Around the NBA, NEXT Vol. Volume! Sea you at the Crossroads, so you won't be lonelee!!

[Bishop45]

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[IggieCC]

[3ballbomber]

[IggieCC]

Look forward to Heat/Mavs finals but I'd grudgingly take Heat/GS finals as well

can't believe GS has HCA over us with tie breaker

[Bishop45]

Giannis/Biid will be watching the ECF from home, again, but I can't wait to hear folks whine about how we don't have size the very next game that we lose and question Spo while he's making his 2nd ECF appearrance in 3 yrs with a 6'9 Center and this time a 6'4 starting Power Forward

EYE see clearly tho, EYE am not surprised

[AirP.]

I'm still confused why Giannis plays like tall guard instead of a low post monster other than it's his personal preference. If he'd just play off ball and near the basket, he'd probably enhance his teammates greatly having such a weapon they could just pass it to if the internal defense cracks at all. I think he's utilized wrong but that might be because he's told them he's playing that way.

He's so good but he plays towards his weaknesses.

[Wiltside]

Orlando just gonna go ahead and ruin some young prospect aren’t they.

[IggieCC]

I'm still confused why Giannis plays like tall guard instead of a low post monster other than it's his personal preference. If he'd just play off ball and near the basket, he'd probably enhance his teammates greatly having such a weapon they could just pass it to if the internal defense cracks at all. I think he's utilized wrong but that might be because he's told them he's playing that way.

He's so good but he plays towards his weaknesses.

didn't he start playing bball when he was like 13? and I suspect that he probably wasn't properly introduced to elite organized bball until much later and was quite raw when drafted even.

he's come a long way since then considering the circumstances. a lot of what you said makes tons of sense, but it will probably take some time for him to adjust/expand his game if he ever is willing to do so.

[AirP.]

I'm still confused why Giannis plays like tall guard instead of a low post monster other than it's his personal preference. If he'd just play off ball and near the basket, he'd probably enhance his teammates greatly having such a weapon they could just pass it to if the internal defense cracks at all. I think he's utilized wrong but that might be because he's told them he's playing that way.

He's so good but he plays towards his weaknesses.

didn't he start playing bball when he was like 13? and I suspect that he probably wasn't properly introduced to elite organized bball until much later and was quite raw when drafted even.

he's come a long way since then considering the circumstances. a lot of what you said makes tons of sense, but it will probably take some time for him to adjust/expand his game if he ever is willing to do so.

He went more into post last season for their Championship and I think with that, he's decided that the next one he wins will be on his terms, playing how he wants to play. It's possible he keeps getting better where it'll work but he's using up prime years until then.

[AirP.]

Posted this on the General Board about Butler doing what is needed to win vs just scoring which I think he could put up another 5 shots to average around 30 if he wanted to...

.....................

Butler sacrifices his shot attempts to try to make his team better. If you talk to Miami fans they sometimes get frustrated with Butler for attacking the basket, having a good oppertunity to score and then passing out to an open 3pt shooter so they can get the shot and possibly stay in the rhythm of the game.

Butler's first year in Miami they started asking if Butler was losing his ability to score so he dropped 30 points in the first half in Phoenix, then went back to how he usually plays in the regular season the 2nd half of that game.

Many "superstars" are so good they can dictate that they're the system, Butler tries to play within the system and year after year after year puts up SUPERSTAR advanced stats.

Just looking at the MVP level players vs Butler this season, using Dean Oliver's ORTG and DRTG calculations(from Basketball-Reference) trying to extract what a player is doing while on the court we see this...
BTW... I don't compare main players vs rolelayers because it's much easier to do better in a limited role.
CODE: SELECT ALL

Jokic ORTG 126, DRTG 105, overall a +21 per 100 possessions. <= MVP
Giannis ORTG 124, DRTG 106, overall a +18 per 100 possessions. <= MVP candidate
Butler ORTG 124, DRTG 106, overall a +16 per 100 possessions. <= might not make an all-nba team, didn't score enough.
Embiid ORTG 119, DRTG 105, overall a +14 per 100 possessions. <= MVP candidate
Luka ORTG 110, DRTG 107, overall a +3 per 100 possessions
Tatum ORTG 113, DRTG 106, overall a +7 per 100 possessions.
Booker ORTG 113, DRTG 109, overall a +4 per 100 possessions.
T.YoungORTG 119, DRTG 118, overall a +1 per 100 possessions.

Butler's ORTG-DRTG(how much he helps a team on BOTH sides of the court) has been at the other MVP players levels for years now. Even in his las season in Chicago he was ORTG 123, DRTG 106 for a +17. In Philly it dropped because Simmons had to have the ball and Butler's role seemed to be what Covington did for Philly and he only put up a ORTG 120, DRTG 109 for a +11, those playoffs for Philly he put up a 121 ORG, 107 DRTG for an overall +14. Simmons was actually a +12 but played mostly as a roleplayer on offense and Embiid put up only a +6 in those playoffs.

If people didn't notice in game 1 of the ECF, Butler played normal the 1st half, with the team not doing well he forced his will on offense and defense and not only removed the deficit but gave Miami a lead. He erases 2 possessions of Boston's at a critical time in the game and gave Miami 4 easy points off back to back steals.

I think Butler could absolutely move his FGA from under 15 to 20 and average 30 a night if he wanted to, but he's understood for a while he needs his teammates but has the capability carry a team(doesn't mean he always does).

[Bishop45]

Giannis knows he'd be limiting himself if he stopped shooting the ball-- this is not a big mans game. Last year happened because of injuries to elite teams

[3ammy3uck3ts]

Posted this on the General Board about Butler doing what is needed to win vs just scoring which I think he could put up another 5 shots to average around 30 if he wanted to...

.....................

Butler sacrifices his shot attempts to try to make his team better. If you talk to Miami fans they sometimes get frustrated with Butler for attacking the basket, having a good oppertunity to score and then passing out to an open 3pt shooter so they can get the shot and possibly stay in the rhythm of the game.

Butler's first year in Miami they started asking if Butler was losing his ability to score so he dropped 30 points in the first half in Phoenix, then went back to how he usually plays in the regular season the 2nd half of that game.

Many "superstars" are so good they can dictate that they're the system, Butler tries to play within the system and year after year after year puts up SUPERSTAR advanced stats.

Just looking at the MVP level players vs Butler this season, using Dean Oliver's ORTG and DRTG calculations(from Basketball-Reference) trying to extract what a player is doing while on the court we see this...
BTW... I don't compare main players vs rolelayers because it's much easier to do better in a limited role.
CODE: SELECT ALL

Jokic ORTG 126, DRTG 105, overall a +21 per 100 possessions. <= MVP
Giannis ORTG 124, DRTG 106, overall a +18 per 100 possessions. <= MVP candidate
Butler ORTG 124, DRTG 106, overall a +16 per 100 possessions. <= might not make an all-nba team, didn't score enough.
Embiid ORTG 119, DRTG 105, overall a +14 per 100 possessions. <= MVP candidate
Luka ORTG 110, DRTG 107, overall a +3 per 100 possessions
Tatum ORTG 113, DRTG 106, overall a +7 per 100 possessions.
Booker ORTG 113, DRTG 109, overall a +4 per 100 possessions.
T.YoungORTG 119, DRTG 118, overall a +1 per 100 possessions.

Butler's ORTG-DRTG(how much he helps a team on BOTH sides of the court) has been at the other MVP players levels for years now. Even in his las season in Chicago he was ORTG 123, DRTG 106 for a +17. In Philly it dropped because Simmons had to have the ball and Butler's role seemed to be what Covington did for Philly and he only put up a ORTG 120, DRTG 109 for a +11, those playoffs for Philly he put up a 121 ORG, 107 DRTG for an overall +14. Simmons was actually a +12 but played mostly as a roleplayer on offense and Embiid put up only a +6 in those playoffs.

If people didn't notice in game 1 of the ECF, Butler played normal the 1st half, with the team not doing well he forced his will on offense and defense and not only removed the deficit but gave Miami a lead. He erases 2 possessions of Boston's at a critical time in the game and gave Miami 4 easy points off back to back steals.

I think Butler could absolutely move his FGA from under 15 to 20 and average 30 a night if he wanted to, but he's understood for a while he needs his teammates but has the capability carry a team(doesn't mean he always does).

Very good and detailed post but this also confuses me about your view on Bam because you can literally say all the same things about him. Maybe not to the same extent as Jimmy but Bam gives you an efficient 19 a night on 13 shots. Some nights call for less, others call for more. He could very easily take 5 more shots and average 24-25 a night if he wanted to and he would make all nba every season and be known as the 3rd best center in the league even to the casual fan. He sacrifices for the greater good of the team and him and Jimmy being willing to do that is what makes this team so special. We couldn’t have ask for better leaders to be honest.

[Bishop45]

Wiggins going from Minny to GS is like Eddie Murphy in trading places. Life changing

If you’re following the analogy closely, I’m comparing being homeless with playing for the wolves

[IggieCC]

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wolverine defense

[IggieCC]

completely forgot about this game.. tenks bish, but hopefully Mavs aren't satisfied just to get there and laying an egg

let's go Luka

[AirP.]

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[3ballbomber]

We have poverty, homelessness & hunger.....then you have 20k seats to watch men sweating

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[Rodrizzle]

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/267043/Magic-Likely-To-Move-On-From-Mo-Bamba-This-Summer

This is someone who we could target. Can play next to or behind Bam.

[oreon]

According to Lavar ball, Lavine is a goner. He'd be a nice target via S&T. He's exactly what he need, a 2nd explosive perimter scorer who can get to the rim. And he'd be cheap since he's a FA, likely a package of Herro and a pick. Only major concern is his injuries. I don't have specifics but seems he's like Embiid where he can't last healthy into the playoffs.
The other concern since its a S&T, we would be hardcapped. So to make it work, it might cost Lowry. Personally if medical team approved, I'd do it for Lowry & Herro + protected pick. I'd rather him than Mitchell cuz of his length & size

[AirP.]

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