ATL: The 2019-20 Season Has Begun

[Ron Swanson]

I mean, he's still one of the best individual defenders of this era, but yeah, people overrated the **** out of his passing/playmaking and overall "impact" as a player. He gets drafted by the Hawks instead of the Warriors and he's not even sniffing the Hall. I think he's pretty borderline as is.

[mattg]

I mean, he's still one of the best individual defenders of this era, but yeah, people overrated the **** out of his passing/playmaking and overall "impact" as a player. He gets drafted by the Hawks instead of the Warriors and he's not even sniffing the Hall. I think he's pretty borderline as is.

Sure he’s an excellent defender. But he is legitimately a terrible shooter who is even worse than his percentages indicate due to how wide open the only shots he will shoot are, his ball handling is atrocious unless he’s dribbling in a straight line in the open court (is a complete liability handling in any sort of traffic or with defensive pressure), is completely incapable of finishing at the rim, and somehow was given the longest leash to berate refs in nba history.

[Bucksfan28]

If Draymond wants to be relevant he just needs to gun for the single-season technicals record.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Wiggins becoming an All-Star level player in his 6th season would certainly be one of the oddest career arcs for a #1 overall pick. Maybe Thibs was really that bad?

He’s had good stretches before and fell back down. I’m not buying into it. He looked pretty mediocre against us while putting up some empty stats in a blowout loss.

The assists are surprising and we'll see if that lasts. A big reason he's been better is he isn't take nearly as many dumb ass mid range shots. Not sure why it took him so long to figure that out but that's something that does seem sustainable. He's also shooting better from 3, that might regress but his form has always been pretty good and guys do get better at that so who knows maybe it continues.

I fall kind of in the middle of is Wiggins for real. I don't expect him to keep up at an all-star level but it's also not unheard of for a very physically talented player who's still pretty young to figure some **** out and get better.

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[Nowak008]

Read on Twitter

Imagine amassing billions of dollars... buying a sports franchise...the team becomes a top 3 team in the league...and deciding not to go into the luxury tax.

[MikeIsGood]

I dont have faith in the Mavs but if they keep pace and make the playoffs, hes in the discussion.

If the friggin Mavs keep pace and make the playoffs, especially if Zinger doesn't get any better, Luka should run away with the thing.

Eh. If the Rockets get a top-2 or 3 seed and Harden keeps improving his shooting numbers, Luka wouldn't even be the best candidate in the West (assuming the Mavs' absolute ceiling is a 7/8 seed). And that still doesn't factor in Giannis.

Dallas would have to be absurdly good for Luka to "run away" from some very deserving candidates.

Dallas's roster is a joke. If Luka wills them to the playoffs, that is herculean.

I don't disagree that the narrative would be with Harden as outlined, and of course not discounting our Giannis, but seriously. Dallas. Zinger looks like a shell of his former self, and their supporting cast is like Tim Hardaway and Dwight Powell. Making the playoffs out west would be ridiculous.

[BroncoBuck]

Wiggins becoming an All-Star level player in his 6th season would certainly be one of the oddest career arcs for a #1 overall pick. Maybe Thibs was really that bad?

He’s had good stretches before and fell back down. I’m not buying into it. He looked pretty mediocre against us while putting up some empty stats in a blowout loss.

The assists are surprising and we'll see if that lasts. A big reason he's been better is he isn't take nearly as many dumb ass mid range shots. Not sure why it took him so long to figure that out but that's something that does seem sustainable. He's also shooting better from 3, that might regress but his form has always been pretty good and guys do get better at that so who knows maybe it continues.

I fall kind of in the middle of is Wiggins for real. I don't expect him to keep up at an all-star level but it's also not unheard of for a very physically talented player who's still pretty young to figure some **** out and get better.

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It seems like he’s doing more than just standing in the corner, but the game against us that’s exactly what he seemed to be doing lol. He has all the talent in the world so maybe he is turning it around. Being the laughing stock of the league will do that to you I suppose.

[BroncoBuck]

If the friggin Mavs keep pace and make the playoffs, especially if Zinger doesn't get any better, Luka should run away with the thing.

Eh. If the Rockets get a top-2 or 3 seed and Harden keeps improving his shooting numbers, Luka wouldn't even be the best candidate in the West (assuming the Mavs' absolute ceiling is a 7/8 seed). And that still doesn't factor in Giannis.

Dallas would have to be absurdly good for Luka to "run away" from some very deserving candidates.

Dallas's roster is a joke. If Luka wills them to the playoffs, that is herculean.

I don't disagree that the narrative would be with Harden as outlined, and of course not discounting our Giannis, but seriously. Dallas. Zinger looks like a shell of his former self, and their supporting cast is like Tim Hardaway and Dwight Powell. Making the playoffs out west would be ridiculous.

KP needs some kind of post game. He can’t get buckets inside. It’s really disheartening to watch. Combine KP + Jahlil Okafor and you have an incredible player lol.

[BroncoBuck]

Read on Twitter

Imagine amassing billions of dollars... buying a sports franchise...the team becomes a top 3 team in the league...and deciding not to go into the luxury tax.

I don’t think many of us were concerned with his offense. The biggest issue is health first, then who defends the point. Brogdon is a pretty good wing defender. He’s been picked apart by quicker guards.

I would’ve been pissed if he walked for nothing, but this team was able to get flexibility to make another move by trading him. Hope he stays healthy and has a phenomenal career, but he missed a **** load of games here.

[Bucksfan28]

If the friggin Mavs keep pace and make the playoffs, especially if Zinger doesn't get any better, Luka should run away with the thing.

Eh. If the Rockets get a top-2 or 3 seed and Harden keeps improving his shooting numbers, Luka wouldn't even be the best candidate in the West (assuming the Mavs' absolute ceiling is a 7/8 seed). And that still doesn't factor in Giannis.

Dallas would have to be absurdly good for Luka to "run away" from some very deserving candidates.

Dallas's roster is a joke. If Luka wills them to the playoffs, that is herculean.

I don't disagree that the narrative would be with Harden as outlined, and of course not discounting our Giannis, but seriously. Dallas. Zinger looks like a shell of his former self, and their supporting cast is like Tim Hardaway and Dwight Powell. Making the playoffs out west would be ridiculous.

Don't disagree about Dallas. I just think a potential difference of 10-15 wins (might even be more) makes it really tough for one guy, despite being incredible, to take the award in a landslide.

Houston's roster is pretty bad too. Aren't they starting Ben Mclemore?

[Ron Swanson]

I just think the voters are done rewarding Harden for shamelessly gunning for the scoring title every season. I'm not gonna say that what he's doing isn't incredibly impressive (because it is), but this is pretty much where we're at with him. He may be the only guy in the league that can put up these kinds of numbers at that efficiency and volume, but 40% usage, 24 FGA, 15 FTA, and 6 turnovers per game along with absolute turnstile defense? Cannibalizing the offense to that extent means that of course you're gonna put up crazy stats.

[Plossum]

Kendrick Nunn really went under the radar before the Heat nabbed him.

[StickeeFingaz]

Melo to Portland!

[RiotPunch]

Melo to Portland!

This is Portland's solution?

[ReasonablySober]

Happy for Melo, unhappy for the Blazers. Damn, that's desperate.

[Ron Swanson]

They gonna play Melo at center?

[Plossum]

Melo, Dame an CJ on D... Blazers gonna give up 150 a game.

[ANTETOKOUNBROS]

I really wish we kept Jabari and Brogdon.

[RiotPunch]

Melo, Dame an CJ on D... Blazers gonna give up 150 a game.

They're gonna need at least one more basketball too.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Clippers load managing their way to a 7-5 record is pretty satisfying.

Hell of a game for Paul George in his debut though.