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Post by doakley8 on Aug 19, 2020 14:41:47 GMT -5
I'm siding with Chuck..break out the brooms!
Na..I think it will be Lakers in 6 too. But they have GOT to defend that pick and roll at the top of the key. That's Dame's spot, and he's either going to shoot it..or drive a dish, or pass to the roller.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 19, 2020 14:42:32 GMT -5
I think the series is going to be a dogfight. I said it before Game 1. I said it before Portland even clinched a spot in the play-in game. They have a very good roster that has a dominant offensive backcourt, legit size in the frontcourt and then shooters/scorers on the wings who can take advantage of open looks. The Lakers are the better team and if they can play up to their norm - which for me is really more about Lebron/AD dominating like we know they can versus situations like KCP/Green not sucking ass - then they should finish this in 6. Wouldn't surprise me if it went 7 though. Maybe the Lakers need to be pushed so they can elevate their game for the tougher matchups ahead.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 19, 2020 14:46:00 GMT -5
Of course the Nuggets nearly lost to the Jazz with no Bogdan, Bucks lost to a depleted Magic team and the Clippers could have lost if not for Porzingis getting ejected, so this could just be a case of Game 1 jitters.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 19, 2020 16:55:51 GMT -5
Zach Collins has a stress reaction in his ankle and is out Games 2 to 4 and likely out for the series. He wasn't a huge difference maker for the Blazers but he was a quality rotation player who brought size/shooting. His absence thins out an already thin rotation with Ariza opting out and Little/Hood injured. Which has led to the Blazers starting Wenyen Gabriel - he of 2.1ppg 1.7rpg 35.3fg% averages this season.
The Blazers are certainly a team that is going to have a lot of "What Ifs" from this season but definitely a force to be reckoned with next year if they bring back Melo, have Collins/Nurkic healthy and can use their mid 1st rd pick and MLE to fortify their depth.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 19, 2020 20:59:08 GMT -5
Luka is damn good but he just complains way too much on every possession that I can't stand to watch him.
Boban on the other hand is pretty damn good too. Very mobile for a guy his size. Sets a great screen too and if you switch its 2 points.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 20, 2020 4:16:34 GMT -5
The thing that truly impresses me about Luka is look at the raw counting stats (25/8/7 per game career) he puts up and then look at his %s.
32% 3 point shooter on 8 attempts per game and a 73% FT shooter on 8 attempts per game for his career. If he could bump those up to 36% and 80%....
He's already there mentally and physically. The sky is absolutely the limit for this kid and it's not really not that wild to think that he could be one of the faces of the NBA in the post LeBron/KD/Curry world.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 20, 2020 8:55:13 GMT -5
I agree needs to get the FT% in the 80's for a PG that will only get to the line more.
Top 5 perennial MVP candidate. I just hate his complaining. And with him handling the ball 80% of the time, and camera focusing on him..just gets tiring.
Mavs need one more star to go with LD & KP. Perhaps Horford who they were after before he signed with the Sixers
I do love me some Boban tho.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 20, 2020 10:28:24 GMT -5
Luka is damn good but he just complains way too much on every possession that I can't stand to watch him.
You can replace Luka with most every All-Star caliber player - including Lebron - and that would be applicable.
Crazy to think if Porzingis wasn't ejected, Clippers could very well be down 0-2.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 20, 2020 12:57:53 GMT -5
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 21, 2020 5:10:48 GMT -5
Somehow we are completely opposed on this.
I love Doris and both Van Gundys. Cannot stand Webber, Reggie or Mark Jackson.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 21, 2020 15:52:18 GMT -5
Through 3 games: VanVleet - 25.3ppg 4.0rpg 8.7apg 57.1fg% and a scorching 55.8% on 10.3 3pt attempts
In the words of KGB in Roundes, "Pay that man his money"
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 21, 2020 16:43:31 GMT -5
Nuggets are missing that home crowd
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 23, 2020 9:39:34 GMT -5
Attacking the basket won that game. 43 free throws to the jump shooting Blazers 19. Lakers got bailed out alot, but if they made their free throws it would have been a larger margin.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 23, 2020 10:25:09 GMT -5
Attacking the basket won that game. 43 free throws to the jump shooting Blazers 19. Lakers got bailed out alot, but if they made their free throws it would have been a larger margin. Without looking I can already hear the haters complaining about that FT disparity and cries of Game 6 2002. But what do you expect? Like you said, Portland is a jump shooting team and LA attacks the basket af nauseum. Was very nice seeing how dominant they looked in the second half after an abysmal first half. Finally seeing "Playoff LeBron" in p&g was worth the wait and AD absolutely stuffing Dame like a Thanksgiving turkey on that poster attempt made me feel funny in my pants.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 23, 2020 11:00:47 GMT -5
Yea i browsed hoopshype and Blazers complaining about free throws
But then again the Pacers are too. And they have a lil worse disparity.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 23, 2020 22:01:13 GMT -5
Ok, I know it's hard to get TOO hyped over a 1st round matchup - unless you are Kobe hitting a game winning versus Phoenix in 2006 - but that Mavs/Clippers game today is honestly one of the most exciting games I've ever watched.
Luka is soooooooo damn good. His ball-handling. His ability to get to the basket and either create his own shot or make a crafty pass. His shooting range. His size, skill, bball IQ, confidence and poise. I know Ayton and Trae Young are really good in their own right and Bagley has shown legitimate flashes when healthy BUT man, these GMs really need to be kicking themselves right now.
The Mavs should be even better next season with a more seasoned Luka/Porzingis getting their first taste of the playoffs, have to figure Tim Hardaway Jr. opts in to that 18.975M and provides a capable albeit not overly exciting #3, a healthy Dwight Powell, still having most of their other role players locked up in Kleber/Curry/Finney-Smith/Boban/Delon Wright/Justin Jackson/Brunson - with decisions on MKG, Burke and WCS if he opts out. With the #18 and #31 pick, the MLE and a deep pockets owner willing to make bold moves, this is a team that can take the next step to be closer to a legit title contender.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 24, 2020 11:47:38 GMT -5
Lowry with an ankle sprain. Not sure how severe but certainly a blow to their chances to get past Boston in Round 2 let alone meet my prediction of them making the finals. Their backcourt depth isn't that strong to handle losing Lowry while also having McCaw out.
I imagine they'll start VanVleet, Powell, Anunoby, Siakam, Gasol - which is a very strong lineup still. RHJ and Ibaka fill out the frontcourt deptj. But that 2nd unit takes a big hit on the perimeter with Powell starting. They'll need more from those random guards in Terence Davis / Matt Thomas / Stanley Johnson. Most likely Davis who has played decently enough in the bubble.
My guess: VanVleet just plays like 40+ minutes a game until Lowry is back. If he can hold up is the big question given he has to shoulder a huge scoring load, be the main facilitator AND defend Kemba.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 24, 2020 11:50:30 GMT -5
Dallas isn't making the next jump with Finney-Smith & Kleber starting. Nice role players, but they are 6-7th man. They need an upgrade there. I still thinking trading for Horford isn't a bad idea with KP off and on knee problems and Powell coming back from major injury.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 24, 2020 12:32:16 GMT -5
Problem for Dallas is they arent interested in anything that ties up their cap space moving forward.
They should have a max slot for 2021 (for a certain OTHER European player who might be available, wink wink) before they have to give Luka the bag in 2022.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 24, 2020 13:04:04 GMT -5
Dallas isn't making the next jump with Finney-Smith & Kleber starting. Nice role players, but they are 6-7th man. They need an upgrade there. I still thinking trading for Horford isn't a bad idea with KP off and on knee problems and Powell coming back from major injury.
Well obviously but they wouldn't go into next season with those two expected to be starting. They only started because KP was out and Powell has been hurt. Definitely they'll go into next season looking to bolster the frontcourt depth around KP, Powell, Kleber, Boban and undersized Finney-Smith.
That said, I wouldn't sleep on Kleber. The Mavs love him, locked him up to a 4 year deal and he's actually really good. In the regular season in just 25.5mpg, he was at 9.1ppg 5.2rpg 1.1bpg and shot 37.3% on threes making 1.6 a game. The numbers don't scream superstar but contenders could do much worse than a guy like him having to start due to injury with his size, his energy and his versatility in skills (namely he can shoot and block shots, which is always valuable in a big).
As for the Mavs keeping 2022 cap space free for Giannis, it definitely caps their ability to improve this offseason but they'd still have THJ, their depth, can still use that MLE on a quality veteran on a 1 year deal, fill out the edges on vet min deals and have flexibility with what to do with their draft picks. Just better health to go with the experience they gained + one quality veteran addition could go a long way towards improving next season and reaching that next tier with Denver, Utah.
All these teams saving $ for Giannis. Part of me really thinks he could leave Milwaukee, so don't blame them for trying.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 24, 2020 14:15:30 GMT -5
100% re: saving money for Giannis.
Look, in hindsight, the Lakers could have taken that max slot $ this past offseason and signed a guy like Seth Curry. They could have signed 3 players that would have fixed every hole and be a team that would be considerable favorites for the title. But you HAD to wait for Kawhi.
Similar to LBJ in 2010, KD in 2016 or Kawhi last year, if a player the calibre of Giannis hits the market and you don't have the cap space necessary to sign him immediately, that's a fireable offense as a FO, so I won't fault any team for putting short term winning to the side to maintain that space.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 24, 2020 15:19:49 GMT -5
Miami is the most overt about being in the Giannis sweepstakes.
Basically all they look to have on the books for 2021-2022 is the 36M to Butler, about 5.8M to Herro/KZ Ozpala, the 5.2M in dead money for Ryan Anderson and the 12.8M cap hold on Bam who they will wait to give a huge extension too. They also have cheap cap holds on Nunn/Duncan Robinson for about 2.1M each which you figure they'll offer that QO to maintain their rights. Assuming they can convince Giannis to come over, they'll assuredly waive Iggy and probably Silva too. Obviously can't foresee what other moves they can/would/will make but a core of Giannis, Butler even at 32, Bam, Herro, Nunn, Robinson is ridiculously compelling.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 24, 2020 19:30:27 GMT -5
Rockets lose and series 2-2. Could very well have been 3-1 Thunder based on last game. If they lose 1st round, or even 2nd round to the Lakers, wonder what that team will do with D'Antoni, Morey and that small ball roster.
My guess is they just use the excuse that Russ was hurt and run it back. Honestly with 10 guys likely under contract next season and no draft picks and probably too financially hamstrung to use the MLE, my guess is they just run back pretty much the same roster. They can start Russ, Gordon, Harden, Covington, Tucker, Clemons, McLemore, Rivers, Nwaba, House, Caboclo, Green as their primary 12.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 25, 2020 7:38:40 GMT -5
Welp, that series changed tune pretty quickly
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 25, 2020 10:36:01 GMT -5
On paper the Blazers looked like a legit threat. Then injuries to the Blazers (and maybe some fatigue) and more so the Lakers playing like we know they can/should - which makes them the clearly superior team - kicked in. That Game 1 loss was probably good for the Lakers to up the intensity.
Honestly, I'd actually rather face the Rockets than Thunder in the 2nd round. The Lakers will beat either team but I think the Rockets are a lesser threat with a banged up Russ - if he plays at all - and their commitment to small ball will get them eaten alive by the Lakers' frontcourt. AD should have a field day being guarded by the likes of Covington, Green, Tucker etc.
I can see the Thunder at least being competitive for the most part given they have a savvy HOF floor leader in Paul who combined with SGA/Schroder/Gallinari gives them big time offensive firepower at the end of games, they have some size with Adams/Noel/Muscala and multiple defensive-minded wings in Dort/Bazley/Ferguson/Roberson/Diallo to at least try and pester Lebron. Should still be a 4-1 win for the Lakers, maybeeee 4-2 in a close OT game where the Thunder pull it out with a big 3 by Schroder at the end, but they'll be pesky. Kind of like what a healthy Blazers team was perceived to be. I mean Dame/CJ/Trent/Melo/Nurkic is fairly similar to Paul/Schroder/SGA/Gallinari/Adams on a talent level.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 25, 2020 10:38:46 GMT -5
As an aside, Jazz could eliminate the Nuggets tonight. Did not see that coming at all. Mitchell is playing out of his mind. This is like peak playoff Dwyane Wade type stuff.
Can't wait for Game 5 of the Mavs/Clippers.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 25, 2020 13:17:14 GMT -5
On paper the Blazers looked like a legit threat. Then injuries to the Blazers (and maybe some fatigue) and more so the Lakers playing like we know they can/should - which makes them the clearly superior team - kicked in. That Game 1 loss was probably good for the Lakers to up the intensity. Honestly, I'd actually rather face the Rockets than Thunder in the 2nd round. The Lakers will beat either team but I think the Rockets are a lesser threat with a banged up Russ - if he plays at all - and their commitment to small ball will get them eaten alive by the Lakers' frontcourt. AD should have a field day being guarded by the likes of Covington, Green, Tucker etc. I can see the Thunder at least being competitive for the most part given they have a savvy HOF floor leader in Paul who combined with SGA/Schroder/Gallinari gives them big time offensive firepower at the end of games, they have some size with Adams/Noel/Muscala and multiple defensive-minded wings in Dort/Bazley/Ferguson/Roberson/Diallo to at least try and pester Lebron. Should still be a 4-1 win for the Lakers, maybeeee 4-2 in a close OT game where the Thunder pull it out with a big 3 by Schroder at the end, but they'll be pesky. Kind of like what a healthy Blazers team was perceived to be. I mean Dame/CJ/Trent/Melo/Nurkic is fairly similar to Paul/Schroder/SGA/Gallinari/Adams on a talent level. I keep waffling back and forth on who I'd rather see as a Lakers fan. You nailed a lot of the problems with playing OKC: That 3 guard lineup will eat up our backcourt depth (even with Rondo back) AND they could still have size with Adams and Noel to keep a little pace with our frontcourt. On the other hand I don't know that I want any part of Harden, potentially Russ (if healthy) and 500 knockdown 3 point shooters. Really the last part frightens me most because it evens out the clear talent disparity. LA can be as good as they want, but if Houston puts up 60 3s and hits 26 of them...game over. I hate playing that math-russian roulette game. Probably would lean wanting to see OKC just to see 4-7 games of CP3, Adams and SGA since I like those cats.
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Post by doakley8 on Aug 25, 2020 13:19:33 GMT -5
Playing Houston would take Howard & Javale right out of the series. Would be Kuz's time to shine as the 3rd options with more minutes.
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Post by eddieeddie on Aug 25, 2020 14:45:35 GMT -5
The three times the Lakers played the Rockets this season
(1) Howard + McGee played 43 minutes and combined for 18 rebounds 6 blocks in a Laker win (2) Howard + McGee played 20 minutes and the Lakers lost as the Rockets went ham for 121 points on 50.6% shooting with Westbrook going 17-28 - mostly in the paint
(3) Lakers were without McGee and went small with Kuz/AD starting and Howard only getting 20 minutes off the bench. Lakers lost. Despite Westbrook not playing.
I realize three games isn't much of a sample size but I do think against the Rockets, the Lakers should give McGee/Howard legitimate minutes for rim protection and rebounding and not necessarily try to play down the size to keep up with their horses.
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Post by YoungThundercat on Aug 25, 2020 15:46:22 GMT -5
So that's that. Truly a shame given how well Dame has played since coming to Orlando. Hopefully Portland can get healthy and maybe rejigger that roster a touch and come back next year to the 3-6 seed area that they probably belong.
As for LA, probably can continue to play LBJ and AD light minutes tomorrow and start initial game plans for both HOU and OKC for next round.
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