“I’m gonna need some size. I’ll take Sabonis.”"Utah Jazz slander"
Lebron screwed up the reserves so it's more even now depending how minutes are distributed
Ouch Gobert lol.
“I’m gonna need some size. I’ll take Sabonis.”"Utah Jazz slander"
Lebron screwed up the reserves so it's more even now depending how minutes are distributed
2 post men left, 3 picks, not sure why he didn't take Mitchell there.“I’m gonna need some size. I’ll take Sabonis.”
Ouch Gobert lol.
It’s obvious isn’t it? These guys aren’t picking like it’s Ainge and Jerry West......they are picking their buddies and avoiding those they want nothing to do with.2 post men left, 3 picks, not sure why he didn't take Mitchell there.
Yep. I’m watchingDame Lillard is just must see TV right now.
Eh, considering they would have lost Turner (he's been excellent) it's hard to really say they'd be that different. The real problem is that they've got two solidly above average starters (LeVert and Warren) who are out indefinitely. Maybe they make some noise next year if those guys are healthy (their starting five is really quite impressive, although lacking in high end star power unless Sabonis makes another leap), but considering no one had them as title contenders coming into the season I doubt anyone cares about Pritchard and Hayward.Pacers 16-19 going into the All-Star game
Maybe the mainstream NBA media will take a run at Pritchard for not doing enough to add Hayward
So is Enes Kanters defense! Wth got into him tonight?Dame Lillard is just must see TV right now.
And getting stops down the stretch, blocking shots, etc. Melo is lighting it up on the second unit providing scoring, CJ and Nurkic will return soon........don’t sleep on this team making some noise and being a major 1st round headache for Phoenix or one of the LA teams.Enes Kanter puts up 22pt/21reb game...averaging a double/double this season
nice game for a nice guy
The Lillard Blazers: “we may get swept, but you’re going to work damn hard doing it!”And getting stops down the stretch, blocking shots, etc. Melo is lighting it up on the second unit providing scoring, CJ and Nurkic will return soon........don’t sleep on this team making some noise and being a major 1st round headache for Phoenix or one of the LA teams.
I thought reports were that IND could have had GH for Oladipo.Eh, considering they would have lost Turner (he's been excellent) it's hard to really say they'd be that different. The real problem is that they've got two solidly above average starters (LeVert and Warren) who are out indefinitely. Maybe they make some noise next year if those guys are healthy (their starting five is really quite impressive, although lacking in high end star power unless Sabonis makes another leap), but considering no one had them as title contenders coming into the season I doubt anyone cares about Pritchard and Hayward.
They currently have the #28 ranked defense in the association, with a negative net rating. McCollum doesn’t help the defense much; and Nurkic pretty much obviates Kanter (or vice-versa). Of course Dame + CJ give them a puncher’s chance in any given game, but yeah, scrappy first-round exit remains their most likely scenario.The Lillard Blazers: “we may get swept, but you’re going to work damn hard doing it!”
Yeah, they’re 4-7 in playoff series under Stotts, which isn’t that bad in the West. Making the playoffs seven straight seasons alone is an accomplishment (last time they missed them was 2012-13, Stotts’ first season). On the other hand, they’ve been below average defensively in six of Stotts’ eight seasons, and atrocious the last two (#27 and 28, respectively).The Blazers did make the Western Conference Finals two seasons ago. It’s not like they’ve perennially failed in the playoffs.
Their personnel has been built for the double iso offense of Dame and CJ. I’m not sure having the ball out of their hands and into the hands of guys like Aminu and Harkless would generate optimal results. It seems to me that Stotts (and Dame) has emptied the tank each year to get as far as their talents have allowed them. I’ve never once seen them eliminated only to say “Wow, the Blazers were the better team but didn’t get it done.”Yeah, they’re 4-7 in playoff series under Stotts, which isn’t that bad in the West. Making the playoffs seven straight seasons alone is an accomplishment (last time they missed them was 2012-13, Stotts’ first season). On the other hand, they’ve been below average defensively in six of Stotts’ eight seasons, and atrocious the last two (#27 and 28, respectively).
More puzzling to me than the bad D (which could be more about personnel than coaching) is being *dead last in the NBA* in assist rate in three of the last four seasons. Maybe that’s just optimizing the elite iso skills of Dame and CJ, but I can’t help but think they could/should play a better brand of ball.
It’s happened at least once — when they got waxed by the Pelicans in the first round of 2018 — but I generally agree that they have not underperformed their talent level. If anything, Dame’s Fruitbat-like closing ability has allowed them to overperform expectations slightly. I just find it hard to get too enthused about a team that features a bottom 3 defense and shares the ball worse than any other team in the league. Probably an aesthetic criticism more than anything else.Their personnel has been built for the double iso offense of Dame and CJ. I’m not sure having the ball out of their hands and into the hands of guys like Aminu and Harkless would generate optimal results. It seems to me that Stotts (and Dame) has emptied the tank each year to get as far as their talents have allowed them. I’ve never once seen them eliminated only to say “Wow, the Blazers were the better team but didn’t get it done.”
I never really thought if a coaching change would be in order for Portland but you could be right. I've never felt like Portland ever lost a series they should have won, with maybe that one Pelicans series being the outlier, but that was more just a "holy shit Anthony Davis is great" series.Yeah, they’re 4-7 in playoff series under Stotts, which isn’t that bad in the West. Making the playoffs seven straight seasons alone is an accomplishment (last time they missed them was 2012-13, Stotts’ first season). On the other hand, they’ve been below average defensively in six of Stotts’ eight seasons, and atrocious the last two (#27 and 28, respectively).
More puzzling to me than the bad D (which could be more about personnel than coaching) is being *dead last in the NBA* in assist rate in three of the last four seasons. Maybe that’s just optimizing the elite iso skills of Dame and CJ, but I can’t help but think they could/should play a better brand of ball.
is it really that surprising? They were considered 2nd level contenders w/ Klay and obviously it was a huge hit to lose him, but Curry and Green still have a decent supporting cast. I thought Oubre was a really good signing and obviously he flopped terribly at the start of the season and Green took a while to get into it, too. But now that Green is in better shape and Oubre seems to be back in last year's form (43% from 3 point land in Feb), there's nothing too shocking about GS at 19-18...frankly I think they're still underperforming a touch and should end up ahead of Dallas and San Antonio in the West and would be top 4 if in the East. It looks from advanced stats that Wiseman is the real drag on their performance, but obviously they need to develop him and 20 minutes a game seems about right for that.That was a fun game. Lillard appears a bit gassed but all these guys must be.
I remain amazed at how Curry and to a degree which you noted upthread, Draymond have dragged this roster to 19 wins. I do wonder how many wins Curry alone is really worth this season. The advanced metrics, which are just flawed models, say around five but that feels really light.
Nope.There can't be time to replace these guys, right? Team Durant only had two bigs to begin with and now they're down to just Vucevic.
I wonder if there'll be a trade. Lebron has Jokic, Gobert, and Sabonis.
Hasn’t he won the ASG every year they have gone to this format? I think he’s 3-0.Maybe Lebron isn't such a bad GM after all.
Lebron should accept nothing less than Harden or Beal or Tatum for GobertThere can't be time to replace these guys, right? Team Durant only had two bigs to begin with and now they're down to just Vucevic.
I wonder if there'll be a trade. Lebron has Jokic, Gobert, and Sabonis.
Always bad until the 4th quarter.This is especially awful.
I don't think the Celtics have enough draft picks to make that happenLet's get Jokic and Curry on the same team.