Around The League 2024-2025 Season

bobheckler wrote:Joel Embiid has been suspended by the league for 3 games for shoving a reporter.

The reporter had written a column in the Philadelphia Inquirer mentioning Embiid's son and his dead brother, both named Arthur, and questioned Embiid's professionalism.  He shoved him and said "if you ever talk about them again you'll find out what I'll do to you"

If someone talked shite about my dead brother and the son I named after him they'd be dining on room temperature soup and ice cream for a long time and to Hell with the league.  They should ban that reporter from the Sixers locker room and facility until he issues a heartfelt apology in a separate column.


Bob


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The reporter crossed an obvious line and should be sanctioned.

This is one time I will agree with you about Embid.  There are things in this world that are off limits.  It sounds like this guy was baiting Embid. Stupid league.   And others walk away doing even worse. Just plain stupid

Yep.  Joe Dumas had a chance to put the media in their place.  Family should be off limits.  That dipshit should be fired and banned from reporting.  Definitely baiting.  I hate it when you have certain people in the media who think that just because they have a pen, recorder and a question someone has to acknowledge you and answer any DA question you happen to ask.  And if you don't answer it, you're the problem.  In this scenario, this dude suffers no consequences for his free speech.  Yet Joel can't push back and defend his family and he gets penalized?!  I say, Come on, man!!  

Joe Dumars, you can do better than this.  You've done a great job in this position.  But not on this.  Give Embiid the benefit of the doubt, here.  This is ridiculous!  He shoved an a-hole.  BFD.  Joel could have used better words but you're talking about one's family.  Good luck controlling your reactions.

db

gyso wrote:

bobheckler wrote:Joel Embiid has been suspended by the league for 3 games for shoving a reporter.

The reporter had written a column in the Philadelphia Inquirer mentioning Embiid's son and his dead brother, both named Arthur, and questioned Embiid's professionalism.  He shoved him and said "if you ever talk about them again you'll find out what I'll do to you"

If someone talked shite about my dead brother and the son I named after him they'd be dining on room temperature soup and ice cream for a long time and to Hell with the league.  They should ban that reporter from the Sixers locker room and facility until he issues a heartfelt apology in a separate column.


Bob


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The reporter crossed an obvious line and should be sanctioned.  

Due to my love of the Philadelphia Eagles I’ll often go to the Philadelphia Inquirer website. I am familiar with the writer, Marcus Hayes, “work”. He is an antagonizer (if that’s a word) too many of his articles are accusatory and confrontational. In my personal opinion, he’s a hack. It’s as if he has decided that the best way to fame and fortune is to take cheap shots and stir the pot. Without me not being in the greater Philly area, my impression is that he’s not very popular with the readers and definitely not with the athletes, of all of the four major sports in the city, Eagles, Phillies, Sixers, and Flyers.

willjr,

If that's the case for that writer, then PHI has the control of which reporters gain access to the locker room.  They can't control what any media prints but they can control who gains access to the locker room.  That buffoon will never see the inside of that locker room again.  But like you implied, he doesn't care.   

db

Jodi Embiid and when criticism of athletes goes too far:

It doesn’t seem like it’s been nearly three years since one of Philadelphia’s favorite sons slapped the taste out of Chris Rock’s mouth. I remember the initial outrage and how folks insisted it would be the end of Will Smith’s career. In a fun twist of irony, it was a movie franchise entitled “Bad Boys” that returned Smith to prominence and reminded folks of his greatness.

I couldn’t help but think of The Slap when Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid shoved columnist Marcus Hayes after the Philadelphia Inquirer columnist took a cheap shot in one of his commentaries. It was a banner week for Philly sports icons, as former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce spiked a heckler’s phone on Penn State’s campus after the “fan” used a homophobic slur against his brother. Kelce apologized, saying that he met “hate with hate.” But isn’t that the American way?

The incidents were a reminder of how comfortable society is in going out of bounds to attack athletes, but most people only identify with those conflicts when they become physical, such as Kelce’s encounter, or Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts versus a couple of thugs in Yankees apparel during the World Series. But what happens when those attacks involve the media?

The NBA’s investigation of the incident yielded a three-game suspension for Embiid. “Mutual respect is paramount to the relationship between players and media in the NBA,” Joe Dumars, the NBA’s executive VP of basketball operations, said in a statement. “While we understand Joel was offended by the personal nature of the original version of the reporter’s column, interactions must remain professional on both sides and can never turn physical.”

With respect to Dumars, professionalism and mutual appreciation were lacking long before Embiid lost his cool. From my viewpoint, The Shove wasn’t as harmful as this excerpt from Hayes’ shortsighted and insensitive column:


Joel Embiid consistently points to the birth of his son, Arthur, as the major inflection point in his basketball career. He often says that he wants to be great to leave a legacy for the boy named after his little brother, who tragically died in an automobile accident when Embiid was in his first year as a 76er.

Well, in order to be great at your job, you first have to show up for work. Embiid has been great at just the opposite.
Those lines have since been deleted from Hayes’ column, but the damage has been done, not just from those specific words, but in a general sense. Russell Westbrook’s response to a racist fan back in 2019 should have been met with not just swift rebuke, but actionable steps to prevent such occurrences from happening again. Because we treat athletes as if they’re part of entertainment, and not human beings, we allow sideshow incidents because we think they’re just part of the circus.

That sense of policy among professional leagues might be more prevalent if certain media members didn’t fuel the fire with their own antics. People even go so far as to call it “journalism,” even though our industry isn’t just about reporting, nor the final product. It’s about how we engage with the community, whether we choose to use words to build up or to tear down.

It was difficult for me to be enraged by The Slap or The Shove because I understand America. Violence is irrevocably woven into our DNA, both in terms of poverty and policy. The nastiness we allow in our divisive and hyperpolarized politics – with little room for decorum, let alone democracy – has driven this country to madness. What does a singular slap or shove mean in a world where police brutality endures? When violence against women, both domestically and in healthcare, endures?

That might be apples and oranges to folks who want to separate politics and sports, but there’s always been mutuality between the two. It’s why LeBron James has to shut up and dribble, while San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa’s choice of headwear and Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s political kicks, however wide right, are celebrated. Further, that old saying about “sticks and stones” in relation to words has always been intellectually dishonest. Words do hurt, and further, words are the beginning of narratives, which drive this particular industry, for better and for worse. Fake news, you say?

When media corporations and their underlings, no matter their race or gender, go outside of the lines in a warped sense of holding athletes to account, it’s a race to the bottom that all of us lose. Ours is an industry full of junk food hot takes that not only perpetuate the “fake news” narrative, but devalue both the athlete and what people perceive to be journalism.

When Embiid says that he has done too much for this city for people to say he doesn’t want to play, that is a commentary which goes beyond the court. Contrary to the narratives of folks who don’t care, athletes are invested in their communities beyond the superficial, or, to the cynical, seeing charity as a tax write-off. I went to Memphis less than a month ago and was impressed at how that city has embraced a fellow South Carolinian, Ja Morant, flaws and all. His teammate, Jaren Jackson Jr., spoke compellingly during the Freedom Award, the National Civil Rights Museum’s signature event, about players’ conscientiousness when it comes to the legacy of civil rights.

Embiid wears that commitment to the city twofold in naming his charitable gestures “In Memory of Arthur.” The faces who those initiatives serve look like mine. And his. They are important to those of us who care about more than load management or titles.

The championship perspective is really an ironic component of all of this. Do you want to see Embiid in November, or during the playoff stretch? Certainly, the Olympics took a toll on him, but his presence was necessary for this country to win the gold medal. The man needs time to get back to full strength. That’s a part of the Process, whether you like it or not.
Joel Embiid and when criticism of athletes goes too far:

Our industry needs a cultural reset. Our criticisms of athletes and celebrities should not dehumanize them. When celebrities or athletes respond to vile behavior in a fit of rage, it doesn’t make them less human. It makes them more human because they are pushing back against the darkness. And our industry should try to do the same.

This article originally appeared on the ESPN website

Unfortunately Will, as we have just seen, this is the world we are living in right now.  Things that should never be acceptable are just glossed over, or treated lightly.  Great life if you can live it

RosalieTCeltics wrote:Unfortunately Will, as we have just seen, this is the world we are living in right now.  Things that should never be acceptable are just glossed over, or treated lightly.  Great life if you can live it

You’re right Rosie, sad but true. I find myself much to often SMH at some of the things happening around me/us.

This is JJ Redick commenting on D'Angelo Russell:


“Just level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple of weeks,” Redick said when asked why he limited Russell’s role in Memphis. “And at times, he’s been really good with that stuff. And other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits. But it wasn’t like a punishment. It just felt for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take.”
Source: ESPN


Bob
MY NOTE:  Believe it or not this is Russell's 9th season in the league, his first year was 2015-2016 and this is 2024-2025, and his coaches are talking about his "level of compete" and him not paying attention to what his coaches had been telling him.  He's 28 years old, this is his prime.  He should be firing on all 8.  Where's LeBron's leadership here?  Russell is a key member of his team.  He gets coaches hired and fired, he gets players traded for (e.g. AD) but he can't have a "come to Jesus" meeting with Russell?  What I find interesting is that in 8 games so far Russell is averaging 30mpg.  So, what limitations is the media asking Redick about, and why did Redick feel an explanation was justified?  Russell is in his final year of a 2-year contract with the Lakers, at $18M/year.  He is a UFA next season, making him an expiring contract, maybe even a very attractive expiring contract.  A team can unload a couple of bad long-term contracts for $18M and be ready for free agency next summer. The Lakers are currently 4-4, mediocre, and now that LeBron has made history by playing with is son there isn't any reason other than winning another ring for him to stick around. Yeah, he signed a two year contract, and is guaranteed $52M next year, but it's a player option and he's already richer than Midas (and older than Methuselah. Al Horford is one year younger, fer Christ's Sake!).

A little historical context here:  the 2015 NBA draft picks, in order, were KAT (MN), Russell (LAL), Okafor (Philly), Porzingis (NYK).  Boston didn't pick until #16, where we took Rozier.  D'Angelo Russell has been in the league as long as The Unicorn and Scary Terry.  Doesn't that feel like forever, and coaches are talking about his "level of compete"?  Those are three words you will never hear anybody say about Payton Pritchard.  FWIW Russell is averaging 12ppg on 37.5% fg%, 29% fg% from 3, on 11fgas in 30mpg.  Pritch da god is averaging 16ppg on 45.6% fg%, 41% from 3, on 11.4 fgas in 28mpg.  That is, btw, a lot of mpg for a bench player.  Those could even be considered starter minutes.


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Let's not give JJ too much if any credit for anything that comes out of his mouth.  We'll see how much everyone will be listening to him when he's sub .500 or sub .333 halfway through the season.  LeBron will push the "No" button.  Sorry, bud, it's just business.  We knew you were going to suck as a coach with ZERO coaching experience.  You have not disappointed us.  Gotta love LAL.  They are some risk takers.  But JJ as coach has unpinned hand grenade and shooting star written all over it.  Just give it some time and evidently not too much as the wheels have gone from 3-0 to 4-4 in a hurry.  Looking VERY wobbly and JJ is acting like a 1st year Joe Mazzulla with the press being aggravating and annoying.  Won't get a sympathetic ear there for sure.  Pin has been pulled.  Again, gotta love LAL.    

db

Domantis Sabonis made NBA history in win over the Raptors.
Domantis Sabonis had a triple double (17 points, 11 rebounds, 13 assists) while while shooting 6/6 from the field and did not miss from the free throw line and also did not commit a turnover. He is the first, and only, player in league history to post a stat line like that.

bobheckler wrote:This is JJ Redick commenting on D'Angelo Russell:


“Just level of compete, attention to detail, some of the things we’ve talked with him about for a couple of weeks,” Redick said when asked why he limited Russell’s role in Memphis. “And at times, he’s been really good with that stuff. And other times, it’s just reverting back to certain habits. But it wasn’t like a punishment. It just felt for us to have a chance to win this game, that was the route we wanted to take.”
Source: ESPN


Bob
MY NOTE:  Believe it or not this is Russell's 9th season in the league, his first year was 2015-2016 and this is 2024-2025, and his coaches are talking about his "level of compete" and him not paying attention to what his coaches had been telling him.  He's 28 years old, this is his prime.  He should be firing on all 8.  Where's LeBron's leadership here?  Russell is a key member of his team.  He gets coaches hired and fired, he gets players traded for (e.g. AD) but he can't have a "come to Jesus" meeting with Russell?  What I find interesting is that in 8 games so far Russell is averaging 30mpg.  So, what limitations is the media asking Redick about, and why did Redick feel an explanation was justified?  Russell is in his final year of a 2-year contract with the Lakers, at $18M/year.  He is a UFA next season, making him an expiring contract, maybe even a very attractive expiring contract.  A team can unload a couple of bad long-term contracts for $18M and be ready for free agency next summer.  The Lakers are currently 4-4, mediocre, and now that LeBron has made history by playing with is son there isn't any reason other than winning another ring for him to stick around.  Yeah, he signed a two year contract, and is guaranteed $52M next year, but it's a player option and he's already richer than Midas (and older than Methuselah.  Al Horford is one year younger, fer Christ's Sake!).  

A little historical context here:  the 2015 NBA draft picks, in order, were KAT (MN), Russell (LAL), Okafor (Philly), Porzingis (NYK).  Boston didn't pick until #16, where we took Rozier.  D'Angelo Russell has been in the league as long as The Unicorn and Scary Terry.  Doesn't that feel like forever, and coaches are talking about his "level of compete"?  Those are three words you will never hear anybody say about Payton Pritchard.  FWIW Russell is averaging 12ppg on 37.5% fg%, 29% fg% from 3, on 11fgas in 30mpg.  Pritch da god is averaging 16ppg on 45.6% fg%, 41% from 3, on 11.4 fgas in 28mpg.  That is, btw, a lot of mpg for a bench player.  Those could even be considered starter minutes.


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Love the little guy, he has really improved as a finisher and his defense is pure pit bull in attack mode too. I thought D’Angelo was going to be the next James Harden or at worst a poor mans version of Harden after his coming out year in 2019 on the Nets. He had a bunch of 25-30 point games that year, reminding me of a mini version of Harden, both lefty’s with scoring and ball handling skills. Years later and alot of teams later it obviously didn’t happen for him. Not all players peak at 28, DR may never be a starter again after this season, his game and stats seem to be trending in the wrong direction for awhile now.

Rob Williams made his debut, in clips I saw he looked great, strong and bouncy, had 13 points a couple steals and a block. Good luck Big Guy, Celtic Nation will always be pulling for you!!

Sunday Morning Standings:

https://www.espn.com/nba/standings

Chet Holmgren of OKC with a broken pelvis.

Out 8-10 weeks.


Bob


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Thunder's Chet Holmgren suffers pelvic fracture on hard fall

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/42317818/thunder-chet-holmgren-exits-vs-warriors-hip-injury

This is bad news for OKC.  They are off to a fantastic start, building on a year where they were a top 4 team in the NBA

Chet is a very talented big man but I recall that his physical profile 7' 1" and around 210 screams can he handle the riggers of NBA basketball.  He missed his entire first season 2022-23 because of a foot injury (Lisfranc injury) Last season he played in all 82 games.

This latest injury establishes an 8-10 week timeframe before an update can be forthcoming.

This is a tough 'break'

Now if we could just get CLE to sample and savor a taste of the reality bug...

db

Watching the Cavs and Bulls right now.

The Cavs are a solid defensive team  but maybe not so good against a team that plays 5 out.

IMO, they lack big man depth and they do not have a top end 3.   

This is not the first time they have stormed out of the gate.  They are not on the same level as the Celtics.

Right on it, dboss.  Were any of these years for CLE and their fast start Lebron years?  Title years.  Well there's only one.  

db

Bob


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Knicks are having problems figuring it out, Brunson has to sacrifice his shots and get KAT and other guys going. KAT scored 46 and they still lost, before that he wasn’t getting enough touches. Last year I was arguing with Knick fans who said Brunson was better than Tatum and Brown because he had a string of 40 point games. Well now they have talent at every position and young players not too young that all should be at their peaks.

Kevin Durant: 'No gratitude to the service workers like myself. I’m sick of it'

By HoopsHype | November 18, 2024

Kevin Durant: No, I tell u to stop complaining about this life that youve committed to. When u lose, there’s finger pointing. When u win, there’s gloating about how smart you are about seeing the future. No gratitude to the service workers like myself. I’m sick of it / BINK: the dude who tells people to stop gambling and get a job promoting fanduel

Source: x.com


Bob
MY NOTE: "The Service Workers" like him?! He's a freaking janitor now? He books his own travel? Wow. Talk about being disconnected from most peoples' realities...

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Doc Rivers was fined $25K for criticizing the refs in their game vs the cavs.  Upon further review Doc was correct.

Apparently the NBA has determined that JT traveled on his game winning 3 pointer.  And they admitted missing a foul call that would have sent JB to the line.

Each team gets 2 challenges per game although if ruled against it cost the team a timeout.  

I think the NBA should allow an additional challenge for end of the game situations when the teams are separated by 3 points or less during the last minute of play.  

Nov 18: Boston assigned Porzingis (foot) to the G League's Maine Celtics for practice Monday, Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston reports.  This sounds like a ramp up for KP. We should anticipate his return soon although we all want him to be 110% before he takes the court.

Check out the League injury report. Guys are nursing an assortment of injuries.

https://www.espn.com/nba/injuries