Around the League: Week 2 10/31-11/6

[Mori Chu]

Let's not pretend that we were next in line to land Walton but that was ruined because we kept Watson...

Yeah. There was no indication that Walton wanted to come here at all, only that Sarver wanted him. The rumor mill at the end of the season was that it was Lakers all the way for him.

And not only Walton. We can't pretend that coaches are happy to go to a team that has a history of poor relationships between owners and coaches, poor drafting, and poor performance. I am not a fan of how Watson was hired, but it isn't like we had people beating down our door to coach here.

You can't possibly know that for sure. We actively chose not to interview anybody, so we have no idea who did or didn't want our coaching position. I don't (totally) hate that we retained Watson as coach; I hate that we just didn't even look around or do any interviews to see who would come knocking.

[Indy]

Let's not pretend that we were next in line to land Walton but that was ruined because we kept Watson...

Yeah. There was no indication that Walton wanted to come here at all, only that Sarver wanted him. The rumor mill at the end of the season was that it was Lakers all the way for him.

And not only Walton. We can't pretend that coaches are happy to go to a team that has a history of poor relationships between owners and coaches, poor drafting, and poor performance. I am not a fan of how Watson was hired, but it isn't like we had people beating down our door to coach here.

You can't possibly know that for sure. We actively chose not to interview anybody, so we have no idea who did or didn't want our coaching position. I don't (totally) hate that we retained Watson as coach; I hate that we just didn't even look around or do any interviews to see who would come knocking.

I can know for sure that really good coaches want to be appreciated by their boss and owner, and want to be successful. Our history this decade isn't good for that.

[OE32]

I suspect we won't extend Alex, in order to preserve cap space next summer. OE32, 07/25/2016

I appreciate that you want to continue this memorial to my wisdom, but you can probably take it down now.

Any willingness to agree to my revisit the terms of our near-bet on TJ? He only needs to average 2.3 more PPG in any season to satisfy my 24.6 number, 2.7 for your 25 PPG figure. How about we split the difference?

All in good fun. It's only been five games for TJ, including two overtimes, and the reason we didn't extend Alex probably has more to do with his poor play than our desire to preserve cap space.

[Ring_Wanted]

Harden with 41 points (on 20 shots), 15 assists (1 Turnover!) and 7 rebounds tonight. People putting up video game numbers these days.

Yeah. Look up DeRozan for instance, let alone The Brow.

[Hermen]

Or Durant. As for coaches, Kings got Dave Joerger who I think did a fine job in Memphis.

[O_Gardino]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

[Superbone]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

Good question. The Sunday game against the Lakers will be interesting.

[UglyTruth]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

The Lakers are playing with a lot of ball movement and player movement though while the Suns are still in their pick & roll/iso mode from last couple years.

[O_Gardino]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

The Lakers are playing with a lot of ball movement and player movement though while the Suns are still in their pick & roll/iso mode from last couple years.

Fair enough, although I think that has to do with the Suns players.

[SDC]

if he can maintain these shooting numbers this season, he becomes kevin mchale (60 FG%, 80 FT %, at least 10 ppg)

http://www.basketball-reference.com/pla ... rder_by=ws

[UglyTruth]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

Btw these two wins along with their 3rd tonight demolishing the Warriors have come against the top playoff teams within each conference. Even their loss to Indiana came down the wire.

[In2ition]

Why are we talking like Walton is a desirable coach? LAL have won 2 games, and their play has not been very good. Walton is a rookie, just like every phx sun outside the broadcasters.

Btw these two wins along with their 3rd tonight demolishing the Warriors have come against the top playoff teams within each conference. Even their loss to Indiana came down the wire.

Yes, the Lakers played well tonight, but if you watched the game it was crazy how the bounces went the Lakers way so many times you may have thought it was something supernatural at play. Everything went the Lakers way and didn’t o the Warriors way.

[Mori Chu]

This box score is pretty amazing. Curry 0-10 on 3s, breaking a streak of over 150 games. I have to admit that even though the Warriors are my second team these days, I'm a little bit thankful that they are losing some games. I don't want to see them stomp over the whole NBA and roll their way to a title. The league is better if they struggle a little bit.

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400899528

[Superbone]

I watched the highlights. I saw at least 5 wide open Curry threes that he missed. I mean, wide open. Nobody close to him. It must have been a very off night for him.

[carey]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/795096559872417792

[JCSunsfan]

https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine/status/795096559872417792

Must have done it on that shot he took. The Pels really need to rebuild completely. They have the Brow but that is it. I wonder if we could put together a package to get him that did not include Warren or Booker. I would give up 4 first rounders plus young talent.

[carey]

Pels won't trade him. At least, not yet. You have to remember that Paul leaving was an enormous blow to this city. If not for them winning the lottery I hesitate to think how bad they would have been the last few years. They won't give up their meal ticket just yet when they are struggling to sell tickets. I mean the place is 2/3 empty most of the time right now.

[pickle]

I love the Brow as much as the next guy, but I can't shake the feeling that dominant big men can no longer dictate games. AD and Towns are not sporting particularly good records despite their supernatural talent and performances. Yes I know that New Orleans has an awful roster and lots of injuries, but even so, I just don't get the feeling that these big guys are able to stabilize their respective offenses and create for their teammates. In other words, the cliche description that they don't make their teammates better. I wonder if this is just circumstances rather than the way of the modern game. If they cannot pass to the point where they can average 5-6 assists a game and dictate the offense, I feel like their best bet is to become defensive anchors. Even then, perimeter defenders still need to be good enough to actually funnel their guys to the middle, otherwise just having a good shot blocker no longer cuts it.

I'm rambling. I love AD.

[Mori Chu]

Was just looking at the NBA standings. Didn't realize that OKC was tied for #1 in the West at 5-1. Wow. I don't think it'll last, but still, kudos to them. Mavs are down at the bottom, winless at 0-5. Oops. If the playoffs began today, the Lakers would be a playoff team at 3-3. Somehow the T-Wolves are just 1-4, but I think they may end up winning a lot of games before the season is over.

In the East, the Cavs are the league's only undefeated team at 6-0. The Hornets are somehow #2 at 4-1. The Pacers are only 3-3 but I think they will rise. Not a ton of surprises yet; the Wizards at 1-4 is a little low, but that team has issues of its own.

What teams in the standings surprise you so far?

http://www.espn.com/nba/standings

[Shabazz]

Archie Goodwin signing for 2 years with the Pelicans.