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Lauri Markkanen - Utahin Marsalkka: All-NBA Snub

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Do You Enjoy Saunas?

  • Yes

    Votes: 1 7.1%

  • No

    Votes: 1 7.1%

  • Yes, only if it is co-ed and naked

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • Yes, but only if nudity is not allowed

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, heat gives me rashes

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • No, I prefer a bracing plunge into Lake Erie in January

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Yes, but only if a naked Lauri is present

    Votes: 5 35.7%

  • Yes, only if Jim Chones is present

    Votes: 4 28.6%

  • No, no Jim Chones, no Sauna!

    Votes: 2 14.3%

  • Yes, but only if drinks are served and Death Metal is played

    Votes: 3 21.4%
  • Total voters
    14
Sebastian said:
Yes, the Motti tactics wrote the text book on how to destroy motorized forces too dependent on roads. In 2003 I was very concerned about the Iraqis being able to pull off the same thing during that big dust storm.

Luckily the Iraqis are notoriously inept.

I think the battles that don't get the recognition that the Mannerheim Line battles do are the ones late in the Continuation War.

The Battle of Tali-Ihantala saved Finland and was a clinic on how light infantry can defeat powerful armored forces. The StuG's delivered right before the battle were also decisive.
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The Tanzanians used similar tactics to crush Qaddafi’s Libyan armor sent to help IdI Amin. Yeah, let’s just parade tanks single file down a road in bush country. What could go wrong?
 
Lauri spent time defending Harden and Kyrie in space very well. No, he's not the Finnish Kevin Durant on offense, but he's a 7-footer that defenses have to respect the shot of, and can switch defensively. He's the 4th option on offense most nights.

Unless you're getting an ELITE scorer back, I'll never understand why folks are eager to put Lauri on the bench, or trade him.
 
Lauri has been getting things done in crunch time lately. I think that’s three games in a row now close in the 4th late when Markannen either drives for a poster dunk, hits a big three, or locks up James Harden like he’s prime fucking Tony Allen or some shit and forces a turnover leading to an Okoro dunk.

Those things don’t happen by accident. They happen because a player even when struggling with general shooting and such, is comfortable enough and trusted enough by his teammates that when the opportunity comes for him to make a difference, while he may be left alone or not guarded as close on offense or whether he’s targeted on defense..he’s laying it all out there and going out and aggressively making winning plays to put Ws on the board.

I think he’s very much looking forward to the playoffs and I have no qualms with Markannen starting or playing big minutes. Maybe he starts shouting 47% from 3 for the next 5 months and all of a sudden the Cavs start looking like a title contender. Or maybe he shoots 36% and continues to make winning plays all over the court. I know the threat of his spacing is important and not given the just due it deserves, even with his shooting struggles this year. They still guard him because he can make 4-5 threes and blow up a game mighty quickly.
 
Lauri works hard, there’s no doubt about that.

It’s the consistency that needs to improve. Him and Okoro making open 3s and defending at a high level are the difference between this team being a first round exit or potentially going deep in the playoffs.
 
2 For The Brew said:
The Tanzanians used similar tactics to crush Qaddafi’s Libyan armor sent to help IdI Amin. Yeah, let’s just parade tanks single file down a road in bush country. What could go wrong?
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A lot!

As it turns out, LOL.

Oh, Tanzania. German Southeast Africa.

Von Lettow-Vorbeck defended the beaches of Tanga with beehives.
 
Feels like he had been making fewer mistakes and his chemistry with the guys looks better.
 
His defensive effort has been fantastic all season, one of the first things I noticed with him. Has really helped him stay him stay on the court even when his shot wasn’t falling. Maybe I’m imagining it but his results on defense seem to have improved recently, like he’s learning to defend in space better

He just does a lot of little positive things when he’s in, it’s not just about the 3s with him. I’ve been surprised by his effort
 
Sebastian said:
They drink more than any European nation that isn't Russia.

Markk should be in every commercial.
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Not actually true, there are many nations more "advanced" in drinking than us. We used to have that kind of reputaion do drink but it is not so popular anymore to drink hard liquors (used to be like that 40 years ago), now more a beer and wine nation. I guess Lauri does not drink at all ,actually never has, "just not his thing". So he most likely will skip any offers.
 
Finally Lauri seems to be fully comfortable with everything and if you look at eg. on/off stats he is contributing to the wins. There are still better guys than him on defense sitting on the bench, but his impact on offense to the team with this big sample size is undeniable and he is clearly net positive. I guess that is pretty much why he plays big minutes and closes games even if he has stints where he is pretty invisible.Having said that this improved effort and awareness on D is developing nicely. Now when he has his stroke back (hope I'm not jinxing) he will always generate proper spacing should that be the role at times. He may have had better stats years if you just look points, rebs and simple statistics. I don't care, because now he has the career best contribution to a team performance.
 
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Dunkqvist said:
Not actually true, there are many nations more "advanced" in drinking than us. We used to have that kind of reputaion do drink but it is not so popular anymore to drink hard liquors (used to be like that 40 years ago), now more a beer and wine nation. I guess Lauri does not drink at all ,actually never has, "just not his thing". So he most likely will skip any offers.
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Min Gud!

Next you'll tell me that Finns no longer like heavy metal!

He should still do the commercials.

Because they would cement his legacy forever like they have Mozgov's.

Be the legend, Lauri....

 
Sebastian said:
Next you'll tell me that Finns no longer like heavy metal!
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Finns in general certainly like heavy metal, we still have the most heavy metal bands per capita in the world (and by a long shot), but Lauri is a hip-hop dude. And no, he doesn't drink alcohol at all; he tasted a beer once, and has since said alcohol is not his thing -> hard to see him doing a commercial for beer :p
 
Swuul said:
Finns in general certainly like heavy metal, we still have the most heavy metal bands per capita in the world (and by a long shot), but Lauri is a hip-hop dude. And no, he doesn't drink alcohol at all; he tasted a beer once, and has since said alcohol is not his thing -> hard to see him doing a commercial for beer :p
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Mannerheim drank sparingly as well. Therefore, Lauri is as great a Finn as the good Baron.

Also, not commercials for beer.

Commercials for the beer garden.

It is also a good place to eat.
 
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