards has spent the entire season in the G-League with the Salt Lake City Stars, posting 26.7 points per game. He spent two years with Boston after being drafted at No. 33 overall in the 2019 NBA Draft following a draft night deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.

The ex-Purdue guard produced high hopes early in his pro career after a standout performance in Las Vegas Summer League during his rookie year. However, the 5-foot-11 guard was never able to develop into a consistent contributor in Boston, averaging just 3.6 points per game while shooting 37.2 percent from the field over 68 games during his first two seasons.

Boston traded Edwards, Kris Dunn and a 2026 2nd round pick swap to the Memphis Grizzlies for Juancho Hernangomez back in September. Edwards was waived by Memphis just one week later before catching on in the G-League. He should get solid opportunity off the bench for the Pistons in the final week of the season as they rest their regulars who have been ravaged by injuries.

The second-year of Edwards’ deal is likely non-guaranteed but he should get a good opportunity to earn a roster spot on a rebuilding squad that could use more depth in the backcourt. Look for him to spend Summer League suiting up for the Pistons in hopes of trying to earn a full-time spot in the league next year.


Bob
MY NOTE: Two points: One, Congrats Carsen and; Two, better Detroit than us.

.

I was waiting for him to sign with Utah.......Danny Ainge project who became a bench warmer. Good luck to him, he put a show on for us in the summer league but could not put fifteen minutes together here on the floor for the Celtics, I hope for his sake he succeeds, but Bob is right, he had enough time here to prove he was worth the time. hope for his sake the pastures are greener in Detroit

With the Laker loss to Denver yesterday the Lakers are now in 11th place, out of the play-in, by 2 games in the loss column with 4 games to go.  Their H2H record vs San Antonio this season is 2-2 with no more games against them left.  The next tiebreaker is Conference Record, since they are not in the same Division.  Spurs are in the catbird seat with a 23-25 record vs LA's 16-32 record.  This means their number for being eliminated from post-season play (what's the opposite of the Magic Number called? Death Watch?) is 2.  Any combination of 2 Laker losses and/or Spurs wins totaling 2 and they're done.

I think this would be the first time LeQueen will have missed the playoffs since 2005, his 2nd season at Cleveland.  And there was no play-in back then, you had to be in the top 8.


Bob

.

And now the Lakers playoff hopes are done. I rejoice!

Also, I see signals that the LeBron era is ending. Even the perpetual LeBron apologist, Brian Windhorst, wrote about how LeBron's MO has been to drain the franchises in about 4 years. Just that this time he has no need and no where to go.

prakash wrote:And now the Lakers playoff hopes are done.  I rejoice!

Also, I see signals that the LeBron era is ending.  Even the perpetual LeBron apologist, Brian Windhorst, wrote about how LeBron's MO has been to drain the franchises in about 4 years.  Just that this time he has no need and no where to go.

prakash,

Exactly!!

And they went out with a whimper, blown out, and locked into the 11th spot with 3 games still to go.


Bob


.

Funny Laker Fan Tweet



Steph Noh
@StephNoh
Careful out there everyone. I had two Lakers-Thunder tickets in my car for Friday and someone broke in and left four more.




Bob


.

https://ballers.ph/features/the-nine-circles-of-hell-a-21-22-los-angeles-lakers-eulogy/


MY NOTE:  I found this to be a very clever, albeit looong, article.  Of course, that might just be my schadenfreude showing.  In general anybody who makes their point by tying it to a classical reference will get my attention.


The Nine Circles of Hell: A ’21-22 Los Angeles Lakers Eulogy





The San Antonio Spurs have officially clinched their play-in spot


Author
FRANCIS TIOPIANCO
April 6, 2022



“MIDWAY upon the journey of our life

I found myself within a forest dark,

For the straightforward pathway had been lost.”

– Dante Alighieri/Every Lakers fan


The 2021-22 Lakers are officially dead. It was a merciful end to a team that has been on life support since going 0-6 in the preseason. But I’m not here to spit on the grave of the departed. Rather, I offer empathy. I wholeheartedly volunteer to play the role of Virgil and help mourning Lakers fans navigate their way through the nine circles of hell.

A fair warning before proceeding: “Abandon all hopes ye who enter here.”


First Circle: Limbo

The first circle is home to the virtuous sportswriters and podcasters. This is not a place of punishment so much as regret. Say hello to Bill Simmons, Jackie MacMullan, Zach Lowe, Marc Stein, and a bunch of lesser souls who all drank too much of the Lakers’ bubble Kool-Aid and were too reverent of the false god-king LeBron James.

They ignored the divine revelations that have been made known in the years since LeBron took his talents to Hollywood:

• 2018-19: missed the playoffs

• 2019-20: Disney bubble ring*

• 2020-21: out in the first round as the seventh seed

• 2021-22: missed the playoffs

These heathens refused to acknowledge the self-evident and immutable truths that the Lakers were old, did not have enough defense and shooting and athleticism, LeBron and Anthony Davis were not durable, and Russell Westbrook fit like O.J. Simpson’s glove.


Second Circle: Lust

The Bronsexuals. Nick Wright, Shannon Sharpe, Jay Williams, Kendrick Perkins, Jason McIntyre—guys who drank more than just LeBron’s Kool-Aid, if you know what I mean. Perk even predicted 70 wins for a team that wouldn’t even reach half of that.

ClutchPoints
@ClutchPointsApp
“You cannot tell me that you’re gonna have LeBron, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Carmelo Anthony, Rajon Rondo, Dwight Howard, Trevor Ariza…imma be surprised if they don’t scratch the surface of a 70 win season.”

-Kendrick Perkins on Lakers pre-season

https://twitter.com/i/status/1499626166113554432


These guys are so blinded by their lust for LeBron that they think he deserves zero blame for the Lakers’ dysfunctional season. The only thing that matters to these false prophets is that a 37-year-old LeBron is averaging 30.3 points per game in year 19. “He literally has to score 50 for them to win,” is what they say. Which is just terrible logic, because Kobe Bryant was 6-0 when he scored 60 or more—but only one game came in a title season.

https://c.tenor.com/AdMlxs87UgYAAAPo/michael-jordan-get-some-help.mp4


Third Circle: Gluttony

The Lakers overindulged on star power in the offseason. They added two top 75 players in Westbrook and Carmelo Anthony, plus the biggest snub on the 75th anniversary team, Dwight Howard. Here’s a rundown of how stacked this team was on paper:


Ball Don't Stop
@balldontstop
I repeat, these Lakers are the most STACKED team we have ever seen on paper. Literally.




They almost signed DeMar DeRozan and acquired Buddy Hield from the Kings, but Rob Pelinka nixed these moves after LeBron and Westbrook started their bromance. Would DeRozan and Hield have made the Lakers better? Probably, given that DeRozan is having an All-NBA year in Chicago, while Hield would have provided them with much-needed shooting.


Fourth Circle: Greed

This level of Hell is reserved for those who care more about individual stats than team success.

rzdiesel
@RzDiesel
FATHER TIMMMEEEEE got his hands on LeBron's shoulders. He's pressed to get the scoring title so he expends all his energy in the 1st 3 quarters scoring. He's got nothing when his team needs him in crunch time.

I'm here for it
BossHogg
@6Hogg6
LeBron is now 0-13 from 3 in the clutch.....THIS YEAR. This is the worst single-season display of clutch shooting in NBA history.

Again, all of these air balls and bricks in the clutch are from THIS YR.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1510125221012860931


Once AD started missing games in December, it became clear that LeBron’s priority was catching Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s all-time scoring record and winning a second scoring title. Many expected Westbrook to take on more of the scoring load, but LeBron never allowed Russ to be comfortable in the system. Westbrook became the convenient scapegoat, but let’s not forget that he was still a viable co-star on playoff teams before he went to LA. In his last two seasons, he reached the second round with James Harden at Houston and made the playoffs with Bradley Beal in Washington.

Defense is the best indicator of how much a player wants to win because it’s mostly about effort. And this is what we got from LeBron every night:


Jake Reetz
@jajareetz
4 possessions

1. LeBron isn’t on the screen
2. LeBron doesn’t close out
3. LeBron jogs to the paint & doesn’t go for rebound
4. LeBron isn’t on the screen

https://twitter.com/i/status/1503180732109590528


30 points and zero defense. Sounds like Melo has had a profound influence on LeBron.


Fifth Circle: Anger

We’ll probably have to circle back to this as the final destination for some of you Lakers fans. Far too often, you’ve directed your fury at Russ. Hurled insults at him and his family. Called him “Westbrick.” Even wished his family ill.

6ixBuzzTV
@6ixbuzztv
WATCH: Toronto man records himself talking trash to Russell Westbrook and telling him that he’s “slacking on the court”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1504832580599922688


But Russ is just doing his job. He is a career 43.8% shooter; he’s shooting 44.4% this year. It was your own unreasonable expectations that he’ll turn into Desmond Bane. Yes, Russ has been a bad fit, but we all knew that when they got him.

When you direct all that verbal abuse at someone, you can’t expect a proud man like Russ to take it like Chris Rock. You’ll be fighting with him for eternity on the River of Styx.


???????????? ???????????????????????????????? ????????????????
@sportingnews
"Westbrick to me is now shaming, like it's shaming my name and my legacy for my kids."

Russell Westbrook spoke at length about criticism he and his family have faced this season.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1501183424836558849


Sixth Circle: Heresy

This is the place for those who rejected a universal basketball dogma: Michael Jordan is the GOAT.

NBA on TNT
@NBAonTNT
"At that moment I was like I'm the greatest basketball player people have ever seen. ... Doing something that's never been done in the history of the sport."

@KingJames sits down with @TheJetonTNT to discuss what makes a GOAT

https://twitter.com/i/status/1495563713448923145


There are few true parallels between Jordan’s and LeBron’s careers. One is 1998/2014, when both played Finals rematches against great teams (Jazz and Spurs both won 62 games) led by all-time great power forwards (Karl Malone/Tim Duncan) while having to deal with injuries to their own co-stars (Scottie Pippen/Dwyane Wade). We know how those ended: Jordan won his sixth title with “The Last Shot”; LeBron got blown out by 15 points per game in a gentleman’s sweep.

This year may be another good candidate. You can juxtapose the 2022 Lakers with the 2002 Wizards featuring a 38-year-old MJ. Just before the 2002 All-Star break, Jordan was averaging 25.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.3 assists while leading Washington to a 27-21 record, good for fifth in the Eastern Conference. His teammates? Rip Hamilton, Chris Whitney, Courtney Alexander, Tyronn Lue, Hubert Davis, Popeye Jones, Christian Laettner, Kwame Brown, and Jahidi White—which seriously reads like the “Who He Play For?” All-Stars.

Jordan injured his knee on Feb. 7, played through it before having an in-season surgery, missed 22 games, came back for the final stretch as a sixth man, saw his scoring average dip to 22.9, and the Wizards ultimately fell short of the postseason. Here’s the thing though: even with the injury and a roster chock-full of journeymen, the 2002 Wizards still managed to win more games (37) than the stacked Lakers (31 with three games left). The Wizards were 30-30 when Jordan played; the Lakers were 25-31 with LeBron. But the difference goes beyond the win-loss record. Jordan literally did what he could to save the season—the in-season knee surgery and accepting a bench role—while LeBron only looked like he was doing everything by putting up empty calories, many of them with the Lakers down 25. That’s what separates the GOAT from the great.

Heretics have no doubt been poisoned by the Bronsexuals who reside in the second circle. But they are condemned to an eternity of flaming tombs because they refuse to accept that Jordan is the GOAT despite Bill Simmons, John Hollinger, ESPN, The Athletic, some random stranger on social media, and Cleveland fans preaching them the gospel truth.

Follow @FTB_VIDS
@FTB_VIDS
Jordan got louder cheers IN CLEVELAND than Lebron! That's wild.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1495594767819939842


Seventh Circle: Violence

This circle is reserved for those who are violent in life. Pretty self-explanatory.


ESPN
@espn
Things got chippy between Dwight Howard and Anthony Davis on the Lakers’ bench.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1451752404706217984



Rob Perez
@WorldWideWob

https://twitter.com/i/status/1462587423037165572


Eighth Circle: Fraud

You’ll find the con artists here. Those who knowingly peddle false narratives pre-approved by the Klutch Propaganda Ministry. And, of course, the king himself, LeFraud LeBron.

LeBron has deceived us about participating in the dunk contest.


Tobzilla
@tobzillaortobz
Look at this EGREGIOUS lie

https://twitter.com/i/status/1402469193233145856

Look at this EGREGIOUS lie

Leonard Sabotlicky
@JWIMYS
KD lie more than Bron bruh but his lies nowhere near funnier lol. KD has the quantity Bron the quality


Reading Malcolm X’s autobiography.

G.O.L.D
@SD_TheJuiceman
Like bruh clearly ain't read this book man

https://twitter.com/i/status/1402584827539333125


Watching the Godfather.

TJ
@TraMurr
The Godfather lie is clearly the biggest lie LeBron James or any other athlete has ever said @Skinny_Unscrptd. LeBron had that press video when he was questioned on it wiped away from youtube and every other platform. Except for Reddit.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1402681076980539392


The broken hand.

Lucky Lefty
@SayNoToInk
The magic broken hand and fake cast in the finals even though he was throwing alley oops to himself off the backboard the game before will always be my favorite.




His shoulders being built for a reason.


bulls fan
@bullsfan_14
Lebron “these shoulders were built for a reason” James.




And the “narrative ENERGY”—whatever that means.


NBA Memes
@NBAMemes
LeBron’s tweet at the start of the Lakers season did not age well




Ninth Circle: Treachery

A frozen wasteland occupied by characters straight out of Game of Thrones: Jeannie Buss, Pelinka, Rich Paul, and LeBron’s LeGM alter-ego.

The Lakers’ biggest problem this year was their roster. They could’ve had DeRozan and Hield in lieu of Westbrook. But LeBron vetoed those moves. They could’ve also re-signed Alex Caruso, who would’ve improved their defense, but chose to go with Talen Horton-Tucker—a Klutch client.

As the Westbrook experiment went south, LeBron and Klutch reportedly pressured Pelinka to trade Westbrook in a bid to undo their offseason mistake. When Pelinka balked at throwing a first round pick to get Houston’s John Wall (who, you guessed it, is also a Klutch client), things reached a boiling point.

In the immediate aftermath of the trade deadline, LeBron went on a passive-aggressive media tour during the All-Star break: lavishing praises on OKC’s Sam Presti, leaving the door open on a return to the now-promising Cavs, and openly talking about his desire to play with Bronny.

Then reports surfaced that the front office were pressuring Frank Vogel to demote Westbrook to the bench. Even Phil Jackson’s name got dragged into the mix, after reports emerged that Buss had been in contact with her ex-fiancé about team matters all season long.

Most of these tend to reflect poorly on the front office, so it’s quite easy to deduce which side is leaking the information. Klutch was trying to lay the blame on Pelinka, but he—with Buss’s support—wasn’t having any of it. BS mentioned in his podcast that Buss stood up to Klutch and basically told LeBron’s team that this is their mess. All these sound like the perfect screenplay for HBO’s Winning Time sequel.

One final tip before we leave hell: If you ever see a man with a knife still sticking out of his back, say a little prayer, that’s Russ.

* I didn’t forget about the asterisk. The bubble was a shameless money grab by the NBA in the middle of the pandemic. The setup clearly benefitted the Lakers the most, with an aging LeBron and the injury-prone AD. The 20-week regular season break and the elimination of home-and-away travel prevented their bodies from breaking down, as they would have under normal circumstances. How do we know this for a fact? Because outside the bubble season, neither LeBron nor AD has played more than 60 games in a season as a member of the Lakers.

Also, Davis, who was making the first deep playoff run of his career, didn’t have to go through the pressure cooker in front of an opposing team’s home floor. Every superstar had to go through it—LeBron himself experienced it at the TD Garden early in his career. It’s a baptism of fire.

Sure, I can concede that the Lakers were the best team under the specific set of circumstances in the bubble and deserved to win something, but those circumstances did not resemble actual NBA basketball and that “something” is not the equivalent of a proper NBA championship.


Bob


.

Looks like Step 1 in the Lakers dismantling has begun with ESPN practically confirming Vogel is done. This is not the main show nor the main problem. Just someone to take the initial fall. But the first step anyway. Up next in case you're following along, Mr. Palinka.

db

Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
1 minute ago
#Lakers officially fire Frank Vogel.


Bob


.

They also need to fire the GM Pelinka.

dboss wrote:They also need to fire the GM Pelinka.

Especially as they can’t fire GM LeFraud.

The most over used phrase in these situations is the term "accountability" or any of its derivatives.

Palunka used them uncountably yesterday in the presser. And basically said everyone was accountable starting with his office. So if they had to can Vogel and he was held accountable, then Palunka getting the boot logically has to be next. You can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. Not sure of the timing or when they are going to do it, but it will happen. Hey I hear from Stephen A. that Kurt Rambis is available!!

Again, the only coach that would work for that bunch of idiot egos and even consider that job would be a Phil Jackson in his prime and since those days have LONG passed, expect the 5-7 year plan of mediocrity or worse to fall on the Lakers as Boston racks up 5-7 titles over the next 10 seasons.

Well, that's enough to keep me coming back for more seasons of League Pass!!

db

One thing to bet on. LA may make changes, but LeBron will be there or somewhere in the NBA for the next few years. He says he wants to play with Bronny in Bronny's rookie season, and Bronny is a HS Junior now.

Assuming Bronny’s good enough to make the NBA.
Ury’s still out. If not Bron can join Bronny on Bryant and Stratton’s Jr. college squad.

https://sports.yahoo.com/ben-simmons-to-undergo-back-surgery-233409581.html



Ben Simmons to undergo back surgery


Jason Owens

Wed, May 4, 2022, 4:34 PM·1 min read



The Brooklyn Nets announced on Wednesday that Ben Simmons will undergo back surgery on Thursday.

Simmons didn't play for the Nets this season after a February trade from the Philadelphia 76ers. After reports that he might join the Nets lineup for its first-round series against the Boston Celtics, Simmons remained sidelined as Brooklyn was swept out of the playoffs. The Nets announced prior to Game 4 that Simmons wouldn't play, citing "back soreness."

He'll undergo a procedure called a microdiscectomy to alleviate pain, according to the Nets.

"After consultation with multiple back specialists, it has been determined that the best course of action for Ben's long-term health is for him to undergo surgery," the Nets statement reads. "The microdiscectomy procedure, scheduled for Thursday, is designed to alleviate pain caused by the herniated disc in Ben's back. Further updates will be provided following the procedure."


Bob
MY NOTE:  "Microdisectomy"?  You mean you'll open him up a little bit?

This is from the USC Spine Center:

"Microdiscectomy is a very common, if not the most common, surgery performed by spine surgeons. The operation consists of removing a portion of the intervertebral disc, the herniated or protruding portion that is compressing the traversing spinal nerve root."

Recovery time is pegged at about 8 weeks.  Pain is described as "mild to moderate".  Ben Simmons' rehab program will include back stretches, guided physical therapy and a lot of clothes shopping (jk   ).


.

Yeah, Stephen A. was going off on FT about this. Still not backing down (no pun intended) and saying BS is going to be the main reason for the insertion of the new play to pay/pay to play clause in the upcoming CBA, next to Kryrie, of course.

Again for BS, this creates more questions than it answers which for BKN is par for the course.

db