Around the League: Week 2 10/25-10/31

[ShelC]

Nationally televised games this week
Tuesday, Oct. 26
Philadelphia 76ers vs. New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz, 10:00 p.m. on TNT

Wednesday, Oct. 27
Atlanta Hawks vs. New Orleans Pelicans, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Memphis Grizzlies vs. Portland Trail Blazers, 10:00 p.m. on ESPN

Friday, Oct. 29
Charlotte Hornets vs. Miami Heat, 7:30 p.m. on ESPN
Dallas Mavericks vs. Denver Nuggets, 10:00 p.m. on ESPN


NBA News
Amid 1-2 start, Kevin Durant says 'of course' Brooklyn Nets have enough to win without Kyrie Irving
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/324 ... rie-irving

James Harden Says He Is 'for Sure' the Poster Boy of NBA's New Rule Change
https://www.si.com/nba/2021/10/25/james ... ange-fouls

Ben Simmons trade rumors: 76ers likely to wait until Dec. 15 before heightening pursuit of deal
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/ben- ... t-of-deal/

Dawn of a new era? New-look Bulls fire on all cylinders in home opener
https://www.nba.com/news/new-look-bulls ... ome-opener

Power Rankings Roundup
NBA Power Rankings Week 1: The Jazz Are Hitting All the Right Notes and Lots of Early Surprises
https://www.sportscasting.com/nba-power ... ght-notes/

NBA Power Rankings 2021: Opening week lessons learned from each team
https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/new ... mqgyuioa9i

Previous rank: No. 4

Last week: 1-2

Upcoming: vs. Kings, vs. Cavaliers

The Suns are still the best team in the West. After reaching the Western Conference Finals last year, it seemed as though Phoenix was forgotten about during offseason chatter. It assured its name would be featured in the news cycle after dominating the Lakers, leading by as much as 32 points. The Suns, led by Devin Booker and Chris Paul – who is now the first player in NBA history to notch 20,000 points and 10,000 assists – made it clear they’re the team to beat despite a 1-2 start

[Mori Chu]

Thanks for the thread.

I have to admit that I am extremely happy that the Lakers and Nets both look pretty bumpy to start the season. I really hope both teams struggle this year. I am and have always been anti-super-team, and of course anti-Lakers no matter who is on their roster.

[Mori Chu]

Ben Simmons trade rumors: 76ers likely to wait until Dec. 15 before heightening pursuit of deal
https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/ben- ... t-of-deal/

I just don't see how they can be a successful team with this looming over them. I guess holding on to him is the right roster move rather than dumping him for marginal assets, but they're basically punting this season by holding out.

[bajanguy008]

As referenced in the topics above

[SunsRIt]

As referenced in the topics above

He should be the poster boy. He was the poster boy for drawing fouls that way. Make an example out of him.

[Mori Chu]

This just in: Lazy player who succeeded largely by exploiting dumb rule upset that dumb rule was changed.

[Flagrant Fowl]

That's harsh to call Harden a lazy player. In fact, I think he's one of the most clever players in the league. He didn't write the rules or instruct referees how to officiate the game.

[Suns_Dave]

If this new style of reffing the games holds past the first month, I fully expect Harden to be the first one to exploit it and develop the new nba "meta."

[pickle]

I watched the Nets loss to the Hornets and I don't think the refs were unnecessarily harsh on Harden. He's playing poorly right now because he's overweight and lacks explosion. Last year he was able to still be productive because he could create contact and get foul calls, but now that the calls are changing, he isn't as threatening with his drives, and he has never been an extremely accurate outside shooter, just a high volume one. Think I heard a stat that he's shooting 50% at the rim vs. mid 60s last year.

[bajanguy008]

Well I'm sure everyone already isn't a fan of Campazzo but "Mooorri !!
Ask the fam for an excuse tell them you have to go deal with an issue

[Flagrant Fowl]

You know 98% of the reason they did that was to talk trash in Spanish to each other.

[ShelC]

That knee bump didn't look like an accident IMO.

[Superbone]

That knee bump didn't look like an accident IMO.

The little dude is dirty. I saw quite a few examples in our playoff series.

[Mori Chu]

CAMPAZZO GUILTY!!!

[In2ition]

Campazzo is going to get someone hurt. He reckless and doesn't care if he does get someone hurt.

[Flagrant Fowl]

I decided to check out the GSW/OKC game after seeing OKC had a lead in the 3rd quarter.

After watching about 8 minutes of game time I think OKC should be disband as a franchise. No one would pay to watch that team in any other market. It feels like a con at this point.

[ShelC]

I was thinking SGA is on that rookie max deal...if OKC is still looking rough in a year or two, what are the chances we make a move for him to pair with Book when we move on from CP? That would fall in with Jones' reasoning for not giving DA the rookie max now, but I'm not sure how it could work where we get SGA while still keeping DA.

[Mori Chu]

Anthony Davis injury?

[Flagrant Fowl]

Spurs and Lakers are heading to overtime in an ugly game. I've probably watched too much of the Lakers so far, but I just can't stop. It's like driving past a car wreck on the highway, you can't help but slow down to look at the damage.

Anyway, the Spurs have totally blown this game. I think they missed 7 free throws in the last 3-4 minutes, possibly more than that. Vogel took Westbrook out of the game with 5 fouls when he's their only effective player. Anthony Davis got "hurt" again, but then the Lakers run a PnR lob play to him on the next possession that didn't have a chance in hell of succeeding. The Spurs countered that on the last possession of the game with a Dejounte Murray pull up contested jump shot. Just bad basketball.

[Flagrant Fowl]

Anthony Davis injury?

Routine AD. Grimace, hold a body part, stay down for 5 minutes, stay in the game like nothing happened 10 seconds later.