**OFFICIAL 2019 NBA OFFSEASON THREAD**

[addict4sneakers]

Ooh Ooh get off tonight starboy

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

We all saw this coming. But I don't think anybody saw this happening as early as week 2 of the NBA and without Dwight on the floor.

I think I gave them exactly 2 weeks before their first players only meeting

Spoiler

Players only baby

 

[JCMojica24]

That warriors fergie video had me in tears. They don’t give two ***** about anything

 

[B Sox]

Went to a wedding last night and got John Wallet-level drunk. Looks like I missed a good night of basketball

 

[bostoiah]

Different year, same **** for the Wizards

 

[ill steelo]

Honestly, even if Butler leaves, its still a win because they git rid if Otto's contract.

Think they’re still capped unless they renounce everyone, which gives them like $10M in space with only Beal Wall Mahinmi & Dwight on the roster

 

[second2nonee]

Went to a wedding last night and got John Wallet-level drunk. Looks like I missed a good night of basketball

you mean you got John Wallcoholic last night**

 

[abematic]

I’m sure I’m not the only one that want Pre-Durant Stephen Curry back.

That’s what, 2016 Curry?


Wizard lost to the Kings?

 

[Nike Jordan]

 

[Quincy McCall]

Damn, how you gone get punked like that. I guess it's better for him to quit while he was behind

 

[wavycrocket]

@tyisny must be loving this week.

#WindowsClosed

 

[Quincy McCall]

Rodney McGruder doesn't care, and he's going to get paid this summer

Rodney McGruder has turned himself into more than just a hustle player.

The Heat’s undrafted success story is averaging 16.5 points on 55 percent shooting from the field and 57.1 percent shooting from behind the three-point line, to go with 6.8 rebounds and four assists over the first four games.

Those numbers represent the growth in McGruder’s game. But they don’t represent the relentlessness, energy and hustle that got him to this point.

It’s the ground McGruder covers while he’s on the court that shows who he truly is as a basketball player. The 27-year-old wing player entered Thursday leading the NBA in distance covered at 2.86 miles per game, including his league-leading 1.61 miles per game on offense, according to the NBA’s tracking statistics.

When presented these numbers, McGruder’s coach and teammates were not surprised.

“That doesn’t surprise me at all,” coach Erik Spoelstra said, with the Heat (2-2) now turning its attention to Saturday’s home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. “He annihilated our conditioning test. I’ve never seen anything like it. He crushed it last year and he beat his own record. He’s his only competition now.

“We’ve had a lot of guys come into training camp in fantastic shape. His was historic. He puts in the time that he’s able to make countless more plays than the average NBA player simply because he’s in better shape and he’s willing to make those extra efforts. That to me is a talent.”

Heat point guard Goran Dragic agrees.

“Rodney, he never stops moving,” Dragic said. “He’s 100 percent in the best shape on this team. The other night he played 42 minutes. You don’t ever see him tired. He’s always doing his job. He’s always everywhere. It doesn’t surprise me. Maybe some people from outside, they don’t know because they don’t see him every day.”

McGruder, who won the Heat’s vigorous preseason conditioning test this year for the second consecutive season, is averaging a team-high 34.6 minutes of playing time in the Heat’s first four games.

That workload hasn’t affected McGruder’s play on either end of the court. Along with his ultra-efficient offensive numbers, he’s been one of the league’s top defenders to start the year.

Among the 113 NBA players defending at least 10 shots per game this season, McGruder is limiting players he’s guarding to a league-low 31.6 percent shooting from the field.

“It’s a testament to Miami Heat conditioning,” McGruder said. “The kind of shape they want us in.”

But Dragic made it clear McGruder isn’t just standing out because he’s in better shape than most players. There’s more to his game than that now.

“He’s a great basketball player,” Dragic said. “He’s got a high IQ. I don’t think because he’s in the best shape, that’s why he’s making all these plays. No, he’s a smart basketball player. He’s always in the right spot. Even if he would not be in this condition that he’s in, he would be a tremendous player because he knows what he’s doing. Every possession, he’s there and we trust him and we know he’s going to be there.”

Still, McGruder’s conditioning is an aspect of his game that can’t be overlooked.

“It’s very important because your conditioning, your body, the way you take care of your body can all excel you to the next level,” McGruder said. “It goes hand in hand with just working on your game.”

McGruder does get tired on the court, though. He is human, after all.

“I do sometimes,” he said with a smile. “But mind over matter. That’s what I try to do.”

https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/nba/miami-heat/article220599495.html

 

[art vandelay]

Damn, how you gone get punked like that. I guess it's better for him to quit while he was behind

My thing is, did he see the performance, **** was terrible, he has to know that.

 

[Quincy McCall]

Only a matter of time before C's get their offense together but Mil and Tor have looked equally impressive

 

[ill steelo]

I’m sure I’m not the only one that want Pre-Durant Stephen Curry back.

That’s what, 2016 Curry?


Wizard lost to the Kings?

They caught OKC & Memphis too. They haven’t shown to be doormats so far. Best roster they’ve had in a while. Hield Fox & Willy have all looked solid.

 

[B Sox]

 

[D Fly]

He knew what he was doing


@dcallamerican
D Fly

speechless.

 

[ill steelo]

Only a matter of time before C's get their offense together but Mil and Tor have looked equally impressive

The offense was below average last year, and they’re going to be continually adjusting to Hayward as he gets back in shape as well as Tatum’s increased freedom in the offense. So it’s probably going to take a while

 

[BIG LEEMELONE]

They caught OKC & Memphis too. They haven’t shown to be doormats so far. Best roster they’ve had in a while. Hield Fox & Willy have all looked solid.

Shhhh..let em sleep. Been tryna tell em the kings aint for play

 

[abematic]

They caught OKC & Memphis too. They haven’t shown to be doormats so far. Best roster they’ve had in a while. Hield Fox & Willy have all looked solid.

Bjelic (spell check) have been serviceable also. The Kings look fun to watch, rather than OKC, etc.

 

[B Sox]

Cs have a situation that kind of parallels Philly/Fultz with Hayward. He isn't remotely close to being healthy, but he needs the reps in order to get there, and it's having a negative effect on the team in the short term.

 

[Based Jesus]

addict4sneakers

From Frank Nitty to Frank Niggy

 

[sohi 23]

Bjelic (spell check) have been serviceable also. The Kings look fun to watch, rather than OKC, etc.

they don't even have Bogdan back yet

 

[sohi 23]

some good games tonight:

Celtics @ Pistons
Jazz @ New Orleans
Portland @ Miami
Lakers @ Spurs

kind of think the Bobcats can take down Philly tonight too but we'll see

 

[wavycrocket]

Quincy McCall how do the heat KEEP finding and developing these guys! It’s almost a blessing and a curse because you have to pay them...and you end up with a team of above average starter level guys. But Miami is like the best at developing fringe guys into rotational players