Tag: Portland Trail Blazers

1.7.21 Hoop Tales: Pick Against the Blazers Edition

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Grading D'Angelo Russell's debut with Timberwolves

Tuesday: 1-2 (-1.24 units)

Season: 13-19 (-8.05 units)

Recap: Took yesterday off from doing props for obvious reasons, but on Tuesday, Kyrie’s numbers without Durant were great, while Jokic decided to remind people that his scoring his better than his passing.


First Pick: Sixers -4 spread vs BKN (-112)

Fact #1: Durant (health protocols) is already out and apparently so is Kyrie Irving (personal reasons).

Fact #2: Seth Curry (ankle) is out for the Sixers.

Fact #3: I know this is the third game in four nights for Philly, but they’re rolling and I’m not sure how the Nets keep this within 4 with north of 50 points missing from the starting lineup this evening.

Second Pick: Joe Harris O2.5 made 3pters (+100)

Fact #1: The Sixers are allowing 27.6 PPG to the 2-guard position this season.

Fact #2: Harris has 3+ made 3s in three of his last six contests.


Third Pick: Kyle Anderson O13.5 pts vs CLE (-110)

Fact #1: Yes, I know I missed with him on Tuesday, but today is Thursday (lol).

Fact #2: The Cavs allow an average of 25.3 PPG to the PF position, which is the second-most in the Association.

Fact #3: Anderson has eclipsed 18+ in four of his last six.


Fourth Pick: D’Angelo Russell O22.5 pts vs POR (-110)

Fact #1: The Blazers are allowing a league-high 35.9 PPG to the point guard position — that’s all you need to know.

Wait, Not Every NBA Team Has Their Own D-League Team? How is That Possible?

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Bleacher Report – The Los Angeles Clippers announced Monday they’re establishing an expansion team in the NBA D-League. The Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario will begin play at the start of the 2017-18 season in Ontario, Calif. “This is another exciting day for the NBA D-League as we add a record 26th team and continue to move closer to our 30-team vision,” league president Malcolm Turner said in a statement.

Maybe I’m just a moron, but I had no idea that not every NBA team has a D-League team? How is that even possible? Are the other NBA teams just drafting guys to either start Day 1 or stash overseas and if you don’t fit into one of those two plans? Well, right to hell with you. Its called the D-League for a reason. Its the Developmental League. Theres a reason it exists. To develop players. And apparently a bunch of teams are just punting on having a minor league team?

So NBA teams are just trusting other organizations with their draft picks like a loan system out of the Premiere League? I don’t even trust my coworkers to borrow a pen without fucking it up.

The Clippers had been one of the few teams without an official affiliate in the D-League. Upon being sent to the D-League, rookie forward Brice Johnson played for the Salt Lake City Stars, a Utah Jazz affiliate. Rookie center Diamond Stone split his time between the Stars and the Santa Cruz Warriors, who are under the Golden State Warriors’ umbrella.

This would be like the Red Sox wanting to groom a player, but not having a minor league team so just saying eh, fuck it go play for the Yankees Triple-A team in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for a few months. Bananas.

Its not like the D League (apologies, the Gatorade League) is a place where players go to die like some sort of exile. There’s been some pretty legit NBA players that have come out of or been optioned to the D League in their first couple of years:

Avery Bradley

JJ Barea

Marcin Gortat

Jeremy Lin

Chris Birdman Anderson

It seems like more of the league is starting to figure out its probably not a bad idea to have a place to develop talent without having to throw guys into the fire in the NBA.

Right now the only teams without a D League squad are the Denver Nuggets, New Orleans Pelicans, Portland Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards.

How many championships have teams that place zero interest on developing talent won? Well, that would be two titles. Between four teams. In the entire HISTORY of the NBA. Two. The last one coming in 1978 when the Wizards were the Bullets. So hey, don’t fix what ain’t broke boys.