2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[WiggyRuss]

Re-drafting the 2018 loaded draft class (based both on potential and performance):

1. L. Doncic
2. D. Ayton
3. T. Young
4. J. Jackson
5. C. Sexton
6. M. Bagley
7. S. Gilgeous-Alexander
8. M. Bamba
9. W. Carter Jr.
10. Miles Bridges
11. K. Knox
12. Mikal Bridges
13. K. Huerter
14. M. Porter JR.
15. L. Shamet

 

[msgkings322]

Personally I thought signing LeBron was not a good move for basketball reasons. I would have chosen to keep Julius Randle and I think I would have bitten the bullet on the Mozgov and Deng contracts and waited them out - then in the three years - Julius Randle, D'angelo Russell, Ingram and Zuba and Ball would be players we would know what they could do. I think Magic Johnson was in too much of a hurry

For marketing and business, however signing LeBron was the right decisions which will lead to sold out games in every arena when he plays.

I'm not a Laker fan but isn't that the Laker Way to make big moves, bring in big names, go for it? They can't run the franchise like some Process team, they have to swing for the fences. That's the DNA of the team.

 

[msgkings322]

Colin Sexton is no fucking joke. Another 25 points tonight.

Last 7 games:

27 pts
28 pts
26 pts
23 pts
28 pts
27 pts
25 pts

50% from 3 (28 of 56), 57% from the field (69/121) and Cavs have wins against 3 playoff teams- Toronto, Milwaukee, Detroit.

Gotta agree, facts are in and that guy is a great rookie.

 

[True Lakers Fan]

I'm not a Laker fan but isn't that the Laker Way to make big moves, bring in big names, go for it? They can't run the franchise like some Process team, they have to swing for the fences. That's the DNA of the team.

I have no problem with big moves - but LeBron is already past his prime - Magic Johnson didn't a big agent with a long shelf life - If he waited till this year, signed Kawhi Leonard and traded for Anthony Davis - then the Lakers would have some talent to deal with. Now all we have is an aging star that knew he had zero chances of winning anything in Cleveland or in the Eastern Conference and jumped to the Lakers for the big $$$$ and marketing. I was not surprised at his injury when it happened - it was exactly what I was afraid of. Big players with Big names - yes - but not old big players with limited time - in my opinion.

 

[Bolts]

Hey @Bolts I don't think there's a chance in Hell the Kings miss the playoffs next season, especially if they get a major FA in the summer.

Wish I could say I was that optimistic, but there will be a few other non playoff teams that get better and probably all of the West top 8 will still be in the mix. The Kings have gotten better this season and depending on how the offseason goes could have a good chance at a playoff spot but it'll be an even tougher challenge next year. They need to get into the playoffs to take the next step towards becoming title contenders.

 

[Bolts]

Rocket/Grizz in OT.

Memphis had 19 point lead entering the 4th

Only 19? That's nothing!

 

[Heatles84]

OK, do I have to just repeat the last post for you as it is filled with all 3.

Didn't see any semblance of it.

What I do know is, for such a great elite franchise, you had arguably one of the greatest players of all-time in your franchise, and you mustered up 1 title. Some would call that pathetic. Hell, Lebron was simply partying it up in Miami and stumbled into 2 titles in just 4 years.

 

[Heatles84]

5 Finals' trips, 1 title and you boast about a team who has never been to the Finals nor made the playoffs in more than half a decade.

Agree Houston and GS are also very well run. OKC? Maybe, but think Gilbert let's harden get away because he didn't want to pay him?

Not sure why those teams being well run means the Cavs should not get their due, though.

In a total of 11 years having Lebron, that's just.....well, sad.

 

[Heatles84]

Also helped he believed Gilbert would spend and wasn's so sure Arison would. But agree if not from Cleveland he doesn't come back.

If that was the case, why was Lebron not signing long-term deals in Cleveland? If cost wasn't a thing and it was such a stable franchise, for a player that's chasing Jordan, why didn't Lebron put his faith in thinking Gilbert could guide this franchise to more titles?

 

[Heatles84]

LeBron never in a million years goes back if he does not think he can win.

LeBron never in a million years goes back if the Cavs have no cap room because they spent like drunken sailors to get the 7 or 8 seed on mediocre players.

I think Cedi can be a top half starting SF at some point. He was basically red-shirted last year. He was getting a ton of defensive attention. He was playing out of position for must of the season due to the injuries to Love and Thompson and Nance (at times).

Cedi is not likely to ever be an All Star- but he without a doubt could be a solid starting player- and at the least a strong rotation player.

and as i said-

id much rather have my team- who had a bare cupboard, tank, build up, and re-emerge with some actual assets, rather than spend like drunken sailors and trade draft picks to get the 7 or 8 seed and get blasted.

And yet, Miami has 3 titles to Cleveland's 1. Hmmmmmmmmm

 

[Heatles84]

Having a center that is "your teams' future" doesn't mean much anymore in the NBA especially if he can only finish around the rim. Just sayin

The Cavs "future" is at PG and SF. Makes a huge difference especially in a 3 point shooting league

Where did I say Bam was the Heat's future? Also, he's just 21 years old. There was a time that Justise Winslow couldn't shoot worth a lick, now he can.

I just find it funny that Cavs fan overhype the ever-loving shit out of Cedi Osman. If he was in another uniform, you wouldn't give two shits about him.

 

[Heatles84]

LeBron never in a million years goes back if he does not think he can win.

LeBron never in a million years goes back if the Cavs have no cap room because they spent like drunken sailors to get the 7 or 8 seed on mediocre players.

I think Cedi can be a top half starting SF at some point. He was basically red-shirted last year. He was getting a ton of defensive attention. He was playing out of position for must of the season due to the injuries to Love and Thompson and Nance (at times).

Cedi is not likely to ever be an All Star- but he without a doubt could be a solid starting player- and at the least a strong rotation player.

and as i said-

id much rather have my team- who had a bare cupboard, tank, build up, and re-emerge with some actual assets, rather than spend like drunken sailors and trade draft picks to get the 7 or 8 seed and get blasted.

And yet, Miami has 3 titles to Cleveland's 1. Hmmmmmmmmm

 

[WiggyRuss]

And yet, Miami has 3 titles to Cleveland's 1. Hmmmmmmmmm

and the Celtics have 5 times the titles of both teams combined.

I mean- your comment is nothing more than brushing away what our original debate was over.

And as I said- I still would like your answer on what you think is the better way to go:

-signing a bunch of mediocre players, trading picks, to be a team that is competitive for the bottom spots in the East and nothing more than first round fodder

or

-bottoming out, taking on other teams bad contracts for picks, sucking, tanking, developing the young guys, getting high lotto picks but sacrificing 1-3 seasons on that "Process".

I will tell ya right now- I would much rather be in the shape the Cavs are currently in than the Heat are currently in- and thats despite the Cavs being in go-for-it mode for the previous 4 seasons.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Where did I say Bam was the Heat's future? Also, he's just 21 years old. There was a time that Justise Winslow couldn't shoot worth a lick, now he can.

I just find it funny that Cavs fan overhype the ever-loving shit out of Cedi Osman. If he was in another uniform, you wouldn't give two shits about him.

so, overhpying the shit out of him is saying he can be a top half SF, and at worst a solid rotation player?

I think he will become a solid top half of the league SF, but have no delusions of him being an All-Star caliber player.

 

[WiggyRuss]

If that was the case, why was Lebron not signing long-term deals in Cleveland? If cost wasn't a thing and it was such a stable franchise, for a player that's chasing Jordan, why didn't Lebron put his faith in thinking Gilbert could guide this franchise to more titles?

because he hated Gilbert's guts and winning championships was no longer his primary goal.

As I have said- the Cavs had a Kevin Love + multiple first round picks deal set up for Paul George- before Kyrie's trade demand- and it would have meant a triumverate of LeBron, George and Kyrie. Gilbert and Griffin went to LeBron and said- the Pacers want very limited protections on these picks and we cant throw away the future of the franchise if you dont commit. Instead of committing to a core of LeBron, George and Kyrie (with ancillary pieces like Cedi, TT, etc.), LeBron said NO- he would not extend.

Its clear that at that point he was guided by - (i) his hate of Gilbert, (ii) and winning championships was no longer the most important thing- being able to go to LA to be in the sun and make movies was the most important thing.

 

[Heatles84]

and the Celtics have 5 times the titles of both teams combined.

I mean- your comment is nothing more than brushing away what our original debate was over.

And as I said- I still would like your answer on what you think is the better way to go:

-signing a bunch of mediocre players, trading picks, to be a team that is competitive for the bottom spots in the East and nothing more than first round fodder

or

-bottoming out, taking on other teams bad contracts for picks, sucking, tanking, developing the young guys, getting high lotto picks but sacrificing 1-3 seasons on that "Process".

I will tell ya right now- I would much rather be in the shape the Cavs are currently in than the Heat are currently in- and thats despite the Cavs being in go-for-it mode for the previous 4 seasons.

See, the problem with your logic is not every team has to tank and take the 76ers route of building a contender. Again, there are teams like the Suns and Kings that live in NBA lotto hell and get top 10 picks every year, yet continue to stay at best mediocre.

So sure, you could value your position more than the Heat's. At least Heat fans recognize that we're likely a 1st round exit this year and next, but at that point, we have flexibility again.

In the meantime, it took Lebron bridging everything together to make Cleveland a title team. The question that's deep in your mind that you try not bringing up - Do you really think that Cleveland with its current organizational structure is going to build a contender? Do you think Cleveland wins a title with the way they were operating and drafting before Lebron came? Because the answer is a definitive no. And it's a relevant question because Lebron will be long retired before Cleveland even thinks about contending again.

 

[Heatles84]

so, overhpying the shit out of him is saying he can be a top half SF, and at worst a solid rotation player?

I think he will become a solid top half of the league SF, but have no delusions of him being an All-Star caliber player.

The context of your responses about Cedi Osman say otherwise.

 

[Heatles84]

because he hated Gilbert's guts and winning championships was no longer his primary goal.

As I have said- the Cavs had a Kevin Love + multiple first round picks deal set up for Paul George- before Kyrie's trade demand- and it would have meant a triumverate of LeBron, George and Kyrie. Gilbert and Griffin went to LeBron and said- the Pacers want very limited protections on these picks and we cant throw away the future of the franchise if you dont commit. Instead of committing to a core of LeBron, George and Kyrie (with ancillary pieces like Cedi, TT, etc.), LeBron said NO- he would not extend.

Its clear that at that point he was guided by - (i) his hate of Gilbert, (ii) and winning championships was no longer the most important thing- being able to go to LA to be in the sun and make movies was the most important thing.

Why would he hate Gilbert so much though? He's such a great owner that's willing to outspend every other owner in the league.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Why would he hate Gilbert so much though? He's such a great owner that's willing to outspend every other owner in the league.

is that a real question?

 

[dtgold88]

Because he ALWAYS guards the other teams best offensive player whether they play 1 or 2 (sometimes even 3).

When you guard a great offensive player every single night, guess what happens to your defensive metrics?

Aren't there others who take on this challenge whose metrics aren't so poor?

Truth be told, I do believe he's a solid defender so wonder if the metrics used are out of whackAnd, if so, why are they even used?