2024-2025 NBA thread: who wants to buy a Duck Boat?!?!

[riser4]

East is a hot mess.

[Danno]

I'm not sure he can get more props than he already has, but Lebron is just amazing. His 3rd straight triple double, and he singlehandedly beat Memphis last night. At almost 40.

[PB]

I'm not sure he can get more props than he already has, but Lebron is just amazing. His 3rd straight triple double, and he singlehandedly beat Memphis last night. At almost 40.

Lindsey's role model.

[BmillsSkier]

Lindsey's roll model.

Yeah, that was quite the announcement to see this morning.

Wonder if she’ll be at Beaver Creek next month?

[TahoeJ]

If LeBron had had even half the procedures as Lindsey, no way would he still be playing at a high level. (And neither will she)

[EWG]

For the Cavs to match Golden State’s 24-0 run to start the season, only three of the next 11 games stand out to me. 2 against Boston and one against Denver, otherwise it’s an eastern conference cake walk. Man is the East looking bad this year. I think they might pull it off.

I hear ya, but I think they drop one of two to Boston and lose against the Nuggets.

[riser4]

I hear ya, but I think they drop one of two to Boston and lose against the Nuggets.

Reasonable prediction.

[TahoeJ]

The other funny thing is, with the East so bad could Cleveland be the earliest team to ever clinch a playoff spot?

The current leader is Milwaukee in 2019/20 who clinched a spot after only 56 games with a 48-8 record. Although I guess the definition is a little different now with the 7-10 seeds in play-in games.

[Danno]

Jesus christ, they've played 13 games! Not even 1/6 of a season. They are a very good team, no question, but they don't have anyone who has won anything on the team and don't have a top 10 player and finished 48-34 with the exact same roster last year. Yet you guys are talking about them like they have the east locked up!

Let's see where they are in another 13 games before you crown them.

[TahoeJ]

Danno- calm the fuck down dude, it’s not like I’m even talking about my own team. But the East is absolute garbage and that’s mostly where I’m coming from. Also never said that I think CLE are the favorites over Boston, especially once Porzingas is back. But that won’t be until the second half.

[riser4]

It's a long season. So the East is just having a slow start, is all?

[BmillsSkier]

Wait, Donovan isn’t a top 10 player?

[brutah]

Let's see where they are in another 13 games before you crown them.

In 13 [ish] games, they'll be raising that NBA Cup Banner baby!

Goddammit, BMills, why must you dominate the convo in this thread? hahaha Personally, I'm just happy to see the Cavs messing as a team and rolling. Plus they are the hottest team in the NBA currently, 2nd longest win streak to start a season, there's a lot to celebrate at the moment. Plus the rest of the NBA seems to be hurt.

I'm a jazz fan so I've seen plenty strong regular season performances from Donovan and his teams so I know it doesn't necessarily translate to post season success. He's a fun player to watch, seems like a good person. Hope the cavs continue to stay healthy.

Wait, Donovan isn’t a top 10 player?

no, but he is borderline

[brutah]

While we are talking fringe top 10 players, Ja Morant is super annoying to watch this season. I mean, super exciting, explosive player, but after every offensive possession, you can find him screaming under the basket. I don't care if you do it on occasion, but bro is going nuts after a lay up, up 8 points, halfway through the 2nd quarter, in November. Simmer down.

[bearcub69]

While we are talking fringe top 10 players, Ja Morant is super annoying to watch this season. I mean, super exciting, explosive player, but after every offensive possession, you can find him screaming under the basket. I don't care if you do it on occasion, but bro is going nuts after a lay up, up 8 points, halfway through the 2nd quarter, in November. Simmer down.

I was an early fan of Ja, but it's been hard to like him these past few seasons. Hope he finds his way.. he's way too talented

[Danno]

Wait, Donovan isn’t a top 10 player?

Nope.

Jokic
Embiid
Doncic
Lebron
Steph
Durant
Davis
Tatum
Giannis
SGA

You're taking Mitchell over any of those guys?

Also, Booker, Ant, Haliburton, Brunson, Wemby, Brown, Ja are all in the discussion with Mitchell.

[J. Barron DeJong]

For the nerds, current RAPTOR player rankings (ordered by wins above replacement/82 games):



https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/2024-25-nba-forecast

[MarcusBrody]

For the nerds, current RAPTOR player rankings (ordered by wins above replacement/82 games):



https://neilpaine.substack.com/p/2024-25-nba-forecast

Cool I'm glad someone is keeping RAPTOR going, if just for another advanced stat datapoint. I think they work best with a bunch of different versions with slightly different methodologies to compare.

Looks like it's Jokic - big gap - Tatum - small gap - Shai - big gap - everyone else bunched up. Right now Giannis is 4th being rated as a defensive negative. Now I do think that Giannis's defense hasn't been nearly as good in the last few years as it was at his peak (partially due to Lopez declining, as he was the anchor that let Giannis maximize his free destroyer role. I'm sure trading Jrue for Dame doesn't help either), but I don't think he end up grading out as a negative, so he could end up joining the top group as the season goes along.

[TahoeJ]

RAPTOR is garbage. Always was. Having Jokic on top only confirms that it's not laughably bad... because duh, he should be on top of any ranking right now.

[J. Barron DeJong]

RAPTOR is garbage. Always was. Having Jokic on top only confirms that it's not laughably bad... because duh, he should be on top of any ranking right now.

I’ll bite.

What player ranking is better? (Acknowledging that none is perfect).

[TahoeJ]

They all suck. Basketball has too many variables to build a consistent model based on data. It’s not baseball. And I have a ton of experience with data analysis so you’d think I’d be saying the opposite.

[BmillsSkier]

In 13 [ish] games, they'll be raising that NBA Cup Banner baby!

Goddammit, BMills, why must you dominate the convo in this thread? hahaha

Heheh, but look at the robust discussion that has emerged

I don't think Donovan is a top 10 player for what its worth, but I am curious to hear who people think are in that group (or adjacent to it).

Back to the NBA Cup, does everyone get to raise that banner or is that just a Lakers thing?

[bearcub69]

RAPTOR is garbage. Always was. Having Jokic on top only confirms that it's not laughably bad... because duh, he should be on top of any ranking right now.

I know you and I are warriors fans, but not having Steph on that list proves how much of a joke it is

[J. Barron DeJong]

I know you and I are warriors fans, but not having Steph on that list proves how much of a joke it is

He’s at 23 FWIW.

I’d personally be interested in what it’s seeing that’s keeping him from being higher. Maybe it’s valid?

Edit: Some Curry stats

- 19th points per game
- 56th shooting percentage
- 41st three pointer percentage
- 32nd free throws made
- 8th turnovers

[TahoeJ]

I know you and I are warriors fans, but not having Steph on that list proves how much of a joke it is

I know, but I left that part aside due to my fandom. I assume it's because Steph missed three games.