Illini in the Pros

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#626      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Yes33 said:
What I paid for? Unfortunately they did not discount the tickets because everyone knew, what you stated (which I didn’t), was going to happen. I paid to see Luka, Kyrie, LaVine, DeRosa, Beverly and the rest of the team. I’ll just pass on the pro game moving forward as it seems it’s about the players not the fans.

Don’t think I’ve ever been to or watched a college game where coaches rested their players who were tired or had minor nicks. See Trent Frazier to name one.
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I'll repeat again. It was a late season NBA game with both teams having basically nothing to play for (Mavs more concerned about potential draft position than possibly getting in play-in). If this was a January or February game, then maybe I'd have a bit more sympathy for your position. I'm not sure who DeRosa is (DeRozan maybe?). If you pass on the pro game, that's on you. I think the NBA will be just fine without one fan's money going towards it. Heck, do you think any of the Bulls fans at the UC today were ticked that they only got to see LaVine, Derozan, and Vuc play barely into the 3rd quarter (Vuc played even less actually I think) and then saw most of the bench guys including Ayo for the rest of the game?

And using the college vs. NBA argument isn't a valid one since an NBA season is more than twice the length of a college season (even for a team that wins the national title, it's basically at twice the length). College players don't play on back to back nights unless they're in an MTE or their conference tournament. College players also aren't traveling around the country unless they're playing at a low major or an HBCU where their schools' sports budget is paid for by playing a game at multiple P5/6 schools.
 
#627      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Bulls-Raptors in the 9/10 game at 7:00 PM ET Wednesday on ESPN. Winner of that game plays at loser of Hawks-Heat on Friday night for the 8 seed in the East and a likely gentleman's sweep by the Bucks in the 1st round of the playoffs.
 
#628      

Goillinikobd

Goillinikobd
Southeastern US
Goillinikobd
Anyone know when the Bulls have to decide about Ayo’s contract status. Is he a restricted free agent after the season is over? Speculation on his future with Bulls?
 
#629      

Chickenmane

C
Chickenmane
Goillinikobd said:
Anyone know when the Bulls have to decide about Ayo’s contract status. Is he a restricted free agent after the season is over? Speculation on his future with Bulls?
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Nothing official, but Ayo has stagnated and arguably regressed this year and is redundant if Beverley and Caruso stay on.

I imagine that if he’s willing to sign for cheap he stays, but if he want anything more than that he’s definitely gone since Coby White has clearly surpassed him.

If Ayo is going to stick in the NBA he needs to improve his shooting significantly.
 
#630      

Yes33

Y
Yes33
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
I'll repeat again. It was a late season NBA game with both teams having basically nothing to play for (Mavs more concerned about potential draft position than possibly getting in play-in). If this was a January or February game, then maybe I'd have a bit more sympathy for your position. I'm not sure who DeRosa is (DeRozan maybe?). If you pass on the pro game, that's on you. I think the NBA will be just fine without one fan's money going towards it. Heck, do you think any of the Bulls fans at the UC today were ticked that they only got to see LaVine, Derozan, and Vuc play barely into the 3rd quarter (Vuc played even less actually I think) and then saw most of the bench guys including Ayo for the rest of the game?

And using the college vs. NBA argument isn't a valid one since an NBA season is more than twice the length of a college season (even for a team that wins the national title, it's basically at twice the length). College players don't play on back to back nights unless they're in an MTE or their conference tournament. College players also aren't traveling around the country unless they're playing at a low major or an HBCU where their schools' sports budget is paid for by playing a game at multiple P5/6 schools.
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Your statements make total sense. Why should I ever pay $250+ per ticket to sit near the floor (4 total) and expect to the see stars of the NBA play in any game. I’m so crazy for having that expectation. As I originally stated, if the grind is too much for them cut the schedule and the wages back and play less games. This is one game. Justify the games throughout the year that star players sat out when fans paid for tickets to see them. Oh, back to back are too much….. This didn’t happen in the Jordan era. You can drink the kool aid, I’m not.
 
#631      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Yes33 said:
Your statements make total sense. Why should I ever pay $250+ per ticket to sit near the floor (4 total) and expect to the see stars of the NBA play in any game. I’m so crazy for having that expectation. As I originally stated, if the grind is too much for them cut the schedule and the wages back and play less games. This is one game. Justify the games throughout the year that star players sat out when fans paid for tickets to see them. Oh, back to back are too much….. This didn’t happen in the Jordan era. You can drink the kool aid, I’m not.
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Right, but even you admitted that you didn't purchase the tickets until after the Kyrie trade, which was 2 months ago. If you had bought the tickets at the start of the season, then you might have a more salient argument for being upset about not being able to see the top players.

Load management has been an issue in the NBA for years now and you'll see people on both sides of the argument as to whether it's a good thing or not. I'm of the opinion that if a team already has their seeding sewn up for the playoffs and there's no measurable gain from them playing, there's no point in playing many of the top players. Toronto won a title using the method back in 2018-19, when Kawhi didn't play roughly 1/3 of the regular season games but played every postseason game this season.

And just out of curiosity, how strong of an NBA fan are you? Are you more towards the casual side?
 
#632      

3 point girl

3
texas
3 point girl
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Right, but even you admitted that you didn't purchase the tickets until after the Kyrie trade, which was 2 months ago. If you had bought the tickets at the start of the season, then you might have a more salient argument for being upset about not being able to see the top players.

Load management has been an issue in the NBA for years now and you'll see people on both sides of the argument as to whether it's a good thing or not. I'm of the opinion that if a team already has their seeding sewn up for the playoffs and there's no measurable gain from them playing, there's no point in playing many of the top players. Toronto won a title using the method back in 2018-19, when Kawhi didn't play roughly 1/3 of the regular season games but played every postseason game this season.

And just out of curiosity, how strong of an NBA fan are you? Are you more towards the casual side?
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I have been a die hard Mavericks fan for a very long time & yesterday I was so disgusted with what went on friday night that I didnt use any of my 6 tickets or give them away. This was the first game I had missed all season. It is shameful what Mark Cuban did & defies what all athletes/fans want their players/team to do-play hard to the end when you still have a chance to make the playoffs.
 
#633      

ChiefGritty

ChiefGritty
Chicago, IL
ChiefGritty
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Load management has been an issue in the NBA for years now and you'll see people on both sides of the argument as to whether it's a good thing or not.
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I mean, for the commercial value of the regular season which is the league's revenue bread and butter there can be no debate whatsoever about whether it's a good thing.

It's a good thing for players and the right thing for the playoff ambitions and health sustainability of good teams, that's also crystal clear.

It's a tension that's got to be managed somehow.
 
#634      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
Chickenmane said:
..."Ayo has stagnated and arguably regressed this year... If Ayo is going to stick in the NBA he needs to improve his shooting significantly.
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We know how few and treasured the roster spots are on an NBA roster. And every year, new young and hungry talent comes into The Association all trying to leave their mark and stake a permanent claim on one of those roster spots.

The future will be very interesting on two fronts – how do the Bulls truly feel about Ayo and his personal future. And how does Ayo himself respond to what might be described as a year not to up what he might have wanted for himself.

What is Ayo’s ultimate direction... stay with the Bulls? Catch on with another NBA team? Look to the World?

The Bulls as a team have not been one of the league's best and they need upgrades at all positions. But Ayo could still find his way to stay on the West Side with the backing of the team.

Whatever happens... Ayo has already fulfilled a portion of his dream to be an NBA player while also playing for his home town. That’s something that most guys will never do. And he has made Illini Nation proud while he continues on his quest and his own dream.
 
#635      

Yes33

Y
Yes33
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Right, but even you admitted that you didn't purchase the tickets until after the Kyrie trade, which was 2 months ago. If you had bought the tickets at the start of the season, then you might have a more salient argument for being upset about not being able to see the top players.

Load management has been an issue in the NBA for years now and you'll see people on both sides of the argument as to whether it's a good thing or not. I'm of the opinion that if a team already has their seeding sewn up for the playoffs and there's no measurable gain from them playing, there's no point in playing many of the top players. Toronto won a title using the method back in 2018-19, when Kawhi didn't play roughly 1/3 of the regular season games but played every postseason game this season.

And just out of curiosity, how strong of an NBA fan are you? Are you more towards the casual side?
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When Kyrie signed, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see amazing talent for both teams and some Ayo. The best of both worlds and worth the price. In hindsight I would have just watched it on TV. I learned an expensive lessen and won’t be let down again. In the future I just might hang outside the stadium until the game starts so I can see if the “A” product or “B” product is will be on display.

In all seriousness, I’m a big boy and will move on. But, how do all of the young kids feel that came to the same game to watch Luka on Slovenia night to honor him? He played 13 1/2 minutes on “Luka” night. At least there were Luka handouts for most of them to look at while their star sat on the bench perfectly capable of playing.

I would consider myself a casual+ fan and fading. I don’t know that the game will ever again be as great as the years of Jordan, Pippen, Bird, etc. Toughness, grit, and determination to go with great talent. Willing to leave it all on the floor for their team and the fans. Jordan never called Bird or Magic to form a mega team. They were competitors that didn’t want to stack the deck. A different world back then. JMO.
 
#636      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
3 point girl said:
I have been a die hard Mavericks fan for a very long time & yesterday I was so disgusted with what went on friday night that I didnt use any of my 6 tickets or give them away. This was the first game I had missed all season. It is shameful what Mark Cuban did & defies what all athletes/fans want their players/team to do-play hard to the end when you still have a chance to make the playoffs.
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Yeah it does look bad and I agree with you on your perspective with Cuban and the whole situation. That being said, the recommendation I always make to people who don't want to use tickets for something like this is to donate it to a local Boys & Girls Club or some other charity. For those kids, they could care less who is on the court. For them, it's about the experience of getting the chance to go to an NBA game when they probably wouldn't have an opportunity otherwise.
 
#637      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Yes33 said:
When Kyrie signed, I thought it would be a great opportunity to see amazing talent for both teams and some Ayo. The best of both worlds and worth the price. In hindsight I would have just watched it on TV. I learned an expensive lessen and won’t be let down again. In the future I just might hang outside the stadium until the game starts so I can see if the “A” product or “B” product is will be on display.

In all seriousness, I’m a big boy and will move on. But, how do all of the young kids feel that came to the same game to watch Luka on Slovenia night to honor him? He played 13 1/2 minutes on “Luka” night. At least there were Luka handouts for most of them to look at while their star sat on the bench perfectly capable of playing.

I would consider myself a casual+ fan and fading. I don’t know that the game will ever again be as great as the years of Jordan, Pippen, Bird, etc. Toughness, grit, and determination to go with great talent. Willing to leave it all on the floor for their team and the fans. Jordan never called Bird or Magic to form a mega team. They were competitors that didn’t want to stack the deck. A different world back then. JMO.
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If I were you, I would have just bought the tickets early in the season. The Mavs were a West finalist last season and were expected be just as good this season and Ayo would have been there too.

I think the kids, while they would have liked to have seen Luka play more, would have likely just enjoyed the experience of being at the game. Especially if it's maybe the only time all season ir not ever that they'll get a chance to go to a game.

The game is still great but health is a bigger factor for players nowadays than it was in the 90s.
 
#638      

IlliniFaninHoosierLand

IlliniFaninHoosierLand
IlliniFaninHoosierLand
Just to add onto this, I have a coworker who was a huge Kobe Bryant fan. He finally got to go to a Lakers/Bulls game at the UC one year. Unfortunately that ended up being one of the 6 games Kobe missed that season. While he was disappointed he didn't get to see Kobe, he understood that that's the way things are in the NBA nowadays and still enjoyed the game he got to go see.
 
#639      

3 point girl

3
texas
3 point girl
The big difference between all these examples & the Mavs/Bulls game friday is that it was a crucial game for the Mavs to make the playoffs. This was no load management situation or lets get a day of rest for a player. This was to try & make the PLAYOFFS. This was an "all hands on deck" critical situation with NONE of the guys that Dallas sat out injured at all. I get that in today's NBA you might have a ticket to see a certain player & they sit him out for whatever reason, but not in this type of game unless you are full out tanking, which Cuban did.
 
#640      

AyoDos11

AyoDos11
Southern Illinois
AyoDos11
3 point girl said:
The big difference between all these examples & the Mavs/Bulls game friday is that it was a crucial game for the Mavs to make the playoffs. This was no load management situation or lets get a day of rest for a player. This was to try & make the PLAYOFFS. This was an "all hands on deck" critical situation with NONE of the guys that Dallas sat out injured at all. I get that in today's NBA you might have a ticket to see a certain player & they sit him out for whatever reason, but not in this type of game unless you are full out tanking, which Cuban did.
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FWIW, the NBA is investigating the Mavs for potentially tanking...
 
#641      

3 point girl

3
texas
3 point girl
AyoDos11 said:
FWIW, the NBA is investigating the Mavs for potentially tanking...
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I hate what they did, but If the Mavs get hit with any penalty then they have a legitimate gripe because they lost Jalen Brunson to the Knicks who were found guilty of tampering and received nothing in return. Does anyone know how close we were to getting Brunson? I have to think his dad got paid for delivering him to Nova,
 
#643      

mysterio2525

mysterio2525
mysterio2525
3 point girl said:
I hate what they did, but If the Mavs get hit with any penalty then they have a legitimate gripe because they lost Jalen Brunson to the Knicks who were found guilty of tampering and received nothing in return. Does anyone know how close we were to getting Brunson? I have to think his dad got paid for delivering him to Nova,
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Agreed tanking for a better draft pick when you have no chance to win in the playoffs is one thing. Sucks for the fans in the short run. Tanking when you have chance to still win in the playoffs is against the spirit of the game and against why you play (outside of money in reality)
 
#649      

Roundball Sage

R
Roundball Sage
IlliniFaninHoosierLand said:
Absolutely shocked Bulls won this one tonight. Especially with how good the Raptors looked in the 1st half and for a good chunk of the 3rd quarter.
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The Bulls showed something last night that has often been missing: Character. They could have packed it in and given up when they fell way behind in the third quarter. But LaVine would not have it. He singlehandedly brought the offense the Bulls needed while the other guys suddenly played some great D.

The Bulls still need upgrades at all positions but LaVine and Ayo can stay.

As for Ayo last night... they wanted to do nothing to disrupt the mojo that LaVine was on. He was In-The-Zone. It was great when after he’d shred the Raptor defense and go through them like a hot-knife-through-butter and score. And then he’s just turn the other way like... ‘Hey, no big deal. I OWN YOU GUYS!’
 
#650      

Illiniguy13

Illiniguy13
Illiniguy13
Roundball Sage said:
The Bulls showed something last night that has often been missing: Character. They could have packed it in and given up when they fell way behind in the third quarter. But LaVine would not have it. He singlehandedly brought the offense the Bulls needed while the other guys suddenly played some great D.

The Bulls still need upgrades at all positions but LaVine and Ayo can stay.

As for Ayo last night... they wanted to do nothing to disrupt the mojo that LaVine was on. He was In-The-Zone. It was great when after he’d shred the Raptor defense and go through them like a hot-knife-through-butter and score. And then he’s just turn the other way like... ‘Hey, no big deal. I OWN YOU GUYS!’
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Further into no man's land we go
 
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