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

Discussion in 'Other Sports Forum' started by Section126, Jul 1, 2016.

  1. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

  2. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    I expected this. You can't have a reporter out you as having offered two of your players in trade, and then not push back on the story. The trade most likely isn't happening and you've got to live with those two players who now think you're trying to trade them. You always push back on those reports.
     
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  3. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    If the Cavs get Bledsoe and Josh Jackson and nothing else, then they win the situation.

    Knicks need to stop BS'n and give up Melo (he would) Frank the frenchman.
     
  4. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Phoenix would be stupid to give up Bledsoe and Jackson IMO. Bledsoe isn't Kyrie, but he's damn good when healthy. Jackson has the potential to be an NBA star. I'd consider Bledsoe+pick(s)+vet but that's it. I know Cleveland wouldn't bite on it, but who cares? Phoenix doesn't get any closer to contending IMO, with just Kyrie.
     
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  5. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    I don't disagree, especially if they don't know Kyrie will stay long term. Thats why when I seen those (false) reports I was shocked it wasn't already a done deal.
     
  6. Mcduffie81

    Mcduffie81 Wildcat Club Member

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    Want Kyrie. :)

    Do not want to see Dragic' in Cavs Uni :(
     
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  7. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    So Kyrie is tired of being a "son" to LeBron according to SAS. This has always felt to me like Kyrie wanting to control his career. LeBron and Kyrie have been inextricably linked since Kyrie joined the league. He only goes to Cleveland because LeBron heads to Miami. LeBron comes back and Kyrie signs an extension to stay in Cleveland where he was reportedly very unhappy.

    Now, LeBron playing GM has hamstrung the Cavs for the foreseeable future with terrible deals for TT, a one dimensional inconsistent JR, and a broken player in Shumpert. JR's deal would not be bad if the Cavs had a shot, but they don't and it would be hard to move him to get better. Their only tradeable asset that can get a return and not cripple the team is likely Kevin Love, a guy that is probably overpaid and was orchestrated by LeBron.

    So on top of all that, LeBron doesn't even have the courtesy to commit to a misshapen team built in his image. He helped put together a hodgepodge of role players and a Big 2.5 and now he's frustrated and won't stick it out with them. Some of those guys are stuck in Cleveland for the rest of the useful parts of their careers. I don't blame Kyrie for wanting to be his own man.
     
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  8. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Having your own guy at ESPN does wonders for creating narratives. The amount of people I see reading Windhorst's reporting with no critical eye is sad. Very early on, LeBron planted the idea that if Kyrie was really afraid of LeBron leaving and wanted to have his own team, then why not stay in Cleveland? The implications there are that Kyrie is personally beefing with LeBron and that LeBron isn't really leaving. Nobody's even questioning the fact that LeBron is holding that team (**** Gilbert, I mean the players) hostage over the situation he helped create. LeBron himself left Cleveland when he was unhappy, and definitely left 'friends' behind without telling them. Now, he is using Windhorst to kill Kyrie in the media for wanting to control his own career. I'm starting to dislike LeBron the person more and more after warming up to him a lot over the past two years.
     
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  9. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    Or you could say he built a team that most likely will make it to their 4th straight NBA finals...depends on your perspective of course.
     
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  10. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Welcome to the dark side :evil: :lol:

    You're starting to see some of the crap I've been saying for years about why I can't stand him. Very self serving player.
     
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  11. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    To play devil's advocate, what percentage of the reason they made those 4 straight finals was because LeBron was on the team, rather than the talent around him? You've argued that he's cemented his place as best ever because he's gotten to this point against all odds.

    I'm not one of the Heat fans that dislikes or roots against LeBron. I do, however, question his wanting to essentially be the decision maker on personnel moves, and have autocratic control. I think that played a role in him leaving Miami, and I think it may have hurt his quest for more rings in Cleveland somewhat. Of course it doesn't help when you have to go through arguably the best team ever assembled, but I think the Cavs are an incomplete team that too often relies on LeBron to do everything. I think a good front office decision maker may have been able to better surround him with complementary pieces that stack them up better against GSW.
     
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  12. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    I blame the competition more so. Transplant the Spurs or possibly even the Rockets to the east and the Cavs definitely and maybe (respectively) don't make the finals. That 2016 OKC team would have probably knocked them out too. Building a contender in the East starts and stops with LeBron James.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
     
  13. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    If that team were all David Griffin, I'd understand the frustration and noncommittal attitude. I am very much a 'go get yours' kind of fan. I support players most of the time when they want to control their destinies. I was one of the few fans who supported Reshad Jones holding out, especially considering that the nominal contract value in the NFL is a farce. This, though, is LeBron literally wanting everything under his control, including other players. I dislike the fact that LeBron is demanding loyalty from these guys in the midst of them being afraid that he's about to torpedo their careers.

    Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk
     
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  14. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Cleveland is going to be very careful where they trade Kyrie to, and it will likely not be a team in the East unless the team completely guts their roster for him. They know that this pending trade can bite them in the ***. They see Boston as their threat, they send Kyrie to a team like ours, a team like Milwaukee, or some other East team that is stacked then the competition increases in the east.

    My predicting is theyre going to try to plant enough seeds to Phoenix or ahy team in the west with assets
     
  15. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Tristan Thompson, btw, makes $82 million to get out-rebounded over 3 Finals games by the very soft Steph Curry. An extra $3.2 million per year in AAV buys you a Hassan Whiteside.

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  16. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    I'm glad we aren't going to trade for Kyrie, he isn't worth 3 of our players.. The cavs arent going to gut our team. They can go bend over the Knicks as everyone else does.
     
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  17. Boik14

    Boik14 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Shaddup!!!
     
  18. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  19. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    I think he has done a good job getting pieces....

    No Love or Kyrie in the finals (that still went 6) is why they lost. Can't predict health.

    Won a title the year before, and honestly without Durants gutless decision? He wins another.

    That being said, you acquired Kyle Korver to be that 3 point all time great he had always been...Lebron put him in great position to have numerous good looks at the basket. He just didn't knock them down.




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  20. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    How much of that winning is attributed to LeBron James playing SF for the Cavs, though? I don't think you can say with certainty at all that they win that series if they're healthy. Love hasn't been the player they, or many others thought he'd be there. Korver's efficiency has historically dropped in the playoffs, and when he went to Cleveland his play was already not what it previously was. Stumping for Thompson to get the money he got was a mistake, and in three years he really hasn't found many good complementary parts, whereas in Miami, Riley was great at that adding guys like Battier and Allen.

    I'm not trying to say that LeBron did a horrible job. You only have so much to work with when you have three stars taking up the bulk of your cap, but I think a good GM could do better, and it was LeBron that basically chose it to be that way.
     
  21. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    So at Harrison Barnes's wedding, Curry was doing the LeBron challenge. LeBron recorded a goofy video mid-workout and the kids have been making fun of it with the challenge. But who should be right next to Curry on video howling and participating? Kyrie Irving.

    #Byrie
     
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  22. Vertical Limit

    Vertical Limit Senior Member

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    Danilo Gallinari broke his thumb on his shooting hand trying to punch someone during a game at eurobasket...

    bullet dodged..
     
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  23. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Not trying to. He hit him square. Supposedly it won't require surgery.

     
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  24. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    Steph was hilarious in that video.

    Wonder how Lebron feels watching that.
     
  25. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    Dude was "leading" his team to 30 something wins a year until LBJ came home...nice show of appreciation.

    Curry is a cocky entitled golden spoon little softy....but he was humiliated in the finals last year, then mocked by LeBron and the Cavs for months following. So he deserves a little pay back.
     
  26. BevoPhin

    BevoPhin Well-Known Member

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    I see this a lot, but who are the best stars in the game right now other than LBJ? KD, Steph, Anthony Davis, Russ are a handful, and how exactly did their teams perform in their first couple of seasons?
     
  27. Fin-O

    Fin-O Initiated Club Member

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    This is true, but putting yourself in that situation...you are a young up and coming star on a bad team, then comes along a guy who puts you and your team on the map and your abilities get to be showcased on a national level every playoff.

    I'm okay with him wanting to get out and do his own thing, but...it's kinda corny to play kissy face in that moment.

    I guess that's athletes these day's, however.
     
  28. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    Harden, CP3, and Bobby Brown leave Ariza's wedding to go beat up on Tim Hardaway Jr's team in the Drew League. D-Wade was in attendance looking like he wants to come off the bench for the Rockets, lol. We got room. Come get this vet minimum.

    CP3 was with LeBron 2 days ago at LeBron Jr's game. Hey...we need you recruiting, Chris.
     
  29. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I know you're kind of joking, but Wade in Houston actually makes some sense. I'm not sure how well he fits in that system, but Paul and Melo (assuming he goes there), are his good friends too. I still think he ends up in Miami, but Houston wouldn't surprise me.
     
  30. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    Wade in Houston would probably not work well if he's starting. Doesn't catch and shoot, plays best with the ball in hand, kills spacing unless he's the drive initiator (highly unlikely in Houston).

    Him running the second unit with a less frenetic offensive identity would be reasonable. He and Eric Gordon would be a fine pairing in the backcourt.

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  31. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    I think the best use of Wade is coming off of the bench right now if you want to get the most out of him on a playoff team. I think he'd be coming off of the bench in Miami, too.
     
  32. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    Yeah, I was slightly joking. But, Wade did post a pic of him, Harden, and Melo a few weeks back when Harden signed his latest extension. I found that interesting. You never know....
     
  33. phinswolverinesrockets

    phinswolverinesrockets If he dies, he dies

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    I'll take all the help we can get. I truly can't stand Golden State. I'm glad the Rockets aren't just sitting back and not doing anything. Let's compete.
     
  34. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Vice Sports wrote an interesting article about Justise Winslow. It starts off talking about him being the key to whether the Cavs would have interest in a Kyrie trade to Miami (apparently this isn't a Heat fan delusion, and people are actually talking about this), but goes into pretty good depth about what he's done and what he could become. It's a worthwhile read IMO.

    https://sports.vice.com/en_us/artic...tise-winslows-potential?utm_vicesportstwitter
     
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  35. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Nice talk in there about him being 89th percentile distributing out of the pick and roll. Makes you wonder if being a freakish point guard is kind of his future.
     
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  36. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Yeah, that caught my eye as well. It's interesting. He could probably play 1-4 for Miami at times. And we've already seen him play some 5 in the playoffs as a rookie (although that's probably emergencies only). The truth is, fans have been really quick to write him off, but he's just so young, and if he ever does in fact develop a jumper, you have a potential all-star. Hell, if he can just finish at the rim a little better, you might have something really good.
     
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  37. Limbo

    Limbo Mad Stillz

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    That's what I was getting at before with Justise having a lot more potential than it appears. His feel for the game is outstanding for a 21 year-old wing. He's probably our smartest two-way player, just in terms of positioning, rotations, decision making, etc. Plus as a versatile wing he plays the most coveted position in the NBA.

    But he can't put the ball in the damn hoop! What do you do with that kind of player who is very good at pretty much everything else?

    Might be getting ahead of myself, and it depends on a bunch of things.... but Winslow's second contract is likely to be very good. He's the type of non-scoring impactful role player who tends to be more valuable than their contract. He's got the mindset and work ethic that often pays off as the years go by as well. Plus (JUST AN OPINION) he seems like the kind of guy who would give a hometown discount.

    In terms of player/future comparisons, I think he and Marcus Smart are going to have similar careers. Fringe-starter playmakers who can't shoot but are always in the right place and play great defense. Can run PnR, can bully themselves into the paint...it's rarely pretty, but it can be functional. They make a bunch of small, winning plays that go under the radar. Fanbases outside their cities will undervalue them, but their fans get it.
     
  38. CaribPhin

    CaribPhin Guest

    I think Marcus Smart is mediocre personally. Poor man's Tony Allen, good defense (rather than great), mediocre offense (rather than terrible). I'd rather the guy who does something great.
     
  39. sports24/7

    sports24/7 Season Ticket Holder Club Member

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    Apparently the Nuggets aren't willing to trade "Murray and Harris in a deal" for Kyrie. Not sure if that means neither guy is available, or they wouldn't give up both guys. This seems to give further proof that teams aren't going to give up the farm for him, especially if they aren't a preferred destination. Personally, I think the Miami package being discussed is better than Murray and Harris anyway.
     
  40. ckparrothead

    ckparrothead Draft Forum Moderator Luxury Box

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    Ramona Shelburne STILL says she believes Kyrie will end up in Miami.
     
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