2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[trojanfan12]

All true but lebron hasn’t been in a playoff push either in 15 years

Uuuuh, what?

He hasn't been in a playoff push in the sense that his teams have had making the playoffs pretty well locked up by this point in the season for the past 15 years.

But he has been in a playoff push in the sense of trying to make sure that he and his team are playing their best basketball going into the playoffs.

 

[bksballer89]

Uuuuh, what?

He hasn't been in a playoff push in the sense that his teams have had making the playoffs pretty well locked up by this point in the season for the past 15 years.

But he has been in a playoff push in the sense of trying to make sure that he and his team are playing their best basketball going into the playoffs.

I'm pretty sure what he meant is Lebron never been in this position where he is fighting to make the playoffs in late February since 2004-2005 which is a fact

 

[trojanfan12]

I don't think you can make that assertion. The Bucks are dominant this year. ` Who knows if that will translate in the playoffs but they are beating teams by 9 points a game.

If you took the median team in the East and put them in the west I think it is reasonable to assume that they would lose 3-5 more games.

But I don't think you can assume that a top team in the East would see the same drop off. Conversely if you took the Suns and put them in the East I don't think you could assume that they would win 3-5 more games.

Sure you can.

As I've said, a weaker schedule is a weaker schedule and the team playing it benefits from it.

Additionally, a tougher schedule is a tougher schedule and a team playing a tougher schedule is unlikely to have as good a record as they would playing a weaker schedule.

 

[trojanfan12]

I'm pretty sure what he meant is Lebron never been in this position where he is fighting to make the playoffs in late February since 2004-2005 which is a fact

Yeah, I knew what he meant and explained that (and the difference) in my post.

But thanks for clearing up what I already knew and said. lol

 

[Shanemansj13]

Yeah, I knew what he meant and explained that (and the difference) in my post.

But thanks for clearing up what I already knew and said. lol

Well what you were saying isn't a playoff push even in a sense. There is a huge difference being a #1, #2 or #3 seed and not playing your best basketball yet and...their current situation is you aren't playing your best basketball AND trying to get your young team into the playoffs then having to play a #1 or #2 seed in the first round. A totally different situation that his past teams have never faced before.

 

[Shanemansj13]

The Lakers have 22 games. I would think they need for two of the three teams to struggle: Spurs, Clip and Kings and they probably need to have a very good stretch to get into the playoffs. They are 3 games out.

There are 10 games against non-playoff teams. They probably need to win all of those and make sure they go 2-0 against the clip, beat the Kings and win 4-5 games against playoff teams.

14-8. Does that get them into the playoff. Maybe? But only if those other teams struggle.

 

[dtgold88]

Uuuuh, what?

He hasn't been in a playoff push in the sense that his teams have had making the playoffs pretty well locked up by this point in the season for the past 15 years.

But he has been in a playoff push in the sense of trying to make sure that he and his team are playing their best basketball going into the playoffs.

Pretty sure his main concern was always health. Never seemed to care too much about regular season. They lost some games down the stretch they had no business losing...and it never mattered.

 

[dtgold88]

Sure you can.

As I've said, a weaker schedule is a weaker schedule and the team playing it benefits from it.

Additionally, a tougher schedule is a tougher schedule and a team playing a tougher schedule is unlikely to have as good a record as they would playing a weaker schedule.

why do you dismiss the top teams in the East have played well against the top teams in the West?

 

[dtgold88]

The Lakers have 22 games. I would think they need for two of the three teams to struggle: Spurs, Clip and Kings and they probably need to have a very good stretch to get into the playoffs. They are 3 games out.

There are 10 games against non-playoff teams. They probably need to win all of those and make sure they go 2-0 against the clip, beat the Kings and win 4-5 games against playoff teams.

14-8. Does that get them into the playoff. Maybe? But only if those other teams struggle.

View attachment 199172

I have to say I miss the playoff excitement and not really being a factor in the offseason (other than the draft), but I would rather Lebron be struggling to make the playoffs in LA than here. I cannot imagine the angst here if he stayed and the Cavs were struggling to make the playoffs (or even just to be a top 4-5 seed).

 

[trojanfan12]

Well what you were saying isn't a playoff push even in a sense. There is a huge difference being a #1, #2 or #3 seed and not playing your best basketball yet and...their current situation is you aren't playing your best basketball AND trying to get your young team into the playoffs then having to play a #1 or #2 seed in the first round. A totally different situation that his past teams have never faced before.

Yes it is. It's just a different type of push.

One is to try to get into the playoffs, the other is trying to be at your best entering the playoffs.

Both involve their own sense of urgency.

Additionally, being in a push to make the playoffs 15 years ago, is still more experience with a playoff push than any of the Lakers kids have.

 

[bksballer89]

Yeah, I knew what he meant and explained that (and the difference) in my post.

But thanks for clearing up what I already knew and said. lol

You're welcome

 

[trojanfan12]

Pretty sure his main concern was always health. Never seemed to care too much about regular season. They lost some games down the stretch they had no business losing...and it never mattered.

I think he cared about the regular season in his first stint in Cleveland, his first year in Miami and maybe his first year back in Cleveland.

Of those, he probably cared least about the regular season in Miami because he had guys on his team who had been to the playoffs and won a title. But even then, he wanted to get off to a good start there.

His first stint in Cleveland and his first year back, I think he cared because, like the current Lakers, he had some guys (specifically Kyrie and Love) who had never been to the playoffs.

 

[dtgold88]

Yes it is. It's just a different type of push.

One is to try to get into the playoffs, the other is trying to be at your best entering the playoffs.

Both involve their own sense of urgency.

Additionally, being in a push to make the playoffs 15 years ago, is still more experience with a playoff push than any of the Lakers kids have.

Agree more than the current guys have seen, but doubtful something that happened to him 15 years ago when he was barely done being a teenager carries much weight to where he is now.

And I think you are mistaken about the "pushes" he experienced here. As mentioned, it was more to get healthy. They lost some bad games because they didn't really seem to care then turned it on in the playoffs.

 

[bksballer89]

The Lakers have 22 games. I would think they need for two of the three teams to struggle: Spurs, Clip and Kings and they probably need to have a very good stretch to get into the playoffs. They are 3 games out.

There are 10 games against non-playoff teams. They probably need to win all of those and make sure they go 2-0 against the clip, beat the Kings and win 4-5 games against playoff teams.

14-8. Does that get them into the playoff. Maybe? But only if those other teams struggle.

View attachment 199172

44-38 should be good enough. I can't see 2 of the other 3 teams finishing with fewer than 38 losses.

 

[dtgold88]

I think he cared about the regular season in his first stint in Cleveland, his first year in Miami and maybe his first year back in Cleveland.

Of those, he probably cared least about the regular season in Miami because he had guys on his team who had been to the playoffs and won a title. But even then, he wanted to get off to a good start there.

His first stint in Cleveland and his first year back, I think he cared because, like the current Lakers, he had some guys (specifically Kyrie and Love) who had never been to the playoffs.

I agree they cared in his first stint here, as they did win 66 and 61 games with far less talent than the Finals' teams in 2.0.

I doubt he takes a break in year 1 back if he cared all that much.

 

[trojanfan12]

why do you dismiss the top teams in the East have played well against the top teams in the West?

I don't.

But there is a difference between playing, for example, the Warriors, twice a season and 4-5 times a season.

Why do EC fans want to dismiss that playing a weaker schedule benefits the team playing it?

 

[bksballer89]

The Lakers have 22 games. I would think they need for two of the three teams to struggle: Spurs, Clip and Kings and they probably need to have a very good stretch to get into the playoffs. They are 3 games out.

There are 10 games against non-playoff teams. They probably need to win all of those and make sure they go 2-0 against the clip, beat the Kings and win 4-5 games against playoff teams.

14-8. Does that get them into the playoff. Maybe? But only if those other teams struggle.

View attachment 199172

The Lakers road games would concern me as a lakers fan. Coming off losses to Atlanta and New Orleans (without AD) on the road. None of those road games are easy except Phoenix and Knicks.

 

[dtgold88]

I don't.

But there is a difference between playing, for example, the Warriors, twice a season and 4-5 times a season.

Why do EC fans want to dismiss that playing a weaker schedule benefits the team playing it?

Can't speak for others, as I don't dismiss it. But seems to me in comparing the top teams, the records against each other would mean more than anything. Not end all be all as you are right.....doesn't matter what happens in reg. season.

 

[trojanfan12]

Agree more than the current guys have seen, but doubtful something that happened to him 15 years ago when he was barely done being a teenager carries much weight to where he is now.

And I think you are mistaken about the "pushes" he experienced here. As mentioned, it was more to get healthy. They lost some bad games because they didn't really seem to care then turned it on in the playoffs.

Experience is experience. It doesn't go away over time. I doubt he's forgotten what it takes to be chasing a playoff spot.

He's also been part of a couple of playoff pushes where seeding was important.

It's not just about getting to the playoffs healthy (although I agree that was the main focus) but it's also important to be playing well entering the playoffs.

As Lebron said himself, he's engaging earlier than he's used to the past few years.

So, there has always been a "ramp up" or playoff push, but the purpose and likely intensity of it has changed.

 

[Sparhawk]

the problem is that not signing Butler doesn't really free up a lot of cash for the Sixers, assuming that they resign Harris.

An article on Liberty Ballers says they would have $37.1M if Harris signs, Butler leaves, Ennis stays and J. Simmons leaves.

Sixers post-trade deadline salary cap analysis: where do the 76ers stand now?

Also have the $9M MLE.