this was best article I've read in a while from y'all, always love your different perspective/verbiage on stuff that I normally just read through with all the same jargon.
more sports articles and Limbal Ring-equivalent info
The new Mavs owners, the Adelson family, have deep ties to Las Vegas Sands and the gambling industry. Would not be surprised to see a back room deal in place to trade Luka in exchange for allowing them to purchase the Mavs. Boosting league ratings and opening the door for bigger betting action. No accident that the NBA deadline is during Super Bowl week either, somehow stealing the media spotlight during Super Bowl week. Many only start caring about the NBA after the NFL season. Likely no accident Luka goes to the biggest international NBA market (LA). Bad trade for the Mavs, great for NBA viewership, great for casinos.
Mavs could have gotten more in return for Luka, guaranteed. Tell is that they approached the Lakers with this terrible trade, not the other way around.
Closest comparison is maybe Wayne Gretzky to the Kings.
Absolutely awful trade unless the NHL orchestrated it, but it ultimately ignited the expansion era in the NHL.
I have a hard time beliving they will expand the court. They expensive seats are already close to the line and I don't think they will want to lose them.
Agree with all of it. Women's basketball is smaller, why stop there? Lower the rim 6-12" and shorten the court. NBA definitely needs to push the 3 point line back to force teams to have 3 point "specialists" like they used to instead of every 7' pulling up. Get them back under the rim.
The main reason it’s a horrible trade for the Mavs is because they only spoke to the Lakers. Didn’t even open it up to bidding. Nothing against AD as a player but trading a 25 yo top 3 player for a 31 yo top 15 player and only getting one pick is insane.
Another fix for NBA is stopping the fouling out of players. No other sport has rules that disqualify players from the game for common fouls.
Any easy solution is a soccer style system. Flagrant and techs can be assessed still and result in disqualification. Team fouls can still accrue leading to FTs and shooting fouls lead to FTs as well. No one wants to watch less of star players just because they’re in foul trouble. Especially since most fouls called feel 50/50 at best.
1. Implement a yellow/red card system. If a player is excessively fouling for a team then a yellow or red card would be issued. With a red resulting ejection.
2. To combat “hack a Shaq” the NBA could either grant teams a point plus a FT after 10 team fouls or whatever set amount they choose. OR if a certain limit of team fouls is reached because of “hack a Shaq” then teams get to select their FT shooter.
Net resulta are that star players are on the court more, refs can call the game correctly without giving special treatment to certain players, and the game would be more intense.
The NBA has mountains of data to figure out the team fouls limit and to make sure guys like Draymond Green don’t actively assault players without consequence.
Do you think capping the number of made threes is worth considering? You could jack all the threes you want, but after you make 12 (haven't run the math, but I think this is currently 2-3 below current average made/game), you're shooting a two.
Probably a less popular proposal compared to extending the three point line, but the advantage is you don't have to mess with the court.
Luka has top 10-15 all time potential and so far has hit all the benchmarks of a truly historic player (box score production, 1st team all nba 5x, mvp caliber since 2nd year, playoff legend already, top 2-3 player in the league at 25 years old, when most players peak from age 27-29)
Lakers had to do this, a literal one in a lifetime opportunity to somehow land a truly transcendent talent. Its just a matter of fixing his health habits, Luka learning to play off ball (cutting/slashing) and if the Lakers will be able to build a championship level roster around him.
Given their limited assets, their best option is to do a complete rebuild and trade both Lebron and Reaves for as many picks/assets as possible, and to spend the rest of the year tanking in hopes of somehow getting Cooper Flagg at #1 in the draft next year. (The upcoming draft is historic in terms of talent depth so it's worth tanking this season for even if they don't get a top 3 pick)
Does this carryover to tennis? Alcaraz looks older than his age (21) - Sinner doesn’t necessarily look young in the eyes, but face/physique make him look more like a teenager than Alcaraz despite being 2 years older.
Mavs are just thinking ahead. Supermax looming and a star player that doesn’t take his health seriously will just handcuff an organization. Just look at the Embiid situation.
Yeah the Mavs could’ve gotten more from the Lakers but AD and Kyrie timelines match so they can rebuild from scratch once their careers are over.
Hopefully Luka takes whatever advice LeBron has for him about fitness and stays productive. Any future for him definitely hangs on that.
Rule changes are always awkward at first while players adjust to new norms (MLB and the pitch clock) but something needs to change in the WNBA. I think it’ll come down to a matter of pride when it comes to lowering rims.
Also women’s basketball might be more entertaining in a Big3-style format. Half court, more action. Then changing rim size or court shape won’t be as noticeable
this was best article I've read in a while from y'all, always love your different perspective/verbiage on stuff that I normally just read through with all the same jargon.
more sports articles and Limbal Ring-equivalent info
The new Mavs owners, the Adelson family, have deep ties to Las Vegas Sands and the gambling industry. Would not be surprised to see a back room deal in place to trade Luka in exchange for allowing them to purchase the Mavs. Boosting league ratings and opening the door for bigger betting action. No accident that the NBA deadline is during Super Bowl week either, somehow stealing the media spotlight during Super Bowl week. Many only start caring about the NBA after the NFL season. Likely no accident Luka goes to the biggest international NBA market (LA). Bad trade for the Mavs, great for NBA viewership, great for casinos.
Mavs could have gotten more in return for Luka, guaranteed. Tell is that they approached the Lakers with this terrible trade, not the other way around.
Closest comparison is maybe Wayne Gretzky to the Kings.
Absolutely awful trade unless the NHL orchestrated it, but it ultimately ignited the expansion era in the NHL.
Follow the money.
Nice analysis
Gretz's book indicated that he was traded for cash because the Oilers owner needed liquidity to bail out his other business pursuits.
I mean $15 million was a lot more at the time. But plenty of teams could have put that together.
Wow the Bull knows ball
I have a hard time beliving they will expand the court. They expensive seats are already close to the line and I don't think they will want to lose them.
Yeah that is true it's just a business
Lowering the rim in WNBA is an amazing idea! I might consider to tune in ha!
They already do it in volley ball same concept
Agree with all of it. Women's basketball is smaller, why stop there? Lower the rim 6-12" and shorten the court. NBA definitely needs to push the 3 point line back to force teams to have 3 point "specialists" like they used to instead of every 7' pulling up. Get them back under the rim.
Yeah right now there are no cross over flashy dunks outside of a few random Ja Morant or Ant Edwards plays, need this as part of the flow of the game
It's entertainment and athleticism is entertainment
What about young lebron? He didn't exactly look young for his age and he's the GOAT
He looked extremely young
I noticed TRT brings the limbal ring back
The main reason it’s a horrible trade for the Mavs is because they only spoke to the Lakers. Didn’t even open it up to bidding. Nothing against AD as a player but trading a 25 yo top 3 player for a 31 yo top 15 player and only getting one pick is insane.
He'll probably go crazy into fitness and do well (Luka) but who knows, people are weird
Another fix for NBA is stopping the fouling out of players. No other sport has rules that disqualify players from the game for common fouls.
Any easy solution is a soccer style system. Flagrant and techs can be assessed still and result in disqualification. Team fouls can still accrue leading to FTs and shooting fouls lead to FTs as well. No one wants to watch less of star players just because they’re in foul trouble. Especially since most fouls called feel 50/50 at best.
Eh that would result in hacking the bad free throw shooters all day every game
Thoughts to minimize this
1. Implement a yellow/red card system. If a player is excessively fouling for a team then a yellow or red card would be issued. With a red resulting ejection.
2. To combat “hack a Shaq” the NBA could either grant teams a point plus a FT after 10 team fouls or whatever set amount they choose. OR if a certain limit of team fouls is reached because of “hack a Shaq” then teams get to select their FT shooter.
Net resulta are that star players are on the court more, refs can call the game correctly without giving special treatment to certain players, and the game would be more intense.
The NBA has mountains of data to figure out the team fouls limit and to make sure guys like Draymond Green don’t actively assault players without consequence.
Love the limbal ring test.
Do you think capping the number of made threes is worth considering? You could jack all the threes you want, but after you make 12 (haven't run the math, but I think this is currently 2-3 below current average made/game), you're shooting a two.
Probably a less popular proposal compared to extending the three point line, but the advantage is you don't have to mess with the court.
Def wouldn't be popular, look at the most exciting time (Lebron vs curry) that was the right mix of 3s and 2s
You want people like curry to pull up from half court and ice a game. You don't want Javale McGee practicing the corner 3
Luka has top 10-15 all time potential and so far has hit all the benchmarks of a truly historic player (box score production, 1st team all nba 5x, mvp caliber since 2nd year, playoff legend already, top 2-3 player in the league at 25 years old, when most players peak from age 27-29)
Lakers had to do this, a literal one in a lifetime opportunity to somehow land a truly transcendent talent. Its just a matter of fixing his health habits, Luka learning to play off ball (cutting/slashing) and if the Lakers will be able to build a championship level roster around him.
Given their limited assets, their best option is to do a complete rebuild and trade both Lebron and Reaves for as many picks/assets as possible, and to spend the rest of the year tanking in hopes of somehow getting Cooper Flagg at #1 in the draft next year. (The upcoming draft is historic in terms of talent depth so it's worth tanking this season for even if they don't get a top 3 pick)
That would be nuts. If they can finagle a big they would be a title contender
Lebron, reaves, Luka + a big
Does this carryover to tennis? Alcaraz looks older than his age (21) - Sinner doesn’t necessarily look young in the eyes, but face/physique make him look more like a teenager than Alcaraz despite being 2 years older.
Yes it does, we actually posted about alcaraz and how he's probably not going to live up to hype
https://x.com/BowTiedBull/status/1811889763701686731
On a glance on sinner he looks about his age maybe +1-2 years which would prob get him to early 30s for a decline (33ish).
Not terrible not great. Doesn't look like a child
Mavs are just thinking ahead. Supermax looming and a star player that doesn’t take his health seriously will just handcuff an organization. Just look at the Embiid situation.
Yeah the Mavs could’ve gotten more from the Lakers but AD and Kyrie timelines match so they can rebuild from scratch once their careers are over.
Yep not as cut and dry, ideally he gets pissed and gets in shape for good though
The Blazers love the old guys. They did the same thing in 2007 drafting Greg Oden over KD. It's the Jordan curse.
Greg oden looked 30 on draft night, look at his eyes vs. KD in the photos. Totally absurd they drafted him
He also had just blown his knee out too. But as a long-suffering Blazer fan, you get numb to the stupidity.
Hopefully Luka takes whatever advice LeBron has for him about fitness and stays productive. Any future for him definitely hangs on that.
Rule changes are always awkward at first while players adjust to new norms (MLB and the pitch clock) but something needs to change in the WNBA. I think it’ll come down to a matter of pride when it comes to lowering rims.
The net is significantly lower in Volleyball not sure why they have it set up so high in the WNBA
Probably easy to change at all levels of basketball too
Also women’s basketball might be more entertaining in a Big3-style format. Half court, more action. Then changing rim size or court shape won’t be as noticeable