Around the NBA: Week 18 (2/17 - 2/23)

[Cap]

Why would you take random pills some weirdo hands you?

“Some weirdo” in this case was a trusted friend. Lots of people do it, but when you’re an NBA player who can get your doctor on the phone and have your drugs delivered to you inside an hour, there is no need at all.

[In2ition]

Why would you take random pills some weirdo hands you?

“Some weirdo” in this case was a trusted friend. Lots of people do it, but when you’re an NBA player who can get your doctor on the phone and have your drugs delivered to you inside an hour, there is no need at all.

My guess is that the trusted friend didn't think he was doing anything wrong, probably thought he was helping, and had no idea it would cause a suspension. Some of these rules are a little over the top, imo.

[Cap]

Why would you take random pills some weirdo hands you?

“Some weirdo” in this case was a trusted friend. Lots of people do it, but when you’re an NBA player who can get your doctor on the phone and have your drugs delivered to you inside an hour, there is no need at all.

My guess is that the trusted friend didn't think he was doing anything wrong, probably thought he was helping, and had no idea it would cause a suspension. Some of these rules are a little over the top, imo.

I don’t place a lot of blame on the friend. This is nearly 100% on Portis.

Incidentally, the tweet posted by ShelC on the first page has been deleted. I wonder what’s up with that.

[Furlanfufi]

Tramadol definitely won't boost anyones performance. That shit works as in "you won't feel pain if you're sleeping".

[TOO]

Tramadol definitely won't boost anyones performance. That shit works as in "you won't feel pain if you're sleeping".

Yep. Big fan after my back surgery.

[Superbone]

[Gladiator]

He’s not wrong. I do wonder what a shorter season where every game mattered more would look like for the NBA.
It does also irk me a little that players will take the max and super max knowing they will not even try to play all the games (acknowledging that I am old school in that regard). Like Embiid’s contract is a joke - 76ers are paying full tote odds knowing they will get 2/3 of the games at best out of him.
And fans never get a refund on tickets they have bought well in advance if star players are ‘managed’ for that night.
Not sure what the answer is but the league and NBAPA would do well to not to ignore the issue.

[Split T]

I think load management is mostly gone…it’s really just Embiid and Kawhi at this point.

[specialsauce]

I think it’s very likely Portis is telling the truth when he says he thought he was taking toradol. I work in healthcare and have seen even healthcare professionals get those two medications mixed up. I have less sympathy for him though because he was taking someone else’s prescription regardless.

You do the crime, you do the time.

It's a controlled substance regardless and a partial opioid agonist among other effects. How do you take it and not realize you're feeling a little different? Either he's dumb or he knew

[specialsauce]

Tramadol definitely won't boost anyones performance. That shit works as in "you won't feel pain if you're sleeping".

Yep. Big fan after my back surgery.

It should be banned.

Ask any toxicologist and they will say to never prescribe it. Works on way too many receptors with a lot of potential medication interactions. Better off to get Percocet

[Kryptonic]

Tramadol definitely won't boost anyones performance. That shit works as in "you won't feel pain if you're sleeping".

Yep. Big fan after my back surgery.

It should be banned.

Ask any toxicologist and they will say to never prescribe it. Works on way too many receptors with a lot of potential medication interactions. Better off to get Percocet

I had worse withdrawal coming off tramadol than opiates…. That should tell you sometime.

[Split T]

I think it’s very likely Portis is telling the truth when he says he thought he was taking toradol. I work in healthcare and have seen even healthcare professionals get those two medications mixed up. I have less sympathy for him though because he was taking someone else’s prescription regardless.

You do the crime, you do the time.

It's a controlled substance regardless and a partial opioid agonist among other effects. How do you take it and not realize you're feeling a little different? Either he's dumb or he knew

Oh I agree he should be punished. It just seems very weird to me that he would knowingly take Tramadol. It’s not even that strong of a narcotic. I’d say he either made an error in judgement(was dumb) or he has a bigger problem(addiction) and this assistant story is a cover up.

[specialsauce]

I think it’s very likely Portis is telling the truth when he says he thought he was taking toradol. I work in healthcare and have seen even healthcare professionals get those two medications mixed up. I have less sympathy for him though because he was taking someone else’s prescription regardless.

You do the crime, you do the time.

It's a controlled substance regardless and a partial opioid agonist among other effects. How do you take it and not realize you're feeling a little different? Either he's dumb or he knew

Oh I agree he should be punished. It just seems very weird to me that he would knowingly take Tramadol. It’s not even that strong of a narcotic. I’d say he either made an error in judgement(was dumb) or he has a bigger problem(addiction) and this assistant story is a cover up.

For sure lol very weird choice

[Cap]

I think it’s very likely Portis is telling the truth when he says he thought he was taking toradol. I work in healthcare and have seen even healthcare professionals get those two medications mixed up. I have less sympathy for him though because he was taking someone else’s prescription regardless.

You do the crime, you do the time.

It's a controlled substance regardless and a partial opioid agonist among other effects. How do you take it and not realize you're feeling a little different? Either he's dumb or he knew

Oh I agree he should be punished. It just seems very weird to me that he would knowingly take Tramadol. It’s not even that strong of a narcotic. I’d say he either made an error in judgement(was dumb) or he has a bigger problem(addiction) and this assistant story is a cover up.

For sure lol very weird choice

While I can’t know what was going on in his mind, it looks like a simple case of horrible judgment, not “I’m gonna cheat and get away with it.” As others have pointed out, it wouldn’t seem to advantage him.

[Mori Chu]

The main concern to me would be that maybe Portis has an opioid addiction problem. Hope he's okay.

[Superbone]

I watched some of the Wolves/Rockets game tonight. It's so weird watching two competent teams that play good defense and don't throw the ball away frequently and can rebound the ball after misses.

[Gladiator]

I watched some of the Wolves/Rockets game tonight. It's so weird watching two competent teams that play good defense and don't throw the ball away frequently and can rebound the ball after misses.

What is this defense and rebounding you talk of??

[Mori Chu]

I watched some of the Wolves/Rockets game tonight. It's so weird watching two competent teams that play good defense and don't throw the ball away frequently and can rebound the ball after misses.

Yeah, whenever I catch a good team playing, like OKC, CLE, DEN, MIN, HOU, BOS, ... I just say to myself, there's no point. We are not even close to as good as these guys. Even if we somehow barely make the play-in this year, there is no way this team can beat these other teams that are so, so much better than we are.

[Split T]

I for one think getting swept by OKC would be a great end to the season at this point.

[Superbone]

I for one think getting swept by OKC would be a great end to the season at this point.

I don't see them getting that far. They can't or they just won't improve on their turnovers. That alone is why they lose most games. They are just kind of...dumb.