2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[dtgold88]

TT is a very good role player.

But, he got his contract because he is a klutch client and the Cavs had neither cap space nor the leverage to sign another player to replace his production.

I think the latter is most important, and the fact they had an owner willing to pay it. Is he a little overpaid? Maybe. But nearly every FA who is not a max guy nor a guy signed to a minimum or midlevel deal winds up being overpaid in FA.

 

[raptorlife4]

Most of those losses were early in the season before the Butler trade. IIRC, we've played the Celtics once and the Raptors twice since then. We are 1-2 in those games which includes last week's lost to the Raptors without JJ which may have been the final piece to pulling the Harris trade.

I agree with you completely that the team has to prove that they can compete and beat these teams. But I think there is little question that the team is now structured in a way to beat any of these teams especially in the playoffs.

You cant say you lost games because guys were out
every team has guys out
We didnt have JV in that game

 

[dtgold88]

Bulls with the W!!! thats what I am talking about--- some of the sweet sweet Otto Porter Jr. Magic ! LOL

Admittedly, a good part of the year I hated the new lottery rules, but now I love them......I cannot see anyone catching NY for the worst record. They have their tanking in overdrive.

 

[dtgold88]

Fans were chanting his name wanting Gentry to put him back in the game in the 4th

Obviously a totally different situation/player, but Cavs told JR not to come anymore as fans kept chanting for him to come in games. Wonder if NO just gets tired of it and thinks of an injury for him.

 

[flyerhawk]

You cant say you lost games because guys were out
every team has guys out
We didnt have JV in that game

Huh? I didn't say we lost because guys were out.

I said that most of those games occurred at the beginning of the season when our starting lineup was Embiid, Simmons, Reddick, Saric, and Covington. That is a demonstrable fact. Since we acquired Butler we played those 3 teams 3 times. And 0 times since we acquired Harris.

Last week the Raptors beat the Sixers. You don't think missing two starters for the game was a factor? When the Sixers stomped the Raptors last month do you think that missing Kawhi and Valanciunas was a factor in that game?

2 weeks ago the Sixers played the Nuggets without Embiid, Reddick and Butler and lost by 16. Last night they played a Nuggets team without Harris or Milsap. Do we really know which team is better based on those games?

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I'll say this, you guys have The Logo helping you out. I would expect that he had some input on the trade. He's not one (or at least hasn't been) to make moves without it being some part of a bigger picture move.

It'll be interesting to see what he has up his sleeve.

....and this pretty much negates anything I THINK I know.

There is always a method to the madness when Jerry is involved.

 

[dtgold88]

Huh? I didn't say we lost because guys were out.

I said that most of those games occurred at the beginning of the season when our starting lineup was Embiid, Simmons, Reddick, Saric, and Covington. That is a demonstrable fact. Since we acquired Butler we played those 3 teams 3 times. And 0 times since we acquired Harris.

Last week the Raptors beat the Sixers. You don't think missing two starters for the game was a factor? When the Sixers stomped the Raptors last month do you think that missing Kawhi and Valanciunas was a factor in that game?

2 weeks ago the Sixers played the Nuggets without Embiid, Reddick and Butler and lost by 16. Last night they played a Nuggets team without Harris or Milsap. Do we really know which team is better based on those games?

I've never understood lamenting using injuries as an "excuse". To me, sure, everyone has them, but it's more like a fact than an excuse.

Of course a team with its best player or players has a better chance to lose. But as long as they show at full strength they are a team to be reckoned with (or a favorite/comtender) who really cares in the reg. season?

 

[flyerhawk]

I've never understood lamenting using injuries as an "excuse". To me, sure, everyone has them, but it's more like a fact than an excuse.

Same here. Injuries are part of sports. When you lose your best players to injuries it impacts the game. This is an obvious statement. That doesn't mean that the win is less legitimate. A win is a win. But if Steph Curry gets knocked out due to injury the Warriors are not nearly as good. It is an obvious fact.

Of course a team with its best player or players has a better chance to lose. But as long as they show at full strength they are a team to be reckoned with (or a favorite/comtender) who really cares in the reg. season?

The regular season has always been more about depth because players miss games. It's unavoidable. The Warriors were 4-6 without Curry this year. They are 35-9 with him in the lineup.

 

[tlance]

If he is a restricted FA that's even worse.....LA could have matched any offer he received.

So they let him go because they wanted to save money for a 2nd max player they never found? And we know NO likes him, so do ya think they'd have thought harder about trading AD to LA if Randle was made available?

Of course LA could have matched and kept him. That isn't the point.

Randle would have made them marginally better. Letting gave them room for 2 max contracts. They chose cap space over keeping Randle, and Randle knew this was coming.

That was why Randle didn't want to stay. It was mutual. And the Lakers made the right move even if it doesn't work out. Because again, Randle would not help enough to make them contenders. And now they have cap space again this summer too. Even if they strike out it was the right move.

And no. Adding Randle to the pieces they already offered would not have made a difference. NO was always going to wait until the summer.

 

[flyerhawk]

Of course LA could have matched and kept him. That isn't the point.

Randle would have made them marginally better. Letting gave them room for 2 max contracts. They chose cap space over keeping Randle, and Randle knew this was coming.

That was why Randle didn't want to stay. It was mutual. And the Lakers made the right move even if it doesn't work out. Because again, Randle would not help enough to make them contenders. And now they have cap space again this summer too. Even if they strike out it was the right move.

And no. Adding Randle to the pieces they already offered would not have made a difference. NO was always going to wait until the summer.

IIRC, Randle has the same agent as D'Angelo Russell and there is some clear bad blood between the Lakers and the agent that allegedly spilled over to Randle.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Kyrie Irving, Luke Walton and LeBron James were blown away by the defense Brandon Ingram played against the Celtics

Thought this was interesting. You gotta think if Ingram can improve his D enough to guard guys like Kyrie night in and out his value is that much more.

 

[bksballer89]

Kyrie Irving, Luke Walton and LeBron James were blown away by the defense Brandon Ingram played against the Celtics

Thought this was interesting. You gotta think if Ingram can improve his D enough to guard guys like Kyrie night in and out his value is that much more.

Things like this is why I think a Lakers/Warriors series would be interesting. It would be the best Warriors/Lebron series since the 2016 finals. Lakers got multiple guys that can defend and multiple guys that can create on their own as well.

Excluding the Center position, Lakers can throw a defensive lineup like this 1-4

Ball/Rondo
Stephenson/KCP
Ingram
Lebron

That is damn good IMO. Also even though Kuzma is a poor defender, against the Warriors you can hide him by having him guard Draymond or Iggy.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think a healthy Lakers bunch vs the Warriors is at least a 6 games series.

 

[tlance]

Things like this is why I think a Lakers/Warriors series would be interesting. It would be the best Warriors/Lebron series since the 2016 finals. Lakers got multiple guys that can defend and multiple guys that can create on their own as well.

Excluding the Center position, Lakers can throw a defensive lineup like this 1-4

Ball/Rondo
Stephenson/KCP
Ingram
Lebron

That is damn good IMO. Also even though Kuzma is a poor defender, against the Warriors you can hide him by having him guard Draymond or Iggy.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think a healthy Lakers bunch vs the Warriors is at least a 6 games series.

You are wrong.

But the Lakers are a really tough matchup for them. Not going 6 games though. That implies 2 wins at home or 1 at Oracle. Neither is happening.

 

[Stakesarehigh]

Things like this is why I think a Lakers/Warriors series would be interesting. It would be the best Warriors/Lebron series since the 2016 finals. Lakers got multiple guys that can defend and multiple guys that can create on their own as well.

Excluding the Center position, Lakers can throw a defensive lineup like this 1-4

Ball/Rondo
Stephenson/KCP
Ingram
Lebron

That is damn good IMO. Also even though Kuzma is a poor defender, against the Warriors you can hide him by having him guard Draymond or Iggy.

Maybe I'm wrong but I think a healthy Lakers bunch vs the Warriors is at least a 6 games series.

It's probably the toughest 1-8 matchup the Warriors can draw for obvious reasons

 

[DJ Fieri]

Damn, that's HORRIBLE.

Yeah, stage 4 Pancreatic cancer is awful.....Dr suggested putting her on Hospice and making her as comfortable as possible.....can't believe it's been almost 2 years.

 

[bksballer89]

@thunderc what was the deal with Abrines? I know he missed a lot of time due to personal reasons. Did they ever go into detail in OKC?

 

[bksballer89]

It's probably the toughest 1-8 matchup the Warriors can draw for obvious reasons

Without a doubt. LBJ would love that IMO. He would look at it as a likely top 5 moment in his career if they were ever able to pull it off.

 

[Black Adam]

Yeah, stage 4 Pancreatic cancer is awful.....Dr suggested putting her on Hospice and making her as comfortable as possible.....can't believe it's been almost 2 years.

Yeah, it sucks. My mom went through it. the fact that she hid that kinda pain from everyone STILL boggles my mind...

 

[DJ Fieri]

Of course LA could have matched and kept him. That isn't the point.

Randle would have made them marginally better. Letting gave them room for 2 max contracts. They chose cap space over keeping Randle, and Randle knew this was coming.

That was why Randle didn't want to stay. It was mutual. And the Lakers made the right move even if it doesn't work out. Because again, Randle would not help enough to make them contenders. And now they have cap space again this summer too. Even if they strike out it was the right move.

And no. Adding Randle to the pieces they already offered would not have made a difference. NO was always going to wait until the summer.

Some people that don't have an agenda get it.

 

[thunderc]

@thunderc what was the deal with Abrines? I know he missed a lot of time due to personal reasons. Did they ever go into detail in OKC?

There are rumors that he wanted to go back overseas.