}~~~> Official 2024/2025 NBA Thread<~~~{ (Jimmy Butler’s quest to play for every team in NBA)
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Casuals sexual attraction to Kobe Bryant is stronger than their love for basketball. Rob and Jeanie know the dickriders will always give them bail because it allows them to promote their anti-Bron agendas.
Ten Takeaways From 12/13/24
ONE) No Mobley
Cleveland was without Evan Mobley for the second time this year. Suffered a minor ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to Miami. Dean Wade (2 points, 7 rebounds, 19 minutes) drew the start. We even got some first-quarter Tristan Thompson (0 points) minutes. This game was way closer than it shoulda been mainly because the Cavs couldn’t make shots. It's impressive that a team could win a game shooting 39.6% from the field and 30.0% from three but that’s the benefit of playing the Wizards. You’re allowed to have off nights. Isaac Okoro (13 points, 3-4 3PT, +16) was the lone bright spot.
Alex Sarr returned to the Wizards lineup after a two-game absence, moving Valanciunas back to the bench but Justin Champagnie (16 points, 8 rebounds) stuck. He started his second game in a row and in my opinion, earned real minutes moving forward. Was the only Wizards with a positive +/-. Bilal Coulibaly (27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5-8 3PT), made a career-high 5 threes, and man, is that good to see. He was shooting 26.5% from deep.
“I’d give the star of the night to Isaac. He was phenomenal out there” - Kenny Atkinson on Isaac Okoro
The Cavs beat the Wizards 115-105.
TWO) A Sinus Fracture?!
So Joel Embiid (12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) got hit in the face late in the second quarter going for a defensive rebound. Stayed on the ground for a while, went to the locker room, and never returned. We found out after the game that he suffered a sinus fracture and would be further evaluated this weekend. COME ON! I shouldn’t be this shocked anymore but how the hell does this guy keep getting such random injuries like this? Like, you can’t blame him for Benny Mathurin’s arm coming down on his face. It’s just freak-type shit that he has no control of.
Jared McCain (5 points, 28 minutes) also had himself a scare when the back of his head bounced off the court. He got up and looked visibly shaken. I was certain he was concussed but no. They pulled him from the game, but he was able to return after clearing concussion protocols.
THREE) Jekyll and Hali
"Just getting back to playing Pacer basketball. ... We know nobody can run like us, but we've got to be true to who we are and do that at a high level." - Tyrese Haliburton
I know NBA Best Ball is weekly scoring but Tyrese Haliburton feels like the prototypical “better in Best Ball” player. Coming off a loss against Charlotte scoring 9 points, Hali scores 32 on 68.3 TS% (7-15 3PT) against Philly. He’s already had six games this season scoring single-digits (six last season). You just never know what you’re gonna get with him. Obi Toppin (20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) on the other hand had his sixth straight game in double digits. Pretty clutch too because Myles Turner was in foul trouble and you already know about their depth at the 5. Speaking of…
FOUR) We Have a Trade!
Indiana couldn't handle another minute of Enrique Freeman (-13.5 net rating) being their backup 5. The Heat have agreed on a trade to send over Thomas Bryant to the Pacers for a 2031 second-round pick swap. He doesn’t become trade-eligible until Sunday so it’ll take a few days to be finalized. Indy lost James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to Achilles injuries the first week of the season. Brytant was a two-year standout at Indiana University so this is a return home of sorts.
It’s a tiny deal that ain’t shaking the league up but I kinda like it for both teams. The Pacers get another big who can space the floor when Myles Turner sits. Miami created some apron clearance and opened up a roster spot. Win/win.
Pacers beat the Sixers 121-107
FIVE) “No”
That was the response JJ Redick gave when asked if he knew when LeBron would rejoin the Lakers. He left it at that. Bron’s been away from the team because of foot soreness and “personal reasons”. We know that he’s not with the team and that it’s an excused absence so I guess all we can do is wait. I’ll let you come up with your own conspiracies but it feels weird. He wasn’t playing well and there are already a million rumors floating around so I dunno.
At least Austin Reaves (18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 29 minutes) returned from his five-game absence. He’s rocking a new headband look and it’s not working for him but he DGAF.
“I play basketball to play the game of basketball, I don’t really care how I look. Some people will say I look crazy, but I just enjoy the game” - Austin Reaves
This Lakers team is in big trouble. 21 turnovers, 28.6% from 3, and just 87 points against the Timberwolves. Anthony Davis (23 points, 11 rebounds) was a team-worst -22, Max Christie and Gabe Vincent are starters now, Dalton Knecht (6 points) got benched… it’s all bad.
Timberwolves beat the Lakers 97-87.
SIX) Ja vs Jordi
This one went as expected. The Grizzlies predictably kicked the Nets ass. Four guys scored 20+, blah, blah, blah. The fun stuff wasn’t game-related. When the second quarter ended, Ja Morant was walking off the court staring Jordi Fernandez down and talking trash. The tension kept building and at the end of the game, Dennis Schroder decided to stand up for his coach. You know he said something crazy because whatever was said, Taylor Jenkins got furious and asked the refs “You're gonna let him fucking talk to me like that...what the fuck?" Schroder, Morant, and Jenkins all got hit with techs. Ja continued to troll as he kept smiling and laughing his way to the bench.
"I will never speak to other players, and I don't want other players to speak to me. I don't want any interaction, I think it's disrespectful, it's not part of the game. It’s a respect for the game, whether you are a superstar or whoever you are" - Jordi Fernandez on Ja Morant altercation
Ja was asked about it postgame and he said that he didn’t say anything crazy to Jordi.
"Nothing for real on my end, I was trolling just to get them riled up, and they did." - Ja on the altercation
Grizzlies beat the Nets 135-119. Sadly, these teams are done playing each other this year. Oh, almost forgot…Noah Clowney’s back after missing their last seven games. Trendon Watford is out of the rotation for now.
SEVEN) Starter Mark Williams
It’s taken over a year but Mark Williams (15 points, 9 rebounds) has finally rejoined the Hornets starting lineup. Now, I don’t want to make it sound like he’s playing full minutes or anything, He’s still limited but he played a season-high 17 minutes and also played into the second half for the first time so all is trending positively. Baby steps. Miles Bridges (14 points, 9 rebounds) returned after missing their last ten games and got up to 24 minutes. God, look at that box score… Charlotte shot 17.4% (8-46) from three. Yikes.
The Bulls were without Nikola Vucevic (illness) so Jalen Smith (11 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) got the start. Hopefully a preview of what’s to come for my Best Ball teams if the Bulls can trade Vuc. Think what excited me most was the new lineup combinations Billy Donovan was trying. There was Lonzo Ball and Josh Giddey overlap, there was Patrick Williams and Matas Buzelis overlap… Oh yeah, Pat’s back too. Donovan said he’d be limited to 20-24 minutes but he played 13. He did play some small ball 5 which is always fun. My favorite part of the night came when the crowd started chanting, “We want Taj” in the final minutes of the game. Charles Lee didn’t disappoint. Taj Gibson subbed in for what might be his last time at the UC. The crowd lost it. I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff.
"That just let me know Chicago embraced a young kid from Brooklyn. I'm just an adopted son and to get that kind of ovation was very special. This city has been great to me, my whole career, my family. Everywhere I looked, I saw familiar faces." - Taj Gibson on the love from the Chicago crowd
Bulls beat the Hornets 109-95.
EIGHT) Jamal Murray’s Back
I honestly did not think he’d be back so soon after missing the last two games. Michael Malone said they’d be cautious with him because they have five games in seven days the week of Christmas. It’s a hamstring injury and you just don’t mess with those. Jamal (20 points, +18) also casually let everyone know that he’s been dealing with plantar fasciitis at the end of his presser. He said everybody’s dealing with something, but a hammy AND plantar fasciitis? Damn. As Michael Malone said after the game, “I thought Jamal Murray set the tone defensively tonight.” He played his ass off. Was applying ball pressure all night and shooting with confidence (8-16 FG). Maybe he took it personally that the Clippers were hunting him in their matchup earlier this month.
"I really just wanted to put my effort out there. All that I can control is my effort and my energy” - Jamal Murray
Kris Dunn played just 20 minutes because he was still recovering from an illness and the altitude was getting to him. Had to ask out of the game multiple times. He did have 4 of the Clippers' 18 steals though.
Nuggets beat the Clippers 120-98. Los Angeles has lost three straight.
NINE) The KD Suns
Kevin Durant returned after missing the last three games with a left ankle sprain. He said that he was “feeling as best as it’s going to feel right now." He played 33 minutes and looked perfectly fine. So did Book…
Kevin Durant: 30 PTS, 8 AST, 12-12 FT
Devin Booker: 34 PTS, 8 AST, 6-13 3PT
It really is crazy how important Kevin Durant is to this Suns team. He has by far the best net rating of players on the team who have played at least 100 minutes (+10.2) and are 12-2 when he plays. Tyus Jones was unbelievable with 19 points, 11 assists, and 0 turnovers. He leads the league in AST/TOV ratio as he always does. The Suns’ halfcourt offensive rating was 134.6. Jazz weren’t far off (124.7). There was no defense played whatsoever. The Suns’ 36 assists are a new season-high. Bradley Beal was a late downgrade and missed the game with right knee swelling. They started Royce O’Neale, not Grayson Allen. Might have something to do with Grayson rolling his ankle on Sunday.
Jordan Clarkson (23 points, 4-6 3PT) returned from a seven-game absence (left plantar fasciitis) and played 30 minutes off the bench.
Suns beat the Jazz 134-126.
TEN) Jerami Grant’s 3rd Quarter
Credit to the Spurs. They won but the only thing I’m going to remember from this game is that 3rd quarter. I couldn’t believe what I was watching.
Jerami Grant’s 3rd Quarter:
22 PTS
6-7 3PT (85.7%)
12 MIN
+18
He singlehandedly got the Blazers back in the game. They were down 13 at the half and then he helped Portland build a 17-point lead. The Spurs came back and won. That should be what I remember but it’s not going to be. The 22 points are a career-high for Grant in any quarter and ties for the eight most points in a quarter in the NBA this season. Donovan Clingan (knee) made his return after missing their last 7 games. Even with Ayson and Williams still out, they’re easing him back on a minute restriction (15). Jabari Walker (22 minutes, 5 points) got the start.
Shoutout to the Spurs for having heart. This was their fourth 17-point comeback of the season and they did it without Chris Paul. Well, most of it. He was ejected with about a minute left in the first quarter after being assessed two techs. Jeremy Sochan started for Stephon Castle (shoulder). Devin Vassell (23 points, 30 minutes) is still coming off the bench for some reason.
"Our biggest takeaway is that never give up, never to hang your heads. We got to hang our hat on defense." - Devin Vassell
Spurs beat the Blazers 118-116.
ONE) No Mobley
Cleveland was without Evan Mobley for the second time this year. Suffered a minor ankle sprain in Sunday’s loss to Miami. Dean Wade (2 points, 7 rebounds, 19 minutes) drew the start. We even got some first-quarter Tristan Thompson (0 points) minutes. This game was way closer than it shoulda been mainly because the Cavs couldn’t make shots. It's impressive that a team could win a game shooting 39.6% from the field and 30.0% from three but that’s the benefit of playing the Wizards. You’re allowed to have off nights. Isaac Okoro (13 points, 3-4 3PT, +16) was the lone bright spot.
Alex Sarr returned to the Wizards lineup after a two-game absence, moving Valanciunas back to the bench but Justin Champagnie (16 points, 8 rebounds) stuck. He started his second game in a row and in my opinion, earned real minutes moving forward. Was the only Wizards with a positive +/-. Bilal Coulibaly (27 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 5-8 3PT), made a career-high 5 threes, and man, is that good to see. He was shooting 26.5% from deep.
“I’d give the star of the night to Isaac. He was phenomenal out there” - Kenny Atkinson on Isaac Okoro
The Cavs beat the Wizards 115-105.
TWO) A Sinus Fracture?!
So Joel Embiid (12 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) got hit in the face late in the second quarter going for a defensive rebound. Stayed on the ground for a while, went to the locker room, and never returned. We found out after the game that he suffered a sinus fracture and would be further evaluated this weekend. COME ON! I shouldn’t be this shocked anymore but how the hell does this guy keep getting such random injuries like this? Like, you can’t blame him for Benny Mathurin’s arm coming down on his face. It’s just freak-type shit that he has no control of.
Jared McCain (5 points, 28 minutes) also had himself a scare when the back of his head bounced off the court. He got up and looked visibly shaken. I was certain he was concussed but no. They pulled him from the game, but he was able to return after clearing concussion protocols.
THREE) Jekyll and Hali
"Just getting back to playing Pacer basketball. ... We know nobody can run like us, but we've got to be true to who we are and do that at a high level." - Tyrese Haliburton
I know NBA Best Ball is weekly scoring but Tyrese Haliburton feels like the prototypical “better in Best Ball” player. Coming off a loss against Charlotte scoring 9 points, Hali scores 32 on 68.3 TS% (7-15 3PT) against Philly. He’s already had six games this season scoring single-digits (six last season). You just never know what you’re gonna get with him. Obi Toppin (20 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals) on the other hand had his sixth straight game in double digits. Pretty clutch too because Myles Turner was in foul trouble and you already know about their depth at the 5. Speaking of…
FOUR) We Have a Trade!
Indiana couldn't handle another minute of Enrique Freeman (-13.5 net rating) being their backup 5. The Heat have agreed on a trade to send over Thomas Bryant to the Pacers for a 2031 second-round pick swap. He doesn’t become trade-eligible until Sunday so it’ll take a few days to be finalized. Indy lost James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson to Achilles injuries the first week of the season. Brytant was a two-year standout at Indiana University so this is a return home of sorts.
It’s a tiny deal that ain’t shaking the league up but I kinda like it for both teams. The Pacers get another big who can space the floor when Myles Turner sits. Miami created some apron clearance and opened up a roster spot. Win/win.
Pacers beat the Sixers 121-107
FIVE) “No”
That was the response JJ Redick gave when asked if he knew when LeBron would rejoin the Lakers. He left it at that. Bron’s been away from the team because of foot soreness and “personal reasons”. We know that he’s not with the team and that it’s an excused absence so I guess all we can do is wait. I’ll let you come up with your own conspiracies but it feels weird. He wasn’t playing well and there are already a million rumors floating around so I dunno.
At least Austin Reaves (18 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 29 minutes) returned from his five-game absence. He’s rocking a new headband look and it’s not working for him but he DGAF.
“I play basketball to play the game of basketball, I don’t really care how I look. Some people will say I look crazy, but I just enjoy the game” - Austin Reaves
This Lakers team is in big trouble. 21 turnovers, 28.6% from 3, and just 87 points against the Timberwolves. Anthony Davis (23 points, 11 rebounds) was a team-worst -22, Max Christie and Gabe Vincent are starters now, Dalton Knecht (6 points) got benched… it’s all bad.
Timberwolves beat the Lakers 97-87.
SIX) Ja vs Jordi
This one went as expected. The Grizzlies predictably kicked the Nets ass. Four guys scored 20+, blah, blah, blah. The fun stuff wasn’t game-related. When the second quarter ended, Ja Morant was walking off the court staring Jordi Fernandez down and talking trash. The tension kept building and at the end of the game, Dennis Schroder decided to stand up for his coach. You know he said something crazy because whatever was said, Taylor Jenkins got furious and asked the refs “You're gonna let him fucking talk to me like that...what the fuck?" Schroder, Morant, and Jenkins all got hit with techs. Ja continued to troll as he kept smiling and laughing his way to the bench.
"I will never speak to other players, and I don't want other players to speak to me. I don't want any interaction, I think it's disrespectful, it's not part of the game. It’s a respect for the game, whether you are a superstar or whoever you are" - Jordi Fernandez on Ja Morant altercation
Ja was asked about it postgame and he said that he didn’t say anything crazy to Jordi.
"Nothing for real on my end, I was trolling just to get them riled up, and they did." - Ja on the altercation
Grizzlies beat the Nets 135-119. Sadly, these teams are done playing each other this year. Oh, almost forgot…Noah Clowney’s back after missing their last seven games. Trendon Watford is out of the rotation for now.
SEVEN) Starter Mark Williams
It’s taken over a year but Mark Williams (15 points, 9 rebounds) has finally rejoined the Hornets starting lineup. Now, I don’t want to make it sound like he’s playing full minutes or anything, He’s still limited but he played a season-high 17 minutes and also played into the second half for the first time so all is trending positively. Baby steps. Miles Bridges (14 points, 9 rebounds) returned after missing their last ten games and got up to 24 minutes. God, look at that box score… Charlotte shot 17.4% (8-46) from three. Yikes.
The Bulls were without Nikola Vucevic (illness) so Jalen Smith (11 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks) got the start. Hopefully a preview of what’s to come for my Best Ball teams if the Bulls can trade Vuc. Think what excited me most was the new lineup combinations Billy Donovan was trying. There was Lonzo Ball and Josh Giddey overlap, there was Patrick Williams and Matas Buzelis overlap… Oh yeah, Pat’s back too. Donovan said he’d be limited to 20-24 minutes but he played 13. He did play some small ball 5 which is always fun. My favorite part of the night came when the crowd started chanting, “We want Taj” in the final minutes of the game. Charles Lee didn’t disappoint. Taj Gibson subbed in for what might be his last time at the UC. The crowd lost it. I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff.
"That just let me know Chicago embraced a young kid from Brooklyn. I'm just an adopted son and to get that kind of ovation was very special. This city has been great to me, my whole career, my family. Everywhere I looked, I saw familiar faces." - Taj Gibson on the love from the Chicago crowd
Bulls beat the Hornets 109-95.
EIGHT) Jamal Murray’s Back
I honestly did not think he’d be back so soon after missing the last two games. Michael Malone said they’d be cautious with him because they have five games in seven days the week of Christmas. It’s a hamstring injury and you just don’t mess with those. Jamal (20 points, +18) also casually let everyone know that he’s been dealing with plantar fasciitis at the end of his presser. He said everybody’s dealing with something, but a hammy AND plantar fasciitis? Damn. As Michael Malone said after the game, “I thought Jamal Murray set the tone defensively tonight.” He played his ass off. Was applying ball pressure all night and shooting with confidence (8-16 FG). Maybe he took it personally that the Clippers were hunting him in their matchup earlier this month.
"I really just wanted to put my effort out there. All that I can control is my effort and my energy” - Jamal Murray
Kris Dunn played just 20 minutes because he was still recovering from an illness and the altitude was getting to him. Had to ask out of the game multiple times. He did have 4 of the Clippers' 18 steals though.
Nuggets beat the Clippers 120-98. Los Angeles has lost three straight.
NINE) The KD Suns
Kevin Durant returned after missing the last three games with a left ankle sprain. He said that he was “feeling as best as it’s going to feel right now." He played 33 minutes and looked perfectly fine. So did Book…
Kevin Durant: 30 PTS, 8 AST, 12-12 FT
Devin Booker: 34 PTS, 8 AST, 6-13 3PT
It really is crazy how important Kevin Durant is to this Suns team. He has by far the best net rating of players on the team who have played at least 100 minutes (+10.2) and are 12-2 when he plays. Tyus Jones was unbelievable with 19 points, 11 assists, and 0 turnovers. He leads the league in AST/TOV ratio as he always does. The Suns’ halfcourt offensive rating was 134.6. Jazz weren’t far off (124.7). There was no defense played whatsoever. The Suns’ 36 assists are a new season-high. Bradley Beal was a late downgrade and missed the game with right knee swelling. They started Royce O’Neale, not Grayson Allen. Might have something to do with Grayson rolling his ankle on Sunday.
Jordan Clarkson (23 points, 4-6 3PT) returned from a seven-game absence (left plantar fasciitis) and played 30 minutes off the bench.
Suns beat the Jazz 134-126.
TEN) Jerami Grant’s 3rd Quarter
Credit to the Spurs. They won but the only thing I’m going to remember from this game is that 3rd quarter. I couldn’t believe what I was watching.
Jerami Grant’s 3rd Quarter:
22 PTS
6-7 3PT (85.7%)
12 MIN
+18
He singlehandedly got the Blazers back in the game. They were down 13 at the half and then he helped Portland build a 17-point lead. The Spurs came back and won. That should be what I remember but it’s not going to be. The 22 points are a career-high for Grant in any quarter and ties for the eight most points in a quarter in the NBA this season. Donovan Clingan (knee) made his return after missing their last 7 games. Even with Ayson and Williams still out, they’re easing him back on a minute restriction (15). Jabari Walker (22 minutes, 5 points) got the start.
Shoutout to the Spurs for having heart. This was their fourth 17-point comeback of the season and they did it without Chris Paul. Well, most of it. He was ejected with about a minute left in the first quarter after being assessed two techs. Jeremy Sochan started for Stephon Castle (shoulder). Devin Vassell (23 points, 30 minutes) is still coming off the bench for some reason.
"Our biggest takeaway is that never give up, never to hang your heads. We got to hang our hat on defense." - Devin Vassell
Spurs beat the Blazers 118-116.
"Power rankings"....hahaha#2 Know your station......
NBA Power Rankings: Biggest issue on offense and defense for all 30 teams
Our NBA insiders break down all 30 teams' biggest issues on offense or defense in this week's Power Rankings.www.espn.com
22 > 20 and 4 < 5
More wins, less losses...... simple math = WE THE BEST!
See you're the "they" DJ KHALED was talking about. "They" don't want to see us shinning. "They" don't want to see us winning. "They" didn't think we could do it. Aye fam, "God did!" And now here we are!
NBA Standings - 2024-25 Regular Season League Standings - ESPN
Visit ESPN for the complete 2024-25 NBA Regular Season League standings. Includes winning percentage, home and away record, and current streak.
Local games on bally sports and the others on tnt or ESPN, its not that difficult. If you want to talk about shit show look at the NFL, and now they have games on Amazon Prime and then Netflix next year
No it's not, I'm not paying 10 different packages because I know exactly what to get and where to look to get it for a fraction of that cost or free.
Fuck them greedy bastards.
What the fuck is that CAC talking about on Twitter, maybe if he did his research on different ways to get these games saving money or for free, he wouldn't be whining like a little CAC bitch that he is.
These conversations are always dumb, because dudes always show how little they know about the salary cap and the NBA's new trade guidelines.
You can't just make a trade to make a trade, this ain't fucking NBA2K.
and do you think there's a line waiting for D Lo?
Lakers have nothing of value
Lemon Daddy ain't going to get you a star in return