Around the League: Week 6 (11/27 - 12/3)

[Gladiator]

I have no idea WTF Monty is doing anymore. Is he tanking or trying to get fired?

What’s the issue? With the exception of Livers those guys have been starting all year

No Ausar Thompson in the starting line-up I’d presume.i thought he’d been solid at worst and looks very promising. I’d be giving him all the minutes he could handle.

[Wally_West]

[Wally_West]

[Wally_West]

[In2ition]

He's no Landry Shamet.

[TOO]

Monty's new kick him while he's down guy. Shame, Ivey's got a lot of talent.

[Mori Chu]

Ouch.

[Superbone]

You get what you pay for.

[Split T]

I think it’s clearly a situation where Monty is trying to build a system and he’s going to play the guys who know the system and he trusts to run it. He’s stubborn…he comes from the Popovich tree, he doesn’t care about wins or losses right now, he’s trying to get buy in. That’s my guess at least.

Or maybe Chris Paul and Devin Booker were always the reasons we were good and Monty just was along for the ride.

[Cap]

You get what you pay for.

The best coaching in the league?

[Superbone]

You get what you pay for.

The best coaching in the league?

Bingo!

[ShelC]

[Split T]

[TOO]

It's kinda crazy that 37yo Al Horford is probably in the top half of NBA C.

[Superbone]

Morning Brew:

SPORTS
Everyone’s tuning in to see the NBA’s flamboyant courts


Miami Heat court, red floor with grey stripe in the middle. The NBA in-season tournament trophy and “heat” logo in center of court. The stadium is mostly empty with teams warming up.Rich Storry/Getty Images

The NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament is heading to the knockout round next week. And after a month of games meant to help bolster midseason viewership, we can confidently announce the MVP of the tourney: the wild court designs.

In addition to new jerseys and more stats for the people at ESPN to use in their monologues, the NBA gifted the world 30 funky court designs—one for each team in the league. They have been met with…divided feedback. Even Dallas Mavericks (soon-to-be former) owner Mark Cuban said, “Not a fan of the courts, although it was a brilliant marketing idea.”

Why the courts are so wild: Just like a mid-2000s rom-com lead trying to get their crush’s attention, the NBA wore its most unhinged outfits. While normal NBA courts are typically barebones, the special in-season courts are fully painted in each team’s colors. The league admitted that the glaringly bold courts are meant to grab fans’ attention and help the tournament stand out from regular games.

And it’s working: According to Sports Business Journal, NBA games in November garnered 1.48 million average viewers on ESPN and TNT, up 19% from the same time last year. That’s especially good news for team owners, since the league’s lucrative media rights will be up for grabs after next season.—MM

[Superbone]

This kid has issues.

[TOO]

This kid has issues.

I'd still take that cockroach on this team over Bol.

[Superbone]

This kid has issues.

► Show Spoiler

I'd still take that cockroach on this team over Bol.

Boo! Never.

[Cap]

In the days of guys like the Morrii, Bledsoe, Sarver, et al., we were really just rooting for laundry. It’s nice to have something better to root for again. Let’s not throw it away on someone like Bev.

[Shabazz]

Toumani Camara would fit the Suns like a glove.