NBA 20-21, COVID and stuff

[SuperHornet]

There is apparently some major blowback over these last two coaching moves, given some past allegations against Kidd and Billups of which I wasn't aware. Apparently, both have assault allegations (rape for Billups, spousal abuse for Kidd). These look bad because Portland is owned by a woman who, though she doesn't really like basketball (she inherited the team from her brother), should have known about the allegations against Billups, while Dallas looks REALLY bad as owner Mark Cuban was literally crying three years ago as he described a desire to change the image of the Mavericks, who had some bad-boy things going on at the time. There is also some angst over the idea that teams might be trying to get a cheap pop in "considering" Hammon while having no real intention of hiring a woman ever. Sort of like recent NFL teams in trying to "look" like they were complying with the Rooney Rule. As one fan wrote, "You're no longer getting brownie points just for sayin' you interviewed Becky Hammon. She deserves a head coaching position more than anybody out there." Complicating that view, though, are the perception that Hammon is waiting for Popovich to retire, and the fact that Blazer Damien Lilliard endorsed both Billups and Kidd despite not being aware of their past. Speculation is that Lilliard may demand a trade soon, both to put this faux pas behind him and frustration over the lack of support he got from his teammates as he single-handedly kept them afloat during the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/feel-unheard-r ... 17612.html

https://www.aol.com/nba-world-frustrate ... 48859.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-trail-bl ... 40996.html

[AshevilleApp]

Late news I guess. But the Pistons landed the #1 pick in the draft and are expected to take Cade Cunningham. Only the 2nd time they have had the #1 pick that I can remember. The other time they picked Bob Lanier. The last time they picked 2nd, they took Darko Milisic.

[Ivytalk]

Late news I guess. But the Pistons landed the #1 pick in the draft and are expected to take Cade Cunningham. Only the 2nd time they have had the #1 pick that I can remember. The other time they picked Bob Lanier. The last time they picked 2nd, they took Darko Milisic.

Do you still have that Bill Laimbeer poster on your wall, AA?

[JALMOND]

There is apparently some major blowback over these last two coaching moves, given some past allegations against Kidd and Billups of which I wasn't aware. Apparently, both have assault allegations (rape for Billups, spousal abuse for Kidd). These look bad because Portland is owned by a woman who, though she doesn't really like basketball (she inherited the team from her brother), should have known about the allegations against Billups, while Dallas looks REALLY bad as owner Mark Cuban was literally crying three years ago as he described a desire to change the image of the Mavericks, who had some bad-boy things going on at the time. There is also some angst over the idea that teams might be trying to get a cheap pop in "considering" Hammon while having no real intention of hiring a woman ever. Sort of like recent NFL teams in trying to "look" like they were complying with the Rooney Rule. As one fan wrote, "You're no longer getting brownie points just for sayin' you interviewed Becky Hammon. She deserves a head coaching position more than anybody out there." Complicating that view, though, are the perception that Hammon is waiting for Popovich to retire, and the fact that Blazer Damien Lilliard endorsed both Billups and Kidd despite not being aware of their past. Speculation is that Lilliard may demand a trade soon, both to put this faux pas behind him and frustration over the lack of support he got from his teammates as he single-handedly kept them afloat during the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/feel-unheard-r ... 17612.html

https://www.aol.com/nba-world-frustrate ... 48859.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-trail-bl ... 40996.html

Lillard never came out and endorsed either Kidd or Billups. Word is getting around that the extent of Lillard's involvement was Olshey handing him a list of potential candidates at the beginning of the search and asking him who he liked. Now Lillard is getting all the backlash from Blazer fans over Billups and so far, no one in the Blazer management team has spoken up in Lillard's defense, or to deflect any of the backlash from Lillard. I can't really blame Lillard for being upset.

In Billups' first statement, he thanked Jody Allen (owner), Bert Kolde (director) and Olshey (GM). Never did he mention Lillard. If Lillard truly endorsed Billups, I'm sure Billups would have mentioned it.

[AshevilleApp]

Late news I guess. But the Pistons landed the #1 pick in the draft and are expected to take Cade Cunningham. Only the 2nd time they have had the #1 pick that I can remember. The other time they picked Bob Lanier. The last time they picked 2nd, they took Darko Milisic.

Do you still have that Bill Laimbeer poster on your wall, AA?

Nah, but that was a fun Pistons team!

[Gil Dobie]

Clips hang in the series. Big night from the other Paul, George and Reggie Jackson.

[GannonFan]

The process did get Bridges to Phoenix.

Nah, Hinkie was long gone by the time that happened. Heck, that draft happened just two weeks after Bryan Colangelo (thanks NBA) was let go following the burner accounts incident. That was an Elton Brand/Brett Brown deal. And in their defense, what happened to Zhaire Smith was crazy - not only did he get a freak injury, he then had a freak allergic reaction to sesame during recovery, needed another surgery, and ended up dropping 50 lbs. Hard to foresee all of that coming down the road. Bridges has been great, no doubt, and the Sixers would've been in a good spot had they not traded him, but it wasn't a terrible trade when it happened, only after what happened medically to Smith.

[GannonFan]

There is apparently some major blowback over these last two coaching moves, given some past allegations against Kidd and Billups of which I wasn't aware. Apparently, both have assault allegations (rape for Billups, spousal abuse for Kidd). These look bad because Portland is owned by a woman who, though she doesn't really like basketball (she inherited the team from her brother), should have known about the allegations against Billups, while Dallas looks REALLY bad as owner Mark Cuban was literally crying three years ago as he described a desire to change the image of the Mavericks, who had some bad-boy things going on at the time. There is also some angst over the idea that teams might be trying to get a cheap pop in "considering" Hammon while having no real intention of hiring a woman ever. Sort of like recent NFL teams in trying to "look" like they were complying with the Rooney Rule. As one fan wrote, "You're no longer getting brownie points just for sayin' you interviewed Becky Hammon. She deserves a head coaching position more than anybody out there." Complicating that view, though, are the perception that Hammon is waiting for Popovich to retire, and the fact that Blazer Damien Lilliard endorsed both Billups and Kidd despite not being aware of their past. Speculation is that Lilliard may demand a trade soon, both to put this faux pas behind him and frustration over the lack of support he got from his teammates as he single-handedly kept them afloat during the playoffs.

https://sports.yahoo.com/feel-unheard-r ... 17612.html

https://www.aol.com/nba-world-frustrate ... 48859.html

https://sports.yahoo.com/rumor-trail-bl ... 40996.html

Lillard never came out and endorsed either Kidd or Billups. Word is getting around that the extent of Lillard's involvement was Olshey handing him a list of potential candidates at the beginning of the search and asking him who he liked. Now Lillard is getting all the backlash from Blazer fans over Billups and so far, no one in the Blazer management team has spoken up in Lillard's defense, or to deflect any of the backlash from Lillard. I can't really blame Lillard for being upset.

In Billups' first statement, he thanked Jody Allen (owner), Bert Kolde (director) and Olshey (GM). Never did he mention Lillard. If Lillard truly endorsed Billups, I'm sure Billups would have mentioned it.

Maybe Lillard is thinking how it would be to lineup with Embiid in the middle. He's never going to get that chance in Portland, he'll have to go to a team to be with a player like that.

[Gil Dobie]

Last nights game changed in a hurray. Giannis knee injury lead to a Hawks blowout win. If he can't return, Atlanta probably goes to the finals.

Hawks sported their MLK jersey's last night.

[Gil Dobie]

Chris Paul in the finals after Suns defeat Clippers.

[Gil Dobie]

The Timberwolves are a team that’s in the mix for Ben Simmons. They’ve wanted an upgrade at the power forward position dating back to the trade deadline last year when they were in the mix for Aaron Gordon. Simmons and D’Angelo Russell played together at Montverde Academy, where they won back-to-back championships. If they ended up playing together, it would be an interesting pairing. 21 hours ago – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

[JALMOND]

Chris Paul in the finals after Suns defeat Clippers.

Clippers get clipped again.

Two teams in Los Angeles, the Haves (Lakers) and the Have-Nots (Clippers). Nothing ever changes.

[GannonFan]

The Timberwolves are a team that’s in the mix for Ben Simmons. They’ve wanted an upgrade at the power forward position dating back to the trade deadline last year when they were in the mix for Aaron Gordon. Simmons and D’Angelo Russell played together at Montverde Academy, where they won back-to-back championships. If they ended up playing together, it would be an interesting pairing. 21 hours ago – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

How could the T-wolves make a trade for Simmons and not include Russell in the deal? I'm not sure I'd want Russell anyway, but just looking at it in terms of money and contracts, you'd have to include Russell or Towns, or a boatload of other players, to make the money work for the trade to be valid.

[dbackjon]

Suns win
Suns win
Suns win!!

[dbackjon]

And Patrick Beverly needs to be tossed from the league

[Gil Dobie]

The Timberwolves are a team that’s in the mix for Ben Simmons. They’ve wanted an upgrade at the power forward position dating back to the trade deadline last year when they were in the mix for Aaron Gordon. Simmons and D’Angelo Russell played together at Montverde Academy, where they won back-to-back championships. If they ended up playing together, it would be an interesting pairing. 21 hours ago – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

How could the T-wolves make a trade for Simmons and not include Russell in the deal? I'm not sure I'd want Russell anyway, but just looking at it in terms of money and contracts, you'd have to include Russell or Towns, or a boatload of other players, to make the money work for the trade to be valid.

Include a 3rd team, include Toronto for example, sign and trade Lowry to Philly with a Wolves #1 draft pick and a couple players, Toronto gets a #1 draft pick and a couple players, Wolves get Simmons.

[Rob Iola]

And Patrick Beverly needs to be tossed from the league

CP3 is such a whining drama Queen actor he could play for the Clippers...

[AZGrizFan]

And Patrick Beverly needs to be tossed from the league

CP3 is such a whining drama Queen actor he could play for the Clippers...

That may very well be true, but it doesn't change the fact that punk ass Patrick Beverly should be tossed from the league.

[dbackjon]

And Patrick Beverly needs to be tossed from the league

CP3 is such a whining drama Queen actor he could play for the Clippers...

IC What you did there - he's no Ronaldo

[Gil Dobie]

Bucks go up 3-2 on the Hawks.

[Gil Dobie]

Bucks and Suns in the finals

[89Hen]

Bucks and Suns in the finals

Who'da thunk? Over/under on ratings?

[clenz]

The Timberwolves are a team that’s in the mix for Ben Simmons. They’ve wanted an upgrade at the power forward position dating back to the trade deadline last year when they were in the mix for Aaron Gordon. Simmons and D’Angelo Russell played together at Montverde Academy, where they won back-to-back championships. If they ended up playing together, it would be an interesting pairing. 21 hours ago – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

How could the T-wolves make a trade for Simmons and not include Russell in the deal? I'm not sure I'd want Russell anyway, but just looking at it in terms of money and contracts, you'd have to include Russell or Towns, or a boatload of other players, to make the money work for the trade to be valid.

I don't know how it would work but there certainly seems to be a lot of smoke around, and not just recently. Simmons has been linked to the Wolves for about 2 years it seems.

I've been hard on Simmons but maybe a new start would be good for him. Get out of Philly, get away from the kind of fans Philly has, etc.

The rumor is the Wolves wouldn't include D-lo, KAT (duh), or Edwards (duh) and if they could pull a trade like that off it would make Simmons the 4th option any given night

The front office in Minnesota has been pretty open to the media that they are going to be aggressive in the trade market to overhaul the team because they don't have a draft pick.

I guess we will see.

[clenz]

The Timberwolves are a team that’s in the mix for Ben Simmons. They’ve wanted an upgrade at the power forward position dating back to the trade deadline last year when they were in the mix for Aaron Gordon. Simmons and D’Angelo Russell played together at Montverde Academy, where they won back-to-back championships. If they ended up playing together, it would be an interesting pairing. 21 hours ago – via Michael Scotto @ HoopsHype

How could the T-wolves make a trade for Simmons and not include Russell in the deal? I'm not sure I'd want Russell anyway, but just looking at it in terms of money and contracts, you'd have to include Russell or Towns, or a boatload of other players, to make the money work for the trade to be valid.

I don't know how it would work but there certainly seems to be a lot of smoke around, and not just recently. Simmons has been linked to the Wolves for about 2 years it seems.

I've been hard on Simmons but maybe a new start would be good for him. Get out of Philly, get away from the kind of fans Philly has, etc.

The rumor is the Wolves wouldn't include D-lo, KAT (duh), or Edwards (duh) and if they could pull a trade like that off it would make Simmons the 4th option any given night

The front office in Minnesota has been pretty open to the media that they are going to be aggressive in the trade market to overhaul the team because they don't have a draft pick.

I guess we will see.

[JALMOND]

Only one player taken in the NBA draft from an FCS school. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, PF from Villanova.