2021-22 NBA "REGULAR" SEASON THREAD

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suspended for playing with phone in pocket

The Sixers have announced a one-game suspension of Ben Simmons that officially rules him out of Wednesday's season opener at New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/dxI2s2O1Wh

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 19, 2021

hahhaaa

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Simmons was supposed to talk to the press at noon for the first time since June and bowed out.

He's just showing up and trying to do the minimum to get the $$$, which: duh.

would be funny if they just kept suspending him for one game at a time

Comments on canceled livestream:

"TEAMMATES HID IS BINKY"

IS=HIS

situation not improving

Sixers coach Doc Rivers threw Ben Simmons out of practice today and the suspension came shortly thereafter, sources tell ESPN.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 19, 2021

this is too good

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Doc Rivers: “I thought he was a distraction today. I didn’t think he wanted to do what everyone else was doing.”

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 19, 2021

I support Ben Simmons’ venture into performance art

You should listen to Doc's tone. He wants no part of this.

no you specifically, Matt

I honestly blame Morey here, if we’re blaming someone

i wish i could call simmons and tell him my try hard but also take a 3 at every opportunity plan

Simmons for Kyrie, let's do this

"At this point I don't care about that man, honestly. He does whatever he wants."

–Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/XELROkUphX

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 19, 2021

“Our job is not to babysit somebody.”

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— Kevin Negandhi (@KevinNegandhi) October 19, 2021

Sources: Doc Rivers asked Ben Simmons to join a defensive drill today. Simmons refused. Rivers asked again. Simmons said no again.

Rivers then told Simmons he should go home, and Simmons dropped the ball and left.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2021

Nobody wants to work these days! Geez

had basketball payer wanted $30m a year sign hanging for weeks and no responses

Heard it was a dunking drill actually.

haay lol

The question marks around Ben Simmons have always been there for those who have followed him closely. Interesting to look back at the article I wrote about him 5 1/2 years ago: https://t.co/HXXmpSWCSJ

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) October 19, 2021

I honestly blame Morey here, if we’re blaming someone

seems like this cant go on much longer you dont really want embiid punching simmons

philly famously does not like punching in sports

i mean im sure the fans would like it but its probably not constructive for the team

that givony article was pretty otm tho i still wonder if brandon ingram is better than simmons?

There are real questions about pairing Simmons with other ball-handlers or non-shooters in the NBA.

no one would trade ingram for simmons at least

seems like this cant go on much longer you dont really want embiid punching simmons

― lag∞n, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:25 PM (fourteen minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

philly famously does not like punching in sports

― John Lakeman gives pipe lecture (Sufjan Grafton), Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:27 PM (eleven minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

i mean im sure the fans would like it but its probably not constructive for the team

― lag∞n, Tuesday, October 19, 2021 1:28 PM (ten minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Just one punch. Is that too much to ask?

(NB: Embiid would break his hand, I'm sure).

Karl Anthony Towns, forever trying way to hard

KAT referenced Kobe listening to Halloween music to prepare for games. He says he watches video of two gorillas fighting.

— Jon Krawczynski (@JonKrawczynski) October 19, 2021

real 40 year old virgin vibes

'Discontent' between Kevin Durant and James Harden began when Harden showed up to training camp out of shape, per @kevinarnovitz

Durant was 'astonished' by his 'lack of explosiveness and sluggish play' pic.twitter.com/FwZ79buYgr

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 12, 2022

harden seems like a good teammate, solid culture guy

likable, not weird and baffling

Mavs announce Luka Doncic has started treatment for his left calf strain and there is no timetable for his return

rip

nba players seem constantly surprised by things everyone else already knows. russell westbrook is gonna shoot a lot of bad shots, james harden is going to be out of shape

ah luka that sucks hopefully its not too bad and he can get it sorted before the offs start

'no timetable' doesnt sound promising for making it back any time soon

yeah

mavs without luka yuck. that roster is already sketchy. but the jazz will probably give up four 15+ point 4th quarter leads anyway.

apparently the median time lost for a calf strain this season is 16 days which isn't good

it will certainly be quite a capper to the Jazz season if they lose to a Luka-less Mavs

rather than specifically giving up big 4th quarter leads, they should probably go up 3-1 and then lose the series, really lean into the art form

we need it

the week off here is pretty crucial for them now. if he can come back by game 4 with them down 2-1 i’d like their chances if he wasn’t hobbled. but it’s all very speculative

the jazz also had guys dropping left and right in the offs last year so maybe the mavs catch a break themselves

also the mavs roster w/o luka looks bad on paper but they’re gonna play a high variance shoot a million threes style game and it will only take a hot shooting night or two for them to make it a series. combine that with the fact that they play small and it’s a very similar formula to how the clippers beat the jazz last year

jazz have not exactly been on fire either

the ol shoe test

More Kidd: “If he’s able to go and put on his shoes, then he’s going to go. If he can’t, we’re not going to put him in a situation to jeopardize it and make things worse.” https://t.co/JG31VWnPoZ

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) April 12, 2022

could def be some mavs gamesmanship going on here to mess w the jazz. not a bad idea really

please don't ruin Luka

ould def be some mavs gamesmanship going on here

no team that could be gamed that easily deserves to win a playoff series

i feel like the mavs both don't know when he'll be back and don't want to put a timetable on it for various reasons that likely include gamesmanship