this is a basketball thread

I'll absolutely grant that, especially in comparison to NYC, Chicago feels incredibly provincial. Despite all of Rahm and Richard M. Daley's efforts to transform the central commercial district into the gateway of a truly globalized and cosmopolitan hub, there is something unmistakably parochial about the place regardless of its size.

As for the Milwaukee, I haven't spent any significant amount of time and probably should not arbitrarily trash the whole city. Some of its inter-war history is really interesting. It was a real hotbed of left-wing labor militancy back in those days and there were all sorts of socialist-inspired municipal projects, which explains the beautiful lakefront. All I can say for certain is that literally every time I go to a Bucks game there will be a bunch of twentysomethings hanging out in the parking garage who look bloated on cheese curds, are wearing poorly fitted urban pipeline jeans, and listening to either a Wiz Khalifa mixtape or something that sounds like the Linkin Park/Jay Z collab from the early aughts. In comparison, Chicago feels like a mecca of high fashion and good taste.

I've been to Des Moines twice (my dad is from there) and that's the full extent of my experience in the American Midwest.

BGwaves wrote:I don’t watch Futball, so maybe there is some variable that I’m not considering, based on how Chrono responded, so I’ll leave that stuff to someone who’s more knowledgeable.

I think what WP was reacting too was the fawning over Milwaukee as a "great, real American city" and people lauding them for "winning the right way" when it's actually the NBA's monopoly, the draft, and revenue sharing that makes small-market franchises valuable. Like Mississippi's state budget is subsidized by Blue States, the Milwaukee Bucks are subsidized by the Knicks revenue because the league shares everything roughly equally. In the European soccer model there is no central monopoly (like the NBA), so soccer clubs operate much like corporations and buy/sell rights to players. It means that the biggest teams in the biggest markets with the most money have access to the best teams. If American sports had this model, the Knicks and Lakers would have by far the most money in the league and would form superteams every year.

Most individuals are all over the map in terms of their reasons for favoring one or the other. It's usually personal interest that fuels it. For example, the same people who say that male athletes should be better paid than female athletes because "their league generates more money" would never argue in favor of abolishing the salary cap in football because it would destroy the parity in their favorite league. People are hypocrites.

USA basketball team lost to France at the Olympics.

Should I feel bad for Pop?

No, Pop is significantly washed as a coach. Dude is stubborn as hell and refuses to maximize his talent in favor of "doing things his way". Basically everyone knows this and is afraid to say it because he's a legend and it's not solely his fault. If the players played better, they could still win.

It also doesn't help that the leader of USA Basketball is Jerry Colangelo who is a dinosaur, incredibly political, and picked a disjoined and shit roster. Dude does not cultivate a positive atmosphere around Team USA one iota. He half asses it and plays favorites, just like he did when Silver installed him as head of the 76ers (and look how they turned out).

This team is gonna get bounced in an incredibly embarrassing way and they'll deserve it big time. Luka could probably beat them.

What does everyone think about the Lonzo Ball acquisition? If we were getting him from the Lakers a few years ago I would have hated the signing. But he had a good year last year and I think he will only get better. Plus his passing ability is what we need for Zach and Vucevic. (checks ESPN) Holy… I guess they’re also getting Derozen! They did let go of Sato, Thad, and Temple for all of this so again, what do y’all think about these moves?

I'm optimistic. But I'm pretty sure I say that during every offseason.

Against my better judgement, I wanted Rose back but I'm glad he was able to resign on a real team instead of having to start from scratch once again somewhere else.

I know nothing at all about DeMar DeRozan.

Is 31 year old DeMar DeRozan better than 34 year old Dwayne Wade or 30 year old Rajon Hondo when they signed with the Bulls?

Last night was “Bulls Night” at the White Sox game. Which really meant a night reflecting on the 90s Bulls teams and how what might have been the peak for any sports team in terms of accomplishments and displays of athleticism will never be matched again.

Lonzo totally sucks. As usual the Bulls spin machine is trying to make this dumpster fire look palatable.

2022: Chicago Bulls finish 10th in the Eastern Conference.

undo wrote:I know nothing at all about DeMar DeRozan.

Is 31 year old DeMar DeRozan better than 34 year old Dwayne Wade or 30 year old Rajon Hondo when they signed with the Bulls?

This is just Reinsdorf being Reinsdorf. Stay in the middle, create middling excitement, fill the seats.

I hope nobody goes. I won't be watching one minute this year.

You're brave!

I on the other hand am going to watch each game multiple time

Zach has tasted Olympic gold and it's awakened his competitive loins in ways he never felt possible

Lauri is GONE and we got picks for him

T-Wolves have always been my 2nd team. I root for them because someone has to, because they were an expansion team in the year that I first became fully aware of pro basketball and I immediately felt a kinship with them in a way that I didn't with the Magic, because I think they had really rotten luck in moments extremely critical to the long term success of the franchise, because they're a small market /non-destination team and because I'm a loser and I identify with them, maybe that's what most of it comes down to.  

If I was to make a list of people I have irrational, unexplainable disdain towards, Alex Rodriguez would be near the very top. I don't exactly know why but I do not trust A-Rod and I don't want him anywhere near this team.

I don't want him taking/getting credit for their success. Although I'm just as sure he's eager to see them lose even more and create conditions that would make skipping town with them to a more sexy city much more favorable. No way that's not his long game, no way he'd be satisfied to live and/or work in Minnesota.

Don't worry. The Wolves won't be good anytime this decade. Their owner is an absolute basketball idiot, the current team is bad, and the new ownership has no cred.

He's already working behind the scenes to move the team to Vegas, I don't need "proof" I mean c'mon

I agree that he's trying to move the team, but I think he'll have trouble trying to do it under the cover of "success" because I don't think the Wolves will be successful anytime soon.

Also, fuck Andrew Wiggins.

Did you want him to not get vaccinated?

I wanted him to get vaccinated, but like many Warriors fans I'd like to ship him out now that's he's totally exposed himself.

Not a drop of respect for his perspective at all.

Chicago Sky! If Finals tickets are reasonable, I’m goin!

Trade Kyrie to Sacramento Orlando for one first-round pick

why not

BGwaves wrote:Chicago Sky! If Finals tickets are reasonable, I’m goin!

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