2017 NBA Offseason Thread

[bksballer89]

NBA League Pass team rankings. The Pacers finished dead last

League Pass Rankings: First 15, featuring Showtime and more

 

[Bolts]

Fox with a solid preseason debut scoring 16 points on 7-8 shooting while Mason(17), Skal(15), and Buddy(12) also scored double digits.

 

[wildturkey]

NBA League Pass team rankings. The Pacers finished dead last

League Pass Rankings: First 15, featuring Showtime and more

How the heck are the Pacers last when the Hawks are barely fielding an NBA team?

 

[wildturkey]

Fox with a solid preseason debut scoring 16 points on 7-8 shooting while Mason(17), Skal(15), and Buddy(12) also scored double digits.

Kyle Kuzma > everyone

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

Kyle Kuzma > everyone

This kid is going to turn quite a few heads this season

 

[bksballer89]

Kuzma>Ball

 

[bksballer89]

How the heck are the Pacers last when the Hawks are barely fielding an NBA team?

Top 15 is here

 

[bksballer89]

Before I post the link and the list of the entire top 15, here is why the Heat are very watchable for those who actually enjoy basketball.

14. MIAMI HEAT (32)
We are officially in the Very Watchable section of the rankings. Miami lacks that one change-the-channel star, but the collective is strong: Goran Dragic, head down, sprint-dribbling into a whirring series of weirdo pivots; Hassan Whiteside swallowing shots instead of just blocking them; Kelly Olynykaccidentally hurting people with his herky-jerky game; James Johnson, ninja warrior, running inverted pick-and-rolls with Dragic and threading impossible passes; Erik Spoelstra waving his arms like a crazy person; and Dion Waiters, always Dion Waiters, forever calling for the ball, hoisting bananas shots, and acting like the true goddamned megastar he is.

They play so hard. There is a perverse joy in watching Miami, frothing at the mouth, pulverize some poor team coming off a back-to-back or a hard night out on South Beach. You almost see the victim pleading: "Can you guys just take it easy, once?" No. No, they cannot.

There are some interesting basketball subplots here, too. And, Spo: For the love of the basketball gods, please stop calling timeouts in the last 30 seconds of every quarter. Sometimes, a guy just wants to get to the bathroom.

 

[gordontrue]

Top 15 is here

Sixers too high
Cavs too low (biased)

Everything else seems about right

 

[bksballer89]

The official top 15 is:

15) Washington Wizards
14) Miami Heat
13) San Antonio Spurs
12) LA Clippers
11) Denver Nuggets
10) T-Wolves
9) Milwaukee Bucks
8) Portland Trailblazers
7) Cleveland Cavs
6) New Orleans Pelicans
5) Sixers
4) Houston Rockets
3) Boston Celtics
2) OKC Thunder
1) GS Warriors

League Pass Rankings: 15 must-watch NBA teams

 

[bksballer89]

Sixers too high
Cavs too low (biased)

Everything else seems about right

I agree about the Sixers. Disagree about the Cavs. They're not a very fun team to watch IMO. I would have probably have them 6th or 7th. Portland IMO should be much higher. Probably top 5

 

[gordontrue]

I agree about the Sixers. Disagree about the Cavs. They're not a very fun team to watch IMO. I would have probably have them 6th or 7th. Portland IMO should be much higher. Probably top 5

I get that. I just think that the fallout from Kyrie and the additions of Wade & Rose will add a little intrigue to the Cavs compared to past years... instead he has them lower than he had them last year.

 

[Black Adam]

agree with Gordon. Sixers are DEFINITELY too high imho...

 

[bksballer89]

One of my favorite nba writers finally landed on his feet after espn let him go

 

[Heatles84]

I get that. I just think that the fallout from Kyrie and the additions of Wade & Rose will add a little intrigue to the Cavs compared to past years... instead he has them lower than he had them last year.

I see where you're coming from. The intrigue comes from how are these players going to adjust to one another. The rankings mentioned are watchability in terms of how exciting the teams are; at least that's my understanding. But I agree, the 76ers are too high for me as well.

 

[Heatles84]

One of my favorite nba writers finally landed on his feet after espn let him go

Good for him. Amazing that he was let go while there are at least a dozen ESPN personalities they could've axed instead of him.

 

[Bolts]

Kyle Kuzma > everyone

Fox > Mason > Ball

 

[Bolts]

Thoughts on Lavar pulling his youngest son out of HS?

It means he sucks and Lavar doesn't want him stinking it up in HS basketball, can't let that hurt the BBB.

 

[shopson67]

I disagree. Offense will be easy for him again. The easiest it's been since 2014. He is no longer the focal point on offense. He is the Cavs 4th option at best. Wade MPG has gone down 4 straight seasons now. With JR and Shump as legit backup options, I don't think Lue is going to increase his minutes and have him play 30+ MPG. He knows better than that. He should be around 25-29 MPG.

As for injuries, I can't remember the last time he had a major injury. He just usually have a minor injury or 2 throughout the year which lead to him missing 15 regular season games or so which is fine for this group. Cavs are not expecting him to play 82 games. They will be happy with 60+ games. I expect Wade to avg 14-17 PPG on 45+% shooting.

The Cavs need perimeter shooters more than another midrange/slasher, but for what he cost he's a solid addition. Not sure how well he will fit unless they run specific plays for him and clear the paint.

 

[gordontrue]

The Cavs need perimeter shooters more than another midrange/slasher, but for what he cost he's a solid addition. Not sure how well he will fit unless they run specific plays for him and clear the paint.

Its why I think the move to Love at Center makes so much sense while IT is out.

Love/Crowder is the perfect frontcourt combo for Rose & Wade. Froncourt provides the spacing, Wade & Rose are able to get to the paint and do what they do best.

Then when TT comes in off the bench and kills the front-court spacing, JR and Korver come off the bench too, bringing backcourt spacing.