NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse
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9 days and we are under way
Victor Wembenyama is already doing freaky shit in preseason, sky hook dunks and just basically being alarmingly long. Seriously, he's going to stand there and drop in his free throws, his arms are 18 feet long. No way that skinny-ass frame lasts 82-games this year, but at least Spurs fans have something interesting to watch.
Seriously though, he is going to be a problem. I've only been watching highlights, but a lot of commentary is highlighting his game IQ, which is incredible considering he is 19.
He's not the only story around though, the NBA is the most drama-laden sport around (off court, not on court). These overly stretched humans are all massive divas. James Harden is still causing issues. Dame is playing with TGF but might still not win a ring given the pieces moved out. Chris Paul is at the Warriors apparently to run the 2nd unit. The Celtics have changed things up to try and take the final step.
Fuck knows who wins, we have a thousand game regular season to try and work out who is good now. All i know is, it's good to be a Spurs fan again.
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So pumped. Have a conference in Chicago early next month. Bulls vs Jazz on the Monday, Bulls vs Suns on the Wednesday! First-ever NBA games in person.
Hoping to pick up a 10-day contract and get a run while I am there.
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My boy Torrey Craig at the Bulls now
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Looking forward to the season. Some of the things I鈥檓 interested in:
- Is Beal, Booker and KD a genuine Big 3?
- What lineup will Kerr close games out with?
- Will this finally be the year Porzingis gels with a team?
- Can Ja stay free of suspensions?
- Could the Lakers surprise? (I like a few of the pieces there)
- I expect the trade deadline activity will be busy
- the 76ers drama is unlikely to resolve quickly
- Will Ben Simmons gel with all those Nets wing players?
- The in-season tournament will be a massive $$ spinner
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@voodoo it鈥檚 only preseason, but because you鈥檙e a hater I wanted to post this for ya 馃槈
13K views 路 458 reactions | Ben Simmons Fadeaway | This was pretty...
This was pretty from Simmons 馃槏 #NBAPreseason 馃帴: Brooklyn Nets
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@ACT-Crusader said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
@voodoo it鈥檚 only preseason, but because you鈥檙e a hater I wanted to post this for ya 馃槈
This was pretty from Simmons 馃槏 #NBAPreseason 馃帴: Brooklyn Nets
Actually decent form!
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@ACT-Crusader said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
@voodoo it鈥檚 only preseason, but because you鈥檙e a hater I wanted to post this for ya 馃槈
This was pretty from Simmons 馃槏 #NBAPreseason 馃帴: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie of the year race will be right now Bens back in form
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@Magpie_in_aus said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
@ACT-Crusader said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
@voodoo it鈥檚 only preseason, but because you鈥檙e a hater I wanted to post this for ya 馃槈
This was pretty from Simmons 馃槏 #NBAPreseason 馃帴: Brooklyn Nets
Rookie of the year race will be right now Bens back in form
Can't wait til he goes 2-9 in his first game, bricking 2FT's early and never setting foot in the paint again. Then he'll claim a sore back afterwards, caused by a racist casino bouncer
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Lapsed NBA fan here - is he already in contention for best player* in NBA conversation?
*I know that season MVP never go to players on .500 teams.
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@gt12 said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
Just to revive this thread a bi, check out the stats they discuss for Wemby through 101 games:
He's great - especially on D, where I'm not sure the block stats truly capture the impact, the footage of guys not even shooting in his presence are amazing.
I don't love all the 3's, but I'm the brokenest of broken records there!
Just to qualify the hype a little, because there is a lot of BS going around the internet - like this:
That is some seriously selective listing. By way of example, David Robinson had more points, rebounds and blocks after 100 games than Wemby...and he never got to shoot a 3...
But I like the kid, I just hope he stays healthy - the record isn't great for guys that size, and he is one big bastard!!!
@nonpartizan he is zero chance for MVP - I reckon you need to finish top 4 minimum in your conference to stand a chance.
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@voodoo said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
@gt12 said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
Just to revive this thread a bi, check out the stats they discuss for Wemby through 101 games:
He's great - especially on D, where I'm not sure the block stats truly capture the impact, the footage of guys not even shooting in his presence are amazing.
I don't love all the 3's, but I'm the brokenest of broken records there!
Just to qualify the hype a little, because there is a lot of BS going around the internet - like this:
That is some seriously selective listing. By way of example, David Robinson had more points, rebounds and blocks after 100 games than Wemby...and he never got to shoot a 3...
But I like the kid, I just hope he stays healthy - the record isn't great for guys that size, and he is one big bastard!!!
@nonpartizan he is zero chance for MVP - I reckon you need to finish top 4 minimum in your conference to stand a chance.
Oh yeah, no doubt. Kobe should imo have won MVP in 2006 but the fact the Lakers got the 7th seed cost him.
One thing the Spurs are good at (hoping I don't jinx it) is extending players careers....... Ginobili and Duncan went on forever...... Pop is the original load manager. I will start checking some highlights out
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@voodoo said in NBA 23/24 - The Wembypocalypse:
I don't love all the 3's, but I'm the brokenest of broken records there!
On immediate reflection i sort of agree. If the Spurs lose, the box score always shows Wemby with a high volume of 3s but only making 30% (well, except yesterday when he ran in to TGF and Lopez who can live with him on D).
But part of me sees the reasoning. Wemby is like 11 feet tall but weighs like 80kg. He's not built (yet) to bang inside, stronger older players will just push him out while he's still learning his spots and his go to shots. But being a threat from the perimeter spaces it out and brings in his best weapon, being a cheat code lob threat.
What he needs to learn, and he will, is a go-to inside shot that he can make over and over. Once he gets that, and just a little more muscle, it's lights out.
Also we can't overlook the fact that while the Spurs have some "nice" and promising pieces, that's a g-league team without Wemby, so he has to do a lot himself (see yesterday when Wemby was locked out so Devin Vassell decided to try and be the guy, and went 4-17).Play-in looks our ceiling.
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Mariner, what do the Spurs have in the way of tradeable players and future draft picks in order to build around Wemby?
I know back when Buford was GM the Spurs front office was brilliant about putting talent around Duncan. They always drafted well and developed talent then picked up ring chasing vets here and there like Robert Horry, Finley.
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lots of draft capital. not much in the way of tradeable pieces really. The good players we have we'll keep (Castle looks a find, sochan keeps improving). It will be through the draft and us getting good enough that free agents will want to come to play with Wemby.
Coaching is the biggest "what if" right now. Pop is a legend, and still a good coach, but he had a stroke FFS and is really old. The guy we have filling in is okay, but that's it.
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but it is not easy! look at the Nuggets. They have the best player in the world, high quality guys around him, and yes they got a ring, but they are 4th in their conference at the moment, and not exactly flying. League parity is at an all-time high, so there are zero guarantees. (see also the Bucks and Giannis).
