****The Official 2016-2017 NBA Thread****

I've been excited about him for the past 2 months. There is a lot of potential. Can't believe we stole him at pick 43. "The Big Devil" ended up leading his team to a title over Carlos Boozer's squad in China at only 21 years old and won DPOY. He did well against the U.S. in the Olympics. Had a nice block on Durant and shook Draymond. Give him a year or two of experience in the league, he will be Ryan Anderson's replacement.

 

That team is going to be good for a long time. And it pains me to say that


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Everyone is piling on to Lonzo Ball after his poor performance last night. On one hand, it's pretty silly to make a big deal about one summer league game. On the other hand, this is what happens when your father keeps running his mouth and creating a hype machine. There is going to be extra pressure on Lonzo, and if he struggles early, he's going to get lots of criticism.

 

Congrats to Harden on another extension. #13 will definitely be retired when it's over.

 

I said this to Section a few weeks before the draft when he asked if I would take Lonzo Ball if I had the chance. I said right now, no. But I'm sure the Heat will have him in 2021 or so, broken down, a laughing stock of the league, and completely revitalize him to where he's making good on all his talent, and maybe by then his dad will have shut up or moved to the next plane of existence.

 

Yeah. And because of the pressure his father has now put on him, simply being a great distributor early in his career might not be enough. Fans expect him to be a star, and that means scoring, even if that's not his strength. You're seeing some of that tonight. Even though he's distributing the ball well, there's a disappointment among the fans wanting more. That's what happens when the hype machine gets out of control.

 

Also, Bam once again looks like Bam in the first half of the Heat's first Vegas Summer League game.

 

Olynyk...

Ledge, here I come.

 

we had the chance at the next kevin durant in tatum, but we decided to pick that guy with the ugly looking shot, who is not very athletic for being 6'6 , plays no defense and has this disease thats called LaVar with him all the time....i rather would have fox too...man magic **** the bed on this one....that ugly looking mechanic should have been the alarming point when did a high draft pick with a fundamental flaw like this ever made it to something good ? or forget the high draft pick...when ever did a player with a not fundamentally sound game ever made it in the NBA

 

Lonzo will be just fine. I hate the Lakers and wish all their picks are busts, but he's gonna be an all star.

It was just one game. His dad is a silly distraction. Sports are entertainment. He's entertaining. But I understand why most people hate him.

Lonzo will be just fine.

 

Why? This is a move that was pretty universally praised. He fits great with what the Heat like to do and with what you want from Whiteside's frontcourt mate.

 

Bam with another good SL performance:

 

Knicks are engaging on contract talks for GM David Griffin. About a week too late if you ask me.

Nets fleece the raps, take Demarre Carrolls contract and a 18 1st and 2nd for C Justin Hamilton.Nets did well to use their cap this offseason to take on Mozgov and Carroll but get Russell and 2 picks for 18 draft.

 

Thank God Coach Cal didn't unleash this beast last year. No way he would've fallen to us.

 

He plays like Blake Griffin.

 

David Griffin tells the knicks "hahaha no thanks" per espn

 

Lonzo had a triple double today in summer league.

 

Yesterday, but yes, it was a much better game for him. I still think you see some things he is going to have to get much better at to be a star, but the distribution certainly looked good.

 

Actually, this is another "only the Knicks" moment:
The Knicks wouldn't give Griffin final control over basketball matters. Like why the hell else are you hiring the guy? Obviously Dolan wants a yes man.

 

Well, if he gave Griffin final control, how would he complete the moves suggested to him by Isiah Thomas, lol?

As much as I hate the Knicks, I feel bad for you, Boik. Every time it seems like this franchise is ready to take a step forward, they take two steps back. It's like the Dolphins at their all-time low, but worse. That has to be just miserable as a fan.

I don't feel bad for Fin-O, though,

 

Lol, thanks. It's just ridiculous. They have to be run by one of the top 3 dumbest owners in all of sports. Like, how hard is it to realize that you need to have basketball people making basketball decisions and you have business people making business decisions? It's not rocket science, just egos and stupidity. It's incredibly frustrating to have such an incompetent owner. I really only wish it on the Jets pats and bills.

 

Open letter to Miami from Chris Bosh: http://www.chrisbosh.com/a-letter-to-miami/

 

I'M NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!

 

A longer video of Bam Adebayo's last SL game against the Spurs.

Some thoughts:

1. Erik Spoelstra was in attendance so this may have been the first game Bam played in front of his new coach.

2. The more experience they give him on the dribble, the better. He's so explosive and fast for that size, the sky is the limit if he learns a variety of ways to finish. He tried to force a euro step probably because it's like his one move right now. But the next transition he did a whole lot better and showed what he can do because of his speed and frame.

3. He continues to pick a lot of pockets in addition to blocking shots. It's not a one or two game thing.

4. At the end of the video during the interview, he's asked for the biggest difference from Kentucky to these summer league games. His reply, "Pretty much the physicality. You know, I get to bang (demonstrates a forearm shiver)- you know I get to play physical now." He's essentially complaining that he wasn't allowed to be as physical as he wanted to be at Kentucky, but the NBA allows it.

5. Another quote, "they want me to roll because I'm athletic and I play above the rim".

6. I'm guilty of this but I think I need to stop. He's not Serge Ibaka. It's not the right comparison. Ibaka is far less athletic and forgetting about Combine type results, it's all over the film. Serge just does not play above the rim. He doesn't have nearly as much lift. That's why Bam Adebayo's no-step vertical (33.5") is higher than Ibaka's maximum vertical (33.0"). It's why Adebayo's maximum vertical (39.5") is way higher. And to be fair Serge has successfully integrated shooting into his game where Bam has yet to do so.

7. So then who? Some say Blake Griffin and while I think the caliber may be nice to fantasize about, there are clearly some style differences there. Blake is not as fast or agile. He's a very intentional player that uses his size and form carefully, then explodes at or near the basket. He doesn't have the wing span of an Adebayo. The qualities they share are the size (~6'10" & ~245 lbs) and the verticality (Blake 32.0" no-step, 35.5" max; Bam 33.5" no-step, 39.5" max).

8. Really the comparison to Dwight Howard should've been and I think has been obvious all along but maybe we haven't wanted to use it because Bam is a mid-1st and Dwight was a #1 overall. But it's so obvious when you go back and watch old footage of Dwight. By the way Howard was ~6'10" and 248 lbs, 7'4.5" wing span, 30.5" no-step and 35.5" max vertical. But on film the jumping ability of these two are virtually the same, as is the frame, and much of the styles. Difference is in the NBA of course Dwight went ahead and bulked up, got those deltoids big, etc. Bam has yet to do that and weirdly has almost seemed to keep slimming down (to my eyes) during Summer Leagues.

 

This is what Bam looked like two years ago. And I think it's what the Heat have Bam striving to look like again.

He was 17 years old. Love the NBA.

 

My man crush is becoming a BAMCRUSH!!!!!!!

Do we want him bulking up? Would that affect his shooting motion?

 

Like I said I think they're doing the opposite. I don't know that they're asking him to bulk up. But they will have him take his strength training very, very seriously. They're big on that, I'm told.

 

Sounds like the Heat are going to keep the $4.3 million MLE around until January/February when it will become apparent that 10 teams or so have no hope for this season, and thus they begin shedding veterans. Barry speculated that even Dwyane Wade may get bought out around that time, and if that's the case the Heat would love to use that $4.3 million MLE on him.

Time is a flat circle. Dwyane Wade back in a Heat uniform in time for a playoff run?

 

Lots of interesting nuggets in Barry's transcription of Riley's latest press briefing.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/barry-jackson/article160503899.html

1. They found out about Kelly Olynyk being renounced while 30,000 feet up in the air flying back from a meeting with Dion Waiters. They begun orchestrating the signing immediately and they feel Kelly signed with them as a reward for their immediate and earnest interest.

2. They don't have enough in the way of stretch four/stretch five, and that is where Kelly fits in. Barry has said they feel they needed front court more than small forward. He "sets probably the best screens in the NBA; gets your guards in the paint. He's an excellent passer from the elbow... Kelly is a great outlet passer. I think he's an excellent defender."

3. If they'd gotten Gordon Hayward the priority would've been getting a three/shooter. But they struck out, so the next priority was getting a guy to help Hassan and JJ (apparently they never doubted JJ would be back). Kelly Olynyk "is a perfect fit for Hassan".

4. Pat was interesting in the way he said that they CAN have James Johnson in at power forward...as if they feel he's more small forward?

5. Bam Adebayo is a "hybrid player". He's showing his upside and some of the things he's capable of doing in summer leagues. Super athletic, sets great screens, excellent defender, blocks shots.

6. They'll keep the MLE around for a bit and see what pops up. No hurry to use it right now.

7. They do not need a true point guard backup. They use James Johnson a lot for that, as well as Tyler Johnson, Justise Winslow, and Josh Richardson. They're fine.

8. Winslow and Rodney McGruder will battle out the three spot with James Johnson rotating their. But it sounds like the three position is the one most sensitive to whatever Spo is trying to do with their lineups in the "positionless" offense. Either real small or real big, etc. That would kind of explain why they don't have a true blue three.

9. They have 11 or 12 guys fighting for rotation minutes, 10 guys they really like. They have 8 perimeter players, and 3 or 4 of them are really good shooters. They want to get 70 to 75 games out of Dion Waiters.

10. They're "still talking" to Luke Babbitt but regard Willie Reed as unlikely to come back. They "fought very hard to keep Wayne (Ellington) as our shooter."

 

This feels icky and blasphemous to even wonder, but does Dwyane Wade make the Heat better for a playoff run? I realize he put up good numbers at his age last season, but he slowed down and it was pretty bad at times in the playoffs, especially on defense. Now he'll be a year older. He isn't going to stretch the floor for Miami and slows the game down offensively. He would be best served coming off of the bench, ideally, but would he be cool with that kind of a role? Also, In the playoffs ideally you want a tight 9-10 man rotation. For the Heat, that's Dragic, Waiters, Winslow, Olynyk, Whiteside, JJ, TJ, Bam, Ellington, and Richardson/McGruder. Which of those guys' spots does Wade take? At first glance, you'd say Richardson/McGruder, but that's IF you go with a 10 man rotation, and really, he doesn't shoot or play D at the level of either of those guys right now. Plus, you don't really want him playing the 3, which I think those two will have to play some this year.

I don't think I could ever say no to a Wade reunion, but I think asking the question about his fit on this team is a legitimate one.

 

I kind of agree. It would depend on how bad Wade wants to be here. His effort last year was...lacking.

 

I don't really question the value he would pose to this team going on a playoff run.

This team doesn't have an extensive amount of playoff experience.

They had their one playoff run in Dwyane's last year here, of which Justise Winslow, Josh Richardson, Hassan Whiteside, and Tyler Johnson were part. They played FOUR elimination games in that run, so I'm not going to downplay the experience.

But it was just the one year. Aside from that, Goran had a previous playoff run of which he played a relatively small part. Ellington's playoff experience is all but zero. Waiters had the one playoff run with OKC where he scored 8 points per game.

UD obviously has the experience but wouldn't likely be playing. James Johnson has four playoff appearances as a bench player under his belt and I don't want to minimize that as he'd likely be looked to for leadership.

Guys like Rodney McGruder, Okaro White, Bam Adebayo, and Luke Babbitt (if he returns)...they got nothin in the way of playoff experience.

Playoff basketball is so different. Look at how Dwyane Wade had to step in during all those pivotal playoff games during the 2015-16 run. As I recall Dragic had some great performances during the playoff run, but it was Wade that did it during the knockout games.

I just think it's a no-brainer to be honest.

 

I'm in! I never wanted to go against Wade County anyway.

 

Trey McKinney-Jones is just as impressive as I remember. He's just so good with his feet. Urgent about everything he does. He's a guy that's ready to make an NBA team.

 

It's crazy how easily Adebayo ends up among the team's leading scorers in these SL games every night. Just the role, I guess. The Wizards actually just got a rebound off a missed free throw but then Adebayo picks the guy's pocket, runs it all the way up the court to try and finish, gets fouled.

Kenny is going on and on and on about how he can't believe these guys are allowed 10 fouls before they are disqualified. He does have a point though because Bam Adebayo is having his point totals inflated a little bit with how much he's going to the free throw line.

It's nice that we know Bam Adebayo can go 45 of 56 (80.4%) on free throws (32 of 42 in Orlando, 13 of 14 thus far in Las Vegas) but I don't think he'd be getting to line for some easy points as much in real NBA games.

 

Bam is getting basically 12 free throws a game (36 minutes) and making good on 10 of them. Nearly half of his points (45 of 95) are free throws.

EDIT: Wow. Bam just seems to be getting better and better.

 

This is the game that I knew Matt Williams could have. He's NAILING threes, and he's doing it from range, with quickness, etc. It's an NBA type ability. His game outside of three point shooting is "meh". Defensively I didn't like him in college. He's a little better defensively in SL but not enough.

But that three ball, he's 4 of 5 right now I kept thinking to myself it's really only a matter of time before he hits 7 three pointers in a game during these Summer League games. That's the kind of shooter he is when he starts to feel it and gets comfortable.

EDIT: Now 5 of 7.

 

The % is more encouraging than the frequency, yeah. The number of post touches he's going to get during the year is gonna be really low. The foul-drawing will translate off of OREBs especially though, and in late shot-clock situations where he may end up with he ball and just have to get a shot up. But yeah, the bigger takeaway is he has legit shooting touch. Eye test says it, FT% says it. Very encouraging.

I'm also impressed with how fluid he is in the open court. Where the eff did some of these movement skills come from lol. Similar thing where he's unlikely to end up handling the ball in transition with any meaningful frequency. But it's a sign of his upside in terms of switching on defense, maneuvering around screens, and attacking closeouts/late rotations. He absolutely has the tools to do all of that quite well.

I'm feeling better about Bam after being pretty down about missing out on Mitchell one pick away...

 

Playoff experience is great, but more important is fit. This isn't going to be the same player that drove the Heat in 2015-2016. He was brutal on defense at times this year, especially down the stretch and in the playoffs. Where do you slot him in? Who, out of the 9-10 guys in that rotation do you take minutes from to get Wade on the floor? You certainly don't start him. Would Wade be ok with a limited role?

Look, I'm not saying I for sure wouldn't take him back. He's the greatest player in franchise history, and neck and neck with Dan Marino for my all-time favorite athlete. But I do think it's a legitimate question to wonder if adding him to the Heat would help them, and to wonder where he would fit.

 

I wouldn't judge based on what Wade did on that team up there. He's taking a pay check. The team is terrible.