Opinion The NBA Thread

[BEEG]

Hope Clippers lose the series.

Then PG13 can’t blame it on the coach and get him sacked.

Weak as piss the Clippers.

 

[magpies42]

Miami and Portland could be the dark horses this year

 

[Good_Old]

Did this Knicks fan spit on Trae Young? Certainly looks that way.

 

[danielnajdek]

ESPN carrying on about the Philly fan throwing pop corn on Westbrook when you have a Knicks fan spitting at a player and 3 Utah fans getting banned for abusing a Memphis player.....

 

[Soups]

Hope The Suns win.

 

[nahnah]

Knightmare thoughts on Bulls, Suns, Harden trade?

 

[Knightmare]

Knightmare thoughts on Bulls, Suns, Harden trade?

The Harden trade was a win-win. Had Nets secured Thybulle and Maxey, that would have hurt Phili and only in that scenario been a bad trade on their end.

My view for Phili is the better option for them (and I had no idea it could have been possible) but if Simmons could have been moved straight up without losing picks or other players for Haliburton and Hield, that would have been even better and probably that one even better scenario. That Haliburton trade by the Kings is one of the worse ones I've seen as he is a genuine franchise player, and I feel with Hield also he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

For the Nets moving down from Harden to Simmons is a downgrade, but it's a chemistry move and gives them a more suitable talent blend and will help their team chemistry.

Ultimately Phili and the Nets are East contenders now.

Bulls are strong and one of a large group of Eastern contenders. I see them making it to the second round, but probably from there getting beaten. It's a five team race in the East for mine with Bulls/Heat/Bucks/Nets/76ers all dangerous and capable.

Suns I like and they can make the West finals, but I think the Warriors beat them. Grizzlies won't be an easy out, out West either.

 

[nahnah]

That Haliburton trade by the Kings is one of the worse ones I've seen as he is a genuine franchise player, and I feel with Hield also he doesn't get the respect he deserves.

Completely agree, mind boggling trade. They should have separated Hield and traded him separately. Traded Fox and kept + built around Haliburton.

Bulls are strong and one of a large group of Eastern contenders. I see them making it to the second round, but probably from there getting beaten. It's a five team race in the East for mine with Bulls/Heat/Bucks/Nets/76ers all dangerous and capable.

you forgot cavs

Suns I like and they can make the West finals, but I think the Warriors beat them. Grizzlies won't be an easy out, out West either.

It's hard to go past Warriors but the Suns have been incredible, I have Suns slight favourites they dont seem to have many weaknesses.. the warriors can get turnover happy

 

[Knightmare]

Completely agree, mind boggling trade. They should have separated Hield and traded him separately. Traded Fox and kept + built around Haliburton.



you forgot cavs


It's hard to go past Warriors but the Suns have been incredible, I have Suns slight favourites they dont seem to have many weaknesses.. the warriors can get turnover happy

Warriors v Suns in the Western finals would be an incredible matchup. It would be better than any finalist that could come out of the East.

I didn't forget the Cavs as much as I don't believe in their chances as contenders in the playoffs. Doesn't mean that I'll be right and the Cavs have had a terrific regular season, but I just don't tend to believe in teams with starters all aged 25 or younger or teams without a star who can average 25+. Balanced teams without those top end superstars (Mobley can be that one day but isn't that kind of volume scorer yet) normally get knocked out in the playoffs.

For the Cavs, I'd love to see if LeBron could re-join this group how they would go. He's the piece where if he was there, I'd be saying your Cavs can contend for the chip, if he has Mobley, Garland, Allen, LeVert and Sexton to work with, that's looking more like a complete team.

Similarly with the Grizzlies out West while they've had an incredible regular season, I'm not backing them to make it to the Western finds for having no one on their roster older than 28.

The Suns are such a sound and strong team. And you're right the Warriors are turnover prone, but they're a team I feel like come playoff time, and it's speculation until we see it, but I feel like they can kick things up a gear, and really at this point are just pacing themselves and preparing towards the playoffs, rather than getting concerned with seeding. Their defence with how it's operating this year is the best I've ever seen, and they're still moving the ball really well and shooting and making their 3s at volume.

 

[nahnah]

Warriors v Suns in the Western finals would be an incredible matchup. It would be better than any finalist that could come out of the East.

I didn't forget the Cavs as much as I don't believe in their chances as contenders in the playoffs. Doesn't mean that I'll be right and the Cavs have had a terrific regular season, but I just don't tend to believe in teams with starters all aged 25 or younger or teams without a star who can average 25+. Balanced teams without those top end superstars (Mobley can be that one day but isn't that kind of volume scorer yet) normally get knocked out in the playoffs.

For the Cavs, I'd love to see if LeBron could re-join this group how they would go. He's the piece where if he was there, I'd be saying your Cavs can contend for the chip, if he has Mobley, Garland, Allen, LeVert and Sexton to work with, that's looking more like a complete team.

Similarly with the Grizzlies out West while they've had an incredible regular season, I'm not backing them to make it to the Western finds for having no one on their roster older than 28.

The Suns are such a sound and strong team. And you're right the Warriors are turnover prone, but they're a team I feel like come playoff time, and it's speculation until we see it, but I feel like they can kick things up a gear, and really at this point are just pacing themselves and preparing towards the playoffs, rather than getting concerned with seeding. Their defence with how it's operating this year is the best I've ever seen, and they're still moving the ball really well and shooting and making their 3s at volume.

I think in the East it will come down to match ups, for example I don’t think the Nets want to see Philly because they just have no obvious answer to contain Embiid. Yet I think Philly don’t want to see the Bucks etc
For me, bucks, Nets and Philly are above Miami and Bulls. Though I have my doubts over Harden’s level of engagement.
Miami in half court offense doesn’t seem pretty, they actually shoot 3’s surprisingly well but when your best 2 players can’t shoot I think you become easy to game plan for in a series.
Issue with the Nets is Kyrie missing home games is a big disadvantage in the playoffs.
I think cavs only chance of winning a series is getting one of the Hornets/Celtics/Raptors first up.

In the West think it’s really out of Warriors or Suns. I agree I think Memphis will struggle to beat either of those and every other team seems below those 3.

 

[Knightmare]

I think in the East it will come down to match ups, for example I don’t think the Nets want to see Philly because they just have no obvious answer to contain Embiid. Yet I think Philly don’t want to see the Bucks etc
For me, bucks, Nets and Philly are above Miami and Bulls. Though I have my doubts over Harden’s level of engagement.
Miami in half court offense doesn’t seem pretty, they actually shoot 3’s surprisingly well but when your best 2 players can’t shoot I think you become easy to game plan for in a series.
Issue with the Nets is Kyrie missing home games is a big disadvantage in the playoffs.
I think cavs only chance of winning a series is getting one of the Hornets/Celtics/Raptors first up.

In the West think it’s really out of Warriors or Suns. I agree I think Memphis will struggle to beat either of those and every other team seems below those 3.

I tend to agree on Bucks, Nets and Phili over Heat and Bulls. With Cavs that probably 6th most potent, probably for me just ahead of the Celtics and Raptors for mine weaker.

 

[magpies42]

I tend to agree on Bucks, Nets and Phili over Heat and Bulls. With Cavs that probably 6th most potent, probably for me just ahead of the Celtics and Raptors for mine weaker.

Finals are an entirely different ball game. Expect the big game players to come play when it counts most. I wouldn’t discount Lakers putting some noses out of joint....LBJ only playing team basketball both ways when it counts these days.

 

[Knightmare]

Finals are an entirely different ball game. Expect the big game players to come play when it counts most. I wouldn’t discount Lakers putting some noses out of joint....LBJ only playing team basketball both ways when it counts these days.

I'm dismissing the Lakers as a Western finals chance. LeBron is still playing great basketball, a healthy AD is a difference maker and Melo can still play. Monk and Ellington can hit 3s. So I think the Lakers make the playoffs.

The Warriors and Suns though should be far too good, even agreeing with you that LeBron will elevate his game and effort come playoffs. If anyone can beat those teams, the Grizzlies and maybe the Nuggets are those two more dangerous teams out West.

Jokic I have to give a lot of credit to. He has become the best player in the NBA and a bit like Steph Curry is one of those rare superstars where he can blend so easily into any lineup without negatively impeding on chemistry or making the balance on either end out of whack.

 

[magpies42]

I'm dismissing the Lakers as a Western finals chance. LeBron is still playing great basketball, a healthy AD is a difference maker and Melo can still play. Monk and Ellington can hit 3s. So I think the Lakers make the playoffs.

The Warriors and Suns though should be far too good, even agreeing with you that LeBron will elevate his game and effort come playoffs. If anyone can beat those teams, the Grizzlies and maybe the Nuggets are those two more dangerous teams out West.

Jokic I have to give a lot of credit to. He has become the best player in the NBA and a bit like Steph Curry is one of those rare superstars where he can blend so easily into any lineup without negatively impeding on chemistry or making the balance on either end out of whack.

Lakers are a team of individuals currently, Lebron leading from that perspective. I feel that if they make the playoffs they will tip in that bit extra, run harder and defend better. Should get them through the first round if they aren’t playing GSW or Phoenix as you say.

Jokic will be spent come playoffs, they will exit first round. Watch out next year though if Murray can regain some form. They are the best pick roll/pop duo in the league for me....particularly in the post season. So clutch.

On the other side the race is on for Phily to build some chemistry. Harden will be motivated to play to Embiids strengths.

To me the more likely candidates come from the east

 

[Knightmare]

Lakers are a team of individuals currently, Lebron leading from that perspective. I feel that if they make the playoffs they will tip in that bit extra, run harder and defend better. Should get them through the first round if they aren’t playing GSW or Phoenix as you say.

Jokic will be spent come playoffs, they will exit first round. Watch out next year though if Murray can regain some form. They are the best pick roll/pop duo in the league for me....particularly in the post season. So clutch.

On the other side the race is on for Phily to build some chemistry. Harden will be motivated to play to Embiids strengths.

To me the more likely candidates come from the east

The 76ers are probably a little thinner on talent than I'd like now after that Simmons trade. I think to make it out of the East they will need to find a couple of good pieces before the buy-out deadline. On star power though, I think their big-2 is the best of the big-2s in the East, so they're in any case in the mix if nothing else.

In the East 76ers, Nets and Bucks are the three most talented, but from a chemistry perspective, Bucks, Heat and Bulls are the three that have already gelled and don't have those questions. They're the five teams I'll be watching out East.

You could be right on Jokic. He's playing the best basketball in the NBA and that's only as things stand good enough for the 6 seed. No doubt in the playoffs he will be asked to play more minutes, so it will be interesting to see if he can handle that bump up from 33 minutes to something more like 37/38 per game. His individual brilliance is largely all the Nuggets have this year.

 

[magpies42]

The 76ers are probably a little thinner on talent than I'd like now after that Simmons trade. I think to make it out of the East they will need to find a couple of good pieces before the buy-out deadline. On star power though, I think their big-2 is the best of the big-2s in the East, so they're in any case in the mix if nothing else.

In the East 76ers, Nets and Bucks are the three most talented, but from a chemistry perspective, Bucks, Heat and Bulls are the three that have already gelled and don't have those questions. They're the five teams I'll be watching out East.

You could be right on Jokic. He's playing the best basketball in the NBA and that's only as things stand good enough for the 6 seed. No doubt in the playoffs he will be asked to play more minutes, so it will be interesting to see if he can handle that bump up from 33 minutes to something more like 37/38 per game. His individual brilliance is largely all the Nuggets have this year.

Largely agree, but you never know with star power they can turn it on.

Would take a miracle for the nuggets, ie. Murray and MPJ fit and firing for playoffs

 

[Magnanimous]

Looking forward to seeing how OKC go next season
Like the drafting outcomes over the last two seasons and could be anything really.
Love watching Giddey play, can do it all and already seems to have some good chemistry with Chet.

Also be interested to see if Ben Simmons can make a success comeback at the NETS.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[magpies42]

Looking forward to seeing how OKC go next season
Like the drafting outcomes over the last two seasons and could be anything really.
Love watching Giddey play, can do it all and already seems to have some good chemistry with Chet.

Also be interested to see if Ben Simmons can make a success comeback at the NETS.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

They will need a couple of years of development and play offs experience. I expect they trade some of their second tier young talent for older more experienced stock end of next season.

Simmons is a flog. Hope he does nothing. Agree on Giddey though, plays with confidence and as though he has years of experience.

 

[OniAu]

Looking forward to seeing how OKC go next season
Like the drafting outcomes over the last two seasons and could be anything really.
Love watching Giddey play, can do it all and already seems to have some good chemistry with Chet.

Also be interested to see if Ben Simmons can make a success comeback at the NETS.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

The bromance with Chet and Giddey is wholesome. Giddey wasnt showing his full wares without a decent rim protector and big in the paint.

I understand the questioning on Chets Giddeyness by nearly every opposition fan and media. Not as if the kids not dealt with this his whole life , feel like he is going to show a few up in the proper season. His confidence is admirable.

Add Jub to Dort and SGA already and this is going to be a fun season