to see if Brad Stevens and the Celtics can get over the early playoff hump and make a conference final. What a job he's done the first few years with decent talent but no real stars.
A great nba team lost in epic fashion last season. The warriors were defending champs with a 3-1 lead after winning 73 games.
I guess I don't consider a loss to Cleveland/LeBron that epic of an upset. If it was any other team then sure, but Cleveland was still putting out 2 of the top 3 or 4 players on the court. GS also blew their load going for the win record, so there's that too.
to see if Brad Stevens and the Celtics can get over the early playoff hump and make a conference final. What a job he's done the first few years with decent talent but no real stars.
I think that they are going to be a fun team to watch. I also think I am going to enjoy following Jaylen Brown's career.
Maybe the people "constantly complaining" in the NFL threads aren't the same people who find the NBA regular season to be incredibly unappealing?
Parity in the NFL isn't something I personally have an issue with. It's the over-saturation with the Thursday games, London games, etc, etc. which is leading to a crappy watered-down product and a lot of bad games.
Maybe the people "constantly complaining" in the NFL threads aren't the same people who find the NBA regular season to be incredibly unappealing?
Parity in the NFL isn't something I personally have an issue with. It's the over-saturation with the Thursday games, London games, etc, etc. which is leading to a crappy watered-down product and a lot of bad games.
Fair enough. I'm just excited for opening night and was trying to counter the negativity.
to see if Brad Stevens and the Celtics can get over the early playoff hump and make a conference final. What a job he's done the first few years with decent talent but no real stars.
i dont get the love with the celtics, yeah they overachieved last year, but i just see the hawks...
thomas and horford are good players but they are not superstars...
stevens is a fantastic coach and the team plays hard but i just dont see them as anything more than a hard working tough team that gets bounced in the 1st or 2nd round..
They should trade Lopez (who has quietly improved a lot as a player) before the deadline. But at least, after finishing with the worst record, they'll be able to draft Josh Jackson.
Oh, wait...
Well thank God we can watch Damian Lillard continue to develop into a superstar for the Nets. Shit, the eventual Lillard pick was traded for Gerald Wallace. Gerald. Wallace.
At least we can see Favors turn into a nice PF entering his prime. Fuck!
Pathetic, dumpster fire of a franchise with the worst name in sports.
I think we'll see some compelling match-ups despite the 2 powerhouse teams. More likely that Cleveland sleepwalks to the finals (Lebron, depite his epicness, benefits so much from that putrid conference. Not unlike Tom Brady in the AFC East), but the Pacers will surprise and probably reach the ECF. I'm really hoping Wade stays healthy and give us another potential legit playoff matchup.
Spurs & Clips will be good. And Jazz will probably fight for the 4th/5th seed.
Lebron has successfully transmogrified back into the good guy after the Heat villainy stage. It's rather apparent he didn't like being the "bad guy". Who is now decidedly in Golden State after that bitch ass move.
(Unrelated...after the Cavs championship, I say go Indians cause any city that has to endure the Browns deserve much happiness).
--
Metnut: valid point...for some. I love parity, personally. Or, rather, the fairness, that causes it. The one change I'd like to see is that drafted players count less against the cap, but otherwise I think the NFL has it virtually perfect.
I'll enjoy Knicks games, especially if they're a 45-50 win team, but I won't be following the league the way I normally do because of Golden State. What's the point of watching some Rockets/Clippers TNT game on a Thursday night? I can't fathom watching any Western Conference games this season.
Russ vs Lebron vs Steph for MVP. If OKC ends up a top 4 seed (which I think they probably will) and Russ is averaging a triple double I don't see how he wouldn't get it.
Timberwolves get into the playoffs. Nothing bold, but year 3 of Wiggins and Levine topped with the best center in the league with Thibs coaching I think they get it done.
I think the Hawks return to a 55+ win team. No one likes Dwight but I think he's a better fit in Atlanta than horford. The Hawks got pummeled on the boards night in and night out and while horford is a solid defender, he's not nearly the rim protector that even old, lazy Dwight is.
I was high on the bucks as being a top 4 seed but I also thought Middleton was their best player. Still a solid team but they have a ceiling of sorts now. Still like the moves they made. Looks like I'm gonna be dead wrong on Maker.
I think the ECF will be Indy vs Cleveland.
I think Chicago will be a mess. They don't have one shooter in their starting lineup unless they are starting Mirotic. I don't see how you miss the playoffs with wade and butler but they're gonna be the ugliest team to watch. I think they're a bottom seed contender
Once Jackson comes back I think Detroit will be a powerhouse. I also like the Knicks winning 45+ this year. Factoring in a little injury issues too.
I like Boston's moves too, but struggling to see them as a serious contender still.
EC:
Cleveland
Indy
Boston
Toronto
Atlanta
NY
Detroit
Chicago
WC:
GS
SA
OKC
LAC
Utah
Portland
Houston
MIN or Memphis
I watched the Warriors game Friday night and to see a team
with Steph & Durant is breathtaking. Klay is the guy who needs to sacrifice the most, but he's such a good creator for other people that he'll be fine. Draymond bitched about shots when there was no Durant, so there's always a worry with him now. I think he'll handle it well though. It's easy to forget they still have Iggy and Livingston. If this sport still had real centers, the Warriors would have a problem there.
I shouldn't be surprised considering that hatred of the Knicks is rampant among basketball writers, but I'm a bit shocked at how many writers think the Knicks will be AWFUL. There was an article on espn.com saying the Nets will be better than the Knicks... c'mon man. The Courtney Lee signing didn't get many headlines, but he will be a massive improvement over Afflalo.
Steve Adams is my vote for MIP. I don't know if that's a cop out since he's only 22 and is expected to develop but I think he's gonna turn into a top 5 center. Average something like 12 and 12 and get votes for DPOY.
was voted the #1 player that GMs would draft to build a team around based on the annual Survey.
I'm surprised that Anthony Davis has been tossed to the side by GMs that quickly. Towns seems like a safer bet to stay healthy long-term and also is built more powerfully, but I'm still not ready to go Towns > AD to build a franchise around. Even in a down year, Davis still dropped a 60/20 game and had a good season. I wouldn't be surprised if he had the kind of year people like me expected him to have last year.
Embiid is a fucking freak of nature. Would be right there with these two right now if injuries didn't hurt him so much. His skillset at his size is nuts. Really hope this guy stays healthy.
Davis is my favorite player in the NBA but given the recent injury risks I would take KAT over him and Embiid. Embiid may have the highest ceiling out of the 3 as crazy as that sounds but also the biggest injury risk.
Even though I like Davis's impact a lot more, KAT is more of a go to guy. You can't really dump the ball to AD in crunch time. KAT looks more fluid with the ball in his hands and has more range (at least compared to Davis at the same point).
to be the best American pro sports team ever assembled. I just don't see how anyone, including the Cavs, can beat them if they're healthy.
I watched a few of their preseason games and the potential is absolutely mind blowing. There are instances in which the ball finds a guy like Klay Thompson with no defender within 8 feet. 3 of their starters can get hot like few other players in league history, and there will definitely be games in which 2 or even all 3 of them do so at the same time. And suddenly, now that they have Durant, they'll probably even get to the free throw line at an average or even above average pace.
They need to chill on the turnovers, but barring injury it will always be an upset when they lose, all season long.
is lack of rim protection. Bogut didn't pile up stats but he was so effective as a defender, and that will be missed. The first quarter of their last PS game against Portland was a layup line for Lillard and McCollum.
is lack of rim protection. Bogut didn't pile up stats but he was so effective as a defender, and that will be missed. The first quarter of their last PS game against Portland was a layup line for Lillard and McCollum.
I think the Bogut thing is a little over stated tho. I know he helped at rim protection but he played 16 minutes a game in the postseason and didn't provide much elsewhere, including getting back on fast breaks. Many people forget that Zaza and David West jumped on board for next to nothing. While I don't think Zaza is anywhere near the rim protector Bogut is, I think for 16 minutes a game they can get away with those 2.
Defensively, he gave everyone on the perimeter (especially Curry) the freedom to gamble a bit for steals. Offensively, he set incredible screens and would often handle the ball at the top of the key, finding cutters (or finding the guy who would then find the cutter). He may not have finished on many fast breaks, mostly because he often started them.
Going from Harrison Barnes to Kevin Durant is a significant enough upgrade to offset any downgrade losing Bogut presents, definitely. But it is still a downgrade.
I've been to a few preseason games, this is going to be a fun team to watch. While not a contender, this team is going to win more than Vegas predicted (27).
My point guard in college will get a ring tonight- I'm hoping it's on the telecast. One of the assistant gms and director of player personnel.
Pretty Damn cool!
LeBron had the best Finals ever, Curry had a pathetic Finals, Kyrie went nuts, Draymond was suspended for a game, Harrison Barnes (who KEVIN DURANT!!! is replacing) didn't show up, and yet that Finals still went right down to the wire.
I was always hoping he'd wind up proving me wrong because he's a likable guy, but Barnes appears to be validating my (and many Warriors fans') worst fears. He shot less than 30% in the preseason and still didn't appear to have much of a basketball IQ at all.
He's still young, but I just don't see much of a ceiling with him at all.
Why Bogut is missed. 9 offensive rebounds for SA at the half, and a 30-17 rebounding edge. Plus about 10 shots made 5 feet or less from the basket for the Spurs.
that degree of hot/cold is brutal. His games 5, 6, 7 were a huge reason GS choked away that series. Easily the worst player on the court. Draymond Green being a pimp papered over just how bad he was. Kerr should have benched him or told him to go out there and rebound, play defense and pass the rock to Curry/Klay/Green.
Rampant turnovers, outrebounded, nearly a 3-1 FT disparity... there's at least one of these per season for GS against SA (and often 3). It just so happens to be the first game of the year.
Rampant turnovers, outrebounded, nearly a 3-1 FT disparity... there's at least one of these per season for GS against SA (and often 3). It just so happens to be the first game of the year.
No to make too much out of one game or anything, but from what I see so far he'd have been the 11th man last year for the Warriors. Defense has been a huge part of their success, and being average to slightly above average at rebounding helped too.
I don't think the Spurs could ordinarily count on that many barely-beat-the-shot clock and buzzer threes, for example. They hit some contested ones and low percentage ones, and the Warriors missed ones they'd normally hit.
The FT disparity doesn't worry me much... that's just in the Warriors DNA, and Durant should probably just kiss his frequent trips to the line goodbye. But the offensive rebounds and layup lines were concerning. Pachulia won't last long if he can't get his shit together in that area.
Santa, what are your thoughts on Barkley saying Klay is the best player on the team?
I don't think he has the consistency or the multidimensionality to be the best player on the team. He's streaky, and when he's struggling to score, he doesn't compensate by facilitating or rebounding.
They're gonna need him to do more of the latter this year if last night is any indication.
I guess I don't consider a loss to Cleveland/LeBron that epic of an upset. If it was any other team then sure, but Cleveland was still putting out 2 of the top 3 or 4 players on the court. GS also blew their load going for the win record, so there's that too.
Parity in the NFL isn't something I personally have an issue with. It's the over-saturation with the Thursday games, London games, etc, etc. which is leading to a crappy watered-down product and a lot of bad games.
Parity in the NFL isn't something I personally have an issue with. It's the over-saturation with the Thursday games, London games, etc, etc. which is leading to a crappy watered-down product and a lot of bad games.
Fair enough. I'm just excited for opening night and was trying to counter the negativity.
i dont get the love with the celtics, yeah they overachieved last year, but i just see the hawks...
thomas and horford are good players but they are not superstars...
stevens is a fantastic coach and the team plays hard but i just dont see them as anything more than a hard working tough team that gets bounced in the 1st or 2nd round..
Oh, wait...
Well thank God we can watch Damian Lillard continue to develop into a superstar for the Nets. Shit, the eventual Lillard pick was traded for Gerald Wallace. Gerald. Wallace.
At least we can see Favors turn into a nice PF entering his prime. Fuck!
Pathetic, dumpster fire of a franchise with the worst name in sports.
I think we'll see some compelling match-ups despite the 2 powerhouse teams. More likely that Cleveland sleepwalks to the finals (Lebron, depite his epicness, benefits so much from that putrid conference. Not unlike Tom Brady in the AFC East), but the Pacers will surprise and probably reach the ECF. I'm really hoping Wade stays healthy and give us another potential legit playoff matchup.
Spurs & Clips will be good. And Jazz will probably fight for the 4th/5th seed.
Lebron has successfully transmogrified back into the good guy after the Heat villainy stage. It's rather apparent he didn't like being the "bad guy". Who is now decidedly in Golden State after that bitch ass move.
(Unrelated...after the Cavs championship, I say go Indians cause any city that has to endure the Browns deserve much happiness).
--
Metnut: valid point...for some. I love parity, personally. Or, rather, the fairness, that causes it. The one change I'd like to see is that drafted players count less against the cap, but otherwise I think the NFL has it virtually perfect.
I doubt anyone cares but a few of my thoughts:
Russ vs Lebron vs Steph for MVP. If OKC ends up a top 4 seed (which I think they probably will) and Russ is averaging a triple double I don't see how he wouldn't get it.
Timberwolves get into the playoffs. Nothing bold, but year 3 of Wiggins and Levine topped with the best center in the league with Thibs coaching I think they get it done.
I think the Hawks return to a 55+ win team. No one likes Dwight but I think he's a better fit in Atlanta than horford. The Hawks got pummeled on the boards night in and night out and while horford is a solid defender, he's not nearly the rim protector that even old, lazy Dwight is.
I was high on the bucks as being a top 4 seed but I also thought Middleton was their best player. Still a solid team but they have a ceiling of sorts now. Still like the moves they made. Looks like I'm gonna be dead wrong on Maker.
I think the ECF will be Indy vs Cleveland.
I think Chicago will be a mess. They don't have one shooter in their starting lineup unless they are starting Mirotic. I don't see how you miss the playoffs with wade and butler but they're gonna be the ugliest team to watch. I think they're a bottom seed contender
Once Jackson comes back I think Detroit will be a powerhouse. I also like the Knicks winning 45+ this year. Factoring in a little injury issues too.
I like Boston's moves too, but struggling to see them as a serious contender still.
EC:
Cleveland
Indy
Boston
Toronto
Atlanta
NY
Detroit
Chicago
WC:
GS
SA
OKC
LAC
Utah
Portland
Houston
MIN or Memphis
I shouldn't be surprised considering that hatred of the Knicks is rampant among basketball writers, but I'm a bit shocked at how many writers think the Knicks will be AWFUL. There was an article on espn.com saying the Nets will be better than the Knicks... c'mon man. The Courtney Lee signing didn't get many headlines, but he will be a massive improvement over Afflalo.
I'm surprised that Anthony Davis has been tossed to the side by GMs that quickly. Towns seems like a safer bet to stay healthy long-term and also is built more powerfully, but I'm still not ready to go Towns > AD to build a franchise around. Even in a down year, Davis still dropped a 60/20 game and had a good season. I wouldn't be surprised if he had the kind of year people like me expected him to have last year.
Embiid is a fucking freak of nature. Would be right there with these two right now if injuries didn't hurt him so much. His skillset at his size is nuts. Really hope this guy stays healthy.
Even though I like Davis's impact a lot more, KAT is more of a go to guy. You can't really dump the ball to AD in crunch time. KAT looks more fluid with the ball in his hands and has more range (at least compared to Davis at the same point).
I watched a few of their preseason games and the potential is absolutely mind blowing. There are instances in which the ball finds a guy like Klay Thompson with no defender within 8 feet. 3 of their starters can get hot like few other players in league history, and there will definitely be games in which 2 or even all 3 of them do so at the same time. And suddenly, now that they have Durant, they'll probably even get to the free throw line at an average or even above average pace.
They need to chill on the turnovers, but barring injury it will always be an upset when they lose, all season long.
I think the Bogut thing is a little over stated tho. I know he helped at rim protection but he played 16 minutes a game in the postseason and didn't provide much elsewhere, including getting back on fast breaks. Many people forget that Zaza and David West jumped on board for next to nothing. While I don't think Zaza is anywhere near the rim protector Bogut is, I think for 16 minutes a game they can get away with those 2.
Going from Harrison Barnes to Kevin Durant is a significant enough upgrade to offset any downgrade losing Bogut presents, definitely. But it is still a downgrade.
I meant Bogut getting back on defense on fast breaks.
I think come playoff time they are going to run death lineup almost entirely.
I've been to a few preseason games, this is going to be a fun team to watch. While not a contender, this team is going to win more than Vegas predicted (27).
Pretty Damn cool!
LeBron had the best Finals ever, Curry had a pathetic Finals, Kyrie went nuts, Draymond was suspended for a game, Harrison Barnes (who KEVIN DURANT!!! is replacing) didn't show up, and yet that Finals still went right down to the wire.
I was always hoping he'd wind up proving me wrong because he's a likable guy, but Barnes appears to be validating my (and many Warriors fans') worst fears. He shot less than 30% in the preseason and still didn't appear to have much of a basketball IQ at all.
He's still young, but I just don't see much of a ceiling with him at all.
I love it.
Loving this win. 129-100. Bam, baby.
The FT disparity doesn't worry me much... that's just in the Warriors DNA, and Durant should probably just kiss his frequent trips to the line goodbye. But the offensive rebounds and layup lines were concerning. Pachulia won't last long if he can't get his shit together in that area.
Loving this win. 129-100. Bam, baby.
Bertans?
Quote:
on the SAS bench looked pretty good there.
Loving this win. 129-100. Bam, baby.
Bertans?
Yeah. Hit a three. Looked good.
Santa, what are your thoughts on Barkley saying Klay is the best player on the team?
Santa, what are your thoughts on Barkley saying Klay is the best player on the team?
I don't think he has the consistency or the multidimensionality to be the best player on the team. He's streaky, and when he's struggling to score, he doesn't compensate by facilitating or rebounding.
They're gonna need him to do more of the latter this year if last night is any indication.
MDA offense = 9 assists for James Harden in the FIRST QUARTER vs. Lakers.
16 rebounds
5 assists
7 steals
4 blocks
41 minutes (and they still lost somehow)
16 rebounds
5 assists
7 steals
4 blocks
41 minutes (and they still lost somehow)
I know Osi is happy. That's his boy.
But seriously, I do think going from him to Mike Brown may also be a downgrade.