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[jpatrick]

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I don’t think Wolves would do this but McDaniels for Nembhard is interesting and something Indiana would probably do. They just have too many good guards: Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Mautharin, Nesmith, Sheppard; and could really use a true SF, especially one that can play defense.

[Colbinii]

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I don’t think Wolves would do this but McDaniels for Nembhard is interesting and something Indiana would probably do. They just have too many good guards: Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Mautharin, Nesmith, Sheppard; and could really use a true SF, especially one that can play defense.

Nesmith is a wing.

[jpatrick]

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I don’t think Wolves would do this but McDaniels for Nembhard is interesting and something Indiana would probably do. They just have too many good guards: Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Mautharin, Nesmith, Sheppard; and could really use a true SF, especially one that can play defense.

Nesmith is a wing.

I mean, that’s 100% true. But he’s there only wing that plays defense and he’s 6’6”ish. He’s a wing like Ant is a wing. It’s also true that the Pacers had one of the worst defenses in the NBA last season, by far the worst of any team that made the playoffs. That said, I don’t think either team makes that move.

[Colbinii]

I don’t think Wolves would do this but McDaniels for Nembhard is interesting and something Indiana would probably do. They just have too many good guards: Haliburton, Nembhard, McConnell, Mautharin, Nesmith, Sheppard; and could really use a true SF, especially one that can play defense.

Nesmith is a wing.

I mean, that’s 100% true. But he’s there only wing that plays defense and he’s 6’6”ish. He’s a wing like Ant is a wing. It’s also true that the Pacers had one of the worst defenses in the NBA last season, by far the worst of any team that made the playoffs. That said, I don’t think either team makes that move.

They have Pascal Siakam as well.

I don't think the Pacers would trade Nembhard just to get another defensive wing in the fold--Nesmith does 75% of what McDaniels does for half the cost.

I think a more interesting route for the Pacers is to move Mathurin+ for an upgraded rotational piece. It is more likely the Pacers stand-pat this off-season though, develop more of their young guys and make a deal closer to the trade deadline as the Haliburton/Siakam/Turner core grows and they flesh out what type of player they need to get over the hump.

[Colbinii]

I mean, that’s 100% true. But he’s there only wing that plays defense and he’s 6’6”ish. He’s a wing like Ant is a wing. It’s also true that the Pacers had one of the worst defenses in the NBA last season, by far the worst of any team that made the playoffs. That said, I don’t think either team makes that move.

They have Pascal Siakam as well.

I don't think the Pacers would trade Nembhard just to get another defensive wing in the fold--Nesmith does 75% of what McDaniels does for half the cost.

I think a more interesting route for the Pacers is to move Mathurin+ for an upgraded rotational piece. It is more likely the Pacers stand-pat this off-season though, develop more of their young guys and make a deal closer to the trade deadline as the Haliburton/Siakam/Turner core grows and they flesh out what type of player they need to get over the hump.

[minimus]

Next season, can Josh Minott be our version of Peyton Watson? Defensive minded comboforward who gives 100% effort?

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[cmoss84]

Dallas not getting the calls they got against us.

[cmoss84]

Celtics and Porzingis on fire!

[Guest84]

So far it seems like Dallas doesn’t have the same advantage inside with the two bigs. Celtics are just as active and physical down there.

KP also takes advantage of his size.

[TimberKat]

So far it seems like Dallas doesn’t have the same advantage inside with the two bigs. Celtics are just as active and physical down there.

KP also takes advantage of his size.

I am not watching the game but why can't Towns do what Zingis is doing?

[Worm Guts]

So far it seems like Dallas doesn’t have the same advantage inside with the two bigs. Celtics are just as active and physical down there.

KP also takes advantage of his size.

I am not watching the game but why can't Towns do what Zingis is doing?

KP is probably 3-4 inches taller, but mainly he’s hitting his shots.

[Guest84]

So far it seems like Dallas doesn’t have the same advantage inside with the two bigs. Celtics are just as active and physical down there.

KP also takes advantage of his size.

I am not watching the game but why can't Towns do what Zingis is doing?

KP is probably 3-4 inches taller, but mainly he’s hitting his shots.

I think KP just knows how to use his size to his advantage better. He’s taller but I don’t think he’s stronger than Towns. So mindset, technique and iq are the difference.

[guest81]

So far it seems like Dallas doesn’t have the same advantage inside with the two bigs. Celtics are just as active and physical down there.

KP also takes advantage of his size.

I am not watching the game but why can't Towns do what Zingis is doing?

Towns doesn't really have a middle game. It's either drives or 3s

[KATKlownFeet]

I'm impressed by Nembhard. Definitely a good player.

I had him ranked way ahead of Wendell Moore, but that was TC's terrible pick. Nembhard and Vince Williams both had great years and I ranked both higher than Moore. One other guy who I liked late in the second, Jabari Walker, had a really strong finish with lots of double doubles.

[Calinks]

Man Celtics took it to Dallas. I loved how they attacked Luka and KP put on a clinic. I really don't like how we use Twns in our offense, he should have taken way more mid range shoots and threes. We didn't run plays that got him inovled, KP tonight got some nice pick and pops too.

He did damage from the post but it all wasn't inside, a lot of it was mid range, jump shots and the like. Superbly played.

[shrink]

A rested BOS team. MIN was out of gas.

[minimus]

Well, I've watched first game BOS-DAL... The first things I thought: damn, KP in offense did EVERYTHING that was supposed to do:

- fought hard for position and got the ball around free throw line
- punished every attempt to defend him with smaller guard
- punished Lively with physical layup when Lively tried to pressure
- shot that open long range threes with confidence

Clearly KP got hot in this game, but his confidence and decisiveness were just on another level than Karl's. Both were coming from injuries but the difference was massive.

As a team BOS was much faster to shot open and semiopen threes and attack the rim, before DAL defense was set. BOS attacked Luka and Kyrie relentlessly. DAL did not believe in MIN shooters because our shooters were hesitant to shoot, BOS just continued to shoot despite some ugly misses. BOS wings are MUCH bigger, stronger, aggressive and physical than MIN wings. They kept fighting with DAL players despite mismatches, not allowing easy points, covering fastbreaks etc. I guess DAL exploited biggest MIN biggest weakness that "by design" made DAL such a bad matchup for MIN: we lack wings. Luka is basically a wing sized point guard. Just like MIN with Gobert/Towns/Reid matches well with DEN, BOS with Tatum/Brown/White/Holiday matches well with Luke/Kyrie. It explains why Kyle Anderson was the only player in MIN who played well against DAL. I guess that Connelly has been trying to add more players to fill MIN need of big, physical shooters, Wendell Moore Jr., NAW, Troy Brown Jr., and Jaylen Clark are latest examples. Only NAW has successfully integrated into this roster. Can TC replace Kyle Anderson and get one rotational wing via FA, trade or draft?

[minimus]

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[Calinks]

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They didn't load up on him as much as they could but it would be a gamble because Boston ha a lot of options on offense. Regardless, he was amazing, absolutely destroyed them and punished them every time. It was fun to see him wreck house from everywhere, he did a ton of his damage in the mid-range.

Dallas is probably going to have too defend him more aggressively and of course, Luka and Kyrie need to show up. I think Dallas will respond next game but man, they got wrecked game 1. They looked like what I thought they were going to look like against us and OKC

[minimus]

Some time ago, I posted a few trade ideas to bring here Jrue Holiday. Right now he is the most impressive player in NBA Finals: just steady veteran presence, mistake free execution. He and Horford are impressive.