2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[bksballer89]

Are the Denver Nuggets a Legit Threat to Warriors in Western Conference?

No

 

[WiggyRuss]

If KD leaves, they're still prob the favorites, but at least they go from God tier to top tier.


If Klay leaves too the field would really be leveled, but I don't expect that.

And of course what ever happens to the max-contract-sized hole in the Lakers roster over the off-season will obviously be a huge factor as well.

@gordontrue what are the realistic chances that any of Durant, Kawhi, Klay, Butler, Kyrie go to the Lakers?

I would say, even as a whole, its 20%.

They will have to settle for the next tier of Kemba, Cousins, Middleton.

With LeBron playing in his age 35 season next year, none of Kemba, Cousins, Middleton will be enough- not even if Durant leaves. That Lakers team would not even be better than the Celtics or Sixers or Rockets.

LeBron is 34 in less than a month.

Players tend to lose it fast. I still think LeBron is currently the BEST player in the league, but he cant do it as consistently as he used to. When he was in Miami he was a TERROR defensively. Even in Cleveland he could still give max effort most nights- but even there he began to pick and choose his spots.

At 35 he will continue to have to pick and choose his spots.

Plus, LEBron has never had less help than he does right now. He has played with AT LEAST one, if not 2 all stars for almost the last decade. Most of that time he has played with 2 other, at least, top 30 players.

Now he does not even have another top 50 player playing with him.

 

[lebron23james]

lol and you called @tlance statement dumb.

You act like the Lakers current roster is who they are trying to win a title with or that Lebron is automatically going to fall off a cliff production wise next season.

Lebron knew 2 things going into this past off-season.

1.) If he stayed in Cleveland, his likely ceiling was losing in the ECF. They would have an aging roster and no real option to improve it enough to even get out of the East, let alone beat the Warriors.

2.) If he went to the Lakers, his likely ceiling would be the 2nd round of the playoffs. But that it's a team with some talented young players and the cap space to land another top level FA.

And before you try the tired "he could have gone other places besides the Cavs or Lakers and possibly won another title this year" argument...

He clearly didn't pick the Lakers for pure basketball reasons. His businesses, particularly his movie interest, and families wishes were a big part of it too.

Imo, his decision was about trying to "have his cake and eat it too". Be where his businesses are and where his family apparently wants to be and have a solid shot at another title before he retires.

If the Lakers didn't have the combination of young talent and cap space they have, he wouldn't be in LA. At least not as a Laker.

1) His ceiling was the finals, considering he made it each year for the last 4 years. Every year i heard about the teams that were better or going to beat them supposidly, which never materialized...A lot of people forget but the cavs team was as good as GS pre durant. Also once you are in the finals anything can happen. There is no guarantee who you even play or what happens, injuries, etc. This was taken away now with his move.

Also at the beginning of the year, love could have been moved for Butler. Love goes back to Minny, and Butler is transferred out of the west.

2) They don't seem very talented to me. They are struggling in the regular season, and this isn't when the stars even put in a full effort. Most are just coasting till the playoffs. Plus what wins in the playoffs? Stars and 3 point shooting...they have neither

The lakers move works out perfectly for ownership and lebron. The lakers ownership will sell more jerseys, tickets go up, more nationally televised games and lebron cashes in on a huge contract very late in his career. It was a smart money decision. The only losers are the fans who think it will help them win and then have to go through another long rebuild.

I disagree, lebron was going to the lakers regardless and assumed another star would join him once he was there just by him signing there, but he strike out, especially with paul george.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Are the Denver Nuggets a Legit Threat to Warriors in Western Conference?

for being 2nd best and getting to the WCF?

yes

for beating the Warriors?

not without another large upgrade. Warriors are just too good.

 

[WiggyRuss]

1) His ceiling was the finals, considering he made it each year for the last 4 years. Every year i heard about the teams that were better or going to beat them supposidly, which never materialized...A lot of people forget but the cavs team was as good as GS pre durant. Also once you are in the finals anything can happen. There is no guarantee who you even play or what happens, injuries, etc. This was taken away now with his move.

Also at the beginning of the year, love could have been moved for Butler. Love goes back to Minny, and Butler is transferred out of the west.

2) They don't seem very talented to me. They are struggling in the regular season, and this isn't when the stars even put in a full effort. Most are just coasting till the playoffs.

The lakers move works out perfectly for ownership and lebron. The lakers ownership will sell more jerseys, tickets go up, more nationally televised games and lebron cashes in on a huge contract very late in his career. It was a smart money decision. The only losers are the fans who think it will help them win and then have to go through another long rebuild.

I disagree, lebron was going to the lakers regardless and assumed another star would join him once he was there just by him signing there, but he strike out, especially with paul george.

exactly.

and hte Lakers arent very talented. LeBron is the only top 50 player on the entire team.

And i think you are exactly right- LeBron let his ego get away from him- i think he just assumed others would follow him to LA. I think he was legitmately shocked when Kyrie wanted to get away from him.

He is a little tone deaf to the fact that these young guys know that if they play with LeBron they will be blamed when they lose and they will not get the credit they deserve when they win. They will have immense pressure and never be considered "the guy".

 

[Raw_Bee808]

No

 

[lebron23james]

exactly.

and hte Lakers arent very talented. LeBron is the only top 50 player on the entire team.

And i think you are exactly right- LeBron let his ego get away from him- i think he just assumed others would follow him to LA. I think he was legitmately shocked when Kyrie wanted to get away from him.

He is a little tone deaf to the fact that these young guys know that if they play with LeBron they will be blamed when they lose and they will not get the credit they deserve when they win. They will have immense pressure and never be considered "the guy".

Lebron was supposidly over the hill when the cavs signed him back from Miami. Now 5 years later and discounting this year so 6 years later he will lead the lakers to a championship lol

 

[WiggyRuss]

1) His ceiling was the finals, considering he made it each year for the last 4 years. Every year i heard about the teams that were better or going to beat them supposidly, which never materialized...A lot of people forget but the cavs team was as good as GS pre durant. Also once you are in the finals anything can happen. There is no guarantee who you even play or what happens, injuries, etc. This was taken away now with his move.

Also at the beginning of the year, love could have been moved for Butler. Love goes back to Minny, and Butler is transferred out of the west.

2) They don't seem very talented to me. They are struggling in the regular season, and this isn't when the stars even put in a full effort. Most are just coasting till the playoffs. Plus what wins in the playoffs? Stars and 3 point shooting...they have neither

The lakers move works out perfectly for ownership and lebron. The lakers ownership will sell more jerseys, tickets go up, more nationally televised games and lebron cashes in on a huge contract very late in his career. It was a smart money decision. The only losers are the fans who think it will help them win and then have to go through another long rebuild.

I disagree, lebron was going to the lakers regardless and assumed another star would join him once he was there just by him signing there, but he strike out, especially with paul george.

it always cracked me up hearing fomr people- THIS IS THE YEAR someone in the East gets the Cavs--- theres a better chance they lose in the east then win in the finals blah blah blah blah

the Cavs got to the Finals last year- despite turning over half their team, and

if lebron resigns they almost ASSUREDLY trade the 8th pick or Sexton for additional help.

Hood, Cedi, Clarkson, Nance- would of had a full year to get into the system instead of a few weeks. Love was hurt and couldnt mesh with any of those guys during the last third of the season as well.

If LeBron was still with the Cavs they would be dangling Sexton in trade talks for another player, and would be absolutely be right there with anyone to make the Fianls. They would not be the overwhelming favorites they had been previously- but they would have an INFINITELY better shot at making the Finals than this Lakers team has of making the Conference Finals in the West.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Lebron was supposidly over the hill when the cavs signed him back from Miami. Now 5 years later and discounting this year so 6 years later he will lead the lakers to a championship lol

yah...the same people that said the Cavs were smart to trade Wiggins for Love because Wiggins prime did not line up with LeBron's prime are the ones saying the lakers were smart not to trade youngsters for proven talent....like you said- FOUR YEARS LATER!!! LOL.

the hypocrisy is astounding. At least we will get to enjoy the crash and burn that is coming.

And the REAL fun part will be when kawhi, butler, kd, kyrie, klay all choose to have nothing to do with the Lakers this upcoming summer, therefore cementing the fact that LeBron will not win a title in LA.

Thank GOD the Lakers did not draft a Tatum or Mitchell or trade for a PG when they could ahve- we might have somethign to worry about---- intstead they are reduced to getting excited about signing 36 year old Tyson Chandler off of waivers.

 

[Wamu]

Are the Denver Nuggets a Legit Threat to Warriors in Western Conference?

 

[trojanfan12]

yah probably.

but at some point LeBron's age will become a factor.

We already know he cant give that effort that he used to on a game to game basis that he could when he was younger. He has to pick his spots.

Plus, you never know. It usually goes quick for NBA players. Kobe was great and all of a sudden he was a mess that could not stay on the court.

There is no one to really compare LeBron to. He has tons of miles on him since he did not play in college and came straight to the NBA, and considering all the deep playoff runs that he has made. He has already zoomed passed MJ in games played.

LeBron is still the best player in the league right now. How long will that last? How good can you be, even with the best player in the league, when you do not have another top 50 player on the roster? What marquee free agent is likely to come to LA in the offseason? It sure does not seem like Kawhi, Butler, Kyrie, are going there.

Do you think throwing all your eggs in the DeMarcus Cousins basket is a good idea? Kemba or Middleton are not changing the equation.

LeBron will be 34 in less than a month and he has never had less help than he has right now. He has played with at least 1, if not 2 all stars for the last 9 years of his career before this year.

Agree with much of this. There is no doubt that at some point Lebron's age will become a factor. In fact, Imo, it's already a factor because he has to defend the opponents best player in spurts now, rather than all game long like he could a few years ago. I'd say that, assuming he stays healthy, he has maybe 2 more years at his current level and then 2-3 more as a top 10 level player.

of course, I think I said that same thing about him 2 or 3 years ago...so who knows? lol

To be fair, Kobe was coming off of arguably the worst injury a basketball player can have and was trying to do it at an advanced age.

As for FA's...as I posted earlier. Who knows what KD will do? Rumor is that Lebron recruited him in the off-season and continues to recruit him. I doubt he'll sign with the Lakers, but I think he'll listen.

Who knows what Kawhi is thinking? Rumor is that he prefers the Clippers, but he's not exactly an open book, so how does anyone really know what his preference is?

Klay would be interesting because his Dad is the Lakers color analyst and he has said he isn't giving the Warriors a discount. But, he's one of the original 3 and doesn't seem all that interested in leaving.

A healthy Boogie would be intriguing because Lebron's never had a big who's as good as he is.

 

[Bolts]

Saturday bet?

No

 

[trojanfan12]

1) His ceiling was the finals, considering he made it each year for the last 4 years.

You have forgotten that Kawhi is in Toronto and the Celtics took the Cavs to 7 games in the ECF last year without Kyrie or Hayward. So, both of those teams look to have improved significantly while the Cavs would just be older. Their ceiling would be the ECF.

2) They don't seem very talented to me. They are struggling in the regular season, and this isn't when the stars even put in a full effort. Most are just coasting till the playoffs. Plus what wins in the playoffs? Stars and 3 point shooting...they have neither

This is where you either can't get past being butthurt that Lebron left or just don't know much about basketball.

Of course they're struggling. They are young and the Lakers have a bunch of new faces. Of course it's going to take time to see how good they can actually be.

In Lebron's first season in Miami, 17 games into the season the Heat were 9-8 and that was with a sure fire first ballot hall of famer and an established all star on his team.

In his first season back in Cleveland, the Cavs had a losing record at one point early in the season and that was with 2 established all stars on the team.

You expected the Lakers to be better than those teams 11 games into the season? Seriously?!?

 

[WiggyRuss]

Agree with much of this. There is no doubt that at some point Lebron's age will become a factor. In fact, Imo, it's already a factor because he has to defend the opponents best player in spurts now, rather than all game long like he could a few years ago. I'd say that, assuming he stays healthy, he has maybe 2 more years at his current level and then 2-3 more as a top 10 level player.

of course, I think I said that same thing about him 2 or 3 years ago...so who knows? lol

To be fair, Kobe was coming off of arguably the worst injury a basketball player can have and was trying to do it at an advanced age.

As for FA's...as I posted earlier. Who knows what KD will do? Rumor is that Lebron recruited him in the off-season and continues to recruit him. I doubt he'll sign with the Lakers, but I think he'll listen.

Who knows what Kawhi is thinking? Rumor is that he prefers the Clippers, but he's not exactly an open book, so how does anyone really know what his preference is?

Klay would be interesting because his Dad is the Lakers color analyst and he has said he isn't giving the Warriors a discount. But, he's one of the original 3 and doesn't seem all that interested in leaving.

A healthy Boogie would be intriguing because Lebron's never had a big who's as good as he is.

its definitely hard for me to say that it is a foregone conclusion that LeBron will be the best player in the league next year- when i dont think an age 35 player, ESPECIALLY with LeBrons miles, has been the best player in the league.

Jordan MIGHT be the exception, but Jordan played multiple years of college ball, and took multiple years totally off- and LeBron has already rocketed past him in games and minutes played.

We are in unchartered territory with LeBron THIS year. And considering it looks like he has to do it all with this Lakers team, leading them in (i) minutes, (ii) points, (iii) assists, (iv) rebounds, it looks like that load is even heavier than it was last year--- ESPECIALLY considering that he HAS to go balls to the wall at times in a loaded West when he could just coast in the East at times.

 

[gordontrue]

@gordontrue what are the realistic chances that any of Durant, Kawhi, Klay, Butler, Kyrie go to the Lakers?

I would say, even as a whole, its 20%.

They will have to settle for the next tier of Kemba, Cousins, Middleton.

With LeBron playing in his age 35 season next year, none of Kemba, Cousins, Middleton will be enough- not even if Durant leaves. That Lakers team would not even be better than the Celtics or Sixers or Rockets.

LeBron is 34 in less than a month.

Players tend to lose it fast. I still think LeBron is currently the BEST player in the league, but he cant do it as consistently as he used to. When he was in Miami he was a TERROR defensively. Even in Cleveland he could still give max effort most nights- but even there he began to pick and choose his spots.

At 35 he will continue to have to pick and choose his spots.

Plus, LEBron has never had less help than he does right now. He has played with AT LEAST one, if not 2 all stars for almost the last decade. Most of that time he has played with 2 other, at least, top 30 players.

Now he does not even have another top 50 player playing with him.

Yeah, that's probably fair. I don't see Durant or Kyrie happening at all to be honest. I think Kawhi is a longshot at this point. Butler I think is a real possibility if he finishes the season with the Wolves (HUGE if). Klay might be their best shot, but even that I would put at a low percentage.

Someone like a Middleton or Cousins, or even an Al Horford or LaMarcus Aldridge is enough, though, imo, to pose a threat, alongside LeBron.... IF the Warriors break up.

Not saying they would be favorites or clear contenders... but if the Warriors break up... hope becomes a lot more real for a lot of teams... especially the team that has LeBron on the roster.

We have been conditioned by the last 4 years to believe that you have to an all-star lineup to be a contender... but that's not normally the case.

IF the Warriors break up and IF the Lakers young core makes strides this season (two very big IFs)... there's no reason the Lakers - sitting there with a max slot - can't make themselves into a viable contender next year.

And its such a good FA class that you might see guys like Marc Gasol, Dragic, Tobias, Millsap, getting bargain contracts.

 

[DJ]

No

Oh c'mon.....before the season you were asking if we were going to bet the games......I'll give you the spread.

 

[bksballer89]

No

Smart

 

[gordontrue]

Kings, Grizz, and Clippers are all in playoff position as of today.

Who has the best shot - out of those 3 - of making the playoffs?

 

[msgkings322]

Kings, Grizz, and Clippers are all in playoff position as of today.

Who has the best shot - out of those 3 - of making the playoffs?

Gotta be Grizzlies right?

 

[trojanfan12]

its definitely hard for me to say that it is a foregone conclusion that LeBron will be the best player in the league next year- when i dont think an age 35 player, ESPECIALLY with LeBrons miles, has been the best player in the league.

Jordan MIGHT be the exception, but Jordan played multiple years of college ball, and took multiple years totally off- and LeBron has already rocketed past him in games and minutes played.

We are in unchartered territory with LeBron THIS year. And considering it looks like he has to do it all with this Lakers team, leading them in (i) minutes, (ii) points, (iii) assists, (iv) rebounds, it looks like that load is even heavier than it was last year--- ESPECIALLY considering that he HAS to go balls to the wall at times in a loaded West when he could just coast in the East at times.

Agree with pretty much all of this. I can't think of a player who was the best in the league at age 35 either...but, as you say, we're in uncharted territory with Lebron.

We also haven't seen a player who goes to the extent Lebron does as far as keeping himself in top shape.

I mean, I thought Kobe was fanatical about staying in top shape and taking care of his body.

Lebron makes Kobe look fat and lazy by comparison. lol

On his minutes, he's leading the Lakers minutes, but so far, he's playing the fewest minutes per game of his career. He's currently playing 35.4 minutes per game. He played 36.9 for the Cavs last year. His next fewest was 35.6 in 2015-16.

Theoretically, as the season goes on and everyone gets on the same page, his minutes will go down and he'll be able to sit out a game here and there.