Opinion The NBA Thread

[nahnah]

There has been talk about a LeBron and Davis union. Imagine LeBron, Davis and Cousins in New Orleans?

LeBron, Cousins and PG in the West may not make the Western finals. Golden State and Houston I'd assess if those teams stick together as stronger.

Ryan Anderson can still play (just not in Houston where his numbers at home are dreadful, but away he's a good piece). A lot of teams could use a stretch four. Houston may need to give up a pick to shred his contract, but they'll move aggressively to put themselves under the cap for a shot at LeBron, if indeed they believe they are a shot.

A pick to shred his contract? He earns over 20mil for the next 3 seasons they’ll need a heap of picks to move that abomination

 

[wicksy]

I saw what Love did. Bending down to give the ball to Isaiah. Very disrespectful. If I were Cavs I'd trade Love.

Not just Thomas... What about the Green incident?
Things are rocky in that locker room and always will be while James tries to be playing coach.

 

[wicksy]

Houston will need to find someone to take on Anderson’s which will be difficult.

Clippers could potential trade Lou Williams for a first, DJ for a first. Giving them 4 firsts in the draft. Sign LeBron, Cousins, PG and then trade all the draft picks for a Davis/Kawhi should those players demand a trade (rumours of Kawhi wanting out bubbling around) giving them a big of LeBron, Cousins, PG, Davis/Kawhi.

How do you make salaries work with those players though? Unless you have G-Leaguers on 10 day contracts filling the bench, I can't see it working.

 

[TradeDraft]

Not just Thomas... What about the Green incident?
Things are rocky in that locker room and always will be while James tries to be playing coach.

Cav are Imploding?

 

[danielnajdek]

Not just Thomas... What about the Green incident?
Things are rocky in that locker room and always will be while James tries to be playing coach.

Broke his hand so the karma bus got him.

 

[wicksy]

Cav are Imploding?

I'd say it's been happening for a while now.
This is the reason I don't want James at the Clippers. Would much prefer to go to the draft and follow the Warriors model.

 

[Knightmare]

The topic in the NBA I'm interested in at the moment is who is the best player today?

LeBron? KD? AD? Harden? Curry? Westbrook? Giannis?

My answer is very against the grain based on the media conversation.
I've got:
1. AD
2. KD
3. Giannis

LeBron still seems the default, and his offence is irrefutably still there. Why I have him behind this big three is defence. He's too selective in when he provides effort on the defensive end and has been that way these past five seasons, though with his athleticism declining slightly, his play on the defensive end has dropped progressively with it. AD/KD/Giannis all have the scoring capabilities and have the edge with all three being much better defenders and also have greater rebounding capabilities.

 

[magpies42]

The topic in the NBA I'm interested in at the moment is who is the best player today?

LeBron? KD? AD? Harden? Curry? Westbrook? Giannis?

My answer is very against the grain based on the media conversation.
I've got:
1. AD
2. KD
3. Giannis

LeBron still seems the default, and his offence is irrefutably still there. Why I have him behind this big three is defence. He's too selective in when he provides effort on the defensive end and has been that way these past five seasons, though with his athleticism declining slightly, his play on the defensive end has dropped progressively with it. AD/KD/Giannis all have the scoring capabilities and have the edge with all three being much better defenders and also have greater rebounding capabilities.

Hmm Westbrook is a victim of an entirely dysfunctional team dynamic. He is carrying two overrated players. His season last year was out of This world. Harden is an amazing points accumulator and playmaker. But no defence. AD is a freak, held back by team imbalance with Cousins. Lebron I have always had issues with he relies too heavily on his athletic ability...looks uncoordinated. Has improved shooting out of sight but still not good enough to be the best. He is a great passer, but goes missing in clutch moments. For me the clear winner at the moment and probably for a long period (aside from Curry’s purple patch) is KD. Unstoppable, clutch a winner.

 

[wicksy]

Hmm Westbrook is a victim of an entirely dysfunctional team dynamic.

Victim or the cause? A good player will make his teammates better. Not Russell.

 

[magpies42]

Victim or the cause? A good player will make his teammates better. Not Russell.

Agree that he’s a selfish type and perhaps the reason why Harden, Ibaka left but I don’t think anybody can make a team work with Anthony. Plays like he’s a super star but he’s just a spud. George’s injuries have made him a bits and pieces player. Only player of quality on the team (aside from from RW) is Adams.

 

[nahnah]

LeBron is still the best, just wait till playoffs.

My top 5:
1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Curry
4. Davis
5. Harden

 

[shizzle]

I've still got to have Lebron as no 1, as much as I like Durant as an almost perfect offensive threat I just thing Lebron is more impactful. Mostly due to his far better vision and passing, and he can make any shot, he still has very good speed, can still get to the rack strong.

I think defensively he often doesn't make much effort, and at times looks to lay that blame on teammates, but I mean not many of the notional best guys are strong defensively, maybe AD but it's not enough for me to have him ahead of Lebron with all things considered.

For me.

1. Lebron James
2. Kevin Durant
3. Anthony Davis

I say that fully expecting Harden to win MVP.

 

[Knightmare]

Ridiculous hypothetical.

Who says no first:
Cleveland get: Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, New York 1st round top 15 protected pick
Boston get: LeBron James and Joakim Noah
New York get: Tristian Thompson

Boston don't need Kyrie or Hayward with Rozier and Tatum looking the goods.

Cavs don't have enough to help LeBron win another championship and if he leaves, getting Kyrie and Hayward is a pretty great return. Also for LeBron, going to Boston with Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Smart and Horford with Brad Stevens as coach I would argue is a better fit than the 76ers who have Simmons who needs the ball to be effective.

*Knicks want to dump Noah and Thompson is a better fit alongside Porzingis.

Dumping Thompson allows for enough salary cap space to be created to add both Irving and Hayward for Cavs.

 

[nahnah]

Ridiculous hypothetical.

Who says no first:
Cleveland get: Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, New York 1st round top 15 protected pick
Boston get: LeBron James and Joakim Noah
New York get: Tristian Thompson

Boston don't need Kyrie or Hayward with Rozier and Tatum looking the goods.

Cavs don't have enough to help LeBron win another championship and if he leaves, getting Kyrie and Hayward is a pretty great return. Also for LeBron, going to Boston with Tatum, Brown, Rozier, Smart and Horford with Brad Stevens as coach I would argue is a better fit than the 76ers who have Simmons who needs the ball to be effective.

*Knicks want to dump Noah and Thompson is a better fit alongside Porzingis. Dumping Thompson allows for enough salary cap space to be created to add both Irving and Hayward.

Boston, because they can just sign LeBron

 

[Knightmare]

Boston, because they can just sign LeBron

LeBron isn't signing a mid level exception. He wants a max deal. Boston are over the salary cap.

Boston would have to unload Hayward to have enough money to make LeBron a reasonable offer, and they'd have to move probably a couple of first round picks to do that.

Then there would be Kyrie who may request a trade, not wanting to play with LeBron.

 

[nahnah]

LeBron isn't signing a mid level exception. He wants a max deal. Boston are over the salary cap.

Boston would have to unload Hayward to have enough money to make LeBron a reasonable offer, and they'd have to move probably a couple of first round picks to do that.

Then there would be Kyrie who may request a trade, not wanting to play with LeBron.

You can get so much more than just LeBron for those two of LeBron was willing to sign with Boston.

Also why would Boston blow it up LeBron, they’re not beating Warriors in the next two years

 

[BEEG]

No way Boston is trading Irving they will stick to the plan.

Horford
Morris
Haywood
Tatum
Irving

Why would Cavs want Irving back after the shit storm that happened before the season started.

I read LeBron wants to play more without the ball in his hand and have a play making PG

Houston/Philly is the way to go.

 

[BEEG]

Hmm Westbrook is a victim of an entirely dysfunctional team dynamic. He is carrying two overrated players. His season last year was out of This world. Harden is an amazing points accumulator and playmaker. But no defence. AD is a freak, held back by team imbalance with Cousins. Lebron I have always had issues with he relies too heavily on his athletic ability...looks uncoordinated. Has improved shooting out of sight but still not good enough to be the best. He is a great passer, but goes missing in clutch moments. For me the clear winner at the moment and probably for a long period (aside from Curry’s purple patch) is KD. Unstoppable, clutch a winner.

WTF LeBron is clutch as **** these days, that team is putrid no way KD would have the Cavs in the Eastern conference finals.

 

[Knightmare]

You can get so much more than just LeBron for those two of LeBron was willing to sign with Boston.

Also why would Boston blow it up LeBron, they’re not beating Warriors in the next two years

What more could Boston get for Irving and Hayward?

Anthony Davis? I don't see Irving and Hayward being worth nearly AD, even if you add first round picks to them.

Irving is great, but injury prone and Hayward is good, but on an oversized, bad contract, coming off a major injury. I would have said Boston would be on the winning side of the trade, with Irving and Hayward not needed in their situation.

No way Boston is trading Irving they will stick to the plan.

Horford
Morris
Haywood
Tatum
Irving

Why would Cavs want Irving back after the shit storm that happened before the season started.

I read LeBron wants to play more without the ball in his hand and have a play making PG

Houston/Philly is the way to go.

LeBron has mentioned that he is interested in playing more without the ball.

That doesn't mean he needs to play with Harden or Simmons.

Terry Rozier can handle the ball and share the ball handling duties.

Irving only wanted out of Cleveland so that he could be the franchise player of a ball club. He had no problem signing a max deal with Cleveland, only with LeBron joining.

WTF LeBron is clutch as **** these days, that team is putrid no way KD would have the Cavs in the Eastern conference finals.

The narrative that LeBron isn't clutch has long sailed - he has hit as many buzzer beaters as MJ and Kobe combined.

The correct argument against LeBron not being the greatest player today is that because he expends so much/almost all of his energy on offense, he has little to none to provide on defence and as a result he has other than in selective moments/games not played a lick of defence.

Even in this playoffs, only games 3/4 v Boston has LeBron committed himself on the defensive end.

Comparing that to MJ, MJ one year older in his final year with the Bulls was first team all defence and dominating on both ends of the floor still.

Arguments for LeBron in the GOAT discussion will be similar to those made for Kareem - being long jeopardy and sustaining a high level for as long as any.

In terms of peak performance, he's still for mine comfortably behind Wilt, Russell, MJ, Kareem and arguably Oscar. It's just that sustained greatness of that best six or so all-time play that makes LeBron so great.

 

[nahnah]

What more could Boston get for Irving and Hayward?

Anthony Davis? I don't see Irving and Hayward being worth nearly AD, even if you add first round picks to them.

Irving is great, but injury prone and Hayward is good, but on an oversized, bad contract, coming off a major injury. I would have said Boston would be on the winning side of the trade, with Irving and Hayward not needed in their situation.



LeBron has mentioned that he is interested in playing more without the ball.

That doesn't mean he needs to play with Harden or Simmons.

Terry Rozier can handle the ball and share the ball handling duties.

Irving only wanted out of Cleveland so that he could be the franchise player of a ball club. He had no problem signing a max deal with Cleveland, only with LeBron joining.



The narrative that LeBron isn't clutch has long sailed - he has hit as many buzzer beaters as MJ and Kobe combined.

The correct argument against LeBron not being the greatest player today is that because he expends so much/almost all of his energy on offense, he has little to none to provide on defence and as a result he has other than in selective moments/games not played a lick of defence.

Even in this playoffs, only games 3/4 v Boston has LeBron committed himself on the defensive end.

Comparing that to MJ, MJ one year older in his final year with the Bulls was first team all defence and dominating on both ends of the floor still.

Arguments for LeBron in the GOAT discussion will be similar to those made for Kareem - being long jeopardy and sustaining a high level for as long as any.

In terms of peak performance, he's still for mine comfortably behind Wilt, Russell, MJ, Kareem and arguably Oscar. It's just that sustained greatness of that best six or so all-time play that makes LeBron so great.

I’m just saying LeBron is a free agent so cavs would take what they can get in a sign and trade, would only need to give up one of them and then trade the other for more stuff from other teams like picks if they need cap room

 

[magpies42]

WTF LeBron is clutch as **** these days, that team is putrid no way KD would have the Cavs in the Eastern conference finals.

He hit a shot earlier in the series, a swallow does not make a summer. He carries the team, but for example when Kyrie was at the Cavs more often than not it was Kyrie that stepped up in the big moments. Look through their last 2 final series together. Talking about clutch moments, Lebron clearly takes more of the play and scores more points.

 

[TradeDraft]

Not a Good Move by Ben

 

[Soups]

Not a Good Move by Ben

Thinking with his little head?

 

[danielnajdek]

Not a Good Move by Ben

She's smoking hot but yeah they don't have a good record when it comes to dating NBA players.

 

[danielnajdek]

Durant and the Warriors getting a free ride from the refs. Never seen a charge foul getting reversed as a block ever.