By reilo Go To PostI can't think of a contending team that was better off only have 1 legit scoring threat to make them succeed – not ever. Not once. I need an example within the last 30 years.The Nuggets need Murray because the team without them can't score at a league average rate. The Nuggets have basically the same offensive rating with and without Murray (125) as long as Jokic is on the court. Murray is there so that when Jokic hits the bench, the offense doesn't completely collapse (110 with him on and Jokic off instead of 103). That way they only lose by 7 points per 100 instead of 11. He is desperately needed because Jokic is the entire offense otherwise.
It's like saying the Nuggets don't need Murray or the Bucks don't need Middleton because they have other good players on the roster.
Boston also has basically the same offense with and without Jaylen on the court as long as Tatum is on (120 and 122, respectively). But the difference is, when Tatum isn't on the floor, Boston doesn't completely collapse. Boston wins its minutes with Tatum and Brown off the floor and have a 110 offensive rating, the same as the Nuggets with Murray but not Jokic. The Celtics without Jaylen or Tatum are already providing what the Nuggets get out of Murray. Murray levels of offense are already present on that roster, they just need touches. They also literally just got Porzingod who scored 23 points per game last season on elite efficiency, if anything I expect their offense to be much better this season with or without Jaylen.
As for Middleton, he isn't the kind of player Brown is at all. He's one of the best rim protectors in the league and scores on above-average efficiency which makes him way closer to Derrick White than Jaylen Brown (just swap rim protection for perimeter defense). Nobody is confused about what he's providing to the team that is hard to get elsewhere. I am very confused about what Jaylen is supposed to be providing. He scores a ton of points because he has the ball all the time and isn't a great defender, neither of which are how Middleton operates, and he's on a team that doesn't really need his offense, unlike Murray. You're probably gonna say things are different in the playoffs, but the Celtics' offensive rating goes up without Jaylen in the playoffs, including in the Heat and Warriors series. Small sample, but he's not a playoff riser like people think.
How is Middleton above-average efficiency but Jaylen isn't when Jaylen has had a higher TS% 2 out of the last 3 seasons? Feels like we are cherry picking here.
And Middleton's USG% versus Brown's feels like a splitting of hairs at this point.
And Middleton's USG% versus Brown's feels like a splitting of hairs at this point.
Either way, Jaylen's likely peaked as a player until a point guard gets the opportunity to unfuck their offense. Brunson isn't walking through that door though.
By diehard Go To PostI really like White but why are we being so selective about his stats? His most recent playoff run is 100% who he is and his 21-22 playoff run of 8.5PPG on .494 TS% is definitely not?His recent playoff run reflects who he's been in the regular season for many years now. It's not like Embiid where he has some long history of choking in the playoffs. I'm not saying he's some elite playoff riser, I'm saying he is an incredibly good player who does not need to be a playoff riser to be better than Jaylen Brown.
By DY_nasty Go To PostI used to stan White but hell nah lolLast time he and Giannis played Porzingod outscored and rebounded him, no way you watched him last season lol (I don't blame you, Wizards games are rough). He has a semi functional handle now and a legit post game, he's finally playing the way people always wanted him to. Now that he's on a good team hopefully people actually watch him.
And KP? legit not sure he's better than Zu
By reilo Go To PostSo in addition to he's also injury prone? Give Derrick White the $300mil instead!Missing out half a season once makes you injury prone now? In that case I'm pretty sure I could call at least half the NBA injury prone, including Lillard.
By reilo Go To PostAll 3 of these have made the Finals as #2 considered by and large, and two of them won championships in that role in the last three seasons. Can you name them without looking them up?Obviously the three you listed earlier. You know what other teams made it to the Finals the last four years? The Heat, the Lakers, and the Warriors. Do those teams have a player like Jaylen Brown as a second option? Nope (who's the Heat second option BTW?). Did the Raptors the previous year when they won the title? Nope, they didn't even have a clear second option. This kind of stuff is just trivia. You can win with lots of different kinds of players. People were saying you couldn't win with a traditional center anymore just a few years ago.
1. Slightly above average TS% ✅
2. Turnover prone ✅
3. Slightly above average WS/48 ✅
4. High USG% ✅
By reilo Go To PostHow is Middleton above-average efficiency but Jaylen isn't when Jaylen has had a higher TS% 2 out of the last 3 seasons? Feels like we are cherry picking here.I think I was looking at the wrong stats lol, I agree he's like Jaylen on offense. But the being an insane rim protector is a huge differentiator.
And Middleton's USG% versus Brown's feels like a splitting of hairs at this point.
Anthony Davis wasn't a clear second option?
Pascal wasn't a clear second option?
Klay Thompson wasn't a clear second option?
Bam Adebayo wasn't a clear second option?
Wild
Pascal wasn't a clear second option?
Klay Thompson wasn't a clear second option?
Bam Adebayo wasn't a clear second option?
Wild
I do think we should shit on Brown's deal. In fact, I think going forward we should rate all deals as "% of Jaylen Brown's deal" to gauge an accurate value for contracts.
Therefore, now that Jerami Grant's deal is only 50% of Jaylen Brown's, it looks pretty good!
Therefore, now that Jerami Grant's deal is only 50% of Jaylen Brown's, it looks pretty good!
By Rob Go To PostSmart of them to announce that after Mbappe news
5/304 doesn’t look as bad next to 1/776
Hold on, someone got paid in patriotic freedom?
By Rob Go To PostSmart of them to announce that after Mbappe newswhat's their cap over there?
5/304 doesn’t look as bad next to 1/776
By DY_nasty Go To PostI appreciate the unique perspective, however I disagree with the conclusions reachedThis is new
Jaylen deal is insane.
More insane is that the NBA allows this to happen.
No way Jokic, Lebron, Giannis are not the highest earners in the league.
More insane is that the NBA allows this to happen.
No way Jokic, Lebron, Giannis are not the highest earners in the league.
By DY_nasty Go To Postat one point they were I think
But they should always be.
In European football, players renegotiate contracts after a year or two. Ronaldo and Messi were constantly doing it to be paid more than the other.
By Shanks D Zoro Go To PostBut they should always be.No cap sports move differently
In European football, players renegotiate contracts after a year or two. Ronaldo and Messi were constantly doing it to be paid more than the other.
According to a Reddit post, on Zach Lowe podcast, he’s had people from front offices asking if they’re really gonna pay their 3rd, 4th, or 5th best player that much.
Sharp, which front office do you work for?
Sharp, which front office do you work for?
By Rob Go To PostAccording to a Reddit post, on Zach Lowe podcast, he’s had people from front offices asking if they’re really gonna pay their 3rd, 4th, or 5th best player that much.
Sharp, which front office do you work for?
My money is on the Nets
In a just world it would be a hot take to have JB ranked second instead of the other way around, but I guess it's nice to know front offices aren't all obsessed with PPG.
Are these regular season or playoff rankings. If it's playoff rankings the Cavs are way too high, if it's regular season rankings the Heat are way too high.
Seeing Nets fall from perennial fourth-fifth choice based on 'these dudes have so much talent but they'll probably screw it up' to nineteenth-twenty second is good craic.
Just let Mikal cook and we good for eight in the East baby
Just let Mikal cook and we good for eight in the East baby
By Rob Go To PostDid the Cavs buy some heart during the off-seasonThe Cavs stars are fairly young and probably still improving, especially Mobley who's only been in the league two years and is already in DPOY discussions. All four of their main guys (Garland, Allen, Mobley, Mitchell) had career years last year. If you project improvements for all of those guys they can be a real playoff threat. Yeah their playoff performance was a little concerning, but young players almost always suck in the playoffs so it's way too premature to overreact to that.
(This isn't a defense of ESPN's rankings overall, just the Cavs' placement. Knicks' placement is bizarrely low for example).
There wasn't a whole lot of movement league-wide (yet) to shift anyone up or down from where they were last year.
The curious one is the Bucks who didn't make any roster improvements but added a new coach. Their roster is getting older and seemingly more injury prone, so 2nd seems a bit high for them.
The curious one is the Bucks who didn't make any roster improvements but added a new coach. Their roster is getting older and seemingly more injury prone, so 2nd seems a bit high for them.
By reilo Go To PostThere wasn't a whole lot of movement league-wide (yet) to shift anyone up or down from where they were last year.I do think they're on the downswing and I'm very concerned about Giannis's knee surgery, but I feel like this core has at least one more really good playoff run in them before things start to fall apart. Hard to rank them over the Celtics though.
The curious one is the Bucks who didn't make any roster improvements but added a new coach. Their roster is getting older and seemingly more injury prone, so 2nd seems a bit high for them.
Giannis is a dummy and will continue to do the same dumb plays/drives that got him injured but they’re definitely a top 5 team in the league with their 4 guys and decent bench
This is an old video but hilarious too, cause it shows how a lot of the training shit that goes on today is completely pointless
I know it said look in the back but I thought they were trolling and Luka was the fat guy in the front 💀
By You got 14 bricks right there? Go To PostThis is an old video but hilarious too, cause it shows how a lot of the training shit that goes on today is completely pointlessIt's pointless for Luka because he's naturally gifted, training programs like this aren't designed for guys like him. They're for all the super athletic guys who made the NBA without ever developing a functional handle.
By Sharp Go To PostIt's pointless for Luka because he's naturally gifted, training programs like this aren't designed for guys like him. They're for all the super athletic guys who made the NBA without ever developing a functional handle.
Nah, this is Curry's routine, he's big on the tennis ball drill and 2 ball dribbling.
The real thing is not every routine will work for or benefit everyone.
That just means Curry is super coordinated with a tennis ball and basketball and chances are it doesn't make his dribbling skills any better lol
If you thought Harden was the most entertaining player of the last decade there is definitely something wrong with you
By reilo Go To PostThat just means Curry is super coordinated with a tennis ball and basketball and chances are it doesn't make his dribbling skills any better lolA lot of kids refine ball handling by switching from a basketball to a tennis ball. I 'kinda' believe in it - to an extent - but focusing on it definitely gets outrageous with some trainers and coaches.
I think its great when it comes to guys feeling for the ball too much and REALLY great when you're going through a drill you do normally. That way guards can become keenly aware of exactly how much they hope their dribble is tight.
Two ball dribbling definitely needs more emphasis early on in development though.
By blackace Go To PostThis is new
Practice for business appropriate “FOH” emails
By Rob Go To PostDid the Cavs buy some heart during the off-season
probably depends how highly you rate Struss and Niang.
For me it probably changes them from losing in the first round in 5 games to losing in 7.
By domino Go To PostI know it said look in the back but I thought they were trolling and Luka was the fat guy in the front 💀
Hah, I thought the same.
By DY_nasty Go To PostA lot of kids refine ball handling by switching from a basketball to a tennis ball. I 'kinda' believe in it - to an extent - but focusing on it definitely gets outrageous with some trainers and coaches.
I think its great when it comes to guys feeling for the ball too much and REALLY great when you're going through a drill you do normally. That way guards can become keenly aware of exactly how much they hope their dribble is tight.
Two ball dribbling definitely needs more emphasis early on in development though.
Two ball dribbling is legit, that's what I make my nephews do, they hate doing pounds but their offhands are solid. The thing that has the most immediate impact of everything I've done or bought so far is the weighted ball, it's made a massive difference in two sessions and I'm thinking about getting another. I am a big time believer in the 3lbs weighted ball for development, it sounds like they're trying to dribble the regular ball through the floor now.