2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[WiggyRuss]

the Lakers are really being tight-lipped about any kind of time frame for the return of LeBron. I googled a couple articles, and checked the twitter pages of a few reporters, checked ESPN and there is really nothing near concrete- just pretty much vague speculation.

they play the Bulls tonight and LeBron is not playing.

At this point, i would doubt he would be back for OKC on Thursday and prob. even Houston on Saturday.

Would he come back next Monday, his first game back against the Warriors? That seems doubtful.

If I were to venture a guess i would say his first game back will be against Minnesota on the 24th.

Who knows though- i suppose it could be for OKC on Thursday too- there is just so little information out there about his injury.

 

[WiggyRuss]

going from having a great team with LeBron/Kyrie/Love really sucks......but I am definitely appreeciative of those 4 years. It was a helluva lot of fun.

This season has been a nightmare, and the only consolation will be that the Cavs will have a chance at a true franchsie player at the end of it.


I have to say- watching Kyrie and the Celtics trip over their dicks, chants of "Kyrie's leaving" in Brooklyn, and of course, LeBron starting to show his age, and the Lakers having to fight for their lives just to make the playoffs in the West has definitely made it a lot easier and funner to follow the league this year.

If the Lakers had signed George along with LeBron in a year where the Warriors are showing vulnerabilities and Houston has taken a step back, and the Celtics were the 60 win team a lot of people predicted it would be hard to choke on.

I defiinitely have taken some joy in being right about Lonzo Ball, his fit, and how bad of a shooter he is, Ingram not becoming ANYHTING CLOSE to "mini Kevin-Durant", Luke Walton on the hot seat, Kryrie crying to the media and getting mad and the 5th seed,

espeically since some teams that i do not mind, and like are doing well- great to see the Nuggets on top of the West...great to see OKC playing well....great to see Toronto/Milwaukee and the Pacers as the top 3 teams in the East right now.

The NBA is thriving- and doing so even though the Knicks suck, the Bulls suck, and the Lakers are currently OUT of playoff position. Too fucking great.

 

[WiggyRuss]

leads me back to LeBron too- the first 3 years in Cleveland, David Griffin went out of his way to try and convince LeBron to sit out games. He received a LOT of shit for this- sitting out games even when he was healthy- but I think it was the smart thing to do.

Griffin was of course gone last year, and LeBron plays ALL 82 games for the first time in his career. He does this on a team that had Love out for long stretches with injury, that did not have Kyrie's supposed replacement, Isiah Thomas, healthy barely at all. Even Tristan Thompson had injury issues (and mental issues) last year that led to the worst season of his career. They had the HUGE turnover over of the roster.

If Griffin stays, I think the roster would have been better, he would have made a better Kyrie trade, and would have been able to convince LeBron to ignore the outside noise and to sit out a few games and not have to worry about people pissing on him for a few DNP CD's as "maintenance" games.

Whatever the confluence of factors that came together that led to LeBron playing all 82 games last year it led LeBron to leading the NBA in minutes.

LeBron played 3026 minutes in the regular season last year, #1 in the league. #2 was Khris Middleton at 2982, #3 was Wiggins at 2979. ( the other 3 years he was back in CLE he was 10th, 18th and 30th in minutes played)

On top of that, LeBron played an absolutely staggering amount of high pressure playoff minutes- 4 series, 2 of which went 7 games.

It does not surprise me that LeBron, who just turned 34, coming off a season where he had the heaviest work load of his entire career minutes wise, has suffered the most significant injury of his career.

While he was playing he was still an MVP candidate, if not favorite, but is it getting to the point where maybe LeBron is not super-human anymore?

 

[flyerhawk]

The only season he really took more than that was last year.

I know the Raptors don't get much play down there but last year wasn't the first year they got their asses kicked in the playoffs.

DeRozan's lack of a perimeter shot wasn't the reason why the Raptors got their ass kicked by the same team every year.

 

[flyerhawk]

The NBA is thriving- and doing so even though the Knicks suck, the Bulls suck, and the Lakers are currently OUT of playoff position. Too fucking great.

I would definitely argue that the NBA is at its pinnacle of popularity right now supplanting the late 80s.

 

[WiggyRuss]

DeRozan's lack of a perimeter shot wasn't the reason why the Raptors got their ass kicked by the same team every year.

i think there is a distinction between "perimeter" shot and "3 point shot".....it might be slight but i think there is a distinction there.

Demar DeRozan is a shooter that can spread the floor even without being able to shoot a 3 since hes so deadly and efficient from mid-range- which is exceedingly rare in todays NBA. There are so so few guys that should be taking volume mid-range shots but DeRozan is def. one of them.

 

[Shanemansj13]

In LA?

I think he hits 6 chicks, 2 dudes and an animal of some type.

Klay brings his A game to LA.

Exactly why I set the over/under at 4. FYI...I'm not counting animals in the over/under

 

[Shanemansj13]

Harden with 57 and counting. With no Capela or Paul not a surprise, he will probably take 30 3s a game until CP3 is back LOL

This might be the best streak...EVER...other than Wilt but the competition comes into debate there. But you know we are still going to have to see him be this consistent in the playoffs or this won't mean as much. He can't have a 1-16 shooting 3's in the playoffs or vs the W's. Still simply amazing what he is doing right now regardless.

 

[Shanemansj13]

going from having a great team with LeBron/Kyrie/Love really sucks......but I am definitely appreeciative of those 4 years. It was a helluva lot of fun.

This season has been a nightmare, and the only consolation will be that the Cavs will have a chance at a true franchsie player at the end of it.


I have to say- watching Kyrie and the Celtics trip over their dicks, chants of "Kyrie's leaving" in Brooklyn, and of course, LeBron starting to show his age, and the Lakers having to fight for their lives just to make the playoffs in the West has definitely made it a lot easier and funner to follow the league this year.

If the Lakers had signed George along with LeBron in a year where the Warriors are showing vulnerabilities and Houston has taken a step back, and the Celtics were the 60 win team a lot of people predicted it would be hard to choke on.

I defiinitely have taken some joy in being right about Lonzo Ball, his fit, and how bad of a shooter he is, Ingram not becoming ANYHTING CLOSE to "mini Kevin-Durant", Luke Walton on the hot seat, Kryrie crying to the media and getting mad and the 5th seed,

espeically since some teams that i do not mind, and like are doing well- great to see the Nuggets on top of the West...great to see OKC playing well....great to see Toronto/Milwaukee and the Pacers as the top 3 teams in the East right now.

The NBA is thriving- and doing so even though the Knicks suck, the Bulls suck, and the Lakers are currently OUT of playoff position. Too fucking great.

Zion had 35, 10 and 4 blocks last night. Let the ping pong balls bounce the Cavs way

 

[flyerhawk]

i think there is a distinction between "perimeter" shot and "3 point shot".....it might be slight but i think there is a distinction there.

Demar DeRozan is a shooter that can spread the floor even without being able to shoot a 3 since hes so deadly and efficient from mid-range- which is exceedingly rare in todays NBA. There are so so few guys that should be taking volume mid-range shots but DeRozan is def. one of them.

Which was my original point.

There has been a premium placed on 3 point shooting today. And teams are willing to accept flaws in other aspects of a players game in order to get effective 3 point shooting.

Kyle Korver is a terrible defender with a weak handle. But he has had a pretty long career because he is a great 3 point shooter. But that doesn't necessarily mean he is a net positive on his team.

IMO, this is the basis for Pop's criticism of the obsession over 3 point shooting.

 

[flyerhawk]

Zion had 35, 10 and 4 blocks last night. Let the ping pong balls bounce the Cavs way

Again? How many times do you think you think the Cavs deserve to be super lucky?

 

[Bloody Brian Burke]

DeRozan's lack of a perimeter shot wasn't the reason why the Raptors got their ass kicked by the same team every year.

It didn't help, and it wasn't always the same team. I don't recall the Washington Wizards or Brooklyn Nets employing Lebron James.

 

[flyerhawk]

It didn't help, and it wasn't always the same team. I don't recall the Washington Wizards or Brooklyn Nets employing Lebron James.

Well you are free to lay the Raptors failings at the feet of DeRozan.

 

[DJ Fieri]

LOL.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Again? How many times do you think you think the Cavs deserve to be super lucky?

Sure why not. The Suns had 3 top 4 picks the last 3 years. Fuck em lol

 

[flyerhawk]

Sure why not. The Suns had 3 top 4 picks the last 3 years. Fuck em lol

Top 4 picks are a function of being terrible. No. 1 picks are a function of being lucky. Especially now.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Zion had 35, 10 and 4 blocks last night. Let the ping pong balls bounce the Cavs way

Dude, I am really feeling Ja Morant.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah. The argument is pointless honestly. Ball sucks at shooting and FT's, he is passive. But he can defend and has vision. Cool. I don't want him on my team

It really depends on what the team needs, imo.

Sexton is a better scorer/shooter and better free throw shooter. He's also quicker. He will likely be an elite scorer.

Lonzo has elite vision and passing skills, is the better rebounder and better defender.

Their handles are about even.

If my team needs scoring...I want Sexton. But I'm going to be working with him on the passing, rebounding and defense.

If my team has scoring, but I need someone to get them the ball and play more of an all around game...I want Lonzo. But I'm going to be working with him on shooting.

Sexton's impact on a game will always be pretty easy to see because all you have to do is look at the points.

It's been interesting watching the Lakers with Lonzo while Lebron and Rondo are out. It has really magnified both his strengths and weaknesses.

Without Lebron and Rondo, the Lakers offense comes to a halt when Lonzo is out of the game. So, it shows how important he is to running the offense.

But at the same time, when they need points, Lonzo isn't providing that. That 3-7 record without Lebron might be 5-5 or even 6-4 if Lonzo was at least solid at scoring.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Dude, I am really feeling Ja Morant.

I never heard of him until recently, looks like he is jumping into the top 3 interesting. The Cavs have a PG though...could be a great pick for the Suns

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

Eh...I get what you're saying but I think I'm more in bk's camp here. I think its just a tad too early to be abandoning ship on DSJ. Now I liked him a lot in that draft (I think I liked Fox more out of the PGs, but I'm not sure) so that's probably clouding my judgement but either way, its too soon imo. He and Doncic have played together half a season. You're telling me that in half a season they can already tell that they'll NEVER be a good fit? Smith is still developing his game and there's still lots of raw, untapped potential there. That's a risky thing to toss aside after so little time. And looking at the potential destinations rosters (Orlando/Phx), there's nothing either team has that would really excite me if I were Dallas. Like maybe if the Suns sent back TJ Warren and some pick combination, but personally I'd like to wait it out a little more. Maybe at least wait until the summer

Something that we aren't privy to had to have happened in that clubhouse.

Otherwise, this is very premature imo...

Yeah, both guys need the ball.

But, Doncic is too slow to check Pg's.

So, they will have to start Brunson.

Maybe they fit better.

But, even Monta and Steph got lo get then 40 games.