2017-2018 Around the NBA

[Real Deal]

I will say Ingram is starting to grow on me...

He might still "make it". Needs to develop that jump-shot though and the three ball especially. His time-line is still a couple years down the road.

If LBJ goes to the Lakers he's 100% conceding titles for the rest of his prime. For this reason I think they're no longer a threat.

Pretty much.

LBJ is an basketball minded idiot if he goes there, and he's a smart business man.

Lakers are gutter trash in my honest opinion, and I mean they're trash compared to 9-10 teams in the West. I just don't like their talent mix. Randle is already rumored out, D Russ got traded, like what are they doing? They tanked 2 years basically just to trade those 2 picks... i mean it turned into Kuzma and Brook, but if Brook bolts then bad trade. LA will still be depending on free agency rather their youth. Also, Lonzo won't magically shoot better with LeBron passing to him, this isn't 2k, Dimer badge has no effect in real life.

Basically the Lakers will have to showcase themselves as a fringe playoff team for these superstars to even want to come. They haven't been free agent friendly for how long now?

 

[Rich]

No if people wanna talk about a team where LBJ can go to compete for a few years, then Philly HAS to be an option.

 

[bboy]

No if people wanna talk about a team where LBJ can go to compete for a few years, then Philly HAS to be an option.

i agree...they are going to be a really good team...Thats what bums me about the Cavs ...our better days are behind us and there are so many teams just about to begin being the dominant factors in the league...Philly and Boston being two of them

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

I don't understand why you keep only pointing out BOS regular season success. They had the #1 seed and made it to the ECF last season. They look like a better team, clearly the the best team so far this season and you're doubting them because????

They would have lost to the 8 seed Bulls if Rajon Rondo didn't get hurt. They were clearly a lesser team in the post-season last year compared to their regular season success. I think that will happen again this year. I don't think they're even locks to make it to the ECF. Wizards are good. Milwaukee is good.

We don't look like a better team than last years Cavs team and you can call me crazy but I don't think we will end this season as a better team than we were last year barring some really drastic roster and coaching changes. BOS has taken several steps forward this year and we've taken several steps back yet we're still going to mop them come playoff time? If you want to argue that we're looking this way without IT I can easily counter with BOS not having Hayward. They are better than us right now and unless something drastic happens to either team they will end the season better than us and there's a big difference in this matchup come playoff time this year. They have Kyrie now who's one of the best playoff performers in the league and a deeper younger roster than us.

If you want to argue that this matchup is one sided then the honest answer is BOS has more advantages than us. The only reason why we even have a punchers chance is because of LeBron.

You're out of your mind. Literally. This is some Timmy Heinsohn/RealCelticFans.com shit...

Name me a dollar figure and I'll bet it on the Cavs to beat the Celtics in a playoff series. They'd be fortunate to see a game 6. It's really up to LeBron on how badly he wants to show Kyrie up in the playoffs.

Biggest over-reaction to the first 15 games of the season of all time. Mark it down. The Cavs would beat them in a series this week. Without IT.

 

[czvo]

Pretty much.

LBJ is an basketball minded idiot if he goes there, and he's a smart business man.

Lakers are gutter trash in my honest opinion, and I mean they're trash compared to 9-10 teams in the West. I just don't like their talent mix. Randle is already rumored out, D Russ got traded, like what are they doing? They tanked 2 years basically just to trade those 2 picks... i mean it turned into Kuzma and Brook, but if Brook bolts then bad trade. LA will still be depending on free agency rather their youth. Also, Lonzo won't magically shoot better with LeBron passing to him, this isn't 2k, Dimer badge has no effect in real life.

Basically the Lakers will have to showcase themselves as a fringe playoff team for these superstars to even want to come. They haven't been free agent friendly for how long now?

Are you saying he'd be a smart business man to go to LA? Because if so, I disagree.

 

[Real Deal]

Are you saying he'd be a smart business man to go to LA? Because if so, I disagree.

No, business wise, brand wise, movie making wise, etc, it's smart in LA fans mind. But MC made great points why all that is for the birds, LeBron will do whatever he wants whether he's in Cleveland, or LA. People fly to him.

 

[bee-eazy13]

That would seem to mean that he, more than just about any other athlete, will need to rely on his knees lasting forever, without any tears or damage.

Actually, the more I learn about biomechanics (check out Any Means Basketball on YouTube...best channel regarding movement and details players skills online) Hardens gonna be fine.

His mechanics are good...on his toes, doesn’t overstride, keeps hips and core tight, has strong hips/glutes and feet (strong feet are vital and a key component to athleticism that most people don’t know about and even less train them) he’s very controlled when running/landing...proper technique and body mechanics improve your athleticism and decrease risk of non-contact injuries.

It’s why Lebron never had a serious injury.(Any Means Basketball go over this too) Lebron and Westbrook have excellent sprinting/acceleration mechanics and great landing technique...if done correctly your hips and glutes absorb force instead of your joints.

In comparison to Rose and Wade for example (Kobe too)...when they sprint they overstride and land on their heels which sends a shock to your knee. Also they have bad landing mechanics (especially Rose) they land hard, on their heels and a lot of times are pretty straight legged when they land...instead of sinking into their hips and/or shuffling their feet to dissipate the downward momentum. (Something Lebron and Westbrook do well).

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

No if people wanna talk about a team where LBJ can go to compete for a few years, then Philly HAS to be an option.

Ehh. The fit with Simmons is super questionable. Plus they're still such a young team, never had a playoff game, lots of growing pains to go through. . And the Embiid health concerns would be a super risky move for a guy LeBrons age. He doesn't have time to be patient.

If he was 28, absolutely. But I don't think they fit his timeline at 33.

If they had drafted Tatum(proven to be way more NBA ready than Fultz atm) and still had that pick to trade...then they might have been a more realistic dark-horse candidate...

I still think the Spurs are the only team that I would be legitimately "worried" about. Just because of his respect for Pop. They could theoretically get about just enough cap space for 1 max guy,if they can somehow use a young guy and a draft pick to come completely off of Gasol's money. I could maybe see LeBron giving S.A. a 2 year run with Kawhi/LMA/Gay/Green/Mills. Guess Green and a few others could opt out and get renounced and they could open the space that way. Very unlikely really...

I dunno..I think this would be a terrible year for LeBron to choose to leave. I actually think he may just do another 1+1 and re-visit the situation a year from now. If he does that I'll be convinced that he's going to leave the following year. I think if he's gonna retire a Cav, he'll simply lock in the long-term max this summer.

 

[czvo]

Ehh. The fit with Simmons is super questionable. Plus they're still such a young team, never had a playoff game, lots of growing pains to go through. . And the Embiid health concerns would be a super risky move for a guy LeBrons age. He doesn't have time to be patient.

If he was 28, absolutely. But I don't think they fit his timeline at 33.

If they had drafted Tatum(proven to be way more NBA ready than Fultz atm) and still had that pick to trade...then they might have been a more realistic dark-horse candidate...

I still think the Spurs are the only team that I would be legitimately "worried" about. Just because of his respect for Pop. They could theoretically get about just enough cap space for 1 max guy,if they can somehow use a young guy and a draft pick to come completely off of Gasol's money. I could maybe see LeBron giving S.A. a 2 year run with Kawhi/LMA/Gay/Green/Mills. Guess Green and a few others could opt out and get renounced and they could open the space that way. Very unlikely really...

I dunno..I think this would be a terrible year for LeBron to choose to leave. I actually think he may just do another 1+1 and re-visit the situation a year from now. If he does that I'll be convinced that he's going to leave the following year. I think if he's gonna retire a Cav, he'll simply lock in the long-term max this summer.

Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had never been to the playoffs before LeBron, and both had questionable injury histories. Didn't stop LeBron from leaving Miami and joining the Cavs.


If Philly would have him, and LeBron wants to go there, then Philly is absolutely the best bet to win. ESPECIALLY if that Lakers pick somehow lands #1 and Philly gets the top pick. Shit.

 

[Rich]

The Cavs were super young with no playoff experience when he came here. If the 76ers make the playoffs and Embiid stays healthy, I don't see anywhere else in the league he could go (while getting paid) that gives him a better shot at a title next year, including staying here.

All of their primary parts are locked up. Embiid, Covington, Simmons, Saric, Fultz. He waits another year, and they'll probably have problems signing him and keeping everyone on that list.

Now, if Philly doesn't make the playoffs or if Embiid gets hurt again, ok.

But on the same line, if the Cavs get blown away in the FInals again, that pushes the needle in the other direction. I truly don't think he's gonna stay here if we get swept by the Warriors.

 

[Real Deal]

I think what we do with this Nets pick is a big measuring stick on if LeBron stays or not. Hopefully LeBron colludes with a certain player and gets him to demand a trade.

You still factor in every piece of talent now, plus a mystery star.

 

[Pioneer10]

Fucking hilarious that Kuzma is totally outplaying Ball.

 

[Real Deal]

Take this to the Ball section bro, there were some loving delicate posts after his triple double

Fucking hilarious that Kuzma is totally outplaying Ball.

 

[Los216]

They would have lost to the 8 seed Bulls if Rajon Rondo didn't get hurt. They were clearly a lesser team in the post-season last year compared to their regular season success. I think that will happen again this year. I don't think they're even locks to make it to the ECF. Wizards are good. Milwaukee is good.

They beat the Wizards last year after they beat The Bulls. You seem to ignore that like it didn't happen.

You're out of your mind. Literally. This is some Timmy Heinsohn/RealCelticFans.com shit...

Name me a dollar figure and I'll bet it on the Cavs to beat the Celtics in a playoff series. They'd be fortunate to see a game 6. It's really up to LeBron on how badly he wants to show Kyrie up in the playoffs.

Biggest over-reaction to the first 15 games of the season of all time. Mark it down. The Cavs would beat them in a series this week. Without IT.

You're being really emotional about Kyrie like he hurt you or something. You keep making this about LeBron and getting some revenge on Kyrie. You refuse to give BOS any credit at all from clearly being the best team in the league right now. Like it or not they are really good right now and it matters. You're banking on us getting better like BOS won't get better as well. They aren't even shooting as good as they should and Kyrie has yet to hit his groove.

Meanwhile we have been an average at best team so far but we are getting the benefit of the doubt only because of LeBron. I'm sorry but it's going to take more than LeBron to beat them. We are struggling nighty to beat bad teams but you think we could beat the best team in the league in a series right now without IT? That's being a real homer there. Just admit that The Celtics are good and you don't like Kyrie.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving had never been to the playoffs before LeBron, and both had questionable injury histories. Didn't stop LeBron from leaving Miami and joining the Cavs.


If Philly would have him, and LeBron wants to go there, then Philly is absolutely the best bet to win. ESPECIALLY if that Lakers pick somehow lands #1 and Philly gets the top pick. Shit.

But #1: Philly isn't where he was born. He came back here on a mission, for himself. We were able to present an acceptable basketball situation as well, but the #1 reason was because it was Cleveland.

#2: Again, he's going to be 33 in the summer and will turn 34 mid-season. This isn't the same as coming back to the Cavs in your late 20's.


Even then, Love and Kyrie were STILL more seasoned than Embiid and Simmons. Simmons will be a SECOND year player next year. He's a total stud but still just a 2nd year player. He also happens to basically play the same exact position and the same exact way LeBron plays. That is a much more awkward fit than Kyrie/Love was.

I wouldn't rule it out completely, I just consider it extremely unlikely.

I suppose they could work out a back-room deal where they agree to trade Fultz and their draft pick for an all-star. LBJ/All star/Simmons/Embiid. Could change the dynamics and make it more likely. We'll see. Might not be an easy thing to make happen monetarily though (the trade AND signing LBJ)