2017 Warriors looking like they're gonna do in the playoffs what 2014 Spurs did after they lost to Miami in 2013.
By reilo Go To Post2017 Warriors looking like they're gonna do in the playoffs what 2014 Spurs did after they lost to Miami in 2013.
But we only have kjack, and none of the crazy miami stans deluding themselves every day of the season, postseason, offseason, and so on.
By s y Go To PostMiami would have one at least 1 game.
No-Waiters Heat would have been basketball ketchup sushi.
By reilo Go To Post2017 Warriors looking like they're gonna do in the playoffs what 2014 Spurs did after they lost to Miami in 2013.Look way better than last year where they weren't locked in. Felt like the record got to their heads and they thought they were unbeatable.
By reilo Go To Post2017 Warriors looking like they're gonna do in the playoffs what 2014 Spurs did after they lost to Miami in 2013.
Last season mentally destroyed most of the Rocketstans to the point only half of them were left for this season.
By livefromkyoto Go To PostNo-Waiters Heat would have been basketball ketchup sushi.wrapped in paper towels
I don't know if they can because there's gonna be much better competition ahead for them, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Warriors gun for 16-0 playing this way.
By HasphatsAnts Go To PostHow are you going to fight with exploded ankles and your soul in his pocket?
We scrapping if he pulled this shit on me.
If you were gonna dance on Aminu, just go the whole way. Maybe then the Blazers would show heart at the second half.
By DY_nasty Go To Postlow hanging fruit tbhPortland isn't in a good spot right now... unless that Den pick turns into a top 3 pick
whole team got tiny heart syndrome
They got 3 first round picks. They're in more than a fine spot. If Derrick Rose can get traded for serviceable pieces, then anything is possible. They got holes to fill but it's not a "blow it up" situation.
And that Denver pick is Memphis's, it can't be a Top 3 pick since it's not in the lottery.
And that Denver pick is Memphis's, it can't be a Top 3 pick since it's not in the lottery.
By reilo Go To PostThey got 3 first round picks. They're in more than a fine spot. If Derrick Rose can get traded for serviceable pieces, then anything is possible. They got holes to fill but it's not a "blow it up" situation.you got picks in a draft with bad bigs... and you need bigs
And that Denver pick is Memphis's, it can't be a Top 3 pick since it's not in the lottery.
Anything is possible is not a good off season mantra
That's not the mantra though but whatever. They got assets and can move pieces around. They'll be in the luxury tax only for a single season and they'll waive Ezeli's contract off the books. Ed Davis can probably fetch a second round pick or a cap space swap and then they can figure out how to fill their biggest weakness, the power forward position and backup center. It doesn't need to be through the draft, Olshey has shown time after time he's capable of getting serviceable players back for very little.
By reilo Go To PostThat's not the mantra though but whatever. They got assets and can move pieces around. They'll be in the luxury tax only for a single season and they'll waive Ezeli's contract off the books. Ed Davis can probably fetch a second round pick or a cap space swap and then they can figure out how to fill their biggest weakness, the power forward position and backup center. It doesn't need to be through the draft, Olshey has shown time after time he's capable of getting serviceable players back for very little.Do you think they are a starting PF and backup center away from being contenders?
By blackace Go To PostDo you think they are a starting PF and backup center away from being contenders?IDK, probably not but I wanna see Dame/CJ/Nurk play 50 games together first (pre-ASG) to judge what their ceiling is with that core. The unfortunate reality is that the Warriors exist, so unless they can do something impossible like swing a trade for Paul George while keeping those 3 then they'll probably be a tier below GSW and IDK if even PG is enough, but that's just the shit reality the league is in.
Unless they strike gold I don't know if I see them being a homecourt team in the west... Utah and the Rockets are going anywhere and GS is a machine... the Spurs still have a shitloads of talent... Portland seems close a treadmill team...
Utah just made the playoffs for he first time in half a decade off the back of the likes of Joe Johnson and they might lose George Hill to FA this summer. Portland also has the second youngest roster in the league and Evan Turner is their oldest player at 28. Shit, Houston turned around a shit 41-win season with the likes of Eric Gordon and Clint Capella and a coaching change. Clippers are about to be blown up (at least they should) with Blake being injured for the entire playoffs AGAIN and CP3/Blake/Redick are FAs and gonna ask for a combined $250mil this summer. Spurs are perennial winners but their guard situation is worst in the West and they have their work cut out for them. I honestly think you're overstating how dire Portland's situation is and overstating how good everyone else's besides the Warriors is.
They made the playoffs off the back of Joe Johnson? They won 51 games with the most lost win-shares to injuries in the league.
By diehard Go To PostThey made the playoffs off the back of Joe Johnson? They won 51 games with the most lost win-shares to injuries in the league.Your core was the same the year before and you didn't crack 41-wins with Favors playing 60 games. What gives? George Hill was your best addition but you might lose him. What then? I'm not saying you'll go back to being a non-playoff team I'm just saying it's not certain/given knowing those variables.
Houston's 41 win season was more of an oddity than a sign of things to come for them. I mean they had a better record than this year 2 seasons ago.
and being young doesn't really mean anything if most of your young talent isn't that good
and being young doesn't really mean anything if most of your young talent isn't that good
Houston's core and identity this season from last is completely different. That 41-win team was a mess and they turned it around. Jazz turned around a 40-win team into a 50-win team via a savvy George Hill trade and Joe Johnson addition to the core that hasn't changed. But Portland can't? Alright, I guess.
By reilo Go To PostHouston's core and identity this season from last is completely different. That 41-win team was a mess and they turned it around. Jazz turned around a 40-win team into a 50-win team via a savvy George Hill trade and Joe Johnson addition to the core that hasn't change. But Portland can't? Alright, I guess.so you firing your coach? And getting rid of a ball stopping star?
Utah plays D always has...
By DY_nasty Go To Postthose feelings pouring out right nowJust a lot of prisoner of the moment/receny bias going on.
Hayward gained like 12 pounds of muscle and is way better in the paint this year than last. Gobert went from a well below average offensive player to a well above average offensive player (thanks to improving his hands and coordination). We replaced Shelvin Mack with 56 games of George Hill.
There was George Hill and a lot of internal improvement. Joe Johnson was good this year though and really helped contribute to our team's success though.
There was George Hill and a lot of internal improvement. Joe Johnson was good this year though and really helped contribute to our team's success though.
I don't think the Bucks are taking that loss well. It can't be good when your senior vice president is going after Bucks RealGM mods on twitter.
By reilo Go To PostJust a lot of prisoner of the moment/receny bias going on.Not by me lol
By blackace Go To Postso you firing your coach? And getting rid of a ball stopping star?I'm just providing examples of how moves that were considered minute/medium impact differences at the time can make a big impact overall. IWMTB put it together really well in the post above. Replacing JJ Hickson at center for Robin Lopez while keeping the same starting unit comes to mind as well. The league especially the West isn't static besides the Warriors.
Utah plays D always has…
By blackace Go To PostNot by me lolDid adding Nurkic not make a difference or nah?
By reilo Go To PostYour core was the same the year before and you didn't crack 41-wins with Favors playing 60 games. What gives? George Hill was your best addition but you might lose him. What then? I'm not saying you'll go back to being a non-playoff team I'm just saying it's not certain/given knowing those variables.Mainly Hayward getting better and Gobert turning into one of the best Center's in the league. George Hill's effect was somewhat muted by how many games he missed, and the other part is the fact that he isn't Trey Burke.
I'm still pessimistic and just assume bad things will happen in the offseason though.
edit: oh i was late :/
By reilo Go To PostDid adding Nurkic not make a difference or nah?made you a treadmill team
What does that mean? They'll win 50-wins and make it to the second round/WCF? So they're basically every team not named the Warriors? Or is 41-45 wins their ceiling?
they about a 7th seed right now when healthy... so they about a .500 team give or take a few games either way...
By blackace Go To Postmade you a treadmill teamlol
By blackace Go To Postthey about a 7th seed right now when healthy… so they about a .500 team give or take a few games either way…
Really? They would be below Memphis and OKC?
By diehard Go To Posti kind of enjoyed the Deron/Boozer treadmill teams. Treadmill teams are underrated.
I say this all the time. Blackace's team is gone, he has no worldly attachments to worry about. Me? I just want to keep watching my team into May every year. If a championship happens that's a bonus, a freak occurrence, the kind of thing that requires lightning to strike for you multiple times.
By shun Go To PostReally? They would be below Memphis and OKC?7th seed is lower than the 7th seed Griz?
But really the Griz had some injurys that put them at the 7th seed
By livefromkyoto Go To PostI say this all the time. Blackace's team is gone, he has no worldly attachments to worry about. Me? I just want to keep watching my team into May every year. If a championship happens that's a bonus, a freak occurrence, the kind of thing that requires lightning to strike for you multiple times.Treadmill teams can become better with the right moves but sometimes you gotta make tough ass choices
Portland with Nurkic is better than a 7th seed. The same team without him (swap Plumlee) was a FIFTH seed a year prior. Portland wasn't exactly healthy the entire season, either.
Like, Memphis is old as dirt and been injury prone. I don't see how they compete next year.
Like, Memphis is old as dirt and been injury prone. I don't see how they compete next year.
By reilo Go To PostPortland with Nurkic is better than a 7th seed. The same team without him (swap Plumlee) was a FIFTH seed a year prior. Portland wasn't exactly healthy the entire season, either.Last year they were a 5th seed by being 3 games over 500
Like, Memphis is old as dirt and been injury prone. I don't see how they compete next year.
the Grizz aren't a homecourt team so if the Blazers jump past them to 6th I wouldn't pop bottles
By blackace Go To PostTreadmill teams can become better with the right moves but sometimes you gotta make tough ass choices
The thing is that there's no way you can enact some master plan that gets you a ring, either. The Thunder hit the draft jackpot and have no ring to show for it. The Sixers tanked harder and longer than anyone's ever tanked, and I think we can all agree those assets aren't a championship core unless Embiid's health problems miraculously disappear.
Meanwhile, the Mavs made a good trade for the right guy, made a couple of other smart deals, stayed good for a while, became the type of place vets wanted to go, and got a ring. San Antonio hasn't tanked in 25 years. I'd way rather operate like one of those franchises - scout the hell out of the bottom of the draft, develop assets and make good trades with them. I know it's got a higher degree of difficulty, but if you don't have a front office who can maintain success then what are you doing anyway? Sooner or later every good team reaches a point where they have to keep making important moves without cap space or high picks.
And following a bottom feeder is no fun at all anyway unless you have some supernatural star to watch, and even then you have to keep hoping he doesn't get Vivek'd.
Timberwolves still have time to turn it around but their core unit consists of two #1 draft picks, a #6 pick, and a #13 pick with a #14 coming off the bench. I was still a teenager when they last made the playoffs and Garnett hadn't turned 30 yet.
If the choice is between "stay competitive, decent and maybe even good with a few playoff series wins and try to pull together a contender through a final savvy move or two" versus what the Sixers and Timberwolves have been doing? Or the other extreme is also what Brooklyn did a few years ago by mortgaging their future and no thanks. I'm with you LFK.
If the choice is between "stay competitive, decent and maybe even good with a few playoff series wins and try to pull together a contender through a final savvy move or two" versus what the Sixers and Timberwolves have been doing? Or the other extreme is also what Brooklyn did a few years ago by mortgaging their future and no thanks. I'm with you LFK.
The Spurs never give out shitty contracts and Dallas rolled the dice quite a few times like by not wanting to keep Nash...hindsight says it was a shitty move but they weren't contending with him. It doesn't mean tank like the 6ers but sometimes you got to try to move players to get better not just throw money at roleplayers
By reilo Go To PostTimberwolves still have time to turn it around but their core unit consists of two #1 draft picks, a #6 pick, and a #13 pick with a #14 coming off the bench. I was still a teenager when they last made the playoffs and Garnett hadn't turned 30 yet.the Nets were really dumb. The Celtics were really lucky to find buyers who made choices based off NBA 2K ratings. Sometimes you gotta to make moves you might not like tho
If the choice is between "stay competitive, decent and maybe even good with a few playoff series wins and try to pull together a contender through a final savvy move or two" versus what the Sixers and Timberwolves have been doing? Or the other extreme is also what Brooklyn did a few years ago by mortgaging their future and no thanks. I'm with you LFK.
The Spurs gave out one hell of a shit contract to Richard Jefferson. They also pulled one hell of a gamble with the Kawhi for George Hill swap which everyone including Popovich was unsure about. Sometimes you get lucky like that.
Hell, even Dallas survived Erick Dampier and Avery Johnson.
I imagine Spurs are also ready to move Lamarcus this summer eventhough they recruited him hard and signed him to a max.
Hell, even Dallas survived Erick Dampier and Avery Johnson.
I imagine Spurs are also ready to move Lamarcus this summer eventhough they recruited him hard and signed him to a max.
By reilo Go To PostThe Spurs gave out one hell of a shit contract to Richard Jefferson. They also pulled one hell of a gamble with the Kawhi for George Hill swap which everyone including Popovich was unsure about. Sometimes you get lucky like that.Dallas always gives out bad contracts
Hell, even Dallas survived Erick Dampier and Avery Johnson.
The Spurs took that bad contract from the Bucks and resigned him for like 6 million less the next season
Also swapping Hill for Kawhi is one them choices you gotta make...Pop saw a decent wing with mad upside and rolled the dice
Pop didn't wanna trade Hill for Kawhi. Buford and the scouts had to convince him. He flat out cried when they traded Hill.