2018-2019 NBA Regular Season Thread

[dtgold88]

One target made his decision before FA even started, and well before Lebron announced he was going to the Lakers (Paul George). Durant was always coming back for at least 1 more season. After that, it was trying to trade for Kawhi, which again the Spurs simply refused to do (and they are on the verge of slipping out of the playoffs as a result, I might add). It's not like there were plenty of options.

Lebron and PG have phones. Certainly if PG was considering LA to play with Lebron he could have asked Lebron if he was going there, right?

But agree other than him not many options. Kyrie has made it clear he does not want to play with Lebron (though it's Kyrie so that could change) and seems like KD isn't interested in the circus.

 

[shopson67]

They've won 5 of 7 with him playing. Did you miss that?

Which 5 of which 7? The Lakers are 5-9 since he came back from injury, including losing 5 of their last 6. Hey, but he's "activated playoff mode"....

 

[dtgold88]

Which 5 of which 7? The Lakers are 5-9 since he came back from injury, including losing 5 of their last 6. Hey, but he's "activated playoff mode"....

Thought we were talking Cavs and Love.

 

[shopson67]

Agree they wait until out as Lebron does not want to be called a quitter again.

And I do get your logic but shame on Magic if he tells us this was the plan as we all know it wasn't. As of now, he has sold Lebron a bill of goods. Make or break in the summer for him.

That bill of goods depended on Lebron staying healthy. He didn't hold up his end of the bargain.

 

[shopson67]

Thought we were talking Cavs and Love.

It was a discussion about shutting Lebron down.

Why the hell would anyone be talking about the Cavs? Keep discussions about those tankers on their team board.

 

[CitySushi]

Probably fair, but as wiggy pointed out others were dealing with ailments as well. I get you aren't saying it's why they lost, but the person to whom I replied yesterday was implying as much.

Yes, but I think on a scale of what injuries other players were dealing with, Curry's injury was not only the most significant in terms of type of injury, but also to the caliber of player. What we've seen over the years is that Steph IS the system for the Warriors. Without him, you can see the teams record even with Durant. Steph is that important to the team and what they do.

 

[dtgold88]

That bill of goods depended on Lebron staying healthy. He didn't hold up his end of the bargain.

A lock they make the playoffs if he stayed healthy? Been playing lately...not looking so good.

 

[WiggyRuss]

Lebron and PG have phones. Certainly if PG was considering LA to play with Lebron he could have asked Lebron if he was going there, right?

But agree other than him not many options. Kyrie has made it clear he does not want to play with Lebron (though it's Kyrie so that could change) and seems like KD isn't interested in the circus.

its just not lebrons style though

lebron absolutely did not want kyrie to leave cleveland, but made no effort to call him and smooth things over

he feels that kind of shit is beneath him- his ego is that massive.

 

[flyerhawk]

Arguments about what could've happened in long since completed series can never be resolved and are pointless. Who knows what happens if so and so doesn't get hurt, or if so and so doesn't get suspended, or if this call hadn't been made, or.....blah blah blah. Let it go and move on.

No one is reliving the past. What's done is done.

But when people talking about the inevitability of the future and use the past as justification, then the past becomes relevant.

 

[flyerhawk]

A lock they make the playoffs if he stayed healthy? Been playing lately...not looking so good.

He's definitely not fully healthy/in shape right now. Whether that is because of the hamstring or Father Time has finally come collecting remains to be seen.

IMO, if Lebron was Lebron of last year the Lakers are a playoff team. A one and done playoff team but a playoff team nonetheless.

 

[trojanfan12]

Here's the thing on the Steph Curry 100%/not 100% debate.

You can make a solid argument that if the Cavs were fully healthy, they win the title in 2015.

You can also make a solid argument that if Steph is 100% in 2016 (and Draymond wasn't stupid) that the Warriors win the title in 2016.

Either way, the overall result is the same...the Cavs have 1 title in the last 4 and the Warriors have 3.

The only difference is that the Warriors would be coming off of a 3-peat instead of a back to back.

Neither of those titles should be diminished in any way and the Cavs comeback in 2016 was an amazing accomplishment because the Warriors still should have been able to win at least one of those 3 games.

 

[dtgold88]

It was a discussion about shutting Lebron down.

Why the hell would anyone be talking about the Cavs? Keep discussions about those tankers on their team board.

Because this was also mentioned in the comment to which you replied - "last 7 games that Love has played the Cavs are 5-2."

 

[shopson67]

A lock they make the playoffs if he stayed healthy? Been playing lately...not looking so good.

All momentum was lost on Christmas day, when they were in a home court slot for the postseason.

 

[shopson67]

Because this was also mentioned in the comment to which you replied - "last 7 games that Love has played the Cavs are 5-2."

Again, who the f cares about the Cavs this season? Only Cavs fans.

 

[dtgold88]

Yes, but I think on a scale of what injuries other players were dealing with, Curry's injury was not only the most significant in terms of type of injury, but also to the caliber of player. What we've seen over the years is that Steph IS the system for the Warriors. Without him, you can see the teams record even with Durant. Steph is that important to the team and what they do.

Huh? Love had a concussion DURING the series. That is less significant than a guy who got hurt 2 months prior? Kyrie had also missed a lot of time earlier in the season and would think his knee was less than ideal.

 

[trojanfan12]

A lock they make the playoffs if he stayed healthy? Been playing lately...not looking so good.

True, but he also isn't in shape after sitting out as long as he has. Several of the losses have been due to a collapse late in the game or not being able to complete a come back.

I think that's where we see the injury to Lebron still effecting him. He just hasn't had it at that point in the games. He's supposed to be the closer and just hasn't had enough left to do it.

 

[msgkings322]

Here's the thing on the Steph Curry 100%/not 100% debate.

You can make a solid argument that if the Cavs were fully healthy, they win the title in 2015.

You can also make a solid argument that if Steph is 100% in 2016 (and Draymond wasn't stupid) that the Warriors win the title in 2016.

Either way, the overall result is the same...the Cavs have 1 title in the last 4 and the Warriors have 3.

The only difference is that the Warriors would be coming off of a 3-peat instead of a back to back.

Neither of those titles should be diminished in any way and the Cavs comeback in 2016 was an amazing accomplishment because the Warriors still should have been able to win at least one of those 3 games.

If we're revising history, if you reverse the first two titles and the Ws win in 2016 instead of 2015 they probably don't get Durant and maybe only have 1 title. maybe the Cavs have 3 and counting.

Once you change one part of the timeline everything else is in flux

 

[dtgold88]

Here's the thing on the Steph Curry 100%/not 100% debate.

You can make a solid argument that if the Cavs were fully healthy, they win the title in 2015.

You can also make a solid argument that if Steph is 100% in 2016 (and Draymond wasn't stupid) that the Warriors win the title in 2016.

Either way, the overall result is the same...the Cavs have 1 title in the last 4 and the Warriors have 3.

The only difference is that the Warriors would be coming off of a 3-peat instead of a back to back.

Neither of those titles should be diminished in any way and the Cavs comeback in 2016 was an amazing accomplishment because the Warriors still should have been able to win at least one of those 3 games.

I do think you could make an argument for both, but Kyrie and Love missing 11 of 12 games combined in no way should be compared to Curry playing every game but perhaps not being 100%. Kyrie was far from 100% in 2015 before his injury in the Finals, but he played pretty well in Game 1, right?

 

[dtgold88]

All momentum was lost on Christmas day, when they were in a home court slot for the postseason.

Except Lebron hasn't cared about the regular season in years.

 

[dtgold88]

Again, who the f cares about the Cavs this season? Only Cavs fans.

No reason for a meltdown little buckaroo.