OFFICIAL AROUND THE NBA: JANUARY 2025

Amen Thompson seemingly getting better every day. Besides his terrific defense, made some clutch shots tonight, including the game winner.

 

he had 7 points on 11 shots tonight....playing in the moment!

 

Thompson can’t shoot for shit and he knows it. He’s made just 24 percent of his threes on a meager 56 attempts this season. That’s about as many threes as Tyrese Maxey has taken in his last five games. Still, the Rockets are a better offense when Thompson is on the court and that’s because he’s one of the most prolific opportunistic scorers in the NBA. Thompson is one of six players this season that have scored 100 or more points off turnovers, second chances, and fastbreaks.
https://thef5.substack.com/p/amen-e...e&r=10980&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email

 

Wow. So they pass on Luka cuz they had Fox and now they’re losing Fox?

 

That and they had Haliburton. They should have traded Fox to Indiana instead. Who their agent is....is a factor for small market teams.

 

This podcast and these Heat fans are getting exactly what they deserve. All of these chumps were dogging Blazer Brass for not taking the shitty Miami deal. Butler too, he was tampering. I'm absolutely elated watching these clowns backpedal fast than Michael Jackson

 

“NBA HISTORY”

 

Dude refuses to use his talent and skill in the most obvious ways to meaningfully increase his team's chance of winning games.

He's almost always the quickest and strongest big guy on the court but never seeks out contact, hell he rarely takes the ball to the rim unless it's served to him as a lob.

He rebounds really well and has a lot of different ways to score in the high post but if he doesn't keep opponents honest by taking it to the hole at least half of the time then his size, quickness and strength are nullified and it makes him way too easy to defend.

I also think the guy has the timing and athleticism to be a rim protector but he honestly looks like he is choosing to be a shot alterer instead of a shot blocker, even though he does seem to get enjoyment out of a good block... he stood there flexing for like a full minute last night after a rejection... that he's probably capable of doing like 3 times a game but chooses not to.

 

speaking of Miami and Butler

if the Heat have a trade lined up, does anybody doubt that Pat Riley will deliberately wait till the last minute because he's hoping it will block trades as teams wait and see what happens with Butler?

 

That's unfair - he's not 7 foot. He's only 6 foot 12.

 

Don't make me like you, Jordan Poole!

 

Probably because he can make his free throws, unlike many 7-footers....in history. 76% for his career.
You never hear a "hack an Ayton" strategy.

I appreciate his mid-range game. Cuts down on turnovers. Hate watching centers try to put the ball on the floor and try to attack the basket, only to lose the ball, or get fouled and miss their FTs.

 

He will try, but teams have trades lined up and have a drop dead date for Miami to execute the trade. Other trades, such as hopefully Portland will move on around 72 hours before the deadline.