2021 NBA regular season thread

[DJ Fieri]

You could also say that playing with a balance of the roster that was recently compared to the worst team in the league would also hurt his assist numbers, correct?

Yeah, that.

LOL.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Are all those totals before and after Harden joined, or only after?

I believe they were 10-9 before the trade for Harden....

 

[shopson67]

in todays NBA having a guy that cant shoot on the floor is a handicap. It can be made up- but it basically means you really cant live with another guy like that on the court or you start getting into real trouble.

Soooo.....Ben Simmons?

 

[Wamu]

Pat McCaw FTW

 

[Wamu]

hard to argue with the truth. the best ability is AVAIL-ability...

Did you say argue? Gonna need some popcorn. What's the topic? Hell it don't matter. I'll start by saying you're wrong. That should end the argument.

 

[fightinfunbags]

Soooo.....Ben Simmons?

You would think. But Sixers were an 0-4 mess with him out recently. Dude is an enigma. Have no idea how it works but it does. He was 5-6 in the 1Q the other night. Even took two 16 footers...2 shot attempts the rest of the game. Crazy.

 

[tlance]

@flyerhawk said it best. Draymond is the ultimate glue guy that sacrifices his game/body for the betterment of the team.

Not sure anyone thinks of Simmons as a glue guy.
As @fightinfunbags said, he's an enigma. Maybe he gets unlocked. And maybe he doesn't.

Simmons might be the better player by stats, but as far as their value to their respective teams, does GSW win their titles without Draymond?

I don’t think so.

Klay and Draymond were every bit as important as Curry to that team’s success. Maybe even more.

 

[trojanfan12]

Looking like we won't make it past the 2nd round.

Not sure how he'll do it but Pelinka needs to add a 3rd guy to form a big 3. Preferably somebody younger and not injury prone.

I'll worry if/when they get to the playoffs and Lebron or AD are out (or go back out during the playoffs).

Beal would be perfect. But, very difficult to acquire.

yeah, definitely limited with our cap space if memory serves...

Yeah, depends on the contracts and what guys are making. They may be able to clear the cap space to get him. But it would pretty much ruin their depth. I don't know if they can unload enough contracts to clear space by just not re-signing guys.

 

[shopson67]

Starting to feel like the Lakers are basically locked into that play-in game unless they find a way to beat Portland tomorrow night.

5th: Mavs (38-28): vs Cavs, @ Cavs, @ Grizzlies, vs Pelicans, vs Raptors, @TPups (win 4-5? Finish 5th)
6th: Lakers (37-29, tie-breaker conference %): @ Blazers, vs Suns, vs Knicks, vs Rockets, @ Pacers, @ Pelicans (win 3? Finish 6th)
7th: Blazers (37-29): vs Lakers, vs Spurs, vs Rockets, @ Jazz, @ Suns, vs Denver (win 3? Finish 7th)
8th: Warriors (34-33): vs Thunder, vs Jazz, vs Suns, vs Pelicans, vs Grizzlies (win 2? Finish tied for 8th)
9th: Grizzlies (33-33): @ Raptors, vs Pelicans, vs Mavs, vs Kings, vs Kings, @ Warriors (win 3? Finish tied for 8th)
10th: Spurs (31-34): @ Kings, @ Blazers, vs Bucks, @ Nets, @ Knicks, vs Suns, vs Suns (win 1? Finish tied for 10th)
11th: Pelicans (30-36): @ Sixers, @ Hornets, @ Grizzlies, @ Mavs, @ Warriors, vs Lakers (win 2? Finish tied for 10th)

Tiebreakers could be big...

 

[flyerhawk]

You could also say that playing with a balance of the roster that was recently compared to the worst team in the league would also hurt his assist numbers, correct?

I think that assists are a stat that can be useful for measuring the effectiveness of a player but can also be misleading. TJ McConnell is 13th in the league in assists per game. Would you say he is a good offensive player?

Stats in a vacuum rarely tell the whole story. Especially when viewed in isolation.

 

[shopson67]

I'll worry if/when they get to the playoffs and Lebron or AD are out (or go back out during the playoffs).





Yeah, depends on the contracts and what guys are making. They may be able to clear the cap space to get him. But it would pretty much ruin their depth. I don't know if they can unload enough contracts to clear space by just not re-signing guys.

Next year is finally the last year of paying Luol Deng, lol!!!

 

[shopson67]

I think that assists are a stat that can be useful for measuring the effectiveness of a player but can also be misleading. TJ McConnell is 13th in the league in assists per game. Would you say he is a good offensive player?

Stats in a vacuum rarely tell the whole story. Especially when viewed in isolation.

....or when they don't fit your argument

 

[DJ Fieri]

I think that assists are a stat that can be useful for measuring the effectiveness of a player but can also be misleading. TJ McConnell is 13th in the league in assists per game. Would you say he is a good offensive player?

Stats in a vacuum rarely tell the whole story. Especially when viewed in isolation.

He's a really good passer.

 

[shopson67]

You would think. But Sixers were an 0-4 mess with him out recently. Dude is an enigma. Have no idea how it works but it does. He was 5-6 in the 1Q the other night. Even took two 16 footers...2 shot attempts the rest of the game. Crazy.

Warriors are 3-5 without Dray this year, 31-28 with him. FG% jumps from 41.7 to 47.3 with him, and the 3% jumps from 35.4 to 37.7, despite his own poor 3%. His impact is more than just getting assists from passing to Steph.

 

[shopson67]

You would think. But Sixers were an 0-4 mess with him out recently. Dude is an enigma. Have no idea how it works but it does. He was 5-6 in the 1Q the other night. Even took two 16 footers...2 shot attempts the rest of the game. Crazy.

Just for giggles, 2021 comparison:

Simmons scores 8 more ppg on 4 more shots and 4 more FTs per game, basically even on rebounds, steals, blocks, fouls, and turnovers, Dray gets 2 more assists per game. Both are excellent defenders. Simmons is 6 years younger and 4" taller, about the same weight.

 

[DJ Fieri]

Sign and trade Schroder and add Kuz for Beal.

That's about the best we could do and that's probably not enough.

 

[flyerhawk]

5th: Mavs (38-28): vs Cavs, @ Cavs, @ Grizzlies, vs Pelicans, vs Raptors, @TPups (win 4-5? Finish 5th)
6th: Lakers (37-29, tie-breaker conference %): @ Blazers, vs Suns, vs Knicks, vs Rockets, @ Pacers, @ Pelicans (win 3? Finish 6th)
7th: Blazers (37-29): vs Lakers, vs Spurs, vs Rockets, @ Jazz, @ Suns, vs Denver (win 3? Finish 7th)
8th: Warriors (34-33): vs Thunder, vs Jazz, vs Suns, vs Pelicans, vs Grizzlies (win 2? Finish tied for 8th)
9th: Grizzlies (33-33): @ Raptors, vs Pelicans, vs Mavs, vs Kings, vs Kings, @ Warriors (win 3? Finish tied for 8th)
10th: Spurs (31-34): @ Kings, @ Blazers, vs Bucks, @ Nets, @ Knicks, vs Suns, vs Suns (win 1? Finish tied for 10th)
11th: Pelicans (30-36): @ Sixers, @ Hornets, @ Grizzlies, @ Mavs, @ Warriors, vs Lakers (win 2? Finish tied for 10th)

Tiebreakers could be big...

The next 3 games will probably determine where the Lakers end up. All 3 are going to be tough games especially that Knicks game which will be the 2nd of back to back road games. And the Lakers have another pair of back to back road games to finish the season.

 

[flyerhawk]

Just for giggles, 2021 comparison:

Simmons scores 8 more ppg on 4 more shots and 4 more FTs per game, basically even on rebounds, steals, blocks, fouls, and turnovers, Dray gets 2 more assists per game. Both are excellent defenders. Simmons is 6 years younger and 4" taller, about the same weight.

Simmons is arguably the best defensive player in the NBA this year. So he is similar to Dray of 2015 in that regard.

 

[flyerhawk]

....or when they don't fit your argument

Green is pretty much ignored on the offensive side of the ball. So good on him that he is racking up assists. If he wasn't doing that, he would be a bench player. His lack of scoring threat, makes it harder for other players because there is a free defensive player roaming around.


I get it. You think Draymond Green is a good offensive player. I disagree. As do the analytics.

 

[flyerhawk]

He's a really good passer.

He is a very good passer. And a terrible shooter.

 

[DJ Fieri]

He is a very good passer. And a terrible shooter.

56% and 33% isn't terrible.