NBA 2025-26 NBA Thread

[scott]

Ja Morant turning back the clock against the Sixers. Very entertaining game on the 'Cock

 

[scott]

Also... Cedric Coward is so good... what could have been

 

[scott]

Edgecombe with 25 and the game winning 3 in OT. Ja put up 40 but doesn't know how to pass and thus MEM loses like the losers they are.

 

[Valparaiso]

Derrick White with a masterful game tonight: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, & 7 blocks.

 

[STAT88]

Sheesh. 7 blocks? What a stud.

 

[STAT88]

Celtics quietly have the 4th best offense in the league. Without Tatum. Better offensive rating than last season with Tatum. Just below their 24 championship season offense.

Mazzulla might be the COY favourite.

nasty work by coach Joe this year.

 

[LeBowen]

Ayton had 4 rebounds in 62 minutes against the Rockets and Pistons.

Also, Luka isn't a winning player, not anymore.
He was all about trying to prove a point after he got Nico'd, Lakers media outlets were talking about him having the best summer ever, only for him to be in his usual shape and he looks like he's gained weight since the start of the season.
Outstanding highlight player, but ultimately an inefficent chucker who takes his entire team out of rythm and plays no defense whatsoever.

 

[k....]

Ayton had 4 rebounds in 62 minutes against the Rockets and Pistons.

Also, Luka isn't a winning player, not anymore.
He was all about trying to prove a point after he got Nico'd, Lakers media outlets were talking about him having the best summer ever, only for him to be in his usual shape and he looks like he's gained weight since the start of the season.
Outstanding highlight player, but ultimately an inefficent chucker who takes his entire team out of rythm and plays no defense whatsoever.

doesn't change they could've gotten more for him

 

[Fabbs]

Detroits Janiss Jenkins clowning Bronny James or just saying 'Hey youngun, have a free steal we're up 20 and this is final possession anyway'?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006270025292820556

 

[bozhemoi]

Ayton had 4 rebounds in 62 minutes against the Rockets and Pistons.

Also, Luka isn't a winning player, not anymore.
He was all about trying to prove a point after he got Nico'd, Lakers media outlets were talking about him having the best summer ever, only for him to be in his usual shape and he looks like he's gained weight since the start of the season.
Outstanding highlight player, but ultimately an inefficent chucker who takes his entire team out of rythm and plays no defense whatsoever.

Luka really should be in perpetual MVP discussions and he's not even close. You're right, he's not that player anymore. Even Harden has lasted as a ball-consuming, heavily ballhogging facilitator and Doncic doesn't do it as well as he used to. Still time to turn it around: Lakers need to build a lot around him.

 

[Valparaiso]

Also... Cedric Coward is so good... what could have been

One thing that really impresses me about Coward is how he's a great rebounder for a SG/wing but is also usually the first guy back on defense, so he finds a way to aggressively go towards the basket on shots by teammates while balancing that with getting back fast on misses.

It's interesting he's being listed at 6'5"-- he measured 6'5.25" at the draft combine barefoot, meaning he's 6'6.75" in sneakers.. so actually closer to 6'7" on the court than 6'5".

 

[scott]

One thing that really impresses me about Coward is how he's a great rebounder for a SG/wing but is also usually the first guy back on defense, so he finds a way to aggressively go towards the basket on shots by teammates while balancing that with getting back fast on misses.

It's interesting he's being listed at 6'5"-- he measured 6'5.25" at the draft combine barefoot, meaning he's 6'6.75" in sneakers.. so actually closer to 6'7" on the court than 6'5".

Yeah, I love his game. If this were GrizzliesTalk, we'd be talking about how we need to get him more involved. He was having a killer game yesterday and his last shot attempt came at 6:51 remaining in the 4th when he had a defensive rebound and a coast to coast drive for a dunk and then they didn't go to him again until an end of OT play with 1.7 left on the clock needing a 3 to tie.

Before that dunk in the 4th quarter, his previous shot attempt was a 3 with 8:01 left in the 3rd quarter. Homie finished with 28 on 10-16 and 16 rebounds despite being frozen out for basically all of the 4th and OT.

 

[LeBowen]

Luka really should be in perpetual MVP discussions and he's not even close. You're right, he's not that player anymore. Even Harden has lasted as a ball-consuming, heavily ballhogging facilitator and Doncic doesn't do it as well as he used to. Still time to turn it around: Lakers need to build a lot around him.

The issue is that even when he was that player, he was an atrocious defender and the league is moving towards the type of matchups that make it really difficult to hide him.
Celtics toched the Mavs because Luka couldn't be hidden on anyone.
Our setup is going to be similar, as will OKC's.
You don't have to be an elite ballhandler to attack Luka, even Devin and Barnes score on him with ease.

If it was any other team, I'd say that they have no chance to rebuild with so few assets, but it's the Lakers and I'm sure Silver will think of something.
Luka isn't that young anymore, 27 in a couple of months and with his lack of work ethic he surely won't have the longetivity of other stars.
The Lakers have maybe 4 or 5 seasons worth of his peak left.

 

[Valparaiso]

Yeah, I love his game. If this were GrizzliesTalk, we'd be talking about how we need to get him more involved. He was having a killer game yesterday and his last shot attempt came at 6:51 remaining in the 4th when he had a defensive rebound and a coast to coast drive for a dunk and then they didn't go to him again until an end of OT play with 1.7 left on the clock needing a 3 to tie.

Before that dunk in the 4th quarter, his previous shot attempt was a 3 with 8:01 left in the 3rd quarter. Homie finished with 28 on 10-16 and 16 rebounds despite being frozen out for basically all of the 4th and OT.

Yeah, they essentially don't run anything for him, so all of his points come via flow & hustle.

 

[scott]

Curry in the middle of a Curry game on NBA TV. These Hornets uniforms are cool, but the court is atrocious.

 

[spursistan]

Ayton had 4 rebounds in 62 minutes against the Rockets and Pistons.

Also, Luka isn't a winning player, not anymore.
He was all about trying to prove a point after he got Nico'd, Lakers media outlets were talking about him having the best summer ever, only for him to be in his usual shape and he looks like he's gained weight since the start of the season.
Outstanding highlight player, but ultimately an inefficent chucker who takes his entire team out of rythm and plays no defense whatsoever.

Someone said in the quote tweets, he's pretty much a 6'8 Trae Young most of the nights . I'm close to reaching your conclusion but i'll wait until they move on from Lebron to surround him with stout defenders. But the overall picture is that of him slipping in the pecking order. Consider how fast SGA has lapped him in the last couple of years. By end of 25-26, Shai could be on 2x MVP, 2xFMVPs, 2 Chips. Luka isn't matching that.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006248738218467332

 

[spursistan]

Seems like Banchero is headed for that Andrew Wiggins trajectory of #1 picks: not a bust but not good enough to be the main guy..

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006381715661509108

 

[Fabbs]

Curry in the middle of a Curry game on NBA TV. These Hornets uniforms are cool, but the court is atrocious.

Knueppel what a good rookie season.
Of course perfectly happy with Harper but wish we could have scored Kneu too. Great trey shooting albeit he is free to chuck away on the Hornets.
Lamelo Ball if he could only stay healthy. Maybe we can get him at low cost after a buyout in 2030 LoL.

Good game, but with the Flop Merchant Butler i just can't. I turned it off.

 

[scott]

Knueppel what a good rookie season.
Of course perfectly happy with Harper but wish we could have scored Kneu too. Great trey shooting albeit he is free to chuck away on the Hornets.
Lamelo Ball if he could only stay healthy. Maybe we can get him at low cost after a buyout in 2030 LoL.

Good game, but with the Flop Merchant Butler i just can't. I turned it off.

Knueppel has definitely exceeded my expectations. I generally don't rate guys like him very high... and that's my mistake.

This draft really delivering a lot of high level guys at various points in the draft. The All-Rookie team is going to be tough. Right now I'd have it:

First Team: Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe, Kon, Queen
Second Team: Fears, Johnson, Coward, Reynaud, Kalkbrenner

I think you can make a good first team argument for Fears, Johnson and Coward with Queen and Harper the last two on the first team ballot (I'd have Harper over Queen personally)

 

[bozhemoi]

Seems like Banchero is headed for that Andrew Wiggins trajectory of #1 picks: not a bust but not good enough to be the main guy..

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006381715661509108

Chet was my top pick in that draft very easily. I was blown away that Smith was considered that high and I was a bit uncertain about Banquero. Seems like he can get a better shot diet and improve, though it hasn't happened.

 

[bozhemoi]

Knueppel has definitely exceeded my expectations. I generally don't rate guys like him very high... and that's my mistake.

This draft really delivering a lot of high level guys at various points in the draft. The All-Rookie team is going to be tough. Right now I'd have it:

First Team: Flagg, Harper, Edgecombe, Kon, Queen
Second Team: Fears, Johnson, Coward, Reynaud, Kalkbrenner

I think you can make a good first team argument for Fears, Johnson and Coward with Queen and Harper the last two on the first team ballot (I'd have Harper over Queen personally)

This could be a generational draft overall. And it may replenish Team USA for years going forward.

 

[LeBowen]

We've been critical of low IQ play from our guys, but I can't even describe what just happened in Milwaukee.

 

[ace3g]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2006886602664997052

 

[Paramore]

 

[Shmurs]

Indiana is a real bummer. Their run last year won’t really be remembered. Even Haliburton’s crazy finishes are just going to be footnotes buried in history. They also aren’t likely to get back to the finals with this iteration of the team. They certainly aren’t getting as close as they did last year. …last year where they looked to be the favorites in game 7 after the first few minutes.

fun team, great crowd, almost a great story but ultimately not accomplishing anything and going down in the worst way imaginable. Bummer.