The 2024-2025 NBA Basketball Season

[Shanemansj13]

They definitely look a lot better on offense but this team was amazing to start the Mitchell Era, going 8-1 and also had an 18-2 stretch without 2 starters for much of it AND other key reserves. Having Jerome is huge as he's a true backup PG, as well.

let me ask you this.....we can go into the playoffs this season completely healthy and JB as coach or same injury issues as last season and Atkinson. Which scenario do you choose? easy choice for me. JB and health.

FYI.....none of this is to say I'd want JB back. But guy is getting a raw deal by so many. Improving every season in a rebuild with no cap room not exactly easy. Oh, and he also took them from a disaster on D to elite.

I think everyone appreciated JB but also saw his clear weaknesses at the same time so I do agree to some level he is getting the raw end of the deal but that's just kinda how the world works. Great defensive coach and I think for a team trying to make a big jump like Detroit he is a great fit. Atkinson is older and had the pleasure to work under geniuses like Bud and Kerr.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Doc overachieved with Philly, and the Celtics the year kg got hurt (took the eventual EC champs to 7 games without KG when even Lebron didn’t get to a game 7)

CLe can absolutely beat the Celtics in a series, even if not the most likely outcome

Will come down to how well the wings play

Boston is just a difficult matchup for them due to how much 5 out they can play to negate Mobley and Allen’s rim protection

Doc had his moments but for the most part he has underachieved for most of his career. He's had talented team and after talented team....extremely overrated.

I am not even thinking about Boston right now. They are clearly the best team and for good reason....now they have championship experience.

 

[thunderc]

LOL. I'll come right out and say it; I hate Harden. Trash ref-baiter.

Don’t forget the fn fat suit. Who does that? Harden that’s who.

 

[The Q]

Doc had his moments but for the most part he has underachieved for most of his career. He's had talented team and after talented team....extremely overrated.

I am not even thinking about Boston right now. They are clearly the best team and for good reason....now they have championship experience.

It’s fair.

His clipper teams were always flawed and they burned a ton of assets on the wrong guys (think Jared Dudley) but still could’ve done better.

I’m not sure how many finals teams he had that didn’t get there.

2009/2010 with Boston was his best work

 

[DJ Fieri]

Guy nothing special but gets a raw deal from so many. Team improved every season under him. Love what we've seen so far but is Atkinson really some guru when he came in with a 118-190 overall record?

He inherited a bad team and went 20-62 and 28-54 in his first 2 seasons.

2018-19 he led that team to a 42-40 record and a playoff spot.....that's progress from his first season.

And then they decided to trade for Irving and fired Atkinson after they started 28-34.

That's a raw deal. IMO. Atkinson is a good coach.

 

[dtgold88]

I think everyone appreciated JB but also saw his clear weaknesses at the same time so I do agree to some level he is getting the raw end of the deal but that's just kinda how the world works. Great defensive coach and I think for a team trying to make a big jump like Detroit he is a great fit. Atkinson is older and had the pleasure to work under geniuses like Bud and Kerr.

Not sure I'd call Kerr and especially Bud geniuses, but OK.

Noticed you didn't answer my question. JB and healthy roster for playoffs or Atkinson and same injury issues as last year.....which would you choose?

 

[logic]

I think everyone appreciated JB but also saw his clear weaknesses at the same time so I do agree to some level he is getting the raw end of the deal but that's just kinda how the world works. Great defensive coach and I think for a team trying to make a big jump like Detroit he is a great fit. Atkinson is older and had the pleasure to work under geniuses like Bud and Kerr.

So far we are loving JB in Detroit. But maybe that is only because we had Monty. He has the team playing above their level defensively and has gotten Cade and Ivey to play together. He did possibly cost us the Charlotte game by having no rebounders on the court for the final play. I would agree that he may be good for our development but may not be the guy for a roster looking at the Finals, from what I’ve seen. Pistons still have a long road until that is a concern.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Not sure I'd call Kerr and especially Bud geniuses, but OK.

Noticed you didn't answer my question. JB and healthy roster for playoffs or Atkinson and same injury issues as last year.....which would you choose?

Offensive geniuses....absolutely. They are two of the best in the game. Atkinson's specialty isn't defense.

I think you are focusing on the roster too much. It does make a difference but you do realize the CLE starters are playing 29 mpg and that is without Strus. They weren't beating Boston with that inept offense with no ball movement...simple as that. The changes on offense have a greater impact. As you saw last night the bench gave them a spark. They are doing it in different ways but it starts with coaching up the team in the new offense with ball movement. Not standing around playing 1-on-1 hero ball like they did A LOT in Bickerstaff's offense. If you don't agree with that, I am not sure we will agree about anything bc there is a clear coaching difference

 

[wildturkey]

Zach Lowe must have a non-compete that has to expire first. It's crazy he hasn't been hired by anyone since ESPN let him go

 

[Shanemansj13]

So far we are loving JB in Detroit. But maybe that is only because we had Monty. He has the team playing above their level defensively and has gotten Cade and Ivey to play together. He did possibly cost us the Charlotte game by having no rebounders on the court for the final play. I would agree that he may be good for our development but may not be the guy for a roster looking at the Finals, from what I’ve seen. Pistons still have a long road until that is a concern.

Yeah if there was a weakness it was the in game adjustments and lineups as well as the offense would stall for long periods of time. Basically just a screen to switch the defender and 1-on-1 ball. He is a great defensive coach though and you will see the effort.

 

[dtgold88]

Offensive geniuses....absolutely. They are two of the best in the game. Atkinson's specialty isn't defense.

I think you are focusing on the roster too much. It does make a difference but you do realize the CLE starters are playing 29 mpg and that is without Strus. They weren't beating Boston with that inept offense with no ball movement...simple as that. The changes on offense have a greater impact. As you saw last night the bench gave them a spark. They are doing it in different ways but it starts with coaching up the team in the new offense with ball movement. Not standing around playing 1-on-1 hero ball like they did A LOT in Bickerstaff's offense. If you don't agree with that, I am not sure we will agree about anything bc there is a clear coaching difference

Can make a strong case we played Boston better than anyone in the postseason last year, including the Western Champs.....and that was without Allen and then Mitchell (as well as Levert and Wade for games).

as to the 1 on 1 hero ball I have definitely seen that this year in some of the closer games.....but it's happening less as the guy who does that most for us is Mitchell and it seems clear Garland is the better player so far to run the offense in those situations........and Mitchell will defer to him with him playing so well (also not as many close games so far). This is also a leaguewide thing not a JB thing as I'm sure you remember when it was Lebron playing hero ball.

I'll go ahead and answer the pretty simple question I asked......give me JB and a healthy team and any reasonable person knows that is an easy decision.

 

[Shanemansj13]

Not sure I'd call Kerr and especially Bud geniuses, but OK.

Noticed you didn't answer my question. JB and healthy roster for playoffs or Atkinson and same injury issues as last year.....which would you choose?

I’m not sure why you keep references injuries. We saw JB for years the offense was what we witnessed. Static, little movement, etc. Nobody cares about what a new coach would do if a certain scenario when he wasn’t coaching the team. You aren’t focusing on the main points. Here is a video to educate you on the new offense. Coaching matters absolutely way more than you believe. Coaches have a philosphy and like Kerr—fast pace, ball movement, players going to specific spots on the court…he is putting the ball in Mobley’s hands which giving him more confidence and on the right spot on the floor. Atkinson does not believe in the mid-range jumper. 3’s or guys get an easy bucket or post play. So many CLEAR differences, too many to list.

 

[dtgold88]

I’m not sure why you keep references injuries. We saw JB for years the offense was what we witnessed. Static, little movement, etc. Nobody cares about what a new coach would do if a certain scenario when he wasn’t coaching the team. You aren’t focusing on the main points. Here is a video to educate you on the new offense. Coaching matters absolutely way more than you believe. Coaches have a philosphy and like Kerr—fast pace, ball movement, players going to specific spots on the court…he is putting the ball in Mobley’s hands which giving him more confidence and on the right spot on the floor. Atkinson does not believe in the mid-range jumper. 3’s or guys get an easy bucket or post play. So many CLEAR differences, too many to list.

Not sure when you are the one who is scared to answer simple questions you come with a condescending tone based on lack of your own comprehension. Ironic, eh?

I never said Atkinson or coaching has or does not make a difference. Said he's been fantastic and the offense definitely looks a lot better. But it's factual that we improved every season in a rebuild under JB despite never having cap space.

Then of course there was his taking us from an incredibly bad defensive team to elite. Once again - and please read this until it sinks in - I love what I have seen so far and would not switch back given the choice......but the guy gets ridiculed way too much as though the only reason we are playing so well is coaching....ignoring we had stretches like we are having now. I am 100% certain if JB was the coach the last few games with the same result he's be ripped by his critics as I saw so often even after wins.

Will say I love that we can win games now without "fans" looking for reasons to cry about the way we won.

 

[Wamu]

My favorite one-liner joke from that show

No doubt. So many funny skits from Chappelle Show but Pop Copy has always been one of my favorites.

 

[shopson67]

Not sure I'd call Kerr and especially Bud geniuses, but OK.

Noticed you didn't answer my question. JB and healthy roster for playoffs or Atkinson and same injury issues as last year.....which would you choose?

Always choose health IMO

 

[dtgold88]

Always choose health IMO

Exactly and an easy answer. Coaching matters but the NBA is far more about the players.

 

[bksballer89]

Zach Lowe must have a non-compete that has to expire first. It's crazy he hasn't been hired by anyone since ESPN let him go

That’s what they do to most. Why you think Max isn’t anywhere yet

 

[Shanemansj13]

Exactly and an easy answer. Coaching matters but the NBA is far more about the players.

all you are doing is making yourself look stupid AGAIN. You are focusing on one aspect without putting much emphasis on the entire conversation, like always. All that tells me is you know little about the game of basketball. Without proper coaching, talent only takes you so far. We saw JB with this team for how many years and the offense was exactly the same. We see KA with this offense for 12 games and we already see the willingness that you have to make adjustments when the game is going against and trust in the playoffs. Did you ever think JB played a part in injuries? Not crazy considering he played the starters high minutes and didn’t trust the bench but I guess that was also mainly due to the inept offense so really it isn’t crazy to say he could have played a part in the injuries. Mitchell was worn out by the playoffs and playing high minutes does play a huge role in injuries.
So actually I would take Atkinson in this scenario because he continues to manage the minutes accordingly even if the team is behind in games. Why? Bc he has trust in his system and players. JB would pull the bench players and play the starters high minutes bc he didn’t trust the bench and his inept offense. Guess what Detroit is 26th in off rtg and 20th in pace. Not a surprise.

Keep thinking it’s all players. Coaching and players is 50-50 but the right coach GETS THE MOST OUT OF HIS PLAYERS. This is the main point you continue to miss.

Lets take the roster JB had. Not identical but the same nucleus. Starters averaging 35-34 mpg

25th off rtg, 26th in pace
25th off rtg, 30th in pace
20th off rtg, 22nd in pace

KA through a small sample size with the same core playing starters around 29 mpg

1st off rtg, 7th in pace

Lets just keep thinking it’s mainly talent and coaching is a little factor LOL.

This is a Mark Jackson-Steve Kerr scenario of Kerr getting the most out of his players. We can keep talking about Mark Jackson scenario but it is a worthless and stupid debate. Not saying KA is Kerr but his philosophy is very similar especially how he is using Mobley as the Draymond role.

 

[Shaqdaddy11]

LOL. I'll come right out and say it; I hate Harden. Trash ref-baiter.

Yep, agreed. Can't stand the twat!

 

[dtgold88]

all you are doing is making yourself look stupid AGAIN. You are focusing on one aspect without putting much emphasis on the entire conversation, like always. All that tells me is you know little about the game of basketball. Without proper coaching, talent only takes you so far. We saw JB with this team for how many years and the offense was exactly the same. We see KA with this offense for 12 games and we already see the willingness that you have to make adjustments when the game is going against and trust in the playoffs. Did you ever think JB played a part in injuries? Not crazy considering he played the starters high minutes and didn’t trust the bench but I guess that was also mainly due to the inept offense so really it isn’t crazy to say he could have played a part in the injuries. Mitchell was worn out by the playoffs and playing high minutes does play a huge role in injuries.
So actually I would take Atkinson in this scenario because he continues to manage the minutes accordingly even if the team is behind in games. Why? Bc he has trust in his system and players. JB would pull the bench players and play the starters high minutes bc he didn’t trust the bench and his inept offense. Guess what Detroit is 26th in off rtg and 20th in pace. Not a surprise.

Keep thinking it’s all players. Coaching and players is 50-50 but the right coach GETS THE MOST OUT OF HIS PLAYERS. This is the main point you continue to miss.

Lets take the roster JB had. Not identical but the same nucleus. Starters averaging 35-34 mpg

25th off rtg, 26th in pace
25th off rtg, 30th in pace
20th off rtg, 22nd in pace

KA through a small sample size with the same core playing starters around 29 mpg

1st off rtg, 7th in pace

Lets just keep thinking it’s mainly talent and coaching is a little factor LOL.

This is a Mark Jackson-Steve Kerr scenario of Kerr getting the most out of his players. We can keep talking about Mark Jackson scenario but it is a worthless and stupid debate. Not saying KA is Kerr but his philosophy is very similar especially how he is using Mobley as the Draymond role.

Stopped reading when it was clear you have not comprehended anything I have said (and did not take more than a few lines) and of course your agenda that wont ever go away.

Will add last night's game exactly as it went with JB coaching would have been "how could he let that lead disappear so easily. Never should have been so close."

The start has been amazing but as mentioned it's also great to hear so much less crying........after wins.