2025-2026 NBA Thread - Portland HC Chauncey Billups, Miami G Terry Rozier arrested for gambling.

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duluoz

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Opening night on NBC. I like the nostalgia angle, and the booth is solid with Reggie, Tirico, and Jamal Crawford.

Not as big a fan of Maria Taylor, Melo, T-Mac, and VC as studio crew. Aside from maybe VC, not at all sure sure what they’re thinking there. Not much humor or personality among them.
 
Great opening game of the season. Defending champs taken to 2OT by the new-look Rockets. KD looked totally invested last night. Excited about what's to come for Houston and such a shame that Van Vleet is not around because of the ACL.
 
Rockets are going to have to figure out the PG spot. Thompson was serviceable but once he went out with cramps, Reed Sheppard started to piss the game away. Thunder were pressuring the ball when it was anyone other than Thompson bringing it up.

They have Aaron Holiday on the bench but didn’t try him at all. They’re going to have to bring in someone. If they get that figured out, they’re scary.
 
duluoz said:
Rockets are going to have to figure out the PG spot. Thompson was serviceable but once he went out with cramps, Reed Sheppard started to piss the game away. Thunder were pressuring the ball when it was anyone other than Thompson bringing it up.

They have Aaron Holiday on the bench but didn’t try him at all. They’re going to have to bring in someone. If they get that figured out, they’re scary.
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I think they can afford to give it a couple months to see how things are going, see how Thompson/Sheppard handle the role, and figure out who that can help is available. I think they'll be able to still have a pretty solid record in the meantime; the game last night probably needs an asterisk because JDub was out and OKC couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, but even with Thompson ailing and Sheppard struggling they took OKC to double OT.
 
Warriors had a nice well-balanced win to kick things off, complete with a Curry dagger from 30’. And Butler killed them from the line, got there anytime he wanted.

Watching Doncic, it continues to amaze me that nobody figures out the best way to contain him is to take away his step-back, force him into the lane, and stay at home on shooters so he’s forced to finish in the lane (same thing with Harden). It wears him down and it’s his least favorite thing to do. He wants his step-back above all, and then he wants to drive and kick out. Gotta make him finish in the lane. Sure you’ll give up plenty of points in the lane and some 3pt plays, but you make him uncomfortable and wear him down along the way.

This “new body” of his has given him more burst with the ball, but he’s still bad at defense and his endurance is not going to suddenly be elite either.
 
rodoheel said:
I think they can afford to give it a couple months to see how things are going, see how Thompson/Sheppard handle the role, and figure out who that can help is available. I think they'll be able to still have a pretty solid record in the meantime; the game last night probably needs an asterisk because JDub was out and OKC couldn't hit the broad side of a barn, but even with Thompson ailing and Sheppard struggling they took OKC to double OT.
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I certainly wouldn’t waste a couple months experimenting when home court in the playoffs or even avoiding the play-in always comes down to a single win or loss. The way teams were clumped up in the middle of the West last year? It’s a grind all across the NBA and especially in the West.

I’d give Sheppard a couple weeks at most as a backup PG. He was completely overwhelmed last night — three scared dribbles and on his back heels desperate to get rid of it. I know the Thunder are different but it’s clearly not his natural position.
 
duluoz said:
Rockets are going to have to figure out the PG spot. Thompson was serviceable but once he went out with cramps, Reed Sheppard started to piss the game away. Thunder were pressuring the ball when it was anyone other than Thompson bringing it up.

They have Aaron Holiday on the bench but didn’t try him at all. They’re going to have to bring in someone. If they get that figured out, they’re scary.
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With respect to bringing someone else in, they only have about $1.3 million available in cap space to pay that someone else.
 
nycfan said:


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Wemby is an amazing player and his potential is seemingly limitless.

He also looks like one of those used car lot inflatable men to me and I have a visceral reaction to watching him move. It literally creeps me out in a way I can't quite define.

Happy Dance GIF by Robert E Blackmon

I'm not quite sure what to make of him nor am I sure I want to pay enough attention to figure it out.
 
It's crazy how tall Wemby is but he can barely jump two inches off the ground. It's like if that Slenderman could play basketball.
 
rodoheel said:
It was great to have the NBA on NBC music back.

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In honor of Roundball Rock's return to the air, The Ringer republished their really great oral history on the creation of the song earlier this week.

www.theringer.com

“BA-BA DA-DA-DA BAAA!”: An Oral History of “Roundball Rock”

How John Tesh created the theme song to the glory years of the NBA
www.theringer.com

I absolutely love the song, although I can't now figure out if it's actually a good song or I've been trained in Pavlovian fashion to respond to it because it preceded so many awesome Jordan games in the 90s.
 
Results of Federal investigation of NBA point shaving/gambling to be announced today.

 
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