begginerboy

@andarmac99

You are right. When you take the names off the uniforms, and look at this game objectively, it makes zero sense from a Football standpoint to take the Chiefs. Except for their pedigree and past successes and names on the uniforms, there is little to like about this year’s version of the Chiefs. It’s Eagles by a mile! I love Fangio and that defense is one of the best I have seen in years. But this team is not like that happy-go-lucky Eagles team that beat the Pats, and I’m not talking talent here. Something is off with their chemistry. 

There is a lack of cohesiveness and togetherness that’s palpable, even watching from home. On the field, this has translated into them not always playing complimentary football. There have been several instances this year where the offense, and the choices made by the offensive coaches, have put the defense in a bad spot. Even within the offense unit, guys are more interested in catching up on their reading on the sidelines than studying their opponents for the next opportunity.

Against lesser competition, it did not matter and they ended up winning (like the Rams game when an average Rams team drove the field and almost scored a goal ahead TD to beat the big, bad Eagles!). But how will that lack of cohesion translate against better teams? These are the things I also pay attention to when I watch games. The intangibles. Things you can’t quantify and that don’t show up on a stat sheet. Can the Eagles put it all together on the biggest stage? Of course they can. And if they play together as a team and put their egos aside they will beat KC and beat them handily. But there is also the very distinct possibility that the pressure on the biggest of stages will cause these cracks to really show, giving the wily, veteran Chiefs the opportunity to take the game from the more talented team. 

I was counting my money. Lol. Had put a grand to win 2000$ before they made it to the SB. I was inches away. And then it was all gone! 

Wiggens and Butler almost have the same stats. Butler is a dog and comes through in the clutch but at 35 he is not worth twice Wiggins salary. Add to it the fact that not many people in the Bay wanted him here and even the Warriors laid a big egg tonight after hearing about the trade and this has the makings of a bad situation. 

You are right. It’s not a good match. I’m fascinated to know what they see in Butler that could help their team. Unless it was all for ratings and bringing people to the arena. 

If Steve Kerr can coach!

Now the Warriors have two iso heavy players (Butler and Kuminga) who play inside the 3 point line and are not ball movement/player movement guys! And that’s to say nothing of Green, who doesn’t play any offense.

We about to find out if Steve Kerr can actually coach or if he is a one trick pony riding on Curry’s coattails this entire time! That’s my favorite part about this deal. Is this guy a real coach who can adapt his system to the types of players he has or a fraud. 

Spo was able to deal with Butler’s antics and high maintenance ways and get the best out of him somehow. Will Kerr be able to duplicate that? I doubt it very much, but we about to find out. 

The Warriors will be trotting out a 36, 35, and 34 year old in their starting lineup with only one three point shooter (Curry). I can’t wait to see the fireworks!

Not true. 

“Since 2012-13, the Clippers have won 82% of the head-to-head matchups at Crypto.com Arena (37-8), a better record than any other NBA team has against a conference rival over that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.”

But they got owned tonight. I didn’t see it coming, though Action network showed 75% of the money, but only 25% of the tickets. were on the Lakers moneyline. Balmer must be turning over in his grave. The Clippers looked like the Mavs did the other night against the Cavs after Luka was traded: a team that realized it has zero chance of contending (or to at least be the best team in LA) now that Luka is on the Lakers. 

Good luck, buddy. Same side. But I took the -1 for less juice. I think the Chiefs ball out. They are the more experienced and together team. As good as the Eagles are they don’t always play complimentary football. The defense and offense are on different wavelengths. Fangio is the head coach of the defense and the offense does its thing, but I don’t think they are always in sink. There is also division within the offensive unit itself. Hertz is not always trusted and Brown marches to his own drumbeat. It’s all good as long as you’re winning, but what happens when things go against you in a pressure packed situation? Do they stick together or splinter? Just a subtle thing I have noticed watching these teams. 

Completely misread the dynamics of this one. Had no idea Luka would be in attendance watching his new team up close. It’s as if all the guys are out there trying to prove themselves to him by putting on a show. Strange dynamic I haven’t seen before. But then again, this entire trade was unprecedented! We’ll see if the Clippers, who look like a team that’s feeling sorry for itself for being the ugly sister, will snap out of it. 

I don’t know who they’ll get but any serviceable big man makes them title contenders. If Luka can drag that Mavs team to the finals he can do the same with LBJ and the Lakers. 

Trade rumors still swirling. GM says they are looking to make more moves to get a Big man. The team is in reset mode and looking forward with anticipation and trepidation at what things will look like once Luka joins them. Uncertainty and unknowns are not friends of professional athletes. 

Their opponents, the ugly stepchildren who are always looking up to the legitimate heirs and royalty of LA basketball, coming off an ugly loss against the cellar dweller Raptors and hearing all the hoopla surrounding the Lakers and how they, once again, made out like bandits and are suddenly title contenders again, will take this opportunity to put yet another beatdown on national TV on a team they have owned since LBJ got there.

I think this scenario, and the Lakers packing it in early (as they wait for Luka to join them), is more likely than the team going all out for a victory in a game they are likely to lose anyway, which is why this line is so high and so fishy.

Clippers -8

Nice writeup. 

I love the basketball savants on here who think they know more than Vegas odds makers and Dallas, whose title odds dropped significantly after the trade are actually better. 

Before news of the deal broke, the Lakers were +4000 to win the 2025 NBA Finals and +2500 to win the Western Conference, according to ESPN BET odds. Immediately following the news, Los Angeles' odds shortened to +1800 to win the NBA title and sat at +1600 as of Sunday morning, the sixth-best odds in the league. The Lakers' conference title odds jumped to +900 before settling at +850.

You really think the “goal” is to win?! It’s to make money! And Luka is a brand on to himself. Harden, with no titles to his name, is still 10x the star Davis and brings as many eyeballs and money to the arena.  And please PM me because I have some swamp land I want to sell you that will make you a winner in a few years! 

@Mcmanus

 Read this. Good article about what an absurd trade this is:

https://www.theringer.com/2025/02/02/nba/luka-doncic-trade-anthony-davis-dallas-mavericks-los-angeles-lakers

None of it explains why they did not shop him for a better deal, which they could have easily gotten. It’s like selling your home to your friend without putting it on the market. The entire league is shocked. The fix was in. 

Yes. And yes! Jazz got more for Rudy than the Mavs for Luca. The Warriors would have given up Wiggins, Curry and Kuminga for a decade of Luka! But nobody asked them. 

If the league can make a team give up its cash cow for the next decade for a has-been big man that will be bench player in a couple of years they can certainly fix the outcomes of games. 

Yup. Agree with everything. Silver will not investigate because he is backing this deal. They could have gotten a king’s ransom for Luka. Remember what the Suns gave Brooklyn for an over-the-hill Durant? This is a joke of a trade and the “reporters” on ESPN are pretending this is all real. 

I think the NBA is in serious trouble. Ratings are tanking. The product is terrible, unwatchable most nights. They needed to inject life into the league ASAP and what better way than sending one of the biggest global stars to their most popular franchise. That’s my theory. This deal saves the season for them and keeps people watching until they figure out how to fix the product.