*** 2023-24 Non-Timberwolves Game Thread ***

[Moses Scurry]

No one goes to Around the NBA, so thoughts and comments on the games in progress welcome. Use at your discretion.

I'll start.

Jokic being Jokic form game 1. 30-20 at the end of the first. Could they be the sneakiest possible-dynasty ever?

[Jimi_Thing]

Lakers have some interesting players but it just seems like a shit ‘team’. AD and LeBron affect the game in spurts but that’s it. The team won’t ever establish an identity because of that. And when one, or both, go down…they’re gonna be even worse.

[Jimi_Thing]

Fun little micro bet parlay I put on this first game. $3 gets me $16.50!…

Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers will have 1 or more steals against the Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets will have 1 or more steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will score 2 or more three point field goals against the Los Angeles Lakers

[Moses Scurry]

Fun little micro bet parlay I put on this first game. $3 gets me $16.50!…

Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers will have 1 or more steals against the Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets will have 1 or more steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will score 2 or more three point field goals against the Los Angeles Lakers

That's actually pretty fun. Murray 0 and Jokic 1-1, Reeves has 2.

[YBBR]

Lakers have some interesting players but it just seems like a shit ‘team’. AD and LeBron affect the game in spurts but that’s it. The team won’t ever establish an identity because of that. And when one, or both, go down…they’re gonna be even worse.

They are thin. Besides a handful of guys that are pretty decent, they drip off a cliff in terms of talent.

[YBBR]

Taurean having a good game. Good player, not surprised.

[T_J]

Lakers have some interesting players but it just seems like a shit ‘team’. AD and LeBron affect the game in spurts but that’s it. The team won’t ever establish an identity because of that. And when one, or both, go down…they’re gonna be even worse.

To be fair, Denver is just better than them. This game feels just like their playoff series.

If they’re not healthy, they’ll be bleh, but their full roster is pretty deep and top 4 in the west.

[somuchyummy]

Lakers have some interesting players but it just seems like a shit ‘team’. AD and LeBron affect the game in spurts but that’s it. The team won’t ever establish an identity because of that. And when one, or both, go down…they’re gonna be even worse.

To be fair, Denver is just better than them. This game feels just like their playoff series.

If they’re not healthy, they’ll be bleh, but their full roster is pretty deep and top 4 in the west.

i think LAL loaded their roster really well this offseason - might take awhile to gel, and of course, both AD or Bron could go down. but it doesn't surprise me the World Champs are handling them tonight. Might be a tougher game later this year.

[T_J]

Lakers have some interesting players but it just seems like a shit ‘team’. AD and LeBron affect the game in spurts but that’s it. The team won’t ever establish an identity because of that. And when one, or both, go down…they’re gonna be even worse.

To be fair, Denver is just better than them. This game feels just like their playoff series.

If they’re not healthy, they’ll be bleh, but their full roster is pretty deep and top 4 in the west.

i think LAL loaded their roster really well this offseason - might take awhile to gel, and of course, both AD or Bron could go down. but it doesn't surprise me the World Champs are handling them tonight. Might be a tougher game later this year.

I’ve heard this on Simmons pod….they signed DLo and somebody to the exact amount of money Kyrie resigned for so it wouldn’t be shocking if Dallas took the lakers like 2030 pick and 2-3 players.

Kyrie, Reaves, Davis, and old Lebron would be a tough playoff out for anyone.

[somuchyummy]

only down a dozen. still in it. Dlo a shocking 3 of 10.

down to a 7 point lead at the end of three. 9-0 run.

[somuchyummy]

if the Lakers run with that same lineup facing us, are we having KAT guard Bron? He's the 4 tonight - Taurean at 3.

[somuchyummy]

jokic is too good. 5 of the last 7 assists in the fourth. 27/13/11 with 3 minutes left.

[YBBR]

jokic is too good. 5 of the last 7 assists in the fourth. 27/13/11 with 3 minutes left.

Best player in the league. Giannis is the only worthy challenger.

[YBBR]

Man, DLO sucks

[Jimi_Thing]

Fun little micro bet parlay I put on this first game. $3 gets me $16.50!…

Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers will have 1 or more steals against the Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets will have 1 or more steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will score 2 or more three point field goals against the Los Angeles Lakers

That's actually pretty fun. Murray 0 and Jokic 1-1, Reeves has 2.

Jamal Murray is dead to me. Everybody out there stealin except for him.

[YBBR]

Fun little micro bet parlay I put on this first game. $3 gets me $16.50!…

Austin Reaves of the Los Angeles Lakers will have 1 or more steals against the Denver Nuggets, Jamal Murray of the Denver Nuggets will have 1 or more steals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets will score 2 or more three point field goals against the Los Angeles Lakers

That's actually pretty fun. Murray 0 and Jokic 1-1, Reeves has 2.

Jamal Murray is dead to me. Everybody out there stealin except for him.

Lol

[T_J]

Man, DLO sucks

God dammit he was awful, just like most of last years playoffs.

[T_J]

Booker is so much fun.

I wish Dray was playing tonight. GS missing a facilitator bad so far.

This game is pretty splashy tho. Hope I stay awake.

[bubu dubu.]

Add Beal and Nurkic to Booker and Durant...unreal. Okogie a nice cog to do all the little things with those 4.

Denver still looks like a machine. Such a well composed team.

Wiggins missing some bunnies. At least two that I recall.

[T_J]

Okogie putting in work.

[bubu dubu.]

so good to have basketball back.

[bubu dubu.]

Nurkic is not Ayton, but what Phoenix needed Ayton to be. Not a fan of Phoenix, but gushing what I see with them. Just not really any depth.

[PanicWolf]

Gobert for okogie?

[bubu dubu.]

Gobert for okogie?

I was listening to them interviewing Draymond and they were talking about the Warriors lack of size. Maybe the Warriors are a potential trade partner at some point. Can't see it happening in season though as Wolves and GSW should be fighting each other for playoff position, but on paper makes sense. Something like Towns for Draymond, Payton, Kuminga would be the base for those teams.

[PanicWolf]

Not sure Gobert and the warriors pace are a good fit.

[PanicWolf]

Gobert for booker?

[bubu dubu.]

$33 in tournaments for DFS tonight. $51 in winnings. Fucked up both my single game lineups, but the main lineup was tits.

[somuchyummy]

Wiggins 10/1/0 in 27 minutes in the opening night loss to the Suns. Both kuminga and moody played better. Is this the year we see Andrew go to the bench?

[flexbuffchest]

It's just silly how good Jokic is on offense. To be as bad as he is on defense and still be the most impactful player in the league. He truly is one of the best complete offensive players in history.

It's a travesty Embiid won MVP last year. Voter fatigue is horrible

[somuchyummy]

When the Lakers were mounting their comeback early in the fourth, jokic was on the bench. He came back in and promptly put the Lakers to bed - getting assists on five of their next seven baskets. the guy is a basketball machine.