2019-2020 NBA thread

[Noles]

SIxers have been beyond disappointing. Ben is still unwilling to shoot and Jo looks gassed in the 4th quarter. Where have I heard this before?

[MtlJeff]

Probably heard it last year LOL.

I think Philly is obviously very good, but I wasn't as bought in on them just because I think it's hard to win a title without a playmaking wing who can score. It's the most important position in basketball and they dont have one.

[Noles]

I think Simmons read my post today!

[scratchswinger]

For one Jordan never won a title with the best player on the other team being injured. I just think the narrative of Kawhi got flipped so much because of KDs and Klays injuries. If those freak injuries don’t occur then we are talking about Kawhi being a top 5 and maybe top 3 player but because of injuries he is arguably the best player in the league and comparing his accomplishment to Jordan. He’s great I get it but it’s crazy how things can change so suddenly.

LeBron has been undoubtedly the best player in the world so far this season, he looks like a man possessed on both ends of the floor. Lakers are on fire, I hope they can keep it rolling.

[MtlJeff]

Jordan never played in a league where one of the best players in the league was so self conscious about not winning titles that he joined a 73 win team either. Jordan would've had a tough time beating the Sonics if Hakeem Olajuwon was their center and Reggie Miller their shooting guard , but we'll never know because Olajuwon wasn't soft and probably didn't have 25 burner social media accounts

I'm not saying Kawhi is on Lebrons level career wise. But 1 on 1 with kawhi at 29 and lebron at 35 I dont think its crazy to suggest they are on even keel. I watched every playoff game last year and Kawhi was as good in the run as anything we've seen lately

[scratchswinger]

Agreed that he was good. My point is a lot of players are good in playoffs but loose to the best team and they don’t get the recognition they would if they won. The fact that Kawhi won because the other team was injured has catapulted him significantly. Same player - two different outcomes and two significantly different views. That’s all I’m trying to say.

[MtlJeff]

Yeah we can definitely get too black and white with wins and losses. You don't have to sell me on that LOL, i'm a Russell Westbrook fan

Guys like him and Harden will likely not win a title. They were great players. It's hard to win a title in today's NBA with Lebron and Durant and Curry, and these guys teaming up. The Lakers and Clippers both have 2 of the top 10 players in the league.

Kawhi will likely never be considered on the same level as Lebron, and definitely not Jordan. It's not like i want to give him tons of props, he fled Canada and my beloved Raptors. But as someone who watched Toronto every year and knew we would lose, having him on the team just felt different. They might not have beat the full strength Warriors, but he took a team that had done nothing but dissapoint in the postseason and turned them into one that we all felt would win every game that mattered.

So when you look at the Clips, who also have Beverley, Harrell, Lou Williams....it's a good team.

I think the Lakers would feel more comfortable with one more guy, preferably another guard who can spot up and defend

[scratchswinger]

What do you think of the load management topic? I am not a Harden fan but he does bring it every single night and I could never see him taking games off for rest.

[MtlJeff]

I just dont know where it ends. I am tentatively OK with it now just because it doesnt affect my enjoyment much if someone plays 70 games instead of 82. Soccer players in europe dont play full schedules either

My fear is that 10 years from now guys will be playing 50 games.

Actually, even worse than that will be when guys fake injuries in contract years to avoid getting hurt, while still taking their paychecks

At that point I may go back to the NFL full time lol

 

[bobbydoestrong]

I read an article today saying Ben Simmons hasn’t improved in 3 years and the 76ers should look to trade him. I feel like that is impulsive, but I do agree they don’t necessarily have the formula to win a title right now.

[scratchswinger]

He should be a more athletic version of Luca but he just isn't.

[Miss_Tee]

Giannis

Fear the deer

[MtlJeff]

Luca with a 35-10-10 in 25 minutes

It's just insanity that Ayton and Bagley were picked ahead of him and we knew it at the time.

[slimreaper30]

The warriors look so terrible this year, the blowout by the mavs the other day was crazy. Oh how the might have fallen

[MtlJeff]

Literally though!!!!

Steph injured, klay injured, d'angelo injured. Not many teams would be playing well without their 3 best players.

Before we feel sorry for the Warriors let's remember they have Steph and Klay and may end up with a top 5 pick this year, and could flip Russell for another good asset too

Theyll be fine I think. Steph probably needs an April off to play golf

 

[scratchswinger]

Wait Dreymond is not there best player? When they were rolling that guy got all the praise.

[MtlJeff]

Hes definitely the best at calling teammates ******!

[Noles]

I disagree with the claim that he hasn't improved in 3 years. He just needs to be willing to shoot more. He could get an elbow/foul line jumper any time he wants but for some reason he just won't shoot it.

[scratchswinger]

BI > Simmons - been saying this since day 1

[MtlJeff]

Ingram is looking really good. I forget but hes something like 25-6 with 23 PER

[scratchswinger]

Remember all the debates about how the Celtics had the best package for AD and Tatum was so much better then anyone?

 

Did you see who is leading the league in effective FG%?

[MtlJeff]

I didn't but is it Mo Wagner? That's what google says Haha

Last year, I think most people said the packages were about even, which wasn't that bad IMO considering Ingram's injury. The year before that for sure everyone was on the Boston bandwagon, its yet another good lesson not to judge anyone too much as a rookie one way or the other

The 2009 NBA draft produced 2 of the best players ever , and tyreke Evans won ROY

[MtlJeff]

Luka Doncic at 20 is averaging a 30-10-10 leading the #1 offense in the league, whose 3rd best player is....Seth Curry?

It is actually ridiculous what we are watching

He was the most accomplished teenager of all time! DeAndre Ayton was picked ahead of him! What planet are we on???

Dallas is bad...they are 11-5 . I'm still trying to wrap my head around how a 20yr old might be the best player in the league through 25% of the season

[MtlJeff]

Just gonna put this out here, but who says no if the Raptors offer Ibaka's expiring deal, Chris Boucher and a couple of 2nd rounders for Demar Derozan ?

[scratchswinger]

Cmon Jeff not one mention about LeBrons and the Lakers defense to start the season?

[MtlJeff]

To be honest I haven't watched them much or the clippers. They are usually late games and I have a 2yr old. I'm also watching more football again (I was on a football boycott for many years)

I have heard Lebron is playing great defense and they are currently #2 in the league. I'm definitely surprised by that as I thought they would usually be playing 2 weak defenders (danny green is good)

They definitely are doing better than I thought. I figured they'd be a 50win team that needed to go to a short rotation in the playoffs

[scratchswinger]

Welcome to parenthood. There is something wrong when I am watching the Lakers on an iPad and my 80” has Bubble Guppies one. LeBron has been amazing, passing out of his mind, super efficient, really good D, and no fit throwing mannerisms.

Luca and the Mavericks are going to attract some big names, I think he could be the core of the next dynasty.

[MtlJeff]

We are all witnesses....to Pascal Siakam

Bow down to your new overlord, Eastern conference

[blaird]

Went to Pelicans home opener this year and they played Dallas. Luka is very legit...feel like they could be real tough with Unicorn back at 100% (which I dont think he is yet) and another big free agent and they may can make a little noise in the playoffs. Im dying for Zion to make it back. BI is having a great year.

Healthy Curry and Klay, with a top 5 pick, and Green, and throw in Paschall who is having a quiet, great year...how good can GS be next year??

I have started doing Draft Kings teams a couple times a week in the NBA part...cant quite get in the money, have Im always around the 240-250 points range and miss the money by a little, need to get it right one good time.

[MtlJeff]

Pels should trade Jrue Holiday for more assets. They have a lot of wings, and Redick is still there for the veteran presence

They could play Alexander-Walker more (canadian dude)

Also I think Holiday would be great on the Raptors. Most of my NBA thoughts are about how the Raptors can get another wing and repeat