2017-2018 Around the NBA

[Rich]

It would have to be a lot better to make up for the immense difference in offense from the starting 5... and depth for that matter

I don't agree at all that this OKC team had a better shot than we did last year. I think you're heavily overrating them

Westbrook and Adams have the ability to do things defensively that Kyrie and Tristan coild never, ever approach.

If Westbrook is going to be a swiss army knife and not the offensive focal point, yes, I think they have a better shot. They won't bleed points the way we did.

 

[6.19.2016]

But I also felt like the Warriors didn't take this game seriously.. they were playing in first gear and after Dray went down their rotations and defense were all over the place.

It doesn't work that way. For an early regular season game this was a relatively important one, and the Greatest Show on hardWood has typically done less "coasting" than other historical contenders, so to lose to another top West team at home means at least something.

Regarding Dray, why is it that we win, and our East counterpart to Houston has a major injury, while our own West counterpart has a minor missed-time injury and loses...92.3's upset because Bron ran up 41 minutes? In a game he wanted to play hard in, and stayed healthy enough?

 

[Jordan]

Westbrook and Adams have the ability to do things defensively that Kyrie and Tristan coild never, ever approach.

If Westbrook is going to be a swiss army knife and not the offensive focal point, yes, I think they have a better shot. They won't bleed points the way we did.

During Kevin Durant's last season in OKC, Russ ranked as the 8th best point guard in Defensive RPM and best in Defensive Box Plus-Minus.

He's a very good defender. He was just overworked last season.

Westbrook, Roberson, PG13, and Adams are better defenders than anybody we had last season, excluding LeBron.

Also - their defense is going to lead to transition opportunities, where their athleticism is going to shine.

 

[czvo]

It doesn't work that way. For an early regular season game this was a relatively important one, and the Greatest Show on hardWood has typically done less "coasting" than other historical contenders, so to lose to another top West team at home means at least something.

Regarding Dray, why is it that we win, and our East counterpart to Houston has a major injury, while our own West counterpart has a minor missed-time injury and loses...92.3's upset because Bron ran up 41 minutes? In a game he wanted to play hard in, and stayed healthy enough?

Exactly. It's like how they lost to the spurs last year by thirty. Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title.

If you don't win the first game of the year, your season is effectively over.

 

[BimboColesHair]

Brandon Ingram...yikes.

 

[Gus Zing]

Celtics have the Laker 1st round pick right?

Sh*t..

 

[czvo]

The Lakers are just so, SO bad. They'd have to get rid of just about everyone to make room for two max free agents. I just don't see how they pull off PG and LeBron... unless Lonzo Ball and Ingram improve A TON by the end of the year. Even then, they might have to move Ingram to get out from under Deng?

 

[6.19.2016]

Exactly. It's like how they lost to the spurs last year by thirty. Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title.

If you don't win the first game of the year, your season is effectively over.

I was thinking about the first Spurs game last year as a comparison already. I said "at least something," not "Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title. ... your season is effectively over." The point is that right now, the Dubs have problems to work on that we arguably don't have, i.e. closing out games.

And again, the other point is that people shouldn't be upset about Bron playing 41 minutes.

 

[priceFTW]

I was thinking about the first Spurs game last year as a comparison already. I said "at least something," not "Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title. ... your season is effectively over." The point is that right now, the Dubs have problems to work on that we arguably don't have, i.e. closing out games.

And again, the other point is that people shouldn't be upset about Bron playing 41 minutes.

There is NO possible way this is a serious comment, is there? The Warriors have zero problems. None. They have players probably willing to play for free as long as they can stay a part of that cult.

 

[czvo]

I was thinking about the first Spurs game last year as a comparison already. I said "at least something," not "Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title. ... your season is effectively over." The point is that right now, the Dubs have problems to work on that we arguably don't have, i.e. closing out games.

And again, the other point is that people shouldn't be upset about Bron playing 41 minutes.

I was mostly joking with you.

But no, the Warriors don't have a problem closing out games, just like the Cavs don't magically have that solved. It's been one game.

Now, if the statement is "the Warriors did not close out that game"? Then yes, that is true. But that doesn't make it a problem. It's just some shit that happened. It's not an issue the defending champions, two in three years, have.

And as far as the minutes thing with LeBron? I've given up caring about that. The guy is going to break down at some point, but I'm just going to enjoy when he plays while he plays. Why get concerned over something we have no control over?

The Cavs are the favorites to reach the finals for the FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR, and we have people that want to bitch about minutes. Let's just enjoy it while it lasts.

(So on that last point, we may be in agreement.)

 

[MarkyCavs88]

Am I right to think Philly get Lakers 1st round pick if it falls at 1 or between 6-30 .... and if it falls between 2-5 Boston will then get the pick ??

 

[Jack Brickman]

Exactly. It's like how they lost to the spurs last year by thirty. Everyone knew they weren't going to win the title.

If you don't win the first game of the year, your season is effectively over.

To be fair, Golden State was getting absolutely demolished by the Spurs in the playoffs in game one until Kawhi got hurt.

 

[Sir'Dom Pointer]

Am I right to think Philly get Lakers 1st round pick if it falls at 1 or between 6-30 .... and if it falls between 2-5 Boston will then get the pick ??

Lakers look like the worst team in the league, but it really looks like the Celtics are going to get that pick.

 

[czvo]

Am I right to think Philly get Lakers 1st round pick if it falls at 1 or between 6-30 .... and if it falls between 2-5 Boston will then get the pick ??

Yes, that is how it works.

 

[The Wizard of Moz]

Hmm I wonder if in the clearly rigged lottery system the Celtics or the 76ers will get that pick

There's just no way to know for sure!!!