2021-2022 NBA Season

[flyerhawk]

I’m just being a fan and getting giddy over a mid to late first round find. Kid is just 21 and has a long way to go but he looks promising. That’s why I’m pushing back on people saying the Sixers have wasted a year. I don’t think they have. At a minimum:
- they’ve handed the keys to Maxey and for the most part kid has shown out. He takes care of the ball. His game has evolved. He still needs a ton of work defending his position (Bane lit him up last night). But he doesn’t get that growth without minutes and if Simmons is there or they brought in a vet PG he doesn’t get those minutes
- Embiid has figured out that next level…how to dominate every night out and how to make the team better by playing through him. His assist numbers are misleading because of the way the stat works. The way most teams play him, he has to pass out of the double and it takes one more pass to get the best shot. No assist for Embiid but he is the spark that gets that open look. I have always felt like the Ben Jo partnership actually held both back in evolving their game. Checks out so far on Embiid. He’s the clear cut alpha now and he can be that guy without fear that the other dude would be all up in his bag of feelings.
Sixers have made progress this year. With the growth of Maxey, I’m now more in favor of doing something this trade deadline than rolling the dice on Harden, Dame, Beal etc…this summer. A deal for that player will likely cost you Maxey with Simmons. Maxey is still 3 years away from entering his prime. He’s never gonna threaten to be the Batman the way Harden could threaten to be that guy with Embiid. Roles are more clear. If they round out the group with Barnes and Halliburton they can close with:
PG Halliburton/Maxey
SG Maxey/Curry
SF Barnes/Thybulle
PF Harris/Barnes
C Embiid

They have flexibility there to match up with a ton of different styles and a ton of different teams.

Harris has really been playing well of late. Seems like he's finally shaken off the Covid issues.

You have to think that Morey is going to make a move at this point. The team is playing well right but they aren't a title team as constructed. But a few pieces could go a long way.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Harris has really been playing well of late. Seems like he's finally shaken off the Covid issues.

You have to think that Morey is going to make a move at this point. The team is playing well right but they aren't a title team as constructed. But a few pieces could go a long way.

I think it’s two key things for me:
- The league is wide open. I don’t think any of us saw that happening early on. Warriors looked on fire early, Suns brought back everybody, Lakers added a 3rd big gun, Bucks and Nets looked strong, Heat were resurgent. There was no impetus to jump at a move for role pieces that fit. Now? League is wide open.
- Growth of Maxey. Holding out for Morey’s white whale costs you time which we all can see but that white whale is going to take Maxey and Simmons and you could look as early as 2-3 years later and say in hindsight - Wow look at Maxey at 24. He’s better than 35 year old Harden now and he is much younger. Maybe I’m crazy but in 2-3 years I think it’s 50/50 that Maxey looks to be similar or better to an over the hill Harden or Dame on the back end.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

That’s pretty sad and low.
Why’d they do that?
The guy is 83 yrs old, a living legend, and he’s nicknamed “The Logo” FFS.
Was it because of his current ties to the Clippers? If so that’s kind of petty...especially as the 2 teams share the same damn house anyway.

 

[Wamu]

That’s pretty sad and low.
Why’d they do that? <---
The guy is 83 yrs old, a living legend, and he’s nicknamed “The Logo” FFS.
Was it because of his current ties to the Clippers? If so that’s kind of petty...especially as the 2 teams share the same damn house.

Because the Lakers are douchebags?

 

[flyerhawk]

I think it’s two key things for me:
- The league is wide open. I don’t think any of us saw that happening early on. Warriors looked on fire early, Suns brought back everybody, Lakers added a 3rd big gun, Bucks and Nets looked strong, Heat were resurgent. There was no impetus to jump at a move for role pieces that fit. Now? League is wide open.
- Growth of Maxey. Holding out for Morey’s white whale costs you time which we all can see but that white whale is going to take Maxey and Simmons and you could look as early as 2-3 years later and say in hindsight - Wow look at Maxey at 24. He’s better than 35 year old Harden now and he is much younger. Maybe I’m crazy but in 2-3 years I think it’s 50/50 that Maxey looks to be similar or better to an over the hill Harden or Dame on the back end.

I don't want Lillard. Small 30 something PGs that are showing signings of decline almost never rebound back to where they were.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Because the Lakers are douchebags?

Maybe. Who knows.
It’s just a strange random stupid thing.
Can’t be good for public relations either.
And I thought James Dolan was bad.
Sheeeesh.

 

[trojanfan12]

It doesn't bother me either, as you know I take nothing seriously here. But those 3 dominate this thread

I wouldn't include Shane in that. But yeah, the other 2 are definitely the "downside" of the Cavs having a good team. Can't really blame them for wanting to talk about their team....but page after page gets tedious and boring.

 

[Sparhawk]

I think it’s two key things for me:
- The league is wide open. I don’t think any of us saw that happening early on. Warriors looked on fire early, Suns brought back everybody, Lakers added a 3rd big gun, Bucks and Nets looked strong, Heat were resurgent. There was no impetus to jump at a move for role pieces that fit. Now? League is wide open.
- Growth of Maxey. Holding out for Morey’s white whale costs you time which we all can see but that white whale is going to take Maxey and Simmons and you could look as early as 2-3 years later and say in hindsight - Wow look at Maxey at 24. He’s better than 35 year old Harden now and he is much younger. Maybe I’m crazy but in 2-3 years I think it’s 50/50 that Maxey looks to be similar or better to an over the hill Harden or Dame on the back end.

Short of getting a stud, I would rather hold onto Maxey and Thybulle and just find compliment pieces for this year and maybe a year or two out.

Not sure I can call Maxey as good as 35 yo Harden, but he certainly is on a good path right now.

Was just looking at advanced stats, and it's crazy that Drummond has just as many stocks per game as Thybulle. Weird.

 

[Wamu]

Maybe. Who knows.
It’s just a strange random stupid thing.
Can’t be good for public relations either.
And I thought James Dolan was bad.
Sheeeesh.

It was a very bizarre thing to do. I hope the organization puts out a statement saying why they did this.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Any Lakers fans in here have any insight on that little brouhaha and issue between JWest and the FO?

 

[trojanfan12]

It was a very bizarre thing to do. I hope the organization puts out a statement saying why they did this.

Not sure the reasoning behind it. Not really something I'd support.

On the other hand, from the Lakers perspective, maybe don't go to other teams, in the same division, make them threats (one turned into a near dynasty) and then cry because they took away your freebie? He didn't retire...he became a direct competitor. I don't know of too many other teams giving free passes to their competitors for their games.

 

[Wamu]

I wouldn't include Shane in that. But yeah, the other 2 are definitely the "downside" of the Cavs having a good team. Can't really blame them for wanting to talk about their team....but page after page gets tedious and boring.

All the Cavs talk would be fine considering the unexpected season they're having so far. But one of the Cavs fans is a 100% nut-hugging yo-yo.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Short of getting a stud, I would rather hold onto Maxey and Thybulle and just find compliment pieces for this year and maybe a year or two out.

Not sure I can call Maxey as good as 35 yo Harden, but he certainly is on a good path right now.

Was just looking at advanced stats, and it's crazy that Drummond has just as many stocks per game as Thybulle. Weird.

Drummond is a great back up center. If the Sixers continue to struggle rebounding the ball, Doc has to find a way he can play more Drummond and Embiid together and take advantage of Jo’s ability to defend on the perimeter. The rebounding issues really bother me. There’s no reason why a team with Jo Embiid should be losing the rebounding battle the way they do. For me it’s 1B what they miss without Simmons (1A is perimeter defense).

 

[Wamu]

Not sure the reasoning behind it. Not really something I'd support.

On the other hand, from the Lakers perspective, maybe don't go to other teams, in the same division, make them threats (one turned into a near dynasty) and then cry because they took away your freebie? He didn't retire...he became a direct competitor. I don't know of too many other teams giving free passes to their competitors for their games.

The Logo has been associated with the Clippers since 2017. Now all of the sudden that's an issue for the Lakers?

I'd say the Warriors can also be called a competitor. He was with them from 2011 to '17. But the Lakers didn't have an issue with that.

Right now the team's decision makes no sense. Somebody in the organization has to say something publicly about this.

 

[Gman]

I’m just being a fan and getting giddy over a mid to late first round find. Kid is just 21 and has a long way to go but he looks promising. That’s why I’m pushing back on people saying the Sixers have wasted a year. I don’t think they have. At a minimum:
- they’ve handed the keys to Maxey and for the most part kid has shown out. He takes care of the ball. His game has evolved. He still needs a ton of work defending his position (Bane lit him up last night). But he doesn’t get that growth without minutes and if Simmons is there or they brought in a vet PG he doesn’t get those minutes
- Embiid has figured out that next level…how to dominate every night out and how to make the team better by playing through him. His assist numbers are misleading because of the way the stat works. The way most teams play him, he has to pass out of the double and it takes one more pass to get the best shot. No assist for Embiid but he is the spark that gets that open look. I have always felt like the Ben Jo partnership actually held both back in evolving their game. Checks out so far on Embiid. He’s the clear cut alpha now and he can be that guy without fear that the other dude would be all up in his bag of feelings.
Sixers have made progress this year. With the growth of Maxey, I’m now more in favor of doing something this trade deadline than rolling the dice on Harden, Dame, Beal etc…this summer. A deal for that player will likely cost you Maxey with Simmons. Maxey is still 3 years away from entering his prime. He’s never gonna threaten to be the Batman the way Harden could threaten to be that guy with Embiid. Roles are more clear. If they round out the group with Barnes and Halliburton they can close with:
PG Halliburton/Maxey
SG Maxey/Curry
SF Barnes/Thybulle
PF Harris/Barnes
C Embiid

They have flexibility there to match up with a ton of different styles and a ton of different teams.

The main risk facing the 76ers at all times is that Embiid suffers another major injury.

Joel seems to have put all that behind him... but his size, the way he plays, and his history... you just never know.

I think that's the main reason that folks criticize Philly for maybe/possibly wasting a year during Embiid's prime.

 

[fightinfunbags]

The main risk facing the 76ers at all times is that Embiid suffers another major injury.

Joel seems to have put all that behind him... but his size, the way he plays, and his history... you just never know.

I think that's the main reason that folks criticize Philly for maybe/possibly wasting a year during Embiid's prime.

Agree 100%. At the same time, that condition isn’t going to change so you don’t want to become a slave to that condition. I still agree with Morey’s premise that if you rush this thing and don’t get value back for Simmons the risk then becomes you waste all of Embiid in Philly vs wasting one year of Embiid in Philly, albeit an MVP caliber campaign.

Hey, why don’t we make everybody better and do that Jaylon Brown for Simmons swap straight up?

 

[Wamu]

The main risk facing the 76ers at all times is that Embiid suffers another major injury.

Joel seems to have put all that behind him... but his size, the way he plays, and his history... you just never know.

I think that's the main reason that folks criticize Philly for maybe/possibly wasting a year during Embiid's prime.

There's one safe way to make sure Embiid doesn't get injured again in Philly.

Trade him to Boston!

 

[Gman]

Agree 100%. At the same time, that condition isn’t going to change so you don’t want to become a slave to that condition. I still agree with Morey’s premise that if you rush this thing and don’t get value back for Simmons the risk then becomes you waste all of Embiid in Philly vs wasting one year of Embiid in Philly, albeit an MVP caliber campaign.

Hey, why don’t we make everybody better and do that Jaylon Brown for Simmons swap straight up?

lol... that trade would make the 76ers unstoppable.

 

[trojanfan12]

The Logo has been associated with the Clippers since 2017. Now all of the sudden that's an issue for the Lakers?

I'd say the Warriors can also be called a competitor. He was with them from 2011 to '17. But the Lakers didn't have an issue with that.

Right now the team's decision makes no sense. Somebody in the organization has to say something publicly about this.

No idea why it took so long. My guess is that it was forgotten about. Someone noticed it and someone made a decision. Like I said, I don't particularly support it.

But, like I said, from the Lakers perspective (Heck, from a business perspective)...you don't go work for a competitor and expect to keep your employee discount.

 

[Wamu]

No idea why it took so long. My guess is that it was forgotten about. Someone noticed it and someone made a decision. Like I said, I don't particularly support it.

But, like I said, from the Lakers perspective (Heck, from a business perspective)...--->you don't go work for a competitor and expect to keep your employee discount.<---

Totally agree. But the timing of this is really odd.