2021 NBA regular season thread

[bksballer89]

He has. There is no doubt they are significantly better than what they would be with Wall.

But there are a lot of guys out there that have made their teams significantly better. Most of them don’t belong in the MVP conversation either.

Yeah im not saying he belong in the top 5. Probably top 10 though but can't say Russ doesn't have a positive impact on the Wiz

 

[tlance]

Not just this season....they have underachieved the last few seasons.

When have the Celtics ever had the most talent in the East?

Maybe one of the Kyrie years.

They have had more overachieving seasons than underachieving.

Yes, this year they are underachieving.

 

[dtgold88]

I don't think it's really about anyone expecting that they should be contending or anything. As Wiggy said, they need a star and it's hard to get a star when you get two #5's and a #8 in the drafts you're counting on to get one.

I think the point is more about guys wanting out and it being public already. I could be wrong, but I don't remember it getting out publicly that any of the Lakers or Sixers players wanted out.

A nameless ex player named nameless current players? Admittedly, I had not heard any Philly players wanting out but did find this...and has a name attached. Didn't Kobe (I know, named player) want out at one time (after Shaq, before Pau)?

Ben Simmons “Privately Not Happy” With Role As Philadelphia 76er: Report

Today, Heavy.com’s own Brandon “ScoopB” Robinson, reported that Philadelphia 76er guard Ben Simmons “privately is not happy in his role in Philadelphia." Melvin Taylor II breaks it down.

heavy.com

 

[dtgold88]

of course guys arent happy- especially with the recent losing. The cavs actually started off pretty well. Then a ton of injuries and youth got to them.

And during the Lakers 8 year playoff-less streak there was plenty of rancor- it wsnt too long ago Magic Johnson was resigning and Russell was ratting out teammates and it was a mess.

it can change pretty quick with a star.

the tough part for the Cavs is any stud draft pick will take a couple years to really be a high level guy. Ja Morant has taken the Grizz into a team that can do stuff pretty quick though. We shall see. Cavs need a top 4 or 5 pick in this draft. Top 3 would be ideal.

And even the Grizz are just a middling playoff team at best and probably need another star to get anywhere. Not sure how they can get that done since they look to be a middling team so high pick again will be tough and doubt a star wants to go to Memphis.

 

[trojanfan12]

Over the previous four seasons have the Celtics in any of those years been the favorite to come outta the EC? So 3 ECF trips in 4 years in underachieving? Not sure about that.

I think that maybe Stevens is becoming a victim of his own early success. He's never had a true contender, but he has had teams that with some overachievement combined with the East being the weaker conference, gave the impression that they should be contending.

Injuries, Covid and dealing with Kyrie for a couple of seasons haven't helped either.

 

[dtgold88]

Why would I? Wiggy was flat out lying, he has called Sexton a star.

k

 

[dtgold88]

That is just it.

This is what I was trying to explain to DT a few weeks ago.

Whether Cleveland keeps their whole core, or blows everything up and starts completely over, they will be in the same place.

Praying for a lottery miracle.

This is why I think small market teams like Cleveland, Minnesota, etc are better off going the Philly super tank route.

"Explaining to DT"?

Interesting....since I've said for a long time the only way we ever make a huge jump is with some serious lottery luck. That being a middling team is not the way to go this year. Especially if the draft is as loaded as advertised.

 

[dtgold88]

Some drafts don't have much to choose from.

agree....but this one has been called loaded by many. we'll see.

 

[Wamu]

I think that maybe Stevens is becoming a victim of his own early success. He's never had a true contender, but he has had teams that with some overachievement combined with the East being the weaker conference, gave the impression that they should be contending.

Injuries, Covid and dealing with Kyrie for a couple of seasons haven't helped either.

All you said is true. In no season under Stevens have the Celtics been picked to come outta the EC. Got some good talent, but not enough to win it all.

And I'd think if Stevens was on the hot-seat and knew it he would have taken that big offer from IU, 7 years / 70m.

 

[trojanfan12]

A nameless ex player named nameless current players? Admittedly, I had not heard any Philly players wanting out but did find this...and has a name attached. Didn't Kobe (I know, named player) want out at one time (after Shaq, before Pau)?

Ben Simmons “Privately Not Happy” With Role As Philadelphia 76er: Report

Today, Heavy.com’s own Brandon “ScoopB” Robinson, reported that Philadelphia 76er guard Ben Simmons “privately is not happy in his role in Philadelphia." Melvin Taylor II breaks it down.

heavy.com

Kobe played the "Trade me" card when it looked like the Lakers weren't getting him the help he needed. Ironically, he did that in the off-season just before Bynum started playing well. Then, when Bynum got hurt later that season, they brought in Pau.

I don't know how serious Kobe was, but the Lakers never really took it all that seriously (at least not publicly).

Also, not sure what that has to do with the current Cavs or the Lakers rebuild after Kobe retired.

Hadn't heard about Simmons being unhappy.

 

[dtgold88]

People always fall in love with the stats and not the impact the player makes on the team.....SMH.

Are you SYH over your own comment? Wiz were pretty bad last couple seasons pre-Russ.

 

[dtgold88]

The goal is to win....how many chances are you going to give him to get over the hump? Especially in the EC where teams are getting better and Brooklyn just went out and got a super team?

He's a good coach but he may have maxed out what he can do there.

Much of that could be on Ainge who was pretty much handed a ton of top assets from the Nets and then got passed by the Nets.

 

[dtgold88]

Kobe played the "Trade me" card when it looked like the Lakers weren't getting him the help he needed. Ironically, he did that in the off-season just before Bynum started playing well. Then, when Bynum got hurt later that season, they brought in Pau.

I don't know how serious Kobe was, but the Lakers never really took it all that seriously (at least not publicly).

Also, not sure what that has to do with the current Cavs or the Lakers rebuild after Kobe retired.

Hadn't heard about Simmons being unhappy.

I'm not ripping LA at all.....but they did have a player who said he wanted out publicly. Hadn't heard about Simmons either. Now we have.

Not doubting there might be unhappy Cavalier players, but as of now the source and the players are nameless.

 

[flyerhawk]

agree....but this one has been called loaded by many. we'll see.

Meh. Lots of drafts are called loaded. The 2017 draft was considered loaded. But of the top 10 players drafted only 2 have been even all-star level(Tatum and Fox).

 

[tlance]

"Explaining to DT"?

Interesting....since I've said for a long time the only way we ever make a huge jump is with some serious lottery luck. That being a middling team is not the way to go this year. Especially if the draft is as loaded as advertised.

Yes.

As in why Cleveland should have gone all in to keep LeBron even without commitment from him.

Because he is that guy.

And a 5% chance of keeping that guy is more valuable than Colin Sexton, Garland, etc.

Because those guys aren’t getting you anywhere.

That is what I was explaining to you.

 

[dtgold88]

Meh. Lots of drafts are called loaded. The 2017 draft was considered loaded. But of the top 10 players drafted only 2 have been even all-star level(Tatum and Fox).

Cannot say I recall 2017 being called loaded....but I also had little interest as my team was not worried about the draft then.

I recall them saying 2018 was pretty loaded (moreso even before that season as Bagley and Porter were very highly regarded). Thought 2019 was considered loaded in top 3 and 2020 considered meh. Seems like they were right about those.

But you are correct. no way to know if they are right until after. I'm thinking it might be loaded top 5, though some seem to like barnes a lot. Granted the "some" are analysts and not actual people who pick players.

 

[dtgold88]

Yes.

As in why Cleveland should have gone all in to keep LeBron even without commitment from him.

Because he is that guy.

And a 5% chance of keeping that guy is more valuable than Colin Sexton, Garland, etc.

Because those guys aren’t getting you anywhere.

That is what I was explaining to you.

Yet your comment ended with you correctly saying teams like the Cavs needed to be near the top of the draft to win (like Philly and Minnesota who need to go supertank mode) and had nothing to do with the topic you just mentioned.

That's cool.....I knew you would not own your mistake and that calling me out on that was absurd. As for this move of the goal posts, yeah, acquiring Deandre Jordan, losing in the Finals anyway and not having a high pick definitely stops Lebron from moving to LA. And Garland? That takes the goal posts where no one will find them.

Ya gotta love this forum.

 

[bksballer89]

Meh. Lots of drafts are called loaded. The 2017 draft was considered loaded. But of the top 10 players drafted only 2 have been even all-star level(Tatum and Fox).

Lots of really good players drafted outside the top 10

 

[bksballer89]

 

[bksballer89]

Trevor Ariza!!!!!!!!!!

@flyerhawk remember when you were shitting on Miami for picking him up?

LMAO