"We're going to Disney World!" NBA to resume season July 31 at WDW

PedroKsBambino

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Unless the Knicks talk themselves into Westbrook (and that seems unlikely given cap piece) really hard to see the path here for Houston.

You almost have to run it back and hope for half a season then consider blowing it up don’t you? Try a different coach and see if someone can get through in the right way to Westbrook (who I think DAntoni did get into the right role in second half of season) and Harden. I don’t think DAntoni did bad—but I don’t see how you can just run it back either
 

RedOctober3829

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deep inside Guido territory
Unless the Knicks talk themselves into Westbrook (and that seems unlikely given cap piece) really hard to see the path here for Houston. You almost have to run it back and hope for half a season then consider blowing it up don’t you?
Nobody is taking a declining Westbrook at over $40 million/year so Houston is stuck with him. Brutal trade when you look back on it.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I don’t expect anyone to, but remember the exact thing was said about Paul’s contract a year ago. You just never know—teams have all sorts of pressures and incentives to get “names”
 

ElUno20

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Just don’t be surprised when Apsith shows up at your home via secret tunnel.
It pisses me off because they were right there. They could have legitimately beating golden state but learned nothing from those series.

Harden also needs to get the same shit Giannis gets. Calling him a choker bails him out from refusing to expand his game which would make him truly unguardable. It's really frustrating because he's immensely talented.
 

JCizzle

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Don't rule out the Knicks doing anything. 1. Ownership. 2. Who's the last "name" that they had?
Between the two big money names out there, CP3 must be the more attractive piece for them to target? I suppose CP3 may prefer to try and work himself to Milwaukee though.
 

Tony C

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Morey should be fired. He pushed a radical idea of basketball and it consistently failed, and each time he doubled-down to the point that by the end his team was playing a bizarre form of basketball that was easily dispatched by a superior team that could adjust to Houston's unique, but ultimately pretty rudimentary, style.
Yep. Morey deserves a lot of credit for some of his moves and for being gutsty -- and not like he's been unsuccessful. But, one, you're right that it's a very rudimentary style -- i.e, it has no flexibility to match up with other teams, which is what is needed. And, two, the Westbrook trade was just mind-bogglingly dumb, doubling down as you say rather than expanding options. (Tripling down, if you count the later Capella trade. )
It pisses me off because they were right there. They could have legitimately beating golden state but learned nothing from those series.

Harden also needs to get the same shit Giannis gets. Calling him a choker bails him out from refusing to expand his game which would make him truly unguardable. It's really frustrating because he's immensely talented.
I think Harden is overrated, too -- he shouldn't be an MVP finalist. But this is way over the top. Harden was not the problem with the Rockets. Westbrook is. D'Antoni/Morey commitment to one style of play is. Harden isn't in the class of LeBron or Kawhi, but he's a great player who played great -- just didn't have the pieces around him due to bad mngmnt.
 

Euclis20

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I think Harden is overrated, too -- he shouldn't be an MVP finalist. But this is way over the top. Harden was not the problem with the Rockets. Westbrook is. D'Antoni/Morey commitment to one style of play is. Harden isn't in the class of LeBron or Kawhi, but he's a great player who played great -- just didn't have the pieces around him due to bad mngmnt.
Yeah, everyone can play better but in this series Harden averaged 29/5/7 while shooting 50% from the floor and 38% from 3. He isn't the problem.
 

Tony C

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My sense is the Clippers will stomp the Nuggets in this game. They should as they're definitely superior. If they don't I'll start to buy into the worries about them.
 

ifmanis5

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Mike D is out per Woj:
ESPN Sources: Houston coach Mike D’Antoni is informing the franchise’s ownership today that he’s becoming a free agent and won’t return to the Rockets next season.
 

Tony C

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I think he's perfect for a club like the Pacers who don't really have an ambition to win it all, but love being competitive each year.
 

PedroKsBambino

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Yeah, though a lot going on in that situation---they didn't extend him early; change clearly is needed in some form; the owner seems to be a nutjob; the team underperformed---at least perception-wise; there's a really odd mix of players.

I think best for all to try different things.
 

johnmd20

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Skip is really the worst of the worst when it comes to shock jock sports guys. He's just a hot take factory to generate outrage and clicks. It's so disreputable.
 

johnmd20

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Except in thia case he's right
In what sense? In the sense that Lebron basically doesn't even need to play the rest of his games, the championship is already his?

Ok.

edit - further, what does it matter? Is the claim that the Nuggets shouldn't be in the conversation? Is Boston now a bad team? Have the Clippers given up? The entire line of reasoning by "Skip" is hot take nonsense. Lebron can only play the teams that are scheduled against his team.

What does this series going to game 7 have to do with anything?
 

Tony C

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damn, forgot about this game
No kidding! I tuned out when the Clippers were up ...whatever it was, 16 or 18 points or something. Just checked to see the final score and...wow!

Okay, I guess I'm ready to buy into the Clippers have some sort of fundamental flaw (or am I discounting the Nuggets -- Murray and Jokic are good and all, and they have depth...but don't seem that impressive).
 

Tony C

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The sort of hot take that gives hot takes a bad name. One, that LeBron is more focused than Kawhi/George in leading his team is a compliment to him not a lucky break for him, as the ever snarky/ever LeBron-hating Bayless implies. And, two, it's far from won for the Lakers -- definitely a disadvantage for the Clips/Nuggets that they'll have gone 7 in the series (but, again, that's to LeBron/Lakers's credit), but either team will still be really tough -- the Clippers, in particular, match up great with the Lakers. I'd have given the Clips the edge up until now, but at this point I'd still have them pretty close to 50/50. And the Celtics/Heat in the finals will be super tough, too, for whoever comes out of the West.

Wish i'd seen more of this game 6.
 

Sam Ray Not

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@Skeee-up

1. The Lakers have yet to play a great team in the playoffs.
2. The Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, and Heat are all great teams.
3. LeBron is a legend, and if the Lakers get through any two of those five teams and win it all, it’ll be one of his all-time great career achievements.
4. How ‘bout a little freaking love for the Nuggets?
 

Euclis20

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@Skeee-up

1. The Lakers have yet to play a great team in the playoffs.
2. The Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, and Heat are all great teams.
3. LeBron is a legend, and if the Lakers get through any two of those five teams and win it all, it’ll be one of his all-time great career achievements.
4. How ‘bout a little freaking love for the Nuggets?
Indeed. The fortitude it takes to come back from 3-1 down twice is incredible. There aren't many teams I'd be more excited to be a fan of than the Celtics right now, but the Nuggets might be on that list.
 

bosockboy

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Indeed. The fortitude it takes to come back from 3-1 down twice is incredible. There aren't many teams I'd be more excited to be a fan of than the Celtics right now, but the Nuggets might be on that list.
If Porter becomes that third star they are really young and loaded.
 

DJnVa

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@Skeee-up

1. The Lakers have yet to play a great team in the playoffs.
2. The Clippers, Nuggets, Celtics, and Heat are all great teams.
3. LeBron is a legend, and if the Lakers get through any two of those five teams and win it all, it’ll be one of his all-time great career achievements.
4. How ‘bout a little freaking love for the Nuggets?
So I'm clear--if Lebron beats Denver and Miami to win the title it will be one of his all-time achievements?
 

johnmd20

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Basically, a large portion of the country is sitting at home and the NBA schedules a Game 7 at 9pm on a Tuesday. Thanks NBA, that's really swell.
 

Tony C

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Other time zones exist, too, you east coast imperialist! :)

Since the teams' fan bases are in pacific/mountain time, wouldn't a 5:00 start L.A. time be too early?