Around the NBA, 2016-17 Season thread

[shakendfries]

I get where you're coming from Dirk, but what if KD joined the Warriors is the ultimate NBA "what if" scenario

What if the Portalnd TrailBlazers 1977 didn't trade Moses Malone to the Washington Bullets, and allowed Bill Walton to play less minutes?

What if the 50 win Detroit Pistons, a team that won the championship in 2004 without him, selected Carmelo Anthony 2nd in the 2003 NBA draft, and became the dynamic offensive threat the defensive-minded Pistons needed?

What if Robert Sarver and the WCF Phoenix Suns didn't trade away the draft pick that could've turned into Andre Igoudolla for money, and matched Atlanta's offer for Joe Johnson -who was a critical part of the 62 win squad, instead of letting the RFA walk? The Suns could've had an MVP Steve Nash, Andre Igoudolla, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, & Amare Stoudemire

What if the 1995 60 win Orlando Magic paid Shaquille O'Neal? What if Shaq and Kobe managed to put their differences aside, and extended their championship run?

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In the NBA, talented teams have the opportunity to win a lot of games for a short while, but more often than not their excellence is a flash in a pan. The league adjusts, injuries happen, and suddenly the team that seemed poised to become a powerhouse simply becomes lost and forgotten amidst the sea of newer and younger teams that have replaced them in line to knock against the fleeting dynasty door.

Yes, the Warriors won 73 games last season and for all intents and purposes dominated the league. However, there's no definite way of determining if they'd ever reach that level again. What's to say they didn't plateau last season, and the NBA finals were the beginning of their decline? They'd have accomplished 2 years of being a championship contending team, one chip, and nothing else.

Right now, we're looking at the Warriors like a powerhouse, but looking at the NBA past puts things in perspective. There were many great teams that plateaued at times that people assumed they had yet to reach their potential. The Mike D'Antoni Phoenix Suns is just one example of a team that thought it had everything but wasn't able to sustain it's run at the top. Looking into the past shows that you never know when unpredictable external factors can mitigate a team's success.

In 1986 the Houston Rockets defeated the defending champion Lakers 4-1 and looked to be a powerhouse. The next season, Louis Lloyd and Mitchell Wiggins got suspended, John Lucas got traded, and Ralph Samson's back was injured. They went from making the finals to not advancing past the 2nd round until 1994. Meanwhile, the Lakers team it beat went on to win 2 more championships. Hakeem Olijuwan says the Rockets had the opportunity to trade Samson before the 1984 draft for the number 2 pick and Clyde Drexler. That pick turned into Michael Jordan. This means the Rockets could've had Olijuwan, Drexler, and Jordan on the same roster. Today, we look back at the roster and wonder what could've been.

Watching the Warriors today doesn't strike me as some extremely unfair twist of fate, but rather the most fascinating team ever constructed. Making a great team even better is something that most franchises can only dream of. Of course, they're going to be loathed by opponents, but I can't shake the side of me that is amazed at the level of basketball we're going to get to witness. Maybe this feeling will wear off, and maybe they'll turn into the Yankees of basketball, but for now it's nice to see greatness for a franchise that isn't the Lakers, Celtics, or Spurs. This is the next great basketball franchise, and to be honest, the team that will eventually surpass them will have achieved a far greater accomplishment

[shakendfries]

Warriors killing Clips by 50, I know it's pre-season but geez. It's not even fair man smh I hate KD for this

C'mon man, you can't knock it- we are literally getting to witness one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. Every organization aspires to develop its players, culture, and system, become contenders, and then sign the big name free agent.

Going back in NBA history is riddled with questions, like what if the Pistons drafted Melo instead of Milicic and became a dynasty...what if Shaq stayed in Orlando and Penny didn't get injured...what if Len Bias joined the established Celtics. We are literally getting the chance to watch one of those ideal scenarios play out, where the team just fits perfectly in every way, and they've become the biggest challenge to the greatest NBA player of our era - Warriors vs Cavs is now Showtime Lakers vs Celtics level! Just enjoy the show man


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Warriors without KD - win 73 games

Cavs without Lebron - questionable to make the playoffs

It's not really fair, is it...

The Warriors did everything the right way. They didn't tank the franchise and try to game the lottery for years on end. They tried to put a good product on the court every season. They drafted well. They built a culture and identity around their players. They maximized the potential of their draft picks. They became a playoff team, then hired a coach that got the team to play an unselfish brand of basketball. They won a championship and won a lot of games last season, but there's no way of telling if they reached their peak and blowing a 3-1 lead was a sign of their decline. Barnes has had a heckuva career with GS, but his performance didn't exactly inspire confidence in him going to the next level. Curry has been blessed with health the past few seasons, but NBA players are fragile. As far as we know, they could've been the Phoenix Suns, a team whose front office was content with contending, instead of trying to reach the next level. Building a culture, a solid competitive roster, and signing the big name free agent is what every franchise aspires to do.

But beyond all of that, they play the game the right way. They're a team that thrives in showing the beauty of the sport. They're talented, and fundamentally destroy teams the way the Spurs have in the past.

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I understand a level of frustration, but there's no denying that its exciting to see the game being played at the highest level. When fans talk about storied franchises, the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs come to mind. Soon the Warriors will be mentioned among them. As a Mavs fan, you should know how tough it is to sustain success. Why not be happy for an organization that plays a way that gets everyone involved and gets it right?

[Dirk]

I am more excited about competitiveness than level of basketball played by one team in games or series with very predictable outcomes. I find no pleasure in watching glorified all star games. The Warriors won 73 games last year. I did not feel a great interest in following them. I preferred to watch the Nets over the Warriors... I take no pleasure in seeing Curry draining 3s from anywhere, all the showing off, the blowouts. Honestly... it is boring as hell to watch blowouts, especially because they are predictable.

I think it ridicules the NBA that a 73 win team can and has added someone that not long ago was thought of as the next best player and the second behind Lebron. This is a complete joke to me. 93% of the NBA are not competing for anything really. How is this exciting?

From your perspective, that I understand and is correct, it is exciting because you do get to see a team that you never thought could actually exist in real life. And probably helps the league? Ratings wise between regular fans, bandwagoners and "haters", maybe it draws even more interest? But to me, personally, it takes me away from the league.

I want to see the great players lead their teams. Fight for them. Take them to the title. I want to see as many great teams competing, at the same time, as possible. I do not want Miamis, Warriors. The NBA is a joke to me with these teams. The Warriors did what they should. KD was free to do whatever he wanted, but I think it made him a coward and I will never value him, even if he becomes undeniably the biggest reason why they win more titles. I liked KD.

My interest in the NBA is centred around the Mavs and a few other points of interest. I try to forget how bad the league is, from a competitive perspective, while I follow my points of interest, with these mini goals, whether being making the playoffs, or like last year having interest in the Nets avoiding giving more ping pong balls to the Cs. Maybe one day I will change, but for now, I just loathe how uncompetitive the NBA is and how you won't even care for most teams who make the playoffs because they're just fodder. Do you know how bad that is? In the NBA playoff teams are not taken seriously at all. A few are perennial treadmill teams. This is the NBA, and it's getting worse.

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

[MrDollarBills]

The problem with the NBA is that the league has too many damn teams in a sport where 1 player makes all the difference in the world. When a team manages to collect 3 or 4 of those players it creates a ridiculous imbalance. The Warriors have THREE A tier ballers on their roster. Its insane.

That game last night was an embarrassment to the sport. I mean for gods sake it was 71 to 33 at the HALF. I turned the **** right off and started watching Luke Cage.

The last team that should have been inserted into the league was the Mavericks. When they added the Magic, Heat, Hornets(Bobcats), Wolves, Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Raptors it watered the league down drastically. There are a lot of guys on NBA rosters that should not be in the league.

The year that the Bulls won 72 games, it was the most boring year in the league's history because you knew the Bulls were going to steamroll every team.

[MrDollarBills]

Warriors killing Clips by 50, I know it's pre-season but geez. It's not even fair man smh I hate KD for this

C'mon man, you can't knock it- we are literally getting to witness one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. Every organization aspires to develop its players, culture, and system, become contenders, and then sign the big name free agent.

Going back in NBA history is riddled with questions, like what if the Pistons drafted Melo instead of Milicic and became a dynasty...what if Shaq stayed in Orlando and Penny didn't get injured...what if Len Bias joined the established Celtics. We are literally getting the chance to watch one of those ideal scenarios play out, where the team just fits perfectly in every way, and they've become the biggest challenge to the greatest NBA player of our era - Warriors vs Cavs is now Showtime Lakers vs Celtics level! Just enjoy the show man


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

KD is a big bitch.

[shakendfries]

Warriors killing Clips by 50, I know it's pre-season but geez. It's not even fair man smh I hate KD for this

C'mon man, you can't knock it- we are literally getting to witness one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. Every organization aspires to develop its players, culture, and system, become contenders, and then sign the big name free agent.

Going back in NBA history is riddled with questions, like what if the Pistons drafted Melo instead of Milicic and became a dynasty...what if Shaq stayed in Orlando and Penny didn't get injured...what if Len Bias joined the established Celtics. We are literally getting the chance to watch one of those ideal scenarios play out, where the team just fits perfectly in every way, and they've become the biggest challenge to the greatest NBA player of our era - Warriors vs Cavs is now Showtime Lakers vs Celtics level! Just enjoy the show man


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

KD is a big bitch.

Maybe. I'm not sure Nets fans are in any position to criticize Durant for choosing the team where he can challenge himself to win the most, when the franchise we rooted for gave Deron Williams the keys to the franchise - a player who ran a Hall of Fame Coach out of Utah - just to assemble one of the most expensive rosters of all time built around a player in Williams who'd conveniently disappear in every moment of adversity. If anything, Williams is the worst kind of player - the one who gets paid to be the man, but doesn't have the heart to persevere in tough times.

When you reach a high level of achievement in any field, success is determined by how you challenge yourself to push further and accomplish more. DWill prefered to rest on his laurels once he got paid. While joining a rebuilding franchise might've been a more "challenging" option for KD, it's tough not to see the challenge on the highest level to bring a franchise to the dynasty level. The Thunder had their chance, but they traded away James Harden.

You're entitled to your own take, but I think DWill is a way bigger bitch than KD. At least KD is still fighting to be the best at something

[steady]

If you knew that you were probably one of the most talented basketball players to ever walk the planet and you knew your potential would probably not ever be realized where you were

Wouldn't you just want for goddamn once to play on a team that offered that chance. Not to mention swapping out Ok City for SF, Curry for Westbrook (and I really like WB), and Kerr for OKC coaches.

Couple of plays last night, particularly on one fast break, where Curry whipped the ball to Durant under the basket, Durant whipped it right back, then Curry sent it back to Durant again and Durant got fouled. All in one millisecond of time it seemed. Wasn't a highlight reel worthy but Durant's expression was noteworthy. Surprise, amazement and delight even. He's just never plumbed this aspect of his skill set and you could tell he could get really good at this and it was like watching him realize it too.

Everyone should get a chance to fulfill their potential. I can't be mad at KD about it

[Ror1997]

What every team aspires to do is what the Celtics did.

What the Warriors did is make a 2k team. And Kevin Durant did it in the absolute pussiest way possible. I uses to really like both KD and the Warriors and now theyre ruining my love for the sport. I don't want to watch that bull crap. Nobody can compete with the warriors, how is that fun? Their success should make every NBA fans blood boil, and they're going to be one of the most dominant NBA teams ever. F that.

[Papi_swav]

I am more excited about competitiveness than level of basketball played by one team in games or series with very predictable outcomes. I find no pleasure in watching glorified all star games. The Warriors won 73 games last year. I did not feel a great interest in following them. I preferred to watch the Nets over the Warriors... I take no pleasure in seeing Curry draining 3s from anywhere, all the showing off, the blowouts. Honestly... it is boring as hell to watch blowouts, especially because they are predictable.

I think it ridicules the NBA that a 73 win team can and has added someone that not long ago was thought of as the next best player and the second behind Lebron. This is a complete joke to me. 93% of the NBA are not competing for anything really. How is this exciting?

From your perspective, that I understand and is correct, it is exciting because you do get to see a team that you never thought could actually exist in real life. And probably helps the league? Ratings wise between regular fans, bandwagoners and "haters", maybe it draws even more interest? But to me, personally, it takes me away from the league.

I want to see the great players lead their teams. Fight for them. Take them to the title. I want to see as many great teams competing, at the same time, as possible. I do not want Miamis, Warriors. The NBA is a joke to me with these teams. The Warriors did what they should. KD was free to do whatever he wanted, but I think it made him a coward and I will never value him, even if he becomes undeniably the biggest reason why they win more titles. I liked KD.

My interest in the NBA is centred around the Mavs and a few other points of interest. I try to forget how bad the league is, from a competitive perspective, while I follow my points of interest, with these mini goals, whether being making the playoffs, or like last year having interest in the Nets avoiding giving more ping pong balls to the Cs. Maybe one day I will change, but for now, I just loathe how uncompetitive the NBA is and how you won't even care for most teams who make the playoffs because they're just fodder. Do you know how bad that is? In the NBA playoff teams are not taken seriously at all. A few are perennial treadmill teams. This is the NBA, and it's getting worse.

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

I couldn't have said it any better. This is why MLB and NFL will always have die hard fans, because every year someone new is winning it all and their favorite team just might get into the playoffs. It keeps the game competitive and fun to follow because you never know if your team make the playoffs, they can win. Wild Card teams have won the World Series and Super Bowl. When was the last time a 7-8th seed made it into the finals? the 99' Knicks? NBA is too predictable and pretty much every year it's the same old 3 or 4 teams that you know will win it all.

I don't think the expansion messed up the NBA, MDB. I remember 10-15 years ago like almost every single team had at least one star player or good player that can take the lead, and it was competitive. I think LeBron messed it up lol, players seen what he did in Miami so now a lot of players will try to follow that pattern

[MrDollarBills]

C'mon man, you can't knock it- we are literally getting to witness one of the greatest basketball teams ever assembled. Every organization aspires to develop its players, culture, and system, become contenders, and then sign the big name free agent.

Going back in NBA history is riddled with questions, like what if the Pistons drafted Melo instead of Milicic and became a dynasty...what if Shaq stayed in Orlando and Penny didn't get injured...what if Len Bias joined the established Celtics. We are literally getting the chance to watch one of those ideal scenarios play out, where the team just fits perfectly in every way, and they've become the biggest challenge to the greatest NBA player of our era - Warriors vs Cavs is now Showtime Lakers vs Celtics level! Just enjoy the show man


Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

KD is a big bitch.

Maybe. I'm not sure Nets fans are in any position to criticize Durant for choosing the team where he can challenge himself to win the most, when the franchise we rooted for gave Deron Williams the keys to the franchise - a player who ran a Hall of Fame Coach out of Utah - just to assemble one of the most expensive rosters of all time built around a player in Williams who'd conveniently disappear in every moment of adversity. If anything, Williams is the worst kind of player - the one who gets paid to be the man, but doesn't have the heart to persevere in tough times.

When you reach a high level of achievement in any field, success is determined by how you challenge yourself to push further and accomplish more. DWill prefered to rest on his laurels once he got paid. While joining a rebuilding franchise might've been a more "challenging" option for KD, it's tough not to see the challenge on the highest level to bring a franchise to the dynasty level. The Thunder had their chance, but they traded away James Harden.

You're entitled to your own take, but I think DWill is a way bigger bitch than KD. At least KD is still fighting to be the best at something

D-Will is a coward, a pussy, and a piece of ****. He never cared about winning.

While KD wants to win, he is not challenging himself by going to a 73 win team. He is taking the easy way out. His competitive nature can definitely be questioned. He basically is the definition of "can't beat em? join em". the sad part is he had these guys on the ropes and he and his teammates choked by resorting to their usual low iq basketball.

[MrDollarBills]

I am more excited about competitiveness than level of basketball played by one team in games or series with very predictable outcomes. I find no pleasure in watching glorified all star games. The Warriors won 73 games last year. I did not feel a great interest in following them. I preferred to watch the Nets over the Warriors... I take no pleasure in seeing Curry draining 3s from anywhere, all the showing off, the blowouts. Honestly... it is boring as hell to watch blowouts, especially because they are predictable.

I think it ridicules the NBA that a 73 win team can and has added someone that not long ago was thought of as the next best player and the second behind Lebron. This is a complete joke to me. 93% of the NBA are not competing for anything really. How is this exciting?

From your perspective, that I understand and is correct, it is exciting because you do get to see a team that you never thought could actually exist in real life. And probably helps the league? Ratings wise between regular fans, bandwagoners and "haters", maybe it draws even more interest? But to me, personally, it takes me away from the league.

I want to see the great players lead their teams. Fight for them. Take them to the title. I want to see as many great teams competing, at the same time, as possible. I do not want Miamis, Warriors. The NBA is a joke to me with these teams. The Warriors did what they should. KD was free to do whatever he wanted, but I think it made him a coward and I will never value him, even if he becomes undeniably the biggest reason why they win more titles. I liked KD.

My interest in the NBA is centred around the Mavs and a few other points of interest. I try to forget how bad the league is, from a competitive perspective, while I follow my points of interest, with these mini goals, whether being making the playoffs, or like last year having interest in the Nets avoiding giving more ping pong balls to the Cs. Maybe one day I will change, but for now, I just loathe how uncompetitive the NBA is and how you won't even care for most teams who make the playoffs because they're just fodder. Do you know how bad that is? In the NBA playoff teams are not taken seriously at all. A few are perennial treadmill teams. This is the NBA, and it's getting worse.

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

I couldn't have said it any better. This is why MLB and NFL will always have die hard fans, because every year someone new is winning it all and their favorite team just might get into the playoffs. It keeps the game competitive and fun to follow because you never know if your team make the playoffs, they can win. Wild Card teams have won the World Series and Super Bowl. When was the last time a 7-8th seed made it into the finals? the 99' Knicks? NBA is too predictable and pretty much every year it's the same old 3 or 4 teams that you know will win it all.

I don't think the expansion messed up the NBA, MDB. I remember 10-15 years ago like almost every single team had at least one star player or good player that can take the lead, and it was competitive. I think LeBron messed it up lol, players seen what he did in Miami so now a lot of players will try to follow that pattern

Expansion thinned the talent pool. You'd think we'd be this devoid of talent if not for expansion?

Lebron didn't mess anything up. He teamed up with Bosh and Wade because he knew he couldn't carry a bunch of D tier players into Boston and win anything vs. a team with three A tier players. If you want to blame anyone for this kind of crap, blame Kevin McHale for giving his old teammate a wink wink deal in the trade that sent KG to Boston. That pushed the Celtics over the edge following the Ray Allen swap.

[shakendfries]

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

Well said. And you're right, the competition level in the NBA will likely be more watered down over the near term than it was previously. But part of the glory of the Mavs championship run a few years back was seeing them achieve what was thought to be impossible in toppling Goliath with fundamentally sound & team-oriented basketball. I posit that, for the team that will eventually surpass the Warriors, this feat will require a far higher level of execution than it would if the team was simply less potent. Teams in the NBA today are being challenged to perform at a much higher level than they would otherwise. You're absolutely right that teams in the middle and bottom of the league might not have a good shot at winning the championship, but if there's one redeemable aspect of Kevin Durant playing in Golden State its that the teams near the top are going to have to elevate their level of play and execution across the board in order to compete. If anything, I think we could see teams like the Pacers, and even younger teams like the Timberwolves and Jazz challenging themselves to reach a new level in order to make it to the top. For the team and their fans, much like the Mavs, the rewards of surpassing challenge ahead of them could be well worth it. It's going to suck if the playoffs in the West end up like they usually do in the East with the Cavs sweeping the competition. But if this is the case and the playoffs aren't competitive across the board, I think Adam Silver could consider adjusting the rules in response to the perimeter-oriented nature of the league. It might involve extending the arc of the 3pt line like Phil Jackson suggested, or even allowing players to get a bit more physical when defending. The NBA has adjusted in the past, and I'm confident that Adam Silver will make appropriate adjustments

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[Papi_swav]

I am more excited about competitiveness than level of basketball played by one team in games or series with very predictable outcomes. I find no pleasure in watching glorified all star games. The Warriors won 73 games last year. I did not feel a great interest in following them. I preferred to watch the Nets over the Warriors... I take no pleasure in seeing Curry draining 3s from anywhere, all the showing off, the blowouts. Honestly... it is boring as hell to watch blowouts, especially because they are predictable.

I think it ridicules the NBA that a 73 win team can and has added someone that not long ago was thought of as the next best player and the second behind Lebron. This is a complete joke to me. 93% of the NBA are not competing for anything really. How is this exciting?

From your perspective, that I understand and is correct, it is exciting because you do get to see a team that you never thought could actually exist in real life. And probably helps the league? Ratings wise between regular fans, bandwagoners and "haters", maybe it draws even more interest? But to me, personally, it takes me away from the league.

I want to see the great players lead their teams. Fight for them. Take them to the title. I want to see as many great teams competing, at the same time, as possible. I do not want Miamis, Warriors. The NBA is a joke to me with these teams. The Warriors did what they should. KD was free to do whatever he wanted, but I think it made him a coward and I will never value him, even if he becomes undeniably the biggest reason why they win more titles. I liked KD.

My interest in the NBA is centred around the Mavs and a few other points of interest. I try to forget how bad the league is, from a competitive perspective, while I follow my points of interest, with these mini goals, whether being making the playoffs, or like last year having interest in the Nets avoiding giving more ping pong balls to the Cs. Maybe one day I will change, but for now, I just loathe how uncompetitive the NBA is and how you won't even care for most teams who make the playoffs because they're just fodder. Do you know how bad that is? In the NBA playoff teams are not taken seriously at all. A few are perennial treadmill teams. This is the NBA, and it's getting worse.

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

I couldn't have said it any better. This is why MLB and NFL will always have die hard fans, because every year someone new is winning it all and their favorite team just might get into the playoffs. It keeps the game competitive and fun to follow because you never know if your team make the playoffs, they can win. Wild Card teams have won the World Series and Super Bowl. When was the last time a 7-8th seed made it into the finals? the 99' Knicks? NBA is too predictable and pretty much every year it's the same old 3 or 4 teams that you know will win it all.

I don't think the expansion messed up the NBA, MDB. I remember 10-15 years ago like almost every single team had at least one star player or good player that can take the lead, and it was competitive. I think LeBron messed it up lol, players seen what he did in Miami so now a lot of players will try to follow that pattern

Expansion thinned the talent pool. You'd think we'd be this devoid of talent if not for expansion?

Lebron didn't mess anything up. He teamed up with Bosh and Wade because he knew he couldn't carry a bunch of D tier players into Boston and win anything vs. a team with three A tier players. If you want to blame anyone for this kind of crap, blame Kevin McHale for giving his old teammate a wink wink deal in the trade that sent KG to Boston. That pushed the Celtics over the edge following the Ray Allen swap.

I don't blame the Celtics for that, they all were at the end of their prime years and it was now or never for them. Cleveland just didn't put the right players around LeBron but the summer he left they had a bunch of cap space to bring someone else in. LeBron didn't have to leave, but he left when he was still in his prime to join 2 others in their prime. LeBron could of just weathered the storm, Celtics were getting up their in age and was dealing with a lot of injuries anyway. I wouldn't blame Lebron if he was maybe 32 years old and he join another team to chase a ring but not when your in the middle of your prime and in mid 20s, they should want to compete against each other for the #1 spot. That's just my opinion.

[NyCeEvO]

I hated KD's decision and still do, but somehow I thought I'd warm up to watching them play. TBH, the opposite has happened. Every time I see a video or picture of KD with the Warriors I skip the video/change the picture.

We'll see what it's like in a couple of months but I have a feeling this one is going to play out differently from other scenarios. People keep bringing up the 80s and 90s as if we all want to return to a 22 team league and only watch 2-4 teams per season. The NBA has been trying to evolve from that, and even though basketball will probably always be a sport in which one player can make a world of difference, we want to see a variety of teams have a shot.

KD went to GSW to make life as easy as possible for himself. He doesn't have to strain himself at all to make his team good. They were already an ATG team without him. Giving a 73-9 team a top 3 player is of the highest order of absurdity. I'm never rooting for that team no matter who they play.

[shakendfries]

I hated KD's decision and still do, but somehow I thought I'd warm up to watching them play. TBH, the opposite has happened. Every time I see a video or picture of KD with the Warriors I skip the video/change the picture.

We'll see what it's like in a couple of months but I have a feeling this one is going to play out differently from other scenarios. People keep bringing up the 80s and 90s as if we all want to return to a 22 team league and only watch 2-4 teams per season. The NBA has been trying to evolve from that, and even though basketball will probably always be a sport in which one player can make a world of difference, we want to see a variety of teams have a shot.

KD went to GSW to make life as easy as possible for himself. He doesn't have to strain himself at all to make his team good. They were already an ATG team without him. Giving a 73-9 team a top 3 player is of the highest order of absurdity. I'm never rooting for that team no matter who they play.

But let's be honest, if you were KD what would you do? Shhhhiiiiieeeettt, I'd even drop a mixtape with E-40, Too $hort, and DJ Quik!



At least KD isn't taking shots at Westbrook and bragging about winning multiple championships. By keeping it strictly business I kinda find it hard to knock him too mch for choosing the best option available for him

[MrDollarBills]

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

Well said. And you're right, the competition level in the NBA will likely be more watered down over the near term than it was previously. But part of the glory of the Mavs championship run a few years back was seeing them achieve what was thought to be impossible in toppling Goliath with fundamentally sound & team-oriented basketball. I posit that, for the team that will eventually surpass the Warriors, this feat will require a far higher level of execution than it would if the team was simply less potent. Teams in the NBA today are being challenged to perform at a much higher level than they would otherwise. You're absolutely right that teams in the middle and bottom of the league might not have a good shot at winning the championship, but if there's one redeemable aspect of Kevin Durant playing in Golden State its that the teams near the top are going to have to elevate their level of play and execution across the board in order to compete. If anything, I think we could see teams like the Pacers, and even younger teams like the Timberwolves and Jazz challenging themselves to reach a new level in order to make it to the top. For the team and their fans, much like the Mavs, the rewards of surpassing challenge ahead of them could be well worth it. It's going to suck if the playoffs in the West end up like they usually do in the East with the Cavs sweeping the competition. But if this is the case and the playoffs aren't competitive across the board, I think Adam Silver could consider adjusting the rules in response to the perimeter-oriented nature of the league. It might involve extending the arc of the 3pt line like Phil Jackson suggested, or even allowing players to get a bit more physical when defending. The NBA has adjusted in the past, and I'm confident that Adam Silver will make appropriate adjustments

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I advocate bringing back hand checking on the perimeter. they should have never taken it out of the game.

[MrDollarBills]

I couldn't have said it any better. This is why MLB and NFL will always have die hard fans, because every year someone new is winning it all and their favorite team just might get into the playoffs. It keeps the game competitive and fun to follow because you never know if your team make the playoffs, they can win. Wild Card teams have won the World Series and Super Bowl. When was the last time a 7-8th seed made it into the finals? the 99' Knicks? NBA is too predictable and pretty much every year it's the same old 3 or 4 teams that you know will win it all.

I don't think the expansion messed up the NBA, MDB. I remember 10-15 years ago like almost every single team had at least one star player or good player that can take the lead, and it was competitive. I think LeBron messed it up lol, players seen what he did in Miami so now a lot of players will try to follow that pattern

Expansion thinned the talent pool. You'd think we'd be this devoid of talent if not for expansion?

Lebron didn't mess anything up. He teamed up with Bosh and Wade because he knew he couldn't carry a bunch of D tier players into Boston and win anything vs. a team with three A tier players. If you want to blame anyone for this kind of crap, blame Kevin McHale for giving his old teammate a wink wink deal in the trade that sent KG to Boston. That pushed the Celtics over the edge following the Ray Allen swap.

I don't blame the Celtics for that, they all were at the end of their prime years and it was now or never for them. Cleveland just didn't put the right players around LeBron but the summer he left they had a bunch of cap space to bring someone else in. LeBron didn't have to leave, but he left when he was still in his prime to join 2 others in their prime. LeBron could of just weathered the storm, Celtics were getting up their in age and was dealing with a lot of injuries anyway. I wouldn't blame Lebron if he was maybe 32 years old and he join another team to chase a ring but not when your in the middle of your prime and in mid 20s, they should want to compete against each other for the #1 spot. That's just my opinion.

i'm fairly certain cleveland was not in a good position cap wise unless they could have done sign and trades. They had some guys on that roster who were not above C tier and that was why lebron bounced. KD had a good squad in OKC and he left after he got beaten by a team he had on the ropes. He's not a legit competitor. Jordan would have never left the Bulls to play for the Pistons, he wanted to best them to prove his dominance in competition.

I can respect Lebron more for teaming up with Wade and Bosh to challenge Boston in the heat of competition than KD joining the team that BEAT HIM. That's seriously bitch behavior. No one should ever say anything about Lebron again in light of how light in the ass Kevin Durant is.

KD is essentially the poster child for "everyone gets a trophy". who the hell wants to play with guys that beat you? on top of that, the Warriors flat out told his bitch ass that hey man, we can win with you, or without you. what a pussy.

As much as I hate the celtics fanbase and hope that an asteroid defecates on the city of Boston, i would have had more respect for KD joining the Celtics over joining the Warriors.

[MrDollarBills]

I hated KD's decision and still do, but somehow I thought I'd warm up to watching them play. TBH, the opposite has happened. Every time I see a video or picture of KD with the Warriors I skip the video/change the picture.

We'll see what it's like in a couple of months but I have a feeling this one is going to play out differently from other scenarios. People keep bringing up the 80s and 90s as if we all want to return to a 22 team league and only watch 2-4 teams per season. The NBA has been trying to evolve from that, and even though basketball will probably always be a sport in which one player can make a world of difference, we want to see a variety of teams have a shot.

KD went to GSW to make life as easy as possible for himself. He doesn't have to strain himself at all to make his team good. They were already an ATG team without him. Giving a 73-9 team a top 3 player is of the highest order of absurdity. I'm never rooting for that team no matter who they play.

But let's be honest, if you were KD what would you do? Shhhhiiiiieeeettt, I'd even drop a mixtape with E-40, Too $hort, and DJ Quik!



At least KD isn't taking shots at Westbrook and bragging about winning multiple championships. By keeping it strictly business I kinda find it hard to knock him too mch for choosing the best option available for him

Just because you don't have a competitive drive doesn't mean that others don't. I would have went to the Celtics or stayed in OKC.

He shouldn't take shots at Westbrook. Westbrook isn't a coward like he is.

[DeRoma]

The Mavs had a franchises player, he played with like Terry, Kidd or Chandler as the second best player. Durant will play with a 73 win team. The NBA was much more interesting 10 years ago. And you could watch great basketball with a few different teams. Now uhmmm... it's boring. I hope it isn't nostalgia talking.

You are right that injuries and unforeseen events can change things dramatically. We're all assuming 'the worst' (complete domination) to jinx it. Maybe things won't be as easy as they look on paper, even without injuries. Hey, like you say, it will be interesting to see. But like I said, I want the great players spread out through the league. I don't want a league where they join each other. The NBA/basketball is a league where things are unbalanced by nature, with one player being able to determine your success so much, with 7 game series that make it hard for underdogs to upset super favorites, it only gets worse when you have teams collect them. And to me, that's not appealing.

Well said. And you're right, the competition level in the NBA will likely be more watered down over the near term than it was previously. But part of the glory of the Mavs championship run a few years back was seeing them achieve what was thought to be impossible in toppling Goliath with fundamentally sound & team-oriented basketball. I posit that, for the team that will eventually surpass the Warriors, this feat will require a far higher level of execution than it would if the team was simply less potent. Teams in the NBA today are being challenged to perform at a much higher level than they would otherwise. You're absolutely right that teams in the middle and bottom of the league might not have a good shot at winning the championship, but if there's one redeemable aspect of Kevin Durant playing in Golden State its that the teams near the top are going to have to elevate their level of play and execution across the board in order to compete. If anything, I think we could see teams like the Pacers, and even younger teams like the Timberwolves and Jazz challenging themselves to reach a new level in order to make it to the top. For the team and their fans, much like the Mavs, the rewards of surpassing challenge ahead of them could be well worth it. It's going to suck if the playoffs in the West end up like they usually do in the East with the Cavs sweeping the competition. But if this is the case and the playoffs aren't competitive across the board, I think Adam Silver could consider adjusting the rules in response to the perimeter-oriented nature of the league. It might involve extending the arc of the 3pt line like Phil Jackson suggested, or even allowing players to get a bit more physical when defending. The NBA has adjusted in the past, and I'm confident that Adam Silver will make appropriate adjustments

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

I advocate bringing back hand checking on the perimeter. they should have never taken it out of the game.

They have to take out hand checking because they took out illegal defense. Bringing back hand checking means a much harder time for guards to penetrate since nowadays players can just guard driving lanes.

I think a more balance way to make the game is to create rules for certain positions. Instead of this modern positionless players. Like for example, they can bring back illegal defense and hand checking rules back towards the 1 through 4 positions. Then giving the center capable of no illegal defense but with hand checking rules for them in place. This way, the game can be very physical at the same time, give iso heavy players opportunities to make an impact. Also gives centers to be more of a use. It also creates stretch 5 a more viable option and also give them opportunities to score inside. It brings back the joy of being a basketball player instead of this live with the team die by the team type of game nowadays.

[TinmanZBoy]

I don't get the Warriors hate... they developed their own No. 7, No. 11, No. 35 picks into super stars, hired the right coach and coaching staffs, found a beautiful system to maximize their talents... if any team could achieve that, they should be applauded...
I kinda understand the KD hate...but from the BB point of view, it is a wise and reasonable move for both KD and Warriors... KD's game fits the Warriors like a glove, he can make the Warriors even better.... you couldn't say the same if the addition were Harden, Westbrook or Paul and some other superstars...