2024 NBA Season

[Xenrise]

@Xenrise - Thanks for the feedback! We usually have a decent selection of PBA games available but they seem to have come down recently, I'll be speaking to the sportsbook team today to investigate and get them back up ASAP. I'll also pass on the request regarding the World Cup, it would be great to run a bracket promotion!

That Nurkic injury was a nasty one, made me cringe watching the replay    Hope he is able to recover soon, otherwise the Blazers could be looking at an early exit.

Ronnie @ Cloudbet

Nice, this will be a blast on your part because more games = more bets = more income . You're welcome  for the feedback. Just focus more on the world cup, that world cup is the most interesting part of basketball especially on our part. Most Filipino gamblers here will bet more on Ph.

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[spadormie]

Enough for Nurkic discussion.

Let's discuss the Bucks vs the Rockets game, it ended up a win for the home team, bucks beating the Rockets (108-94)
and although Harden had a double double tonight but he did not score 30+ points, and we know what will happen if their main scoring machine is limited with that score only. Harden is consistent scoring 30+ points every game but got limited tonight, the defense of the Bucks are making it possible.

Bucks had a great game on that. I watched them defended the rockets pretty good. And the best part is neutralizing James Harden, the scoring machine of the team. I hope that they can expose rockets by this type of defense. Well, bucks is the eastern team I'm rooting for.

[Jating]

I'm imagining the bad fell that happened to him and it makes feel more than an ouch. Please recover fast Nurkic!

Enough for Nurkic discussion.

Let's discuss the Bucks vs the Rockets game, it ended up a win for the home team, bucks beating the Rockets (108-94)
and although Harden had a double double tonight but he did not score 30+ points, and we know what will happen if their main scoring machine is limited with that score only. Harden is consistent scoring 30+ points every game but got limited tonight, the defense of the Bucks are making it possible.

Correct, if Harden doesn't score 30+ points, then Houston has a problem. And we should give credits where it is due, to the Bucks swarming defense. You can check the stats, Houston just shot 35% from the field and went 16-52 from 3's very strange for Rockets. But then again, the defense is superb and not only that they created a lot of problem and turn-overs for Houston as well. So good game for the Bucks and really showing who is the team to beat in the East.

Exactly, their defense is very high level at this point. Giannis didn't score many today, it was  Eric Bledsoe  who lead the Bucks, but they didn't need Giannis to score more because their team defense really hold Houston Rockets.

Harden only scored 23 points, and didn't have his usual triple double, just 7 assist, another testimony of the good defense that Milwaukee has put and you can also see them missing the usual shots they make.

Bucks has a chance to be the NBA Champion, they have the defense and they are also dominant in rebounding, also don't forget they beat the warriors.
Their road and home record are good and Giannis is hungry to be in the NBA finals.|
I'm just thinking of possibility, if Giannis will not win the MVP this season, but he can still be an NBA Finals MVP if they will reach the NBA Finals.

That scenario is possible as well. And I guess team championship is really important than an individual award.

The win is really impressive, the defence and the length they go just to shutdown Harden today is very good. They might have planted the blue print on how to beat Rockets. Of course games played in playoffs is different because of the intensity, but Milwaukee is doing a good job so far and it may carry this momentum to the playoffs.

[sana54210]

So far rockets had probably just 2 games with amazing amount of threes missed but that is literally all people count on when beating rockets, defend the perimeter strong enough to actually make them miss 20+ threes, that is not something rockets gonna do all the time.

I feel like warriors are already on what rockets are doing and they will defend them much better this off season if/when they meet because they know their system now but no matter what in the end you can't just hope for 20+ misses from them. West Conference Finals will probably still be Rockets versus Warriors if nothing out of ordinary happens.

Bucks can't keep doing this on 7 game series though, I know there is a very very slim chance bucks and Rockets play each other, there is still warriors and east is stacked as well but if that somehow magically happens Rockets would beat them very easily.

[harizen]

But on the other hand, Bucks will not be on the top spot in the East if the whole team didn't improve. This team is not always Giannis. We all know that he is surrounded with pure role players. Their journey this season is really impressive and honestly I even didn't think they will clinched the 1st spot in the East.

You should change your idea of Giannis being surrounded with role players. Actually they are not. Let's talk about Malcolm Brogdon, have you seen his last few games? He's 50% from the field and his trying is best to become a spot up shooter for giannis, as Giannis is a monster on the court that might drag many defender on his watch, he needs spot up shooter.  Speaking of spot up shooter, the first time all star Khris Middleton. He's the second best in Bucks and I think he's star in the making. He got his first ticket in the all star game and of course will try his best again next year. Eric Bledsoe, a great floor general that can sweep the floor and can provide a lot of space for the team. And also, a great ISO player. I think you're wrong with pure role players.

What lacks the Bucks is another star for a competitive playoff game. Although next year, they might improve. Let's just hope they will improve and support Giannis more. But, watch out. Giannis will take a leap next year. Because months before the year of 2018 ends, he started making a lot of three pointers.  

You already mentioned some of the roles. Brogdon as "spot up" shooter for Giannis, same way for Middleton, Bledsoe etc. therefore a role players.

These are players who plays a very "specific role" on the team. Looks like we have different definition for a role players. And honestly, I see a team with composed of pure role players is way better than pure All-Stars or Superstar rosters.

Although Im not rooting for Milwaukee Bucks, I see that they are ready in the upcoming playoffs. No need for another superstar just to add up the fuel and that's not necessary in general.

But agree, if Giannis will work for his 3s and who knows it will improved more, damn he will be an all-around player now.

[rdbase]

That scenario is possible as well. And I guess team championship is really important than an individual award.

The win is really impressive, the defence and the length they go just to shutdown Harden today is very good. They might have planted the blue print on how to beat Rockets. Of course games played in playoffs is different because of the intensity, but Milwaukee is doing a good job so far and it may carry this momentum to the playoffs.

The game last night was just a beating on houston by the bucks. Watching the rockets shooting from the three point line and seeing miss after miss was hard to watch when you expect this perimeter shooting team to hit alot more then what they ended up with. It was a rewind of what golden state did against the mavericks a few nights ago. Just embarrassing if they see this their run into the playoffs.
The only memorable highlights of the game was giannis dunking when he got on the inside of the rockets defense. If you can even call it that last night.

[Reid]

I watched Nurkic video and damn I fell in my seat.

That was really horrible and later I will pray deeply for his fast recovery. That was worse than what happened with PG13.
I hope he doesnt stop playing after the recovery.

Let's discuss the Bucks vs the Rockets game, it ended up a win for the home team, bucks beating the Rockets (108-94)
and although Harden had a double double tonight but he did not score 30+ points, and we know what will happen if their main scoring machine is limited with that score only. Harden is consistent scoring 30+ points every game but got limited tonight, the defense of the Bucks are making it possible.

Whoever taught George Hill and Bledsoe on how to defend Harden is a wise man.

Prevent the three's. Keep defending the left side of him to prevent him from shooting outside. Force him to the right and let him do a floater for a 2 point which could also miss or pass the ball to Capella. (if he cannot pass it to Capella, 50% chance for a steal) happened a lot of times.

Trust the big man to do his job. (center)
Just do not give him space to make a three point shot.

2 things happened.
Bledsoe forgot to defend Harden on the left side. He stayed in front and so Harden made a three.
Hill stayed on the left side, Harden forced a three and it was an air ball.

Hail to the defensive brain of the Bucks.
Also for Hill for not forgetting the strategy in every play.

[rdbase]

-snip-
That was really horrible and later I will pray deeply for his fast recovery. That was worse than what happened with PG13.
I hope he doesnt stop playing after the recovery.
-snip-

Was that pg13 this happened too?
I remember seeing a similar thing happen during a basketball game where the players knee bone buckled on court and it looked horrible because a person leg shouldnt be able to bend that way. Kind of like what happened during the portland game. Watching it live it happened in a split second and even the refs didnt even know what happened and thought he was just trying to get a foul since it was near the end of the game with the score pretty close. It didnt help it was into a second overtime and he looked very tired taking the free throws just a few plays before hand.

[Oasisman]

Whoever taught George Hill and Bledsoe on how to defend Harden is a wise man.

Probably, with a few reviews on a tape could expose Hardens offensive techniques since he could be predictable most of the time.

Prevent the three's. Keep defending the left side of him to prevent him from shooting outside. Force him to the right and let him do a floater for a 2 point which could also miss or pass the ball to Capella. (if he cannot pass it to Capella, 50% chance for a steal) happened a lot of times.

Trust the big man to do his job. (center)
Just do not give him space to make a three point shot.

2 things happened.
Bledsoe forgot to defend Harden on the left side. He stayed in front and so Harden made a three.
Hill stayed on the left side, Harden forced a three and it was an air ball.

Hail to the defensive brain of the Bucks.
Also for Hill for not forgetting the strategy in every play.

Good observation! The eastern conference known to be great defensively and George Hill is a good vet as well since his Pacers days. I remember how they matched the big 3 in Miami back then, and Hill was one of the most important piece in the Pacers line up.
The Bucks has a pretty huge chance for the Finals trip.

[darewaller]

What are your thoughts about the latest injury of Jusuf Nurkic? This is the link to that video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvolan-diXY. Not advertising the video but, dude that was a gruesome injury and I thought not to play basketball more because of this. I think I might be playing 2k19 because of this.

Just watched the videos and thanks for sharing, this injury would let Nurkic out of this season, same alike with George and Hayward, this serious injury will need him to bench and wait for another season, too bad for blazers as they really being competitive now forming their own super team, but accident happen and this one will really hurt them.

Prayers for Nurkic as this is really a bad one for him.

This is most likely the same Hayaward's injury, For sure he'd be automatically out for this season. I'd hope that he could still come back next year, but I doubt of he can still play the same, not unless, he conquered his fear getting injured again. Nurkic, is really a big loss for the portland. I'd also hope that portland will not trade or waive him, just because of this, injury. I know he can comeback strong and dominate the paint again. Praying for his fast recovery.

The injury also changes the playoff shape so much. I mean Portland is definitely still "good" without Nurkic but without him are they "that good" now? I mean look at the standings, they are at 4th spot easily and ahead of that rat race around 5th-8th spot. Now that Nurkic is gone, even though it is a heart breaking injury but it changes the whole team and their talent level all at once.

When you are at 4th spot you face the 5th spot team and whoever ends up being 5th (maybe even them if they do not play carefully for the rest of the season) it could be a team that is better than a Portland team without Nurkic in it. Normally the 4th and 5th spot games are the only games that is even questionable because games like 1st vs 8th or 2nd vs 7th is easily decided but this time it is even more in favor of the 5th team that will face Portland.

[MakeMoneyBtc]

I watched Nurkic video and damn I fell in my seat.

That was really horrible and later I will pray deeply for his fast recovery. That was worse than what happened with PG13.
I hope he doesnt stop playing after the recovery.

It was definitely one of the worst injuries in the NBA and man, it hurts you only if you watch it. This is surely affect his NBA career a lot and it will take a very long time until he will be able to play again. Even if we will be able to play again in the NBA he will never be the same player he was this season.

[Botnake]

I watched Nurkic video and damn I fell in my seat.

That was really horrible and later I will pray deeply for his fast recovery. That was worse than what happened with PG13.
I hope he doesnt stop playing after the recovery.

It was definitely one of the worst injuries in the NBA and man, it hurts you only if you watch it. This is surely affect his NBA career a lot and it will take a very long time until he will be able to play again. Even if we will be able to play again in the NBA he will never be the same player he was this season.

It's official, he is out for the remainder of the season, but look at them now, they are still good, they are dominating the Bulls in today's game.
The problem they will face is when they will be in the playoffs, sure it would be hard for them to win, and I'm betting against them even if they have the home court advantage.

[TravelMug]

I watched Nurkic video and damn I fell in my seat.

That was really horrible and later I will pray deeply for his fast recovery. That was worse than what happened with PG13.
I hope he doesnt stop playing after the recovery.

It was definitely one of the worst injuries in the NBA and man, it hurts you only if you watch it. This is surely affect his NBA career a lot and it will take a very long time until he will be able to play again. Even if we will be able to play again in the NBA he will never be the same player he was this season.

It's official, he is out for the remainder of the season, but look at them now, they are still good, they are dominating the Bulls in today's game.
The problem they will face is when they will be in the playoffs, sure it would be hard for them to win, and I'm betting against them even if they have the home court advantage.

I'm sure that they are just taking it one game at a time.

And yes, once they are in the playoffs, they will felt the impact of losing their best player. High level of playing in playoffs plus the physical defense specially in the middle. I also would say that it will have a psychological impact to the players themselves, witnessing that kind of injury.

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

[Kasabus]

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

It's going to be hard for them, they are at the rank 3 now and with the current standing, they are going to play with the Jazz
with a big man inside that can dominate, and take note, this is a defensive team.

If they are smart, they will slide their ranking at no. 4, still the same they will have the home court advantage but they will play with the Clippers.

[Baofeng]

Whoever taught George Hill and Bledsoe on how to defend Harden is a wise man.

Prevent the three's. Keep defending the left side of him to prevent him from shooting outside. Force him to the right and let him do a floater for a 2 point which could also miss or pass the ball to Capella. (if he cannot pass it to Capella, 50% chance for a steal) happened a lot of times.

Trust the big man to do his job. (center)
Just do not give him space to make a three point shot.

2 things happened.
Bledsoe forgot to defend Harden on the left side. He stayed in front and so Harden made a three.
Hill stayed on the left side, Harden forced a three and it was an air ball.

Hail to the defensive brain of the Bucks.
Also for Hill for not forgetting the strategy in every play.

If you would go around Youtube, you will see Scottie Pippen, being asked how he will defend James Harden, he said exactly like what we have witnessed in that game, cut his left, force him to go right double-team him and force him to pass or shoot the ball, chances are he might miss a few or the pass can be stolen, simply as that. Scottie is a first-defensive-team, 8 times and 2 second-defensive-team 2 times. So he really know how to play defense here. Maybe the Bucks defensive team have seen that interview and put it into play when they face Houston yesterday and it was very effective indeed.

[Questat]

Whoever taught George Hill and Bledsoe on how to defend Harden is a wise man.

Prevent the three's. Keep defending the left side of him to prevent him from shooting outside. Force him to the right and let him do a floater for a 2 point which could also miss or pass the ball to Capella. (if he cannot pass it to Capella, 50% chance for a steal) happened a lot of times.

Trust the big man to do his job. (center)
Just do not give him space to make a three point shot.

2 things happened.
Bledsoe forgot to defend Harden on the left side. He stayed in front and so Harden made a three.
Hill stayed on the left side, Harden forced a three and it was an air ball.

Hail to the defensive brain of the Bucks.
Also for Hill for not forgetting the strategy in every play.

If you would go around Youtube, you will see Scottie Pippen, being asked how he will defend James Harden, he said exactly like what we have witnessed in that game, cut his left, force him to go right double-team him and force him to pass or shoot the ball, chances are he might miss a few or the pass can be stolen, simply as that. Scottie is a first-defensive-team, 8 times and 2 second-defensive-team 2 times. So he really know how to play defense here. Maybe the Bucks defensive team have seen that interview and put it into play when they face Houston yesterday and it was very effective indeed.

Harden is exposed and we can see that in every playoffs game.
He can get his usual scoring but the FG percentage will eventually drop, they need to adjust this time around, and Harden being
a real superstar, needs to trust his teammate. I can say that he is lucky to have Paul with him, if not, they will not reach in the Finals (west)
This time around, let's see what they got. Really excited for the playoffs to commence.

[TravelMug]

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

It's going to be hard for them, they are at the rank 3 now and with the current standing, they are going to play with the Jazz
with a big man inside that can dominate, and take note, this is a defensive team.

If they are smart, they will slide their ranking at no. 4, still the same they will have the home court advantage but they will play with the Clippers.

Yep, Jazz has a good center who can really man the middle so they are really at a disadvantage if they are going to be match with them in the first round, very very hard to win.

If they deliberately lose some games to slide to 4, maybe they can have a chance against Clippers but I'm sure all their energy will be sap and whoever they face in round 2 will be a great team, thus another bump that it very hard to overcome.

[Botnake]

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

It's going to be hard for them, they are at the rank 3 now and with the current standing, they are going to play with the Jazz
with a big man inside that can dominate, and take note, this is a defensive team.

If they are smart, they will slide their ranking at no. 4, still the same they will have the home court advantage but they will play with the Clippers.

Yep, Jazz has a good center who can really man the middle so they are really at a disadvantage if they are going to be match with them in the first round, very very hard to win.

If they deliberately lose some games to slide to 4, maybe they can have a chance against Clippers but I'm sure all their energy will be sap and whoever they face in round 2 will be a great team, thus another bump that it very hard to overcome.

The round 1 is more important, they have to focus on that first, Jazz is better than Clippers, so they should go with the Clippers.
It's even strange for me that OKC is losing in their previous games, and I have a feeling that they are intentionally doing that, I don't know but that's just what my gut says.

[TravelMug]

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

It's going to be hard for them, they are at the rank 3 now and with the current standing, they are going to play with the Jazz
with a big man inside that can dominate, and take note, this is a defensive team.

If they are smart, they will slide their ranking at no. 4, still the same they will have the home court advantage but they will play with the Clippers.

Yep, Jazz has a good center who can really man the middle so they are really at a disadvantage if they are going to be match with them in the first round, very very hard to win.

If they deliberately lose some games to slide to 4, maybe they can have a chance against Clippers but I'm sure all their energy will be sap and whoever they face in round 2 will be a great team, thus another bump that it very hard to overcome.

The round 1 is more important, they have to focus on that first, Jazz is better than Clippers, so they should go with the Clippers.
It's even strange for me that OKC is losing in their previous games, and I have a feeling that they are intentionally doing that, I don't know but that's just what my gut says.

It's strategy I must say, why those teams are just deliberately losing the last few games before the playoffs so that they can match with a weaker lower bracket team. 

I don't know if this is allowed, but I will assumed that this has been practice way before and evidently, NBA just allowed this as they don't have a strong proof that teams are intentionally dropping games.

[Jating]

Let's see if they can win in the first round, but it will be a big task ahead of them.

It's going to be hard for them, they are at the rank 3 now and with the current standing, they are going to play with the Jazz
with a big man inside that can dominate, and take note, this is a defensive team.

If they are smart, they will slide their ranking at no. 4, still the same they will have the home court advantage but they will play with the Clippers.

Yep, Jazz has a good center who can really man the middle so they are really at a disadvantage if they are going to be match with them in the first round, very very hard to win.

If they deliberately lose some games to slide to 4, maybe they can have a chance against Clippers but I'm sure all their energy will be sap and whoever they face in round 2 will be a great team, thus another bump that it very hard to overcome.

The round 1 is more important, they have to focus on that first, Jazz is better than Clippers, so they should go with the Clippers.
It's even strange for me that OKC is losing in their previous games, and I have a feeling that they are intentionally doing that, I don't know but that's just what my gut says.

It's strategy I must say, why those teams are just deliberately losing the last few games before the playoffs so that they can match with a weaker lower bracket team. 

I don't know if this is allowed, but I will assumed that this has been practice way before and evidently, NBA just allowed this as they don't have a strong proof that teams are intentionally dropping games.

That is what I'm asking the last time if I remember.

But yes, since it's really hard for the NBA management to find evidence then the team can go and play around and as you have said, strategy to have everything at their advantage in the play-offs.

And just to follow up on the injury of Nurkic "sustained a compound fracture of his left tibia and fibula and "there is no timetable for his return to basketball activity." - http://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/trail-blazers-center-jusuf-nurkic-suffers-gruesome-leg-injury-against-nets/remvdrnuus10nh58260iewg