Jrag

Also. This is the best thing you will read today. https://amp.wbur.org/onlyagame/2018/12/14/lin-wang-charles-barkley?__twitter_impression=true

They don't have the talent to win in a meaningful way. And they are less likely to have the talent to win when Lauri is in his prime if they continue down the path they have been on for the last few years. I want them to win as much as anyone. It's nonsense to suggest otherwise. If i'm at the game I would obviously root for them to play well and win, but the long view suggests a better chance of success with tanking what is already a lost season. The reason I am rooting for a tank is that I have a realistic view of our front office. They do not have a good reputation. They treat players poorly, undermine coaches and consider the health of their players a secondary concern. Top tier FAs will not come here despite being in a great city/big market. And doing completely regressive things like signing Rondo, old Wade and hometown kid Jabari Parker to sell jerseys is not trying to win (or trying to tank) it's just shitty sports capitalism. Oh yeah. And I've seen Duke play this year. PS: The prices do drastically change with the success of the team in most markets. I used to get a ticket/hot dog/soda combo for 6 bucks when I went to watch the pre-grindhouse Grizz. How low did the ticket prices get in Process Philly? Im sure a few people here could answer that one.

Roma was as good as advertised. Cuarón's camerawork isn't as showy as in Children of Men, but it's equally impressive. The camera just lingers in a way. He uses light in such a unique way. Definitely recommend it. Also, I went down a Wikipedia rabbit hole to learn more about that Mexico City riot in '71. Wild. CIA involvement, trained killers, officials resigning etc, etc.

The dynastic value of a top 5 NBA player is unmatched in any other team sport. 5 guys on the floor and all that. Acquiring one of those top 5 players should be the ultimate goal of every team. I was as critical of the Hinkie method as anyone, but he is proven right every time Joel Embiid steps foot on the court. (And Embiid ain't even top 5 just yet). They can fiddle around with the draft odds all they want. As long as there are Zions out there roaming the earth tanking will be inevitable. I don't think it's necessarily worth it every year but it will be this year for the Duke guys.

Jabari getting dropped from the rotation simultaneously makes me like Boylen more and Gar/Pax even less (somehow). Jabari has no business playing the 3 and Justin Holiday has been the only consistently good Bull this season. On the other hand, Gar/Pax fired Hoiberg to promote a guy who will help them win just enough games to bump out of that Knicks/Suns tier. Morons!

Looks like Jim Boylen is either not interested or very, very interested in tanking. Too early to tell. Also: "A player responded, sources said, telling Boylen in essence that they aren’t the Spurs and, more importantly, he isn’t Popovich." lol

One more thing! Sixers/Raptors tonight!! ECF preview in my opinion. Between having Embiid on my fantasy teams and the Jimmy Butler trade, I've basically adopted the Sixers as my team this year. Helps that my work schedule only affords me time to watch the east coast games. I'd say I've seen almost every game since the Butler trade. They look more and more comfortable playing together every game. Super thin bench right now, but I feel like a few guys will show up when the buyouts start. What surprised me was just how well Simmons and Butler have fit together. Ben seems more aggressive when Jimmy is out there. That gravity Butler has with opposing defenses really opens the lane up for Simmons. That build a wall stuff Boston was doing last year in the playoffs wont work anymore.

That Luka stepback last night. WHEW! https://streamable.com/uo5ar Bill Simmons has been hyping up a potential Dallas trade where they unload Wes Matthews expiring contract to add another piece. I love that idea. They don't have their pick for next year so why not get Luka in the playoffs so he can get some reps. Dallas has played a really easy schedule so far, but they do have some quality wins this year. Last night might be their best win yet. Playoffs are definitely in the picture. I'm sure Random Act is hyped at this point.

My issue with the Hoiberg thing is, why now? If he is a bad coach (I think he is), isn't that what you want right now? Surely we don't want to start winning games. Very confusing timing. The only thing that makes sense to me is they couldn't get Hoiberg on the same page with the FO when it comes to tanking down the stretch. Bulls have effortlessly been trash so far this year, but most of their talented guys are either just coming back or a few weeks away from returning. It's going to take a little more micro-managing if they want to stay in the Zion/RJ sweepstakes.

All hail the #1 seed in the Western Conference.... the MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES!

Fultz "shoulder problems" resurfacing the morning after being benched for a recently out of the rotation TJ McConnell is so laughable. Whoever is whispering in his ear clearly went to the Reggie Rose school of sports management. Im not sure he ever plays another game for Philly. I think this might actually be the breaking point.

If he is willing to juggle he might as well try underhanded.

That Sixers game last night was the full Jimmy Butler experience. He was super efficient offensively and fighting through screens to stay on D Mitchell on the defensive end. I'm pretty sure Brett Brown wishes he would switch more ha, but maybe he can talk him into it. Embiid didn't play up to his level last night, but my favorite NBA thing is The Process flexing on somebody after an and 1.

The league is super fun right now. So many interesting teams that there are at least 2 amazing/fresh games every night. Tonight we get Celtics/Raps and Jazz/Sixers . Whew.

Haven't looked it up, but my gut says Milwaukee has taken a few games off of them. I know they broke one of GSW's win streaks during the 73 win year.