Around The NBA: 2019-20 RESTART

Leslie Forman · Post #721 » by **Leslie Forman** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 2:15 am

I'll eat crow on Porter. I did not understand how so many people could be so hyped up for a guy that showed absolutely nothing the few games he played in college and had such an awful injury history, which appears to run in the family, as well. Good on Denver for taking a risk and getting rewarded for it.

I was right that he ain't no small forward though. He still looks kinda…stiff. Not sure that'll ever change with his back problems.

Dresden · Post #722 » by **Dresden** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 2:27 am

Leslie Forman wrote:I'll eat crow on Porter. I did not understand how so many people could be so hyped up for a guy that showed absolutely nothing the few games he played in college and had such an awful injury history, which appears to run in the family, as well. Good on Denver for taking a risk and getting rewarded for it.

I was right that he ain't no small forward though. He still looks kinda…stiff. Not sure that'll ever change with his back problems.

I would say there's a long way to go before you can say Porter would have been a better pick than Wendell, but he is at least showing flashes of being able to be a good nba player when healthy, which gives some hope for his future. I thought he would have been a good pick for us because we needed a superstar, and sometimes you have to go out on a limb to get one, esp. if you aren't picking at the very top of the draft.

Mbrahv0528 · Post #723 » by **Mbrahv0528** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:12 am

Ugly Duckling wrote:Gotta say, you guys were right about MPJ. I def saw his talent and upside, but the back surgery and subsequent med report were scary. Damn I wish we took a flier on him. We could've gotten rid of Lauri's weak ass

Lmfao. Hot takes.

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Post #724 » by **kulaz3000** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:19 am

I'm sorry, but a handful of decent games aren't going to make me think that drafting him over WCJ would have been the better play. Hell, Lauri has had many amazing games through his young career, and look at how many people want him gone now.

He needs to have a few full seasons of really solid to strong play for me to think that he was worth a high draft pick.

dice · Post #725 » by **dice** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 3:26 am

Ice Man wrote:
dice wrote:meanwhile, ben simmons has best game of his career in carving up dinwiddie and the nets

He's been freed from the shackles of Joel Embiid. What a shame that duo is, each genuinely great players, but they also each make the other worse.

was scottie freed from the shackles of michael jordan when he became an MVP candidate in MJ's absence?

dice · Post #726 » by **dice** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:38 am

after last night, kemba walker's teams are now 1-28 against lebron james-led teams. the record of 30-0 still stands in individual head-to-head matchups:

Watch on YouTube

i'll let you guess who dominated those particular face-offs

MrFortune3 · Post #727 » by **MrFortune3** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:08 am

Ice Man wrote:
MrFortune3 wrote:They don't make each other worse but their game is not complimentary of one another. They don't play off one another well. But most of that is due to them making Embiid shoot 3's and SImmons being poor at it.

Also, there's room down low for Simmons with Embiid gone, and SImmons is an absurdly good post scorer.

They need to find a way to have a good inside out, pick and pop game with those 2.

dice · Post #728 » by **dice** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 7:36 am

harden points per 36, career:

16
16
19
24
24
27
27
29
31
35
36

projected to peak at 110 points per 36 in his 86th season

SfBull · Post #729 » by **SfBull** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 11:52 am

dumbell78 wrote:I was one of the vocal guys in the draft thread that wanted no part of MPJ. I wasn't sold and if I'm proven wrong then so be it.

I will say he went to a perfect spot to come along slowly and be mentored with the right amount of talent, coaching, vet leadership etc. No way that happens here with the likes of Hoiberg and Jimbo, with the GarPax FO. Denver and MPJ were made for each other. Denver could afford to take a swing on him and bring him along slowly, they are already a solid playoff team. He could take his sweet time and find some health and his groove. None of that happens here and we probably are hating on him because of it.

Again the same conclusion ,we won't get nothing with GarPax/Boylen at the helm and again there's nothing showing some sign of change now.Who knows? Perhaps in the postseason.

BullChit · Post #730 » by **BullChit** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 12:28 pm

I've been thinking it for a while that regardless of who we drafted I don't have faith in the front office nor the coaching staff to utilise them properly.

Hell I think if we had Luka that Boylin would still be pushing the multi ball handler system and totally watering him down.

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Post #731 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:54 pm

dice wrote:was scottie freed from the shackles of michael jordan when he became an MVP candidate in MJ's absence?

Mike wasn't in Scottie's way. But Embiid clogs the lane that Ben needs to use. They fit together like chalk and cheese.

Post #732 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 1:58 pm

dice wrote:harden points per 36, career:

16
16
19
24
24
27
27
29
31
35
36

His usage rate, unsurprisingly, has gone up accordingly, although it's down slightly this year from last year's figure of 40.5% (!).

TheSuzerain · Post #733 » by **TheSuzerain** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:09 pm

BullChit wrote:I've been thinking it for a while that regardless of who we drafted I don't have faith in the front office nor the coaching staff to utilise them properly.

Hell I think if we had Luka that Boylin would still be pushing the multi ball handler system and totally watering him down.

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Luka would have told Boylen/GarPax to **** themselves. And he would have ultimately got his way.

TheSuzerain · Post #734 » by **TheSuzerain** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 4:12 pm

Ice Man wrote:
dice wrote:was scottie freed from the shackles of michael jordan when he became an MVP candidate in MJ's absence?

Mike wasn't in Scottie's way. But Embiid clogs the lane that Ben needs to use. They fit together like chalk and cheese.

It's impressive the mental gymnastics that people do to absolve Simmons of the 98% of the blame that he deserves for Philly's dysfunction.

It's a shame Philly didn't commit to Butler/Embiid. That's a contending duo and easy to build around for the next few years.

Post #735 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 6:15 pm

If Philly offered me one player with which to start my franchise, it would be Simmons. I'd get him the right supporting cast and system and he would be doing what Butler is now doing in Miami, only for the next 10 years.

Mech Engineer · Post #736 » by **Mech Engineer** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 6:35 pm

Ice Man wrote:If Philly offered me one player with which to start my franchise, it would be Simmons. I'd get him the right supporting cast and system and he would be doing what Butler is now doing in Miami, only for the next 10 years.

IMO, Embiid has a small shelf life while Simmons will probably be around for next 10 years. You can build again with Simmons once Embiid slows down or gets injured.

If someone else had Simmons's problems, they would be terrible and probably useless. But, he is unique physically and can impact the game like nobody else can. You need a creative GM to build around him and that's definitely not the Bulls.

Post #737 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 6:38 pm

Mech Engineer wrote:IMO, Embiid has a small shelf life while Simmons will probably be around for next 10 years. You can build again with Simmons once Embiid slows down or gets injured.

If someone else had Simmons's problems, they would be terrible and probably useless. But, he is unique physically and can impact the game like nobody else can. You need a creative GM to build around him and that's definitely not the Bulls.

Bingo! Those would be my reasons. You are a better me than I am.

R3AL1TY · Post #738 » by **R3AL1TY** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:01 pm

Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic performances last night were amazing.

Post #739 » by **Ice Man** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 9:37 pm

R3AL1TY wrote:Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic performances last night were amazing.

It's not that I wasn't sold on Luka already, but in the first quarter when he drove past his guy then beat Kawhi as the help defender, I could only bow. Who beats a double team that includes Kawhi?

Mech Engineer · Post #740 » by **Mech Engineer** » Wed Jan 22, 2020 10:10 pm

Ice Man wrote:
R3AL1TY wrote:Kawhi Leonard and Luka Doncic performances last night were amazing.

It's not that I wasn't sold on Luka already, but in the first quarter when he drove past his guy then beat Kawhi as the help defender, I could only bow. Who beats a double team that includes Kawhi?

There were a few instances where Beverly was all over him but couldn't stop him. Luka has that special skill of going from zero to 100 before the defender realizes it. That cannot be defended.

And, all he needs is KP to defend the rim and hit some shots to relieve the pressure. If there is a superstar in the making, that's him. It will be fun to see what new things they will throw at him in the playoffs.

Dallas is on pace to win 52 or 54 games in his 2nd year. That's an impactful player. And, they don't even know how to win close games yet. All his teammates are castoffs.