2021 NBA regular season thread

[bksballer89]

Yeah, but I think he's had some significant injuries.

Exactly. Nurk before that injury 2 years ago to the Nurk now isn't close to being the same player.

Dame is turning 31 this summer....not a lot of time to waste

 

[DJ Fieri]

Yeah, but I think he's had some significant injuries.

True but it would be different if he were in his early 30's....but they do have Kanter so they may be better off with him.

 

[tlance]

They've done it in the past. If not for the Shaq/Kobe Lakers, they might have gotten a title with those Sheed/Pippen/Stoudemire teams. That loss to the Lakers in the '00 WCF ruined that team.

I am not saying it is impossible.

What I am saying is that championship should not be the expectation for that duo in that city.

They have done quite well all things considered.

 

[dtgold88]

Steph good but not video game good last night. Nice game by GS last night...especially the bench.

 

[Heatles84]

I agree with that. But I also think it is a bit unrealistic to expect Portland to be able to put those pieces together.

Lillard and McCollum is not close to LeBron and AD. And they play in Portland. They are not the type of market that is going to attract marquis free agents or even vets to play at a discount.

So how are they supposed to get those pieces to pair with a top 2 who are really good, but not elite?

McCollum and Dame have been together for 8 years. AD and Lebron are in year 2 together.

Again, what other good moves has Portland made?

Take Milwaukee for example, probably the most pedestrian NBA city, yet they have a legit title contender on their hands. They've been able to get talent around Giannis. Portland isn't the greatest city, but damn if it's not better than Milwaukee.

 

[bksballer89]

McCollum and Dame have been together for 8 years. AD and Lebron are in year 2 together.

Again, what other good moves has Portland made?

Take Milwaukee for example, probably the most pedestrian NBA city, yet they have a legit title contender on their hands. They've been able to get talent around Giannis. Portland isn't the greatest city, but damn if it's not better than Milwaukee.

They play in the east. There are a few seasons where Portland would have been a top 2 or 3 seed had they played in the East.

 

[bksballer89]

 

[dtgold88]

McCollum and Dame have been together for 8 years. AD and Lebron are in year 2 together.

Again, what other good moves has Portland made?

Take Milwaukee for example, probably the most pedestrian NBA city, yet they have a legit title contender on their hands. They've been able to get talent around Giannis. Portland isn't the greatest city, but damn if it's not better than Milwaukee.

OK.....but Giannis probably a better player to build around than 2 short guards.

 

[Heatles84]

I am not saying it is impossible.

What I am saying is that championship should not be the expectation for that duo in that city.

They have done quite well all things considered.

I'm not putting that on the duo, I'm putting it on the organization. Hell, Orlando came close to winning a title not too long ago and they're a worst city than Portland.

 

[Heatles84]

They play in the east. There are a few seasons where Portland would have been a top 2 or 3 seed had they played in the East.

I think the last few years has shown that the gap between the East and the West is starting to narrow.

 

[bksballer89]

I think the last few years has shown that the gap between the East and the West is starting to narrow.

I agree but that year they made the conference finals, they possibly make the finals out east. I do wish they could have done more to find a legit 3rd scorer but don't think there's a big difference between Milwaukee and Portland outside of one conference being more difficult

 

[fightinfunbags]

McCollum and Dame have been together for 8 years. AD and Lebron are in year 2 together.

Again, what other good moves has Portland made?

Take Milwaukee for example, probably the most pedestrian NBA city, yet they have a legit title contender on their hands. They've been able to get talent around Giannis. Portland isn't the greatest city, but damn if it's not better than Milwaukee.

Is Milwaukee really a contender though? It seems like they’ve been exposed come playoff time.

 

[msgkings322]

Dwyane Wade just bought a stake in the Utah Jazz for whatever that's worth

 

[tlance]

McCollum and Dame have been together for 8 years. AD and Lebron are in year 2 together.

Again, what other good moves has Portland made?

Take Milwaukee for example, probably the most pedestrian NBA city, yet they have a legit title contender on their hands. They've been able to get talent around Giannis. Portland isn't the greatest city, but damn if it's not better than Milwaukee.

AD and LeBron are a lot better than Lillard and CJ.

Giannis is better than Lillard.

Tell me, in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player?

I can think of 2. The ‘16 Warriors and the Billups Pistons.

And, Lillard probably isn’t even the best PG in the league.

You keep saying they should have gotten more talent, but how? Why is a free agent going to pick Portland over the chance to play with LeBron or Kawhi in LA, or Durant/Harden in Brooklyn.

They aren’t. They are going to do the best they can with players like Covington, Nurkic, etc around Lillard and CJ.

And that is enough for a very good team. Not a championship team though.

 

[Wamu]

AD and LeBron are a lot better than Lillard and CJ.

Giannis is better than Lillard.

Tell me, in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player?

I can think of 2. The ‘16 Warriors and the Billups Pistons.

And, Lillard probably isn’t even the best PG in the league.

You keep saying they should have gotten more talent, but how? Why is a free agent going to pick Portland over the chance to play with LeBron or Kawhi in LA, or Durant/Harden in Brooklyn.

They aren’t. They are going to do the best they can with players like Covington, Nurkic, etc around Lillard and CJ.

And that is enough for a very good team. Not a championship team though.

"in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player"

I can think of a couple you didn't mention. The '87 & '88 Lakers, Magic. The '89 & '90 Pistons, Isiah.

 

[tlance]

I'm not putting that on the duo, I'm putting it on the organization. Hell, Orlando came close to winning a title not too long ago and they're a worst city than Portland.

And that is my point.

You are blaming the organization for something that they realistically should not be expected to accomplish.

Because the duo that they have “wasted” isn’t an elite duo. They are simply a very good one.

 

[tlance]

"in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player"

I can think of a couple you didn't mention. The '87 & '88 Lakers, Magic. The '89 & '90 Pistons, Isiah.

Ok, fair enough.

And you had to go back to the 80s to do it.

Also, Magic at 6’9 is a bit different IMO. More like LeBron than Lillard.

 

[trojanfan12]

Tell me, in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player?

I can think of 2. The ‘16 Warriors and the Billups Pistons.

Magic and the Showtime Lakers. IT and the Bad Boy Pistons

 

[bksballer89]

Dwyane Wade just bought a stake in the Utah Jazz for whatever that's worth

Worth a lot. Happy for him

 

[dtgold88]

AD and LeBron are a lot better than Lillard and CJ.

Giannis is better than Lillard.

Tell me, in the last 40 years, how many teams have won titles with a PG as their best player?

I can think of 2. The ‘16 Warriors and the Billups Pistons.

And, Lillard probably isn’t even the best PG in the league.

You keep saying they should have gotten more talent, but how? Why is a free agent going to pick Portland over the chance to play with LeBron or Kawhi in LA, or Durant/Harden in Brooklyn.

They aren’t. They are going to do the best they can with players like Covington, Nurkic, etc around Lillard and CJ.

And that is enough for a very good team. Not a championship team though.

Mostly agree with this, but while AI never won one, maybe he could have if he had better #2 and #3 teammates than Mutombo, McKie, Hill and/or Ratliff?