Erik García Gundersen
@erikg503.bsky.social
Lots of NBA and lots of Blazers. Also lots of WNBA, EuroLeague and the occasional football post. Read more at: https://theburnernba.substack.com/
How about that??
February 15, 2026 at 10:56 PM
How about that??
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
You want All-Star defense? You got some of it. Both teams uncomfortably under 40 percent from the field at the first timeout in the WORLDSTAR matchup.
February 15, 2026 at 10:31 PM
You want All-Star defense? You got some of it. Both teams uncomfortably under 40 percent from the field at the first timeout in the WORLDSTAR matchup.
This is all so much worse. There’s no situation where players will be trying harder for a team to get a higher draft pick and replace them. The current system is imperfect but it’s better than stuff like this.
Just make the play in losers get the best draft picks.
Or if that's too much, invert the teams that miss the playoffs.
Everyone will try to win.
Or if that's too much, invert the teams that miss the playoffs.
Everyone will try to win.
February 15, 2026 at 10:26 PM
This is all so much worse. There’s no situation where players will be trying harder for a team to get a higher draft pick and replace them. The current system is imperfect but it’s better than stuff like this.
Every idea everyone has to “fix” the NBA is worse than the current situation.
The thing Adam Silver should do is do nothing at all.
Unless we are talking about eliminating fouling up 3 in a close game. He should do that.
The thing Adam Silver should do is do nothing at all.
Unless we are talking about eliminating fouling up 3 in a close game. He should do that.
February 15, 2026 at 10:16 PM
Every idea everyone has to “fix” the NBA is worse than the current situation.
The thing Adam Silver should do is do nothing at all.
Unless we are talking about eliminating fouling up 3 in a close game. He should do that.
The thing Adam Silver should do is do nothing at all.
Unless we are talking about eliminating fouling up 3 in a close game. He should do that.
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
Allllll of this. Welcome in the Gospel of 82.
Always read Erik.
Always read Erik.
February 15, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Allllll of this. Welcome in the Gospel of 82.
Always read Erik.
Always read Erik.
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
Great post. A lot of the suggestions about how to “fix” tanking seem to fundamentally misunderstand what causes tanking in the first place. Pro sports has embraced analytics and there are virtually no repercussions that will make a team suddenly value regular season games over playoff wins
February 15, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Great post. A lot of the suggestions about how to “fix” tanking seem to fundamentally misunderstand what causes tanking in the first place. Pro sports has embraced analytics and there are virtually no repercussions that will make a team suddenly value regular season games over playoff wins
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
Great post! I agree. I would like some anti tank stuff because I'm not for teams just deciding to implement the tank in game. I like the idea to give team out if the playoffs reason to play to win at the end of the season. Otherwise schedule construction becomes factor.
February 15, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Great post! I agree. I would like some anti tank stuff because I'm not for teams just deciding to implement the tank in game. I like the idea to give team out if the playoffs reason to play to win at the end of the season. Otherwise schedule construction becomes factor.
NEW BLOG: 82 games is fine, actually open.substack.com/pub/theburne...
82 games is fine, actually
It's the time of year where the schedule and tanking discourse take center stage. This is all pointless. The schedule is fine.
open.substack.com
February 15, 2026 at 7:45 PM
NEW BLOG: 82 games is fine, actually open.substack.com/pub/theburne...
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
Ofelia Torres, the teenage Chicago Public Schools student whose fight against cancer while her father was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers represented the federal government’s overreach during Operation Midway Blitz, has died, her family announced on Saturday.
Chicago teen whose father was detained by ICE while she fought cancer dies
The Torres family story came to public attention after the teen’s father was detained at a Home Depot in Niles.
trib.al
February 15, 2026 at 2:22 AM
Ofelia Torres, the teenage Chicago Public Schools student whose fight against cancer while her father was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers represented the federal government’s overreach during Operation Midway Blitz, has died, her family announced on Saturday.
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
And Keshad Johnson won in front of Michael Baiamonte, the longtime Miami Heat public address announcer who is retiring after this season.
February 15, 2026 at 12:51 AM
And Keshad Johnson won in front of Michael Baiamonte, the longtime Miami Heat public address announcer who is retiring after this season.
That was so dope
February 14, 2026 at 11:00 PM
That was so dope
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
good bench reactions to Dame
February 14, 2026 at 10:54 PM
good bench reactions to Dame
Check your watches
February 14, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Check your watches
Ultimately very happy the NBA is back on NBC but a big part of me misses having a TNT Rush Hour/Rush Hour 2 marathon as bumper programming for the All-Star weekend events
February 14, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Ultimately very happy the NBA is back on NBC but a big part of me misses having a TNT Rush Hour/Rush Hour 2 marathon as bumper programming for the All-Star weekend events
Reposted by Erik García Gundersen
NBA Rising Stars: Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen leave All-Star Weekend with highlights, memories, motivation »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
NBA Rising Stars: Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen leave with highlights, memories, motivation
The Blazers’ towering young centers stepped onto the NBA’s biggest stage Friday night, mixing a little competition and a little one-on-one play with a whole lot of laughs.
www.oregonlive.com
February 14, 2026 at 6:45 AM
NBA Rising Stars: Donovan Clingan and Yang Hansen leave All-Star Weekend with highlights, memories, motivation »
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
www.oregonlive.com/blazers/2026...
Best way to describe it is imagine Succession but about all the underlings and that’s the show
Man Industry is such an insane show
February 14, 2026 at 6:32 AM
Best way to describe it is imagine Succession but about all the underlings and that’s the show
When he lights and passes a cig to himself is legit cinematic innovation but a lot of people wanna pretend it’s just normal
I’ve seen it 8 times and he made me believe he has a twin.
February 14, 2026 at 6:24 AM
When he lights and passes a cig to himself is legit cinematic innovation but a lot of people wanna pretend it’s just normal
Rewatching Sinners (2025) for the 4th time and I’m sorry there’s nobody touching Michael B. Jordan.
February 14, 2026 at 6:18 AM
Rewatching Sinners (2025) for the 4th time and I’m sorry there’s nobody touching Michael B. Jordan.
Pose when you both outscore the centerpiece of the Heat’s Giannis Package
February 14, 2026 at 3:41 AM
Pose when you both outscore the centerpiece of the Heat’s Giannis Package
Not anymore, citing his NBA/WNBA ownership stake.
So why is it different for Ryan Smith, BYU snd the Jazz?
www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...
So why is it different for Ryan Smith, BYU snd the Jazz?
www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...
February 13, 2026 at 10:58 PM
Not anymore, citing his NBA/WNBA ownership stake.
So why is it different for Ryan Smith, BYU snd the Jazz?
www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...
So why is it different for Ryan Smith, BYU snd the Jazz?
www.detroitnews.com/story/sports...
The actual Utah Jazz thing that the NBA should investigate or speak on is whether Ryan Smith’s funding of BYU basketball is tampering or not. Seems like tampering to me.
February 13, 2026 at 9:10 PM
The actual Utah Jazz thing that the NBA should investigate or speak on is whether Ryan Smith’s funding of BYU basketball is tampering or not. Seems like tampering to me.
Even with the turnovers and still finding his rhythm Scoot has found ways to impact the game every night since he’s been back. He just makes everyone’s life so much easier.
February 13, 2026 at 4:28 AM
Even with the turnovers and still finding his rhythm Scoot has found ways to impact the game every night since he’s been back. He just makes everyone’s life so much easier.
They have already cut down the amount of back to backs, started the season earlier and have cut down on how much teams have to travel considerably. If expansion happens, travel will be even easier.
And yet we have more teams tanking earlier than before. It’s a lot of fuss about nothing.
And yet we have more teams tanking earlier than before. It’s a lot of fuss about nothing.
I think kill some of the back to backs, maybe stretch the season out over a few more weeks, but fundamentally yeah, don't see that 82 games is particularly problematic.
February 13, 2026 at 2:02 AM
They have already cut down the amount of back to backs, started the season earlier and have cut down on how much teams have to travel considerably. If expansion happens, travel will be even easier.
And yet we have more teams tanking earlier than before. It’s a lot of fuss about nothing.
And yet we have more teams tanking earlier than before. It’s a lot of fuss about nothing.
You’re never gonna convince me that players will play harder so a young player can come take their job. Don’t think that’s gonna work either.
I think the concept of lottery wins (you get points for beating teams ahead of you in the standings) is interesting. If combined with extending lottery to 1st round teams and shortened season would help tanking
February 13, 2026 at 1:33 AM
You’re never gonna convince me that players will play harder so a young player can come take their job. Don’t think that’s gonna work either.
My solution?
Do nothing. 82 games is fine, has been fine historically and will continue to be fine in the future.
These teams will always try to find a
ways to game the system. Load management even happens in high school now.
Changing the schedule will do nothing to change behavior.
Do nothing. 82 games is fine, has been fine historically and will continue to be fine in the future.
These teams will always try to find a
ways to game the system. Load management even happens in high school now.
Changing the schedule will do nothing to change behavior.
it’s easy to knock bill simmons but it’s hilarious how quickly the nba twitteratti lept to unleash their tank reform takes—but only after bill did.
February 13, 2026 at 1:17 AM
My solution?
Do nothing. 82 games is fine, has been fine historically and will continue to be fine in the future.
These teams will always try to find a
ways to game the system. Load management even happens in high school now.
Changing the schedule will do nothing to change behavior.
Do nothing. 82 games is fine, has been fine historically and will continue to be fine in the future.
These teams will always try to find a
ways to game the system. Load management even happens in high school now.
Changing the schedule will do nothing to change behavior.