2024 NBA Season

[rhomelmabini]

Ty Lue doesn't seem to have that and he's willing to give him more authority on the court,

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10097062-lue-james-harden-doing-too-much-to-try-to-fit-in-with-clippers-since-76ers-trade

"He's doing too much to try to fit in," Lue said, per Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. "We had a meeting yesterday and we said he needs to be James Harden… we have to allow him to be himself… We're going to play through James."

Lue also said that he told the team that "James needs to be James" and that they will increase his time with the ball in his hands, per Mark Medina of Fox Sports.

It looks like Harden will be the system again.

So what would happen to PG being PG, Kawhi being Kawhi, and WB being WB?

If they'll allow James Harden to dictate the team based on his style, that will make his teammates less productive because his style is he'll be the one doing more on the scoring and the ball would be on his hands most of the time. I think the solution here is still sticking with the system they build before James harden but the crucial thing coach Lue has to realizet that he can't play this big 4 altogether.

It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team. Let Harden play off the bench instead.

[Russlenat]

It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team.

But they are figuring it out and still haven't found a solution yet. It has already cost them a 5-game losing streak, which calls for desperate measures.
Probably, Coach Tyronn Lue is just trying this last option. You know, no player would be able to play happily if he is not being himself. That's why he wants James Harden to be himself and see the outcome of his game affecting the team.

Let Harden play off the bench instead.

Or it could be Westbrook. Either one of them could still play as a PG, so it's a coaching staff prerogative. Whoever is effective should be in the starting lineup.

[Slow death]

Looking at the games that will take place in just under 2 hours, in the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the San Antonio Spurs, I see the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the game with some ease, the San Antonio Spurs are coming off a streak of 5 losses consecutive games, while the Thunder in the last few games have done well, although they lost in the game against the kings. It's funny that the bookmakers are giving very low odds for the Thunder if they win. although I also think they came out as winners, I still see the odds value of 1.20 in favor of Thunder as being very low, they are greatly underestimating San Antonio.

Another game that I also don't see with many surprises in the result will be the Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies. even though the Memphis Grizzlies won in the last two games and broke the sequence of many defeats that they had been having, they still don't convince me that the two victories they had in the last 2 games are the beginning of much improvement, the lakers are also not very consistent in the last games, but they have had unpleasant results, in my opinion they seem better than the Memphis Grizzlies. So I see the Lakers coming out with victory in this game

[danherbias07]

Looking at the games that will take place in just under 2 hours, in the Oklahoma City Thunder game against the San Antonio Spurs, I see the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the game with some ease, the San Antonio Spurs are coming off a streak of 5 losses consecutive games, while the Thunder in the last few games have done well, although they lost in the game against the kings. It's funny that the bookmakers are giving very low odds for the Thunder if they win. although I also think they came out as winners, I still see the odds value of 1.20 in favor of Thunder as being very low, they are greatly underestimating San Antonio.

That's true and I don't really like the -10.5 handicap being given just for @1.85 profit. San Antonio may be an underdog because Wemby lacks help but we may be surprised that someone could step up his game and the game will become a close one. I avoided this game because of that.
OKC Thunder sure is strong with SGA, healthy Chat Holmgren, and Josh Giddey but for me -10.5 is still too much of underestimating the Spurs.

Another game that I also don't see with many surprises in the result will be the Lakers game against the Memphis Grizzlies. even though the Memphis Grizzlies won in the last two games and broke the sequence of many defeats that they had been having, they still don't convince me that the two victories they had in the last 2 games are the beginning of much improvement, the lakers are also not very consistent in the last games, but they have had unpleasant results, in my opinion they seem better than the Memphis Grizzlies. So I see the Lakers coming out with victory in this game

Oh yeah, the Lakers may win this one. The Grizzlies' win against the Clippers is the Clippers fault. They still lack chemistry with James Harden and it's messing up their rotation. Plus, he ain't the same Harden anymore who can dominate the game when he is hot. I have never seen that happen anymore, maybe it's age, or maybe it's because of the recent jumps from one team to another, and the drama in 76ers. Grizzlies is undermanned, Lakers should win this one.

[Yaunfitda]

It was always obvious that Harden was the issue, since Rockets period as well. I mean in normal cases, like for example with Dame and all, I understand players being upset and wanting out, because he played over a decade there and they did not build a good team around him, and that looks like there was no desire by the team to win anything, they are happy to just spend as little as possible and make the team worth go up thanks to inflation, NBA getting more popular means their team worths more and they are happy owners. However, Rockets was never like that, all those calls about them getting Howard, getting CP3, getting Westbrook, and him still wanting out and not getting anything with that team was obvious. That famous 27 shots missed in a row was the demise of Harden, ever since that day, he never went back to being a star player, he just became a cry baby that wanted things all the time without actually giving anything back for getting what he wants. A player may want to get traded, but if he keeps making teams pay for him, and he doesn't do anything for them, then why would any team want him again?

And this could be the last straw on James Harden, if the Clippers didn't go to the playoffs, or at least relegated to 6th spot in the West and then have to go to a play-in just to make the playoffs, then we know who should be the problem with the Clippers. They are just started to have a season with their big 3 of Kawhi, Paul George and then Westbrook. Unfortunately, the management decided to get James in return and they lost a good defensive player in Nic Batum, who can also shoot 3 in crucial minutes. Just because Harden wanted to go to Clippers that Steve Ballmer gave in to the request and think that Harden is a good addition. Harden has a history already and the teams should learn from it. Now the curse is on the Clippers right now, they've lost a bunch of future picks as well so for now we can definitely say that the risk is not paying off.

I believe that the biggest example of why Harden is not good for teams would be how Sixers are doing right now. It's been very few games so I am not saying those are the ones that matters the most, but they are leading the eastern conference right now, and they are 8-1 and that should show you how Harden is not all that helpful. Imagine you have a "star" player in your squad, and you do better without him than you did with him, would you still consider that player a star player?

And we can say that there are no pressure on the shoulders of the Sixers right now, they are the hottest them and defeating their opponents by 5 points or more. And the biggest winner in the trade? It's Maxey, just score a career high recently and he is showing why he should be considered as their main point guard. It seems that he had matured already and that's why he is showing his best game as a Sixer.

I personally would stop considering that player as a star player. In 2016 or in 2018 this Clippers squad would have been insanely good, everyone was great, but when we are talking about 2023, these are all has been that used to be good but no longer good at all, they are not even remotely good. The squad is also lacking size, they are all "guards" if you think about it, sure PG and Kawhi could be considered wings, but still no Power Forward at all, a pure small ball line up.

Just bad chemistry, they get Kahwi after winning the ring with the Raptors, but after that it went downhill for Leonard as he suffered injuries after injuries as a Clippers. And the same can be said as well to PG, if I'm not mistaken, they only did reach the 2nd round of playoff as his best with the Clippers.

[btc_angela]

There was a rumor that Zach Lavine might be in the trading block as per Shams,



https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1724506310274642161

The Bulls have been struggling in the last 2-3 years when they rebuild and got DeRozan, Caruso and Vucevic, however, they will start the season good but then lose that steam entering the playoff run and lost in the first round.

And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.

[TravelMug]

^^ If I'm not mistaken, we have been hearing about Zach Lavine being traded or at least the Bulls management is willing to shop him around as he is not happy to what the team has been. He was surrounded with good players, but it seems that they can't get over the hump even if he had Demar DeRozan as his back up with the Bulls. I guess it's the chemistry or the experience, one one from amongst the team has experience going into the finals, maybe for Caruso, but he is known for his defense. So I wouldn't be surprised if before the All Star, Zach will be on a different team. Not sure why Lakers is his destination, but I do agree that it will take some of the Lakers core to be included in the trade just to get Zach Lavine or at least the Bulls management willing to let go of their franchise player.

[dwyane36]

And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.

Which one of the Lakers players would be included in a trade for LaVine? The way I see it, the Lakers don't have many options for that, and they clearly shouldn't give up their big guys. Maybe Austin Reaves? Of course, LaVine looks better than Reaves statistically, but I think such a deal is unlikely and strange since the Lakers only signed a new contract with Reaves in the offseason.

[OgNasty]

What a night for MMA, I mean the NBA. First you have Klay Thompson getting his jersey ripped, then Draymond Green chokes Rudy Gobert… As if that weren’t enough, the Lakers game has Anthony Davis throwing people to the ground and clearing the benches. It must be something in their air. Everybody is losing their minds tonight.

[carlisle1]

^^ If I'm not mistaken, we have been hearing about Zach Lavine being traded or at least the Bulls management is willing to shop him around as he is not happy to what the team has been. He was surrounded with good players, but it seems that they can't get over the hump even if he had Demar DeRozan as his back up with the Bulls. I guess it's the chemistry or the experience, one one from amongst the team has experience going into the finals, maybe for Caruso, but he is known for his defense. So I wouldn't be surprised if before the All Star, Zach will be on a different team. Not sure why Lakers is his destination, but I do agree that it will take some of the Lakers core to be included in the trade just to get Zach Lavine or at least the Bulls management willing to let go of their franchise player.

He's been with the bulls for a long time and there's nothing happen with his leadership, I also think that the chemistry is not working well
as they keep failing to reach anything not even close to a conference final.

I'm seeing some local social media post regarding to the possibility that either him, DeRozan or Caruso will be moving, and Lakers is the rumor place
for each of them.

If there's nothing happening better to let them go, maybe role players and possible future picks might work for the bulls.

[ingiltere]

New poll added. Which team has the best start?

Nuggets (9-2)
Wolves (8-2)
Sixers (8-2)
Celtics (8-2)

[AHOYBRAUSE]

New poll added. Which team has the best start?

Nuggets (9-2)
Wolves (8-2)
Sixers (8-2)
Celtics (8-2)

I would rather make a poll about who has the most surprising start. The best start is easy to see when looking at the standings I think. Also some teams had a lighter and some had a tougher schedule so far.
By the way, don't forget the Timberwolfes. They beat the Nuggets and now the Warriors twice in Chase Center. They are 8:2 as well.

About the surprises, Houston really is surprising everybody so far getting some solid wins over the Nuggets, Lakers, Kings and so on. With this roster nobody expected them to be ready already. 

[stadus]

Ty Lue doesn't seem to have that and he's willing to give him more authority on the court,

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10097062-lue-james-harden-doing-too-much-to-try-to-fit-in-with-clippers-since-76ers-trade

"He's doing too much to try to fit in," Lue said, per Tomer Azarly of Clutch Points. "We had a meeting yesterday and we said he needs to be James Harden… we have to allow him to be himself… We're going to play through James."

Lue also said that he told the team that "James needs to be James" and that they will increase his time with the ball in his hands, per Mark Medina of Fox Sports.

It looks like Harden will be the system again.

So what would happen to PG being PG, Kawhi being Kawhi, and WB being WB?

If they'll allow James Harden to dictate the team based on his style, that will make his teammates less productive because his style is he'll be the one doing more on the scoring and the ball would be on his hands most of the time. I think the solution here is still sticking with the system they build before James harden but the crucial thing coach Lue has to realizet that he can't play this big 4 altogether.

It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team. Let Harden play off the bench instead.

They almost beat the Nuggets on the road; unfortunately, they still fell short as they lost by 3 points. At least there's already good development, unlike in the past games where they have been losing by huge margins. In this game, PG was the top scorer with 35, followed by Harden with 21, while Kawhi only got 15. But that's okay; at least they are getting closer now. Eventually, they'll start winning games, so let that patience stay a bit.

[btc_angela]

And the teams that pops up in the trade is Los Angeles Lakers. But now sure what kind of trade package it will be. LA looks solid at this point, but if they are interested of acquiring Lavine, then something has to be given up.

Which one of the Lakers players would be included in a trade for LaVine? The way I see it, the Lakers don't have many options for that, and they clearly shouldn't give up their big guys. Maybe Austin Reaves? Of course, LaVine looks better than Reaves statistically, but I think such a deal is unlikely and strange since the Lakers only signed a new contract with Reaves in the offseason.

That's what I'm also trying to figure out, if indeed there will be a trade, it could be Austin Reaves, of course anyone, not name Lebron, (maybe AD too), who knows. But so far this is just rumor, the Lakers have build a good team right now, maybe they will have to look at how everything is going on before biting on that trade. D'Lo, Cam Reddish, Hachimura, Prince, Wood, Hayes. Everyone is really contributing for the Lakers, it's just unfortunate that they have to do like chasing in the 4th quarter just to able to win and make a comeback. So it's too early, but we all know that when there's smoke their is fire, so let's see how it goes for Lavine.

[Yogee]

[...]
By the way, don't forget the Timberwolfes. They beat the Nuggets and now the Warriors twice in Chase Center. They are 8:2 as well.

The Timberwolves gamble on Gobert seems to be paying off now as their own big 3 with KAT and ANT are starting to produce results. They also have Conley providing some solid support.

About the surprises, Houston really is surprising everybody so far getting some solid wins over the Nuggets, Lakers, Kings and so on. With this roster nobody expected them to be ready already. 

Yes the acquisition of VanVleet and Brooks turned out to be very good for this team. Jalen Seems more comfortable now and then they have Alperen Sengun who is having his best season so far. A balance team with 5 players averaging double figures in PPG.

I still have doubts on both teams making it to the playoffs but it's a breath of fresh air seeing them on top.

[Natalim]

Yes the acquisition of VanVleet and Brooks turned out to be very good for this team. Jalen Seems more comfortable now and then they have Alperen Sengun who is having his best season so far. A balance team with 5 players averaging double figures in PPG.

I still have doubts on both teams making it to the playoffs but it's a breath of fresh air seeing them on top.

That's one of the reasons, I guess, but I believe the main reason is hiring this guy (Ime Udoka) to do the coaching job. He was terminated in Boston due to some controversy, but prior to that, he already made Boston what they are now. So, I believe he is a talented coach, and I would not be surprised if the Rockets make it to the playoffs this season.

[yazher]

What a night for MMA, I mean the NBA. First you have Klay Thompson getting his jersey ripped, then Draymond Green chokes Rudy Gobert… As if that weren’t enough, the Lakers game has Anthony Davis throwing people to the ground and clearing the benches. It must be something in their air. Everybody is losing their minds tonight.

The pressure of getting back to the finals is getting the good of them, showing some MMA scenario on the court as if there are no consequences with it. If only they were winning more often, they would just cool and their self restraint is at a high level but this time they are rushing things as if they are losing much time when they lose more games than expected and this is not really good for their team if they act such way, I mean, there will be no sportsmanship anymore if this gonna happen again.

[boltz]

I did express my vote for 76ers even if they lost last night against Pacers , they are still the best team so far ( on my opinion ).

I could have count in Celtics as well but we all know they need more time during the season in order to get to full potential but for 76ers it's simple because they will looks like this for the rest of the season and will not improve much.

So ...Clippers 6 defeats in a row ? didn't Harden said out loud that "he is the system?" ...well ? where is this system he is talking about ? because so far I can't see anything.

[Sanitough]

What a night for MMA, I mean the NBA. First you have Klay Thompson getting his jersey ripped, then Draymond Green chokes Rudy Gobert… As if that weren’t enough, the Lakers game has Anthony Davis throwing people to the ground and clearing the benches. It must be something in their air. Everybody is losing their minds tonight.

The pressure of getting back to the finals is getting the good of them, showing some MMA scenario on the court as if there are no consequences with it. If only they were winning more often, they would just cool and their self restraint is at a high level but this time they are rushing things as if they are losing much time when they lose more games than expected and this is not really good for their team if they act such way, I mean, there will be no sportsmanship anymore if this gonna happen again.

Draymond is at it again; he always lives up to his reputation, so it's just right that he was ejected in that game. He probably will even be fine with what he did, choking Gobert, who was just trying to prevent the fight from escalating. But, of course, the Warriors are still the Warriors. They face this struggle early this season, so let's still be optimistic that they'll be able to fix this problem eventually. However, Draymond is not really a good example for the fans.

[rhomelmabini]

It needs to be a Clippers team and not just Harden, the thing is that they are trying to revolve around James and he's the newcomer and I don't think that will fit in. That's totally an offensive arsenal but I don't think it will work out to the very end, they are good when he's not there but right now it looks like a noob team.

But they are figuring it out and still haven't found a solution yet. It has already cost them a 5-game losing streak, which calls for desperate measures.
Probably, Coach Tyronn Lue is just trying this last option. You know, no player would be able to play happily if he is not being himself. That's why he wants James Harden to be himself and see the outcome of his game affecting the team.

Let Harden play off the bench instead.

Or it could be Westbrook. Either one of them could still play as a PG, so it's a coaching staff prerogative. Whoever is effective should be in the starting lineup.

That was probably the best motivation he could give but it's easier said than done, he's not getting young it was probably just a bad choice of trade by the Clippers. I think Brody plays better with him right now and that's the resort I think they should think of, it's not like he'll want another trade just because he's been off the bench, maybe that's better solution to found himself.