Friends in fast breaks,
The All Star reserves were announced, and the takes are FLYING. WebEmbiid is out with a rumored meniscus tear, and after suffering my own back around June, my empathy is through the roof. Stars are starting to complain about the 65-game limit for awards now that they're getting close to their missed-game limit. The trade deadline is creeping close, with Steven Aquaman Adams heading to Houston as the hopefully domino leading to more fireworks. The IST was an improvement on early season basketball, but this is when the "golden hour" of the NBA season begins.
WEEK 15 PICKS
- Points One-And-Done
- Survivor #1
- "All 30" One-And-Done
- Survivor #2
- Weekly Pick'em
The GM AWARDS
Rewarding whatever random things I feel like. Feel free to suggest topics!
Biggest All Star Snub - How am I supposed to pick?
There's been a ton of conversation around how the skill level around the league is the highest it's ever been. Between the rule changes that have made offense explode, 3's becoming central and enabling even bigger explosions, the move to more positionless basketball enabling more players to shine, and the influx of international talent providing even more skilled players across the board, I think it's a fair argument. So when All Star teams only have 12 spots each, there's going to be deserving players left out.
If I have to pick one, I think I've got to go with D. Sabonis. He's posting an incredible 19.9/13.0/8.0 (Jokic-esque), and for the 5th seed to not get a single representative is bogus. A close second is T. Young, whose 27.0/2.9/10.9 is incredible, but it seems pretty clear he's just not liked around the league.
Who would I kick off the teams? No clue! It just hurts to see good players not get acknowledged. But them's the rules!
Juiciest Trade Rumor - LeBron
Yes, his agent came out saying it isn't happening this morning. But the frustration is apparent, the Lakers seem rudderless, Ham seems remarkably incompetent, and for about 12 hours it was incredibly interesting to think about who could pull it off and how.
Baddest Team Look - CHA
I know there's plenty of reasons to be laughing on the bench - It's still just a game, funny things happen or are said, it's just humans being humans. But for your (injured) star player and benchmates to all be laughing it up down 25 points at home with 9:00 to go in the 4th... It doesn't look good. At least they were laughing together?
PICK STATS
Points OAD
- All Star KAT gets the top spot with 51 picks
- Board Man is right behind, K. Leonard with 47 picks
- Our last big pick is P. Siakam with 36 pickers
- Interesting low volume picks: S. Henderson (1 pick), D. Ayton (1), J. Poole (1)
- Digging into the Golden Spreadsheet...
- We should have our first players crest 90% usage soon
- Coby White currently sits in last with 6 picks
Survivor #1
- Status check
- 20 of you are still flawless (no wrong picks)
- 46 of you have missed once, but are still kicking
- OKC dominates the top spot with 38 picks
- We've avoided them all SZN for... reasons?
- Our only other "big" pick is DEN with 11
- No comments???
- 66 of you outlasting hundreds of others and there's no sass or insanity amongst you
- Digging into the Golden Spreadsheet...
- Only looking at picks from alive players
- 8 teams over 75% usage
- A good chunk of you with DEN/SAC still available
- MEM/DET/TOR all tied for lowest usage at 2 picks each
"All 30" One-And-Done
- OKC on top here as well with 60 picks
- They're the 2 seed, so they haven't been losing...
- LAC comes in at second with 31 picks, and then DEN with 27
- Digging into the Golden Spreadsheet...
- TOR finally got another pick, yay 19 uses!
- DET has jumped to our 23rd most used team in a single week, round of applause
- Astounding how GSW is so high in usage compared to how disappointing they've been so far
Survivor #2
- Status check
- 66 of you are still flawless (no wrong picks)
- 103 of you have missed once, but are still kicking
- Surprise, OKC again with 54 picks
- Seriously, someone tell me what switch flipped?
- Then LAC and DEN again at 32 and 26 respectively, and then a big gap
- No comments here either
- I know it's "survivor" and you won't be "alive" if you fail, but that doesn't means there's no room for whimsy
- Digging into the Golden Spreadsheet...
- Only looking at alive players here
- MIL and MIN crossed the 50% usage line
- LAC, OKC, and HOU are in the next tier
- Then everyone else below 20% usage so far
- No POR or SAC uses?
Weekly Pick'em
- 16 games on the docket this week
- We've got only ONE close matchup
- GSW @ ATL - 57.7% for GSW
- We've got 5 lopsided matchups
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- LAC @ DET - 99.3% for LAC
- POR @ DEN - 98.9% for DEN
- CHA @ OKC - 98.6% for OKC
- ORL @ MIN - 94.4% for MIN
- MIA @ WAS - 94.0% for MIA
-
- That leaves 10 games in the "middle"
- We're feeling ourselves this week based on the pick distributions
- Overconfident? Or is this actually an "obvious" week?
BEST PICK COMMENTS
@Jts5522 (P. George, J. Murray): "Time to get back on track. Assuming George plays and doesn’t sit, I like him vs a Pistons team who seemed to make their season worthwhile after beating OKC. Murray is a crapshoot but I will take him vs the guards of Portland. "
GM says: Have you heard the rumor that Murray only tries against good teams? If he doesn't post 30+ points against you, you aren't a contender. I guess we'll get his verdict on Portland soon.
@Rodgers_is_dead_to_me (Weekly Pick'em): "That’s a whole lot of road teams picked. Crossing all fingers and toes!"
GM says: 9 teams have less than a .500 record at home. 15 have less than a .500 record on the road. Hope you've got polydactyly!
@RedEd4 (Weekly Pick'em): "Should I watch the NBA if I am in this pool?"
GM says: I'm almost certain there's an inflection point for sports and picking - after a certain level of "into it", you start overthinking and shoot yourself in the foot. You gotta find your balance point
@Jts5522 (OKC, All 30): "Hopefully the Thunder got the bad beat out of their system this past weekend vs Detroit. Hopefully…"
GM says: You can't judge them against a powerhouse like DET
@StatCzar (J. Brunson, K. Leonard): "PUT JARRETT ALLEN IN THE ALL-STAR GAME!!!!"
GM says: Not a chant I've heard
@Logan2273 (OKC, All 30): "Hornets = bad"
GM says: Big, if true
@YikesVikes (Weekly Pick'em): "With high-energy games and larger-than-life personalities, the NBA and its players have become a fertile ground for culture constantly changing. The captured iconic moments, player quirks, and humorous insights, becoming a staple for fans and internet users. Just look at SZN. I have know idea who to pick but love the culture. "
GM says: Sports action unites ALL!
@RedEd4 (G. Antetokounmpo, D. Booker): "Brooker tonight and Giannis tomorrow...I need to catch up"
GM says: Starting for the Sun's... Devin's brother, Brooker Booker!
@YikesVikes (A. Simons, D. DeRozan): "Boom chick a pop, two for through the hoops"
GM says: *nods with a bewildered look*
Yours in Roundball Rock,
The GM