The Around The NBA Thread

[Dresden]

If you had told me that Trae Young would shoot 5-23 with 6 turnovers before the game, I'd have said there is no way the Hawks will win. What a remarkable win. Tobias Harris, 8-24, yikes. Embiid with 8 turnovers. Amazing run by the Hawks. I would not count them out v. MIL.

[othawhitemeat]

I for one am going to enjouly the NBA again as no superteams, etc... seeing other players such as Booker evolve, players like Gallo make big plays along w Huerter, good d, etc... it has been a joy to watch as I have not watched much the last few years.

[Jimako10]

I thought ATL was a top 4 seed at the beginning of the season, but they've exceeded even those optimistic projections. Amazing job even with Trae Young shooting terribly.

Atl vs Mil should be fun. I got MIL winning just because they are the hungriest and most experienced team right now. Plus ATL doesn't have anyone to stop Giannis unless they put Capela on him. Would've been nice to have Deandre Hunter healthy as he'd definitely help with MIddleton and Giannis. Going from having to guard Seth Curry and George Hill/Korkmaz to Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton is going to be a lot tougher.

[FecesOfDeath]

Ben Simmons is a 6'10" Rondo. Too bad he's not a 6'10" Playoff Rondo.

[dukeespn]

Ben Simmons is a 6'10" Rondo. Too bad he's not a 6'10" Playoff Rondo.

I mean I get what you try to say but Rondo was a dawg.. He attempted every open shots no matter he hit or not when he had to.

Plus he was a much much better driver than Simmons is. His finishing at the rim was so crafty and his floaters were also great.

On the other hand Simmons even doesn't try to hit wide open dunk at the rim. OFC he refused to take open jump shots and his FG attempts in 2nd half are so little. He has no spirit to fight back.

[ChiCitySPORTS#1]

How bout Ben for Kemba? OKC could trade for Ben and throw in one of their million draft pciks.

Ben could start over with a bunch of real young guys and no pressure. Philly will be taking a chance on Kemba's knee but if he is healthy, it will work out much better with Kemba and Embiid then Simmons and Embiid.

Why would Philly do that? Kemba was traded for a bag of chips. The Celtics had to include their first to unload him, why would Philly give up Simmons for him. They wouldn’t, Kemba is negative value. Simmons is still an all-star and just had a very bad series. His trade value is still much higher than that

We will see what his trade value is soon. I don’t think it is nearly as high as you think.

It’s certainly not Kemba bad. Simmons is still a positive asset, let’s not be prisoners of the moment.

[WindyCityBorn]

Still want Simmons but this series loss is on philly sucking instead of atl going off. How tf are the hawks in the ecf??? That should have been the bulls smdh

I don’t. Why is he a better acquisition than Lonzo Ball?

I obviously haven't watched that much of simmoms but it's the same reason why I still believe in Lauri. It's all about the opportunities a player gets and that can also effect a players mental.

Simmons is treated like an after thought on that team. It's the media that makes it seem like he is/should be the second option but he's usually 3-4th on the pecking order. He showed much more offense his first few years (like Lauri) than he did in the playoff games this year.

His key offense ideally would be an elite thadgic Johnson kind of player. Short pnr, passing, rim running, post ups on mismatches, midrange jumper. Unfortunately, he's like #3 on the pecking order for all of these. He's behind embiid (rightfully so) and the fit with him is just poor. Simmons needs floor spacers. Not a high volume big man. Obviously the priority should be embiid. So what are you left with? Opportunistic baskets (like Lauri).

I think Simmons would play/look a lot better on the bulls next to Lavine/Coby/vuc/Lauri. They would provide the spacing and Simmons would be a massive upgrade for the thad role.


And obviously I haven't mentioned elite trait of defense with a big body which the bulls desperately need.


Edit: Ben Simmons without embiid in his career averages 18p/9r/7a/2s/1b on 55% the. I'd take that with his elite defense.

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

[PaKii94]

I don’t. Why is he a better acquisition than Lonzo Ball?

I obviously haven't watched that much of simmoms but it's the same reason why I still believe in Lauri. It's all about the opportunities a player gets and that can also effect a players mental.

Simmons is treated like an after thought on that team. It's the media that makes it seem like he is/should be the second option but he's usually 3-4th on the pecking order. He showed much more offense his first few years (like Lauri) than he did in the playoff games this year.

His key offense ideally would be an elite thadgic Johnson kind of player. Short pnr, passing, rim running, post ups on mismatches, midrange jumper. Unfortunately, he's like #3 on the pecking order for all of these. He's behind embiid (rightfully so) and the fit with him is just poor. Simmons needs floor spacers. Not a high volume big man. Obviously the priority should be embiid. So what are you left with? Opportunistic baskets (like Lauri).

I think Simmons would play/look a lot better on the bulls next to Lavine/Coby/vuc/Lauri. They would provide the spacing and Simmons would be a massive upgrade for the thad role.


And obviously I haven't mentioned elite trait of defense with a big body which the bulls desperately need.


Edit: Ben Simmons without embiid in his career averages 18p/9r/7a/2s/1b on 55% the. I'd take that with his elite defense.

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

[TheSuzerain]

I obviously haven't watched that much of simmoms but it's the same reason why I still believe in Lauri. It's all about the opportunities a player gets and that can also effect a players mental.

Simmons is treated like an after thought on that team. It's the media that makes it seem like he is/should be the second option but he's usually 3-4th on the pecking order. He showed much more offense his first few years (like Lauri) than he did in the playoff games this year.

His key offense ideally would be an elite thadgic Johnson kind of player. Short pnr, passing, rim running, post ups on mismatches, midrange jumper. Unfortunately, he's like #3 on the pecking order for all of these. He's behind embiid (rightfully so) and the fit with him is just poor. Simmons needs floor spacers. Not a high volume big man. Obviously the priority should be embiid. So what are you left with? Opportunistic baskets (like Lauri).

I think Simmons would play/look a lot better on the bulls next to Lavine/Coby/vuc/Lauri. They would provide the spacing and Simmons would be a massive upgrade for the thad role.


And obviously I haven't mentioned elite trait of defense with a big body which the bulls desperately need.


Edit: Ben Simmons without embiid in his career averages 18p/9r/7a/2s/1b on 55% the. I'd take that with his elite defense.

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

You realize the Thad role only really existed pre-Vuc trade?

[PaKii94]

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

You realize the Thad role only really existed pre-Vuc trade?

Yes and it was the only time bulls offense looked competent. The offense was dumbed down to post ups after the trade but the thad offense is how BD wants to play

[Dan Z]

I obviously haven't watched that much of simmoms but it's the same reason why I still believe in Lauri. It's all about the opportunities a player gets and that can also effect a players mental.

Simmons is treated like an after thought on that team. It's the media that makes it seem like he is/should be the second option but he's usually 3-4th on the pecking order. He showed much more offense his first few years (like Lauri) than he did in the playoff games this year.

His key offense ideally would be an elite thadgic Johnson kind of player. Short pnr, passing, rim running, post ups on mismatches, midrange jumper. Unfortunately, he's like #3 on the pecking order for all of these. He's behind embiid (rightfully so) and the fit with him is just poor. Simmons needs floor spacers. Not a high volume big man. Obviously the priority should be embiid. So what are you left with? Opportunistic baskets (like Lauri).

I think Simmons would play/look a lot better on the bulls next to Lavine/Coby/vuc/Lauri. They would provide the spacing and Simmons would be a massive upgrade for the thad role.


And obviously I haven't mentioned elite trait of defense with a big body which the bulls desperately need.


Edit: Ben Simmons without embiid in his career averages 18p/9r/7a/2s/1b on 55% the. I'd take that with his elite defense.

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

You'd trade for a 24 year old all star (Simmons), give up a bunch of assets and then play him in the role of a 33 year old part time starter (Thad)?

Ben Simmons is paid like a star and expected to be one. He should be better and still can be, but I don't think the solution is reducing his role.

[PaKii94]

But he would still be playing 3rd option to Vuc and Zach. It’s really hard build around guy who can’t shoot unless they just dominate players Giannis or Zion. Especially one that is meant to be the lead facilitator.

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

You'd trade for a 24 year old all star (Simmons), give up a bunch of assets and then play him in the role of a 33 year old part time starter (Thad)?

Ben Simmons is paid like a star and expected to be one. He should be better and still can be, but I don't think the solution is reducing his role.

How is being the most impactful player/role on the team, lead playmaker, playing his optimal offense a reduction in his role? He's in a reduced unoptimal role right now

[WindyCityBorn]

Why would Philly do that? Kemba was traded for a bag of chips. The Celtics had to include their first to unload him, why would Philly give up Simmons for him. They wouldn’t, Kemba is negative value. Simmons is still an all-star and just had a very bad series. His trade value is still much higher than that

We will see what his trade value is soon. I don’t think it is nearly as high as you think.

It’s certainly not Kemba bad. Simmons is still a positive asset, let’s not be prisoners of the moment.

I didn’t say it was, but they are not getting what they need which is an elite offensive perimeter player in return for him. I have 76ers fans mention players like LaVine, Beal and McCollum. They are delusional.

[WindyCityBorn]

Yes but like I said, his role and opportunities would be different. I'd use him in the thad role

You'd trade for a 24 year old all star (Simmons), give up a bunch of assets and then play him in the role of a 33 year old part time starter (Thad)?

Ben Simmons is paid like a star and expected to be one. He should be better and still can be, but I don't think the solution is reducing his role.

How is being the most impactful player/role on the team, lead playmaker, playing his optimal offense a reduction in his role? He's in a reduced unoptimal role right now

His optimal offense isn’t good enough to win anything. We don’t need a 6’10” PG that can’t shoot at all on a max contract. It would be one thing if he was dominating inside like Giannis, but he just doesn’t score period and doesn’t even want to shoot.

[jc23]

Doc Rivers not looking too good either

[Ice Man]

My Nostradamus score was its usual 50%. I was talking up Atlanta before the season began when I saw its roster. Score 1 for me. And I never, ever saw them beating a healthy Philly. Take 1 away from me.

[Ice Man]

Doc Rivers not looking too good either

And Nate McMillan was fired by the Pacers because, they said, he couldn't win in the playoffs.

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahahaahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

[jc23]

I feel like if you are a team that has a huge hole like the sixers did with Ben its going to be tough to win a title in todays game. You need to have a balance. One reason i think people are picking the Suns to win it all, they have everything you need and no holes to exploit.

Sixers needed another ball creator late in games to help Embid out.

[TheFinishSniper]

This is what happens when you dont tank right. Hawks in East Finals. They started rebuild later than us and got in playoffs faster than us. Why because they lost when they needed to lose to get pick which was at minimum Doncic but they almost **** up that and gambled to get Trae. Point is they tanked enough to still got one of them.

Seems I wont watch much Bulls basketball in next coming few decades.

[Ice Man]

One reason i think people are picking the Suns to win it all, they have everything you need and no holes to exploit..

The Suns are playing great but they give me Atlanta 2015 vibes -- a team with 5 strong starters, but without a superstar. Perhaps Booker can fill that slot; he certainly did (and then some) in Game #1.