Matt Hrdlicka

Bergvall is cover there and at 10.

lol. They need to sign a real passer in the summer for sure, but I am doubting they can fix two problems in January unless they're prepared to drop $100mm. So Gray being something of a fix over the Bentancur/JP midfield might be huge.

Spurs might have found something with DM + Gray midfield. I feel reasonably confident Spurs could fix one of the midfield OR wingback depth in January, but fixing both seems like a tall order. Might be huge if Gray can be the CM fix for the rest of the year.

The movement off ball in the space between defense and attack is noticeably more active with him in the lineup (both with him having ball, and him doing the running).

Okay. We've scammed our way to a 2-0 lead. Start rotating in Tel for Richy, maybe even shift Gray out to wingback. We've got a load of games coming.

Didn’t think Tel would be added for Solanke, but the kid should start. He and RKM are the shot merchants in this side, and Tel is arguably the best at creating space for a shot.

This poison is killing me, but it - the poison - tastes so good!

I don’t think I’m going to seriously consider trade ramifications until the reporting catches up to that. For now, they just seem like the best bad team who can’t beat anybody better than them.

The hard part about this is that even if Ja turns the effort back on, how long does that last? We get a couple good weeks out of him, but what does that mean for the next couple weeks? And yes, throw in Scottie Pippen Jr or Ty Jerome and what does the team look like then? Do they beat SA or DEN?

I had a bunch more stuff written that just kept going on and on, and I trimmed it back to the one sentence that Edey has meant more to winning than Ja has so far.

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LeBron has a no-trade clause.

oh they could def miss the play-in IMO. I had them at 38 wins and the 10 seed in pre-season. That's still about where I'd have them, but Edey and Ced have both been better than expected, and Cam and Vince have proven to be various levels of playable again.

23/14/5 is not a stat line you expect from your shooting guard.

The Rockets are up 40 on the Suns who might be without Booker for a few more games. MEM could just beat bad teams and wind up as the 8 seed.

Damn that was a nice hit ahead pass from Spencer to Wells for the dunk.

Edey and Coward co-blocking Kawhi on his way to the rim //////chefs kiss

Ok that floater from Cam Spencer was legit. Running full speed, doesn’t over dribble, was comfortable starting his floater from a little further than you need to when you’re not sprinting. Big time.

I was saying - bc much of the talk about Poche’s USMNT was how they’ve been underperforming in the friendlies and gold cup - that I don’t think thats really compelling for me. But if your point has been underperformance in WC’s specifically, then I generally don’t agree.

Esp if I'm one of the better players on USMNT, I am just trying not to get hurt, and pretty resentful that I have to board two international flights in a week during the season I get paid for. It's an incredibly shitty system that makes no sense for the players.

They have basically played to their level in every World Cup since like 2012 or something? I honestly don't think any other Int'l tournaments, including qualifying, really indicate the US's level. Like, esp when they're already guaranteed qualification, who cares if they play bad?

lol. They could play below their level and it could be nobody's fault?

winnable for any of the 4 teams.

Not sure if this is accurate, but USA isn't obviously better than any of the other teams in their Pot, but not obviously worse either.

my approach is what is best for MIL. They could just send him wherever he wants, but Bridges and KAT isn't going to net them a player/asset they can hold for a long time like Amen Thompson, or VJ Edgecome, or an LAC pick.

What a pass by LeBron. Pretty devastating to have one of the best passers in NBA history as the release valve when your lead ball handler is doubled.

This just seems like a way to get Giannis to his preferred destination.

If I’m MIL I’m just telling ATL if we do any Giannis trade our pic gets better and is probably in the lottery. We want our future picks back or we want a stud in return and picks back.

Completely disagree about Atlanta being a good Giannis spot. Milwaukee will get the less favorable of theirs and the pelicans pick, and if they trade Giannis, that’s gonna be a good pick.

If Philly really puts LAC picks or VJ in a deal, I'd rate either of those higher than any two players or draft picks TOR has (assuming they aren't moving Barnes). Also, Barnes and Giannis is a bad offensive fit.