2024-2025 Around the NBA Thread

[AzStevenCal]

Everyone loves when the Lakers are down or are losing-it makes great media. Which is great for the NBA.

That's illogical. If it doesn't drive ticket sales, tv viewership or merchandising how can it be great for the NBA? It might make great fodder for sports talk radio but it's a losing proposition for the NBA. And though the Lakers are arguably the most disliked franchise in the league, they are also arguably the most beloved franchise. The NBA didn't conspire to get Luka to the Lakers, they aren't conspiring to make the Lakers better or worse.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I think it's the opposite. The media and NBA likes the big market teams to thrive.

They clearly do, I just don't believe they do anything underhanded to try and make this happen.

 

[Mainstreet]

They clearly do, I just don't believe they do anything underhanded to try and make this happen.

I'm not big into conspiracy theories, but sometimes doing nothing is doing something.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm not big into conspiracy theories, but sometimes doing nothing is doing something.

I get your point but as a fan, I'd have been quite upset if they'd put a stop to the Doncic trade. My thinking is if they can let us make the dumbest decision of the century, why should they keep Dallas from trying to knock us down a spot on the leader board.

 

[Mainstreet]

I get your point but as a fan, I'd have been quite upset if they'd put a stop to the Doncic trade. My thinking is if they can let us make the dumbest decision of the century, why should they keep Dallas from trying to knock us down a spot on the leader board.

The Suns gave up a fortune for an aging, oft injured star in Durant while the Lakers got a 25-year-old superstar in Doncic relatively cheap.

I see a difference. The Lakers got Doncic much less than market value.

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Suns gave up a fortune for an aging, oft injured star in Durant while the Lakers got a 25-year-old superstar in Doncic relatively cheap.

I see a difference. The Lakers got Doncic much less than market value.

Of course there's a difference but I think you're ignoring half of the equation. The Lakers got a steal because the league allowed the Mavericks to make an incredibly stupid deal. The Nets got a steal because the League allowed the Suns to make an incredibly stupid deal.

 

[Mainstreet]

Of course there's a difference but I think you're ignoring half of the equation. The Lakers got a steal because the league allowed the Mavericks to make an incredibly stupid deal. The Nets got a steal because the League allowed the Suns to make an incredibly stupid deal.

So sometimes the league is hands-on, e.g, Sarver and sometimes they are not?

 

[Covert Rain]

The Suns gave up a fortune for an aging, oft injured star in Durant while the Lakers got a 25-year-old superstar in Doncic relatively cheap.

I see a difference. The Lakers got Doncic much less than market value.

Agree. These were not the same.

 

[Hoop Head]

So sometimes the league is hands-on, e.g, Sarver and sometimes they are not?

They had to be hands on with Sarver since he was abusing his power as owner of the Suns and marginalizing employees. There's zero reason for the league to step in and stop a bad trade though. You're comparing apples to oranges now.

 

[Mainstreet]

They had to be hands on with Sarver since he was abusing his power as owner of the Suns and marginalizing employees. There's zero reason for the league to step in and stop a bad trade though. You're comparing apples to oranges now.

The NBA has conducted investigations. It's nothing new or limited to Sarver.

The Suns even lost a second round pick for early discussions with Drew Eubanks.

 

[Hoop Head]

The NBA has conducted investigations. It's nothing new or limited to Sarver.

The Suns even lost a second round pick for early discussions with Drew Eubanks.

And that was tampering, outside of the CBA rules. The Luka trade was within the rules. We don't have to like it but Dallas elected to keep things quiet and deal with only the Lakers. There's no rules against that. I can't blame them considering the mess the Butler trade turned into at the same time. Multiple teams ended up effected by that deal.

 

[Mainstreet]

And that was tampering, outside of the CBA rules. The Luka trade was within the rules. We don't have to like it but Dallas elected to keep things quiet and deal with only the Lakers. There's no rules against that. I can't blame them considering the mess the Butler trade turned into at the same time. Multiple teams ended up effected by that deal.

I've not made a case the Luka trade was in violation of the NBA rules, but I certainly do not believe it is above questioning, that's why I put a question mark there.

 

[GatorAZ]

I've not made a case the Luka trade was in violation of the NBA rules, but I certainly do not believe it is above questioning, that's why I put a question mark there.

.
Dallas not getting the other pick is the questionable part to me. They clearly didn’t want to build around him long term but the Lakers keeping an extra asset out of it is WILD.

 

[Hoop Head]

I've not made a case the Luka trade was in violation of the NBA rules, but I certainly do not believe it is above questioning, that's why I put a question mark there.

Thats why I feel the situations aren't the same and you're comparing apples to oranges. I don't understand the issue you're trying to highlight. The Suns issues are entirely different than the Mavs. The Luka deal was unique but entirely legal within the framework of the league.

 

[Phrazbit]

Everyone loves when the Lakers are down or are losing-it makes great media. Which is great for the NBA.

Laker fans perpetually acting like victims is one of the most absurd thing in all of sports.

Y'all lead the league in free throw disparity year after year after year, and by insane margins.

 

[leclerc]

"That's because they play the right way."

 

[swagron]

Laker fans perpetually acting like victims is one of the most absurd thing in all of sports.

Y'all lead the league in free throw disparity year after year after year, and by insane margins.

The Lakers league rank the last 3 years in 3 pointers attempted: 19, 30 and 27.

See the correlation???

 

[AzStevenCal]

The Lakers league rank the last 3 years in 3 pointers attempted: 19, 30 and 27.

See the correlation???

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. You're saying that because they whine and get all the calls they don't need to force up three point shots to win games. Good point. (only slightly kidding)

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. You're saying that because they whine and get all the calls they don't need to force up three point shots to win games. Good point. (only slightly kidding)

In past seasons, they also would rather force the ball inside than simply shoot 3s all game long, especially when they had a healthy AD.

They seem to be shooting more threes with a lot of different players this season, including, of course, newly acquired Doncic. But Reeves, Knecht, James, and many of the supporting players are much better at 3s than in past years. Gabe Vincent was 4/4 from beyond the arc in a win recently.

 

[swagron]

Oh yeah, I see what you mean. You're saying that because they whine and get all the calls they don't need to force up three point shots to win games. Good point. (only slightly kidding)

Sure. I guess the Suns players aren’t a reflection of its fans, because all I see is whining about calls in this forum in the game day threads. Good to know lol.

 

[AzStevenCal]

In past seasons, they also would rather force the ball inside than simply shoot 3s all game long, especially when they had a healthy AD.

They seem to be shooting more threes with a lot of different players this season, including, of course, newly acquired Doncic. But Reeves, Knecht, James, and many of the supporting players are much better at 3s than in past years. Gabe Vincent was 4/4 from beyond the arc in a win recently.

Oh I know, there is some truth to why they dominate the free throw columns. But the constant whining by Lebron gets real old. He doesn't get ALL the calls like he used to but he still gets away with a lot and still cries about everything. Booker whines a lot, far too much, but it pales in comparison to the whining that Lebron has done for many years. I just wish these guys would shut the heck up and let the referees do their job. Dreaming is free.

 

[AzStevenCal]

Sure. I guess the Suns players aren’t a reflection of its fans, because all I see is whining about calls in this forum in the game day threads. Good to know lol.

Oh there is definitely a lot of whining about calls here, never said there wasn't. But if the Lakers lost as often as we do, you'd see at least as much of it on a Lakers board. Let's face it, it's a well known fact that Lebron has never committed a foul in his life.

 

[swagron]

In past seasons, they also would rather force the ball inside than simply shoot 3s all game long, especially when they had a healthy AD.

They seem to be shooting more threes with a lot of different players this season, including, of course, newly acquired Doncic. But Reeves, Knecht, James, and many of the supporting players are much better at 3s than in past years. Gabe Vincent was 4/4 from beyond the arc in a win recently.

That is correct. This year is the highest rank of three point attempts based on the change of personnel and coaches.
Damn those details. It’s just easier to say the league favors the Lakers and woe is me. lol

 

[swagron]

Oh there is definitely a lot of whining about calls here, never said there wasn't. But if the Lakers lost as often as we do, you'd see at least as much of it on a Lakers board. Let's face it, it's a well known fact that Lebron has never committed a foul in his life.

Touché. But I used to think KJ never committed a foul back in the day too.

 

[Phrazbit]

The Lakers league rank the last 3 years in 3 pointers attempted: 19, 30 and 27.

See the correlation???

And over the last 3 seasons the Lakers have had a FT disparity almost triple that of the team of the 2nd largest disparity in the league.

And you somehow act as though the Lakers are victims.