2019 Offseason Thread

[dtgold88]

A difference?!?!


* sobs quietly *

Has LeBron ever had that?

2 legit inside and outside threats that are big men?

Shaq was washed.

Bosh was a lesser version of Davis's POTENTIAL.

I say potential because Bosh still got it done at a high level playing with a minimum of 3 other HoFers, I'm counting Allen.

Less see if Davis can do it surrounded by other good scoring options.

Don't @ me Heat Fans. Bosh was awesome and could have put up bigger numbers had he not been a Heatle.

But, he was never...THIS...on both sides of the ball.

The Lakers should use the Philly approach with Embiid, or at the very least, sit Boogie till XMas like the Dubs.

If he's healthy and in shape by playoff time?

Not sure many players have played with 2 legit inside and outside threats who are big men. I'm sure there are some I'm not thinking of.

 

[bksballer89]

Instant reaction after Free Agency:

East:
1. Milwaukee
2. Philly
3. Boston
4. New Jersey
5. Indiana
6. Miami
7. Toronto
8. Orlando

West:
1. Clippers
2. Denver
3. Utah
4. Lakers
5. Portland
6. Golden State
7. Houston
8. San Antonio

Like your East rankings for the most part. I would probably switch Indy and Toronto though with Oladipo possibly missing the start of the season.

I'm not a fan of your west rankings.

Not a huge Rockets fan but that's a regular season team. They're top 3 IMO. No way are they 7th.

Dude to load management/PG-13 missing the start of the season, I think Denver is probably the top seed out West this year.

My west would look like this probably.

1) Denver
2) Houston
3) Clippers
4) Jazz
5) Lakers
6) Portland
7) Warriors
8) Mavs

 

[trojanfan12]

ROFL...They are nothing alike. Kukoc is lighter years better than Kuzma could ever hope to be.

You sure?

Career stats:

Kukoc: 11.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.7apg, 44.7% from the field, 33.5% from 3 and 72.9% on free throws.

Kuzma: 17.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.2apg, 45.3% from the field, 33.5% from 3 and 73.1% on free throws.

 

[trojanfan12]

Secondly, want to bring up the stats to compare?

I did.

 

[dtgold88]

No. We get it. It's one thing getting into a debate on Kevin Love being better than Bosh (he wasn't). It's a whole another issue with AD who I think we can all agree was better than Bosh. Bosh was never a top 10 player in the league, let alone top 5 like AD.

Not saying Love was better, but their careers were similar (Love/Bosh). Both put up extreme type numbers pre-Lebron then similar after joining him...each taking a step back to be the 3rd guy on a title contender (and/or winner). Each a solid team player willing to do what was needed to win. And, of course, each got their share of grief when things didn't go well.

 

[Wamu]

uniform prejudice...?

Yep. I bet you can't guess which NBA team.

 

[Bart]

First of all, I said TYPE player


Secondly, want to bring up the stats to compare?

What do you mean by "type" then?

Kuzma's performance on a mediocre team and Kukoc's performance on a championship team are not even comparable.

 

[dtgold88]

I do think Bosh was a top 10 player when he signed in Miami.

Difference is, as I have said before, I think there are like 8 or 9 guys currently who would have been top 3-4 players in most eras.

Hard to say if he was, but no doubt a case could be made and I think many thought he was at the time.

 

[dtgold88]

I lived there for free for 4-5 months, would still be there if the job I thought I had lined up was still there when I got there. Luckily, my brother had an apartment through USD and I lived with him until I ran through most of my money and moved back to NY (and back to my old job). San Diego has perfect weather IMO, as long as you're on the coastal side of the mountains. That ocean breeze is crucial.

Perfect weather and not the beyond awful traffic of LA.

 

[bksballer89]

For all the hate Jimmy Butler gets on here, just a reminder that Wolves were going to win low to mid 50 wins in 2018 before his injury but instead ended up as the 8th seed with 47 wins. They were the 3rd seed in the West at the time of his injury.

Dropped to a 36 win team last year with no Butler

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I love Kuzma, but dude isn't a star.

I won't say that he never will be (although I think it's unlikely) because he does seem willing to put in the work.

He needs to be more consistent on offense and while I disagree with some about how bad his defense is...it's also not good.

At the least, to ever be considered a star (or even close) he needs to do some serious work on his defense and he needs to get his 3 point shooting up from 33.5% for his career to about 36% or better.

Yeah, he's not Jabari Parker bad.

That Dude is a fatter Ced Ceballos one way type player.

But, he's never gonna be George, Kawhi, Butler, Middleton good either because of his defense.

A guy like Robert Covington would be perfect for the Lakers.

 

[tomodach10]

Yeah, he's not Jabari Parker bad.

That Dude is a fatter Ced Ceballos one way type player.

But, he's never gonna be George, Kawhi, Butler, Middleton good either because of his defense.

A guy like Robert Covington would be perfect for the Lakers.

You don't know that. He is still very young and has time to improve his defense.

 

[dtgold88]

I expect Steph to go off...nothing will change too drastically but my top 4 in the west right now would be:

Clippers
Jazz
Lakers
Warriors

But I also think the Nugs, Blazers and Rockets will be right there.

That’s 7 teams. Kinda crazy.

That being said, the East is going to be very good too, not as good overall but right there.

76ers
Bucks
Pacers
Celtics
Nets
Raptors
Heat

I think the Hawks could take a step but might be too early to say they make the playoffs

I'd probably go with these teams as far as having a decent shot to come out of their conference......

LAC
LAL
Utah
Denver
GS
Portland



Philly
Bucks
Celtics
Indiana

I think West again is much better at the top as opposed to being even last season IMO. at this point might be between Philly/Bucks in the East IMO with a drop to the Cs and even bigger drop to Indiana. a lot of change at the top for those teams to really have a good gauge at this point.

agree Atlanta might be ready for a huge leap. Maybe playoffs.

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

I want to see Kuz become a Toni Kukoc (on the Bulls) type player for the Lakers

He already is.

Scores and does virtually nothing else.

 

[trojanfan12]

Yeah, he's not Jabari Parker bad.

That Dude is a fatter Ced Ceballos one way type player.

But, he's never gonna be George, Kawhi, Butler, Middleton good either because of his defense.

Yeah, I agree. I think he's athletic enough to be a good defender. I don't think he's winning any DPOY awards or ever going to be making any All Defense teams.

But if he can just get to a level where he's above average defensively, it would be huge for him. He might be able to be a 2nd tier level star.

 

[dtgold88]

Eh.

I disagree.

If you list out the top 20 players in the league, like 70% of them are in the West. The top teams in the East either made lateral moves or got worse.

6ers and Bucks might be able to hang with the top West teams, but the balance of power still very much favorable the West in terms of depth and probable quality at the top too

Made a similar comment.....while I thought they were pretty even last year, I do think the West again is much better at the top (and throughout)

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

What do you mean by "type" then?

Kuzma's performance on a mediocre team and Kukoc's performance on a championship team are not even comparable.

What was Kukoc's role on the Bulls?

 

[Black Adam]

You sure?

Career stats:

Kukoc: 11.6ppg, 4.2rpg, 3.7apg, 44.7% from the field, 33.5% from 3 and 72.9% on free throws.

Kuzma: 17.6ppg, 5.9rpg, 2.2apg, 45.3% from the field, 33.5% from 3 and 73.1% on free throws.

Umm... oops...

 

[Mecca of the “B” Team]

You don't know that. He is still very young and has time to improve his defense.

Yeah, he tries real hard and he's improved a smidge.

But, he's already 23, not some 19 year old with high upside.

He's never going to be Klay, Kawhi, George , Butler or even Middleton.

Could be wrong. But, I feel pretty confident about it right now.

 

[Black Adam]

Yep. I bet you can't guess which NBA team.

I Dunno, some team in South Florida...