Official Offseason News and Rumors

[WiggyRuss]

I'd be excited if I'm a Clippers fan though. Balmer gives off the impression that he actually wants to win and is willing to invest in his team, unlike Sterling. I wouldn't doubt if at some point the Clips find themselves in the Finals at some point, particularly if Durant were to leave in 2016 (god knows where) and the Manu and Duncan retire at some point with Parker getting older; They would seem like the likely candidate to be the team in the West to beat.....at some point. But, as we've seen with Lebron and the Heat 4 years ago, it all depends on where players end up.

Durant will either be in OKC or in DC - i dont see anywhere else...


as for the Clippers- yah- i mean they have Doc Rivers signed long term and CP3 and Blake signed long term- that is a pretty damn good recipe for success- having a top 3 (arguably best) PG- and a guy that was 3rd in the MVP voting last year and has really taken that next step in Griffin.

The West is really really tough- and even with all that the Clips are just one of 4-5 teams that could come out of the West.



what are the core's of those other teams?

obviously the Spurs its Duncan/Parker/Ginobili- Leonard, Green, Diaw, Splitter....give that what- 2 more years realistically? at best? I mean I cant see Ginobili and Duncan playing any more than 2 more years- i may be wrong but damn....

the GSW- Curry, Thompson, Iguadala, Bogut, Lee, Barnes....should be around a good long time with Curry there and putting pieces around him.....

Houston- Howard and Harden- Ariza, Beverly, and.....kinda took a step back now that Asik, Lin, Parsons are gone with basically - only adding what? Ariza?

I like the Mavs a lot this year with Dirk, Chandler, Parsons, Ellis, and 2 pg's i really am not big on what-so-ever- but are ok=- actually they are kinda garbage-ee- in nelson, felton,

of course OKC- Durant, RW, Ibaka, -- a damn good big 3....plus Jackson, i like the Morrow pick up for a shooter a lot actually (i wanted the CAvs to get Morrow- he can flat out score), Adams, - see if PJ3 does anything, Lamb if he can ever develop.....Collison is a PERFECT complimentary piece...

I like the Pelicans to a certain degree too just because Anthony Davis is going to be a top 10 guy in the league sooner rather than later....Asik, Anderson, Holliday, Gordon, Evans are 5 very solid players to back up there star as well......Asik and Anderson are a great combo in the front court....who knows with Holliday, Gordon, Evans- one should probably go for a defensive minded guy


i dont really like the Suns- they lost Chandler and have issues with Bledsoe and i just dont think they are that good- i think they got coached up -which of course is huge having a good coach...but i just dont see a ton of talent there to be honest unless - i dunno- they arent bad but the West is just so tough...i like young guys Ennis and Goodwin...who knows if Len will be anything- Plumlee is solid,---- Thomas/Bledsoe/Dragic is of course really good....


the West is just so stacked its crazy

 

[trojanfan12]

Durant will either be in OKC or in DC - i dont see anywhere else...


as for the Clippers- yah- i mean they have Doc Rivers signed long term and CP3 and Blake signed long term- that is a pretty damn good recipe for success- having a top 3 (arguably best) PG- and a guy that was 3rd in the MVP voting last year and has really taken that next step in Griffin.

The West is really really tough- and even with all that the Clips are just one of 4-5 teams that could come out of the West.



what are the core's of those other teams?

obviously the Spurs its Duncan/Parker/Ginobili- Leonard, Green, Diaw, Splitter....give that what- 2 more years realistically? at best? I mean I cant see Ginobili and Duncan playing any more than 2 more years- i may be wrong but damn....

the GSW- Curry, Thompson, Iguadala, Bogut, Lee, Barnes....should be around a good long time with Curry there and putting pieces around him.....

Houston- Howard and Harden- Ariza, Beverly, and.....kinda took a step back now that Asik, Lin, Parsons are gone with basically - only adding what? Ariza?

I like the Mavs a lot this year with Dirk, Chandler, Parsons, Ellis, and 2 pg's i really am not big on what-so-ever- but are ok=- actually they are kinda garbage-ee- in nelson, felton,

of course OKC- Durant, RW, Ibaka, -- a damn good big 3....plus Jackson, i like the Morrow pick up for a shooter a lot actually (i wanted the CAvs to get Morrow- he can flat out score), Adams, - see if PJ3 does anything, Lamb if he can ever develop.....Collison is a PERFECT complimentary piece...

I like the Pelicans to a certain degree too just because Anthony Davis is going to be a top 10 guy in the league sooner rather than later....Asik, Anderson, Holliday, Gordon, Evans are 5 very solid players to back up there star as well......Asik and Anderson are a great combo in the front court....who knows with Holliday, Gordon, Evans- one should probably go for a defensive minded guy


i dont really like the Suns- they lost Chandler and have issues with Bledsoe and i just dont think they are that good- i think they got coached up -which of course is huge having a good coach...but i just dont see a ton of talent there to be honest unless - i dunno- they arent bad but the West is just so tough...i like young guys Ennis and Goodwin...who knows if Len will be anything- Plumlee is solid,---- Thomas/Bledsoe/Dragic is of course really good....


the West is just so stacked its crazy

Yeah, agree with much of this. The Clips are curious to me. On paper and with that coach, one would think they'd be a WCF team at the least, but something seems to be missing, just not sure what it is. Maybe just that they don't seem to have "that guy". The one who steps up and puts the team on his shoulders when needed?

I think the Suns and Blazers are going to be interesting. Both were considered overachievers last season. Do they continue what they did last season and show they were legit rather than overachievers or do they slip back to where most thought they'd be last year?

 

[Shanemansj13]

Man, this is a scary thing for Bulls fans.

Rose sat out 2 practices in a row and an exhibition game apparently bc of knee soreness. Not good!

 

[Wamu]

Yeah, agree with much of this. The Clips are curious to me. On paper and with that coach, one would think they'd be a WCF team at the least, but something seems to be missing, just not sure what it is. Maybe just that they don't seem to have "that guy". The one who steps up and puts the team on his shoulders when needed?

I think the Suns and Blazers are going to be interesting. Both were considered overachievers last season. Do they continue what they did last season and show they were legit rather than overachievers or do they slip back to where most thought they'd be last year?

I was surprised what the Suns did last year under rookie HC Jeff Hornacek.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Man, this is a scary thing for Bulls fans.

Rose sat out 2 practices in a row and an exhibition game apparently bc of knee soreness. Not good!

I heard he sat so that other players could be evaluated.
Who knows, but I would imagine that if he continues to stay on the Team USA roster then he must be ok.

 

[Shield-Thread Killa]

I've always thought/posted HARDEN was a punk when he first entered the L...

He is a nobody and is trying to make us call him a some body...

I like your post..."Harden being less likeable since the arriveal of peanut head HOWARD"

 

[lakersrule]

I heard he sat so that other players could be evaluated.
Who knows, but I would imagine that if he continues to stay on the Team USA roster then he must be ok.

Yeah, and I thought it was just general soreness, not specific to the knee. Both Rose and Thibs aren't concerned so he's probably fine.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Mecca,

remember how your boy MMA kept ragging on Griffin? and then Griffin goes out and takes 3rd in the MVP....


that guy was honestly the WORST

 

[Heatles84]

I was surprised what the Suns did last year under rookie HC Jeff Hornacek.

The Suns future is really bright with Hornacek as their coach. I'm intrigued to see how their dual-PG system will work this season.

 

[Shanemansj13]

I heard he sat so that other players could be evaluated.
Who knows, but I would imagine that if he continues to stay on the Team USA roster then he must be ok.

Well the ESPN reporter for Chicago reported it was bc of knee soreness I heard.

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

Well the ESPN reporter for Chicago reported it was bc of knee soreness I heard.

Well like I said earlier, would it even make a shred a sense for him to continue playing if that were the case?

I have no idea on the condition of his knee, but I do have common sense.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Well like I said earlier, would it even make a shred a sense for him to continue playing if that were the case?

I have no idea on the condition of his knee, but I do have common sense.

It is sore and he is on the roster, but you never know he might not play the rest of the Olympics. Coach K says it is for different reasons.

 

[WiggyRuss]

It is sore and he is on the roster, but you never know he might not play the rest of the Olympics. Coach K says it is for different reasons.

lets just say- 80 games and 2 rounds of the playoffs to get to the ECF....


Have never felt better about the Cavs getting to the NBA Finals.

Varejao and Waiters are no joke as your 4th, 5th guys. And right now Kyrie Irving is showing why he is a shoe-in to make Team USA and Lillard is on the bubble.

If Kyrie was the 4 year college player and Lillard the one and down- i mean...cmon. No one would know Lillard's name at this point

Give Kyrie the same time to develop- and the team around him- and he is head and shoulders above Lillard


the talent differential alone is just so vast- I mean WATCH these guys play and its all out there on the court

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

lets just say- 80 games and 2 rounds of the playoffs to get to the ECF....


Have never felt better about the Cavs getting to the NBA Finals.

Varejao and Waiters are no joke as your 4th, 5th guys. And right now Kyrie Irving is showing why he is a shoe-in to make Team USA and Lillard is on the bubble.

If Kyrie was the 4 year college player and Lillard the one and down- i mean...cmon. No one would know Lillard's name at this point

Give Kyrie the same time to develop- and the team around him- and he is head and shoulders above Lillard


the talent differential alone is just so vast- I mean WATCH these guys play and its all out there on the court

Lillard > overall player then Kyrie so far in NBA games.
Team USA, really? Isn't Kyries ex coach running it? Same coach who wants James for next Olympics?
Then again, you have mentioned All Star game performance on Kyries resume.

Yes, James will make Kyrie better, as he would make Lillard better.

Like I've asked before, last 6 minutes of a Cavs game. Whose primary ball handler?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Lillard > overall player then Kyrie so far in NBA games.
Team USA, really? Isn't Kyries ex coach running it? Same coach who wants James for next Olympics?
Then again, you have mentioned All Star game performance on Kyries resume.

Yes, James will make Kyrie better, as he would make Lillard better.

Like I've asked before, last 6 minutes of a Cavs game. Whose primary ball handler?

I would say at the beginning it will be LeBron- but i also think it could depend on the matchup- the circumstances etc.

KYrie can play off the ball and be a threat to spread the floor or drive and kick - which is the EXACT type of guard you want playing with LeBron.


Imagine a lineup of Lebron at the top with the ball with Love in a corner, Miller in a corner and Kyrie on the wing and Varejao setting the pick....who do you leave open? How is that even defensible?

 

[TurnUpTheHeat]

I would say at the beginning it will be LeBron- but i also think it could depend on the matchup- the circumstances etc.

KYrie can play off the ball and be a threat to spread the floor or drive and kick - which is the EXACT type of guard you want playing with LeBron.

You may be right, but I don't think I've ever seen him on the floor as not the primary ball handler.

Imagine a lineup of Lebron at the top with the ball with Love in a corner, Miller in a corner and Kyrie on the wing and Varejao setting the pick....who do you leave open? How is that even defensible?

You are letting Love or Miller shoot.
It's exactly what the Heat did.

If I'm playing against a James team I'm more then willing to live or die with that team shooting a ton of 3's.
It's a lower % shot.
It often leads to fast break, easy baskets going the other way.

I hated when the Heat shot a ton of 3's in games, and said it at the time.

 

[bksballer89]

Likewise. Miami would have games where they attempted high 20s/low 30s in number of 3 point attempts per game

 

[trojanfan12]

You are letting Love or Miller shoot.
It's exactly what the Heat did.

If I'm playing against a James team I'm more then willing to live or die with that team shooting a ton of 3's.
It's a lower % shot.
It often leads to fast break, easy baskets going the other way.

I hated when the Heat shot a ton of 3's in games, and said it at the time.

There's a reason for the saying "live by the 3, die by the 3".

The Cavs (like the Heat) will get away with and win a lot of games because of the sheer talent of Lebron/Love and Kyrie (just like the Heat did with their big 3). However, when they get in games against the better defensive teams in the league, they will struggle.

The better defensive teams in the league have the ability to pack the paint and prevent drives to the hoop, while still being able to contest most of the 3's.

 

[Shanemansj13]

You are letting Love or Miller shoot.
It's exactly what the Heat did.

If I'm playing against a James team I'm more then willing to live or die with that team shooting a ton of 3's.
It's a lower % shot.
It often leads to fast break, easy baskets going the other way.

I hated when the Heat shot a ton of 3's in games, and said it at the time.

Just about every team has 3 point shooters and this has become a 3 pt shooting league. I will take my chances with having the best in Love, Miller, Jones, and possibly Ray.

 

[gordontrue]

I agree with turnup, bk, and trojan.... The Cavs cannot become reliant on the 3. It will be an important part of the offense and at times may carry them to wins... but it cannot be the foundation of the offense. Like trojan said, that foundation can turn into a weakness when you run up against a good defensive team, especially in the playoffs.


I'm not too worried about that happening, though, mainly because of Blatt. The guy has run the princeton offense extremely successfully with all different kinds of talent levels (obviously never this much talent... and certainly never against anywhere close to nba talent).

Most people think princeton offense and immediately think big guys shooting 3's, everyone shooting 3s. In reality, the crux of the princeton offense is the backdoor pass. You create that through positionless motion and through post-players who are good passers (LeBron and to some extent Love).

I have high hopes that Blatt will be able to deliver with a solid offensive scheme. His background to me is a perfect match for the Cavs roster. It may take him some time to adjust to the NBA level of play, but he is a big key to the Cavs making things work. Of course he'll never get much credit (at least not in the near future) if they do succeed.