***Official 2023-2024 NBA Thread***

[dirk digler]

Can't believe the NBA Season is starting tonight. Way to early but here we go.

Lakers vs Nuggets: 6:30PM

Suns vs Warriors: 9PM

Both on TNT

[smithandrew051]

It’s pretty easy to pick out Wemby when watching this

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I reported a few posts in here

Yeah, that checks out. A guy who only seldomly comes into these threads and solely to talk shit about how awful the NBA is when he does.

[KC_Connection]

Wemby refuses to shake hands in defeat.

[Pitt Gorilla]

I remember how excited I was when I thought OKC had drafted Lively. Cason Wallace may be one of the best ever, but I really liked the fit of someone like Lively at the 4. Oh well, he'll be a good one for Dallas.

That being said, OKC went into Chicago's barn and got the W.

[PunkinDrublic]

Lively outplayed Wembam-overrated tonight great start to the season.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Sassy Squatch

Really curious to get a look at Wemby tonight in real game action.

He's just so damn unique, I really struggle to even speculate how he'll develop.

The frustrating thing is that it may just come down to how he's officiated. I just can't see the guy building an "NBA Body" - he's so damn slight. If officials allow people to body him, he'll struggle.

It's why I ultimately struggle a little with the 'best prospect since James; maybe top 5 of all time' stuff. There's just a lot that's completely unknown and enough that's somewhat out of his control.

Obviously the easy and somewhat lazy comp is Durant, but I feel like Durant was more explosive. And being less tall that Wembenaya helps him a little in that the dribble just isn't going to be as exposed on those drives. And I don't feel like he can develop the build to be an Anthony Davis sort offensively or defensively. Maybe I'm wrong - he's really young. But it's not like Durant ever really filled out a ton. Giannis is a thought stylistically but Giannis had a pretty steep learning curve in his own right and again, seems more suited physically for the pro game.

Is he as crazy and competitive as Garnett? Has the league gotten more accustomed to Euro-style players like Doncic and Porzingis?

Man, I'm at a complete loss with the kid. I mean he's going to be a very good player for a very long time. But the bar seems to be "Hall of Fame - inner circle or just another guy?" and man I am really hesitant there because the kid's just different.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by PunkinDrublic

Lively outplayed Wembam-overrated tonight great start to the season.

Lively looked good.

It frustrates me that the Lakers stayed put at 17 and got a pretty 'meh' guy in Hood-Schifino when they had a clear need at center and Lively went 12.

Really couldn't have moved up to 10/11 to get that done? That's where the Mavs started and traded out. Just felt like a miss. Dallas goes out and essentially purchase pick 24 while the Lakers had some real trade assets but seemed hell bent on bringing everybody back rather than packaging some rights and moving around.

I think that one's gonna really sting, especially when Hood-Schifino is out of the league after his rookie deal. I just don't see much 'there' there.

[Urc Burry]

I think I’m ready to say the Thunder are going to win 50+. Even with a meh opener for Chet, the future is looking so ****ing bright. Wallace already looks like a dude, and there might be something there with Dieng

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Lively looked good.

It frustrates me that the Lakers stayed put at 17 and got a pretty 'meh' guy in Hood-Schifino when they had a clear need at center and Lively went 12.

Really couldn't have moved up to 10/11 to get that done? That's where the Mavs started and traded out. Just felt like a miss. Dallas goes out and essentially purchase pick 24 while the Lakers had some real trade assets but seemed hell bent on bringing everybody back rather than packaging some rights and moving around.

I think that one's gonna really sting, especially when Hood-Schifino is out of the league after his rookie deal. I just don't see much 'there' there.

OKC literally drafted Lively and then traded him to Dallas. I honestly thought we'd found our big-bodied 4 or 5 to pair with Chet.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

OKC literally drafted Lively and then traded him to Dallas. I honestly thought we'd found our big-bodied 4 or 5 to pair with Chet.

Yeah - at least the Lakers didn't do THAT.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Yeah - at least the Lakers didn't do THAT.

I think Wallace is a good player, but I LOVED the Lively pick.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

I think Wallace is a good player, but I LOVED the Lively pick.

Oh.

Well we didn't do that either.

I just don't quite get the Hood-Schifino pick. I tried to talk myself into it and man I am not getting there.

I mean you could argue that he's a 3 and D stretch 3 type but he's not big enough for it...oh, and he can't shoot from deep either.

Maybe you can squint and see a plus perimeter defender for late-game matchups with solid floor vision; someone who can help defensively in the rotation without hurting offensively. But it feels like that's a guy you get in the mid-20s (again, in a draft where the Mavs purchased #24).

It was just a really dead spot in the draft and the Lakers ended up reaching because they got caught napping, IMO.

For perspective, I like Maxwell Lewis, who LA got at 40, better than Jalen. And I don't think I'm close to alone in that regard. Now right, wrong or otherwise, it was the mushy middle of the draft. It was just a spot that I think LA should've worked harder to move up out of (or taken a homerun swing in Whitmore).

[Eureka]

Dubs gonna win it all this year.

[WhawhaWhat]

Michael Jordan once teamed up with the 2nd unit on the Charlotte Bobcats to cook Stephen Jackson and the 1st unit

“Jack went to the basket and throws up a shot and the coaches didn’t call a foul. Jack yells out, ‘Yo, that’s a foul,’

MJ comes down and hits the game-winner.… pic.twitter.com/MrVIgorERv

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 25, 2023

[Pitt Gorilla]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Oh.

Well we didn't do that either.

I just don't quite get the Hood-Schifino pick. I tried to talk myself into it and man I am not getting there.

I mean you could argue that he's a 3 and D stretch 3 type but he's not big enough for it...oh, and he can't shoot from deep either.

Maybe you can squint and see a plus perimeter defender for late-game matchups with solid floor vision; someone who can help defensively in the rotation without hurting offensively. But it feels like that's a guy you get in the mid-20s (again, in a draft where the Mavs purchased #24).

It was just a really dead spot in the draft and the Lakers ended up reaching because they got caught napping, IMO.

For perspective, I like Maxwell Lewis, who LA got at 40, better than Jalen. And I don't think I'm close to alone in that regard. Now right, wrong or otherwise, it was the mushy middle of the draft. It was just a spot that I think LA should've worked harder to move up out of (or taken a homerun swing in Whitmore).

Wallace had 13 points in 19 minutes, going 5-5 and 3-3 from deep. I doubt he keeps that up, but he's a nice point/combo guy with good size and defensive presence to bring off the bench.